God ask me this question for my last bible study. His actual question was, Who is dead in Christ Jesus? When I asked the question, I raised my hand. But no one else did. Then I said, Am I going to have to preach on salvation again? The word of God is specific. The Old Testament or the law taught us that we were sinners separated from God. And the we needed to seek God to repent of our sins and ask for forgiveness. Because we were dead in sin. God’s redemption required that we would die to ourselves and come alive to Jesus. But when we did, we were also required to stay dead to ourselves so that Jesus could live through us. Gal.2;20 “I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” I am dead to sin and I am dead to self. But I am alive to Jesus. I am dead to this world, so I can let Jesus live through me. It has been one of the hardest thing spiritually I had to do. And I have had to start again and again. It is because I am not perfect, I am walking through this world to reach the other side. But I know that if I stay in Christ Jesus, I will reach mine goal. Which is living in the presence of God forever. So the goal of my death is living in Christ Jesus. So, I die daily.

Crain Blanchard.
http://www.joseph1637.com
joseph1637@juno.com

The Word of God.
Today there is more than one bible in most homes. It is the most publised and purchase book in the world. We had a big family altar bible in our hallway. It was on a stand and display for all to see. But no one ever used it. It was for show only. As a child, I would look at the pictures in it. I liked the stories of King David. It was an illustrated version. When I recieved Jesus as savior, I went home and grabbed that family altar bible and opened it up. I read a scripture to my mother and father. My dad said get the hell out of his house. I came back the next day and did the same thing. My dad said the same thing. I did this for 2 weeks, before my dad finally realized that I had changed and began to listen. I was 28 years old and had never read the bible. I began to read intently. I had a bible in my home, one in my car and one on my desk at work. I read so much that when I stopped at traffic lights, I would read my bible. I read the bible until God would stop me and explain what I read. It took me 25 years to read the bible through twice. Because God explained to me what the bible meant. I did word studies. That is where I used an concordance to look up words like faith, hope, healing or deliverance. I studied and studied to show myself approved of God. What happened is I began to see who God is. The picture of Jesus became clearer and clearer. Until I could see Him wherever, And another affect of my studies, is that I hear God’s voice clearly. Did you know that God speaks to everyone? Reading your bible is the only way that you will find out what and who God is. It’s also how you will find out what God’s plan is for your life. It’s important for your spiritual life. So read your bible everyday.

Crain Blanchard.

http://www.joseph1637.com

joseph1637@juno.com

The Call.
Unfortunately, Christianity is struggling to survive in this world. God has a people that haven’t bowed their knee to baal. But haven’t taken the fight to the devil. This is where the fight belongs. Instead they are fighting for food, clothing and shelter. God says if you seek Him first, He will provide all things. But it’s to seek Him first. We are saved in a big flurry, then we sit down say that is enough. Then we struggle the rest of our lives. The Call of God isn’t just so that you don’t feel guilty about your sins. It’s a walk from your salvation all the way home. God wants us to come home. But if you don’t keep on walking toward home, you are as God says walking away. God says that those who endure to the end shall be saved. This isn’t a if or maybe. This is reality, God’s reality. Just going to church doesn’t get you into heaven. At the great white throne judgement, Jesus will reject people who have worked in the church and done miracles. It is because they never knew Jesus. Walking with God is getting to know who He is. The Call has gone out for over 2000 years. Ever since Jesus was crucified on the cross. Anyone who heard that call and answered it, has a trask to perform for God. It is the work God has called us to. God wants us to read the Word of God, pray and go out into the world and preach the gospel. Every Christian is called to do this for God. You can’t hide anymore. God is calling us. Now is the time to use your free will and make the choice. Our lives depend on it. God will not force you to choose His way. But know as a Christian, you asked God to save you. You made the choice in the first place. And now it is your turn to fulfill your commitment.

Crain Blanchard.

http://www.joseoh1637.com

joseph1637@juno.com

Gal.5: 24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
The Fruit of the Spirit. vs.22-26
1) Love – (26) -agape – To love like God.
2) Joy – (5479) -chara – Cheerfulness, calm delight, gladness.
3) Peace – (1515) -eirene – To join, prosperity, quietness,rest.
4) Long-suffering – (3115) -makrothumia – forbearance, fortitude.
5) Gentleness – (5544) -chrestotes – usefulness, excellent character.
6) Goodness – (19) -agathosune – virtue, benevolence.
7) Faith – (4102) -pistis – persuation, credence, conviction.
8) Meekness – (4236) -praotes – Humility.
9) Temperance – (1466) -egkrateia – Self control.
Galatians 6 – vs.1-10 – Exhortation. vs.11 – Paul wrote the epistle himself. vs.12,13 – Many times, people want you like them, so they don’t have to change.vs.14-16 – Repeating again that circumcision is nothing, only faith in Jesus. vs.17 – Paul was scourged 5 times, 39 stripes.

Crain Blanchard.

http://www.joseph1637.com

Hopelessness
Where do you start? It something that is prevalent in this society today. It is caused by what we do. It is a choice that we make because we want what we want. People don’t really understand what it really cost. Hopelessness is a destroyer of all that is good in this life. I grow up in the 1960’s and I know from first hand the reasons why people rebelled against God. It wasn’t real or true. People were hurt and afraid of what was going on in the world. So people ran with drugs, sex and violence. Now it’s like people have accepted this corrupted lifestyle as what is real and normal. When it’s so far from God, it creates hopelessness. Jesus is calling and wants us to come home. It is the only answer for hopelessness. We always have a choice. I hear many people say that God loves and wouldn’t send us to hell. But I will tell you a truth. God loves the people in hell and much as He loves the people in heaven. We make the choice to go heaven or hell. It is our choice, not God’s. It is called free will. It is sad how many people use their free will to rebel against God. But God is willing to forgive us of our sins, if only we will turn toward God. Ask God to forgive you of your sins and let Him into your life. God will forgive and take us back. How do I know that this is true? Because He took me back after running away from God for 28 years. Turn and ask for forgiveness. God will take you back home.

Crain Blanchard.

http://www.joseph1637.com

Joseph1637@juno.com

I’m a Christian and have a normal life. I have a wife and 4 sons, 2 daughter in laws, 3 grandsons. God gave me gifts that frightened most people. I want a fellowship with people , but I don’t wanna talk about the bad things of this world. What I want to talk about is what God does and what God is doing and how he is my father. But people look at me like I’m crazy because I talk about God. I share the same trials and tribulations that everyone goes through. But I have someone that loves and cares for me. God is constantly providing, correcting and healing my heart. The reason is because I am a man. And I live on this earth. When I get to heaven, I will be perfect. But now I have to deal with my flesh. Christianity isn’t being perfect. It is believing and trusting God with my life. Until I go home to heaven.

Crain Blanchard.

http://www.joseph1637.com

Galatians 5 – vs.1 – Christ has set us free. Why do you go back into bondage, keeping the law or making laws for yourself to keep? vs.2-4 – Being circumcised is trying to be justified by the Law. If you do this, you leave behind the grace of God and Christ died in vain. vs.6 – Faith in Christ, working through love, is the only way. This is not love by word, but by deed also.
Faith – muscles.
Love – life.
Hope – cord that holds faith and love together.
vs.7-11 – Be careful a little heresy or error will corrupt the whole assembly. vs.13-15 – “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
The Works of the Flesh: vs.19-21
1) Adultery.
2) Fornication – practice idolatry and adultery.
3) Uncleanness- Impure, lewd.
4) Lasciviousness – Licentiousness, wantonness.
5) Idolatry
6) Witchcraft – Drugs, sorcery, witchcraft.
7) Hatred
8) Variance – Wrangling, contention, strife.
9) Emulations.
10) Wrath – fierceness, indignation.
11) Strife
12) Seditions – dissention, division.
13) Heresies
14) Envying.
15) Murders
16) Drunkenness
17) Revelings
Gal.5:21 “of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Crain Blanchard.

http://www.joseph1637.com

Galatians 4 – vs.1-7 – There is no difference between a slave and a son, though the son is heir to all. Under the law, we’re servants, slaves, but in Jesus, we become the sons of God. And if a son, then an heir of God’s kingdom through Jesus. vs.8-20 – Paul preached the gospel of Jesus which set them free from the bondage of the world. Now they are turning back to the bondage. Paul is confused about this. He is questioning them about his ministry, if it was not enough to set them free. vs.21-31 – Here is the comparison of Mt. Sinai (the Law) and Mt. Zion (the Promise). The Law meant bondage and the Promise meant freedom.

Crain Blanchard.

http://www.joseph1637.com

Galatians 3 – vs.1-5 – Paul is telling the Galatians, how could you let someone trick you, after knowing the truth. How can anyone be perfected by the works of the law? vs.6-9 – Abraham, before the law, was justified by faith. He being the father of our faith. We become the sons of Abraham, by believing in God not by works. vs.10-14 – Everyone who tries to keep the law, must keep the whole law, otherwise to suffer to curse of the law. Jesus became the curse for us, to redeem us from it. vs.15-24 – The promise was given to Abraham before the law. Abraham believed God and was justified before Him. The Law was added because of transgressions. The Law was not to justify, but to instruct us in the ways of God and to lead us to Jesus. Once the Christ was revealed, we stand upon the Law, because we have Jesus and grace.

Crain Blanchard.

http://www.joseph1637.com

I like to listen to music. Mainly, Adult Contemporary Christian. I ran across this song and I cried. I listen closely to what they said. They speak the truth about God finding us in the middle of all our troubles. And there is a way out with God. Listen and hear what God says. Crain Blanchard.