Remaining in God's Rest

Brief study on Paul's letter to the Galatians - 7/7

cutegoddy@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 13 Sep 2013 22:47:00 +0530

Brief study on Paul's letter to the Galatians - 6/7

cutegoddy@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 12 Sep 2013 22:46:00 +0530

We can break Paul's letter to the Galatians into these parts.

1. Paul's calling and his relationship with other apostles
2. Observing the law and having faith in Jesus Christ
3. Observing the law and depending on the promise
4. Weak and miserable principles
5. Indulging sinful nature and living by Spirit
6. Final words

5. Indulging sinful nature and living by Spirit
Paul releases his burden with the statement "You were called to be free". He had already talked so much about the uselessness of human efforts (observing the law) and the importance of having faith in Jesus Christ and dependence on the promise made by God to Abraham. Now he unleases the most important truth in what we have through Jesus Christ - freedom. It is Christ who does everything for us. Our works are not good enough. So there is no point in working to earn our justification of sins.

But... Paul also urges the Galatians to not use this freedom to indulge in sinful nature. What is this sinful nature? It is the corrupted flesh that we all human beings have. Our flesh got corrupted when our forefather and the first man, Adam disobeyed God by gaining knowledge of both good and evil. Earlier he had only the knowledge of good. But after eating the fruit from the tree, he changed. So we, who are his decendants, have inherited knowledge of good and evil right from our birth. And our hearts are always inclined to do evil. After receiving freedom from Christ, we ought not to do evil by indulging in sinful nature.

The acts of sinful nature are:
sexual immorality
impurity
debauchery
idolatory
witchcraft
hatred
discord
jealousy
fitsof rage
selfish ambitions
dissensions
factions
envy
drunkenness
orgies
and so on

Paul does not ask the Galatians to go after these acts one by one and kill them. No. What he asks them to do is to live by the Spirit. We receive the Holy Spirit to live in us when we acknowledge Jesus Christ as our Lord and saviour. Paul asks the Galatians to walk as the Holy Spirit leads them. When we walk in obedience to the Holy Spirit, we will have all of these attributes:
love
joy
peace
patience
kindness
goodness
faithfulness
gentleness
self-control

The above list are the various flavours of one fruit. We will have thisone fruit when we live by the Spirit. The proof that we live by Spirit is that we have all of them and not some of them. And only those people who walk in Spirit can confidently say that they belong to Jesus Christ.

Brief study on Paul's letter to the Galatians - 5/7

cutegoddy@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 22:45:00 +0530

We can break Paul's letter to the Galatians into these parts.

1. Paul's calling and his relationship with other apostles
2. Observing the law and having faith in Jesus Christ
3. Observing the law and depending on the promise
4. Weak and miserable principles
5. Indulging sinful nature and living by Spirit
6. Final words

4. Weak and miserable principles
After talking about the differences between observing the law and having faith in Jesus Christ, Paul asks them why they are following principles that are based on observing the law? The main principle he had in mind was circumcision. He had heard that some were trying to circumcise themselves in order to justify themselves before God. They were also observing special days, seasons and months. This disturbed Paul a lot. So he tells them that if they are using this method, they are obligated to follow the entire law in order to be proved guiltless. And there is no man who can do that.

He figuratively compares following miserable principles and having faith in Jesus to following the slave woman, Hagar and the free woman, Sarah. The boy born to the slave woman by ordinary way was to be driven off and the boy born to the free woman by the power of the Holy Spirit ought to be kept by Abraham. Jesus has set us free for freedom, he says; and not to be burdened by any slavery. Following miserable principles will result in their alienation from Jesus Christ.

The boy born to Hagar was born in ordinary way but Issac was born as a result of a promise. The justification of our sins and the receiving of the Holy Spirit happens as a result of believing (having faith) in the promise that was made to Abraham. In the promise, the Spirit mentions 'seed' in singular form referring to Jesus Christ. All those who believe like Abraham will receive the promise through Jesus Christ.

We were once following the miserable principles. At that time, we were like babies and had to be managed by them until we became mature enough to handle the promise. This is what Paul says. The purpose of law was to lead us to Jesus Christ. Once we have arrived at Jesus Christ, there is no need to turn back to those miserable principles which are based on observing the law.

Brief study on Paul's letter to the Galatians - 4/7

cutegoddy@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 9 Sep 2013 22:44:00 +0530

Brief study on Paul's letter to the Galatians - 3/7

cutegoddy@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 6 Sep 2013 22:43:00 +0530

We can break Paul's letter to the Galatians into these parts.

1. Paul's calling and his relationship with other apostles
2. Observing the law and having faith in Jesus Christ
3. Observing the law and depending on the promise
4. Weak and miserable principles
5. Indulging sinful nature and living by Spirit
6. Final words

2. Observing the law and having faith in Jesus Christ
Justification of our sins and receiving of the Holy Spirit are important in the life of a convert. These are divine experiences that confirm that we are in the right path. Paul's question to the Galatians is whether they received these by observing the law (human efforts) or by having faith in Jesus Christ.

Paul says that if we seek to be justified by human efforts then, we will be cursed. This is because if we are to be judged perfect by the law then it is essential for us to do everything written in the law. If we fail to do even one, then the law declares us as cursed. Since there is none who is perfect, we are certain to be cursed if we seek this route. Also if we manage to be justified by human efforts then it would mean that Christ died for nothing, which is not true. The truth is that Christ became a curse for us in order to redeem us.

On the contrary, if we seek to be justified in Christ, we declare that we are sinners and the life we live in our body, we live by faith in Jesus Christ. Therefore it is Christ who will live in us and not us.

Paul exlains the above truth by quoting the life of Abraham. When God promised Abraham that he would make Abraham a great nation, Abraham believed. And this belief was credited to Abraham as righteousness. So if we have this same faith towards Jesus then, we become children of Abraham and thereby receive justification and the Holy Spirit which were promised to him.

Brief study on Paul's letter to the Galatians - 2/7

cutegoddy@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 5 Sep 2013 22:42:00 +0530

We can break Paul's letter to the Galatians into these parts.

1. Paul's calling and his relationship with other apostles
2. Observing the law and having faith in Jesus Christ
3. Observing the law and depending on the promise
4. Weak and miserable principles
5. Indulging sinful nature and living by Spirit
6. Final words

1. Paul's calling and his relationship with other apostles
Paul establishes that his calling is from God and Jesus Christ, and not from any men. He convincess the Galatians that his gospel message did not come from men. He says, he was neither taught by any men nor he learnt it from the other apostles.

He says that he is not trying to win the approval of any men; Nor is he trying to please any men with his gospel message. When he got this message as revelation from Jesus Christ, he did not consult it with any men. He did not even have the intention to go and see any apostles. He was unknown in the churches for may years. His main intention in sharing his isolated life from the other apostles was to convince the Galatians that the message he preaches is from God and Jesus Christ and not from men.

Only after 14 years did he meet Peter and others to share the gospel message he was preaching to the gentiles. Some of them who heard Paul's message spied and tried to perform jewish traditions, mainly the circumcision. Paul found that this would lead the gentiles to further slavery and hence did not encourage them. Earlier, Paul writes that he himself was a zealous follower of Jewish traditions but after knowing Jesus Christ, he was not the same. He propogated the freedom there is, in Jesus Christ.

But when Peter, James and John heard Paul's gospel message, they encouraged him to continue his mission. They recognised Paul as God's gospel preacher for the gentiles just like them who preached among the Jews.

Brief study on Paul's letter to the Galatians - 1/7

cutegoddy@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 4 Sep 2013 22:40:00 +0530

Paul probably heard that some people in Galatia are compelling the converts to circumcise. Therefore, he writes a strong letter convincing the converts about the non-essentiality of carrying out circumcision. Unlike his other letters, he directly starts blaming them for deserting him and the doctrine he preached them. He also explains how and why he started preaching the gospel.

However, the main content in this letter is the contrasting differences between observing the law and having faith in Jesus Christ. The former leads us back to slavery and the latter gives freedom and enables us to live a Spirit-filled life. The Galatians have adopted weak and miserable principles that were taking them back to slavery. Paul also urges them to use the freedom in Christ Jesus. At the same time, he warns them to not use the freedom to indulge the sinful nature.

We can break the letter into these parts

1. Paul's calling and his relationship with other apostles
2. Observing the law and having faith in Jesus Christ
3. Observing the law and depending on the promise
4. Weak and miserable principles
5. Indulging sinful nature and living by Spirit
6. Final words

Paul talks about divisions in church

cutegoddy@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 5 Aug 2013 13:11:00 +0530

Bible Portion: 1 Cor 1: 10 (Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.)

In the first few chapters of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, we find Paul talking about divisions in Church. Some claimed to belong to Paul, some Apollos, etc. And Paul has no problem in calling them 'worldly'. He quotes two main reasons for the divisions.

1. Jealousy
2. Quarreling

The people in the church were jealous of one another. So they claimed to be better than one another. For this, probably, they chose some Godly men to divisions.

Paul reemphasizes that Christ is all in all and all other men are channels through whom they came to believe the truth. He says that men are nothing and Christ is all. In fact, he calls himself fool and weak.

He also asks them not to judge until the appointed time. It is the Lord who will judge in the end and none of us must judge. We have to patiently wait God reveals the hidden secrets and the motives of men.

The main two puroses of Jesus Christ in us

cutegoddy@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 27 Jul 2013 19:52:00 +0530

Bible Portion: Romans 5: 10 (If, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.)

The first main purpose of Jesus Christ in our lives is very much known popularly everywhere. It is earning forgiveness of our sins. Jesus Christ died on calvary for the sake of the sins of all humanity. He shed his innocent, pure blood as an atonement for the sins we committed. By this, we earns righteouness and freely gifts to everyone who believes and looks unto him. And most importantly, when God judges us in the end, we will be declared completely righteous in the name of Jesus Christ.

The second most important purpose of Jesus Christ in our lives is the salvation of ourselves from sin. This we have through the life of Jesus Christ. Sin is very big. It has its roots in the flesh which fell away from God due to the rebellion of our forefather Adam. Today, Jesus Christ is our second Adam. God creates another breed of the human race through Jesus Christ. Those who obey Jesus Christ have to go contrary to the ways of the first Adam. We experience hardships and sufferings because most of the people continue to remain in the first Adam. But those who obey get transformed and are saved from their sins. This is how we experience eternal life and become sons of the living God.

Noone is righteous by observing the law

cutegoddy@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 26 Jul 2013 19:51:00 +0530

Bible Portion: Romans 3: 26 (Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight.)

Law is the list of commandments that God gave Moses in mount Sinai. It is a guideline for us to live. Since our forefathers sinned and plunged into sin, they became alienated from God. So God, in his great love, gave this law to the human race so that by following them, we would live the life as God intended it for. He had also given provision for us to offer sacrifices and offerings in case we unintentionally brke the laws.

So what about the non-Jews who did not receive the law? Our forefathers did not have the privilege to get the law because they were completely away from God. They were depraved in their minds because of their sins. But we gentiles are also the created by the same God. The proof of this is our conscience which goes inline with the law. Whenever we did something that was against the law, our conscience would tell us that we are wrong. Therefore, even though we do not know the law, our conscience makes us aware whenever we disobey the commandments of the law.

What Paul says is that there is noone in tghe entire history of human race, who has lived according to law. That is, If God checks whether we have followed the law in our entire life, then we would all be declared failures. There is noone. This is why Jesus Christ is important to everyone. We need him so much to escape the judgement of God that is coming to everyone who have disobeyed the law. He died for our sins. He took our punishments uon himself. This is not only the display of Jesus' love but also the display of our father's love.

Therefore when we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we are forgiven freely. If we really are sensible of this fact, we will become humble. We will not compare ourselves with anyone and rate our life because we are all sinners and only by faith in Jesus Christ, we receive righteousness in the sight of God.

First Thank God for Faith

cutegoddy@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 24 Jul 2013 19:51:00 +0530

Bible Portion: Romans 1: 8, (First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world... Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.)

Paul, in his letter to Romans, after writing the 'From' and 'To' details, begins by thanking God through Jesus Christ for the faith of the Romans.

Faith is a gift of God and we ought to thank him for that. Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of our faith. He began our faith towards him. It is through this faith that we are saved from our sins and also receive righteousness as gift from God. Faith also keeps us going with the hope of being revealed as God's sons in the future. More importantly, this faith is key to our daily relationship with God. We talk and share everything with him through faith. We also became obedient to his words and received the Holy Spirit through faith.

Paul, in his senses, gave the foremost importance for thanking God for this faith. As he writes, he pours out his mind on what had happened to those who failed to thank God through Jesus Christ for faith. He writes that they have become vain in their imagination and their hearts were darkened. There minds have become depraved and they think the most vilest thoughts.

Law is for sin to be recognized as sin

cutegoddy@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 19 Jul 2013 19:50:00 +0530

Bible Portion: Romans 7: 13 (But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.)

What is the purpose of the law which God gave Moses some 4000 years ago? Today, we who believe in Jesus and have received the Holy Spirit are asked by Jesus' disciples to die to law. Then why did God provide laws to his people and forced them to follow the laws? Why did he impose huge penalties on those who disobeyed the law? These are question which demand answers.

Paul, in his letter to the Romans, explains the reason for God to introduce the law. He says that law was introduced for sin to be recognized as sin.

When God created Adam and Eve, there was no sin the Earth. But when Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating from the fruit of knowledge of good and evil, sin entered the Human race. Since we are all children of Adam and Eve, we inherit this sinful nature right from our birth. We, by nature consider sin as the natural way of our life. Disobedience to God's ways is the order of the day. Threfore, for sin to be distinguished from righteousness, God provided law to the people of Israel. The forefathers of the people of Israel walked in God's ways and hence God chose their future generations to reveal his ways.

Jesus Christ died on the cross for the righteous requirements of the law to be fully met in us, who believe in him and walk by the Holy Spirit. When we walk by the Spirit, we will certainly meet the requirements of the law. We do not have to worry about the law. The Holy Spirit who lives in us will tell us the path to take. Whenever we disobey the Holy Spirit, we not only grieve the Holy Spirit but also disobey God's law and bring punishments uon ourselves. But thanks be to Jesus Christ who offers way for us to return to God again.

Perfect Living

cutegoddy@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 18 Jul 2013 19:49:00 +0530

Bible Portion: Romans 8: 4 (That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.)

Romans 8 is one of the most important chapters in the Bible. Here, Paul talks about the life by the Holy Spirit. In this verse, he writes about the fulfillment of righteousness in a human being's life. We have all sinned and become worthy of punishments. There is nothing we can do about the sins we have committed in the past. So we are helpless and filled with guilt. And the righteous God can only send us to hell for our rebellion against him. But, in his great love towards us, he sent his son, Jesus Christ to freely offer righteousness for us.

But this righteousness cannot be availed be everyone. It can be availed only by those who walk in the Holy Spirit. If we sincerely obey Jesus' only commandment to lovbe others as we love ourselves, then we will certainly receive the Holy Spirit to live in us. This Holy Spirit prompts us to walk in a way contrary to the way of our flesh. We have to put our flesh to death. This may not be possible with our efforts. But if we walk as the Holy Spirit leads us, our flesh will certainly die. And in that state, the righteous requirements of God's law will be fully met in us. We are perfect people in that state.

This is perfect living and we have to strive towards entering this life. In this life, our souls will rest in Jesus and he will carry all our burdens.

Death to Sin and Death to Law

cutegoddy@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 17 Jul 2013 19:48:00 +0530

Bible Portion: Romans 6: 1, 7: 4 (How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein... ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ)

Jesus died on the cross and God rose him again on the third day. Exactly in a similar way, we also died and live a new life. That is why we call ourselves born again. Two main aspects to which we died are:

1. Sin
2. Law

Only after these death become complete in us, we will live the new life through the Holy Spirit. Law and sin are connected to eachother. It is through law we come to know of sin. After knowing sin, we actually find it difficult to overcome sin. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, writes that we ought to die die to sin and law. Just like Jesus Christ physically died, we also have to die to sin and law.

Dying to sin is to not allow sin to reign in us. We have to consciously make efforts to stay away from temptations and all that would lead us to sin. To die to sin is to become slaves to righteousness. We dedicate ourselves to do righteous deeds so that sin maybeput to death.

Dying to law is to belong to Jesus Christ. Jesus has given us a new commandment - to love others as we love ourselves. We dedicate ourselves to follow this law rather than the old laws given by Moses. There is no condemnation for those who belong to Jesus Christ. He became a curse for us on the cross for the sake of our inability to follow the law.

Conscious efforts to not sin

cutegoddy@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 15 Jul 2013 19:47:00 +0530

Bible Portion: Romans 6: 12, 13 (Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.)

Unless we are united with Jesus in his death, we cannot be united with him in his resurrection. What does this statement mean?

Jesus died and after three days God rose him up from the dead. His physical body stopped functioning while he was dead. Now this death, he died for the sins of the world - once and for all. We are not called to die such a death for we cannot shed blood for the sins of other human beings. We ourselves have sinned and have become unworthy. But Jesus was not like that. He never sinned and God found him worthy in his eyes to be offered as an atonement sacrifice for the sins of others.

So how do we become united with Jesus in his death?

We become united with Jesus by not sinning. Just as Jesus was dead for three days, our sinful nature and connected lusts ought to remain dead in us. They must not respond when tempted. The world is full of temptations. Sin is always at the doorstep. And we ought to overcome them by consciously fightingagainst it. We should not allow sin to reign in the parts of our body. Jesus said, if our right hand causes us to sin, it is better for us to cut that hand in order to not sin. In this way, we become united with Jesus' death.

If we are united with Jesus' death by not allowing sin to reign in our body, then we will certainly be united with Jesus in his resurrection. This will happen when Jesus returns. He will raise us up and give us eternal life and we will live with him forever.

Now, as we progress in fighting sin in our own strength, we will understand we cannot do it. It is for this that our Lord gives us the Holy Spirit who gives us power to overcome. Our overcoming life becomes successful and consistent only when live by the Spirit.

Paul's three joys

cutegoddy@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 14 Jul 2013 19:44:00 +0530

Bible Portion: Romans 5: 2-5, 11 ( and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.... but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.)

Paul beautifully writes the true gospel message in his letter to the Romans. He logically and spiritually explains the significance of Jesus Christ and many other questions that arise in any human being. After writing about about our reconciliation with God, that is, by faith in Jesus Christ, Paul talks about three joys.

1. Joy in the hope of the glory of God
2. Joy in sufferings
3. Joy in God through Jesus Christ

Hope of the glory of God: No man has seen the glory of God. Although we read of Godly men like Moses, John, etc who have had encounter with God, we certainly know that God's glory is beyond the limits of our human eyes. Our eyes do not have the potential to comprehend the glory of the Almighty who made the heavens and the Earth. Jesus said his coming will be just like a flash of lightning. Our eyes cannot even withhold the brightness of lightning and we talk about God's glory. Paul writes that, as reconciled children. we rejoice in the hope of seeing, experiencing, in the glory of God. We will be with God forever. This is the promise of Jesus Christ. We are not with him now even though we are filled with his Spirit and experience closeness with him. But we hope to be with him in his glory. Paul rejoiced in this.

Suffering for the sake of the Almighty is always a worthy pain. Because sufferings lead us again to hope. It is the hope that is set before us that enables us to face adverse situations in life. This hope, even though we cannot experience until we see Jesus again, does not dissappoint us. We have the Holy Spirit whom God has given us. He fills our hearts with God's love. We experience God's divine love in our hearts and spirits when we go through sufferings and pain. This goes inline with the psalmist's words that God is close to the broken hearted and the contrite in spirit.

Our reconciliation happens/happened only by faith in what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross. It is Jesus Christ who has reconciled us with God. His innocent, pure blood was shed for sinners like us. It is his greatest act of love which has enabled the human race to have peace with God. There is no other way. Jesus deserves all credit in the reconciliation process. Paul writes that, as reconciled children of God, we rejoice in God through Jesus Christ, who has given us new life.

Not being ashamed of the gospel

cutegoddy@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 4 Jul 2013 19:35:00 +0530

Bible Portion: Romans 1: 16 (I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth)

Paul was not ashamed of the gospel. He boldly proclaimed the good news of the gospel wherever he went and whomever he met. The other disciples of Jesus Christ were also the same. They never held the gospel to themselves rather, shared it transparently with everyone.

Paul, while writing to the Romans gives the reason why he is not ashamed of the gospel. He writes, gospel is the power of God unto salvation.

To understand Paul's thoughts we need clarity on what he means by the word 'salvation'. Salvation is saving someone from something. Someone fell into a pit but is now helped to come out of the pit. He is saved from the pit. He has received salvation from the pit. Now, there are many pits into which we fall. Some of them are money, fame, sex, greed, jealousy, anger, loneliness, etc. Generally we can say these pits are sins. My mother conceived me in sin, said the psalmist. Right from our birth we live in sin. Our hearts are naturally inclined to do evil all the time. This is because our great fore father and first human being, Adam, brought sin into our human race. Now, when Paul says salvation, he means that he is out of this pit which Adam brought him into.

It is not easy to come out of this pit. The desire to do good or seek God cannot originate from ourselves. Hence, Paul uses the strong word 'power' to illustrate his salvation experience. He came out using the power of God. And this power, he says, is in the gospel. Everyone who believes receives this salvation. How can Paul ever be ashamed to share the power of God which has saved him from the pit of sin. How can anyone hide or alienate themselves from the power which has set them free from the taskmasters of sin?

Mixing with the Pagans

cutegoddy@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 3 Jul 2013 19:34:00 +0530

Bible Portion: Hosea 8: 8 (Israel is swallowed up: now shall they be among the Gentiles as a vessel wherein is no pleasure.)

Our God spoke the same thing through the prophet Hosea. The people of Israel were the only people who served the only living God. Thanks to their patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, etc. But after many generations, the people of Israel are mixing with the pagans. Now there are no differences between the Israelites and the pagans. The people of Israel, who were once known as the people who serve the living God is no longer known that way. They have become like the pagans.

Jesus told us that we are the light of the world. He also told that we are the salt of the world. If the salt loses it's flavor, it becomes good for nothing. Our God has redeemed people from all nations through his son Jesus Christ. We are now different from the rest of the world. We can no longer be identified with those who are not redeemed (or those who have not responded to the Gospel message). If we mix with them, we become like them and can no longer be known as God's children.

Seeking God Earnestly

cutegoddy@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 2 Jul 2013 19:32:00 +0530

Bible Portion: Hosea 5: 4, 6, 10, 13, 15 (They will not frame their doings to turn unto their God... but they shall not find him; he hath withdrawn himself from them... therefore I will pour out my wrath upon them like water... then went Ephraim to the Assyrian, and sent to king Jareb: yet could he not heal you, nor cure you of your wound... I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offense... in their affliction they will seek me early)

The straight forward point in this portion is this.

When will we earnestly seek God?
We will earnestly seek God when we have no other hope for the sufferings which God puts on us.

Thinking on the prophesy that God gave Hosea will help us understand where we stand in our relationship with God. This is the step by step process that happened to the people of Israel.

1. Israel's deeds did not permit them to return to God
2. Even when they sought God, they did not find him
3. God poured out his wrath on the people of Israel
4. Israel turned to Assyria, but Assyria couldn't heal them
5. God wants Israel to acknowledge their guilt
6. Now, Israel, in their misery, earnestly sought God

The prophesy for the people of Israel is applicable to us also. We cannot seek God in our own strength. We are too corrupt to do that. Sin is more complex than we can imagine. It's grip on everyman is too powerful. That is why many of us are not able to find God even in spite of myriad efforts. So God allows problems in our lives. He breaks us down so that the grip of sin loosens. However, we will turn to Earthly and human help in order to escape the misery the God has put on us. We will fail in our efforts. Nobody can help us. It is this point that we will acknowledge our sinful life. God is patient until we do this. Only after we acknowledge our guilt and consider ourselves worthless sinners, can we earnestly seek God.

Wilderness and Valley of troubles are a door of hope for us

cutegoddy@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 30 Jun 2013 18:29:00 +0530

Bible Portion: Hosea 2: 14, 15 (Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor (trouble) for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.)

The word of the Lord came to the prophet Hosea during the times when the people of Israel went away from God and lived as they liked. They worshiped fake Gods and did things that were detestable in the sight of God. They did not have any relationship with the true God at that time.

In order to bring them back to how they were in the beginning, God allured them to the wilderness and made them pass through valley of troubles. In other words, God broke them down and made them cry. They lost all their Earthly prosperity and delights.

This brokenness was a door of hope for them to return to God. It was an opportunity for them to think about their waywardness and return to God. Exactly like how the prodigal, in Jesus' parable, came to his senses, the people of Israel would come back to their senses and return to God.

Even though the prophesy is about the people of Israel, it is applicable to every child of God who has gone astray. Troubles and wilderness are door of hope for us to return to God.

Two things Paul preached

cutegoddy@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 29 Jun 2013 19:31:00 +0530

Bible Portion: Acts 28: 31 (Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.)

Paul preached two things.

1. The destination - Kingdom of God
2. The way - Jesus Christ

Human race fell away from God. It has to be reconciled back to God if it were to make sense. Unless this happens, we would continue to have questions and a number of fake Gods taking the place of the one true God.

The destination of Paul's preaching was this restoration of mankind. In other words, Paul preached about the restored life with God. This is the Kingdom of God - The kingdom of the real God who is invisible to our eyes, yet fills our spirit and makes his voice heard to us. Love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness, kindness, faithfulness and self-control are found in us when the real God in enthroned in our heart and spirit.

The way to reach this destination is through Jesus Christ. There is no other name given to mankind by which it can be saved. Paul preached how Jesus is the only way. He knew the scriptures very well. Even though his orthodox zeal towards God lead him to turn against Jesus in the beginning, he changed after hearing from the risen Jesus himself.

Why do they preach?

cutegoddy@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 28 Jun 2013 19:29:00 +0530

Bible Portion: Acts 26: 20 (I (Paul) was not disobedient ... but shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.)

The NIV translation uses the word 'preach' whereas KJV translation uses the word 'shew'. The word 'preach' may bring into our mind someone speaking something with words. The word 'shew' is more than just speaking. Shew means to establish the validity of something, as by an example, explanation or experiment. Paul not just preached but shewed.

Here, while making his defense to King Agrippa, Paul reveals his intentions in shewing (which includes preaching too). He shewed so that his acquaintances, listeners, friends and everyone whom he across would perform a three step transformation process:

1. Repent
2. Turn to God
3. Do works meet for repentance

Judas repented after betraying our Lord Jesus. He felt remorse by weeping and grieving to himself. But he did not turn to God after his repentance. He, therefore became frustrated and killed himself. Ananias and Sapphira repented and turned to God. They were with the disciples and believers. But their works did not meet for repentance. Their works did not prove their repentance. Hence God killed both of them.

The first two steps may not take much time for a person whose eyes are opened to see the Love of Jesus Christ. But for the third step, we need to be continuously filled with Holy Spirit. Only those who are obedient to the words of Jesus will receive the the Holy Spirit from the father. After receiving the Holy Spirit, it is very important to always remain filled with the Holy Spirit. This is seeking God's kingdom above everything else in life.

Paul and others shewed (or preached) so that we will be acquainted into this life. Jesus is the only way for this life and they lived as witness to Jesus even until death.

The Two Baptisms

cutegoddy@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 19:27:00 +0530

Bible Portion: Acts 8: 15 - 17 (Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.)

Philip went to Samaria and proclaimed the good news of Jesus Christ. Some of them who heard this message believed and were baptized. One among those who were baptized was a sorcerer named Simon. We understand that he was a man with great honor. He performed magic and had captured the minds of the people in Samaria. His had not fully repented of his sins. But believed in Jesus and was baptized.

After some days, when Peter and John heard about these people, they came down to Samaria with one intention, which was to help those who were baptized with water to get baptized with the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ alone can give this second baptism. And he gives it only to those who are obedient to his words. That is why we understand that Simon, the sorcerer did not get baptized with Holy Spirit. We see that Peter asked him to repent for the evil thoughts he had in his mind. This confirms that he was baptised in water without any repentance. He had other intentions while getting baptised.

Around 4000 years ago, God promised Abraham that he would bless the nations of the world through Abraham's seed. The baptism of the Holy Spirit was the promise that God talked about, and the seed was Jesus Christ. Many prophets testified to this. The last prophet of the old testament, John, the baptist also spoke about this. He said that he baptizes people with water but Jesus Christ baptizes people in Holy Spirit and fire. Samaria was not a Jewish state but people in Samaria received the promise of God - the Holy Spirit.

Thoughts

cutegoddy@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 18:50:00 +0530

Human love is conditional unlike Jesus' love. Jesus chose to die for us even when we did what he didn't want us to do.

I don't want to be carried away by the fortunes that my job offers. They are only a deception.

The attractions of the world are the deceptions of the world. The promises of the world are the lies of the world.

God may not give us a comfortable life because we may forget him and destroy ourselves.

We will enter God's kingdom not because of our righteousness but because of the righteousness we freely received from Jesus Christ.

If we aproach someone without any selfish intention then, we show love to that person.

Joseph was one of the boldest men ever lived. He refused to go to bed with another man's beautiful wife despite multiple oportunities.

Joseph wept often. He was one of the boldest men in history.

God's greatest gift to the human race is the Holy Spirit. Have you received him? Does he live in you?

Be obedient to the words of Jesus Christ until death. This is how we can show our love to him who gave himself for us.

When we are obedient to the words of Jesus Christ, we are the ultimate beneficiaries. We will be filled with the Holy Spirit.

A successful person is one who has received God's promise to humanity (Holy Spirit) & help others to receive.

Another great insult we can give God is by claiming ourselves to be responsible for receiving the Holy Spirit.

We can know Jesus Christ is God... only when we obey his words.

Jesus Christ is not a messenger of God. He is God himself. This is the greatest mystery which can be understood only by those who obey him.

If we water the lives of others, God will water our lives.

Man is empty without the Holy Spirit.

Witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ

cutegoddy@gmail.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 19:26:00 +0530

Bible Portion: Acts 5: 32 (And we (disciples) are his (Jesus') witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.)

While preaching Jesus as Christ, Peter shared 2 important things which were witnesses to the truth of Jesus Christ and the gospel message.

1. The disciples themselves
2. Holy Spirit

The disciples were witnesses to Jesus Christ. They were with him during the three and a half years when he ministered to the Jewish community. They have heard with their own ears what he prophesied about himself. And watched with their own eyes the prophesies which became reality. Jesus had said that he would be handed over to the gentiles and killed but God will rise him up from the dead on the third day. The disciples witnessed this. The disciples have written down these truths which have been communicated from generations to generations. Today, you and me believe what they have written.

The second most powerful witness to the truth of Jesus Christ is the Holy Spirit. Around 4000 years ago, God promised Abraham that he will bless all the nations of the Earth through his seed. By being obedient to the words of Jesus Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit from God. When a man receives this gift from the maker of the Universe, there is nothing else he would need to know who Jesus Christ is.

Obedience come first and witness comes immediately through receiving the Holy Spirit. A life filled with Holy Spirit draws us close to our creator and enables us to have a relationship with him. The disciples had received the Holy Spirit. This convinced them to preach Jesus Christ with so much boldness and authority. They knew what they were talking. Today, the Jesus' disciples who are obedient to his words receive the Holy Spirit and know Jesus Christ.