Abba, Father, I …

“Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” Romans 9:13, NIV

Many people who know that verse excuse their hate for things Godly and say they want nothing to do with a “God who hates.” That, even as they themselves exhibit hate!

But, anyway, non-believers can be excused when they are unforgiving about the things of God. Or for seeing so much foolishness with the whole idea of salvation. Why? They are ignorant.

Hear what the Lord says:

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹For it is written:
“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” ( 1 Corinthians 1:18-19, NIV)

But, i am sure there are Christians who also sometimes wonder:

“If God is love, how could He say such things?”.

I will not be surprised if soon someone comes up with a Bible translation that changes the meaning of that verse to something more “godly” and more like the “god” we want .

Here is an attempt to shed more light for those saints who wonder and wander at times  because of that verse.

Teachable Moment

The Bible says that the whole law ( Old Testament ) was a school teacher whose purpose was to bring people to a point whereby they would be able to distinguish between life and death. So that when presented with a choice, they would shun death,  and happily embrace life.

So that  people would be able to understand what Grace is. And what love is.

Always remember that about the old testament.

That being said, i am sure most of you are happy you do not have to practice all those rules that were given to the Jews of old. Because you understand that Christ’s coming was a turning point for the whole world. That there was a time before and a time after that point in time.

And you understand what was meant by the saying:

“you heard it said that.. BUT NOW I SAY TO YOU”.

So back to the point. He is a simple revelation i had.

Revelation

It was said that

“Jacob i chose, Esau i rejected”

BUT NOW i say unto you

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Hear that?

I do a new thing.

What the Lord is saying is

“Yes, it is True. In old times, i chose the Jewish people. I showed them my favor. I showered them with love, grace and tender mercies. I “ignored” the other people.”

“You do realize of course that i included many other people who were not Jews but who were willing to relate to me? People such has Ruth or that whore in Jericho.”

“Anyway, i hear what you are saying. ”

“But now i do a new thing. The old has passed away, the new has come. Now, anyone who is interested in a relationship with me can come to me. I will not turn anyone away, no matter how filthy they think they are. And he will be my son. ”

“The Jews were just my people. But now you can be my son. A much better and closer relationship, don’t you think? ”

“I exclude no one. The power of exclusion is in your own hands. I accept all. Would you come?”

Most of you generation-web may not know some of the terms i use in this blog, so i will offer some simple definitions:

Love:

Love, as in the Love of God : the action whereby, God, who does not need anything or anybody, comes to someone who is sinful and who hates Him or does not care about Him, and says,

“Hi there! I want you to be my child. I want to be your new Father. A good Father. I want you to be like me. I want you to be as I AM. I am going to do what it takes. You do not have to do anything, just believe what i am saying.”

Somehow, the “what it takes” that He talks about means Him dying, so He dies for you. And if you believe it, He starts the process of turning you to be like Him.
Read the rest of this entry »

All religions of the world is an attempt to answer the basic question “what can i do to work the works of God“, i.e. what can i do to please God? Others ask it thus: “how can i reach God?” Still, some may ask “how do i get saved?” So, a simple but true definition of religion would be : all that men do in an effort to reach God.

Unlike what most people think, true Christianity is not a religion. Why? Because it is not what you do to reach God, but rather what God has done to reach you. Are you finding that you have to “do stuff” in order to feel right before God?

To illustrate, let us take a look at the incident recorded in the book of John chapter 6, where the crowd that had been miraculously feed by Jesus, comes to him the next day and questions him about religion and how they can please God.

Then they said to Him, �What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?�

In John 6:29: Jesus answered and said to them,

�This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.�

Further down he says:

“…My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.�

And when they ask for this bread, he says (v35-40):

�I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.�

So, how do you get this everlasting life from the Father above?

(i) Own up to your sins and realize that you have a sin problem, not just a flaw, and that you have done things that the bible considers sins (e.g. stealing, lying, using God’s name in vain, looking at a woman (and vice versa) lustfully, hating someone, etc ) and that you have no power to save yourself from these sins. The bible says ( Romans 3:23):

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

AND (Romans 6:23)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

(ii)Believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God, was sent by God the Father into the world to die in order that your sins may be forgiven.(John 3:16)

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

(iii) Once you believe the above, simply pray something along these lines:

Heavenly Father, i am a sinner but i know that you love me and sent your Son Jesus Christ to take away my sins. I now believe that Jesus Christ died for me to forgive my sins. Do forgive my sins. Thank you that now i am your son and i have everlasting life.

That’s it. Now, just read your bible and follow the words of Jesus Christ. That is all that the heavenly Father requires of you.

Disclosure: By God, we mean the Jewish God talked about in the Bible, aka the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.