Inspirational Christian Thoughts for the New Year 2019

A New Year represents new possibilities for all.Christians may wish to mark the new year by greater spirituality by renewed commitment to Christ.
Christianity is about new beginnings. Christians believe that when a person gives his/her life according to the following words in Romans 6:4,
"We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life".

All Things Have Become New

 As the old year is left behind, Christians can look forward to fresh opportunities to experience a higher level of spirituality by leaving old behaviours and habits behind, as the Scripture says in 2 Corinthians 5:17," Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here".

Old Ways Have Been Put To Death

The Bible speaks encouraging words to those who struggle to put their past sinful life behind them.Paul wrote to the Roman Christians in Romans 6:6,"For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,that we should no longer be slaves to sin." For Christians,Romans 6:6 offers affirmation that in Christ, the believer's old way of living has been slain. Old habits and behaviours no longer have control and power over the believer whose life is submitted to their religion.

Freedom in Christ to Live a New Life for Him

Since the born-again Christian has been freed from the burden of the former sinful way of life,its believed that he or she is free to live for Jesus as Scriptures teach in Colossians 3:1,2,"Since, then,You have been raised with Christ,set your hearts on things above,where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." Christians believe that they are called to focus their thoughts on Christ upon His throne and to give less thought to earthly things which will soon pass away. Christians also believe that the Bible teachings will prepare believers for living in a glorious kingdom, as Colossians 3:4 says, "When Christ,who is your life,appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." Though the "old man" has been crucified with Christ, notice the command in Colossians 3:5,"So put to death the sinful,earthly things lurking within you".(New Living Translation) Many Christians believe that they are called to actively fight against sin

Service, the Christian's Great Joy


A Christian's great joy may be realized when he or she  enlisted in the service of God, as 2 Timothy 2:21 says,"Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy,useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work."
In Christ, believers believe that they are called to begin a new each day, turning from a life of service to self and sin,to serving God and humanity. Nevertheless, when the cares of life crowd the thoughts spirituality suffers. The New Year is a reminder to the Christian of the blessings of the past year and a reminder that in Christ all things have become new. In this way, the New Year can mark the beginning of renewed commitment to Christ.

New Year Prayer 2019

The Life of Jesus Christ

Second Coming of Jesus Christ

Do you Know God-Nick vujicic

Hell

There are two descriptions of hell in the Bible. One is of a burning fire. Jesus often used the word GEHENNA to describe hell. Gehenna was the refuse dump outside Jerusalem that was always on fire. Jesus said hell was a place of worms, maggots, fire, and trouble. From that we get the image of a lake of fire and the concept of perpetual burning. The evil ones there are full of remorse and torment (see Mark 9:43-48).

Jesus also said that hell would be "outer darkness." He said that some in His day "will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 8:12, see also Matthew 22:13). Here the image is one of terrible loneliness. There will be separation from God and man. Those who are consigned to hell will be put out into the inky blackness of eternity, with nobody to turn to, nobody to talk to, and they will be constantly alone. They will suffer the remorse of knowing they had the opportunity to come into heaven with God but turned it down.

The Bible speaks of a lake of fire reserved for the devil and his angels (see Matthew 25:41). Human beings were never intended to go into hell. But the ones who choose to reject God will one day follow Satan right into hell.

There will be no exit from hell, no way out, no second chance. That is why it is so important in this life to receive the pardon that God extends to all men through the cross of Jesus Christ.

"Eternity"

Eternal life in heaven is received through knowledge of God, the Father, and is contained in His Son, Jesus Christ. We obtain this gift of life through salvation which God offers to all by the death and resurrection of His Son. When Jesus was massacred, beaten, humiliated, and crucified, the penalty for our sins was fully paid and we were given the opportunity to be reconciled to God. We receive this privilege by simply believing; God extends life to us when we have faith in what His Son, Jesus accomplished on the cross. 

This life begins at the moment we believe. We are immediately transformed into new creations and a new existence, now lived in fellowship with God, begins. This is the origin of the Christian's eternal life; we now have the presence of God with us at all times to guide us and direct us and help us to live according to the new standards and principles found in His Word. 

But what will eternal life be like? Although this life begins in the present and is blessed by God, we are still living on the earth and subject to earthly hardships, sorrows and disappointments. We take refuge in the presence of God while the promises in His Word comfort and sustain us. But this life that we have obtained is everlasting. It will extend beyond the boundaries of this earthly existence, indeed beyond time and the grave. So while we may suffer adversity here and now as foreigners in a strange country, we have hope of a better day.Best Sellers in Grocery & Gourmet Foods 

Yes, Christians suffer as foreigners in a strange land because our new existence is lived in contrast to those around us who continue to live in darkness without the life of Christ.Amazon Business Exclusive Deals The apostle Paul fully understood this, for he writes in his letter to the Corinthians, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable" (1 Corinthians 15:19). 

 But our hope is not only in this life; we look forward to the time when we will live unencumbered by our mortal bodies and life's untoward circumstances. Eternal life in its ultimate fulfillment will be lived in the joyous presence of the living God, forever. We will be transformed into beings that are immortal and incorruptible; no longer need we fear sickness, pain or death. Even greater than this is the expectation of being like the Son, an unimaginable concept, but yet the truth offered to us in God's Word. "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is" (1 John 3:2). 

Eternal life for the believer is the glorious, endless experience of our inheritance that we share with Jesus Christ, for we are "joint heirs" with Christ. We shall live for all eternity to reign as kings and priests, finally worthy to behold the face of the God. And, as the Apostle John concluded, "Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure" (1 John 3:3
).