The Sufferings and Calling of Christ

The condemning of Christ can possibly be termed as the greatest error committed in the history of mankind. While it is true that God announced beforehand that His Christ should suffer (Acts 3:18) and it is also true that man’s sin had earned him God’s wrath and judgment and the only sacrifice that could save him was the death of the spotless Lamb, Jesus; the fact remains that we disowned the Holy and Righteous one (Acts 3:14).

For though He was in the beginning with God and all things came into being by Him; and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being (Jn. 1:2, 3); this Word chose to become flesh and dwell among us (Jn. 1:14). He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not know Him (Jn. 1:10). Error No. 1

Because of our unwillingness to hear the truth, we shut our ears to what was already written. We chose not to accept and believe what God spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways (Heb. 1:1). We rejected His words of truth, calling it blasphemy. His awesome works, wrought in goodness and mercy, we termed the work of Beelzebul (Mt. 12:24). Error No. 2

We passed judgment on the One who will judge the living and the dead (Acts 10:42). We hurled abuse at Him (Mt. 27:39), mocked Him (Mt. 27:29, 41), spat on Him (Mt. 26:67; 27:30), whipped Him (Jn. 19:1), chose a hardened criminal to be set free over Him (Lk. 23:18); and after all that, condemned Him to die on a cross as a public spectacle along with robbers (Mt. 27:38). Error No. 3

While, The Passion of the Christ, may have been produced using artistic liberties, it very vividly portrays the suffering of the Lord Jesus as described in the Bible. The night in the Garden of Gethsemane, the betrayal by His chosen apostle, denial from the one He loved, the accusations that were hurled at Him through the night, the arrogant and high-handed manner which He was subjected to and the whips (one word cannot quite capture the torment He went through each time the lash touched His flesh) brought alive the suffering that the Maker of all things went through at the hands of His creatures. The crude jokes, the taunts and insults, the crown of thorns, the spitting on His face, all these just added to the suffering. Finally, after a horrible night and a torment-filled morning, He was made to hang on the cross for six hours (Mk. 15:25, 34).

He was God! He is God! He need not have gone through all that He went through when self-centric, conceited, ungrateful creatures of His handiwork turned against Him. He would have been justified to abandon the whole plan of salvation, reconciliation and hope. But as a sheep remains silent before His shearers, so was He before His accusers (Isa. 53:7) and looked at the joy that was set before Him (Heb. 12:2).

He allowed His body to be broken that we may have life in all its fullness (Jn. 10:10). He shed His blood that we may be a new creation (2Cor. 5:17). He suffered that we may be reconciled to the Father (Col. 1:22) and experience, once again, the purpose for which we were created (Eph. 2:10). He rose again so that we can walk in hope and victory in righteousness, love, truth, peace and joy. (Oh, the joyousness when we understand the meaning of each of these words which incidentally characterizes the Kingdom of God. See Rom. 14:17; Eph. 5:9). 

I began by saying that the condemning of Christ can possibly be termed as the greatest error committed in the history of mankind. Yet today, each of us has hope and opportunity to change the course of our life’s history. His still, gentle voice is still calling. His word exhorts that today, if we hear His voice, we must listen to Him. He is full of mercy, overflowing with compassion, rich in loving kindness. His love that seeks our best is boundless. His wisdom that leads us into that best is perfect and eternal. His power that enables us to walk as overcomers is almighty. He is faithful. He is just. He is caring. His paths are those of peace. The outcome of His working is ineffably holy and pure. His purpose is marvellous and eternal.

Though we may have committed our life to Him at some point in the past, let us arise from the slumber (Eph. 5:14) that overtook us while we were not alert. Let us revive our first-love with a commitment that we will walk in the simplicity of single-minded devotion (2Cor. 11:3; 1Cor. 7:35) to Him, His commands and His will.

It’s not long before He will come again in a cloud with power and great glory (Lk. 21:27) to carry up to Himself His righteous ones who have been longing for His appearing (2Tim. 4:8). It’s not long when He Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God that we may meet Him in the air (1Thes. 4:16, 17). We shall be changed; the immortal replacing the mortal (1Cor. 15:51-53). We shall see Him just as He is (1Jn. 3:2). We shall reign with Him (2Tim. 2:12). We shall worship Him. We shall behold Him not for a time but for eternity.

Let us comfort and encourage one another so that we are found ready when He comes. Let us live each day in such a way recognizing that time is short (1Cor. 7:29). Let us not take the grace and kindness of God lightly (Rom. 2:4) but in holy conduct and godliness, look for and hasten the coming of the day of God (2Pet. 3:11, 12).

Now to Him who is able to keep us from stumbling, and make us stand in the presence of His glory blameless and with great joy, to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen (Jude 24, 25). 

The God in Psalm 121 (and all other passages in the Holy Bible)

I have often heard or known of Christians who can recite Psalm 121, among other popular Psalms and verses of Scripture, by rote. I have also come across parents insisting that the children read the Psalm over and over again until they can say it without reading. This method is good and can be a stepping stone to increase in faith – for faith comes from hearing and hearing the word of Christ (Rom. 10:17)  – especially for the Christian who is still new in his relationship with the Lord Jesus. However when practiced by the Christian ‘who by this time should be eating solid food’, it can lose its real intended purpose.

I believe that God was, through the inspired Psalmist wanting to show the reader who He really is and how dependable He can be. For after the Psalmist declares: My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth, He describes the One who is his Helper. Here are a few points that may help you see the glory of God.

• Maker of heaven and earth: Our Helper is the all powerful Maker of all things, through whom all things exist and hold together. Though He is invisible to our natural eyes, we need to have our eyes opened to see this Person as a real, living and all powerful One with whom nothing is difficult.

• He will not allow your foot to slip: Our Helper’s protection over us is unparalleled. In another Psalm He says, “The steps of a man are established by the Lord and He delights in his way. When he falls, he shall not be hurled headlong because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.” (Psalm 37:23, 24)
  Oh Lord! Help us to see how You are constantly and caringly watching over us (Psa. 34:15), always interested in our well-being (Jer. 29:11). You are the One who upholds us with Thy righteous right hand (Isa. 41:10).

• He who keeps you will not slumber: What a reassuring thought that the God whom my eyes seek is alert and caringly watchful over me, 24x7 / 365 days for all the days of my life. “In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for Thou alone O Lord dost make me dwell in safety.” (Psa. 4:8)

• Keeper, Protector and Guard: This is what the Lord, the Lord God of Israel so eagerly desires to be. Our shade, our shelter, our fortress. “O dwell in the shelter of the Most High, O my soul; let Him be the place you constantly reside, the One in whom you run and hide completely – for then, thou will abide in the shadow of the Almighty (Psa. 91:1).” 

The purpose of this writing is to encourage each who reads this - Seek the Person behind these assuring promises. Cling to Him with all of your being. Let Him reveal to you His glory - the awesome glory in being your Omnipotent, Caring, Faithful Maker. When you see Him, and not what He does, your faith is built on a solid foundation.

While I have used Psalm 121 as an example to illustrate the glory of the One behind the Psalm, the same is true for all other portions of Scripture. Throughout the Bible, God reveals Himself and His attributes in different ways. The time-setting may be of another era, the situation different, but the immutable God we serve is the same.

This was the difference between Moses and the unbelieving sons of Israel who moved in the desert. One saw His acts, the other understood His ways (Psa. 103:7). This was what separated the following crowd from the Roman centurion, the one of whom it is written, Jesus “marveled” – one saw the miracles and works of Jesus the Messiah, the other saw His authority, power and glory (Lk. 7:2 - 9).

Let us ask God to, through the scripture, reveal the beauty and glory of God that we may depend on, cling to, love dearly and worship completely Him who has called us unto Himself. We will find great delight in the relationship with the Person we relate to.

The Principle of Saving

In an article that appeared in the media, I read about a research that showed that to get through the night, plants do complex and accurate calculations that allows them to use up their starch reserves at a constant rate so that they run out of it almost precisely at dawn. Quoting a Metabolic Biologist the article read, “The calculations are precise so that plants not only prevent starvation but also make the most efficient use of their food. If the starch store is used too fast, plants will starve and stop growing during the night. If the store is used too slowly, some of it will be wasted.”

What scientists are discovering now about the behavior of God’s creation is consistent with the very principle of saving that God was trying to teach us several thousands of years before, even at the Exodus of Israel from Egypt. The Apostle Paul’s words in 2Corinthians 8:15 summarizes this principle: As it is written, “He who gathered much did not have too much and he who gathered little had no lack.”

God’s principle of saving revolves around trusting Him and depending on Him. “Look at the birds of the air,” said our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, “they do not sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.” (Mt. 6:26) Trusting the Creator and depending completely on Him means that one believes this God to be unfailing in faithfulness; mindful and caring; and completely able.

God has demonstrated that He is mindful and caring in that even before He made man, He provided for man (Gen. 1: 11, 27 and 29). God has shown He is faithful in that there is not a day when the birds of the air go unfed or the children of the righteous go hungry (Psa. 37:25). God has demonstrated He is able because it is now over 6000 years since He has created this earth and He still upholds all things by the word of His power (Heb.1:3).

In short, the principle of saving could go like this: Gather only what you need; give the rest cheerfully (2Cor. 9:7) in order to bless those who have need (Eph. 4:28).

However, unbelieving man with his insatiable greed to possess and own has not only violated the principle of God but has abused, robbed and stripped the earth to her present state. Even someone like Gandhi could see this and remark, “There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed.”

The Church has one of the most priceless privileges to demonstrate the faithfulness, care and ability of God. By her complete, absolute and unshakable trust in her Redeemer, she can be that witness of God that He is dependable. The Lord Jesus’ rebuke, “Are you not worth much more than they (birds)?” Mt. 6:26 still sounds clear but is anybody listening? 

Let us strive, with a renewed mind – a mind not conformed to this world or the thinking of this world – to prove and demonstrate what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect (Rom.12:2). As for those who put their trust in Him, they will not be disappointed (Rom. 10:11).

Waiting

The Bible tells us that without faith, it is impossible to please God and that those who come to Him, must believe that He is and that He is the Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Heb. 11:6). Herein lies the secret of waiting. For when we know and are certain of Him whom we cannot see and are fully convinced that the One in whom we wait is true and faithful, we can rest with perfect peace in our waiting (Isa. 26:3). We can be still and behold the working of our God (Psa. 46:10) because He is –

Wise: His wisdom is perfect. His wisdom is manifold or many sided. He never makes a mistake. Whatever He does is precise and beautiful. Not only what but even when He does things is faultless. His timing is always right – never early, never late.

Omniscient: God knows all things. There is nothing hidden from Him. He knows our future. He knows the end from the beginning. He knows what we need before we can even ask Him (Mt. 6:8). He knows all things.
 

Caring and Good: His boundless love towards us and His loving kindness which endures forever causes us to enjoy His goodness and grace. Whatever He does is good. Good from the aspect of it being top quality or first class and good from the aspect that whatever He does is always for our welfare and not for our calamity. This is why the Bible encourages us to come to Him with our weariness and heavy burdens. This is why it encourages us to cast our cares upon Him. The reason is that He cares for us (1Pet. 5:7).
 

He cares for us more than sparrows, which if they could speak, would testify that there is not a single day that they go hungry. He cares for us more than lilies which are clothed with such beauty, despite their brief existence, that even a modern day Solomon – with his Armani suit, Gucci shoes, Rolex watch, Ray-Ban sunglasses with an iPad, MacBook Air and BlackBerry thrown in for style – would not have been able to compare with them. Jesus, asks, “Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Mt. 6:26)
 

All Powerful: He who made the heavens and the earth from nothing – just the Word of His mouth and He who can do the impossible, is the God we believe He is. Nothing is too difficult for Him. With Him, all things are possible.
 

Faithful: His faithfulness reaches the heavens. He can never deny Himself. All may change but He never changes. It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail (Lk. 16:17). If He is faithful in even the little things that He has spoken, how much more will He be faithful and true to His promises? God never fails!
 

No wonder then that the Lord Jesus, as the Son of Man, could show by example as our Forerunner that the will of God was foremost for Him (Heb. 10:7). His food was to do the will of God (Jn. 4:34). Even though He had desires and a will of His own yet He always submitted to His Father’s will (Mt. 26:39, 42, 44). Jesus knew that He was in perfect hands. He knew He could trust in His Father with all His heart and not lean on His own understanding. In all His ways He acknowledged that the ways of His Father was the best (Prov. 3:5, 6). It could not get better.
 

Three different facets of waiting are described below. While in these, I have given examples of my own experiences, I believe the basic underlined aspect of waiting would be the same.
 

1. Waiting for God’s Promises:
 

Scripture is filled with several promises that God has made. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is one of them (Acts 1:4). Now we know that God who has promised cannot lie nor will He change His mind. Yet, though I ask, believing, in Jesus’ Name, I find myself still waiting. I know for certain that my Father will never fail.  For He who has given the promise to His children, will through Jesus Christ fill us with the Holy Spirit and clothe us with power from on high. I am certain that God will fulfill His promise and that no matter how long it takes for its fulfillment, I must and I will wait.
Abraham is a classic example that comes to mind. Though God had given him the promise that he would have a son, he had to wait for almost 25 years to see its fulfillment. It is possible that at each of Sarah’s monthly menstrual cycle of every passing year he would have wondered, “Maybe now, God will fulfill His promise. Maybe this time, we shall see His faithfulness” and each time He would see nothing. Year after year he waited. On one hand He would have recognized how increasingly impossible the situation was getting as he got older; worse still as Sarah’s womb was as good as dead yet on the other hand he clung to the fact that God is faithful to His promises (Rom. 4:19-21). God never fails! Abraham waited. He waited on God in faith, believing that the great “I Am” is who He is and he continued with diligence and perseverance to hold on to the promise (Heb. 6:12). Abraham never gave up!
 

2. Waiting for God’s Will:
 

There are times when we know what God wants us to do. We have recognized His will and observe the direction that He is guiding us into. Yet we simultaneously sense within us that our time has not yet come to do what we recognize He wants us to do. We know we have to wait; for how long we cannot say but that we need to wait, this we know. The Bible has examples of those who knew what God wanted them to do but needed to wait for God’s right time; and that is what they did – they waited. I will cite three examples to bring out this aspect of waiting.
 

Moses is my first example. He would have recognized God’s calling for his life when he was 40. Yet though God’s calling remained unchanged, Moses had to wait. With all his training in Pharaoh’s palace; with all the knowledge and skills he acquired; with all his youthful zeal and fire – God made him wait. He had to wait for nearly 40 years. With all his knowledge and skills; training and zeal, Moses had to wait in his father-in-law’s house doing one of the most ordinary and nondescript things for someone of his stature. Nevertheless, he waited; faithfully tending sheep. He persevered with diligence. He held on to his God with faith. Then at the right time, God’s right time, God met him and went with him in the task he was called. Even after spending several years leading Israel through the wilderness, Moses continued to depend on God’s timing and presence. Exodus 33:15 records for us this attitude: “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here”.
 

David is my second example. Though he was still a young lad, he was chosen and anointed to be the next king of Israel. In that time he learnt submission in waiting. David knew Saul wanted to kill him. He could have easily killed the king for he had the opportunities. He could have used these opportunities to justify his action saying that God had opened a door for him and that in any case he was to rule in Saul’s place. But no! He knew that it was not right to raise his hand against the Lord’s anointed so instead He kept committing himself to Him who judges righteously. The Psalms are filled with this. At the right time, God’s right time, David was given the role he was chosen for.
 

The Lord Jesus is my third example. Though all scripture spoke of His coming and the work He was going to do; though at the age of 12 He knew so much as to confound teachers of the Law – yet He waited. It could have been possible to justify the need for action saying, “There is so much need in the world. I am only here till 33 so I might as well be a blessing to as many as I can for as many years as possible.” But no, Jesus waited in submission to His Father’s will. He waited till He was 30, leading a quiet life, being faithful in a simple job that had nothing to do with His calling as a Messiah. He waited for His Father’s time.
 

Sometimes however, we get impatient while waiting. We want to see some action. We think we can help God with our wisdom and ideas. The result can be disastrous. We see this in Abraham, the father of faith. He got impatient in his long years of waiting He thought he would help God fulfill His promise and acted on Sarah’s “wise” proposal. The result – through Ishmael we have the entire Arab world set its face against Israel, God’s promise through Isaac.
If only we can wait. Wait in perseverance; wait in diligence; wait in faith. We can be certain that as sure as rivers reach the sea or the sun rises in the East – God will show us His faithfulness. We can rest in His faithfulness.
 

3. Waiting on God for things we need but cannot buy:
 

Most often, we ask for material things – a house, a car, gadgets and other equipment. I often ask God for things that will add to my children’s education.  All of what we ask could be legitimate; things that we need. We pray and ask God, for His word says, “Ask.” We say, “Lord, You know all things. You know my need and You are able to supply all my needs according to Your riches in glory” – but often we are not willing to wait either to find His will or for Him to make a way. Instead of waiting, we rush in with our own wisdom acquiring what we have set our hearts to obtain. We rush to sources of the world be it banks and finance companies; be it attractive finance schemes and low EMIs. We put our trust in the strength of the influential and the powerful. We find these ways quicker and more certain than the way of waiting. Our arguments? “How will I know if it is God’s will?” “What if God does not provide?” “How long can I go on waiting?”
 

Isaiah 31:1 says, “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help (Egypt is a simile for the world), and rely on horses, and trust in chariots because they are many, and in horsemen because they are strong, but they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the Lord!” Psalm 147:10 continues in the same vein saying, “He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man. The Lord favours those who fear Him, those who wait for His loving kindness.”
 

The truth is that God’s ways are the best. There is no other way that is better. Besides, His ways are also foolproof and error free. When we wait on God we can be certain that because He cares for us; because His thoughts towards us are always for our welfare; because we are more precious to Him than sparrows whose needs are met without them worrying… this can go on – we are safe in the will of our Father in heaven. He did not withhold His only Son from us; now how much more will He not also bless us with all that is good and all that we need.
 

By waiting for God trying to discern His will we achieve many things with one stroke. 

1. Because we are uncertain as to what His will is, we are constantly seeking His face.
2. Our dependence on Him increases. 
3. We are obedient to His word that says, “Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another.” (Rom. 13:8) 
4. We can be certain that even if we do not have understanding into what His will is, because we put my trust in Him, we will not be put to shame. He will always guide our steps into His best. If it is God’s will for us to have what we ask, He will make a way. If it is not, He will shut the door. 
5. We learn contentment (Php. 4:12). 
6. We are free from the creditor and 
7. Most important of all, we glorify or honour God.

There are times when we can ask God for things in faith, believing, in Jesus’ name. We can wait on Him and diligently seek His face in prayer. Yet, He chooses not to answer. Instead He just strengthens us and says, “My grace is sufficient for you.” (2Cor. 12:9) The Apostle Paul while writing on his experience with earthly needs said, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Php. 4:13) It is with this attitude of submission that we learn to let go and say, “Lord, not my will but Your’s be done. Father in Heaven, glorify Thy name.”
 

I am fully conscious that what I write is not the trend in the world today. But then, the ways of the world are very contrary to the ways of God. Yet, what I write is what I believe the scripture wants us to be. If I am considered a fool by the world, so be it. I know that in Christ Jesus, I am blessed and my reward will be great. If what is written is true and in line with the teachings of the Bible, then let us together have this as our attitude; and if in anything there is a different attitude, God will reveal that also to us (Php. 3:15).

Unfolding the Glory of the Gospel of God

Through Jesus Christ, God has called us to a very glorious calling. The Good News of God that is found in Jesus Christ cannot get any better. It is not only immaculate – free from fault or error but sublime – supreme or outstanding. It is an exceedingly great privilege given to us, mere mortal beings, to experience and enjoy.

All that I write is what we already know but my attempt is to bring together as one document the salient features of this Good News that we may appreciate it the more and exalt and glorify the Architect of this grand plan and purpose by clinging to Him and loving Him more.
Who is the Architect of this great and glorious plan called the Gospel?

He is the everlasting God who rules in majesty and power through all eternity. He is the great ‘I AM’ who made the heavens and the earth, things seen and unseen.
 

He is eternal, which means that he antedates time and is wholly independent of it. Time began in Him and will end in Him. To it He pays no tribute and from it He suffers no change.
 

He is immutable, which means that He has never changed and can never change in any smallest measure. To change He would need to go from better to worse or from worse to better. He cannot do either, for being perfect He cannot become more perfect, and if He were to become less perfect He would be less than God.
 

He is omniscient, which means that He knows in one free and effortless act all matter, all spirit, all relationships, all events. He has no past and He has no future. He is, and none of the limiting and qualifying terms used of creatures can apply to Him.
 

Love and mercy and righteousness are His, and holiness so inexpressible that no comparisons or figures will avail to express it. Only fire can give even a remote conception of it. In fire He appeared at the burning bush; in the pillar of fire He dwelt through all the long wilderness journey. The fire that glowed between the wings of the cherubim in the holy place was called the “shekinah”, the Presence, through the years of Israel’s glory, and when the Old had given place to the New, He came at Pentecost as a fiery flame and rested upon each disciple.
 

In our being given the privilege to come into His Presence, what a broad world we have to roam in, what a sea to swim in is this God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 

The above text in italics is an extract taken from “The Pursuit of God”, by A. W. Tozer
 

This very great God who is described above came down to earth for our sakes. Taking the form of man, He lived as a man for over 33 years and not once did He sin. His sinless, unblemished life He offered on the cross as a sacrifice for our sake. Taking upon Himself the punishment that we deserved, He now offers salvation to those who believe in Him and acknowledge the work He did for our sakes. By salvation we mean that He takes away the punishment that is actually due to us because of our sin and wrongdoing so that we should not perish but have eternal life.

For if our sin is still with us and we are not cleansed by the blood of Jesus and we are not forgiven by the mercy of God, then on the Day of Judgment when all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ we shall be condemned to be punished in eternal hell where the fire is not quenched and the worm does not die. In that place there is suffering and torment not for a brief time but for eternity – time without end.

The Glory of the Gospel

Repentance:
 

By the mercy of God and the conviction He brought in my heart, I regretted my past actions and all the things I had done wrong. I came before the Lord Jesus and told Him I was sorry. I asked Him to forgive me and not hold my wrongdoings against me. That very moment, God, Who knows the hearts of all men, took me at my word. He forgave me, called me to Himself and blessed me beyond measure, through Jesus Christ.

Below are the blessings I received in the gospel when I come to the Lord Jesus with a repentant heart.

Through Jesus Christ, our precious Lord and Saviour I am –

1.    Forgiven:

 
(a) Sin, disobedience and rebellion had kept me far away from God. But the blood of Jesus Christ, through His sacrifice on the cross, cleansed me of all my sin, washed me and made me white as snow (Isa. 1:18).

(b) Not only was I cleansed, but also forgiven. All my past disobedience; all my rebellion; all the hurtful things I did or said; God held it to my account no longer (1Jn. 1:9). He said that as far as East is from the West, so far were my sins removed from me (Ps. 103:12). He also promised that He would remember them no more (Isa. 43:25).

(c) If that were not enough, the blood of Jesus Christ freed me from all guilt (Ps. 32:5). The cleansing work of Christ is so powerful that I have no need to feel guilty of any wrong that I had done, however bad it was. The devil’s attempt to accuse me, remind me or make me guilty of my past wrongs cannot stand.

2.    Reconciled:

 
(a) The Bible tells me that I, personally, was a Gentile – not a descendant of Abraham. I was separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise (Eph. 2:12). I was by nature a wild olive tree but through Jesus was grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree (Rom. 11:24).

(b) Not only this, I was disobedient, having no hope and without God in the world (Eph. 2:12). But now by the mercy and kindness of God toward me in Christ Jesus, though I was formerly far off, I have now been brought near (reconciled), by the blood of Christ (Eph. 2:13).

3.    Redeemed:

 
While I lived in disobedience to God, I was a slave to sin (Rom. 6:17). Sin was my master and the outcome of my service to sin was death (Rom. 6:20, 21). There was no other benefit from the things of which I am now ashamed.

(a) But thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, my old self was crucified with Jesus on the cross and my body of sin has been done away with. Now I am no longer a slave to sin (Rom. 6:6). In Christ Jesus, I am a new creation. I can now consider myself dead to sin and alive to God (Rom. 6:11).

(b) Now, since I am under God’s favour (grace), sin shall not be master over me (Rom. 6:14). Because, in Jesus, I have been freed from sin, the members in my body can be slaves of righteousness (Rom. 6:18). I can now walk in the newness of life (Rom. 6:4).

(c) Also, having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, I derive a benefit, that results in sanctification and the outcome, eternal life (Rom. 6:22).

(d) Not only this, Christ redeemed me from the curse that was upon me because of my disobedience. Instead, He became the curse for me in order that the blessings of Abraham might come upon me (Gal. 3:13, 14).

 
4.    Justified:

 
(a) Because I believed in Christ Jesus as the One whose sacrifice made me clean, that one act of faith made me righteous and put me in right standing before God (Rom. 4:5). When I was a sinner, I was cut off from this holy and righteous God. Now through Jesus, by faith, I have been clothed with the righteousness of Jesus (Isa. 61:10) and can come boldly in the Name of Jesus before God, confident that God will not cast me away from His presence. Because of Jesus, God now sees and accepts me as righteous.

(b) I also find that though I am a new creation in Christ Jesus; and though with my mind I love God with all my heart and eagerly desire to please Him (Rom. 7:22), yet there is another power at work within me; a power that is at war with my mind. It makes me a prisoner to the law of sin which is in my members (Rom. 7:23). I find that on one hand, with my conscious being – my mind, I am serving the law of God, yet on the other hand, with my flesh, I have the law of sin (Rom. 7:25). But thanks be to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord, though I have this law of sin within my members (what we sometimes call ‘unconscious sin’), I do not have to feel condemned (Rom. 8:1). For the law of the Spirit of life in Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and of death (Rom. 8:2). In Jesus, I am righteous before God, if I walk in the ways of the Holy Spirit and not in the ways of my flesh (Rom. 8:4).

5.    Born Again as a New Creation:

 
As a child of Adam, I was born with sin (Rom. 5:12). But when Christ Jesus forgave me of my sin, I was born again as a new creation, not from earthly parentage, but by the Spirit of God (Jn. 3:5, 6). Hence as a new creation, I am born again; not in sin but righteous.

When the Lord Jesus was born on earth, He was born of a virgin by the Holy Spirit (Mt. 1:20). Hence He was sinless from birth. Now, as a new creation in Christ Jesus, I too am born again by the Holy Spirit; made blameless and righteous (2Cor.: 5:21, 17); so that the life I now live, I live no longer for myself, but for Him who died and rose again on my behalf (2Cor. 5:15).

For this reason since Christ Jesus, who sanctifies us and we who are sanctified are all from one Father, He is not ashamed to call us brethren (Heb.2:11). Romans 8:29 calls Him the first-born among many brethren.

6.    Made a Child of God:

 
We have so far seen how great the calling of God has been for us through Jesus Christ. But as we proceed, we discover much more. Through Jesus, we are made children of God (1Jn. 3:1; Jn. 1:12).

Now, I have heard this truth from my childhood and so it is very easy for me to take this blessing for granted. In some ways there is a danger of this great privilege losing its importance. The truth is that this blessing is one of the most glorious privileges of the gospel.

We saw in the introduction how full of glory our God is. He who is the Creator of all things; He who is the Most High, who rules in majesty and power forever; Who has authority over everything, on this earth, over the earth and under the earth; before Whom every knee will bow – such a powerful, awesome Person has considered me His child and through Jesus, this God has become my Father (Jn. 20:17). What an overwhelming privilege!

7.    A Temple of God:

 
Another remarkable privilege that we enjoy in Jesus is the fact that God, the Holy Spirit, the third Person in the Holy Trinity has made me His dwelling place (Jn. 14:16). The Lord God has been so wonderfully gracious, He said, “I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you.” (Jn. 14:18) As a new creation, I am now the temple of the Holy Spirit (1Cor. 6:19). God Almighty lives in me. God is with me.

(a) It is the Holy Spirit who gives my spirit new life (Jn. 6:63; 2Cor. 3:6).

(b) It is the Holy Spirit who has become my Councilor, my Teacher and my Guide. It is He who gives me insight into the Word of God and gives me understanding and revelation (Jn. 14:26; 16:13).

(c) It is He who trains me in righteousness and equips me for every good work (2Tim. 3:16, 17).

(d) It is He who is my seal of redemption (Eph. 1:13, 14).

(e) It is the Holy Spirit who shows me the glory of Christ (Jn. 16:14).

8.    Filled with the Holy Spirit:

 
If that were not enough, God the Father, has promised (Acts 1:4) that through Jesus, He will fill me, and immerse me with the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:5). When the Holy Spirit comes upon me, I am clothed with power from heaven (Acts 1:8). I am given enabling to do things I could never do as a mortal being (Jn. 14:12). He gives me gifts or supernatural abilities to use in building the church (1Cor. 14:12) or to confirm what He is saying (Heb. 2:3, 4).

It pleases the Father to give us this promise when in Jesus we simply ask Him (Lk. 11:13). The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a gift (Acts. 2:38) from God the Father through Jesus Christ (Jn.14:16). There are times when God has given this promise instantly when people asked Him (Acts 19:6), sometimes before even people have asked (Acts 10:44) and sometimes after a long period of persistent asking (Lk. 11:8 in context vs. 13).

God, who is the same, unchanging Father from generation to generation (Heb. 13:8) and who is Faithful and True (Rev. 19:11) – for He can never lie nor does He change His mind (1Sam. 15:29) – is pleased and happy to fill us with the promised Holy Spirit (Lk. 11:13). So even if one has not received this baptism, ask and it will be given (Lk. 11:9). It is a blessing of the gospel that we simply cannot let pass. We must have it. We must ask and keep on asking until we are certain that we are filled. Stephen, the first Christian martyr was filled with the Holy Spirit. He was a man full of faith, full of grace, full of wisdom and full of power (Acts 6:5, 8, 10). What a blessed gift we have in the gospel.

9.    Constantly Saved (Jesus, our Saviour):

 
(a) Jesus saved me from eternal death and punishment in hell fire when I came to Him in repentance.

(b) He delivers me from evil (Mt. 5:13). Every time I am tempted to do or say or think something that will not please God, I can cry out to Him who saves (Ps. 145:19). He strengthens me by giving me His power and delivers me from wickedness.

(c) He saves me from those who plot against me (Ps. 106:10)

(d) and from deadly plagues and diseases (Ps. 91:3).

(e) He saves me and rescues me from mistakes and blunders (Job 36:10).

The Lord Jesus is constantly saving me. The Bible tells us that He saves forever those who draw near to God, through Him (Heb. 7:25).

10.    Constantly Defended (Jesus, our Advocate):

 
The Lord Jesus forgives and cleanses me from all unrighteousness (1Jn.1:9). He has made me a new creation so that I no longer give my members – my thoughts, my eyes, my tongue, and my actions – as instruments of unrighteousness but as slaves to righteousness.

The Apostle John says, “I am writing to you that you may not sin. Yet, if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” (1Jn. 2:1) He defends me. He pleads for me. Jesus Christ battles for me (2Chr. 20:15, 17).

11.    Constantly Supported (Jesus, our High Priest):
 

The Lord Jesus constantly intercedes and prays on my behalf (Rom. 8:34). He stands before the Father making intercession for me (Heb. 7:25; 9:24). The Bible tells me, the Holy Spirit is also interceding for me (Rom. 8:27). The Good News is that God is on my side. He is for me. (Rom. 8:31; Ps. 118:6).

Jesus is my merciful High Priest. He understands all my difficulties and sympathises with me when I am tempted (Heb.4:15). He is my Helper who has promised to never leave me nor forsake me (Heb. 13:5). He never gives up on me. He is constantly there to pick me up, to cleanse me, to encourage me and strengthen me. He is the God of all comfort (2Cor. 1:3). A battered reed He will not break off and a smoldering wick He does not put out (Mt. 12:20). How wonderful is my Lord God!

12.    Constantly Protected:
 

In the Gospel, through Jesus Christ, I can feel safe and secure in the arms of my Father because the Bible tells me that I am protected by God (1Pet. 1:5). No one can snatch me out of His hand (Jn. 10:28, 29). There is no one who can bring a charge against me nor condemn me. There is nothing that can separate me from Him (Rom. 8:33-35). He is my hiding place, my fortress and my deliverer (Ps. 32:7; Ps. 18:2). Blessed be His Name!

13.    Constantly Strengthened:

In the Gospel that God has granted to me through Jesus Christ, I am not left to struggle on my own nor do I have to be afraid as I face daily the numerous conflicts and temptations within me and outside me; for God is my strength and my salvation (Ex. 15:2). He gives strength to the weary and to him who lacks might, He increases power. The strong and capable people may tire and fall but when I wait on God I have enabling and ability to conquer and live victoriously such that I can soar victoriously like an eagle. By the power of God, I can run and will not be weary, walk and not faint (Isa. 40:29-31).

Through the gospel, my victorious Lord Jesus, leads me into victory. (Rom. 8:37; 1Cor. 15:57) The same power of God that raised Jesus from the dead is at work within me and gives life to my mortal being through the Holy Spirit who lives in me (Rom. 8:11; Eph. 1:19, 20). 

14.    Constantly Blessed:

In Christ Jesus, I am blessed by God. While I live here on the earth, I enjoy the blessings that God desires to shower upon me through Christ Jesus. Consider some of these blessings:

(a) Every good and perfect gift is directed toward me (Jas. 1:17).

(b) Every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places has been kept for me (Eph. 1:3).

(c) Through Jesus Christ, my Lord I am favoured; I am made glad and happy; I am contented and full of joy.

(d) I dwell under the shadow of the Almighty (Ps. 91:1).

(e) The Lord’s face shines upon me. He is gracious and kind to me (Num. 6:24-26).

(f) All that I do, He prospers (Ps. 1:3).

I must state here that the blessings of God are linked to our faithfulness in the covenant that we have with God, through Jesus (Deut. 28: 1-15). The Word of God has made it amply clear that when we are obedient (Jn. 13:17; Mt. 5:19); when we love God (Jn. 14:14, 15); when we make Him, not the resources of the world, our shelter (Isa. 31:1); when we put our trust in Him and not in the strength and power of influential and rich men (Ps. 147:10, 11) then we will be blessed.

15.    Constantly Guided:
 

Another blessed truth in the Gospel is that in Jesus I have the all-wise and all-knowing God to guide me (Ps. 23:3); to give me understanding and revelation (Col. 1:9); to direct my steps (2Thes. 3:5) and to guard my way (Prov. 2:8). He does so with utmost patience. While dealing with me, He is full of mercy and compassion. My God never gives up on me. How great and wonderful is He!

16.    Given the Privilege to Fellowship with God:
 

Here is another one of the great privileges given to reconciled man, through Jesus Christ in the gospel. As a redeemed child of God I have opportunity to enjoy a daily companionship and friendship with the Lord, God Almighty. My relationship with Him is not just one way, where it is only me talking to Him in prayer but the bond I share with Him through Jesus is a true connection. God talks to me too.
 

I can testify that in the recent past, as I consistently lived each day with the single-minded focus that God be glorified and honoured in me and as I clung to each word in His Word – in faith and obedience – making it the sole basis on which I make all my life’s decisions, God has been gracious and kind to speak to me regularly. I still stumble and fall and I still do things that grieve Him, but because He is the merciful, compassionate God that we read of earlier, He picks me up and leads me on into a closer and enriching relationship with Him.
 

Herein lies the big difference that make a Christian realize that his walk with Jesus Christ is not a religion, it is a relationship. No amount of knowledge, degrees, training or anything that is deemed by the world as ‘spiritual’ – such as spending time in church, reading the Bible, preaching, etc. despite the great value it has – can bring about this relationship. The only thing that makes the connection real is a fellowship or companionship that one can enjoy with the Holy Spirit. Frequently, He speaks to my heart, reminding me of His Word – to encourage me, forewarn me; correct me and build me. In the gospel, God has purposed that I not only have the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, but also the fellowship of the Holy Spirit (2Cor. 13:14).  
 

17.    Given the Privilege to Know God:
 

Each blessing we have seen above is so beautiful and all this is because of Jesus, our Saviour. The magnificent thing is that these blessings continue. The opportunity to know God while we are here on earth is another amazing and exceedingly great privilege given to us in Christ Jesus in the Gospel. Though we are as earthen vessels we have this surpassingly great blessing to know Him and with our inner eyes, see Him.
 

The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God to enlighten me. He reveals things about God I never had seen before; He gives me understanding into His ways that had escaped my attention in the past. Though I am like a small cup in a vast and deep ocean the simple insights I receive of God thrills my heart to no end. The Holy Spirit shows me the different attributes of God revealing them to me much like shining a torch on a beautiful object in a dark room. The attributes were always there; I read of and heard of these being spoken of by others before. Now suddenly I see it with my own eyes. The Holy Spirit unveils our eyes and we see as one beholding in a mirror the glory of the Lord, dim though it may be, nevertheless real (2Cor. 3:18).
 

For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ (2Cor. 4:6).
 

This knowledge not only increases my faith in God but also spurs me to love Him more.
 

Another thing that the Holy Spirit does while revealing to me the glory of God is showing me the glory of Christ. “He shall glorify Me,” said our precious Master while describing the work of the Holy Spirit. “For He shall take of Mine and shall disclose them to you.” (Jn. 16:14) By opening our eyes to the glory of Jesus we suddenly understand that none of the things we are enjoying and none of the blessings we are sharing in would have been possible if it were not for Jesus Christ. In all things the Spirit reminds me, “through Jesus”, “in Jesus” and “because of Jesus” I am blessed. This understanding makes me just want to fall to the ground, face down and worship Him.    
 

18.    Hopeful that I will be Resurrected/Raptured:
 

Because of all this, I cannot but eagerly wait for the Lord to come and take me to be with Him forever. My heart in eager anticipation constantly looks to the Lord crying, “Come, Lord Jesus!” In the gospel, Jesus has promised that He Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall be with the Lord (1Thes. 4:16, 17).
 

The Bible also tells me that when this happens, we shall be changed. Our mortal, perishable bodies will put on the imperishable (1Cor. 15:52, 53). There are days (I have noticed this increasingly frequent in the recent weeks or months) when I groan, not because I am tired and frustrated of this life, but I groan with a longing that I be clothed with the dwelling (or body) from heaven (2 Cor. 5:2). I wait eagerly for the Lord Jesus to take me home to Himself.
 

I begin to understand what Paul meant when he said, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain… to live on in the flesh is fruitful labour… but I have this desire to depart and be with Christ for that is very much better.” (Phil. 1:21-23) My hope, that this will surely take place, is real. It is a certainty through Jesus Christ in the gospel and sits on my head like a helmet (Eph. 6:17).
 

19.    Promised Eternal Life:
 

And when I am home in heaven with the Lord, I will be in that place of beauty and perfection and glory; the place God had always wanted us to be even when He placed Adam and Eve on earth – a place free from sin, suffering, hunger, tears and pain (Rev. 7:16, 17); a place where righteousness and worship abounds (Rev. 22:5; 7:15).

There will I see the glory of my God (1Jn. 3:2). There will I behold Him (Rev. 22:4); and worship Him (Rev. 15:4); and know Him more (1Cor. 13:12). In that place He will crown me with the crown of righteousness (2Tim. 4:8) and will cause me to sit with Him on His throne (Rev. 3:21). He will give me a new name (Rev. 2:17) that could define what I am to do. (Names given by God often describe the task of the person. For example, Jesus means, He saves.) There, I will reign forever and ever (Rev. 22:5; 5:10). Through Jesus Christ, I have been given the promise that I will not perish but have eternal life (Jn. 3:16). How excellent is this Good News from God. It is so good, it cannot get any better.

Means to Help us in our Walk with God

In addition to all the blessings that we have through Jesus Christ’s work on the cross, as we have seen above, God has blessed us with a few more things – the Bible calls some of these weapons – that will help us in our walk as a new creation on this earth. These are:

1. His Word: All 66 book in the Holy Bible is the true, faithful and absolutely reliable word that God Himself has given to us so that we could use it as a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. The Bible is not just a compilation of books written centuries ago in an era of slaves and kingdoms, but is living and relevant for our modern, technologically advanced generation of today and will continue to be for all ages. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever (Isa. 40:8).
 

2. Prayer: The second great weapon that God has given us is the power of prayer. Almost all of us may confess that we have grossly underestimated the power there is when a person comes to God, in simple child-like faith and asks Him in the name of Jesus for anything.
Prayer can move mountains. Prayer can stop armies. Prayer can do what no one else can do. It does the impossible. Prayer can do all this not because the power of prayer is in the one who prays, but in the One who answers. God is the One who hears prayer and He answers it. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, we have bold access to the Almighty God our Father and can come to Him any time; every time and He will never cast us away (Jn. 6:37). He is a prayer answering God and never fails those who put their trust in Him (Rom. 10:11).
 

3. Church: Another very precious means of building ourselves into a close walk with God is the church. The body of Christ, comprising of redeemed, sanctified souls is another place where God meets with His children and speaks to them. He tells us that He is there when two or three gather in His Name. Through the enabling and anointing He gives to different members in the church, He builds, edifies and encourages our hearts; tearing down what He needs to tear down and strengthening what He needs to strengthen – for He knows the hearts of all men, even the deepest of their thoughts – and helps those who draw near to Him.
 

4. His working: Daily, the Lord God who neither slumbers, nor sleeps is working in our lives. He causes all things to work for the good of those who love Him (Rom. 8:28). So even when, to our human intellect and understanding, everything seems to be going out of control and though it may seem that we are losing everything, remember our God who sits upon the throne and who reigns forever and ever, has got everything in control.
 

Not only that, the Bible assures our hearts that God’s thoughts towards us are always for our welfare (Jer. 29:11). We may never understand why God does things the way He does them, but we can rest in the knowledge that His ways are higher than our ways (Isa. 55:9) and He never fails.  He says, “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psa. 46:10) As a good Shepherd, He guides us each day, through different events and circumstances. He builds us, to make us better, stronger more beautiful and priceless children of His. He wants us to trust Him and not lean on our understanding (Pro. 3:5) so that as a master Potter He can fashion us for His glory (Jer. 18:6; 2Tim. 2:20, 21).
 

The Bible also tells us that God works in us to “will” and “to do” all things that please Him (Php. 2:13). If there is any good thing that we do; anything noble; anything of good repute; this is not from ourselves but from God for only God is good (Lk. 18:19; Rom. 7:18). It is God who puts the willingness in our hearts and it is God who gives the ability and grace to carry it out so that in all things, from first to last, God alone would be honoured and receive all glory (1Pet. 4:11).
       
 

What sort of people should we be?

Having now seen what a glorious gospel we have been called to; having now comprehended that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness (2Pet. 1:3); having now understood that He has granted to us precious and magnificent promises (2Pet, 1:4); having now the understanding that since God did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for our sakes will much more now also freely give us all things (Rom. 8:32) – what sort of people ought we to be?

The Word of God tells us that we should live our life worthy of the calling we have received (Eph. 4:1). How shall we do that?

1. Please God: The Bible tells us that we should make it our ambition to please God (2Cor. 5:9). There are two ways we can please God – (a) live in absolute faith, trust and dependence on Him (Heb. 11:6) and (b) live in obedience (1Sam. 15:22).

2. Undistracted Devotion: The Lord desires that our love for Him be complete and undistracted (1Cor. 7:35). If we say we love Him and also love other things or people the Bible calls us adulteresses (Jas. 4:4) and a liar (1Jn. 2:3, 4, 15).

3. Honour God: God is honoured when (a) we make every single word in the Bible our guide for all decisions we make; put our complete trust in it, no matter what, even if the whole world considers us a fool; and (b) when we show our trust in Him and His word by being obedient to it. Complete obedience, even when we cannot understand or do not have answers to anything honours God. God is honoured because though we do not see Him, we have believed in Him. He is honoured because though He is unseen yet we obey Him and do everything to please Him.

Look closely at the above three points and you will notice two key words written in different ways – Trust and Obey. The gospel is not complicated. The New Covenant that Jesus Christ has instituted through His blood between us and God, the Father is very simple. All God desires from us in this covenant is to: (a) believe in Him and the saving, redeeming work of Jesus Christ recognizing that it is Christ’s work and His work alone that makes us righteous and (b) live righteous, holy, sanctified lives with the members of our body.

Now to Him who is able to keep us from stumbling, and to make us stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy; to the only God our Saviour, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen (Jude 24, 25).