A summing up of the Bible
“One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question:
“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 neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:35-40.
How can anyone argue with love being the most important thing in the law. Jesus is not alone in saying this.
A thirteenth century Jewish sage, Hillel, was asked to sum up the entire Torah (the Law) while standing on one leg. He responded with av’ahavta l’reacha komacha (you shall love you neighbour as yourself.
I believe however that the love spoken of has to be that from God.
Sadly we have to many ‘poor’ definitions of love. Definitions that put limits on love.
Paul writing to the Corinthians said this about love,
“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”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a
This is the love Jesus and Hillel meant when they were speaking. It is an unconditional love. One that sets no boundaries.
This is true love.
A love that if put into practice really could change the world.
Think about it.
Friday, 31 January 2014
Thursday, 30 January 2014
Do not bear a grudge
Do not bear a grudge
“ ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.”
Leviticus 19:18.
For years I use to watch the conflict in Northern Ireland and the killing done in the name of religion.
My mothers family emigrated to England from Ireland in the mid eighteen hundreds. There reason was to get a better life which they eventually did get but apparently not without some people disliking the fact they were catholic.
The Northern Ireland conflict is very typical of men doing things supposedly in the name of God. When really they are doing it simply with a religious name.
Jesus was a man of peace he never preached insurrection against the dominating Romans. In fact he a Jew helped a Roman centurion (Matthew 8:5-13).
The disciples were the same way they showed the love of God to all men irrespective of who they were.
Those who were fighting in northern Ireland were not Christians they only happened to have the labels of Christian groups.
Over the years much has been done in the name of Christianity when really it was driven by prejudges. The classic example are the crusaders who went to war killing everyone who was supposedly not a Christian.
They and particularly their leaders lost track of the key thing in Christianity. Love your neighbour as yourself.
They missed the fact that Jesus said
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19,20
Jesus never said convert people at the edge of a sword or by torture as happened at other times in history.
Christians are today according to what some watch groups are saying the most persecuted people in the world yet the words of the Bible are still there for Christians to obey when Leviticus states,
“ ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.”
Leviticus 19:18.
Violence done in the name of Christ or a religious Christian group is not the “Christian” thing to do.
It was Jesus who told us to turn the other cheek.
True Christianity is reaching out to people in Love not bearing grudges or waging any kind of violence against ones fellow man.
Think about it.
“ ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.”
Leviticus 19:18.
For years I use to watch the conflict in Northern Ireland and the killing done in the name of religion.
My mothers family emigrated to England from Ireland in the mid eighteen hundreds. There reason was to get a better life which they eventually did get but apparently not without some people disliking the fact they were catholic.
The Northern Ireland conflict is very typical of men doing things supposedly in the name of God. When really they are doing it simply with a religious name.
Jesus was a man of peace he never preached insurrection against the dominating Romans. In fact he a Jew helped a Roman centurion (Matthew 8:5-13).
The disciples were the same way they showed the love of God to all men irrespective of who they were.
Those who were fighting in northern Ireland were not Christians they only happened to have the labels of Christian groups.
Over the years much has been done in the name of Christianity when really it was driven by prejudges. The classic example are the crusaders who went to war killing everyone who was supposedly not a Christian.
They and particularly their leaders lost track of the key thing in Christianity. Love your neighbour as yourself.
They missed the fact that Jesus said
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19,20
Jesus never said convert people at the edge of a sword or by torture as happened at other times in history.
Christians are today according to what some watch groups are saying the most persecuted people in the world yet the words of the Bible are still there for Christians to obey when Leviticus states,
“ ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.”
Leviticus 19:18.
Violence done in the name of Christ or a religious Christian group is not the “Christian” thing to do.
It was Jesus who told us to turn the other cheek.
True Christianity is reaching out to people in Love not bearing grudges or waging any kind of violence against ones fellow man.
Think about it.
Wednesday, 29 January 2014
The Way to Heaven
“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
This is the uniqueness of Christianity. Christians believe we are saved by the grace of God. Not by our works.
In Christianity it is God reaching down to man. Not man trying to reach up to God or trying to be as close to perfect as is possible.
Christians believe,
“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. 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 3:16-18
We believe,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
We believe,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and (those who believe Jesus) are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Romans 3:23,24
We believe,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
We believe...
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,”
1 Corinthians 15:3,4
We believe,
“Yet to all who received him,(Jesus) to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”
John 1:12
We believe that getting to heaven is as simple as saying a prayer like this,
Dear Heavenly Father
I believe that Jesus is your one and only Son. That he came and died for my sins.
I know that I am a sinner and I confess those sins to you now.
Please forgive me of my sins and come into my heart and life from this day forward.
Amen.
If you prayed that prayer and truly believe what you prayed then you are assured of going to heaven.
What I would advise now is finding a bible believing church.
Pray and ask God to lead you such a church.
I always recommend a Baptist church simply because I’ve found their teachings to be consistent all over the world.
In Canada I also recommend a Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada Church because I am familiar with their solid bible based teachings as are the Assemblies of God in the United States.
Wherever you decide to go make sure, they teach directly from the bible and that their teachings do not contradict the bible. You do this by reading the Bible yourself and asking God to show you the truths contained there in.
A in a good church the pastor will always be willing to answer your questions.
In the church I attend we expect people to ask questions.
At the start of our midweek bible study we encourage anyone who has a question on any topic to ask it and we will have an answer for them.
Now having said all of this I would encourage you even if you still don’t believe to go to a church and ask questions.
Think about it.
Ephesians 2:8,9
This is the uniqueness of Christianity. Christians believe we are saved by the grace of God. Not by our works.
In Christianity it is God reaching down to man. Not man trying to reach up to God or trying to be as close to perfect as is possible.
Christians believe,
“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. 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 3:16-18
We believe,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
We believe,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and (those who believe Jesus) are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Romans 3:23,24
We believe,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
We believe...
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,”
1 Corinthians 15:3,4
We believe,
“Yet to all who received him,(Jesus) to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”
John 1:12
We believe that getting to heaven is as simple as saying a prayer like this,
Dear Heavenly Father
I believe that Jesus is your one and only Son. That he came and died for my sins.
I know that I am a sinner and I confess those sins to you now.
Please forgive me of my sins and come into my heart and life from this day forward.
Amen.
If you prayed that prayer and truly believe what you prayed then you are assured of going to heaven.
What I would advise now is finding a bible believing church.
Pray and ask God to lead you such a church.
I always recommend a Baptist church simply because I’ve found their teachings to be consistent all over the world.
In Canada I also recommend a Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada Church because I am familiar with their solid bible based teachings as are the Assemblies of God in the United States.
Wherever you decide to go make sure, they teach directly from the bible and that their teachings do not contradict the bible. You do this by reading the Bible yourself and asking God to show you the truths contained there in.
A in a good church the pastor will always be willing to answer your questions.
In the church I attend we expect people to ask questions.
At the start of our midweek bible study we encourage anyone who has a question on any topic to ask it and we will have an answer for them.
Now having said all of this I would encourage you even if you still don’t believe to go to a church and ask questions.
Think about it.
Tuesday, 28 January 2014
What do you gain?
What do you gain?
“What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.”
Matthew 16:26,27
Do you believe you have a soul? What is it worth?
If you believe that all there is, is this life then the body at least is equal to the cost of the chemicals and water that make it up. Not very much.
But we are more than a complicated biochemical cocktail. Man has a soul. Man was created to live forever. And one day we will stand before God.
Think about what you are doing. Is it really worth while?
Man is an odd creature if you think about it.
He spends a lifetime collecting ‘things’ be they widgets or dollar bills only to forfeit them at the end of his life. To my mind counter productive.
Don’t get me wrong there is nothing wrong with being wealthy and acquiring wealth. There are many wealthy people in the church that are using their wealth for good. The church needs people like these.
Still what are you doing. Are you simply acquiring things for the sake of acquiring them?
Are you making payments with interest on money you borrowed for a car, when you could have been saving up and buying a good one with cash?
Where is your treasure?
Jesus said,
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6: 19-21
Where is your treasure. Will you leave it one day to someone else on this earth?
Or will your actions and deeds on this earth go before you to heaven as a wonderful witness of what you have done for Christ?
Think about it.
“What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.”
Matthew 16:26,27
Do you believe you have a soul? What is it worth?
If you believe that all there is, is this life then the body at least is equal to the cost of the chemicals and water that make it up. Not very much.
But we are more than a complicated biochemical cocktail. Man has a soul. Man was created to live forever. And one day we will stand before God.
Think about what you are doing. Is it really worth while?
Man is an odd creature if you think about it.
He spends a lifetime collecting ‘things’ be they widgets or dollar bills only to forfeit them at the end of his life. To my mind counter productive.
Don’t get me wrong there is nothing wrong with being wealthy and acquiring wealth. There are many wealthy people in the church that are using their wealth for good. The church needs people like these.
Still what are you doing. Are you simply acquiring things for the sake of acquiring them?
Are you making payments with interest on money you borrowed for a car, when you could have been saving up and buying a good one with cash?
Where is your treasure?
Jesus said,
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Matthew 6: 19-21
Where is your treasure. Will you leave it one day to someone else on this earth?
Or will your actions and deeds on this earth go before you to heaven as a wonderful witness of what you have done for Christ?
Think about it.
Monday, 27 January 2014
Holocaust Memorial
“The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Genesis 12:1-3
To day January 27th 2014 is Holocaust remembrance day. A day when we remember the millions killed in the Nazi holocaust of world
war two.
I was born after the war and have only seen films of the concentration camps as a result I can only imagine the horrors.
My father was one of the liberators of Bergen Belsen. He told us very little about what he seen. Still I can remember on two occasions when he told me vividly about what he saw.
The first occasion was when the two of us were watching the news.
There was a some one who was on trial for hate literature, some one who denied the holocaust.
For a few moments he was silent, then he suddenly exploded. It was as if a dam had burst inside him and he told me what he had seen and experienced.
What he told me was beyond belief I can understand why he didn’t want to tell people. Were a writer to have written about such horrors no one would have believed him.
As I found out later from some aunts, he didn’t keep silent in the years after the war. He did tell people about what he saw. It was just that I was too young to remember.
The experience at Belsen did change his life.
The facts speak for themselves, over eleven million (11,000,000) people died in the holocaust. Six million (6,000,000) were jews. An estimated 1,500,000 children died. The numbers are staggering.
If my math is right that means one person was murdered every twenty seconds from the day war was declared in September of 1939 until it ended in Europe in May of 1945.
The other thing my father was bitter about was that his country, England refused to let them all go to Palestine because of politics.
It’s interesting that the United Kingdoms fortunes started to go down after the war.
The scripture I have chosen for today is a blessing God gave to Abram the father of the Jewish nation it reads,
“The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.
“I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Genesis 12:1-3.
I firmly believe that, that blessing to Abram is still in effect.
Germany as a nation repented after the war paid reparations to Israel and has become an economic power house.
While the United Kingdom who placed harsh restrictions on the Jews in Palestine going even to the point of training and arming the enemies of the Jews, had their fortunes fall.
Here in Canada we have a government that is firmly behind Israel and I believe it has resulted in Canada’s prosperity even in these uncertain times.
But all of that aside. I believe it is incumbent on all Christians everywhere to pray for and bless Israel.
Many Christians died in the holocaust also. They died for simply trying to protect Jews.
We can never let such a thing happen again.
The Reverent Martin Niemoeler a pastor in the German Confessing Church who himself spent seven year in a concentration camp wrote,
First they came for the Communist
And I did not speak out-
Because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the Socialist
And I did not speak out-
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came fro the Labour Leaders
And I did not speak out-
Because I was not a Labour Leader.
Then they cam for the Jews
And I did not speak out-
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they cam for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me.
If there is one place we should be politically active, it is in our support of Israel.There are people in this world who do not want Israel to exist.
Think of it were they to win. Millions more Jews would die.
Not only Christians, but humanity as a whole cannot let that happen.
Please pray for the peace of Jerusalem and pray that God will bless Israel.
Sunday, 26 January 2014
The Authority of Jesus
“They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.
Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out,
“What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”
The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.”
News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee”
Mark 1:21-28
Mark tells us that the people were amazed at the teachings of Jesus. He “taught them as one who had authority not as the teachers of the law.”
He cast out demons from a man in the synagogue and he notes that the evil spirit in the man identified Jesus as “the Holy One of God!”
These are things that prove Jesus is the one and only Son of God.
Within the Bible there is no debate as to who Jesus was. The disciples and the people around Jesus bore witness to what he did and when he did them.
The gospel writers do not shy away from anything that Jesus did.
They simply wrote it down and presented it to all who would care to read it allowing them to decide for themselves who Jesus was.
Who do you think he is?
Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out,
“What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”
The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.”
News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee”
Mark 1:21-28
Mark tells us that the people were amazed at the teachings of Jesus. He “taught them as one who had authority not as the teachers of the law.”
He cast out demons from a man in the synagogue and he notes that the evil spirit in the man identified Jesus as “the Holy One of God!”
These are things that prove Jesus is the one and only Son of God.
Within the Bible there is no debate as to who Jesus was. The disciples and the people around Jesus bore witness to what he did and when he did them.
The gospel writers do not shy away from anything that Jesus did.
They simply wrote it down and presented it to all who would care to read it allowing them to decide for themselves who Jesus was.
Who do you think he is?
Saturday, 25 January 2014
Of God and Man
“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
Genesis 1:26,27
“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
Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society. Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.”
We are God’s creations. It is God who has written on our hearts what is right and what is wrong.
To my knowledge no atheist group has ever come up with a universal set of morals. Yet there have been many who have caused great havoc on humanity. Some even in the name of religion.
Ecclesiastes states,
“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 judgement, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”
Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
The duty of man is fear God and keep his commandments because whether you believe him or not you will one day be called to judgement.
Think about it.
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
Genesis 1:26,27
“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
Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society. Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.”
We are God’s creations. It is God who has written on our hearts what is right and what is wrong.
To my knowledge no atheist group has ever come up with a universal set of morals. Yet there have been many who have caused great havoc on humanity. Some even in the name of religion.
Ecclesiastes states,
“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 judgement, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”
Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
The duty of man is fear God and keep his commandments because whether you believe him or not you will one day be called to judgement.
Think about it.
Friday, 24 January 2014
On the mount of Transfiguration
On the mount of Transfiguration
“After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.
Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground, terrified.
But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.”
When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
Matthew 17:1-9.
Hear is another classic example of an incident recorded in the Bible that if it were not true would be counter productive to the spreading of the Gospel of Christ.
Peter James and John went up into the mountains where they saw the face of Jesus shining like the sun.
There was also an appearance of Moses and Elijah and the three men were terrified.
It was obviously a traumatic experience one worth writing about after the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Such events in my mind have to be true otherwise they wouldn’t have been put into the Bible.
There are many events mentioned in the scriptures that if not true would make the Bible out to be one of the greatest book of lies in human history.
Instead the Bible is the greatest and most honest book ever written in human history.
It is a book that has polarised people ever since it has been written, Yet to those who believe its words it is the way to salvation and life eternal.
Think about it.
“After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.
There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.
Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.
Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”
When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground, terrified.
But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.”
When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.
As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”
Matthew 17:1-9.
Hear is another classic example of an incident recorded in the Bible that if it were not true would be counter productive to the spreading of the Gospel of Christ.
Peter James and John went up into the mountains where they saw the face of Jesus shining like the sun.
There was also an appearance of Moses and Elijah and the three men were terrified.
It was obviously a traumatic experience one worth writing about after the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Such events in my mind have to be true otherwise they wouldn’t have been put into the Bible.
There are many events mentioned in the scriptures that if not true would make the Bible out to be one of the greatest book of lies in human history.
Instead the Bible is the greatest and most honest book ever written in human history.
It is a book that has polarised people ever since it has been written, Yet to those who believe its words it is the way to salvation and life eternal.
Think about it.
Thursday, 23 January 2014
The Way to Heaven
“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
This is the uniqueness of Christianity. Christians believe we are saved by the grace of God. Not by our works.
In Christianity it is God reaching down to man. Not man trying to reach up to God or trying to be as close to perfect as is possible.
Christians believe,
“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. 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 3:16-18
We believe,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
We believe,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and (those who believe Jesus) are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Romans 3:23,24
We believe,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
We believe...
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,”
1 Corinthians 15:3,4
We believe,
“Yet to all who received him,(Jesus) to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”
John 1:12
We believe that getting to heaven is as simple as saying a prayer like this,
Dear Heavenly Father
I believe that Jesus is your one and only Son. That he came and died for my sins.
I know that I am a sinner and I confess those sins to you now.
Please forgive me of my sins and come into my heart and life from this day forward.
Amen.
If you prayed that prayer and truly believe what you prayed then you are assured of going to heaven.
What I would advise now is finding a bible believing church.
Pray and ask God to lead you such a church.
I always recommend a Baptist church simply because I’ve found their teachings to be consistent all over the world.
In Canada I also recommend a Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada Church because I am familiar with their solid bible based teachings.
Wherever you decide to go make sure, they teach directly from the bible and that their teachings do not contradict the bible. You do this by reading the Bible yourself and asking God to show you the truths contained there in.
A in a good church the pastor will always be willing to answer your questions.
In the church I attend we expect people to ask questions.
At the start of our midweek bible study we encourage anyone who has a question on any topic to ask it and we will have an answer for them.
Now having said all of this I would encourage you even if you still don’t believe to go to a church and ask questions.
Think about it.
Ephesians 2:8,9
This is the uniqueness of Christianity. Christians believe we are saved by the grace of God. Not by our works.
In Christianity it is God reaching down to man. Not man trying to reach up to God or trying to be as close to perfect as is possible.
Christians believe,
“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. 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 3:16-18
We believe,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
We believe,
“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and (those who believe Jesus) are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”
Romans 3:23,24
We believe,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
We believe...
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,”
1 Corinthians 15:3,4
We believe,
“Yet to all who received him,(Jesus) to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”
John 1:12
We believe that getting to heaven is as simple as saying a prayer like this,
Dear Heavenly Father
I believe that Jesus is your one and only Son. That he came and died for my sins.
I know that I am a sinner and I confess those sins to you now.
Please forgive me of my sins and come into my heart and life from this day forward.
Amen.
If you prayed that prayer and truly believe what you prayed then you are assured of going to heaven.
What I would advise now is finding a bible believing church.
Pray and ask God to lead you such a church.
I always recommend a Baptist church simply because I’ve found their teachings to be consistent all over the world.
In Canada I also recommend a Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada Church because I am familiar with their solid bible based teachings.
Wherever you decide to go make sure, they teach directly from the bible and that their teachings do not contradict the bible. You do this by reading the Bible yourself and asking God to show you the truths contained there in.
A in a good church the pastor will always be willing to answer your questions.
In the church I attend we expect people to ask questions.
At the start of our midweek bible study we encourage anyone who has a question on any topic to ask it and we will have an answer for them.
Now having said all of this I would encourage you even if you still don’t believe to go to a church and ask questions.
Think about it.
Wednesday, 22 January 2014
What do you gain?
“What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?
For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.”
Matthew 16:26,27
Do you believe you have a soul?
I do.
Man has to be more than a complicated biochemical cocktail. Man has a soul. Man was created to live forever. And one day we will stand before God.
Think about what you are doing. Is it really worth while?
Man is an odd creature if you think about it.
He spends a lifetime collecting ‘things’ be they widgets or dollar bills only to leave it behind him when he dies. So why do we do it?
There has to be more to life than spending a few short years on this earth only to pass into eternity and enter oblivion.
I believe man was made to live on in eternity and have fellowship with the very God that made him.
I believe the words of Jesus who said,
“For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.”
Where do you stand?
Think about it.
For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.”
Matthew 16:26,27
Do you believe you have a soul?
I do.
Man has to be more than a complicated biochemical cocktail. Man has a soul. Man was created to live forever. And one day we will stand before God.
Think about what you are doing. Is it really worth while?
Man is an odd creature if you think about it.
He spends a lifetime collecting ‘things’ be they widgets or dollar bills only to leave it behind him when he dies. So why do we do it?
There has to be more to life than spending a few short years on this earth only to pass into eternity and enter oblivion.
I believe man was made to live on in eternity and have fellowship with the very God that made him.
I believe the words of Jesus who said,
“For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.”
Where do you stand?
Think about it.
Tuesday, 21 January 2014
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.
For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge— because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.
Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.
He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 1:3-8
Here’s a Challenge to Christians. If Paul were alive today could he say the words of 1 Corinthians 1:3-8 to you?
Does the grace of God live in you? Can people say you have been enriched in every way, in all your speaking and in all your knowledge.
Is the testimony about Christ confirmed in you?
Are you eagerly awaiting the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ?
Are you confident that you will be strong and blameless when Christ returns.
Just how dedicated are you to Jesus?
Many who claim to be Christians simply attend church going through the motions in the service without really taking them to heart.
Jesus said,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
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 7:21-23.
Do you really know God? Is Jesus really your Lord and Saviour?
Just because you were born into a Christian family or were baptized as a child does not automatically make you a Christian.
Becoming a Christians is an act of ones will when we are old enough to understand what we are doing.
It’s praying accepting that Jesus died for our sins and accepting Him into our lives.
Have you?
Think about it.
“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.
For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge— because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.
Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.
He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 1:3-8
Here’s a Challenge to Christians. If Paul were alive today could he say the words of 1 Corinthians 1:3-8 to you?
Does the grace of God live in you? Can people say you have been enriched in every way, in all your speaking and in all your knowledge.
Is the testimony about Christ confirmed in you?
Are you eagerly awaiting the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ?
Are you confident that you will be strong and blameless when Christ returns.
Just how dedicated are you to Jesus?
Many who claim to be Christians simply attend church going through the motions in the service without really taking them to heart.
Jesus said,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
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 7:21-23.
Do you really know God? Is Jesus really your Lord and Saviour?
Just because you were born into a Christian family or were baptized as a child does not automatically make you a Christian.
Becoming a Christians is an act of ones will when we are old enough to understand what we are doing.
It’s praying accepting that Jesus died for our sins and accepting Him into our lives.
Have you?
Think about it.
Monday, 20 January 2014
God
“Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
Genesis 1:26,27
“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
Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society. Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.”
We are God’s creations. It is God who has written on our hearts what is right and what is wrong.
To my knowledge no atheist group has ever come up with a universal set of morals. Yet there have been many who have caused great havoc on humanity. Some even in the name of religion.
Ecclesiastes states,
“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 judgement, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”
Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
The duty of man is fear God and keep his commandments because whether you believe in him or not you will one day be called to judgement.
Think about it.
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.”
Genesis 1:26,27
“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
Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society. Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.”
We are God’s creations. It is God who has written on our hearts what is right and what is wrong.
To my knowledge no atheist group has ever come up with a universal set of morals. Yet there have been many who have caused great havoc on humanity. Some even in the name of religion.
Ecclesiastes states,
“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 judgement, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.”
Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
The duty of man is fear God and keep his commandments because whether you believe in him or not you will one day be called to judgement.
Think about it.
Well done my good and faithful servant
Read Matthew 25:14-30
“His master replied, ’Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”
Matthew 25:21
When you meet our Lord and Saviour what will he say to you? Will he say “well done, good and faithful servant or will he be upset at you for not doing enough with what you have?
Will he commend you for your actions during your life here on earth or will he be upset.
The Talmud has an interesting way of putting things it states,
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgement, 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?”
When I read Matthew 25:14-30 I sometimes wonder how many Christians will find themselves on the wrong side of God’s wrath.
Dear believer are you doing enough for Christ or are you burying your talents in the ground and not using them
Do you just take up space in a pew and listen to the pastors sermon every week. Perhaps you even manage to get out to a prayer meeting or bible study, but are you using your talents?
There is a great deal to do in any church, everything from being an usher, to greeting people, teaching Sunday School, ministering to the sick, even just doing a little cleaning. The list goes on and on.
So consider what you are doing for the Lord and see if you can do more.
“His master replied, ’Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”
Matthew 25:21
When you meet our Lord and Saviour what will he say to you? Will he say “well done, good and faithful servant or will he be upset at you for not doing enough with what you have?
Will he commend you for your actions during your life here on earth or will he be upset.
The Talmud has an interesting way of putting things it states,
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgement, 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?”
When I read Matthew 25:14-30 I sometimes wonder how many Christians will find themselves on the wrong side of God’s wrath.
Dear believer are you doing enough for Christ or are you burying your talents in the ground and not using them
Do you just take up space in a pew and listen to the pastors sermon every week. Perhaps you even manage to get out to a prayer meeting or bible study, but are you using your talents?
There is a great deal to do in any church, everything from being an usher, to greeting people, teaching Sunday School, ministering to the sick, even just doing a little cleaning. The list goes on and on.
So consider what you are doing for the Lord and see if you can do more.
Sunday, 19 January 2014
Christ's Supremacy
Christ’s Supremacy
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”
Colossians 1:15-20
Here beyond a shadow of a doubt Paul is saying Christ is supreme. That he is the first born of all creation. That he is the creator of heaven and earth. Things visible an invisible.
Paul goes one step further and give us our reason for being when he states, “all things were created by him and for him.”
Paul goes on to say that God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him and that through him all things were reconciled to God, be they in heaven or on the earth.
And all of this was done through the shed blood of Jesus on the cross.
If you think about it this is an amazing claim for Christians to make that Jesus is God. Yet it is absolutely true.
Over the years I heard groups say that Jesus was an angel. But here according to Paul he is the creator of the universe something an angel could never be.
Jesus is God there is no other explanation possible.
Time and time again throughout the New Testament Jesus is referred to as God. Something at the time the New Testament was written would have provoked the wrath of Jews.
If everything in the New Testament was not true why would anyone write such a thing. It was literally risking their life.
Even calling Jesus God among the gentiles would seem bazaar.
If it were not true such claims would be counter productive to the cause of Christianity.
Therefore logic states that it must be true. Jesus is indeed God the creator of the universe.
Think about it.
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”
Colossians 1:15-20
Here beyond a shadow of a doubt Paul is saying Christ is supreme. That he is the first born of all creation. That he is the creator of heaven and earth. Things visible an invisible.
Paul goes one step further and give us our reason for being when he states, “all things were created by him and for him.”
Paul goes on to say that God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him and that through him all things were reconciled to God, be they in heaven or on the earth.
And all of this was done through the shed blood of Jesus on the cross.
If you think about it this is an amazing claim for Christians to make that Jesus is God. Yet it is absolutely true.
Over the years I heard groups say that Jesus was an angel. But here according to Paul he is the creator of the universe something an angel could never be.
Jesus is God there is no other explanation possible.
Time and time again throughout the New Testament Jesus is referred to as God. Something at the time the New Testament was written would have provoked the wrath of Jews.
If everything in the New Testament was not true why would anyone write such a thing. It was literally risking their life.
Even calling Jesus God among the gentiles would seem bazaar.
If it were not true such claims would be counter productive to the cause of Christianity.
Therefore logic states that it must be true. Jesus is indeed God the creator of the universe.
Think about it.
Saturday, 18 January 2014
Jesus is God
Jesus is God
“...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....
For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father’”
Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son” ?
And again, when God brings his first born into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”
In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire.”
But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”
Hebrews 1:5-9
Here in Hebrews 1:5-9 we have irrefutable proof that Jesus is God.
The writer put things plain and simply that God made the universe through Him (Jesus).
He makes it clear that God the Father is the Father of Jesus. And that God’s angels should worship him. That His throne will last forever and that Jesus has loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Again the writer of Hebrews notes,
“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 1:3.
There is no doubt from a biblical prospective that Jesus is indeed God. A God that states,
“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. 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 3:16-18.
The choice to follow Jesus is up to the individual no one can force a person to make that decision.
It is my hope however that you dear reader will read what I am saying and what the Bible is saying and make the decision to follow Jesus. To make Him Lord of your life.
Think about it.
“...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....
For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father’”
Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son” ?
And again, when God brings his first born into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”
In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels winds, his servants flames of fire.”
But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”
Hebrews 1:5-9
Here in Hebrews 1:5-9 we have irrefutable proof that Jesus is God.
The writer put things plain and simply that God made the universe through Him (Jesus).
He makes it clear that God the Father is the Father of Jesus. And that God’s angels should worship him. That His throne will last forever and that Jesus has loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Again the writer of Hebrews notes,
“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 1:3.
There is no doubt from a biblical prospective that Jesus is indeed God. A God that states,
“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. 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 3:16-18.
The choice to follow Jesus is up to the individual no one can force a person to make that decision.
It is my hope however that you dear reader will read what I am saying and what the Bible is saying and make the decision to follow Jesus. To make Him Lord of your life.
Think about it.
Friday, 17 January 2014
The Good Shepherd
"Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.
All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.
The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.
I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
John 10:7-18
Here Jesus compares himself to a shepherd the owner of the flock. He makes it clear that he is not a hireling. That he is indeed the Shepherd and as such is willing to lay down his life for his sheep.
He also makes it clear,
“The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
John 10:17,18
Ultimately when it came to Jesus going to the cross it was he who made the decision.
In the garden of Gethsemane he said,
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
Luke 22:42
Jesus being the Son of God could have at anytime called upon God to stop what was happening. But Jesus while on this earth chose to do things as a normal man.
He knew why he was here. He was in complete control and he chose to accept his fate.
Even as he was dying on the cross he was in control. Luke telling us,
“Jesus called out with a loud voice,“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Luke 23:46
Jesus is God. He came to earth to live life as a normal man. Thus he knows all there is to know about what it is like to be a man.
We therefore cannot accuse him of not knowing what it is like to be a man. Quite the contrary he understands.
Thus when we stand before him in heaven he has the right to judge us.
We can never say you don’t understand or you didn’t care about me because he did and he does.
Not only did he live the life of a normal man but he laid down his life for us. The ultimate sacrifice.
So when you stand before God on that final day. Will he be your judge or your saviour?
Think about it.
All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them.
I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.
The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep
“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—
just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.
I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.
The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
John 10:7-18
Here Jesus compares himself to a shepherd the owner of the flock. He makes it clear that he is not a hireling. That he is indeed the Shepherd and as such is willing to lay down his life for his sheep.
He also makes it clear,
“The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.
No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
John 10:17,18
Ultimately when it came to Jesus going to the cross it was he who made the decision.
In the garden of Gethsemane he said,
“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
Luke 22:42
Jesus being the Son of God could have at anytime called upon God to stop what was happening. But Jesus while on this earth chose to do things as a normal man.
He knew why he was here. He was in complete control and he chose to accept his fate.
Even as he was dying on the cross he was in control. Luke telling us,
“Jesus called out with a loud voice,“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Luke 23:46
Jesus is God. He came to earth to live life as a normal man. Thus he knows all there is to know about what it is like to be a man.
We therefore cannot accuse him of not knowing what it is like to be a man. Quite the contrary he understands.
Thus when we stand before him in heaven he has the right to judge us.
We can never say you don’t understand or you didn’t care about me because he did and he does.
Not only did he live the life of a normal man but he laid down his life for us. The ultimate sacrifice.
So when you stand before God on that final day. Will he be your judge or your saviour?
Think about it.
Thursday, 16 January 2014
Meaningless
“Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher.
“Utterly meaningless! Everything is
What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?
Generations come and generations go, but the earth remains forever.
The sun rises and the sun sets, and hurries back to where it rises.
The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course.
All streams flow into the sea, yet the sea is never full. To the place the streams come from, there they return again.
All things are wearisome, more than one can say. The eye never has enough of seeing, nor the ear its fill of hearing.
What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.”
Ecclesiasts 1:2-9
Is life meaningless?
The above scripture sound like something that an evolutionist might say. We live procreate and die.
“For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune.”
States Ecclesiasts 2:21
There is a famous picture taken by the space probe Voyager.
Voyager has gone further into space than any other man made object. When it took the picture it was over four billion kilometres form earth. In the picture earth appears as a speck no larger than the head of a pin.
It graphically shows how, if you will, insignificant earth is.
One could easily look at it and say life is meaningless, if that’s all we are a biochemical blob on a mote of dust amid the vastness of the universe.
But life is more than that. Life extends beyond what we can see feel and hear.
The universe and everything in it was created by God and he took it upon himself to come to this earth in the form of Jesus Christ to show us the meaning of life.
Jesus said, “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.” Matthew 13:43.
If we give our lives to Christ life takes on meaning. He gives us direction in life.
When we pass from this mortal life to life eternal we will meet the creator of the universe and all things will be revealed to us.
Coming to know Christ as my Lord and Saviour was the best thing I ever did. It gave me meaning and purpose in my life.
That meaning and purpose that goes beyond this world can be yours if your would simply give your life to Christ today. Think about it.
Wednesday, 15 January 2014
The Heavens Declare
The heavens declare
The other day I looked through a microscope at a leaf and marvelled at the intricacy of it.
A short time later I looked at pictures taken by the Hubble space telescope and marvelled at the immensity and complexity of the heavens.
When I look at the smallest things known to man and the largest expanse I see the handy work of God.
I see a universe in perfect balance. I see the planet on which we live perfectly suited for life as we know it.
Our planet just happens to lie in what some scientist call the goldilocks zone. The perfect distance from our star to support life.
I can’t believe this is simply chance. There, to my mind, has to be a creator.
I firmly believe that given time and an open mind scientist will one day discover beyond a doubt evidence of God meanwhile we must believe in God by faith.
Faith defined by the writer of Hebrews as,
God wants us to look around, assess what we see in nature and in the heavens. He wants us to examine all he crated. Then, after noting how magnificent it is. How perfect it is, make that leap of faith, concluding there is truly a creator.
Hebrews noting,
Are you willing to make that leap of faith?
Take time to examine the world around you and think about it.
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Psalm 19:1The other day I looked through a microscope at a leaf and marvelled at the intricacy of it.
A short time later I looked at pictures taken by the Hubble space telescope and marvelled at the immensity and complexity of the heavens.
When I look at the smallest things known to man and the largest expanse I see the handy work of God.
I see a universe in perfect balance. I see the planet on which we live perfectly suited for life as we know it.
Our planet just happens to lie in what some scientist call the goldilocks zone. The perfect distance from our star to support life.
I can’t believe this is simply chance. There, to my mind, has to be a creator.
I firmly believe that given time and an open mind scientist will one day discover beyond a doubt evidence of God meanwhile we must believe in God by faith.
Faith defined by the writer of Hebrews as,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for
and certain of what we do not see.
This is what the ancients were commended for.”
Hebrews 11:1,2God wants us to look around, assess what we see in nature and in the heavens. He wants us to examine all he crated. Then, after noting how magnificent it is. How perfect it is, make that leap of faith, concluding there is truly a creator.
Hebrews noting,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
This is what the ancients were commended for."
Hebrews 11:1,2Are you willing to make that leap of faith?
Take time to examine the world around you and think about it.
Tuesday, 14 January 2014
Righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe
“But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.
This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”
Romans 3:21-26
The basic belief of Christianity is that” all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Christians also believe that we cannot work our way to heaven. Paul writing to the Ephesians saying,
“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.
That we are justified before God by the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presenting Jesus as a sacrifice of atonement through faith in his blood.
Once again this is something that no other faith offers.
In Christianity it is God that reaches down to mankind. Offering us a free, if you will, ticket to heaven.
We do not have to sacrifice animals, or take pilgrimages. We do not need to worry about whether or not our good deeds will out weigh our bad deeds on judgement day because Jesus died for us.
Paul writing to the Romans stating,
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8.
All anyone has to do to get to heaven is believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.
Think about it.
Monday, 13 January 2014
Jesus Christ is Lord
"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God ,did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:5-11
Here Paul makes it very clear that Jesus is the Christ and that He brings Glory to God the Father.
That “God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Again we see here that the apostle Paul who was writing this letter within living memory of the death and resurrection is claiming that Jesus is God.
That even at the mention of his name every tongue both in heaven and on earth shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Irrespective of what you may think about Jesus and Christianity you must admit that, first of all Christians want people to believe that Jesus is indeed God.
Therefore to make extravagant claims about him would be to turn people away and thus counter productive to the cause of Christianity.
Yet Christians do make the claim that Jesus God. Not only that but they publish those beliefs for all the world to see.
Therefore logic dictates either they are correct about his Deity, or they have perpetuated the most momentous lie in the history of the world.
Think about it.
Who, being in very nature God ,did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:5-11
Here Paul makes it very clear that Jesus is the Christ and that He brings Glory to God the Father.
That “God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Again we see here that the apostle Paul who was writing this letter within living memory of the death and resurrection is claiming that Jesus is God.
That even at the mention of his name every tongue both in heaven and on earth shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
Irrespective of what you may think about Jesus and Christianity you must admit that, first of all Christians want people to believe that Jesus is indeed God.
Therefore to make extravagant claims about him would be to turn people away and thus counter productive to the cause of Christianity.
Yet Christians do make the claim that Jesus God. Not only that but they publish those beliefs for all the world to see.
Therefore logic dictates either they are correct about his Deity, or they have perpetuated the most momentous lie in the history of the world.
Think about it.
Sunday, 12 January 2014
There'e Christians and There's christians
“Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.”
Acts 11:25,26
The disciple were first called Christians (literally “Christ followers” or ‘those of the household of Christ.”) at Antioch.
The name Christian was a nickname, possibly a word of derision for Jewish and Gentile believers in new movement within Judaism known as “the Way”.
It was a name the early believers took to themselves. A name that now stands for an entire movement.
Today by most estimates Christianity in all its forms is the largest single religion in the world.
Followers of “the Way” can be found in every corner of the world be it in countries with anti-Christian regimes where it has to survive in secret, or in the worlds democracies where it has free reign to prosper openly.
Once while in discussion with some friends I heard it said that “While freedom allows the church to grow easily and quickly, persecution can be good for the church.
When it’s persecuted the church has no option, it has to concentrate on what it believes. It has no time to get side tracked with politics or other frivolous things like it frequently does in a free society.”
It is with that in mind I asked myself what is a Christian? What is the quintessence of being Christian? Especially here in North America in the twenty-first century.
Certainly to those who felt the swords of the crusaders in Jerusalem in the fourteenth century, a Christian must have seen to have been a blood thirsty savage.
To many especially those of low birth, in the Europe in the middle ages the God of Christians must have seen as a harsh taskmaster placing through the church, almost impossible demands on lowly man.
Here in the “enlightened” twenty-first century many of those who espouse to an alternate lifestyles see Christian’s as hypocritical uncaring, judgemental, self serving legalist who use the bible to fulfill there own agenda.
Today especially here in North America, the average none church going person who sees some evangelist and pastors in the media must think, God as someone negative. A person who wishes to impose harsh rules on them.
They see the Church as against everything. Yet nothing could be further from the truth.
Like any movement that has survived centuries there are groups and individuals that have claimed to be Christian and are not.
Individuals who have for personal gain or unthinkingly in their zeal have departed from the pure word of God and followed their own agenda.
In Matthew 7:12 Jesus clearly states,
"Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
Today in the twenty-first century, particularly here in the free society that is North America, what it is to be a Christian, the pure essence of what it is to be a Christian, seems to be lost in the cacophony of noise from those that claim to be Christians and are not.
Who then qualifies as a Christian?
Christianity varies widely in its practices and forms of worship. There is quite literally something for everyone.
Worship can range from the deeply traditional services.
Services that have been performed for centuries the same way. With elements that to those who practice them have deep meaning. Elements that take the worshipper through deep waters immersing them silently in the love of God.
At the other end of the spectrum are the modern charismatic’s who prefer a lively service with modern music, and dance. People who are full of emotion and wish to express there love of God with intensity of spirit.
Forms of worship however do not define who a Christian is.
Becoming a Christian is an individual choice. No one is born a Christian even if every member of your family is a Christian.
John 1:12 states, “Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become Children of God.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 make it clear that salvation is a gift.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, though faith– and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God.– not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Like any gift we must choose to take it in order to have it.
A true Christian has made that choice and had a life changing experience with God that change is noticeable.
A person with Christ truly working in his or her life will perhaps slowly at first but most definitely start to desire to do the will of God.
They do not judge another individual but rather reach out to anyone who will listen, regardless of their beliefs or life style.
Christianity, true Christianity is all inclusive, Peter noting
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9
The choice is always up to the individual as to whether they wish to become a Christian.
And it is up to the individual Christian to present that choice with out prejudice to all whom they would come in contact with.
Acts 11:25,26
The disciple were first called Christians (literally “Christ followers” or ‘those of the household of Christ.”) at Antioch.
The name Christian was a nickname, possibly a word of derision for Jewish and Gentile believers in new movement within Judaism known as “the Way”.
It was a name the early believers took to themselves. A name that now stands for an entire movement.
Today by most estimates Christianity in all its forms is the largest single religion in the world.
Followers of “the Way” can be found in every corner of the world be it in countries with anti-Christian regimes where it has to survive in secret, or in the worlds democracies where it has free reign to prosper openly.
Once while in discussion with some friends I heard it said that “While freedom allows the church to grow easily and quickly, persecution can be good for the church.
When it’s persecuted the church has no option, it has to concentrate on what it believes. It has no time to get side tracked with politics or other frivolous things like it frequently does in a free society.”
It is with that in mind I asked myself what is a Christian? What is the quintessence of being Christian? Especially here in North America in the twenty-first century.
Certainly to those who felt the swords of the crusaders in Jerusalem in the fourteenth century, a Christian must have seen to have been a blood thirsty savage.
To many especially those of low birth, in the Europe in the middle ages the God of Christians must have seen as a harsh taskmaster placing through the church, almost impossible demands on lowly man.
Here in the “enlightened” twenty-first century many of those who espouse to an alternate lifestyles see Christian’s as hypocritical uncaring, judgemental, self serving legalist who use the bible to fulfill there own agenda.
Today especially here in North America, the average none church going person who sees some evangelist and pastors in the media must think, God as someone negative. A person who wishes to impose harsh rules on them.
They see the Church as against everything. Yet nothing could be further from the truth.
Like any movement that has survived centuries there are groups and individuals that have claimed to be Christian and are not.
Individuals who have for personal gain or unthinkingly in their zeal have departed from the pure word of God and followed their own agenda.
In Matthew 7:12 Jesus clearly states,
"Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
Today in the twenty-first century, particularly here in the free society that is North America, what it is to be a Christian, the pure essence of what it is to be a Christian, seems to be lost in the cacophony of noise from those that claim to be Christians and are not.
Who then qualifies as a Christian?
Christianity varies widely in its practices and forms of worship. There is quite literally something for everyone.
Worship can range from the deeply traditional services.
Services that have been performed for centuries the same way. With elements that to those who practice them have deep meaning. Elements that take the worshipper through deep waters immersing them silently in the love of God.
At the other end of the spectrum are the modern charismatic’s who prefer a lively service with modern music, and dance. People who are full of emotion and wish to express there love of God with intensity of spirit.
Forms of worship however do not define who a Christian is.
Becoming a Christian is an individual choice. No one is born a Christian even if every member of your family is a Christian.
John 1:12 states, “Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become Children of God.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 make it clear that salvation is a gift.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, though faith– and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God.– not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Like any gift we must choose to take it in order to have it.
A true Christian has made that choice and had a life changing experience with God that change is noticeable.
A person with Christ truly working in his or her life will perhaps slowly at first but most definitely start to desire to do the will of God.
They do not judge another individual but rather reach out to anyone who will listen, regardless of their beliefs or life style.
Christianity, true Christianity is all inclusive, Peter noting
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9
The choice is always up to the individual as to whether they wish to become a Christian.
And it is up to the individual Christian to present that choice with out prejudice to all whom they would come in contact with.
Saturday, 11 January 2014
Children of God
Children of God
“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
“To all who received him, to those who believed in his name he gave the right to become children of God.”
What a promise. All we have to do is believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and we have the right to become children of God.
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” John states in 1 John 3:1.
Our heavenly Father loved us so much that he allows us to be called children of God. What a privilege. What an honour. We are, “children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
John also points out that, that is the reason the world does not know us or understand us at times because it does not know God.
We here in the west live in a world that is moving further and further from belief in any kind of God.
Consumerism and the philosophy of doing your own thing is the norm.
People are wrapped up in acquiring material things. They seek to find happiness in everything from sports, to the arts, to personal achievements. Non of which are bad in themselves.
These things however end with this life.
How many people today know who Sir Roger Gilbert Bannister was? How about Christiaan Neethling Barnard or John Logie Baird?
Bannister was the first person to run the mile in under four minutes, Barnard was a South African doctor who performed the first successful heart transplant and Baird was the inventor of the televison.
All great achievements yet for the most part the names of these men are lost to history.
Our names however are not lost to God. Especially if we have received him as our Lord and Saviour.
Read John’s words again,“To all who received him, to those who believed in his name he gave the right to become children of God.”
We as Christians are God’s own children and thus will be without a doubt, with Him in heaven.
Do you know Jesus as your Lord and Saviour? To know him is as simple as saying a prayer, like this,
Dear Heavenly Father.
I believe in you. I believe that you sent your Son Jesus Christ to earth that I may have life eternal. To die for my sins.
I know that I am a sinner. That I fall short of what you would have for my life.
Please forgive my sins.
Dear Jesus please come into my heart and life today that I may have the free gift of eternal life that you have promised me.
In Jesus name I pray
Amen
“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
“To all who received him, to those who believed in his name he gave the right to become children of God.”
What a promise. All we have to do is believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and we have the right to become children of God.
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” John states in 1 John 3:1.
Our heavenly Father loved us so much that he allows us to be called children of God. What a privilege. What an honour. We are, “children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.”
John also points out that, that is the reason the world does not know us or understand us at times because it does not know God.
We here in the west live in a world that is moving further and further from belief in any kind of God.
Consumerism and the philosophy of doing your own thing is the norm.
People are wrapped up in acquiring material things. They seek to find happiness in everything from sports, to the arts, to personal achievements. Non of which are bad in themselves.
These things however end with this life.
How many people today know who Sir Roger Gilbert Bannister was? How about Christiaan Neethling Barnard or John Logie Baird?
Bannister was the first person to run the mile in under four minutes, Barnard was a South African doctor who performed the first successful heart transplant and Baird was the inventor of the televison.
All great achievements yet for the most part the names of these men are lost to history.
Our names however are not lost to God. Especially if we have received him as our Lord and Saviour.
Read John’s words again,“To all who received him, to those who believed in his name he gave the right to become children of God.”
We as Christians are God’s own children and thus will be without a doubt, with Him in heaven.
Do you know Jesus as your Lord and Saviour? To know him is as simple as saying a prayer, like this,
Dear Heavenly Father.
I believe in you. I believe that you sent your Son Jesus Christ to earth that I may have life eternal. To die for my sins.
I know that I am a sinner. That I fall short of what you would have for my life.
Please forgive my sins.
Dear Jesus please come into my heart and life today that I may have the free gift of eternal life that you have promised me.
In Jesus name I pray
Amen
Friday, 10 January 2014
Jesus Testifies about Himself
"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”
Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going.
You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one.
But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me.
In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.
I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”
Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”
John 8:12-19
Jesus never shied away from saying who he was. He makes it clear that his father is God.
If we think about this testimony logically it is either one of the most outrageous claims in human history. The claims of a lunatic or the truth.
For Jesus to claim he was the Son of God in his day was to commit sacrilege, blasphemy, a capital offence in the eyes of the Jewish religious leaders of his day.
Yet Jesus did not deny that he was the Son of God.
He made it clear when he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
He is claiming to be God incarnate.
This claim is what we as individuals must consider.
Was Jesus a lunatic, mentally disturbed person who created what has to be the greatest lie in human history or is he who he says he is. The one and only Son of God.
Think about it.
The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”
Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going.
You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one.
But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me.
In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid.
I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”
Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”
John 8:12-19
Jesus never shied away from saying who he was. He makes it clear that his father is God.
If we think about this testimony logically it is either one of the most outrageous claims in human history. The claims of a lunatic or the truth.
For Jesus to claim he was the Son of God in his day was to commit sacrilege, blasphemy, a capital offence in the eyes of the Jewish religious leaders of his day.
Yet Jesus did not deny that he was the Son of God.
He made it clear when he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
He is claiming to be God incarnate.
This claim is what we as individuals must consider.
Was Jesus a lunatic, mentally disturbed person who created what has to be the greatest lie in human history or is he who he says he is. The one and only Son of God.
Think about it.
Wednesday, 8 January 2014
Jesus is God
“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.
So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father’”
Hebrews 1:1-5
I’ve heard some who claim to be Christians say Jesus was just an angel. That is not true. The writer of Hebrews makes that clear.
The writer states, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.”
Jesus is the second person of the Trinity and sustains all things in heaven and earth by His word.
“...he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.”
Jesus is God. He is superior to the angels because He is the creator of heaven and earth. He was their according to John 1:1 at the beginning of creation.
“Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” states John 1:3
Jesus the Son of God was the only one who could purify our sins, and according to Hebrews 1:3 he did provide purification for our sins after which he sat down at the right hand of “the Majesty in heaven”.
Jesus is God. I understand that there are people out there who find it hard to comprehend how God could come to earth while at the same time still be in heaven.
In order to understand it you must realise that God is infinite. Infinite means without end.
Therefor it is possible for him to take a small portion of himself and become flesh.
Look at it like this.
Imagine infinity is the pacific ocean. If I were to take a glass out of it, the pacific ocean would still be there and there would be no appreciable difference. Yet I have the pacific ocean in the glass.
That’s how it is with God. He can take a portion of himself and put himself in the world that he created without diminishing his power or might.
Which is what He did.
In order for us as humans to distinguish the portion of God that was in the world and portion of him that was still in heaven we classify for lack of a better word the potion that is in heaven as the Father and the one on earth as the Son of God.
Both are still God.
Think about it.
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.
So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.
For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father’”
Hebrews 1:1-5
I’ve heard some who claim to be Christians say Jesus was just an angel. That is not true. The writer of Hebrews makes that clear.
The writer states, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.”
Jesus is the second person of the Trinity and sustains all things in heaven and earth by His word.
“...he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.”
Jesus is God. He is superior to the angels because He is the creator of heaven and earth. He was their according to John 1:1 at the beginning of creation.
“Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” states John 1:3
Jesus the Son of God was the only one who could purify our sins, and according to Hebrews 1:3 he did provide purification for our sins after which he sat down at the right hand of “the Majesty in heaven”.
Jesus is God. I understand that there are people out there who find it hard to comprehend how God could come to earth while at the same time still be in heaven.
In order to understand it you must realise that God is infinite. Infinite means without end.
Therefor it is possible for him to take a small portion of himself and become flesh.
Look at it like this.
Imagine infinity is the pacific ocean. If I were to take a glass out of it, the pacific ocean would still be there and there would be no appreciable difference. Yet I have the pacific ocean in the glass.
That’s how it is with God. He can take a portion of himself and put himself in the world that he created without diminishing his power or might.
Which is what He did.
In order for us as humans to distinguish the portion of God that was in the world and portion of him that was still in heaven we classify for lack of a better word the potion that is in heaven as the Father and the one on earth as the Son of God.
Both are still God.
Think about it.
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