Jesus Film

Have you ever watched this? I never had seen this movie but heard about it a lot from C4C folk. It doesn't have Dolby Digital Surround Sound or Lucasfilm effects but it surprisingly packs some punch.  Yea, its cheesy in a few spots but I enjoyed seeing the accounts of Jesus talking and eating with the disciples. It was easier to see the personable nature of Christ. There are a few things I would have liked to see changed (i.e. transfiguration scene, it was weak), but a thought provoking change on the movie reel. Helps to attach the reality of easily glanced over moments in Christ's life. Such as the filling of the nets with fish and the calming of the sea. The parable of the sower and the analogy of the light on a stand. Watch it here. Since it's original release in 1979 it has been translated into over 1,120 languages. Pretty cool. For more info go to the website.

Am I A Christian?

I've been wondering how often we examine and evaluate our own faith in God. It's very easy within the church or in Christian communities to look like a Christian. God provides us with what we need to be sure of in our faith in the Bible, this is where he tells us what a follower of Jesus Christ is. These three evaluation lists should help us professing Christians evaluate ourselves.

1 - Evidences That Neither Prove Nor Disprove Our Faith 
A. Visible Morality (Matthew 19:16-21; 23:27)
B. Intellectual Knowledge (Romans 1:21; 2:17-28)
C. Religious Involvement (Matthew 25:1-13)
D. Active Ministry (Matthew 7:21-24)
E. Conviction of Sin (Acts 24:25)
F. Assurance that you'll be Saved (Matthew 23)
G. Time of Decision to Follow Christ (Luke 8:13-14)

2 - Evidences (Fruit/Proof) of True Christianity 
A. Love For God (Ps 42:1-; 73:25; Luke 10;27; cf.Rom 8:7)
B. Repentance from Sin (Ps 32:5; Prov 28:13; Rom 7:14; 2 Cor 7:10-12; 1 John 1:8-10)
C. Genuine Humility (Ps 51:17; Matt 5:1-12; James 4:6-10)
D. Devotion to God's Glory (Ps 105:3; 115:1; Isaiah 48:9-11; Jer 9:23-24; 1 Cor 10:31)
E. Selfless Love (1 John 3:14; 4:7-21)
F. Separation from the World (1 John 2:15-17;1 Cor 2:12; James 4:4-6)
G. Continual Prayer (Luke 18:1; Eph 6:18; Phil 4:6-7; 1 Tim 2:1-5; James 5:16-18)
H. Spiritual Growth (John 15:1-6; Eph 4:12-16; Luke 8:15; Rom 8:28-29)
I. Obedient Living (Matt 7:21; John 15:14; 1 Peter 1:2,22-23; 1 John 2:3-6; Rom 16:25-27)
J. Hunger for God's Word (1 Peter 2:1-8)
K. Transformation of Life (2 Cor 5:16-21)

If List 1 is true of a person and List 2 is false, 

there is cause to question the truth of their profession of faith. 

If List 2 is true then List 1 will be true as well. 

The gospel should lead us to put into action List 3. 

3 - Conduct of the Gospel 

A. Proclaim it (Matt 28:18-20)
B. Share it (Phil 1:3-5; 1 Peter 3:14-17)
C. Defend it (Jude 3-4)
D. Demonstrate it (Phil 1:27-30)
E. Suffer for it (2 Tim 1:8-11)
F. Don't hinder it (1 Cor 9:12)
G. Be not ashamed (Rom 1:16)
H. Preach it (1 Cor 9:16)
I. Be empowered (1 Thess 1:5)
J. Guard it (Gal 1:6-8)

Questions to ask:

From these texts, what makes a true Christian?

Am I a true Christian?

What do I need to stop?

What do I need to change?

What needs to be deepened in my life?

What needs to be started in my life?

*This article is adapted from the originally entitled article "Genuine Saving Faith" from the MacArthur Study Bible. 

Stott on the Sons of God

What visions of intimacy with God the word 'sonship' conveys! Access to God and fellowship with God as Father -- these are the privileges of his children. Not all human beings are God's children, however. Verse 14 of Romans 8 definitely and deliberately limits this status to those who are being led by the Spirit, who are being enabled by the Spirit to walk along the narrow path of righteousness. To be led by the Spirit and to be sons of God are virtually convertible terms. All who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God, and therefore all who are sons of God are led by the Spirit of God.

--From "Men Made New" (London: IVF, 1966), p. 93. JRW Stott

Images of Salvation

'Images' of salvation (or of the atonement) is a better term than 'theories'. For theories are usually abstract and speculative concepts, whereas the biblical images of the atoning achievement of Christ are concrete pictures and belong to the data of revelation. They are not alternative explanations of the cross, providing us with a range to choose from, but complementary to one another, each contributing a vital part to the whole. As for the imagery, 'propitiation' introduces us to rituals at a shrine, 'redemption' to transactions in a market-place, 'justification' to proceedings in a lawcourt, and 'reconciliation' to experiences in a home or family. My contention is that 'substitution' is not a further 'theory' or 'image' to be set alongside the others, but rather the foundation of them all, without which each lacks cogency. If God in Christ did not die in our place, there could be neither propitiation, nor redemption, nor justification, nor reconciliation.

--From "The Cross of Christ" (Leicester and Downers Grove: IVP, 1986), p. 168. Thanks John Stott & Happy 90th Birthday.

Coming home...

I'm somewhat of a softy.
I like to watch the homecoming videos of the soldiers to their families. A lot of them haven't been commissioned for 3-4 months, moreso it's 6 months-2 years. I can't help but put myself in those family members shoes and think about what it must be like. To finally hold your dad after all that time. To finally see your wife or kids after all that time. The reconciliation is breath-taking.
There's a great parallel here to the Christian life. For those who believe and have given themselves to Jesus, our Lord is awaiting our arrival. Likewise we are ecstatic at the thought of being in his presence. We get a taste of that now by the Holy Spirit's comfort. But on that day when God will say "well done my good and faithful servant", our joy will be complete as we will sin no more. I am stoked to be embraced by my Saviour, my God, my Lord.
Justine and I have talked about this several times, its something worth discussing. This life has a start and a finish, pondering the finish line I believe gives us encouragement to continue.
It makes death look so bright when Christ is awaiting on the other side with open arms.

Here's a great one I've definitely watched a few times...