The Passionate Believer

There are biblical reasons as to why Salvation matters, but for the purpose of this article, I would like to focus only on one aspect of why Salvation matters. And that is Salvation produces works in and through us. The kind of works that salvation produces in us and how it affects others around us is vitally important in how we live our lives and the way we serve others.  " May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation - the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ - for this will bring much glory and praise to God."  ~ Philippians 1 vs 11, NLT Those are powerful words from Paul, he knew exactly what he was talking about. He spoke from experience, as he always does. Receiving Salvation from Jesus Christ isn't an empty belief system where a person thinks that he or she is saved from sin and that's the end of the story. It is so much more than that. I believe that those who think in that manner are sorely mistaken and the requir

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” [1 Peter 2:9-10] First Peter 2:9-10 is your humble but exalted position in Christ. It is a humble position because it came through grace and not our works and we therefore ought to always remember whence we came. That will cause us to be forever grateful. It is an exalted position because that is where our God is and has brought us [Ephesians 2] from darkness into His wonderful light. But who are we in Christ and what is our new standing in Him? A Chosen Race  But YOU are a chosen race, a chosen generation. You were chosen. You did not choose yourself [John 15:16; Ephesians 2:4-5] You may be surprised to hear that I do not believe we have races as mos

Matthew 9 vs 1 - 8 "And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven.” And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming.” But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he then said to the paralytic—“Rise, pick up your bed and go home.” And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men." (ESV) Here in these verses Jesus heals a paralyzed man but he faces opposition from the scribes who say he was 'blaspheming'. (But thats a whole different story for a different time). I

Psalms 23 vs 1 "The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not be in want." I hear people say it quite often but what exactly do we mean when we say the 'Lord is my Shepherd' ?  When we quote that line, two things must come to mind. Firstly, if we truly mean what we say then we must understand that if the Lord is our Shepherd, then we should be trusting Him to lead us. The sheep goes where ever the Shepherd goes. As the Lord Himself says in John 10 vs 27, " My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me." Sheep only follow the voice of the one that leads, because the one who leads is their protector. The one who leads is their provider and the one who leads gives shelter to them. When we choose the Lord to lead us, he will do as the rest of the Psalm says, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.  He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness