Churches Together. Haslingden Friday May 4th 2012
My Bible, my family (picture) and a small cross made out of material.
Nearly all of us have people and personal items that we treasure.
The Psalmist records that Israel were regarded by God as his peculiar treasure. Psalm 135: 4. (King James Authorised Bible)
God sent Jesus into the world first to his own people with the good news of God’s love for them and of his coming kingdom. But at the time the chief priests and Pharisees were afraid of the Romans. “So the Pharisees and the chief priests gathered the council, and said, “What are we to do? For this man (Jesus) performs many signs. If we let him go on thus, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation.” John 11: 47, 48.
Jesus he saw how sinful the leaders were in their collaboration with the Romans and in their indifference towards him. But in his great love and forgiveness he was prepared to complete his mission to save Israel and the Gentiles. (Romans included)
In one of Jesus’ parables he portraits Israel as being treasure hidden in a field.
”The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” Matthew 13: 44.
Treasure representing Israel, the man - Jesus, the field - the world.
Jesus found the treasure and covered it; before and during Jesus’ ministry Israel was covered, atoned, by the keeping of the laws of Moses with its sacrifices and rituals.
The field, the world was purchased by Jesus who paid the price by laying down his life, the final atonement for the sins of the world (and the universe) against God. God in his love for Israel was willing to forgive the sin of collaborating with the Romans and all that stood against humanity.
”God shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” Romans 5: 8.
Israel’s Messiah is the treasure we receive.
“Christ in you.”
We cannot buy the gift of salvation, it’s not for sale.
Salvation – the saving of man from the power and penalty of sin.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” John 3: 16.
It is through faith in Jesus we forsake the world to receive the kingdom. God our Father, accepts us with all our failings and quirkiness. We are all worthy to receive his treasure, the treasure of his Son Jesus.
Paul in his second letter to the Corinthian church tells us that we have this treasure within us and that we should not lose heart when we are derided for our faith in Jesus. 2 Corinthians 4: 7, 8.
How does the Lord see his church today, is our faith being compromised by humanistic and atheist laws?
Christians express their faith in our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ in various ways. The Church of England is a broad church covering most aspects of worshipping traditions.
It is right to uphold the laws of our nation, but we can in our democracy challenge the way our new laws are changing our culture and spirituality. The MU(Mothers' Union) campaign “Bye, Buy Childhood” is putting a brake on the declining family values in our nation. See Blog “The Messiah’s Secret - Get on Board”
The Holy Spirit is still restraining the revealing of the antichrist. 2 Thessalonians 4: 6-8
We see other Christians being moved by the Holy Spirit to make Christ known: like that of “Vision” a young people’s ministry going on in the Rossendale Valley, ministering to their own generation the good news about Jesus. See “Vision” website.
