The same message as Jesus

Over at the "Of First Importance" blog, Tim Keller's quoted:

If the preaching of our ministers and the practice of our parishioners do not have the same effect on people that Jesus had, then we must not be declaring the same message that Jesus did.

It is a helpful suggestion, but I think it's important to guard ourselves against trying to be people-pleasers at the same time. The fact that our preaching is not drawing the type of people Jesus drew to Himself may be used as an indicator that we may need to review what kind of message we are preaching. However, it mustn't drive us to plan out our outreach only to those particular type of people. It is also important to note that simply because we draw the same type of people that Jesus drew to Himself, does not necessarily authenticate our message to be consistent with Jesus's teaching. People gather and come for all sorts of reasons, so our measuring stick must be the bible itself, not the effect of our preaching or ministry that we can visibly see.

Gospel remorse

“Legalistic remorse says, ‘I broke God’s rules,’ while real repentance says, ‘I broke God’s heart.’ Legalistic repentance takes sin to Mt. Sinai, gospel repentance to Mt. Calvary. Legalistic repentance is convicted by punishment, gospel repentance becomes convicted by mercy.”
-- Tim Keller, from Church Planting Manuals

I thought I'd simply re-iterate what was on the blog called "Of First Importance" today. Pause and think, pray and thank God.

(HT: Of First Importance)

Blessings thrown at us by God's rough hands

In my cell, we have been reading Genesis for the past few weeks. I often found that God's blessing came to those Joseph (and others as well) in a very strange ways. The Bible says that God was with Joseph and made him proper in all he did, so he was made great in Potiphar's household, and in the jail, and later under Pharaoh. But God, being with Joseph and blessing him did not stop Joseph from being falsely accused as a rapist, nor from being thrown into the prison, nor from being forgotten after interpreting dreams correctly for two officials. And I am not often content with the explanation that goes like, "all is well that ends well," because I do not believe that the end can always justify the means.

However, this little quote from the Baptist preacher did a trick.

It is for a greater gain for us that God, in His providence, gives rough times. These temporary suffering is nothing compared to the greater spiritual gain that lasts forever.
Apostle Paul also testified, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us (Romans 8:18)."

How slow is my understanding and little my faith in Him!

Take Heart

A wonderfully strengthening words over at "Of First Importance": Take Heart.

They are strengthening, not simply because they are inspiring words, but because they are true.

Read it.

Saved by Christ

It was about three years ago, during a discussion with a friend of mine, my pastor at one point said, "you are not saved by faith, but by Christ!" I was a little bit shaken by that statement at first to say the least. It took me some time to understand that statement and now I believe that to be true. Understanding that statement was to understand the true and deeper meaning of the Gospel, that I am saved by God's grace and His grace alone. I could not claim any merit and that includes my faith in Christ even. It is Christ who saves me through the means of faith. My faith is not the bases of why I am saved, but Christ. Hence all credit goes to Christ and Him alone be praised and receive my thanks.

Today, over at the blog, Of First Importance, this quote reminded me of this real meaning of the Gospel again.

“It is not faith that saves, but faith in Jesus Christ… It is not, strictly speaking, even faith in Christ that saves, but Christ that saves through faith. The saving power resides exclusively, not in the act of faith or the attitude of faith or in the nature of faith, but in the object of faith.”

- B. B. Warfield quoted by Sinclair Ferguson, In Christ Alone (Lake Mary, FL: Reformation Trust Publishing, 2007), 43.

Read it, think about it, pray, and may that result you in praising, thanking, trusting, submitting, and yielding to God more than ever before.

Bits and pieces (with some extras) - 15-May-2008

It's a bit hard to blog while I'm traveling as I discovered recently. Contrast to my initial thinking, it seems as though I have less time to think for myself as I travel. I think I'm too busy seeing things, trying to emerse myself in a different culture. It's not bad, I just hope I won't forget all these new things that I am experiencing so I will be able to think through these and blog about them later.

In the mean time, you can still visit what I read and think about by going to my shared items or looking at the "noteworthy" section on the right of this blog.

Also, I'll try to post "bits and pieces" whenever I see something I really want you to read while I'm traveling.

Here are some of those articles I *really* want you to read. ;-)
Incidently they are all to do with prayer or closely related with it.

1) Dangerous Prayers - Yes, I do have such moments. I acknowledge that what you have said is true, and I shall do my utmost to pray such prayers and not shrink back from it.
2) Loving Jesus like his Father does - Oh, and I want to love Jesus more. I will pray this prayer.
3) Never too late to change - Let us be never become too old for God's transforming grace.

Will you pray with me?

Holiness, Justice, and Grace of God - a quote from the blog, Of First Importance

There is a quote posted on the "Of First Importance" blog today. I quote that quote partly.

God cannot look where there is sin with any pleasure, and though as far as Jesus is personally concerned, he is the Father’s beloved Son in whom he is well pleased; yet when he saw sin laid upon his Son, he made that Son cry, ‘My God! my God! why hast thou forsaken me?’

Wow.
O, the wonderful, mysterious, and glorious cross where my Lord was nailed for my sins! O, great is our God's holiness and grace!