Astounding revelations

 

Book Review – "The book that changed your world"  - Vishal Mangalwadi

This thick book is well written and very enlightening. The author uses extensive history research to show that the Bible is the basis for so many good things which we take as normal. (Not by church, not by religion).

Let me list some of the things he expands upon as being the outcome of the Bible becoming available to the common people.

Humanity – the value of every human as made n the image of God

Rationality – encouragement to think

Technology – inventing to achieve more

Revolution – the world changed by Bible translation

Language and  literacy – the power for democracy

University – to educate and lift the people

Science – discovering what God made

Morality – why some countries are less corrupt

Family – Bound together by the Bible

Compassion – caring develops medical research

Wealth – the responsibilities of stewardship

Liberty – true freedom flows from the Bible

Mission – bringing people together

The future – with or without the Bible

This brilliant book is a must read for every thinking person.  It has, in a different way confirmed my 55years of making the Bible available and known to the masses of humanity.

He finishes the book with a beautiful story from his home country – A 'Johns gospel' got into a headhunting tribe. After only five days of explanation, one convert sent his son into the city to find out more about this Jesus. The result – the tribe was converted and the 'son' who translated the New Testament into the tribal language then went on to create an organisation called

"Bibles for the world"

See the movie on this story on you tube 'Beyond the next mountain'

I recommend the book and pray that it will impact many for the glory of God.

The Book of books

 

Holy Scriptures " All scripture is inspired by God"

2 Timothy3:16

How blessed I have been to grow up with an emphasis on Bible reading, Bible study, Bible obedience, Bible preaching, Bible exposition.

It gives wisdom and guidance on how to be saved from sin's power and penalty – by faith in Jesus Christ.

This unique book (Scripture) was written by many men, as Peter explained, "Holy men of God wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit"

It is a book to be revered, but a book that brings great blessing to those who read and hear it:

It makes us realise what is wrong in our lives.

It straightens us out and teaches us what is right

It is God's way of preparing us in every way for every good thing that God wants us to do.

How sad that for many this book is a closed book – too hard, too confronting, too transforming!

For others it is considered a holy book for religious leaders, others it is just a book for church, although few take it to church any more (the entertainment is done on stage and screen). For others it is a book of ethics and wisdom.

But for those who read it, meditate on it, obey it, then it becomes God revealing Himself to humans finally in the person of Jesus Christ.

It is my pleasure to distribute Bibles to many people (Old and young) – if you don't have one, send me an email

God still speaks to those who take the time to listen!

johnmckee@internode.on.net

Early days

 

"Seek the Lord while He may be found, call on Him while He is near"

This Bible verse from Isaiah 55 was special to me as a child. As I listened to the gospel about the Lord Jesus Christ dying for my sins, dying to make me right with God, I would pray the words of an old hymn-

'Pass me not O gentle Saviour

Hear my humble cry

While on others Thou art calling

Do not pass me bye.'

He answered the desire of my heart, and after 57 years of knowing His love and grace, nothing is better than time alone with Him.

Another old hymn that I learned from my Mother's record player, remains precious :

'I come to the garden alone

While the dew is still on the roses (as this morning)

And the voice I hear falling on my ear

The Son of God discloses

And He walks with me and He talks with me

And He tells me I am His own

And the joy we share as we tarry there

None other has ever known'

Many have known that precious experience of seeking the Lord and finding Him (Him finding us)

See  www.asiaharvest.org  for story of Mr Chen.

Sometimes I feel like asking "why me?"   - but the answer quickly comes from Ephesians 1

"for the praise of HIS glory"

johnmckee@internode.on.net

God's wonderful grace

 

Grace is the  word of triumph in the Gospel of the New Covenant.

Grace is God's undeserved favour, in spite of who we are, or where we have been or what we have done. Grace is God's Holy Spirit giving us a new start (born again) on God's terms and by His strength.

It does not eliminate repentance – the need "to turn to God from idols".

It is not the modern psychology that says 'you are ok as you are'.

God's grace grants complete forgiveness.

     "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from every wrong."       Bible – 1 John1

God's grace sets us free from Satanic domination.

      "By grace you are saved, through faith"   Ephesians 2

God's grace gives us the gift of eternal life without works.

     "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."     Romans 6

God's grace brings us into complete acceptance with a Holy God.

      "Accepted in the Beloved one"      Ephesians 1

A thinking person will ask – 'But how?  I must do my best for judgement day'  -      no.    Grace depends on God , not on us!!

How  can God forgive?    -   by the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.

How can we overcome the Devil? – by the resurrection victory of Jesus.

How can God promise eternal life to stumbling followers? – because life is in His Son.

How can rebels become part of God's family? Because God is Love.

 

Because of God's activity in grace, we can choose to be more than conquerors through Him who loved us.   Romans 8

May encourage you to read the Bible references given, in their context, to discover the wonderful love, mercy and grace of God to us today. If you do not have a Bible , contact me   johnmckee@internode.on.net

Totally up to date

 

Making sense of the Bible 5

New expectations:  Many wanted to make the Gentile converts into Jewish adherents. i.e.  committed to Torah laws and traditions. This wasn't working so the Acts15 conference was called. Paul and Barabbas described the transformation of ungodly heathens to Christ followers. Peter related to the elders how God taught him not to call God fearing Gentiles unclean (Acts 10). James connected the Divine interest in Gentiles from the Old Testament prophecies.

So the conclusion of the elders and apostles was to write the new terms and expectations of converted Gentiles.

1   "Abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols '   - worship

2   ' Abstain from blood and things strangled'   -   food

3   ' Abstain from sexual immorality '     - morals

These were significant in the  Gentile context, but please observe what was not included – Sabbath keeping, clean/unclean food, visiting the temple for festivals, offering sacrifices, vows, racial expectations, central government....

For many Jewish zealots, this was not good enough, and Paul was persecuted by them to the end of his life. Peter summarized the situation very well:-

"We believe that we will be saved through the grace of our Lord Jesus , just as they will"  (Acts 15:11)

Notice the word GRACE -  That means that Jews and Gentiles would be accepted on equal term by God and by one another.

Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ – faith in Him the Son of God.

They preached this good news throughout the world  even to Spain and India. The Gentile believers faced many problems, so Paul with others gave direct instructions that reflected the holiness of God (repentance) and the overflowing grace (undeserved favour and forgiveness) that changes an ungodly Gentile into a follower of Jesus Christ the Lord. This is not presented as a new set of rules, but a new life, led by the Holy Spirit to live and love as the Lord Jesus.

The same Holy God of the Old Testament, honoured in a different way – grace removing sin and radiating the glory of His Son (2 Corinthians 3)

May I now encourage you to read the history of ' Acts', followed by the explanation of the Gospel in 'Romans'.  Then read the instructions to these groups of believers who like us were living in an ungodly society. You will be blessed.

Bible - relevant ?

 

Making sense of the Bible 4

I trust the previous outline was helpful. You may well be asking – "what is in it for me?" or "what relevance does it have for today?"

If you were born Jewish, I might write about Torah laws.  But most of my readers are not Jewish, rather Gentiles, so what applies to us? In this brief introduction, I don't have space to give lots of proof texts. They are many and available on request.

Old Testament notes:-

1   Torah was given to Israel through Moses.

2   The Old Testament has many moral lessons to be learnt as well as comfort .  Comfort through relating to the struggles of God fearing people.

3   The prophecies concerning the Messiah are important to verify the claims of Jesus, and they give clarity to His person and mission.

4   Most of the general prophecies in the O. T relate to Israel in the past and the future.

 

New Testament notes:-

1   Jesus came to His own people, the Jews.

2   These privileged people rejected Him.

3   The Gospel goes out to all the nations.

4   He is believed on, in the world.

5   He will return, vindicating His honour and His people.

So where do we Gentiles fit into the plan of God?  After the resurrection of Christ, the Holy Spirit directs the apostles to reach out to the unlearned, uncircumcised Gentiles who are without God, without hope ( Acts 10 , Ephesians 2). Acts 15, along with the teachings of Paul (Apostle to the Gentiles), tell the terms of inclusion into the new Christian community. (Not converts to Judaism, not second class Jews as some taught). This community became known as the church or assemblies. This created some conflict and confusion about Law keeping, rituals, status, authority etc  . That is why a careful reading of the letter to the Romans and the ones following is so important.

The new terms of "grace' – a big subject for another day.

An old /new book

 

Making sense of the Bible part 3

Looking at the New Testament, things change significantly. Jesus is born, as recorded by four different biographers (Matthew , Mark, Luke, John). Jesus goes from very humble beginnings to reach out to the common people to help, heal and teach.

After three years of reaching out to the Jewish people, they reject His claim to be the Messiah, the Son of God. All the biographies major on the fact that He was rejected by the Jews and crucified by the Romans. That was a significant turning point in the privilege of the Israelites. The history section of 'Acts' does record messages of possible restoration for the Israelites, but the leadership deliberately rejected Jesus as the Christ (Messiah) and choose to persecute His followers. Eventually the temple was destroyed as Jesus foretold.

But in the record of 'Acts', God is seen as not defeated. He presents through the Apostles the bigger plan  - that God is going to gather together all people in Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 1).

The implementation of this new covenant is summarized:

·     *   God raises Jesus from among the dead, vindicating His claim to be the Son of God.

·    *    God the Father sends down from heaven the Holy Spirit to fill the believers, as never happened before.

·        * The Jewish believers are scattered to many countries spreading the Gospel.

·        * Then the Good News is shared with the Gentiles (non Jews), who previously were considered unworthy of any attention. (Acts 10-28)

·      *  Paul is converted and commissioned by Jesus in heaven to reach out to these Gentiles.

·        * New challenges arise and the Acts 15 conference gives the basis for new terms for serving God.

·       *  Paul writes many letters which were circulated for the teaching of those mixed Jewish/Gentile congregations. He explains with great clarity the new Gospel of Jesus Christ dying for our sins and rising again for our justification (Romans ++)

The later books of the New Testament give graphic descriptions of humans , religious and otherwise, rebelling against God.  Note : the Bible does not edit out the failure records to make Christianity a 'Best seller', but tells it as it is!

The Apostles who had seen and heard the Lord Jesus gave corrective teaching along with hope for the future (Peter, James, John).

The letter to the Hebrews is quite unique :- An outstanding presentation of Jesus Christ as connected to the Old Testament. Thus the whole Bible is bound together with one focus – Jesus Christ our glorious Lord.

The final Revelation presents the hope of final victory by Jesus Christ as King of Kings and Lord of lords.  Most of it is yet future, when He will be seen as the Lamb upon His throne .

The good news of the new testament is that all people everywhere now have the opportunity to connect with God through Jesus Christ the Lord.

Enjoy reading this book of books.

John McKee