Forgiveness

We must admit that the true Christian is a rather strange person in the eye of the unbeliever.

I use the adjective true in regard to the Christian not only to point out the necessity for the new birth but to indicate, also, the Christian who is living according to his new birth. I speak here of a transformed life pleasing to God, for if you want to be a Christian, you must agree to a very much different life. The life of obedience to Jesus Christ means living moment by moment in the Spirit of God and it will be so different from your former life that you will often be considered strange. In fact, the life in the Spirit is such a different life that some of your former associates will probably discuss the question of whether or not you are mentally disturbed. The true Christian may seem a strange person indeed to those who make their observations only from the point of view of this present world, which is alienated from God and His gracious plan of salvation.

Consider now these glorious contradictions and you will no longer wonder why the true believer in Jesus Christ is such an amazement to this world.

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Go Directly To Jesus

“I feel, when I have sinned, an immediate reluctance to go to Christ. I am ashamed to go. I feel as if it would do no good to go, as if it were making Christ a minister of sin, to go straight from the swine-trough to the best robe, and a thousand other excuses; but I am persuaded they are all lies, direct from hell.

John argues the opposite way: ‘If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father.’ I am sure there is neither peace nor safety from deeper sin, but in going directly to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is God’s way of peace and holiness. It is folly to the world and the beclouded heart, but it is the way.”

Robert Murray M’Cheyne, quoted by Andrew Bonar
Robert Murray M’Cheyne (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1960), 176

HT: Of First Importance.

It might have been a decade since, but memories of a painful period of time in our marriage have recently been brought to the fore because a dear brother and sister are going through almost the same thing as we did.

While recalling that period of time does not hurt as much now, for the trespasses have been forgiven and largely forgotten, I have always wondered what the purpose of that trial was and why it had to happen the way it did.

In light of what I have learned in the past couple of days, and having communicated via email with the brother (for whom I hope I have been of some comfort to), I think I now finally understand God’s plan and provision.

It has been 10 years since but, having gone through what we had and having the revelations in the past couple of days, it leaves no doubt in our minds and reinforces our belief that all that happens in our lives has God’s handwriting all over them.

Even though we did see the obvious reasons why later on, it’s surprising to learn this “hidden” purpose — how the Lord has blessed us with fellowship with our brother and sister so that both of us might, through sharing our experiences with them, be of some comfort and encouragement.

Soli deo Gloria!

This article at Apprising Ministries really got me thinking. Much of today’s evangelism methods involve what I call the “John 3:16 Approach”, telling sinners that “God loves you, Jesus loves you, accept Him into the ‘hole in your heart’ and you shall be saved!”.

Ugh!

Yet, if we look closer at how the Apostles went about preaching the Gospel, we find that (while we acknowledge that God is love and concur with what John wrote in John 3:16 not a single mention of the “feel-good” message of “God loves you, Jesus loves you” is found, but what they preached was how lost people were, bound as slaves to sin, emphasizing on forgiveness of sin by Jesus Christ the Messiah.

Reading the article also reminds me of a great quote by A.W. Pink on present-day evangelism which I very much agree with:

The nature of Christ’s salvation is woefully misrepresented by the present-day “evangelist”.

He announces a Savior from hell rather than a Savior from sin.

And that is why so many are fatally deceived, for there are multitudes who wish to escape the Lake of fire, who have no desire to be delivered from their carnality and worldliness!

The very first thing said of Christ in the New Testament is — “You shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sins.” (not from the wrath to come)

Christ is a Savior for those realizing something of the exceeding sinfulness of sin, who feel the awful burden of it on their conscience, who loathe themselves for it, who long to be freed from its terrible dominion. And He is a Savior for no others.

Were He to “save from hell” those still in love with sin, He would be a minister of sin, condoning their wickedness and siding with them against God.

What an unspeakably horrible and blasphemous thing with which to charge the Holy One!

A.W. Pink

To read the full article, visit Apprising Ministries.

The parable of the Prodigal Son is perhaps the most loved parable of Jesus Christ among many Christians, and probably the most told as well.

Why the popularity, so to speak? For one, it speaks volumes of God’s love for us sinners.

Secondly, most of us see ourselves in the prodigal son that returned to his father expecting the worst, but have found love, acceptance and comfort in the arms of our loving and holy Heavenly Father.

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The advertising adage that sex sells is taken to new extremes today — if you can’t think of some refreshing concept for a product or service, just slap on a nude female form (cover it in some cloth or put it in silhouette so that it passes the censors though) and there’ll be many who will notice it.

Job done.

Our senses are bombarded with sexual images all the time throughout the course of a day that you need to be blind in order to totally ignore them because they are just so in-your-face.

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I have never watched the news report on the murder of the three men who worked at a Bible publishing house in Turkey till today.

What I saw outraged me, but at the same time I was soberly reminded of the proper Christian response when I saw how the wives of two of the murdered men said they have forgiven the perpetrators.

But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.

Luke 6:27-28

Realizing that I am to forgive those who do wrong against me is one thing, while it still remains to be seen if I’d be able to do exactly that if a similar incident should happen to me one day.

It also does put things into perspective, doesn’t it?

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Take a trip to Lourdes during the “special offer” period starting this weekend till December 8, 2008, says Pope Benedict XVI.

This piece of news had me both laughing and shaking my head in disbelief (yes, I can do both at the same time!). Yet, on the other hand, it also saddened me to know that there’d be Roman Catholics who will believe this spiel and make the pilgrimage and be filled with false hope!

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Has the pastor and his congregation lost their minds?

Listen up, Mr. Fred Phelps, our Lord Jesus Christ came to save the lost, not condemn them! And you are there with your daughters and the congregation that you lead doing exactly the opposite — condemning those who actually needs His forgiveness, comfort, and love most.

Did you think that by doing this that you are the light and salt of the earth?

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