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“For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” (I Corinthians 3:11)
In This Issue . . . .
LIFE, A Gift From God - - - - - - - - - - - - - Page 2
Ceasing From Sin - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Page 7
“And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath
of life; and man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7)
We live in a world surrounded by death and dying, so much so that sometimes we forget that
life is a gift from God. Physical life and spiritual life, the gift of new life as in a little baby as well as the
new birth through which we enter the Kingdom of God. It all began in the Garden when God literally
breathed into Adam’s nostrils and he became a living soul. Adam had already been created from the
dust of the earth and was awaiting God’s touch, that Almighty powerful “jump start” if you will, that
which would animate him and all those that
would follow until this very day. You and I have
that same breath of life passed on to us,
generation upon generation, until one day when
He returns to judge this earth and make all
things new.
Speaking then of life, there is a battle
raging around us, “When does life begin?” For
me that answer is a simple one. It begins at
conception. When that tiny sperm impregnates
that little egg the miracle of life has begun. I
firmly believe this. As a little child would say,
“The Bible tells me so.” It has been one
continuous and ongoing life since God created
Adam in the Garden. That life has remained
unbroken and it indeed continues.
It is not so for many, many millions of others. They treat this little gift from God as a by
product of a night out on the town, a one night stand, a product of lust, fornication or adultery,
something (or “somebody”) they cannot afford, another unwanted mouth to feed or find some other
excuse for “it”. This “it” is a person within which is a soul just as surely as you and I have a soul. Man
has lost sight of the fact that we are souls encased in a body of flesh temporarily living here on earth.
This soul lives on for eternity after this body of flesh falls off in death.
We are awash in a society that seeks to prevent
pregnancy and should that “accident” happen we have
remedies, the morning after pill or “Plan B” as it is
sometimes called and abortion. Sexual intercourse has
been so long separated from God’s original plan and
intent for man that he sees it primarily as a form of
pleasure and recreation only. Abortion, for many, has
become simply another manner of birth control and is
used freely with seldom any thought or regret.
Statistically speaking, the number of aborted
children is staggering. Since being made legal here in the
United States in 1973, it is estimated that there have been
over 50 million abortions. You and I and all men know deep within our being that to kill is wrong.
But, for convenience sake, millions turn and look the other way as these (continued on page three)
Homeward Bound Ministries – P. O. Box 3351 – Milford – Connecticut – 06460 2
(203) 283-4380 – john@HomewardBoundMinistries.Org
Homeward Bound Ministries – Volume 14 – Number 01.
information about contraception because, look, I've got two daughters. 9 years old and 6 years old. I
am going to teach them first of all about values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don't want
them punished with a baby. I don't want them punished with an STD at the age of 16. You know, so it
doesn't make sense to not give them information.” Here is a man running for the office of leader of
the free world, one of the most powerful and important political and worldly offices on the face of the
earth. He was speaking off the cuff and without prepared notes and many times, as a campaigner, you
speak things, looking back, you wish you had not said. But to say he did not (continued on page five)
Homeward Bound Ministries – P. O. Box 3351 – Milford – Connecticut – 06460 4
(203) 283-4380 – john@HomewardBoundMinistries.Org
Homeward Bound Ministries – Volume 14 – Number 01.
Operation Rescue/Operation Save America, headed by Rev. Philip “Flip” Benham, Director:
http://www.operationsaveamerica.org/
Homeward Bound Ministries – P. O. Box 3351 – Milford – Connecticut – 06460 6
(203) 283-4380 – john@HomewardBoundMinistries.Org
Homeward Bound Ministries – Volume 14 – Number 01.
“Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for
he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the
flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.” (I Peter 4:1-2)
“If so be that ye have heard Him, and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off
concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be
renewed in the spirit of your mind.” (Ephesians 4:21-23)
Are you kidding me? Out of your mind? You say that I am expected to stop
sinning? Impossible! Well, that’s what the Bible, God’s Holy and Infallible Word,
says we are to do. I was somewhat viciously attacked by a well meaning Christian the
other day for pointing out a celebrity who has claimed to be a Christian for many,
many years but lives his life using filthy conversation, sexual jokes and sells CD’s
and DVD’s of this sort of humor even though he now says he is straightening up his
life. He claims to have been saved, living as a Christian during all this time. The
Bible teaches otherwise.
If you read the Word of God you will plainly see that scripture teaches we are
supposed to stop sinning and cease living in the manner we used to prior to confessing
Christ as Lord and Savior. Let me share some passages with you as hopefully you will agree.
The Bible says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly
furnished unto all good works.” (II Timothy 3:16-17) It is important to know and understand that the Word of
God is here to plainly demonstrate and instruct us in Christian living. And, YES, you can stop continuing in the
sin you were living in when you came to know Jesus Christ in the pardon of your sins.
The Bible plainly says, “This then is the message which we have heard of him, and
declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we
have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: but if we
walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the
blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no
sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and
his word is not in us.” (I John 1:5-10) Yes, we will stumble and fall into a sin
occasionally. Verse 9 here explains to us how we get forgiven for these sins,
but, we will not, must not, continue to practice sin if He has indeed come to
dwell within us. ‘Walking’ in darkness implies living in an ongoing manner of
sinfulness, knowingly doing so.
The Bible says further, “And hereby we do know that we know Him, if
we keep His commandments. He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His
commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth His word,
in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in Him. He
that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.” (I
John 2:3-6) Willful and continued obedience to Him is a key to overcoming sin and
walking blamelessly before Him. Did Jesus not say, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”? (John 14:15)
Obedience is a requirement of discipleship and remaining in fellowship with Jesus. The Bible says, “And we
are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.”
(Acts 5:32) So many pastors and teachers leave out or do not preach on the (continued on page eight)
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole
duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or
whether it be evil.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)
“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience,
experience; and experience, hope: and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in
our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:3-5)
“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in
the world.” (I John 4:4)
“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even
our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” (I John
5:4-5)
Homeward Bound is published by Homeward Bound Ministries, Post Office Box 3351,
Milford, Connecticut, USA, 06460. Homeward Bound is a teaching ministry
attempting to edify the body of Christ, prepare men and women to serve in the Great
Commission and furnish articles of timely interest and content relevant to our day and
the issues we face in our daily walk with Christ. We invite you to write to us and ask
questions regarding the Bible and matters of faith, and submit articles, testimonies or
other pieces for publication that glorify God. Thank you for taking the time to read
this issue of Homeward Bound! 2010 Homeward Bound Ministries