The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE; being entitled: THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE WITH THE APOCRYPHA.  John 17:1-17 read as follows:

"AFTER THESE WORDS Jesus looked up to heaven and said: 'Father, the hour has come.  Glorify thy Son, that the Son may glorify thee.  2 For thou hast made him sovereign over all mankind, to give eternal life to all whom thou hast given him.  3 This is eternal life: to know thee who alone art truly God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.  4 'I have glorified thee on earth by completing the work which thou gavest me to do; 5 and now, Father, glorify me in thy own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world began.  6 'I have made thy name known to the men whom thou didst give me out of the world.  They were thine, thou gavest them to me, and they have obeyed thy command.  7 Now they know that all thy gifts have come to me from thee; 8 for I have taught them all that I learned from thee, and they have received it: they know with certainty that I came from thee; they have had faith to believe that thou didst send me.  9 'I pray for them; I am not praying for the world but for those whom thou hast given me, because they belong to thee.  10 All that is mine is thine, and what is thine is mine; and through them has my glory shone.  11 'I am to stay no longer in the world, but they are still in the world, and I am on my way to thee.  Holy Father, protect by the power of thy name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are one.  12 When I was with them, I protected by the power of thy name those whom thou hast given me, and kept them safe.  Not one of them is lost except the man who must be lost, for Scripture has to be fulfilled.  13 'And now I am coming to thee; but while I am still in the world I speak these words, so that they may have my joy within them in full measure.  14 I have delivered thy word to them, and the world hates them because they are strangers in the world, as I am.  15 I pray thee, not to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.  16 They are strangers in the world, as I am.  17 Consecrate them by the truth; thy word is truth.'"

Jesus ( see verse one, above ) teaches, here, that the heavenly Father's ( again, see verse one ) word is truth ( as we read in verse seventeen, above ).  Therefore, we can trust His word ( the Holy Bible - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, 151 and 2 Timothy 2:15, for example ).  Please click on the link below to read today's bulletin regarding the subject of biblical criticism:

<http://1drv.ms/1JS7EAq >.

     If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russell E. Willis>.

NOTE: You will need to click on the back arrow ( on your web browser ) to exit the bulletin back to this weblog.

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE; being entitled: THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE WITH THE APOCRYPHA.  Colossians 3:18-4:1 read as follows:

"18 WIVES, BE SUBJECT to your husbands; that is your Christian duty.  19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them.  20 Children, obey your parents in everything, for that is pleasing to God and is the Christian way.  21 Fathers, do not exasperate your children, for fear they grow disheartened.  22 Slaves, give entire obedience to your earthly masters, not merely with an outward show of service, to curry favour with men, but with singlemindedness, out of reverence for the Lord.  23 Whatever you are doing, put your whole heart into it, as if you were doing it for the Lord and not for men, 24 knowing that there is a Master who will give you your heritage as a reward for your service.  Christ is the Master whose slaves you must be.  25 Dishonesty will be requited, and he has no favourites.  [ 4:1 ] Masters, be just and fair to your slaves, knowing that you too have a Master in heaven."

The word "boss" is defined as follows:

"boss [ 1 ] . . . n.  1  U.S. Colloq.  A superintendent or employer of workmen; manager; foreman.  2  Any employer or any director of the work of others.  3  U.S.  An organizer or dictator of a political party.  See synonyms under MASTER. . . ."  [  See NEW ILLUSTRATED WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY Including THESAURUS of SYNONYMS & ANTONYMS, PMC Publishing Company, Inc., 118 EAST 28th STREET, NEW YORK, NY  10016, dictionary portion: pages 1-1150, Copyright 1992, by J.G. Ferguson Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, p. 119.  ]

If you, the reader, will notice, the work relationship is described in terms of masters and slaves ( as we read in verses twenty-two through chapter four, verse one, above ).

     Our boss is our master ( as seen in the above-given definition of the word "boss" ), and we are the slaves.  The apostle Paul ( see 1:1 ) wrote ( see 4:18, for example ) in verse twenty-two that we are to give entire obedience to our earthly masters: he ( see Ephesians 1:1 ) adds ( cf. Ephesians 6:21, 22 and Colossians 4:7, 8 ) the phrase "as serving Christ" in Ephesians 6:5 and, similarly, the phrase "out of reverence for the Lord" ( as we read in verse twenty-two, above ) and, thus, any command from them to do something sinful is excepted ( see John 10:30, Acts 5:17-29 ( especially verse 29, for example ), Romans 1:20 ( KJV, for example; with center-column references, for example ) to get the equivalent translation for the word "Godhead," Colossians 2:8, 9, Hebrews 1:1-9 ( especially verses 8 and 9, for example ), and 1 John 3:4; 5:7 ( KJV, for example ), for example ).  In writing to "God's people at Colossae, brothers in the faith" ( see 1:2 ), Paul teaches that, as Christians ( see Acts 11:26 and Galatians 3:26, 27, for example ), Christ is our Master, and we must be His slaves ( as we read in verse twenty-four, above ).

     Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, 151, John 17:1, 3, 17, and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ).  If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russell E. Willis>.

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE; being entitled: THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE WITH THE APOCRYPHA.  Luke 9:23 reads as follows:

"23 And to all he said, 'If anyone wishes to be a follower of mine, he must leave self behind; day after day he must take up his cross, and come with me.'"

The word "right" is defined as follows:

". . . . -n. . . . .   2  A just and proper claim or title to  anything, or that which may be claimed on just, moral, legal, or customary grounds: often in the plural. . . ."  [  See NEW ILLUSTRATED WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY Including THESAURUS of SYNONYMS & ANTONYMS, PMC Publishing Company, Inc., 118 EAST 28th STREET, NEW YORK, NY  10016, dictionary portion: pages 1-1150, Copyright 1992, by J.G. Ferguson Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, pp. 832, 833.  ]

     As Christians ( see Acts 11:26, for example ), we have no rights in the kingdom of heaven ( see Matthew 18:1-7 ( especially verse 3, for example ), Mark 4:10-12 ( especially verse 11, for example ), Luke 18:15-17 ( especially verse 16, for example ), and 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 ( especially verses 12 and 13 ( ESV, for example ), for example )), except to suffer for Christ ( see Matthew 1:16 ( KJV, for example ) and Philippians 1:27-30 ( especially verse 29, for example ), for example ): Jesus ( see verse ten ) said we are to "leave self behind" ( as we read in verse twenty-three, above ).  Moreover, He ( see Mark 10:42 ) said in ( verse forty-five ), "'For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give up his life as a ransom for many.'"  The Son of Man ( see John 10:30, Romans 1:20 ( see Romans 1:20 ( KJV, for example; with center-column references, for example ) to get the equivalent translation for the word "Godheaad" ), Colossians 2:8, 9, and 1 John 5:7 ( KJV, for example ), for example ) came to earth to be a slave, and to offer up His life as a ransom for many: we are His slaves ( see Leviticus 25:39-55 ( especially verses 44-46, for example ), Matthew 11:25-30 ( especially verses 28-30, for example ), Acts 2:38, 41, and 47 ( KJV, for example ); 8:26-40 ( especially verses 36-39 ( KJV, for example ), for example ); 20:28, Romans 6:1-4 ( especially verses 3 and 4, for example ); 10:1-4 ( especially verse 4, for example ); 15:1-4 ( especially verse 4, for example ), 1 Corinthians 7:17-24 ( especially verses 22 and 23, for example ), Colossians 1:13-20 ( especially verse 20, for example ), and Revelation 1:1-5 ( especially verse 5, for example ), for example ).

     Our sole responsibility in this life is to fear God and obey His commands ( see Ecclesiastes 12:13, for example, and please also read verse fourteen to get the immediate context ).  Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, 151, John 17:1, 3, 17, and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ).  If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russsell E. Willis>.

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE; being entitled: THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE WITH THE APOCRYPHA.  The following quotation is taken from this version of the Holy Bible:

"IN MAY 1946 the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland received an overture from the Presbytery of Stirling and Dunblane, where it had been initiated by the Reverend G. S. Hendry, recommending that a translation of the Bible be made in the language of the present day, inasmuch as the language of the Authorized Version, already archaic when it was made, had now become even more definitely archaic and less generally understood.  The General Assembly resolved to make an approach to other Churches, and, as a result, delegates of the Church of England, the Church of Scotland, and the Methodist, Baptist, and Congregational Churches met in conference in October.  They recommended that the work should be undertaken; that a completely new translation should be made, rather than a revision, such as had earlier been contemplated by the University Presses of Oxford and Cambridge; and that the translators should be free to employ a contemporary idiom rather than reproduce the traditional 'biblical' English.

     In January 1947 a second conference, held like the first in the Central Hall, Westminster, included representatives of the University Presses.  At the request of this conference, the Churches named above appointed representatives to form the Joint Committee on the New Translation of the Bible.  This Committee met for the first time in July of the same year.  By January 1948, when its third meeting was held, invitations to be represented had been sent to the Presbyterian Church of England, the Society of Friends, the Churches in Wales, the Churches in Ireland, the British and Foreign Bible Society, and the National Bible Society of Scotland: these invitations were accepted.  At a much later stage the hierarchies of the Roman Catholic Church in England and Scotland accepted an invitation to appoint representatives, and these attended as observers."  [  See THE NEW ENGLISH BIBLE WITH THE APOCRYPHA, NEW YORK, OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, 1971, Copyright THE DELEGATES OF THE OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS AND THE SYNDICS OF THE CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS, 1961, 1970, p. v.  ]

Galatians 5:26 reads as follows:  "26 We must not be conceited, challenging one another to rivalry, jealous of one another."

     The apostle Paul ( see Galatians 1:1 ) wrote ( see 6:11, for example ) this letter to "the Christian congregations of Galatia" ( see verse two ).  Christians ( see Acts 11:26, for example ) are not to be engaged in rivalry ( as we read in verse twenty-six, above ).  Please click on the link below to read today's bulletin, with regard to doing all things for God's glory, and not our own:

<http://1drv.ms/1RJrszp>.

     If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russell E. Willis>.

NOTE:  You will need to click the back arrow ( on your web browser ) to exit the bulletin back to this weblog.  Also, human beings are not to be called reverend ( see Psalm 111:9 ( KJV, for example, and please read all of Psalm one hundred eleven to get the immediate context ), for example ), and women are not allowed to be gospel preachers, and they are not allowed to lead the worship service, period ( see 1 Timothy 2:12, for example ).  Religious denominationalism is not authorized in the Holy Bible ( there is one universal New Testament church, the church of Christ - see Matthew 16:13-20 ( especially verse 18, for example ), Romans 16:16 ( KJV, for example ), and Ephesians 1:15-23 ( especially verses 22 and 23, for example ), for example ).  Finally, the apocryphal books are not inspired by God ( please read the Thursday, June 12, 2014 entry to this weblog to find additional facts regarding this statement ).

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the GOD'S WORD TRANSLATION ( GW ); being entitled: PRAY THE SCRIPTURES BIBLE.  Hebrews 12:1-8 read as follows:

"1 Since we are surrounded by so many examples of faith, we must get rid of everything that slows us down, especially sin that distracts us.  We must run the race that lies ahead of us and never give up.  2 We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith.  He saw the joy ahead of him, so he endured death on the cross and ignored the disgrace it brought him.  Then he received the highest position in heaven, the one next to the throne of God.  3 Think about Jesus, who endured opposition from sinners, so that you don't become tired and give up.  4 You struggle against sin, but your struggles haven't killed you.  5 You have forgotten the encouraging words that God speaks to you as his children:  'My child, pay attention when the Lord disciplines you.  Don't give up when he corrects you.  6 The Lord disciplines everyone he loves.  He severely disciplines everyone he accepts as his child.'  7 Endure your discipline.  God corrects you as a father corrects his children.  All children are disciplined by their fathers.  8 If you aren't disciplined like the other children, you aren't part of the family."

As Christians ( see Acts 11:26, for example ), we are Christ's slaves ( see Acts 2:38; 8:26-40 ( especially verses 36-39 ( KJV, for example ), for example ); 20:28, Romans 6:1-4 ( especially verses 3 and 4, for example ), 1 Corinthians 7:18-24 ( especially verses 22 and 23, for example ), Galatians 3:26, 27, Colossians 1:13-20 ( especially verse 20, for example ), and Revelation 1:1-5 ( especially verse 5, for example ), for example ): we are also servants or slaves of God, the Father ( see 1 Peter 2:16 and cf. Philemon, verses 15 and 16 ( especially verse 16, for example ), for example, and please read verses eight through twenty-two to get the immediate context ).  See also John 10:30, Romans 1:20 ( see Romans 1:20 ( KJV, for example; with center-column references, for example ) to get the equivalent translation for the word "Godhead" ), Colossians 2:8, 9 ( KJV, for example ), and 1 John 5:7 ( KJV, for example ), for example.

     As the heavenly Father's ( see Matthew 5:9, 16; 6:9, 14, for example ) slaves, he severely disciplines us; being accepted as His children ( as we read in verse six, above ).  If we are not disciplined by Him, then we are not part of His family ( as is implied in verse eight, above ).  There is no such thing as a denominational slave of God ( see Ephesians 4:5, for example ).  Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, 151, John 17:1, 3, 17, and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ).

     If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russell E. Willis>.

NOTE:  Please see also Proverbs 3:11, 12 and Revelation 3:19 ( as cross-references from verses five and six ( above ), respectively, in the King James Version ( KJV ) of the Holy Bible, for example, with center-column references, for example ), for example.

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the GOD'S WORD TRANSLATION ( GW ); being entitled: PRAY THE SCRIPTURES BIBLE.  Psalm 119:104 reads as follows:

"104 From your guiding principles I gain understanding.  That is why I hate every path that leads to lying."

Everyone who is familiar with the Holy Bible would agree that it teaches a message of love ( see John 3:16-18 ( especially verse 16, for example ), for example ).

     However, as God's word ( see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, 151, John 17:1, 3, 17, and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ), it also teaches a message of hatred ( as we read in verse one hundred four, above ).  How naive and foolish it would be to love everything, for in so doing, one would also love sin.  Hebrews 1:8, 9 read as follows:

"8 But God said about his Son, 'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.  The scepter in your kingdom is a scepter for justice.  9 You have loved what is right and hated what is wrong.  That is why God, your God, anointed you, rather than your companions, with the oil of joy.'"

     The word "sin" is synonymous with the word "wrong" and, thus, Jesus, God, the Son ( see John 10:30, Romans 1:20 ( see Romans 1:20 ( KJV, for example; with center-column references, for example ) to get the equivalent translation for the word "Godhead" ), Colossians 2:8, 9 ( KJV, for example ), and 1 John 5:7 ( KJV, for example ), for example ) hates sin.  As Christians ( see Acts 11:26, for example ), we, too, must hate sin ( see 1 Corinthians 11:1, for example ).  Please read the Holy Bible ( see Luke 8:19-21; 11:27-32 ( especially verse 28, for example ), and Revelation 1:1-3 ( especially verse 3, for example ), for example ).

     If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russell E. Willis>.

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the GOD'S WORD TRANSLATION ( GW ); being entitled: PRAY THE SCRIPTURES BIBLE.  Romans 6:15-18 read as follows:

"15 Then what is the implication?  Should we sin because we are not controlled by God's laws but by God's favor?  That's unthinkable!  16 Don't you know that if you offer to be someone's slave, you must obey that master?  Either your master is sin, or your master is obedience.  Letting sin be your master leads to death.  Letting obedience be your master leads to God's approval.  17 You were slaves to sin.  But I thank God that you have become wholeheartedly obedient to the teachings which you were given.  18 Freed from sin, you were made slaves who do what God approves of."

The word "emancipate" is defined as follows:

". . . v.t.  -pated, -pating   1  To release from bondage or slavery, or any physical or spiritual oppression or authority; liberate; set free. . . ."  [  See NEW ILLUSTRATED WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY Including THESAURUS of SYNONYMS & ANTONYMS, PMC Publishing Company, Inc., 118 EAST 28th STREET, NEW YORK, NY  10016, dictionary portion: pages 1-1150, Copyright 1992, by J.G. Ferguson Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, p. 315.  ]

     When one is baptized, by immersion in water, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of his or her past sins, he or she comes in contact with His blood ( see Acts 2:38; 8:26-40 ( especially verses 36-39 ( KJV, for example ), for example ), Romans 3:21-31 ( especially verse 25, for example ); 6:1-4 ( especially verses 3 and 4, for example ), Galatians 3:26, 27, and Colossians 1:13-23 ( especially verse 20, for example ), for example ): this blood frees us from our sins ( see Revelation 1:5, for example ).  Thus, when one is raised from the watery grave of baptism, he or she is simultaneously freed from sin and made a slave to obedience ( a slave who does what God approves of, a Christian - see Acts 11:26, for example ), as we read in verses sixteen and eighteen, above.  The apostle Paul ( see Romans 1:1 ) teaches, here, that the concepts of freedom and slavery are inseparable: one cannot be freed from sin without also being made a slave to obedience.

     The heavenly Father ( see Matthew 5:9, 16; 6:9, 14, for example ), then, has never issued an emancipation proclamation to anyone.  Such a claim contradicts what the Holy Bible teaches.  We must all fear Him and keep His commandments ( see Ecclesiastes 12:13 and Romans 10:1-4 ( especially verse 4, for example ); 13:1-7 ( especially verse 1, for example ); 15:1-4 ( especially verse 4, for example ), for example ): we must submit to His absolute authority ( see Matthew 28:18, Mark 16:15, 16 ( especially verse 16, for example ), John 5:26, 27; 10:30, Romans 1:20 ( see Romans 1:20 ( KJV, for example; with center-column references, for example ) to get the equivalent translation for the word "Godhead" ), Colossians 2:8, 9 ( KJV, for example ), 2 Thessalonians 1:3-12 ( especially verses 7-9, for example ), James 4:7, and 1 John 5:7 ( KJV, for example ), for example ).  Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, 151, John 17:1, 3, 17, and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ).

     If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russell E. Willis>.

NOTE:  Please read the Tuesday, June 30, 2015 and Thursday, July 2, 2015 entries, for example, to this weblog to find additional facts, with regard to what the Holy Bible teaches about the subject of slavery, for example.

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the GOD'S WORD TRANSLATION ( GW ); being entitled: PRAY THE SCRIPTURES BIBLE.  Matthew 15:1-20 read as follows:

"1 Then some Pharisees and experts in Moses' Teachings came from Jerusalem to Jesus.  They asked, 2 'Why do your disciples break the traditions of our ancestors?  They do not wash their hands before they eat.'  3 He answered them, 'Why do you break the commandment of God because of your traditions?  4 For example, God said, '"Honor your father and your mother"' and '"Whoever curses father or mother must be put to death."'  5 But you say that whoever tells his father or mother, '"I have given to God whatever support you might have received from me,"' 6 does not have to honor his father.  Because of your traditions you have destroyed the authority of God's word.  7 You hypocrites!  Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you:  8 '"These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  9 Their worship of me is pointless, because their teachings are rules made by humans."''  10 Then he called the crowd and said to them, 'Listen and try to understand!  11 What goes into a person's mouth doesn't make him unclean.  It's what comes out of the mouth that makes a person unclean.'  12 Then the disciples came and said to him, 'Do you realize that when the Pharisees heard your statement they were offended?'  13 He answered, 'Any plant that my heavenly Father did not plant will be uprooted.  14 Leave them alone!  They are blind leaders.  When one blind person leads another, both will fall into the same pit.'  15 Peter said to him, 'Explain this illustration to us.'  16 Jesus said, 'Don't you understand yet?  17 Don't you know that whatever goes into the mouth goes into the stomach and then into a toilet?  18 But whatever goes out of the mouth comes from within, and that's what makes a person unclean.  19 Evil thoughts, murder, adultery, other sexual sins, stealing, lying, and cursing come from within.  20 These are the things that make a person unclean.  But eating without washing one's hands doesn't make a person unclean.'"

The phrase "politically correct" is defined as follows:  "a pejorative term used to criticize language, actions, or policies seen as being excessively calculated to not offend or disadvantage any particular group of people in society."  [  This definition is based on a search within the following website:  wikipedia.com.  ]

     Jesus' answer, in verses thirteen and fourteen ( above ), indicates that He was not concerned with being politically correct.  Moreover, there is an Old Testament lesson contained within this New Testament passage.  Specifically, Proverbs 26:5 reads as follows:  "5 Answer a fool with his own stupidity, or you will be like him."

     Jesus answered the Pharisees and experts in Moses' Teachings with their own stupidity here ( see verses three through eleven ).  In so doing, He explicitly called them hypocrites, and implicitly called them fools.  One lesson, regarding this observation, is that all who honor the heavenly Father with their lips, but not with their heart, and whose teachings are the rules of humans, are considered by Him to be fools and hypocrites.

     In short, all those who practice false religion, such as the Baptist false religion, the Methodist false religion, the Episcopal false religion, the Pentecostal Holiness false religion, the Muslim false religion, the Buddhist false religion, and the Hindu false religion, for example, are fools and hypocrites.  Jeremiah 10:8 reads as follows:  "8 They are complete idiots.  They learn nonsense from wooden idols."  Thus, the heavenly Father has revealed to us His thoughts ( see Psalm 92:5; 111:2, for example ), here, regarding all those who practice human ( or false ) religion: He calls them complete idiots.

     In Exodus 24:7, God's covenant people said, "We will obey and do everything the LORD has said" ( please read verses one through eleven to get the immediate context ).  There are four categories of human religion.  They are:

1.  Doing most of what God has said and a little of what mankind has said.

2.  Doing some of what God has said and some of what mankind has said.

3.  Doing a little of what God has said and most of what mankind has said.

4.  Doing none of what God has said and all of what mankind has said.

If you, the reader, fall into one of these categories, know that the heavenly Father considers you to be a fool, a hypocrite, and a complete idiot.

     Please repent ( see Luke 13:3, for example ) and be baptized by immersion in water, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the remission of your past sins ( see Acts 2:38; 8:26-40 ( especially verses 36-39 ( KJV, for example ), for example ), Romans 3:21-31 ( especially verse 25, for example ); 6:1-4 ( especially verses 3 and 4, for example ), and Galatians 3:26, 27, for example ).  Jesus ( see John 8:28 ) said concerning the Father in verse twenty-nine, ". . . . I always do what pleases him" ( please read both verses to get the immediate context ).  See also 1 Corinthians 11:1, for example.  Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, 151, John 17:1, 3, 17, and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ).

     If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russell E. Willis>.

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the GOD'S WORD TRANSLATION ( GW ); being entitled: PRAY THE SCRIPTURES BIBLE.  Obadiah, verse fifteen, reads as follows:

"15 'The day of the LORD is near for all nations.  Edom, you will be treated as you have treated others.  You will get back what you have given.'"

There is a warning, here, from the heavenly Father ( see Matthew 5:9, 16; 6:9, 14, for example ): He has commanded us ( see Psalm 119:65-73, 142, 151, Ecclesiastes 12:13, John 17:1, 3, 17, and 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ) not to mistreat others.

     Jesus ( see Matthew 5:1 ) said the following in ( 7:12 ):  "12 'Always do for other people everything you want them to do for you.  That is the meaning of Moses' Teachings and the Prophets.'"  A slave to obedience ( a Christian - see Acts 11:26, for example ) will live according to this golden rule; a slave to sin will not, and will suffer the consequences.  Please click on the link below to read today's bulletin regarding the book of Obadiah:

<http://1drv.ms/1H0PdHZ>.

     Also, please read the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see Luke 8:19-21; 11:27-32 ( especially verse 28, for example ), and Revelation 1:1-3 ( especially verse 3, for example ), for example ).  If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russell E. Willis>.

NOTE:  Please read the Thursday, July 2, 2015 entry to this weblog to find a description of a slave to obedience and a slave to sin.  Additionally, you will need to click the back arrow ( on your web browser ) to exit the bulletin back to this weblog.

The Holy Bible.

     Pictured to the left is a copy of a version of the Holy Bible, known as the GOD'S WORD TRANSLATION ( GW ); being entitled: PRAY THE SCRIPTURES BIBLE.  John 8:34 reads as follows:

"34 Jesus answered them, 'I can guarantee this truth: Whoever lives a sinful life is a slave to sin.'"

The word "truth" is defined as follows:

". . . n.   pl.  truths . . . 1  The state or character of being true in relation to being, knowledge, or speech.   2  Conformity to fact or reality. . . ."  [  See NEW ILLUSTRATED WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY Including THESAURUS of SYNONYMS & ANTONYMS, PMC Publishing Company, Inc., 118 EAST 28th STREET, NEW YORK, NY  10016, dictionary portion: pages 1-1150, Copyright 1992, by J.G. Ferguson Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, p. 1038.  ]

     Sense 2, of the above-given definition, when considered together with verse thirty-four ( above ), clearly reveals that the concept of slavery is tied to reality: the two concepts cannot be separated.  Jesus taught, here, that a life of sin is equated with slavery to it.  The United States Constitution allows for freedom of speech, freedom of religion ( the justifying of false religion ), and freedom of assembly, for example.

     Anyone who engages in such "freedoms" is actually a slave to sin, since these things are clearly condemned in the Holy Bible ( see Ephesians 4:29 and Matthew 7:21-23; 18:15-20 ( especially verse 20, for example ), for example, respectively - see also Psalm 119:65-73, 142, 151, John 17:1, 3, 17, and 1 John 3:4, for example ).  It is of sad note that many do not realize they are slaves.  The apostle Paul ( see 1 Corinthians 1:1 ) wrote ( 4:14; 16:21, for example ) the following in ( 15:34 ):  "34 Come back to the right point of view, and stop sinning.  Some people don't now anything about God.  You should be ashamed of yourselves."

     Paul ( see Romans 1:1 ) also wrote ( 16:1, 22, for example ) the following in ( 6:15-18 ):  "15 Then what is the implication?  Should we sin because we are not controlled by God's laws but by God's favor?  That's unthinkable!  16 Don't you know that if you offer to be someone's slave, you must obey that master?  Either your master is sin, or your master is obedience.  Letting sin be your master leads to death.  Letting obedience be your master leads to God's approval.  17 You were slaves to sin.  But I thank God that you have become wholeheartedly obedient to the teachings which you were given.  18 Freed from sin, you were made slaves who do what God approves of."  We are freed from our sins by the blood of Jesus Christ ( see Revelation 1:5 ) and, thus, one who has been baptized, by immersion in water, in His name, for the remission of his or her past sins ( see Acts 2:38; 8:26-40 ( especially verses 36-39 ( KJV, for example ), for example ), Romans 3:21-26 ( especially verse 25, for example ); 6:1-4 ( especially verses 3 and 4, for example ); 10:1-4 ( especially verse 4, for example ); 15:1-4 ( especially verse 4, for example ), Galatians 3:26, 27, Colossians 1:19, 20 ( especially verse 20, for example ), Hebrews, chapter 10 ( especially verses 4, 18 and 22, for example ), and 1 Peter 1:1, 2, for example ), has become a slave to obedience, who does what God approves of ( a Christian - see Acts 11:26, for example ).  Everyone in this world is a slave, either to sin or to obedience: there is no such thing as a denominational slave to obedience ( see Ephesians 4:5, for example ).  Please study the Holy Bible ( which is God's word - see 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16, 17, for example ).

     If you have any questions about the Holy Bible, you can contact me by e-mail at:

  

     <rewillis1_1@juno.com>

     <Russell E. Willis>.