I’m in the middle of preparing to travel back to Zambia in a few weeks. This time it’s to Zambia’s second city Ndola, in the north of the country right on the border with the DRC.
While thinking about this trip I remembered an amazing moment while on the Zambezi last year. I thought I’d share it with you.
Very pleased, and proud to present the ‘Chuppets’ Christmas. My daughter plays Mary.
chuppets 09 from andy cottingham on Vimeo.
What’s in a word?
Last week, as part of our sermon, we looked at these two words. There are only 2 letters different between them but their meaning couldn’t be more different or significant. The implications of the difference is quite simply ‘Mind Blowing’!
We are talking here about how we receive Christ’s righteousness.
Is His righteousness imparted or imputed to us?
IMPARTED – this is what teachers attempt to do everyday. They try to get some of their knowledge into the children’s heads. This is an inherently slow process and the results are limited. What tends to happen is that a small amount of the teachers knowledge is imparted. Adding to the child’s existing knowledge.
There is a danger that we think Jesus adds some of His righteousness to us in this way.
So we might think to ourselves ‘I’m essentially a sinner with a bit of Christ’s goodness added on’
This is not what the Bible teaches.
IMPUTED – this means I have the total and complete, fully formed, all-in-one-go righteousness of God at the moment I believe in Jesus. If teachers could do this at school the lessons would be very short indeed.
It’s not that I have had a little bit of righteousness added to my sinfulness, rather he has taken my sinfulness away and replaced it with His righteousness, completely and forever.
So I am no longer a sinner but a saint!!
This is grace and it changes everything.
The South West Newfrontiers churches have just returned from the Together in the South West bible weekend. David Devenish spoke 3 times on The Big Story. He did a supreme job of showing that God’s intention for the world has been consistent from the beginning. To dwell with a holy people who will love and enjoy him in holiness.
Penstowe manor holiday park provided an excellent venue for 450 of us who gathered for the weekend.
The ninth commandment, found in Exodus 20 v 16 states
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
What is immediately interesting is that the command is set in the context of community. Don’t lie about your neighbor, rather than simply ‘Don’t lie’. Are we to believe that lying in other contexts is acceptable? Clearly not!!
There is a principle at work here. Isaiah 30 v 18
For the LORD is a God of justice.
Isaiah knew this fundamental truth about God. Any perversion or distortion of this is to undermine the very character of God.
It is impossible to lie without effecting someone else. Consider this for a moment.
For many telling lies becomes a way of life, simply a way to get out of trouble or prompt action in others. Lies fall into the more general category of unrighteousness, which also flies in the face of God’s revealed righteousness.
Lies are often spoken to hide our sins or mistakes, yet to mask one wrong with another is simply nonsensical.
The enemy is described in John 8 v 44 as ‘the father of lies’. To reject honestly is to embrace not only lies but the one from whom all lies proceed.
Solomon knew the great value of honesty.
A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies.
Kings take pleasure in honest lips; they value a man who speaks the truth.
An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.
Paul helps us to apply all this into the context of life together.
speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
Honesty and love go hand in hand. Together the Kingdom of God advances.
