32 posts tagged “christianity”
Has anyone ever done something so horrible to you that "I'm sorry" couldn't fix it?
Jesus said: "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." That is recorded in Matthew 6:14-15.
Forgiveness should come regardless of whether someone says "I'm sorry", or indeed even if the person is not sorry. It's not easy, because it is against human nature.
But that is part of why we need a new nature. The apostle Paul wrote: "Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God" (Romans 8:8). Indeed, describing life under the sinful nature, Paul said: "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out" (Romans 7:18).
That is why Jesus told Nicodemus: "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again" (John 3:3). Truly yielding to Jesus as our Lord brings a change of nature that is so profound that the Bible calls it being "born again". It is being born into a spiritual, rather than fleshly, life. Jesus said: "Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit" (John 3:6).
Only those who are God's children, who have been forgiven by Him through yielding to Him, can truly take to heart what Paul wrote to the Colossians: "Forgive as the Lord forgave you" (Colossians 3:13). It may be against human nature, but not against the spiritual nature that God imparts to us.
Of course, it is not always easy to yield to that nature, but we don't have a choice. God commands it. For us not to forgive is to disobey God and fall into sin. That means that the person most hurt by my lack of forgiveness is me!
It never ceases to amaze me how rich is the Word of God, the Holy Bible. Every single word in it contains so much meaning and divine power.
This came home again to me recently, when our pastor, Dr Tim Cantrell, began a new series on the First Epistle to Timothy by preaching an entire sermon on Paul's opening greeting in the book.
The entire passage reads, in the NIV:
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, to Timothy my true son in the faith: grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. (1 Tim 1:1-2)
When Tim completed the reading, I confess I was very curious to see how he would base a whole sermon on a greeting that most preachers would pass over.
But wow! What a powerful sermon. In addition to the actual lessons of the sermon, I gained a fresh perspective on how every single word of Scripture is God-breathed (2 Tim 3:16).
If you're interested, you can download an MP3 of the sermon here.
What have you changed your mind about?
Submitted by chitoes.
The most important change of mind I had was not self-initiated!
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God. You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.
-- Romans 8:5-9 (NIV)
What are five words you really like?
Submitted by purplesque.
"Death shall be no more" - Revelation 21:4 (American Standard Version).
Often, at this time of year, I receive e-mails and cards wishing me a “Merry/Happy Xmas”.
There was a time when that annoyed me greatly. There already appears to be a concerted campaign to remove Christian influence from all aspects of society, and now, it seems there is a campaign to remove the Christian elements of Christmas itself. Change the world “Christ” to “X” and no one needs to be reminded that Christmas is, in fact, Christocentric.
I have, in recent years, come to realise that there are actually two disparate festivals celebrated on 25 December – Christmas and Xmas.
Christmas is the Christian festival marked by God’s children around the world. It is a day that causes us to remember that “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 (John 3:16). And the reason He gave His Son was so that He Himself would pay, on our behalf – IF we place our faith in Him and yield to Him – the penalty for our sin.
Now the world – unbelievers – does not like the concept of sin. People in the world don’t like to think they are part of the problem – it’s always someone else’s fault. The problem with the world, they like to think, is that “people are not nice to each other” and leave it at that.
So the world has substituted its own festival – Xmas. Xmas is nice because it has nothing to do with the issue of sin and accountability to God. Xmas is about “peace to men” (Luke 2:14). Conveniently, people don’t quote that verse fully. It reads: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favour rests.” It’s hard to reconcile the Xmas sentiment with Jesus’ statement: “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matthew 10:34).
Xmas is simply a feel-good day. It’s about feeling good about self, about exchanging gifts, eating, drinking and merrymaking, much like the old Roman festival of Saturnalia, which occurred around the same time.
Christmas, on the other hand, is about Jesus Christ. It is about the fact that God has offered us a way to be saved from His coming judgement, and for that reason His children (those on whom His favour rests), celebrate with joy and gratitude.
X, in mathematics, represents the unknown. It’s fitting. Paul remarked that the Athenians had erected an altar inscribed with the dedication “to an unknown god” (Acts 17:23). He then proceeded to make God known to them.
I no longer judge people who send me messages about Xmas. Every time I see the word now, it reminds me that the world does not know God and is in need of the Saviour, and that our work as Christians, in terms of the commission Jesus gave His Church in Matthew 28:18-20, is still far from complete.
Xmas should be a wake-up call to us.
South Africa officially has the highest prevalence of HIV infections in the world now.
News24 reports:
Geneva - More than three-quarters of Aids-related deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa and South Africa is now officially the country with the highest prevalence of HIV in the world, a new UN report said on Wednesday.
Improved monitoring of the pandemic has led the United Nations to revise its estimates, particularly in Southern Africa and Asia, resulting in a major revision in the assessment of India's epidemic, the country previously thought to be worst-hit.
"South Africa is the country with the largest number of HIV infections in the world," read the UNAIDS annual report on the epidemic for 2007.
While the report did not give a figure, the South African government currently estimates about 5.5 million of the country's 48 million population are living with the disease. (Full report here)
This is a terrible state of affairs in the most advanced country in sub-Saharan Africa.
I cannot help but think how South Africa has been, over the past couple of decades, systematically removing all acknowledgment of God from every aspect of society. The country has moved from being (at least nominally) a Christian state to a secular one, has brought the teaching of evolution as fact into schools, has legalised abortion (including for 12-year-old children without the knowledge or consent of parents), legalised homosexual unions, and so on.
The further our socialist/communist government attempts to push God away, the worse things get, it seems. Our crime levels are out of control, HIV infection is the worst in the world, teenage pregnancies abound, rapes are commonplace (even rapes of babies and toddlers are increasingly common).
I cannot help but think that the one is a symptom of the other. Where will it end?
The minister of home affairs and I are being so blessed by the ministry of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary through its provision of audio resources such as past conferences, guest lectures and Bible studies.
Every Friday night we listen to teaching by seminary president Dr. Albert Mohler on the Gospel of Matthew, which we find incredibly enriching and valuable input for our Christian walk. The study is still ongoing - Dr. Mohler has taught 43 lessons so far and is still on Matthew 7! That's how in-depth the studies are.
We have also been listening to various past conferences at the seminary, including ones on "Why One Way?", "Has God Really Spoken?" and so on. I am currently listening to sessions from the conference "Postmodernism" whenever I can.
If you are looking for real meat - good solid teaching, I can really recommend these resources. The seminary's audio resources can be found here, while Dr. Mohler's Bible studies can be found here.
It never ceases to amaze me how the internet does things like allow people here in South Africa to benefit from the teaching of people as far away as America!
The fact that some Muslim leaders are looking to bring about peace with the West is a positive thing on the face of it. However, there are certain alarm bells that should be ringing when we read the article in The Washington Times.
First, the article mentions that "Muslims and Christians share the same belief in the principles of love of one God and love of the neighbor. The Georgetown scholars pointed to a number of similarities between the Holy Koran and the Holy Bible." This may be true, to an extent. The Koran has some similarities to the Bible because Mohammed borrowed from the Bible when he wrote the Koran, and, while Christians and followers of Islam do both believe in one God, the God of the Bible is not the same god as Allah. Not by a long shot.
The article also points out that the Koran, like the Bible, contains the command "to love God fully with one's heart and soul and to be fully devoted to Him". Again, I must point out that the two books are not talking about the same God.
More important than what the books have in common, let's consider one important difference. According to the Bible, Acts 4:12, there is salvation in no one else but Jesus. Jesus said (John 14:6) "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me."
Paul wrote under inspiration of the Holy Spirit: "that if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9).
Islam denies the Lordship of Jesus and denies His resurrection from the dead. In doing so, it cuts people off from salvation.
By all means, let's have peace, but not at any cost -- not when what is common is given precedence over what is different, and what makes the difference between eternity in heaven and eternity in hell.
I listened recently to "Jericho, the Shout of Victory", written and sung by Carman.
The Israelites were ready to conquer Jericho, but God made them, for six days, march around the city. On the seventh day, they had to march around seven times and then blow on the rams' horns and shout loudly.
Then the walls of Jericho came tumbling down.
It reminds me that sometimes we want to do things our way and in our time, but we have to learn to depend on God, to know that He knows best and that we have to do things His way and in His time. I am not naturally a patient person, so it is a lesson for me to wait on Him.
Sermons We See
Edgar Guest
I'd rather see a sermon
than hear one any day;
I'd rather one should walk with me
than merely tell the way.
The eye's a better pupil
and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing,
but example's always clear;
And the best of all the preachers
are the men who live their creeds,
For to see good put in action
is what everybody needs.
I soon can learn to do it
if you'll let me see it done;
I can watch your hands in action,
but your tongue too fast may run.
And the lecture you deliver
may be very wise and true,
But I'd rather get my lessons
by observing what you do;
For I might misunderstand you
and the high advice you give,
But there's no misunderstanding
how you act and how you live.
When I see a deed of kindness,
I am eager to be kind.
When a weaker brother stumbles
and a strong man stays behind
Just to see if he can help him,
then the wish grows strong in me
To become as big and thoughtful
as I know that friend to be.
And all travelers can witness
that the best of guides today
Is not the one who tells them,
but the one who shows the way.
One good man teaches many,
men believe what they behold;
One deed of kindness noticed
is worth forty that are told.
Who stands with men of honor
learns to hold his honor dear,
For right living speaks a language
which to every one is clear.
Though an able speaker charms me
with his eloquence, I say,
I'd rather see a sermon
than to hear one, any day.
