Salus | Salvation | EN | ES | IN

There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that is given amongst men, by which we must be saved! – Acts 4:12

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In this passage the apostle Peter is declaring boldly that the only way to be saved is by Jesus Christ. In the previous verses (Acts 4:10-11), the apostle Peter declares the power of the name of Jesus Christ. He also declares that Jesus Christ is the Cornerstone, and that salvation is only found in Jesus Christ alone. 

Many people seek for salvation without the Saviour.  There is no other way for someone to be saved and to have eternal life. It is by Jesus Christ, and Him alone. The Word of God is very clear about this, especially when we read Acts 4:12. God’s Word has no equal when it comes to authority. It is the supreme and infallible authority to which we must listen, learn and abide in.

Jesus Christ paid the death penalty that God demands of sinners. We can be reconciled to God only through Jesus Christ (John 14:6). Jesus Christ is our all-sufficient Savior!  He atones for all sin and His work of redemption is finished (John 19:30). Our Lord Jesus was the perfect and final sacrifice offered once, for all sins, for all time. Jesus saw His own death as the fulfilment of the Old Testament sacrifices for sin.  At the Last Supper He spoke of His death as the New Covenant in my blood which is shed for you (Luke 22:20).

We should not trust in things that cannot save us (Hebrews 6:1). Salvation can only come to those who trust the Savior Jesus Christ. The apostle John writes:  "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life." (1 John 5:13).  Salvation is a free gift from God, which we should accept gladly. (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Jesus Himself said: “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned, he has crossed over from death to life" (John 5:24). To trust Jesus for salvation is to leave behind all efforts and means to save oneself. Let’s put all our trust in our Lord Jesus Christ. May the Holy Spirit give us boldness like that of the apostles Peter and John (Acts 4:13) to build on the firm and only foundation, Jesus Christ.

Let us also share our faith, believe the Word of God and tell everybody about the free gift of salvation which we can receive by accepting our Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour.

Reflection on Acts 4:1-18 by Hanne

(Listen to podcast here)

In Aeternum | Eternal life | EN | IN | ES

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand - John 10:28

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Believe and you'll be saved

22 At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." 25 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we all know that when Jesus lived on earth, there were so many people who rejected Him. They didn't wholeheartedly accept His teachings although Jesus had done so many miraculous things right before their eyes! Jesus even showed His great compassion and love to them. Nevertheless, they were spiritually blind, they saw all the great things Jesus had done but couldn't understand them. They incessantly looked for ways to find fault in Him. 

Sadly though, they were the Jews, who were actually God's chosen people! Jesus came to His chosen people but they were against Him instead of welcoming Him with open arms. They didn't believe in His teachings and worse than that, they didn't believe Him! They were expecting signs from Him to prove that He is the promised Messiah (John 10:24).

But Jesus clearly pointed out to them that only His sheep recognized His voice (John 10: 26). His sheep hear His voice and therefore, believe in Him without any doubt. Furthermore, in this passage Jesus convinced His sheep that they will always be safe in His hands, He will give eternal life to those who believe in Him (John 10:28). What a fixed assurance we have in Jesus! 

From today's reflection we are reminded of two important things, they are: first, as believers in Jesus we have to put our trust in Jesus, believe in Him and His words undoubtedly. Don't be like the Jews who rejected Jesus and His teachings although Jesus had been with them for quite a long time but they still didn't believe in Him.

Second, we may rejoice in the Lord because we know for sure that we are forever safe in God's protective hands because Jesus is the good Shepherd and we are His sheep. 

Simply put, let us believe in Jesus wholeheartedly and He will forever be with us, protect us against any harm or evil because we are His beloved sheep. Amen 

Reflection on John 10 : 22-42 by Linda

(Listen to podcast here)

I must decrease

"He must increase, but I must decrease." - John 3:30

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 Two years ago on 26th of February was my sister's wedding. The bridegroom was the perfect match for my sister by His Grace and His Providence and I was the most joyful person one could have met on that day. My joy knew no bounds. My joy had no barriers. I was only bustling with joy. Verse 29 from John chapter 3:  "The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom's voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete."

When the groom has his bride, the best man is joyful. He's not jealous or angry, because that outcome is exactly what he wanted in the first place. In this way, John the Baptist has acted like a best man for Jesus. The bridegroom is the Messiah; the bride is the Kingdom of God- the church, consisting of all who are willing to receive Him. Hence the beautiful lesson we learn from John in verse 30 is "He must increase, but I must decrease." The purpose of John the Baptist was to exalt Christ, not himself.

The world we live in is in a way like bats. Bats don't ever go the right way up. They fly sort of head down, and they hang feet up head down, and basically, that's the way they think the world is. So the world in a way think very much like that.: "me first".

When we make Jesus the centre of our lives, when He is placed first, we can be assured we will be doing the will of our Father. Wherever we are, whatever vast or insignificant our ministry for our Lord may be, when Jesus is the centre stage in every role and area of our lives we are sure to say:  "He must increase, but I must decrease."

"No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven." (John 3:27). The next lesson we learn from John the Baptist is when Jesus's popularity was increasing, John the forerunner prophet was not jealous, but glad to tell that everything we receive is from our Father. Thus, if Jesus is getting all the recognition even that is from above. Likewise the simplest of thing, like the meal we eat; to greatest blessing we receive, is all from our Creator. Hence our every success we must attribute it to God. Without His permission not even a sparrow in His care will fall to the ground.

To sum up whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Let Him increase and we decrease for the Love of Christ.

Reflection on John 3:22-36 by Shalley Fernandes

Warn them

"For I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment" - Luke 16: 28.

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Luke 16:16-31

16 "The Law and the Prophets were until John came; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is being proclaimed, and everyone tries to enter it by force. 17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter in the law to be dropped.

18 "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and whoever marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.

19 "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man's table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was being tormented, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side. 24 He called out, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in agony in these flames.' 25 But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus in like manner evil things, but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. 26 Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.' 27 He said, 'Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house— 28 for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.' 29 Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.' 30 He said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' 31 He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' "

Through this parable, Jesus gives us on earth a chilling reminder. There is an impassable chasm exists between those who belong to the kingdom of God and those who for their love of riches on earth reject the gift of salvation through God's only begotten Son. Although all of us are given this lifetime to accept or reject the gift of salvation, once death happens, none of us can cross that chasm between eternal life and eternal damnation. 

In this parable, the rich man and his brothers had lived a life of luxury and cared little about the needs of others, which in this case was the poor man Lazarus lying in front of his house with sores. Although Lazarus suffered a lifetime of evil, he was shown mercy and comfort in death for an eternity. This was in stark contrast to the rich man's fate, whose lifetime of luxurious living resulted in an eternity of torment in Hades. Even though he pleaded with Abraham for mercy and to be given an opportunity to return to earth and warn his brothers of their fate if they continued in the decadent lifestyle. 

As Jesus had solemnly warned in Matthew 12:30-31: "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. Therefore I tell you, people will be forgiven for every sin and blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven."

As the only believer in my family, I'm warned of the urgency of sharing the gospel message with my pre-believing family members, and really need the Holy Spirit's help in having the courage to bear witness to own family members. Please pray with me.

I will close my sharing with this beautiful worship song, a reminder of the Living Hope within each of us as children of God.

Living Hope by Phil Wickham

How great the chasm that lay between us

How high the mountain I could not climb

In desperation, I turned to heaven

And spoke Your name into the night

Then through the darkness

Your loving kindness

Tore through the shadows of my soul

The work is finished, the end is written

Jesus Christ, my living hope

Who could imagine so great a Mercy?

What heart could fathom such boundless Grace?

The God of ages stepped down from Glory

To wear my sin and bear my shame

The Cross has spoken, I am forgiven

The King of kings calls me His own

Beautiful Savior, I'm Yours forever

Jesus Christ, my living hope

Hallelujah, praise the One Who set me free

Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me

You have broken every chain

There's Salvation in Your name

Jesus Christ, my living hope

Then came the morning that sealed the promise

Your buried body began to breathe

Out of the silence, the roaring lion

Declared the grave has no claim on me

Then came the morning that sealed the promise

Your buried body began to breathe

Out of the silence, the Roaring Lion

Declared the grave has no claim on me

Jesus, Yours is the victory, whoa!

Hallelujah, praise the One Who set me free

Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me

You have broken every chain

There's salvation in Your name

Jesus Christ, my living hope

Hallelujah, praise the One Who set me free

Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me

You have broken every chain

There's salvation in Your name

Jesus Christ, my living hope

Hallelujah, praise the One Who set me free

Hallelujah, death has lost its grip on me

You have broken every chain

There's salvation in Your name

Jesus Christ, my living hope

Jesus Christ, my living hope

Oh God, You are my living hope

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/9f2FXxDVO6w?si=WNeaGZLw4irUj9Rq

Songwriters: Brian Johnson / Phil Wickham

Copyright: Living Hope lyrics © Be Essential Songs, Bethel Music Publishing

Reflection on Luke 16:16-31 by Chris Tan

Congratulamini | Rejoice

When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbours, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ – Luke 15:6

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Luke chapter 15 has a set of three parables that are very well-known. We read about the joy of those who find what was lost and the joy in heaven due to the sinner that repented. It is interesting that the Gospel of Luke has more words connected to joy than any other.

Chapter 15 opens with the setting of tax collectors and sinners eating with Jesus. The Pharisees and scribes murmured because Jesus was having meals with those that were outside respectable society. The rest of the chapter flows from this setting. In the first ten verses of Chapter 15 we read two parables about two lost items: a sheep and a coin. Those who seem lost, can still be saved. The public celebration and joy when a sinner repent is very prominent from this section.

Throughout Scriptures, the Lord is compared to a shepherd. Jesus also calls himself the good shepherd in John 10:11- “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” In the first parable in Luke 15, the shepherd does not wait for the sheep to come back. Instead, he actively searches for his lost sheep. Maybe he was also calling the sheep while searching. What a joyous moment when he does find the one lost sheep. The shepherd does not rejoice alone. He invites his friends and neighbours to rejoice with him. All about this one lost sheep. This parable brings indeed a message of hope.

The shepherd leaves the ninety-nine sheep while searching for the lost one. Jesus illustrates that one sheep is important, no matter what. As we read in Luke 19:10: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.”

After the lost sheep is found, the shepherd does not punish the sheep. Depending on how long this sheep was lost, it is probably very tired, thirsty and even hungry.  But the shepherd places the sheep upon his shoulders and carries him back. This illustrates the compassion of the shepherd. We can always trust Jesus to help us carry our burdens and give us rest (Matthew 11:28-29). Then there is the invite by the shepherd to rejoice with him. Unlike the Pharisees' murmuring, we should be rejoicing when a lost sinner repents.

In John 10:27-28 we read: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” The good Shepherd gives us eternal life. As long as we are part of His flock and follow Him. Also, our Shepherd is always near. Whether we are in the green pastures, the waters, among enemies or in the valley. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me" (Psalm 23:4).

Let’s share the Good News and rejoice with the Shephard when lost sheep are found.

Reflection on Luke 15:1-10 by Hanne Teach

(Listen to podcost here)

 

Et dimittam (Mt. 18:21)

Forgiveness is not the same thing as reconciliation, restitution, or approval of sin. Forgiving, according to Jesus in his parable of the unforgiving servant, involves a singular decision by which you consider another person no longer indebted to you.

In that same parable, Jesus draws attention to the fact that an unforgiving person lives with a desire for retribution. That desire becomes like an acid that eats a container from the inside out. An unforgiving person cannot live a life of faith because he believes someone other than God holds the key to his joy. An unforgiving person, therefore, lives a life of sin and is unpleasing to God. He is in a prison of uselessness and out of fellowship with the heavenly Father. He has made his own heart into a dungeon in which he has imprisoned those he won’t forgive, and he lives in personal torment as a result.

How liberating it is to practice forgiveness! And believers in Christ, those who have repented of sin and trusted in Him alone for salvation, can forgive others because they themselves are forgiven. In the story of the Gospel, we discover that because of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, we can come to God, receiving both forgiveness and eternal life. That’s good news for us, as well as for others. Having been forgiven ourselves, we can now forgive those who in any way have offended us. Forgiveness always brings a joyfulness. When the heart cannot forgive then ask God to give us a heart that always wants to forgive. Amen

By Marta Kamaludin.

Persecutionem patientur (2 Tim. 3:12)

The very big question is who  persecutes and who is being persecuted.

There are so many life expressions come into being from  man's everyday experiences, and time has tested them all. The popular one is that " you don't need to throw away the bitter one and to swallow immediately the sweet one". One should think twice to understand this expression for usually people will choose the sweet one rather than the bitter one.... this is children's fave. When a choice is given to them about two houses ; one is luxurious and the other is a simple and big enough for each of their family.... they will spontaniously choose the luxurious one.... this of children choice is possibly very much affected by visual attraction and or the physical attraction .... this also could be possibly elderly demeanour. The choice is not wrong but the effect can possibly make them unhappy, discomfort and suffering. A luxurious one must be expensive.... how can one afford that.... one should work very hard and when he is insisting on he will be possibly sacrificing many things; time, family, friends and many more, until he commits sins... God's words teach us to follow Him, doing everything He expects from us to do.... following Him, can make us joyful and peaceful under pressure ... that's a miracle when our bad mood facing the persecusion can suddenly turn to joyfulness and peacefulness of the children of our Lord Jesus Christ.....

To be children of the Lord Jesus Christ is not an easy task because we have to avoid all the earthly temptation. We are asked to gracefully understand that the persecution which we experience from others is something normal... The Scripture teaches us to persistently maintain and to follow the teaching of our God... Although in persecutions, we need to face them with dignity. Earthly enjoyment is not our destination.... God wants to save us for eternal life. Following Him is our blessing and peace, and satisfaction. The Heavenly Kingdom that we can experience or sense even in the world. God can make us experience the Heavenly Kingdom now and give us eternal life.

By Ceisy Wuntu.