How We're Meant to Live

Peter the Apostle

The Apostle Peter exhorts us to "hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ".

Firstly, take note there is a day coming in which Jesus Christ is going to be revealed.

Secondly, consider that on that day there is an abundant grace which is going to be brought to us who believe.

Thirdly, we are to live mindful of that day and what it will bring us. We are to hope perfectly for it, to hope to the end for it.

So the primary object of the faith Jesus Christ gave you is not things in this life only - such as prosperity, dominion or success. The primary object of your faith is that day and what it will bring you - things like vindication, resurrection, eternal life and eternal glory in His Kingdom.

Since that is the case, we ought to set our affection on, and make our goal, things above - not things of the earth. For the things that are seen are only temporary but the things that are unseen are eternal. Our citizenship is in heaven. Our calling is heavenly.

In the meantime, we shine as lights in a dark world among the wicked and those who know not God.

To be thus-minded eliminates avarice, which is the root of all evil and it elevates charity (love) above all else.

Does that mean we don't engage the world - the academic, economic, social, political & cultural spheres of this world? No, because love doesn't withdraw - love engages. Being heaven-minded mints our earthly activity with a Christ-like stamp of quality. And whose life has influenced this world for good, throughout every generation, more than our Savior Jesus Christ. And second to him might be the Apostle Paul.

They showed that through aspiring to the heavenly calling rather than focusing on the earth; through serving, rather than dictating; through dying rather than living; through seeking the will of our heavenly Father not our own will; through sacrifice for the sake of the Name of Jesus and the Gospel - we leave in our wake a vastly improved world, improved in all of its spheres, benefiting all nations and generations - until He comes.

How We're Meant to Live

Peter the Apostle

The Apostle Peter exhorts us to "hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ".

Firstly, take note there is a day coming in which Jesus Christ is going to be revealed.

Secondly, consider that on that day there is an abundant grace which is going to be brought to us who believe.

Thirdly, we are to live mindful of that day and what it will bring us. We are to hope perfectly for it, to hope to the end for it.

So the primary object of the faith Jesus Christ gave you is not things in this life only - such as prosperity, dominion or success. The primary object of your faith is that day and what it will bring you - things like vindication, resurrection, eternal life and eternal glory in His Kingdom.

Since that is the case, we ought to set our affection on, and make our goal, things above - not things of the earth. For the things that are seen are only temporary but the things that are unseen are eternal. Our citizenship is in heaven. Our calling is heavenly.

In the meantime, we shine as lights in a dark world among the wicked and those who know not God.

To be thus-minded eliminates avarice, which is the root of all evil and it elevates charity (love) above all else.

Does that mean we don't engage the world - the academic, economic, social, political & cultural spheres of this world? No, because love doesn't withdraw - love engages. Being heaven-minded mints our earthly activity with a Christ-like stamp of quality. And whose life has influenced this world for good, throughout every generation, more than our Savior Jesus Christ. And second to him might be the Apostle Paul.

They showed that through aspiring to the heavenly calling rather than focusing on the earth; through serving, rather than dictating; through dying rather than living; through seeking the will of our heavenly Father not our own will; through sacrifice for the sake of the Name of Jesus and the Gospel - we leave in our wake a vastly improved world, improved in all of its spheres, benefiting all nations and generations - until He comes.

The Main Point of the Gospel

Some people don't feel any need to receive Jesus.

Maybe they're not addicted to drugs.

Maybe they have a beautiful family.

Maybe they are privileged to have citizenship in a peaceful and prosperous country that has a good government.

Maybe they already feel good about themselves and are enjoying life.

So what need would they feel for Jesus?

There is one unfortunate problem which every human-being knows they face no matter how good their life currently is - and that is death. Death and the grave come to all of us.

So if you meet somebody who thinks his or her life is so good that they have no need of Jesus, you can always say to them: "That's great! Now would you like to know how you can be raised from the dead and enjoy life forever?"

It may be that death is the only problem your unsaved friend has no answer for! So you can tell them that Jesus purchased resurrection to eternal life for everyone through His death on the cross. All they need do now is hear it, believe it, receive Him and repent - and it's theirs.

A way to live forever is something everybody needs. The hope of the resurrection is therefore a relevant message to everyone. The Gospel brings us that hope.

When Paul shared the Gospel with people he made a point of telling them about the hope that is laid up for us in heaven. We believers are to set our hope fully upon the grace that is to be ours when Jesus Christ comes again in His glory and in His Kingdom.


The Source of Death

Death entered the human race because a Divine law was broken:

"All have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God."

It all started when the first man Adam sinned. And we've all sinned.

"The wages of sin is death."

As a result, death was passed onto the whole human race. Whether your friends realize it or not, all of us have broken God's laws. And the fruit of sin is death.


The Source of Life

Yes, God is coming to judge the world one day, but although the wages of sin is death, "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ."

God loved the world so much that He didn't leave us in that mess. He gave His only Son - so that whoever believes in Him shall receive eternal life.

When Jesus died on the cross He satisfied the demands of God's broken laws and took away the sins of all mankind. He was buried. And on the third day God raised Him from the dead - which assures us that God has accepted His sacrifice as payment in full for the sins of the whole world.

It is the Holy Spirit who convicts the world of sin. Whoever believes in his heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, and confesses with his mouth: "Jesus is Lord" - shall be saved.

God assured us through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, that He shall also raise us up from the dead - when Jesus comes again to receive us into His eternal Kingdom.

"God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved " (John 3:16,17)

That's something every person knows they need. That's a relevant message to everyone - no matter who they are and no matter whether their life is good or bad. It's good news for all of your friends. It's good news for the whole world! So try sharing that message with your friends.

The underlying reason why everyone of us needed Jesus is because we've all sinned. And death came by sin. But Jesus took away our sins and abolished death through the Gospel.

Whoever believes it shall be saved.

The Main Point of the Gospel

Some people don't feel any need to receive Jesus.

Maybe they're not addicted to drugs.

Maybe they have a beautiful family.

Maybe they are privileged to have citizenship in a peaceful and prosperous country that has a good government.

Maybe they already feel good about themselves and are enjoying life.

So what need would they feel for Jesus?

There is one unfortunate problem which every human-being knows they face no matter how good their life currently is - and that is death. Death and the grave come to all of us.

So if you meet somebody who thinks his or her life is so good that they have no need of Jesus, you can always say to them: "That's great! Now would you like to know how you can be raised from the dead and enjoy life forever?"

It may be that death is the only problem your unsaved friend has no answer for! So you can tell them that Jesus purchased resurrection to eternal life for everyone through His death on the cross. All they need do now is hear it, believe it, receive Him and repent - and it's theirs.

A way to live forever is something everybody needs. The hope of the resurrection is therefore a relevant message to everyone. The Gospel brings us that hope.

When Paul shared the Gospel with people he made a point of telling them about the hope that is laid up for us in heaven. We believers are to set our hope fully upon the grace that is to be ours when Jesus Christ comes again in His glory and in His Kingdom.


The Source of Death

Death entered the human race because a Divine law was broken:

"All have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God."

It all started when the first man Adam sinned. And we've all sinned.

"The wages of sin is death."

As a result, death was passed onto the whole human race. Whether your friends realize it or not, all of us have broken God's laws. And the fruit of sin is death.


The Source of Life

Yes, God is coming to judge the world one day, but although the wages of sin is death, "the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ."

God loved the world so much that He didn't leave us in that mess. He gave His only Son - so that whoever believes in Him shall receive eternal life.

When Jesus died on the cross He satisfied the demands of God's broken laws and took away the sins of all mankind. He was buried. And on the third day God raised Him from the dead - which assures us that God has accepted His sacrifice as payment in full for the sins of the whole world.

It is the Holy Spirit who convicts the world of sin. Whoever believes in his heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, and confesses with his mouth: "Jesus is Lord" - shall be saved.

God assured us through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, that He shall also raise us up from the dead - when Jesus comes again to receive us into His eternal Kingdom.

"God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved " (John 3:16,17)

That's something every person knows they need. That's a relevant message to everyone - no matter who they are and no matter whether their life is good or bad. It's good news for all of your friends. It's good news for the whole world! So try sharing that message with your friends.

The underlying reason why everyone of us needed Jesus is because we've all sinned. And death came by sin. But Jesus took away our sins and abolished death through the Gospel.

Whoever believes it shall be saved.

John Howard

"Sometimes the really big decisions, although the responsibility involved in them is enormous, the pathway is fairly clear."

John Howard

"Sometimes the really big decisions, although the responsibility involved in them is enormous, the pathway is fairly clear."

My Nephew Has Graduated