“4GIVIN” (Forgiven) I saw written on the number plate of a car just now on my walk into town.

“My sins are forgiven,” I remember reading on the present for Christmas made by my brother in Christ, who also prepared to go and work in the vineyard of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

“Forgiven”

It is so  long ago that I really cannot remember the details, but I remember that it was at the HQ of WEC International near Frankfurt in Germany. (Missionary Society)

Let us find out what the BIBLE says about Forgiveness in Romans chapter eight. Romans is a book in the New Testament.

It is quite a long letter and the letter is written by the Apostle Paul and the Apostle says exactly the same in the first verse and in the last verse of chapter eight.

In the first verse he says:

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, …”

The meaning of the words is that if we are Christians our past sins, our present sins and our future sins have already been dealt with. If you are a Christian you can never be lost. The Bible teaches the ‘Final perseverance of the saints’.

Those who don’t believe that have a very fickle life.

I have already mentioned that the Apostle Paul says the same  in the first verse of Romans chapter eight and in the last verse of Romans chapter eight.

Now, what does he say in Romans chapter eight in the last verse?  He says that nothing

“will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

And no, I did not have a chance to talk to the owner of the car with the number plate “4GIVIN”.

Last year it was:

“… days until Christmas”

“…days until Christmas”

This year it is:

“… sleeps until Christmas”

THE CROSS

“It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus,

First Corinthians 1:30,31

Intr.:

who has become for us wisdom from God – that is,

1.  our righteousness,

2.  holiness and

3.  redemption.

End:

Therefore, as it is written …”

THE CROSS

“I am the gate;

John 10:9,10

Intr.:

whoever enters through me

1.  will be saved.

2.  He will come in and

3.  come out, and

4.  find pasture.

End:

The thief comes only …”

“Mach es wie die Sonnenuhr,

zaehle die heiteren Stunden nur,”

SUNDIAL

is a saying I remember from Germany. The saying even rhymes and means, “Do what the sundial does, count only the cheerful and happy hours.”

I certainly don’t follow that advice!

As a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ I believe what I heard years ago in a sermon and what I have never forgotten:

“The God of eternity is the God of every hour and minute for a believer in Jesus Christ.”

I actually believe that the times without ‘sunshine’ in my life are of greater value for my spiritual life than the times with ‘sunshine’.

“CHRIST CHURCH” in Russell

When I took a picture of the Christ Church in RUSSELL not long go, I did not know that I would stumble upon more information on the Church soon. Here it is:

The Church was built in 1835.

Bullet hole

It is the oldest surviving church in New Zealand.

The church was built by Gilbert Mair. He was a former ship’s carpenter.

During the battle in 1845 between British forces and Rawiti and Hone Heke, the church became the centre of fighting and received a number of bullet holes.

The church was named ‘Christ church’ by Bishop Cowie in 1873 in recognition that it was the oldest surviving church.

I stumbled upon the above information in the magazine of the Baptist Churches in NZ (December, page three).