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Reflection on Gal 3:18
Post date: 2018-05-05Autor: BCP
The Apostle explains that God gave the inheritance to Abraham by promise, and we receive it through faith in Christ. This faith cleanses us from sin. But the condition is to admit sin, to believe that Jesus, the Son of God, died for my sins, and to give my sins to Him. Through this faith the Holy Spirit gives us everything that Christ has done for our sake. But first of all, this faith unites us to Jesus Himself, who dwells in our hearts through faith (Eph 3:17). In the hour of death, this faith then changes into the sight of God in the light of glory.
Reflection on Gal 3:11
Post date: 2018-03-24Autor: BCP
It is clearly said here that no one will be justified by the law, and it is emphasized that the just shall live by faith. Let us focus again on the term ‘the just’, both from the natural point of view and from the point of view of the Scripture. The just is the one who gives everyone his due, i.e. giving God, neighbour and oneself what is due by right.
“Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you!”
Post date: 2018-03-18Autor: BCP
We can practise it until death. This is the Law and the Prophets (cf. Mat 7:12). You can write down concretely what you do not want others to do to you, and then stop and think if you do not do exactly the same to others, perhaps in a subtler form. How simple and topical for our everyday life!
Reflection on Gal 3:6-7
Post date: 2018-02-24Autor: BCP
The Apostle points to Abraham again and sets him as an example of faith. He believed God, believed in God’s almightiness, and he stood in this faith even in the face of hard trials. Faith was accounted to him for righteousness; in other words, he was justified of his sins by faith. The Apostle continues in verse 7: “Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.” The faith in one God the Creator is the foundation for justification of sins.
Reflection on Gal 3:2-3
Post date: 2018-02-10Autor: BCP
In chapter two, the Apostle points out that we are not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Christ (v.16) and if justification came through the law, then Christ died in vain (v.21). So justification requires faith in Christ Jesus. And now the Apostle reveals that this faith in Christ is also necessary for man to receive the fullness of the Spirit of God like the Apostles on the Day of Pentecost. He makes it clear that one does not receive the Spirit of God by the works of the law but again, only and only by faith in Jesus.
Reflection on Gal 2:21
Post date: 2018-01-27Autor: BCP
What does it mean to set aside the grace of God? It means to disregard it, to misuse it, or not to accept by faith what God gives. He paid so dearly, did His most, and not to make the least effort on our part – i.e. not to accept by faith what God has done for me – is really a grave insult to God. This is setting aside grace! The Apostle says that this is not what he does – he does not set aside grace but rather uses it. And this should be true of each of us – I do not set aside the grace of God!
Reflection on Gal 2:16
Post date: 2018-01-13Autor: BCP
Both in the Epistle to the Romans and the Epistle to the Galatians, the Apostle Paul points to the deep truth which concerns our justification from sin. He says that we know that a man is not justified before God by his works but by faith in Jesus Christ. He emphasizes that by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. We who have believed in Christ Jesus have been justified from our sins by faith in Him.
The way of holiness is the way of purification
Post date: 2018-01-01Autor: BCP
The way of holiness is the way of purification. We need to be healed by Jesus, little by little, of all kinds of wounds or bad habits. This mostly concerns our soul. Suffering is usually spiritual rather than physical, but the various sufferings lead to deliverance and healing. We suffer, for example, when we face the truth about ourselves, our neighbours and the world. It is so simple and yet so disguised. In essence, we need to begin to live the Gospel to the full.
The putting off of the old self and the putting on of the new self begins in our mind
Post date: 2017-12-14Autor: BCP
The process of putting off the old self and putting on the new self begins in our mind! Human nature, without respecting the law of the Gospel, reacts in the same way in essence: envy towards others, rivalry, envy when someone has something better, when someone has spiritual gifts, or even when someone carries a cross, and on the other hand self-pity and sulkiness (both before God and people). This all takes the subtlest forms, but it is in essence our “self” which refuses to humble itself, to live in uncertainty, to obey God and to submit to Him.
What to do to let brotherly love abound
Post date: 2017-12-09Autor: BCP
To love means – to humble ourselves again and again, to accept our brother just as he is. His old self exploits us, is jealous of us, enslaves us. But the fact is that we are bound by the same bonds – chains, the only difference being that we easily see it in others but not in ourselves. This is humility: the faults and bad habits of my brother should be like a mirror to me. The old self is essentially the same in everyone, it only has different shades. I need to look at my brother by faith, i.e. to be aware that Jesus is in him, though hungry, thirsty and in prison. But the same is true about me. Jesus is in me too, hungry, thirsty and in prison. One can speak of a law of love which leads to healing and liberation.
Sow in faith
Post date: 2017-12-07Autor: BCP
The time you spend in the place where you are is predestined by God and will never return. What you sow in faith, you and others will reap once. Sow in faith, even if you do not see any results. Sow every day by accepting the situations you face rather than by being dispirited or overwhelmed by them. Accept them in faith and in union with Jesus – learn to abide with Him!
On the Day of Judgment our prayers will become manifest
Post date: 2017-11-30Autor: BCP
We should pray in such way as to pull down the strongholds of the forces of darkness and to lift up the mountains of demons in our territory, so that the Holy Spirit may descend, God may show His power, send His blessing, the kingdom of God may come into human souls, and a spiritual breakthrough and change may take place. When and how shall it come?! Let us leave it to the Lord; what we need to do is stand in faith and not doubt in prayer. Then on the Day of Judgment our prayers will become manifest – it will be revealed how we prayed.
The obedience of faith
Post date: 2017-11-23Autor: BCP
What did the Prophet Elijah say when the fire of the Lord fell on Mount Carmel and consumed the burnt sacrifice? “I have done all these things at Your word.” Nothing more and nothing less. But we often want to add something, because we like it that way, or on the other hand we think that something is extreme. However, God wants us to learn obedience through small things; He teaches us to walk in the Spirit, to follow Christ. Jesus says: “Follow Me.” (Lk 5:27), and He also says: “Father, My food is to do Your will.”
Be ready! (+german version)
Post date: 2017-11-11Autor: BCP
Jesus says: “You must be ready, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of man is coming.” This is the greatest wisdom – to be ready for death. For we do not know whether or not something bad will happen – we can develop cancer or have a car accident and launch into eternity. We know neither the day nor the hour. We do not know when we will meet our Lord face to face. But we must be mindful of it. We know that it will come. We must not delay our conversion. We must begin today, as God’s Word says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”
Let us act in the authority of God
Post date: 2017-11-07Autor: BCP
The greatest power is the almighty power of God. By His almighty power God created the whole universe out of nothing – millions of stars, our Earth... By the almighty power of God Christ was raised from death. And He gives us a share in this power; He gives us His authority – “in My name”.
Confess like Peter: “Lord, I have sinned!” (+german version)
Post date: 2017-10-29Autor: BCP
Let us confess like Peter: “Lord, I have sinned!” What was the encounter of Peter with the risen Jesus like? Why did Jesus not appear e.g. to John? Why did He appear to Peter who had betrayed Him, denied Him with an oath? Peter sinned out of weakness but he loved Jesus sincerely. And Jesus gave him a chance. Even if your sins are many, Jesus asks if you love Him and if you believe Him; if you believe that He died for you and took all your sins on Himself. That is the main thing.
Who do we fight against?
Post date: 2017-10-26Autor: BCP
When we are to fight, we need to know who we fight against. We do not fight against a dead territory – factories, airports, arms depots… We do not fight against any physical, i.e. dead energies but we fight against the kosmokratoras – spiritual forces, intellectual evil beings, who have spiritual power. But they too must bow to God’s Majesty, to the Word of God. To the Word of God spoken through His faithful servants. They must bow whether they like it or not. However, the Word of God must be spoken in faith, with no doubting.
We do not wrestle against flesh and blood…
Post date: 2017-10-16Autor: BCP
In the spiritual struggle, we need to be clothed in Christ. We cannot fight with our own strength; that would be a certain defeat. We also need to know the basic spiritual principles. The most basic spiritual principle at the beginning of every spiritual struggle and in spiritual life in general is to humble oneself before God, to confess one’s sin, to repent of it, and to receive purification by the Blood of Christ. It is also important to be able to humble oneself before another person. God gives victory to the humble, that is, to those who love the truth.
Reflection on Joh 1:12-13
Post date: 2017-10-07Autor: BCP
The Word of life confirms that as many as received Jesus and believe in His name – this is the condition – to them He gave the right to become children of God. Ask yourself: Am I a child of God? Whether you understand it or not, whether you feel it or not, if you have received Jesus by faith and believe in His name, you are a child of God. This is the truth revealed by God, and you believe the testimony of God.
The nuts and bolts of the Gospel
Post date: 2017-08-25Autor: BCP
The Scripture gives us directions for life. So we need to begin to learn slowly and seriously THE NUTS AND BOLTS: e.g. Jesus says, “If your brother has something against you, go and be reconciled to your brother.” In other words – e.g. your brother vents his anger and rebukes you unjustly and now there is a tense situation. He becomes aware of his guilt afterwards, and is overcome with sorrow. He doesn’t know what to do, how to apologize, and tension increases. Who should make the first step, or rather, who is obliged to? According to the Gospel, he who has been wronged is obliged to make the first step. You have been wronged, and moreover, your brother has something against you! So you have to make the first step and not wait until your brother does so! When you realize in prayer that you must go and you would not go, then however good your prayer may be, you are disobedient to Jesus!