Christmas Message for New Year 2016
‘There is nothing human that is untouched by spirit and nothing spirit that is untouched by God’
Firstly, I would like to recommend a book titled ‘Thy Kingdom Come – Jesus and the reign of God’; written by William V Dych Pub: Herder and Herder, 1999.
In the introduction Dych presents that ‘God offers salvation to all people…God’s graciousness knows neither temporal nor geographic limits, but it is present at all times and in all places.’ Dych writes about ‘a new theological understanding of the church and its own life of Grace’.He presents that Grace embraces the human capacity to
‘act of knowledge’
‘act of freedom’
‘and act of love….’
‘God consciousness is when we are able to keep the knowledge of God and the knowledge of the world together in a differentiated unity…….because Christian revelation is neither about one nor the other, but precisely about the relationship between the two – just as the colour green is about blue and yellow. This unity is described as the theology of grace and the theology of nature as illustrated by the life, death and resurrection – life after death, of Jesus.’ It is love that constitutes genuine human life and is the beginning of eternal life here and now, a life that death cannot destroy……our natural desire for the vision of God…created by God with the intrinsic potential of sharing Gods Kingdom.This is illustrated for us through the divine-human relationship in Jesus to the life of Grace, where ever it is lived; for all grace is God’s self-communication.‘…..men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit’.
Our association with Jesus the son teaches us to interact with faith in God the father and integrate his holy spirit as our spiritual guide at all times and in all situations.
‘You are the light of the world…Let your light shine before others’ [Matthew 5:16.] Let all that you do be done in LOVE.[1Corinthians 16:14] Shine your LOVE…. ‘Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another’ [John 13:34]And I will ask the father and He will give you another Helper,to be with you forever, even the spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him or knows him for he dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:16]
Let us love one another for love is from God ……God is love and whoever abides in love abides in Godand God abides in him. ‘[1 john 4:7-16]
‘Prepare to receive ‘a crown of righteousness’ which our Lord has offered as salvation to all who have loved his appearing and are united by faith into his heavenly kingdom.[2 Timothy 4:8-18]To him be glory forever and ever, amen.