It's that time of year again! :) Christmas is almost here. How are you celebrating Christmas this year? Presents? Stockings? Mistletoe? What's the true meaning of Christmas??
I made a video a few years ago to a song by Go Fish called "It's About the Cross." The song explains the true meaning of Christmas!! Enjoy!! :) And, have a wonderful, merry Christmas!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
Blessed are...
Matthew 5:6 "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied."
When someone is hungering and thirsting for righteousness, they are not seeking their own. Everyone must see their need for righteousness. "But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousness are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away" (Isaiah 64:6). Our righteous deeds are like filthy rags. Standing before God, they amount to nothing.
God is a just judge and His judgments are right. He cannot acquit the wicked. "The Lord ... will not acquit the wicked" (Nahum 1:3). His perfect holiness cannot put any sin in compromise.
How is our righteous deeds as filthy rags? Well, first off, prier to salvation, everything we ever did was sin. Everything. We never did anything but sin. The reason for this is that, without a proper understanding of the Cross and Christ, we can't possibly, at any time be keeping the First Commandment, which is "You shall have no other gods before Me." In other words, Christ is to be first. If a person has not come to salvation, then even their so called "righteous deeds" are unrighteous because they are not done to the glory and honor of Christ. In most cases, they are done for their own merit.
But, yet I would like to present an earthly scenario that will help you understand the just judgments of God. For example: An angry man ran into a bank and stole $250,000. He was running from the Law for years. After 3 years, they finally found the man and brought him before the Court. The Judge has all the evidence and he is without a doubt guilty of this crime. The Judge then asks, "Do you have anything to say?"
The man replies, "Yes. Judge I know I stole that money, but I've been a good person ever since then. I've participated in helping the homeless. I've helped older ladies get across the road. I even gave some of that money to the poor and to little children without a home. Can you not just forgive me and let me go?"
You see? What is right in this situation? The man has stolen and all the evidence is their, he's guilty. What do you think the judge will say? If he's a good and just judge he will say, "You may have done those things but that still doesn't give you the freedom to be let go. You have a fine to pay. You committed a crime and now there is a penalty to your crime, regardless of what good things you have done.
As the situation above illustrates, a good judge cannot pass over a crime. There is a punishment for the crime regardless of anything else that person has done. Good deeds cannot help a guilty man standing before a court of law. And just like this situation, God cannot and will not let someone go based on a so called "good work." There is still a crime that was committed and therefore there is still a fine to be payed. He is much more just and much more holy than any mere man judge on this earth. He will not only see that thieves and murders get punished, but liars as well.
It's clear our sentence will be "guilty" on judgment day, when we stand before the Just Judge of the universe. That is, unless we see Christ's sacrifice on the Cross as a payment for our crimes (sins) and see that He paid our fine for us. If we see this and it causes us to grieve and mourn (Matt 5:4), which produces repentance unto salvation, then we can be legally dismissed on judgment day. Not because God will look over our sin and not based on any thing "good" we have done, but based on the payment of another, Christ Jesus. Based on Christ's death on the Cross and His Resurrection from the grave, we will be forgiven of our debts. Christ paid them!
We must seek after His righteousness and we will be satisfied only in His! It's only His righteousness that can save. We haven't any. Fling yourself upon the mercies of God! Turn from your sins and put your trust in Him!
In Christ,
Kirsten
hunger and thirst for righteousness. This is the
opposite of the self-righteousness of the Pharisees. It speaks of those who seek
God's righteousness rather than attempting to establish a righteousness of their
own (Ro 10:3; Php 3:9). What they seek will fill them, i.e., it will satisfy
their hunger and thirst for a right relationship with God.
When someone is hungering and thirsting for righteousness, they are not seeking their own. Everyone must see their need for righteousness. "But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousness are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away" (Isaiah 64:6). Our righteous deeds are like filthy rags. Standing before God, they amount to nothing.
God is a just judge and His judgments are right. He cannot acquit the wicked. "The Lord ... will not acquit the wicked" (Nahum 1:3). His perfect holiness cannot put any sin in compromise.
How is our righteous deeds as filthy rags? Well, first off, prier to salvation, everything we ever did was sin. Everything. We never did anything but sin. The reason for this is that, without a proper understanding of the Cross and Christ, we can't possibly, at any time be keeping the First Commandment, which is "You shall have no other gods before Me." In other words, Christ is to be first. If a person has not come to salvation, then even their so called "righteous deeds" are unrighteous because they are not done to the glory and honor of Christ. In most cases, they are done for their own merit.
But, yet I would like to present an earthly scenario that will help you understand the just judgments of God. For example: An angry man ran into a bank and stole $250,000. He was running from the Law for years. After 3 years, they finally found the man and brought him before the Court. The Judge has all the evidence and he is without a doubt guilty of this crime. The Judge then asks, "Do you have anything to say?"
The man replies, "Yes. Judge I know I stole that money, but I've been a good person ever since then. I've participated in helping the homeless. I've helped older ladies get across the road. I even gave some of that money to the poor and to little children without a home. Can you not just forgive me and let me go?"
You see? What is right in this situation? The man has stolen and all the evidence is their, he's guilty. What do you think the judge will say? If he's a good and just judge he will say, "You may have done those things but that still doesn't give you the freedom to be let go. You have a fine to pay. You committed a crime and now there is a penalty to your crime, regardless of what good things you have done.
As the situation above illustrates, a good judge cannot pass over a crime. There is a punishment for the crime regardless of anything else that person has done. Good deeds cannot help a guilty man standing before a court of law. And just like this situation, God cannot and will not let someone go based on a so called "good work." There is still a crime that was committed and therefore there is still a fine to be payed. He is much more just and much more holy than any mere man judge on this earth. He will not only see that thieves and murders get punished, but liars as well.
It's clear our sentence will be "guilty" on judgment day, when we stand before the Just Judge of the universe. That is, unless we see Christ's sacrifice on the Cross as a payment for our crimes (sins) and see that He paid our fine for us. If we see this and it causes us to grieve and mourn (Matt 5:4), which produces repentance unto salvation, then we can be legally dismissed on judgment day. Not because God will look over our sin and not based on any thing "good" we have done, but based on the payment of another, Christ Jesus. Based on Christ's death on the Cross and His Resurrection from the grave, we will be forgiven of our debts. Christ paid them!
We must seek after His righteousness and we will be satisfied only in His! It's only His righteousness that can save. We haven't any. Fling yourself upon the mercies of God! Turn from your sins and put your trust in Him!
In Christ,
Kirsten
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Blessed are...
Matthew 5:5 "Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth."
As we have previously looked at, in order to come to Christ (in order to be saved) you must be "poor in spirit" (Mt 5:3), you must mourn over your sins (Mt 5:4), and now we learn that you must be gentle or humble (Mt 5:5).
We must see our poverty of spirit, that we are wretched sinners and can in no way save ourselves. We must mourn over the fact that we are wretched sinners, deserving of God's wrath. We must humble ourselves before God and cast all of our pride, all of our sin away from us. We have to be humble and say that we are indeed poor in spirit and we need Christ's forgiveness. For a self-righteous, proud, arrogant sinner, this is hard. A spiritually blind man wants in no way to humble himself and admit he is blind and needs a Savior. "... Jesus said to them, 'With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'"
"Thus says the LORD, 'Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest? For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being,' declares the LORD 'But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word" (Isaiah 66:1-2). The Lord dwells with him who is humble.
So, humble yourself before God. Cry out to Him today! Repent of your sins and put your trust in Christ if you haven't already. "Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble" (Proverbs 3:34). "... God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (1 Peter 5:5).
In Christ,
Kirsten
"But the meek shall inherit the earth, And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace" (Psalm 37:11). Gentleness is another word for meekness or humility. In the New American Standard, Psalm 37:11 states, "But the humble will inherit the land..."the gentle. Gentleness of meekness is the opposite of being
out of control. It is not weakness, but supreme self-control empowered by the
Spirit (cf. Gal 5:23). The statement that the meek "shall inherit the earth" is
quoted from Ps 37:11.
As we have previously looked at, in order to come to Christ (in order to be saved) you must be "poor in spirit" (Mt 5:3), you must mourn over your sins (Mt 5:4), and now we learn that you must be gentle or humble (Mt 5:5).
We must see our poverty of spirit, that we are wretched sinners and can in no way save ourselves. We must mourn over the fact that we are wretched sinners, deserving of God's wrath. We must humble ourselves before God and cast all of our pride, all of our sin away from us. We have to be humble and say that we are indeed poor in spirit and we need Christ's forgiveness. For a self-righteous, proud, arrogant sinner, this is hard. A spiritually blind man wants in no way to humble himself and admit he is blind and needs a Savior. "... Jesus said to them, 'With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'"
"Thus says the LORD, 'Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest? For My hand made all these things, Thus all these things came into being,' declares the LORD 'But to this one I will look, To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word" (Isaiah 66:1-2). The Lord dwells with him who is humble.
So, humble yourself before God. Cry out to Him today! Repent of your sins and put your trust in Christ if you haven't already. "Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble" (Proverbs 3:34). "... God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (1 Peter 5:5).
In Christ,
Kirsten
Friday, August 28, 2009
Blessed are...
Matthew 5:4 "Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."
(MacArthur, John. The MacArthur Study Bible.)
Just as in verse three, verse four speaks of salvation. "Blessed are those who mourn." This doesn't speak of just crying or mourning over anything. This "mourning" is a broken heart before God, a mourning over sin.
We seen yesterday that we must be poor in spirit for "theirs is the kingdom of heaven." This poverty of spirit, or rather, the realization of your poverty of spirit, leads to a mourning over sin. When we realize that we have sinned before a holy God, that we will be punished justly in hell for these sins that we have committed, but that Christ took the punishment for us, we mourn over our wretched souls. It's God's grace that leads us to this mourning. "the kindness of God leads you to repentance" (Romans 2:4).
"For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death" (2 Corinthians 7:10). We turn to the mercies of God through this brokenness. Only through His love and mercy can we be forgiven of our sins. It's by His grace we are saved. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).
So, this is how those who mourn "shall be comforted." When a person mourns over their sins and has a true godly sorrow, this leads to repentance. God saves them. Then, once God saves them, He gives them a new heart, with new desires. "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 36:26).
Those saved by God's grace are comforted in the fact that Christ took their punishment on the cross and bore God's wrath. We have comfort that God's wrath is satisfied and we are forgiven! We have comfort that we will one day be with our Savior because He rose from the dead, therefore initiating life. Death has no sting! "But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, 'DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?'" (1 Corinthians 15:54-55).
Have you mourned over your sins? Have you had a true godly sorrow leading to repentance? Do you know the poverty of your spirit? Think about your sins. Think about the many times you have sinned before God. He sees everything, even your thought life. Then look at the Cross, where Christ took your punishment and bore your wrath. Let this break your heart. Repent (turn away from) your sins, put your trust in Christ today! You may not have another day.
In Christ,
Kirsten
"those who mourn. This speaks of mourning over sin,
the godly sorrow that produces repentance leading to salvation without regret
(2Co 7:10). The "comfort" is the comfort of forgiveness and salvation (cf. Is
40:1,2).
(MacArthur, John. The MacArthur Study Bible.)
Just as in verse three, verse four speaks of salvation. "Blessed are those who mourn." This doesn't speak of just crying or mourning over anything. This "mourning" is a broken heart before God, a mourning over sin.
We seen yesterday that we must be poor in spirit for "theirs is the kingdom of heaven." This poverty of spirit, or rather, the realization of your poverty of spirit, leads to a mourning over sin. When we realize that we have sinned before a holy God, that we will be punished justly in hell for these sins that we have committed, but that Christ took the punishment for us, we mourn over our wretched souls. It's God's grace that leads us to this mourning. "the kindness of God leads you to repentance" (Romans 2:4).
"For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death" (2 Corinthians 7:10). We turn to the mercies of God through this brokenness. Only through His love and mercy can we be forgiven of our sins. It's by His grace we are saved. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).
So, this is how those who mourn "shall be comforted." When a person mourns over their sins and has a true godly sorrow, this leads to repentance. God saves them. Then, once God saves them, He gives them a new heart, with new desires. "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh" (Ezekiel 36:26).
Those saved by God's grace are comforted in the fact that Christ took their punishment on the cross and bore God's wrath. We have comfort that God's wrath is satisfied and we are forgiven! We have comfort that we will one day be with our Savior because He rose from the dead, therefore initiating life. Death has no sting! "But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, 'DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?'" (1 Corinthians 15:54-55).
Have you mourned over your sins? Have you had a true godly sorrow leading to repentance? Do you know the poverty of your spirit? Think about your sins. Think about the many times you have sinned before God. He sees everything, even your thought life. Then look at the Cross, where Christ took your punishment and bore your wrath. Let this break your heart. Repent (turn away from) your sins, put your trust in Christ today! You may not have another day.
In Christ,
Kirsten
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Blessed are...
The next couple of days I'm going to go through the Beatitudes found in Matthew 5. I'm going to go verse by verse and quote John MacArthur's study notes from his study Bible.
Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
(MacArthur, John. The MacArthur Study Bible.)
"Poor in spirit" is a lacking of self. It's a humility and an understanding that we are, apart from God, utterly helpless and completely lost in sin. We are "poor in spirit." We must come to the realization that we are sinful and that we are not good people. When it says "theirs is the kingdom of God," it is speaking of salvation here. Salvation can only be obtained through the knowledge that we are helpless wretched sinners that deserve to go to hell. We will only flee to the Savior when we see the need to flee to Him.
So, do you see your need? Or, do you consider yourself to be a good person and think you are good enough to make it to heaven? Are you good enough? Let's see. We'll look at God's standard of justice, the Ten Commandments, and see how you measure up.
The ninth commandment is "you shall not lie." Have you ever told a lie before? What does that make you? A liar. The eighth command is "you shall not steal." Have you ever stolen anything before, no matter the value? What does that make you? A thief. The third commandment is "you shall not take God's Name in vain." Have you ever taken God's name in vain? That's called blasphemy. You are taking the name of the God who gave you life and bringing it down to a lower standard and using it as a four letter filth word. "For the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain." (Exodus 20:7; Deuteronomy 5:11) The seventh commandment is "you shall not commit adultery." But, Jesus Christ, in Matthew 5:27-28 takes that a step farther. He says, "but I say to you that everyone who looks at a women with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Have you ever looked with lust? If so, God considers that as adultery.
Just by looking at these four commandments God sees you as a lying, thieving, blasphemous, adulterer at heart. And, you have to stand before Him like that on Judgment Day. "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). What's going to happen to you on judgment day? Will you go to Heaven or Hell? The Bible makes it clear where you will go. Revelation 21:8 "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone." (emphasis added) 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God." (emphasis added)
The Bible is clear, Hell is where you are headed. You can't be "good enough" to go to Heaven, because you aren't good. This is where "poor in spirit" comes in. You are completely and totally poor in spirit. You have nothing in you that is going to enable you to get to Heaven. You are poor.
So, how do the "poor in spirit" have any hope. The rest of that Verse says"theirs is the kingdom of God." How is that possible? It's possible because a little over 2000 years ago, God came to this earth and became a man. He was fully God and fully man, the God-man. He was perfect in thought, word, and deed. He died on a cross and paid your fine. Instead of you paying for your sins in hell, Jesus Christ took your sins upon the Cross and bore your wrath and took the punishment. He paid your fine. He paid the fine of a criminal. You.
You can be freed of God's justice based on the grace of another, Christ. Christ paid for your justice. He didn't stay dead though. He rose from the grave, victorious over death, the grave, and hell! He defeated death! He lives! He tells us in His Word that "unless you repent, you will perish" (Luke 13:3,5). "God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead" (Acts 17:30-31). Repent and put your trust in Christ today! You may not have tomorrow. "Now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).
So, this is how that Verse can say that "theirs is the kingdom of heaven." When we see that we are "poor in spirit" we see the need of a Savior. He is the only way to salvation!
In Christ,
Kirsten
Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
"Blessed. The word literally means 'happy fortunate, blissful.'
Here it speaks of more than a surface emotion. Jesus was describing the
divinely-bestowed well-being that belongs only to the faithful. The Beatitudes
demonstrate that the way to heavenly blessedness is antithetical to the worldly
path normally followed in pursuit of happiness. The worldly idea is that
happiness is found in riches, merriment, abundance, leisure, and such things.
The real truth is the very opposite. The Beatitudes give Jesus' description of
the character of true faith. poor in spirit. The opposite of
self-sufficiency. This speaks of the deep humility of recognizing one's utter
spiritual bankruptcy apart from God. It describes those who are acutely
conscious of their own lostness and hopelessness apart from divine grace. (cf.
9:12; Lk 18:13). theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Notice that
the truth of salvation by grace is clearly presupposed in this opening verse of
the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus was teaching that the kingdom is a gracious gift
to those who sense their own poverty of spirit."
(MacArthur, John. The MacArthur Study Bible.)
"Poor in spirit" is a lacking of self. It's a humility and an understanding that we are, apart from God, utterly helpless and completely lost in sin. We are "poor in spirit." We must come to the realization that we are sinful and that we are not good people. When it says "theirs is the kingdom of God," it is speaking of salvation here. Salvation can only be obtained through the knowledge that we are helpless wretched sinners that deserve to go to hell. We will only flee to the Savior when we see the need to flee to Him.
So, do you see your need? Or, do you consider yourself to be a good person and think you are good enough to make it to heaven? Are you good enough? Let's see. We'll look at God's standard of justice, the Ten Commandments, and see how you measure up.
The ninth commandment is "you shall not lie." Have you ever told a lie before? What does that make you? A liar. The eighth command is "you shall not steal." Have you ever stolen anything before, no matter the value? What does that make you? A thief. The third commandment is "you shall not take God's Name in vain." Have you ever taken God's name in vain? That's called blasphemy. You are taking the name of the God who gave you life and bringing it down to a lower standard and using it as a four letter filth word. "For the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain." (Exodus 20:7; Deuteronomy 5:11) The seventh commandment is "you shall not commit adultery." But, Jesus Christ, in Matthew 5:27-28 takes that a step farther. He says, "but I say to you that everyone who looks at a women with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Have you ever looked with lust? If so, God considers that as adultery.
Just by looking at these four commandments God sees you as a lying, thieving, blasphemous, adulterer at heart. And, you have to stand before Him like that on Judgment Day. "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). What's going to happen to you on judgment day? Will you go to Heaven or Hell? The Bible makes it clear where you will go. Revelation 21:8 "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone." (emphasis added) 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God." (emphasis added)
The Bible is clear, Hell is where you are headed. You can't be "good enough" to go to Heaven, because you aren't good. This is where "poor in spirit" comes in. You are completely and totally poor in spirit. You have nothing in you that is going to enable you to get to Heaven. You are poor.
So, how do the "poor in spirit" have any hope. The rest of that Verse says"theirs is the kingdom of God." How is that possible? It's possible because a little over 2000 years ago, God came to this earth and became a man. He was fully God and fully man, the God-man. He was perfect in thought, word, and deed. He died on a cross and paid your fine. Instead of you paying for your sins in hell, Jesus Christ took your sins upon the Cross and bore your wrath and took the punishment. He paid your fine. He paid the fine of a criminal. You.
You can be freed of God's justice based on the grace of another, Christ. Christ paid for your justice. He didn't stay dead though. He rose from the grave, victorious over death, the grave, and hell! He defeated death! He lives! He tells us in His Word that "unless you repent, you will perish" (Luke 13:3,5). "God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead" (Acts 17:30-31). Repent and put your trust in Christ today! You may not have tomorrow. "Now is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2).
So, this is how that Verse can say that "theirs is the kingdom of heaven." When we see that we are "poor in spirit" we see the need of a Savior. He is the only way to salvation!
In Christ,
Kirsten
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Pursuing God
"Before a sinful man can think right thoughts of God, there must have(Tozer, A.W. The Pursuit of God. [Harrusburg: Christian Pub., Inc., 1948] 11-12.)
been a work of enlightenment done within him; imperfect it may be, but a true work
nonetheless, and the secret cause of all desiring and seeking and praying which
may follow.
We pursue God because, and only because, He has first put an urge
within us that spurs us to the pursuit. 'No man can come to Me,' said our Lord,
'except the Father which hath sent me draw him,' and it is by this [very
prevenient coming before another thing] drawing that God takes from us every
vestige of credit for the act of coming. The impulse to pursue God originates
with God, but the impulse is our following hard after Him; and all the time we
are pursuing Him we are already in His hand: 'Thy right hand upholdeth
me.'
In this divine 'upholding' and human 'following' there is no
contradiction. All is of God, for as von Hugel teaches, God is always
previous. In practice, however, (that is, here God's previous working
meets man's response) man must pursue God."
I've been reading, for school, The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer. It's a really good book. I've thought hard on this quote. Man is utterly helpless and dependant on God. Man cannot come to God, unless God reveals Himself ... "unless the Father draws him." But yet, man must pursue God in order to come to Him. That pursuing comes from God. As stated, "God is always previous," or He is always the reason for the seeking.
Just as a dead man cannot make himself live, so a spiritually dead man cannot make himself live. We must respond to His calling, but even that ability comes from Him. A dead man cannot awaken himself nor can he even wish to waken himself; he's dead. A spiritually dead person is the same. Just as Lazarus had no ability or even a thought of living, because he was dead. But, when Christ said to him, "Lazarus, come forth," Lazarus responded, but only because Christ told him to come forth.
Yes, humanity is helpless without our Savior. No, it doesn't mean we have no responsibility. In fact, Christ calls us to repent. "Unless you repent, you will perish." We have to respond to the Christ's calling, just as Lazarus responded to Him. But, we couldn't respond, just as Lazarus wouldn't have, if Christ had not called us.
This is a reality that boggles my mind. I think about it constantly and start to realize the greatness of our Sovereign God! This truth, taught in Scripture, gives us a literal "no works" salvation. We can't do anything to earn salvation. It's a complete, total free gift from God. If we could do even the slightest thing, then we would get credit or glory. But, God gets all the glory! He gets all the praise and worship for salvation! We are dependant on His grace, and I would want it no other way. In fact, if humanity had even a small part in salvation, then we would be proud and arrogant with no reason for humility. If salvation could be earned by human effort or work, humanity would be lost because they would see no need for Christ at all. Why would Christ have to die and then say "grace alone," or, in other words, "unmerited favor," if we could somehow get salvation through something we do.
No, may it never be! "No man can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him." We are drawn by Him! He is so loving to draw us to Him in our filthy wretched state! May God receive all the glory for His great salvation that cannot be attained by human efforts!
In Christ,
Kirsten
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
The Cup
What does "The Cup" mean in Christian terms. I wrote a poem explaining the meaning of "The Cup" as revealed in Scripture.
The Cup
Written by: Kirsten Bryant
“The cup?” some may ask, “What can you mean by this?”
“It’s such a short title and seems quite amiss.”
But these two small words make me tremble and shake
Just like a leaf blown in the wind, I do quake
You see, I had a cup that I deserved to drink
A cup that was filled, overflowing the brink
But this cup was not filled with water or tea
It was filled with God’s just, holy wrath, for me
“Wrath?” you ask, “Why do you deserve such a thing?”
“What vast sin have you done that fierce wrath would bring?”
My answer to this is every sin is vast,
Yes, immense; whether present, future, or past
To God, lying is an abomination
With this one sin, there’s no hope for salvation
For in Revelation the liar is doomed
God says in this Book that he will be consumed
Yet just this one sin is not all I have done
My test on righteousness has only begun
A thief cannot enter the Kingdom of God
His fierce wrath will strike him like a lightening rod
Guilty you will be if you take His name in vain
He will not hold you guiltless, His justice shall reign
Christ says lust is adultery of the heart
And from the adulterer God will depart
Looking at just these four commandments, I see
Standing before God, my plea will be guilty
So understand, this cup I am worthy of
I’m a vile creature that deserves no love
God, the holy, just One had this cup prepared
My punishment was hell and I was ensnared
Yes, I deserve this fate, for God should be adored
Instead, His name I blasphemed and abhorred
He made the wind, the trees, the sun, and the birds
Out of all creation, men heed not His words
So, I’m standing here now with no hope in sight
Trembling before Him whose justice is right
Wait just a moment, something seems to be wrong
There’s a Man on trial that doesn’t belong
Yes, this Man is also God of creation
This God was here before the world’s foundation
But why is He standing where the guilty pleads?
He’s not ever done any unrighteous deeds
This holy, perfect One, Jesus is His name
He stands before the Father, taking my blame
He was beaten and scorned and hung on a tree
And yet all of this He was doing for me
This spectacle has me falling to my knees
He’s taking my cup, my wrath He will appease
Christ, who was perfect, has justified the vile
Through His blood He’s brought together the hostile
For we were hostile toward God, from our sin
But through His precious blood, new life can begin
He rose from the grave, defeating death and hell
Through His great defeat, now with Him we can dwell
By repentance and faith, salvation can come
Because of theses truth’s, Christ Jesus will save some
Instead of His wrath, I now hold in my hand
A cup of salvation that’s mighty and grand
It was not of me that God’s wrath was dried up
It is all because of Christ, who took the cup!
Written by: Kirsten Bryant
“The cup?” some may ask, “What can you mean by this?”
“It’s such a short title and seems quite amiss.”
But these two small words make me tremble and shake
Just like a leaf blown in the wind, I do quake
You see, I had a cup that I deserved to drink
A cup that was filled, overflowing the brink
But this cup was not filled with water or tea
It was filled with God’s just, holy wrath, for me
“Wrath?” you ask, “Why do you deserve such a thing?”
“What vast sin have you done that fierce wrath would bring?”
My answer to this is every sin is vast,
Yes, immense; whether present, future, or past
To God, lying is an abomination
With this one sin, there’s no hope for salvation
For in Revelation the liar is doomed
God says in this Book that he will be consumed
Yet just this one sin is not all I have done
My test on righteousness has only begun
A thief cannot enter the Kingdom of God
His fierce wrath will strike him like a lightening rod
Guilty you will be if you take His name in vain
He will not hold you guiltless, His justice shall reign
Christ says lust is adultery of the heart
And from the adulterer God will depart
Looking at just these four commandments, I see
Standing before God, my plea will be guilty
So understand, this cup I am worthy of
I’m a vile creature that deserves no love
God, the holy, just One had this cup prepared
My punishment was hell and I was ensnared
Yes, I deserve this fate, for God should be adored
Instead, His name I blasphemed and abhorred
He made the wind, the trees, the sun, and the birds
Out of all creation, men heed not His words
So, I’m standing here now with no hope in sight
Trembling before Him whose justice is right
Wait just a moment, something seems to be wrong
There’s a Man on trial that doesn’t belong
Yes, this Man is also God of creation
This God was here before the world’s foundation
But why is He standing where the guilty pleads?
He’s not ever done any unrighteous deeds
This holy, perfect One, Jesus is His name
He stands before the Father, taking my blame
He was beaten and scorned and hung on a tree
And yet all of this He was doing for me
This spectacle has me falling to my knees
He’s taking my cup, my wrath He will appease
Christ, who was perfect, has justified the vile
Through His blood He’s brought together the hostile
For we were hostile toward God, from our sin
But through His precious blood, new life can begin
He rose from the grave, defeating death and hell
Through His great defeat, now with Him we can dwell
By repentance and faith, salvation can come
Because of theses truth’s, Christ Jesus will save some
Instead of His wrath, I now hold in my hand
A cup of salvation that’s mighty and grand
It was not of me that God’s wrath was dried up
It is all because of Christ, who took the cup!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Love is Selfess
Wow, what a long drought. I think I'm going to try as hard as I can to start posting on this again. I'm sure that there hasn't been many to check my blog, since it's been such a long time since I wrote. But, I want to start up again. I want to talk about my walk with Christ and the great things He's doing in my life!
First off, umm... there's soo much to say! So, I think I will write about what's happening in my life later. I want to post an atricle I wrote for a school essay that I did. I chose the subject I wanted to write about. The article is called "Love is Selfless". Enjoy!
“Love”, it’s such a strong word with a deep meaning. But what’s true love? Love, as revealed in Scripture, is a complete self denial and a selfless attitude and heart. Yet, in today’s cultural world, it’s the absolute opposite. It’s a selfish, “I want this now” attitude. Love today means when you’re satisfied or when your needs are met. Love’s true meaning is found in Scripture, where “Love” is revealed as selfless and devoid of your own desires and wants.
Selfishness is condoned in the Bible and does not lead to love. In fact, selfishness leads to wrong, ungodly attitudes. It leads to a neglect of the poor. “But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?” (New American Standard Version 1 John 3:17). It also leads to greediness and no satisfaction. “And the dogs are greedy, they are not satisfied … they have all turned to their own way, each one to his unjust gain…” (Isaiah 56:11). Selfishness is inconsistent with Christian love. “…They who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf” (2 Corinthians 5:15). “[Love] … does not seek its own” (1 Corinthians 13:5). So, if selfishness is inconsistent with Christian love, it’s not love at all. “For where … selfish ambition exists, there is disorder and every evil thing” (James 3:16). We are told to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). A selfish person can’t do that.
Since we know that love is not selfish, then we can come to the conclusion that love is selfless and finds joy in others instead of themselves. “Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor” (1 Corinthians 10:24). Love looks after the interests of others. “Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4). Therefore, caring for others interests, needs, or feelings is selfless love. “It is good not… to do anything by which your brother stumbles” (Romans 14:21). “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise" (Luke 3:11). This is the kind of love that a Christian is called to, a self denying love for people and mostly for God. Jesus says, “None of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions” (Luke 14:33). He says in another passage of Scripture, calling us to deny ourselves, “He who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:38). Given that we are called to selflessness, we should be willing to obey this calling.
We know that true love is selfless from the example that Christ, love incarnate, gave us of His selflessness and self denial. He came to this earth not seeking His own desires or will, but His Father’s. “Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work” (John 4:34). Again, He says, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 6:38). Christ did not seek to please Himself. “… Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, ‘THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME’” (Romans 15:3). In fact, He didn’t seek His own, but gave Himself for His people. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). The love that Christ has for His Father and the love that He has for sinful humans shows His selfless nature and the greatness of His love. “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28). “Although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:6-7).
Our love should be selfless, like that of Christ’s love for us. Our love is to be selfless in all situations; in friendships, family, marriage, and in our relationship with Christ. Our love is to be characterized by a selfless denial. Love truly is selfless and we need to not follow today’s “trend” of love and follow Christ’s perfect example of what love truly is. “Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, ‘THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME’” (Romans 15:1-3).
First off, umm... there's soo much to say! So, I think I will write about what's happening in my life later. I want to post an atricle I wrote for a school essay that I did. I chose the subject I wanted to write about. The article is called "Love is Selfless". Enjoy!
In Christ, Kirsten
“Love”, it’s such a strong word with a deep meaning. But what’s true love? Love, as revealed in Scripture, is a complete self denial and a selfless attitude and heart. Yet, in today’s cultural world, it’s the absolute opposite. It’s a selfish, “I want this now” attitude. Love today means when you’re satisfied or when your needs are met. Love’s true meaning is found in Scripture, where “Love” is revealed as selfless and devoid of your own desires and wants.
Selfishness is condoned in the Bible and does not lead to love. In fact, selfishness leads to wrong, ungodly attitudes. It leads to a neglect of the poor. “But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?” (New American Standard Version 1 John 3:17). It also leads to greediness and no satisfaction. “And the dogs are greedy, they are not satisfied … they have all turned to their own way, each one to his unjust gain…” (Isaiah 56:11). Selfishness is inconsistent with Christian love. “…They who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf” (2 Corinthians 5:15). “[Love] … does not seek its own” (1 Corinthians 13:5). So, if selfishness is inconsistent with Christian love, it’s not love at all. “For where … selfish ambition exists, there is disorder and every evil thing” (James 3:16). We are told to “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). A selfish person can’t do that.
Since we know that love is not selfish, then we can come to the conclusion that love is selfless and finds joy in others instead of themselves. “Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor” (1 Corinthians 10:24). Love looks after the interests of others. “Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4). Therefore, caring for others interests, needs, or feelings is selfless love. “It is good not… to do anything by which your brother stumbles” (Romans 14:21). “The man who has two tunics is to share with him who has none; and he who has food is to do likewise" (Luke 3:11). This is the kind of love that a Christian is called to, a self denying love for people and mostly for God. Jesus says, “None of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions” (Luke 14:33). He says in another passage of Scripture, calling us to deny ourselves, “He who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” (Matthew 10:38). Given that we are called to selflessness, we should be willing to obey this calling.
We know that true love is selfless from the example that Christ, love incarnate, gave us of His selflessness and self denial. He came to this earth not seeking His own desires or will, but His Father’s. “Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work” (John 4:34). Again, He says, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (John 6:38). Christ did not seek to please Himself. “… Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, ‘THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME’” (Romans 15:3). In fact, He didn’t seek His own, but gave Himself for His people. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). The love that Christ has for His Father and the love that He has for sinful humans shows His selfless nature and the greatness of His love. “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28). “Although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:6-7).
Our love should be selfless, like that of Christ’s love for us. Our love is to be selfless in all situations; in friendships, family, marriage, and in our relationship with Christ. Our love is to be characterized by a selfless denial. Love truly is selfless and we need to not follow today’s “trend” of love and follow Christ’s perfect example of what love truly is. “Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, ‘THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME’” (Romans 15:1-3).
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Great God!
Well, I think that it's about time for an update...lol. :) I haven't been on forever. Sorry! I recently had a surgery and then school and the Holidays was hectic.
But, I'm posting now! I recently wrote another poem. This time it's different from all my other poems. I had a school project that I had to complete on a form of poetry called a sonnet. So, here is my sonnet in iambic pentameter (poetry word, I'm smarter than you think...) form.
But, I'm posting now! I recently wrote another poem. This time it's different from all my other poems. I had a school project that I had to complete on a form of poetry called a sonnet. So, here is my sonnet in iambic pentameter (poetry word, I'm smarter than you think...) form.
Great God
The sounding of a great thunder I heard
Trembling and full of fear I became
For there was great majesty in His name
Yet it was me to whom He had referred
In His presence I could not say a word
At this site I could never be the same
It is true that “this Lion can’t be tame”
Still He is kind, for my heart He had stirred
This One that I speak of, His name is Lord
He was the Great King, yet became a man
To bear the sins of His people wholly
He shed His blood so we could be restored
This God was here before the world began
To glorify His name through the lowly
The sounding of a great thunder I heard
Trembling and full of fear I became
For there was great majesty in His name
Yet it was me to whom He had referred
In His presence I could not say a word
At this site I could never be the same
It is true that “this Lion can’t be tame”
Still He is kind, for my heart He had stirred
This One that I speak of, His name is Lord
He was the Great King, yet became a man
To bear the sins of His people wholly
He shed His blood so we could be restored
This God was here before the world began
To glorify His name through the lowly
