This semester I started the seminary Martín Bucer, and in the main class of this semester, I preached at the Baptist Church of Graca, in Sao José dos Campos, The Pr. Paulo César do Valle reminded us how in a short time (about 3 years!The church of Galata had left the gospel of grace. Paulo, admired, writes:
I am astonished that you pass so quickly from the one who called you in Christ’s grace to another gospel (Galatians 1:6).
- What an alert for us! Three years and an entire church practically apostasy As the grass of heresy grows!And.
- To our astonishment.
- A church established by the Apostle Paul himself!Shouldn’t we all be conscious? Pastors.
- Do you know how quickly the sheep entrusted to you can believe in heresy? parents.
- Are you aware of the possibility that in three years your children will apostat?church member concerned about what He warns of Hebrews 3:12.
- 13?Do you encourage your brother every day and your brother encourages you every day?.
Brethren, be careful, never leave in any of you a wicked heart of disbelief that will keep you away from the living God; on the contrary, exhort yourselves every day, during the time called today, that none of you may be hardened by the deception of sin (Hebrews 3:12,13).
Don’t we underestimate the deceptive power of sin to harden our hearts?Do you remember the different episodes of the Old Testament?written for our teaching (Romans 15:4)?where, in a few generations, the nation of Israel had abandoned the Lord and his precepts (the whole book of judges, in particular 2:10, 11, and kings in Chronicles). Don’t we all say that destroying is much easier than building?
But let’s not get discouraged. Assigned, but not distressed; perplexed, but not discouraged?(2 Co4: 8). And the reason for our encouragement is that, although the deceptive power of sin is great, the greatest is the power of God, who does great things for his people and in a short time, as Ezekiel’s reign demonstrates:
Ezekiel and all the people rejoiced in what God had done for his people, and all this in such a short time (2Cr 29:36).
Let us pray that God will bring such grace to our generation in order to return to the gospel every day. Let us pray that we may watch and pray (Mark 14:38), watch over and teach, watch, and encourage. build something, it takes effort and energy. We must actively fight against the tendency of our hearts so inclined to deviate, through the reading of the Word, prayer and mutual encouragement among our brothers and sisters. Do we need to maintain a healthy balance between surveillance and trust?warning against the deceptions of sin, the world and the devil and full of hope in the power of God. Without falling to the extreme of naive trust, you do not see and therefore do not pray, because it is the anguish of tribulation. that leads us to prayer (as the psalms show), or to the other end of the paralyzing fear, which does not look, nor pray, because it does not trust in God’s liberating power.
Watch and pray!
The date is obviously approximate. Paul is believed to have established the church in Galacia on his first missionary journey (46-47 AD) and wrote the epistle to the Galatians before the Jerusalem Council (48-49 AD).
By Vinecius Musselman Pimentel © Return to the Gospel.
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The Martin Bucer Seminar is an extension of the Martin Bucer Seminary (http://www. bucer. de/) in Germany and aims to equip Pastors and Christian leaders in general for Brazilian evangelical churches.
Brazil has a large number of pastors and leaders in general who actively participate in Christian ministry in parallel with its secular professional occupation. Due to the exercise of their profession, these evangelical leaders do not have access to many theology courses in the traditional format.
The scriptures ignore the concept of full-time or part-time workers, because the call is one of total dedication to all, have or not have a secular profession.
For this reason, the Martín Bucer Seminary (SMB) has developed a program to give the Christian leader the opportunity to deepen his theological and practical knowledge and also to participate in an effective network of contact with other leaders of the most diverse Brazilian denominations. committing its professional, ministerial and, above all, family agenda.
We will be very happy to help you better prepare to develop your gifts in the ministry God has placed before you!