John17  v1- 16

It is the night before the Crucifixion. Jesus is with His Apostles at the Last Supper and is spending His last hours before going to the Cross.
In a few hours He will be dead, so He is telling them He is going to leave them. and they will be left to face life without Him. He then concludes with a prayer, which makes this one of the outstanding passages in the New Testament, telling His followers then, and by extension to those who follow Him through the ages, what they will have to face as Christians.  For Jesus, life was life with a climax and that was the Cross. When He spoke of the Cross as His glorification, it had a deep significance. It is one of the facts of history again and again, that it was in death that some people’s greatness was recognised. and they would never ever know how they influenced others.

I once took a funeral of a young man who virtually gave up his life by the way he lived, suffering from acute depression and a feeling of achieving nothing. Tributes were paid in the most sincere and outstanding words by men of his profession, who went to considerable effort to do so, and it was sad to realise the young man never knew how much he was valued, how far he could have gone. We see this in the life of religious figures and in the world of music and art .The great name of history,  Abraham Lincoln described as one of the greatest American lives, Joan of Arc, a peasant French girl fighting, until executed by English Army

The Cross was the glory of Jesus. because it was the completion of the work God had sent Him to do. God had given Him authority over every man and woman on earth; He had come to show the love of God, and what He was prepared to suffer for mankind. In His glory, He brings glory to God, and if He had not gone to the Cross, it would have meant His work was not completed; to stop short would have suggested there was a limit to that love. Jesus showed there was nothing the love of God was not prepared to do and suffer for us.   The Bible makes it clear that Jesus could have escaped the Cross by never going near Jerusalem. The Cross was proof that men could do their worst. yet He could rise above their worst, and the Cross would not be the end, for the resurrection was to follow.

In verse 6, Jesus says ‘I have revealed you to those whom you have given me’. Jesus is here thinking of particularly of the Apostles with Him in the Upper Room; those who turned and followed Him in His ministry; those ‘kept the Word’, meaning they were obedient to the faith. But this also equates to all who would one day follow Him.
Then Jesus goes on to say He was not praying for the world, but for those who God had given Him. Jesus is teaching us that we are rescued from the world. The world means all who are opposed to God’s standards and way of life; those who live without reference to God.   This means there are two types of people in the world, which the gospel makes clear over and over again, those who are loyal and obedient to God, and those who are not. Jesus was always quite unequivocal, that we are either for Him or against Him, there is no neutrality or sitting on the fence. Jesus is firmly black or white. in how you respond to Him

It is like being on a mountain top; you can keep to the laid down path and be safe, or make your own way which will likely end in disaster. Jesus spoke of two roads, one leading to eternal life, the other to destruction, so we have to decide our course in life. Sometimes we feel buffeted by the storms of life, the stresses and strains, the problems of work and family, and personal relationships. We ask will I be strong enough to do the work God wants me to do. Jesus is praying here for all who believe in Him, and particularly for the difficulties to be faced.

In the Bible, names mean not only how we are addressed, but also refer to people’s character. When Jesus says that God will protect us by the power of His Name, He means the power associated with God’s character that He will keep us and watch over us and guard us spiritually from falling from Him. The Bible makes it clear neet to obey the Word of God

In verse 11 Jesus prays that God will leave His disciples in the world and will protect them from the evil one, because like Him, they do not act to the world’s standards. He wants His disciples to be active in the world. God will rescue us from people who in rebellion are opposed to Him, but that does not mean we should gather in holy huddles out of contact from others, who need to hear about Jesus from us.

There are of course, religious orders that lock themselves away from the outside world. They are truly dedicated men and women who sincerely believe they are serving God. The kind of Christianity however, which shuts itself off in a monastery or convent, would not have seemed to Jesus to be Christianity at all. The kind of Christianity. which finds the essence of the Christian life in prayer and meditation in a life secluded from the world, would have seemed to Jesus to be a sad version of the faith He died to bring to people.   It was Jesus insistence to be in the hurly burly of life that we must live out our faith. Christianity was never meant to withdraw men and women from ordinary people. It does not release us from problems, but equips us to deal with them. It offers not always peace, but triumph.

Jesus is saying He wants His people to be in the midst of the world, mixing with non believers. Just as a lifeboat is of no use set permanently polished in a station, but is needed to go out and rescue people trapped in stormy seas, so we need to be rescuing those dear to us, trapped in the perils of life in this world. Jesus was saying His people are not meant to be little ships which stay in harbour, although it is much safer, that is not what ships are for, they are meant to be on the high seas.

Jesus prayed for the unity of His disciples, and that they would be one as He and His Father were one. There can be no divisions between Christians. If there are, the cause of Christianity is harmed and the prayer of Jesus is rejected. Jesus never considered different denominations which would be criticising one another, or considered one denomination could claim exclusive access. Jesus prayed we would be one, and there is no prayer of Jesus which has been so hindered from being answered by Christians

Jesus warned us of the hostility we face from a hostile world which hates Christians. If you find that hard to accept, just consider the violence, even murder, of Christians in lands across the world, On a more subtle scale, in Australia and Canada; where Bible preaching is under threat, and proposals have been made to ban parts of Scripture.  In England where a local Council issued an order to curtail evangelical preaching, including the Church Pastor

You may say well this is England it can’t happen here. Consider scientists, intellectuals, to whom the Bible is a form of hate literature, arty types, who have shown their dislike and contempt for the Christian faith. Activists are calling for law to be enacted which would criminalise quoting some Bible verses. Indeed, efforts were made in Scotland this year to have all sermons examined before being preached, and have removed any reference to Biblical teaching which opposed modern morality.(immorality?)

We have people showing quite manic attitude to Christianity. Now we have our faith under threat from politicians and public servants who want to ignore Christian festivals, ban Biblical teaching. ‘Christian Concern’, the organisation which legally represents Christians suffering from secular repression, has undertaken many cases.
The world hates biblical truth, and if you take a stand publicly for the truth of the gospel, you will not be popular and are likely to be called narrow minded at best, and a bigot at worst. If a complaint is not made about the preacher’s sermons, he should be checking what is being said.

An Important part of the passage is the explanation of  eternal life..  This refers to the Kingdom of God, a kind of splendor. majesty, joy, and holiness.  To know God. Which is so more meaningful, well above words  People can tell you of someone but until you meet the person. you do not appreciate fully what is being said

 

 

We thank God for His Holy Gospel and Praise the Lord Jesus Christ

 ALDERSGATE SUNDAY

 

Each year at this time, I have at this date, or the Sunday closest to 24May.. preached to remember the two brothers John and Charles Wesley. In view of the date being the same as Pentecost Sunday, I am writing about Aldersgate Sunday for the coming Sunday 17^th may.
On 21 May, 1738, Charles was being spiritually encouraged by his sister, when he read Martin Luther’s commentary on Galatians, when he had a profound spiritual awakening. He wrote the first of his 6,000 hymns, ‘where shall my wandering soul begin’.

Three days later on 24 May 1738, John attended a service in a Chapel at Aldersgate, London, and heard a discourse of Martin Luther on Romans, when his spirit was strangely moved. He then learned that forgiveness of sin and acceptance by God, was a free gift from God, and there is nothing we can contribute on our own, as God accomplished through the death of Jesus on the Cross.

From this point onward, John at the age of 35 viewed his mission in life, as one of proclaiming the good news of salvation by faith. The congregations of the Church of England however, closed its doors to him because of his enthusiasm for the Bible

Charles wrote a hymn, which has been treasured through the ages after John’s experience, which has been the favorite of so many people, including Billy Graham, ‘And Can it be’. This described the feelings of Charles with the words, ‘my chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose got up and followed thee’. Exactly a year later. he wrote the hymn which for many years until 1938, was always the first hymn in the Methodist Hymn book, ‘O for a thousand tongues to sing’. The life of Charles was transformed. and he became a Curate in the Church of England at St. Mary’s Church in London, but his style of preaching upset the wardens, who persuaded the Vicar to make him leave.

The two brothers, together with George Whitfield, who had been a priest in the Church of England but was expelled, began open air preaching, which attracted large crowds. This offended clergy, who wouldn’t let them preach in their churches.

In 1745, when he was at the age of 40, Charles went to Wales to preach, and there he met the daughter of the local Squire, Sally Gwynne, with whom he had a happy marriage.
In 1756, he gave up itinerant ministry and settled in Bristol, with the Methodist Societies, and fifteen years later resumed preaching in London.

John was persuaded by Oxford friends, John Burton and James Oglethorpe, the governor of Georgia, in North America, to go to America. There he met Moravian emigrants, who he thought had spiritual peace, and he served them faithfully. He was not the sort of man who appealed to the natives.

He took to, and attached to the niece of the chief magistrate, Sophia Hopkey, but she married another man, which upset John, so he barred her from Holy Communion. He fled from Georgia as persecution faced him, and returned to England.

In London, John met a Moravian named Peter Bohler, who told him he simply needed faith, and he also after reading Galatians, discovered the scriptural doctrine of justification by grace, through faith, He followed this by visiting Aldersgate.

Whilst they were close to each other, differences occurred, and Charles was the stronger character. When John stated he was going to marry Grace Murray,   Charles thought that too bad an idea and rode out to York from London, to prevent the marriage taking place. 

Charles displayed his mind and showed dislike, when he wrote about a preacher John appointed. ‘such a preacher I have never heard, and hope I shall never again. It was beyond description, I cannot say he preached false doctrine, or any doctrine at all’. (What would Charles say now?)  On another occasion, he said John has made a preacher out of a tailor, but I shall make him a tailor again.

Charles and John were still Anglican priests, and wanted to remain so, but there was too much opposition, and few sided with them for fear of consequences from the Church. More lay preachers were made, and Charles felt they offered little depth.

Charles did not like the Methodist movement proposing to have an ordained ministry outside of the Anglican structure, which was opposite to John’s views. They differed over fees, Charles felt he should be paid for preaching, but John disagreed.   Soon after his death, something he always feared happened, when Methodists separated from the Church of England.

Charles died on 29 March 1788, but before his death, he sent for the Rector of the Church of Marylebone John Harley, and said, ‘’sir, whatever the world may say of me, I have lived and I die a members of the Church of England. I pray you bury me in your Churchyard’’. He was buried there against his brothers wishes, with eight clergymen of the Church of England as pallbearers. A memorial stone stands close by in Marylebone High Street.

John died on 2 March 1791

Whenever people talk about Methodism, they invariably refer to John as leader, but facts show Charles was the leader of a group at Oxford, who used to go into the community to minister to people there, and such was their methodical ways, were called Methodists. John joined and led the group later as it grew.   John has been seen as the natural leader by virtue of his sound biblical preaching,  Charles has been viewed more as a hymn writer, and wrote the most beloved  great hymns we have been able to enjoy, and to be inspired

People need to research to find John’s sermons, but the hymns of Charles still inspire and delight all who hear them. I have seen Ministers insist on choosing only Chares hymns. They shared the spread of Christianity together, and led the only revival in England. Indeed, Methodism has spread across the world, especially in the United States of America.

No one can deny that the Wesley’s, and the Methodist Movement, had an effect on Britain at this time. Historians generally agree, that the evangelical revival had a profound effect on stemming a revolutionary tide in the country. Conditions were improved by changing the hearts of the people; many of the wealthy became more caring towards the workers, and the artisan working classes acted more respectful and civilised. On one occasion in Wales, a group of theatrical people protested that Methodist preaching was proving too much of an attraction and was threatening their business.

As we look at Methodism to-day, we see a marked decline in attendances. This applies to all Churches in the Western Hemisphere, but the decision to allow same sex marriage in Churches has added unnecessary depletion. This is distinctly contrary to the Word of God, it is false doctrine. What two or one people do is a personal issue, and should not be interfered with, but the Church is disobeying God, Jesus and the Apostles by giving it approval. I can only think John and Charles would be heart-broken if they knew how modern Methodism has been the subject of unworthy action.

A survey was carried out to all members of the Church seeking opinion as to whether such marriages be approved, and there was a clear answer—NO. It had to be accepted, but it was stated by the leadership to hold a second vote after two years. This time the members were not asked, it was passed at Conference, supporters knew it would never have been passed by members.  They dishonoured John and Charles, and themselves When God speaks, we obey Him.

In May 1738 John preached a sermons on Romans Chapter 1. Here are some words from that sermon They are all the words of John Wesley, not mine.

Verse 23to Adam in a vision, when he was asleep, that this lovely creature, is now bone of my bones - Probably it was revealed to him, was a piece of himself and was to be his companion, and the wife of his covenant - In token of his acceptance of her, he gave her a name, not peculiar to her, but common to her sex; she shall be called woman, Isha, a She- man, differing from man in sex only, not in nature; made of man, and joined to man. Verse 24. The sabbath and marriage were two ordinances instituted in innocence, the former for the preservation of the church, the latter for the preservation of mankind. It appears by Matt. xix, 4, 5, that it was God himself who said here, a man must leave all his relations to cleave to his wife; It should seem they are the words of Adam in God's name, laying down this law to all his posterity. All John Wesley’s words

In the Methodist Worship Book, the introduction to the Marriage service, it is stated;
A marriage ceremony is a formal occasion when a solemn, legal contract is made between a man and a woman. In a Christian context, it is also an act of worship in which marriage is celebrated as a gift from God and the joy of the couple is shared and their commitment to each other, witnessed by family and friends. The Marriage Service’s themes of love, hope, faithfulness, sacrifice and trust are the heart of the Christian gospel.

When people join an organisation, they are agreeing to observe all the ruling and policies of that body, and if they feel unable to do so they should leave.  I cannot understand how any man or woman, who has the privilege of preaching in a Church, can so flagrantly disobey the teaching of the Bible. It is gross hypocrisy.

It had been my original intention to be a Methodist Minister, when my first start in ministry was at a small Methodist Church in Cheshire, but circumstances directed otherwise, and I was invited to join the Church of England.

For eleven years, being in an a Anglican/Methodist partnership, I took services in Methodist Churches. I found the people most friendly, and indeed made friends, it was some of the happiest years in my Ministry, and the loss when the partnership broke up was a sad one. It was obvious then, that the older people were totally against the leadership giving priority to society, rather than to God.  Methodism was a great evangelical Church, now it is sadly looked upon as a Church which has lot its way, and its people.
I close with words of John WesIey.

 I want to know one thing, the way to heaven; how to land safe on that happy shore. God Himself has condescended to teach the way; for this end He came down from heaven. He hath written down in a book. Give me that book. At any price give me the Book of God.

 

Give thanks to God for His Holy Gospel.  May He be praised and glorified.

  A C T S 2.  V 42-47

 

 Some years ago , a prominent journalist of his time, wrote a piece about the Church in which he pictured it as ‘a dying bourgeois cult’, where few gather as Church bells ring out, mainly elderly middle class females led by a dispirited Vicar.

     That is a view I suspect many people hold, and if we are brutally honest, will have to agree is fairly typical of the scene in many places.  Congregations are largely middle-class, elderly and female, which however just goes to show the wisdom of elderly middle-class ladies.  Yet there are numerous Churches across the country, which attract large congregations of mixed ages, sex and class. We have to consider why this is so.  

     In the Western countries, it is true that we are living in a post Christian age where the majority of people have little or no time for God and His Church, unless they want a baptism or wedding and then they find God and His Church can be useful.  In addition, we have biased judges, politicians and public officials taking the opportunity of trying to wipe it out of public life. 

     The majority of people however do claim to be Christians, yet do not want to attend Church.  There is a fundamental difference between being religious and being a Christian.    Over 90% would claim to be Christians, and whist they could be classified as Christian sympathisers or supporters, Christians they are not.  A Christian is one who has committed their life to serve and worship the Lord, and is present at Church.

     There are of course the usual excuses, such as,    ‘Can’t we read the Bible at home and listen to services on television, which they never consider doing. .People say ‘I can be a Christian without going to Church’.  That is like saying a fish is still a fish without being in water, but just as water is essential for the fish’s survival, so is Church for a Christian’s survival.

     There are very few people who would seriously deny there is a God, indeed the majority own up to believing in our God, but that is as far as they go.      

     Today the Church is often seen as a sort of social organisation with a spiritual flavour.  There are parts of the Church which encourage this image as more attention is paid to that side than the spiritual.  So we should remember when the disciples sought out Jesus to attend to people’s needs, He replied that what He came for was to preach the gospel.  Whilst He did perform many acts of mercy, His main purpose of preaching was made clear.  That, I suggest should be the attitude the Church takes, namely that we will engage in social activity, but never at the neglect or reduction of our main purpose.

     The Bible sees the Church as much more than just another social organisation.  Paul gave instructions in several of his New Testament Letters, as to how we should conduct ourselves in relation to the Church.  He called the Church a pillar and support of the truth, the household of God.  This means the Church has a special importance in God’s plan.  It also means we ought to know how we are to live and function within that plan.

So let us look at the model of a Christian Church, as seen in Scripture in that first Christian Church, and perhaps find a reason for the falling off by so many people today. 

     First it was a Bible based Church. 

They were devoted to the Apostles teaching, it captivated them.  Those early Christians listened to the Apostles, who in turn had been taught by our Lord.  They heard all that the Lord had given and laid down, as the faith should be lived out.  It was about Jesus, who He was, what He came to do,  how to obey Him and about His second coming  to judge the world. 

In other words, the whole Christian faith. 

Notice it says ‘devoted’ themselves, this means they were committed, no half heartedness. The wonderful thing is that we too can follow the Apostles teaching, it is written down for us in the New Testament, and it is God’s way of providing for His people to be trained. 

     A Church which is spiritually healthy will make the teaching of the Bible its primary task.  And indeed, it is those evangelical Churches which are biblically based, and doctrinally sound, which are thriving.

 The reading of Scripture in Church is the only Biblical teaching most people receive.  This is necessary to increase our faith, and enable us to properly determine the various moral issues which are so prevalent in today’s society. 

 Sadly there is much preaching these days which is not biblically based.  There is a tendency to re-write the Bible in order to conform with society’s morals. and to fall in with the general air of political correctness.

Whilst I have always admired Charles and John Wesley, I have recently had to study the life of Charles extensively, in order to conduct a service in his honour, and that admiration has grown.  If he were alive today, he would have much to say at the way the Church has failed to proclaim the message he left, that salvation was through Christ alone, the value of a person’s life was measured by their faith,   and the doctrine of heaven and hell.  How often have you heard sermon on these subjects.

They were a fellowship Church.

 We share a relationship to God and to each other, based on a common spiritual life. God put us with a variety of people we may not ordinarily like, but God expects us to grow together.   We are to care for one another, and when others need encouragement and support, we are to give it. 

The Bible uses several names to describe God’s people, and the most powerful is that of a family.  In families, we are related to one another, a bond based on allegiance and fidelity.  A family consist of  different ages,  different gender, different experiences and background  and it is God’s way of providing for His people to grow together.  This is why we need to come to learn the Bible, from readings and sermons, praying together for our needs, and the world  praising God as we sing together; sharing the bread and wine in Holy Communion, as we remember what God has done for us in Jesus Christ. 

We can go to another country, a mixture of ages, gender

Language and colour, all one in Christ Jesus

     Thirdly, they were a committed Church. 

They met regularly.  There are those for whom the Church is a second choice.  There are times in all our lives when personal situations arise which call for our attention, but for some Church will take second place in their list of priorities, something which Jesus Himself condemned.         

     It can be so easy to go with the flow and give up, which is why the Bible urges Christians to be together. Each year hundreds of people give up worship.  There many reasons, pressures of the world,  ridicule from friends,  family trouble,   a bad experience at a church,

 all of which are expressly good reasons for going to church.

 I have asked two young people. one man and one woman, both in the 20/30 age group, intelligent people, who do not got attend a Church, and asked why nor?

The answer I got they did not learn anything as the sermons were of little spiritual meaning.

 I know people have busy lives, but there are many men and women who do attend Church, who have equally busy lives, and yet manage to arrange their lives to enable them to come. Time can be found for other things, so it is all down to priority. Those first Christians were ordinary people just like you and me, with the same demands on their time, but their actions reflected their priorities. You need only stand outside a mosque, and see how many men and women come out of their meetings.  How can their lives be so different from Christians?  Jesus fiercely denounces complacency, and He appeals for wholeheartedness, or true commitment.   

  So what about you and me today? There is always the temptation on a Sunday morning, to think ‘they will not miss me if I don’t go to Church.’  I am sure your fellow members will miss you, but more so, God will miss you.  Don’t fall prey to the devil.    

  As we examine ourselves today, as we prepare to receive communion, let us ask ourselves, ‘are we half hearted or wholehearted in our commitment to Christ?’  A tepid commitment is no commitment at all. Jesus said that way the church is behaving in a way which serves no useful purpose.  No-one is farther from the truth in Christ than the one who makes an idle profession without real faith. It is largely a case of priority, and Jesus expected to be given priority. 

 If we can find time for all the other things in life but not for Church, we must ask ourselves how important is our faith, God, and Jesus to us. If you consider yourself a Christian and a believer, then failing to attend church is not an option.  Many older people would love to attend

Church, but for health reason are not able,  They can be online followers on Sundays; the number of services are limited in the United Kingdom, but the United States of America  have some real evangelical services.

 The Bible repeatedly tells us that Church attendance is an essential for a Christian. It is necessary for your spiritual well- being, it pleases God as you obey the 4^th Commandment.  

 It shows our love and worship toward God. It demonstrates our faith and trust in God.

The great American evangelist D L Moody told the story of a young man, who had fallen away, and as they sat round a coal fire, Moody knocked one of the coals into the hearth and it died out.  He picked it up and put it back on the fire, and it glowed.  He pointed out to the man that this is what happens when a Christian falls away from Church, they burn out

     Fourthly they were a growing Church

their numbers increased rapidly.  We must remember Christianity spread throughout the ancient world without any radio, television, or any means of mass communication.  If we expect great things from God great things will happen.    If we today want to see the Church grow we have to be devoted to the task. When life gets hard for people they are more inclined to think of the Church, and for a lot of people life has become very hard. 

  A great fault in the Church today is apathy.  There is too ready an attitude to accept the situation as it exists.  We don’t let people know exactly what the Church truly stands for.  There is an image as mentioned earlier of indifference, ancient language and solemn music.  It need not be any of that.  We have wonderful music to choose from, and the most vibrant message that can be offered.  We just need to proclaim it.  

We are having an election, in which the parties have posted through our doors letters telling us all the wonderful things they can offer. I believe  the Church should be telling what we are doing as we have more to offer, and more truthful also  In simple terms let people know we care, have good music, tell Bible stories in plain words and would really like to see them.  

     Business spends millions of pounds advertising and they wouldn’t advertise unless it paid off.  We are in the Lord’s business, and should not be reluctant to advertise.    In spite of living in a world of opposition, we must hold fast to the faith in which we believe and draw near to God with a sincere heart. 

The Bible states, ‘I urge you to strongly contend for the truth once given to the saints.’  That truth, was that which is now written down in Scripture, which so many people want to amend, and indeed ignore when not compatible with their way of living.

We are under so much pressure by press, television to turn away from fundamentals, and government legislation works against us. The messengers of secularism and multiculturalism are given so much attention.

  The messengers of Islam and other faiths, are not ashamed or reluctant to boldly proclaim their message, nor will they allow their faiths to be abused, neither should we.          

  Let us take inspiration from those Christians who daily face terrible persecution of their faith in other nations, and many other countries, having their Churches and homes burned down, assaulted and imprisoned, and even murdered, but never give in or lose faith.        

Believe God’s promise. Read the Scriptures, keep coming. Never give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, and let us always give each other encouragement

Thank God for His Holy Gospel. Praise the Lord Jesus

 

 

1THESSALONIANS 4 V 13 TO 5/V11

 

I want you to turn with me to Paul’s 1^st Letter to the Thessalonian Church,  In this 4^th Chapter, Paul answers a question most people have asked at some time of their life, more so as they get older.  What happens to me when I die?  Here, Paul is responding to that problem which is disturbing this young Church. 

Paul had established this Church and most of the members had come from worshipping idols, but had become committed and devoted Christians.  Paul had only three weeks with them before he was driven out of the city by opposing Jews, so had not had time to fully explain as much as he would have liked.  They had been told about the death of Jesus and His resurrection, and how He would one day return and claim all His believers, but they were afraid that some of their members would die before Jesus returned and so miss being with Him in heaven. 

In this passage before us, Paul deals with this important doctrine of the Church, one which is mentioned 300 times in the New Testament.  Whilst it is a vitally important message which non believers should hear, it is also very desirable that Christians should hear and be reminded of, and reassured what the gospel states concerning our eternal future.

Paul begins by saying he does not wish us to be unaware of what happens to those who have fallen asleep.  Here he is referring to Christians as asleep to make the point that they will awake from the grave when Christ returns.  Paul states whilst we may grieve when we lose someone dear, which is in fact what Jesus did when His friend Lazarus died, we are not like unbelievers who have no future hope. 

When the Bible speaks of ‘hope’, it is not the vague meaning we might have when we say I hope you have a good day; it is something more positive. Christians do have the belief and expectation that whilst there is parting, there will be reunion with those we have lost for a while.

 

We have been considering our future so far as believers; what can we say to unbelievers.

I have been using the word ‘Christians’ in the biblical sense.  Most people would like to call themselves Christians if they are not atheists or members of another faith; that is not how the Bible sees it.  A Christian in the truest sense is someone who believes Jesus died on the Cross, and rose again. His death was the price He paid that our sins may be forgiven so that our relationship with God can be restored.  His risen state is to assure us that we too will rise with Him, provided we accept Him as Lord and Saviour, and commit ourselves to live as God has shown us how, that is to be in the words of the Bible.

So if unbelievers have no hope, what is the consequence?  People scoff at talk of the return of Christ and of a Day of Judgement. Such talk becomes the butt of their jokes and is dismissed out of hand. Later in our passage Paul states they will suffer wrath because they will have rejected the only means of escape for any of us, and that is Jesus. This is a sombre warning for us all and should make us concerned for those members of our families who have rejected Christ. It should make us want to do all we can to persuade them to turn with us to a Saving Lord.

The Bible is very clear that there will be a Day of Judgement, a day of accountability, a day when all the books will be opened, a day when all the wrongs will be righted, a day when justice will be done.

Jesus always made two distinctions.  He spoke of tares and wheat; of sheep and goats in today’s gospel reading; of two roads, one leading to eternal life and the other to destruction.  He spoke of heaven and hell in equal measure.  

For many people today hell is a forbidden word in the religious sense.  I was at a clergy meeting and at the Church there was a mural which had faded and when I asked why it had not been restored I was told by a fellow Minister that it depicted sinners being consigned to hell and he added, but we don’t preach about hell now do we.  I answered that I did and he looked at me with complete horror.  But Jesus did too; you can read His words in this book. 

Jesus used different terms in which to describe hell, but simply it means just being separated eternally from God.  It is strange that whilst people dispute any notion of hell as ridiculous they use the word constantly for all kinds of things and in all situations.

One of the great questions that people have to the Christian faith is, how can a loving God send people to hell.  It is not that God does or wants to send anyone to hell; it is rather people choose that course by ignoring God and all He stands for.   It may be something you have felt, you can’t understand how the Bible can teach that there is such a place.

The Bible teaches quite clearly that there will be a final Day of Judgement, a final day when we will be held accountable, and Jesus left us with a clear message of the alternatives.

In verse 15, Paul mentions having had a word from the Lord, something which the Lord revealed to him personally, so we may be assured that what Paul is telling us can be relied upon. Those who die are in conscious fellowship with Christ in the first stage, and will rise with Christ with new bodies when He returns.

I have never been to Hong Kong, but my son can tell me about it, because he has lived there. There is only one person who has died, experienced life after death, and is able to tell us about it, and that is Jesus. What he says we can rely on. He speaks the truth. Paul is one of the chosen spokesmen for the risen and ascended Christ.

After a funeral service people offer words of comfort to the bereaved; Paul is saying here we should do so, but as Christians, not in the same way, we can comfort one another with the assurance of a further meeting with the deceased. Of course we will grieve when those we love die and were separated from them, for now. But the nature of our grieving can and should be rather different from the hopeless grief of unbelieving people.   

Having set out the future Paul then answers the question of when this will happen by pointing out that God in His wisdom does not reveal this. Therefore there will be no time for preparation .He says it will be like a thief who comes in the night unannounced, or like a woman delivering a baby; both events come on suddenly and can be painful.

When Jesus returns it will be just the same, His coming will be sudden and painful for those not having believed in Him. It will be like the householder who gets burgled and has no insurance; he was intending to get cover but just didn’t get around to doing so. Families will be divided with one taken and one left, some destined to be with Him others not.  Paul is not trying to frighten or threaten, he is actually reassuring believers who may be feeling insecure Paul talks about light and darkness with believers being children of light; we don’t live recklessly as unbelievers do, but we stay sober and awake.  He uses the metaphor of being drunk and fallen asleep referring to unbelievers living in a dark world.

Drawing upon the Old Testament where the Lord is portrayed as a warrior wearing armour, so the Christian puts on the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet of salvation.

I realise this passage is one which can be a message which disturbs, and even distresses, but the doctrine

of judgement is one of the basic and fundamental doctrines of the Church and is put in the Bible to help and save us; it helps to explain some of the seeming unfairness in the world.  

If there was no doctrine of judgement, it would mean that we live in an unfair world, one in which the evil and guilty would have prospered, where there would be no distinction between goodness by the countless millions who served the Lord faithfully, often in much hardship, and the barbarism of men like Hitler and others like him.  Heaven and hell are clear demonstrations that God is a just God.

The passage ends with words of encouragement.  The Christian Church is a community of mutual comfort and Paul is urging them to give one another help in their anxieties with the fundamental truths of the gospel, that the Jesus who is coming again is the very same person who died and rose again. 

The supreme result of the death and resurrection of Jesus is to bring us into a personal union with Him, one which neither death, nor bereavement, nor judgement can ever destroy. 

So let us be comforted by these words; and let us try to bring to know Christ those nearest and dearest to us who have yet to find Him.  We must let it be known no one is beyond redemption, and God will receive all who turn to Him who accept that Jesus died for them and their forgiveness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 John 14 v1/6

Jesus was speaking to His disciples shortly before going to the Cross, teaching and giving guidance, and that same teaching is passed down for the benefit of all Christians throughout the ages.

 Jesus is here telling His Apostles He was going to leave them for He was going on a journey He had to take alone.  The Apostles were devastated at the thought.  So Jesus tried to comfort them and tells them. ‘do not let your hearts be troubled’.  The heart is the seat of all our emotions and when that is upset it affects thoughts and actions and causes personal disturbance.  Jesus wanted to reassure them He was not forsaking them.  He told them they were to believe in Him as well as God.    He was putting Himself alongside God and wanted them to trust Him

  He said there were many rooms in His Father’s house, meaning there was room for all in heaven, and He was going to prepare a place for them.  This meant there was the prospect of living for ever with Him in heaven being given to the Apostles, and by extension to those who are prepared to give their life to Jesus, who have accepted Him as Lord and Saviour. through faith, and who one day will see Him face to face.

This passage is widely quoted in funeral services, when people assume that everyone is automatically going to heaven.  I have taken hundreds of funerals over the years, and there has never been doubt in anyone’s mind that the deceased is going to heaven irrespective of the life led.  Nowhere in the Bible is this view upheld.

There is a grossly mistaken notion, that as long as one is honest and a nice person, one is assured of heaven.  That is not what the Bible teaches.  Many people who are atheists are honest and nice people.  There has to be a commitment to Jesus. 

Jesus was very clear in His teaching that it certainly was not so. In parable after parable, He spoke of two roads, of sheep and goats, of tares and wheat, of heaven and hell. The Church has not always given sound teaching on this, and some misguidedly preach that Jesus was giving a blank promise for everyone, when He is clearly addressing His followers, and if we do not follow Him, our end will not be in the rooms of His Father’s house.  The sad thing is that Church funeral liturgy perpetuates such belief, and is so therefore totally misguiding,  

If we say to someone who has no Church commitment, has only a tenuous belief in Jesus Christ, never reads a Bible or prays, that they are going to heaven, then we are leading them astray.

It is like telling a blind person standing on the footwalk of a major road, it is safe for him to cross when ready.  Others say, if you just follow your conscience you’ll be fine, but consciences become dulled and hardened.  Taking the lead from politicians, people can look you in the eye and lie without any qualm of conscience.

 In this passage before us, He is talking to His followers, people who have made a personal commitment to accept Him as Saviour.  This is why it is so important for each person to make his/her own decision, whether to follow Jesus in His teaching, commands and demands He makes on us.

 The Bible is all about commitment. We are reminded that less than 2% of people think God worthy of one hour per week to visit a Church.  Yet if you were to ask people their religion, the vast majority would reply C of E and seriously consider they were Christians.  They would be mortally offended, if you suggested otherwise. Very few people seem bothered to think of Jesus, even less to do anything about it.

 When Jesus said they knew the place where He was going, Thomas asked Him how they could know when they didn’t know the way.  This brought forth from Jesus that profound immortal statement, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life, no one can come to he Father except through me.’  

Jesus spent His entire ministry telling that we are separated from God through sin, and only He could obtain forgiveness for us, so we have to make a choice whether to follow Him or face the consequences.  Jesus is quite unequivocal.   This is not generally liked as it is seen as being too restrictive, too bigoted and intolerant, and to be judgmental is not liked.

What exactly does Jesus mean when he says, ‘we can only come to the Father through Him alone’.  Often we go on a journey to a strange place, and without any idea how to get there. We have two alternatives, either to let a satellite navigation guide us, or hope to find someone where we are going to take us, or we would never get to where we hope to go; this is what Jesus does for us. 

I once had to go to another city from my own before aids were devised, and on arrival had no idea where the address was situated. I stopped and asked a man if he could guide me to where I was aiming for, and he replied, ‘no, but I am going there I could show you. He got in my car, took me to the place

I was looking for .  This is what Jesus was saying.  He says you can’t get to heaven on your own, but I will direct you, guide you, and take you myself.  He is saying there is no other way.  This is an exclusive offer. The common belief these days is that all religions lead to God, which Christians cannot accept.  No other faith had a man who died on a Cross to grant universal forgiveness, no other faith had a man who rose from the dead.  Our faith is not something someone has made up, it is God given.

Jesus said He was the truth.  If a person is to teach moral truth that person must have an impeccable reputation and have no hidden misdoings.  Only Jesus can claim moral perfection, which is why He can say ‘I am the truth’.

Jesus said ‘I am the life’, meaning the opposite of death.  He is the source of life and gives life to His own.  Just as death mean separation from God, so life means being in communion with Jesus.

He claims exclusive way to God, and since we are totally dependent upon Him for the understanding of truth and for eternal life, it naturally follows that no one can come to the Father other than by and through Him.

     I cannot understand how we can share in multi-faith worship and maintain Biblical integrity.     Whilst I believe we should respect other faiths and try to live amicably with them; but in view of the unique teaching of our Lord (here set out in verse 6 that He alone is the way to God) we cannot justify sharing in multi faith services when our beliefs are so different, and it is matter of recognising the unique authority of Jesus.  Jesus warns us that there must be a clear acceptance of His teaching and total obedience to it.

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What must be our principal concern, is that there were in the early Church preachers who were preaching false doctrine and advocating a gospel which fitted within their personal desires.  They taught that the grace of God would forgive any sin; just act as you wish God will forgive you. This was rejection of God’s word. 

This is why it is so relevant for us today, for we have to face an identical situation.  There are godless men, (and women) who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny the clear teaching of Jesus Christ. 

One of the biggest problems the Church faces is apathy, it is so easy in the times we live in to opt out, saying, ‘there is no point in fighting them’, it is the way of the world.  Can you imagine what would have happened if Winston Churchill had have said in 1940, ‘we must give in, the Germans are too strong.     

    The silence of the Church is an affront to God; it is expected to be the voice for the nation in moral matters.  Every so often someone pops up calling for a back to basics campaign, but no one knows what the basics are.

I find it hard to understand the ethics of holding meetings for LGBT people on Methodist premises, whilst at the same time prohibiting alcohol to be kept on the premises, as a gift for a prize at Church fairs. I have no personal interest as I am neither gay nor a drinker.

 Jesus saw the world as a decaying and dark place and needing a curative effect.  Jesus said the world is in darkness, and needs Christians to shine in the darkness.  The world in its creative state is a wonderful world, but in reality is also a place of evil and suffering.  

In God’s plan the people who have been touched by the gospel, have a role in influencing the world, to be as salt and light.  Salt to be a cleansing influence; and light, to shine in dark surroundings, in which we live and work; we are the moral disinfectant..  We must stand firm by the Cross.    If salt is mixed with impurities it loses its effect and becomes rotten like matter around it.  Jesus is the light of the world, and we should reflect that light in our lives. We have to stand up for Biblical ideals.

Let us remember there are Christians being persecuted in non Christian lands with violence, arson, and yes even murder.  Hundreds have been killed in the last few months in Iraq, Pakistan, Indonesia and Nigeria; whole villages ransacked, yet they valiantly fight on for their Lord and Saviour.  How pathetic if we let some vociferous secularists silence us. 

Rather than contend for the gospel, we can deny our Lord by denying we are Christians to avoid being mocked, or to avoid embarrassment. How many are prepared even admit they attend Church.  

The country is in spiritual death throes and in need of intensive care.  This is why we must contend for the faith.  How God must weep when He sees the Church singing His praise, pretending to be holy, whilst countenancing and failing to speak out on moral issues and totally ignoring His written Word.

     We need to be contending for the faith, especially to any non believers in our families, and challenging those who mock.  .

                                                                                                                                                                                                             You and I are called to contend for the truth.  Do not let anyone tell you that you do not count.  You count tremendously, so glory in what God has called you to do and be faithful to His command.   Our Lord’s last great commission was to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations; let us not fail Him.

Let this be the faith we adopt and believe and not that now being re-interpreted to suit modern culture.

May God bless His Word to us and enable us to give our service to Him.