About the website name - The Blind Beggar

     I picked the name "The Blind Beggar" because of the story the scriptures tell us about the Blind Beggar named Bartimaeus. This Story is found in Mark 10:46-52. Now at first glance we think it is a story about, well, a blind man gaining his sight. But upon further examination of the text we see it is about the sinners state and their desire to change.

    Now, I hope you picked up your Bible or found one somewhere and read the story; but if you have not here is a little background about Bartimaeus. He was a blind man, well duh, but that meant that he could not work so he had to beg for a living. From necessary inference we can tell that He had knowledge of Christ and his ministry, and we can tell from the text that he had faith in Christ; which was confirmed through his miracle.

      We see that Bartimeaus heard that Christ was coming near he began to cry out, again and again "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!". Now I will be exploring this in later days and weeks, there is often another lesson to be learned in many, if not most of the scriptures. Here we can see that Bartimeaus is like the Sinner who acknowledges his/her current state of being away from God, and it is their sin that is what's keeping them from Him. Bartimeaus acknowledged his current state of being blind and he knew, had faith, that Christ was the only one that could make him see again. We as Christians and non-Christians alike need to know that Christ is the only way to "gain our sight" or atonement for our sin. But like the beggar many will try to keep us quiet or away for what will save us. Just like those in the crowed telling him to be quiet, many who claim to know God will do the same to us. Remember the crowed was there to hear Christ as well. Also the world who already doesn't like the idea of Christians will try to discourage us as well. But like the beggar we will not let that stop us, we like him will only yell louder and louder( or actively seeking the truth ) until Christ hears us. And in the end it will be worth it.

     The scriptures tell us that after Bartimeaus received his sight he began to fallow Jesus down the road. Knowing his faith, he obeyed all that Jesus commanded and that means he was saved. But what does that meant to be saved? or What must I do to be saved? That very same question was asked by the Jailer to Siris in Acts 16:30. The Bible teaches that

 You must hear the word of God - That means the Gospel of Christ, who he was and what he did - Matthew 7:24-27

You must believe that Jesus was the Christ, the son of God - Mark 16:16

You Must repent of your sins - that requires not changing your life first, but changing your mind concerning sin -  Luke 13:3

You must Confess your faith in Christ Acts 8:36-37

You must be Baptized by submersion for the remission of sins - Romans 6:3-6


As Always, God Bless
       - Ashby

What Is Faith?

 

 

                    I've come to the realization that majority of the world - both The Religious and The Non-Religious - have a unique view of what Faith is; That is, that Faith is this belief in something that is fair fetch and cant possibly have proof of any kind. But this view is far from the truth in which the Scriptures teach.

 

                  In the book of Hebrews in the Eleventh in the First verse , the Hebrew wittier writes  "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen". Here we see that faith is when things we hope for or want most in this world to be true are confirmed. It is our conviction to what others deem unreal, that makes Faith, well faith.

 

                But then the question arises, how then does one acquire faith? Paul in the Book of Romans in the Tenth chapter in the Seventeenth verse; he writes "So then faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God". Paul doesn't need much explaining here. Faith comes thru the diligent reading of the Scriptures, both The Old and The New Testaments. Now I'm sure you're asking "now what about that proof that makes belief faith?" Well I'm getting to that right now.

 

         Now, I could write an entire book series on the proof that only validities the Scriptures but I wont drag this entry out that long; instead here is just two proofs for now.

 

In Genesis 11:31 it talks about Abraham lived in the ancient city of Ur. For the longest time Genesis was the only proof of that city and many denied it existed. Until an archeological dig uncovered its ruins, including temples, houses, and the palace complete with king and queens tombs.

 

The Hittite nation at one time was unknown outside the Biblical accounts until ancient Egyptian and Assyrian records have been discovered that show that the Hittite empire had stood for nearly seven centuries.

 

I hope that what I have shown today has sparked some interest in the scriptures or even some questions. God Bless

           - Ashby