Side Note: All notes and articles found in this post is credited as Rev Dr Steve Reynolds who spoke at Life BP Church on Sunday, 30th March 2008.
Today's passage is taken from 1 Corinthians 15: 1-11.
The passage today recounts the death as well as resurrection of Christ. It is mentioned that "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;" in v3. It then further goes on to tells us how "He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" in v4. One point we can take note of here, is that Jesus fulfilled the prophecies as mentioned in the Bible! No other religion in the world has had someone to truly fulfill prophecies, if any, stated in their "holy book".
From v5-8, it is accounted that Jesus was seen by many people after His resurrection. Firstly Cephas, then the twelve disciples to name a few. How is it possible, that after having so many witnesses, people still refuse to believe that the Lord is risen? Well, one common reason given, is that people do not believe what they do not see.
Moving alongto the main topic, why was the resurrection necessary? The answer is simple. Death.
Every human being here on earth is subjected to death, you and I alike. Why resurrection then? This is because when Christ rose from the dead, he conquered death itself! Hence, those who have believed in Him are saved from eternal death and suffering. Have you ever seen a bad pattern in your life? Or a bad problem? If your answer is no, that is a lie.
When our forefathers, Adam and Eve, sinned, we likewise were born into this world of sin, having "inherited" their sinful nature. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23. Hence, it is needful for someone to come rescue us from death itself. This person is the Lord Jesus.
By Christ's death on the cross, we can see His infinitely love for us, and that He loved us so much as to pay the price for our sin. It wasn't even His own! But He paid the penalty for us by dying on that cruel tree. Will you still not come to Him? The blameless one who bore our iniquity and died for us? This was the rescue plan that God had planned out from eternity past. Through His resurrection, we can see His omnipotentcy, and that He is powerful enough to break the bonds of death. Oh how great the sacrifice our Saviour paid, but through that purchase, He saved the elect.
And so, rescue for the lost is attempted. Just like someone who is drowning in the pool, we are helpless to save ourselves. Christ, on the other hand, is the life guard, who throws the life buoy toward us. However, through all our struggling to save ourselves, we sometimes push the life buoy aside and refuse to grab hold of the buoy. In the end, the life guard stands there, shaking his head, because although a life could have been saved, the drowning person refused to be saved by someone else.
So the question is, are we willing to give up our own plans for rescue, to trust in the Lord's offer of rescue? Search the scriptures, and any other "holy book" or religion. But if you are really finding the antidote to death, Christ is the only way.
"I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:" John 11:25
May this short devotion bring the lost others to Christ, as well as rekindle the first love of those believers who have lost it.
God Bless.
Timo
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Sunday, March 16, 2008
For Ye Are All One In Christ Jesus
Today's devotional passage will be from Galatians 3:26-29. Do in your own free time read through the whole chapter to get a deeper view into the topic. Also remember that this is just a short devotion which is aimed at encouraging Christian brothers/sisters as well as to serve to minister to the unsaved. =)
v26: For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
> All those who believe in Jesus are children of God.
> How we believe is by faith, that Jesus came down from Heaven to die for our sins on the cross.
> What is faith? Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).
v27: For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
> "baptized into Christ" basically means to acknowledge Christ as your personal Saviour.
> However, baptism does not save. Only by accepting Christ as you personal Saviour and believing that He came down to Earth to die for us and take away our sins, and is risen can you be saved.
> All of us who have believed in Christ are saved, and we are reminded that we have to put on the new man.
> Eph 4:24 describes the new man as "after God is created in righteousness and true holiness". In other words, when we put on the new man, we are putting on righteousness and holiness, attributes which can only describe God.
> How this is possible is because when we are saved, we are being sanctified, or being transformed to be more Christ-like.
v28: There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ya are all one in Christ Jesus.
> See the contrasting words used in the verse: 1) Jew | Greek
2) bond | free
3) male | female
> These words are used in order to show that no matter how different we may be, be it racially, status wise, or physically, all who are saved are ONE in Christ.
> This shows the unity and harmony that should exist in the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27)
v29: And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
> The promise in this verse speaks of the promise God gave to Abraham, which can be found in Genesis 17:4, which reads "As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations."
> So when we are children of God, we are, actually, the fulfilment of God's promise to Abraham, which was that he was to "be a father of many nations"!
Conclusion: > Whenever we think that there is no one who can relate to us and when we seem to be searching for our identity, our Heavenly Father knows us the best, and we can be known as the sons of God.
> As for those out of the kingdom of Christ, hasten now as the day of atonement draws nigh.
If you have any queries, do not hesitate to contact me. Thx..
In Christ,
Timo
v26: For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
> All those who believe in Jesus are children of God.
> How we believe is by faith, that Jesus came down from Heaven to die for our sins on the cross.
> What is faith? Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).
v27: For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
> "baptized into Christ" basically means to acknowledge Christ as your personal Saviour.
> However, baptism does not save. Only by accepting Christ as you personal Saviour and believing that He came down to Earth to die for us and take away our sins, and is risen can you be saved.
> All of us who have believed in Christ are saved, and we are reminded that we have to put on the new man.
> Eph 4:24 describes the new man as "after God is created in righteousness and true holiness". In other words, when we put on the new man, we are putting on righteousness and holiness, attributes which can only describe God.
> How this is possible is because when we are saved, we are being sanctified, or being transformed to be more Christ-like.
v28: There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ya are all one in Christ Jesus.
> See the contrasting words used in the verse: 1) Jew | Greek
2) bond | free
3) male | female
> These words are used in order to show that no matter how different we may be, be it racially, status wise, or physically, all who are saved are ONE in Christ.
> This shows the unity and harmony that should exist in the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27)
v29: And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
> The promise in this verse speaks of the promise God gave to Abraham, which can be found in Genesis 17:4, which reads "As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations."
> So when we are children of God, we are, actually, the fulfilment of God's promise to Abraham, which was that he was to "be a father of many nations"!
Conclusion: > Whenever we think that there is no one who can relate to us and when we seem to be searching for our identity, our Heavenly Father knows us the best, and we can be known as the sons of God.
> As for those out of the kingdom of Christ, hasten now as the day of atonement draws nigh.
If you have any queries, do not hesitate to contact me. Thx..
In Christ,
Timo
Saturday, March 15, 2008
To Seek The Lost...
The weight of the matter never occured to me... Why do some people reject the wondrous work which Christ did on the cross? Is there something that some people see but others don't? Or maybe it's because it has been predestined to be this way, like everything else has been by the almighty Father above...
I am resolved no longer to linger,
charmed by the world's delight.
Things which are higher,
things which are nobler,
these have allured my sight.
I will hasten to Him,
hasten so glad and free.
Jesus, greatest, highest,
I will come to thee.
And so it is, that I thank the Lord for this awakening from my "slumber". I am now resolved to fulfill the great commision given to us by Jesus.
"Now is the accepted time."
In Christ
Timo
I am resolved no longer to linger,
charmed by the world's delight.
Things which are higher,
things which are nobler,
these have allured my sight.
I will hasten to Him,
hasten so glad and free.
Jesus, greatest, highest,
I will come to thee.
And so it is, that I thank the Lord for this awakening from my "slumber". I am now resolved to fulfill the great commision given to us by Jesus.
"Now is the accepted time."
In Christ
Timo
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