[Biblemat] A) THE POWER OF CHRIST

[J5827Sasser at wmconnect.com]

Brethren and Friends, Jim Sasser here.  A very good Thursday
morning to each and everyone.  May God bless you and yours.
Here is an article from my recent files:

THE POWER OF CHRIST

     Christianity is challenging because it is built upon the deity of the 
Master.  Jesus was not just a man: "In the beginn-
ing was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word
was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made 
through Him, and without Him was not any-
thing made that hath been made...And the Word became flesh
and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, glory as of the
Only Begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth" (Jno.
1:1-3,14).  In reply tot he questioning Jews, He said, "Before
Abraham was born, I am" (Jno. 8:58).  To the unbelieving 
critics who objected to His claims of familiarity with God, He
further stated, "I and the Father are one" (Jno. 10:30).

     Jesus has the words of eternal life (Jno. 6:68), a name
above all others (Phil. 2:9) and a glory which is unsurpassed
(Jno. 14:6).  To the "King of kings" (1 Tim. 6:15).  We owe 
allegiance that propels us into a sojourn that people of the
temporal world cannot fathom (Acts 4:13).  Even Napoleon, in
his famous speech to Gen. Bertrand, admitted that "the Spirit
of Christ overawes me."  As another leader of men later wrote, so we believe 
as well, that our blessed Lord Jesus
supercedes all rulers, armies, navies, and heroes that ever
lived in power, splendor and influence.

The Power Of Evangelism: -- The impact of Christianity chall-
enges us also because it is promulgated by the great commis-
sion and not by some bombastic plan set forth by mankind.
The parting words of the Savior, prior to His going back to
heaven, are so simple, yet profound.  Jesus told the apostles:
"Go  ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, bapti-
zing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit...Go ye into all the world, and preach the gos-
pel to the whole creation.  He that believeth and is baptized 
shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned"
(Matt. 28:19; Mk. 16:15,16).

     Jesus sent His disciples into the world with no weapons,
no threats.  "The weapons of our warfare are not carnal" (2
Cor. 10:3).  They had only the message of salvation.  But that
was enough!  Nothing could have permeated the Roman Em-
pire so successfully as the humble servants of the crucifid
Nazarene pressing the claims of the Messiah upon that profli-
gate society.  The early saints "went everywhere preaching
the Word" (Acts 8:4), and soon the message of redemption
covered the ancient world as the waters cover the sea.

The Power Of A Pure Life: -- Christianity demands our very
best because it is demonstrated by purity of life.  The basic
and fundamental values of the religion of Christ can best be
seen in His life: "For we have not a high priest that cannot be
touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but oen that hath
been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin...Him
who knew no sin He made to be sin on our behalf; that we
might becoem the righteousness of God in Him" (Heb. 4:15; 2
Cor. 5:21).  It was said of Jesus that "He went about doing
good" (Acts 10:38).  So do His followers, as they "follow His
steps" (1 Pet. 2:21).  The same values seen in the life os Jesus are seen in 
the dedicated demeanor of fervent discip-
les of the Lord.

     Too many times the world receives a faulty impression of
the way of the cross because of our failure to portray the 
ethics of godliness.  From the writing of the apostle Paul, we
learn anew of the intense value and power of a life that magni-
fies Christ and shares the message of the Redeemer with
others (Phil. 1:12-20).  Oh, what demands the gospel places
upon the devotees of the Savior!  The words of a gospel song
ought to ring in the ears of every dedicated Christian:  Let the
beauty of Jesus be seen in me,  All His wonderful passion and purity.  May 
His spirit divine, all my being refine.  Let the
beauty of Jesus be seen in me.

     Christianity is great because it brings hope, joy and optim-
ism into the daily walk of children of the heavenly Father.
Trusting in the Creator (Prov. 3:5), instead of earth's vain trin-
kets, gives us the enrichment that only the hope of heaven can bequeath to 
us.  Hope includes faith, but it also is assur-
ance.  We have that assurance because of Jesus: "Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who accord-
ing to His great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, unto an inheri-
tance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away,
reserved in heaven for you, who by the power of God are
guarded through faith unto a salvation ready to be revealed
in the last time" (1 Pet. 1:3-5).

     Christians never look back to a life of sin, but ever press
on to the beautiful home of the soul.  As parents, we choose
early in life to indelibly etch into the mural and fabric of our
children's lives that we "Look for a city which hath foundatio-
ns, whose builder and maker is God...Look for a better count-
ry, that is, a heavenly country" (Heb. 11:10,16).

     A careful man I ought to be, A little fellow follows me; I do not dare 
to go astray, For fear he'll go the self-same way.

     Let us all rise up to meet the challenge of true Christianity
With a firm commitment and a deep resolve, we will one day
do it, by the grace of God.  And when the saints go marching
in to glory, we will join in that heavenly chorus.  ---- Johnny
Ramsey in Gospel Minutes, Vol. 56, No. 15, April 13, 2007.   </HTML>
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