Perspective - The Gift of Life
For most of us, the statement life is a gift is one that we would not only agree with, but probably take for granted. But what exactly do we mean when we say that life is a gift?
For a Christian, one verse that would certainly spring to mind is Romans 6:23, the verse quoted above. In this verse, Paul is speaking about eternal life and stressing the fact that this eternal life can be ours only by the grace of God and as a gift from God. Paul draws a contrast between this gift of eternal life which comes from God and the wages of sin which is death. Paul’s basic point is true and deeply humbling. As human beings, we all struggle with the reality of a sinful nature. Everything we do, even the best things we do, is thus tainted by the effects of sin within our hearts. Because motive is as much part of a deed as the deed itself, the result is that our deeds, even our best deeds, cannot and will not earn eternal life. Even our best deeds, tainted as they are by our sinful motives and imperfect as they are in practice, will inevitably result in death. This means that if we want eternal life, we must be willing to receive and accept life as a gift from God, and not as a reward for our efforts.
Those who do not align themselves with the Christian faith might well respond to this by saying that this eternal life about which Christians make so much, is no big deal and is of no real relevance to them. But to say this is to demonstrate that one does not know the true meaning of eternal life, or for that matter, of life itself
The problem is that many people only think of life in biological or sociological terms. For them, life by definition does not include God. The Bibles definition of life is however very different from this. Of course, in Biblical terms, life includes biological life, for we read that in the beginning God created man and breathed into him the breath of life" with the result that the man whom God created became a living being" (Genesis). This is what Paul is referring to in Acts 17vs25 when he says that God gave all men life and breath and everything else. But Paul goes on to state that God the life-giver has given us life so that we would seek for Him and hopefully find Him, since (in the words of a Greek poet) that the fact that God is the giver of life means that we live and move and have our being in Him" (Acts 17vs28). This means that a fundamental aspect of what we call biological life is the purpose of life, something we know instinctively to be true. And the primary purpose of life is that we to whom God has given life and breath should find and know the God who created us (see Acts 17vs27).
Strikingly enough, Paul says exactly the same thing about life as a sociological reality – life in community if you like. In Acts 17vs26, again echoing the teaching of Genesis, Paul tells us that God the life giver, is the One who orders our world, including nations and cultures. God has thus created us as living beings to express this life in community with other people. Another way of saying this is that true life is deeply relational, a fact that we know all too well, especially when our relationships flounder or we lose someone we love.
It is this fact that life is a gift from God to be expressed in relationships, particularly a relationship with God, that Jesus has in mind when He defines eternal life as knowing the only true God and Jesus Christ" whom He has sent" (John ). For Jesus, to know God is to have life and by implication, not to know God, is to forfeit life and to suffer death. This is precisely what we see in Genesis chapter3. The moment the man and the woman, deceived by the evil one, turned their back on God the life giver, they lost their relationship with God and fell under the sentence of death. From that day on, they knew from bitter experience that the wages of sin is indeed death. What is absolutely amazing, and a testimony to the grace of God the life giver, is that even in the midst of judgement, God made a promise that through the fatal suffering of the seed" of the woman, the evil one would be overthrown, death itself turned back and life in the true sense of the word restored.
What Jesus claims in John 17vs3, what Paul declares in Romans 6vs23 and what the New Testament as a whole affirms, is that Jesus is that seed of the woman, the restorer of life. To a world living under the shadow of death, Jesus is Gods gift of life. To trust in Him is to know God and thus to have life as it was always meant to be, not life without God but life with God and in community with all who know Him.
He did Evil in the Eyes of the Lord
King Manasseh is a conundrum. He was the most evil king Judah ever had and yet he was the longest reigning king. (cf. 2 Chronicles 33) In the Old Testament books of Kings and Chronicles every king’s life is summed up either by, “he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord” or “he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.” No matter what the king’s military gains, political accomplishments, feats of bravery or economic successes, in the end it boiled down to this one thing.
In the eyes of the Lord
To do what’ right in the eyes of the Lord meant to admit your great sin, submit to God as King and live life God’s way in obedience to his word. To do evil in God’s sight was to ignore or reject God’s right to rule over you, to live life your own way in rebellion to God and in disobedience to his word.
Modern rebellion
I met a young Italian man and his girlfriend while on holiday. They were a lovely couple, were very successful and flourishing in the world eyes. I shared the gospel with him, but he refused Christ. He said, like many people today, that he knew Christ demanded that Christians keep sex for marriage and he was not willing to stop sleeping with his girlfriend. His problem with Christianity was not intellectual, but moral. He was living life his way and what was evil in the sight of the Lord. Most people live like this today. Outwardly people might seem poite, respectable, and even moral, but deep inside they reject Christ. In the end, no matter their great achievements, the great book of life will say: He or she did evil in the sight of the Lord. It’s the Lord’s opinion that ultimately counts, not Facebook’s.
Note that Manasseh’s sins are the same sins that many commit today:
Worship of sex
v3 For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had broken down, and he erected altars to the Baals, and made Asheroth…
Baal was the most prominent and powerful male deity of the Canaanites with Asheroth his female counterpart. These two deities were the gods of fertility that guaranteed children, a good harvest, a growing flock of sheep, or good rains, if worshipped correctly. The worship of these fertility gods often involved sexual intercourse with temple prostitutes and this is probably why Baal worship was so popular.
Today, many might not know the name “Baal,” but many still worship him. People today love sexual immorality more than God and worship at Baal’s new temples called Teasers, Mavericks and freeporn.com. Many worship Baal hoping that he will bring joy, happiness and meaning to life – but he, a false god, can do none of those things.
Astral worship
v3 ….and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.
The Assyrians worshipped the astral deities of the sun-god, moon-god, Jupiter and Venus. The Bible tells us we should worship the creator not created things, but this did not stop Manasseh. He bowed down and gave allegiance not to God, but to the works of God’s hands. You might say that’s crazy, but think for a moment how many people in South Africa make decisions based on the Zodiac? Capetalk radio has a phone in programme where an astrologer who advises listeners about love, finances and the future. Many people today are giving the stars the allegiance they should give God.
Angels are also considered as part of the heavenly host in the Bible. Today there are thousands of people who claim to receive guidance from guardian angels and spirit guides. They write books about it. Little do knowing that they are dealing with demons. If you’re not communicating to God with Jesus, you are by default communicating to and opening yourself to satanic powers.
Syncretism
v5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord.
Syncretism is the combining of different, often contradictory beliefs, into one. He took the altars for moon worship and put them into God’s temple in Jerusalem. “Why not?”, thought Manasseh, “We all worship the same God anyway.” What was happening here was not an inter-denominational service, but an inter-faith service. Two weeks ago there was, for the first time, official Muslims prayers at the National Cathedral in Washington, where US Presidents have their funerals. Syncretism is here to stay. Of course, the God of the Bible will not be worshipped except in the way he has ordained
Child sacrifice
v6 And he burned his sons as an offering in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom
The pagan God Molech demanded child sacrifice. Babies were placed in the smouldering bronze belly of the statue of Molech where they slowly burnt to death. Manasseh was willing to sacrifice his own sons at the altar of a false god. Today we call it abortion. Parents sacrifice their babies on the altars of career, personal dreams and convenience.
Divination
v6 …and used fortune-telling and omens and sorcery, and dealt with mediums and with necromancers.
Today many people consult sangomas, psychics and mediums thinking that they can truly help them. In today’s world Manasseh would be honoured and esteemed as a forward thinker, Nobel Peace Prize winner and a model spiritual leader. However, v6 and v9 gives us the real picture:
V6 …He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger.
V9 Manasseh led Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem astray, to do more evil than the nations whom the Lord destroyed before the people of Israel.
Never too late
Yet even evil king Manasseh was humbled by God, turned from sin and submitted to the one true God – and found forgiveness. No sin is too small or too big for God to forgive. The astounding news of the Bible is that Jesus died to bear God’s just anger (cf. v6) for all the sins of all God’s people through all ages. Jesus died for Manasseh’s sin. If God can forgive Manasseh, he can certainly forgive you. Will you cast yourself on the mercy of Christ?
Six Characteristics of a Healthy Church
I’m sure you know of the couple who woke up one Sunday morning and the wife said to her husband, “Get up or you will be late for church!” Her husband replied, “I really don’t feel like going to church and I don’t like the church people that much anyway. Give me 3 reasons why I should go this morning.” The wife responded, “Number 1: Church is beneficial because your hear God’s Word. Number 2: The people at church actually care for you. 3. And number 3: You’re the pastor!”
It sounds like that church may not be the spiritually healthiest church around – at least not the minister! Of course we should not expect perfect churches because churches are made up of sinful people. We are forgiven, but not sinless. God doesn’t call Christians and churches to perfection, but he does call us to make progress.
The Church in Corinth was certainly not a perfect church and it had a number of issues and challenges. As we come to the last chapter of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he makes some closing remarks and we see what Paul considers what’s necessary for a healthy church – a church that’s progressing. How do you and your church match up?
1. Zeal for evangelism
v15 Now I urge you, brothers—you know that the household of Stephanas were the first convertsin Achaia
Originally Paul went to Corinth in the province of Achaia and told people the truth about Jesus’ death for sins and subsequent resurrection. Stephanas and his household believed the gospel and were the start of the church. Here is an important observation: there is no other way to grow the church than through evangelism. The church grows as people hear the gospel, repent of sin and believe the gospel. All other methods of growth are false, deceptive and wrong. Many churches seek to grow by presenting an entertaining programme or by watering down the gospel. Without the continued, faithful proclamation of the gospel (in big groups and small conversations) there can be no real church growth.
2. Devotion to serving
v15 Now I urge you, brothers—you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints—
No-one asked or appointed Stehanas’ family to serve, they just did. They ministered in Jesus’ name to others in the church. In 1 Corinthians chapter 12 Paul pictured the church as a human body with its different members all having different abilities and functions working for the good of the one body. Jesus served us so we serve each other. Note: in the Bible all Christians are called “saints”.
3. Respect for godly leaders
v15 Now I urge you, brothers—you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints— 16 be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and labourer.
As Christians we are told to submit to Christ as Sovereign King. In the future the Bible says that every knee will bow before Christ – either in worship or terror. Paul also wrote in chapter 14:37 that they should submit to him as Christ’s Apostle. Here we are told to submit to godly leaders in the church. The church cannot be made up of people all trying to do their own thing. Marriage is a good illustration. If both spouses pull in their own direction it is a recipe for divorce or an unhappy marriage. Husbands are commanded to love their wives as Christ loved the church. Wives are commanded to submit to their husbands in the Lord. Marriage, like a ship, simply can’t have two captains. So too the church. We are called to submit to, i.e. voluntarily place ourselves under the authority of, godly leaders.
v17 I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, 18 for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people.
Many people today don’t want to submit to anyone – it’s a characteristic of the age we live in. Yet, as Christians, we humbly submit to those over us in the Lord. We give them the recognition they deserve. Are you willing to receive instruction from your church leaders, even rebuke, if necessary?
4. Desire for fellowship
v17 I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, 18 for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours.
I’m sure you’ve experienced what Paul is talking about here as you re-connected with long-lost friends. Normally we make friends and spend time with people who are like us, are our own age, have a similar income bracket and culture, and share our hobbies. Church is different. We know that the church is made up of all kinds of people. It’s great news that Christ calls all kinds of people to be part of his family. No-one is too bad, too evil or too sinful. In Christ, because we are united by a far greater reality, we are able to transcend income-brackets, culture, background and personal likes. We are brothers and sisters in God’s family.
v19 The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. 20 All the brothers send you greetings.
In those days there were no designated church building and the church met in houses. The church in Ephesus, meeting in the home of Aquila and Prisca, sent “hearty greeting” or literally “many hugs” to the Corinthian church. They were far apart but their fellowship in the Lord was strong.
V20 …Greet one another with a holy kiss.
This simply means that they should greet one another warmly in a culturally appropriate way. In our context, Paul would have written, “Give one another a hearty handshake!” It was also meant to be a “holy” kiss. That meant that if there were any issues between people that caused them not to greet, they were to sort it out, so that their greeting could be holy. Fellowship is an essential part of Christianity and not an added-extra.
5. Commitment to love Jesus demonstrated by holiness
v22 If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed.
What does Paul mean by, “has no love for the Lord”? Can he see into his readers’ hearts? The word “accursed” comes from the Old Testament word meaning “devoted to God” – normally devoted to God for destruction. Accursed means to be under the judgment of God
According to the Bible, humanity is divided up into two groups. (a) Those trying to earn their own righteousness and (b) those who accept the righteousness that comes from God. The Bible says that those who try to earn own rightness before God are under the judgment of God, or accursed. But those that accept the rightness of God that comes through faith in Christ are the total opposite, they are blessed.
Paul writes at the end of his letter, “Some of you listening to this letter being read out don’t love the Lord!” How does Paul know? They’ve shown it by their actions and attitudes that Paul had written about earlier in his letter. Some were living in sexual immorality and didn’t care about it. Some were giving their allegiance to idols. Some were using the Lord’s Supper as an opportunity to get drunk and thus bring dishonour on Jesus. Some had forsaken the gospel that was preached to them. Some believed that this life is all there is. Some created factions, divisions and disunity in the church. These Corinthians demonstrated by their sinful lifestyle and ungodly attitudes that although they were in the church, they had no love for the Lord. They thought they were blessed, but Paul says they are under God’s judgment.
V22 Our Lord, come!
Paul is not referring to the second coming, but that the Lord (Jesus) should come in judgment against those who would defile his church.
6. Passion for sound doctrine
v13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
The imposters and so-called “super-spiritual” Christians were saying that Jesus is not enough and the gospel is not sufficient for Christian living. Paul, however, says, “Stand firm in THE faith”. There is only one true faith, one sound body of teaching and one sure foundation. In the midst of a world that would change the gospel, reduce the gospel, or add to the gospel, Paul instructs, “Stand firm in the faith.” Is the preaching of God’s Word the main focus of your church service? Do you listen more than you sing? Does your pastor explain the Bible and remind you of the gospel each Sunday?
Written by Andre Visagie
The views and opinions expressed in these articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position or standpoint of the Reformed Evangelical Anglican Church of South Africa
Perspective - The Saviour of the World
“We know that this man really is the Saviour of the world…” (John 4vs42)
Given our familiarity with the title, it comes as something of a surprise to discover that the New Testament only twice refers to Jesus as ‘the Saviour of the world’. Both of the references are found in the writings of John, the first in John 4vs42, to which we will return in a moment, the second in 1 John 4vs14. In the latter reference, the title is used by John himself in words reminiscent of the famous John 3:16. Calling upon the believers to love one another, John reminds them that God Himself is love and that as a result He has sent His Son to be “the saviour of the world”. It was to this great demonstration of the love of God that John and his fellow apostles were sent to testify through the gospel in the power of God’s Spirit (see also Romans 5vs8). In the former reference, the title is used not by John or by any of the early disciples of Jesus. It is used, rather unexpectedly, by a group of Samaritan villagers who were themselves introduced to Jesus by an even more unlikely witness, a Samaritan woman of dubious background.
The delightful story of Jesus’ meeting with the Samaritan woman and His conversation with her is of course well known to readers of John’s Gospel. In the structure of John, it stands as a deliberate counterpoint to Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, the Jewish teacher of the Law, recorded in the previous chapter. Convinced that Jesus is a teacher come from God, Nicodemus approaches Jesus and is met with a vital, but perplexing declaration. Though he is a teacher of Israel, Nicodemus needs to be born again in order to see and enter the kingdom of heaven (John 3vs3,5). Despite his privileged position and great responsibility as a teacher of the scriptures to Israel, Nicodemus in fact shows a profound ignorance of what Jesus is saying. Like the Samaritan woman, though with far less excuse, his mind seems locked in to earthly, rather than heavenly things (John 3vs4&vs12; cf 4vs11-15). His failure to understand Jesus’ words is itself a sign that he needs to be born again. Despite Nicodemus’ ignorance and lack of understanding, Jesus continues to teach him (and us!) the truth about the kingdom of God. This is surely a sign that Jesus remains committed to saving people like Nicodemus from among the Jews, though always by means of the clear proclamation of the gospel about his death (see John 3vs14-17). It is only by faith in the Son of Man (Jesus) who was lifted up that anyone is saved. And it is only through the regenerating work of the Spirit of God giving new birth that anyone can believe!
These important facts must be kept in mind as we move into John 4, so that as we follow the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman, we know that her growing understanding of Jesus’ words is not due to her own natural insight, but to the Spirit’s work. Slowly but surely Jesus leads her to the point where the conversation turns, first to her own life and then to Jesus’ identity as the Messiah. She comes to see herself as she really is but also in the light of the grace that Jesus’ words hold out to her. Little wonder then that she leaves her water jar and rushes back to the village to talk about Jesus. “Come”, she says, and “see a man who told me everything I’ve ever done” (4vs29). The Spirit and the Truth work together and a woman whose notoriety and shame kept her away from the townsfolk, especially from the other women, now rushes among them bearing testimony to Jesus’ life changing grace.
The story ends with the remarkable testimony by the villagers – “we know that this man really is the saviour of the world”. It is clear from John 4vs42, that the woman’s words about Jesus did play an important part in bringing the Samaritans to this conclusion. It is however also clear that Jesus’ own words were absolutely essential in the opening of the eyes of the Samaritans to the truth about Himself. Formerly excluded from the promise of God’s kingdom blessing, they find in Jesus a saviour, not only for Israel, but also for themselves and therefore for the world. Their declaration about Jesus provides a fitting conclusion to the two stories found in John 3 & 4. Taken together with Nicodemus’ words about Jesus (“a teacher who has come from God”) (John 3vs2) and Jesus’ own description of Himself (“the Son of Man who must be lifted up” (John 3vs14), the words of the Samaritan villagers stand as a testimony to all who read the gospel of John so that they might believe in this Jesus as the Saviour, and that believing, they might receive His kingdom gift of eternal life.
Perspective - The Saviour of the World
“We know that this man really is the Saviour of the world…” (John 4vs42)
Given our familiarity with the title, it comes as something of a surprise to discover that the New Testament only twice refers to Jesus as ‘the Saviour of the world’. Both of the references are found in the writings of John, the first in John 4vs42, to which we will return in a moment, the second in 1 John 4vs14. In the latter reference, the title is used by John himself in words reminiscent of the famous John 3:16. Calling upon the believers to love one another, John reminds them that God Himself is love and that as a result He has sent His Son to be “the saviour of the world”. It was to this great demonstration of the love of God that John and his fellow apostles were sent to testify through the gospel in the power of God’s Spirit (see also Romans 5vs8). In the former reference, the title is used not by John or by any of the early disciples of Jesus. It is used, rather unexpectedly, by a group of Samaritan villagers who were themselves introduced to Jesus by an even more unlikely witness, a Samaritan woman of dubious background.
The delightful story of Jesus’ meeting with the Samaritan woman and His conversation with her is of course well known to readers of John’s Gospel. In the structure of John, it stands as a deliberate counterpoint to Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, the Jewish teacher of the Law, recorded in the previous chapter. Convinced that Jesus is a teacher come from God, Nicodemus approaches Jesus and is met with a vital, but perplexing declaration. Though he is a teacher of Israel, Nicodemus needs to be born again in order to see and enter the kingdom of heaven (John 3vs3,5). Despite his privileged position and great responsibility as a teacher of the scriptures to Israel, Nicodemus in fact shows a profound ignorance of what Jesus is saying. Like the Samaritan woman, though with far less excuse, his mind seems locked in to earthly, rather than heavenly things (John 3vs4&vs12; cf 4vs11-15). His failure to understand Jesus’ words is itself a sign that he needs to be born again. Despite Nicodemus’ ignorance and lack of understanding, Jesus continues to teach him (and us!) the truth about the kingdom of God. This is surely a sign that Jesus remains committed to saving people like Nicodemus from among the Jews, though always by means of the clear proclamation of the gospel about his death (see John 3vs14-17). It is only by faith in the Son of Man (Jesus) who was lifted up that anyone is saved. And it is only through the regenerating work of the Spirit of God giving new birth that anyone can believe!
These important facts must be kept in mind as we move into John 4, so that as we follow the conversation between Jesus and the Samaritan woman, we know that her growing understanding of Jesus’ words is not due to her own natural insight, but to the Spirit’s work. Slowly but surely Jesus leads her to the point where the conversation turns, first to her own life and then to Jesus’ identity as the Messiah. She comes to see herself as she really is but also in the light of the grace that Jesus’ words hold out to her. Little wonder then that she leaves her water jar and rushes back to the village to talk about Jesus. “Come”, she says, and “see a man who told me everything I’ve ever done” (4vs29). The Spirit and the Truth work together and a woman whose notoriety and shame kept her away from the townsfolk, especially from the other women, now rushes among them bearing testimony to Jesus’ life changing grace.
The story ends with the remarkable testimony by the villagers – “we know that this man really is the saviour of the world”. It is clear from John 4vs42, that the woman’s words about Jesus did play an important part in bringing the Samaritans to this conclusion. It is however also clear that Jesus’ own words were absolutely essential in the opening of the eyes of the Samaritans to the truth about Himself. Formerly excluded from the promise of God’s kingdom blessing, they find in Jesus a saviour, not only for Israel, but also for themselves and therefore for the world. Their declaration about Jesus provides a fitting conclusion to the two stories found in John 3 & 4. Taken together with Nicodemus’ words about Jesus (“a teacher who has come from God”) (John 3vs2) and Jesus’ own description of Himself (“the Son of Man who must be lifted up” (John 3vs14), the words of the Samaritan villagers stand as a testimony to all who read the gospel of John so that they might believe in this Jesus as the Saviour, and that believing, they might receive His kingdom gift of eternal life.
Christmas Crisis
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.”
(Isaiah 9:2)
It’s no secret that our country is facing a crisis Christmas this year. We are being swamped with stories of failing infrastructure, a fractured parliament and a fragile economy. Coffee shop conversations are notably pessimistic.
It is true that media negativity tends to overshadow the many positive aspects of our country. There really is much to give thanks for. Our churches continue to enjoy freedom to preach the message of Jesus without censure and people are coming to know Christ. Many people are also making headway and even progress in globally difficult times. Tourists are still flocking to our beaches and families are still filling shopping malls.
Nevertheless there are very real problems in our country and we are being tested by a myriad of challenges. Its concerning particularly to see the unwise responses people are making in these difficult days. Debt is crippling families and moral decay is disintegrating them. Very little godly behavior is evident and many believers seem to lack Biblical maturity.
How can we as God’s people respond to our current state of affairs?
Firstly we must pray. God has ordained that the prayers of His people are part of the cogs and wheels of His sovereign plan. We must particularly pray for our country and its leaders (1Tim 2:1,2). If Africa is to be saved, we must pray without ceasing.
Secondly we must trust. Jesus warned that trials would see people falling away from the faith (Mark 4:17). We also know that hard times are the fires that test the authenticity of our faith (1 Peter 1:7). Therefore we ought not to be those who shrink back but those who persevere through trials by faith (Heb.10:38,39). This is the time to stand firm in the faith.
Thirdly we must act. Faith is not a noun, it’s a verb. Faith works. If we are truly trusting in Christ it will be seen in obedient action. It is no coincidence that God has placed you where you are for such a time as this. So be the Christian, make good moral decisions, be ethical in business and willingly serve others out of obedience to Christ.
Lastly we must not be fooled into thinking that this year’s crisis is anything unusual. Every Christmas, from the 1st to the 21st century has been celebrated in the context of crisis. Our world is broken by sin and the messy state of affairs is the visible evidence. The ultimate crisis our rebellious world faces is its pending appointment at the judgement seat of God. This, in fact, is the very reason Christmas happened in the first place. Jesus is the Light of hope that has shone into our dark world of crisis. His death and resurrection brings forgiveness and restored relationship to all who turn and trust in the Light of the World. Nothing else in your life is worth putting right if this is not put right first.
For God’s people, the current crisis should spur us on to share this good news all the more urgently this Christmas . . . even if we have to do it in candlelight !
A Trustworthy Saying
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the worst” (1 Timothy 1vs15)
These words of Paul’s are the first in a series of five so called ‘trustworthy sayings’ which are found in Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus (see also 1 Timothy 3vs1, 4vs9, 2 Timothy 2vs11, Titus 3vs8). Each of these ‘sayings’ is trustworthy, that is true and worth believing. And each of them deserves ‘full acceptance’, that is, they should be accepted as true and acted upon not just by some people but by everyone. What are the key truths that all people should believe and act upon according to 1 Timothy 1vs15?
First, there is a key truth about our world and about ourselves. According to Paul, the world in which we live is a fallen world and we are a fallen people. The word that Paul actually uses to describe this state of affairs is the word ‘sin’ – a word that has a variety of meanings in the Bible, depending on the context in which it is used. Here in 1 Timothy 1vs15, the word refers to Paul himself as the most extreme example of a sinner (“the worst of sinners”). Thus to be a sinner is to be what Paul himself was, and in verse 13, he tells us that he was a blasphemer, a persecutor and an unbeliever, not with regard to God, but with regard to Jesus Christ. According to these verses then, sin is the refusal to accept that Jesus is indeed God, to stand opposed to Jesus and to refuse to trust in Jesus as Saviour and Lord. Paul might have been an extreme example of this, but the sad fact is that every person is by nature exactly the same. By nature we are all ‘sinners’ who stand opposed to Jesus.
Second, there is a key truth about Jesus. Paul tells us that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”. We are accustomed to the truth that God so loved the world that He sent His Son into the world (see John 3vs16). But is this verse, Paul tells us that Jesus Himself loved the world enough to “come into the world” to save sinners. The message of Christmas is thus a message both about the love of God the Father and the self-giving love of Jesus the Son. This is further emphasised in verse 14 where Paul speaks about the “grace of our Lord” which was poured out on him abundantly, meaning not the grace of God the Father (though He is full of grace), but the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Third, there is a key truth about Jesus’ mission. Paul tells us that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”. Over the centuries, people have always tried to redefine the mission and purpose of Jesus according to their own agenda. Jesus has been presented as an insightful prophet, a social reformer, a political liberator, a moral example and a wise teacher to mention just a few. But by His own definition Jesus was and is supremely a Saviour, not of the self-righteous but of sinners. This is of course abundantly clear from the Gospels where Jesus says of Himself that he came “not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” and to “to seek and to save the lost” (see Luke 5vs32, 19vs10). In 1 Timothy 1vs15, Paul echoes Jesus’ own teaching when he says that Jesus came to save sinners. Later on in the letter, again echoing Jesus’ teaching, Paul reminds his readers that Jesus saves sinners on the basis of what He has done for them when he “gave himself as a ransom for all men” by dying on the cross (1 Timothy 2vs6). Sinners are thus not saved by changing themselves into better people. They are saved by being ransomed by the death of Jesus. That is why the right response to Jesus is not a decision to imitate His life or to follow His teaching, but rather to trust in His saving work and to depend on Him for our salvation.
According to 1 Timothy 1vs15, it is a trustworthy saying that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”. This saying is true and it should be believed and acted upon by everyone. Put in slightly different terms, Paul is thus reminding us that the message of Christmas is a message about Jesus and a message about ourselves. It is also a message for the world! Christmas should remind us that we are sinners – and it is worth accepting that diagnosis of ourselves no matter how uncomfortable it makes us feel. But Christmas also reminds us that Jesus is a gracious, powerful and willing saviour. He came into the world with the ability and the deep desire to save us. And save us He will if we are willing to face the truth about our sinfulness and to put or trust in Him.
Written by Mervyn Eloff
Perspective - Christian Growth
“Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever! Amen” (2 Peter 3vs18)
There could hardly be a better metaphor to describe the Christian life than the metaphor of growth. In contrast to religion which is formal and sterile, authentic Christianity is alive and vibrant. And the reason for this difference is not hard to find. Religion, at its heart, is based upon nothing more than human ideas and traditions; authentic Christianity is based upon a living and growing relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is this living and growing relationship with the Lord Jesus that Peter has in mind when he exhorts us, in the passage quoted above, to grow both in the grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The appeal is an important one, one that is worth taking time to consider.
First, it is important to note that Peter not only expects believers to grow, he commands us to grow. At first glance this may seem rather odd, for, as we are told elsewhere in Scripture, it is God alone who gives growth (see 1 Corinthians 3vs6). On closer examination however, we see that Peter is not denying that God gives spiritual growth; he is simply reminding us that God’s grace and work in our lives requires a response on our part. Thus, at the very beginning of 2 Peter we are told that in Christ and through His Word, God has given every believer all that he or she needs for spiritual life and growth (2 Peter 1vs1-4). Growth comes about by “divine power”. But, immediately after this description of God’s power at work in them, he urges them to make every effort to grow, and indeed, to be eager to do so (2 Peter 1vs5-11) For Peter, God’s powerful work in us does not negate our work, it makes our work possible and fruitful.
Second, it is important to note that Peter urges us to grow both in grace and inknowledge. In this, Peter is reflecting a very important truth, one that was personified in the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. John tells us in his gospel, that Jesus, the Word made flesh, came from the Father, “full of grace and truth” (John 1vs14). His grace and kindness was seen in the way that He dealt with people and of course supremely in His death in place of sinners. But at no point in His dealings with others did Jesus ever compromise on truth or act in a way that undermined the righteousness of God. Indeed He went to the cross so that both the grace of God and the truth of God could be established. It is therefore hardly surprising that Peter should encourage believers to grow both in grace and knowledge (truth). This growth will involve knowing Christ better through the truth that is found in the Gospel, the very great and precious promises of 2 Peter 1vs4. And as we get to know Christ better through this Word of God in the gospel, growth will involve our being made more and more like the Lord Jesus Christ, experiencing His grace in our lives and extending His grace to a lost world.
Third, it is important to note that this growth is in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Outside of Christ there can be no spiritual life and thus no spiritual growth. And once again it is John’s gospel which helps us to appreciate this truth. John tells us that on the eve of His betrayal and death, Jesus spent time teaching His disciples. Among other important truths He reminded them (and us) that He is the vine and that His disciples are the branches and that no one can bear fruit unless they “remain in Him” (John 15vs1-2). Once again this is the image of a living, growing relationship – but it is also a declaration that all true spiritual life and growth can be found only in Christ. In Peter’s words, Jesus is Saviour to His people. This means that it is only as they come to Him and put their faith in Him that they receive the gift of true spiritual life. But Jesus is also the Lord of His people. Thus it is only as they continue to trust in Him day by day that they will continue to enjoy this life and grow in their relationship with Him.
Fourth, we note that all the glory and the praise for this growth goes to the Lord Jesus Christ and not to us. We are responsible to grow and to make every effort to grow. It is within our power and responsibility to study God’s word and to pray so that by God’s word and by the powerful working of God’s Spirit we may grow into the image of Christ. But in the end, it is absolutely true that God is the One who gives growth. And so as we grow in our relationship with the Lord we find ourselves humbled by His grace and full of praise for His work in our lives. To Him alone be the glory in Christ Jesus, now and for ever! Amen.
Written by Mervyn Eloff