That you may have eternal life

 That you may have eternal life

The Apostle John writing about 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 Apostle Paul writing to believers in Christ Jesus said,

“You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:26-28.

It is the core of Christian belief that through belief in Christ Jesus you become children of God. That you receive eternal life.

Jesus said,

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6.

The apostle Paul writes,

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.  

But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.” 1Timothy 1:15,16.

What the apostle Paul is saying here through belief in Christ Jesus we receive eternal life.

Thus the question becomes. Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, God incarnate who died for your sins, That you may have eternal life in heaven with God?

Please think about it.

Jesus existed

 Jesus existed

In the gospel of John we read,

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14.

John’s Gospel also records,

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 

Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?  

Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when    I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.  John 14:8-11

The apostle Paul writes,

"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,"  1 Corinthians 15:3

Martha is recorded in John’s gospel as saying,

“Yes Lord” she told Him, “I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world,...”John 11:27.

So the question becomes do you believe these Biblical references or not. The people noted that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah. That he was a real person.

Outside the Bible we can read the account of 

Jewish historian Flavius Josephus (37—100 AD), aka Joseph ben Mattathias, is one of the most important writers of antiquity. His book Jewish Antiquities has a passage most scholars accept as authentic, Josephus writes,

"Around this time lived Jesus, a wise man. For he was a worker of amazing deeds and was a teacher of people who gladly accept the truth. He won over both many Jews and many Greeks. Pilate, when he heard him accused by the leading men among us, condemned him to the cross, [but] those who had first loved him did not cease [doing so]. To this day the tribe of Christians named after him has not disappeared."

Pliny the Younger (61-112 AD) was a powerful Roman lawyer, senator and intellectual famed for his letters which were turned into ten popular books. In his tenth book is a letter written, #96, to Emperor Trajan asking for help with trials of accused Christians. Three times he mentions the Christians of Christ. This letter is not suspected of being a forgery by most historians. Pliny writes, in part,

“They had met regularly before dawn on a determined day, and sung antiphonally a hymn to Christ as if to a god (carmenque Christo quasi deo dicere secum invicem). They also took an oath not for any crime, but to keep from theft, robbery and adultery, not to break any promise, and not to withhold a deposit when reclaimed.”

It, I believe, is easy to say Jesus didn’t exist and say that the historical evidence is flawed. It’s much harder to believe he existed because once you admit he existed then you have to admit that what the bible says about him has to have some merit.”

Flavius Josephus and Pliny the Younger were recording who Jesus was within living memory and they say he existed.

Which brings us the next question. Who do you believe Jesus is Messiah, Christ, Son of God?

Please think about it.

Truths about Jesus

  Truths about Jesus

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.  

If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth.  

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 

If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.  

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. 

My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. 

We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.  

The man who says, “I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.  

But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him:  

Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. 1John 1:5-26

Some simple truths from John.

1/ “God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”

2/ “If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not  live by the truth.”

3/ “if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another,  and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”

4/ “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us....”

5/ “If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.”

6/ “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and  purify us from all unrighteousness.”

7/ “We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands...”

8/ “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” 

John also makes it clear that if we sin we,

“...we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

As Christians it is important for us to live a life as close to the ideals Jesus set out for us as possible.

John recognizes that we are human and that we do sin and thus have one who speaks in our defense, Jesus Christ.

Please think about it.

Who is the greatest

 Who is the greatest

     “At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” 

He called a little child and had him stand among them.  

And he said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  

Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”  Matthew 18:1-4.

What makes a person great, education, being a great orator, Power, being a mighty hero, What? 

Most people when asked to name a great leader they may mention the name of a politician, soldier, artist. And in human terms they may well be great. But in time their names fade from memory. I read an article that asked teenagers who Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt were. Few could answer. Fewer still in Canada could name the fathers of confederation. In the united states it was the same. Few could name those who signed the deceleration of independence.  

One man’s name however is known around the earth. Jesus of Nazareth. Two point two billion people still follow him today.

Dr. James Allan Francis in 1926 wrote a poem called One Solitary Life, it reads,

He never wrote a book 

He never held an office 

He never went to college 

He never visited a big city 

He never travelled more than two hundred miles from the place where he was born 

He did none of the things usually associated with greatness... 

Nineteen centuries have come and gone 

And today Jesus is the central figure of the human race 

And the leader of mankind's progress 

All the armies that have ever marched 

All the navies that have ever sailed 

All the parliaments that have ever sat 

All the kings that ever reigned put together 

Have not affected the life of mankind on earth 

As powerfully as that one solitary life 

Christ Jesus.

Jesus taught us what it was to be humble. He came to do the work of God. To do the will of his Heavenly Father. In doing so he showed us what it was to be humble. 

Jesus humbled himself to the point of washing the feet of his disciples. 

Humility is in short supply among most people today. How many politicians have fallen because they refused to humble themselves and admit what they were doing was wrong. 

How many wars have started because the leaders of a country have refused to back down because it was a case of honour. And to back down would be a disgrace.

Jesus the Son of God who was there on the day of creation. The one who created the world. Humbled himself to become a man and to die for the sins of man. To die for sins he didn’t commit. 

We as individuals need to look at the teachings of Christ. We need to look at his life, learn the lesson of humility he taught and put that lessons into action in our life.

In doing so I believe we will make the world a far better place.

Think About it.

The reason for Christs coming

 The reason for Christs coming

The apostle Paul writes,

“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.  

‘ But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”1 Timothy 1:15,16

Here Paul is simply stating why Jesus came. “to save sinners” 

Sinning meaning, falling short of Gods ideals for your life.

Paul makes it clear that all of us have sinned. When in Romans he states,

“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.

We are all sinners according to the Bible and all means all, from the Pope, to priests and pastors, to televangelist to the person sitting in the pews to the person on the street. All means all.

Sin separates us from the love of God that is why Jesus came to this world.

The apostle John noting there is hope for all of us stating,

“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.

The apostle Paul writing to the Ephesians states,

“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

Paul writing to the Romans states,

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  

Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance, character; and character, hope.  

And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  

Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:1-8

The Christian message is clear. Salvation and eternal life is a free gift paid for by Jesus Christ.

Please think about it. 

Why I believe

  Why I believe

Because,

“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

I will believe in God,

Because,

“...God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

  Because scripture tells us.

“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.

Because

“...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

Because faith is defined as,

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

Because  

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6.

Because of all of this and what I read in the Bible I believe in God.

Do you?

Think about it.

A message of reconciliation

 A message of reconciliation

The apostle Paul writes,

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.  

We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.”2 Corinthians 5:18-20

St Augustine wrote,

“A Christian is: a mind through which 

Christ thinks, a heart through which

Christ loves, a voice through which

Christ speaks, and a hand through which Christ helps”

                                                                             St. Augustine  

And what is the message God wants Christians to tell the world,

The apostle John writing states,

"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.

In the book of Romans we read,

"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."  

For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved" Romans 10:9-13.

This is what we as Christians. As follower of Christ Jesus should be doing.

If you claim to be a Christian are you doing it?

Please think about it.

God Loves You

 God Loves You

The apostle John states,

“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. 1John 1-4.

Sin is falling short of Gods ideal for our lives. Sin separates us from God. As such we need to confess our sin directly to God.

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 John’s Gospel we read,

"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.

The apostle John also writes,

“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, not of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God." John 1:12,13.

Do you consider yourself a child of God? A believer in Christ Jesus? 

Have you received Christ as your saviour? If not why not consider it now. There is not magic words to say. You simply have to pray something like this,

Dear Heavenly Father,

I know I am a sinner and sin separates me from you. Please forgive me and come into my life. 

Now if you sincerely accepted Christ into your life. I would suggest you get a copy of the Bible. If you read English I would suggest the New International Bible. It is generally recognised as one of the better translations and easy to read. 

I would also suggest that you pray and ask God to lead you to a good church. I recommend a Mennonite church, or Baptist church which are in most countries around the world. There is also some good Christian content on the internet. 

While my blogs are independent of the church I attend. The church streams its services live on line at 11:00am Eastern time. The church is North End Mennonite Brethren church here in Canada. You can find it at Northendchurch.ca.

All I would ask anyone searching for meaning and direction in life, is to pray and read the Bible and see what you think about God and the salvation that comes from His One and Only Son Christ Jesus.

Please think about it. 

Believing as Martha did

  Believing as Martha did

Jesus speaking to Martha said,

"Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

"Yes Lord" she told Him, "I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world," John 11:25,26,27.

Martha was a close friend of Jesus. She knew him as well as the disciple. She had seen what he did during his ministry and she made it clear in her reply to Jesus saying, “I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”

The question I would like you to answer is, If you have taken time to read the New Testament. Do you believe as Martha did that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God?

Please think about it.

Getting to heaven, A Christian belief

 Getting to heaven, A Christian belief.

The Bible also makes it clear how we get to heaven. It come down to who you think Jesus is and what his purpose on this earth was for,

Jesus speaking about 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.

The apostle Paul writing to the Romans said,

“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.

Sinning is falling short of what God wants for you life. And we all at some point in our lives fall short of what God wants for our life. Sin separates us from God.

Isaiah telling us, 

“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.” Isaiah 64:6

There is however hope.

  The apostle John noting,

“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.”1 John 1:9,10.

Paul make it clear salvation is not something we can work for. Paul writing to the Ephesians stating, 

“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

Ultimately salvation is an act of faith on the individuals part. 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

Faith defined as,

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

This is what true Christians believe and I leave it here for your consideration with these words from C. S. Lewis, who wrote,

“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.” C. S. Lewis.

Please think about it.

So what do Christians believe?

  So what do Christians believe?

In the book of Isaiah we read,

"Have you not known? Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God?

The Creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not faint or grow weary;

his understanding is unsearchable." 

                                                             Isaiah 40:28

We Christians believe God is everlasting. The Creator of the ends of the earth.

The Apostles Creed while not written by an apostle of Christ states what Christians today believe. It states,

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.

This is what we Christians believe. I leave it hear for you the reader to decide for yourself if you believe this.

Please think about it.

I am a Believer

 I am a believer 

John’s gospel records Jesus speaking to Martha saying, 

"Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

"Yes Lord" she told Him, "I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world," John 11:25,26,27.

I am a believer in Christ Jesus. A Christians. I am not an Anglican-Christian, a Catholic-Christian, a Lutheran-Christian,. I am not Evangelical-Christian, a Baptist-Christian, a Pentecostal-Christian  or any other hyphenated Christian. I am a Christian.

I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Saviour of Mankind, God incarnate. The way to heaven.

I believe Christians by default must be evangelical in nature. They must present, and I mean present, and not force on to anyone what they believe. 

It is the Christians job to show the world God's Love and Saving Grace that comes through Jesus Christ. 

I believe Christians must make disciples of all nations and teach those disciples. Jesus himself made that clear. Matthew's gospel recording, 

"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.

Now having said all that I firmly believe God gave every person a freewill. Included in that freedom, is the freedom to believe whether or not Jesus truly is the Son of God. The Saviour of all who will receive him into their hearts.

So who do you think Jesus is?

Please think about it.

Maker of heaven earth and sea

  Maker of heaven earth and sea

In the book of Psalms we read,

“Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them—the LORD, who remains faithful forever.” Psalm 146:5,6.

Are you blessed? Do you truly believe in the Lord God maker of heaven earth, sea and everything in them?

The apostle Paul writes,

“Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; 

if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us; 

if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself." 2 Timothy 2:11-13 

Again I ask do you truly believe in the Lord God Almighty maker of heaven and earth?

Please think about it.

Who is Jesus?

 Who is Jesus  to the Christian?

In the Gospel of John we read,

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  

He was with God in the beginning. 

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  

In him was life, and that life was the light of men....

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. ” John 1:1-4,14

Jesus speaking to his disciples said,

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  John 14:6.

These are two statements Christians make and ask the listener to believe by faith. 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.

God will never force himself on anyone. He leaves it in the listeners hands.

Many men over the centuries have tried to dispute who Jesus was all ultimately have failed.

Roman Emperor Julian the Apostate, (361-363 A.D.)  an ancient adversary of Christianity. Said in his work against Christianity:

"Jesus…has now been celebrated about three hundred years having done nothing in his lifetime worthy of fame, unless anyone thinks it is a very great work to heal lame and blind people and exorcise demoniacs in the villages of Bethsaida and Bethany."

At the end of his life Julian was forced to say:

"Thou has conquered, O Galilean!"

  What do you think about Jesus? 

Please think about it.

I want you to know

  I Want you to know

"Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.  

By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.  

After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.  

Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles," 1Corinthians 15:1-7.

When the apostle Paul wrote these words there were people within living memory who experienced seeing Jesus after his resurrection. 

The apostle Peter stated,

“We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.  

For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”  

We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.” 2 Peter 1:19-18.

Jesus for those who believe in him is the Son of God the Saviour of all who would believe in him and the apostles truly believed this.

Thus the choice in yours. Do you believe Jesus is the Son of God, the saviour of all who believe in him?

Please think about it. 

God made flesh

 God made flesh

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  

He was with God in the beginning. 

Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  

In him was life, and that life was the light of men....

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. ” John 1:1-4,14.

The above quotation from the book of John is a fundamental belief of Christians. At first glance is seems outrageous but it is true.

If it were not true why would early Christians include it in the very documents they were writing to prove their faith.

The fact that the early Christians claimed that Jesus was God incarnate, God in the flesh means, at least to me, they have committed a lie so outrageous that it has fooled millions. If not billions of people through out history and in modern times. 

C. S. Lewis wrote,

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. 

A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. 

You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to." C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.

Please think about it.

True Treasure

  True Treasure

Jesus said,

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. 

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.  

When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” Matthew 13:44-46.

Unfortunately people today are seeing true treasure in all the wrong places. They are quite literally seeking in fields and elsewhere hoping to find material wealth.

They are not looking for true wealth. Which is in heaven. 

Jesus said,

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 16:19-21.

What kind of wealth are you seeking?

Please think about it.

Christians and love

 Christians and love

The apostle John writes,

"This is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.... 

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?  

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1John 3:11,17,18.

The Bible is full of admonitions to the believer to help those in need. 

While to Talmud is not a Christian book it holds many Christian principles that Christian should follow,

“Rabbi Akiba was asked by a Roman general, "Why does your God who loves the needy not provide for their support Himself?"  He answered, "God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love." The Talmud.

Are you making the world around you a household of Love?

Please think about it.

Jesus Lunatic or Saviour

Jesus Lunatic or Saviour

John’s gospel records this interaction between Jesus and his disciples,

“Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  

If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” 

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 

Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?  

Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.  

Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.  John 14:5-11.

This if you think about it is quite the extraordinary statement. Jesus makes two statements that if not true makes him a lunatic. He states,

1. “I am the way the truth and the life. No one come to the Father except through me.”

2.  “I am in the Father, and the Father is in me.”

What Jesus is saying is He is divine. He is God incarnate. The way to Heaven. 

 C. S. Lewis said it best in his book Mere Christianity when he wrote,

“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.

This is the choice the writers of the New Testament lay out before the whole world. Either Jesus is God incarnate, the Saviour of mankind, or he is not. The choice is yours.

Please think about it.

Show me your ways?

  Show me your ways?

“Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Saviour, and my hope is in you all day long.” Psalm 25:4,5.

As believers is God I think we all seem to take God for granted. We miss who he really is.

As such we need to remind ourselves that God is our Saviour and that all our hope is in Him.

This quote from Psalm 25 is, I believe a prayer we all need to be praying. We need to be asking God to show us his ways. We need to ask God to show us his paths and guide us in his truth. To teach us his truths.

Do you ask God to show you his ways? How often do you do it?

Please think about it.