Is the truth ambiguous?

We live in an age where "the truth" is slightly more ambiguous than ever before. In the United States, you would think that the Republicans and Democrats never read the same documents that outline the vision for how the country should be run.

Even in the churches, there are differences in option on what is allowed, whether hell actually exists, whether we should actually ever use the word "sin" in a sermon... the list goes on.

When Paul writes to the church in Galatia, he starts by saying:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (Galatians 1:3-4)

This is a powerful statement! Since we have been delivered from sin, why would we voluntarily become slaves to it again? He also provides the reminder that the reason that we should not wallow in sin is because it's the will of God.

It is important that we read the Bible for ourselves. That we meditate on it, that we make it a part of the way that we live. It is more than just a moral compass or a book of suggestions. In the pages of the Bible we find life!

We find the model of what love is, how to not live an immoral life, how to share the love of God with others.

Let's put Christianity in action and not just listen to what the pastoral staff or the minister on the radio and television broadcast says... let us read it and meditate on it and ensure that what they are saying aligns with the Bible ourselves.

Why suffering?

The Christian church in America has been fortunate in that it has not really suffered the persecution like many of our Christian brothers across the globe. There are places in the world where it it illegal to be a Christian or to own a Bible, but this the church continues to grow!

When Paul starts his second letter to the church in Corinth, it has a different voice than his first.

He first reminds them to bless God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ - the Father of mercies and God of all comfort who

• comforts us in all our affliction
• so that we may comfort those who are in affliction

and reminds them that we are comforted by God (2 Cor 1:3-5)

Paul then writes:

If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same suffering that that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. (2 Cor 1:6-7)

The big question is why?

I don't claim to have the answer, but Paul does say something that is worth considering and meditating on:

Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves, but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. (2 Cor 1:9-10)

I think one of the dangers of living in a world where all of our needs are met is that we forget to rely on God from time to time. We lose site of the fact that God provides for us so in turn, we forget about those around us who may be less fortunate, or those that are in need.

Paul links both his suffering with their suffering. His comfort with their comfort.

As a church,.. no, as Christians, we need to be aware of what is going on with our fellow Christians and engage ourselves with their mission - which is the furthering of the gospel.

We have just finished Thanksgiving, the ushering in of the season of excess. We celebrate with a large meal then many people start their "black Friday" and Christmas shopping. During this advent season, let us not forget those who are suffering. Let us take action and show the life if Christ to those who need to understand that regardless of their station in life, Christ loves them, gave himself for their sins, and has a home in heaven for them forever more, Selah.

... this is the truth...

When Paul greats the churches in Galatia he starts off reminding them that we have grace and peace from God who:

• gave himself for our sins
• to deliver us from the present evil age
• not because we deserve it, but because it is the will of God (Galatians 1:3-5)

He is absolutely amazed that although this miraculous event happened people are turning away from Christ to a different... which provides a distorted view of Christ.

Christianity has the ability to change lives. It's not through our own efforts, but through the prompting of God's Holy Spirit that comes in and radically changes out lives. The Bible teaches us that there is only one way to the Father. Through believing in the fact that His son, Jesus, not only died for our sins but was risen again on the third day. (1 Cor 15)

It doesn't end there... because He died for our sins, we are no longer bond by the curse of sin, if we believe in this, we are a new creation, our old sins have passed away... we are a new creation and have been adopted into God's family where we can call Him Daddy (Abba). (Galatians 4)

It doesn't end there either! He has called us to do great things... displaying His love to a world that desperately needs to hear salvation, and as a result, we share the gospel as He leads us to, and lives are changed bringing others into the Family of God. (John 4)

Any church that never reminds us of this, that does not have a sense of urgency to reach outside of its doors to reach the lost is in danger of just being a social gathering where we just work on ourselves!!

When we look at the life of Christ, He was constantly talking to those who needed a savior. We are called Christians because we do the same thing that Christ did.

Let us take action and remember who we are!

 

What does real look like?

When asked "What does Christianity mean to you" a lot of people reduce it to statements like:

• ... well I go to church on Sunday
• ... I pray
• ... I try to read my Bible
• ... I try to be a good person

I love to read the greetings in Paul's letters because it's  reminder of us as to who we are called to be. 

Over the next few day's let's look at how Paul greets the various churches. Today, we'll start in 1 Corinthians. He reminds the church that they are:

1. Sanctified in Christ Jesus
2. Called to be a  saint (holy people)
3. It's not just the people in Corinth, but everyone that believes in Jesus should b sanctified and holy
4. That they are enriched in Jesus in speech and knowledge
5. Not lacking any gift
6. Sustained until the end (1 Cor 1:1-9)

Sanctification and holy indicate that we are set apart. Our lives should be distinguishable from our culture. 

Can we articulate out faith?

Do we demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control - Galatians 5;22-23)

Are we hanging on to our faith and our beliefs?

Although I am not a fan of reducing Christianity to a list, sometimes it's beneficial to take a step back and ensure that we are living up to the standard by which we are called.

1 Peter 2:9 affirms that

[We]... are a chosen race, a rotal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that [we] may proclaim the excellencies of him who called [us] out of darkness and into His marvelous light. [1 Peter 2:9]

There are people in the world that need to hear this message. Let us take action to ensure that we remember who we are and that we continue to consistently share this with those who are in dire need of a Savior!

Two Doors

There are two doors that a Christian faces in his life. The first one, we have to chose to open. The other one, we need to choose to walk through. Both are completely life changing, but most of us only tend to think about one most of the time.

What's behind door #1?

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come i and eat with that person, and they with me. (Rev 3:20) 

At the beginning of our Christian journey, we all heard Jesus knocking on the door of our heart. We were brave enough to answer. This began our Christian journey! It's important that we continue to realize that the Holy Spirit has taken residence inside us and that we need to spend some quality time with our house guest.

What's behind door #2?

And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. Matt 16:18

Jesus spoke these words to Peter just after Peter proclaimed that Jesus was the son of God and Jesus recognized that "flesh and blood" did not reveal that to him.

A lot of times, we think about this being a defensive statement... but when the enemy attacks - they do not bring their gates with them! That's right! We are to be standing at the gates of hell waging war through prayer and through sharing Christ with those that are trapped behind the gates.

Let's remember how great it was when we opened Door #1, and lets not forget that we are daily standing in front of Door #2!