Always at the top of the lists for causes of death is heart disease. It is the same in my spiritual life. My heart desires things that are destructive at worst and at least come far from representing the best version of me, which is Christ in me. What’s up w that?
The final lesson in our series on the cross is this: The cross did something, fully and finally, it was an action that accomplished something that can't be unaccomplished.
Jesus teaches us from the cross that the value of suffering does not lie in the pain of it, but in what one makes of the pain of it. Suffering is not the cause of growth but the occasion of it and Jesus is the gold refined by fire.
The dragon does not hold the keys to death and hell, Jesus does. He has lured Adam's race into sin and thereby has the power of death. Jesus' Calvary weekend victory ended that problem so that the believer has hope.
Jesus’ death on the cross is THE moment when the God, deeply offended by His people who were His rebel enemies, was satisfied, when the sins of His beloved fallen people were paid for fairly and finally.
Colossians is a simple book: Don’t let anything take you away from believing Christ, believing in Christ, in His finished work for you. Then live, filled with the love of God, against the backdrop of inside and outside sin and miseries, and let God’s love shine through you to everyone else.
Love is the character of God. It defines Him. God is love. It is not merely a fuzzy affection but rather a sacrificial action, myself for yourself. Believe in love!
The gospel is love story. God is loving us in Christ. Our lives affected by God’s love become love stories too. This week we look at loves positional characteristic: Love is humble or ’not proud.'
All false religion and even philosophical non religion is in some manner missing the fullness and enoughness of Jesus. Jesus is the fulfillment. There is no replacement.
Jesus, whose birth we celebrate this week, is the mystery of God to the people of the world. He is the person who delivers/saves His people from their sins. For unto us was born, this day, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.