MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU

Jesus said: “My grace is sufficient for you...” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

There is a lot of teaching that markets itself under the big umbrella of Christianity. This can be very confusing for new Christians, and even for mature Christians who are experiencing a season of hardship.

If you are a person who is seeking to better understand how Christianity is different from other world religions, and you are overwhelmed by all of the apparently conflicting teachings that say they represent the Christian religion, you should know this:

True Bible based Christianity is very simple. Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. 

Nothing more. Nothing less.

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

Amen.

FORCE RIPENED FAITH

Have you ever eaten a tomato that was tasteless, obviously picked prematurely and forced to ripen in a delivery truck on the way to market many miles (or continents) away? 

Have you ever bitten into a vine-ripened tomato? What a difference! The vine-ripened tomato is juicy and colorful and it has the full flavor of the sun and the soil and the seasonal rain.

Sometimes in our faith, especially as baby Christians, we want to grow up quickly. We want to show the world how much, and all, that we know. Our enthusiasm is not to be discouraged. But faith cannot be forced ripened. Faith is experiential. Faith is personal. We can learn from others’ trials of faith, but until our own faith is tested we will never know the true power of faith to transform our lives and the world around us. 

...knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (NKJV)

...for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (ESV)

...because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (NIV)

You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you may become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. (The Message)

James 1:4

A NEW LIFE

“Something is [terribly] wrong when our lives make sense to unbelievers.”

Francis Chan, Crazy Love (2008)

...put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires...and put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 4:22,24

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 

Galatians 2:20