Christian Living

The presence of color in the universe truly is a testimony of the greatness of the Creator. God created the light that we receive from the sun to be a mixture of all the primary colors. The prismatic effect of water droplets separates these colors so that they can be seen individually in a rainbow.

Separation is often viewed in the negative! The purpose of this article is not to soften this subject or somehow present it as something it is not. Rather, the intent is to encourage the reader to consider the basis for this Bible doctrine. May we be strengthened where needed, encouraged to greater faithfulness, and sharpened in our understanding of why God requires His children be separated from a sinful world.

After a classroom discussion about the grace of God; a student felt compelled to gain a better understanding of God’s grace in the life of the Christian believer. This young person wrote a note to Brother Sidney Gingrich asking for his explanation. The response from Brother Sidney follows:

January 20, 2004

Dear Youth,

Greetings in the name of Jesus. I want to now, by the grace of God, answer your letter as relates to Grace, as I understand it.

It is far too easy for us to lose sight of the sovereignty of God when we find ourselves in stressful situations. When God is forgotten we fall prey to temptation to try control the situation by various human means. Deliberate or unintentional, with God out of the picture we come through with fixes that only make our problem only worse.

Multiple titles could fit this piece; “The Chain maker With Long ears” or for more orthodoxy, “The Sin of Unrighteous Judgment.”

Jesus came preaching Messianic Kingdom rules. He preached that holiness and authentic Kingdom living resides inside a heart. His doctrines are our truest measure of righteousness.

One often neglected, misused and disobeyed rule of Jesus’ Olivet teaching is Matthew 7:1-2. “Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”

Ever since the Fall of Man, there has been a need for man to repent of his sins. His carnal desires and choices have placed him on a course away from God. In that course, he at times feels bad for the trouble he has brought upon himself. Sometimes other people suffer for his sins. Is being sorry the same as repentance? What is repentance?

Obedience is a Scriptural concept that has been questioned by Satan and carnal men. From the time of our first parents in the Garden of Eden, obedience to God is weighed with other options. “Yea, hath God said?” If God said it, did He mean it? Can another response be acceptable? Many of the varieties in Christian circles are a result of foundational differences in how people view obedience to God. The place of human existence in the eternal worlds will be the result of obedience versus disobedience.

“Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves” (Php 2:2-3).

Restitution is one of the unpopular subjects relating to the Christian life. The modern emphasis of simply accepting Jesus overlooks the need to make any wrongs right. The easy Christianity advocates would like to think that if they repent and confess their sins, that clears the record. This may be the case for many of our sins, but there are some sins that require restitution.

“For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told” (Ps
90:9).
As I reflect on my pilgrimage of 74 years, this verse becomes more and more real to me. Life is
like a story that is told and even three score and ten years seems so short. The sobering consideration
is “really, what has been done that counts for eternity?” We can easily get caught up in the things of
life that are good and fail to realize the need to “apply our hearts unto wisdom.” Life is serious.