"No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God." (1 John 3:9)
I think this challenge of John found in 1 John 3:9 (and 5:18) should cause every one of us to careful self examination. As Stott pointed out, a Christian is not someone who does not sin but a person who's "whole tenor of life is against sin and toward holiness." Is that the basic orientation of my life? Are there patterns and desires within me that shows that I'm in opposition to sin or that I'm taking my sins seriously? Do I grieve over my sins and repent of it? And does the sacrifice of Christ on my behalf become more precious to me causing me to forsake sin and pursue righteousness? Any answer in the negative here should be a cause for concern or even alarm. Christ died to take away sins, not just the consequences of sin but also its power in our lives. The reason why we cannot "continue in sin" says John is because, "we have been born of God". Or to put it another way, we've been given a new DNA, that desires holiness and purity, and so we cannot go on sinning indefinitely. This should cause all of us to make sure that our salvation experience is rooted in God's supernatural work in our lives and not something we've just inherited by being in the church or through family tradition.
Posted by Pastor James
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Friday, December 28, 2007
The Reflection of John
“The Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world” 1 John 4:14
First, I’m sorry that this is little late.
As I was reflecting on this chapter, I thought about two things
1. What would have happened if Jesus didn’t come 2000 years ago? I suppose he could have come few years later as well but what if he didn’t come to save the world yet? I would still be a gentile that has no purpose in life. I could be an atheist, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim or some other eastern religion that don’t make any sense. I would just follow along with whatever was available out there or I could have searched for reason for our existence. But given that Jews only played by themselves, would I have even come close to knowing the God that we know today, probably not. Without Christ, I would probably end up in hell somewhere with nasty stench hole, where it’s super humid, loud annoying noises and probably super hot too
2. It reminded me once again that God has delivered his one and only son to die on the cross for all sinners. For me, it took little longer to understand what it meant "one and only son to die on the cross" cuz I didn't quite understand the dept of his love until I became a father. Maybe you could relate if you own a dog or something else that you control that you really love. I would be willing to give my life but to sacrifice Nina, Caleb or Jacob for anyone is just unthinkable. Anyway, one of the key messages here is that we could be guilt free of sin easily. I shared few weeks back on one of the comments that when I first accepted Christ, it was the best experience ever. I felt completely clean for the first time in my life. This feeling that I had is something I could have every time, as long as we come to God. He's already done the work. He's delivered his one and only son to die. All we need to do is simple task of asking for His forgiveness. How awesome is that?
I just thank God for his perfect timing, his amazing grace and his great sacrifice.
First, I’m sorry that this is little late.
As I was reflecting on this chapter, I thought about two things
1. What would have happened if Jesus didn’t come 2000 years ago? I suppose he could have come few years later as well but what if he didn’t come to save the world yet? I would still be a gentile that has no purpose in life. I could be an atheist, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim or some other eastern religion that don’t make any sense. I would just follow along with whatever was available out there or I could have searched for reason for our existence. But given that Jews only played by themselves, would I have even come close to knowing the God that we know today, probably not. Without Christ, I would probably end up in hell somewhere with nasty stench hole, where it’s super humid, loud annoying noises and probably super hot too
2. It reminded me once again that God has delivered his one and only son to die on the cross for all sinners. For me, it took little longer to understand what it meant "one and only son to die on the cross" cuz I didn't quite understand the dept of his love until I became a father. Maybe you could relate if you own a dog or something else that you control that you really love. I would be willing to give my life but to sacrifice Nina, Caleb or Jacob for anyone is just unthinkable. Anyway, one of the key messages here is that we could be guilt free of sin easily. I shared few weeks back on one of the comments that when I first accepted Christ, it was the best experience ever. I felt completely clean for the first time in my life. This feeling that I had is something I could have every time, as long as we come to God. He's already done the work. He's delivered his one and only son to die. All we need to do is simple task of asking for His forgiveness. How awesome is that?
I just thank God for his perfect timing, his amazing grace and his great sacrifice.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Thursday's reflection
1 Timothy 1:15, 16
"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners- of whom I am the worst."
I have to admit that the commotion of the Christmas holiday has got me feeling a bit flustered and distracted from God. I got into a routine of doing so much "stuff" and I easily pushed aside my focus on God. I find myself now at a point where I feel a bit out of sync with God. I not only feel the dark presence of sin crouching at my door, I feel the weight of my failures and guilt before God. Like Paul, I realize I am a sinner as I fail to meet with God daily and become more like Christ by spending time in prayer and meditation. I found myself being distracted and slipping into a sinful, worldly pattern of living. It leaves me feeling guilty and discouraged. However, even more disturbing is my response to Paul’s testimony when I first read it. It is a stark contrast to Bilney’s. Even as I read "Christ came to save sinners", somewhere deep inside me says somehow I want to try to save myself. I feel there is something I can and must do to be right with God. When I reach a point of failure, when I come to acknowledge my sin before God, my first response is: I want to try again. I feel I can become more Christ-like if I just try harder. I feel that I can live in a right relationship with God if I discipline myself more. However, I realize that I am only setting myself up for a vicious cycle that will lead to despair. I do believe in the power of will power but first and foremost I have to remember that God gave us free will to go to Him through Christ. I realize that my will comes into play according to God’s will when I willingly acknowledge my sins and give up on any notion that I can save myself. I realize that I must go to God believing that Christ is the One who saves me not my act of going to God. This is when I can quiet myself and focus on Christ again. It makes me want to know Him more and focus less on what I must and must not do. It makes me want to be more like Him and less like the world.
"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners- of whom I am the worst."
I have to admit that the commotion of the Christmas holiday has got me feeling a bit flustered and distracted from God. I got into a routine of doing so much "stuff" and I easily pushed aside my focus on God. I find myself now at a point where I feel a bit out of sync with God. I not only feel the dark presence of sin crouching at my door, I feel the weight of my failures and guilt before God. Like Paul, I realize I am a sinner as I fail to meet with God daily and become more like Christ by spending time in prayer and meditation. I found myself being distracted and slipping into a sinful, worldly pattern of living. It leaves me feeling guilty and discouraged. However, even more disturbing is my response to Paul’s testimony when I first read it. It is a stark contrast to Bilney’s. Even as I read "Christ came to save sinners", somewhere deep inside me says somehow I want to try to save myself. I feel there is something I can and must do to be right with God. When I reach a point of failure, when I come to acknowledge my sin before God, my first response is: I want to try again. I feel I can become more Christ-like if I just try harder. I feel that I can live in a right relationship with God if I discipline myself more. However, I realize that I am only setting myself up for a vicious cycle that will lead to despair. I do believe in the power of will power but first and foremost I have to remember that God gave us free will to go to Him through Christ. I realize that my will comes into play according to God’s will when I willingly acknowledge my sins and give up on any notion that I can save myself. I realize that I must go to God believing that Christ is the One who saves me not my act of going to God. This is when I can quiet myself and focus on Christ again. It makes me want to know Him more and focus less on what I must and must not do. It makes me want to be more like Him and less like the world.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Reflection
"The Flight into Egypt"
I enjoy this devotional book because John Stott reforms the traditional Sunday School version of the Nativity that exists in my mind into an epic historical account that brings together so many different things and ideas.
I never imagined, for instance, how Jesus and Mary's flight to Exodus was yet another fulfillment of ancient scripture. The comparisons that Stott draws between Israel the nation and Jesus are compelling and powerful.
The last line of the text stuck a chord in me when Stott says that "we can only marvel at the providence of God in this repetition of the pattern of sacred history."
The repetition that God displays is awesome and comforting. And it brought me to think of a powerful passage I read recently in a book called "Orthodoxy" by G.K. Chesterton.
The quote is quite long but I hope you will all enjoy it and reflect on it as much as I did when I first came across it.
_________________________________________________
"I speak here only of an emotion, and of an emotion at once stubborn and subtle.
But the repetition in Nature seemed sometimes to be an excited repetition, like that of an angry schoolmaster saying the same thing over and over again.
The grass seemed signalling to me with all its fingers at once; the crowded stars seemed bent upon being understood. The sun would make me see him if he rose a thousand times. The recurrences of the universe rose to the maddening rhythm of an incantation, and I began to see an idea...
The thing I mean can be seen, for instance, in children, when they find some game or joke that they specially enjoy. A child kicks his leg rhythmically through excess, not absence, of life.
Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, 'Do it again;' and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead.
For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony.
But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony.
It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately , but has never got tired of making them.
...The repetition in Nature may not be a mere recurrence; it may be a theatrical encore...
It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy;
for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.
..I had always believed the world involved magic: now I thought that perhaps it involved a magician.
And this pointed a profound emotion always present and sub-conscious; that this world of ours has some purpose; and if there is a purpose, there is a person.
I had always felt life first as a story: and if there is a story there is a story-teller."
-G.K. Chesterton
I enjoy this devotional book because John Stott reforms the traditional Sunday School version of the Nativity that exists in my mind into an epic historical account that brings together so many different things and ideas.
I never imagined, for instance, how Jesus and Mary's flight to Exodus was yet another fulfillment of ancient scripture. The comparisons that Stott draws between Israel the nation and Jesus are compelling and powerful.
The last line of the text stuck a chord in me when Stott says that "we can only marvel at the providence of God in this repetition of the pattern of sacred history."
The repetition that God displays is awesome and comforting. And it brought me to think of a powerful passage I read recently in a book called "Orthodoxy" by G.K. Chesterton.
The quote is quite long but I hope you will all enjoy it and reflect on it as much as I did when I first came across it.
_________________________________________________
"I speak here only of an emotion, and of an emotion at once stubborn and subtle.
But the repetition in Nature seemed sometimes to be an excited repetition, like that of an angry schoolmaster saying the same thing over and over again.
The grass seemed signalling to me with all its fingers at once; the crowded stars seemed bent upon being understood. The sun would make me see him if he rose a thousand times. The recurrences of the universe rose to the maddening rhythm of an incantation, and I began to see an idea...
The thing I mean can be seen, for instance, in children, when they find some game or joke that they specially enjoy. A child kicks his leg rhythmically through excess, not absence, of life.
Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, 'Do it again;' and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead.
For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony.
But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony.
It is possible that God says every morning, "Do it again" to the sun; and every evening, "Do it again" to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately , but has never got tired of making them.
...The repetition in Nature may not be a mere recurrence; it may be a theatrical encore...
It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy;
for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we.
..I had always believed the world involved magic: now I thought that perhaps it involved a magician.
And this pointed a profound emotion always present and sub-conscious; that this world of ours has some purpose; and if there is a purpose, there is a person.
I had always felt life first as a story: and if there is a story there is a story-teller."
-G.K. Chesterton
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
Merry Christmas!
Here's something to ponder about on Christmas day!
“Infinite and yet an infant.
Eternal and yet born of a woman.
Almighty, and yet nursing at a woman’s breast.
Supporting a universe, and yet needing to be carried in a mother’s arms.
Heir of all things, and yet the carpenter’s despised son.”
by Charles Haddon Spurgeon
"That man should be made in God's image is a wonder,
but that God should be made in man's image is a greater wonder.
That the Ancient of Days would be born.
That He who thunders in the heavens should cry in the cradle?"
-Thomas Watson
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
and we have seen his glory,
glory as of the only Son from the Father,
full of grace and truth.”
(John 1:14)
Posted by Pastor James
“Infinite and yet an infant.
Eternal and yet born of a woman.
Almighty, and yet nursing at a woman’s breast.
Supporting a universe, and yet needing to be carried in a mother’s arms.
Heir of all things, and yet the carpenter’s despised son.”
by Charles Haddon Spurgeon
"That man should be made in God's image is a wonder,
but that God should be made in man's image is a greater wonder.
That the Ancient of Days would be born.
That He who thunders in the heavens should cry in the cradle?"
-Thomas Watson
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
and we have seen his glory,
glory as of the only Son from the Father,
full of grace and truth.”
(John 1:14)
Posted by Pastor James
Monday, December 24, 2007
Rage of Herod
Its natural to read the account of Herod and recoil at the monstrous acts and extreme paranoia of such a delusional person. So passionate to preserve himself, he himself uncovered truths foretold only in an effort to thwart the inevitable with such extreme measures. My initial reaction is, "whew, i'm not as bad as that guy!"
But as is often the case, we are not all that dissimilar. We've been created with a vacuum that only God can fill. Unfortunately too many times we fill that vacuum with our own pursuits of fulfillment, e.g. wealth, security, our image to others, addictions, etc. While most of us never blatantly seek to rid God from our lives, our efforts to preserve ourselves reveal us to be illegitimate pretenders to the throne. Once we've abandoned God, its not that we will worship nothing, but that we will worship anything.
Worship the King.
But as is often the case, we are not all that dissimilar. We've been created with a vacuum that only God can fill. Unfortunately too many times we fill that vacuum with our own pursuits of fulfillment, e.g. wealth, security, our image to others, addictions, etc. While most of us never blatantly seek to rid God from our lives, our efforts to preserve ourselves reveal us to be illegitimate pretenders to the throne. Once we've abandoned God, its not that we will worship nothing, but that we will worship anything.
Worship the King.