Of God

Of God
The book of acts records the following incident between the apostles of Jesus and the religious leaders of their day. Those religious leaders had told the apostles not to preach in the name of Jesus. Yet they continued to do so. Thus they were arrested.
The book of acts then records,
“Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest.  
“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” 
Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!  
The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.  
God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.  
We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” 
When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.  
But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.  
Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.  
Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.  
After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.  
Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” 
His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 
The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.  
Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.” Acts 5:27-42 
Luke the writer of Acts tells us the religious leaders were furious with the disciples wanting to put them to death. However cooler heads prevailed in the name of man named Gamaliel. Whom Luke describes as
“a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people.”
Gamaliel gives them a brief history lesson of incidents that the religious leaders knew about. How several men claiming to be of God led several groups of rebels against the status quo. However when these men were killed their followers scattered and the movement they started amounted to nothing. He then went on to say about the apostles,
“Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” 
Those religious leaders must have thought what Gamaliel said had merit for rather than having the apostles put the death they simply had them flogged. Which still didn’t stop the apostles for preaching in the name of Jesus.
The book of Acts recording,
“The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.  
Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.”
Considering it has been two thousand years since this incident, and the followers of Jesus are still growing despite persecution in many countries around the world. I think we can say what the apostles were teaching and what believers in Christ are teaching today is of God.
The question however comes down to what do you believe.
Is Jesus the one and only Son of God, the Saviour of mankind or is he not?
The choice is yours.
Please think about it.

Of God

Of God
The book of acts records the following incident between the apostles of Jesus and the religious leaders of their day. Those religious leaders had told the apostles not to preach in the name of Jesus. Yet they continued to do so. Thus they were arrested.
The book of acts then records,
“Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest.  
“We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.” 
Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than men!  
The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead—whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree.  
God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel.  
We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.” 
When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.  
But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while.  
Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.  
Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.  
After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.  
Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” 
His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 
The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.  
Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.” Acts 5:27-42 
Luke the writer of Acts tells us the religious leaders were furious with the disciples wanting to put them to death. However cooler heads prevailed in the name of man named Gamaliel. Whom Luke describes as
“a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people.”
Gamaliel gives them a brief history lesson of incidents that the religious leaders knew about. How several men claiming to be of God led several groups of rebels against the status quo. However when these men were killed their followers scattered and the movement they started amounted to nothing. He then went on to say about the apostles,
“Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” 
Those religious leaders must have thought what Gamaliel said had merit for rather than having the apostles put the death they simply had them flogged. Which still didn’t stop the apostles for preaching in the name of Jesus.
The book of Acts recording,
“The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name.  
Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.”
Considering it has been two thousand years since this incident, and the followers of Jesus are still growing despite persecution in many countries around the world. I think we can say what the apostles were teaching and what believers in Christ are teaching today are of God.
The question however comes down to what do you believe.
Is Jesus the one and only Son of God, the Saviour of mankind or is he not?
The choice is yours.
Please think about it.

Of God

Of God
The apostle John writes,
“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.  
This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.  
This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,  
for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.  
Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” 1John 5:1-5.
John makes a definite statement here “Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God....”
You cannot get a more clear statement than that. If you believe that Jesus is the Christ you are born of God.
John goes on to state,
“This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,  
for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”
If we truly love God we will obey God’s commands. Commandments that are not burdensome.
Someone once told me that becoming a Christian means following a lot of do’s and don’t’s. That is not entirely right.
Christians are given a moral code to live by, by Jesus, principle of which is to love. However the rules set down by the scriptures are no more burdensome than following the rules at a football match.
In a football match one has a set of rules that one follows so that the game can be played fairly and pleasurably for all in the game. This is true when one becomes a Christian. The rules for living a Christian life are no different.
By following God’s moral code and loving those around us the Christian life is very fulfilling and rewarding.  
John also tells us,
“Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”
We overcome the problems and trials of this world by believing in Jesus.
In believing in Christ we understand that the problems of this world are but temporary and nothing when compared to the eternal reward we will receive when the Father calls us home.
John referring to Jesus said in his gospel,
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12,13.
If we truly believe in Jesus, then according to John we are children of God. We have a personal relationship with God. A bond that can overcome anything this life throws at us.
Please think about it.