1. Believe in
the
true Lord of Life
Throughout the world, philosophers and holy men have thought about how mankind can be released from the impermanence of human life and find eternity and true meaning in life. Here is the record of the personal experience of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ about the unusual manifestation of life in Christ. The Apostle Paul declares:
Jesus Christ Conquered Death
For what I received, I passed on
to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the
Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according
to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After
that he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at the same time, most of
whom are still living... and last of all he appeared to me also. (1 Corinthians
15:3-8)
The life from God has been demonstrated with power
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. This has been testified
by his first disciples, and their testimonies have been recorded in the Holy
Scriptures of the Bible. It was the Son of God coming to us as a mortal man to
reveal God's eternal purpose for us as humans to be formed in the likeness of
his only Son. For it is written that those God knew, he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that
he might be the firstborn among many brothers (Romans 8:28-29).
Jesus
Christ
Came
from Above as a Friend
He is the image of the invisible God . . . and God was
pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to
himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making
peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (Colossians 1:15a & 19-20)
However, the world lives in hostility towards the
true God, and people gets involved in many kinds of idolatry in sharp
competition with each other. This world is heaping offense upon offense and
injury upon injury, everyone inflicting sufferings upon others, and everyone
being made to suffer. But Jesus Christ abolished the hostility and brought us
new friendship with God and peace with each other. He endured the ultimate
punishment on the cross for the offenses of all men, and in so doing, he broke
the destructive momentum of this world towards the inevitable death of all. In
him scattered mankind has been reunited in fellowship with God and one another.
Jesus
Christ
Came
to Save Whoever that Believes
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)
Jesus Christ did not come to condemn
anyone, but so that you personally
can come to life and inherit with the living Christ, if you rely on him to set
you free from sin and death, and submit to his authority as the firstborn from
the dead and the principal heir of the coming kingdom.
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2. You Must Belong
to the Kingdom of God
Most people rely on the evolution for human progress.
If you, however, are without spiritual direction, how could you possibly know
the way to Life? For our spiritual destiny is governed by our spiritual vision.
Jesus declared: "I
tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born from
above,
. . . no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and
Spirit." (John 3:3 & 5)
Therefore, if you are born into the
The Wisdom of the Light
The selfish nature of man is craving for many things,
and his unsatisfied expectations often turn into anger and aggression. However,
wisdom from the Light of God is to cease existing for the illusionary desires
of the world - i.e., to live no longer from a distorted self and to be renewed
in the image of God your Maker (Ephesians 4:22-24).
The Apostle Paul teaches: "You are buried with him in baptism and raised
with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.
When you were dead in your . . . sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ and
forgave your sins." (Colossians
2:12-13)
Your spiritual rebirth in Christ is not the result
of conformity to certain religious rules, nor voluntarily choosing to look at
yourself in a new way. Entirely apart from anything you can do, it is genuinely
an act of God by divine favor (Ephesians 2:8-9). But it is through baptism in
water, that you confirm God's grace in your life, you receive forgiveness of
sins and become a member of God's visible family on earth.
The
Nature of the Reborn Person
Since our Maker is a living personal God, the reborn also exists as a distinct new person, though in such way that the old and the reborn man is one and the same person. The reborn person must therefore vigorously seek to understand his new nature, correctly distinguish between self and non-self and take responsibility for his whole being. However, seeking inward in search for the new self would be vain. For by introspection the reborn would only discover the self-image. The new internal spiritual reality in Christ is perceived by faith.
Your spiritual Purpose
The tremendous
potential of the reborn person is to be conformed to the likeness of Christ
(Romans
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This Is the Way
You Can Be Born into the
You might wonder whether you
qualify to become a follower of such a sovereign Lord and Teacher. However, the
only thing you need, is to set your heart on getting changed into the perfect
likeness of Christ (Romans
Decide to Follow Christ
You can make the decision
today, approach the living Lord and Teacher in worship and prayer, and tell him
that you would like to receive the new life as a gift and follow his way. This
is how you might pray:
Lord Jesus Christ, I have come to understand your universal
authority as the firstborn from the dead, and that your sacrifice for all
mortals has brought life and new friendship to the world. Forgive my hostility
towards God, and cleanse me from my offensive ways of sin through your
redeeming death on the cross. Let me be born into your kingdom, in which my
eternal life is secured, and lead me forth on your holy and glorious path to a
life of Christ-like quality and an eternal life in the light of God. Amen!
If you are not yet ready to
pray this prayer today, study the
The Sign of the Spiritual Rebirth
The moment you ask the living
Lord Jesus Christ in prayer to bring you into his kingdom, he comes to dwell in
your heart by the Holy Spirit. It should become natural for you to pursue the
new life in Christ (1 John 2:3-6).
Four Dimensions of Discipleship
1. The disciple wills to make Jesus Christ the exclusive
spiritual Lord and Teacher of his life and to practice the Seven-Fold Way in a
personal and culturally appropriate way (Matthew 6:24).
2. Discipleship begins in the midst of a normal life. A
businessman ought to continue as a businessman, a monk as a monk, a housewife
as a housewife and a student as a student (1 Corinthians
3. Discipleship is pursued in openness. The spiritual
rebirth is publicly confessed and confirmed through baptism in water, which
also indicates a clear break with any form of ungodly lifestyle (Matthew
10:32-33).
4. Discipleship is pursued in fellowship with other
followers of Christ. The
Do Your Best!
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3. Seek Fellowship
with the Lord of Life
It appears as if spiritual
knowledge and good moral deeds might be the source of making man great and
honorable. However, with a growing moral insight, it only becomes more and more
difficult for the religious man to live by the standard of a good conscience,
which can rightly be expected from each one of us. Therefore, to advance spiritually
it is far better for you to seek fellowship with the Lord of Life.
The Teacher Cares about Your Needs
The Apostle Paul teaches: "Do not be anxious about anything, but
in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests
to God." (Philippians 4:6)
God the Creator knows the
needs of all his creation. Therefore, draw boldly into his presence, being
confident of his great goodness and mighty ability to provide for all your
needs. He cares about you: What to eat and drink, what to wear, a place to live
etc.
However, beware that Jesus
warned his disciples against a materialistic attitude to life and against
circling around selfish desires only. He said: "Seek first the kingdom and the righteousness of God, and all
these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33)
The Teacher Directs
Your Life
As a disciple you maintain
closeness with your Lord and Teacher through obeying his leading step by step.
Meditation in Jesus’ Name from the Holy Scriptures of the Bible, which explain
his Teaching, is therefore important for your spiritual growth towards a life
of still greater Christ-like quality. It is not just to know spiritual
principles, but also about coming to understand how the Teaching can be put
into appropriate practice in your daily life. The Holy Spirit witnesses about
God's will for you together with the inspired Holy Scriptures. For this reason,
all spiritual teaching and practice must as a duty and a right be tested to
see, if it can be approved by the sound teaching of the Scriptures (1
Thessalonians
Admit Your Sins and Weaknesses
Being in Christ, you are
protected by your Lord's righteousness, accredited to you by faith, until you
learn to live justly before God and man. However, if you are warned by your
right conscience about a sin or a weakness in your life, immediately confess
your spiritual need to the Lord. That means to admit in specific terms to the
Lord what is not good for you to think, do or say. You don't have to come to
Him with fear; for Jesus Christ died in your place. Rather, offer many thanks
and praises to the Lord who redeemed you from sin and death.
Adopt a Spirit of Gentleness
The Apostle Paul teaches: "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will
say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is
near." (Philippians 4:4-5). And do not store anger and desire for
revenge in your heart, but forgive those who offend you. For this reason the
Lord taught us to pray: "Our
Father, . . . forgive us our sins as
we also forgive everyone who sins against us." (Luke 11:4a).
4. Love Others
as
Your Lord Commands
It is often assumed that all
men know what love is; for everybody talks about it. That is, however, one of
the greatest mistakes of our time, for the assumption is false. It is not
merely from outright evil that people gets wounded and relational problems
emerge; it is also from false definitions of love. What you yourself call
"love" might not be real love at all.
Jesus Christ is the Model of true Love
The Apostle Paul declares: "Very rarely will anyone die for a
righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But
when we were still powerless and ungodly Christ died for us."
(Romans 5:6b-7)
Jesus Christ showed his great
compassion for all mankind, when he gave himself over to suffer and die to
redeem this fallen world from its slavery to sin. It is hard to forgive the
sins of others, but without the dimension of forgiveness in our lives all our
imperfect human relationships would soon break down and come to an end. The
evident result is death, for life is found through relationships. Therefore,
Jesus also taught a special commandment, which ought to be prevalent in his
disciples' relationship around Him.
Jesus said to his disciples: "A new commandment I give onto you: Love one another. As I have loved you,
so you must love one another." (John 13:34)
Your Teacher’s Golden Rule
To respect others and to give
others the same rights as yours is to love and respect God, for all men are
equally made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). Jesus commanded: "Do to others as you would have them
do to you." (Luke 6:31)
Four Golden Truths of Love
(1)
Love begins with a kind
attitude towards others
Although
the emotional attachment of a mutual, loving relationship is natural and good,
it is easy to be more concerned about receiving than giving. Therefore, to be
real, love has to be both sincerely meant and mindful concerning the wants and
needs of others.
(2)
Love is patient with
imperfection
All
human relationships are maintained through love; for humans are not perfect
beings, but learners in progress. Love is patient: It forgives all mistakes and
offenses. Love is compassionate and protects those who are weak in the faith.
(3)
It takes courage to express
love
Love
does not get corrupted by the enmity of others. It does not retaliate, but does
what is right in the eyes of everybody. Even in the spheres of family and
friendship it takes courage to overcome the fear of being rejected.
(4)
It takes an effort to express
love
Love does no harm to oneself
or others. However, a love that is complete adds positively to the material or
spiritual lives of others. Whether it concerns providing, teaching or caring
for others, true love costs.
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5. Remember the Benefits
of the Kingdom
Jesus commanded all disciples
to remember the Sabbath day and regularly to celebrate communion, i.e. the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of
Him: "While they were eating, Jesus
took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, saying:
'Take and eat; this is my body.' Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered
it to them, saying: 'Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the
covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.'"
(Matthew 26:26-28)
Your Past
Communion is a special time
for you to remember, who you were before Jesus Christ became your Teacher and
Lord - i.e., a person without hope in life.
Your Present
Communion is the time for you
to consider your commitments to Christ, to your spiritual fellowship and to the
daily practice of the Way. Jesus said: "Whoever
has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me
will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to
him." (John 14:21)
Your Future
Communion is the time for you
to celebrate your glorious common destiny with your fellow followers of Christ.
Jesus said: "I tell you, I will not
drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until the day when I drink it anew
with you in my Father’s kingdom." (Matthew 26:29)
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6. Give and It
Will Be
Given to You
As a disciple, you must first of all bring yourself to the fellowship to learn; for a disciple is a learner. There is no substitute for setting aside time to receive instruction in the Way and for spiritual fellowship in the Lord. It is, however, also important to be in service to your Lord and Teacher in a way that fits your faith and the gifts you have received from Him. Your devotion, however, is not forced. It is your free act as a follower based on a right attitude towards the Way. You should always offer yourself, your service and your money freely, according to your faith. But ….
You Reap as You Sow
The
Apostle Paul explains: "Whoever
sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also
reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give,
not . . . under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to
make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all
that you need, you will abound in every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:6-8)
As a disciple, you should therefore adopt an attitude of sharing your life, your time and your resources with others; for generosity is an admirable trait. But take mark that there is a special promise connected to this command. Jesus said:
"Give, and it will be given to you." (Luke
6:38)
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7. Lead Others
to the Way of Life
Jesus Christ came to disclose the Way to life and to
call people from each and every nation to follow him (Matthew 28:18-20).
Therefore the Way of Christ must be communicated for the good of all nations
and each generation until the kingdom of God comes with glory and power
(Matthew 28:14). However, it is not solely a matter of spreading knowledge
about Jesus Christ and the salvation in his Name. It is expected of messengers
of Christ, that they are in the process of practicing his whole Teaching
command by command. In the view of the Apostle Paul, it
means "to call people from among
all the nations to the obedience
that comes from faith." (Romans 1:5b). The spiritual map showing the Seven-Fold Way illustrates this perspective
on the Great Commission of Christ. It means obedience to the whole Teaching of
Christ originating from a living faith in his Name. For this reason the
spiritual map has faith at the core and obedience on the wheel. Therefore . . .
You
Should Be a Reality Witness
As the Apostles testified about the resurrection
of Christ, you as a modern disciple can testify that he is alive, because he is
at work in us who believe. Just remember that our testimony not is cleverly
invented words to boast about ourselves, but about him and the change we have
allowed him to accomplish in our daily lives through the power of his Spirit.
Learn to make the most out of every opportunity (Colossians 4:5-6), "and always be prepared to give an answer to
everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." (1
Peter 3:15)
But your warm
wish to lead others to the Way of life will indeed be greatly energized if you,
in addition to your winning speech, demonstrate your new spiritual reality
through your good conduct in Christ.
Jesus Said: "You
are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do
people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand,
and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light
shine before men, that they may see your good deeds, and praise your Father in
heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16)
Go
forth with the Lord
Here
is the Way to life. But how can people believe in the Lord of whom they have
not heard and receive the new life as his gift? And how can they hear, unless
someone is being sent to preach? "As
it is written: 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'"
(Romans 10:14-15)
But we are not on our own in spreading this Gospel
about the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Our ministry to
communicate and transmit the good news is an extension of the mission of Jesus
Christ on earth. For Jesus Christ promised that "we will receive power through
the Holy Spirit; and that we will be
his witnesses in our Jerusalem, and . . . to the ends of the earth." (Acts
1:8), and "that he surely will be with us always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:20b)
Let
the New Wheel Turn!