One Track Mind

 There can be a way to play chess frequently at local clubs, and wear Christian shirts, have a Christian book to skim in between games, and breach the topics of Scripture after the game in casual conversation; One time at the chess club two guys had a theological argument,  I thought their tone was too harsh to then join as a voice, but maybe 7 days later I could go back and add my thoughts to one of them when the tension went down;  Charlotte has a lot of Eastern Indians, and I imagine all they know is Hinduism, so I could probe their views and ask, "So what is your understanding of Christianity" realizing that they only draw conclusions from watching Joel Osteen or perhaps considering Catholicism to be Christian.  

Point being, hobbies can be a way to get to know people, certainly evangelism to strangers is honoring to God, but more than likely they will never be interested in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th dialogues because our discussion is only on one topic;  If they know we may also talk about family, job, health, hobbies, life, then they will allow for a repeat discussion on the Bible;  Though we are not trying to "sell" the Bible, it would be the same affect if all someone ever did was begin with, "Do you want free Tupperware" as their only talking point.  Once we have heard about Tupperware for the 7th time, we would hope this person is able to talk to me about something more than one topic.

Fix your eyes on Jesus

Remember the rejected Christ, remember the risen Christ, remember the returning Christ, remember the reigning Christ, remember the redeeming Christ, remember the rejoicing Christ. He rejoices over the Bride that He purchased and cleansed with His own blood. Fix your eyes on Jesus, be done with all lesser things, Fix your eyes on Jesus, while , Holy, Holy, Holy the angels sing.

Do you credit God

Do you credit God for your faith, or do you credit your self?  Do you credit God for the application of your faith on the proper person and object, or do you credit your self?  Was you regeneration based upon a condition that you were able to meet, or solely based on the grace of God found in the person and blood of Jesus Christ?

Can God save someone physically before He saves them spiritually? Yes, and He does so often. Can God save a man before He glorifies them eternally? Yes, and He does so often. Can God save someone before they believe? Yes. What is regeneration? A salvation from a stony heart to a heart of flesh, salvation from spiritual blindness, to spiritual sight, salvation from spiritual deafness to spiritual hearing, salvation from spiritual insanity to that of a sound mind. 

 Romans 10 itself, like Romans 1-9, is EXTREMELY FULL of the man's rejection of God. Romans 10 is replete with how the Jews did not have faith in God. So those born as Gentiles who were born without a clue of the Hebrew Language, Hebrew Text, who did not see Jesus heal, speak, and minister, must have a mountain of pride to assert, "those Jews made the wrong decision to believe Jesus, but it makes sense to me, and I cannot credit God with my faith, I have got to credit myself for believing; which therefore was prior to my salvation. May we never credit our self for either "our faith and believing" or the "application of faith"; either the Father granted me faith on the grounds of Jesus and the merit of His Blood, or the Father granted me the new birth on the grounds of something I contributed, namely "my faith" being the pivotal linchpin to meet God's condition for regeneration; in this case regeneration is no longer of grace, but of works, and one will have reason to boast not only before other unbelieving Jews, but even before God Himself. Look at me, my faith my the distinguishing difference; I cannot imagine that Isaac was born to Abraham instead of Pharaoh because Isaac did something future his conception; likewise for John the Baptist leaping in the womb;