Not Condemn

  Not condemn

Jesus said,

"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.

I am someone who is not in favour of so called ‘hell fire and brimstone’ preachers. I say this because I don’t think yelling and screaming that someone is going to hell bothers non-believers because many times they don’t believe in hell.

In her book To Kill a Mockingbird Harper Lee writes,

“Sometimes the Bible in the hand of one man is worse than a whisky bottle in the hand of (another)....” Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird.

Harper Lee is right. People calling themselves Christians have probably done as much if not more to turn people away from Christ than those who are not Christians.

In the name of Christ many try to take away the rights or restrict the rights of those they consider morally wrong or those they disagree with. You cannot legislate morality. Nor did Jesus and his disciples ever try to do this.

Jesus and his apostles lived in a society that was as least if not more diverse than our twenty-first century society. Yet they didn’t try to overthrow the Roman government.

Instead they sat down with those they disagreed with and presented the good news of Jesus Christ, much to the dismay it seems of the religious leaders of their day.

From my point of view I believe we as 21st century believers, especially those of us who live in the western democracies need to follow their example.

We need to stop yelling at those we disagree with. Stop telling and them they are on the way to hell and point them to heaven.

Jesus speaking of himself said why he came to this earth. John’s gospel recording,

"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.

This is what we a believers in Christ Jesus must always remember. Our job is to save souls for Christ. NOT, condemn them or try to restrict their rights.

Please think about it.

For each of us

  For each of us

The apostle Paul writes,

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

C. S. Lewis puts it this way.

"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.

As Christians we believe you cannot live a life good enough to get into heaven. Isaiah the Prophet put it this way.

“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.

That is why we believe Jesus came into this world to take upon himself the sins of all those who would believe in Him.

Jesus speaking of himself said,

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

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

The primary reason for Jesus to come to this world is simple. To save the sinner and all of us at times sinned and fallen short of Gods ideals for our life.

Thus the question becomes do you believe this?

Please think about it.

A New Birth

 A new birth

The Psalmist writes,

"The LORD is my strength and my song; 

he has become my salvation." 

                                                        Psalm 118:14.

The apostle Peter tells us,

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.  1Peter 1:3-5.

The apostle Paul writes,

“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.

So do you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord”?

      Do you believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead?

Please think about it.

His Love endures forever

  His Love endures forever

In the book of Psalms we read,

"Give thanks to the LORD, 

for he is good; his love endures forever. 

Let Israel say:

 "His love endures forever." 

Let the house of Aaron say: 

"His love endures forever." 

Let those who fear the LORD say: 

"His love endures forever." 

                                               Psalm 118:1-4.

Simple question, do you fear the LORD?

    Do you give thanks to the LORD,

    Do you believe Gods love endures forever?

Please think about it.

Worship the Lord alone

  Worship the Lord alone

Jesus when tempted by Satan said,

“...“It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’’” Luke 4:8.

In the book of Exodus we read,

"You shall have no other gods before me."Exodus 20:3.

You may say in the twenty first century we don’t have other gods but we do. Our gods may not be carved idols. But people today around the world worship every thing from trees and animals to money to men and women, and things they believe to be true on the internet.

God however makes it clear we are to have only one God. That being The LORD God Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.

Joshua speaking to the Israelite said,

"Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.  

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:14,15.

Be coming a Christian a follower of Christ Jesus and true believer in God means a complete breaking away of those things that you, even without noticing it, are your gods.

Are you willing to do this?

Please think about it,

What will God Say?

  What will God Say?

The apostle Paul wrote,

"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.

Without a doubt this is the definition of true Christian love. The kind of Love we as believers in God. As believers in Christ Jesus are asked to show.

Do you show this kind of Love in your daily life?

On the day you pass on into eternity will the people who knew you say you loved as Christ did.

Will God say it also?

Please think about it.

What God requires of the believer

  What God Requires of the believer

In the book of Micah we read.

"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." Micah 6:8.

This is about as clear as it can be. The believer is required to...

Act justly.

Love Mercy.

Walk humbly with your God.

Do you do this?

Please think about it.

The Reason Jesus came

 The reason Jesus came

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5.

It is universally believed by Christians that Isaiah the prophet here is speaking about Jesus. His words giving us the purpose of Christ’s ministry.

Jesus speaking of himself stating,

"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 stating,

"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.

Do you believe this?

Please think about it.

Come Listen

  Come listen

The Psalmist states,

"Come, my children, listen to me; 

I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 

Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, 

keep your tongue from evil 

and your lips from speaking lies. 

Turn from evil and do good; 

seek peace and pursue it." 

                                                     Psalm 34:11-14.

Do you love life and desire many good days?

Do you keep your lips from lying?

Do you turn from evil?

       Do you seek Peace and Pursue it?

Please think about it.

Faith deeds and the Christian

  Faith deeds and the Christian

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. 

In the book of James we read,

"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?" James 2:14-20

Please think about it.

If you are a Christian

  If you are a Christian

In the book of Chronicles we read,

“Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done. 

Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts. 

Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. 

Look to the LORD and His strength; seek His face always. 

Remember the wonders He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He pronounced,...” 1 Chronicles 16:8-12.

If you claim to be a Christian

Do you do what the writer of Chronicles is saying to do?

Do you sing praises to The Lord? 

Do you tell those around you what God has done?

Do you rejoice in knowing The Lord and all He has done for you?

Do you remember wonders, miracles and judgements He has pronounced? 

Please think about it.

Either believe or don't

 Either believe or don't

The apostle Peter speaking about Jesus said,

“He is " ‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.'  

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:11,12.

This is what Christians believe. Jesus is the way to heaven. You either believe it or you don’t.

Blaise Pascal wrote,

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

So it’s up to you dear reader. You can either believe in Christ Jesus and the Salvation He offers or you don’t.

Please think about it.