Faith Alone!

"Look at the proud!
    Their spirit is not right in them,    but the righteous live by their faith." Habakkuk 2:4.

Wisdom sometimes comes with age (but, not always). It never ceases to amaze me how some of our eldest brothers and sisters in Christ are able to humble themselves and confess their sins. These sins that they confess seem to pale in comparison to some of the sins that others do not confess.

The ability to understand that all sin no matter whether we consider them big or small sins are an abomination before God. It is understood that none of us are without sin; that we are made righteous only be faith in the Son of God who died for us. There is nothing that we can do to save ourselves. There is nothing that we can do or avoid doing in order to stand before God and be proclaimed innocent.

We are saved by faith alone. Sometimes, it just takes years of being humbled in order to be humble enough to know that we are indeed sinners and are saved by faith alone. This is a gift of God.

God's Peace - Pr. J

James 4 Fights, Quarrels, Injustice

James 4 NIV
I watched the news, the unpeaceful protests in Baltimore, late into the night last night. Sadly, that is just a tiny fraction of the unrest in the world these days. It never ceases to amaze me that so many people will use the excuse that they seek justice to commit more injustice. Breaking the law and throwing rocks and bottles at cops is not going to promote anyone's agenda for the good. How can looting and setting other people's property on fire be justice in anyone's mind? Yet, there are quite a few who think that it is.

There is so much dissension in this world. St. James asks: "What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures." (vs 1-3)

We are taught by scripture that we are to love our neighbors and that doesn't mean just the people in the church. We are to love even our enemies. We are to care for them. To unjustly attack our neighbors or even our enemies is sin. To cause harm to them whether it be intentional or unintentional is sin. What we do or what we ask God for should not be for our benefit alone; because it might be pleasing to us; but, for the good of all people. 

"If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them." (vs 17) "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." (vs 7,8)

May God help us to learn to better trust that His will is for the good of all of His children.. 

God's Peace - Pr. J

1 Timothy 1:13-20 Confronting False Doctrine

1 Timothy 1:13-20 NIV

Zeba Camp Meeting
 

Paul urges Timothy to stay in Macedonia so that he might command people not to teach false doctrines any more. I am a little nervous about this word "command." Have you tried commanding anyone to do anything lately? Personally, I find that it is productive only a very small percentage of the time. Sometimes people listen, often not. Sometimes, it ends up in endless and wearisome debates over things of the law. Sometimes, it ends by having to shake the dust off of my feet and move on (Matt 10:15) in order to share the good news of Jesus with others who have not heard.

Recently, I have had to talk to more than one person about the false things that they believe regarding the Sacrament of Baptism. It seems that more than one person I know wants to be re-baptized. They can reaffirm their faith often; but, I will not officiate at the re-baptisms of anyone. Doesn't matter how old you were or what congregation you were baptized at. We are not baptized into a church, but into the "Church" which is the Body of Christ. I also remind them that baptism is not our work; that it is a gift from God and to be re-baptized is to deny the gift that has already been given by God. I hope that I present the truth with enough grace so that they will not turn away but will continue to grow in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit received at their baptisms. Since, it is the Holy Spirit that works in them, I am confident that they will.

While it is necessary to confront false doctrines and myths, it can be very time consuming and wearisome work to which at times there seems no end. We have to be careful about how we confront false doctrine and blatant lies about Jesus. Constant arguing or commanding people to believe and teach the truth is not always the best way to confront false doctrines. Civil discourse is necessary; otherwise, confronting false doctrine can become a testimony of divisiveness in the church to the world; when we should be proclaiming unity in Christ to the world.  Confronting false doctrine is necessary; but, if we are busy proclaiming the truth of the good news to all people there will be less false doctrines to confront. May God help us to spend our energies in proclaiming the truth even as Paul put it to Timothy: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen." (vs 15-17).

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 14:1-14 Place of Importance

Luke 14:1-14 NIV
Jesus associated with everyone. On one Sabbath, he went to eat at the home of a prominent Pharisee. If you recall from our previous readings, the Pharisees were not exactly fans of Jesus. But, he didn't care. He did not have a problem associating with anyone who welcomed him.

Jesus gives us some rules of etiquette for dining that can be used whether you are at someone's home or at a wedding reception. Take the least important place so that you will be honored when asked to move up. Do not sit in a seat of honor or you may be humiliated when the host asks you to move to a place of less importance to make room for another.

The last shall be first and the first last.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 8:20-21 A Blood Thicker Than Blood

Luke 8:20-21 NIV
Who are your mother and brothers? According to Jesus, they are those who hear God's word and put it into practice.

I have read a few articles lately that say we need to change our thinking; that we need to quit thinking about church as family since families tend to be dysfunctional. I'm just not getting that. Of course, we can be dysfunctional. We are not just saints; but, sinners as well. We trample on others. We trample on Jesus. But, we are still family. We have become children of our heavenly Father through the shedding of our brother's blood on the cross. And, because he first loved us; we love him and all our brothers and sister in Him. We are not perfect as He is perfect. But, we keep on trying, with the help of God to love God and one another. We are family!

There is a blood that is thicker than blood. It is the blood of Christ that was shed for you.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Mark 2:1-17 - Your Sins Are Forgiven; Rise; Live Life

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:17 NIV)

We've all been there; feeling down, feeling sick, more like sin sick. The guilt that can come with knowing that you have sinned; knowing that you have damaged another human being can drag us down not just spiritually, but physically as well. When times like this present themselves; there is nothing more healing than hearing these words, "You are forgiven." Your sins are forgiven. The debt is erased. Pick yourself up and live life.

Jesus is criticized for healing the paralyzed man with these words: "Your sins are forgiven." "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home." Jesus is criticized, not for healing the man; but, for daring to declare that he has been forgiven.

Jesus' mission, here on earth, was to forgive us our sins, so that we might be made whole and reconciled to God our Father on earth and in heaven. We are forgiven so that we might live abundant life in the presence, in the kingdom, of God.

I'm thinking that there are not too many congregations in the world today who do not recognize that Jesus came to heal us sinners, not to patronize those who think and act as though they are without sin. But, then again, there may be a few congregations left who think in this manner and Jesus came to heal them as well. After all, thinking that we may be without sin and in need of forgiveness, is a form of sickness, in itself.

Such few words, but for the sin-sick soul they bring such relief; such healing; such wholeness. Your sins are forgiven you. Rise up and walk. Rise up and live the life that God has given you through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord.

Pr. J

Matthew 9 - Your Sins Are Forgiven

We have, in chapter five, six different episodes or movements. Jesus is busy healing both physically and spiritually. In the episode in which he is eating with the tax collector Matthew whom he has called to "follow" him, Jesus is questioned regarding eating with sinners. His response connects the physically ill with spiritually ill:  "On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." (Matt 9:12-13 NIV)

Sadly, I have witnessed many a person who, for whatever reason, do not have as full relationships with Jesus Christ as they could have. Although, they confess Christ, they have not quite gotten to the place where they fully trust him for their daily needs; to forgive them their trespasses; or that the kingdom has come for them, even now, through his death and resurrection. They live day to day, suffering in many ways; without really being able to enjoy the life that God has given to them. Ultimately; although, they are still quite young, they are quite worn out spiritually, emotionally, as well as physically.

This is definitely not to say that we don't need doctors. God has provided us some tremendous gifts in the advancement of medicine and many men and women who know how to apply that knowledge and gifts. It is a reminder that the physical and spiritual work hand in hand. When our spirits are low, often we are more susceptible to physical ailments and when we are physically ill our spirits are in danger of becoming ill as well. The whole person must be cared for. In order to be made whole, we need to be able to hear and receive these words: "Your sins are forgiven."

Jesus did a lot of wandering around, getting in trouble, for forgiving the sins of others. Ultimately, he died on the cross to take away the sins of the world. "He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:2) He died that we might be made whole.

But, there is a whole world out there that does not know this. They do not the great and awesome works of God. Someone must tell them.

"Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matt 9:35-37)

As Jesus, called that sinful tax collector, Matthew, to follow him, so he calls you. Will you follow? Will you have compassion on those who are harassed, helpless, and like sheep without a shepherd. Is the Lord of the harvest, asking you to go out into his harvest field?

But... before you head out to that harvest field; take this bit of knowledge with you: your sins are forgiven you, too, in the name of Jesus Christ.

God's Peace - Pr. J.