Archive for July, 2007

1 Corinthians 16:1-3 – “Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem.“

The New Testament indicates that we should avoid collecting tithes or offerings in a way that 1) makes people feel pressured; 2) gives an opportunity for wealthier church members to show off; or 3) makes it appear that the church or the pastors are interested mostly in people’s money.  It appears from the Bible that the church in the Apostolic Era did not ask for money or take offerings during their public services.

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1 Samuel 14:36-37 - Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and plunder them till dawn, and let us not leave one of them alive.”  “Do whatever seems best to you,” they replied.  But the priest said, “Let us inquire of God here.”  So Saul asked God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines?  Will you give them into Israel’s hand?”  But God did not answer him that day.

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1 Samuel 14:25-27 - “The entire army entered the woods, and there was honey on the ground.  When they went into the woods, they saw the honey oozing out, yet no one put his hand to his mouth, because they feared the oath.  But Jonathan had not heard that his father had bound the people with the oath, so he reached out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it into the honeycomb.  He raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened…”

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Hebreos 10:19-22 - Así que, hermanos, mediante la sangre de Jesús, tenemos plena libertad para entrar en el Lugar Santísimo, por el camino nuevo y vivo que él nos ha abierto a través de la cortina, es decir, a través de su cuerpo; y tenemos además un gran sacerdote al frente de la familia de Dios. Acerquémonos, pues, a Dios con corazón sincero y con la plena seguridad que da la fe, interiormente purificados de una conciencia culpable y exteriormente lavados con agua pura.

Una de las principales doctrinas que el Señor ha llamado nuestras iglesias para enfatizar es el poder redentor de la sangre de Jesucristo. Es a través de la sangre de Jesús que recibimos salvación, perdón, y la operación interna del Espíritu Santo.

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