Mere Christianity: Quote 2 of 5

2. "Christianity tells people to repent and promises them forgiveness. It therefore has nothing (as far as I know) to say to people who do not know they have done anything to repent of and who do not feel that they need forgiveness." pg 31. 

Self-explanatory right? One cannot seek a savior if they don't think they need to be rescued! Christ is the perfect lamb who was sacrificed as payment for our sins. We believe in that finished work of Christ understanding that judgement is our just due unless we abide in Him. 

This made me think back to the position of my heart when I determined to have a relationship with Him. Notice I say relationship, versus just believing and going through the rituals and motions of what it means to be a "christian." I was at a place where I knew either I had to be all in or all out. I was doing myself and those around me a disservice as both they and I saw contradictions in my walk with Christ. 

Off course this doesn't mean that now I actively pursue Christ through His word and through serving His people that I don't fall short. Far from that. But it means that my life is a constant cycle of pointing myself and others back to oneness with the Lord after stumbling.

Going back to the quote: So now does this mean that we are to ignore those who do not believe they need to confess, repent and ask for forgiveness from a perfect savior? Not at all, quite the opposite! John 13:35, one of my favorite verses states "By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." Do you know one of my callers told me this? even in the midst of their psychosis they had a blessed assurance that Jesus is Lord and that all we need is love! But I digress...

1 John 3:10, Mark 12:31, 1 John 4:7-21 and a bazillion other scriptures remind us constantly in the Word that to be ambassadors of Christ is to love others into the Kingdom. Before trying to force people to church, ask how they're doing, offer a hug, money if they're homeless, a coat in this cold weather, a ride home, an invitation for coffee... do something! Anything that will show your care about them unconditionally; yes, even if they don't go to church! 

Ask God to show you where there is a need you can help meet. Ask Him to help you see the world like He does. Pray for help loving the "undesirables" of this world as you would like to be loved. Just ask God, He'll do it! And soon, you'll see the opportunities to win people to Christ too.

Grace and Peace!

P.S Merry Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours <3

I Want the Power

• To Know Him and to make Him known

• Influence trumps emotions

• Rely WHOLLY on the Holy Spirit

Yup, these are the three main lessons I've been 'chewing on and trying to digest' these last few months. And not just as separate concepts but as interconnected principles that thrive on one another for complete fruition. 

       For the first point, that is all God's will for our life is. I mean, the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19) is accomplished this way; we learn the Word and ways of the Lord and we go forth and teach others about the same. Simple as that. Okay, maybe not thaaaaat simple but you get what I mean. This is the basic, underlying message and process that we should all be engaged in as believers. 

Clearly, it will manifest differently in our lives since we each have different platforms to share the message, personalities, experiences and testimonies. But again, there should be this common thread of conscious effort being put into understanding God's glory more and then sharing it with others (2 Tim. 2:15), especially non-believers.

       This is where the second point comes in. Whether we feel like it or not, whether we are having a 'good' day or not, whether we are experiencing trouble on every side or not, we are still called to be the light in this dark place. We are the "salt of the earth" as per Matt. 5:13 and when we lose sight of this, the word says we're basically good for nothing!

******************                         Selah (ponder on that)!                        *******************

1 Pet. 2:9-10 calls us God's special people specifically chosen to declare His praises. So then who are we declaring this praises to?? The New Living Translation (NLT) version puts it this way "As a result [of being God's chosen] you can show others the goodness of God, for He called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light." God saved us to be His spokespeople to save others. Think about your salvation story. Whether your parents brought you up in church, a grandmother, a student on campus, a random stranger etc., SOMEONE brought you the good news. Who will you bring it to then?

       Lastly, all this cannot be accomplished without the ever-sweet and oh-so-powerful helper and comforter, the Holy Spirit. For "it is the Spirit who gives life. The Flesh is no help at all" John 6:63. Another version puts it this was, "The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing." As WE, on our own, can do nothing; NO thing. No thing at all. Another Selah moment right there! 

       I've met and spoken to so many people who do not want to accept that they technically still are wretches but the Spirit is He who is working in us, "giving [us] the desire and the power to do what pleases [God]" Phil 2:13. Ummmm, it's biblical guys! If that's not the case, why do believers still sin? Read through Romans 7 and really contemplate what you're reading. Take time to study it verse by verse if needed. The flesh is constantly warring against the Spirit. If the Christian life was easy or without any faults, then Jesus wouldn't tell us to take up our crosses DAILY and actively pursue and follow Him. Even Paul says in Rom. 7: 25 that "In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin." Paul was a BOSS in the gospel so if he calls himself a slave to sin, aren't we all?

       Anywho, I digress. The verses above clearly highlight how the Holy Spirit is the one who works within us, to be obedient to the Lord; to renew our mindset and desires to align with Christ's, and to be able to carry out the task of disciple making. Luke 24:49 and Acts 1:8 are my staple verses right  now: 

 "And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high"

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

***** Meditate on these and we'll touch on it some more soon. Until then, grace and peace :)