A question for the ages
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25,26
A question for the ages. Do you believe Jesus is the resurrection and the life. The writer of Hebrews did he wrote,
“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’” ?
Or again, “I will be his Father, and he will be my Son” ?
And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”
Hebrews 1:3-6.
I believe the most important question anyone anywhere in the world must ask themselves is, Who is Jesus?”
Jesus said of himself,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
John’s gospel records this incident,
The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.
I and the Father are one.”
Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”
John 10:24-32.
The crowd didn’t stone Jesus the scriptures says he escaped their grasp.
The reason the crown wanted to stone Jesus is that he claimed to be equal to God. A crime of blasphemy punishable by death.
No man in his right mind would make such a claim if it were not true. C. S. Lewis put it this way in his book mere Christianity. He wrote,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
So the choice is yours Is Jesus all he said he is or a lunatic?
Please think about it.
Monday, 29 June 2015
Sunday, 28 June 2015
Christians and christians
Christians and christians
“Going to church makes you no more of a Christian than standing in a fire station makes you a fire truck.”
I’ve heard many non-Christians over the years say I know people who go to such and such a church. I know what they do during the week and I am much better than they are. Why should I go to church?
My answer is simple not everyone who goes to church each Sunday is a Christian. Many people go all there lives to church yet are not Christians.
Many pastors, Christian teachers, and evangelist are not Christians.
What defines a Christian is simple.
A Christian is someone who believes Jesus is the Son of God, the saviour of mankind. They have admitted they are a sinner. That they have fallen short of the glory of God. They have confessed that sin to God and accepted Christ into their heart and lives.
When that happens their lives start to change.
Still Christians upon accepting Christ do not automatically become perfect, they are only progressing some at slower rates than others.
The key however is they made a decision to follow Christ and are doing their best to do what they feel He wants them to do.
I as Christian know there are many claiming to be Christian teacher, preachers and evangelist as well as many sitting in the pews of any given church on any given Sunday that are not Christians. They are teaching and practising things that are not Christian.
The apostle Paul knew this. He wrote to Timothy saying,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
2Timothy 4:3,4.
Jesus even 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.
The key I believe for the non-Christian is to visit a Church at least once in a while. Try different Churches. Listen to what the pastor or teacher has to say and judge for yourself what God has for you.
Many people do criticize the church and much of the criticism the church get is deserved.
The basic facts still however remain. Jesus love you and offers you a choice. Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 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.
Please think about it.
“Going to church makes you no more of a Christian than standing in a fire station makes you a fire truck.”
I’ve heard many non-Christians over the years say I know people who go to such and such a church. I know what they do during the week and I am much better than they are. Why should I go to church?
My answer is simple not everyone who goes to church each Sunday is a Christian. Many people go all there lives to church yet are not Christians.
Many pastors, Christian teachers, and evangelist are not Christians.
What defines a Christian is simple.
A Christian is someone who believes Jesus is the Son of God, the saviour of mankind. They have admitted they are a sinner. That they have fallen short of the glory of God. They have confessed that sin to God and accepted Christ into their heart and lives.
When that happens their lives start to change.
Still Christians upon accepting Christ do not automatically become perfect, they are only progressing some at slower rates than others.
The key however is they made a decision to follow Christ and are doing their best to do what they feel He wants them to do.
I as Christian know there are many claiming to be Christian teacher, preachers and evangelist as well as many sitting in the pews of any given church on any given Sunday that are not Christians. They are teaching and practising things that are not Christian.
The apostle Paul knew this. He wrote to Timothy saying,
“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”
2Timothy 4:3,4.
Jesus even 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.
The key I believe for the non-Christian is to visit a Church at least once in a while. Try different Churches. Listen to what the pastor or teacher has to say and judge for yourself what God has for you.
Many people do criticize the church and much of the criticism the church get is deserved.
The basic facts still however remain. Jesus love you and offers you a choice. Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 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.
Please think about it.
Saturday, 27 June 2015
No God?
No God?
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
Genesis 1:1
The Bible does not debate the existence of God. It simply states from the outset that God created the heavens and the earth.
How God made the universe be it using the big bang or other means is immaterial to the fact that God exists and that he created the heavens and the earth.
The atheist says there is no God yet he has no definite proof of that.
Peter John Kreeft states,
“Atheism is cheap on people through, because it snobbishly says nine out of ten people through history have been wrong about God and have had a lie at the core of their hearts.”
Peter John Kreeft.
For those who would believe in God the evidence is all around. The psalmist writes,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.”
Psalm 19:1-3
Scientist tell us that Earth lies in the so called “Goldilocks zone” the perfect place around our sun for life to exist.
If we look all around us we can see the universe is in perfect balance. Some one once told me the Universe from the smallest subatomic particle to the largest galaxy is mathematically perfect. The mathematicians and scientist may not have all the formulas that show how perfect the universe is but given time and good science they will one day find all of them.
I personally cannot believe that the universe in which we live just came about by chance. There must be a creator.
Further more if this life is all there is and we simply pass on to oblivion what a waste of a soul.
For me and the majority of people that have ever lived, knowing there is a God and a life beyond this one makes life worthwhile.
Christians in particular look forward to going to heaven for we know beyond doubt where we will spend eternity.
I agree with Kreeft when he says,
“Atheism treats people cheaply. Also, it robs death of meaning, and if death has no meaning, how can life ultimately have meaning?”
Peter John Kreeft ph.d
For me what the psalmist says is true,
“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
Psalm 14:1.
I say that because all the evidence in nature and in science and in the bible points the way to there being a God who loves each and every individual on earth.
Ultimately even though the facts are out there proving the existence of God. There is required an element of faith.
The writer of Hebrews saying,
“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
God gave man a free will that free will includes the right to believe in Him or not. The choice is yours.
Please thing about it.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
Genesis 1:1
The Bible does not debate the existence of God. It simply states from the outset that God created the heavens and the earth.
How God made the universe be it using the big bang or other means is immaterial to the fact that God exists and that he created the heavens and the earth.
The atheist says there is no God yet he has no definite proof of that.
Peter John Kreeft states,
“Atheism is cheap on people through, because it snobbishly says nine out of ten people through history have been wrong about God and have had a lie at the core of their hearts.”
Peter John Kreeft.
For those who would believe in God the evidence is all around. The psalmist writes,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.”
Psalm 19:1-3
Scientist tell us that Earth lies in the so called “Goldilocks zone” the perfect place around our sun for life to exist.
If we look all around us we can see the universe is in perfect balance. Some one once told me the Universe from the smallest subatomic particle to the largest galaxy is mathematically perfect. The mathematicians and scientist may not have all the formulas that show how perfect the universe is but given time and good science they will one day find all of them.
I personally cannot believe that the universe in which we live just came about by chance. There must be a creator.
Further more if this life is all there is and we simply pass on to oblivion what a waste of a soul.
For me and the majority of people that have ever lived, knowing there is a God and a life beyond this one makes life worthwhile.
Christians in particular look forward to going to heaven for we know beyond doubt where we will spend eternity.
I agree with Kreeft when he says,
“Atheism treats people cheaply. Also, it robs death of meaning, and if death has no meaning, how can life ultimately have meaning?”
Peter John Kreeft ph.d
For me what the psalmist says is true,
“The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
Psalm 14:1.
I say that because all the evidence in nature and in science and in the bible points the way to there being a God who loves each and every individual on earth.
Ultimately even though the facts are out there proving the existence of God. There is required an element of faith.
The writer of Hebrews saying,
“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
God gave man a free will that free will includes the right to believe in Him or not. The choice is yours.
Please thing about it.
Friday, 26 June 2015
The hardest thing
The hardest thing to do
“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.
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”
Hebrews 11:1-3.
There is one thing scientist and Christians have in common, faith.
A good scientist postulates a theory of why things work based on the facts at hand. He studies the facts and has faith that they add up to the conclusion he has made. He then presents that theory to his peers for scrutiny. They weigh the facts and agree or disagree with him as the case may be.
Eienstein’s theory of relativity, the big bang theory are all examples of this.
Christians are the same. They have studied the facts before them and come to the conclusion that God is real.
They have read what the psalmist wrote,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Psalm 19:1.
They have looked at the world around them. They have looked at the mathematical perfection of the universe around them, from the largest galaxies to the smallest subatomic particle and have concluded this can’t be by chance. There must be a creator. And yes perhaps he did use the big bang to do it. How he did it however is immaterial to their faith. They have simply taken what the Bible says and the basic facts they see around them in the world and, I believe rightly conclude, that God exists.
They then present this for the people of the world to judge.
Christians ask that people read the Bible carefully and weigh the facts. Asking God to show His reality in the words of the scriptures.
Christians go one step further than any other faith however they ask people to read the New Testament and make the decision as to whether they believe Jesus when he said,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
That his words when speaking to Martha are true, when he said,
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25, 26
Jesus even asked his disciple to make a decision as to what they thought he was. Matthew recording,
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.”
Matthew 16:13-17
So the question for you dear reader becomes,
What think ye of Christ?
“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.
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”
Hebrews 11:1-3.
There is one thing scientist and Christians have in common, faith.
A good scientist postulates a theory of why things work based on the facts at hand. He studies the facts and has faith that they add up to the conclusion he has made. He then presents that theory to his peers for scrutiny. They weigh the facts and agree or disagree with him as the case may be.
Eienstein’s theory of relativity, the big bang theory are all examples of this.
Christians are the same. They have studied the facts before them and come to the conclusion that God is real.
They have read what the psalmist wrote,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Psalm 19:1.
They have looked at the world around them. They have looked at the mathematical perfection of the universe around them, from the largest galaxies to the smallest subatomic particle and have concluded this can’t be by chance. There must be a creator. And yes perhaps he did use the big bang to do it. How he did it however is immaterial to their faith. They have simply taken what the Bible says and the basic facts they see around them in the world and, I believe rightly conclude, that God exists.
They then present this for the people of the world to judge.
Christians ask that people read the Bible carefully and weigh the facts. Asking God to show His reality in the words of the scriptures.
Christians go one step further than any other faith however they ask people to read the New Testament and make the decision as to whether they believe Jesus when he said,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
That his words when speaking to Martha are true, when he said,
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25, 26
Jesus even asked his disciple to make a decision as to what they thought he was. Matthew recording,
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.”
Matthew 16:13-17
So the question for you dear reader becomes,
What think ye of Christ?
Thursday, 25 June 2015
An Invisible Player
An invisible player
“Human beings vegetables or cosmic dust. We all dance to a mysterious tune, intoned in the distance by an invisible player.”
Albert Einstein
I as a Christians believe the invisible player Einstein talks about is God.
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.”
Abba Hillel Silver
A society without God in my opinion cannot survive. God gives man absolute moral principles to live by. God gives man hope. From my way of thinking life without God is a life without hope.
Peter John Kreeft wrote,
“Atheism treats people cheaply. Also, it robs death of meaning, and if death has no meaning, how can life ultimately have meaning? Atheism cheapens everything it touches, look at the results of communism, the most powerful form of atheism on earth.
And in the end, when the atheist dies and encounters God instead of nothingness he had predicted he’ll recognize that atheism was a cheap answer because it refused the only thing that’s not cheap the God of infinite value”
Peter John Kreeft ph.d
I know I will not be able to convince the most ardent Atheist that God exists. My hope however is that some people will read what I have to say and believe.
The book of acts records the apostle Paul speaking to the Athenians he said,
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.
For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.
And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill.
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”
Acts 17:22-32
Everyone living today must make the same decision those assembled at the Areopagus had to make. It in my opinion is the most important decision one can make in their life.
Ultimately it comes down to what who you think Jesus is.
C. S. Lewis said,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
C. S. Lewis
The choice is yours. Please think about it.
“Human beings vegetables or cosmic dust. We all dance to a mysterious tune, intoned in the distance by an invisible player.”
Albert Einstein
I as a Christians believe the invisible player Einstein talks about is God.
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.”
Abba Hillel Silver
A society without God in my opinion cannot survive. God gives man absolute moral principles to live by. God gives man hope. From my way of thinking life without God is a life without hope.
Peter John Kreeft wrote,
“Atheism treats people cheaply. Also, it robs death of meaning, and if death has no meaning, how can life ultimately have meaning? Atheism cheapens everything it touches, look at the results of communism, the most powerful form of atheism on earth.
And in the end, when the atheist dies and encounters God instead of nothingness he had predicted he’ll recognize that atheism was a cheap answer because it refused the only thing that’s not cheap the God of infinite value”
Peter John Kreeft ph.d
I know I will not be able to convince the most ardent Atheist that God exists. My hope however is that some people will read what I have to say and believe.
The book of acts records the apostle Paul speaking to the Athenians he said,
Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.
For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you.
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.
And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else.
From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
“Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man’s design and skill.
In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.
For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”
When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.”
Acts 17:22-32
Everyone living today must make the same decision those assembled at the Areopagus had to make. It in my opinion is the most important decision one can make in their life.
Ultimately it comes down to what who you think Jesus is.
C. S. Lewis said,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
C. S. Lewis
The choice is yours. Please think about it.
Wednesday, 24 June 2015
A Proclamation
A Proclamation
“Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people.
He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgement has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
Revelations 14:6,7.
I firmly believe what is said here in Revelations 14:6,7. God will one day judge the world.
Peter is recorded in the book of Acts as saying,
“He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.
All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Acts 10:42,43.
This is the reason I write these Blogs. I firmly believe everyone, everywhere needs to know of the love of God.
They need to know that God is a God of mercy and love and that he has reached down to mankind in the form of Jesus Christ to offer salvation and eternal life to all who believe in Him.
Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 3:16,17.
God couldn’t have made salvation and the eternal life it brings any easier Paul writing,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9.
It all comes down to faith. What you believe. Do you believe Jesus is the one and Only Son of God, the Saviour of the world or not.
Faith is a very personal thing between the individual and God. Only you know your relationship to God.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6.
The choice is yours.
Think about it.
“Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people.
He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgement has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
Revelations 14:6,7.
I firmly believe what is said here in Revelations 14:6,7. God will one day judge the world.
Peter is recorded in the book of Acts as saying,
“He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.
All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Acts 10:42,43.
This is the reason I write these Blogs. I firmly believe everyone, everywhere needs to know of the love of God.
They need to know that God is a God of mercy and love and that he has reached down to mankind in the form of Jesus Christ to offer salvation and eternal life to all who believe in Him.
Jesus said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
John 3:16,17.
God couldn’t have made salvation and the eternal life it brings any easier Paul writing,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8,9.
It all comes down to faith. What you believe. Do you believe Jesus is the one and Only Son of God, the Saviour of the world or not.
Faith is a very personal thing between the individual and God. Only you know your relationship to God.
The writer of Hebrews states,
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
Hebrews 11:6.
The choice is yours.
Think about it.
Tuesday, 23 June 2015
A Libertine
A Libertine
“Thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondsman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee.”
Deuteronomy 15:15.
I believe it’s at St. Mary Woolnoth an Anglican church in the City of London England, that there is a plaque with the words,
“John Newton, clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long laboured to destroy.”
To quote R. J. Morgan from the book 365 scriptures that changed the world (copy right Thomas Nelson Publishers 1998.)
“As a young man, Newton had been a seaman and slave trader whose mouth was a cesspool of profanity, and who liberally helped himself to the female slaves he transported.
But he also became a deserter, flogged by the British Navy, who was reduced to being the slave of a sadistic woman, herself a slave, in Africa.
Out of all this he was saved. And he became one of England’s greatest preachers, the author of the beloved hymn Amazing Grace.”
R. J. Morgan
Over his study desk he had this verse from Deuteronomy
“Thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondsman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee.”
Deuteronomy 15:15.
He reportedly told a friend later in life “My memory is nearly gone; but I remember two things, that I am a great sinner and that Christ is a Great Saviour.”
John Newton’s conversion was dramatic. He went from being a man without principles. A man without a conscience, to a man of great principles.
He spoke out against the slave trade and would go on to write hundreds of hymns 280 of which he combined with 68 hymns of William Cowper to form the Olney Hymnal.
We today can look on Newton and see how bad he was and say thank God I am nowhere near as bad as him. He needed a conversion experience. I am far better than him.
Many non Christians I believe today also look at people who go to church. People who claim to be Christians and say, “I know them. I know what they do outside of Church and it isn’t very Christian. Why should I become a Christian because I am better all around than they are.”
That may be so but not everyone who goes to church is a Christian. No everyone who say’s they are Christian are.
Many people as well as Preachers and evangelist will one day stand before God and find they are not accepted into heaven. Jesus saying,
“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.
When it comes to knowing Jesus as one’s Lord and Saviour it is up to the individual to decide.
We should not look on those who are going to church or who claim to be Christians. Simply because many who claim to be Christians are not.
Each individual needs to look within themselves and ask themselves am “I truly good enough to go to heaven?”
I believe if we are honest with ourselves the answer will be no.
No one is good enough to stand before a holy God.
Isaiah the prophet said,
“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”
Isaiah 64:6.
That is why Jesus came.
Another self admitted sinner the apostle Paul wrote these words,
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
‘But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”
1 Timothy 1:15,16
C. S. Lewis pointed out,
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”
C.S. Lewis
I firmly believe that we as individuals must search our heart of hearts and in all humility admit that there is sin in our life.
Then we must turn to Jesus, recognize that he is the One and only Son of God, who died for our sins and ask him to forgive our sins and come into our hearts and lives.
For it is only through Christ that we can truly have our sins forgiven and have our lives changed.
It happened to John Newton. It happened to the Apostle Paul it has happened to over two billion Christians on the earth today, and it can happen to you.
Please consider accepting Christ into your heart and life today.
“Thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondsman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee.”
Deuteronomy 15:15.
I believe it’s at St. Mary Woolnoth an Anglican church in the City of London England, that there is a plaque with the words,
“John Newton, clerk, once an infidel and libertine, a servant of slaves in Africa, was, by the rich mercy of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, preserved, restored, pardoned, and appointed to preach the faith he had long laboured to destroy.”
To quote R. J. Morgan from the book 365 scriptures that changed the world (copy right Thomas Nelson Publishers 1998.)
“As a young man, Newton had been a seaman and slave trader whose mouth was a cesspool of profanity, and who liberally helped himself to the female slaves he transported.
But he also became a deserter, flogged by the British Navy, who was reduced to being the slave of a sadistic woman, herself a slave, in Africa.
Out of all this he was saved. And he became one of England’s greatest preachers, the author of the beloved hymn Amazing Grace.”
R. J. Morgan
Over his study desk he had this verse from Deuteronomy
“Thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondsman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee.”
Deuteronomy 15:15.
He reportedly told a friend later in life “My memory is nearly gone; but I remember two things, that I am a great sinner and that Christ is a Great Saviour.”
John Newton’s conversion was dramatic. He went from being a man without principles. A man without a conscience, to a man of great principles.
He spoke out against the slave trade and would go on to write hundreds of hymns 280 of which he combined with 68 hymns of William Cowper to form the Olney Hymnal.
We today can look on Newton and see how bad he was and say thank God I am nowhere near as bad as him. He needed a conversion experience. I am far better than him.
Many non Christians I believe today also look at people who go to church. People who claim to be Christians and say, “I know them. I know what they do outside of Church and it isn’t very Christian. Why should I become a Christian because I am better all around than they are.”
That may be so but not everyone who goes to church is a Christian. No everyone who say’s they are Christian are.
Many people as well as Preachers and evangelist will one day stand before God and find they are not accepted into heaven. Jesus saying,
“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.
When it comes to knowing Jesus as one’s Lord and Saviour it is up to the individual to decide.
We should not look on those who are going to church or who claim to be Christians. Simply because many who claim to be Christians are not.
Each individual needs to look within themselves and ask themselves am “I truly good enough to go to heaven?”
I believe if we are honest with ourselves the answer will be no.
No one is good enough to stand before a holy God.
Isaiah the prophet said,
“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”
Isaiah 64:6.
That is why Jesus came.
Another self admitted sinner the apostle Paul wrote these words,
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.
‘But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.”
1 Timothy 1:15,16
C. S. Lewis pointed out,
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”
C.S. Lewis
I firmly believe that we as individuals must search our heart of hearts and in all humility admit that there is sin in our life.
Then we must turn to Jesus, recognize that he is the One and only Son of God, who died for our sins and ask him to forgive our sins and come into our hearts and lives.
For it is only through Christ that we can truly have our sins forgiven and have our lives changed.
It happened to John Newton. It happened to the Apostle Paul it has happened to over two billion Christians on the earth today, and it can happen to you.
Please consider accepting Christ into your heart and life today.
Monday, 22 June 2015
You can't take it with you
You can't take it with you
“Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received--only what you have given.”
Francis of Assisi
Let me make something clear here. I am a Christian I believe Jesus when he said,
"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
John 14:6
I believe the account of Matthew
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven."
Matthew 16:13-17
I believe Jesus is the Son of God. I also believe God gives everyone the choice to either believe or reject the fact that Jesus is the Son of God. That Jesus is God incarnate that he came to this earth to save each and every person who would have faith in Him.
I do not believe this world is all we have. If so it would be the waist of soul that I believe lives forever.
My brother an atheist is fond of saying “life is short. He who has all the toys at the end wins.”
Trouble is we don’t have all the toys in the end all our trinkets bobbles and beads amount to nothing.
In the end we may as well have stacked all the money we have accumulated in a large pile and burned it because we can’t take it with us.
Francis of Assisi got it right when he said,
“Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received--only what you have given.”
Francis of Assisi.
Christ offers you eternal life with God. It is the only thing you can take with you from this world. It is however up to you whether you accept this free gift or not.
Please think about it.
“Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received--only what you have given.”
Francis of Assisi
Let me make something clear here. I am a Christian I believe Jesus when he said,
"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
John 14:6
I believe the account of Matthew
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven."
Matthew 16:13-17
I believe Jesus is the Son of God. I also believe God gives everyone the choice to either believe or reject the fact that Jesus is the Son of God. That Jesus is God incarnate that he came to this earth to save each and every person who would have faith in Him.
I do not believe this world is all we have. If so it would be the waist of soul that I believe lives forever.
My brother an atheist is fond of saying “life is short. He who has all the toys at the end wins.”
Trouble is we don’t have all the toys in the end all our trinkets bobbles and beads amount to nothing.
In the end we may as well have stacked all the money we have accumulated in a large pile and burned it because we can’t take it with us.
Francis of Assisi got it right when he said,
“Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received--only what you have given.”
Francis of Assisi.
Christ offers you eternal life with God. It is the only thing you can take with you from this world. It is however up to you whether you accept this free gift or not.
Please think about it.
Saturday, 20 June 2015
An Instrument of Love
An Instrument of Love
Are you an instrument of God’s Peace? Do you show love to all whom you meet daily?
The apostle Paul wrote,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.
As I reflect on what happened in Charleston South Carolina a short while ago. I seen a young man filled with hate. While at the same time I seen loving caring believers of God showing true love and forgiveness to this man.
Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver writing speaking on Decemeber 22nd 1940 during the dark days of world war two said,
“There is one other fundamental difference between love and hate. Love is always a refuge. Hate is never a refuge. Only a mentally sick person can find refuge in his hates. But love is the enduring sanctuary of life. Life may rob you of many things. It often does. But it can never bereave us of love itself. That remains.
-Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver, rabbinic leader, from a December 22, 1940 quoted in Therefore Choose Life: Selected Sermons, Addresses and Writings of Abba Hillel Silver, Volume One, edited by Herbert Wiesner (1997)
I was so impressed by the family members of the murdered victims of the Emanuel AME Church. They chose to forgive and love rather than curse and hate.
The people of Charleston of all races and faiths are also to be commended for their show of unity and understanding in the midst of an horrendous crime.
Be we Christians or not we should be doing our very best to show love. Martin Luther King Jr. Said,
We thank thee, O God, for the spiritual nature of man.
We are in nature but we live above nature.
Help us never to let anybody or any condition pull us so low as to cause us to hate.
Give us strength to love our enemies and to do good to those who despitefully use us and persecute us.
We thank thee for thy Church, founded upon thy Word, that challenges us to do more than sing and pray, but go out and work as though the very answer to our prayers depended on us and not upon thee.
Then, finally, help us to realize that man was created to shine like stars and live on through all eternity.
Keep us, we pray, in perfect peace; help us to walk together, pray together, sing together, and live together until that day when all God’s children, Black, White, Red, and Yellow will rejoice in one common bond of humanity in the kingdom of our LORD and of our God, we pray.
Amen.
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Governments can enact all the laws they want with the intentions of trying to correct the immoral actions of those within their citizenry. It however will be to no avail if there isn’t a change in the heart and mind of individuals.
Hatred and evil intent have been around since the dawn of man. The only way to overcome such evil is with love.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:18-21
Paul’s call is to the Christian, but his call to live at peace and show love even to your enemy is a universal message even non Christians can I believe understand.
Those Christians in the Emanuel AME Church in South Carolina show it is possible to live what that apostle Paul is saying.
Let them be an example to us all of us.
Let us offer to God the prayer of Francis of Assisi who wrote,
Please think about it.
“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,”
Francis of AssisiAre you an instrument of God’s Peace? Do you show love to all whom you meet daily?
The apostle Paul wrote,
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.
As I reflect on what happened in Charleston South Carolina a short while ago. I seen a young man filled with hate. While at the same time I seen loving caring believers of God showing true love and forgiveness to this man.
Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver writing speaking on Decemeber 22nd 1940 during the dark days of world war two said,
“There is one other fundamental difference between love and hate. Love is always a refuge. Hate is never a refuge. Only a mentally sick person can find refuge in his hates. But love is the enduring sanctuary of life. Life may rob you of many things. It often does. But it can never bereave us of love itself. That remains.
-Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver, rabbinic leader, from a December 22, 1940 quoted in Therefore Choose Life: Selected Sermons, Addresses and Writings of Abba Hillel Silver, Volume One, edited by Herbert Wiesner (1997)
I was so impressed by the family members of the murdered victims of the Emanuel AME Church. They chose to forgive and love rather than curse and hate.
The people of Charleston of all races and faiths are also to be commended for their show of unity and understanding in the midst of an horrendous crime.
Be we Christians or not we should be doing our very best to show love. Martin Luther King Jr. Said,
We thank thee, O God, for the spiritual nature of man.
We are in nature but we live above nature.
Help us never to let anybody or any condition pull us so low as to cause us to hate.
Give us strength to love our enemies and to do good to those who despitefully use us and persecute us.
We thank thee for thy Church, founded upon thy Word, that challenges us to do more than sing and pray, but go out and work as though the very answer to our prayers depended on us and not upon thee.
Then, finally, help us to realize that man was created to shine like stars and live on through all eternity.
Keep us, we pray, in perfect peace; help us to walk together, pray together, sing together, and live together until that day when all God’s children, Black, White, Red, and Yellow will rejoice in one common bond of humanity in the kingdom of our LORD and of our God, we pray.
Amen.
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Governments can enact all the laws they want with the intentions of trying to correct the immoral actions of those within their citizenry. It however will be to no avail if there isn’t a change in the heart and mind of individuals.
Hatred and evil intent have been around since the dawn of man. The only way to overcome such evil is with love.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Romans 12:18-21
Paul’s call is to the Christian, but his call to live at peace and show love even to your enemy is a universal message even non Christians can I believe understand.
Those Christians in the Emanuel AME Church in South Carolina show it is possible to live what that apostle Paul is saying.
Let them be an example to us all of us.
Let us offer to God the prayer of Francis of Assisi who wrote,
“Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love,
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console,
to be understood as to understand,
to be loved, as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.”
Francis of AssisiPlease think about it.
God Bless Emanuel AME Church
God Bless Emanuel AME Church
"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."
Matthew 18:21-22
Last Wednesday June 17th 2015 a group of Christians gathered in the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston South Carolina. A young man fuelled with racial hate entered sat with them for an hour then rose and murdered almost everyone in the room.
Sadly it is not what that young man did that is surprising racially motivated crimes and gun violence seems to happen far to often in the United States.
The actions and words a few days later of the families of the victims is what stands out as shining examples of what it is to be Christian.
Despite their personal tragedy they stood in court and forgave the young man.
They forgave when from a strictly human standpoint they would have been forgiven if they cursed this man.
They to me are living what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans,
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Romans 12:9-18.
Francis of Assisi wrote,
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today”
Francis of Assisi.
By their words and deeds the family members of those murdered at the Emanuel AME Church sent a clear message to the world about what it is to be Christian.
To be a Christian is to Love God, our neighbour, and even our worst enemy.
May those Christians in Charleston be an inspiration to all people everywhere.
May God bless them and their families richly.
"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?”
Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."
Matthew 18:21-22
Last Wednesday June 17th 2015 a group of Christians gathered in the Emanuel AME Church in Charleston South Carolina. A young man fuelled with racial hate entered sat with them for an hour then rose and murdered almost everyone in the room.
Sadly it is not what that young man did that is surprising racially motivated crimes and gun violence seems to happen far to often in the United States.
The actions and words a few days later of the families of the victims is what stands out as shining examples of what it is to be Christian.
Despite their personal tragedy they stood in court and forgave the young man.
They forgave when from a strictly human standpoint they would have been forgiven if they cursed this man.
They to me are living what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Romans,
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Romans 12:9-18.
Francis of Assisi wrote,
“The deeds you do may be the only sermon some persons will hear today”
Francis of Assisi.
By their words and deeds the family members of those murdered at the Emanuel AME Church sent a clear message to the world about what it is to be Christian.
To be a Christian is to Love God, our neighbour, and even our worst enemy.
May those Christians in Charleston be an inspiration to all people everywhere.
May God bless them and their families richly.
Friday, 19 June 2015
The hardest thing
The hardest thing to do
“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.
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”
Hebrews 11:1-3.
There is one thing scientist and Christians have in common, faith.
A good scientist postulates a theory of why things work based on the facts at hand. He studies the facts and has faith that they add up to the conclusion he has made. He then presents that theory to his peers for scrutiny. They weigh the facts and agree or disagree with him as the case may be.
Eienstein’s theory of relativity, the big bang theory are all examples of this.
Christians are the same. They have studied the facts before them and come to the conclusion that God is real.
They have read what the psalmist wrote,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Psalm 19:1.
They have looked at the world around them. They have looked at the mathematical perfection of the universe around them, from the largest galaxies to the smallest subatomic particle and have concluded this can’t be by chance. There must be a creator. And yes perhaps he did use the big bang to do it. How he did it however is immaterial to their faith. They have simple taken what the Bible says and the basic facts they see around them in the world and, I believe rightly conclude, that God exists.
They then present this for the people of the world to judge.
Christians ask that people read the Bible carefully and weigh the facts. Asking God to show His reality in the words of the scriptures.
Christians go one step further than any other faith however they ask people to read the New Testament and make the decision as to whether they believe Jesus when he said,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
That his words when speaking to Martha are true, when he said,
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25, 26
Jesus even asked his disciple to make a decision as to what they thought he was. Matthew recording,
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.”
Matthew 16:13-17
So the question for you dear reader becomes,
What think ye of Christ?
“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.
By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.”
Hebrews 11:1-3.
There is one thing scientist and Christians have in common, faith.
A good scientist postulates a theory of why things work based on the facts at hand. He studies the facts and has faith that they add up to the conclusion he has made. He then presents that theory to his peers for scrutiny. They weigh the facts and agree or disagree with him as the case may be.
Eienstein’s theory of relativity, the big bang theory are all examples of this.
Christians are the same. They have studied the facts before them and come to the conclusion that God is real.
They have read what the psalmist wrote,
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”
Psalm 19:1.
They have looked at the world around them. They have looked at the mathematical perfection of the universe around them, from the largest galaxies to the smallest subatomic particle and have concluded this can’t be by chance. There must be a creator. And yes perhaps he did use the big bang to do it. How he did it however is immaterial to their faith. They have simple taken what the Bible says and the basic facts they see around them in the world and, I believe rightly conclude, that God exists.
They then present this for the people of the world to judge.
Christians ask that people read the Bible carefully and weigh the facts. Asking God to show His reality in the words of the scriptures.
Christians go one step further than any other faith however they ask people to read the New Testament and make the decision as to whether they believe Jesus when he said,
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John 14:6
That his words when speaking to Martha are true, when he said,
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 11:25, 26
Jesus even asked his disciple to make a decision as to what they thought he was. Matthew recording,
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”
They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.”
Matthew 16:13-17
So the question for you dear reader becomes,
What think ye of Christ?
Thursday, 18 June 2015
Love
Love
The above is a quote from the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians. It to my mind is the purest definition of love ever written. It defines love perfectly.
Notice there is no conditions set on the love Paul writes about. No “buts”
When Jesus calls us to Love God, our neighbour and our enemy this is the kind of love he wishes us to have.
It’s not about “I have my rights!” or “you are wrong and I am right!”
It’s about humility and understanding.
Love is a door we open even to our enemy. It is the highest idea of Christianity spoken of by Jesus himself in John 3:16,17
“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.”
In Matthew Jesus is quotes as saying
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”
Matthew 5:43.44.
Jesus when asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40.
Long before I became a Christian I watched a movie called “Good by Mr. Chips.” the theme song for the musical version was called Fill the World with Love it had these words,
At the end of your life will people say of you that you filled the world with Love?
Will God?
Please think about it.
“Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast,
it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil
but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes,
always perseveres.
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13
Here is a lesson on love I think everyone can understand irrespective of their faith. It is something I believe even atheist can relate to.The above is a quote from the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians. It to my mind is the purest definition of love ever written. It defines love perfectly.
Notice there is no conditions set on the love Paul writes about. No “buts”
When Jesus calls us to Love God, our neighbour and our enemy this is the kind of love he wishes us to have.
It’s not about “I have my rights!” or “you are wrong and I am right!”
It’s about humility and understanding.
Love is a door we open even to our enemy. It is the highest idea of Christianity spoken of by Jesus himself in John 3:16,17
“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.”
In Matthew Jesus is quotes as saying
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”
Matthew 5:43.44.
Jesus when asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:37-40.
Long before I became a Christian I watched a movie called “Good by Mr. Chips.” the theme song for the musical version was called Fill the World with Love it had these words,
In the Morning of My Life
In the morning of my life
I will look to the Sunrise
At a moment in my life
When the world is new.
And the Question
I shall ask only God can answer.
Will I be brave and strong and true,
Will I fill the world with love my whole life through?
Will I fill the world with love my whole life through?
In the evening of my life
I will look to the sunset
At a moment in my life
When my life is through.
And the question I shall ask only I can answer
Was I brave and strong and true.
Did I fill the world with love my whole life through?
Did I fill the world with love my whole life through?
From the Musical Good by Mr ChipsAt the end of your life will people say of you that you filled the world with Love?
Will God?
Please think about it.
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