Wednesday, June 18, 2008

SEE The GREAT IMPORTANCE Of BELIEVING In Christ

Because of the passage, "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive" (1 Cor. 15:22, NKJV) -- there are those who teach and believe that "all" or everyone in the world are "in Christ"!

But WHO are those "in Christ"?!

If we fail to grasp the meaning of that verse, we can easily agree that just like Adam, who did not believe God, we could also be in Christ! And so, we can fall into error that though we do not believe, we are also reconciled with Him, we are raised up with Him, we are justified, we are chosen, etc.

There are many verses in the Scriptures, however, that emphasized the need for us to believe in Christ. For example, John 3:18 -- "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

Notice the words, "... he who does NOT believe is CONDEMNED ALREADY"!

Now, let's go back to 1 Corinthians 15 and understand verse 22 in the light of the whole chapter.

Who are those in Christ -- and that all of them would be made alive?

According to Paul in verse 11: "... so we preach and so you believed."

Those "in Christ" as those who BELIEVED! They are those who are not condemned. They are reconciled with God. They are redeemed. They are raised up -- made alive -- with Him. They are chosen ones. They belonged to God. They are the spiritual children of God. They are guaranteed by God Himself that they would have their inheritance. They are those who really love God.

May you also see the need and the worth of believing in Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Saturday, June 7, 2008

WHEN The Air Was "Gone"...

When I was gasping for breath and I could not even think of anything, for oxygen could no longer reach my brain -- God was not even in my consciousness -- it was a very fearful thing! (http://www.christianster.com/ctan/html/showsharing.php?sid=57003&authid=99269&m=6&d=5&y=2008).

If you were helpless and hopeless and you could not even pray... and yet God gave you a joyful deliverance, only then you could have a better grasp of the meaning of the Grace of God.

Air began to fill again my lungs NOT because I was able to pray and ask God to save me. I was able to breathe again NOT because someone brought me to the doctor -- I was alone in the house.

I was able to breathe again NOT because I just exercised the so-called power of the human will to choose to breathe! My brain or mind was UNable to function properly, just as my physical body was wrestling with pain!

But because of God's Grace -- He allowed me to taste the sweetness of air once again and to enjoy the sweetness of His Grace!

Whether we have life in this world, or our life is extended, or even blessed with eternal life -- it's because of His Mercy.

We read in Romans 9:16, "So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy" (NAS).

The New International Version renders it, "It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy."

Sunday, June 1, 2008

God COMPLETES

Some are teaching: “GOD SAYS HE WILL COMPLETE THE WORK HE HAS BEGUN IN US. YET SCRIPTURE ALSO INDICATES THAT SOME WILL NOT COOPERATE WITH HIM.”

Indeed, there are those who will not cooperate with God. But they are not among those whom God has begun His spiritual work of redemption.

Paul wrote:

“In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:4-6).

When he stated, “… He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” – he was referring NOT to every human being, but to the believers – those who have “partnership in the gospel” – or as we read in verse 1, “To all the saints in Christ Jesus…”

It is wrong to imply that God who began to work in the life of a person – enabling him to come to Jesus, granting him repentance and faith – will not enable him to cooperate with Him until the end. The Sovereign God is not subject to the so-called “ningas-cogon” mentality – that He is good only to start something, but cool off before finishing it.

Besides, Paul wrote: “…BEING CONFIDENT of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion…” He didn’t doubt. He was sure. He was confident.

For the completion of God’s Work in the life of the believers does not rest in our own hands.

Paul also wrote, "HE WILL KEEP YOU STRONG TO THE END, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful” (1 Cor. 1:8-9).

We read further in 1 Thessalonians 5:23, “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” And verse 4 states, “The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.”

If God started to work in your life, will it be completed?

Yes, for He is faithful. So, “…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose” (Phil. 2:12-13).