When was the New Testament codified?

In his Easter letter of 357 A.D., Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria,
(who attended the First Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D.) gave ---

a list of 27 books exactly as would become the New Testament!!!

From page 240, Always Growing in the Faith by Gene Dirr.
Available at www.amazon.com.

What is Papyrus 52?

Papyrus 52 is the oldest know fragment of the New Testament
ever found!!! It is within 20 years of the composition of the
Greek "First Edition" of the Gospel of John.

From page 239, Always Growing in the Faith by Gene Dirr.
Available at www.amazon.com.

Once we understand the "Cross of Forgiveness", what are we to do?

THEREFORE, we need to forgive quickly; and we need to "forget"
just as God "forgets". Then, we need to "move forward" to build a
NEW relationship of --- "loving your neighbor as yourself!"

From page 236, Always Growing in the Faith by Gene Dirr.
Available at www.amazon.com.

With the horizontal plank, what is NOT required?

Please note that with this horizontal plank, "Confession of Sin"
by the offending party IS NOT REQUIRED!!! The only thing required
is that YOU recognize that a sin (or trespass) has occurred against YOU.

THEN, you forgive quickly!!!

From page 235, Always Growing in the Faith by Gene Dirr.
Available at www.amazon.com.

Who introduced the horizontal plank in the "Cross of Forgiveness"?

Please note that is is Jesus, himself, who introduces this horizontal
"forgiveness of your fellowman" IMMEDIATELY after His introduction of
"The Lord's Prayer"; and it is Jesus who drives this IMPORTANT
CONCEPT home with --- "The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant".

From page 234, Always Growing in the Faith by Gene Dirr.
Available at www.amazon.com.

What is the vertical plank in our "Cross of Forgiveness"?

You see --- through the mighty act of Jesus' atonement,
God forgives mankind. We need to believe Jesus IS ---
"The Son of God", confess our sins; and THEN,
God will forgive us of our sins through Jesus' name.
(atonement). AMEN!!!

From page 232, Always Growing in the Faith by Gene Dirr.
Available at www.amazon.com.

Why did John the Baptist, upon seeing Jesus for the first time
exclaim, in John 1:29b:

"Look, the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"?

God accepted Jesus' sacrificial death on "THE CROSS" as an atonement
for "the Sin of mankind". And, through the power of God, God
raised Jesus from the dead on that first Resurrection Sunday, which
we call --- Easter!!!

From page 231, Always Growing in the Faith by Gene Dirr.
Available at www.amazon.com.

What is the "Cross of Forgiveness"?

With these vertical and horizontal planks, we form a
"Cross of Forgiveness"!!! When We believe in Jesus,
confess our sins, WE receive --- "Forgiveness of Sin";
BUT, when WE forgive others, --- WE validate our
own forgiveness!!!

From pages 230-231, Always Growing in the Faith by Gene Dirr
Available at www.amazon.com.

What is the Christian's unique understanding of the phrase
"forgiveness of sin"?

Other religions of the world use the phrase "forgiveness of sin";
BUT we, Christians, have a unique understanding of what is means,
and how we apply it in our daily lives. We believe that
"Forgiveness of Sin" comes in two parts:

1. God's forgiveness of mankind, (vertical); and ---
2. Man's forgiveness of his fellowman, (horizontal).

From page 230, Always Growing in the Faith by Gene Dirr.
Available at www.amazon.com.

What amazing phenomenon occurs when we begin to follow Jesus and
obey his commands?

We begin to THINK and ACT like Jesus!!!

It it a process that I call "reverse cloning". You keep ---
your name, your DNA, your physical characteristics (on the outside);
BUT you acquire the "Fruit of the Spirit" found in Galatians 5:23
(on the inside).

From page 225, Always Growing in the Faith by Gene Dirr.
Available at www.amazon.com .

Why do the people of God grow cold in their love of God and their love of one another?

It is because our God has given us freedom that we grow cold.
The Christian Life IScompletely voluntary.
Remember, Jesus let the rich, young man walk away.
(See the story in Matthew 19:16-30.) Jesus did NOT go running after the rich,
young man and say, "Well, maybe you can follow me some of the time."
No, in John 14:15,Jesus said,

"IF you love me, you will obey what I command."

From page 225, Always Growing in the Faith by Gene Dirr.
Available at www.amazon.com .

Give two examples of the Holy Spirit descending upon the people of God
in a mighty way?

Examples are:

1. the 1904 Welsh Revival, and
2. the Asbury Revival of 1970.

From page 222, Always Growing in the Faith by Gene Dirr.
Available at www.amazon.com .

What are the two schools of thought about revival?

Now, there are two schools of thought about revival:
One is when the Holy Spirit descends upon the people
of God in a mighty way; and, the other is when revival
is needed because the love of God's people has grown cold.

From page 222, Always Growing in the Faith by Gene Dirr.
Available at www.amazon.com .

Why do we have "Revival" today?

It is because of our struggle with sin. Something we don't like
to talk about. Paul, writing in Romans 7:15. says ---

"I do not understand what I do.
For what I want to do I do not do,
but what I hate I do."

From page 222, Always Growing in the Faith by Gene Dirr.
Available at www.amazon.com .

How many times does the word "Revival" appear in the Bible?

This may come as a shock to you, but the word "Revival" DOES NOT
appear in the Bible!!! And the word, "revive" appears only ten times,
all in the Old Testament!

From page 221, Always Growing in the Faith by Gene Dirr.
Available at www.amazon.com .

Define "REVIVAL"?

Per Webster's Dictionary, "REVIVAL" is the state of being revived,
or a renewal of spiritual life of an individual or a group of people.
"Revival" is needed whenever the love of God's people has grown cold.

From page 221, Always Growing in the Faith by Gene Dirr.
Available at www.amazon.com .

With godliness, what are we aiming for? Three things:

The first thing to notice is the personal responsibility involved in
pursuing godliness. Paul say, "Train yourself". We actually have to
practice being godly.

The second thing to note is that this training, as with any sort of training,
is aimed at growth, in our personal spiritual life.

And, the third thing, we need to notice about training in godliness is
that all training requires commitment.

From pages 218-219, Always Growing in the Faith by Gene Dirr.
Available at www.amazon.com .

Godliness is not so much something that we do.

IT IS MORE THE UMBRELLA UNDER WHICH WE LIVE!!!!!

It characterizes everything we do. It is more than being a good person.
It is being good for God!

From page 215, Always Growing in the Faith by Gene Dirr.
Available at www.amazon.com .

Godliness come from the Greek word "eusebeia" and is used in the
New Testament to express the idea of inner piety of spirituality.
"Eusebeia" is a real, true, vital spiritual relationship with God.
It is a true spiritual relationship which comes from having the
Holy Spirit within; and walking with God. In its simplest form,
godliness is taking on God's character. It is imitating God!!

From page 215, Always Growing in the Faith by Gene Dirr.
Available at www.amazon.com .

Our lifetime training in godliness occurs in four ways:

Through studying the Word of God.
Through prayer and meditation.
Through Worship on the Lord's Day.
Through being led by the Holy Spirit in all things!

From page 215, Always Growing in the Faith by Gene Dirr.
Available at www.amazon.com .

The word, "Godliness" does NOT appear in the Old Testament!
"Godliness" only appears in the New Testament 15 times in the
writings of Paul and Peter.

All of these writing were written in a very brief period of time
between A.D. 64 and A.D. 66, or two years! Yet, our training
in godliness is a lifelong task for the Christian!

From page 214, Always Growing in the Faith by Gene Dirr.
Available at www.amazon.com .

in my judgment, we take ten items with us when we depart this life;
and enter the life hereafter:

1. Our spirit. 6. Our seeing.
2. Our identity. 7. Our faith.
3. Our memory. 8. Our hope.
4. Our voice. 9. Our love.
5. Our hearing. 10. Our godliness!

From page 213, Always Growing in the Faith by Gene Dirr
Available at www.amazon.com .

1st Timothy 4:7b-8, N.I.V. ---

"Train yourself to be godly.
For physical training is of some value,
but godliness has value for all things,
holding promise for both the present life
and the life to come."

From page 213, Always Growing in the Faith by Gene Dirr
Available at www.amazon.com .

Teach me, O God, so to use all the circumstances of my life today
that they may bring forth "The Fruit of the Spirit" rather than the
slavery to sin.

From page 212, Always Growing in the Faith by Gene Dirr.
Available at www.amazon.com .

James 5:16b states ---

"The prayer of a righteous man (or woman) is powerful and effective."

From page 211, Always Growing in the Faith by Gene Dirr.
Available at www.amazon.com .

How can we keep in step with the Spirit?
We can do that by doing three things -

First, we must declare our allegiance!
Second, we must study His playbook, the Bible, daily.
And third, we must pray.

From page 211, Always Growing in the Faith by Gene Dirr.
Available at www.amazon.com .

Now, the amazing thing, about these nine personality traits, is their
universal application to persons regardless of their station in life.
"The fruit of the Spirit" apply to rich and poor, black and white,
male and female, old and young, educated and uneducated, and to
any other division you wish to make in our society.

From page 211, Always Growing in the Faith by Gene Dirr.
Available at www.amazon.com.

Like a baseball team with nine players, ---
"the fruit of the Spirit" MUST work together
IF they are to be effective. If you don't have one
of these traits, then you are missing something.

From page 210, Always Growing in the Faith by Gene Dirr.
Available at www.amazon.com.

BUT, "the fruit of the Spirit" is ---

LOVE, JOY, PEACE
PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS,
FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS, ANS SELF-CONTROL."

From page 209, Always Growing in the Faith by Gene Dirr.
Available at www.amazon.com.

At the time of Columbus' first voyage, there were three
known continents --- all with Latin feminine form names ---
Europa, Africa, and Asia.

From page 208, Always Growing in the Faith by Gene Dirr.
Available at www.amazon.com.

When you put on "the Full Armor of God", you will be ready when
the day of evil comes. To stand your ground, and to enjoy the
VICTORY which is in Christ Jesus!!!

From page 205, Always Growing in the Faith by Gene Dirr.
Avaiable at www.amazon.com.