Category: Level: Intermediate

marriage, bride, wedding, spiritual

Are You Looking Forward To Your Wedding Day?

Posted on by

1 Peter 1:13 directs us to “Set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (ESV). In other words, we keep our focus on the coming age when God will recreate the earth into a New Earth and come and live with us. So, it is important to spend time reflecting on the blessings God will bring to us then. Perhaps what is most astonishing about the next age is that we will be “married” to the Lamb (Rev. 19:6-9; 21:2, 9-27; 22:17). “In the story of redemption and the history of heaven the supreme event for which the ages are waiting is the marriage of the Lamb. The Bible is one long love story and redemption a divine romance of the love of God.”[1] The idea that the people of God are the bride of God or Jesus is Continue Reading →

social justice

How Should We Pursue Social Justice?

Posted on by

All believers agree that Jesus calls us to help the needy and to be a positive influence on our society. However, believers disagree over the ways in which Christians should get involved in society. This post reflects on biblical principles related to our call to influence our society. Some believers mostly withdraw from society and believe that this is the Scriptural approach. They do not pursue the transformation of structural injustice in their society. One reason these people take this approach is that directives for organized political involvement are conspicuous by their absence in the New Testament as compared to the Old Testament. In the Old Testament God constantly challenged Jewish political leaders and the wealthy to form a just society, including laws to relieve human suffering. But there are no clear instructions to Christians in the New Testament to gain political influence and reform unjust systems. Of course, this Continue Reading →

rewards

The Ultimate Reward In Eternity – Rewards Part 3

Posted on by

Our last two posts looked at individual rewards that believers will have in eternity. First we saw that God has promised individual rewards; second, we saw that one of those rewards will be management over God’s creation. In fact, other than God’s expressed approval of our lives, there are no other clearly stated individual rewards in Scripture. However, in this post I offer a suggestion about the nature of individual rewards. As I reflect on this, I ask myself these questions: “What kind of reward would our loving God give to his children?” Answer: probably whatever is most valuable in eternity. “What is most valuable in eternity?” Answer: partaking of God’s nature, for there is no higher bliss than God himself. “So how could God make a reward out of partaking of his nature?” Answer: we already know that when he fully restores his image in us he will make Continue Reading →

rewards

Our Future Reward Of Developing God’s Creation – Rewards Part 2

Posted on by

Our last post on individual rewards leads to the question of how God will reward believers. Since he is going to reward us what will the rewards be? Scripture gives few details, but we have at least one clue from Jesus’ parable of the ten minas (Luke 19:11-27) that Jesus told when some thought the appearance of the kingdom was imminent. A ruler gave some money (a mina) to some of his servants and instructed them to put the money to work while he was gone. When he returned he heard the report: “The first one came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned ten more.’ “‘Well done, my good servant!’ his master replied. ‘Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.’ “The second came and said, ‘Sir, your mina has earned five more.’ “His master answered, ‘You take charge of five cities.’ Continue Reading →

rewards

God Rewards Each One Individually – Rewards Part 1

Posted on by

Scripture teaches that after Jesus returns individual believers will receive individual rewards based on their life on this present earth. “For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God . . . each of us will give an account of himself to God” (Rom. 14:10 12, ESV) (see also Heb. 4:13). “Each will receive his wages according to his labor” (1 Cor. 3:8, ESV). After we run the race in this life God will reward his beloveds with gifts for all their service and for all the progress they made in Christformation. This is the victory of God’s good justice. Everything matters. Rewards for believers are most plainly promised in 2 Corinthians 5:10: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (ESV). Can you Continue Reading →