No one can dismiss the need for character growth. To suggest that we do not need to grow implies that we have reached perfection. As Christians, we continually hear messages that call us to grow spiritually. Often, these sermons leave Christians pursuing growth on their own strength. The usual outcome of self-growth disillusions Christians to... Read More
1 John 4: 15 – 17 states: 16 We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in... Read More
ConclusionThe scriptures are clear. God calls us to grow and represent His Divine nature. However, this growth first begins with Him and built upon His Son. He does not want us to pursue this growth on our own accord or strength. Instead, He calls us to focus on Jesus. He emphasizes that as we grow and even those moments when we do not, He... Read More
Merriam-Webster possesses three definitions for shame: 1) "a painful emotion caused by consciousness of guilt, shortcoming, or impropriety", 2) "condition of humiliating disgrace or disrepute", and 3) "something that brings censure or reproach; also something to be regretted ". Therefore, shame focuses on self. I am a bad person or I will never be... Read More
Previous Article: Shame & Guilt During my walk with God, I read numerously the account of the Samaritan woman at the well. I missed a lot in those initial readings. However, much later, I realized that the Samaritan woman demonstrates redemption from shame and guilt. Her story begins in John 4: 4 – 30. Background: Strict Jews, like the... Read More
Previous Article: Jesus Redemption from Shame & Guilt From the story of the Samaritan woman (John 4: 4 – 30), I learned a process of deliverance from shame and guilt. God uses all circumstances (experiences, people, etc.) to meet us where we are at. No matter the depth of our sins, Jesus wants to engage with us. He is not repulsed by us,... Read More
Previous Article: Our Redemption from Shame & Guilt Conquering the effects of shame and guilt are continual. It requires daily attention and it begins with bringing all things back to Jesus. First, Jesus is kind, loving, and not afraid of us. Shame and guilt want you to believe that Jesus will not be this way towards us. However, it is a... Read More
- God is Love: Nuts & Bolts Pt II
I wanted to know and allow others to know that there is no fear in God’s love and judgment. His love is perfect and complete. However, in His perfect love, God prompts us to respond to make it complete.
- God is Love: Nuts & Bolts Pt I
Background In 1 John, John calls the believers back to a fundamental understanding that God is love. He reveals that God is love later in the book. The first issue that he addresses deals with a split or division between strongly opposed sections or parties, caused by differences in opinion or belief. The opposing ideology known as Gnosticism split the believers into two. In 1 John 2:18 – 23, John reveals that antichrist who denied Christ lived among them. These individuals eventually left the church community, but their false teachings continued to infiltrate the church. 1 John 4:1 – 3 …
- God is Love Pt III
When I started this study, I aimed to prove that God’ love remains complete and that His believers reside in His love. I wanted to demonstrate that when believers are imperfect, God perfectly loves them. This understanding is true. God loved us first, so much so that He sent His Son as our sacrifice. In this sacrificial love, God tells us that we do not need to fear the Day of Judgement. Fearing Judgment Day means that we have not embraced the salvation that He has provided. At this point, I wanted the study to be complete. I wanted to …
