Jesus: The Believer’s Inheritance

-
Image
  It is fascinating to observe when people talk about inheritance, ones mind would immediately cater properties, wills, houses, jewelries, and other material things. All of which are centered on material temporal things.   In 1 Peter 1:4 , although The Apostle Peter used the term “inheritance” once in his letter, Apostle Paul on the other hand, mentioned this term in his letters several times. ( Eph_1:14 , Eph_1:18 , Eph_5:5 , Col_3:24 ,) But what is so significant about this particular emphasis of Peter? After all, he made a brief description of the inheritance (verse 4-5) a believer will obtain now that he is part of God’s family.   The term “inheritance” is not something new among Jewish ears. Going back to the OT, when God divided the promised land among the 12 tribes of Israel, every tribe received a portion of the land as their inheritance, except for the tribe of Levi…”the priestly tribe”. They were the only tribe that didn’t get one. God’s reason for doing so is i...

What is Your Goal for 2012

-

Out of 3 New Year Resolutions from which to choose, a Yahoo survey indicated that 45% and 35% of those surveyed chose “losing weight” and “getting out of debt,” respectively, as their top priority. Surprisingly, only 20% chose “spending time with the family” as their number one resolution.

Yahoo’s survey reflects a disturbing reality–our society today gives more importance to physical appearance and material wealth than human relationships. How heartbreaking–especially when we consider how today’s society has neglected the most important relationship of all–our relationship with God.

The Apostle Paul in his epistle to the Philippian believers gave warning against the Judaizers who prided themselves in the Law, teaching that a person is saved by the works of the Law. These Judaizers valued outward rituals and deemed their personal efforts as the means to gaining favor with God. In answer to such false teaching, the Apostle Paul makes clear that if there were an individual who had every right to be boastful in terms of accomplishments, it would be himself (Philippians 3:4-6). However, the Apostle Paul explains, “whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ” (Philippians 3:7-8). Clearly, the Apostle Paul’s pursuit in life was no longer self-centered but Christ-centered. The Apostle Paul was consumed by the goal to grow deeper in his relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ (Phil. 3:10).

How about you? What is your goal this year 2012? Is it centered on Christ? Remember: nothing in this world can compare to the surpassing riches of knowing Christ. Let us pursue to know him more deeply each day.

Popular posts from this blog

From Theocracy to Monarchy, a study of 1 Samuel

-
Image
Today’s Message in a Nutshell–“From Theocracy to Monarchy”, a study of 1 Samuel The book of 1 Samuel takes us from the birth of Samuel, the last and greatest judge of Israel, to the anointing of Israel’s most beloved king, David. We find in this book a transition from “theocracy to monarchy” as God’s people chose to be “like all the nations” by demanding that a human king rule over them (1 Samuel 8:5), an outright rejection of the King of kings who had led them from Egypt to the Promised Land. Sadly, a number of believers today follow the error of God’s people in Samuel’s time. We reject God’s rule over us.  Rather than following God’s way, we instead embrace the ways of the world. The Scriptures, therefore, remind us to not love this world (1 John 2:15-17) or be conformed to it (Romans 12:1-2).  Rather, we should “set our affections on things above” (See Colossians 3). We also find in 1 Samuel repeated portraits of individuals who had a good beginning but a sad ending.  Eli...
Read more

Do we have to believe that Jesus is God incarnate vs. a prophet or wise teacher? What difference does it make?

-
Image
Although in Scripture we find passages describing Jesus as a Prophet (e.g. Mark 6:3-5; Luke 24:19; John 6:14) and a Teacher (e.g. Matthew 17:24; Mark 4:38; Luke 10:25; John 1:28; 8:4) believing that Jesus is God incarnate is imperative. Why? Because the essence of the gospel is that God became man and lived among humanity. Jesus Christ is the Immanuel—“God with us” (Matthew 1:22-23; John 1:14). He is the only God-Man, making him the unequivocal Savior of the world. That Jesus is God incarnate is a truth that most men and women find hard to accept. They refuse to believe that they are not able to save themselves from the righteous wrath of God (Romans 1:18-32) and it is wholly through Jesus Christ that one can be saved (John 14:6; Romans 10:9-13; Acts 16:31). 
Read more

Jesus: The Believer’s Inheritance

-
Image
  It is fascinating to observe when people talk about inheritance, ones mind would immediately cater properties, wills, houses, jewelries, and other material things. All of which are centered on material temporal things.   In 1 Peter 1:4 , although The Apostle Peter used the term “inheritance” once in his letter, Apostle Paul on the other hand, mentioned this term in his letters several times. ( Eph_1:14 , Eph_1:18 , Eph_5:5 , Col_3:24 ,) But what is so significant about this particular emphasis of Peter? After all, he made a brief description of the inheritance (verse 4-5) a believer will obtain now that he is part of God’s family.   The term “inheritance” is not something new among Jewish ears. Going back to the OT, when God divided the promised land among the 12 tribes of Israel, every tribe received a portion of the land as their inheritance, except for the tribe of Levi…”the priestly tribe”. They were the only tribe that didn’t get one. God’s reason for doing so is i...
Read more