Godly commitment provokes persecution.

“You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution.”ⁱ

“God blesses those people who are treated badly for doing right. They belong to the Kingdom of Heaven. God will bless you when people insult you, mistreat you, and tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me. Be happy and excited! You will have a great reward in heaven. People did these same things to the prophets who lived long ago.”ⁱⁱ

“PERSECU'TION, n. The act or practice of persecuting; the infliction of pain, punishment or death upon others unjustly, particularly for adhering to a religious creed or mode of worship, either by way of penalty or for compelling them to renounce their principles.”ⁱⁱⁱ

“In all ages, in one form or another, the people of God have had to suffer persecution. In its earliest history the Christian church passed through many bloody persecutions. Of subsequent centuries in our own and in other lands the same sad record may be made.”^iv

“Happy are you, when men have hate for you, and put you away from among them and say angry words to you, turning away in disgust at your name, because of the Son of man. Be glad in that day, and be lifted up for joy, for your reward in heaven will be great: for their fathers did these same things to the prophets.”^v

“Be exceeding glad - Αγαλλιασθε, leap for joy. There are several cases on record, where this was literally done by the martyrs, in Queen Mary’s days.”^vi

“Theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven - They have evidence that they are Christians, and that they will be brought to heaven.”^vii

The ultimate persecution of the righteous was suffered by Jesus Himself. The great reward is that some of us have chosen to give our lives to Him.

There's a lot more on the subject of persecution of the righteous, some of it will be included in other posts.

I have referred to several English translations of the Bible in writing this which is made easy by e-sword, a free downloadable program. For further information I recommend reading the Bible.

© Ken Glasgow 2010

This post was written using Open Office 3.2.1, open source software from the www.openoffice.org this software is available to download for free.

iMark 5:10a "The Message" paraphrase of the Bible.

iiMark 5:10-12 Contemporary English Version of the Bible.

iiiWebster's 1828 Dictionary.

ivEaston's Dictionary of the Bible.

vLuke 6:22-23 The Bible in Basic English.

viAdam Clarke's commentary on the Bible.

viiAlbert Barnes' notes on the Bible.

Christianity in brief.

In the beginning, God created all things.¹

The first humans, Adam an Eve though God had said not to, they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, at that point sin entered the world.²

Every person has sinned³. There is a price for sin, death. “Sin pays off with death. But God's gift is eternal life given by Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 Contemporary English Version of the Bible) Sin can not remain in the presence of God.

At the right time God sent His Son,⁴ Jesus Christ born to a virgin named Mary.⁵ Jesus lived without sin⁶, was crucified and died⁷ to pay the price for the sins of all.

On the third day Jesus was raised⁸ and seen by many witnesses⁹ before being taken up¹⁰ into Heaven (Jesus also appeared to Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus¹¹ after His ascension to Heaven), giving us an assurance that those of us who believe in Him as the Scriptures say will be raised and go to Heaven for ever.

“You see, God loved all the people in the world. He loved everyone so much that he sent them his only son, his special son. God sent him to die instead of them, so that if anyone trusts him God will not finish them up, but they will live with him for ever.” John 3:16 Plain English Version

For those who would like to get right with God I suggest a simple prayer:

• God I admit that I have sinned and fallen short of your standards.

• Thank you that you sent your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ to die for me, paying the price for my salvation from sin, to be raised on the third day and to later ascend to Heaven. as an assurance

• I choose to place my faith in your Son, Jesus Christ.

• Thank you that Jesus' ascension to Heaven is my assurance that you will take me to live with you there forever after my life on Earth is over.

You should now develop a habit of reading the Bible and talking to God every day. You should also join a Bible believing church (that does not add any other books to it) and fellowship there regularly¹².

I have refered to several English translations of the Bible in writing this which is made easy by e-sword, a free downloadable program. For further information I recommend reading the Bible.

© Ken Glasgow 2009 Last edited 11 March 2021

This page was written using Open Office 3, open source software from the www.openoffice.org this software is available to download for free.

1Genesis 1-2

2Genesis 3

3Romans 3:23

4Galatians 4:4

5Luke 1:26-38

6Hebrews 4:15

7John 19:16-30

8John 20-21

91Corinthians 15:6-7

10Acts 1:6-9

11Acts 9:3-6

12Hebrews 10:25

© Ken Glasgow 2009

This page was written using Open Office 3, open source software from the www.openoffice.org this software is available to download for free.

The basics of Christianity.

In the beginning, God created all things.¹

The first humans, Adam an Eve though God had said not to, they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, at that point sin entered the world.²

Every person has sinned³. There is a price for sin, death. “Sin pays off with death. But God's gift is eternal life given by Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23 Contemporary English Version of the Bible) Sin can not remain in the presence of God.

At the right time God sent His Son,⁴ Jesus Christ born to a virgin named Mary.⁵ Jesus lived without sin⁶, was crucified and died⁷ to pay the price for the sins of all.

On the third day Jesus was raised⁸ and seen by many witnesses⁹ before being taken up¹⁰ into Heaven (Jesus also appeared to Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus¹¹ after His ascension to Heaven), giving us an assurance that those of us who believe in Him as the Scriptures say will be raised and go to Heaven for ever.

“You see, God loved all the people in the world. He loved everyone so much that he sent them his only son, his special son. God sent him to die instead of them, so that if anyone trusts him God will not finish them up, but they will live with him for ever.” John 3:16 Plain English Version

For those who would like to get right with God I suggest a simple prayer:

• God I admit that I have sinned and fallen short of your standards.

• Thank you that you sent your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ to die for me, paying the price for my salvation from sin, to be raised on the third day and to later ascend to Heaven. as an assurance

• I choose to place my faith in your Son, Jesus Christ.

• Thank you that Jesus' ascension to Heaven is my assurance that you will take me to live with you there forever after my life on Earth is over.

You should now develop a habit of reading the Bible and talking to God every day. You should also join a Bible believing church (that does not add any other books to it) and fellowship there regularly¹².

I have refered to several English translations of the Bible in writing this which is made easy by e-sword, a free downloadable program. For further information I recommend reading the Bible.

© Ken Glasgow 2009 Last edited 11 April 2021

This page was written using Open Office 3, open source software from the www.openoffice.org this software is available to download for free.

1Genesis 1-2

2Genesis 3

3Romans 3:23

4Galatians 4:4

5Luke 1:26-38

6Hebrews 4:15

7John 19:16-30

8John 20-21

91Corinthians 15:6-7

10Acts 1:6-9

11Acts 9:3-6

12Hebrews 10:25