There is an inaccurate view of the Cross of Christ abroad. It is commonly thought, expressed in theology and in song, that Jesus shed His blood, to cover, to pay for, our sins, a seeming reference to Israel’s failed view of animal sacrifices dealing with sin; why(?) because the essential element of genuine repentance and reunion with God was often missing. As the Apostle Paul said, Rom. 3:25, '...for the remission of sins that are PAST', (on the basis of repentance as a little child). In coming to Christ there is forgiveness for sins that are past for the reason embodied in Rom. 2:4 where Paul refers to the 'the riches of God's goodness and forbearance and long-suffering (revealed by the Cross); not knowing that the goodness of God leads to repentance'. Repentance is the essential pathway from sin to God.
Speaking of salvation by the blood of Christ (God's fundamental offer of restoration of actual fellowship with Him) without the primary need of repentance is quite wrong, following in the footsteps of Israel which failed, through pride, to cling to God their Saviour, and to recognise that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself.
Our salvation is only real as our nature changes to His, as fellowship in the Spirit with God, through the path of repentance, is evidenced by the purpose of Jesus in the Cross, expressed so clearly in John 16:7 – ‘Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.’ That is to those who, in the humility of repentance, accept Him as Lord and Saviour.
Salvation consists in an ongoing spiritual relationship with God, by the Holy Spirit, presenting us continually to God who sees us AS WE ARE, either in Christ or not. And we do know the difference. The Holy Spirit is not conned by fancy doctrine.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Bullying and Brodie’s Law
A sad comment on the state of our country and our world “It’s a terrible thing that we live in a society that requires a law like this, was made by Labour MP Jaala Pulford at the passing of “Brodie’s law, dealing with the crime of bullying. Well, thankfully, now we have it. A very sad comment it was, yet one which is eternally true unfortunately, underlying the making of all laws. We need government because society is not perfect and the next best thing is for our laws to be good laws, which demands a very good system of government to see that the laws we make are best calculated to restrain evil and encourage the weak.
The eternal problem is the sufferings of the weak against the impositions of the strong. . So the strong must be restrained and the weak encouraged. to find answers, without which depression prevails. Laws cannot solve the entire problem and the responsibility also lies with the weak to find the answers which can empower them.
The same problem shows up in the many marriages where there is an imbalance of power, with one member dominating; in the absence of the caring love which all such relationships demand. Its absence calls the weak to find the hope which encourages the necessary inner strength, not to be assertive and competitive, but just to stand strong. Then even a look can demolish arrogance.
Thus religion is important in shaping the individual, endorsing the attribute of love in us all, being both a restraining influence for the strong and an encouraging, strengthening influence for the weak. Two Bible references come to mind:
Isaiah 40
28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
And words of Jesus; Matt. 11,
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Real love can render the need for many laws unnecessary!
Hopefully, beyondblue.org.au, Suicide helpline Victoria, 1300 651 121 and Lifeline, 131 114 can cope with the cries for help.
The eternal problem is the sufferings of the weak against the impositions of the strong. . So the strong must be restrained and the weak encouraged. to find answers, without which depression prevails. Laws cannot solve the entire problem and the responsibility also lies with the weak to find the answers which can empower them.
The same problem shows up in the many marriages where there is an imbalance of power, with one member dominating; in the absence of the caring love which all such relationships demand. Its absence calls the weak to find the hope which encourages the necessary inner strength, not to be assertive and competitive, but just to stand strong. Then even a look can demolish arrogance.
Thus religion is important in shaping the individual, endorsing the attribute of love in us all, being both a restraining influence for the strong and an encouraging, strengthening influence for the weak. Two Bible references come to mind:
Isaiah 40
28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
And words of Jesus; Matt. 11,
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
Real love can render the need for many laws unnecessary!
Hopefully, beyondblue.org.au, Suicide helpline Victoria, 1300 651 121 and Lifeline, 131 114 can cope with the cries for help.
Monday, May 23, 2011
The Christian path.
In the beginning, for each of us who have become aware of Christ, in the beauty of his extraordinary love, in His life and death on the cross, we are arrested, as we become aware of the enormity of that love, convinced by the Spirit within that it is the everlasting love of the eternal God. We thus find the reality of conviction, then surrender, our heart's devotion is changed from self to Christ - a living faith is born.
With our hearts responding to Jesus, we find the Holy Spirit leading us out in the love of God to do things never imagined before. It is God - the Holy Spirit - come to be our leader in the Christian life. Our minds, with all we know, and ever will know, entering the service of God’s Spirit, presence and power in our lives – to lead us on to victory. He builds, and increases our faith, enabling us to be witnesses of the reality of faith in the gospel, venturing into more and more lives, to the glory of God.
We know that the presence and power of the gospel are made constantly real to us in all the Holy Spirit’s fruits, as our hearts are at rest in Christ. Each is love’s response to the different challenges we face, the good and the bad, so to speak – e.g. sometimes joy, sometimes patience, power to endure – whatever, always led and fortified by the Holy Spirit. The fruits in our lives are our evidence, confirming in us that we belong to God and are consciously realised, each in its own way. But, they are all ‘one’, being all integral aspects of the love of God, shed abroad and revealed in our hearts. If one is missing they all are. being all different aspects of the love of God, given to us in the ministry of the Holy Spirit If incomplete, the peace has gone, by turning back from active belief in Jesus. It is by consistency of belief in Him, which leads us on in the abundant life which is His gift to us in the gospel. And as we are real in Him, people can see it and we can be active witnesses, as General Booth said: '...preach the gospel at all times, sometimes words being necessary’!
We need to heed the ‘inner voice’ of the Holy Spirit. If our love is true, all responses will be of God, in whom we will have confidence, and fear will take flight. But, if not God’s peace will leave us and everything will be wrong. Pretence can never work and our hearts will be making that clear. Then we will have to begin again, ‘looking unto Jesus’ for the forgiveness which is always available to the repentant.
Let us stand firm against the sometimes occurring, false accusations which are satanic in origin, being non-specific and having no basis of actual personal failure. Then it’s time to redirect that false spirit to its home in hell, using the authority that we have in Christ to do that.
The Spirit leads us into activity from the heart - with belief and action, uniquely appropriate to us, building faith. Then we have fresh dreams of the Spirit, leading us on further. Our faith increases (like the trading of the five and the two ‘talents’ of the parable.) We find the Rock under our feet and we can go forth in confidence and joy. (A small, neglected, hidden faith, like the buried ‘talent’ will fail, shrinking, shrivelled in a fearful heart.)
A cessation of belief, failure to trust and obey, can wreck our ‘new life’, but Isaiah 35: 8 -10, speaks of our new life as the ‘highway’ reminding us that we, of simple faith, can do it, and Heb. 10:35 exhorts us onward, while v 39, has confidence in us that, as believers who have experienced the New Life, we will keep on. Encouragement is something we can all do for fellow travellers, and we can all all do with it, from time to time.
The leadership of the Spirit can be scary, pointing us to new and untravelled paths, exciting too, but depending on our faith. These are high stakes. We have an important part to play in the life of all with whom we meet and have contact. In Christ we are a lifeline. Jesus really started something (!), delegating the onward work to the Holy Spirit, to work with us, with the comment: ‘all things are possible to him who believes’.
With our hearts responding to Jesus, we find the Holy Spirit leading us out in the love of God to do things never imagined before. It is God - the Holy Spirit - come to be our leader in the Christian life. Our minds, with all we know, and ever will know, entering the service of God’s Spirit, presence and power in our lives – to lead us on to victory. He builds, and increases our faith, enabling us to be witnesses of the reality of faith in the gospel, venturing into more and more lives, to the glory of God.
We know that the presence and power of the gospel are made constantly real to us in all the Holy Spirit’s fruits, as our hearts are at rest in Christ. Each is love’s response to the different challenges we face, the good and the bad, so to speak – e.g. sometimes joy, sometimes patience, power to endure – whatever, always led and fortified by the Holy Spirit. The fruits in our lives are our evidence, confirming in us that we belong to God and are consciously realised, each in its own way. But, they are all ‘one’, being all integral aspects of the love of God, shed abroad and revealed in our hearts. If one is missing they all are. being all different aspects of the love of God, given to us in the ministry of the Holy Spirit If incomplete, the peace has gone, by turning back from active belief in Jesus. It is by consistency of belief in Him, which leads us on in the abundant life which is His gift to us in the gospel. And as we are real in Him, people can see it and we can be active witnesses, as General Booth said: '...preach the gospel at all times, sometimes words being necessary’!
We need to heed the ‘inner voice’ of the Holy Spirit. If our love is true, all responses will be of God, in whom we will have confidence, and fear will take flight. But, if not God’s peace will leave us and everything will be wrong. Pretence can never work and our hearts will be making that clear. Then we will have to begin again, ‘looking unto Jesus’ for the forgiveness which is always available to the repentant.
Let us stand firm against the sometimes occurring, false accusations which are satanic in origin, being non-specific and having no basis of actual personal failure. Then it’s time to redirect that false spirit to its home in hell, using the authority that we have in Christ to do that.
The Spirit leads us into activity from the heart - with belief and action, uniquely appropriate to us, building faith. Then we have fresh dreams of the Spirit, leading us on further. Our faith increases (like the trading of the five and the two ‘talents’ of the parable.) We find the Rock under our feet and we can go forth in confidence and joy. (A small, neglected, hidden faith, like the buried ‘talent’ will fail, shrinking, shrivelled in a fearful heart.)
A cessation of belief, failure to trust and obey, can wreck our ‘new life’, but Isaiah 35: 8 -10, speaks of our new life as the ‘highway’ reminding us that we, of simple faith, can do it, and Heb. 10:35 exhorts us onward, while v 39, has confidence in us that, as believers who have experienced the New Life, we will keep on. Encouragement is something we can all do for fellow travellers, and we can all all do with it, from time to time.
The leadership of the Spirit can be scary, pointing us to new and untravelled paths, exciting too, but depending on our faith. These are high stakes. We have an important part to play in the life of all with whom we meet and have contact. In Christ we are a lifeline. Jesus really started something (!), delegating the onward work to the Holy Spirit, to work with us, with the comment: ‘all things are possible to him who believes’.
The Christian path.
In the beginning, for each of us, we become aware of Christ, in the beauty of his extraordinary love, in His life and death on the cross. We are arrested, as we became aware of the enormity of that love, convinced by the Spirit it is the everlasting love of the eternal God. We thus find the reality of conviction, then surrender, and faith is born.
As our hearts respond to Jesus, the Holy Spirit is given to us by God to be our mentor in the Christian life, to nurture the reality of God’s presence and power in our lives – to lead us on to victory, building, increasing our faith, enabling us to be witnesses of the reality of faith in the gospel, venturing into more and more lives, to the glory of God.
In passing, we know that the presence and power of the gospel are made constantly real to us in all the Holy Spirit’s fruits, as our hearts are at rest in Christ. Each is love’s response to the different challenges we face, the good and the bad, so to speak – e.g. sometimes joy, sometimes patience – whatever, always led and fortified by the Holy Spirit. The fruits in our lives are our evidence, confirming in us that we belong to God and are consciously realised, each in its own way. But, they are all ‘one’, being all integral parts of the love of God, shed abroad in our hearts. If one is missing they all are. being all different aspects of the love of God, given to us in the ministry of the Holy Spirit If incomplete, the peace has gone, by turning back from active belief in Jesus. It is by consistency of belief in Him, which leads us on in the abundant life which is His gift to us in the gospel. And as we are real in Him, people can see it and we can be active witnesses, as General Booth said: '...preach the gospel at all times, sometimes words being necessary’!
We must heed the ‘inner voice’ of the Holy Spirit. If our love is true, all responses will be of God, in whom we will have confidence, and fear will take flight. But, If not God’s peace will desert us and everything will be wrong. Pretence can never work and our hearts will be making that clear. Then we must begin again, ‘looking unto Jesus’ for the forgiveness which is always available to the repentant.
Let us stand firm against the sometimes occurring, false accusations which are satanic in origin, being non-specific and having no basis of actual personal failure. Then it’s time to redirect that false spirit to its home in hell, using the authority that we have in Christ to do that.
The Spirit leads us into activity from the heart - with belief and action, uniquely appropriate to us, building faith. Then we have fresh dreams of the Spirit, leading us on further. Our faith increases (like the trading of the five and the two ‘talents’ of the parable.) We find the Rock under our feet and we can go forth in confidence and joy. (A small, neglected, hidden faith, like the buried ‘talent’ will fail, shrinking, shrivelled in a fearful heart.)
A cessation of belief, failure to trust and obey, can wreck our ‘new life’, but Isaiah 35: 8 -10, speaks of our new life as the ‘highway’ reminding us that we, of simple faith, can do it, and Heb. 10: 35 exhorts us onward, while v 39, has confidence in us that, as believers who have experienced the New Life, we will keep on. Encouragement is something we can all do, and all do with, from time to time.
The leadership of the Spirit can be scary, pointing us to new and untravelled paths, exciting too, but depending on our faith. These are high stakes. We have an important part to play in the life of all with whom we meet and have contact. In Christ we are a lifeline. Jesus really started something (!), delegating the onward work to the Holy Spirit, to work with us, with the comment: ‘all things are possible to him who believes’.
As our hearts respond to Jesus, the Holy Spirit is given to us by God to be our mentor in the Christian life, to nurture the reality of God’s presence and power in our lives – to lead us on to victory, building, increasing our faith, enabling us to be witnesses of the reality of faith in the gospel, venturing into more and more lives, to the glory of God.
In passing, we know that the presence and power of the gospel are made constantly real to us in all the Holy Spirit’s fruits, as our hearts are at rest in Christ. Each is love’s response to the different challenges we face, the good and the bad, so to speak – e.g. sometimes joy, sometimes patience – whatever, always led and fortified by the Holy Spirit. The fruits in our lives are our evidence, confirming in us that we belong to God and are consciously realised, each in its own way. But, they are all ‘one’, being all integral parts of the love of God, shed abroad in our hearts. If one is missing they all are. being all different aspects of the love of God, given to us in the ministry of the Holy Spirit If incomplete, the peace has gone, by turning back from active belief in Jesus. It is by consistency of belief in Him, which leads us on in the abundant life which is His gift to us in the gospel. And as we are real in Him, people can see it and we can be active witnesses, as General Booth said: '...preach the gospel at all times, sometimes words being necessary’!
We must heed the ‘inner voice’ of the Holy Spirit. If our love is true, all responses will be of God, in whom we will have confidence, and fear will take flight. But, If not God’s peace will desert us and everything will be wrong. Pretence can never work and our hearts will be making that clear. Then we must begin again, ‘looking unto Jesus’ for the forgiveness which is always available to the repentant.
Let us stand firm against the sometimes occurring, false accusations which are satanic in origin, being non-specific and having no basis of actual personal failure. Then it’s time to redirect that false spirit to its home in hell, using the authority that we have in Christ to do that.
The Spirit leads us into activity from the heart - with belief and action, uniquely appropriate to us, building faith. Then we have fresh dreams of the Spirit, leading us on further. Our faith increases (like the trading of the five and the two ‘talents’ of the parable.) We find the Rock under our feet and we can go forth in confidence and joy. (A small, neglected, hidden faith, like the buried ‘talent’ will fail, shrinking, shrivelled in a fearful heart.)
A cessation of belief, failure to trust and obey, can wreck our ‘new life’, but Isaiah 35: 8 -10, speaks of our new life as the ‘highway’ reminding us that we, of simple faith, can do it, and Heb. 10: 35 exhorts us onward, while v 39, has confidence in us that, as believers who have experienced the New Life, we will keep on. Encouragement is something we can all do, and all do with, from time to time.
The leadership of the Spirit can be scary, pointing us to new and untravelled paths, exciting too, but depending on our faith. These are high stakes. We have an important part to play in the life of all with whom we meet and have contact. In Christ we are a lifeline. Jesus really started something (!), delegating the onward work to the Holy Spirit, to work with us, with the comment: ‘all things are possible to him who believes’.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
The Gospel of Jesus Christ
This is to be a fairly brief and clear introduction to the Christian Gospel for anyone on Twitter etc to access.
So: what is the gospel?
1. It is good news, originating from God, in and by the birth of His only begotten Son about the way to reach a redirection from a brokenness of life to experience a reality of 'peace' and well being beyond normal human experience - an entering into a beneficial fellowship with our creator, the Father of all life - whose name, the Gospel declares, is pure 'LOVE'; not merely that God loves but that He is LOVE
itself.
What then is this remarkable love? It is a selfless love - even unto death -exemplified, revealed, in the death of the Christ, the only begotten Son of the Father, on the Cross, for God was IN Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself in righteousness.
So: what is the gospel?
1. It is good news, originating from God, in and by the birth of His only begotten Son about the way to reach a redirection from a brokenness of life to experience a reality of 'peace' and well being beyond normal human experience - an entering into a beneficial fellowship with our creator, the Father of all life - whose name, the Gospel declares, is pure 'LOVE'; not merely that God loves but that He is LOVE
itself.
What then is this remarkable love? It is a selfless love - even unto death -exemplified, revealed, in the death of the Christ, the only begotten Son of the Father, on the Cross, for God was IN Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself in righteousness.
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