Saved by Grace Chuck Smith

Saved by Grace August 31, 2020 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they. — Acts 15:11 A problem developed in the early church over the subject of salvation. The question at hand was: What does it take to be saved? The Jews believed that salvation was for the Jews only. They believed a Gentile’s only hope for salvation was by becoming a Jew, which meant fulfilling the rite of circumcision and baptism. Those who believed that put a heavy burden on the Gentile believers. So the first church council was established to answer the issue. What does one have to do to be saved? Are we saved by faith alone, or is it a combination of both faith and works? Many today still teach that salvation is through faith and works. Most of the cult groups and even many churches require certain works for salvation. But the Bible teaches that salvation is through faith alone. Works don’t save you. Works simply demonstrate the genuineness of your faith. If you truly believe in Jesus Christ, there will be changes in your life. You will no longer practice sin. You’ll have a changed attitude and a changed heart. But those good works don’t save you. The only one who can save you is Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent” (John 6:29). God has made salvation through faith so that no one can glory in what they have done. And that is what the early church concluded. Salvation is through grace—through Jesus Christ alone. Thank You, Father, that the cross was the finished work for our salvation. Lord, draw us to Your love. IN THE NAME OF JESUS, AMEN.   The Best of Kay Smith For the month of August, TWFT resource will be "The Best of Kay Smith"  Visit  The Word For Today Shop Click Here to Order

HISTORY OF ISRAEL AND PALESTINE www.davidhocking.org

 

In recent history the area called Palestine includes the territories of present day Israel and Jordan. From 1517 to 1917 most of this area remained under the rule of the Ottoman Empire which was dissolved at the end of World War I. Its successor, the modern republic of Turkey, transferred Palestine to British Empire control under the Lausanne agreement that followed WW I.

 

In 1917 Great Britain issued the Balfour Declaration for "the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people". In 1922 Britain allocated nearly 80% of Palestine to Transjordan. Thus, Jordan covers the majority of the land of Palestine under British Mandate. Jordan also includes the majority of the Arabs who lived there. In other words, Jordan is the Arab portion of Palestine.

 

The residents of Palestine are called "Palestinians". Since Palestine includes both modern day Israel and Jordan both Arab and Jewish residents of this area were referred to as "Palestinians".

 

It was only after the Jews re-inhabited their historic homeland of Judea and Samaria, that the myth of an Arab Palestinian nation was created and marketed worldwide. Jews come from Judea, not Palestinians. There is no language known as Palestinian, or any Palestinian culture distinct from that of all the Arabs in the area. There has never been a land known as Palestine governed by Palestinians. "Palestinians" are Arabs indistinguishable from Arabs throughout the Middle East. The great majority of Arabs in greater Palestine and Israel share the same culture, language and religion.

 

Much of the Arab population in this area actually migrated into Israel and Judea and Samaria from the surrounding Arab countries in the past 100 years. The rebirth of Israel was accompanied by economic prosperity for the region. Arabs migrated to this area to find employment and enjoy the higher standard of living. In documents not more than hundred years, the area is described as a scarcely populated region. Jews by far were the majority in Jerusalem over the small Arab minority. Until the Oslo agreement the major source of income for Arab residents was employment in the Israeli sector. To this day, many Arabs try to migrate into Israel with various deceptions to become a citizen of Israel.

 

Even the Chairman of the Palestinian Authority, Arafat himself, was not a "Palestinian". He was born in Egypt. The famous "Palestinian covenant" states that Palestinians are "an integral part of the Arab nation" -- a nation which is blessed with a sparsely populated land mass 660 times the size of tiny Israel (Judea, Samaria and Gaza included).

 

All attempts to claim Arab sovereignty over Israel of today, should be seen with their real intention: The destruction of Israel as a Jewish state and the only bulwark of the Judeo-Christian Western civilization in the Middle East.