Pastor Marc Bertrand

  What Does It Mean to Call God “Father?” One of the most well-known statements of the Christian faith is the Lord’s Prayer, which begins with the words “Our Father which art in heaven.” This is part of the universal treasury of Christendom. When I hear Christians in a private gathering praying individually, almost every single person begins their prayer by addressing God as Father. There’s nothing  more common among us than to address God as our Father. So central is this to our Christian experience that in the nineteenth century, there were some who said the basic essence of the whole Christian religion can be reduced to two points: the universal brotherhood of man and the universal fatherhood of God. In that context I am afraid we have missed one of the most radical teachings of Jesus. A few years ago, a German scholar was doing research in New Testament literature and discovered that in the entire history of Judaism—in all existing books of the Old Testament and all existi...

  Teaching Rebirth. Black and white version of Nicodemus and Jesus and their night time meeting. What Is a Born Again Christian? Or Born from above? The phrase “Born Again Christian” applies to people who have accepted Jesus as their Savior or Redeemer. To be born again in this sense is not an actual physical rebirth, but it indicates a spiritual rebirth. The phrase “born again Christian” is frequently misinterpreted. Looking at its primary reference, we see that its meaning is not about physical birth, but about experiencing a spiritual renewal. It is is an expression used by many Protestants to define the moment or process of fully accepting faith in Jesus Christ. It is an experience when the teachings of Christianity and Jesus become real, and the "born again" acquire a personal relationship with God. The term is originated from an incident in the New Testament in which the words of Jesus were not understood by a Jewish Pharisee, Nicodemus. Jesus replied, "Very truly ...

  What is a born again Christian?. “What is a born again Christian” is a question that is often asked. “a recent national survey found that about fifty percent of the American population claimed to be born again Christians”. However, when that question was presented to its participants, one has to wonder how they defined “born again Christian.” Did the participants all have the same understanding  of what the term means? What is a born again Christian anyway? The term “born again” refers to people who have accepted Jesus as their Savior, or the Messiah. Of course it is not a physical rebirth, but it refers to a spiritual rebirth. The person understands that he/she is a sinner (Romans 3:23) and that the penalty for that sin is death (Romans 6:23). To remedy the situation, God sent His only Son to die in his/her place—to take the penalty for sin (Romans 5:8). After Jesus’ death, He rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:3-6). Jesus is the only way to God (John 14:6) and He gives t...

  Ezra Leads in Public Readings. THE BOOK OF GENESIS AND GOD’S LAW. The Book of Genesis contains the record of humanity’s beginning and the foundation and basis of all subsequent biblical revelation. As with all studies of the Bible, there is truth for those who search for it. Likewise, a thorough study of chapters two and three of the Book of Genesis reveals truth that has been hidden for centuri es. “The Law of Jehovah Is Perfect”. 1, 2. Why do many people have little regard for law, yet how may we come to feel about God’s laws? “LAW is a bottomless pit, it . . . devours everything.” That statement appeared in a book published back in 1712. Its author decried a legal system in which lawsuits sometimes dragged through the courts for years, bankrupting those seeking justice. In many lands, legal and judicial systems are so complex, so rife with injustice, prejudice, and inconsistencies, that contempt for law has become widespread. 2 By way of contrast, consider these words written ...

  Torch. Hand holding torch. What does a torch symbolize in the Bible?. Psalms 119:105. The light of a torch radiates outward and dissipates darkness. This symbol of the Olympic Games and the purpose of them can be a reminder to the world of its need to reach outward in further effort to advance humanity's goals. What does a torch symbolize?. The torch is a common emblem of both enlightenment and hope. ... Crossed reversed torches were signs of mourning that appear on Greek and Roman funerary monuments—a torch pointed downwards symbolizes death, while a torch held up symbolizes life, truth and the regenerative power of flame. The torch of spiritual understanding The Olympic torch is a traditional and worthy symbol of the Olympic Games, whose purpose is to encourage harmony among nations and their peoples, and by its very shining light to brighten and kindle the hope that the spirit of excellence being pursued by the participating athletes will illumine the hearts of the world's...

  Passing the Torch. Older couple passing a torch to the next generation. Harry Anderson painting. What does a torch symbolize in the Bible?. Psalms 119:105. The light of a torch radiates outward and dissipates darkness. This symbol of the Olympic Games and the purpose of them can be a reminder to the world of its need to reach outward in further effort to advance humanity's goals. What does the torch represent?. The torch is a symbol of enlightenment. The Statue of Liberty's torch lights the way to freedom showing us the path to Liberty. Even the Statue's official name represents her most important symbol "Liberty Enlightening the World" What does a torch mean?. The torch is a common emblem of both enlightenment and hope. ... Crossed reversed torches were signs of mourning that appear on Greek and Roman funerary monuments—a torch pointed downwards symbolizes death, while a torch held up symbolizes life, truth and the regenerative power of flame. Passing the Torch...

  When Was The Sabbath Established? Although the Church isn’t always clear on teaching which day really is the Sabbath, it typically does a good job of establishing at which point in history God gave the commandment to observe the Sabbath. We all know the story: Israel gets led out of slavery in Egypt by Moses and wanders around the desert for a really long time due to their lack of faith, Israel then starts worshiping other gods and generally makes some poor life choices, and as a result, God gives Moses the ten commandments at Mount Sinai, in which the Sabbath commandment is included. Sounds pretty straight forward, right? A closer examination of Scripture may actually lead to a surprising answer. Let’s take a look at the history of the Sabbath in Scripture, including when it was instituted, who was expected to observe it, and what it means for the Church today. In the Beginning Yes, we’re going back that far. In order to establish the origin of the Sabbath, we need to go back to...