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CSI Good News
(Church of South India Good News)
Vol. 15 / Issue 34 / March 19 2015
Contents of this issue
Editorial
Self Denial is not the True Gospel
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News Items (Common to all issues) :
Through the Valley of Death & other Books
Download Articles in Handheld Computers
Kids Page - Free Tutorials
Hindi / Malayalam/Tamil Bible Online
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Editorial
By Sherly Isaac
In today's world we see so many wrong things being done in the name of religion. People who are cutting the heads of others are thinking that they are doing some kind of religious duty. When they kill others, when they torture others they think that they are doing God's will. I would like to tell you a story of a young man who thought the same thing. His name is Saul.
Saul was young and zealous for the Lord and wanted to do the religious works with great passion. He was a scholar who studied scriptures in depth. But his understanding of scriptures was not correct. When he saw that many people were following Jesus and becoming His disciples, he got furious. There was a disciple of Jesus named Stephen who was preaching the Gospel and some of the Pharisees were so annoyed with his message that they cried out with loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of this young man named Saul. He was consenting to the death of Stephen and he started making havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison. Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that he would find any who were of the Way, whether men or women that he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?" And he said, "Who are You, Lord?" Then the Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads." So he, trembling and astonished, said, "Lord, what do You want me to do?" Then the Lord said to him, "Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
This man Saul who was later called Paul was a vicious man but a day came when he met the creator of this universe and his life was changed forever. He realized that his zeal and passion was in the wrong place. He realized that God loves us and has compassion on people and instead of working against God in ignorance; he became a humble servant of God.
What a transformation! His way of thinking, his life style, his whole life took a dramatic turn. This is what happens when a person meets Jesus in his/her life. You may be in a good Christian family but if you have not yet met Jesus, this is the day when you can come to Him and give your life to Jesus.
He will change your whole life just as He did for Paul. Not only that, but He will give you eternal life and a place in heaven. Would you give your life to Jesus today?
Self Denial is not the True Gospel
By Sherly Isaac
These are the days when we remember the sufferings of Jesus and His death and resurrection. Often many Christians would fast in these days; they will not eat certain foods and try to identify themselves with the sufferings of Jesus. Some people even think that self denial is the true Gospel. John MacArthur says in his book, "Hard to Believe: The High Cost and Infinite Value of Following Jesus" that “The true gospel is a call to self-denial. It is not a call to self-fulfillment.” But sadly enough John MacArthur even does not know the meaning of Gospel. Gospel means Good News and the truth is that self denial is not Gospel at all according to the Bible.
When Jesus was born an angel proclaimed to the shepherds in Luke 2:10-11, "Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news (Gospel) of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."
So the Gospel is that Jesus the savior is born who can save us from our sins. Jesus being God Himself humbled Himself and came in this world. The reason of His coming was to save us from our sins because no human being could ever pay for their salvation through their self denial or sacrifice. No matter how many good works you do those good works are filthy rags in the sight of God. No matter how much fasting you do, no matter how many foods you avoid but none of these could ever erase your sins. The bottom line is that you can not save your soul by yourselves by your hard works, rituals, self-denial or by torturing your bodies. When God saw that we are dying because of our sins and because we are unable to come out of our sins, He came down in the form of man to save us from our sins. He suffered before going to the cross and on the cross and He shed His precious blood to bring salvation of our souls. He finished the work of our salvation on the cross. We need not to do any work in order to get salvation but it takes only a simple step of humbleness to come at the feet of Jesus which can erase our sins. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Bible also tells us in Acts 4:12 that there is no other name give for our salvation except Jesus' as we read, "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
We can not replace the Gospel with any other name even not with self denial. But if we just humble ourselves at the feet of Jesus and if we just repent of our sins and accept Him as our Lord and Savior He is ready to forgive and forget our sins.
Now you may think that what about the self denial Jesus spoke in the scriptures? Jesus spoke these things to His disciples who have already given their lives to Jesus that they should fully follow Him. Apostle Paul says in Romans 12:1-2, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."
Jesus did not say that go hungry, stay naked and homeless then only you will be able to get in to heaven but He wanted His disciples to follow Him in every step hearing His voice and obeying Him in every step. If you have given your life to Jesus, you need to obey His voice and obey His commandments no matter how hard it may look.
Have you ever heard about Arabian horses that they are trained rigorously in the Middle Eastern deserts? They are tested for their obedience. Master will deprive them of water for several days. He will command them to lie down and not move and monitor them minutely whether they are obeying him or not. These horses are thirsty and needed water badly yet they obey their master. Then the master will turn them loose near water. As the horses get to the edge of the water, and just before they drink of the much needed water. The master blows his whistle which means horses need to return to the master. The thirsty horses have choice to choose water or the master. Those horses who learned to obey his master would return but others will not. Then the master will take them in front of the waterfall where they could hear the sounds of water and see the water with their eyes but they will not be allowed to drink water. The horses are in smoldering heat and in the deserts, they are very thirsty from several days and they needed water at any cost but their master will not allow them to drink water. Later when master turns them loose, they race toward the waterfall and when they reach near the waterfall, master blows his whistle again. Once again they have to choose water to save their lives or return to the master. Those horses which don't even care their drastic need of water and return to the master would be called Arabian horse.
When Jesus said to His disciples that, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it", He clearly wanted them to follow Him with all their hearts by obeying Him in every step just as Arabian horses were faithful in obeying their master. Do you have a heart to follow Jesus fully no matter what comes on your way? Will you obey Him without caring for your drastic needs? My friend, it is not easy but the master will not let those horses die in the desert but he provides them water when they return to him. If you follow Jesus, it may not be easy but Jesus will take care of your needs and He will bring you out triumphantly out of your troubles.
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Through the Valley of Death & other Books
As many of you know that in the year 2005, our dad was very sick even unto death. God miraculously healed him. We have compiled it in a book form. I sure believe that it will inspire you and encourage you greatly.
This book is available for purchase at JasmineCorp Store
Also read these two books by Sherly Isaac "Allah and Elohim - Are they the same God" Available at JasmineCorp Store, and "Is Jesus God?" Available at JasmineCorp Store,
Both books compares the Bible and the Quran and read eye opening facts about Jesus, God of the Bible, Allah and Islamic faith. I am sure that you want to read this.
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Hindi / Malayalam/Tamil Bible Online
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Your feedback and comments are Welcome. Please send your Parish news & articles to Editor (Sherly N. Isaac) at this address News@csinewsletter.comThe messages submitted will be checked whether they are correct according to the word of God. Editor reserves the right to accept, reject or edit the messages. The writers are responsible for the contents of their writings.
 
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