Diocese of Camden’s Post

A CALL TO REVERENCE GOD'S COMMANDMENTS AND TEMPLE In our contemporary society, there is a troubling trend of diminishing reverence for God's temple, despite it being adorned with beautiful & expensive materials. Consequently, Jesus' reactions in today's gospel demonstrate the importance He placed on the sanctity of God's temple. It was really quite unlike Him. Ordinarily, Jesus Christ is a gentle, kind, tolerant, & peaceful person. But on this very occasion, He was very angry, to the point of becoming violent. Why? Please tap the link below to read more...https://lnkd.in/d2nMASnT

THE CHURCH, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD - 1Pet.2:9. The adjective used for, modifying the noun 'priesthood', has to do or relate to the status of a king or queen or a member of their family. Therefore, the noun 'priesthood' is the type that functions in the court of a king or queen. Priests are persons who are authorized to administer certain sacraments having been ordained to the priesthood. In our lead text above, Apostle Peter is addressing his Christian audience as God's chosen race, the King's priests as well as a holy nation. Before now, God ordained priests for His service from the Aaronic tribe of Levi - a closed priesthood. (See Heb. 7:11) If the Church is a nation as Peter posits in his inspired writing, then, there should be a king over it who should have priests or chaplains in his private chapel or regiment. In God's arrangement shown in His old plan of worship, the one high priest and other priests serving with him had to migrate from the tribe of Levi. (ibid) So, before we ever talk of anybody serving under Him through the current High Priest (Jesus, Christ - Heb. 3:1), let us ask, "is Jesus from the tribe of Judah qualified to be High Priest?" "Under which law or order is that permissible?" Actually, God had changed His first will (Testament, Covenant) that had limited the priesthood to the tribe of Levi in order to permit Jesus from the tribe of Judah (David) to emerge an eternal High Priest as recorded in 'Heb. 7:12-14'. It is now knowledgeable, therefore, to say that, according to the Scripture, the new Covenant has permitted Jesus, Christ to lead all other priests to offer sacrifices to God, God having changed the old order. As the new order permitted Jesus as High Priest, not emerging from the tribe of Levi, even so, we are permitted from every tribe, language, nation and race to both serve our God and reign on earth. (See Rev. 5:9,10 - NIV) No wonder, the veil of the shadow temple fell on its own immediately after Jesus died on a tree! (cf. Matt. 27:50,51) It served to show that anyone who believes in Christ will go to God and offer acceptable sacrifices without necessarily consulting with anybody. It was not so from the beginning. Before Christ's regime, anyone chosen by God can be a prophet even without believing in God. Maybe, like Jeremiah, one can be selected a prophet even before he was born. On the contrary now, nobody can speak for God without believing, first of all, to receive the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of Christ) - consider 'Rom. 8:9' & 'Acts 5:32; 10:38'. Furthermore, when God authorized the priests to offer sacrifices as stipulated in the Levitical order, He was not perfunctory or without an aim: He sought to show mercy to the poor and needy because all were not burnt offerings - cf. Matt. 12:6,7. - To Be Concluded -

We do not receive grace through prayers; grace comes through Jesus Christ. This doctrinal point is crucial for avoiding ambiguity. As stated in John 1:16–17, "Out of his fullness, we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." This passage emphasises that grace is a gift from Jesus, not something we earn or obtain through prayer. Zechariah 12:10 This verse foretells the Holy Spirit's role in the regeneration of Israel, leading them to recognise and accept the Messiah they previously rejected. The mourning reflects their deep confession and repentance, not a means of obtaining grace. Thus, it is not about praying to receive grace. This clarification ensures a proper understanding of the doctrine of grace: it is a gift from Jesus Christ. If the CONTEXT is the king, then the CONTENT is the queen, which is vital for presenting this doctrine accurately. . GRACE WATCHDOG: DON'T HATE; LEARN; NO CRITICISM

Since humility is the cornerstone of our spiritual lives, let us consider it today, my friends. In a culture that frequently values ego and independence, let us never forget that real greatness comes from serving others and being humble, just like our Lord Jesus Christ did. Read today's full devotional here: https://lnkd.in/dq8p4zrj

- THE CHURCH - A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD - Remainder. In conclusion, God has made us, believers in Christ, a Kingdom and Priesthood to serve to meet the needs of fellow persons. We know God cannot be hungry, lack clothes and shelter unless humans He made in His likeness lack them. Beloved, is your priesthood with Jesus radiating mercy in all your sacrifices these many years as a Christian? Can you beat your chest and say, "after all, I am not a waste in God's world; if Jesus were here where I am, it would make no difference in the way His life would benefit His neighborhood?" EVALUATION 1. When God stipulated varieties of sacrifices in the old order, what was His aim according to 'Matt. 12:6,7'? 2. God can choose anybody today like Jeremiah of old even though he does not believe in the Gospel of Christ as His priest and prophet. (True or False) Why? 3. If the rich of this world give gifts to fellow rich ones does not portray mercy because mercy is shown to the needy. (True or False) Why? 4. According to 'Prov. 19:17' and 'Matt. 25:31-40', if we ignore the poor because they will not make a return giving and give to the rich, it is not God that we seek to reward us but men. (True or False) Why? 5. According to 'Rev. 5:9,10', all Christians are priests. (True or False) Why

CATHOLIC REFLECTION WATER DOES NOT SANCTIFY WITHOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT By Saint Ambrose You were told before not to believe only what you saw. I see the water I used to see every day, does this water in which I have often bathed without being sanctified really have the power to sanctify me? Learn from this that water does not sanctify without the Holy Spirit. You have read that the three witnesses in Baptism -the water, the blood and the Spirit- are One. This means that if you take away one of these the Sacrament of Baptism is not conferred. What is water without the cross of Christ? Only an ordinary element without sacramental effect. Again, without water, there is no Sacrament of rebirth. The catechumen believes in the cross of the Lord with which he too is signed, but unless he is baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, he cannot receive the forgiveness of sins or the gift of spiritual grace. Do not consider the merits of individuals but the office of the priests. If you do look at merits, consider the merits of Peter and of Paul in the same way as you consider the merits of Elijah, they have handed on to us this Sacrament which they received from the Lord Jesus. You went down into the water. Remember what you said: I believe in the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. You are committed by this spoken understanding of yours to believe the same of the Son as of the Father, and the same of the Holy Spirit as of the Son, with this one exception: you proclaim that you must believe in the cross of the Lord Jesus alone. #catholic #faith #baptism #holyspirit #Jesus #God

Daily Inspiration What Do You Believe? Isaiah 43:10, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, 1 Timothy 4:10, Acts 16:31, Mark 11:24, John 3:18, John 14:1, John 20:31 I am always curious as to what individuals believe when it comes to Christianity and Jesus Christ. Allot of people believe, if they are good people then for sure they will get into heaven and then you have others who believe all they have to do is just say the sinners prayer and they will be all set. Here lies the problem, in none of those scenarios, is there any mention of Jesus and your relationship with Him or how you should live your life as a Christian or what your walk should look like. If you believe in Jesus Christ, then your walk should imitate His. How you pray, worship, love and treat others should look just like Jesus! My question to you is, What Do You Believe? Do you believe that Jesus sacrificed His life on the cross for you and me and was the Savior for mankind? Do you believe He rose from the dead on the third day and is coming back for His people? Do you also believe that He is the Son of the one True Living God? What do you believe? Ponder these questions.... If you are struggling to answer them, then might I suggest you go into prayer and seek the Lord! He will answer your lingering questions and or disbelief! My question still remains, What do you believe?

There is still so much confusion about the word “Repentance/Repent”. I urge you all to watch this teaching on the true meaning and right definition of repentance 🙂 Repentance is a change of mind 🎯and it depends on the CONTEXT what a person should change his/her mind about. Regarding salvation it's a change of mind about Jesus Christ, who He is and what He came and did for us. https://lnkd.in/eWZDXaS3

Make sure you get Jesus Christ for yourself. Salvation ain't personal when you repeat what your pastors say! Listen: In today's era, it is imperative for Christians who seek self-reflection to refrain from relying solely on televised preachers. Instead, they should devote themselves to studying and comprehending the teachings of Jesus Christ, thus establishing a personal connection with Him. Regrettably, I have observed that numerous individuals within the church community merely regurgitate their pastor's words. After prolonged exposure to falsehoods, they become incapable of distinguishing between genuine spiritual truth and deceitful fallacies. When one is deprived of truth for an extended period, falsehoods take root and emerge as a misguided substitute for the genuine article.

Our lives are hidden in Christ Jesus. He is our dwelling place, far above all principalities, powers and every name that can be named. Read today's post for more https://lnkd.in/dYZwpFvk