Tag: John

A Covenant Of Truth And Grace

There’s a point off the coast of South Africa where two oceans meet. The warm Indian Ocean and the cold Atlantic. One sea, two distinct oceans.

I’ve often thought that God’s grace is the point where two of his distinct attributes meet – His holiness and His love.

On one hand, the holiness of God exposes sin. The word of God is “sharp and piercing” and it discerns the thoughts and intents of our hearts. We can fool each other but we can’t fool God. The truth is revealed.

On the other hand, the love of God has given us Jesus – a high priest who sympathizes with our weakness and allows us to come boldly to the throne of grace for mercy and help in our time of need.

We put these two truths together and we have grace. They meet at the cross and become ours through faith.

Once we have come to faith we no longer need law. It can no longer help us.

We enter a new covenant. A covenant of truth and grace.

Hebrews 4:12-13
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

Hebrews 4:15-16
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

John 1:17
For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

  • Mark Saunders

Worship Him In Spirit And Truth

Our worship of God is not limited to what we write, say, or sing. We worship Him by every element of our conduct. The way we act and react says something about how much we fear, worship, and love God. When we don’t say or do or even think in line with God’s Word we are saying something about how little our desire to worship Him is.

male with guitar singing worship songs with friends

When we are able to relate all circumstances and situations to Scripture we are saying something. When we have no time to read the Bible we are saying something. When we cannot enter into any conversation without mentioning the goodness and glory of God we are saying something. When we enter into ungodly conversations we are saying something. When we demonstrate deference and humble ourselves we are saying something. When we seek justice for ourselves we are saying something. When we sing praise and worship songs as our hearts swell with worship we are saying something. When we go through an entire day without giving thanks to God in prayer we are saying something.

This list could go on and on, but I trust the point is clear. If we live our lives for God only when in the presence of other believers or only in the sight of the godly and fail to ‘bring it back to God’ when in the presence of non-believers then we are not worshiping Him in spirit and truth. John 4:23

James 2:26
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

  • Jonathan G Ettrick

He Is Worthy

Jesus speaks to the Samaritan woman and tells her, very directly, that they (Samaritans) don’t know who they worship, but the Jews do…

man in long sleeve shirt worships the Lord

I cannot help but feel that we, Christians, don’t know who we are worshiping.

If we truly knew the God to whom we pray, then surely some form of awe, wonder, and reverence of His glory would be obvious in our day to day lives. Surely some expression of ecstatic praise should escape our overflowing hearts at the mere thought of His overwhelming love. How could we just go through the motions as people saved by His amazing grace and not proclaim His goodness?

Love and WORSHIP the LORD your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, because He is deserving of so much more than all the honour and glory we (the entire human race) could ever give Him in a million years! HE IS WORTHY!

  • Jonathan G Ettrick

You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

John 4:22-23

The Word Of God Is Living And Active. It Divides Soul And Spirit And Discerns The Thoughts And Intents Of Our Hearts.

Times change. But the word of God doesn’t.

It doesn’t need to updated to a better version. It doesn’t need patches.

God’s word doesn’t change because God doesn’t change. He doesn’t need to update himself.

His word is not just “writings and sayings” but it’s an expression of His heart.

The word of God is living and active. It divides soul and spirit and discerns the thoughts and intents of our hearts.

The word of God is expressed in its fullest by the person of Jesus Christ. He is the word of God. Unless I know Jesus, God’s word doesn’t make sense. It’s boring and old fashioned to be frank.

But when I’m “born again” his word comes alive… rich, deep, clear and simple. I need to know Christ to know the word of God.

I don’t know how it happens but being born again is real. It means “born from above.” The gospel of John describes it as being born “of water and the spirit” meaning birthed through repentance and the Holy Spirit.

If we sincerely ask Him, He’s willing to give that gift.

John 1:1 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 3:3 – Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Matthew 3:11 – I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

  • Mark Saunders