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Introduction to Christianity 4

4. CAN GOD MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO ME?

When anyone becomes a Christian they will have

• recognised that Jesus is God.
• seen that they are in rebellion to God.
• turned back from the rebellion.
• submitted their life to Jesus as their Lord.
• asked for and received forgiveness because of the death of Jesus.

BUT does this make them any different?

NO - they are still like other human beings: they work, play sport, get hurt, live in a house, etc.

YES - there is also a complete change that happens. It begins on the inside and gradually affects all their life.

1. Different With Respect to the Past

When I think of my past

a) I've done wrong but I don't think it matters.

b) I don't think I've done anything wrong.

c) I am afraid of being judged for my wrongs.

d) I know I was guilty but my guilt has been cancelled.

Read Colossians 2.13, 14.

What is Paul's attitude to the past?

"And when you were dead in trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive together with him, when he forgave us all our trespasses, erasing the record that stood against us with its legal demands. He set this aside, nailing it to the cross." Colossians 2:13,14, NRSV.

2. A Different Future

What is the Christian's attitude to death, and life after death?

1 Corinthians 15.20-22,

"But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died. For since death came through a human being, the resurrection of the dead has also come through a human being; for as all die in Adam, so all will be made alive in Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:20-22, NRSV.

1 Corinthians 15.51-57

"Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:51-57, NRSV.

Philippians 3.18-21

"For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself." Philippians 3:18-21, NRSV.

What will we be like eventually? 1 John 3.1-2

"See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God's children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is." 1 John 3:1,2, NRSV.

3. Different Now!

Can you list some differences from these passages:

2 Corinthians 5.17

"So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!" 2 Corinthians 5:17, NRSV.

2 Corinthians 5.18

"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation;" 2 Corinthians 5:18, NRSV.

Galatians 4.6,7

"And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God." Galatians 4:6,7, NRSV.

Galatians 5.22-26

"By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another." Galatians 5:22-26, NRSV.

Philippians 4.6,7

"Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6,7, NRSV.

4. BUT ....

4.1 Do you think these differences are :-

- Very important.

- Important.

- Irrelevant.

4.2 What do people have to do for God to make this kind of difference to them?

If you would like to follow up anything in this unit, please contact us and we will try to help you.

The last Unit in this Course is 5. Is There Any Hope for the Future?

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Introduction to Christianity 5

5. IS THERE ANY HOPE FOR THE FUTURE?

As we look at God's world, and see the mess we have made of it, and as we look at the cross and see how far God has gone to help us escape from the consequences of our rebellion, we wonder whether the present state of the world will continue for ever. Is there any hope of things getting better? Is God still interested in his world?

1. Does God Care About His World?

What does Jesus say? (Matthew 10.29-31)

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows." Matthew 10:29-31, NRSV.

Not only does care about us, he holds us responsible for how we live in his world.

Read Romans 14.10-12. Do you think it is fair that God expects people to live in the way he tells them to?

"Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God." So then, each of us will be accountable to God." Romans 14:10-12, NRSV.

2. Will God Do Anything About Evil?

The world is full of injustice. We wonder why God doesn't do something about the terrible evils in the world. He just seems to turn a blind eye to it all.

But is this really the case?

John 5:28-29

"Do not be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and will come out--those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." John 5:28,29, NRSV.

Acts 17.30-31

"While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead."" Acts 17:30,31, NRSV.

Do you think it will be a good or a bad thing for us for Jesus to be our judge?

Why does God seem to be delaying the judgment? 2 Peter 3.8-9

"But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:8,9, NRSV.

3. What's the Pass Mark?

What standard will Jesus use when he judges us?

2 Thessalonians 1.6-10

"For it is indeed just of God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to the afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. These will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes to be glorified by his saints and to be marveled at on that day among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed." 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10, NRSV.

Romans 2.4-11

"Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God's righteous judgment will be revealed. For he will repay according to each one's deeds: to those who by patiently doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; while for those who are self-seeking and who obey not the truth but wickedness, there will be wrath and fury. There will be anguish and distress for everyone who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality." Romans 2:4-11, NRSV

Do you think God has made it easy for us to pass through the judgment without being condemned?

4. Good News or Bad News?

Read Revelation 21.1-8. What are some of the good results of God's judgment?

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away." And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God and they will be my children. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the polluted, the murderers, the fornicators, the sorcerers, the idolaters, and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."" Revelation 21:1-8, NRSV.

The fact that God is going to judge the world in justice is good news. It is good because it means that all evil and all evil-doers will be done away with. God will finally renew the world in a beautiful and perfect way. Goodness and justice will finally be seen to triumph.

5. But...

Whether God's judgment is good news or bad news for you depends....

What does a person have to do for the message of judgment to be good news?

If you would like to follow up anything in this unit, or if you would like to know more about following and trusting Jesus, please contact us and we will try to help you

This is the last Unit in this Course. If you would like to find out more you could explore any of the other options outlined on our About Christianity page.