Grace, Love, and Faith

  Grace, Love, and Faith

The apostle Paul writing to Titus wrote,

"But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit" Titus 3:4,5.

We Christians believe that we can’t work our way to heaven.

C. S. Lewis put it this way,

“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”  C.S. Lewis.

The apostle Paul writing to the Corinthians wrote,

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9 

The Christian walk is also a walk of faith.

Jesus speaking of himself said,

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16,17.

Our God is a God of love who simply asks us to have faith in him. The writer of Hebrews stating

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6

The writer defining faith as,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”  Hebrews 11:1.

When I look at this. When I look at what faith is. I think for many people it is a very hard thing to do. Which is why I believe God asks us to have faith in him

Do you have faith in God?

Please think about it.

God of Salvation

 God of Salvation

In the book of Proverbs we read,

"Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns." The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity." Proverbs 96:10.

As Christians we believe God reigns and that he will one day judge all people. In the book of Ecclesiastes we read,

"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty of man. 

For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." Ecclesiastes12:13,14.

The good news is in Romans we read,

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly." Romans 5:6.

The apostle John writing,

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  

If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." 1John 1:9-10

In his gospel John tells us,

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16,17.

Do you believe in God and the salvation that come through belief in Christ Jesus?

Please thin about it.

Let us love

 Let us love

The apostle Paul writes,

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.  

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.  

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  

This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John4: 7-10.

God loved us so much He sent his one and only son to take away all our sins. In the Gospel of John we read Jesus speaking of himself saying,

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16,17 .

C. S. Lewis wrote,

"The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us."  C.S. Lewis.

The apostle Paul writing to the Romans wrote,

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.  Romans 3:23,24.

Sin is falling short of Gods ideals for our life. And we all sin. Thus we need to confess our sins to God. 

The apostle John writes,

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  

If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." 1John 1:9-10.

Especially if you claim to be a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus we need to confess our sins directly to God.

Are you doing this?

Please think about it.

The fool

 The fool

"The fool says in his heart, 

"There is no God." 

                                Psalm 14:1.

The way I see things is when a government or society turn its back on God or fails the recognise there is a God, society spirals down to the abys. We only have to look at Nazi Germany under Hitler. Tens of millions of innocent men women and children dead simply because they were considered less than human.

Abba Hillel Silver wrote,

"Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society.  Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority." Abba Hillel Silver

Blaise Pascal wrote,

“Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists. Blaise Pascal.

In the book of Ecclesiastes we read a warning that we all should take to heart. He writes, 

"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 

For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." Ecclesiastes 12:13,14. 

Where do you stand? Do you truly believe in God?

Please think about it.

The Psalmist says,

 The Psalmist says,

The Psalmist writes,

“Praise the LORD. 

Praise God in his sanctuary; 

praise him in his mighty heavens. 

Praise him for his acts of power; 

praise him for his surpassing greatness. 

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,

 praise him with the harp and lyre, 

praise him with tambourine and dancing, 

praise him with the strings and flute, 

praise him with the clash of cymbals,

 praise him with resounding cymbals. 

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. 

Praise the LORD.” 

                                        Psalm 150.

Psalm 150 tells us how we can praise God. Why not take a few minutes right now to praise God? Remember there is no good or bad time to praise God. All God asks is that we praise Him.

Please think about it.

Walking in Gods council

 Walking in Gods council

“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. 

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” Psalm1:1-3.

Take a few minutes to examine your life. Does the scripture quoted above resemble your life?

Do you delight in the law of the LORD?

Do you meditate on Gods law day and night?

Please think about it.

Instructions for Christian living

  Instructions for Christian living

In the book of 1Thesalonians we read

“Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, 

but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. 

Be joyful always;  

pray continually;  

give thanks in all circumstances, 

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 

Do not put out the Spirit’s fire;  

do not treat prophecies with contempt.  

Test everything. Hold on to the good.  

Avoid every kind of evil.” 

                                                      1Thesalonians 5:15-22.

Here are simple instructions for living the Christian life. They are at times things we forget to do. Do you follow these instructions?

Please think about it.

I am convinced that nothing can separate us

  I am convinced that nothing can separate us

The apostle Paul wrote,

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" Romans 8:38,39.

As believers in God. As believers in Christ Jesus nothing can separate us from the love of God. 

Corrie ten Boom Wrote,

"There is no pit so deep, that God's love is not deeper still".

Take a look at Romans 8:38,39 again. Paul is clear writing, 

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" Romans 8:38,39.

If you consider yourself a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus do you truly believe this?

Please think about it.

Seeking and finding God

 Seeking and finding God

In the book of Jeremiah we read,

“You will seek me and find me 

when you seek me with all your heart.”

                                                     Jeremiah 29:13.

An unknown author wrote,

“Maybe the atheist cannot find God for the same reason a thief cannot find a policeman.” Author Unknown.

We have to be searching for God in order to find him. Most atheist I’ve met simply say I don’t believe in God and leave it at that. Still others don’t give God a second thought. Thinking this life is all there is.

The question I’m asking here is do you believe in God? If not why not?

The Psalmist writes,

“The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” 

                                                            Psalm 19:1.

Dr. Arno Penzias 1978 Nobel Prize winner in Physics

"Astronomy leads us to a unique event, a universe which was created out of nothing, one with a very delicate balance needed to provide exactly the conditions required to permit life and one which has an underlying (one might say ‘supernatural') plan." Dr. Arno Penzias.

Proof of God’s existence is all around us.

Werner Heisenberg wrote,

“The first gulp from the glass of natural science will make you an atheist,

but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you" Werner Heisenberg father of Quantum Mechanics Nobel prize in physics.

The bottom line here is do you want to find God or not? 

As the scripture I quoted at the beginning says.

“You will seek me and find me 

when you seek me with all your heart.”

                                                     Jeremiah 29:13.

Are you truly seeking God?

Please think about it.

Is your light Shining?

  Is your light shining?

In the Gospel of Matthew we read,

"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16:

Is your light shining for Christ? Jesus said,

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20. 

Do you tell people about your faith in God and the salvation that comes through Christ Jesus?

Doing so is a part of Christian life. We are to take the good news of Christ to the world around us.

As Christians, and true followers of Christ Jesus we need to pray for the Lord to open doors for us witness to all we come in contact with.

That’s not to say we overpower them with scripture, or as one pastor told me. Never hit someone over the head with the Bible. It will only turn them off. We should always be respectful. Respecting the person even if they have different views from us.

We should never judge them especially when it comes to where they will spend eternity. The apostle Paul wrote,

"What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?" 1 Corinthians 5:12.

All we are called to do is present our beliefs in Christ Jesus and let them decide for themselves if what we are saying is true.

So if you are a Christian. A true believer in Christ Jesus are you letting your light shine to those around you?

Please think about it. 

Love the greatest of these

 Love the greatest of these

In the book of Proverbs we read,

"Let love and faithfulness never leave you;

 bind them around your neck, 

write them on the tablet of your heart. 

Then you will win favour and a good name

 in the sight of God and man."

                                                            Proverbs 3:3,4

In this verse of scripture we see a call from God to love. 

The late civil rights leader Martin Luther King jr. said,

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.”

                                                                                          Martin Luther King, Jr.

To be a Christians one must love. The apostle John writing,

"If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.  

And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother." 1John 4:20,21.

The apostle Paul gives us the definition of true Christian love when he writes,

"Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, 

it is not easily angered, 

it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. 

But the greatest of these is love."  

                                                          1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.

If you consider yourself a Christian. A true follower of Christ Jesus. Are you truly loving God and those around you?

Please think about it.

About False Teachers

 About false teachers

Jesus said,

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23.

The church has been around a long time as a result many calling themselves Christians are not. The apostle Paul even warned,

“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  

They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4

The apostle Peter warned,

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  

Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  

In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” 2 Peter 2:1-3.

We as Christians must be carful not to follow false teaching, not to listen to false teachers. The only way we can do such a thing is to read and study the scriptures for ourselves. We should also do our best to become apart of a good bible believing church congregation.

We can as believers wanting to make sure the truth is spoken in the name of Jesus, jump up and down, yell and criticize those we believe are not presenting the word of God correctly. That however will just wear us out and produce nothing.

There will always be false teachers in the church. And do what the Apostle Paul tells us to “....“Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:13b. 

      That being said we should not engage in witch hunts. Such things do not produce followers of Christ.

We need to concentrate on producing good spiritual food for those around us. We need to do as Paul writing to Timothy said,

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2Timothy 2:15.

Please think about it.

God will Judge

 God will judge

       In the book of James we read,

"Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money."  

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:13,14

In Ecclesiastes we read,

"I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind." Ecclesiastes 1:14.

To read these two scriptures it would seem there is little hope. That is if this life is all there is. If this life is all there is it means there is no justice. Men like Hitler, Pol Pot and other vicious dictators got away with the evil they did. But this life is not all there is. We as individuals live on through eternity where there will be justice. 

The writer of Ecclesiastes writing, 

“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty of man. 

For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes12:13,14.

It doesn’t matter who we are we will one day stand before God and give account for what we have done.

What will God say to you when you stand before him?

Please think about it.

Not everyone who says

 Not everyone who says

Jesus said,

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  

Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  

Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” Matthew 7:21-23.

The church has been around a long time as a result many calling themselves Christians are not. The apostle Paul even warned,

“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  

They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” 2Timothy 4:3,4

The apostle Peter warned,

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  

Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  

In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” 2 Peter 2:1-3.

We as Christians must be carful not to follow false teaching, not to listen to false teachers. The only way we can do such a thing is to read and study the scriptures for ourselves.    We must also remember that there will be minor differences between true Christians. It’s the major differences we should worry about.

The basic beliefs of true Christians are found in the Apostles Creed. While not written by one of the apostles states what are if you will not negotiable parts of our beliefs as Christians. It reads,

1.I believe in God the Father the almighty maker of heaven and earth

2. I believe in Jesus Christ God’s on and only Son, our Lord and Saviour.

3. I believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary

4. I believe Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate; That He was Crucified, died, was buried. That he descended in hell.

5. I believe He rose again on the third day from the dead.

6. I believe that he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.

7. I believe Jesus will one day Judge the living and the dead.

8. I believe in the Holy Ghost

9. I believe in the Church which is the communion of the saints,

10. I believe in the forgiveness of sin.

11. I believe in the resurrection of the body.

12. I believe in life everlasting.

Please think about it.

A Christian call to live a Godly life

 A Christian call to live a Godly life.

The apostle Paul writes,

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.  

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. 

Honor one another above yourselves.  

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.  

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  

Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 

Bless those who persecute you; 

bless and do not curse.  

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.  

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud,

 but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. 

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. 

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, 

live at peace with everyone”. 

                                                       Romans 12:9-18

Words for Christians to live by.

So if you claim to be a Christian do you live by them. Is your love for all people sincere or dose it come with conditions? Do you cling to what is good? Are you willing to associate all People?

Take a few minutes to look at Romans 12: 9-18 and ask yourself are you doing what the Scriptures are commanding you do?

Please think about it.

Christians are aliens in this world

  Christians are Aliens in this world

The Apostle Peter writes,

“Dear friends,

I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.  

Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." 1 Peter 2:9-12. 

We as believers in Christ must remember that we are simple visitors, landed immigrants in this world. While here we need to follow the laws of the country in which we live. 

Only if the laws of the land prohibit our worshipping God do we have the right to go against the law of the land.

Peter makes it clear we are to abstain from sinful desires and live good lives among those around us.

For a moment take a look at your life are you doing what Peter is telling you to do here?

Please think about it.  

Christians and Peace

  Christians and Peace

In the book of Romans we read,

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone." 

                                                                                                            Romans 12:18.

Are you doing your best to live at peace with those around you? 

Are you doing your best to love those around you, family friend or foe?

Jesus when asked,

"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 

Jesus replied: " ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 

This is the first and greatest commandment. 

And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.'  

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. Matthew 22:36-40.

Are you doing this?

We will never win a person for Christ if we don’t show them love.

The late American civil rights leader Martin Luther King jr. said,

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that." Martin Luther King, Jr.

So I ask you again are you loving those around you?

Please think about it.

About life

 About Life

The apostle John speaking of Jesus said,                                                                    

"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 

The poet wrote,                                                      

Where are the people?

Where?

Are they but shadows in the mall?

Are they?

Are they shadows in time?

Shadows wandering looking for the latest trinkets, bobbles and beads?

What is life?

What?

Is life but a wisp of smoke carried in the air?

A wisp in the eternal aether? 

Are people wisps of smoke?

What of man's or woman's!

 accomplishments?

What of them?

Is the sum total of all ones life simply a pile of shinny tin, brass, and wood?

Is that life?

Is life simply a cacophony of sounds travelling through endless time destined to end?

Is it?

Is life a finite opera?

An opera played out on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam?

Are we as Shakespeare said simply actors?

Does life end?

No!

No!

Life is real!

Played out before God.

In a world suspended between Heaven and Hell

We,

 While mere mortals here.

Are really eternal beings.

Waiting to stand before God.

Are you ready to stand before God?

Are you?

What is the sum total of your life?

What?

Individuals lives in deeds,

What will your deeds say about you?

What will "they" say about you when you pass on?

What will God say?

The writer of Ecclesiastes writes,

"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty of man. 

For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." Ecclesiastes12:13,14

Jesus speaking of himself said,

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, 

that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, 

but to save the world through him.  

Whoever believes in him is not condemned, 

but whoever does not believe stands condemned already

 because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. 

                                                                                           John 3:16-18.

Please think about it.

If you are

  If you are

Jesus said,

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12.

My parents who grew up in the Church of England and Roman Catholic churches respectively taught me long before I became a Christian what I consider the prime Christian principle. Summed up by Jesus when he said,

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12.

In the year 2026 Matthew 7:12 could be put this way,

If you are

demonstrating against anyone. 

You are telling them 

they can demonstrate against you.

If you are 

speaking out and trying to restrict the rights of others 

given to them by the lawfully elected government.

You are telling others 

they can try to restrict your rights.

If you are 

imposing your morals however good they may be on others.

You are telling them 

they can impose their morals on you, 

even if they are not as good as yours.

If you are 

trying to impose your faith on others 

rather than presenting your faith.

You are telling others 

they can impose their faith on you.

If you are

judging others.

You are telling others 

they can judge you in the same way.

If you 

Are telling the world,

I love you and God loves you

You are telling the world

God loves you and I love you

Unconditionally.

Please think about it.

Your choice to believe or not to believe

  Your choice to believe or not to believe

The Psalmist writes,

“Where can I go from your Spirit? 

Where can I flee from your presence? 

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

 if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, 

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

 even there your hand will guide me, 

your right hand will hold me fast.” 

                                                    Psalm 139:7-10

We serve an almighty, omnipresent God. No matter where we go we cannot hide from Him. If we truly trust Him he is there for us.

The psalmist reminds us,

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4.

God is not as some think an old man with a big stick ready to bash us when we do wrong. Quite the contrary. The apostle John writes,

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16,17.

It is God’s will that we all get to heaven, but in creating us he did not create robots. He created mankind with a free will to choose what we believe and what we do not believe. Thus we have the right not to believe in Him.

Thus the question becomes, do you believe in God.

Please think about it.