1. God is love! His love is not simply a human
characteristic, nor is it defined merely by human means. Since God is love,
then His love is an eternal quality that is beyond creation. His love is
defined by His character and not our whim/feelings or definitions. Love is a
revelation to mankind. He has shown it to us(understatement) in the sacrifice
of His Son Jesus the Christ on our behalf.
2. God is Just and Sovereign. He is Lord and has set a
standard for His creation and called it good. All mankind has sinned and fallen
short of that standard, but because of His grace, mercy, and love, He has given
us Jesus, a saviour and justifier. Being fully perfect and obedient to God the
Father, He died in our place to save us from our sins and the penalty of
death(eternal separation from God). This salvation was not mere forgiveness,
but based on a very real sacrifice. All the world was born into sin(a wide
variety of it too) and all sinners, but we in Christ are born again. The old
has "died" with Christ and His Holy Spirit is placed in us to make us
Holy.
3. Being so justified
we are no longer to remain in sins power, although we may each endure our own
forms of temptations and sufferings. Yet, these are passing trials(not even
comparable to suffering death on a cross and taking the sin of the whole
world), and these trials we can overcome by the strength and grace of our Lord
Jesus the Christ. We must, in His power, fix our minds on His Spirit and not
return to a mind/heart set on our old sinful natures, that can only lead to
death. Even our consciences can be cleansed by the blessed blood of our Saviour,
washed whiter than snow. This is a God thing and not something we do ourselves.
4. Temptation is not sin, just because we are tempted in a
specific way does not mean we are guilty, nor does it mean we must give into
that temptation. Someone who is tempted to lie is not a liar until they commit
the act(or commit it in their heart). But even so we have a Saviour who has
saved us and forgiven all of our sin, past, present, and future(in so much as
we may stumble). The danger comes if and when we accept sin, or the lifestyle
of sin. All sin is rebellion against God so to accept sin as a viable way of
life is to rebel and reject the love and grace of Christ and His sacrifice on
the cross. We are called to freedom, not freedom to sin but freedom to live and
abide in eternal life. Jesus is that Life.
5. Because of this great salvation we rejoice and praise our
Saviour and Lord Jesus the Messiah. We rejoice because He has given us the
means to overcome. When Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery "Go and
sin no more" He was giving more than a command but a promise and blessing.
The Law(God's Holy standard) was good, but mankind could not keep it. We have
an enemy that has filled the world with temptations, and human hearts are prone
to go astray. What misery and sadness encompass mankind because our "free
will" which is born under slavery to sin. But Jesus, the fulfiller of the
Law, said "Go and sin no more." A blessing and a promise of the new
life we have in Him. Praise Jesus! We are no longer slaves of sin, if we were
we could not be called children of God(instead we would be children of the
devil). But we are called children of God. Are children born as adults full
grown and complete? No, they need to mature. Like when a seed is planted in the
ground, and it "dies"/transforms and it becomes something quite different
and much greater.... a tree etc. So we also who are in Christ die, and a new more
glorious life begins in us, quite different from the old one.
6. We are not called to judge! But we are also called not to
return to the destructive character of our old sinful natures. His love
disciplines like a Father disciplines a child, to lead us away from trouble and
destruction, toward a true and good life, one that can last forever with Him.
Even so we know that our battles and struggles are not merely against flesh and
blood, and we are given "weapons and armour" to stand firm in His
mighty power. "Ephesians 6:10-17 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and
in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your
stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and
blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of
this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly
realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil
comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done
everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around
your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet
fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to
all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the
flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of
the Spirit, which is the word of God."
7. While we were sinners Christ died for us. I do not desire
to condemn people, but because we are (in Jesus) to be light and salt(a preservative)
to the earth. Then we must stand firm on His teaching and the authority of
Jesus. He came to destroy the works of satan and to follow Him means to repent,
and reject all forms of sin. That is not to say, we should reject the people,
for He came to seek and to save that which was lost, and we are called to
likewise share the Gospel(which involves repentance).
To turn to Jesus requires a repentant and humble heart. To
accept the love of God means also to accept His salvation both from death and
our old sinful natures. But even so His salvation is His work not ours. He can give us the heart we need, and the faith to overcome. Praise God! "for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose. Phil. 2:13" I still struggle daily with temptations, worries,
struggles, and a life that is being bent by society and my old selfish desire to
conform and share community with the world instead of keeping my eyes strictly
on Jesus , but I know that He is faithful to keep me and enable me to abide and overcome in Him. So I praise God, and if you've read this I pray this
encourages you. Jesus loves you!!! both now and forever! Because of who He is!
Anyway those are
just a few points of my faith. God bless :)
