Author: purposeunderheaven

Answer To A Question
Christian.

Answer To A Question

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Received a comment today asking a question.  I thought I would post the answer here and beneath the comment.

I will  post the question and what I personally believe the answer is.

Out of curiosity: What exactly is it that we need saving from?

 

Let me explain why I blog first.  It is a three part answer.  I use the blogging experience as a method to push myself to write daily.  It is a method of bible study and refection on God.  And I post because I hope fellow Christians might gain something from the things I am looking at and thinking about.

I assume most people reading the blog are Christian so I don’t go into great detail regarding certain concepts like “saved”.

What do we need to be saved from?
I believe we were made to be one with God.  As Christ is one with God we were designed to be in perfect relationship with God.  Our spirits suffer when we are separated from God.
I believe sin separates us from God.  Sin occurs when we choose to not believe God or when we rebel against God.  Look at Genesis story of Adam and Eve.  Eve chose to believe Satan out of a desire to be a god.  Adam rebelled against God.  When the Lord came looking for them in the garden,  sin caused Adam and Eve to hide from God.

I believe our sins cause us to separate from God.  It puts an obstacle between us and our creator.  We draw away and then spin farther and farther away.  Sin results in a separation which leads to sin and more separation.

Christ’s sacrifice on the cross covers our sins and provides a path for us to be one with Christ through the Holy Spirit.  Our spirits are healed in this life.  We are saved from a life of feeling incomplete.  We no longer need to seek things, people, activities that we hope will fill the God void in our souls.  God through the Holy Spirit fills that spot perfectly.

The second thing we need saving from is the second death.

Revelation 20 discusses the second death.

11 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small,standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. 15 Anyone whose name was not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire..

We are righteous not by our own actions but through faith that Christ has and can save us.  Our faith in Christ and His sacrifice results in our names being written in the Book of Life.

Striving To Have a Good Reputation For Christ’s Sake
Feast of Stephen · Ireland · March · March 17 · St. Patrick · St. Patrick's Confession · St. Patty's Day · Uncategorized

Striving To Have a Good Reputation For Christ’s Sake

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Patrick discusses how careful he was to protect his reputation so that it would reflect well on Christ.  He did not want anyone to be able say he took money or other benefits based on his position.

They were talking among themselves behind my back, and saying: “Why is this fellow throwing himself into danger among enemies who know not God?” Not from malice, but having no liking for it; likewise, as I myself can testify, they perceived my rusticity. And I was not quick to recognize the grace that was then in me;

I now know that I should have done so earlier.

Now I have put it frankly to my brethren and co-workers, who have believed me because of what I have foretold and still foretell to strengthen and reinforce your faith. I wish only that you, too, would make greater and better efforts. This will be my pride, for “a wise son makes a proud father [Proverbs 10:1; 15:20].

You know, as God does, how I went about among you from my youth in the faith of truth and in sincerity of heart. As well as to the heathen among whom I live, I have shown them trust and always show them trust.

God knows I did not cheat any one of them, nor consider it, for the sake of God and his Church, lest I arouse them and [cause] persecution for them and for all of us, and lest the Lord’s name be blasphemed because of me, for it is written: “Woe to the men through whom the name of the Lord is blasphemed.”

For even though I am ignorant in all things, nevertheless I attempted to safeguard some and myself also. And I gave back again to my Christian brethren and the virgins of Christ and the holy women the small unasked for gifts that they used to give me or some of their ornaments which they used to throw on the altar. And they would be offended with me because I did this.

But in the hope of eternity, I safeguarded myself carefully in all things, so that they might not cheat me of my office of service on any pretext of dishonesty, and so that I should not in the smallest way provide any occasion for defamation or disparagement on the part of unbelievers.

What is more, when I baptized so many thousands of people, did I hope for even half a jot from any of them? Tell me, and I will give it back to you. And when the Lord ordained clergy everywhere by my humble means, and I freely conferred office on them, if I asked any of them anywhere even for the price of one shoe, say so to my face and I will give it back

Give Thanks Unceasingly to God, Who Frequently Forgave my Folly
Christian. · March · March 17 · St. Patrick · St. Patrick's Confession · St. Patty's Day

Give Thanks Unceasingly to God, Who Frequently Forgave my Folly

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So it is that even if I should wish to separate from them in order to go to Britain, and most willingly was I prepared to go to my homeland and kinsfolk– and not only there, but as far as Gaul to visit the brethren there, so that I might see the faces of the holy ones of my Lord, God knows how strongly I desired this– I am bound by the Spirit, who witnessed to me that if I did so he would mark me out as guilty, and I fear to waste the labour that I began, and not I, but Christ the Lord, who commanded me to come to be with them for the rest of my life, if the Lord shall will it and shield me from every evil, so that I may not sin before him.

So I hope that I did as I ought, but I do not trust myself as long as I am in this mortal body, for he is strong who strives daily to turn me away from the faith and true holiness to which I aspire until the end of my life for Christ my Lord, but the hostile flesh is always dragging one down to death, that is, to unlawful attractions.

And I know in part why I did not lead a perfect life like other believers, but I confess to my Lord and do not blush in his sight, because I am not lying; from the time when I came to know him in my youth, the love of God and fear of him increased in me, and right up until now, by God’s favour, I have kept the faith.

What is more, let anyone laugh and taunt if he so wishes. I am not keeping silent, nor am I hiding the signs and wonders that were shown to me by the Lord many years before they happened, who knew everything, even before the beginning of time.

Thus, I should give thanks unceasingly to God, who frequently forgave my folly and my negligence, in more than one instance so as not to be violently angry with me, who am placed as his helper, and I did not easily assent to what had been revealed to me, as the Spirit was urging; and the Lord took pity on me thousands upon thousands of times, because he saw within me that I was prepared, but that I was ignorant of what to do in view of my situation; because many were trying to prevent this mission.

Easy Street or The Path of the Cross
Ireland · March · March 17 · St. Patrick · St. Patrick's Confession · St. Patty's Day

Easy Street or The Path of the Cross

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Salvation comes through repentance from sin and trusting in Christ’s death as a sacrifice for those sins.

But once we are saved we are called to be followers of Jesus.  The path may or may not be an easy one.  To often, we think once saved God melds to our will.  Our prayers provide a gentle life with no troubles of any kind.  Yet when we read what Jesus said would be required of those who chose to be a follower of Christ it appears to not be exactly Easy Street.  Yet it is the the greatest path a person can choose to take.

Luke 9

23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.

25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?

26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.

 

Patrick tells us about women who choose the path of the Cross.

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So, how is it that in Hibernia, where they never had any knowledge of God but, always, until now, cherished idols and unclean things, they are lately become a people of the Lord, and are called children of God; the sons of the Irish and the daughters of the chieftains are to be seen as monks and virgins of Christ

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And there was, besides, a most beautiful, blessed, native-born noble Irish woman of adult age whom I baptized; and a few days later she had reason to come to us to intimate that she had received a prophecy from a divine messenger [who] advised her that she should become a virgin of Christ and she would draw nearer to God. Thanks be to God, six days from then, opportunely and most eagerly, she took the course that all virgins of God take, not with their fathers’ consent but enduring the persecutions and deceitful hindrances of their parents.

Notwithstanding that, their number increases, (we do not know the number of them that are so reborn) besides the widows, and those who practice self-denial. Those who are kept in slavery suffer the most. They endure terrors and constant threats, but the Lord has given grace to many of his handmaidens, for even though they are forbidden to do so, still they resolutely follow his example.

You Get A Line; I’ll Get a Pole (or Net)
March · March 17 · St. Patrick · St. Patrick's Confession · St. Patty's Day

You Get A Line; I’ll Get a Pole (or Net)

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Patrick’s heart desires to fish for men, women and children.  He views Ireland as part of the far reaches of the world and believes these people need to be told of Christ’s salvation.

And I wish to wait then for his promise which is never unfulfilled, just as it is promised in the Gospel: “Many shall come from east and west and shall sit at table with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob [Matthew 8:11].”

Just as we believe that believers will come from all the world.

So for that reason one should, in fact, fish well and diligently, just as the Lord foretells and teaches, saying, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men [Matthew 4:19],” and again through the prophets: “Behold, I am sending forth many fishers and hunters, says the Lord [Jeremiah 16:16],” et cetera. So it behooved us to spread our nets, that a vast multitude and throng might be caught for God, and so there might be clergy everywhere who baptized and exhorted a needy and desirous people.

Just as the Lord says in the Gospel, admonishing and instructing: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always to the end of time [Matthew 28:19].”

And again he says: “Go forth into the world and preach the Gospel to all creation. He who believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he who does not believe shall be condemned [Mark 16:15].”

And again: “This Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached throughout the whole world as a witness to all nations; and then the end of the world shall come [Matthew 24:14].”

And likewise the Lord foretells through the prophet: “And it shall come to pass in the last days (sayeth the Lord) that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions and your old men shall dream dreams; yea, and on my menservants and my maidservants in those days I will pour out my Spirit and they shall prophesy [Joel 2:28].”

And in Hosea he says: “Those who are not my people I will call my people, and those not beloved I will call my beloved, and in the very place where it was said to them, You are not my people, they will be called Sons of the living God [Hosea 1:10]

Patrick was willing to suffer anything for God
Christian. · Ireland · March · March 17 · St. Patrick · St. Patrick's Confession · St. Patty's Day

Patrick was willing to suffer anything for God

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But it is tedious to describe in detail all my labours one by one. I will tell briefly how our most holy God frequently delivered me, from slavery, and from the twelve trials with which my soul was threatened, from man traps as well, and from things I am not able to put into words.

I would not cause offense to readers, but I have God as witness who knew all things even before they happened, that, though I was a poor ignorant waif, still he gave me abundant warnings through divine prophecy.

Whence came to me this wisdom which was not my own, I who neither knew the number of days nor had knowledge of God?

Whence came the so great and so healthful gift of knowing or rather loving God, though I should lose homeland and family.

And many gifts were offered to me with weeping and tears, and I offended them, and also went against the wishes of a good number of my elders; but guided by God, I neither agreed with them nor deferred to them, not by my own grace but by God who is victorious in me and withstands them all, so that I might come to the Irish people to preach the Gospel and endure insults from unbelievers; that I might hear scandal of my travels, and endure many persecutions to the extent of prison; and so that I might give up my free birthright for the advantage of others, and if I should be worthy, I am ready [to relinquish] even my life without hesitation; and most willingly for His name.

And I choose to devote it to him even unto death, if God grant it to me.

I am greatly God’s debtor, because he granted me so much grace, that through me many people would be reborn in God, and soon after confirmed, and that clergy would be ordained everywhere for them, the masses lately come to belief, whom the Lord drew from the ends of the earth, just as he once promised through his prophets:

“To you shall the nations come from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Our fathers have inherited naught but lies, worthless things in which there is no profit [Jeremiah 16:19].” And again: “I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles that you may bring salvation to the uttermost ends of the earth [Acts 13:47].”

Offering Yourself As A Living Sacrifice
Christian. · Ireland · March · March 17 · St. Patrick · St. Patrick's Confession · St. Patty's Day

Offering Yourself As A Living Sacrifice

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Patrick discusses his calling to Ireland.  He intends to tell us all the things he lived through to spread the word to those in Ireland.  I love the concept Patrick presents when talking about answering God’s call.  He says when we answer our calling from God we “offer ourselves as living sacrifice for Christ”.

Again, boldly, but God knows, if this had been made known to me by man, I might, perhaps, have kept silent for the love of Christ.

Thus I give untiring thanks to God who kept me faithful in the day of my temptation, so that today I may confidently offer my soul as a living sacrifice for Christ my Lord; who am I, Lord? or, rather, what is my calling? that you appeared to me in so great a divine quality, so that today among the barbarians I might constantly exalt and magnify your name in whatever place I should be, and not only in good fortune, but even in affliction?

So that whatever befalls me, be it good or bad, I should accept it equally, and give thanks always to God who revealed to me that I might trust in him, implicitly and forever, and who will encourage me so that, ignorant, and in the last days, I may dare to undertake so devout and so wonderful a work; so that I might imitate one of those whom, once, long ago, the Lord already pre-ordained to be heralds of his Gospel to witness to all peoples to the ends of the earth.

So are we seeing, and so it is fulfilled; behold, we are witnesses because the Gospel has been preached as far as the places beyond which no man lives

People look at lives like Patrick’s and see the sacrifice.  Return to the land where you were held a slave and be persecuted in order to spread the word of God.  Yet we forget we are all called.  No, we are not all called to a foreign land.

Sometimes we are called to humble ourselves and be a servant to our family or to a stranger who crosses our path.

A person with incredible talents, who could be rich and famous, is called to use those talents in a manner where no one may ever know them.  Or a person with celebrity status called to tell the world of their love for Christ and then face the ridicule and mockery.

Too often we think about Christ answering our prayers and we fall into the trap of believing God molds to our will.  He does answer our prayers, but we are suppose to conform to his will.  We might want to be the wealthy doctor with a big practice who goes once a year on a mission trip.  God may have called us to be a part time doctor, a mother homeschooling her children and working at the free clinic on weekends.

When we heed God’s call, there will be voices trying to either tear us down or flatter us into a different path.  But we need to ignore those voices and listen intently for God’s plan for our life.

Patrick believed he gave his life as a living sacrifice when he obeyed God and returned to Ireland.

Romans12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Patrick Grieves For The Friend Who Betrayed Him
Christian. · Ireland · March · March 17 · St. Patrick · St. Patrick's Confession · St. Patty's Day

Patrick Grieves For The Friend Who Betrayed Him

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Friends betray us sometimes intentionally often with no malice.  Patrick’s friend promises to fight for him.  The missionary has decided to return to Ireland and tell them about Jesus’ love for them.  He left without defending himself.  The friend who once forgave him now attacks.

But rather, I am grieved for my very close friend, that because of him we deserved to hear such a prophecy. The one to whom I entrusted my soul! And I found out from a goodly number of brethren, before the case was made in my defense (in which I did not take part, nor was I in Britain, nor was it pleaded by me), that in my absence he would fight in my behalf.

Besides, he told me himself: “See, the rank of bishop goes to you”– of which I was not worthy.

But how did it come to him, shortly afterwards, to disgrace me publicly, in the presence of all, good and bad, because previously, gladly and of his own free will, he pardoned me, as did the Lord, who is greater than all?



I have said enough. But all the same, I ought not to conceal God’s gift which he lavished on us in the land of my captivity, for then I sought him resolutely, and I found him there, and he preserved me from all evils (as I believe) through the in-dwelling of his Spirit, which works in me to this day.

When we feel betrayed by friends, acquaintances or just people remember God does not betray us.  Walk in obedience to His commands and He walks with you. No promise of an easy path, but a promise to never leave you.  Patrick felt the Spirit as a gift which preserved him from all evils.

Whose Voice
Christian. · Ireland · March · March 17 · St. Patrick · St. Patrick's Confession · St. Patty's Day

Whose Voice

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Patrick must decide whose voice to hear.  The voice of God telling him to return to Ireland where he will work with those who have not heard about Christ.  Or the voice of those who do not wish him to go.

Ephesian 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Patrick’s words:

On the other hand, I did not proceed to Hibernia of my own accord until I was almost giving up, but through this I was corrected by the Lord, and he prepared me so that today I should be what was once far from me, in order that I should have the care of– or rather, I should be concerned for– the salvation of others, when at that time, still, I was only concerned for myself.

Therefore, on that day when I was rebuked, as I have just mentioned, I saw in a vision of the night a document before my face, without honour, and meanwhile I heard a divine prophecy, saying to me:

“We have seen with displeasure the face of the chosen one divested of name.” And he did not say “You have seen with displeasure”, but “We have seen with displeasure” (as if He included Himself) .

He said then: “He who touches you, touches the apple of my eye.”

For that reason, I give thanks to him who strengthened me in all things, so that I should not be hindered in my setting out and also in my work which I was taught by Christ my Lord; but more, from that state of affairs I felt, within me, no little courage, and vindicated my faith before God and man.

Hence, therefore, I say boldly that my conscience is clear now and hereafter. God is my witness that I have not lied in these words to you.

Patrick decides to listen to God’s voice.  My favorite line in the write up of Patrick’s vision.

“He who touches you, touches the apple of my eye.”

This was Patrick’s vision, but I think it is true for all who love the Lord and who decide to follow the path God has laid out for them.

With Friends Like These
Christian. · March · March 17 · St. Patrick · St. Patrick's Confession · St. Patty's Day

With Friends Like These

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God forgives sins.

Psalm 103

11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

But humans remember everything they think we have done.  They judge and attack when the whim suits them.  Once God has forgiven us we should not allow people to hold us bondage to our past sins.  We are free to follow God.  He washed away our sins and prepares us for a great work.

People often try to keep us bound to our sins and sabotage the work we would do for the Lord.  They attempt to make us doubt ourselves.  They refuse to do the work God has laid out and they will try to stop you from following His instructions.

As Patrick found out.

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And then I was attacked by a goodly number of my elders, who [mentioned] my sins against my arduous episcopate. That day in particular I was mightily upset, and might have fallen here and for ever; but the Lord generously spared me, a convert, and an alien, for his name’s sake, and he came powerfully to my assistance in that state of being trampled down.

I pray God that it shall not be held against them as a sin that I fell truly into disgrace and scandal.

They brought up against me after thirty years an occurrence I had confessed before becoming a deacon.

On account of the anxiety in my sorrowful mind, I laid before my close friend what I had perpetrated on a day– nay, rather in one hour– in my boyhood because I was not yet proof against sin. God knows– I do not– whether I was fifteen years old at the time, and I did not then believe in the living God, nor had I believed, since my infancy; but I remained in death and unbelief until I was severely rebuked, and in truth I was humbled every day by hunger and nakedness.