CHARITY CASE

A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF GOOD WORK IS DONE IN COLLECTING FOR CHARITY.

Charity Collector

 It was fascinating to watch how people respond to the solitary figures with their money boxes and giving away sticker badges.

Some completely ignored them, others immediately approached, dropped their coin in the bucket and went away wearing their badge of honour .

The intriguing people were those who felt the need to explain that they’d already given but lost the badges.

Charities are well respected, and rightly so, for the opportunity they provide for donors to be generous and all the good work they do. 

The Free Dictionary defines ‘charity thus: [ http://www.thefreedictionary.com/%5D

1. Provision of help or relief to the poor; almsgiving.
2. Something given to help the needy; alms.
3. An institution, organization, or fund established to help the needy.
4. Benevolence or generosity toward others or toward humanity.

5. Indulgence or forbearance in judging others.

It goes on to describe a 6th meaning of ‘charity’:

 The theological virtue defined as love directed first toward God but also toward oneself and one’s neighbours as objects of God’s love.

In this 6th sense (???) the work of sharing the Goodnews of God's love for sinners, His provision of His Son as a substitute for sinners, His calling of people to believe and be saved is 'charitable' work  of the highest importance.

Charity Display

The Distinctive of This Charitable Work is that it’s about Giving Instead of Collecting.

The greatest gift anyone can give, the greatest good anyone can do is to provide you with all you need to understand the love of God for lost people.

As long as people are around there will be a need to give to those who help cancer sufferers, provide lifeboats, air ambulances and provide for human and animal welfare.

But only the gospel of God’s kindness to undeserving sinners meets mankind’s great need of a Saviour. The cancer of sin, the danger of drowning in it and just plain compassion for mankind is the primary Christian Charitable Cause.

Martin Luther wrote: “The believing man has the Holy Ghost; and where the Holy Ghost dwells, He will not suffer a man to be idle, but stirs him up to all exercises of piety and godliness, and of true religion, to the love of God, to the patient suffering of afflictions, to prayer, to thanksgiving, and the exercise of charity towards all men.” 

Because of this the Church in Pickering makes the Good News available to tourist and local people alike.

Mark 16:15 (NKJV)

 “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

Romans 1:15 (NKJV)

So, as much as is in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in [Pickering] Rome also.

1 Corinthians 9:16 (NKJV)

For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!

As A Charitable Act We Would TELL YOU About God’s Great Love and Call You to Receive His Free Gift of ETERNAL Life.

You must either be a ‘Charity Case’ or  suffer the ravages of your own sin forever.

A.B. Simpson is reported to have said that the gospel “Tells rebellious men that God is reconciled, that justice is satisfied, that sin has been atoned for, that the judgment of the guilty may be revoked, the condemnation of the sinner canceled, the curse of the Law blotted out, the gates of hell closed, the portals of heaven opened wide, the power of sin subdued, the guilty conscience healed, the broken heart comforted, the sorrow and misery of the Fall undone.”
Evangelism, A Biblical Approach, M. Cocoris, Moody, 1984, p. 29

63395

Market Place Park Street Junction

PAGAN – IN PICKERING?

Market Place

Bridge Street, Park Street Junction

An Ordinary

Saturday 

Lunchtime

In Pickering.

Leaflet Display Table

More than half a dozen people stopped to talk, I’m always grateful to those Christians who want to encourage me  in my efforts to bear witness for the Lord.

The one who has left me thinking though, is the lady who cheerfully described herself as a ‘Pagan’!

She told me she believed in the ‘spiritual’ and that Jesus was the source of her morals, and left!

.

WHAT IS A PAGAN?

Wikipedia [where else would you look?] defines ‘pagan’ as:

Contemporary Paganism, or Neopaganism, includes reconstructed religions such as Hellenic polytheism, Celtic or Germanic reconstructionism as well as modern eclectic traditions such as Discordianism, or Wicca and its many offshoots.Many of the “revivals”, Wicca and Neo-druidism in particular, have their roots in 19th century Romanticism and retain noticeable elements of occultism or theosophy that were current then, setting them apart from historical rural (paganus) folk religion.

 

One ‘Pagan’ web site advertises itself as:

Your one stop spot for information relating to God and/or Goddess Worship in all its many forms…  Celtic, Druid, Egyptian, Greek, Magical Traditions, Eastern, Native American, Norse Heathen, Roman, Santeria, Wicca, WitchCraft {Craft of the Wise} and other Earth Centered and Nature Based Religious Faiths.  

The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary describes them as:

Those who worship a god or gods other than the living God to whom the Bible witnesses.   

 

PAGANISM

MIGHT BE 

SUMMARISED AS: 

Those religions which Christianity replaced, having demonstrated itself to be the only true revelation of the Supreme Being to mankind.

 The delusions Satan uses to keep people trapped in sin and condemned to hell!

When the Pagan world of the New Testament was challenged by the Good News Of Jesus Christ’s Life, death and resurrection, Paganism crumbled before it.

Acts 19:19a (NKJV)

Also, many of those who had practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. 

Paganism Flourishes Today Because The Gospel has Been Distorted,  Misrepresented, and Ignored.

The ‘light’ has gone out and darkness rules the land.

THE GOSPEL LIGHT SHINES TO GIVE HOPE TO THOSE EMBROILED IN PAGAN DARKNESS.

John 8:12 (NKJV)

 Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

John 12:46 (NKJV)

 I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness.

 Jesus’ Sacrifice Established Forever That There Is Only One God, and Only One Way To Be One With God –

Ancient paganism thought of each god as bound to his worshippers by self-interest because he depended on their service and gifts for his welfare. Modern paganism has at the back of its mind a similar feeling that God is somehow obligated to love and help us, even though we don’t deserve it. This was the feeling voiced by the French freethinker who died muttering, “God will forgive—that’s his job.” But this feeling is not well founded. The God of the Bible does not depend on his human creatures for his well-being (see Ps. 50:8–13; Acts 17:25), nor, now that we have sinned, is he bound to show us favor. We can only claim from his justice—and justice, for us, means certain condemnation.
God does not owe it to anyone to stop justice from taking its course. He is not obligated to pity and pardon; if he does so it is an act done, as we say, “of his own free will,” and nobody forces his hand. “It depends not upon man’s will or exertion, but upon God’s mercy” (Rom. 9:16). Grace is free because it is self-originated and proceeds from the One who was free not to be gracious. Only when one realizes that what decides each man’s destiny is whether or not God resolves to save him from his sins, and that this is a decision which God need not make in any single case, can one begin to grasp the biblical view of grace.
Your Father Loves You by James Packer, (Harold Shaw Publishers, 1986), page for May 4

RUBBISH

Refuse Collection Van

Where would we be

|

without someone

|

who was willing

|

to clean up after us?

27 Million Tonnes Of Rubbish Is Thrown Away In The U.k. Every Year.The Current Population Of The U.k. Is 60 Million. So How Much, On Average, Does Each Person Throw Away Each Year? 27 000 000 / 60 000 000 =0.45 tonnes. Therefore, each person produces 0.45 tonnes of rubbish on average in a year.

"And humans make such a fuss about us"!

Dirt and pollution is everywhere, we may love our steam locomotives, but who would want live near them?

I may look shiny, but I pour out soot all the time.

I'm no different.

Clean enough to eat from .. !

Much as we like our streets to be clean and tidy, it takes lots of work and must be repeated each and every day.

Their task is endless, the rubbish just keeps on coming – and thankfully going – so we live a healthy life in a healthy environment !

 The Physical Problem and how it’s managed pictures a far greater pollution, the crippling , all contaminating corruption of sin.

Everywhere is affected, the world itself groans under it’s weight:

Romans 8:22 (NKJV)

For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.

Mankind is Corrupt, to the extent that he pretends pollution is good and being clean is bad:

Genesis 6:5 (NKJV)

The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Jesus Christ Came To Cleanse Believers and Restore Them To Their Original Condition:

Matthew 8:3 (NKJV)

Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

 Those whom He has cleansed are kept clean by the daily application of Jesus’ sacrificial death

1 John 1:9 (NKJV)

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The Work He completed on the Cross has changed the world forever.

1John 1:7b (NKJV)

The blood of Jesus Christ God’s Son cleanses us from all sin. 

A preacher was speaking from the text, “The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.” Suddenly he was interrupted by an atheist who asked, “How can blood cleanse sin?”

 For a moment the preacher was silent; then he countered, “How can water quench thirst?”

 “I do not know,” replied the unbeliever, “but I know that it does.”

 “Neither do I know how the blood of Jesus cleanses sin,” answered the preacher, “but I know that it does.” —Sunday School Times

RUN, RUN, RUN.

Group Running.

Front Runner

Running Back

Lone Runner

Hard Work, Running.

 Saturday Afternoon

.

Saw The Town

.

‘Overrun’ by

.

Open Adventure

.

Runners.

Their Web Site [www.openadventure.com] tells us that:

Open Adventure was set up by James Thurlow in 2004 in reaction to the lack Adventure Racing in the North of England. 

Saturday’s event was an ‘Open 12’ – 12 hours of adventure racing in a wonderful location, and they even paid £110 to take part! 

Their Dedication, Effort and Commitment was a Delight to see.

You can only begin to imagine the training and planning that went into such an event.

 How Different

. 

To The Normal

. 

Pickering Pace

.

of Life.

Road Side Cafe.

Train Spotting, Loco 80072.

Pickering Beck and Ducks.

Normally the most exciting thing people do is decide which flavour of ice cream to buy!

THE TWO ALTERNATIVES RAISE MANY QUESTIONS – WHAT IS LIFE ALL ABOUT?

‘Who am I? What is my purpose in life? Why am I here? Where am I going? How can I be sure?

Challenging Physical Exercise Can Give A Sense of Well Being and Achievement.

So can a sweet cold ice cream or stroll by a pleasant stream.

But neither answer the Ultimate Questions, that relate to life and death.

Ultimate Questions Need Satisfactory Answers.

The Bible alone explains the meaning of life and introduces Jesus Christ who satisfies the deepest needs of believers.

It’s pages tell us of our special status as made in God’s image, then that we are made to walk in familiar communion with our maker. It further explains that your whole life is about recovering the relationship with God that is spoilt by sin. That this can only be accomplished through personal faith in Jesus Christ, wherein He delivers you from God’s wrath and eternal judgment. Confirmed as true by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who died on the cross, on the third day.

Its a lot to take in, but as you can see the table above is loaded with information, which is entirely free.  Just ask and we’ll do what we can to supply your need.

John 6:35 (NKJV)

 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

Matthew 11:28 (NKJV)

Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Acts 13:38 (NKJV)

Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins

2 Corinthians 5:20 (NKJV)

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

LIFE’S JOURNEY.

EVERYONE IS GOING

–> –>  –>

SOMEWHERE –

We even live beside roads and have developed a multitude of vehicles to  travel along them. Add to them the magnificent railways, aeroplanes and ships, and the whole world is ours to explore.

Horses and carriage taking newly weds on the first part of the journey of life together.

The local bus takes passengers to Scarborough.

The train will whisk you through the beautiful Moors to Whitby.

A car will drive you through the streets of any town.

Wherever you look people are going or coming from somewhere.

A wise traveler will consult a map or at least ask directions, it saves time, keeps you from being lost.

.

Life itself is a

.

one way journey.

 From our first gasp of air to our last we move through time and space to our destination.

Anyone who follows this course without a map or directions ends up tragically lost.

Though there are plenty resources available and free, many imagine they can find their way without help.

Directions, freely available for all.

Life’s Journey Ends With An Audience With Your Maker.

Only those who’ve come by the prescribed route are welcome, all others are excluded forever.

 John 14:6 (NKJV)

⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Hebrews 10:19–20 (NKJV)

¹⁹ Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,

 Matthew 25:23 (NKJV)

²³ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

 A rich man failed in business. He gathered up the fragments of his wrecked fortune and had in all a few thousand pounds. He determined to go to the West and start anew. He took his money and purchased a motor home, furnishing it in the most luxurious style, and stocking it with provisions for his journey. In this sumptuous vehicle he traveled to his destination. At length he stepped from the door of his motor home and only then thought for the first time of his great folly. He had used all his money in getting to his new home, and now had nothing with which to begin life there. This incident illustrates the foolishness of those who think only of this life and make no provision for eternity.

Saturday 8th November 2009 Pickering

A FINE AUTUMN MORNING

AND

A GREAT OPPORTUNITY

TO TALK ABOUT

JESUS CHRIST!

The town was moderately busy and some people took the time to speak with us.

Handing over the Good News

Park Street

The Ropery

The Locomotive was on time, and in a rush to be off:-

 

Steaming off .......

I’M GLAD TO SAY

THERE WERE SOME

PEOPLE WHO SPOKE

ABOUT

THE REALLY IMPORTANT

MATTERS OF LIFE.

Good News Table

I spoke with a couple from Bristol where the wife was a believer and the husband wasn’t.

We quickly agreed that we didn’t want to get into an argument, so I proceeded with caution.

Its always challenging to meet couple’s like this, and its usually the husband who is the unbeliever.

He made clear that he wasn’t anti Christianity, that he had no objections to his wife’s beliefs, but simply didn’t believe.

John’s gospel is clear concerning the tragic difference between believers and unbelievers, even if married!

John chapter 3 and verse 36 says:  “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

One enjoys a life which has been given by God and will go on forever, the other a life which will soon run out and suffer the indignation of God against their unbelief!

Few people realise the offensive nature of unbelief. God made all of us, provides a beautiful world for our enjoyment, sent His Son to break the power of sin, raised Him from the dead to establish His triumph over the grave, and yet many people audaciously thumb their nose at Him.

Men are easily offended and soon show their displeasure, just cut in front of another car and you’ll soon feel the heat of ‘road rage’. So foolish when you remember there are no perfect drivers.

God’s ‘wrath’ is the expression of a perfect being’s displeasure at imperfect man’s arrogant unbelief.

The sin of taking all the Creator has provided and misusing it, of knowing that Jesus Christ died to save and choosing to drown.

Hebrews chapter 2 and verse 3 says:  how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him?

1John chapter 5 and verse 10 says:  He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.

Those who ‘will not believe’ will find themselves in the most aweful predicament, shut up to suffer God’s wrath, forever!

As you might imagine, our conversation took on a serious turn for I soon demonstrated that his unbelief is a choice of the will, not a lack of information.

Tragically, man’s unbelief is the clearest evidence that he is a rebel at heart, not simply uninformed.

The Good News is that God has diagnosed man’s condition and personally provided the remedy.

His own dear Son has suffered the wrath of God on the cross at Calvary that all who believe might never experience the wrath of God, surely you must abandon your unbelief and cast yourself upon His mercy. TODAY.

Hebrews chapter 3 and verse 15 says:  “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

 

Saturday 31st October 2009

The overnight rain passed and left us with a pleasant October day.

We were only to glad to be out to publish the Good News again!

Sir Nigel graced us with his presence, even though he was creating his own black clouds!

Their were a number of people about, enjoying the brief spell of dry weather.

We were set up and ready to speak:

Ready and waiting.

Looking up Market Place

 The first lady to stop said she believed in God and Jesus but was interested in other religions also, especially Buddhism.

While this may seem attractive on the surface, any study of the many, so called gods, quickly reveals their total incompatibility.

In Buddhism there is no actual Supreme Being, no personal God, its actually a very ancient form of Atheism.

Life is about escaping suffering through spiritual disciplines!

The Christian Faith revolves around the existence of a self existing, personal God.

One who is pleased to reveal Himself in time, ultimately assuming real human flesh and suffering on behalf of His people.

Exodus chapter 3 verse 14:  And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”

Matthew chapter 1 and verse 23:  “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

Mark chapter 10 and verse 45:  “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

 There is no common ground between Christianity and Buddhism. Like all man made religion Buddhism is at best a self improvement programme and ultimately futile! The Good News Christianity brings is that of the Saviour God who does for us what we could never accomplish by our own efforts.

Acts chapter 4 and verse 12 is very clear:

“Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

Nick was able to explain to this dear lady that sin prevents us enjoying God’s presence here or hereafter. That if we are ever to know God and enjoy any assurance of His favour then one must be found who can remove our sin, cancel the record of our madness. That One Is Jesus Christ, and no one else, certainly not you or I with our imperfect ‘good works’.

Romans Chapter 6 and verse 23:  For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

If you have been labouring under the delusion that all religions are equal, perhaps even ‘drawn’ to Buddhism, then you also need to be directed to the Son of God who willingly gave His life for the sins of His people, the one and only way to God.

John chapter 14 and verse 6 is quite clear:   I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Please contact us at:  ryedaleevangelicalchurch@yahoo.co.uk if you need more information or help.

War Weekend – Saturday 17th October 2009

A Fine But Cold Day, But Pickering is Packed with People.

 

Officially its 1943 and everyone is to dress appropriately!

 

An excellent opportunity to reach out and talk about the only lasting Peace Maker.

 

FIRST – SOME PICTURES:

 

If you can see yourself write a comment and we’ll send you information about finding peace with God.

Looking up Market Place

 

Looking Down Market Place

Smiddy Hill.

 

The RoperyBirdgate

 

 

While many reveled in the romance of the day, there were some who sought to speak of the reason men fight and the One who intervened to liberate man from its terrible grip.

Jas 4:1  Where do wars and fights come from among you?

Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?

Many stopped to talk, listen, and face the terrible truth that man is at war with God until he is given grace to surrender and believe.

Good news table.

 

The Home Guard

Our Group

 Nick Preached about the need to be rescued to an attentive audience.

Nick Preaching

Asking whether anyone on the beach at Dunkirk would refuse to get in a boat, he challenged all who heard about their refusal to be rescued by Jesus Christ. 

Matthew 1:21

  “you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.”

 

 

Saturday 12th September 09 – Pickering, North Yorkshire

Another Fine Saturday Morning. And what better way to spend it than making people aware of the amazing love of the God who forgives sin.

A Busy Market Place.

Park Street seems quieter.

The Ropery is quiet.

The gospel is spread faithfully here, whether there be few or many to receive it.

Graham, Vanessa and Nick, read to speak.

That's me, a clear picture this time.

My conversation with Mark.

Just as we were about finished setting up the table a young man called Mark engaged me in conversation. He was looking for information about places to walk his dog which we were able to furnish. But with it I offered a leaflet which asks, ‘Are you good enough to go to heaven’. Its a very useful tool in bring people to understand their sinfulness and the need of the Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Our conversation went round and round on the same subjects for about half an hour, so I was able to explain the gospel and the need to personally embrace Jesus Christ as Saviour. Mark left with a collection of leaflets, may it be the pleasure of God to bring about his new birth.

Mark is typical of this sceptical generation. They know what they don’t want to believe and confirm it to themselves from a distorted understanding of the Bible.

His Argument was: Men Wrote The Bible, not God. – Now any Christian would answer that man’s involvement in giving us the Scriptures is only part of the story. 40 men did indeed record the words, but each of them was directed by God Himself. The unity of the Bible indicating that the one Supreme Being over saw those who wrote. Peter says this in his second epistle, chapter 1 and verse 21:

“prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

As Micheal Green explains in His Commentary:

“The word moved is a maritime expression (Acts 17:15,17) used of a ship carried along by the wind in its sails. The prophets raised their sails and God filled them, and carried them along in the direction He wished. … Revelation was not a matter of passive reception; it meant active co-operation. God did not use instruments, but men.”

“The Bible was written over a period of about 1,500 years by more than forty different human authors.

From a variety of backgrounds, including Joshua (a military general), Daniel (a prime minister), Peter (a fisherman), and Nehemiah (a cupbearer).

They wrote in different places, Different Continents And Languages

The wilderness (Moses), prison (Paul), and Patmos exile (John). Three different continents (Africa, Asia, Europe), and in three different languages (Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek).

The contents of the Bible deal with many controversial subjects.

Yet, the Bible is a unity.

From beginning to end, there’s one unfolding story –

God’s plan of salvation for mankind. “

From: Answers to Tough Questions What Skeptics Are Asking About The Christian Faith Josh McDowell And Don Stewart McDowell, J., & Stewart, D. D. (1993). Answers to tough questions. Originally published: San Bernardino, Calif. : Here’s Life Publishers, c1980. Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.

Saturday 6th September 09

Colder but fine, what a privilege to get out to speak with people about the only Saviour and their need of His saving grace in their lives.

Some views of the Town:

If you can see yourself, get in touch we’d love to hear from you. If you can’t see yourself, get in touch anyway!

Looking up Market Place

Looking along the Ropery

Looking along Park Street

Nick And Vanessa are Happy to Be Out Today:

Ready to Serve!

I even managed to get my picture taken

Passing out tracts

I Spoke With Three Believers Today:

Its a real delight to meet those who share the hope that comes from embracing Jesus Christ alone as Saviour.

Jude 3  Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

The first was Toby, a fine young man who was happy to have his picture taken.

Toby, with Locomotive in the Background

We very quickly found that we of one mind, I’d never met him before and may never meet him again as he was in town visiting family.

A simply enquiry as to whether he was ‘born again’ brought out a hearty ‘yes’ and before long we were talking about the Saviour and the need to speak of Him to the people around us.

The concept of being ‘born again’ lies at the heart of the distinction between real and pretend Christians. We know that as our natural birth gave us life in this world, the new birth gives the life of the world to come, right here and now.

A work of God, it opens the heart to love God and turns the feet to follow Jesus. As I didn’t decide to be born naturally, I don’t decide to be born again its the gracious gift of God.

These Bible Verses Explain What Happens:

John 1:12,13  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

1Pe 1:3,4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,

1John 5:1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.

You are ‘born again’ when God the Holy Spirit gives you new life as you hear the word of God, this new life shows itself in that you turn from sin, to God and like a new born infant cries out, you cry out to Jesus to save you.

Jesus said its absolutely essential if you are to have any hope of seeing or entering the kingdom of God. There are some religious organisations which call themselves ‘churches’  where they say you are born again when a religious official says a few words over you and sprinkles water on your head, they didn’t get that from the Bible, you can’t trust those who add their own ideas to what God has said in Scripture. A very wise man called Agur once wrote:

Proverbs 30:6  Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.

Have you been born again?  Is the new birth you describe the same as that which Jesus described to Nicodemus in John chapter 5, its for adults, not babies.

The second was a lady from Staffordshire, she introduced herself as  a Gypsy Believer.

Again we quickly found that we were of the same persuasion, she looks to Jesus Christ for Salvation and Rests in the Work He has done on her behalf. So different to religious people who invariably depend on their own efforts to satisfy the justice of God. Have you ever read these words:

Romans 5:1-4  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

To be ‘justified’ is to be declared not guilty because another has borne your punishment and reconciled you to God. He who has done this is Jesus Christ, the only completely innocent man to have ever lived. The only one who could therefore bear the punishment others deserve for law breaking. As man He stands in the believer’s place, as God the merit of His sacrifice is infinite and therefore sufficient to clear the debt of all who call upon Him to save them.

This is what separates Believers from those trapped on the treadmill of Religion, God has specifically said that Jesus came to set men free, not to entrap them with religious ritual as they strive to gain merit. Let the Bible Speak:

John 8:36 “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.

Romans 4:7,8  “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; blessed is the man to whom the LORD shall not impute sin.”

Romans 8:1  There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,

This is why we are out each week talking to people about the Good News bound up in the Person of Jesus Christ.

We want to tell you about HIM!

The third person, actually a couple who live locally, worship with us regularly. They are like family, born of the same Spirit, partakers of the same hope, we expect to live forever in the presence of God because of the great work which Jesus Christ accomplished by dying and rising from the dead.

Ephesians 4:4-6  There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.