GIVE THANKS FOR THE GOOD
This year let's be determined to focus on what is good in our lives - everyday - and give God thanks (even for the trials and hardships. They teach us spiritual toughness, if we allow them). It's one of the keys of living in faith and grace, by the Spirit. Thanks giving, rejoicing and trusting that God is working for our good in all things at all times - because he LOVES US and sees us as righteous in Christ. O yeah! Good News again. - You see, I even encourage and excite myself when I write of God's goodness.The alternative is to be sucked into a fleshy and worldly whirlpool of negativity that discolors everything and induces anger, self pity and robs us of life.
Php 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Be blessed today and draw on the LIFE that is Jesus.
2104 A YEAR OF FAVOR & JUBILEE
2014 will be a year of great blessing for those who accept Jesus' grace and the promptings of the Holy Spirit - But not only 2014, as we now live in a endless dispensation of God's love, grace and blessing through Jesus. Watch the video by clicking either link below.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151784336386736&l=6034214166669267413
2014 A YEAR OF FAVOR NOT LAWS
Most of Paul's letters were addressed to two distinct camps that divided the churches. Jewish background Christians who mixed grace with Law. And Gentile believers with a Pagan background who accepted grace without the need for the Jewish Law.
Paul never taught that those in Christ should come under the Law, he taught that we can live moral and righteous lives by the Spirit and in by loving. We all desire right actions. Amen to that. But the scriptures make it perfectly clear that keeping rules and laws can never be the root of righteous living and actions -as Israel discovered over and over (Rom.9).
The Law (the 10 commandments etc.) does have value - in exposing self righteousness and religious hypocrisy i.e. it reminds us ALL that we sin and in our self effort we all fall short of God Holiness and therefore continually need God's grace and love. Those who think they can mix grace and Law are mistaken , just like Israel was. Thank God, Jesus opened up a new way of living:- Rom.6:14 "For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace". It is only His grace, empowering us by the Spirit to love, that can fulfill the law. (Rom.13:10) and God's Holy standards. We don't need religious rules and laws in the New Covenant - we have the Spirit and grace. Both of which we have in overflowing abundance through Jesus whose Spirit lives in us. Be confident that you are a blessed child of God and let 2014 be the year of grace and the Spirit. And see the abundant LIFE flow.
CONFESSION
1 John 2:12. I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
Confession of the sins that burden us is helpful and needful as it can help us off load our burdens of guilt and condemnation, heal relationships with others, and share with God the issues we need help with. However, we need to be clear in our understanding of confession: For a believer confession is no longer a prerequisite for God's on going forgiveness.
When we came to Christ we repented of our old life style and confessed our sin. We recognized our need to be saved from Sin and death. Now that we are in Christ ALL our sins are dealt with, past, present and future. The salvation and blood of Jesus is totally and permanently effective: we are forgiven, righteous and have eternal life. God no longer see us in Sin, He no longer calls us sinners, but sons. This is the offense the cross and His grace.
Sadly there is a false teaching which says that sin separates believers from God. It goes even further and says that if a believer dies without having confessed their current sins, they lose their salvation. Think about it, not only is this absurd but it totally denies the finished work of the cross, God's sovereignity and God's grace. It would mean that our sinful actions are more powerful than Jesus' atonement and righteousness which was imputed to us by faith when we chose to repent and believe.
The above cartoon shows in real and practical terms the absurdity of wrong thinking that makes our salvation conditional on our ongoing confession of sins. This wrong thinking causes believers to feel unworthy, condemned, unqualified to be intimate with God, and unable to receive any thing from God except His judgement and wrath. An unhealthy obsession with sin and confession actually leads to condemnation, insecurity and strangely enough, in the long run, to more sin.
On the other hand, putting our focus on Jesus and the finished work of the cross, brings true life and real change! So try confessing what Jesus has earned for you on the cross: "I am righteous, I am forgiven, I am loved, I am blessed, I am a child of God, I am Holy, I have eternal life, sin has no power over me". This will build you up, set you free from accusation and glorify Jesus and His death. He died on the cross for ALL our sins. We now have the ability to say no to sin and to live in holiness.
PS. The movie "Joan of Arc" is a good illustration of the bad fruit and instability which comes with the false doctrine that unconfessed sins separate us from God of condemn us to Hell.
CHRISTMAS GOOD NEWS
The good news of Christmas is that God delivered His peace and goodwill (grace) to ALL people.To Muslims, Jews, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists, Atheists....all mankind, regardless. Through Jesus God has made peace with us ALL. He's not angry with us, He's not out to punish us and He not out to reject us or find fault with us.
The good news for every person is that God's Grace; His unearned, undeserved favor, salvation, forgiveness and blessing is a free gift for all who would receive it, regardless of religious upbringing, culture or background. God is interested in YOU personally, He wants intimacy with YOU and Jesus qualifies YOU for that relationship. No other person made such a claim, not Mohammed, Buddha nor Krishna, only Jesus!
HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE, BE BLESSED, BE LOVED, DON'T FEAR, GOD IS WITH US!
"EMMANUEL!"
Luke 2:10-14 The angel said to them, Fear not: for, I bring you good news of great joy to all people.....on earth peace, good will toward men.