Jesus is the only way

Lately, I've gotten a lot of questions about Christianity and a lot of them are related to "why Jesus is the only way". I happened to come across this article online and found that the explanation was quite thorough, so wanted to share it here with you all especially those who are having the same doubt.

"It may seem unfair, unjust, or even arrogant for Christians to say that Jesus is the only way that a person can have a relationship with God. These misconceptions, however, can be cleared up by coming to a clear understanding of the issue.

Christians did not invent the idea that a person can only be saved by Jesus
Christians say that Jesus is the only way to God because Jesus Himself said He was the only way to God. It is Jesus' claim, not our invention. Consider these verses where Christ eliminates alternative ways to God: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through me" (John 14:6). "For unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins" (John 8:24).

Christ's apostles later affirmed His claim: "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved, " Peter says in Acts 4:12. Paul writes "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5). It is not arrogant for Christians to make such an exclusive claim since we are only relaying what Jesus taught and being faithful to what Jesus told us to do (Matt. 28:19). If we come to understand why Jesus is the only way, we will see that it is not unfair for Him to make such claims.

Why is Jesus the only way?
Every person is separated from God by their sin and in need of forgiveness. Because God is just as well as loving, we cannot cross this gulf and have a relationship with Him (eternal life) unless the penalty for our sin is paid--eternal death. If God did not judge our sin, He would no longer be just.

Living a good, moral life cannot save a person because good works do not pay the penalty for sin. Just as we can only pay a $50 speeding ticket with $50 (not by baking cookies for the judge or even paying $49), only death can pay the death penalty for sin. Being religious cannot save a person either, because religion does not pay the death penalty.

Fortunately, because of His love for us, God sent Jesus to die in our place to pay the death penalty we deserve for our sin. Jesus chose to do this because He loves us, and was the only one able to do this because He is fully God (He had to be infinite to pay the penalty for more than one person) and He is fully man (He had to be a sinless human to pay the penalty for a sinful human). Jesus is not only sinless, but He is 100% God and 100% man.

On the cross, God judged Jesus for our sin so that we wouldn't have to be. That's why He is the only way to God--only Jesus was willing and able to die for us to pay our death penalty, thus providing forgiveness for our sins. No one other religios leader has done this; no one else could have done this.

So now there are two options. Either a person can pay this penalty themselves--and so not be saved--or Jesus can pay it for them--and be saved. In both ways, God is just because the penalty is paid. The decision is ours to make, and all we need to do is accept God's offer of forgiveness in Jesus. Either we pay the penalty, or we trust Jesus to save us and He pays the penalty.

To summarize, we can receive forgiveness and eternal life only through Jesus because only He has taken away our sin and bridged the gulf between us and God. It took His death to pay the penalty for our sin. If there had been any other way, Jesus would not have died (Gal 2:21). Considering the sacrifice Jesus made, we should not think it is unfair that there is only one way, but we should be glad that there is any way at all. "

source: http://www.geocities.com/athens/delphi/8449/only.html

Commissioning night

This week we had a commissioning night where friends and families and rep alumni would come together and pray for each of us consultants for the up coming venture. Through this big prayer meeting, God has really showed me and reassured me that He does know me well and very well.

I remembered that one of the prayer I got was about boldness that I can boldly speak the truth and speak up for God. And even though I am so small in size, God has not think little of me. He wants me to not worry but grow and be bold and do greater things for Him.

It has just blown me away when I heard these prayer words came out from people who don't know about my struggles but yet was able to speak out the exact worries in my heart.
Ever since I started on the training, I have always felt that I am not good enough for the Venture. I don't know anything about business or consulting, don't have a deep knowledge in bible, don't speak the perfect language....etc. As I am feeling so inadequate, God has spoken to me through prayers. The prayer has again confirmed God's sovereignty that He knows me better than I thought and He cares about me.

As God is sovereign and loving and the fact that He knows me so well, how would He not be providing for me. He will even provide in such a way that is way better than I could ever think of.

A brief history of South Africa

Just wanna share a little bit about the history of South Africa and what make this trip so significant.

• In 1652, Jan Van Riebeeck was sent to the Cape by the Dutch East India Company to establish a halfway station to provide fresh water, vegetables, and meat for passing ships travelling to and from Asia.
• In settling down there, the Dutch encountered the indigenous people of the land, the Khoisan and started bartering with them for their sheep and cattle.
• In 1658, the first border conflicts started when Dutch settlers finally clashed with the Khoisan who then were enslaved by the Dutch.
• The British later arrived and took over the Cape, and the Dutch, who eventually became Afrikaners moved further north, establishing states in the Northern part of South Africa.
• Aggressive black African tribes (eg Zulus) from the north also began to move down south, and clashed with the Dutch Afrikaners.
• In 1866, gold and diamonds were discovered in the north, prompting the interest to the British.
• In 1898, the Boer war broke out between the British and Afrikaners over the gold and diamonds.
• In 1948, the National party got power, and made apartheid law.
• In 1961, South Africa gained independence from Britain.
• In 1990, when Mandela was released, and pushed back apartheid and segregation
• In 1994 Mandela becomes president.

From history of South Africa, you can see that the land is marked by immigration and ethnic conflict, beginning with the very first encounter with the Dutch Afrikaners and the Khoisan people.

The significance of this trip is that this is the first time rep is focusing on one ethnic group, and together with a group of businesses who have a heart to use their businesses to rebuild and transform this unique group of people who have been through tremendous attack from their own country, that just touch my heart and get me excited to go on this trip.

I pray that God will bring forth healings, reconciliation and transformation to South Africa. To me, it is such privilege to be part of God’s work and I can’t wait to see God doing something great through this venture.

Amen.

Fundraising

I am not going to ask for money on this post, I will on some later ones :p j/k!

But while reflecting on these past couple months on preparing for the trip and trying to raise fund for the expenses, I realized that i would never have talked to so many people about my faith if is not because of fundraising. I think I have talked to more people about Christ in these past 2/3 months than I had in my entire life.

At first, I was so reluctant to ask for money, because I was shy (and i am still shy just not as bad I guess), I felt bad to ask for money in this economy and I felt like i am burdening my friends with my trip.

Deep down, I truly believe in what I am doing and the impact this ministry will make. But to believe in heart and to confess with mouth are two different things. And God knows exactly what my weaknesses are and He pushes me to overcome them.

Through fundraising I've learned that it is really not about me, but God's work to be done. I've learned to give generously and to step in faith. Also, I've learned what's it mean to truly humble yourself for God.

I am so blessed by friends around me, who have encouraged me to not worried about how others gonna see me but just speak the truth.
I am so blessed by friends who have found comfort from things that I shared.
I am so blessed by friends who have supported me and prayed for me for this ministry.

I would never have believed that I would grow so much from joining the rep, even before going on to the venture. Now, I can't wait to see what God is going to do in South Africa!

Done Deal =)

Finally, flight to Cape town is booked!!! no turning back :P

Leaving on 6/4/2009
Coming back on 6/23/2009

Praise the lord that tickets are bought within budget and vacation days are approved!!!