Feeds:
Posts
Comments

Archive for the ‘Christ’ Category

Not All The Same

Posted in Christ, Confidence, Explanations, Faith, God's Power, Hezekiah, In Christ, tagged , , , on November 18, 2011| Leave a Comment »

Sennachrib

Beware lest Hezekiah persuade you, saying, the LORD will deliver us. Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? — Isaiah 36:18-19

The Bible tells of when a foreign king came to conquer Jerusalem under the reign of king Hezekiah.

Hezekiah was a good king and trusted God, encouraging his people to do so, too. The enemy tried to get them to give up by blurring the lines between their faith and that of others, saying they are all the same and all just as weak.

The same mantra is heard today — trying to get us think all faiths are the same, just as potent, just as weak.

They are not.

The Bible tells of God’s secret place, unknown by many.1

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty … Surely he shall deliver thee … – Psalm 91:1-2a

That secret place has always been in Christ. The Old Testament saints trusted in the coming Christ who would save them, just as we look back to that same Christ who saves us. As Jesus said,

“Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. — John 8:56

Ours is a living faith in the living God and his Christ

“And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. — Revelation 11:14-16

— fritz

1. See Also: A Secret Society (but Anyone Can Join) — March 12, 2010

(more…)

Read Full Post »

Hope For An Old Goat!

Posted in Christ, Explanations, Faith, Judgment, tagged , , on November 8, 2011| Leave a Comment »

“The Son of man shall come in his glory … And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: … And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.” — Matthew 25:31-32a,33

Sweet, loving Jesus had a surprising amount to say about Judgment. Several things are consistent:

  1. Jesus is returning.
  2. Everyone will stand before him (whether they had believed in him or not).
  3. Judgment will be based on each person’s actions.

    “I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” — Revelation 20:12

  4. A person’s actions come from who they are:
      Notice the response of both in Jesus story was the same.

      “Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison” — Matthew 25:37 & 44

      They were just living out what they were, the goats being selfish and the sheep being selfless.

Who can, honestly, say their actions have been consistently selfless? No matter what good things I try to do, the “Old Goat” in me keeps ruining it.

The good news (“Gospel”) is that the old goat can die and Jesus, the lamb of God (John 1:29), can live in his place.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” — Galatians 2:20

— fritz

Read Full Post »

Menorah, Only a Model

Posted in Bible, Christ's Body, Church, Explanations, tagged , on September 19, 2011| Leave a Comment »

And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold, unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof, was beaten work: according unto the pattern which the LORD had shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick — Numbers 8:3-5

One symbol for Israel is the Menorah — seven lamps, or candlesticks, for a perpetual light in the Old Testament Tabernacle’s holy place.

But the Bible says it was made from a pattern, or model, shown to Moses when he met God on Mount Sinai — A model represents something bigger, like the model cars I made when I was a child. So what’s the real thing?

We see candlesticks before God’s throne in another place

I saw a gold menorah
with seven branches,
And in the center, the Son of Man,
in a robe and gold breastplate,
hair a blizzard of white,
Eyes pouring fire-blaze,
both feet furnace-fired bronze,
— Revelation 1:12-13 (Message Bible)

Jesus, wanting us to know what this really represents, told John,:

“Now write down everything you see: things that are, things about to be. [T]he seven-branched gold menorah—do you want to know what’s behind them? … the menorah’s seven branches are the seven churches.” – Revelation 1:20 (Message Bible)

Seven represents completeness. Long ago in that Old Testament Tabernacle those seven lamps were standing in for the Church in this world, shining light in a dark sanctuary, letting people see to sacrifice their offerings and burn their incense.

We, the holy Church of God, corporately and individually have a holy calling and a wonderful purpose.

fritz@langgang.com

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »