For each individual

 For each individual

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 one time or another fall short of Gods ideals for our life.

Thus the question becomes do you believe this?

Please think about it.

Son of God

Son of God

In the gospel of Mark we read,

“Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, "Who do people say I am?" 

They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets." 

"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Peter answered, "You are the Christ.'" Mark 8:27-29.

You have a choice. Speaking of Jesus C. S. Lewis wrote,

“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.

Here is something I would suggest if you are not a Christian a believer in Christ Jesus. Before you make your decision as to who or what Jesus is take time to read the New Testament and read for yourself what those who wrote the New Testament believed about Jesus.

Please think about it.

Expel the wicked

  Expel the wicked

The apostle Paul writes,

"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.

We are told by Jesus not to judge others. And as Christians other for our own personal safety we should not be judging others. Especially when it comes to where they will spend eternity.

I’ve also heard it said we should not judge Gods elect. That being said the apostle Paul makes it clear that we should not judge those outside the church. But we can judge those inside the church. Those who claim to be Christians who are teaching wrong doctrine. 

Sadly however here in North America the church is reluctant to do this. Even if they do the person expelled simply sets up his or her independent ministry.

It is for this reason we as individual Christians need to study the Bible for ourselves. Praying and asking God’s guidance as we do. That way we are less likely to be misled by false teachers.

When was the last time you studied the Bible for yourself? Studied the Bible not just read it.

Please think about it.

Your deeds

  Your deeds

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 do not know what makes a person what they are only God knows that. Thus we have no right to judge others. Especially when it comes to where they will spend eternity.

In the book of Obadiah we read

"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.

Here is a warning from Obadiah. "As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your head"

This does not just refer to individuals but to political and religious leaders also. 

One day all nations will be judged by God. Thus the question becomes what will God say to you on judgement day? 

"Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” Matthew 25:34

                                                        OR

"Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” Matthew 25:41.

Please think about it.

Do your best

  Do your best

The apostle Paul writes,

"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.

If you consider yourself a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus, are you following this advice from the apostle Paul?

Take a few minutes to look at your life as a Christian. Are you letting Evangelist, pastors, and teachers tell you what is in the Bible? Are you letting them interpret the Bible for you? OR are you taking time to pray and study the Bible for yourself?

I know it can be a daunting task. But if you pray asking for God’s guidance and use a good study Bible, you can learn the truths within the Bible. You can learn what it is to be a Christian.

Please think about it.

If Possible

 If Possible

The apostle Paul wrote,

"If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, 

live at peace with everyone." 

                                                           Romans 12:18.

Do you live at peace with those around you? If you don’t and you consider yourself a Christian you should. For it is only by living at peace with those around you that doors will open for you to witness to those around you.

Christians are not called to be confrontational with their faith. Our job is to tell the world about Jesus and the salvation he offers all who would believe in.

And the best way to do this is by following the words of Jesus who said,

"So in everything, do to others 

what you would have them do to you, 

for this sums up the Law and the Prophets"

                                                                 Matthew 7:12 

Please think about it.

You can't earn it

  You can’t earn it

The apostle Paul wrote,

"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.

When it comes to getting into heaven we cannot boast. We cannot say “look at the good works I did. That is what got me to heaven.” We cannot say this because it is not true. It is through the grace of God we get to heaven. It is through believing in Christ Jesus. 

On the day Jesus was crucified Luke’s gospel records,

“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 one criminal who obviously had no chance to do good works. Admitted that he’d sinned and was being punished justly for what he did. Believed Jesus was who he said he was and confessed his sin to Jesus. Prompting Jesus to say “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise”

This is something we all must do.

Please think about it.

As Scarlet

  As Scarlet

Isaiah the prophet states.

“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18.

As Christians we believe that you cannot work your way to heaven. There will always be some sin left in your life no matter how hard you try to get the sin out of your life.

As Christians we believe that God fully understood this. Thus God sent His on and Only Son to earth to pay the price for our sins. The apostle Paul explaines,

"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.  

But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life."  1 Timothy 1:15,16.

Jesus speaking of himself told of his primary purpose in coming to earth when He 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 issued a warning saying,

“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 this is what I a Christian, a believer in Christ Jesus believes. If I am wrong no one has any reason to worry. If I am right then at the very least each person who hears about Jesus has a lot to think about.

Please think about it.

A Prayer for Believers

  My Prayer for believers

The Psalmist writes,

“May the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth, 

bless you from Zion.” 

                                    Psalm 134:3.

It is my hope that no matter were you are in the world. If you are a believer in Christ Jesus God will bless you richly today. Amen

False Pastors Evangelist and Teachers

 False pastors, evangelist, and teachers

The apostle Peter warns,

"But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  

Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  

In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping" 2 Peter 2:1-3.

There are a lot of false teachers. Men and women claiming to be Christians but are not. These false teachers can be hard to spot, especially in this multi media world we live in.

That is why we should be on guard. 

Sadly there are many calling themselves Christian evangelist, and pastors that are preaching to people what they want to hear.  After all who wouldn’t want to hear that by giving money to a ministry would yield ten, or a hundred fold?

Who doesn’t want to hear that by praying a certain way you will be healed or be freed from suffering.

But this is not the gospel Jesus preached. Jesus said,

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.

We must always remember trouble will come in many forms in this world. That being said as the psalmist referring to God states,

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." Psalm 23:4.

Please think about it.

Loves the only way

 Loves the only way 

Matthew gospel records, Jesus being 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 22:37-40.

The late Martin Luther King jr said,

“Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.”

                                                                                             Martin Luther King, Jr.

So the question becomes Do you love as Jesus loved, family, friend and foe alike?

Please think about it.

Pure Love

  Pure Love

The apostle Paul writes,

“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.

This is a definition of love believe all people everywhere irrespective of their faith can agree with. Paul here describes Love in its purest form.

It is the Love God shows toward each individual. It is the kind of Love anyone calling themselves a Christian should be showing to those around them.

If you consider yourself a Christian. Are you doing this?

Please think about it.