A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE FOLLOWED MY JOURNAL! It´s been great to know you've been praying! This will be the final blog...
The final full day is here! But Señor Montezuma doesn't know that... so we pop out for some Gatorade. It settles the tummy apparently.
Then Ronnie arrives, we have a chat and then prayer, before heading out to a couple of nice spots in Arequipa. The final day of the tourist.
The first stop is to Sachaca, where there is "El Mirador de Sachacha," (The view point of Sachara). This tall white building is basically a look out tower. We pay 1 Sol, and climb the steps. It´s high up! I am ok with heights, but sometimes get a bit nervous.
You can see the whole city of Arequipa from here. There was a nice panoramic photo on the web, but it was too big to upload, so you'll have to make do with this...
It's a shame, but there is always a smog over the city, so Misti is rather shrouded in cloud. Still, it´s a great view. We laugh about what would happen if there were "Tremores," (quakes). Ronnie shows me various landmarks in the city, before we head back down. We pass a large white statue of Christ. Ronnie and I agree that we prefer the living Lord, not this idol!
Then we head through the city, close to the church building in Simon Bolivar, before heading out about 5 km to Yumina, where there are the best preserved Incan Terraces in the South of Peru. They are incredible. We can make out the water canals, down the mountains, which the Incas built, and which are still used today by all the farmers. The Incas were clever chaps! It´s just a shame about the human sacrifices, idolatry and general hunger for power.
Then we travel a bit further to the source of the water... springs from the mountains. There must be underground water in various places in this dry landscape. When it surfaces, there are green terraces and human life. Apart from water, there is almost nothing! "I am the water of life..." says our Lord. Without Christ, we perish... in this life, and the life to come.
We arrive at the springs. This was where the church baptized believers before they had their own baptistry! The river is dammed by stones, to make a deeper area, suitable for baptisms. There are a couple of tourists on mountain bikes there. They probably have no idea that the same cool water running through their toes, is the same that symbolised new life in Christ for some of these Peruvian Christians.
Back home now. Travelling through much of Arequipa is tiring, and most of the city is noisy, dirty and hot. But there are some beautiful buildings, plazas and magnificent countryside, if you know where to look.
Not much else to say. There are so many amazing memories, and lots of lovely Christians to remember! We are out at 4pm to visit, then back home, early to bed, etc... .
See you in sunny (low altitude, clean water, no dust, green) Southport!
AD
CALLING ON THE NAME OF THE LORD?
ReplyDeleteWhat is the meaning of calling on the name of the Lord? Many assume that believing in Jesus and saying a form of a sinner's prayer constitutes, calling on the name of the Lord. The problem with that theory is none of the conversions under the New Covenant support that assumption. Not one time is anyone ever told to believe and say the sinner's prayer in order to be saved.
The apostle Peter on the Day of Pentecost quoted the prophet Joel, Acts 2:21 And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." (NKJV)
The apostle Peter preached the first gospel sermon under the New Covenant. Peter did not tell the 3000 converts to believe and say the sinner's prayer.
Peter preached the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. He preached Jesus as both Lord and Christ. When they heard this they asked Peter and the rest of the brethren what they should do?(Acts 2:22-37) Peter told them what to do. Acts 2:38 Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.(NKJV)
How did the 3000 on the Day of Pentecost call on the name of the Lord and become saved?
1. They believed that Jesus was both Lord and Christ.
2. They believed that God raised Jesus from the grave.
3. They repented. Repentance is a change of heart. Repentance means to be converted so that God may forgive your sins. Repentance is to make the intellectual commitment to turn from sin and turn toward God. (Acts 3:19, Acts 2:38)
4. They were immersed in water (baptized) so that their sins could be forgiven.
How did the 3000 on the Day of Pentecost not call on the name of the Lord?
1. They did not say a sinner's prayer.
2. Not one person was asked to pray for forgiveness.
3. Not one single man was told to be baptized as a testimony of his faith.
4. No one was told that water baptism was a just an act of obedience.
5. No one was informed they were saved the very minute they believed.
6. Not one person was told that water baptism was not essential for the forgiveness of sins.
7. Not one person was told to be baptized so they could join a denominational church.
Jesus said he that believes and is baptized shall be saved. (Mark 16"16) Jesus did not say he who believes and says a sinner's prayer shall be saved.
You ARE INVITED TO READ MY BLOG POSTINGS--Steve Finnell
THE ELECTED! BY STEVE FINNELL
ReplyDeleteCan those elected by God resist that calling?
ELECT-ELECTED-ELECTION: Defined (Adjective, signifies picked out, chosen.) (Noun, denotes a picking out, selection, then, that which is chosen).
Elected means chosen. There is a view held by many that when God elects or chooses people that they cannot resist God's calling. Israel was God's elect or chosen people. God did not just select certain Jews to be saved and other Jews to be lost. Salvation was offered to the whole nation of Israel.
Deuteronomy 7:6 For you are a holy people to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the people who are on the face of the earth.
The Jews were God's elect. Did any of them ever reject that election? Yes they did; because they had free-will.
1 Samuel 8:7 The Lord said to Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.
They rejected God as king.
Numbers 14:11 The Lord said to Moses, "How long will this people spurn Me? And how long will they not believe in Me, despite all the signs which I have performed in their midst?
These people were the elect of God, but they would not believe in Him. Even though they were God's elect He did not force them to believe and obey Him. THEY HAD FREE-WILL.
Acts 7:51 "You men who are stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did.
Israel was God's chosen people; they were His elect, however, they always resisted the Holy Spirit. Most of them rejected Jesus as the Christ. THEY HAD FREE-WILL.
Does God arbitrarily condemn some men to hell and elect a chosen few for salvation? NO, HE DOES NOT!
WHO ARE THE ELECT OF GOD TODAY?
Acts 10:34-43 Opening his mouth, Peter said: "I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, 35 but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him. 36......Jesus Christ....43 Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness from sins.
WHO ARE THE ELECT OF GOD TODAY? All who believe in Jesus Christ. Yes, everyone has the chance to become the elect, the chosen of God.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
WHO ARE GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE? WHO ARE GOD'S ELECT? EVERY JEW AND EVERY GENTILE WHO MEETS GOD'S TERMS FOR PARDON UNDER THE NEW COVENANT ARE THE ELECT OF GOD. THEY ARE ALL GOD'S CHOSEN PEOPLE.
GOD HAS OFFERED SALVATION TO ALL WHO BELIEVE IN JESUS THE CHRIST.
YOU ARE INVITED TO FOLLOW MY BLOG. http://steve-finnell.blogspot.com