Category:

Life in Christ

A Transformed Life

by Esther Griggs October 6, 2023

written by Esther Griggs

As believers in Jesus our lives are transformed. Begotten into a living hope, with an indestructible inheritance, we rejoice. If necessary to purify our faith there will be trials. All this, according to Peter, demands a response. Peter gives a directive, the reason for it and summarizes.

The Directive

Peter directs his readers. “Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, rest your hope fully upon the grace to be (received) when Jesus Christ is revealed.” Be God’s obedient children, live to the spirit not the flesh, and like He who called you, be holy. If you call on God the impartial judge, as long as you live, do so in reverence to God.

The Reason

Then he writes out the reason. “Before the foundation of the world,” he wrote, God planned the death and resurrection of Jesus, why? Peter explained it was to buy us back from our aimless conduct. God didn’t offer some material, easily corrupted method. No! He orchestrated the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the perfect lamb of God, so we could put our faith and hope in God.

Peter Summarizes

Peter summarizes his thoughts thus. “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren,” he writes, “love one another fervently with a pure heart.” He explains. You have been born anew, not by a flimsy transaction but rather an incorruptible one, through the word of God which is eternal. Everything else will pass away, rust or fade away with time. “But the word of the Lord endures forever.” As my dad used to say, “that’s a promise you can take to the bank.”

Peter gave a directive, the reason for it and summarized.

October 6, 2023 0 comments

Christ's Return Finding strength Followers of Jesus Life in Christ Suffering When in trouble

Having Troubles?

by Esther Griggs September 22, 2023

written by Esther Griggs

Peter wrote to the pilgrims regarding their great heavenly inheritance and of their being kept by God’s power. There was much to rejoice in. However, in writing of this gracious salvation, he addressed the issue of having troubles. From his words, we learn further of salvation, about the trials which grieve us, and their ultimate purpose.

Salvation

First we learn of salvation. Peter tells his readers that salvation from God causes them great rejoicing. Though they have never seen Jesus, they believe and it has brought them a joy that cannot be expressed. They rejoice with a joy that is full of glory and are receiving the result of their faith. It is a salvation received by faith and ultimately revealed at the end of time when Jesus is revealed.

Trials

Next we learn of trials. In all the wonders of salvation, there is something else. Peter wrote that If it was necessary, and only for a little while, grievous troubles would come. Jesus and the other disciples also talked of trials. Jesus talked about having joy amid persecution because of the great reward in heaven, Paul wrote that trials were temporary and working for us something which far exceeded any trouble on earth. James also says to count it all joy when encountering trials for he wrote that they work patience in the believer. Though grievous they have purpose.

Purpose

What purpose could our troubles have other than to make life miserable? They do have purpose. Have you wondered about the reality of your faith? Before your peers, before your own soul, before God, is your faith genuine? Troubles, like refineries to gold, remove the impurities of our faith. Peter wrote that a person’s faith is far more valuable than gold. Gold will pass away, but our faith, tested by the troubles we face, prepare us for the day Jesus is revealed. When Jesus returns, our faith, tested and tried through the refinery of trouble, will bring praise, honour, and glory to God the Father. Even though we cannot see Him, we love Him, believe in Him and rejoice in the salvation of our souls.

From these words we learned further of salvation, about the trials which grieve us, and receiving the end of our faith, the salvation of our souls at the revealing of the Lord Jesus.

September 22, 2023 0 comments

Family of God Life in Christ victorious living

The Overcomer

by Esther Griggs July 28, 2023

written by Esther Griggs

I wonder how John’s readers felt about all his writing about love. Jesus had been crucified by the Romans and there was fierce opposition toward those who chose to follow Jesus. It was not an atmosphere conducive to warm and fuzzy feelings. Still like a dog with a bone, John reiterates this theme. God is unseen but if we love Him, we love the Son and must love our brother. The overcomer is born of God, lives by faith and overcomes the world.

Born of God

John states, “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.” If you love God then you also love His Son. Loving our brother is the natural flow of His Life in us. That is how we know we love God’s children. His life, His essence of love is active in us.

Lives by Faith

The victory to overcome the world is by our faith. I think of the old hymn we love to sing, Faith is the victory that overcomes the world. Our faith gives us the power to overcome the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Our allegiance is to one unseen.

Overcomes the World

How do we know of our love for God? It shows when we love others. His command is to love. “His commandments are not burdensome,” writes John. Perhaps he considered the words of Jesus, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Love God by loving others, and your faith in God will enable Him to do the heavy lifting.

The overcomer is born of God, lives by faith and overcomes the world.

July 28, 2023 0 comments

Bearing Fruit Life in Christ

God is Love

by Esther Griggs July 7, 2023

written by Esther Griggs

This theme of love motivates John’s pen. He returns to it in 1 John 4:7-11. As we look to these verses we reflect on the love of God, what it does for us, and what it does in and through us.

The Love of God

“God is love,” he wrote. It is not about us loving God. It is that God loved us. He sent His Son Jesus to be the atoning sacrifice for our sin. Webster’s Dictionary defines atonement, “Christ’s incarnation and death on the cross which made up for the original sin of Adam and Eve, and enabled mankind to be at one with God again.”

God must express love for it is who He is. The person of Jesus Christ demonstrates God’s love.

What it Does for Us

What does it do for us? We in Christ live no longer under the curse of death, but alive through Jesus. Jesus spoke of this abundant life, a never ending life. It is a life of love awakened through the work of the Spirit of God’s transforming love. As we grow in our love and knowledge of Him, the centre of our universe changes. The Spirit of God living in us becomes our instructor.

What it Does In and Through Us

Love does something in and through us. John wrote “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” It is a family trait. The life of love flows through us.

Paul wrote in Galatians of how it bears fruit like love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

In Philippians he wrote, “If there is any consolation in Christ, any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy.” Those who abide in Christ have experienced these things therefore he continues, “being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind, Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit.” He adds, “Let each of you look out not only for his own interest, but also for the interests of others.”

In this section, we reflected on the love of God, what it does for us and what it does in and through us.

July 7, 2023 0 comments

Life in Christ The Light

How Do You Know

by Esther Griggs April 28, 2023

written by Esther Griggs

Someone may ask you if you have been born again. How do you know? The apostle John answers the question in 1 John 2. It isn’t as much about what we say but we do. Being a disciple of Jesus changes the essence of who we are. We keep His commands, we abide in Him, and it shows in our relationships.

**The sap of His love flows through us!**

Keep His Commands

Jesus was asked which commandment was the greatest. He said, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” He told them it was the first and greatest commandment. The second was “Thou shalt love thy neigbour as thyself.” Then He told them that all the law and the prophets hung on those two. It makes sense. When you love someone you don’t steal from them, or want what they have nor do you lie to them or take away their life. John writes that when we keep His commands, it demonstrates our love for Him.

Abide In Him

In the Book of John 15, he writes about the vine, the branches and the vinedresser. He quotes the words of Jesus, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit, of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” Here in 1 John 2, John writes, “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” Jesus, is the source of our life. The psalmist wrote, “For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.” It changes the way we live. The sap of His love flows through us.

Shows in Relationships

The final picture John gives us is how we treat our Christian family. If you hate your brother, he writes, you are still walking around in the dark. You cannot see where you are going. You are blind. In contrast the one who loves his brother is in the light so there is no reason to fall. As we live in love relationship with Jesus, we live to please Him and He loves through us. Does this picture reveal your heart? We keep His commands, we abide in Him, and it shows in relationships.

April 28, 2023 0 comments

Life in Christ safe and secure in Christ

To Be One of His Sheep

by Esther Griggs May 27, 2022

written by Esther Griggs

The Jews continue to ask Jesus for His true identity. They ask Him, “How long do you keep us in doubt? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answers, “I told you, and you do not believe.” He further explains, how His works done in His Father’s name, show who He is. The problem lies in their not being His sheep. Then Jesus explains what it means to be one of His sheep. To be within His sheepfold as one of His sheep, implies hearing His voice, being known of the Father and to follow Him.

One of His Sheep: Hearing His Voice

“My sheep hear My voice,” Jesus tells them. He had already told the story of the sheepfold and how the sheep recognize the shepherd. “Deep calls unto deep” the Psalmist writes. The Spirit of God awakens and calls to life the spirit within man. No one can forget that voice which calls them out of death’s cold darkness, not only to live, but to live abundantly!

Known of the Father

The Father knows His own. He is the creator. Who better to understand our weakness, our needs, than the One who calls us into being at conception and then draws us into His fold? Jesus, One with the Father, through His own life and death, sympathizes with our weakness. The all-seeing, all-knowing God of the universe sees us, entirely.

Follow Him

It is easy to follow when you know the voice. For this voice, the voice of the Almighty calls to life, eternal life. There is no death nor destruction in this path. It offers nourishment and security. ” He is able to keep” the scripture tells us. “No one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.” Jesus said, and He said it twice!!

Amongst the rabble of boisterous voices, the still small voice of the Saviour says, “Follow Me”, “He who comes to Me I will not cast out!” And as Paul in His letter to the Romans (8: 38,39 KJV) writes, “For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life….. shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” To be within His sheepfold as one of His sheep, implies hearing His voice, being known of the Father and to follow Him.

May 27, 2022 1 comment

Life in Christ new creation

Put Up, Put On and Put In.

by Esther Griggs June 25, 2021

written by Esther Griggs

Paul continues directing the Colossians in regard to what life should look like after the cross. He is speaking to those he calls “the elect” “holy” and “beloved.” The apostle Peter also refers to the new believers as elect and in Ephesians Paul writes of those chosen, and set apart. Such a privilege to be chosen, set apart to obey God and cherished of Him. Paul’s letter to this esteemed group comes with some instruction about what to put up with, what to put on and what to put in.

**Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. Col 3:16.**

Put Up With

In verses 12-14 of Colossians 3, Paul writes about relationship. He describes the character one must put on. He lists several things to put on; tender mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, forgiving one another. Thus the title, “Put up with”. It describes how relationship must be. There are things we need to put up with as we journey along with others; offences, being overlooked, what about me? (but that is another list.) Isn’t that what longsuffering is and bearing with one another and forgiveness. Paul writes, “if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” It is an act of the will. But must I? How can I? After what they did to me?

What to Put On

There is an extent to which any human can show kindness or patience but the relationships God requires of us demand the power of love in Christ. It is the perfect unity based on the truths of l Corinthians 13. It is the cloak over all. Putting up with can be done in the flesh but we must put on the love of God. There is the power. As we live and move and have our being in Him, He patiently teaches us to love. It requires in addition to putting on, some putting in.

What to Put In

Within us the peace of Christ must rule. We are all apart of the same body where Christ is the head. Be thankful! Where would a body be without a hand or a toe? In addition, the word of Christ must dwell in us. Reading God’s word is not enough. Thinking on it is not enough. It must dwell in us richly, take up residence in our lives, plant a garden and get to know the neigbours. It must be full of life and be life giving. The life of the word, its ministry to our spirits enables us to be part of the Spirit’s flow to others. When life and its circumstances come at us, the things we have put in will be what comes out. It comes out when we relate to one another.

All of our life, whatever we do, whatever we say is in the name of Jesus our Lord. All the while, we give thanks to God who is our Father through Jesus the Christ. Paul’s letter to this esteemed group gives us instruction about what to put up with, what to put on and what to put in.

June 25, 2021 0 comments

Life in Christ

Hope

by Esther Griggs December 13, 2019

written by Esther Griggs

What keeps us going when the days are long or dark? What kept Abraham the many years after he received his promises and yet saw no fulfillment? What was it that kept the Psalmist amid the stormy days of his life? What held the Jewish people in the years of captivity? It was hope. Paul tells us in Romans that they believed in hope when everything was contrary to hope.

Hope provides glimmers of light in dark times. Linked with faith, it provides the individual with strength and stability in tumultuous times. A christian’s hope is not a flimsy “I hope things turn out.” The Christian’s hope relies on the Christmas story; the story of God sending His own son to our dark world in a dark time to bring light, to bring hope. His life, death and resurrection speak to us of an eternal hope, a living hope, a hope which enters the Presence behind the veil. It provides an anchor to our soul in troublesome times. It does not disappoint. It, along with faith and love lasts.

The Lord Jesus Christ is our hope. It is in Him we can hold on to the hope of eternal life. By this hope we can draw near to God. We rest our hope fully on the grace we will receive when Jesus returns. Our hope is in the Lord for it is Him we find mercy and abundant redemption. We find blessing as we hope in the Lord. When we hope for what we cannot see, we can wait more eagerly with perseverance. We rejoice in hope. We can abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is His presence in us which provides the hope of glory.

We need the ability to explain why we have hope to those who ask about the hope we have; to do so in meekness and fear. Having this hope within us helps us to purify ourselves.

“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

December 13, 2019 0 comments