How Can We Make Sense Out Of Tragedy?

How Can We Make Sense Out Of Tragedy?

It is very hard from a human perspective to make sense out of a tragic loss of a loved one. We think to ourselves, why would God allow this to happen? Yet from an eternal perspective only God knows why He does not protect everyone from the effects of sin in this fallen world. Maybe the greater purpose in all tragedy reminds us that our Creator is making light of the brokenness of this world. He is calling us all to turn to Him for hope which He freely and graciously offers to all. No one I know of is going to be able to escape physical death. Whether young or old we have to face the fact that our bodies are infected with the disease of sin and will either break down over time or be in the line of fire of accidents, violence, natural disasters, or evil.

Yet God has given us a purpose for life. It is not the amount of years that we are given that matter but the amount of impact we can make by testifying to the power and love of a gracious God. Those who receive the gift the faith are transformed from death to life.

“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” (John 5:24)

Those who become followers of Jesus are no longer under the condemnation and wrath of God. In fact, they have become a friend of God reconciled and righteous through Jesus’ work on the cross. Each life that Jesus purchased with His life has a God story to tell. This testimony of God Love mercy and grace reminds us that without God intervening in our circumstances, we would remain separated from Him for all eternity.

^“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”(Romans 5:8)

God created us with a purpose: To love Him and fellowship with Him through our reverence, worship and praise for His extravagant mighty work of creation. To experience Him and enjoy the gift and power of the Holy Spirit that indwells within each believer. To serve God and others with the spiritual gifts and talents we have been given. And when it is time to go home and be with God, He has plans for us as well. Heaven will be a place of continual rejoicing.

It is important to know that God has an even better home that He has prepared specifically for us where there is no more death, pain disease, violence or suffering. Yes, we have an eternity of an even better life than the one we have been given here on earth. Praise God for that better place called heaven!

Jesus spoke these words to his disciples in order to comfort them:

 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”(John 14:1-4)

The hope we have when we lose a loved one is that God has made great promises about what awaits us all when our time comes.

The passage below reminds me about how much God loves us and desires to reassure us that even though our sin nature causes us to stumble at times, it does not prevent us from the receiving the promises God made to those who have received the gift of faith.  

 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all^; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. (John 10:27-29)

This means that we will never be separated from the love of God!

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

Those who have received the Holy Spirit through there confession of faith confirms that they are God’s Children.

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, (Ephesians 1:13)

Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)

Many times I have seen the glow and joy of a new believer. God’s supernatural work changes a person’s heart and it is quite evident that they are different and in the process of transformation from the inside out. Their new identity is in Christ and they begin to serve God out of love and not out of obligation to earn God’s approval. God has already approved of them and their call to faith proves that He does.

The greatest achievement in this life is not status, wealth or worldly success. The greater success story is to be known and loved by God. This is not done by our work but by God’s supernatural work and intervention into our circumstances.  We are given the gift of faith.

 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God ^- not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Those who have received the gift of faith will never die spiritually even though they will die physically in this world’s timeline. This physical death brings sorrow to us because of the temporary loss we experience while we are still awaiting our turn to enter into that same physical state.

The joy we have is twofold:

We can celebrate the eternal life of the person who has passed knowing that we will one day be reunited with them again in heaven.

We can remember and celebrate the wonderful times and joy of having this person in our lives. Memories of them will have a permanent place and impact on our heart.

Still, losing a friend or a family member is devastating. Yet, there is one important thing I have witnessed about the family of God, we do not grieve alone. We are surrounded by other believers who will offer comfort, prayer and counsel during the difficult days of sorrow ahead. The acts of kindness and compassion remind us that God has wired His people to be an extended family. We are truly brothers and sisters in Christ.  There will always be moments of loss as we go through this life along with moments of blessing due to God making sure we are cared for by His family.          

There are so many great promises God has made to His people that should encourage us as we go through life in a broken and fallen world. Two passages have helped me through the most difficult of days:

Proverbs 3:5-6 New International Version (NIV)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Jeremiah 29:11New International Version (NIV)

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

God planned and then brought me to that moment of my salvation and that is the greatest gift I will ever receive. Meanwhile if I trust Him to direct my everyday He will lead me to life in abundance and show me how to appropriate His blessings.  I desire for Him to do a work in me and through me. That is real evidence I look for in every believer. That is really how I see the abundant life: The Holy Spirit at work in us and through us. The depth of love a person has for God and for others. This is the legacy we should all desire to leave. The reward we get is the privilege to glorify God through our Christ-likeness. We must remember our purpose includes demonstrating God’s love to the broken, the hurting, the poor, and the lost. This is important because we will be most remembered by our character, our heart, and how we lived, not just what we achieved. Our testimony will be powerful and effective if it can be told as a God story. There is a reward for how we live this life. We can be assured that those believers who have passed on will receive that reward in heaven.

To me, if a person’s life affects other people in a positive and loving way, God will remember what they have done. If a person loves and serves God with gratitude using the gifts and talents He gave them, He will surely remember that as well.  

Those works are the ones God has prepared in advance for us to do. Our obedience to God assures us of His love and God promises to reward the ones He loves.

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. (John 14:23)

But neither exile nor homecoming is the main thing. Cheerfully pleasing God is the main thing, and that’s what we aim to do, regardless of our conditions. Sooner or later we’ll all have to face God, regardless of our conditions. We will appear before Christ and take what’s coming to us as a result of our actions, either good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10)

So as we mourn the loss of our loved ones let’s always remember what God has done.

Jesus rescued His followers from the sting of sin and death.

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

Those who have died in Christ will eternally remain in His love. They will also impact us as we remember what God has done in them and through them.

Just Sayin…………….Dave

Understanding The Sovereignty of God

Understanding The Sovereignty of God

Proverbs 16:9 NIV

In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.

One of the most difficult subjects that I deal with on a regular basis is God’s sovereignty. God’s sovereignty is His absolute power, supreme authority and control over His creation. Since God is the creator of all things it seems only fair that He rule over His creation. Any decision He makes is certainly His prerogative (A hereditary or official right or privilege). However, many people don’t understand why God would allow horrible things to take place in a world He has complete control over. Examples include the Holocaust, premature death of a family member, sudden acts of terror and violence, Weather related disasters, unjust and unfair treatment. You get the idea. Why do bad things happen to good people and why doesn’t God stop the madness? This is a good question to ponder as we dwell into the realm of God’s sovereignty.

When I think about who we are in relationship to God, the first questions that come to my mind go like this: Are people really good? And what is good according to God?

The Bible is clear; just doing “good” does not qualify us as good. When we go beyond our self-focus and works we must understand that we have inherited a sin nature stemming from the fall of man. Having this greater understanding of the human condition helps us better understand who we are in relationship to a Holy God.  What I have come to learn is this, even the most loving people I know are not without some kind of sin in their lives. From God’s perspective, aside from Jesus, we are all sinners:

Romans 3:11-18 NIV

there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." "Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit."
“The poison of vipers is on their lips." "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." "Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know." "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

Romans 3:23 NIV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

When it comes down to it, just take the Ten Commandments test and see if you can pass it each and every day. I can honestly say that I cannot pass it. So, by failing any part of God’s basic law I cannot qualify as good in accordance to the decrees of a Holy God. Even though many people are thoughtful, kind, generous, loving etc. Our acts, outward expressions, deeds or works in God’s eyes are not enough to change our

sinful standing before God.  We need help and the good news is, Jesus provided that help.

Romans 5:8 NIV

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

So with that said, no one is “really good”. We all have sinned and we all are far from perfection in relationship to a Holy (sacred or pure) God.

If you think you are, take a gut check: Are you obedient to God? Do you abide by God’s Word? Have you been a good friend and companion to God lately?

So we can say this:  Human beings are not without sin. However, those who have received Christ are no longer declared guilty for their sin. In fact, true Christians are new creations in Christ.

But even with this new standing of righteousness before God, even with a new heart and love for God and His Word, “Bad” things still do happen to Christians if we process the “Bad” without an eternal perspective attached to the circumstance.

Sometimes the “Bad” can be a matter of God’s discipline directed toward someone for their own good. I have never enjoyed a good discipline from God, but after the fact I realize it was necessary and important toward my spiritual growth and sanctification (The process of making holy).

Hebrews 12:10 NIV 
Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness.

God will use any means at His disposal to fulfill His promise to make us Holy.

OK, discipline is one thing. What about things like disease and death?

I happen to come across this one passage in Isaiah that helped me when I asked the same question.

Isaiah 57:1-2 NIV

The righteous perish, and no one ponders it in his heart; devout men are taken away,
and no one understands that the righteous are taken away to be spared from evil.

Those who walk uprightly enter into peace; they find rest as they lie in death.

Isaiah 57:1-2 NLT

Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time. But no one seems to care or wonder why. No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come. For those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die.

So when God’s allows what we consider a “Bad” thing to happen to a person of faith, it is important to consider that maybe God is somehow protecting that person from a greater evil. God, in His sovereign timing, is constantly directing His eternal purpose when someone, a member of God’s kingdom, departs from this world.  This can be reassuring to us, to know that God is actively participating in the scheme of all things

and the events of this world are not out of His control. In fact, we can say God is directing these events in ways we can never totally understand this side of Heaven.

We do know this:  that God in all His goodness has a greater good in mind for those who love Him even though on the surface it may not seem that way.

Romans 8:28 NIV

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

I am not going to put words in God’s mouth but surely if we are given eternal life we have been given an eternal purpose. God is quick to point out we have a purpose for the here and now as well:

Mark 12:30-31 NIV 
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.

Deuteronomy 10:12 NIV 

 And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,

Matthew 28:19 NIV  
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

 

But even with the mission and purpose we have been given, God still allows opposing forces to interfere with the things He wants us to do and the people He wants us to become.  We know that God allows evil to continue to wreak havoc in this world and that evil is out to thwart God’s plans and distract us from living a life dedicated to God. Take the Book of Job for example. God allows Satan to have a field day with Job and his family. Even though Satan caused a lot of pain and suffering, God still maintained ultimate control over what Satan was allowed to do.

Still we ask, If God is so good why does He allow “Bad” things to happen?

The Bible points out that people do not understand the mind of God.

Isaiah 55:8 NIV 
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD.

If we are to look at the complexity of God’s creation we can understand that God has a particular purpose and design for everything He created.  Thank goodness we are at the top of the food chain.

Since we are to live by faith and not by sight, Can we accept the fact that God is Holy and Good even though He allows “Bad” things to happen?

Does the fact that God has given us life in the first place count for anything?

If God has given us life then it was through His will that we were born into this world.

He designed us and has graciously given us a certain amount of time to exist in our physical bodies. This is a privilege and a gift, not an inherent right. We did not cause ourselves to be born. We did not breathe life into ourselves. How can we say we earn special rights as human beings when we are the result of God’s design and creation?  I think we end up having problems with God when we want to dilute His sovereignty and reduce Him in size and effectiveness in order for us to have more control and even change the special purpose He has for our lives.

God has an eternal perspective and we tend to have a limited one. God knows the outcome and result of all the decisions we are going to make. By His grace we have been protected from many of the bad decisions and poor judgments we have made over a lifetime. I know that many of the decisions I have made in the past had the potential to lead to catastrophe. Having some perspective on my earlier years I can say

with total conviction that God has spared my life many times. But the question still enters my mind, Why did God spare me even though my own misdeeds and bad choices were worthy of great consequences?

I am hoping now it is so I can continue to serve His special purpose, honor His power and Glory, and praise His Holy name.  You see in the past I would have never guessed my life would ever have value in God’s Kingdom. I never even considered the thought. In fact, I rejected the idea of having a relationship with God and for that matter with Jesus. I used to mock and persecute those who were Christians. There is no way I would have ever chosen the life that I have now based on my thinking and desires from my past. But God intervened and it was His will that I am who I am today. Here again is an example of God’s sovereignty.

So now you have heard a piece of my testimony without all the gory details. Details better left for another time.

Ok, let’s take a look at God’s greater purpose and design for those who have become part of His family.

We have to understand that life does not end with the death of our physical body. This is something we must comprehend. God has given us more than just a physical body. The Spirit aspect of who we are continues to live on forever.  And this is evident for those who are followers of Christ because they have a place designated in heaven to live out eternity. God has promised His children a future home in heaven which has already been prepared by Jesus for them to live. Jesus reassured His disciples

of this future home, and He also said that He would come back in order to bring them there. 

John 14:1-4 NIV

Jesus Comforts His Disciples

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come

back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going."

Jesus also asked the disciples to do one thing, and that was to trust Him to follow through on this promise.

Can we trust God with our lives even though we live in a world that seems totally out of control?

The Bible tells us:

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.  

So part of our responsibility in all of this is to trust God.

Look up at the night sky and see the vastness of God’s creation. How can a God be so huge and so detailed in His creation and not to care about the details of our lives. God created us for the special purpose of being fellowship with Him. He designed a specific and unique home for us, earth, and placed it within His infinite “universe” so we would have a place to live. Why would God go through all that trouble if we weren’t important? Why would God allow His Son Jesus to go through the great amount of pain, suffering and death on the cross for our salvation if He didn’t care about each of us?

When we trust God we are trusting in His promise of Salvation. God knew that evil would exist, and being the sovereign and loving God that He is, He took care of both evil and the sin problem with His plan of Salvation through Jesus.  

1 John 3:8-9 NIV

He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.

John 10:10 NIV 
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

John 12:46 NIV 
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

One thing we can be assured of; Even though God allows evil to exist in our fallen world now, He will not allow it in Heaven. Our future eternity will be filled with a life of pure joy which one cannot fully experience in this world.

The Bible describes eternal life and a picture of Heaven in these ways:

Revelation 7:13-17 NIV

Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?" I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore,    "they are before the throne of God
and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them. Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Matthew 22:30 NIV

At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.

Luke 20:36 NIV

 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection.

Revelation 21:4 NIV

 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

Revelation 21:3 NIV

 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.

Isaiah 33:17 NIV

Your eyes will see the king in his beauty and view a land that stretches afar.

Isaiah 49:10 NIV

They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat upon them. He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water.

Revelation 21:2 NIV

I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.

Revelation 21:11

It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.

Nehemiah 9:6 NIV

You alone are the LORD. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you.

We do have a sovereign God with a great plan for our future. Our time on this earth in our physical bodies is limited, yet carries with it an eternal purpose. As followers of Jesus we understand that the future we have been given will be far better than the life we have now.  Even with this promise It is important to remind ourselves to live life with an eternal perspective so that when we do observe and experience the pain and death that comes from living in this fallen world, we can still understand that God has an ultimate purpose behind everything that happens.

For whatever reason I am still alive.  Each day I wake up I thank God for another day of life.  Beyond that I thank God for the everlasting gift of Life He has given me based on the work of Jesus on the cross and my decision to receive that work as my salvation.

If you ever wonder if God is still in control take a look at all the people who have dedicated their lives to loving and serving God and others.  If you ever wonder if there is a greater good take a look at what God is doing through His people to spread the message of Hope to the world. Even with all the evil in this world God’s Greatness, Holiness, Mercy and Love are still present, and the Holy Spirit is still actively

changing lives.

God is sovereign, and even though evil exists and still wreaks havoc in this world, it is only for a short time. God has promised us a great future and we can live right now with a hope and heartfelt joy that He will carry out that promise.

In this passage from Jeremiah, even though it was written to the Israelites who were exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon, is still a great hope and promise for us as well. God speaks to us through His Word and His Word carries a lot of promise for His people.

Jeremiah 29:10-14 NIV

 This is what the LORD says: "When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."

God kept His promises to Israel and He will certainly keep His promises to us as well.

We have a Sovereign God who has a great plan for our lives now and for the future. Let’s do all we can to bring this message of hope to the world.

Our God is an Awesome God!

We will never fully understand this side of heaven why God allows for tragedy.

The truth is, the suffering we face in this broken world will soon end because Jesus is coming back to bring us home. Thereby, those believers who have fallen in light of this brokenness have not passed without purpose.  Each believer has left a great legacy of the Saviors work to encourage us to persevere in light of this fallen world. The promise of eternal life reassures us of our place in Heaven which has already been prepared by the Lord who suffered and died on the Cross to prove His love. The wonderful thing to remember daily is, God desires to be with His people for all eternity. So in light of the limited time we each have been given on this earth, we have a lot to look forward to in heaven. There we will all be rejoicing together because the plan of our Sovereign God.

There in heaven the joy and celebration never ends.

And our hope is in Him!

Just Sayin……………….Dave

Do I, as a Follower of Jesus, really believe what I say I believe?

Do I, as a Follower of Jesus, really believe what I say I believe?

Good question and necessary for all those who call themselves followers of Jesus to answer.  I for one need to be challenged about my faith. I need to know what I believe and be aware of how I am applying those beliefs to the everyday decisions I make.

I need to evaluate my heart for God and others, my character, my service and my motives.

Am I living the life God has called me to live? Does my character reflect a Christ-centered life? Am I growing in my faith and trust in God?

As a follower of Jesus I want to make sure I am not getting complacent about my relationship and walk with God. Yet, I find there are times I just want to saunter through life without a care in the world. But every time I talk with someone or hear some news about difficult circumstances surrounding a person’s life, I realize we have an active enemy who is trying to get us to take our eyes off Jesus and destroy all that is good in the Kingdom God. For example, Godly marriages, family, relationships, Churches, fruit bearing ministries etc.

1 Peter 5:8 Living Bible (TLB)

 Be careful—watch out for attacks from Satan, your great enemy. He prowls around like a hungry, roaring lion, looking for some victim to tear apart.

Because of this fact, I need God’s help to stay alert to the enemies subtle attacks and supply me with supernatural strength and discernment to help me focus back on what He has called me to do, all the while combating the urge to drift into meaningless endeavors which the enemy would love to get me focused on.

With God’s help we can directly face the difficult battles and circumstances that lie ahead of us. Jesus did warn us that we would face difficulties as His followers.  He also told us that the victory over sin and death has already been won.

John 16:33

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Sure, life as a follower of Jesus is hard. Sure, it requires us to adjust our lives by putting Him first. It also means that we must deal with the sin in our life. This I know for sure: putting Jesus first is a good thing because He will be the one to guide us in our spiritual journey through the power of the Word and through the power of the Holy Spirit. Only through His strength will I be able to withstand the temptation to sin.

God desires for us to live the abundant life.

2 Corinthians 9:8

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Part of living abundantly means that as a follower of Jesus, I am a recipient of God’s spiritual blessings.  But, I must appropriate them so I don’t lose sight of what I have received. Spiritual Blessings include:  Adoption into the family of God, reconciliation with God, Salvation, eternal life, the gift of faith, the Holy Spirit, fruit of the Spirit, wisdom, fellowship, service, purpose, discernment, eternal perspective etc. But even while I am appropriating these blessings, I need to keep in check my sometimes wacky human nature and self-serving personal desires that I know are out of step with God.

I realize I am going to spend and eternity with the Lord. And because of that fact I become aware that my life is designed to be in preparation for that event. I have been given work to do for God right now, which is helping others realize that there is more to life than just a physical existence.  I must tell them that there is hope because Jesus’ work on the Cross made it possible for reconciliation between God and man. When our sin becomes covered by Christ, there is no more condemnation. Never let the enemy rob you of this truth!

Romans 8:1 NIV

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus

God’s never ending love and grace has brought us an eternity of Blessing. Jesus made that possible through His suffering and then death on the Cross. His resurrection after 3 days proves that sin and death were defeated. Once we become Followers of Jesus we are no longer separated from God. We have been given a new heart, a new spirit, and a new purpose. Our lives are now in His hands and what awaits us is an eternity that is so awesome that words could not possibly describe how wonderful it is going to be.

That is why, as we prepare for that time to be with God in heaven, we should understand and be able to articulate what we really believe. We should investigate our beliefs and see if they are aligned properly with God’s principles. This is not just for our sake but it will help us explain to others the hope that we have and what the Christian faith really encompasses. If we want to fulfill the Great Commission”, we need to be able to explain in an understandable way God’s Truth about salvation.

These Bible passages below reinforce what we are required to do:

Matthew 28:18-20 NIV

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

1 Peter 3:15 NIV 
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

So, what do we believe? Here are some basic tenets of the Christian Faith:  

Tenet: 

principle, belief, or doctrine generally held to be true; especially: one held in common by members of an organization, movement, or profession

·        Jesus Christ is the Only Way to Eternal Salvation With God the Father

John 14:6

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

·        We Are Saved by Grace Through Faith – Not by Works

Ephesians 2:8-9 New International Version

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves,

it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

·        Jesus Christ is the Son of God

Matthew 3:17 New International Version  

And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

John 3:16 New International Version  

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16 NIV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

·        The Incarnation of Jesus Christ (Jesus became like us)

John 1:14 New International Version

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

·        The Bodily Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the Grave happened

Read Like 24

·        The Ascension of Jesus Christ  (Jesus ascends back to heaven to be seated at the right hand of God)

Read Acts 1:1-11

·        The Doctrine of the Trinity (Father , Son, Holy Spirit)

God is the Creator. He has eternally existed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God.

·        The Holy Bible is the Inspired and Infallible Word of God

2 Timothy 3:16-17 New International Version

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,  so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

·        We Are Baptized With the Holy Spirit at the Moment of Salvation

Acts 2:38 New International Version (NIV)

Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

·        We are Regenerated by the Holy Spirit

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV   

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

·        The Doctrine of Hell (Those who do not receive the gift of faith will be separated from God)

Matthew 8:11-12 Living Bible  

And I tell you this, that many Gentiles like this Roman officer, shall come from all over the world and sit down in the Kingdom of Heaven with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. And many an Israelite—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—shall be cast into outer darkness, into the place of weeping and torment.”

 Revelation 20:15 New Living Translation  

And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.

 ·        The 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ Back to our Earth (Jesus is coming Back)

John 14:1-4 Living Bible (TLB)

 “Let not your heart be troubled. You are trusting God, now trust in me. There are many homes up there where my Father lives, and I am going to prepare them for your coming. When everything is ready, then I will come and get you, so that you can always be with me where I am. If this weren’t so, I would tell you plainly. And you know where I am going and how to get there.”

Matthew 24:36-42 Living Bible (TLB)

But no one knows the date and hour when the end will be—not even the angels. No, nor even God’s Son Only the Father knows.  “The world will be at ease—banquets and parties and weddings—just as it was in Noah’s time before the sudden coming of the Flood; people wouldn’t believe what was going to happen until the Flood actually arrived and took them all away. So shall my coming be.

 “Two men will be working together in the fields, and one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be going about their household tasks; one will be taken, the other left.

 “So be prepared, for you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.

So after reading through these tenets of the faith I can say I am in agreement with these principles. But, there are many questions others may have that will cause us to have to further explain what the Bible says and means. The good news is we have help. Like Jesus said and promised, the Holy Spirit will give us a deeper teaching about the meaning of God's Word and remind us of the words Jesus spoke.

John 14:26 NIV

But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Yet, we must also take time to read and study the Bible in order to be knowledgeable about God’s truth as well as have His inspired Word change us from the inside out. As we deepen our relationship with God we will have the strength, wisdom, and proper perspective to live a life devoted to Him. To me, this is living life in abundance.  As we change, others will take notice and may intrigue them enough to open up doors for us to be able to share our story of faith. Telling a good story will always grab someone’s attention. Jesus used parables to illustrate the spiritual lessons about the kingdom of God. We can use our story to illustrate how God has given us a new life, a new hope, and a new Spirit.

So now that we are in full swing of the Christmas Holiday everyone is focused on everything Christmas from the secular to the spiritual. When I think about Christmas I visualize the beauty of the Christmas lights. I contemplate the wonderful songs about the birth of Jesus. I think about the greatest gift that has ever been given. I remember what God has done for me and how grateful I am that Jesus came to rescue us.

Christmas is a reminder to me of what I believe. My desire is to live out the Christian life as a true follower of Jesus with my identity representative of that of a disciple, which says to others that I am confident in God’s Word, and His promise of salvation. I really do believe what I believe. My prayer for you is that you do as well.

Just Sayin……………….Dave