3 Reasons the Church is Not a Building

What is a Church (or 'the' Church)? The Church is a term used to describe in one word, the community of people who have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour and who have received his offer of forgiveness of sins. So basically, it is a group of people who are saved "by grace through faith." (Ephesians 2:8) Why is it not a building? Here are 3 reasons why (in my opinion)...

1 Rupee Can Help Save a Soul

About a month ago on my way back from church, I bought the Mumbai edition of Sunday Mid-day at a traffic signal. I fell short of a One Rupee coin (2 cents or 1.3 pence) and the signal turned green. The poor and ageing vendor said it was okay - "give it to me the next time." Here's the rest of the story…

Christian Apologetics: Get Equipped to Defend

"I apologize for the inconvenience caused to you by my faith in Jesus Christ."
No! Christian apologetics is certainly not summarised that way. What then, is it?

3 Weeks Can Change Your Life

"Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing." (Psalm 100:1, 2)

All-time great Christian oratorio 'Messiah' was composed by Germany-born composer George Frideric Handel in the summer of 1741. Here's the story behind it

Cousin Dies: God is Sovereign

My cousin brother Kartik expired day before yesterday (30 Dec, 2009). He was 38. He probably was an agnostic. We were born in a Hindu family. He had a science-oriented outlook and perhaps found it difficult to rationally explain spiritual phenomena. His death brings up several thoughts that I feel like sharing with my readers - but not before I compare them with Scripture.

Adam, Eve, You and the Blood of Jesus

"…the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." (1 John 1:7)

Most of the time, we tend to think only about our own sins being washed away in the blood that Jesus Christ shed on the cross 2,000 years ago. But his blood washed away Adam and Eve's sin too.

In the Garden of Eden, when Adam and Eve sinned, they hid themselves, being ashamed of their nakedness. Remember, just a few verses before that, the Bible says that "they were both naked…and were not ashamed." (Gen. 2:25)

Christ Must in Christmas

In this age of "all religions are equal", festivals tend to be celebrated more for things than for people. In Christmas, for instance, people talk more about Christmas trees, stockings, carols and plum cakes than about the Hero of Christmas. And the Hero is not Santa Claus - it's Jesus Christ.

You can decorate as many trees and eat as many cakes as you wish, but that's not going to alter your eternal destiny. Indeed, Santa can only give you gifts that will be consumed in time - the fun will one day end. But the joy that will be yours when you become a believer and follower of Jesus, will last forever into eternity!

Learn more about this Eternal and Free Gift of Salvation that Jesus promises to give you. Read:
- Is Salvation a Free Gift?
- Claim Your Free Gift of Salvation NOW!

Claim Your Free Gift of Salvation NOW!

Salvation is indeed a free gift for you and me if we receive Jesus Christ in our lives. But this free offer will not last forever!

Imagine salvation as a birthday gift. Whether or not you invited Jesus at your birthday party, he has come and is knocking at your door. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me." (Rev. 3:20) He will not force his way in. That's the devil's style. Jesus will simply keep knocking until you open the door.

The gift cannot be yours until you receive it. You cannot ask anyone to accept it on your behalf - you must accept it. Remember: Jesus bought it for you with his own precious Blood. You really owe it to him to accept this offer. Jesus will keep standing until the party is on. Once the party's over and the time is up - your life comes to an end - he will return. Then you cannot claim the gift that was meant for you. No 2ND chance!

So if you do not know where you will go after you die, read the Good News here, because this free...

"Offer is Valid Until Life Lasts."

Is Salvation a Free Gift?

The words FREE GIFT attract the attention of most of us. Marketers especially like to use these words in upper case to draw people's attention to what they are pitching. But is a gift really FREE?

A gift is free for the person who receives it but not for the person who gives it.

Substitutionary Death: Jesus for Jesus

In the post "What is Death?", we saw the difference between physical death and spiritual death. If we are to avoid spiritual death, someone must die on our behalf - to pay the price for our sins; so that we are released from the bondage to sin. That 'someone' was Jesus - he died in our place!

Jesus' dying on the Cross in our place is termed "substitutionary death." One man dying for another man's folly. And all this out of grace and mercy - just so that we could walk away free! "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

Jesus for Jesus - Man for man

When Jesus was brought before Pilate, the multitude demanded that Jesus Christ be crucified and a prisoner - also having the name 'Jesus' (and called 'Barabbas' - meaning 'son of the father') - be released. As per the custom in those days, one prisoner would be released at the Passover feast. So Pilate ordered that Jesus the "notorious prisoner" be released.

The Jesus who was a sinner was let off while the innocent Jesus (Christ) was sacrificed at Passover. In a sense, we too are in Barabbas' position - we have offended God. But God, in His mercy and grace, anointed His Son Jesus to die not only in place of Jesus the prisoner, but also in place of you and me. Jesus for Jesus - Man for man!

Let us, then, offer ourselves as living sacrifices to God by praising Him and thanking Him for the way of salvation He has worked out for us in Christ Jesus:

"Praise the LORD,
For His mercy endures forever." (2 Chr. 20:21; Ps. 106:1; Ps. 136)