Not because we are Good

 Not because we are good

The apostle Paul wrote,

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Saviour appeared, 5he saved us not because of the works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. Titus 3:4,5.

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 tells us,

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

The apostle John records Jesus when 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.

We Christians believe that you cannot live a life good enough to enter heaven. God realizing this in love entered the world He had created in the form of His one and Only Son Christ Jesus. To show in human terms how far He would go point us to heaven.

All we have to do is have faith Jesus is the Son of God, Saviour of mankind. 

Confess our sins, (sins being the actions and words that separate us from God.) And we will get to heaven.

Do you believe this?

If so have you confessed your sins directly to God and asked Him to come into your life?

Please think about it.

What do they see?

  What do they see?

The apostle Paul writes,

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light  

(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)” Ephesians 5:8,9.

Do you walk as children of light? Does your life reflect the virtues of God? OR; Are you still in darkness?

If Christ is truly working in your life, those around you should see the fruit of the spirit working in your life. 

The apostle Paul tells us,

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22,23.

Being a Christian is like being a flower. The flower starts as a seed planted in the darkness of the earth. Eventually as it gets watered and receives nutrients from the ground it grows toward the sun where upon all those around can see its beauty.

All who become Christian converts start in darkness, but after being watered with prayer and receiving knowledge and wisdom from the Bible. They grow closer to the Son of God and the fruits of the spirit, “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” become evident in their lives.

Question: When people see your life what do they see in you, is it darkness or light?

Please think about it.

Pursue

Pursue
The Apostle Paul wrote,
“Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” 2 Timothy 2:22.
I think these are words even non-Christians can understand. The pursuit of righteousness, faith, love, and peace are noble pursuits. If more people pursued them the world would be a better place.
That being said it I don’t think you can truly be a Christian and not pursue these things.
Please think about it.

All Day Long

All Day Long

The Psalmist writes,

"My tongue will speak of your righteousness 

and of your praises all day long."

                                               Psalm 35:28

If you claim to be a true follower of Christ Jesus do you speak of the righteousness of the Lord whenever you get a chance? Do you praise God often?
You should.
To quote the Psalmist again,

“Sing joyfully to the LORD, you righteous;

 it is fitting for the upright to praise him. 

Praise the LORD with the harp; 

make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. 

Sing to him a new song; 

play skillfully, and shout for joy.” 

                                           Psalm 33:1-3.

Why not take a few minutes now to praise God. To glorify His holy name?
Please think about it.

Christian Qualities

 Christian Qualities
 Jesus said,

“Blessed       

are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 

for they will be filled. 

Blessed 

are the merciful, 

for they will be shown mercy. 

Blessed 

are the pure in heart,

for they will see God. 

Blessed 

are the peacemakers,

for they will be called sons of God. 

                                                                                       Matthew 5:6-9.

If you claim to be a Christian are the above qualities part of your life?
Do you hunger and thirst after righteousness?
Are you merciful to those around you, even your enemy?
Is your heart pure before God?
Are you truly a peacemaker or do you stir up discontent?
James the half brother of Christ 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.
As Christians we must be all that Jesus mentioned in Matthew 5:6-9.
The only way we can be all of this is if we truly love. The apostle Paul defines true love this way,

“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....” 

                              1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

True love is the purest of emotions that is why I believe Jesus told us to love God, Love our neighbour and even our enemy.
If we truly love we will long for righteousness. We will show mercy. We will be peacemakers and we will be pure of heart.
The apostle Paul tells us,

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels,

 but have not love,

 I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, 

and if I have a faith that can move mountains, 

but have not love, 

I am nothing.  

If I give all I possess to the poor 

and surrender my body to the flames,

 but have not love, 

I gain nothing.” 

                                            1 Corinthians 13:1-3.

That is why 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 neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.
As Christians we must always remember that it is only through loving those around us unconditionally that we can truly win souls for Christ.
Please think about it.

Christian Qualities

 Christian Qualities
 Jesus said,

“Blessed       

are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, 

for they will be filled. 

Blessed 

are the merciful, 

for they will be shown mercy. 

Blessed 

are the pure in heart,

for they will see God. 

Blessed 

are the peacemakers,

for they will be called sons of God. 

                                           Matthew 5:6-9.

If you claim to be a Christian are the above qualities part of your life?
Do you hunger and thirst after righteousness?
Are you merciful to those around you, even your enemy?
Is your heart pure before God?
Are you truly a peacemaker or do you stir up discontent?
James the half brother of Christ 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.
As Christians we must be all that Jesus mentioned in Matthew 5:6-9.
The only way we can be all of this is if we truly love. The apostle Paul defines true love this way,

“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....” 

                                              1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

True love is the purest of emotions that is why I believe Jesus told us to love God, Love our neighbour and even our enemy.
If we truly love we will long for righteousness. We will show mercy. We will be peacemakers and we will be pure of heart.
The apostle Paul tells us,

“If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels,

 but have not love,

 I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  

If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, 

and if I have a faith that can move mountains, 

but have not love, 

I am nothing.  

If I give all I possess to the poor 

and surrender my body to the flames,

 but have not love, 

I gain nothing.” 

                                  1 Corinthians 13:1-3.

That is why 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 neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40.
As Christians we must always remember that it is only through loving those around us unconditionally that we can truly win souls for Christ.
Please think about it.

A Moral Code

A Moral Code
         The Book of Exodus records,
"And God spoke all these words: 
“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. 
“You shall have no other gods before me. 
“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.  
You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,  
but showing love to a thousand  generations  of those who love me and keep my commandments. 
“You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. 
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.  
Six days you shall labor and do all your work,  
but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.  
For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. 
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you. 
“You shall not murder. 
“You shall not commit adultery. 
“You shall not steal. 
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. 
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”   Exodus 20:1-17
The Ten Commandments. 
To my knowledge no atheist group has ever come up with a moral code of conduct better than the ten commandments. It tells us what God requires of man with respect to Himself and to our fellow man.
It is a code of conduct written when the world was primitive in its thoughts and quite barbaric in ways. Yet it forms the basis of our laws today.
Jesus summed up these laws this way.
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 neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 
                                                                                     Matthew 22:37-40.
Even if one refuses to recognize there is a God, which I believe there is, one cannot fail to realize that at the very least the commandments governing our relationship with our fellow man make sense from a moral prospective.
It is only when man cast love for one’s fellow man and God aside that society has a problem.
The apostle Paul writes of Love,

“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.” 

1 Corinthians 13:4-8a

Love is giving of one’s self. I’m reminded of a quote from Anne Frank a young Jewish girl wise beyond her years who sadly died in a Nazi death camp. She wrote,
"Give of yourself, give as much as you can?  And you can always, always give something, even if it is only kindness!  If everyone were to do this and not be as mean with a kindly word, then there would be much more justice and love in the world.  Give and you shall receive, much more than you would have ever thought possible.  Give, give again and again, don’t lose courage, keep it up and go on giving!  No one has ever become poor from giving!" Anne Frank The ten commandments are not just a set of do’s and don’ts they are a template for love and respect of both God and one’s fellow man.
No civilized society can live without them.
Think about it.