"Now I know that I am saved! I am now included into the fellowship of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit... Now Tell me how do I live my life... Preach to me Christian Living ... I need to be patient, honest, forgiving etc..."
So now let us talk about Christian Living...
1.Christian Living is NOT a Plan - You do not wake up in the morning and PLAN to be patient, PLAN to be honest, PLAN to be forgiving... etc...
When you plan to live the Christian life it is self centered. You draw the power to yourself. In most circumstances you will fail. This seems good, but the focus is on the virtue.The focus is on being good.
2. Christian Living is NOT a Program - It is not 7 steps to be patient , 10 rules to be honest, 50 ways to forgive. When our Christian life is a by product of programs it will not survive the test of time and challenge. It is still self centered and effort motivated. Even if such steps is backed up by Scriptures . it still is not the right motivation for Christian Living.
WHAT CHRISTIAN LIVING IS...
1. Christian Living is COMMUNION
As we participate in the Kingdom life, being fully aware of our moment by moment union and communion with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We will be patient, honest, forgiving etc... EVEN without us thinking and planning about it. Even without someone saying to us... even without programs... BECAUSE this qualities are the FRUITS of the Holy Spirit IN us. Jesus is the one who is patient, who is honest who is forgiving and our life is in Him.
2. Christian Living is DANCE
When you hear your most favorite music and you are inspired to dance.. Do you count your steps while in the dance floor. Do you need someone to dictate the steps? Do you get from your pocket the 50 steps on how to dance? NO NO NO and NO. because if you do that you are not actually dancing and you can not dance.
Christian living is dancing with the Triune God. It is rejoicing in communion. When the MUSIC of the Gospel of Grace is played. You can not help but stand and D A N C E...
This is Christian Living.... This is Living in the Spirit...
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Grace says "No"
" For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self controlled, upright and godly lives in the "present age" waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works." ( Titus 2:11-14 )
The grace of God appeared...
1) Bringing salvation for all people -
No matter what people think in their minds, it does not change the truth that the grace of God brings salvation for all people. Through the Incarnation of the Son of God Jesus Christ, all humanity are now reconciled to God. This is the objective truth which of course we have to believe so that we can participate in that reality. No one is unwanted, rejected. Everyone is included, beloved and embraced by the Triune God.
2) Training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions...
Why are people afraid that when there is too much emphasis on grace , people will become wayward, unholy and will do every bad thing they want to do?
The Bible is so clear... "Grace teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions..." (NIV)
Properly understood, Grace connects you to God in Christ. In Jesus you are not separated from God. You have a relationship with him. Aha! What kind of relationship? It is not a "long distance relationship". Jesus is not "up there" watching us "from a distance" while he gave us lists of rules to follow while He is away.
The relationship that was made possible by Jesus Christ is closer that you can ever think. It is communion with God 24 hours a day 7 days a week. It includes everything you do. There is no such thing as secular and spiritual. You are in Christ and He is in you... ( John 14:20 )
How can people ever think of doing bad things when they believe on the reality that they have a moment by moment communion with God?
Of course people in this life still sin but the grace of God surely do not encourage them to sin.
The grace of God appeared...
1) Bringing salvation for all people -
No matter what people think in their minds, it does not change the truth that the grace of God brings salvation for all people. Through the Incarnation of the Son of God Jesus Christ, all humanity are now reconciled to God. This is the objective truth which of course we have to believe so that we can participate in that reality. No one is unwanted, rejected. Everyone is included, beloved and embraced by the Triune God.
2) Training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions...
Why are people afraid that when there is too much emphasis on grace , people will become wayward, unholy and will do every bad thing they want to do?
The Bible is so clear... "Grace teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions..." (NIV)
Properly understood, Grace connects you to God in Christ. In Jesus you are not separated from God. You have a relationship with him. Aha! What kind of relationship? It is not a "long distance relationship". Jesus is not "up there" watching us "from a distance" while he gave us lists of rules to follow while He is away.
The relationship that was made possible by Jesus Christ is closer that you can ever think. It is communion with God 24 hours a day 7 days a week. It includes everything you do. There is no such thing as secular and spiritual. You are in Christ and He is in you... ( John 14:20 )
How can people ever think of doing bad things when they believe on the reality that they have a moment by moment communion with God?
Of course people in this life still sin but the grace of God surely do not encourage them to sin.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
God did not go home last Sunday… You don’t need to invite Him next week…
People sometimes assemble themselves in a particular place and then invite God to come down and join them. The assembly is considered to be holy because God attended. After the closing prayer, when the people go home, God will also go home… up there…
This is the common view of a typical worship service. Initiated by men and God is just a guest… waiting an invitation?
True worship however is not defined by time and space. Our life must be a life of worship. It involves everything we do even in ordinary circumstances of our lives.
Corporate worship service is a celebration. We celebrate because we are already in communion with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We celebrate because we know we are already adopted. We celebrate a reality, not a potential.
We do not initiate worship and then call God to join. We do not need to shout, and perform the right rituals, so that he will come down to join us .He is already present and His presence is the reason why we celebrate. His presence is the reason why we are assembled in the first place.
The Father, Son and Holy Spirit does not come and go.
Jesus said: “… In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. (John 14:20)
In deeper perspective … We worship because we are in Christ and He is the true worshipper. We are just participating in the Son’s worship to His Father in the Spirit.
There is more reason to rejoice in knowing that after the worship service … God does not go home… up there.
This is the common view of a typical worship service. Initiated by men and God is just a guest… waiting an invitation?
True worship however is not defined by time and space. Our life must be a life of worship. It involves everything we do even in ordinary circumstances of our lives.
Corporate worship service is a celebration. We celebrate because we are already in communion with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We celebrate because we know we are already adopted. We celebrate a reality, not a potential.
We do not initiate worship and then call God to join. We do not need to shout, and perform the right rituals, so that he will come down to join us .He is already present and His presence is the reason why we celebrate. His presence is the reason why we are assembled in the first place.
The Father, Son and Holy Spirit does not come and go.
Jesus said: “… In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. (John 14:20)
In deeper perspective … We worship because we are in Christ and He is the true worshipper. We are just participating in the Son’s worship to His Father in the Spirit.
There is more reason to rejoice in knowing that after the worship service … God does not go home… up there.
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