Faith

 Faith

Luke’s Gospel records,

“Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!  

Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 

Those who heard this asked, "Who then can be saved?" 

Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." Luke 18:24-27.

One commentary I read on this noted that many in the day of Jesus thought that the rich would get into heaven more easily than the poor. The thinking being the rich were blessed of God and the poor not so. 

Some calling themselves Christians even today say if you are not healthy and wealthy you are sinning and therefore cannot enter heaven.

Nothing could be further from the truth. The apostle Paul writes,

“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.

In the book of Hebrews we read,

“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

Scripture is filled with accounts of the poor getting to heaven. The parable Jesus tells of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) being an example.

In the eleventh chapter of Hebrews the writer tells us of great men and women of God who were all saved by their faith, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah.

Getting to heaven has nothing to do with the size of your bank account. Quite the contrary while there is nothing wrong with being rich it can have its down sides. The apostle Paul writing,

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” 1 Timothy 6:10.

It’s when your money or anything else for that matter comes before God that there’s a problem.

Jesus speaking to the Samaritan woman states,

“God is spirit, and his worshippers must worship in spirit and in truth.”John 4:23.

Do you? 

Do you worship God in spirit and in truth?

Please think about it.

Yes Lord I believe

  Yes Lord I believe

In John’s gospel we read this conversation between Jesus and Martha,

“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.

The world tries to make Jesus out to be a good person, even a good teacher. Which he was but he is more than that. 

He is the resurrection and the life. 

He is the Christ, The Son of God.

If He is not then for centuries Christians have believed a lie and continue to do so.

If He is all these thing however those who don’t believe in Him have a great deal to consider.

Please take time to read at least the New Testament and decide for yourself who Jesus is.

Please think about it.

Something hard

  Something hard

Peter referring to Jesus said,

“And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” Acts 2:21.

Getting into heaven is that simple. All you have to do is believe with your whole heart that Jesus is the Son of God, the Saviour of mankind. Then call on his name and you shall be saved.

As the apostle Paul puts it,

“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.

That being said having complete trust in anyone or anything is perhaps the most difficult thing we as individuals are called to do. 

Faith, as the writer of Hebrews put it,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see.”  

                                                           Hebrews 11:1

Perhaps that is why God asks us to have faith in Him and the Saving Grace that comes from Christ Jesus, because having faith in something we cannot see is a very difficult thing that only true believers have.

Please think about it.

Jesus is

  Jesus is,

In John’s gospel John calls Jesus the word and says this about him,

“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.

Jesus being God incarnate is the corner stone of the Christian faith. You cannot be a Christian and not believe Jesus is God. 

Admittedly this especially in the twenty-first century believing Jesus is God is an act of Faith. Which is exactly what God requires of his followers. The book of Hebrews stating,

“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.

Thus my question to you the reader is; do you believe Jesus is God incarnate, God in the flesh?

Please think about it.

Are you?

 Are you?

Obadiah the prophet issues a warning,

“The day of the Lord is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your head.” Obadiah 1:15.

The apostle Paul after telling the Athenians about Jesus said,

“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.” Acts 17:30,31.

In the book of Ecclesiastes we read,

“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 

For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes12:13,14.

I have no doubt that one day God will judge the world but at this moment in time everyone living on this earth has a choice to make.

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 apostle Peter said,

“And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” Acts 2:21

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.

Thus my question to you the reader; Do you believe what is written above and if so are you willing to put your trust in Jesus?

Please think about it.

At All Times

 At all times

The Psalmist writes,

"I will extol the LORD at all times; 

his praise will always be on my lips. 

My soul will boast in the LORD; 

let the afflicted hear and rejoice. 

Glorify the LORD with me; 

let us exalt his name together."  

                                          Psalm 34:1-3.

In my previous blog I asked you the reader to worship God. In this post I would ask that if you are a Christian. A follower of Christ Jesus to extol the LORD at all times. By that I mean in your every day life. In your dealings with others.

You don’t necessarily have to use words to glorify God. Actions often speak louder than words. Francis of Assisi wrote,

“Preach the Gospel at all times 

and when necessary use words.”

                                         Francis of Assisi.

Thus my question to you; Are you extolling the LORD at all time, in word and deed?

Please think about it.

I will Praise God

  I will Praise God

The Psalmist writes,

“I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; 

I will tell of all your wonders. 

I will be glad and rejoice in you; 

I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. 

                                                                Psalm 9:1,2

If you claim to be a Christian, a follower of Christ Jesus; 

Will you take a few minutes right now to praise THE LORD with your whole heart?

Will you tell those around you about the wonders of God and Christ Jesus?

Will you take time to rejoice in what God has given you?

Will you sing praises to the Most High?

Please don’t just think about it. Do it.

Because God is Love

  Because God is Love

The apostle John writes,

“Whoever does not love

 does not know God, 

because God is love.” 

                        1 John 4:8

We have just come through Easter weekend. The most holy time in the Christian calender. A time when we who believe in Christ Jesus believe that God showed how much He loved us by allowing His one and Only Son to die for our sins and rose again to sit at the right hand of God. As a result we who believe in Christ believe that everything we do should be motivated by love. Love for God, our neighbours and even our enemy.

When I was in my teens before I became a Christian I watched a movie musical called good by Mister Chips. It’s theme tune has resinated with me all the years since. It reads,

In the Morning of My Life

                         by Leslie Bricusse 

In the morning of my life

I will look to the Sunrise

At a moment in my life 

When the world is new.

And the Question

I shall ask only God can answer.

Will I be brave and strong and true,

Will I fill the world with love my whole life through?

Will I fill the world with love my whole life through?

In the evening of my life

I will look to the sunset

At a moment in my life 

When my life is through.

And the question I shall ask only I can answer 

Was I brave and strong and true.

Did I fill the world with love my whole life through?

Did I fill the world with love my whole life through?

                                                                   Leslie Bricusse   

At the end of your life will you be able to honestly stand before God and say you filled the world with love your whole life through?

                     For...

"Whoever does not love

 does not know God, 

because God is love." 

                        1 John 4:8

Please think about it.

Do you believe this?

 Do you believe?

The Gospel of Matthew records,

“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.  

His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.  

The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 

The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.  

Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." 

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.  

Suddenly Jesus met them."Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshipped him.  

Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." Matthew 28:1-10.

Flavius Josephus, (Born: 34AD died 98 A.D.), a romanized Jewish historian. Wrote, 

"About this time arose Jesus, a wise man, who did good deeds and whose virtues were recognized. And many Jews and people of other nations became his disciples. Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die. However, those who became his disciples preached his doctrine.     They related that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and that he was alive. Perhaps he was the Messiah in connection with whom the prophets foretold wonders [Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, XVIII 3.2]

The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is something each person when presented with the life of Jesus must choose to believe or not. There is no middle ground here. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the cornerstone of Christian belief. You cannot be a Christian, a follower of Christ Jesus and not believe in His resurrection. 

The Apostle Paul wrote,

"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.

Thus my question to you is do you believe what Matthew and Paul are saying?

Please think about it.

Jesus claimed to be God

  Jesus claimed to be God.

In John’s Gospel we read of this incident in the life of Jesus where he was ask exactly who he was. John records,

“The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 

Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.  

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.  

I and the Father are one.” 

Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” 

“We are not stoning you for any of these,” replied the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.” John 10:24-33

Jesus was not stupid he knew what the penalty for claiming to be God was. Yet he still made the claim.

C. S. Lewis said,

“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher.    He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.

C. S. Lewis is right. Thus the question I ask you is who do you think Jesus is?

Please think about it.

A Good Friday Choice.

  A Good Friday Choice

“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 

  But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?  

We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’” 

Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:39-43.

The above passage of scripture is Luke’s account of a conversation that went on between the two men who were crucified with Jesus and Jesus. 

We see in those two criminals the choice every man and woman on upon hearing about Jesus must make.

One man doubting that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah, said to him if you are the Christ, “Save yourself and us!” in other words prove it by getting yourself and us down from these crosses. 

This man wanted tangible proof that Jesus was who he claimed to be. He was thinking in terms of this life. Asking to escape death by Jesus getting them off the cross. This in this man’s mind would prove Jesus was the Messiah. 

What this man didn’t realize that accepting Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ is an act of faith which the other criminal did.

The other criminal said,

“Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?  

We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’” 

This man did what all people everywhere must do. He accepted by faith that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah. He then confessed his sins. Admitting he was “getting what his deeds deserved”.

Then he asked Jesus to simply “remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

To which Jesus replied

 “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” 

In other words that man had his sins forgiven and got to heaven.

This is the message Christians everywhere want the world to hear.

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 tells 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.

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.

Who do you think Jesus is?

Please think about it

Sometimes it doesn't matter

  Sometimes it doesn’t matter

“To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: 

“ ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’  

For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’  

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.” ’ But wisdom is proved right by her actions.” Matthew 11:16-19

Here Jesus points out the he and John had quite different styles. John followed the strictest rules. He came eating only the basics and he never drank strong drink.

By contrast Jesus did eat and drink. Additionally he sat down with anyone who would listen to him.

Both ways were condemned by the religious leaders of his day. It was a no win situation.

The same is true today. Sometimes no matter how God decided to show himself learned men and women of this day and age they refuse to believe who Jesus is.

That being said it is still the duty of all those who believe in Christ Jesus to present God’s saving grace that comes though Christ Jesus to those around us. Even if they don’t believe it.

Think about it.