THE WORLD MAY HATE US BUT GOD LOVES US!

There are three things told us in Scripture concerning the nature of God. First, "God is spirit" (John 4:24). In the Greek there is no indefinite article, and to say "God is a spirit" is most objectionable, for it places Him in a class with others. God is "spirit" in the highest sense. Because He is "spirit" He is incorporeal, having no visible substance. Had God a tangible body, He would not be omnipresent, He would be limited to one place; because He is spirit He fills heaven and earth. Second, God is light (1 John 1:5), which is the opposite of "darkness." In Scripture "darkness" stands for sin, evil, death; and "light" for holiness, goodness, life. God is light, means that He is the sum of all excellency. Third, "God is love" (1 John 4:8). It is not simply that God "loves," but that He is Love itself. Love is not merely one of His attributes, but His very nature.
There are many today who talk about the love of God, who are total strangers to the God of love. The Divine love is commonly regarded as a species of amiable weakness, a sort of good-natured indulgence; it is reduced to a mere sickly sentiment, patterned after human emotion. Now the truth is that on this, as on everything else, our thoughts need to be formed and regulated by what is revealed thereon in Holy Scripture. That there is urgent need for this is apparent not only from the ignorance which so generally prevails, but also from the low state of spirituality which is now so sadly evident everywhere among professing Christians. How little real love there is for God. One chief reason for this is because our hearts are so little occupied with His wondrous love for His people. The better we are acquainted with His love—its character, fulness, blessedness—the more will our hearts be drawn out in love to Him.
1. The love of God is uninfluenced. By this we mean, there was nothing whatever in the objects of His love to call it into exercise, nothing in the creature to attract or prompt it. The love which one creature has for another is because of something in them; but the love of God is free, spontaneous, uncaused. The only reason why God loves any is found in His own sovereign will: "The Lord did not set His love upon you, nor choose you because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: but because the Lord loved thee" (Deut. 7:7,8). God has loved His people from everlasting, and therefore nothing of the creature can be the cause of what is found in God from eternity. He loves from Himself: "according to His own purpose" (2 Tim. 1:9).
"We love Him, because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19). God did not love us because we loved Him, but He loved us before we had a particle of love for Him. Had God loved us in return for ours, then it would not be spontaneous on His part; but because He loved us when we were loveless, it is clear that His love was uninfluenced. It is highly important if God is to be honored and the heart of His child established, that we should be quite clear upon this precious truth. God’s love for me, and for each of "His own," was entirely unmoved by anything in them. What was there in me to attract the heart of God? Absolutely nothing. But, to the contrary, everything to repel Him, everything calculated to make Him loathe me—sinful, depraved, a mass of corruption, with "no good thing" in me.
"What was there in me that could merit esteem,Or give the Creator delight?‘Twas even so, Father, I ever must sing,Because it seemed good, in Thy sight."
2. It is eternal. This of necessity. God Himself is eternal, and God is love; therefore, as God Himself had no beginning, His love had none. Granted that such a concept far transcends the grasp of our feeble minds, nevertheless, where we cannot comprehend, we can bow in adoring worship. How clear is the testimony of Jeremiah 31:3, "I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee." How blessed to know that the great and holy God loved His people before heaven and earth were called into existence, that He had set His heart upon them from all eternity. Clear proof is this that His love is spontaneous, for He loved them endless ages before they had any being.
The same precious truth is set forth in Ephesians 1:4,5, "According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him. In love having predestinated us." What praise should this evoke from each of His children! How tranquilizing for the heart: since God’s love toward me had no beginning, it can have no ending! Since it be true that "from everlasting to everlasting" He is God, and since God is "love," then it is equally true that "from everlasting to everlasting" He loves His people.
3. It is sovereign. This also is self-evident. God Himself is sovereign, under obligations to none, a law unto Himself, acting always according to His own imperial pleasure. Since God be sovereign, and since He be love, it necessarily follows that His love is sovereign. Because God is God, He does as He pleases; because God is love, He loves whom He pleases. Such is His own express affirmation: "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated" (Rom. 9:19). There was no more reason in Jacob why he should be the object of Divine love, than there was in Esau. They both had the same parents, and were born at the same time, being twins; yet God loved the one and hated the other! Why? Because it pleased Him to do so.
The sovereignty of God’s love necessarily follows from the fact that it is uninfluenced by anything in the creature. Thus, to affirm that the cause of His love lies in God Himself, is only another way of saying, He loves whom He pleases. For a moment, assume the opposite. Suppose God’s love were regulated by anything else than His will, in such a case He would love by rule, and loving by rule He would be under a law of love, and then so far from being free, God would Himself be ruled by law. "In love having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to"—what? Some excellency which He foresaw in them? No; what then? "According to the good pleasure of His will" (Eph. 1:4,5).
4. It is infinite. Everything about God is infinite. His essence fills heaven and earth. His wisdom is illimitable, for He knows everything of the past, present and future. His power is unbounded, for there is nothing too hard for Him. So His love is without limit. There is a depth to it which none can fathom; there is a height to it which none can scale; there is a length and breadth to it which defies measurement, by any creature-standard. Beautifully is this intimated in Ephesians 2:4: But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us: the word "great" there is parallel with the "God so loved" of John 3:16. It tells us that the love of God is so transcendent it cannot be estimated.
No tongue can fully express the infinitude of God’s love, or any mind comprehend it: it "passeth knowledge" Eph. 3:19). The most extensive ideas that a finite mind can frame about Divine love, are infinitely below its true nature. The heaven is not so far above the earth as the goodness of God is beyond the most raised conceptions which we are able to form of it. It is an ocean which swells higher than all the mountains of opposition in such as are the objects of it. It is a fountain from which flows all necessary good to all those who are interested in it (John Brine, 1743).
5. It is immutable. As with God Himself there is "no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (James 1:17), so His love knows neither change or diminution. The worm Jacob supplies a forceful example of this: "Jacob have I loved," declared Jehovah, and despite all his unbelief and waywardness, He never ceased to love him. John 13:1 furnishes another beautiful illustration. That very night one of the apostles would say, "Show us the Father"; another would deny Him with cursings; all of them would be scandalized by and forsake Him. Nevertheless "having loved His own which were in the world, He love them unto the end." The Divine love is subject to no vicissitudes. Divine love is "strong as death ... many waters cannot quench it" (Song of Sol. 8:6,7). Nothing can separate from it: Romans 8:35-39.
"His love no end nor measure knows,No change can turn its course,Eternally the same it flowsFrom one eternal source."
6. It is holy. God’s love is not regulated by caprice passion, or sentiment, but by principle. Just as His grace reigns not at the expense of it, but "through righteousness" (Rom. 5:21), so His love never conflicts with His holiness. "God is light" (1 John 1:5) is mentioned before "God is love" (1 John 4:8). God’s love is no mere amiable weakness, or effeminate softness. Scripture declares, "whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth" (Heb. 12:6). God will not wink at sin, even in His own people. His love is pure, unmixed with any maudlin sentimentality.
7. It is gracious. The love and favor of God are inseparable. This is clearly brought out in Romans 8:32-39. What that love is from which there can be no "separation," is easily perceived from the design and scope of the immediate context: it is that goodwill and grace of God which determined Him to give His Son for sinners. That love was the impulsive power of Christ’s incarnation: "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son" (John 3:16). Christ died not in order to make God love us, but because He did love His people, Calvary is the supreme demonstration of Divine love. Whenever you are tempted to doubt the love of God, Christian reader, go back to Calvary.
Here then is abundant cause for trust and patience under Divine affliction. Christ was beloved of the Father, yet He was not exempted from poverty, disgrace, and persecution. He hungered and thirsted. Thus, it was not incompatible with God’s love for Christ when He permitted men to spit upon and smite Him. Then let no Christian call into question God’s love when he is brought under painful afflictions and trials. God did not enrich Christ on earth with temporal prosperity, for "He had not where to lay His head." But He did give Him the Spirit "without measure" (John 3:34). Learn then that spiritual blessings are the principal gifts of Divine love. How blessed to know that when the world hates us ,God loves us!

RAQUEL GONZALEZ MOVES UP GALA RANK

FLASH-TAMPA/NY/NJ-2010- The Gala Foundation announced today, the added assignment and appointment of Ms Raquel Gonzalez to serve as an Associate Administrator for the Foundation. She joins with the New Board of Gala Officials that recently included Irving Serrano from Pennsylvania. Raquel Gonzalez has served with great distinction and remarkable resilience through the past year. She will continue to serve as Editor of the sister Web-Site, "La Fundacion Gala" Noel Serrano, The Director of the Foundation, recently called Raquel and during their monthly conference, congratulated her and thanked her for her faithful service and unwavering devotion to the Gala initiative. "We need more laborers like Raquel Gonzalez"declared Noel,"That are willing to dedicate their time to a Noble Cause and have the determination to lift the Gala Banner high and steady" Raquel Gonzalez is a devoted Woman of Prayer and comes from a powerful family with a blessed legacy. Raquel Gonzalez grew up in the beloved home church of "La Sinagoga" she is very well-versed on the rich legacy of our combined families and has proven her loyalty and commitment to the cause of the Foundation. In a recent Gala Memo, Noel wrote;"I am delighted to announce that Raquel Gonzalez, currently the Editor of our sister-web-site, La Fundacion Gala, will be joining our immediate staff as an Associate Administrator. Since the passing of most of the pioneering Elders of the Foundation,I have been eager to set the organization’s future course and strengthen the strategic thinking done directly in the newly established Group of Gala Officials. Raquel will be crucial in that work.
In this capacity, Raquel will identify the arenas in which we can provide essential solutions to our Institution and our growing coalition and will then help drive us toward providing those solutions. That will require that she find ways to boost our business analytics and risk management capability as well as to enhance the way we market and deliver solutions.
Together, She, Irving and I will also focus on how Gala Operations– the leadership and the entire organization – can fully engage in our strategic planning and implementation. Too often, we develop great plans, set up task groups for initiatives, and report on measures, only to return quickly to business as usual. I believe we also need to change fundamental behaviors, methods, and processes in order to reach our transformational goals.
Raquel has a deep history with the Gala Foundation and is passionate about helping the organization. Her experience and critical thinking will be of particular value as we seek to address the significant new challenges of our Organization and the demand for sophisticated and innovative solutions. Join me in welcoming Raquel to this new role."

FIRE-PROOFING YOUR FAITH

By Carlo A. Serrano

Daniel 3:17-18 - If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able
to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he
does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship
the image of gold you have set up."
It’s hot! According to scientists, it is hotter on planet earth right now than it’s been in
thousands of years. The old saying says “if you can’t stand the heat; get out of the
kitchen.” But how can we get of this frying pan we call earth? Obviously we can’t. But
did you know that we come into this earth with fire-proofing? Our bodies come full
loaded with a cooling system. Its called – and this is deep – sweat. Yes, sweat is our
natural response to kitchens that are too hot. Our sweat also serves as a warning system
to, letting us know that we need some water about 2 hours ago, and some shade would be
nice! We also have these nerve endings that let us know “Hey, that’s too hot! Get away or
you will get burned!” If we heed these warnings and maintain our cooling systems, we
won’t have to fear burning up in this life.
God has also given us the same ability to fire-proof our faith. Sure or bodies may
succumb to the heat of a flame, but with God’s help, nothing can shake our faith. We can
have faith so strong that all of the firebombs of hell can’t even leave the smell of smoke.
We can have faith that will stand firm in the fires of life! Let’s examine three
foundational aspects of fire proofing your faith.
I. Be Unbound
We all know this story. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, along with Daniel had been
promoted to high offices in King Nebuchadnezzar’s court. If you remember in Ch 1 of
Daniel they held firm to their convictions and did not violate their dietary laws and God
blessed them. In Ch 2 we see Daniel interpreting the famous dream of the statue. So here
these foreigners, these aliens, are given high political office and favor.
If you want to fire-proof your faith, you have to be unbound…. from the the world and its
ways. The other officials in the land gathered and basically made this decree that when
the music sounds, everyone had to bow and worship the image of the king. It is
interesting to note that these same officials who couldn’t interpret the dream and whom
Daniel, and the 3 Israelites saved through their prayers would be the ones to bring this
law up You’ll see later on in Ch 6 that Daniel once again has to deal with this jealousy.
Yet in spite of what everyone else was doing, the Bible tells me that they did not bow
down to the king’s image. They were not bound by the worldly ways around them.
We also have to be unbound form...people pressure. They did not let the pressure of their
peers cause them to cave in. They worked openly on the kings court and did not once
give in. the bible says in one translation that they paid no attention to the king and his
image. How do you ignore a 90x90 image? They were not bound to this world and its
ways.
Don’t we today have a world that is screaming at us with the wrong message? The world
wants us to respond the way it does. When someone does you wrong, fight back. When
someone steals from you, steal back. When you have an itch, scratch it! The world is
telling us to worship the dollar, bow down to sex, and let self-ambition lead you in all
paths. We need the anointing of God to break those chains that want to bind us to this
world and its ways. If you want faith that can stand the heat, be unbound.
The next foundational aspect of fire proofing your faith is being unharmed.
II. Be Unharmed
Be unharmed by threatening circumstances. The other officials plotted against Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego, and told the king that they weren’t obeying the new law. I
wonder if the king was furious because the law was being broken, or because he was not
being worshiped? Regardless, he was mad and that could only mean trouble for the 3. But
even in the face of threats from the king himself, they would not be moved. They were
unharmed by threats and gestures. Their answer in v.17 is worth rereading
17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us
from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king.
Now, they did not doubt God in v. 18, instead they were showing their absolute resolve to
keep the faith.
We also need to be unharmed by physical setbacks. We see that the consequence of their
actions was going to be pain. They were physically threatened with death. Its one thing to
say “bow or you will be fired”, it’s another thing to say “bow or you will be fire!!” Yet
again they did not waiver.
The enemy is defeated! He can only bring short term pain and suffering. He can’t destroy
your soul. You are a child of God! He doesn’t own you or have the rights to you. We’ve
got to make up our minds that in spite of threats, we are going to serve God and walk by
faith. I’m so tired of talking politics and what the government and the ACLU is doing
now to our Christian freedoms. God is bigger!! Talking about it and worrying isn’t going
to change the fact that in these end times, the oven is going to get a little warmer. We’ve
got to stand anyway!! Pain may come. There might be some bumps and bruises. When
are we Americans going to realizes that it is a privilege to suffer for the king?
Persecution is nothing new. Yet, we must be unharmed by this pain, with God’s help.
The final aspect of fire proofing your faith that we must be under the influence.
III. Under the influence
25 He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and
unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."
They were thrown into the fire that was heated 7 times hotter than usual. The guards who
threw them into the furnace where killed by the heat. Did you know that skin exposed to
160 degree water for ONLY 1 second, can result in a third degree burn? Steam has
temperature of over 212 degrees and can not only burn the outside skin,when inhaled, it
immediately burns the lungs and airways causing rapid death. I don’t say that to be
morbid, I just want to paint a picture of how hot this furnace was!
And yet
25 He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed,
and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."26 Nebuchadnezzar then approached the
opening of the blazing furnace and shouted, "Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego,
servants of the Most High God, come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and
Abednego came out of the fire, 27 and the satraps, prefects, governors and royal advisers
crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a
hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of
fire on them.
Remember how hot it was? They were under the influence of the Lord of Grace.
If someone or something is Lord over you than you are under its influence.
Shadrach’s real name was Hannaniah which means: the Lord shows grace.
The Lord will always give us grace to make it through anything. I know your situation
might look bleak. But quit listening to that old father of lies and get under the influence
of the Lord who shows grace!
They were under the influence of the Lord who helps.
Abednego’s real name was Azariah which means: the Lord helps.
I think having that fourth man in the fire constitutes as help don’t you? Praise God that
we don’t have to face anything on our own. God is our “ever present help in times of
trouble”. The Lord helped them in a miraculous ways by saving them. He can do it for
you today. What king is threatening you? What fire is out of control in your life? Get
under the influence of the Lord who helps.
They were under the influence of the Lord with no equal.
Meshach’s real name was Mishael which means: Who is equal to God?
Who can dig down in to a pit and save a wretch stuck in sin? Who can take a
transgression and separate it as far as the east is from the west? Who can take a storm and
at one word create peace? Who can take nothing and form it into the heavens and the
earth and all between. Who is equal to our God? There is no God like Jehovah!! So why
do we doubt him when things get a little spicy? Don’t fear; just get under the influence of
the Lord who has no equal.
We can fireproof our faith by being unbound by the world and its ways, unharmed by
threats and physical setbacks, and by being under the influence of the Lord.
©2010 Carlo A. Serrano

IRVING SERRANO A NEW ASSOCIATE FOR GALA

FLASH-OCT 7- The Gala Foundation has recently brought in new key people to serve in the Administration . Irving Serrano is now an Associate Administrator in the Gala Foundation. There have been intensive talks with the brothers for a year now. Irving Serrano recently called his brother and informed him that he was ready to serve the Foundation in any capacity. Noel brought in his most trusted brother to assist in the efforts of the expanding Foundation. Irving Serrano has served the Foundation , in the past as a Contributing Writer for the Family Times, Gala's Communication Publication. Irving Serrano will be the first of a New Group of Gala Officials that will work very closely with Noel to ensure the stable course of all Gala Operations. The Gala Foundation has several Linked Web-sites and several Foreign Missions that need close attention. There is so much work to be done and this New assignment will strengthen the Foundation's ability to carry out the future phases that are now in the planning stages for future implementation. We want to welcome Irving Serrano to his new responsibilities. May God Bless him and his family.

THE PRIORITY OF ADORATION TO GOD

Praising God - The First Thing! Do you know that praising God is the best thing to do first before anything else? Have you ever been in a situation that you feel all alone? Or have you encountered a difficult situation in your life and you don't know what to do, like losing your job or suffering the loss of someone very close to your heart? Consider the good times such as when you receive a raise from your boss or earn high marks at school? What do you usually do during these moments? Praising God makes every circumstance of our lives complete, essential, and eminently worthwhile. Webster defines the word praise as to say good things about and it is synonymous to words such as admire, commend, extol, honor, and worship. A definition of Christian praise is the joyful thanking and adoring of God, the celebration of His goodness and grace.1 This simply implies that the act of praising is rightfully due to God alone.
Praising God - Why?Why is praising God important? The reasons are countless. First, God deserves to be praised and He is worthy to receive our praise:
"For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods" (Psalm 96:4).
"Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom" (Psalm 145:3).
"I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies" (2 Samuel 22:4).
"You are worthy, our LORD and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being" (Revelation 4:11). Second, praising God is useful and favorable for us. By praising God, we are reminded of the greatness of God! His power and presence in our lives is reinforced in our understanding. "Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant" (Psalm 135:3). Third, praise discharges strength in faith, which causes God to move on our behalf. "From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger" (Psalm 8:2). Praising God also transforms the spiritual environment that we have. 2 Chronicles 5:13-14 clearly illustrates the alteration that happened when the Levites gave praise and thanks to the Lord and the temple was filled with a cloud signifying the glory of God. "The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang: 'He is good; his love endures forever.' Then the temple of the LORD was filled with a cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the temple of God." Fourth, God inhabits the atmosphere of praise. Psalm 22:3 says, "But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel (KJV). If we want to see a clear manifestation of God's blessings and grace, all we need to do is to praise Him with all our heart, our mind, and our soul.
Praising God - Who and When?Who is to praise God? "Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD," states Psalm 150:6.
"I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips (Psalm 34:1)."
"Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands" (Psalm 63:3-4).
"Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who minister by night in the house of the LORD. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD" (Psalm 134:1-2). We cannot embark on the true joy and benefits of praising God unless we have received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. As children of God, He dwells in our bodies through the Holy Spirit. This means that wherever we go, God is to be praised. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 states that "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body."
Praising God - How to Praise and Worship GodHow is praising God possible? Singing songs and hymns, clapping our hands, even jumping for joy…the list is endless. We can give glory and praise to our God with the use of our physical bodies, with our hearts and minds, and with our deeds. There are many ways to praise God! No matter how you praise and worship God, it should result in an awe of God's power, love, and grace for all of us!

WHY PRAYER IS ESSENTIAL

THE POWER OF PRAYER
Prayer is our communion with God, whether it be a petition made to God, worship, repentance, praise, or thanksgiving. It doesn't have to be a laid-out patent prayer, but words from the heart. God wants all of us, he knows our minds and hearts, so why not talk to him as if he already knows the situation.
James 5:16 Confess [your] faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
The effectual fervent prayer is one with power behind it, one that produces results. We have to believe what we pray, not just 'mouth' words. Sometimes we go blindly into our prayers, not knowing in which direction to go.
Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you , What things soever ye desire, when ye pray , believe that ye receive [them], and ye shall have [them].
Desires of the heart should be those that will glorify God, not necessarily the human desires we have to make our life better.
Matthew 6:7 But when ye pray , use not vain repetitions, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. 8 Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.
God knows each thought we have, so why not go to HIM and talk with him as you would if you were to meet him on the street. Prayers do not have to be long, drawn out affairs, but we need to be precise in what we are asking, and ask according to the bible rather than asking blindly for what we want. If it glorifies the Lord, then it will be something good for us. If it does not, then we shouldn't be asking for it in our prayers.

CALLED TO BE A PECULIAR PEOPLE

All throughout history a particular group of people have always in every generation have been called the people of God. For the past 2000 years, this group has come to be known as Christians. The Name Christian According to Easton’s Revised Bible Dictionary the word “Christian” was the name given by the Greeks or Romans, probably in reproach, to the followers of Jesus. It was first used at Antioch. The names by which the disciples were known among themselves were "brethren," "the faithful," "elect," "saints," "believers." But as distinguishing them from the multitude without, the name "Christian" came into use, and was universally accepted. This name occurs but three times in the New Testament Acts 11:26; 26:28; 1Pe 4:16. What was meant to be a derogatory term used to taunt and make a certain group of people feel ashamed and unwanted is now associated with blessing.Now, the question is why did the people of Antioch nickname the followers of Christ Christians? What was so different about them that called for them to be disdained by the community in which they lived? Could it be that the Antioch pagans simply did not like to have anything to do with godliness as exhibited by the Christians or by their way of life? There is an important difference between being a "good" person and being a Christian. Somebody can have many good attributes, he can even be a devoted helper or a generous person, but these things do not make him a Christian. Good attributes are advantageous for others on a certain level, but they can only be used in the best way after a person has repented to God. If a person wants to be "good" without repenting to God, there is a danger that his "goodness" or "greatness" will cause others to respect and honor him instead of honoring and following Jesus.The New CreatureThe bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.” A closer look at this verse reveals that first a Christian should be in Christ. The life that a Christian lives should no longer be for himself but for Christ. Next the Christian is a new creature who is supposed to exhibit a life in conformity to the new nature in him. Thirdly any previous lifestyle lived becomes an issue of the past and buried with the old nature that had passed away. The knowledge of God's own loving nature is what leads Christians to devote themselves completely to serving God and others. “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” (1 John 4:8) Following Jesus means seeking what God wants to do with our life in all points and in all moments. A Christian must be ready to give up everything because of God. Manifesting the new nature and life in Christ means a Christian must turn from pride and materialistic pursuits and be ready to let go of his/her ambitions, careers and hobbies for the sake of the Kingdom of God. This places the Christian in a situation of total obedience and submission to God. This kind of life does not appeal to the unbeliever and so leads him/her to sometimes conclude that Christians are narrow minded individuals. But that is what makes Christianity unique.
Author: Lawrence Tsimese
The Salt of The Earth1 Peter 2: 9 states “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:” In reference to the above scripture we must understand that Christians are a chosen peculiar people of priestly heritage who have specifically been called by God to show forth His praise in an unbelieving world. We are to show forth his praises as salt savors meat (Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men” Matt 5:13). Being the salt of the earth, the Christian’s life is different from all others in that his/her daily lifestyle preserves the spirits of those around them (Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltiness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another”. Mark 9:50). You can’t ignore a true Christian’s presence since it has a way of positively impacting society. If the salt should lose its saltiness it will become useless and be trampled upon. A Christian therefore can not be like anybody else. When he/she lives in conformity to worldly standards it means the salt nature is gone and therefore is as good as an unbeliever.Love for One AnotherChristianity is not always an easy walk but an eternally rewarding one. The life of a Christian is a continuous process of sanctification. God works within each Christian to conform him more and more to the image of his Son (Romans 8:29). That does not mean that a Christian is without sin for the rest of his life, but that he basically separates from sin. The result of this sanctification must be visible in the life of every Christian (John 15:1-10) because God gives him the power to strive for a holy life (2 Peter 1:3; Romans 6:12-14). For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2) The fruit of having a relationship with God is visible in the practical life of a Christian and is manifested principally in brotherly love. Jesus commanded us to be a light shining out for all to see (Matt. 5:14 – 16). We are therefore to let our light shine wherever we are. In fact, darkness should disappear from any place that a Christian goes. We can’t afford to operate in darkness of ignorance of the love of God. God is Love and we owe our allegiance to Him. Brotherly love (the love among believers) is the sign by which the disciples of Jesus are recognized (John 13:34-35). Brotherly love is based on the decision of each Christian to devote his life to his brothers and sisters. (“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” 1 John 3:16) Relationships among brothers and sisters in faith differ from other relationships because Christians have the same attitude towards life and share the same hope and aim in life. Since a Christian is not in unity with unbelievers in these points the amount of co-operation possible is limited to some extent. In closing, I will state that Christianity is not a bunch of do's and don'ts. It is love, life and liberty through Jesus Christ which is what makes a Christian different from anybody else.