Jesus saves us; all of us. What does he save us all from? Sin and death. How does he do this? By dying; by dying - for all of us.
"While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. For if, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!" (Romans 5:8, 10).
It's hard sometimes to grasp: with questions regarding faith, Christians of all walks of life - of various denominations, etc. - seem to all have this one fundamental belief in common. Yet it also seems to me that all the many forms that such faith - such a belief - take, among the various Christian groups, is what is easier to grasp, knowing that there are "other forms" - not just one. It is perhaps easier because it is easier at times to remain in our weaknesses and sins that cause painful divisions among Christian groups. "I pray that they all be one," is what Jesus prayed (John 17:21); when will we fully make that our prayer as well?
The graces poured out from the Cross, from that redemptive sacrifice of the Lamb, are real. Those graces make Christian unity possible. Unity must therefore necessarily come from Jesus; there is no one else who can bring about that unity! "May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me" (John 17:23).
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Saturday, September 26, 2009
a radically different life
"By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:35)
This blog will be my thoughts and feelings regarding the Christian life. What is "the Christian life"? In essence, I am referring to what it means to be a Christian in the world today. So, "what does it mean to be a Christian - in the world today?" Here are a few initial thoughts:
Being a Christian is a lifestyle that is radically different from how we see people living in the world - today. What a radically different life, to be a Christian! Jesus said to his disciples, "A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34).
In our own fallen nature, it seems to be easier - much easier - to not love one another. And how could we? "God is Love" (cf. 1 John 4:16); we need God's Love - we need Him - to Love others through us.
In our own fallen nature, it is easy to become uncharitable towards our neighbors: towards those that annoy us, towards those who have done us wrong - those persons with whom we are upset, perhaps even very angry with. It can then become easier to make fun of them, to gossip about them, to ruin their reputation. Without God's help, this is all very easy indeed.
Yet the life Christians are called to is radically different! Indeed, the Master says to us: "But I tell you: love your enemies, and pray for those that persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). So, we apparently can't ever become content with doing harm to those whom we feel have harmed us, even with mere words. For there is no such thing as "mere words"; "For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned" (Matthew 12:37).
Oh Lord, please forgive me for the times I have been uncharitable towards my neighbors; towards my co-workers, towards persons I come in contact with, towards... anyone - and everyone. Lord, please transform the hurt and grudges and "ill will" I have harbored in my heart towards certain individuals. I can't love without your Love within me. Please fill me with your Love, so I can love others (cf. John 13:35).
"Jesus called the crowd to him and said, 'Listen and understand. What goes into a man's mouth does not make him unclean, but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him unclean. The things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man unclean. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immortality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man unclean" (Matthew 15:10;18-20).
This blog will be my thoughts and feelings regarding the Christian life. What is "the Christian life"? In essence, I am referring to what it means to be a Christian in the world today. So, "what does it mean to be a Christian - in the world today?" Here are a few initial thoughts:
Being a Christian is a lifestyle that is radically different from how we see people living in the world - today. What a radically different life, to be a Christian! Jesus said to his disciples, "A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another" (John 13:34).
In our own fallen nature, it seems to be easier - much easier - to not love one another. And how could we? "God is Love" (cf. 1 John 4:16); we need God's Love - we need Him - to Love others through us.
In our own fallen nature, it is easy to become uncharitable towards our neighbors: towards those that annoy us, towards those who have done us wrong - those persons with whom we are upset, perhaps even very angry with. It can then become easier to make fun of them, to gossip about them, to ruin their reputation. Without God's help, this is all very easy indeed.
Yet the life Christians are called to is radically different! Indeed, the Master says to us: "But I tell you: love your enemies, and pray for those that persecute you" (Matthew 5:44). So, we apparently can't ever become content with doing harm to those whom we feel have harmed us, even with mere words. For there is no such thing as "mere words"; "For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned" (Matthew 12:37).
Oh Lord, please forgive me for the times I have been uncharitable towards my neighbors; towards my co-workers, towards persons I come in contact with, towards... anyone - and everyone. Lord, please transform the hurt and grudges and "ill will" I have harbored in my heart towards certain individuals. I can't love without your Love within me. Please fill me with your Love, so I can love others (cf. John 13:35).
"Jesus called the crowd to him and said, 'Listen and understand. What goes into a man's mouth does not make him unclean, but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him unclean. The things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man unclean. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immortality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man unclean" (Matthew 15:10;18-20).
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