Problem

 

The problem in Capernaum was the same problem many have today, which is the love of religion and tradition. These things are what makes many people feel worthy of eternal rewards. After all, they did what they were supposed to, they honoured the traditions of their belief system, and, thus, they deserve the best in the next life and have no need for a Saviour.

What Jesus offered to those in His day is what He still offers to all mankind today – freedom. Freedom from religion, freedom from rituals, freedom from tradition. What He offers instead of rituals and traditions is to make you free.

John 8:36
Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Now we can be free to follow Jesus Christ without the shackles that hinder.

Risen

 

Did Jesus really rise from the dead?

All historians agree that Jesus died. Many doubt that He rose again.

The evidence that He rose and lives today is both in the Bible and in peoples lives. Many people, especially in the muslim world have had encounters with the living Jesus – visions, dream and more. The fast growth of Christianity in communist lands is not the result of political contest nor the result of clever strategy. It is the Holy Spirit winning the hearts of the people to trust in Jesus, so much so that they are willing to die for the living  Jesus Christ the Lord. (not for the church or any organisation).

The Bible record of Jesus alive after dying is varied. John the apostle saw and heard Him as recorded in Revelation 1: Jesus said “I was dead, I am alive forevermore”

Saul the persecutor of the Christians (Acts 9), heard the voice of Jesus from heaven and it completely changed his life. “who are you Lord” Saul said “I am Jesus“ was the reply .

One of the earliest writings of the New Testament  (1 Corinthians 15), attested that He rose from death and was seen by more than 500 people, many of whom were alive at the time of the writing and could be interviewed for verification.

It is good to research the four accounts of the resurrection – Matthew, Mark , Luke, John. A good forensic detective will notice discrepancies in the records. This proves there was little or no collusion, thus justifying the validity of their story from different perspectives. They all maintain the same central  point – He died and rose again with many witness to both.

Let me conclude (for much more could written) with the words of Jesus Himself before He was arrested:

“As you know, we are going to Jerusalem. And when we get there all the predictions of the ancient prophets concerning the son of man will come true. He will be handed over to the Romans to be mocked, treated shamefully and spit upon. They will whip him and kill him but on the third day he will rise again.”  (Luke 18:31)

At the empty tomb the angels said “Don’t you remember what He told you…..”

And so should we – remember His words and worship Him the once crucified, now living Lord and Saviour.

For the many who today are seeking forgiveness with God

 

Forgiveness effectively means to ‘set free’

 

If I forgive someone, I set them free from the offence committed.

If a president pardons a criminal, that person escapes the penalty.

When God forgives, He sets a person free from the guilt and penalty of sin. As God He has the prerogative to pardon, but as a Just judge, He executes justice with its just consequences. God’s laws when broken, have righteous outcomes.

In brief that is stated in Holy Scripture :”The wages of sin is death”.

So it was God who initiated the way for the family of Adam to be ‘set free’ from the guilt and consequences of disobedience, rebellion and ignorant sinning. His way is not by prejudiced pardon or just linked to feelings of pity. No – His way maintains justice, yet lets the guilty person ‘go free’. How can this be? This theme is highlighted throughout the Bible narrative of human history.

Adam was expelled from the garden (initial consequence), God then clothed them in skins. Abraham was an idolator but through faith in God Almighty he found freedom from such sin by means of a sacrifice dying in his place. (Genesis 12:8)

Moses communicated the details of freedom for Israelites – a lamb died instead of the firstborn, and later the animal sacrifice upon the alter enabled the LORD to say “It shall be forgiven him”. (Leviticus4)

This is why the words of John the baptiser were so significant :- “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John1:29) John was identifying Jesus as the final lamb for sacrifice, sufficient to take away the sin of the world! John, as the son of a priest, knew too well the costliness of sin before God. He would have witnessed so many lambs being sacrifice for the sins of the people.

Jesus Himself said that He would “give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45)

He confirmed that his death (blood shed) was to ratify a new covenant with God that included the forgiveness of sins. (Matthew 26:28).

He explained that the sufferings of death foretold in Isaiah 53 [“thou shalt make His soul an offering for sin”], were necessary for the message of repentance and forgiveness to be preached to all the people of the world. (Luke 24 :44-48)

How then is all this made of value to us ? Let me quote directly from the Bible – it is so clear in Romans 3:21- 26 (NLT)

“Now God has shown us a different way of being right in His sight – not by obeying the law, but by the way promised  in the scriptures long ago. We are made right in God’s sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.

For all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet now God in His gracious kindness declares us ‘not guilty’. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. For God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God’s anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed His blood, sacrificing His life for us.

God was being entirely fair and just when He did not punish those who sinned in former times.

And He is entirely fair in the present time when He declares sinners to be right in His sight because they believe in Jesus.” 

This all makes Jesus Christ and His death very special – in fact it is vital to confess Jesus Christ is the Lord, the Son of God.

He Himself said “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)

May I encourage you to read the Bible, the New Testament about the Lord Jesus Christ. Check out 1 Timothy 2:5 – freedom for everyone.

Bibles - johnmckee@internode.on.net

Forgiveness

 

Forgiveness

Some people understand the seriousness of sin. Many people have been deceived by modern philosophy about the real accountability for sin.

        So why do I write about forgiveness – because our creator God holds us all responsible for the things we have done – good and bad. He is Just and justice will be done in this life or in the next. He is holy, and by His standards all sin, rebellion, transgression must be accounted for.  He is eternal, and cannot tolerate sin, yet He has made a way for us to enjoy His home with Him forever.

So how should I recognise guilt. Humanism says that the only wrong is when it harms someone else. This philosophy pervades western society. Our conscience , if not stifled, enables us recognise wrong we have done. God has revealed His holiness in the Law given through Moses. The 10 commandments would be the most widely circulated document of all time – and we fail at the beginning and the end – we have sinned.

But more compelling is the holy character and glory of God seen in the person of Jesus Christ. He did no sin, He knew no sin, no guile was found in His mouth. He was not only holy as God is holy, but He was the full expression of God’s love, compassion, and what humanity was meant to be. His life and teaching was a rebuke to all – religious and irreligious, rich and poor, powerful and weak. I feel like Peter who said “Depart from me for I am a sinful man O Lord”

Yet all who realised their need of forgiveness, came to Him. He recognised their repentance, and affirmed their faith in Him.

Did He have authority to forgive sins – Yes – He claimed that for Himself (Luke5:24)

Did He pay the debt, the offence of sin before God? – Yes – He explained that by His sufferings (Luke 24:44-48)

Did He require prayers, payment, penance? – No – Believing in His name is sufficient (Acts 10:43)

Does He forgive the unrepentant – No – He will be their final judge (Acts 17:30,31)

“Listen, in this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. Everyone who believes in Him is freed from all guilt and declared right with God – something the Jewish law could never do.”

Acts 13:38

 

“Oh what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven,

Whose sins are put out of sight,

Yes what joy for those whose sin is no longer counted against them by the Lord”

Acts 4:7

Shepherd care

 

What about the many Christians who are not members of a church?

At our regular market stalls, we meet many whose faith in Jesus Christ the Lord is real. However many are not members of a church denomination or assembly. Some have suffered difficult experiences in churches. Others dissent from unscriptural teaching or practises. Others feel discriminated against because of nationality, language or plain lack of welcome.

It is so great that Jesus Christ our Lord, when He lived on earth, tasted these very problems. He understands!

The Good Shepherd gathers all His sheep to Himself. By the Holy Spirit, each child in God’s family can enjoy intimacy with the triune God. The Great Shepherd desires all of His own to be one in life, light and love – one flock. (Read John 17). I delight to meet all believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, irrespective of nationality, tag, language or culture.

The Chief Shepherd has called and enabled some to be shepherds of His flock (Ephesians 4). You can pick them easily – they serve Christ for no wages, they selflessly love all Christians, they give of their time and means to edify God’s flock and are distinguished by their imitating of Jesus in seeking the lost sheep.

So what about church? Is it an institution, is it a business, is it an incorporation, is it a platform for performance, is it a holy huddle of likeminded people, is it a school for learning or is it a flock where all God’s children are cared for? Maybe I should survey the New Testament with you someday, on this topic.

I find it very uplifting to find people of all nationalities, who belong to the church of the firstborn (Hebrews 12), who hold intimacy with the Good Shepherd. He cares for all – some dislodged as refugees, some bound under repressive culture, some with no education, some locked away in prison, some limited by sickness, some who have had no opportunity for Bible teaching etc.  Does Jesus care?  Do we care?

John 10:16 “There will be one flock with one Shepherd”

And His name is Jesus Christ the LORD, and He invites us to love and care like Himself!

The Shepherds voice

 

Morning meditation.

“My sheep hear my voice and I know them”

I have thought about the continuing hunger for Bibles. For example, Asia Harvest print more than a million Bibles each year for the people of China, and yet they want more! At our market stall we distribute 10-20 Bibles on each occasion. Why the hunger for this book?

It is not so much the history or the commandments. Rather it is the innate longing to hear the voice of God – and hear the voice of God we can. God still speaks to those who take the time to listen!

Unbelief despises the book, but for those with an open mind and open heart, it is a living book, made real by the Holy Spirit. From beginning to end, one can hear the shepherds voice.

The Great Shepherd says, “I know them and they follow Me”.  What a joy it is, instead of sailing alone, to enter the door of the fold and become one of His sheep. His protection, His provision, His promises, His fellowship, His pledge of eternal life all by grace through knowing Him.”

Following the Shepherd is not a matter of duty, rather it is the natural response of love. Many things seek to distract us, but His voice, His seeking love calls us to Himself.

Bibles are available, in many languages.

johnmckee@internode.on.net

Churches and churches

 

So many churches!

Yesterday I was asked, by a man from Asia, why are there so many different churches? – good question.

It has two answers:

1st – Many churches are linked to nationality. Examples – the church of England (Anglican) is English, Lutheran is linked to Germany, Roman Catholic to Italy and more. Greek Orthodox is linked to Greece, Presbyterian to Scotland, Churches of Christ to USA, Baptist to UK, Methodist to UK and more. There has been a renaming of some to remove the nationality factor and some don’t even reflect ‘Christian’ !.

But now in Toowoomba, this being a preferred destination for many migrants, there are new churches springing up. Congolese, Sudanese, Fijian, Solomon Islanders, Chinese, Nepalese, etc

And much the same is true for the Muslims. From Bangladesh most are Sunni, from Iran are Shite , from Saudi Arabia, Salafism  etc.  It is a challenge for me to know which trail of Islam I am responding to, when I talk with them.

2^nd. Another cause of church variations is due to differing beliefs. This is a big topic,  but let me identify some differing features of beliefs. Many churches hold common belief about Jesus Christ, Christian living and the eternal future.

Roman Catholic is under the authority of the Pope in Italy. They have sacraments considered essential for pleasing God.

Church of England (Anglican) operates under the King with variations from Catholic traditions to others who major on salvation by faith alone.

Baptist churches insist on salvation to God by faith in Jesus Christ, to be followed by baptism, meaning immersion in water.

Churches of Christ are similar with this variation – they hold communion every week. They are relatively independent.

Presbyterian churches have strong links to the teaching of John Calvin of Geneva. They insist on salvation to God by grace and have a very strong structure of church government including presbyters and ministers.

Lutherans follow the teachings of Martin Luther, who brought to the public the forgiveness of sins, not by good works or payment, but forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus Christ alone. This is a common thread in protestant (non Catholic) churches.

Uniting church has combined the Methodist and Congregational people and now has a focus on social work in society.

Assemblies of God churches have many variations, with emphasis on supernatural experiences such as other tongue speaking, healings, prophecies etc .

 And there are many more groups, especially in Toowoomba.

So when I meet people at the market, from all over the world – what do I say?

Churches have value, but most important it is to know Jesus Christ as the Son of God. 

To trust Him, that by His sacrifice He saves us, and to live with Him, the risen Jesus, as our Lord. 

He has a very big family, people from every nation, language and tribe. God’s Holy Spirit unites all genuine Christians .