today was last day of missionary convention, celebrated at our church... we played violin in the orchestra as part of the worship, which was really quite an enjoyable thing... they're encouraging impro, altho most of the time we have long notes and stuff, it's fun jus playing whatever comes to mind and trying to fudge it so it still sounds good and fits well with whatever the singers are singing etc... the band seems to be really quite experienced at the whole impro thing, but violins, errmmm... me, hmmmz - i've done some piano improv, but violin is so different - only one note, and have to fit in with everyone else... think i caught myself playing quite a few strange notes in the middle, but somehow think God must've intervened and made it sound ok to the audience ;p God is wonderful!!! but there were five other violinists in addition, so maybe my strange notes were blended in amongst their proper harmonies ;p always a good thing abt playing in orchestra, you're able to make some mistakes and still sound ok...
the message, brought by david cook (from a sydney bible college), was one that was really powerful and reminded me of my calling to Christ through a book called "a fresh start" by gary chapman... was based on a passage from romans 10, where it talks about the contrast between God's truths and what the Israelites, zealous though they were for God, believed would bring them closer to God... the mistake the Israelites made was believing that the way to God was through obedience to the law, which is impossible to achieve by any human... this is similar to the blueprint followed by most religions in the world (in fact, probably all religions apart from true Biblical Christianity), which are based on the "do" principle - i.e. you must do something to be made right with God... Biblical Christianity, on the other hand, is based on the "done" principle - i.e. God has already done all that was needed through Jesus in order to bring us back to Him... (this contrast was first brought to my attention in that awesome green book that helped bring me back to Christ nearly two years ago!!!)
there are a few things, i suppose, that can be said to elaborate on this...
-firstly, the rift that was made between man and God was initiated by original sin in the garden of Eden... this was man's rebellion, and while we are trapped by law, we are enslaved by sin... this is one reason we are unable, because of the entrapment, to fully obey the law, and are dooming ourselves to failure if this is the way that we choose to make ourselves right with God again...
-secondly, since this is an impossible task for us, who then should the law pertain to if it isn't issued for our own salvation?!? it points directly to Jesus - the one who was able to uphold the law, for He alone is righteous of all ppl on earth!!! this is the reason why the law was given... instead of us trying to make superhuman efforts to make ourselves right with God by the law, we ought to trust and have faith in Jesus, who is God's bridge to us, the way to make ourselves right with Him... He came down to earth, we don't need to try to ascend to Him in heaven... we need not fear death either, for Jesus has defeated death, and we can see this by His resurrection...
-thirdly, the story of everything, from creation through history through to the future, is God's story... God is at the centre of everything, and ought to be the centre, the focus, of our lives also... Jesus, by overcoming death through love, humility, righteousness and sacrifice, is God's love gift to the world!!! what a wonderful thing it is, that God should love us so, all the more glory and praise to Him who deserves all honour!!! God sits upon His throne ;p the Holy king of the universe ;p
what then is there for us to do?!? we ought to remove ourselves from the centre of our own lives, and stop trying to win God's approval through observation of the law alone, for such attemps only prove futile... we ought to simply place our faith in Jesus, the way that God has provided, and put Him at the centre of our lives, responding fully in love for God and for one another, in the way that Jesus has taught us through his exemplary life and teaching... how are you going to respond to Jesus?!?
Romans 10:1-17
1Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. 2For I can testify about them that they are zealous for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. 3Since they did not know the righteousness that comes from God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. 4Christ is the end of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.
5Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: "The man who does these things will live by them." 6But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) 7"or 'Who will descend into the deep?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. 11As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." 12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
14How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
16But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?" 17Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
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