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.

Who's Jesus?

 Who's Jesus?

The apostle John writes,

"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.

The apostle John here gives his reason for writing about Jesus. He makes it clear that not just him but the other disciples also seen what he had.

John states Jesus said,

“Jesus answered him, if anyone loves me, he will keep my word and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” John 14:23.

Note Jesus calls God His Father.

John tells of this conversation between Jesus and Martha. 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.

Note Jesus claims to be “the resurrection and the life”

and Martha states “I believe you are the Christ the Son of God”

John writes that 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.

Note Jesus claims to be the way to God the Father.

John also quotes Jesus speaking of himself and saying,

"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.

Note Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. T

That all who believed in Him would have eternal life.

That the reason Jesus came into the world was to save the world.

Lastly John records Jesus as giving a warning to all who hear about him. Jesus warning that.

“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.

If these claims are untrue then no one has to worry. But if they are true there at the very least is a lot to be concerned about.

Who do you think Jesus is?

Please think about it.

God's representative

God's representative 

Jesus said,

“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16.

It’s interesting here Jesus speaking tells us WE are the light of the world. The apostle Paul tells us,

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!  

All this is from God, Simultaneously 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 Corinthians5:17-20.

Simply put we are Gods representatives on this earth. It is through the lense of our words and deeds that people will see God. Therefore we must live a life that is as close to God as is humanly possible.

We will never be a prefect witness for God. However if we do our best. Asking Gods guidance in all we do. While at the same time being willing to admit our mistakes both to God and anyone we may have wronged, then asking for their forgiveness. We can be an effective ambassador for Christ.

So are you doing your best to represent God to the world around you?

Please think about it.

Walking in the light

 Walking in the light

The apostle John writes,

"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." 1 John 1:5-7.

Do you truly walk in the light? Do those preachers, evangelist, teachers and even politicians you follow truly walk in the light?

I know that we are not to judge Jesus saying,

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged." Matthew 7:1.

We also must remember this is a scripture many false teachers hide behind. But the apostle Paul tells us,

“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?” 1 Corinthians 5:12.

Thus we have the right to judge anyone who claims to be a Christian to see if they are truly walking in the light. And teaching the word of God correctly.

That being said we should not go on a witch hunt looking to prove a particular preacher, teacher, evangelist or politician is not walking in the light.

We should however be praying for anyone who claims to be a Christian. Remember no one is perfect and we all make mistakes and from time to time need to repent of our sins.

At the same time we need to be looking particularly at those in authority who claim to be Christians. We need to see for ourselves if they are walking in the light.

The apostle Paul gives these guidelines 

“The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;  idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21.

Paul going on to tell us,

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control....” Galatians 5:22, 23b.

Please think about it.

Christians can judge those who claim to be Christians

Christians can judge those claiming to be Christians.

The apostle Paul stating,

"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.

I believe Christians can judge others who claim to be Christians but only to see that they are teaching sound doctrine.

Sadly many false teachers within the Christian world hide behind the words of Jesus who said,

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” Matthew 7:1.

And while it is true that we are not to judge those outside the Church. The apostle Paul makes it clear that we can judge those who are in the church. Those who call themselves Christians. Especially when it comes to church doctrine.

We need to be able to do this in order to teach the word of God correctly. The apostle Paul warning,

"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  

They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." 2Timothy 4:3,4.

That is why we as believers in Christ Jesus need to know what we believe and why we believe it. The apostle Paul writing to Timothy states,

"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 2Timothy 2:15 . 

Do you know what you believe and why you believe it?

Are you doing your best to present the word of God in spirit and in truth?

Please think about it.

It's not our job

 It’s not our job.

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.

We as mere mortals do not have all the facts. We do not know why a person is like they are. Only God knows that. That's why we must show love and not judge in anyway those around us.

The late American evangelist Billy Graham said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God's job to judge

 and my job to love,” 

                                        Billy Graham.

If you claim to be a Christian a true follower of Christ Jesus you cannot afford to judge those outside the church. Because in doing so you will push people away from God.

Please think about it.

What Jesus said,

What Jesus said

In John’s gospel we read,

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

This is one of the most important statements Jesus ever made..

If it is false no one hearing those words has anything to fear.

If this is true and I believe it is. Those who don’t believe it have at the very least a lot to think about.

But it is not what I believe that is important. Each individual must decide for themselves if what Jesus is saying is true or false. You dear reader must decide if Jesus is “the way the truth and the life.” That no one comes to the Father except through Him.

Please think about it.

By Gods great mercy

By Gods great mercy

The apostle Peter writes,

"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" 1Peter 1:3-4.

This is the hope of all who believe in Christ Jesus. We have a home in heaven that comes as a result of Christ’s death and resurrection from the dead. A hope that can never be taken away from us.

The apostle Paul tells us,

"But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour 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.

It is through the love of God that we are saved. Through our belief in the Lord Jesus Christ and his sacrificial death for our sins on the cross. 

The apostle Paul states,

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

In order to receive this gift of eternal life from God you must believe that Jesus is all he said he is. That He is the One and Only Son of God. That He died for your sins.

The writer of Hebrews telling us,

"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.

Do you believe this?

Please think about it.

Sharon's Story

 Sharon's Story

In the book of James we read,

“Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.”  

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” James 4:13,14.

We as human beings are fragile. We don’t know what will happen to us in the next few minutes let alone over the next years.

My closest friend Sharon died in March of this year. She had lived about, 2,124,576,000 seconds on this earth. In the last week or so of her life she knew she was about to pass into eternity. There was nothing medical science could do for her. She had gone through a lot.

In the end she was lucid and although weak was talking with us. When we told her there was no hope. She turned to us and simply said, “I want to be with Jesus”. With that we gathered the family around her along with our pastor. She sang amazing grace with us. We prayed, and life support was removed. 

Shortly after which Sharon passed into eternity.

That day Sharon taught us all what it was like to trust in Jesus. Sharon had no doubt as to where she was going to spend eternity. An eternity without pain. An eternity in the Love of God.

How many of us can truly say we know where we will spend eternity? How many of us are prepared to pass into eternity? 

       Life as James states is a mist. And while we all know we will one day pass into eternity are we prepared to do so? Are we prepared to pass into the presence of God?

Sharon believed the words of the apostle Paul who said,

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

She believed the words of the apostle Peter when he said,

“....Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins...”Acts 2;38a.

She believed the words of Jesus who 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.

She believed the Bible and what it says about God, Jesus, and Salvation.

Thus my question to you dear reader is do you believe in the saving grace that comes from God through Christ Jesus?

Are you prepared to pass from this life into the presence of God?

If you’re not sure. I would ask that at the very least you read the New Testament and see what Jesus and those who knew him best said about Him and eternity.

Please think about it.

Only if you truly let God work

 Only if you truly let God work

In the book of Galatians we read,

"But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 

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.  

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.  

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:18-25.

You cannot live immoral lives and expect to get to heaven. 

Christians do not believe in “the spiritual scales of Justice” for lack of a better term. A scale where God weighs the good we’ve done against the bad we’ve done.

Christians believe that we cannot live a life good enough to get us to heaven. That it is by the grace of God, through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ and his resurrection that we make it to heaven.

The apostle Paul writing,

"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 also writing,

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

I firmly believe that once we have truly accepted the grace of God through Christ Jesus your life will start to change. But only if we truly let God work in your lives.

Please think about it. 

Let us draw near to God

  Let us draw near to God

In the book of Hebrews we read,

“...let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.  

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:22,23.

Here we as believers are called to draw near to God. To my way of thinking that entails, 

going to God in prayer daily.

Studying the Bible daily, not just reading it. Studying it looking at what it means to us. We need to study with an open mind that God will show us what is truth and show us any misconceptions we may have about scripture.

For if we don’t do this we will never grow in our Christian faith.

Please think about it.

Sign of a true Christian

  Sign of a true Christian

Jesus said,

“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” John 14:21.

I’ve heard over the years that the Christian life is a lot of “do nots”. Nothing could be further from the truth. 

Yes we follow a moral code set down by Jesus and the Bible. This code however leads us to live a better life. One of love for our fellow man.

Look at it this way. Anyone who plays sports must follow a set of rules. Rules that make the sport fair and enjoyable. No one playing sports looks on the rules as saying “you can’t do this or you can’t do that”. 

Following the moral code Jesus set down for His followers also has another benefit. It tells the world we are Christians.

Jesus said,

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34,35.

That love must also be shown to those around us. 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 neighbour as yourself.'  

All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. Matthew 22:36-40.

So if you consider yourself a Christian. A true follower in Christ Jesus do you love not only other believers but those who are not Christians?

Please think about it.