Sijo Chemmannur
Member
"we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming." Ephasians 4:13
In Matthew 7:15-26, Jesus Christ warns us the need of a personal retrospective evaluation of our FAITH. The teachings of Christ are rare to hear in the churches now a days, one possible reason might be the mere difficulty to preach it. Why it is difficult? It is indeed difficult because it is very much personal and hard to be conveyed by words. We need a personal experience of living in Christ to understand His teachings. An 'enlightenment' is needed to imbibe the essence of Christ's teachings. For those who are being saved in Christ, His message is the power of God and to those who perishes, message of cross is foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:18). Henceforth, it is challenging to put the gospel into the hearts of people which are not prepared by God. Many times, people try to test the Word of God through scientific reasoning and logical understanding. But, the word of God says, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate" (Isaiah 29:14). Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? (1 Corinthians 1:21). It continues 'God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. Thus, both literal and scientific approaches to the gospel of Christ is challenging to produce any fruit, since it is secretly preserved for the people who BELIEVE.
Believing in the teachings of Christ have many extensions. We cannot possibly sit idle after understanding and believing in Christ. Jesus says, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock" (Matthew 7:24). Putting the word of God into practice is thus becomes more important than just listening it. It requires 'hearing' through deep pierce in heart. As it is written that the word of God is sharper than any double-edged sword, which can penetrate even to dividing soul and spirit (Hebrew 4:12). Faith in Christ without works is dead by itself (James 2:17). Christian deeds or work (putting the words of Christ into practice) is inseparable from Christian faith. 'For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead' (James 2:26). This deeds are different from humane sympathy we show to downtrodden. But, it is an extension and out-pour of overwhelming joy. The peace of Christ, in the midst of all the sufferings and tribulations. All the true followers of Christ have attained a state of this enlightenment. Apostle Paul enigmatically shouts "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice" (Philippians 4:4), in spite of all the hardships and sufferings he had to go through as an apostle of Christ. His resonating waves reaches far ahead to thousands of years. Are we listening to that shout?
As modern day Christians, we are encountered by various novel doctrines and philosophies. In the middle of all these challenges, word of God encourages us to stand firm in the faith of God. We should be like that wise man who built his house on the rock. We are God's chosen people to work for the divine kingdom to be established on the earth. A kingdom, not with blood or anger, but with pure and whole hearted love. "We are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love" (Ephesians 4:14-16). Whenever people approach us with new polished doctrines, we should no longer worried or frightened, but to take up our shield (- the word of God) and we should speak the truth in Love and we should aim to grow up in all aspects into Jesus Christ, our head.
In Matthew 7:15-26, Jesus Christ warns us the need of a personal retrospective evaluation of our FAITH. The teachings of Christ are rare to hear in the churches now a days, one possible reason might be the mere difficulty to preach it. Why it is difficult? It is indeed difficult because it is very much personal and hard to be conveyed by words. We need a personal experience of living in Christ to understand His teachings. An 'enlightenment' is needed to imbibe the essence of Christ's teachings. For those who are being saved in Christ, His message is the power of God and to those who perishes, message of cross is foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:18). Henceforth, it is challenging to put the gospel into the hearts of people which are not prepared by God. Many times, people try to test the Word of God through scientific reasoning and logical understanding. But, the word of God says, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate" (Isaiah 29:14). Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? (1 Corinthians 1:21). It continues 'God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. Thus, both literal and scientific approaches to the gospel of Christ is challenging to produce any fruit, since it is secretly preserved for the people who BELIEVE.
Believing in the teachings of Christ have many extensions. We cannot possibly sit idle after understanding and believing in Christ. Jesus says, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock" (Matthew 7:24). Putting the word of God into practice is thus becomes more important than just listening it. It requires 'hearing' through deep pierce in heart. As it is written that the word of God is sharper than any double-edged sword, which can penetrate even to dividing soul and spirit (Hebrew 4:12). Faith in Christ without works is dead by itself (James 2:17). Christian deeds or work (putting the words of Christ into practice) is inseparable from Christian faith. 'For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, even so faith apart from works is dead' (James 2:26). This deeds are different from humane sympathy we show to downtrodden. But, it is an extension and out-pour of overwhelming joy. The peace of Christ, in the midst of all the sufferings and tribulations. All the true followers of Christ have attained a state of this enlightenment. Apostle Paul enigmatically shouts "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice" (Philippians 4:4), in spite of all the hardships and sufferings he had to go through as an apostle of Christ. His resonating waves reaches far ahead to thousands of years. Are we listening to that shout?
As modern day Christians, we are encountered by various novel doctrines and philosophies. In the middle of all these challenges, word of God encourages us to stand firm in the faith of God. We should be like that wise man who built his house on the rock. We are God's chosen people to work for the divine kingdom to be established on the earth. A kingdom, not with blood or anger, but with pure and whole hearted love. "We are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love" (Ephesians 4:14-16). Whenever people approach us with new polished doctrines, we should no longer worried or frightened, but to take up our shield (- the word of God) and we should speak the truth in Love and we should aim to grow up in all aspects into Jesus Christ, our head.
