LORDSHIP: Following the Road Signs

After we experienced the joy of receiving our salvation, and made a commitment to follow God, to our disappointment, we still find ourselves tempted and easily fall into the same sin. We start to wonder if we really did receive salvation from God, and if we are really reconciled with Him. Aren’t we supposed to always feel close to God? Aren’t we supposed to not fall to the same sin anymore?

If you fell this way, don't worry it's normal. And don't worry, there's a cure.


SALVATION IS BEING ON THE RIGHT TRACK

When we accept the salvation that God offered to all of us we literally moved from the wrong lane in life to the right track, from the wrong direction (the ways of the world) towards the right direction (God’s way).

But like a car, we can easily be sidetracked to the wrong lane, towards the wrong direction, doing our old ways all over again.

How can we avoid this from happening? What's the cure?


ACCEPTING JESUS AS LORD, MASTER AND SAVIOR

We can only stay on the right track, on the right direction by accepting Jesus Christ as our lord, and by following His ways. We need to strive hard to follow Jesus' ways and examples.


THE ULTIMATE SHEPHERD

When we accepted Christ as our lord, He became our shepherd, and we became His sheep. Before we got saved, the prince of the world was more or less our shepherd.

What is the difference between Jesus and the enemy?

The ways of the world will lead us towards misery, dissatisfaction, cursed life, empty happiness whereas Jesus will lead us toward a life full of blessings, graces, and ultimately salvation.

John 10:10-11
The thief (refers to the enemy and the ways he promoted in this world) comes only in order to steal, kill and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life – life in all its fullness. I am the good shepherd, who is willing to die for the sheep.


WHAT LORDSHIP SHOULD MEAN TO US?

Luke 6:46
Jesus said, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’’ and do not do what I say?”

To accept Jesus as our lord is to welcome Him not only in our spiritual life but in every aspect in our life – marriage, parenthood, work, business, finances, relating to others, etc. Not only that, we have to follow Jesus ways, teachings and examples in all aspects in our life. Then and only then we can say that Jesus is our lord.


PUT JESUS IN THE PICTURE ALWAYS

When we receive our salvation, and when we accept Jesus as our lord and savior, temptations, problems, and difficulties will still come along the way. In short, the old events in our life may still come but when we truly accept Jesus as our lord, this time our response will be different. This time our response is in accordance to God’s way, and hence, the outcome will be different – better to exact. Below is a simple equation developed by Dr. Robert Resnick, a psychotherapist in Los Angeles, which we can use to explain this.

E + R = O
(Event + Response = Outcome)

Before: Temptation + Do what most people do (sin) = Lack of peace, true happiness, curses (a taste of hell)

After: Temptation + Do what the Lord Jesus recommends (obedience) =  Peace, bliss, blessings, graces (a taste of heaven)

1 Corinthians 10:13
Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, he will give you strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.

Before when you face temptation, problem, and difficulties, you only see yourself facing the problem. And the problem most of the time is so big that you felt overwhelmed.

Now that you accept Jesus as your lord and savior, you will still face the same big problem but this time put Jesus in the picture – beside you to be exact. He is just there encouraging you and giving instructions (wisdom and knowledge). And at times He gives you rest and He will fight in your behalf.


WHAT OUR RESPONSE SHOULD BE?

Proverb 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. Remember the Lord in everything that you do, and He will show you the right way.

We can only follow Christ as our shepherd, and our Lord when we put our TRUST in Him. We trust God by faith. We put substance into our faith by following His ways, by making Jesus as the Lord of all aspects of our life.

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SALVATION: Finding the Right Path

Do you feel that your life has no real meaning and purpose? As if you are inside a tunnel, moving in a breakneck speed but you do not know where you are heading, and you can’t see a way out? There’s a deep longing in your heart but the things and excitement the world can offer cannot satisfy you in the long run?


SIN SEPARATES US FROM GOD

The cause of eternal separation between God and man is sin. Sin is disobedience to God with or without your knowledge.




Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our lord.

My friend, you are not longing for someone or something from this world. You are really longing for your God. Only by returning to Him and reestablishing relationship with Him will you feel complete again.


THE JUSTICE OF GOD DEMANDS A SACRIFICE FOR MAN’S SIN

Since God is holy, righteous and just, He could not allow sin to go unpunished.

Being sinners we cannot go directly to God who is holy not because God doesn’t want us to go to Him but because it’s the consequence of sin.

In the Old Testament, the Jews offered the blood of birds, goats, lamb, etc. as sacrifices in their worship to God.


The blood acted as a substitute for their own blood because as sinners they are not worthy of God. This was their way of purifying themselves before God.


JESUS PAID THE PENALTY FOR OUR SINS

Since He is loving and compassionate, He did not want all of mankind to be eternally separated from Him. The divine solution to this problem was for Jesus, God’s only son, to become the sacrificial lamb for our sin.

Romans 3:25
God offered Him (Jesus), so that by His blood He should become the means by by which people’s sin are forgiven through their faith in Him (Jesus).




What happened on the cross? Jesus took our place and our punishment. He exchanged his righteousness for our sin. He took our curse and gave us His blessing. Because of His sinless life, He was the only one qualified to pay the penalty for man’s sin and bridge the gap between God and man.


SALVATION IS A GIFT FROM GOD

How can I attain salvation?

First and foremost, salvation is not the result of our good works but it is a gift from God. We don’t deserve to be saved but God saved us anyway.

Ephesians 2:8-9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.

By the death of Jesus in the cross, we are given a way to reconcile with God. What was not possible before becomes possible through Jesus.

Roman 10:9-10
If you confess (with your mouth) that “Jesus is lord” and believe that God raised Him from the death, you will be saved. For it is by our faith that we are put right before God; it is by our confession that we are saved.



The starting point of finding meaning and purpose is life starts with our reconciliation with God. The death of Jesus did not automatically saved us but instead it establishes a path for us to be reconciled with God and hence be saved. The door is open and Jesus is at the entrance always inviting us to enter and journey with Him.

From this point on, what will happen to your life and that of your love ones will depend on your response to His invitation today.

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Simple Guide to Getting Started in Following Christ

Being an engineer by profession, it is but natural for me to find a logical process or methods in doing things. When it comes to my relationship with my God, I tried to follow the five steps elaborated by Steve Murrell in his booklet One2One.

I am sharing this because I believe that this will help you get started in the right direction or improve your relationship with Christ, in the same way that it helped me. Btw, the five steps can be easily remembered by the keeping in mind the word "START". Here we go.


S (STOP)

Stop trusting in yourself and your own good works, and start trusting in Christ alone for salvation.

For it is by grace you have been saves, through faith -- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast. --Ephesions 2:8,9


T (TURN AWAY)

Turn away from everything the Bible calls sin.

Nevertheless, God's solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscriptions: "The Lord knows those who are his," and, "Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness". --2Timothy 2:19


A (ATTEND)

Attend a small group for personal discipleship and weekly worship services.

...not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another -- and all the more as you see the Day approaching. --Hebrew 10:25


R (READ)

Read and obey your bible everyday.

Keep this book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. --Joshua 1:8


T (TELL)

Tell others about your new relationship with Christ.

Jesus did not let him, but said "Go home to your people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people are amazed. --Mark 5:19, 20

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