My Weblog: The Gospel Preacher.

In Luke 2:14, it is written, " 14 ^aGlory to God in the highest, and on earth ^bpeace, ^cgood will toward men. "  It has been established, in the church bulletin, below, that there is only peace among Christians, members of the church.  How can there be peace in this world when the politicians are constantly embroiled in conflict and political warfare?  This type of mindset is not normal.  The word " normal " is defined as follows, namely: " nor·mal  (nôr´məl)  adj.  1  In accordance with an established law or principle; conforming to a type or standard; regular; natural. "¹  In Psalm 78:5-7, it is written, " 5 For ^ahe established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that ^bthey should make them known to their children: 6 ^athat the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: 7 that they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments. "  Moreover, God's word is His law, for in Psalm 119:65-73, it is written, " 65 Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.  66 Teach me good judgment and ^aknowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.  67 Before I was ^aafflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.  68 Thou art ^agood, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.  69 The proud have ^aforged¹ a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.  70 ^aTheir heart is ¹as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.  71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.  72 ^aThe law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.  73 ^aThy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments. "  Additionally, in 2 Timothy 3:16, 17, it is written, " 16 ^aAll scripture is given by inspiration of God, ^band is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 ^athat the man of God may be perfect, ^bthroughly ¹furnished unto all good works. "  This latter passage of Scripture teaches that the Holy Bible is God's word and, thus, the Holy Bible is God's law.  The Holy Bible is absolutely authoritative, because God has absolute authority in heaven and on earth ( see Matthew 28:16-20 ( especially verse 18, for example ) and John 5:26, 27, for example ).  Since God has established His word, His law, which is absolutely authoritative, then it follows that the Holy Bible is absolutely normal.  The Bible teaches that we, as Christians, are to pursue peace, for example, with all men ( see Hebrews 12:14, for example ).  For a consideration of the apostles Peter, Andrew, James, and John, please see the bubble chart, below:

The accounts of Jesus calling His original twelve apostles are in Matthew 10:1-4, Mark 6:7, Luke 9:1, and John 14:12, for example.  Simon Peter was the first apostle to be called.  Andrew, Peter's brother, was the second to be called.  James the son of Zebedee was the third to be called.  John, the brother of James, was the fourth to be called.  The smallest bubble, near the top of the bubble chart, above, represents the apostle Peter.  The next largest bubble, located near the bottom, to the left, represents the apostle Andrew.  The bubble near the bottom, in the middle of the three bottom bubbles, represents the apostle James.  The largest bubble, near the bottom, to the right of the middle, bottom bubble, represents the apostle John.  Note that the apostle Peter, who denied Jesus three times ( see Matthew 26:69-75, for example ), would later serve as an elder in the New Testament church, the church of Christ ( see 1 Peter 1:1; 5:1-4, and 12, for example ).  This is an indication of the forgiveness that God is willing to afford to us, as Christians, if we will repent and pray to Him ( see Acts 8:5-25 ( especially verses 18-23, for example ), for example ).

In Romans 5:1, 2, it is written, " 5 Therefore ^abeing justified by faith, we have ^bpeace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 ^aby whom also we have access by faith into this grace ^bwherein we stand, and ^crejoice in hope of the glory of God. "  The phrase " ^bpeace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, " here, has a cross-reference to Ephesians 2:14: verses thirteen and fourteen read as follows, namely: " 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who ¹sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.  14 For ¹he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of ²partition between us. "  The Bible teaches that one comes in contact with the blood of Christ through Scriptural baptism ( see Romans, chapter 6 ( especially verses 3, 4, 10, and 22, for example ), for example ).  This is the only way for sinners to have peace with God.  Please search the scriptures daily, as the Jews of Be-re´-a did ( see Acts 17:10, 11, for example ).  Please seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read ( see Isaiah 34:16, for example ). 🕮

1. NEW ILLUSTRATED WEBSTER'S DICTIONARY Including THESAURUS of SYNONYMS & ANTONYMS, PMC Publishing Company, Inc., 118 EAST 28th STREET, NEW YORK, NY 10016, dictionary portion: pages 1-1150, Copyright © 1992, by J.G. Ferguson Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, p. 664.