Christianity

Christian Distinctives.

Christianity begins with three fundamentals to existence.

1.      Life.  Most assume life, but no. Human life , chemical life, natural life, is but a minor part of life . Jesus Christ Himself is presented as the source of all life (creator and sustainer), and to a broken world of humans, He is the source of spiritual life. Often this is called eternal life, being participation in the life of God. Being born again, born of the Holy Spirit is a connection with God as children to a Father.

2.    Light.  Everyone claims to know a thing or two – sometimes what they have discovered, sometimes what they have been taught. Moses shed much light on the situation when he brought to the people the law of God. This light exposed the wrong and pointed the people away to a cure outside of themselves. When Jesus came, the light of ‘grace and truth’ pushed back the darkness. The revealing of God in mercy and grace enabled many unworthy people to press into the kingdom of God. The truth lived and taught by Jesus Christ enabled His followers to live on a much higher plane. To follow Him was and is to walk in the light.

3.     Love.  Humanity has always wanted love. Various forms of love have been tried – lustful, family, natural.  Only in God’s love can people know true love. ‘Agape’ love stands unique. It is of divine origin and able to penetrate beyond beauty, beyond worth and beyond offence. It seeks the ultimate good of the one loved.  As a Christian accepts and absorbs this unique love of God, the mind, the attitude, the heart are changed. One is then able to live life rejoicing in God’s love and to live like God.

This then becomes the spring and motive of action. This is true life being lived in the light of God, by the love of God.

JRM

Bible reading

The response of humans.

I sense the frustration in the life of the Lord Jesus. On one count the people were enthusiastic to hear Him teach – He spoke as one with authority.  But when He did speak truth, the same people began to dissent and disagree.  They enjoyed seeing His miracles, yet when He suggested they were the evidence of His deity, they were willing to stone Him.

I am blessed to meet many people , young and old, who are enthusiastic about having a Bible, but commitment to reading it is another thing. I am aware that it is a large , daunting book with many things hard to be understood, but oh the joy of hearing God speak through its pages when we wait upon Him to make it living to us.

The written Word unveils the Living Word.

Have you read it today?

Maybe some of you would like to share with me, something of what you have recently enjoyed in the holy scriptures.

johnmckee@internode.on.net

The Word

"in the beginning was the WORD"

Jesus Christ is the full and final expression of God. His words were God's words. His life was the truth of God revealed.

"All who are of the truth hear His voice"

Is His voice special to you?

Do you read those words regularly?.

Are you affected in daily living by those words?

Do you quickly obey His voice?

Maybe you don't have a Bible to read those words - send me an email and I will endeavour to give you one in your own language. 

johnmckee@internode.on.net

This week's verse:
If riches increase, set not your heart upon them... power belongeth unto God. Psalm 62:10,11

Gentile inclusion

Hello to all my dear friends around the world.

 I have been reminded from Zimbabwe that a new article is overdue.- thank you. I have been very busy doing a course in TEASOL – to teach English as a second language. If I was much younger, this skill would enable me to travel many places teaching English, however I shall be content to help the many migrants in Toowoomba.

Now for something I have been enjoying from John 12:

This chapter concludes the public ministry of our Lord. It has some very serious conclusions about the final judgement of all who have rejected Jesus Christ as the Lord from heaven. But the part I find encouraging is the inclusion, by the writer, of the inquiry of the Gentiles to see Jesus. On several occasions John the writer highlights the grace of God embracing the whole world (John 3:16).

Some will remember the chorus

            Jesus loves the little children

            All the children of the world

And so He does.

Gentile philosophy was about triumph by strength of might or argument, but the Lord by contrast says His path to triumph is through humiliation and His death on a cross (Lifted up).

On several occasions the Lord made it clear that “he who humbles himself will be exalted” and most important is for this exaltation to be done by the Father. Glory here and now is very temporary. Honour in the next life will be forever.

May the risen Lord keep you all in His love.

“Even so come Lord Jesus”

John

The Gospel by John

John writing:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”

“The Word became flesh..................”

John the Apostle identifies his purpose in writing – to convince us that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing we might have life through His Name.

The opening statement focuses on the unusual title of the Lord Jesus – the Word. And right through the gospel , the emphasis is on His Word and Words.

As the Word, He is the full and final expression of the mind of God. As the communicator of God to mankind, He is the Alpha and Omega.

His creation control is seen when, by the command of His lips, water is reconstructed into the best wine!

At the end of chapter three, this statement is made “ for He speaks the words of God”

The man lying sick by the pool was healed by His command – “rise up and walk”

John 5:24 is that powerful promise “whoever hears my words, and believes on Him that sent me has everlasting life ....”

As the narrative continues, the significance of His words develop.

“My sheep hear my voice and they follow Me”

Then a moment of power “Lazarus come forth”

The power, promises, pronouncements of His word reaches a special importance in chapter 12. They will be the measure of judgement against all who do not believe Him!

The references to His words, continues among the disciples. E.g.

“He that has my words and keeps them, he it is that loves Me”

Again in his prayer to the Father “I have given them the words”

How meaningful then, that He should say on the cross “It is finished”

All this becomes so meaningful when we choose to receive Him, to listen to Him, to follow Him, to love Him.

For my Muslim readers, please refer to Sura 3:45

May I encourage all my readers to read through the Gospel of John, watching for the repeated mention of HIS WORDS.

johnmckee@internode.on.net

Jesus Christ the LORD

The Glories of our Lord in the Gospel by Luke

Doctor Luke presents much detail surrounding the life of Jesus – external evidence and internal evidence. It would seem as though he interviewed many people and then correlated the biography of Jesus in chronological order. This includes dates, rulers and places that have been ratified by archaeologists and history.

The account of an angel appearing to Mary is most significant. It tells of heaven’s involvement in the appearing of Jesus and the character of the child to be born.

The record of His birth brings in many different persons as witnesses – Angels, Shepherds, Simeon, Anna etc.

Luke records the incident in the Temple when the boy Jesus astounds the doctors of law with His questions.

Again Luke gives much detail about the adult life of Jesus. His baptism,  His temptation in the wilderness by the devil, His visit to Nazareth where he was rejected. He moved to Capernaum, where the people praised Him, but the Lord Jesus moved on to the many villages around the sea of Galilee. Over and again He is presented as the dependant man, who spent much time in prayer to God. His journeys were marked by compassion for the needy. His words brought life and hope to perishing people. He was seen as one who was not obsessed with money, but instead gave much, even Himself for others.

The glorious Names attributed to Him by Gabriel remained ever true, but  His claim to be the Messiah was vindicated by His humble service to God and mankind. Miracles He did for others. Recovering the lost was His priority.

In His connections with His disciples He was both demanding and compassionate. Taking up the cross to follow Him was fundamental, and yet as He understood how fickle they could be, He showed love and forgiveness.

Luke takes us deep into the holy suffering of His sensitive soul as in the garden of Gethsemane  where He prays in agony. The perfect man (the last Adam), is seen to understand the pain of rejection and crucifixion. The record of the cross is graphic and the grief real.

The end – a man who did not fail,  now raised up from death to be seated at God’s right hand, honoured at the highest place in heaven.

Read the account of Luke for yourself. If you have no Bible, send me an email - I have spares

johnmckee@internode.on.net