CITY ON A HILL

1 Peter 1:15-16 (NIV) But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” Peter writes in his letter that “He who called (us) is holy, (we) also be holy in all our conduct, since it is written, and “You shall be holy, for I am holy." Holy, that is physically pure and morally blameless and consecrated to God, and that, is in all manner, in all aspects of our lives. With today’s modernity, every thing going hi-tech; all the environmental events—climate change and all, and with every type of people, it seems that practicing to be blessed or sublime seems easier said than done or challenging for a Christian but then again this is God’s demand for His would-be followers. The word “holy” is described in the dictionary as “Properly, whole, entire or perfect, in a moral sense.” Somebody who is holy has a pure heart, temper or character; free from sin and sinful affections. We call a man holy, when his heart

2 Corinthians 5:7 New International Version (NIV) “For we live by faith, not by sight.” Let’s talk about the Christian’s destiny. This verse presents a metaphor between a country and its citizens in exile or far away from home. The Lord is the distant homeland believed in but unseen. Travelling on, advancing by steps in the real course of life, Christians go on with bliss of our strong belief, trust and loyalty to our God. This second letter to Corinth occasssioned by events and problems that developed after Paul’s first letter to them. The letter is rich and varied in content. It tells of a crisis between Paul and the Corinthians, the resolutions and defense of Paul to his ministry. LIVING BY SIGHT. This gives the ability to see those worth seeing, which may be absurd or disorderly—an occasion for no joy or belief. The world at present is entangled into all kinds of wickedness and impiety as it features a bad character of unadulterated (pure) mischief and sin. Psa

(Hebrew 12:1) Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, (NKJV) Christians are to reflect on the word of God found in the letter of Hebrews and have the courage to continue struggling even to the point of death. Our sufferings now are the affectionate correction of God our father who loves us His children so much. Our Christian life is to be inspired by the men and women of faith in the Old Testament,  “the great cloud of witnesses” (Hebrew 11:39). But above all, it must be inspired by Jesus himself who endured the cross before receiving His triumph. THE INSPIRATION TO LAY ASIDE EVERY WEIGHT. There is this heaviness that presses us down and others also although its overpowering force only has measureable influence. Peter lists these as malice, deceit, hypocrisy and evil speaking (1 Peter 2:1) James illust

Galatians 1:11F “But I let you know, brethren, as to the glad tidings which were announced by me, that they are not according to man. For neither did I receive them from man, neither was I taught them, but by revelation of Jesus Christ.” An argument from Paul’s effective experience, the apostle turned first to state his case based on his own encounter. We knew that Paul was saved as a direct result of divine revelation from God, not by the teaching of men or traditional religion. Paul likewise preached a gospel of faith to the Gentiles and disproved the Jews who wanted to return to Jewish legalism. In the bible glossary, “Gospel” meant “Good News” about Jesus. It also meant the four synoptic writings (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) which tell about Christ’s life. Originally, people then had the “gospel” (singular) the good news Jesus preached, which is the coming of God’s kingdom, the blessings offered to the poor. Now, Jesus became the one to be proclaimed. He himself wa

2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new Creation; old things have passed away, behold, all things have become new.” What a different man we had become since we became Christians! Our whole manner of thought had been revolutionized and we possess a form of godliness, a change of opinion from error to truth and a sudden passion for godly service. In our mixed-up confused world, there are more than 700 sects and denominations calling themselves “Christians.” They all have somewhat different beliefs and practices. Some of these Christians claim as “new creations” when in fact their lives are equally distant from what they mark out making themselves more as “newly furbished” than “newly created.” THE CHRISTIAN COMPREHENSION. Stop living in sin but live with a new and changed life and character. (Romans 6:4). One must understand that in referring to the death of Christ - in order to represent the death of Christ – it is to bring us into a kind of f