The Good Book, the final word

Imagine you are travelling home one night in your car. You are going through a dangerous part of a big city and you run out of petrol. You have to get out and walk to the nearest petrol station. As you are walking through the dark streets you see a group of young men coming down the street towards you. Would you be more scared or less if you found out that they were Christians who had just been having a Bible study?

The Good Book, part five

It’s possible to give a right answer but leave a wrong impression. That was driven home to me one day as I overheard a conversation between a Christian and a woman who would have described herself as spiritual but not religious. 

It is finished

I imagine many victims of crucifixion just before they died would have gasped, “It is finished.” They had tried to overthrow Rome, but their efforts were in vain. However, they wouldn’t have used the word Jesus used. He didn’t use a word that merely signified the end of something, but rather the accomplishment of something. It was a cry of victory, not a sigh of defeat. The word He used could be translated, “Fulfilled”, or “Paid”, or “Completed”.

The fear of death and the death of fear

Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:14-15)

Someone has said that this world is a dangerous place – you won’t get out of it alive. Death is a reality we all must face, and yet, so many bury their head in the sand, and refuse to think about it. It doesn’t have to be that way. The fear of death can be replaced by the death of fear.

Them and us

 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:18 (KJV)

We live in a time when many people are obsessed with divisions.

A call to join the resistance

          …as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing

2 Corinthians 6:10

A little way off at the foot of a tree sat a merry party… “What is the meaning of this?” asked the Witch Queen. Nobody answered.

“Speak, vermin!” she said again. “Or do you want my dwarf to find you a tongue with his whip? What is the meaning of all this gluttony, this waste, this self-indulgence? Where did you get all these things?”

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Enemy-occupied territory – that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage.

Mere Christianity

Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labour of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls – yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

Habakkuk 3:17-18

Christmas Savings

“Christmas” and “saving” aren’t words that we immediately link together. “Christmas” and “spending” or “Christmas” and “debt” seem to fit better, but really Christmas is all about saving.

I would be satisfied if...

 

Joy and peace

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing… (Romans 15:13)

The gospel in 25 words

 A gospel message based on John 3:16.

The Way

Before Christianity was called Christianity, it was called “The Way” (Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22). The reason for this is they were believers in the one who said, “I am the way” (John 14:6). Maybe you are feeling lost in life. Let’s think how Jesus is the way.

Suffering

Here is another episode of the UtG podcast that I have contributed to. It is on the subject of suffering. Please have a listen and spread the word.

Being human

I was asked to contribute to the UtG (Understanding the Gospel) podcast recently on the subject of what it means to be human. It can be found on any podcast provider, or click here. I hope you enjoy it. If you do, pass it on and spread the word.

What is faith?

I had a very frustrating discussion with someone recently about faith. This word is being mangled beyond recognition such that, when people hear it, something comes to mind which never would have occurred to anyone using the word at any other time in history.

Because He lives...

Written by Bill and Gloria Gaither in 1971, Because He lives has become one of the most well-known and well-loved contemporary Christian songs. The chorus is a testimony of hope and assurance:

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,

Because He lives, all fear is gone,

Because I know He holds the future,

And life is worth the living, just because He lives

It’s true, because He lives, I can face tomorrow (and we will come back to that later), but there’s more.

"Perfect peace, and at such a time"

Here's a video I did that I hope you find helpful in these strange times we are in!

The Greatest Message ever expressed

God has received a bad press. Many who have claimed to represent Him have misrepresented Him. The wrong message has been communicated. People think He is out of touch, cold, distant and uncaring. In the birth of Jesus Christ God speaks for Himself.

When we converse with people, we often struggle to find the right words to communicate what is on our minds. We are left feeling frustrated because we haven’t adequately or accurately expressed ourselves – our hearers haven’t got the right impression or the full story.

When God wanted to express Himself to the human race, He had just the word. John opens his Gospel with this statement:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The Word God used was a person. This person couldn’t be a mere man – that would be an inaccurate representation of God, because the human race has been corrupted by sin and so couldn’t communicate what God is like. Neither could the person be a mighty angel – that would be an inadequate representation of God, because angels, though sinless, are finite – they are creatures, and as such could never fully communicate what God is. In order for God to accurately and adequately express Himself, the person had to be God, and so John tells us, “the Word was God.”

But for us to understand this message it had to be translated into our language. That’s why John goes on to say:

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

John 1:14

One who was God became man in order to declare what God is like. As one Bible teacher said, “when we look at Him, the guessing games about God stop.” We don’t have to imagine what God is like. We don’t have to wonder if He’s interested in us. We don’t have to speculate about how we can know Him. Look at Christ.

Look at Jesus in the manger – He was God, and He was prepared to come to us. Look at Jesus in Nazareth – He was God, and He was prepared to live with us. Look at Jesus on the cross – He was God, and He was prepared to die for us.

God has something to say to you, and He has said it all in Christ.

Have you got the message?

The Greatest Gift ever given

It’s the Christmas tradition that causes the most excitement for children (and anxiety for parents) – presents. So what makes a gift a good one? Here are five features. As you look at them you will see that God is offering the perfect gift.

The Greatest Person ever born

A baby – the epitome of weakness, in a manger – the epitome of poverty, and yet Christmas carols declare, and Christians believe, that this baby in the manger is none less than “Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord.” But are there any good reasons to believe that the baby in the manger is the Creator? Let’s look at three.

The Greatest Story ever told

The Creator entering into His creation to sacrifice Himself for His creatures – there is no story like it, but is it just a story, or is it true?