In case you don’t know what an inductive study is, here is a definition from the web; Inductive study, particularly in the context of Bible study, involves a method that helps individuals understand and apply the teachings of the Bible. This method is characterized by three main steps: observation, interpretation, and application. The goal is to draw conclusions based on the evidence found in the text rather than starting with preconceived notions.
Unlike other workbooks, this one does not lead you by the hand to predetermined conclusions. This one simply allows you, the reader, to employ the guiding principles set forth in the guide’s worksheets. The author trusts God the Holy Spirit to teach you from God’s Word.
There are only a total of eight written pages, those pages are an introduction to the study, an explanation of, the right spirit, The gospel, the right tools, and an example of how to fill out the worksheets. This leaves all of the rest of the 154 pages of worksheets. Here is a picture of the example of how to use the worksheets.
You’ll notice on page 6 titled, “The Right Tools” the author includes some things that will be helpful in your study. I’ve included some pictures of the resources I like to use. You’ll have to purchase your own. I think this book could be done with a simple study Bible. You definitely don’t need all the resources I’ve put up. You can also use Bible Hub for free. It has tons of resources. Something you might notice, is that if you are using bound books, they can get pretty heavy to carry around with you. There is an alternative. You can use a Bible program like Bible Study from Olive Tree. You can purchase digital copies of all the same resources. Makes it a lot more portable. Here are the pictures.
This is a John MacArthur Study Bible in the Legacy Standard Bible(LSB) translation.
You might also need a New Testament Greek dictionary, A good commentary set, and a Greek New Testament.
Who is this workbook for? Anyone who is attempting to discover more about God, and His will for us. I would use it for a middle school, and up, homeschool curriculum. It would be helpful to keep you focused on specifics in a study if you are easily distracted. It would also be great to use in a group. It may not seem like the value it is due to there being a lot of worksheets, and hardly any written pages, but that is the point. It is inductive. I hope this helps you make up your mind to get the workbook, and learn more about you’re Creator, and Savior.
There are some arguments out there that go something like this. “We are the one true faith. We are the original Church. We are the oldest, and can trace our line back to Peter, or Jesus Himself. All other Churches are false, and cannot trace their authority back to Peter, or Jesus. You wouldn’t even have the Bible if it weren’t for us. That is why the early Church needed our traditions, because they didn’t have a Bible yet. They only had the traditions of the Apostles, and that is all our traditions are.” Some pagan cults like Hinduism, Odinism, & Native American tribal religions claim their gods were here before Jesus. So their religion is older. Older doesn’t mean true by the way. How many of you have ever heard these arguments from Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, or some other religious group? I want you to know there has always been the one true faith. Once God created man who was endowed with the ability to have that faith, there was the one true faith on Earth. Don’t forget that it was eternally established before the creation.
Ephesians 1:3-6 (LSB Strong’s) 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him in love, 5 by predestining us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He graciously bestowed on us in the Beloved.
Adam and Eve had first hand knowledge of God. Their faith was one of knowing. God was with them, talking with them. They tried to hide from Him. These are not the actions of people who do not believe that they did something wrong. They were different from the angels, and demons. The angels, demons, and satan knew God is. They weren’t looking for a Savior. The Bible never talks about saving the demons, or satan. Adam and Eve were the first to hear of some hope in the future in regards to the curse of God for their sins. In Genesis 3:15 we have the protoevangelium.
Genesis 3:15 (LSB Strong’s) 15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.”
The gospel plan of salvation is eternal. It has always been. The Son was always going to be Jesus in our fallen world. In the ancient times, man did not have much of the progressive revelation of scripture to explain the faith, but it was right there at the start. As time went on, more was revealed.
The Faith has been called different things through history. It was the faith of the patriarchs, it became known as the faith of Israel, and then the Hebrew, or Jewish faith. After the incarnation, ministry, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, it had become known as Christianity. Sometimes Christians were called people of the way. Some time between the 7th, and 8th century after the quran had been compiled, muslims began calling Christians people of the book. Earlier in the 4th century the Holy Roman Empire adopted Christianity. At the end of the 6th century around 590A.D. Pope Gregory the 1st consolidated much of western Europe under papal authority. This is when we see the Roman Catholic church start as a unified ecumenical group. The Roman Catholics have a tradition that would have you believe that they can trace their lineage back to the Peter, who they erroneously claim was the first pope. They had misunderstood a section of scripture, and put the misunderstanding into use. After a period of use, it became tradition. Whether they ignorantly made the mistake, or not, I do not know. I do know they have had centuries to repent, and double down instead.
Matthew 16:13-20 (LSB Strong’s) Peter Confesses Jesus Is the Christ 13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, saying, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” 15 He *said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” 20 Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ.
It is obvious that the rock, or truth that the Church is built on is Jesus. Peter confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus isn’t calling Peter the rock on which the Church is built, but his confession of Christ. We read in Isaiah 28:14-17
Isaiah 28:14-17 (LSB Strong’s) 14 Therefore, hear the word of Yahweh, O scoffers, Who rule this people who are in Jerusalem, 15 Because you have said, “We have cut a covenant with death, And with Sheol we have made a pact. The overflowing scourge will not reach us when it passes by, For we have made falsehood our refuge and we have hidden ourselves with lying.” 16 Therefore thus says Lord Yahweh, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed. 17 I will make justice the measuring line And righteousness the level;
Does that sound like prophecy about Peter? Of course not. Let’s look at Ephesians 2:19-22
Ephesians 2:19-22 (LSB Strong’s) 19 So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, is growing into a holy sanctuary in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
Seems pretty explicit to me. How about you? If that is not enough to seal the deal for you, Peter himself declares in 1 Peter 2:6-7
1 Peter 2:6-7 (LSB Strong’s) 6 For this is contained in Scripture: “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES UPON HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME.” 7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone,”
Moving on, we see that the one true faith continues on today. The apostasy of Roman Catholicism also continues. They may claim to be the one true faith, but they make an error by connecting their authority for their claims to the idea that the one true faith started with the incarnation, and Christ allegedly appointing Peter as the first pope. When we look past this further back into history, we see men like Noah, Abraham, and David, who truly believed God. They were looking ahead for God to provide salvation. The Old Testament saints were saved the same as the New Testament saints, by faith. Ours happens to be on the other side of the incarnation of the god-man who split time.
We’re going to switch gears and look at the eternality of the Word of God in both the person of the Son, and the progressive revelation of scripture.
Turn to Genesis 15, This is just after Abram’s encounter with the Prince of Melchizedek, which was a Christophany.
Read Genesis 15:1-21 Genesis 15 (LSB Strong’s) 1 After these things the word of Yahweh came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.” 2 And Abram said, “O Lord Yahweh, what will You give me, as I go on being childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Since You have given no seed to me, behold, one born in my house is my heir.” 4 Then behold, the word of Yahweh came to him, saying, “This one will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.” 5 And He brought him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your seed be.” 6 Then he believed in Yahweh; and He counted it to him as righteousness. 7 And He said to him, “I am Yahweh who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess it.” 8 And he said, “O Lord Yahweh, how may I know that I will possess it?” 12 Now it happened that when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him. 13 Then God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your seed will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. 17 Now it happened that the sun had set, and it was very dark, and behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a flaming torch which passed between these pieces. 18 On that day Yahweh cut a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your seed I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates:
You’ll notice this is not the actions of a disembodied text floating before Abram’s eyes. This is the 2nd Person of the Trinity, the eternal Son, the Word of God. We know this is so because it is the first thing John tells us in Chapter 1 of John.
Turn to John Chapter 1. John 1:1-5 (LSB Strong’s) The Deity of Jesus Christ 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.
John 1:14-18 (LSB Strong’s) 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John *bore witness about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has been ahead of me, for He existed before me.’” 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
Psalms 119:89 (LSB Strong’s) 89 Forever, O Yahweh, Your word stands firm in heaven.
Isaiah 40:8 (LSB Strong’s) 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.
1 Peter 1:25 (LSB Strong’s) 25 BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.” And this is the word which was proclaimed to you as good news.
There is a distinction between the 2nd Person of the Trinity, and the physical script printed on hides, vellum, papyri, and paper. I’m not trying to convince you that the two are the same thing. What I do want you to consider is the character of our God. He did not leave us alone after creating us. He didn’t keep from us His character. He revealed Himself in both writing, and in person as well as the creation. During Jesus’ ministry, Old Testament believers recognized Him as the Savior from His written word. We get to know Him by His Word, or we know the Word of God, by the Word of God.
Through history, in different regions of the middle east, the progressive revelation of scripture was being revealed by various prophets. At the time of the incarnation the scriptures had already been compiled, and translated into Greek for approximately 250 years. It has been traditionally dated to the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus of Egypt. The Septuagint had been in use before the time of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus, the Apostles, and the early Church could have very well been acquainted with the Septuagint, on top of their knowledge of the Tanakh. They had the word of God in print. Let’s remember what the scriptures primarily are. They are God’s mind for us to know Him by, with all that entails. Think about how they were conveyed being progressively revealed. Over time, there were more, and more revelations from God recorded until we had the entire canon of scripture. The Roman Catholics, and the Eastern Orthodox weren’t even around for the Septuagint. It was completed by Jewish translators who were Commissioned by Ptolemy II around 800 yeasrs before they were historically a thing.
How impoverished are the religious sects who don’t see this truth? They fight, and argue, about who was first on the scene, who has authority, or power. They practice all sorts of strange traditions that are no wheres mentioned in the Word of God. They put on all sorts of fine raiment. They cause men to bow down, and kiss their rings. They sit on gold encrusted thrones. They heap up odious labors upon their followers. They rob God of His glory. Martyrs have gone to their deaths destitute of earthly wealth, and go on to their eternal rewards which show these pious men to be spiritual paupers.
Our God, condescended from the majesty of heaven, deigned to put on human flesh, dwelt among us, and laid down His life as a sacrifice to justify us to Himself. We must repent of our sins, and trust solely in the finished work of Christ Jesus.
Numerous times I’ve read that Christianity came from Judaism, or Protestantism came from Roman Catholicism. Some even go as far to say that muslims, roman catholics, jews, mormons, and jehovah’s witnesses, all worship the same God. Well they don’t, and that is why I didn’t capitalize them. They are all cults. None of them have the true God. Only the one true faith has the one true, and living God. That one true faith has been known by different names throughout history.
At the moment God created a creature that could have faith in Him as their Creator, and Savior, there was the one true faith. That creature is man. Adam, and Eve knew God in the garden, but that knowledge was from knowing Him face to face. They talked with the preincarnate Jesus, who is the eternal Son. When they sinned, and were cursed by God, He cursed the serpent by saying that Eve’s seed would crush the head of the serpent. Whether you believe it is necessarily a reference to a singular seed, representing the protoevangelium, or that seed being the collective of elect individuals representing humanity up to the incarnation, with Christ being the culmination, and fulfillment of the protoevangelium, you still end up with the faith of antediluvian people being in the coming Savior who would set things right, and deal with their sin.
We know that Noah found favor in the eyes of the God because of his faith. How do we know he had faith? He built the ark. God in the Old Testament was followed, and worshipped by the Patriarchs. These men truly believed. People who followed them, may not have, but we know the one true faith existed in those times. It has never ceased. We follow this true faith in God, and His telling of a coming of the specific Messiah through the Old Testament. We read of Abraham, Isaack, Aaron, Jacob who became Israel, the people of Israel, and so on. Inside of the works righteousness, self-righteous, oppressive religious system the jews developed, there was always a group of them who truly believed the scriptures, and the prophecies. They were waiting for their Savior.
When the eternal Son condescended from the majesty of Heaven, deigned to put on human flesh, and live among His sinful creatures, it was to finally deal with sin, and cleanse for Himself a bride, for the glory of God. Jesus said to Thomas in John 14:6 (LSB) “6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me.” According to Acts 4:12 (LSB) “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
The Jew says the Savior has not come yet, even in light of the fact that the first Christians were the Jews from Jerusalem. He loves his self-righteousness, his laws, his ceremonies, and detests the true Savior. They seek to save themselves. The muslims are the same. Of course they are. They plagiarized the Old Testament, and added all the demonic doctrines of Moo Ham Head their satanic prophet. He was nothing like Jesus. Moo Ham Head was a murderous, thieving, lying, slave owning, pervert, pedophile who died, and went straight to Hell. Jesus is alive! Jesus is thrice holy, righteous, good, true, just, and loving. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (LSB) “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Our God sacrificed Himself, His only Son, the second person of the Trinity, to justify us to Himself, for His glory, and our good! Moo Ham Head never did that. He never dealt with sin. Romans 5:8 (LSB) “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Jesus never taught that baptism into the Roman cult saves a person. He never taught that you must be baptized to be saved, or that it has any actual efficacious results on our justification at all. His word never teaches that either. It is one of two sacraments we have as Christians. It is for the public profession of your conversion. We identify with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. Rome, the Eastern churches, the Mormons, and many other cults, mandate a work of man, like the observance of a sacrament, to attain justification, or maintain it.
Roman Catholics make a blasphemous mockery of Christ’s atoning work on the cross with their mass. It is one of the most blatantly satanic, antichrist, man made doctrines, I’ve ever learned about. Read Romans for crying out loud. I don’t know how anyone, even a lost person, can read the book of Romans, and decide that salvation is partially caused by the works of the person claiming to be Christian. It is the most deceitful reading of the text. The text, over and over again, obviously argues for salvation being by faith alone. Works are a product of being born again, and justified by God. They are the product, not the cause. That kind of self-righteousness is disgusting, and only equaled by the other cults like mormonism, and the JW’s.
The hubris of man to think he can merit God’s favor by the work of his filthy hands. This is the pride, and self righteousness, on display for all to see. Why, they don’t even really need a Savior… They could just obey, and earn their way… Not! God says in Romans 6:23 (LSB) “For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” All men are sinners. How are you going to deal with your sins? Are you going to try to make yourself as holy, and righteous as God? Because that is His standard of good. You’d have to be as good as God, which means you’d have to be God. You can’t!
In Christ you can have His goodness as God, imputed to you by faith in Him, and His grace. Turn from these false religions that cannot save you! They cannot deal with your sins! Only Jesus laid down His life to take the hell that you deserve. He took the punishment that His people deserve on Himself, on the cross of His crucifixion! Moo Ham Head didn’t! Joseph Smith didn’t. None of the Popes did! Marry didn’t! The watchtower didn’t! Buddha didn’t! Repent, and put your faith in the singular seed from God who finally, and thoroughly dealt with sin! You can start living eternal life today. Don’t wait for tomorrow!
Christianity is the modern name of the one true faith. It does not find it’s origins in any other religion. It is the continuance of the one true faith founded at the creation. Many people have co-opted it, renamed it, made up their own doctrines, made up their own gods to fit their needs, but nonetheless, it is apart from all the lies. The ancient self righteous jews didn’t wait for the Savior. The ones who had the true faith were already putting their faith in Him for their eternal peace. Roman Catholicism came out of the Holy Roman Empire. It co-opted Jesus from the true faith, and built a self-righteous, works righteousness system around Him. The muslims co-opted Jesus but reduced Him to be simply a profit. They too made a works righteousness system. The same is true of all the other systems that claim the name of Jesus, but make man responsible for his own justification in part, or in whole.
If you’re like me, you may be having trouble getting in the Christmas spirit. I see the evils of this world on the news, and marvel at how it doesn’t take a break, even during Advent. It shouldn’t surprise me, but it does get to me. If you are like my wife, the fact that there is no snow on the ground brings her down. During our childhoods, we both had snow by Christmas. Some folks try to get in the Christmas spirit by shopping, watching, “Christmas” movies, and listening to, “Christmas” music. Let’s face it, the movies are more about Santa then Christ. Don’t get me started on secular, “Christmas” music.
If our feelings aren’t matching the reality of Christ’s entrance into this world to seek, and save the lost, let’s remember the glory of this Advent. The eternal Son, at the will of the Father, and the work of the Spirit, condescended from the majesty of Heaven, deigned to put on human flesh, forever joining Deity to humanity, in the person of Jesus, who is righteous, without sin, He emptied Himself taking the form of a servant, suffered persecution, laid down His life, was crucified, and had the wrath of holy God poured out on Him, to cleanse us from our sins, and justify us to God, died, buried, and resurrected on the third day, conquering sin, and death, on our behalf, as the perfect fulfillment of the Passover Lamb of God. He ascended to the right hand of the Father, where He intercedes for us, and the Holy Spirit is now with us, indwelling those who are His, and giving them communion with God for ever.
Our efforts to, “get into the Christmas spirit” are often well intended, but misguided. We miss the forest for the trees. If we are focused on Jesus, the gospels, and singing praises to God with the carols that do the same, we will be thinking about the true reasons we celebrate Christmas. You may find the Christmas spirit there.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last few decades you are aware of the moral decline in America, and the rest of the world. It should be blatantly obvious to everyone at this point. The Democrats are the party of baby murder, every type of sexual immorality, lawlessness, animosity towards Christ, and His people, worship of the creation/creature instead of the Creator, genital mutilation of children, mind altering drugs, money laundering, proxy wars, corruption and coverups, lies, coercion, blackmail, weaponization of corrupt law enforcement agencies, and so on. The Libertarian party is the party of, “Do as thou wilt.” Which is the only commandment of the satan worshippers. Then we have traitors promoting communism, and socialism, in those parties. Both of those ideologies are satanic, and rob the human being of his dignity being made in the image of God, and on a more important issue, are blasphemously attempting to impugn God’s character.
I’m not saying that Republicans are the answer. There are far too many RINOs who have been bought, and paid for. Blackmailed, or coerced into doing the bidding of the demonic globalists. We can see their influence in every local election. We get the word out, “Don’t vote for that guy! He’s a RINO.” Then big money comes in from out of state to smear the honest to goodness Christian candidate, and what do you know? The RINO wins somehow. I’m not encouraging people to give up on politics, but I am encouraging people to SHARE THE GOSPEL!!! If people become born again, and repent of their sins, their minds will be changed by God. He will put them in right order. They will, by accord with their new natures, begin to abhor evil in the world, and love righteousness. God will give us the leaders we deserve. You can see that by the things the other parties call their, “platform.” Which is really as platform of satanic ideologies.
It isn’t a matter of Californians, or New Yorkers, moving to your state. Your own public schools are brainwashing your children to hate themselves, their parents, their country, their skin color, Christianity, their gender, and their history. You have homegrown enemies that the state has formed in the image of satan. Homeschool your kids! Put them in a Christian co-op! Put them in a charter school, or classical academy! Do whatever it takes to get them out of public schools. Get on the school board! Fire the perverts!
We’ve all seen the unhinged, apoplectic, lunatic, ravings, of the pro-abortion crowd. They see baby murder as a right. They lose their minds when baby murder is made illegal. The seething, and frothing at the mouths of these exceedingly wicked people is grotesque, and disturbing. It should awaken in anyone with a conscience, the fact that these people are in deed, and purpose, satan’s slaves. They love the murder of infants. It is a unholy, blasphemous sacrament of theirs, that they communally take part, and pleasure in.
The godless have been lying to our kids, and people. They tell them that they can be whatever gender they want, and that it is not tied to the biological reality of sex. They pervert their minds, and corrupt them, young and old. They are grooming them to be their children, as they can not propagate their perverse pleasures by natural copulation alone. They reproduce in the spirit of the mind by damning lies! All of their works lead to the suffering, and death of people who were made in the image of God. These people seethe in waves of emotional duress, while lecturing us on how our words are violence! They commit actual violence! They murder our youth in the schools! The homosexual, “trans people,” pedophiles, and those who are practicing bestiality, are being normalized. It is only a mater of time before necrophilia, and cannibalism are normalized. Mark my words. I told people this was going to happen thirty years ago, if we didn’t repent, and here we are.
They encourage people to use drugs. They hate humanity. They love to see people addicted, dying in the streets, homeless, and dirty. It makes them feel superior, and virtuous simultaneously. They say, “Look how loving we are. We won’t put you in prison for using drugs. We love you.” All the while, sitting back drinking their fancy coffee drink, and watching people literally kill themselves, and others, while on the streets, using drugs. I retired from Corrections as an Officer after 26 years. I can tell you, over the years, many inmates told me prison saved their lives. I currently work part-time at a rehab. We lost a client who finished the program. After a month of being out, he overdosed. If he had been sent to prison, he would have lived. He wouldn’t be on the streets. He would have 3 hots, and a cot. He’d have health care, mental health care, chapel, training to become an electrician, plumber, cad-cam, sign shop, construction tech, and more. I ask you, who is more loving? Who cares more for the imago dei, Christians, or godless leftists?
They have convinced the kids to worship animals, plants, and the planet. They tell them not to have children because we are killing the planet. They convince them that animals are on the same level of being as humans. We are made in the image of God, and given dominion over the planet to subdue for the encouragement of human flourishing, and the reduction of human suffering. The godless cannot have this. They love human death, and suffering. God will uphold this creation until His purposes with it are completed. Then He will burn it up with fire. Don’t believe the lies. Worship God the Creator, not the creation!
The only way out, is the only way, Jesus Christ! He is the way, and the truth! No man comes to the Father, except by Him! He is our King! His word is our pleasure, and duty! We worship the God of the living! We begin truly living the life eternal upon our true birth! Repent of your sins, and trust the Savior! Communism makes everyone equally subject by force. Who are they subject to? The centralized, governing of tyrants! Someone has to be more than equal to subject others to a false equality! God makes man equally man. Communist can’t have that. They attempt to rid their society of any god who would wield supreme authority. They are satanic usurpers, and murderers! Better dead, than red, the saying used to go. Don’t fall for the lies of the evil one. The only way you can fight evil is to be born again. Otherwise, you will fight against true goodness, and think you are doing good.
It is blatant to me. It is becoming blatant to many in this hour. My hope is that you will all wake up to the fact that the world is spiritually dead, and enslaved to sin. If you are not in Christ, you are part of that. You think you are good, but you are not. You are in love with demonic thinking. You only seek to please your own fleshly desires. Even your mercy is cruelty. Your good deeds, are for your own feelings of pseudo-piety. Repent, and trust Jesus for your justification to God. Only then will your works pleas Him.
***This article deals with adult subject matter, and is not suitable for minors.***
Part of the problem is that there are Christians who are quick to point out the perversions of others, while not recognizing their own. We aren’t very good at explaining that we don’t see ourselves as better than the other perverts we see. Some of you might argue that you are not a pervert. That is part of the problem I’m talking about. A pervert is someone who has a sexual appetite that is not pure. That can take the form of a person who likes to be treated a little more rough, a person who likes to read suggestive literature, someone who likes some part of marital relations unduly, or in excess, a person who likes to use profanity, or hear profanity during, a person who uses pornography, and so on. These things may seem vanilla lite to you, but to God, they are not pure.
Since they are not pure, they are sexual immorality. Sexual immorality is sin. It doesn’t matter if you agree with me or not. I know it is true. I know that everyone is a sinner, and everyone is sexually immoral to some degree. Even if you are the most pure human being ever, you still have had sexually immoral lusts, and thoughts. Ergo, you are sexually immoral. When we see the so called trans person who has mutilated themselves, we know it is sexual immorality because it is blatantly obvious to those who are not under demonic influence, or control. Let me make a little proviso here. When I write about demons, I’m not doing so from a superstitious, or pentecostal position. Demons are spiritual beings. A person’s spirit, is that of them that God created, is the way that individual person reasons. It isn’t some ghostly apparition that mystically motivates them. There are many among the Christian denominations that make much of demonic possession. They blame demons for everything they themselves have done, sort of a, “The devil made me do it” cope/copout. We are living in a demonic world. The lost think in accord with the spirit of this world. They can’t accept what God says is perversion because it goes against every part of their person. The only way for them to be free, and to be put in their right minds is to be born again.
This is why we must preach the gospel of Jesus to them. It is almost impossible to do at a pervert rally/parade/riot. You will be spit on, assaulted, and chased around. I’m not telling you to stay home, but I am telling you that many times the better way to reach them is one on one, with the gospel, including yourself as a pervert when you talk with them. This is why I love the Way of the Master method of evangelism. It gives them the mirror of God’s moral law, so that you are not accusing them, but God’s law is. It circumvents the sociocultural elephant in the room, while getting to the heart of the issue. What do you do with your blasphemies, thefts, adulteries, fornications, lies, and hate? How will you answer back to God on judgment day? If we can see ourselves the way the Apostle Paul saw himself, as the chief of sinners, and if we can do as he did, and consider others better than ourselves, we can reach even the most depraved, purple haired, face pierced, tattooed, perverts we encounter. Because we see ourselves as even worse. If you knew the depths of my sins, and I knew yours, we couldn’t look eachother in the eyes. Demonstrate grace, and mercy, one on one. It is very difficult to do when you are being attacked by a group. If you are mature enough in your faith to do so, carry on. Many people are not. If you need to see the Way of the Master method of evangelism employed, you can watch many encounters on Ray Comfort’s Youtube channel.
Here is a specific video where Ray witnesses to a so called trans person. He stopped them from committing suicide by giving them hope in Christ.
Let’s talk about our, “needs.” Do you think it is God honoring to withhold from your spouse what you are obligated in Christ to provide if they are not, “meeting your needs?” I think this is a selfish sinful attitude. There are times when your spouse may not be able to, “meet your needs.” Can you just stop obeying Christ because you don’t feel loved enough, haven’t had as much sex as you think you deserve, dinner was not as good as you’d hoped, the kids are out of sorts, you didn’t get your way in a decision about buying the new SUV you wanted, the chores outside the house aren’t done to the perfect standard you had in your mind, the dishes sat in the sink for three days while you were sick, and so on. You get the picture.
Romans 5:8 (LSB) 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8 should be clear. God did now wait until we did something for Him to love us. He loves us because He is the perfection of the idea of love. Love sacrifices self for others. If you insist on having your needs met before you obey God towards your attitudes in regard to your spouse, you are sinning.
Colossians 3:18-19 (LSB) 18 Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. 19 Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them.
This verse seems pretty straight forward. If you don’t like what it says, you are probably the type of person who twists scripture to make it affirm your sinful flesh. “…Wives, be subject to your husbands…” Do what his directions are for you unless they are sinful. If he wants you to pray with him, do it. If he wants you to help castrate, dehorn, & brand, the cows by making sure the men, and boys have food, and drink, while working, do it. If he wants you to make his lunch up for him for work, do it. “…Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them…” If your wife is overloaded, and has to take a break, don’t get mad at her. She is the weaker vessel. You must still honor her as such. When her charms are worn by the years, continue to love her. Don’t get bitter against her for being a human woman. When she feels unlovable, and gets down in the dumps, assure her that she is still your most cherished gift from God.
Colossians 3:23-25 (LSB) Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. Serve the Lord Christ. 25 For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.
This isn’t directly tied to marriage, but it is indirectly. Why must we love our spouses with selfless devotion? Because we are doing it for the Jesus!
Ephesians 5:22-33 (LSB) Wives and Husbands 22 Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she would be holy and blameless. 28 So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; 29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, 30 because we are members of His body. 31 FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH. 32 This mystery is great, but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.
Ephesians 5:22 gets twisted a lot, a lot, a lot by angry feminists, and people who hate Christ, and His word. Surprisingly, it gets demolished by many self-professed, “Christian” women. “…Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord.…” Simply put, submit yourself to his authority, and rule, as if he were Jesus. Then Paul explains why. “…For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body…” God has placed the husband over the wife. Adam was first. Eve was made as a helpmate. God establishes good hierarchies. Sinful mankind always seeks to disorder them. They will invert them, and pervert them. In this case they will put the woman over the man, or make them equal like in egalitarianism. These are fleshly, sinful, rebellions. Submit to your husband, as if submitting to Christ Jesus!
Okay, now it is the man’s turn. “…Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her…” Christ, who cleansed for Himself a bride (the Church) did so by submitting to God the Father’s plan of crucifixion, and imputation of the sin-guilt of the elect, as well as the just wrath, and punishment, that would be required to justify them to God. Does this sound like a lite, whimsical, Instagram trifle ladies? It isn’t. This is a heavy ideal to live up to. We are to be ready to die for our wives. If you think this is a low thing, you are mocking the work of Christ on the cross! Husbands, if you don’t take this deathly serious, you are saying that the gospel is about you, and not about Jesus!
Let’s look at that verse, and how it would play out practically. If your wife is frazzled from the day with the kids, and chores, don’t be critical of her, the house, or the kids, when you get home. If she has had a bad day, don’t expect her to be the romantic lover at bedtime. Yes, you have the right to her, and she to you, but if you love her, you will be considerate of how she feels. You’ll honor her. This leads us to the rest of this section of scripture. You, and your wife, have become one. You are still individuals, but in marriage you are one. If your wife is hurting, failing, suffering, you also should be feeling those things. In those times remember this, “He who loves his own wife loves himself;” You wouldn’t cut off your arm because during the work of the day it became fatigued, and sore. It is also the arm that raises your food to your mouth, and does the work to provide the food. In the same sense, abusing your wife due to your own lack of loving consideration is actually harming yourself. You might feel like you deserve to be treated a certain way, but remember, you deserve death, and hell. Have pity on the poor dear. She can’t do what you can do, and you can’t do what she can do.
1 Peter 3:1-12 (LSB) 1 In the same way, you wives, be subject to your own husbands so that even if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 as they observe your pure conduct with fear. 3 Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on garments; 4 but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible quality of a lowly and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being subject to their own husbands, 6 just as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. You have become her children if you do good, NOT FEARING ANY INTIMIDATION.
In these first 6 verses, you can see that God has made provision for men to come to the Faith through the powerful witness of a servant wife attitude. It is not debasing yourself to be a servant. Jesus humbled Himself, and was a servant to His creatures. This is the epitome of being Christlike. Don’t seek to usurp the role of a husband. Be a godly wife. He might come to Christ because of your example.
7 You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with a weaker vessel, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.
Men, did you read that? So that your prayers will not be hindered. Men, be considerate of your wife, as she is, and show her respect as a partner in Christ. If you two are experiencing strife, you won’t be able to pray together. You won’t be on the same sheet of music. You need to love your wife in a way that examples Christ’s sacrificial death as the justifying Passover Lamb of God.
8 Now to sum up, all of you be like-minded, sympathetic, brotherly, tender-hearted, and humble in spirit; 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but giving a blessing instead, for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. 10 For, “THE ONE WHO DESIRES LIFE, TO LOVE AND SEE GOOD DAYS, MUST KEEP HIS TONGUE FROM EVIL AND HIS LIPS FROM SPEAKING DECEIT. 11 HE MUST TURN AWAY FROM EVIL AND DO GOOD; HE MUST SEEK PEACE AND PURSUE IT. 12 FOR THE EYES OF THE LORD ARE TOWARD THE RIGHTEOUS, AND HIS EARS ATTEND TO THEIR PRAYER, BUT THE FACE OF THE LORD IS AGAINST THOSE WHO DO EVIL.”
1 Corinthians 7:1-7 (LSB) 1 Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. 2 But because of sexual immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband. 3 The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does. 5 Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 But this I say as a concession, not as a command. 7 Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am. However, each man has his own gift from God, one this way, and another that.
Let’s not be naive here. We know, like Paul, that men and women, will have strong physical, biological imperatives, to procreate. It was no secret to the ancient world. God did program us to be fruitful, and multiply. Considering this, and that not many people were like Paul, marriage is a necessity for the fulfillment of those desires, but quenching our passion outside of marriage is sin. Men, and women, need to be understand this section of scripture, “The husband must fulfill his duty to his wife, and likewise also the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body, but the husband does; and likewise also the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.” When you are married, you’re body is not solely your own. Your spouse has a right to it. You must make every effort to be considerate of their needs in this regard. This does require sacrifice. Don’t come to the marriage bed grudgingly either. Sometimes after a double shift at work the husband might be exhausted, but his wife may miss him, and want to be with him. He must consider this, and love his wife. The same is true for the wife. She may be exhausted from caring for the home, and children all day, but the husband may need his wife. She, likewise should make every effort to be with him. If you’ve been married long enough, you’ll know this.
If you do neglect each other the Bible warns us, “Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.” Do you want to be tempted by Satan because of your lack of self-control? Then ignore God’s word. Pay attention to what all the secular feminists say instead. You’ll be sure to get divorced.
Women, if you read this, and get angry, and critical, only seeing the warnings to women, you missed the point, and your theology is probably wrapped up in human self-importance, or anthropocentric. If this is the case, read it again, looking at the teaching to men.
Men, if you read this, and get angry, and critical, only seeing the warnings to men, you missed the point, and your theology is probably wrapped up in human self-importance, or anthropocentric. If this is the case, read it again, looking at the teaching to women.
This entire article is about Jesus, and His gospel, as it is lived out in a marriage. If you only see, “rules for thee, and not for me” you’ve entirely missed it. I’m guessing it is because you are like most modern evangelicals, and have human-centered theology. You probably see the Bible as a handbook for your life. You probably view the saving grace of Jesus as mainly for you. This is a problem. You are not for you. You are for God’s glory. He made you for His glory, not for your own. Don’t attempt to rob God of His glory. Stop living for yourself, and live for God, the way He has instructed you to.
If you have unbiblical preconceived notions about how you should be treated, or how your life should be going, you are not only in sin, but you will never be content, and you’ll always be angry.
If you are confused about your gender, you need the truth, not lies. If you pretend to be a man, when you are actually a woman, you will always know that you are not a man. It will be with you all the while. You will always know you are a woman pretending to be a man. You will never fit in with actual men. You don’t need people to help you lie to yourself. You need the truth. Your emotions are not tempered with knowledge that is true. This will only lead to more suffering. Accept the truth. The truth is that you have sinful feelings and thoughts. You, along with the rest of us, are perverted. We all need God to grant us repentance, and faith. Pray for God to lead you to actual truth, and free you from your sins. Trust the finished work of Jesus Christ, on the cross for your righteousness. He took our punishment, and satisfied the just wrath of God with His sacrifice. We need to repent of our sins, and trust solely in Him.
In the first part of Chapter 11 we read that Peter, who was a Jew, and an Apostle of Christ, was in Joppa when he had the vision about the sheet with the unclean animals being dropped down. As a Jew there were animals he was not permitted to eat as they were considered ceremonially unclean. Now, without the context of the surrounding scriptures one might assume that this section of scripture is about making all foods acceptable to eat, although it is true that we can eat anything as long as we give thanks for it, this section of scripture should not be used as a prooftext for that truth. We would cite Mark 7, and 1 Corinthians 10 for that support.
This section of scripture is actually, about the gentiles. As of this time they were not considered by the Apostles when the gospel was preached. In this vision Peter was being prepared to preach the gospel to even the gentiles. We know the gospel is the power of God unto salvation. It is the means to that end. We also know that people cannot know it unless someone comes to them to preach it. This notion was confirmed to Peter when the men sent to him by the Roman Cornelius arrived.
In verse 14 we read, “and he will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household.” This is in regard to Peter and what he will say to the gentile household. Notice what happens? he will speak words… by which you will be saved… For everyone who is a fan of friendship evangelism read that over and over again.
The gospel is the power of God unto salvation. It must be preached with words. “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. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.” (NASB Strong’s) Romans 1:16-17. It is the means God has ordained by which to save the elect.
“14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!” 16 However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” (NASB Strong’s) Romans 10:14-17. You’ll notice that the gentiles received the Holy Spirit after they came to faith for it says in verse 17 that they believed first. “Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” You’ll also notice that it is God Himself who gives them the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is not imparted by a Priest or any man. He is not imparted by a ceremony, or some tradition. Those He indwells, He indwells by the will of the Father. In verse 18 we also see that the repentance that leads to life is granted by God according to His will, and the work of Christ on the cross as expressed in the gospel that was preached to them. “When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.”
The Word of God is truly wonderful. When we know it, and are informed by it, we can make decisions that are faithful to God. We are called to do what is right as Christians. Preaching the gospel of Christ is our mission. Repent and believe!
Peter Reports at Jerusalem 1 Now the apostles and the brethren who were throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2 And when Peter came up to Jerusalem, those who were circumcised took issue with him, 3 saying, “You went to uncircumcised men and ate with them.” 4 But Peter began speaking and proceeded to explain to them in orderly sequence, saying, 5 “I was in the city of Joppa praying; and in a trance I saw a vision, an object coming down like a great sheet lowered by four corners from the sky; and it came right down to me, 6 and when I had fixed my gaze on it and was observing it I saw the four-footed animals of the earth and the wild beasts and the crawling creatures and the birds of the air. 7 I also heard a voice saying to me, ‘Get up, Peter; kill and eat.’ 8 But I said, ‘By no means, Lord, for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 But a voice from heaven answered a second time, ‘What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.’ 10 This happened three times, and everything was drawn back up into the sky. 11 And behold, at that moment three men appeared at the house in which we were staying, having been sent to me from Caesarea. 12 The Spirit told me to go with them without misgivings. These six brethren also went with me and we entered the man’s house. 13 And he reported to us how he had seen the angel standing in his house, and saying, ‘Send to Joppa and have Simon, who is also called Peter, brought here; 14 and he will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’ 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning. 16 And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ 17 Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” 18 When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, “Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.” (NASB Strong’s) Acts 11:1-18
Jeremiah’s Prayer
Righteous are You, O Lord, that I would plead my case with You;
Indeed I would discuss matters of justice with You:
Why has the way of the wicked prospered?
Why are all those who deal in treachery at ease?
You have planted them, they have also taken root;
They grow, they have even produced fruit.
You are near to their lips
But far from their mind.
But You know me, O Lord;
You see me;
And You examine my heart’s attitude toward You.
Drag them off like sheep for the slaughter
And set them apart for a day of carnage!
How long is the land to mourn
And the vegetation of the countryside to wither?
For the wickedness of those who dwell in it,
Animals and birds have been snatched away,
Because men have said, “He will not see our latter ending.”
“If you have run with footmen and they have tired you out,
Then how can you compete with horses?
If you fall down in a land of peace,
How will you do in the thicket of the Jordan?
“For even your brothers and the household of your father,
Even they have dealt treacherously with you,
Even they have cried aloud after you.
Do not believe them, although they may say nice things to you.”
God’s Answer
“I have forsaken My house,
I have abandoned My inheritance;
I have given the beloved of My soul
Into the hand of her enemies.
“My inheritance has become to Me
Like a lion in the forest;
She has roared against Me;
Therefore I have come to hate her.
“Is My inheritance like a speckled bird of prey to Me?
Are the birds of prey against her on every side?
Go, gather all the beasts of the field,
Bring them to devour!
“Many shepherds have ruined My vineyard,
They have trampled down My field;
They have made My pleasant field
A desolate wilderness.
“It has been made a desolation,
Desolate, it mourns before Me;
The whole land has been made desolate,
Because no man lays it to heart.
“On all the bare heights in the wilderness
Destroyers have come,
For a sword of the Lord is devouring
From one end of the land even to the other;
There is no peace for anyone.
“They have sown wheat and have reaped thorns,
They have strained themselves to no profit.
But be ashamed of your harvest
Because of the fierce anger of the Lord.”
Thus says the Lord concerning all My wicked neighbors who strike at the inheritance with which I have endowed My people Israel, “Behold I am about to uproot them from their land and will uproot the house of Judah from among them. And it will come about that after I have uprooted them, I will again have compassion on them; and I will bring them back, each one to his inheritance and each one to his land. Then if they will really learn the ways of My people, to swear by My name, ‘As the Lord lives,’ even as they taught My people to swear by Baal, they will be built up in the midst of My people. But if they will not listen, then I will uproot that nation, uproot and destroy it,” declares the Lord. (NASB) Jeremiah 12
Let’s ask ourselves some questions before we get going. Who or what is this passage about? When did it happen? Considering that the entire Bible is about Jesus and the gospel, what does this passage have to say about God?
This passage is about the prophet Jeremiah, his appeal to God, and God’s answer. It was written between 680-530 BC. Judah was guilty of idolatry. Jeremiah was to warn them of God’s impending discipline if they didn’t repent. In this passage Jeremiah is making a plea to God for the wicked to be punished, and for relief from them. God answers by telling Jeremiah that He will uproot the nation of Judah. In other words His discipline and justice is coming. He also tells Jeremiah if they repent He will build them up, but if they don’t, He will destroy them. In the first couple verses it seems like Jeremiah is angry about how the wicked are enjoying wealth and prosperity. If you look at the next section of scripture I think you’ll see that he is truly angry at their lack of love for God and His will. They are giving their love and worship to idols and Jeremiah is upset by this because he himself truly worships God. That is why in verse 3 his prayer becomes imprecatory.
“But You know me, O Lord;
You see me;
And You examine my heart’s attitude toward You.
Drag them off like sheep for the slaughter
And set them apart for a day of carnage!” (NASB Strong’s) Jeremiah 12:3
This is not the only place in the Bible where someone who loves God prays for the destruction of the wicked. David did as well for example. It is not uncommon for someone who loves God to feel this way. Today as Christians we can feel like this when we see evil being celebrated in the world. I pray for God to save them, but if it is not His will to save them, I pray for God to remove them from influence, or take them out of this world. We have learned that God is just and good. He is longsuffering and will give nations/peoples time and opportunity to repent and worship Him. He is just and will punish the wicked in His time. Prophets of God spoke difficult things to the wicked people that got them in hot water with them. If they love God, they will preach His word regardless of the personal consequences, and when they are concerned about them, they come to Him in prayer.