We Cannot Impose

 We cannot impose

Jesus 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.

That being said the only way we can reach the world around us is to sit down with non-Christians and present the gospel of Christ. 

We cannot do this if they see us as trying to force our beliefs or even our morals, (as good as they may be), on them. We cannot reach them if they believe we are trying to force our morals on them. 

An example of how we should act with respect to non-believers is shown by Jesus. Marks Gospel records,

"While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.  

When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners'?" 

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Mark 2:15-17.

It was obvious Jesus was not criticizing those he was sitting with or trying to impose his morals on them, otherwise they wouldn't have listened to him. 

This is the way it should be for us.

Please think about it.

Chasing them away

 Chasing them away

In the book of Mark we read,

"While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.  

When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners'?" 

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Mark 2:15-17

In the Talmud we read,

“An aged man, whom Abraham hospitality invited to his tent, refused to join him in prayer to the one spiritual God.  Learning that he was a fire-worshipper.   Abraham drove him from his door.  That night God appeared to Abraham in a vision and said: ‘I have borne with that ignorant man for seventy years: could you not have patiently suffered him one night?” The Talmud.

Now while the Talmud is not a Christian book the illustration given here of Abraham chasing away a non-believer, illustrates what a lot of Christians do. They drive people from Christ.

Jesus as recorded in Matthew 28:18-20, makes it clear that we as His followers are to make disciples. Teaching them what He has taught us.

The only way we can do this is if we sit with sinners and don’t judge them. It’s that simple.

Our job is to present the gospel message of salvation through Christ Jesus. To tell unbelievers the same thing the apostle Paul wrote about,

"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 5:6-8.

Paul also writing,

"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.”  Romans 10: 9,10.

When you interact with those around you are you telling them this message or are your words and deeds chasing them away?

Please think about it.

Faith to Accept

Faith to Accept
In the book of Proverbs we read,

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

But the greatest of these is love.”  

                                                        1 Corinthians 13:13

The New Testament essentially is the story of God showing His love for each individual on the face of the earth.
The Apostle Paul defines Christian Love. God’s 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.

  C. S. Lewis points out,
“He (Jesus) died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.” C.S. Lewis.
God’s wish is to meet each person where they are at. He desires to have a personal relationship with each every individual.
As a Christian I believe what 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 confirms this statement saying,

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: 

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 

                                                            Romans 5:8.

All that is required of the individual is the faith to accept that love. The apostle Paul telling us,
“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.  Romans 10: 9,10.
Thus the choice is yours. Will you accept the Love and Salvation that is offered through Jesus Christ or not?
Please think about it.

On a scale of 1 to 10

On a scale of 1 to 10
The apostle Paul writing to Timothy said,
“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.
So here is my question on a scale of one to ten with one being the least of sinner and ten being the worst of sinners where do you put yourself?
Now think on these words written by James the half brother of Jesus,
“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.  
But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.  
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.” James 2:8-10.
The way I see it, it doesn’t matter where you rate yourself as a sinner. Sin is sin. James clearly tells us if you stumble on just one point of the law you are guilty of breaking all of it.
We who believe in Christ Jesus must always remember this and that we are sinners saved by The Grace of God.
The apostle Paul writing to Titus said,
“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior 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 must remember this when dealing with those around us. We must remember that God thought enough of us to bring us in contact with someone who was willing to present to us the Gospel of Salvation to us.
We must remember the words of James who said,
“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom,  because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!” James 2:12,13.
Thus my question to you the reader is, do you speak and act out of love and mercy toward those you come in contact with?
Please think about it.

Ticket

Ticket

         The apostle Paul wrote,

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: 

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 

                                                           Romans 5:8

The poet wrote,

“Ticket”

“Where am I?

What, am...

I doing here?”

“You are her.”

Says the Conductor.

“Your ticket please.”

“I bought no ticket.

I took no ride.

Where am I?”

“Your ride is over,         You are here.                  All take the ride.

Your ticket’s paid for,   Says the Conductor          You are here.

Your ticket please,      Please your ticket.          Your ticket.”

“I took no ride!

Where am I?

I demand to know!

I took no...

ride...

Am I...”

“You are here.

All take the ride.

The ticket paid for,

With My blood.

“I am here...

I have no ticket...

And you are...”

“Jesus.”

       C. S. Lewis said,

      "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.

Inclusive

Inclusive
The Pharisees asked Jesus disciples,
“Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:11-13.
Many years ago the pastor of a church I attended at the time put a sign out in front of the church that read,
“This church for sinners only. ALL are welcome.”
Some people in the congregation objected. I believe some even left. The majority however backed the pastor. They understood what the pastor was saying.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23.
That “all” means everyone you, me, pastors, evangelist, even the Pope. Sinning is falling short of God’s ideals for your life. Sin is what separates us from God. It is something we need to ask forgiveness for.
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.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans makes it clear,
“...(We) are justified freely by his (God’s) grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”  Romans 3:24.
The apostle Paul tells us,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
Christ Jesus died for our sins. C. S. Lewis wrote,
“He died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.” C.S. Lewis.
This is the message Christians are told to take to world around them.
This is a message that will never reach non-Christians if we as believers in Christ Jesus are not willing to sit down with anyone willing to listen to us. If we are not inclusive in who we talk to.
Please think about it.

Association

Association
Who do you associate with?
John’s gospel tells us about this incident in the life of Jesus,
“Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. 
When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.) 
The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans. ) John 4:6-9.
Here we see Jesus ask a Samaritan woman for a drink of water. Something not done. Jews did not associate with Samaritans. Jesus however chose to do so.
Jesus never let convention of the day deter him from speaking to anyone. Mark’s gospel tells of the time Jesus sat with tax collectors. People considered sinners. Someone “good people” would not associate with. Mark records,
“When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Mark 2:16,17.
Jesus speaking to His disciple and through them to all who believe in Him, 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.
Jesus never put restrictions on who could hear the Gospel. He told all who would believe in Him to go and make disciples of all nations.
Question, If you claim to be a follower of Christ Jesus. Do you put restrictions on whom you tell about Jesus?
Do you put limitations on who you will associate with? Jesus never did nor should we.
Please think about it.

Unique to Christianity

Unique to Christianity
One of the most unique beliefs in Christianity is the resurrection of Jesus. Luke’s Gospel records this incident when the resurrected Jesus appears to his disciples,
“While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 
They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.  
He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?  
Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” 
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet.  
And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”  
They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence. 
He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 
Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.  
He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  
You are witnesses of these things.  
I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:36-49.
Here is one of the key beliefs of all who call themselves believers in Christ Jesus. Jesus who was crucified and died, rose from the dead.
In this incident Jesus appears to his disciples who were actually talking with some other believers who had seen and spoken to Jesus after His resurrection on the road to Emmaus.
The reaction of the disciples is a very human one. At first they didn’t understand and thought they were seeing a ghost.
To quell their fears Jesus allowed them to touch him. He even asked them for something to eat all to prove that he had indeed risen from the dead.
Luke then records Jesus said to them,
“He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 
Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.  
He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  
You are witnesses of these things.” Luke 24:44-47.
Luke goes on to tell us, while the disciples would wait briefly in Jerusalem on the orders of Jesus, these men would be the first of many to take the message of forgiveness from sin through Christ Jesus to all the world. A message that is as relevant today as it was back then.
A message expressed by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans this way,
“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 5:6-8
Later in his Letter Paul states,
“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.
Please think about it.

Walls

Walls
Matthews Gospel records,
“At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them.  
When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” Matthew 12:1,2.
Here is an example of “religious legalistic leaders”.
Jesus and his disciples were walking through a grain field on the Sabbath, picking some of the heads of the grain rolling it in their hands to remove the outer shell and then eating it.
The Pharisees who were extremely legalistic interpreted this as them harvesting, threshing and eating a meal. The harvesting and threshing of the grain being considered work and not allowed on the Sabbath. It is a classic example of “religious leaders” taking things too far.
It happens in the church today. Many churches have rituals and traditions that quite often take the place of what God wants us to do. Traditions and rituals that when first introduced had a purpose even illustrated points from the Bible.
Sadly however many of these traditions and rituals have lost their meaning over the years and in the twenty-first century actually keep people away from God. We as Christians need to be aware of this.
Something I’d never really thought of at one time, was dressing up for church. That was until a person told me. They didn’t have a suit to wear to church. Which is why they didn’t go.
     No one should be discouraged from going to church because they don’t have “the right clothes”.
Fortunately that is changing in many churches especially here in Canada. The church I attend has a come as you are policy. Even our pastor will preach wearing blue jeans. Workers are nearly all casually dressed.
God does not care how you dress but what you believe.
Another thing is the lack of inclusiveness in the church. Some groups are reluctant to go to evangelical churches in particular, because they feel they are being centred out as “special sinners”. This should not be so.
Matthews Gospel records this incident,
“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.  
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:10-13.
In Christ’s day the “special sinners” the Pharisees pointed to were tax collectors and others.
In today’s world there are Christians who refuse to sit down with members of the LGBT community or with those of other faiths. They feel in doing so they are guilty by association. When really there is no guilt involved on anyone’s part.
Many from the LGBT community do not feel welcome in Evangelical churches especially. This should not be so.
As Christians we must not become “religious” we must follow the example of Jesus and the apostles who associated with everyone. Who pointed people to heaven in word and deed.
We must not erect barriers that would prevent even one person from coming to know Christ as Lord and Saviour.
Please think about it.

Of Christians and Others

Of Christians and Others
If you are a Christian are you sitting with sinners?  If not you should be.
Matthews gospel records
“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.  
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners?” 
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.  
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:10-13.
Question, as a Christian would you be as Jesus was asked to sit with those outside your faith?  Would people who know you disagree with their lifestyle of faith ask you to sit down with them for an open discussion?
Quite often I have heard Christians being called judgmental and closed minded. People not willing to listen to the opinions and beliefs of others. This I know to be true. Yet in order to be true to the teachings of Jesus we need to be known as people who are open to talk to others.
We can talk to others of different faiths and lifestyles without compromising our faith. The apostle Paul while in Athens did just that.
Paul upon entering Athens would have been surrounded with pagan temples. People who’s lifestyle was far different from that of his own. Yet he was asked by the Stoic and Epicurean philosophers to come and speak to them. The book of Acts records,
“So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.  
A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.   Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting?  
You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”  
(All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) 
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.  
For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. 
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.  
And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.  
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.  
‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill.  
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.  
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.” 
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”  
At that, Paul left the Council.  
A few men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others” Acts 17:17-34.
Paul set the example for all generations of Christians as to how to witness.
Paul did not judge them. He did not criticize their gods. He simply told them what he believed and let them decide for themselves.
The result was some believed, some scoffed, but more importantly some wanted to hear more about what he said.
This is how we living in the twenty-first century need to present the gospel. If we do so it will open far more doors for us than anything else we can do.
Please think about it.
  

Would you be invited?

Would you be invited?
Matthew’s gospel records,
“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples.  
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Matthew 9:10-13.
Question. If you consider yourself a Christian would you be invited to sit as a guest of non-Christians? Someone the bible deems sinners?
I see and hear a lot of people claiming to be Christians particularly in the United States, protesting against people they label as sinners. People they disagree with. Would these people who claim to be Christians be invited to dinner with those they call sinners? I think not. Which is a shame because the apostle Paul writes,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,...” Romans 3:23.
That all means Christians and non-Christians. The difference being, a true Christian has had their sins forgiven. The apostle John telling 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.” 1John 1:9-10.
The only way a non-Christian will ever hear about the saving grace of Jesus is if a Christian points it out to them.
If Christians are not invited to sit down with non-Christians and have an open dialogue with them they will not hear the teachings of Jesus.
Sadly many who claim to be Christians particularly so called “evangelical Christians”, in the United State and Canada, are like the Pharisees they are quick to point out who’s a sinner and will not have anything to do with them. That or they protest against them.
Tony Campolo the American Evangelist said,
“We ought to get out of the judging business. We should leave it up to God to determine who belongs in one arena or another when it comes to eternity. What we are obligated to do is to tell people about Jesus, and that's what I do.” Tony Campolo.
That’s what all who consider themselves to be Christians should be doing.
The apostle Paul made things very clear when writing to the Corinthians he said,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?  
God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked man from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:12,13.
Jesus gave Christians explicit instructions when He 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.
He did not tell Christians to judge anyone or protest against anyone. He simply said go and make disciples of all nations and teach them to obey everything He had commended the apostles to do.
This is what we as Christians in 2016 should be doing.
Please think about it.

A great sinner, A Great Saviour

A great sinner, A Great Saviour

“My memory is nearly gone; but I remember two things, that I am a great sinner and that Christ is a Great Savior.”
           John Newton 
Over his desk at St. Mary Woolnoth  an Anglican church in the City of London, John Newton placed a plaque reading,
“Thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondsman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee.”
 Deuteronomy 15:15.
John Newton remembered today as the author of the hymn Amazing grace had an amazing conversion.
In his youth Newton was a seaman and a slave trader whose mouth was reportedly a cesspool of profanity. A man who to quote one source “liberally helped himself to the female slaves he transported.”
He became a deserter from the British Navy was flogged and made a slave of a slave, a sadistic woman who mistreated him.
Incredibly God reached down to this man and John Newton became one of England’s greatest preachers
 Newton went from being a man without principles. A man without a conscience to a man of great principles.
He spoke out against the slave trade and would go on to write hundreds of hymns 280 of which he combined with 68 hymns of William Cowper to form the Olney Hymnal.
Another self admitted sinner the apostle Paul wrote these words,
“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.
The apostle Paul who before his conversion stood at the murder of the Stephen the Churches first martyr and was on a mission to imprison Christian believers was also reached by God. As a result he went from opposing the Gospel of Christ to being one of the leading proponents Christianity.
The conversion of these two men shows the amazing grace of Christ. The power of God to turn individuals around.
These men proved their conversion was real by spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ from the day of their conversion until their deaths.
The lives of these two men showed that anyone who is willing to accept the saving grace of God can change their lives.
John Newton and the apostle Paul could not have changed their life themselves such a conversion must come from coming into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
The apostle Paul 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 writer of Hebrews makes it clear,
“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 apostle John wrote,
“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.
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.
This is a question we must all answer. John Newton, the Apostle Paul answered it as must you. You must believe Jesus is “the Christ the Son of God” the saviour of mankind or not. The Choice is yours.
If you truly believe in Jesus is the saviour of mankind then He will come into your life and change it.
Your conversion may not be as dramatic as the apostle Paul and John Newton. But it will be a change for the better.
Please think about your relationship to Christ today.

A Legacy

A Legacy

"You speak of Caesar, of Alexander, of their conquests and of the enthusiasm which they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but can you conceive of a dead man making conquests, with an army faithful and entirely devoted to his memory? My armies have forgotten me even while living, as the Carthaginian army forgot Hannibal. Such is our power.”
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
“I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel.  Neither history nor humanity, nor ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.”
                                                                                  Napoleon Bonaparte 
Politicians and others, even terrorist groups want to leave a legacy to the world. Sadly all too many times that legacy is negative. Hitler and his henchmen left a legacy of genocide and destruction in their attempt to build the thousand year Reich. In today’s world the Islamic state are doing the same.
There are of course men and women who have left positive legacies. Churchill who stood up to Hitler. Mother Teresa who cared for the poor. These are legacies that will be remembered in history.
But no legacy is greater than that of Jesus Christ. He literally changed the world. His legacy is eternal.  James Alan Francis in the 1920's wrote of Jesus,
“Nearly two thousand years ago in an obscure village, a child was born of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village where He worked as a carpenter until He was thirty. Then for three years He became an itinerant preacher.
This man never went to college or seminary. He never wrote a book. He never held a public office. He never had a family nor owned a home. He never put His foot inside a big city nor travelled even 200 miles from His birthplace. And though He never did any of the things that usually accompany greatness, throngs of people followed Him. He had no credentials but Himself.
While He was still young, the tide of public opinion turned against Him. His followers ran away. He was turned over to His enemies and sentenced to death on a cross between two thieves. While He was dying, His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth – the simple coat He had worn. His body was laid in a borrowed grave provided by a compassionate friend.
But three days later this Man arose from the dead – living proof that He was, as He had claimed, the Saviour whom God had sent, the Incarnate Son of God.
Nineteen centuries have come and gone and today the risen Lord Jesus Christ is the central figure of the human race. On our calendars His birth divides history into two eras. One day of every week is set aside in remembrance of Him. And our two most important holidays celebrate His birth and resurrection. On church steeples around the world, His cross has become the symbol of victory over sin and death.”
                                       Dr James Allan Francis
Think of it Jesus never raised a sword in anger yet today approximately two and a half billion people believe in him.
Napoleon got it right when he said,
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
                                                                                                                       Napoleon 
Force of arms does not change the hearts of men only love can do that.
Jesus 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,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” 
Romans 5:8.
This is the difference between Jesus and the leaders of any movement. Christ died for those He knew were sinners. Not only that He died for the sins of those sinners. He could do this because He was the one and only Son of God.
C. S. Lewis said,
“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.
Lewis also points out,
“He (Jesus) died not for men, but for each man. If each man had been the only man made, He would have done no less.” 
                                    C.S. Lewis.
This is something no leader of any terrorist group today I’m sure would ever do. Jesus however proved he loved us by dying for us. For each and every man and woman.
Jesus died for you.
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“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 5:6-8
Please think about it.