''For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer''. Where is salvation for us? Where will we find saving faith? The answer is: From God.
The psalm continues, ''I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide. I said, 'I will confess my sin, my transgressins to the Lord'; and You forgave the guilt of my sin.''
God's forgiveness cannot be earned. It can never be deserved. Sins from the past cannot be made up for by doing ''good'' works. Salvation, God's gracious offer of forgiveness for all our sins, is a gift from Him. That's what the Bible says in Colossians 2:13 and 14.
''When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven all transgresions, having cancelled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us: and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
''What love, what grace that bore my sin and nailed it to the tree! No words can say nor tears express this joy He's given me.''
One of the Pastors I heard preaching said that, by the end of his junior year in high school his list of sin was so long. It was piled so high; the stink was so incredibly putrid. He did not think he stood a chance before the holy God. But of course he did not apart from Christ. But by God's grace He took those lists that all of us have and He nailed them onto the cross. Jesus bore them and took them upon Himself so that we might be forgiven. That is where saving faith starts: not by trying to make up or remove sin in our lives. When people wo do not work - come to God by faith - are declared righteous because of their faith. You trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ and you receive eternal life as a free gift. The just shall live by faith.''
At low point in this pastor's life, he remembers wanting to be like his Christian friend Mark who seemed to have it all together. He began to wonder what it meant to be Christian. One day, he found a New Testament lying on the street. He decided to keep it as good as 'lucky charm'. By God's grace, after some time he began to read it. He began to learn about Jesus.
His friend Mark then invited him to play volleyball at a center with a Christian youth group. There, another pastor shared the Gospel - the first time this pastor heard it. ''Jesus died for you, he paid for your sins on the cross.''
Then he prayed, ''Lord, will you forgive me? Will you save me? Will you accept me? Will you open your arms and let me draw near?'' And God did those by His grace.
From then on, he was never the same again. ''I got home and that night I went to sleep having a peace and a joy I never had before. I woke up and the peace was still there.'' I'll praise Him 'til I breathe my last on this my present home. And then I'll wake beside His throne and find He hasn't gone.
Jul 25, 2009
Faith (part 1)
I wake up every morning and find He hasn't gone. I realize His awesome love and worship Him in song.
The just shall live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4). Many times this passage is quoted in the new testament. Here is what it means: to ''live'' is to be justified by God. We, sinners, can only be justified by God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Apart from Christ, we cannot be declared ''not guilty.'' Apart from Christ, there is only death: seperation from God.
Faith alone is what saves a persorn from death. It is what connects us with the Lord in a way that enables us to experience eternal life and relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
The just shall live by faith.
But what is faith? Have you asked yourself: ''Do I have the right kind of faith? If not, how do I find it? What does it mean to exercise your faith?'' Faith is coming to Christ just as you are for forgiveness and grace. Eternal life He's given me, peace of mind and heart. He's part of me and will always be, never to depart.
Faith begins with a need. All of us have a ''spiritual itch,'' an emptiness. When we become aware of this itch, we try to scratch it with any one or a combination of these: careerism, pursuit of money, immorality, drugs, alcohol. The list goes on. Sometimes we scratch it even with things that the world esteems as good pursuits: like sports or community service. Yet we remain empty. The itch persists. Why?
Because we ''have sinned an fall short of the glory of Go'' (Romans 3:23). This passage is square one for everyone of us. This is also where faith begins.
Faith begins with an awareness of our deep spiritual need. It is the acknowledgement that sin is present in our lives. Saving faith means coming to Christ just as you are: spiritually itchy, spiritually needy, spiritually empty.
I'll never be the same again since I first believed. What a precious day that was, salvation I received!
''All have sinned'', the bible laments. Sin, that enticing, candy-coated poison that has an all-too-human appeal to our senses. It tastes good for a while, but it certainly leads to death (Revelation 21:8). So many times we throw our lives and our future away for a momentary pleasure. That is the destructive nature of sin.
Let's read Ephesians 2: 1-3. ''you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of God's wrath, even as the rest''.
The just shall live by faith (Habakkuk 2:4). Many times this passage is quoted in the new testament. Here is what it means: to ''live'' is to be justified by God. We, sinners, can only be justified by God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Apart from Christ, we cannot be declared ''not guilty.'' Apart from Christ, there is only death: seperation from God.
Faith alone is what saves a persorn from death. It is what connects us with the Lord in a way that enables us to experience eternal life and relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
The just shall live by faith.
But what is faith? Have you asked yourself: ''Do I have the right kind of faith? If not, how do I find it? What does it mean to exercise your faith?'' Faith is coming to Christ just as you are for forgiveness and grace. Eternal life He's given me, peace of mind and heart. He's part of me and will always be, never to depart.
Faith begins with a need. All of us have a ''spiritual itch,'' an emptiness. When we become aware of this itch, we try to scratch it with any one or a combination of these: careerism, pursuit of money, immorality, drugs, alcohol. The list goes on. Sometimes we scratch it even with things that the world esteems as good pursuits: like sports or community service. Yet we remain empty. The itch persists. Why?
Because we ''have sinned an fall short of the glory of Go'' (Romans 3:23). This passage is square one for everyone of us. This is also where faith begins.
Faith begins with an awareness of our deep spiritual need. It is the acknowledgement that sin is present in our lives. Saving faith means coming to Christ just as you are: spiritually itchy, spiritually needy, spiritually empty.
I'll never be the same again since I first believed. What a precious day that was, salvation I received!
''All have sinned'', the bible laments. Sin, that enticing, candy-coated poison that has an all-too-human appeal to our senses. It tastes good for a while, but it certainly leads to death (Revelation 21:8). So many times we throw our lives and our future away for a momentary pleasure. That is the destructive nature of sin.
Let's read Ephesians 2: 1-3. ''you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of God's wrath, even as the rest''.
Jul 1, 2009
Now that I am a Christian
Now that I am a Christian, I am now a new one. All things that I have done have vanished.
''Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is now anew creation; THE OLD HAS GONE, THE NEW HAS COME.'' 2.COR.5.7
Now that I am a Christian, that I am now in Christ and He is in me. I have now the right, freedom and power to leave all the wrong doings behind and face tomorrow with a brand new life.
I am now a child of God.
''you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.'' Galatians 3.26
Whatever I do, I will do it for the glory of God.
'' so whatever you eat, drink or whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.'' 1 Corinthians 10:31
Only truth will come out of my mouth.
''therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.'' Ephesians 4:25
No unwholesome talk will come from my mouth but only those things that will benefit others.
'' do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.'' Ephesians 4:29
I will get rid of all the bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander along with every kind of malice. I will be kind and compassionate to others. Forgiving each other just as Christ forgave me. Ephesians 4:31-32
I will obey, love and honor my parents everyday for the rest of our lives.
'' children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise. That it may go well with you and that you may enjoy it on earth.'' Ephesians 6:1-3
now that I am a Christian, I will seek nothing but the will of God. And when I find it, I will focus on this will of God and will enjoy it.
When I am weary, tired or depressed, I will just take a look on God's word for I know that out of it, I will find strength, rest and joy.
Now that I am a Christian, praying will be my priority in communicating with God.
I will never forget what Jesus did for me on the cross. His love, his sufferings, all the pain that he willingly took just to save me and give me life with him in eternal paradise.
Now that I am a Christian, I will leave no room for hatred. Only with love in everything I do and say.
And no matter what happens, in every circumstance I won't let this love and faith in Christ vanish.
''Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is now anew creation; THE OLD HAS GONE, THE NEW HAS COME.'' 2.COR.5.7
Now that I am a Christian, that I am now in Christ and He is in me. I have now the right, freedom and power to leave all the wrong doings behind and face tomorrow with a brand new life.
I am now a child of God.
''you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.'' Galatians 3.26
Whatever I do, I will do it for the glory of God.
'' so whatever you eat, drink or whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.'' 1 Corinthians 10:31
Only truth will come out of my mouth.
''therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.'' Ephesians 4:25
No unwholesome talk will come from my mouth but only those things that will benefit others.
'' do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.'' Ephesians 4:29
I will get rid of all the bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander along with every kind of malice. I will be kind and compassionate to others. Forgiving each other just as Christ forgave me. Ephesians 4:31-32
I will obey, love and honor my parents everyday for the rest of our lives.
'' children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with a promise. That it may go well with you and that you may enjoy it on earth.'' Ephesians 6:1-3
now that I am a Christian, I will seek nothing but the will of God. And when I find it, I will focus on this will of God and will enjoy it.
When I am weary, tired or depressed, I will just take a look on God's word for I know that out of it, I will find strength, rest and joy.
Now that I am a Christian, praying will be my priority in communicating with God.
I will never forget what Jesus did for me on the cross. His love, his sufferings, all the pain that he willingly took just to save me and give me life with him in eternal paradise.
Now that I am a Christian, I will leave no room for hatred. Only with love in everything I do and say.
And no matter what happens, in every circumstance I won't let this love and faith in Christ vanish.
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