Chronicles of a Watchman by Dr. James P. Norman Jr.

    Entrance Into God's Kingdom, NOT the Kingdom of Darkness God’s answer to the sinner’s question: Acts 2:38 -- Repent, be baptized and receive the Holy Spirit I. Repentance - Repentance is an inward decision and an act of the will that represents the sinner's initial response to God. It is a heartfelt recognition of one's need for forgiveness and a turning away from a life of sin. Repentance involves a deep conviction and sorrow for wrongdoing, accompanied by a genuine desire to change and seek reconciliation with God. Mark 1:3-4 Prepare ye the way of the Lord ... John did preach the baptism of repentance.  Mark 1:15- Jesus: Repent ye and believe the gospel..  Luke 13:3-5 Except ye repent , ye shall all likewise perish… Luke 24:47- Repentance , and remission of sins should be preached. Acts 2:38 Repent and be baptized.  Acts 3;19 Repent and be converted.  Acts 17:30- God now commandeth all men everywhere to repent … Acts 20:21-Testifying repentance toward...

  The true manifestation of the Holy Spirit will be earmarked by: A. A Christ-like spirit of love, patience, and faith in God B. Soberness and keenness of Spirit vision  C. Deep humility of heart and meekness of spirit, with a lion-like courage against sin, sickness, poverty, disease, discouragement, failure, and every other thing that could cause defeat in the Christian life. D. Absolute clearness of the mental facilities in intelligent action to carry out Bible instructions concerning known duty and personal life as a Christian. E. Freedom from all fault-finding, surmising, whispering or slander to anyone, and freedom from all works of the flesh that are listed in Rom. 1:29-32; I Corinth. 6:9-11; Gal. 5:19-21; Mark 7:19-21 F. The lack of any condemning and judging spirit, or seeking to hurt anyone by thought, word, or deed. All divine readings will be for the edification and betterment of all concerned and will be in accord with the golden rule. Matt. 7:12 G. Freedom from an...

TO BE IN CHRIST – THE SALT THAT YOU NEED (PART FIVE)   The resurrection life of the Lord Jesus is imparted to the true believer by the presence of the Holy Spirit! The Lord Jesus said "he that believeth on me out of his inner most being shall flow rivers of living (not stagnant) water". But this spoke he of the spirit, which they that believe on him should receive for the Holy Spirit, was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified John 7:38-39. That is to say, salt at the source! Salt at the spring of the waters II Kings 2:21.   This Ezra went up from Babylon and he was a ready scribe in the Law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given. The King granted him all of his requests according to the hand of the Lord his God upon him Ezra 7:6. It is a wonderful thing to be in such a relationship to God that everything you need for any circumstance is always yours by the good hand of your God upon you!   For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek ...

TO BE IN CHRIST – SALT (PART FOUR) Salt speaks of the risen life of Jesus Christ, imparted by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to the redeemed sinner. It is the salt for barrenness! As you have been reconciled to God by his death, you are constantly to be saved by his life. It is only the life of the Lord Jesus, his activity, clothed with you and displayed through you that ultimately will find the approval of God. As a forgiven sinner, you are a member of a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ (I Peter 2:5). It is that Lord Jesus Christ alone who makes your sacrifices acceptable to God. Only what he does in you and through you merits his approval and God can and will accept nothing less! Every oblation of the meat offering shall though season with salt; neither shall you suffer the salt of the covenant of the God to be lacking from the meat offering, with all your offerings you shall offer salt. (Lev 2:13) Under no circ...

Let’s talk about how all things fit into the benevolence of God, as concerned for general good of the universe. The benevolence of God requires the execution of the full penalty of the law upon all who reject Christ’s salvation and God’s plan for man. The scriptures imitate that Gods treatment of human sin is a matter of instruction to all moral beings. The self-chosen ruin of the few may be the salvation of the many. At this time we may be the only group that is in limbo with standing on the principles of moral conduct and biblical standards. Continued sin might have so striking a proof we might actually see the punishment of the rebellious, loss of their moral suicide and ruin.  This leading them to believe God’s holiness is it’s irreconcilable antagonist. With regard to the extent and scope of hell, we can say hell is only a spot in the universe of God. Compared to heaven, hell is narrow and limited. The kingdom of Satan is so insignificant in contrast with the kingdom...

The Spirit is the spirit of conviction, enlightenment, quickening, in the sinner: and of revelation, remembrance, witness, sanctification, consolation, to the saint. The spirit of the sinner is struggling for light as it is stumbling on the edge of a precipice at midnight; enlightens the Christian, as the rising sun reveals a landscape which was all there before, but which was hidden from sight until the great luminary of Jesus, love made it visible.  This morning light did not create the lovely prospect it revealed; it only showed the real state of what the darkness had concealed.  Without the Holy Spirit at work redemption would be impossible, and the revelation of God's true love for us would be just a shadow idea.  Christ is God entering into human history, but without the Holy Spirit Christianity would be only history.  The Holy Spirit is God entering into human hearts.  The Holy Spirit turns creed into the love for life.  Christ is the physician...