"For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it." (Matthew 16:25)
Man has been attempting, "to save his life," since the Garden. We see it today in the religious, political, social, economic, and ethnic arenas of life. Most succumb to such charges as racism or narrow mindedness by sacrificing what they know to be Biblical correctness to politically correctness. The motivation in it all is quite simple, "desires to save his life." If you pray for elections, pray our text. Pray for leaders in every area of your nation and culture who, "loses his life for My sake." (See today's article on the EU)
Biblically, the first "spiritual law" in salvation, the New Birth, entrance into the Kingdom of God is repentance. Bonhoeffer spoke of "cheap grace." Among other things, it is the offer of grace which does not, "lose," old cultural beliefs and life styles, or the dominant plague among Christians today, political correctness. It is simply a "grace" which says you can believe and do what you have always believed and done. Just say a "sinners prayer," and everything will be alright. Jesus said, on the other hand, "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven...." If we do not begin with repentance, we will not end with salvation. Whatever transpires will birth a "religious experience" of citizenship in our own kingdom, but will not birth a life changing conversion, a Follower of Jesus Christ whose, "citizenship is in Heaven."
The grace of which you and I partake is indeed a "costly grace." It is grace which comes to me and you by way of the Blood Stained via dolorosa, "painful path" to Golgotha, and "The Old Rugged Cross." There and there alone do I see who I am, and, whom I may and can become. Only in Father's Grace manifested in the Blood of Jesus Christ and his bruised body can I come into the Kingdom. Only by losing my life for the, "sake," of Jesus Christ, i.e., repentance, will I, "find it," in the New Birth, the Salvation which is Jesus Christ.
Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to see life as You see it, to, "find out what pleases [You]." Amen.
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News, Commentary Blog: www.apf327.blogspot.com
Man has been attempting, "to save his life," since the Garden. We see it today in the religious, political, social, economic, and ethnic arenas of life. Most succumb to such charges as racism or narrow mindedness by sacrificing what they know to be Biblical correctness to politically correctness. The motivation in it all is quite simple, "desires to save his life." If you pray for elections, pray our text. Pray for leaders in every area of your nation and culture who, "loses his life for My sake." (See today's article on the EU)
Biblically, the first "spiritual law" in salvation, the New Birth, entrance into the Kingdom of God is repentance. Bonhoeffer spoke of "cheap grace." Among other things, it is the offer of grace which does not, "lose," old cultural beliefs and life styles, or the dominant plague among Christians today, political correctness. It is simply a "grace" which says you can believe and do what you have always believed and done. Just say a "sinners prayer," and everything will be alright. Jesus said, on the other hand, "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven...." If we do not begin with repentance, we will not end with salvation. Whatever transpires will birth a "religious experience" of citizenship in our own kingdom, but will not birth a life changing conversion, a Follower of Jesus Christ whose, "citizenship is in Heaven."
The grace of which you and I partake is indeed a "costly grace." It is grace which comes to me and you by way of the Blood Stained via dolorosa, "painful path" to Golgotha, and "The Old Rugged Cross." There and there alone do I see who I am, and, whom I may and can become. Only in Father's Grace manifested in the Blood of Jesus Christ and his bruised body can I come into the Kingdom. Only by losing my life for the, "sake," of Jesus Christ, i.e., repentance, will I, "find it," in the New Birth, the Salvation which is Jesus Christ.
Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to see life as You see it, to, "find out what pleases [You]." Amen.
****************************
News, Commentary Blog: www.apf327.blogspot.com
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
