I believe

I believe
The Gospel of John states,
"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 Bible does not debate the existence of God. It was written to believers. And when it comes to Jesus the New Testament writers truly believed that Jesus was the Son of God. God incarnate.
Just what I believe is in a nutshell symbolised by the Apostle’s creed. This statement of belief is first believed to appear in the third century A. D. I place it here for you to think about,
Apostles Creed
I believe in God the Father the almighty maker of heaven and earth
I believe in Jesus Christ God’s one and only Son, our Lord and Saviour.
I believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary
I believe Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate; That He was Crucified, died, was buried. That he descended in hell.
I believe He rose again on the third day from the dead.
I believe that he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
I believe Jesus will one day Judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost
I believe in the Church which is the communion of the saints,
I believe in the forgiveness of sin.
I believe in the resurrection of the body.
I believe in life everlasting.
Do you believe this?
Please think about it.

On Judging

On Judging
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  
For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Matthew 7:1,2
Do you judge the world and those around you? Do you look on people you disagree with, people who are living a lifestyle you disagree with and judge them?
We should not be doing this.
We can however and are told to by Paul to not associate with immoral people who call themselves brothers in Christ. Paul says,
“I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 
not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 
But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat
“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.”  1Corinthians 5:9-13.
Unfortunately all too many Christians do the opposite to what Paul says. They judge those outside our faith and turn a blind eye or refuse to speak out against anyone who claims to be a brother in Christ and is,
“..sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler.”
We as Christians seem to have a bad record when it comes to speaking up against those who are doing wrong within our faith. Things that makes us look bad.
We need to be open and honest. Christianity like any group will from time to time find people in their midst that are Christians in name only. Their actions are not actions of true believers.
We need as Paul says, to, “Expel the wicked from among us.”
After all as Jesus said,
“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 7:22,23
Think about it.

Speak carefully

Speak carefully.

“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
I believe we are going to be held account for all we say and do. That even Christians will be called to give account of their words and deeds.
I believe the Talmud while a Jewish book and not Christian, has a good point when it says,
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, “Have you believed in God?”  Or “Have you prayed and observed the ritual?  “He is asked: “have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?”  The Talmud.
After all if we profess to be believers, God knows and we know that we believe in God. He knows if we’ve prayed and observed the ritual. He even knows if we truly have dealt honourably and faithfully with our fellow man.
But he offers us a chance to be honest,  asking us do we believe we have dealt honourably and faithfully in all our dealings with our fellow men.”
As Christians we are called to live as good a life as we humanly can.
People around us are looking at us and they notice what we do right and wrong. If our lifestyle is not better than that of the worlds then the world can say, “Why should I become a Christian I am as good if not better than them.”
Billy Graham the American evangelist said,
"Those outside the church expect followers of Christ to live differently, yet today many in church are chasing after the world - not to win them, but to be like them."Billy Graham
Francis of Assisi wrote,

“Preach the Gospel at all times 

and when necessary use words.”

                                            Francis of Assisi.

Our life and lifestyle should reflect the Love of God. We will make mistakes. We will get upset with people we come in contact with. But the key is when we make mistakes we need to admit them and correct them.
And when we deal with others that have done something against us we must show mercy towards them and forgive them.
It was Jesus who said,
“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”  Matthew 6:12
James makes it very clear
“... judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!”  James 2:,13
C.S. Lewis wrote,
“To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in you.” C.S. Lewis
Please think about it.

John's Testimony

John’s Testimony

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.  
The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.  
We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.  
We write this to make our joy complete.” 1John 1:1-4  
Here in a nutshell is what John himself a disciple of Christ actually seen and believes.
He testifies to have actually been with Christ. Here is a man that more than likely received a physical hug of friendship from Christ himself. Who shared meals with Jesus, who even seen him crucified and spoke with him after he rose from the dead.
John truly knew Christ intimately.
He testifies that Jesus is the life. John States,
“...we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.”  
John makes it clear why he is writing this,
“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.”
John after spending three years with Jesus. Was convinced beyond a doubt that Jesus was the Son of God. That he was indeed God in the flesh.
This man had first hand knowledge of Jesus. He would have known if Jesus was truly who he said he was. He would have seen the flaws.
It’s been my experience that the longer you’re with someone the better you get to know them. The harder it is for someone to hide flaws and other things from you.
When I worked in industry we would keep a person on probation as long as we could. Not because we saved money we didn’t they received the same pay as a permanent worker.
We kept them on probation to see if they not only caught onto the job but if they were a reliable employee. That they turned up on time. If they got along with the other workers. Or if they had any negative traits that would compromise the company.
The company had found out that most people revealed their true colours usually within their first ninety days.
It would have been the same for the disciples of Jesus. They had three years to judge his teachings, his life and lifestyle.
They would know if there was anything wrong with him.
They obviously found no fault in him. Thus they followed him even after his death and resurrection.
At the trial of two of the Apostles a Pharisee named Gamaliel one of the finest teachers of his day noted to the Sanhedrin.
“Then he addressed them: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men.  
Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing.  
After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.  
Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail.  
But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”  Acts 5:35-39.
What he is saying is basically false messiahs had arisen in the past but when their leader died they dispersed and the movement came to nothing.
He makes the very valid point saying,
“But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”   
I believe history has proven and continues to prove that Jesus is the Son of God.
That the movement he started is from God and that those who are fighting against it are indeed fighting against God.
Think about it.

Faith

Faith
In the book of Acts we read this incident between Paul and Silas and their jailor,
“The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.  
He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 
They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Acts 16:30,31.
The writer of Hebrews make these two statements,

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see." 

                                              Hebrews 11:1

"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

Blaise Pascal said,

“In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe 

and enough shadows to blind those who don't.”

                                                                     Blaise Pascal.

Thomas Aquinas wrote,

“To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. 

To one without faith, no explanation is possible.” 

                                                                                Thomas Aquinas.

So my question to you is when it comes to Christ Jesus, what do you believe?

Do you believe this

Do you believe this?
The writer of Hebrews states,
"In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.  
The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven." Hebrews 1:1-3.
Jesus is God incarnate. God in the flesh. This is a core belief of all Christians. You cannot be a Christian and not believe Jesus is God incarnate.
The apostle Paul writes,
“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.
The gospel of John records this question that Jesus asked to Martha. It a question all who are presented with Christ Jesus must answer for themselves. John records.
"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.
So my question to you the reader is, do you believe Jesus is the Christ the Son of God, who has come into the world?
Please think about it.

You and God

You and God
The Prophet Isaiah wrote,
“A voice says, “Cry out.” And I said, “What shall I cry?” 
“All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. 
The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass. 
The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”Isaiah 40:6-8.
Over the years I’ve met people who have said Christianity will die out. That belief has been around for centuries. And yet here we are in the twenty-first century and people still believe in Christ Jesus. Not only that people are willing to lay down their life for what they believe.
There is a poem that goes,

“Last eve I passed beside a blacksmith's door,

And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime;

Then looking in I saw upon the floor

Old hammers, worn with beating of time

"How many anvils have you had said I, 

"To wear and batter all these hammers so?"

"Just one" said he, and then, with twinkling eye,

"the anvil wears the hammers out, you know."

And so, thought I, the anvil of God's word,

For ages skeptic blows have beat upon;

Yet though the noise of falling blows was heard,

The anvil is unharmed- the hammers gone."

                                                              Anonymous.

Thus the question I have for you is. Do you believe in God? Do you believe in the salvation that comes through belief in Christ Jesus?
I ask it because as far as I am concerned believing in God, believing in Christ Jesus is the most important thing a person can do.
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.
Belief in God is however is a very personal thing. Only you know what your relationship to God is.
So what is your relationship with God?
Please think about it.

Sit with sinners

Sit with sinners
The Gospel of Luke records,
“After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed him. 
Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.  
But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and ‘sinners’?” 
Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:27-32.
Many Christians I know are like the Pharisees. They like the Pharisees focus on the sin and “good Christians” don’t associate with sinners in their minds.
Such a thing is simply wrong. You will never win a soul for Christ by associating with Christians alone. You will never win a soul for Christ by concentrating on the persons sin.
Christians need to focus more on the salvation message than on sin. Christians need to realize that they must meet a person where they are at. They must show unconditional love toward all they come in contact with.
Christians need to as Jesus did sit with sinners.
We don’t know what Jesus said to the tax collectors and other sinners in Luke’s account.
We do however have the account of the apostle Paul preaching to some other sinners in Athens. Acts chapter seventeen records Paul’s speech to those gathered at the Areopagus. Paul had been speaking in the market place about his faith. What he said perked the interest of a group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. Who invited him to speak at the Areopagus.
In that speech Paul never mentioned sin, even though as he wandered through Athens and seen monuments and temples to a multitude of gods.
Paul concentrated on the salvation message. As a result some sneered at him. Some became believers. While others wanted to hear more.
This is how believers in our time should be. We should be using wisdom and speaking to non-believers in such away that even if they don’t accept Christ as their saviour. They will at least ask to hear more.
If you claim to be a Christian. A believer in Christ Jesus. How do you present the gospel message?
Do you present the salvation that comes through Christ Jesus, or do you constantly focus on the sins of those you are talking about?
Please think about it.

The way I see it

The way I see it
In the book of Ecclesiastes we read,
“I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. 
Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 2:10,11.
If there is no God then the above statement is true.”everything is meaningless, a chasing after the wind;...”
Some atheist say when we die we will live on in the memories of others. A statement that is not completely true. Perhaps if we have made a great discovery we may be remembered in some history book. But most of us will be forgotten within a generation or so.
Ask yourself, where was your great, great, great grandmother or father born? What was the colour of their eyes? What was their favourite piece of music? Where is their grave? What was their greatest achievement? Few people can answer these questions.
So my question to anyone who does not believe in God is where is the purpose in life if we are forgotten within a few generations? If all our achievements are only remembered in some dusty history book, or for that matter not at all?
The way I see it without God, life is meaningless. God’s existence makes life worthwhile. God gives us something to look forward to when this life is over.
And I am convinced that if we follow the advice of Paul and Silas who said to their Jailor,
"...Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." Acts 16:31 we will spend eternity in heaven.
Please think about it.

To all who would receive Him

To all who would receive Him
The apostle John speaking of Jesus 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, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” John 1:12,13.
This is the call of the New Testament. The book of acts records this interaction between the apostle Paul and Silas, and their jailor. It states,
"The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.  
He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 
They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." Acts 16:30,31
Speaking to Martha Jesus states,
Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;” John 11:25.
Jesus speaking of his purpose in coming to this earth 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.
At the same time Jesus gave a warning,
“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 3:18.
Ultimately it comes down to an act of faith. You either believe what the New Testament states or not.
As C. S. Lewis put it,
“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.

Love the Lord your God

Love the Lord your God
In the book of Deuteronomy we read,
“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  
Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”  Deuteronomy 6:5-7.
Jesus when asked,
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.
So my first question to you if you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus is; Do you truly “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind?”
My second question is; Do you “love your neighbour as yourself?”
My third question do you impress the importance of your faith on your children?
Please think about it.

Is your faith dead?

Is your faith dead?
James the half brother of Jesus wrote,
“What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?  
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him,    “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?  
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. 
But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.  
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 
You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?  
Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar?  
You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.  
And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend.  
You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. 
In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction?  
As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.” James 2:14-26.
Is your faith dead or alive?
James here makes a simple statement. Faith without deeds is dead. One pastor I knew use to say “We must put legs on our faith.”
We must be willing to go into the world and not only present the gospel message to those around us, but help the needy.
By helping those in need in the name of Christ Jesus we build bridges that will lead people to Christ.
The American evangelist Tony Campolo said,
"These issues are biblical issues: to care for the sick, to feed the hungry, to stand up for the oppressed. I contend that if the evangelical community became more biblical, everything would change." Tony Campolo.
Please think about it.