LETTING GO OF OUR GUILT

Romans 8:1 (NIV)
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

               This past Sunday, the worship leader at our church began the service by reminding us of Romans 8:1. He invited us to enter worship as forgiven sinners who are welcomed into God’s presence with open arms. His words hit home for me, because I am one who tends to hold onto guilt.

               Guilt is a real thing. It is not something to be denied or ignored. Many people today claim that feelings of guilt are inappropriate and that we should never allow guilt to enter our minds. Yet, we all feel it from time to time. Even the person with a hardened heart, in the dark hours of the night, when they cannot sleep, feels nagging guilt.

               Guilt is actually a gift from God. Guilt alerts us that something is wrong. In fact, applying guilt to our lives is one of the roles of the Holy Spirit.  When he comes, (referring to the Holy Spirit) he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: John 16:8 (NIV) One of the jobs of the Holy Spirit is to awaken us to our sin and to all of the ways that we have failed to live up to God’s standards. To deny our guilt is to live in a false reality. As it says in 1 John 1:8 (NIV), If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. Those who want to deny the reality of guilt or hide from it are deceiving themselves.

               Making us aware of our sin is the positive side of guilt. It motivates us to do something about it. It challenges us to see things as they really are and not as we wish they were. Guilt serves a very important role in our lives.

               But here is where things can get out of balance. We can allow guilt to immobilize us. We can wallow in our guilt and become introspective in an unhealthy way. That was the case for Martin Luther before he embraced the reality of God’s grace. But guilt can also harder our hearts. If we rationalize our guilt or try to bury our guilt, our hearts will become hard and unresponsive to God’s grace.

               The healthy way to deal with guilt is to recognize it, own it, and then take it to God. I John 1 continues with the good news for all of us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (NIV) God’s purpose for guilt is to lead us to repentance and restoration. God does not want our guilt to be a burden we carry throughout our lives. He wants it to be a catalyst for spiritual renewal. We can escape the burden of guilt by honestly bringing it to God by faith. God’s promise is that He will replace our guilt with His forgiveness and restoration.

               We can see this illustrated in our human relationships. If I have offended another person, I can choose to ignore it or rationalize it away, but that only keeps me separated from that person. But if in humility I confess my wrong and ask for forgiveness, my relationship with the other person can be restored. That is exactly what God is offering to us.

               But with God, He takes it one step farther. When Christ died on the cross, He died for the sins of the world, past, present and future. When a person puts their faith in Christ, what He did on the cross is applied to that person’s life. So, as it says in Romans 8:1, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. Ultimately, all of our sin and failures have been covered by the blood of Christ. When we stand before His throne in eternity, we will be declared not guilty. Not because of anything we have done, but because of what Christ Jesus did for us on the cross.

               As follows of Christ, we still need to deal with our guilt. But we can do it from a place of confidence. Another person may or may not forgive us, but God, in Christ Jesus, always will. When we fail, and we will, we can come back to God in faith, knowing that He will accept us with open arms. We do not have to live with guilt hanging over our heads. We do not have to carry that burden. We can experience the release that only Jesus can give.

               So when you experience the feelings of guilt, don’t deny them, don’t wallow in them, confess them to God and allow Him to embrace you with His love and grace.

Romans 8:1-4 (NIV)
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

 

PROMISES, PROMISES

 

Isaiah 38:7 (NIV)
This is the LORD's sign to you that the LORD will do what he has promised:

               We have all made promises that we failed to keep. We have all had promises given to us that were not fulfilled. It is easy for us to become skeptical about promises in general. It doesn’t take many times being disappointed to start not believing people’s promises. It is not a very large step to not trusting God’s promises.

               There are many promises made by God in the Bible. Some of these promises are very specific to specific people. Some of these are more general to all believers. We can grab ahold of these promises and expect certain things from God. If our expectations are not met, we can begin to doubt God’s trustworthiness.

               Most of God’s promises are conditional. They depend upon our response to God and to what God has asked us to do. If we fail on our side of the equation, we invalidate the promise. God’s promises are not blank checks that we can cash in whenever we want to. But if we do our part, we can be assured that God will be faithful to what he has promised.

               We tend to grab ahold of the promises that seem to offer us the most immediate benefit. We expect God to protect us, prosper us, and heal us. Although these are promised by God, they are all qualified by what God’s will is in any particular circumstance.

               God is the great healer, but he has not promised to heal every sickness that we encounter. God has promised to provide for us, but it may not be in the ways that we expect. God has promised to protect us, but that doesn’t mean that he will shield us from all hardship or difficulty. When we make God’s promises black and white, we set up false expectations that will always disappoint us.

               When we submit our expectations to God’s will, we can experience the fulfillment of his promises in our life.

               Here are just a few promises that we can hang upon no matter what the circumstances of life may be.

               God will forgive our sins.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 (NIV) Notice the condition of this promise; if we confess. We have a part to play, but we can be assured that when we come to God in genuine repentance, he will forgive us.

               God will give us peace.                                                                                                                                    Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27 (NIV) This is a promise directly from Jesus. The peace that he promises us is not the temporary peace that the world offers. It is a lasting peace that reside deep within our soul and will stabilize us even in the most difficult situations.

                              God will lead us through life’s journey.
 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV) Here we have another conditional promise. If we will put our faith and trust in the Lord he will guide our life. It is a matter of trusting that God knows what is best for us and then taking the path set before us.

               God will never leave us.
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5 (NIV) The promise of God’s abiding presence is throughout the Bible. Psalm 139 tells us that there is nowhere we can go where we will be separated from God’s presence. Romans 8:35-39 assures us that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of Christ. We may be abandoned by other people, but never by God. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:20 (NIV)

               God will always answer our prayers.
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him. 1 John 5:14-15 (NIV) Notice again that this is a conditional promise, not a blank check. If we ask according to God’s will it will be done. Jesus invited us to boldly bring our requests to God. We have to trust him with the answer that he gives to us. When Paul prayed to be healed from his thorn in the flesh, God offered him something better, his grace to endure.

               God will give us eternal life.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NIV) This is another conditional promise. It is for all who believe in Jesus. The promise is that God will place his very life within us. Eternal life is not just living forever. It is living in the power and life of God.

               God will give us his Holy Spirit to dwell within us.
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession--to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:13-14 (NIV) One of the greatest gifts that God gives to those who believe in Jesus is the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. When a person puts their faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit takes up residence in their life. He becomes their companion, teacher, guide, and confidant.

               There is an old hymn titled Standing on the Promises. It invites us to consciously and intentionally take our stand of the promises of God. The promises that other people make may or may not be fulfilled, but we can be sure that whatever God has promised He will fulfill. In these unsettling times, there is a solid foundation upon which we can stand. It is the promises of God.

Hebrews 10:23 (NIV)
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

 

EPIPHANY

 

Matthew 16:15 (NIV)
"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"

               Traditionally January 6 is known as Epiphany; a remembrance of when the Magi traveled from the east and found the infant Jesus, proclaiming him to be the one born king of the Jews.

               The word epiphany means an awakening or a divine appearance. Sometimes, when a person makes a discovery, they will say that they had an epiphany. The Magi had an epiphany when they believed the prophetic signs and traveled to Bethlehem to find Jesus. When they saw him, they knew that he was the one that had been foretold.

Matthew 2:9-11 (NIV)
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.

               Each person who encountered Jesus at his birth had a different kind of epiphany; a different response. The Magi responded to Jesus with genuine worship. Herod responded to Jesus with anger and malice. The religious leaders responded to Jesus’ birth as if it was the answer to a religious trivia question. The shepherds responded to Jesus’ birth in awe and wonder. Mary and Joseph responded to Jesus’ birth with amazement.

               Many years later, Peter had an epiphany of his own. Jesus had posed the question to his disciples, who do people say that I am. The disciples gave a variety of responses.

Matthew 16:13-14 (NIV)
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets."

               Then Jesus posed the most important question of all. Who do you say that I am? At that moment Peter, speaking for all of the disciples, voiced his epiphany.

Matthew 16:16-17 (NIV)
Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.

               Jesus is still asking the same question to us today. Who do you say that I am? Many people are willing to see Jesus as a good, moral teacher. Others see him as a prophet or spiritual leader. Still others see Jesus as a threat to their way of life. But many still take their place alongside of Peter and declare that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

               Traditionally, Epiphany is the end of the Christmas season. It is the wrap up of the story for another year. This week we began to take down all of our Christmas decorations. They will go back into boxes to be stored for another year. But Epiphany is not the end of the story, only the beginning.

               For many people, as they box up their Christmas decorations, they will put Jesus away for another year. They will not give much thought to the significance of his coming into the world. But for those who have had a genuine epiphany, the journey of faith is just beginning for another year. It is a reminder that Jesus came not to be a religious leader or a good moral teacher, but to seek and to save that which was lost. Jesus came to change the course of human history forever.

               Each year, at Epiphany, we are faced again with the question, who do you say Jesus is? The Magi knew the answer. Mary and Joseph knew the answer. Peter and the disciples knew the answer. How about you? Have you had your own personal epiphany?

Romans 10:9-13 (NIV)
That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

 

THE JOURNEY MATTERS

 

1 Timothy 4:16 (NIV)
Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

               Last night Suanne and I watched a movie called The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. It is a fictional story about a man who receives a letter from a friend telling him that she is in hospice and dying. He struggles with how to respond to this friend. Through a chance encounter he is inspired to walk the 600 miles from his home to where his friend is, believing that his effort will extend her life. Throughout this incredible journey, Harold learns about himself and others. He faces his own grief at the tragic loss of his son by suicide. Near the end of his journey, he almost gives up, discouraged and spent, but his wife challenges him to finish his journey, which he does. His encounter with his dying friend is anticlimactic, but Harold is a changed man.

               At several occasions on his journey, he is offered a ride that would make his trip shorter and easier, but each time he declines, simply saying, I made a promise. He endures the 600-mile trip on foot, sleeping rough and depending upon the kindness of others.

               We are all on a journey through life that requires of us perseverance, stamina, and the will to keep going. Along the way, we have the choice to take short-cuts or to stay the course. There are parts of our journey that we would rather move through at a rapid pace or skip altogether. There are other parts of the journey that refresh us and renew our energy. We often wonder why God allows us to walk the paths that we do, but each situation is a part of our personal pilgrimage. Although we may want to rush to the end, the journey itself matters. It is the journey that shapes us as people. It shapes our character. It shapes our relationships. It shapes our faith. Without the challenges of the journey, our faith and our character will be weak and ineffective. It is the challenging times that build the spiritual muscles we need in order to endure to the end.

               When Jesus came into the world, he could have come as a fully grown man, displaying all of his power and glory. But he took the hard road instead. He took on our humanity and lived our life. At the beginning of his ministry, the Holy Spirit led Jesus out into the wilderness to face Satan. Satan offered Jesus several shortcuts to his end goal. It would have saved Jesus much pain and grief if he had accepted them. But he did not. Instead, he stayed committed to the journey that was before him. He literally walked his “unlikely” journey through the parched countryside of Palestine. He slept rough and depended on the kindness of strangers. He never wavered in his commitment to follow the path set before him all the way to the end.

               As followers of Christ, we have been called to walk our own “unlikely” journey of faith. Along the way we will face challenges that will require us to lean upon God and others. There will be times of discouragement and even disillusionment. At those times, God will send others to come along side of us and encourage us to keep going. As the writer of Hebrews put it, Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV)

               The year that is ending was a year of challenges, disappointments, and set-backs. There were some highlights along the way, but it was a hard year in many ways. It is natural for us to ask for an easier path ahead of us, but that is probably not going tom happen. There will be more challenges ahead. They are all part of our journey and the journey matters. It is the journey that is shaping us into the people we will be for all of eternity. As C.S. Lewis has said, we are either moving toward being such glorious beings that if we saw them today, we would be tempted to worship them, or toward being such distorted, twisted people that we would recoil from them in horror. The shape we will take as we enter eternity will be formed through the journey ahead.

               Harold Fry was a very different man when he finished his journey than when he began it. God has invited us into a journey that will transform our lives, if we don’t give up. The journey is essential. The journey matters for all of eternity.

Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

 

Encounter the First Christmas

                The first Christmas was a confusing, bewildering, exciting, amazing time. The known world was thrust into frantic activity by the decree of Caesar to take a census. It would have been easy enough except everyone had to travel to their ancestral home. The Jews are very clannish, like the Scots. To make the census more palatable to the Jews, the authorities tapped into their ancient loyalty to their patriarchal tribes. So it was that Joseph and Mary had to travel, at a most inconvenient time, to the town of Bethlehem.

                The trip would have been an ordeal. It would normally take 3-4 days to walk to Bethlehem from Nazareth, but with Mary being very pregnant it took longer. Like all expectant fathers, I’m sure that Joseph didn’t want Mary to overdo it. So they made their way, slowly, to Bethlehem because Joseph came from the line of David, the King.

                Joseph may have puzzled over the irony of his connection to Bethlehem. He was anything but the son of a king. A simple carpenter, living in a small, obscure village on the fringe of the nation. He was a man who worked with his hands, not one who gave orders and ruled a nation. Of the line of David. A more unreal thought couldn’t have passed through his mind.

                When they finally arrived, Bethlehem was bedlam; there were people everywhere. It had not been designed for this influx of humanity. Every available accommodation was taken; occupied by some weary traveler, anxious to get registered and go home. The atmosphere was not festive, it was tense. Nerves were on edge, tempers were short. Roman soldiers roamed the streets adding to the uncomfortable feeling in the air. A young couple, arriving late, were viewed as a nuisance, an inconvenience, an unwanted burden.

                They found shelter in a stable. It was probably a cave that had been enlarged, with a fence and gate to keep the animals in. Like most caves, it would have been musty, slightly damp and dirty. The stale air, mixed with the aroma of the animals, would have made for a pungent atmosphere. But near the back of the stable, the young couple would have a measure of privacy. Privacy that they dearly needed, for the time for the baby had arrived. Had they been accommodated in the inn, they would have been crowded in with other guests, exposed to the curious stares of strangers. In a strange way, God provided a private room for his son to be born into our world. Possibly shielded by the oblivious animals, Mary gave birth to the son of God. 

                In the villages of Israel, the birth of a child was a major event. The whole village would be in anticipation of the arrival. When the baby entered the world, it was customary for some local musicians to gather outside of the house and herald the birth with music. Soon the whole village would be informed and a collective celebration would take place.

                There were no mistrals waiting to announce Jesus’ birth. But God was not going to let His son’s birth go unnoticed. He sent His messenger to a group of Temple shepherds who were staying with the flock out in the field. The sky blazed with the glory of God and one or two of these hardened men may have wet their tunics. We know that they were not just startled, they were terrified. The message the angel gave was one of comfort and joy. Don’t be afraid, God has just fulfilled his promise to send the Messiah into the world. Here is the really good news. You marginalized; blue collar laborers are included. The Messiah has come, not for the religious elite, but for the common people; for all the people! He is just over there in Bethlehem. You can find him, wrapped tight in swaddling clothes and placed in a manger.

                At that moment the sky exploded with the praise of heaven. If one angel is enough to terrify a person, consider what a whole army of angels would do. God sent his angelic army to celebrate the most amazing miracle that has ever happened, that will ever happen. God invaded our world in the form of a vulnerable baby.

                The shepherds were stunned and amazed. As the night sky returned to its normal appearance, the shepherds were moved to do something they would never even consider doing. They left the flock, unattended in the field, and rushed to town. They searched every cave, stable and barn looking for the baby. When they found him, they were stunned into silence. At the sight of the baby, they knew it was all true. Their silence was broken with uncontrollable praise. They left the bewildered young family, and raced through the sleepy streets proclaiming the good news. Although everyone who heard the news was amazed, there is no record that they went to check it out for themselves. The morning was dawning. The busy day was ahead of them. The census demanded all of their attention. So they forgot what they had heard and went on with life.

               God chose a very unlikely cast of characters to participate in this monumental event. A young girl, a rough carpenter, a group of smelly shepherds. He didn’t choose the elite, the informed, the upper crust. He chose common people, and he still does.

                Paul reminds us that none of us have a claim on God’s gift because of our social status or reputation. We are recipients of the gift because of His great love. 1 Cor. 1:26-31

    Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

                Christmas is a time for giving and receiving gifts. God has given us the greatest gift of all, His son. The Christ of Christmas is our Savior purely as an unmerited gift from God.    For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephes. 2:8-9

 

               You know the story; you have been invited into the story. How will you respond? Will you respond like the people of Bethlehem, and go on with life as usual? Or will you take your place with Mary, Joseph and the shepherds?

AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH

 

Luke 2:8-12 (NIV)

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."      

               In a couple of days, we will celebrate Christmas. For many it will be a day of fun, excitement, presents, and family. For others it will be a day of disappointment, regret, and loneliness. Our secular world has hyped up Christmas to a fever pitch. The focus is on gifts, decorations, and presents. The hype of Christmas stirs many emotions within us. It gets our emotional adrenalin pumping. We can become frantic in our attempts to live up to all of the expectations that come along with the season. When finally we are past Christmas there is both relief and let down. As our adrenalin subsides, we feel drained and sometimes empty.

               All the fun and excitement, hurry and busyness of Christmas can obscure the true meaning of this celebration. It is a time to stop and reflect upon the reality that in one moment God changed the course of human history forever. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 (NIV)

               The Christmas story emphasizes the reality of the incarnation. The story of Jesus is not a myth or a legend. It is a historical fact; a reality that we all must deal with. In the Christmas story, the unapproachable God became approachable. The unknowable God became knowable. The untouchable God became touchable. In the Christmas event, God became tangible for all of humanity. John summarized the reality of Jesus in the opening lines of his first letter. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched--this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 1 John 1:1 (NIV)

               The Christmas story is not a legend, but an invitation to take our place in the story.  It is a living story that continues to expand even today.

               On that very first Christmas there was an unlikely group of people who were called to take their place in the story of Jesus; and there were shepherds living out in the field, watching their flocks by night. The shepherds were common people. They lived on the fringe of society. Because of their occupation they were excluded from worship in the Temple. Yet they played a vital role in the worship of God. It is very likely that these particular shepherds were temple shepherds, keeping watch over the sheep that would be used in the Temple as sacrifices.

               On that monumental night, God sent his birth announcement, not to the priests in Jerusalem, but to common shepherds out in the field. The message that God sent to them was profound and unexpected. The Messiah has been born! The long-awaited Messiah had finally arrived. The Messiah has been born to you! Yes, you common shepherds have been included. You have been invited into the inner circle of God’s kingdom. You get to be the first to welcome the Messiah into the world.

               The shepherds were left with a choice. They could marvel at what they had heard and stay where they were, or they could follow the angel’s instructions and find the child; and that is what they did. The angel gave the shepherds tangible clues to the identity of the child; you will find the child, wrapped in clothes, and lying in a manger. The message was clear. The Messiah was real, tangible, knowable, approachable.

               So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. Luke 2:16-20 (NIV)

               We know very little about Jesus’ life as a child and young man. But we know that he didn’t just show up on the world stage out of nowhere. He came into this world in the same way we all did. He walked the same journey of life that we all do. He lived among us in reality.

               Luke 2:20 stands out in my mind. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. God confirmed the reality of His message in the form of a newborn child.

               For many people God is a concept, a vague idea, an unapproachable, out there somewhere entity. Christmas made God tangible and real. Jesus was born in a real place, in real time. He lived in a real place in real time.

               Christmas can be just a holiday, with a nice story to go along with it. Or Christmas can be an encounter with the reality that God invited our world; that God came near. The shepherds were told that they could find the child if they were willing to seek him. The same promise is held out to us. We too can find Jesus if we have the courage to break out of our routine and earnestly seek Him.

Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

 

The Gospel is not Good News unless it is for everyone.

 John 3:16-17 (NIV)

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

               I have been rereading Philip Yancey’s book, Vanishing Grace. He talks candidly about how we have often muddled our faith by mixing it with all kinds of things so that the Gospel is no longer good news for many people. Then he masterfully talks about both why the Gospel is good news and how we can communicate that to a world that desperately needs good news.

               For many years I have struggled with the conflict between what is called reformed theology, which states that everyone’s eternal destiny is predestined, and the idea of free will. I have gravitated to the side of free will. To me, predestination makes a mockery of the Gospel. Let me try to explain.

               For me simply, the Gospel is not good news for anyone if it is not good news for everyone. If some people are arbitrarily included while others are excluded, how can we embrace that as good news?

               As I read the New Testament, I can see how some theologians have come up with the idea of predestination, but, in the process, they have to negate all of the passages that speak of a free choice given to all people. So here are my thoughts.

               God’s love is large enough to encompass the entire world. John 3:16-17 clearly states that Jesus came into the world for the benefit of the world. He didn’t come for the benefit of some of the world but for the entire world.

               God’s compassion is large enough to extend salvation to all who will receive it. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) If we take Peter’s words at face value, then God’s perfect will is for everyone to be saved. The key to attaining that salvation is repentance, which requires a choice on the part of every individual.

               God’s invitation is open to all who will receive it. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 (NIV) Jesus is inviting all who feel overwhelmed and discouraged to come to Him. There is no disclaimer saying that this invitation is only for those who have already been chosen to believe.

               God’s grace is large enough to include all who, by faith, receive His invitation. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God-- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. John 1:10-13 (NIV) Notice that there is a clear choice given here. “To all who received Him.” The words receive and believe speak clearly of making a conscious choice.

               Throughout the entire Bible there is an open invitation for people to come to God in faith. He offers the free gift of salvation to all those who respond. God has clearly placed a choice before us. It is up to each individual to decide how they will respond. Only then is the Gospel truly good news.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NIV)
This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.