The Christian Experience Jesus Is Divine

So often today we hear arguments about the Christian Faith. I hope that we understand what it really takes to be a christian. Some people in the USA seem to believe that being born in this country, a "Christian Nation", is all it takes. It takes more that that to be a christian. It take the divine Son of God to be a Christian and there are three things that I would like to highlight from John 1: 12-18.

First, in order to be a Christian you need to experience Divine Change. You need to have a personal encounter with Jesus Christ to become a Christian. In John 1: 12 you have to believe and receive Jesus Christ to become a child of God.

Second, in order to be a Christian you need Divine Influence. You can't be a Christian without the Grace of God and the hearing the Truth of the Word of God. John 1: 14 lets us know that Jesus came full of Grace and Truth. We would be lost without the divine influence of Grace and Truth. The scriptures say that it was by Grace that we are saved. Also, the Word says that Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. The Word of God is true.

Thirdly, in order to live the Christian life we have to live in the Divine Way. John 1: 17 say for the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. So many people try to live the Christian life under the law. Striving to keep rules and regulations. But the Divine way is the way of Grace and Truth! When you seek to please God by His Word, His laws are not grevious to us. One hymn of the Church declares that His Yoke is Easy and His Burden is light... I've found it so, I've found it so!!! Have you had a Divine Change in you life? Do you live under the influence of Grace and Truth? Are you living you life according to the Divine Way of God's Amazing Grace? I hope you have a genuine Christian Experience from the Divine Savior Jesus Christ!

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The Christian Experience

There are many things that come to mind when we hear the words Christian Experience. I am sure that over the years we have heard many doctrinal teachings about the Christian Faith. Some things are easy to accept and some are not so easy to grasp. But one thing is clear, we do not need to go through this life pretending to be something when we can have the real experience. How sad it would be to live around the Church all your life and never have a true and genuine Christian Experience. There are three things I want to share from the Gospel of John in chapter 1 that will help us to live the Christian Experience.

The First thing I want to share is that It all begins with God. In John 1:1 the scripture states: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. If you say that you are a Christian and you do not acknowledge God or you put other things in His place, than your Christian Experience is out of order. God must have first place in your life. You cannot have a good Christian life without making God number one in your life.

The Second thing I want to share is that It is all about His Son Jesus Christ. John goes on to write in versus 7-9 that Jesus is the Light of the world, the "True Light" which gives light to everyone that comes into the world. Without Jesus Christ we are still in darkness. In Acts the scripture says that they were first called Christians at Antioch. Can you imagine the influence that the beleivers had in that city that people would have to call them Christians. In order to be identified with Christ, we need His Light shinning through our lives.

The Third thing and the last thing I want to share is that It is all about Believing and Receiving. John 1: 12 states; But as many as received Him, to them he gave the power to become sons of God, even to them that beleive on His name. We will not become children of God until we by faith Believe and Receive the good news that Jesus Christ is Lord in our hearts. If you have not experienced these basic principles of the Faith, than your Christian Experince needs to be upgraded!

I pray that you have been enlightened and uplifted from the Good Shepherd's Viewpoint! May God Ever Bless and Keep You!

Holiness is the Way

In our current Faith culture, people often want to distance themselves from the way of Holiness. There seems to be an underling fear of trying to be Holy. Christians, philosophers, Tel-evangelist,and neighbors seem to shy away from the notion of living a holy life. So often the scripture is used that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23. Therefore, no one is perfect and can attain to a holy lifestyle. However, the Bible plainly teaches that we are to be a Holy people. 1 Peter 1: 15-16 reminds us that we are to be Holy for God is Holy. Hebrews 12: 14 also lets us know that without holiness no man can see the Lord.

This is a great issue in our churches because so many church people don't understand what a holy life looks like. For me the simplest understanding of a holy life is Micah 6:8 which says, He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Therefore, living a Holy life is simply living your life by doing what you know right. When we do what we know is right, then others can see our Faith and also live this holy life.

Are you living a Holy lifestyle? Does your Faith in Christ show in the things you do? Can God be pleased with your lifestyle, for without Faith it is impossible to please God. This is the Good Shepherd's Viewpoint.

Fullfill All Righteousness

I have been challenged by visiting the passage about the baptism of Jesus Christ. In Matthew 3: 11-17, the passage shows that Jesus began His ministry focused on doing everything that God wanted Him to do. When John spoke of Jesus Christ he felt that he was un-worthy to even loosen His shoes. So when Jesus walks up John at the Jordan river and wants to be baptized, John tries to convince Jesus that he needed to be baptized by Him. The amazing reality that jumps off the page is that Jesus only wanted to fulfill God's will. He did not sheepishly say, wow you are too kind, or pretend to be humble. Jesus confidently said, Suffer it to be so now, for thus it becomes us to fulfill all righteousness.

This statement that Jesus makes shows how important it is for us to fulfill all righteousness. Jesus did not allow John to deter Him from the work that God had for Him to do. In our Christian walk we need to take seriously the life of Jesus Christ and how focused he was on fulfilling the will of God. We often relax once we know that we have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior thinking that we have it made. We need to be committed to fulfilling all righteousness. We must keep God's will above our own will.

Are you committed to fulfilling all righteousness? Have you become satisfied by just being a Christian? Will you commit to fulfilling ALL Righteousness? This has been the Good Shepherd's Viewpoint. May God Ever Bless You.

Help from the Holy Spirit

So many people have a limited understanding of the Holy Spirit. It has been perceived and taught that the Holy Spirit will give you a emotional high and cause you to run and speak in an unknown tongue. But we also need to know what else the Scripture says about the Holy Spirit. Jesus said in John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away, for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him to you. Jesus was sending the Holy Spirit to be our help and our guide. One great scriptural reference to the help of the Holy Spirit is found in Romans 8: 26-28. In verse 26 we find that the Spirit helps our infirmities when we pray. Because it understands "our groanings" when we face circumstances in this life that we may not understand. In verse 27 we can be in tune with the mind of God through the Holy Spirit. Then, we can conclude from verse 28 that everything we face will ultimately work for our good. The Holy Spirit is here to help in this Christian journey. Especially in the difficult times it is there to guide and to comfort us. Ultimately it will lead us into God's will for our lives.

Have you felt the Holy Spirit in your life? What about during the difficult moments in the midst of trials and tribulations, does the Holy Spirit bring words of comfort and peace. Then we can be confidant that God's Spirit will lead us into His perfect will for our lives. This has been the Good Shepherd's Viewpoint.

May God Ever Bless You

The Good Shepherd's Viewpoint

The Shepherd's Example

With this being the Holiday season, it is always good to review the Christmas story of the birth of Jesus Christ. While studying the Sunday School lesson I noticed how great an example the Shepherds left for all of us to follow. The text is found in Luke 2: 8-20. In this passage there are three things that became clear that we need to apply to sharing the Gospel today.

The first thing is that they Heard the Gospel. Read the passage below:
8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ^[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

When the Shepherds first saw the Angel of the Lord they were very afraid. So many people today are intimidated by the truth of the Word of God. They do not even want to hear from God and are afraid. But the shepherds listened to the Angel and heard the good tidings that the Savior had come to earth.

13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
14"Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

The Second thing is that the shepherds Believed the Gospel. Read the following verses:

15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

It is one thing to hear and do nothing. However, the shepherds heard and believed the Gospel. They proved that they believed the message of the Angel of the Lord by going to Bethlehem. They responded with action and that is a true sign of belief.

16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.

The third thing is that the shepherds Shared the Gospel. Read the verses below:

17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

This I feel is the great challenge of the Body of Christ today. We have not accepted the challenge to share the Gospel. There are many who have not heard the message of the love of Jesus Christ. Here we see that those who heard were amazed. I believe if we would share the Gospel, lives will be changed by the Gospel. The Great Commission is a command that we need to place as the primary effort of the Christian Faith. I hope this post challenges you and this has been the Good Shepherd's Viewpoint.

May God Ever Bless and Keep You!

The Good Shepherd's Viewpoint

Jesus Christ, The Good Shepherd

In the Gospel of St. John, Jesus declares that He is the Good Shepherd. Here He certifies that His sheep would hear His voice and a stranger and they would not follow. Jesus truthfully proclaims that all who ever came before Him were thieves and robbers. He affirms that He would lead His sheep and take care of His sheep. As Jesus concluded His discourse, He even went so far as to say that He would even lay down His life for the sheep. Later in John 14: 6 Jesus says, "I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me".

However, in this day and time we see a drift throughout the Christian Faith. There are many who are seeking, but seem to never to find Him. There are some that profess Christianity, but their words and actions show that they do not know Him. Also, there are some that preach, but do not proclaim His Holy Word.

The good news is that Jesus made a promise in Matthew 5: 6 that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness... will be filled. Here at The Good Shepherds' Viewpoint, we hope to help Men, Women, Boys, and Girls develop a relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ, who is The Good Shepherd. Help us spread the message of the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As we post from time to time please read, respond, and share with friends, family, and others, The Good Shepherd's Viewpoint. May God Ever Bless and Keep You. It is our Prayer!