Heaven, Hell and In-Between? (On purgatory)

Yesterday, I was talking to two colleagues about sin and faith. We're all scientists and teachers (!) so we just delve right into theology, history, and philosophy with mouths that move almost as fast as our brains. (Wow I'm so humble. :p )

What we're learning from each other is great enough. But even better is that there's an atmosphere of mutual respect and just an eagerness to understand God better to live more fully for Him. :)  Awesome. And there is an appreciation for how this same God moves in different groups and cultures to draw all people to Himself. Indeed He is real and He is simply the Greatest. ♥

So this morning the discussion continued via email, focusing on purgatory. I'm reposting my reply below because I hope it will help shed some light on what Jesus' life, death and resurrection means for us today, especially in our (Philippine) culture. 

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Hi bros!

Yes ---, it's refreshing to talk to you and --- yesterday. One God and One Spirit indeed. After our talk I was inspired to tweet and post this :)

All human institutions are prone to error. But nothing is beyond God's saving, redeeming Power, Truth and Love. #OneGod

Before anything else, I'll just take back what I said yesterday, careless words ---  about venial vs. mortal sins as determination whether one lands in purgatory or hell. I don't believe in purgatory so I just carelessly said that. Sorry, my mistake.

Starting question / Food for thought: The concept of purgatory --- when did it start being taught?


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I'll comment on this point:  

"Some Fundamentalists also charge, as though it actually proved something, "The word purgatory is nowhere found in Scripture." This is true, and yet it does not disprove the existence of purgatory or the fact that belief in it has always been part of Church teaching. The words Trinity and Incarnation aren’t in Scripture either, yet those doctrines are clearly taught in it."

The concept of purgatory is not only unmentioned in the Bible, it is in conflict with what the Bible explicitly teaches. Christ says that on Judgment Day, he will separate the sheep and the goats (either you're in or you're out) (Matthew 25:31-46). He also gave the parable of a poor man named Lazarus who died and went to heaven, while a rich man died and was sent to hell. The rich man requested Abraham for some water, and Abraham said "...between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us." (Luke 16:26).

Jesus is the only one who can and already saved us from hell. Upon being saved, indeed we are now being sanctified and are growing in Christlikeness. Indeed, no follower of Christ suddenly becomes perfect like God, but isn't it great that we are improving, becoming more like Him, even in this life, before we die?

Questions: Is perfection a requirement to eternal life? How do we attain this perfection? Wouldn't this just point us back to Christ and the cross? Nobody is perfect, everybody is sinful, we all need a Savior. Even when we follow Christ we are still imperfect sinners, but what can purgatory do that Jesus has not already done? (Why not just go back and claim Jesus' forgiveness for all the sins I have done today?)


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I'll also comment on this point:

"After all, if a guilty soul is merely "covered," if its sinful state still exists but is officially ignored, then it is still a guilty soul. It is still unclean."

Is this implying that Jesus' death and resurrection are not enough? Let's be careful now! 

"Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" --- John the Baptist (John 1:29,36), also according to Old Testament prophecies

Yesterday we were talking about consistency which points to authenticity. I respect the authority of the Catholic Church (!) but again, let us look into the consistency of this teaching. When I trusted Jesus as my Savior, I let Him save me by His taking the punishment for my sins. That means I am saved, covered, and yes, clean. That's my belief, based on my understanding of the Bible. I'll explain below. If there is disagreement, let's talk about it (find time! :) ).

Many times Jesus told people, "Your sins are forgiven... You are healed... Today you will be with me in paradise." Period. Jesus never said, "You need a period of purging first." It's just yes or no. Even when He charged Peter and the apostles (which I know Catholics love to quote!) --> "Everything you bind on earth will be bound in heaven... Everything you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:19, Matthew 18:18) It's yes or no. In or out. He never said maybe, and He never taught it.

It's true that Jesus sometimes told people to do something (ex: go wash in the pool, or show themselves to the priests), and we can argue that their healing and/or salvation is conditional. (That might be a longer discussion for another time.) But my point here is, there's no maybe. Either they were healed or not. Either Jesus assured them of heaven (like the thief beside Him on the cross), or not. Yes or no.


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So, can we just view this present life as purgatory?

Indeed, nobody attains perfection when they get baptized, pray a particular prayer, do this or that. Nobody becomes a Christian and suddenly achieves perfection. Essentially, every moment we are being called to be more Christlike --- so I think non-Catholic Christians just (implicitly) see this present life as purgatory... only in the sense that one is walking with Christ and becoming "more" like Christ (thereby being "better and implicitly "more" perfect...?)

But non-Catholic Christians (I'll call NCC?) don't really perceive perfection as a goal, because it implies "I want to be like God" which is both impossible and dangerously idolatrous (like Satan tempting Eve). And NCC don't view death as the moment when you achieved perfection such that you may already "graduate". So that's where the analogy of this life and purgatory ends. (Well, it's not really an issue for NCC, but I'm just trying to apply the concept of sanctification here...)


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To summarize: Humans are imperfect and sinful and all deserve eternal punishment for our sins, which means hell. We cannot save ourselves because no one (human) is good enough. Only Jesus, fully God and fully man, can take our place and receive our punishment such that we can also receive His righteousness. For all my sins (past present and future), I can receive my just punishment (hell or eternal existence away from God), or I can let God save me (receive Jesus as my Savior, that He died in my place so I can receive His righteousness). 

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished — he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus." (Romans 3:23-26)

As you quoted "nothing unclean shall enter heaven", in the same way that "no one can see God's face and live " (Exodus 33:20). And people who become Christian are still imperfect and prone to sin. But these all just point back to Christ as the solution: not just for our salvation but also for our redemption and sanctification: 

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, he'd made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment — to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. (Ephesians 1:7-10)

So Christians are not perfect, only cleansed, forgiven, and *continuously* being sanctified to be more like Christ. We can call this sanctification a "purging", but the formal Catholic definition of purgatory (a state of purification before entering Heaven) is not what the Bible teaches (each person has an eternal destiny, either with God in Heaven or away from God in Hell; with no middle way or in-between state).


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Thank you guys for hearing me out! :) Thank God I was able to read this message (--- sends a lot, I just couldn't get to read them!). And thank you for listening.

God bless, and see you next week ^_^

Your sis in Christ,

Teci :)

Strength is for service

Edited from: http://www.finishingstrong.info/give-me-your-hand/

There's a song that empowers even the smallest and weakest of us. We have the power of choice and the power of God working in and through us:

My hands are small, I know
But they're not yours, they are my own
And I am never broken...
We are God's eyes, God's hands, God's mind
We are God's eyes, God's hands, God's heart
       - Jewel, "Hands"

(See also lyrics video here)

 

     "We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: 'The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.'

      - Paul to the Romans, 15:1-3

http://www.health4thinkers.com/2011/06/09/tackling-mental-health-reveals-spiritual-health-needs/

http://www.godsaxle.com/2012/02/the-strong-hand-of-the-lord/

http://blog.surveymonkey.com/blog/2013/04/08/contribute-update-surveymonkey/

http://www.grace2help.com/2012/11/24/week-twentythe-hand-of-god/

  

     "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

      - Paul to the Romans, 15:4-6

 http://shinebrightlyforjesus.blogspot.com/2011/08/courage-it-is-i.html

Living Water

Today was probably the first time I went around campus with a liter of bottled water in tow. Ah, water. They say a lot of times when we feel hungry, we are actually thirsty. The one "food" that's most essential to our survival. So cheap yet so good, and no calories even ;)

No wonder Jesus compared himself to water. Not to coffee or fried chicken or chocolate (my personal faves), but to water. Let us listen.

http://www.mountainspringwaterco.com/images/waterfacts.jpg

Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and Who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living water.”

(John 4:10)

http://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~reetaban/New%20webpage%20folder/Water%20droplet.jpg

“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep.

Where can you get this living water?" (John 4:11)

http://www.coldspringharborspringwater.com/ColdSpringHarborSpringWater.jpg

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14)

http://0.static.wix.com/media/5832a0_c278807fb50d095e34f652fabc8c3b7a.jpg_1024

On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink." (John 7:37)

http://images.mnn.com/sites/default/files/main_chanie_distilled_spring_water.jpg

"Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said,

rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:38)

http://waterevolution.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/slide2.jpg

By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given,

since Jesus had not yet been glorified. (John 7:39)

http://www.vamex.bg/imgupload/background/water_deep.jpg

Feeling thirsty already? Or already filled with Him? :)

Just watch ♥

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGlx11BxF24&feature=youtu.be

Homepage: http://www.fallingplates.com/

His work is finished.

It's Holy Week. The perfect time to remember what God has done... and the perfect time to remember that it is already done!

Photo: http://www.123greety.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/jesus-quotes-cross-wallpaper.jpg; Text: mine

Nothing we can do (or not do) can make us more saved.

May we honor God in truth and in the right way. ♥

Speak to glorify God, not self

Paul the apostle repeatedly writes in his first letter to the Corinthians:


For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel — not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
(1 Cor 1:17)

Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.
(1 Cor 1:31- 2:5)

 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.
(1 Cor 13:1)



Wisdom and eloquence are good, until they defeat the purpose of the message. When we speak about God, do we glorify Him, or ourselves?

Free to work :)

"The diligent find freedom in their work;
the lazy are oppressed by work."
(Proverbs 12:24)


This is me. Well, this is supposed to be me:

http://farm1.staticflickr.com/103/297100007_80cbef7538.jpg

Where are you in this graph?

http://softwarecreation.org/images/2007/work-satisfaction.jpg

I believe fulfillment in work is not just based on skills and challenges. Whatever our reasons are, below is a useful guide:

http://www.the-happy-manager.com/image-files/the-happy-work-cycle-what2.png

Maybe I'm just ahead of my time? Excuses. Surely I can adjust to the present!

http://www.iftf.org/system/files/deliverable/IFTF_FutureWorkSkillsSummary.gif

The clock is ticking, I keep telling myself. Work is not a matter of life and death. JESUS already dealt with the real life-and-death-and-afterlife issue. All I have to do is walk in His footsteps, in the much less dramatic but still significant arena called the workplace.

http://cache.boston.com/universal/site_graphics/blogs/bigpicture/manuf_02_20/m01_16895561.jpg

And remember: Work, like everything else, presents many challenges that we can use to honor God. :)

http://soulcurrymagazine.com/sc/wp-content/uploads/work-stress.jpg

Thank You Lord, for giving me work that I love to do. :) Amen.

The Fundies of Love

Yes, this is funny :)

http://themetapicture.com/heres-an-idea-2/

Christians (currently aka Fundies or Fundamentals) have been known to hate, hurt and even kill in the name of God. If we are strict about God's commands (including those on idolatry and homosexuality) --- we should remember that these boil down to (1) loving God and (2) loving your neighbor.
 
If we speak the truth about what pleases God and what disgusts Him... do we speak it in love for the hearers' sake? Or do we speak it in love for ourselves, in disgust of "others", and overall self-righteousness?

If we talk about God's judgment at the end of days, do we also talk about the Son that sets us free?

If we bombard people with accounts of hell, do we also give them glimpses of heaven?


There is no more condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1) Sometimes, we share the "Good News" by focusing on the "Bad News" --- that one is a wretched sinner. Guess what: the sinner probably already knows the problem. Why not focus on the solution: talk more about God Himself?


Love does not mean tolerating or condoning the evil actions of the beloved. But true love goes the extra mile to help the loved one. Jesus left heaven to restore us. If we are already saved, what have we been doing?

Resurrect!

Yesterday was Easter Sunday. People celebrated the resurrection of Jesus in different ways.

As for me...

• reformatted two computers (if you know me, you know this is a major issue)

• reclaimed leadership of our small group/Bible study -- thank You for the growth in quality and quantity. Every person is a blessing; every story helps us grow. ♥

• returned (slowly but surely) to Kids' Church ;) (If anything balances out teaching college students on weekdays, this would be it.)

• released, finally, all the bitterness and hatred, followed by a release of grace and forgiveness. This is my miracle of miracles.

• remembered to buy, one of these days, "Overcoming your Shadow Mission" by John Ortberg. Didn't have enough money once again ;) But I think it's something I need to know. Especially because I missed even the meaning of shadow mission completely.

• reminded again and again to confess my sins and bring them to light. Ask for help and for accountability. Relieved now. 

• restored and redeemed, even if yet in theory, God's plans and purposes for me. It's not my job to understand everything: I'm not God and I just act on the little that I do know. And I'm remembering to be thankful because His revelations are supposed to help and guide and remove confusion instead of adding to it. And I'm remembering that many seasons of frustration over delayed and denied *stuff* are directly due to my own *issues*. C'mon Lord. I claim Your power :)

• reminded that it's more blessed to give than to receive. :) This is no empty do-gooder push phrase; it's a tried and tested truth.

• reminded to "do ALL for the glory of God". But this time, it finally sank in. Finally finally. 

• remembering that Jesus ordered a direct command to NOT WORRY. Repeat ...

My body is supposed to be tired but my spirit is refreshed and renewed. :) 

"You must be born again," Jesus said. The decision to accept Christ can literally be made in an instant, but it is a commitment that needs renewing and remembering every once in a while. And the more we walk with God, the more we understand how great and holy and wonderful He is, and how undeserving yet blessed we are that He loves us... How far we are from Him and yet how powerfully He can change us if we just let Him.

And, so, I get born again, and again and again. 

And my soul is resting in peace while I'm being brought to life more and more.

Resurrect!

God will be there

This song was a pleasant surprise when my brother and I saw the lyrics. (Thanks Myx for showing the lyrics and for playing "God" songs this hour. Not all songs were actually God-centered, but hey, appropriate enough for Holy Week.)

Yah Mo Be There
by James Ingram and Michael McDonald


Heavenly father watching us all
We take from each other and give nothing at all
Well it's a dog-gone shame
But never too late for change
So if your luck runs low
Just reach out and call his name, his name

Chorus:
Yah mo be there (up and over)
Yah mo be there (up and over)
Yah mo be there (up and over)
Yah mo be there (up and over)
Whenever you call

Never be lonely lost in the night
Just run from the darkness
Looking for the light
'cause it's a long hard road
That leads to a brighter day (hey)
Don't let your heart grow cold
Just reach out and call his name, his name

[Chorus]

You can count on it brother
'cause we're all just finding our way
Travelling through time
People got to keep pushing on
No matter how many dreams slip away
Yah will be there

Well it's a dog-gone shame
But never too late for change
So when your luck runs low
Just reach out and call his name, his name

Got Hunger?

Was at tonight's last screening of "Hunger Games", with my parents and brother. ♥

Saw "Battle Royale" with some friends too, a few weeks back.

http://cdn.sheknows.com/articles/2011/11/hunger-games-poster.jpg

Still looking for a reasonable reason to send kids to their death, with one victor as the authorities' act of mercy and forgiveness. (My bro was shaking his head at the government documentary explaining all this.)

Are we overanalyzing and taking this movie too seriously? Maybe. But gladiatorial (anything but) games with favors from on high are not only seen in Greek mythology and pop culture. The Romans did it 2000 years ago, and today we still have government-sanctioned violent entertainment.

Yes there's the violent loss of life, but the Capitol's supposed act of mercy is what disturbed me more. (Yes, I know, it's just a story, but there must be convincing reasons for audience's suspension of disbelief. Or maybe I just feel like a panel member reviewing *someone's* thesis.)

To atone for their rebellion, they must give:

a sacrifice.

of blood.

of life.

yearly.


Act of mercy and forgiveness? The people are supposed to be grateful for the ritual murders in their lands?


The documentary in the movie also talks about the peace they attained at the cost of blood. Now that the land already has peace, the government still demands blood sacrifice.




Do we still do that?

Yes.

 

http://shotnroll.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/IMG_9345.jpg

But Jesus said, "It is done."

He said, "It is finished."


Today is the start of Holy Week.

Hopefully we remember not just Jesus' death but His victory over death.

Hope we remember His sacrifice, not to add to it (like we can!),
but to give thanks.


In the movie, Katniss promises to be back for her sister. Kat gives all the reasurrance that she can, but she herself is not sure about what tomorrow will bring.


"Come to Me," Jesus says, "And I will give you rest."

 "Blessed are those who hunger, for they shall be filled."


"Whoever is thirsty, let him come to Me...
Whoever drinks the water I give him will never be thirsty again."

No empty promises, no mere good intentions.


With Jesus, we can truly be full.

"Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus"

The most-watched video on Youtube: 




Excerpts:

"[The Church] is not a museum for good people,
it's a hospital for the broken.
Which means I don't have to hide my failure,
I don't have to hide my sin
'Cause it doesn't depend on me,
It depends on Him. 

"Religion says "Do", Jesus says "Done."
Religion says "Slave", Jesus says "Son."
Religion puts you in bondage while Jesus sets you free
Religion makes you blind but Jesus makes you see

"And that's why religion and Jesus are two different clans
Religion is man searching for God
Christianity is God searching for man

"Which is why salvation is freely mine
And forgiveness is my own
Not based on my merits
but Jesus' obedience alone

"So for religion, no I hate it
In fact I literally resent it
Because when Jesus said "It is finished,"
I believe He meant it."

The best reason to celebrate (Christmas)

“Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.’”

For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit.
And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus,
for he will save his people from their sins.”

- from the first verses of the New Testament


Why celebrate Christmas?

Why celebrate Jesus?


Because God is with us,
and He saves His people from their sins.

Too scared to move?

Sometimes in our fear that we might do something wrong,
We end up not doing anything right either

Sometimes we know all too well what we cannot do,
How about looking at the things we can do?

"We can do ALL things through CHRIST Who strengthens us."
:)

Teacher's and teachers' roles

"The greatest of teachers said: 'The seed is the word.'
The true teacher stirs the ground and sows the seed."
     - John Milton Gregory, quoted in "Teaching to Change Lives"

Redeeming Love ♥

God loves us at our worst and redeems us to be our best. ♥ 

If there's one book that defines me --- or to be more exact, my relationship with God --- it has to be "Redeeming Love". (Thank you again to Jenny and Faye for sharing it with me.)

 

From the official site.

What's the big deal, you may ask. If it's inspired by a Biblical story, what's new in this book? How relevant would it be in this day and age... How relevant would it be to me?

The official site is celebrating the book's 20th anniversary. In the online journal contest, you can read how "Redeeming Love" has impacted others, and vote for your favorite testimonies. You can also share how the book impacted your life, and get a chance to win a trip for two to San Francisco, one of the main settings in the book.

The site also features some excerpts from the book. I can repost some of the parts here, but I might just end up transcribing the whole thing  :p  Just read it for yourself. (I can lend you my copy. c: ) And... prepare to be blessed :)

A Child-Like Faith

A Child-like Faith

by Lee Strobel 

Excerpts:

Jack would always sit near the front. When the service was over, he would amble over to the pastor who had taught that day and begin talking in a low mumble. His brown hair would be tousled, his clothes disheveled, his tie askew. His face would have stubble and his thick glasses would be smudged.

I don't know the diagnosis of Jack's condition, but for the most part his thinking is unfocused and much of the time his speech is a string of disconnected thoughts. Although he's an adult, talking with him is similar to communicating with a child.

Then one Sunday, when Jack came over to me after the service, I saw that his right arm was in a cast and sling. I pointed to the injury. "Did that hurt?" I asked.

Jack glanced at his arm and then at me. He replied in his halting voice: "I come here...and hear...about Jesus...and I think about...all the pain...he went through...for me...and I think...this was nothing!"

That's when I knew that he understood. "Jack," I said as I reached out to hug him, "that's the most profound thing anyone has said to me for a long time."

(Read the rest of the article here.)

He creates no pests

Have you ever wondered why God created pests like *that person*? Well, how about pests in general? ThinkChristian gives an insightful look at a child's question: "Why did God create mosquitoes?"

Who wants a mouse in their house? (Sorry Mickey.) From here. 

1. Well, who decides what is a pest anyway?

2. Whatever may be a pest to me may be a precious in His sight, a unique special creation.

3. I must admit the many times I was (am) a pest to God and to people... Thank God He hasn't sprayed divine insecticide (yet) in anger and frustration. Thank God He has not given up on me yet.

4. He can turn pests into precious children. Nay, that's what He has always intended for us to be, if we just continue to let Him do His work in us.

5. Makes it *much* easier to deal with the pests in your life, eh?

That the deaf may hear: The Gospel in sign language

"He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."

Are there people around you who know THE most important life-changing news, yet are muted by fear or laziness? 

What about those who become too deafened by the world's pressures to stop and listen?

Hearing-impaired people have an additional difficulty: the lack of Christians willing to share the Gospel in "their" language, sign. The deaf are one of the largest people groups not yet "reached" by Christianity.

Hoping many hearing-impaired brothers and sisters get to "hear" this :)
 

An FSL* Fellowship is held regularly every second Sunday of the month
at Higher Rock Christian Church, 3/F Esna Bldg., Timog Ave., Quezon City. The next fellowship will be on Aug 14 (Sun), 1-3 PM.

Everyone is welcome to join, help out, and invite our deaf loved ones to finally "hear" and receive God's Good News, which is for everyone indeed. God bless you. :)


*FSL = Filipino Sign Language
(Thanks to Ken Bulahan for the video and Cyril Sadia for the link.)

That's why we call it "change".

We have a tendency to look for flaws in others... especially if those others are associated with a so-called perfect God.

When something goes wrong (and it will), we find ourselves saying, "Well, well, well... not so holy/good/righteous/perfect (etc.) now, are we? Tsk, tsk..." --- in sinister sneering tones, the condemnation from Satan himself, whose name literally means "enemy".

But should Christians even claim to be perfect? Jesus Himself said, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone." (This passage is further explained here.)

What we follow, we become. The Bible says, we can be transformed more and more into the likeness of God Himself, as we follow Him in Spirit and Truth (the power of the Holy Spirit and the Truth of God's Word).

We don't become gods, with His powers and perfection; rather we become more godly, with His characteristics and character.

There's this common (mis)conception that some people are holier-than-thou: no problems, no fears, no temptations, no sin. Raised on a pedestal impossibly high, the natural tendency is to fall, and the devil laughs.

Yes, we are human, but our God is superhuman:

• "For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone."
• "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."
• "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Following the righteous and holy God means turning away from what is unrighteous and unholy.

• No hypocrisy --- Yes, sin can be fun but it slowly kills; while living for God can be difficult but is fulfilling and rewarding. If we say God is our God, and we don't follow, isn't that what constitutes hypocrisy?
• No claims to perfection --- We can only follow Him by His transforming power in us; we can choose to follow, and it gets easier. (The wise man hears God and builds His house of faith on the foundation of obedience.)

That's why Christ is called the Redeemer.

The Cristo Redentor in Brazil. Image from here.

He transforms, He renews, He reclaims the original design.
He forgives, He cleanses, He enables us to draw closer to Him.


We're not perfect. But that's why Christ redeems. That's why we call it "change".

This Cristo Redentor image is from here.