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Christianity vs other major religions We now consider the major differences between Christianity and other religions. 1. The Trinity The very nature of God in Christianity is different from all the other religions. The other major religions have various approaches to the nature of God and can be either polytheistic with several gods or monotheistic having one God. Others are non-theistic and have no significant god outside of themselves. Christianity is monotheistic but with a key difference: Christians believe in God who is One in essence but with three distinct personalities [1] namely the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This means that God has always existed in community shared by His three personalities. The Christian God has always been about relationship and has extended this to humankind though Jesus Christ. 2. The Gospel The Gospel is the good news that Father God has provided a way for sinful people to be able to come to Him via the cross of Jesus Christ. This salvation is a free gift from God[2]. No law keeping, achievement, moral living, or performing religious rituals can save your soul. Jesus Christ, God the Son, became a man and died in the place of fallen humankind, but rose again from the dead to conquer sin and death. Certain religions whilst agreeing that a person cannot provide their own salvation, but instead by trusting a human leader, they may be able to achieve some form of rebirth. Christianity is not a religion, but through faith in Jesus Christ, it is a relationship with God. John 17:3 “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” We also note that no other faith except Christianity follows a leader who claimed to be God and who also rose from the dead. 3. The Bible is authoritative and has repeatedly been proven to be true. Historians and archaeologists have repeatedly confirmed the authenticity of the Bible. Ancient historians confirm both the person of Jesus as described in the Bible and the major events presented in the New Testament. The Bible today is the same as what was originally written. The Dead Sea Scrolls confirmed the accuracy of the Old Testament, and original writings of the New Testament authors are preserved better than any other ancient manuscript. The early church accepted the New Testament books almost immediately, and that the writers were either associates of Jesus or His original followers. The Bible claims that it is God’s Word (see 2 Timothy 3:16 and 2 Peter 1:21). Jesus also viewed Scripture as authoritative (see John 10:35 and Matthew 22:29). The New Testament authors believed what they were writing was in fact God’s Word (see 1 Corinthians 14:37, 1 Thessalonians 2:13). Insights into the differences between Christianity and other Religions [3]. Narnia author and Christian apologist C.S. Lewis comments that all religions do have some truth in them, and Lewis thinks that is what you would expect. Lewis thought that If you are a Christian, you do not have to believe that all the other religions are simply wrong all through. However, if you are an atheist you do have to believe that the main point in all the religions of the entire world is simply one huge mistake. Lewis felt it was atheism that wrote off all religious claims as false, while he was free to affirm truth wherever it was found. He accepted truths in other religions. He recognised the similarities – as well as the significant differences between religions. For Lewis, a commitment to Christ does not necessitate the denial of truth in other religions. However, what makes Christianity unique is the incarnation, when God entered a specific historical place and time in the person of Jesus Christ. This is utterly unique and is either true or false. Lewis is quoted as saying [4], "If you had gone to Buddha and asked him 'Are you the son of Brahma?' he would have said, 'My son, you are still in the vale of illusion.' If you had gone to Socrates and asked, 'Are you Zeus?' he would have laughed at you. If you had gone to Mohammad and asked, 'Are you Allah?' he would first have rent his clothes then cut your head off. If you had asked Confucius, 'Are you Heaven?' I think he would have probably replied, 'Remarks which are not in accordance with nature are in bad taste.' The idea of a great moral teacher saying what Christ said is out of the question. In my opinion, the only person who can say that sort of thing is either God or a complete lunatic suffering from that form of delusion which undermines the whole mind of man." [1] Athanasian creed. [2] See Ephesians 2:8. [3] See C.S. Lewis - Objection #10: Other Religions - Mark Conner [4] God in the dock C.S. Lewis In Part 4 we consider the significant changes that belief in Christianity brings to a believer's life.

The claims that Jesus Christ made about himself Sceptics say that Jesus never claimed to be God, that others made that up. However, Jesus did not come to a culture or people that were ignorant about God. He came to the Jewish people, His chosen people who believed in the existence of one God only. Jesus did and said things that clearly alluded to His deity which was not missed by the religious leaders He interacted with. Here are four examples of this: He claimed to have the authority to forgive sin, and the religious leaders thought to themselves that He was blaspheming (Mark 2:5-7). He called God His Father and equated His work with the Father’s, and they tried all the harder to kill Him (John 5:17-18). He said that He and the Father are One, and they picked up stones to kill Him because they said He was blaspheming (John 10:30-33). He said that He would sit at the right hand of the Mighty One and come on the clouds of heaven. They said He was blaspheming, and they condemned Him to death (Mark 14:61-64). The above scriptures are just four of several examples proving that Jesus did not leave it open to debate as to who He is. After all Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). C. S. Lewis the Narnia author and Christian apologist put it like this [1] ‘ I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him (Jesus): “I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His claim to be God.” That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.’ People today may think that every belief system is equally valid, acting like everything is okay until someone else’s beliefs contradict their own. [1] C S Lewis Mere Christianity In Part 3 we consider the key differences between Christianity and other major religions.

Are not all religions the same? This study gives an overview of the main points by which Christianity is demonstrated to be distinct and unique from all the other world religions. As a starting point we should note that Christianity is rooted in history and evidence[1]. For example in the case of the historical reality of the resurrection, Christ vindicated His claim to divinity. The miracles of Islam and Buddhism lack historical validation. The claims of Christianity unlike other religions are never irrational nor contradictory. Christianity gives an explanation to the phenomena we see in everyday life e.g. the origin of selfish behaviour etc. Key points unique to Christianity The incarnation The truth is that Jesus is God. Christianity is the only religion where God is born as a man and becomes fully human[2]. All other religions teach that humans must work their way toward divinity. The Cross For Christians, the cross represents the defining moment in history when creator God is reconciled to humankind. Jesus Christ, God in flesh, laid down His life as the sacrificial lamb, taking the punishment we deserve upon Himself, atoning for our sins, and setting us free from the enslavement of sin and the second death. No other religion has a Saviour dying on a cross. See also the section below ‘The Gospel.’ The power of the cross of Christ reconciles humanity with our heavenly Father. In Jesus we find forgiveness of sin. He was raised from death to give us a new life in Him. In the risen Lord Jesus, we are a new creation. The Resurrection It may be surprising to learn that there is evidence from both biblical and non-biblical sources for the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Although we have historical evidence of Jesus’ life and death, we should note that his body has never been found. Sceptics have argued that the disciples stole the body and hid it. This is highly unlikely for the reasons given below. When Jesus was arrested by those sent from the Jewish leaders and turned over to the Roman authorities to be crucified, his disciples scattered from Him (Mark 14:43-50), and their leader, Peter, even denied that he had been with Jesus (Mark 14:66-72). The disciples acted out of fear and scattered, hid, and did not want to be associated with Jesus in His death. However, seven weeks later, we find Peter preaching in Jerusalem proclaiming that Jesus was raised from the dead by God (Acts 2:14-36). What had changed for Peter and the other disciples? What turned their fear into a bold courage? Was it the fact that they had hidden a corpse? Or was it that these men had seen Jesus after He had risen from the dead (Acts 1:3)? It is reported that all but one of the 12 apostles suffered violent deaths for their preaching of Jesus Christ and not one of them took back or renounced their faith. It is often said that many people have died for a lie. But how many have died for a lie knowing that it was a lie? If the disciples had stolen the body, then they would have known that the resurrection was a lie. You would think if that were the case, at least one of them would have taken back their testimony in the face of torture and a violent death. Persecution and death for preaching Christ was true not only for the 12 apostles but for those who received their teaching. It is difficult to believe that these people would willingly die for Jesus Christ if they knew it was a lie. Thousands of these Christians died because they believed the statements in the Gospels about Jesus to be true. They willingly died as martyrs, refusing to deny their faith in Him. In the face of Jewish and Roman opposition and persecution, Christianity spread all throughout the Roman Empire in 300 years, and it continues spreading today. If the Romans and Jews had known where the body of Jesus was, all they had to do was display the body on a cart/wall and Christianity would have died right there and then. Some claim (including the Muslims) that Jesus never really died but only fainted on the cross, and later revived in the tomb giving the impression of being resurrected. However this is contradicted by Jesus’ corpse being pierced by a spear with water then blood issuing from his body. Modern doctors tell us this would only happen if Jesus’ heart was ruptured and hence, he was clinically dead. Sceptics have even suggested that all the appearances of Jesus after the resurrection were hallucinations caused by overactive imaginations. This is highly unlikely since any two individuals almost never have the same hallucination at the same time, whereas the bible records groups of people repeatedly saw the risen Jesus. Such evidence is recorded in the bible which states that more than 500 people claimed to have seen the risen Jesus after his resurrection from the dead (see 1 Corinthians 15:6). [1] Adapted from Hank Hanegraff https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-uniqueness-of-christianity-and-q-a/id569236334?i=1000564748306 [2] Gospel of John 1:1-3 and 1:14. In Part 2 we consider the claims that Jesus Christ made about himself.

Why is the image of God so important? Thus far in our study of the meaning of 'made in the image of God' we have clearly seen that the bible teaches that this image mainly pertains to God's character of righteousness and holiness. Jesus Christ carried the image of God perfectly. When a believer is born again somehow the image of God is restored. A major goal of the Christian life is to bear a true of image of God our creator. We have covered in part the image of God in the vertical dimension but how should the image of God be applied to our fellow human beings? Here are some questions pertaining to the value of human life. ¨Why should we love our fellow humans? ¨What is the value of a human life? ¨What is a human life worth? ¨Is human life precious? Men and God view these questions from two different perspectives. What price do you place on a Human Life? In many men eyes a life is something cheap or common. A mere convenience or inconvenience to their selfish desires and such an outlook has led to terrible acts and consequences. Answer for yourself what do the following say about the value of human life. Genocide: one example of the Jews by the Nazis Abortion (babies in womb) Euthanasia Starvation in Third World (wars, corrupt, politics) Homeless in our towns Neglect of the elderly. Yet all these things, in a sense we allow, for they are going on in the world. Yes, people who practices or allow such things must see the human lives involved as cheap and common of truly little value. God sees each and every human life as precious. We ought to love our fellow humans because; a] God loves them so much that he gave his most precious Son to the cross. He has commanded it; he wants a community of love. b] Each man, woman, child in some way reflects God being made in his Image and likeness. Each individual person has God`s stamp on them. c} God so loves humankind that he completely identifies with Him in their suffering and judges us according to how we helped and failed our fellow man in their distress. Comments b] The majority of Christians agree that the ‘image’ confers significant importance onto humankind since the ‘image’ was not conferred on any angelic beings or any type of animal. The importance of the image of God is that it causes every single human being no matter how degraded or fallen, to still bear in some way the image of God the Creator. This inspires many believers including me to want to help the poor. Whilst we are not necessarily important of ourselves the image of God shows us, that we are important to God by bearing a ‘family’ resemblance. The depth of God’s love and care was shown in the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This confers importance on us. How should we react to his precious creations? Remember John 13:34 A new commandment I give to you that you love one another as I have loved you. Go and do thou likewise. Amen Prayer: Lord teach us to see of fellow human beings in the way you see them, as valuable and precious souls made in your image. Amen

Altered images by sin So far we have learned that the bible teaches that 'made in the image of God' refers to the image of God's character i.e. righteousness and holiness. But, what happened to this image of God in mankind? 1 Corinthians 15:20 But now Christ is risen from the dead and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. Adam fell into sin when he disobeyed the Lord. This led to death coming upon Adam and then spread to all mankind. At that exact time Adam’s image of God was distorted, defaced, corrupted, or spoiled and this altered and distorted image has passed down to us today. ¨2 Corinthians 4:4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. The god of this age is Satan who seeks to blind people's minds so that the glory of Christ who is the image of God cannot shine upon them to restore the proper image of righteousness and holiness. Satan always seeks to hinder the new birth to prevent the righteous image of God being restored to people. ¨Hebrews 1:3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. We can summarise our findings as follows; ¨You are a human person made by God ¨You are an altered person spoiled by sin ¨You are a person restored by Christ ¨The best biblical explanation of ‘made in the image of God’ is in our character- righteous and holy- this tells us what we are meant to be. Jesus Christ bears the perfect image of God - He is our 'go to' person to see what righteousness and holiness look like in life. Amen Prayer In part 4 of this study we consider what is the importance of being made in the image of God.

What does the bible say? However if we look for the ‘made in God’s image’ in scripture, we find something particularly important. Colossians 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Taking these two scriptures together they are addressing our ‘old man’ versus our ‘new man’. In Colossians 3:10 we learn that our new man is renewed in the image of him that created him (us). Something happens to our ‘image of God’ that it is distorted by sin but the new birth giving us the new man somehow restores our ‘image of God’ back to something like its original form. From Ephesians 4:22 we can confirm that the old man of the flesh was corrupt through evil lusts and that our new man is created after (like) God is created in righteousness and true holiness. It seems that when we first sin that holy image of God that we bear is tarnished and cannot be restored to its original condition until we have put on the new man (see John 3:7), which is renewed after the image of the Creator. We could consider our repentance from sin (see 1 John 1:9) as a way of keeping our image of God in the proper condition that God desires? When God created man in his own image, he clearly meant man to be creatures of righteousness and true holiness. ¨Colossians 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: ¨15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: ¨16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: Jesus Christ bears the perfect likeness of God , untainted nor spoiled by sin. Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father , Jesus replied how long have I been with you, if you have seen me, you have seen the Father. We can summarise at this point by saying that man 'made in the image of God' is referring to God's character first and foremost, and that as He is righteous and holy then we as His image bearers ought to have the same character. Amen Prayer In Part 3 of this study we consider other scriptures that refer to the 'image'.

What does it mean? Modern atheistic scientists tell us that humans are in an unimportant species, found on an insignificant planet in an obscure part of the cosmos. On this approach what are the implications for a single human life? However this is not what the bible says nor what Christians believe. Wikipedia definition of 'image' ¨An image is a visual representation of something. An image can be a two-dimensional representation, such as a drawing, painting, or photograph, or a three-dimensional object, such as a carving or sculpture. Here is the first mention in scripture of the phrase 'made in the image of God'; Genesis 1:26-27 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” There is no clear consensus between theologians and philosophers on what the image of God (or its theological term ‘Imago dei’) might mean. Learned scholars of diverse types think the meaning of 'made in the image of God' might include: 1. Humans are like God in that we are spiritual and rational beings and exercise free-will choices. 2. Humans are like God in being able to form complex relationships. 3. Humans are like God in being able to perform functions e.g. managing the planet and its resources which in some way represent God on earth. All three views have their strengths and weaknesses but together might partly reflect the diverse ways that humans reflect the image of God. However we can get get a much clearer explanation of 'made in the image of God' by turning to scripture. Most times we find that it is best to let scripture interpret scripture (see part 2 of this study to see what the bible says about 'made in the image of God'). Amen Prayer

How can circumstances inform the will of God? Circumstances Circumstances and events will sometimes indicate God's direction for us. Paul wrote about such a circumstance in his life in 2 Corinthians 2:12, "Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord." Sometimes God opens the opportunity for making something possible, but at other times the door is firmly closed to us. Finances, family, church, travel regulations, health, world events can all be factors that facilitate or hinder the choices that we make. God wants us to be aware of our surroundings and circumstances. The are not the primary means of God talking to us, but they are however, crucial factors as we weigh up all the information. Phil. 4:11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 1 Thes. 5:18 Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Common Sense God has made us rational creatures (Gen 2:19-20). He has given us the ability to think, communicate, teach, and invent. We are intellectual beings with rational thought. This intellectual consciousness is what makes us unique. A number Christians believe that they have to stop thinking for themselves and let ‘God do their thinking for them’. God wants us to be down-to-earth common-sense people. Sadly common sense is not that common! Prov. 2:6 For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Prov. 19:8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. he who cherishes understanding prospers. Does the proposed course of action glorify God? We are God’s ambassadors, and our lives should be a living representation of his nature and character. All too often people convince themselves that what they are doing is in the will of God. Most often than not in these situations God is not being glorified, they individuals are merely doing what makes them happy or brings attention to them. 1 Cor. 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Processing God’s Will God often reveals his will to us in two or three stages. Initially we may get a ‘sense of direction’ in our spirits. The next thing that we should do is to be praying over that matter to see of we ‘sense anything different’ (Luke 11:9-10 Ask, Seek and Knock). Often his word will bring further confirmation; perhaps a verse will standout and really grab our attention (Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet). Our friends and Christian leaders can be praying with us and advising us in the way we should be going. This kind of ‘searching’ is often much more beneficial to those who are really serious about ‘seeking God’s will’, it’s deliberate, well thought through and immersed in prayer and bible study. The alternative to this is a ‘quick flash in the pan’ idea that people rush into without thinking through the consequences of their actions. When God Doesn’t Speak? God does not always speak to us in a direct manner. Christians often feel that they must be doing something wrong, because God is speaking to everybody else apart from them. God primarily wants us to live a life of faith. It is a quiet confidence that God is wholly and completely in charge – He is sovereign. Hab. 3:17 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails, and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Saviour. If we had all the answers and knew God’s will with pin-point accuracy then there would be no place for faith, because faith is being certain of what we do not see… Heb. 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Seeking is as important as finding God! Through the process of seeking, we are learning to wait upon him, to depend entirely on him and to trust in him. The most crucial factor in this process of waiting is that we learn to live a life that pleases God (Eph 5:10). Heb. 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. It help to remember that is God is always speaking to us through his creation, his word, and his Son. This may not always mean a specific word, but his always trying to communicate his wonder and his love to us. People often wonder what they should while they are waiting for a specific word of instruction from the lord. - Be faithful. - Be patient. - Be holy. - Be joyful. - Be consistent. - Be available. Amen Prayer This series of teachings was originally delivered as part of a 'Digging deeper' course by Pastor Paul Meiklejohn assisted by Charles Green. Any modifications to the original text were performed by the latter.

How to test God's will for your life/situation Rom 12:2 Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing, and perfect will. The Apostle Paul says that we should be able to test and approve the will of God. So how do we do that? The Bible gives us a number of ways that we approve his will: The Bible The Bible is God’s primary source of revelation. It is inspired and trustworthy, we should read it and apply it to our life. The Bible is our standard for testing everything else that claims to be true. 2 Tim 16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Psa. 119:9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart: do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. If anything is contrary to the teaching of scripture, then we know that it cannot be God’s will since God cannot contradict himself. We need to be regularly reading God’s word so that we are familiar with it teaching. Apart merely reading the scriptures we need to approach them with a sense of enquiry. We should pray and expecting God to speak to us through them. We should not only be thinking about what he has written historically, but we should be expecting personal present revelation. Prayer Prayer is a vital tool in discerning God’s will for our lives, even Jesus used prayer to find out what God wanted him to do. Luke 6:12-13 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God - When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles: Matt. 26:39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” We should be regularly asking God to guide us and to reveal his will to us. Through prayer we are entrusting every situation to God for his blessing and protection. Through prayer we learn to relinquish control as we submit everything to God. See also Eph. 1:18; Eph. 6:18; Phil. 4:6; Col. 1:9-10, 3:16, 4:2; 1 Thes 5:17 Accountability This is the one area that Christians struggle with the most. The idea that our leaders and fellow Christians have the right to speak into our lives and bring correction and guidance is too difficult for some people to accept. Of course its okay if the agree with what we think, the problem arises when they disagree with us. It’s often very difficult for an individual to make decisions without being influenced by their own likes and desires. God has placed us into community so that we can love, encourage, correct, and rebuke each other in the matter of faith, doctrine, and lifestyle. Heb. 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. Submission only has meaning when we disagree with each other. If your leader asks you to do something that you really want to do anyway; that’s not submission, that’s just doing what you want! Submission is when they give advice that is contrary to what you want, and you submit to that advice. You give way to what they are saying. We are to submit to: - - God’s Word (Jer. 7:23) - governing authorities (Rom 13:5) - our spiritual leaders (1 Cor. 16:16, Heb 13:7) - our husbands (Eph 5:22) - one another (Eph 5:21) - God (James 4:7) Often when Christians are bent on doing something that is contrary to the wishes of those around them, they often hide behind phrases like ‘I must listen to what God is saying’ and ‘it’s the spirit who guides me’. Yet the bible makes it quite clear that the Christian community is an essential component in discerning God’s will. Amen Personal Prayer In our (final) Part 8 we consider how circumstances may help us discern the will of God.

Offering your bodies as living sacrifices Holy and Pleasing to God Rom. 12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing, and perfect will. These two verses are central to our pursuit of ‘knowing God’s will.’ Living Sacrifices: Living as disciples of Jesus often means living sacrificial lives. Jesus said, ‘take up your cross and follow me’ (Matt 16:24). Sacrificial living is costly and means preferring others more than we prefer ourselves (Rom 12:10). Sacrificial living is not easy, we often feel unappreciated and misunderstood. Holy: Peter says, ‘But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy (1 Peter 1:15:16).” God’s will be that we live holy lives (1 Thes 4:3). Consequently, living a life that is contrary to God’s standard is going to seriously impair our ability to actually hear God when he does reveal his will. Pleasing: The whole purpose of finding and doing the will of God is to please him (Col 1:10). All too often people want to know God’s will so that they will be happy themselves. Even Jesus surrendered his own pleasure in order to please his Father. Rom. 15:1-3 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please his neighbour for his good, to build him up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” Conformity: The world is in darkness. When we refuse to conform, we reveal God’s light and expose their darkness (John 3:19-21). When we come to Christ we are to live with a new standard of purity and obedience (1 Peter 1:14). Transformation: ‘If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come (2 Cor 5:17), we are to ‘put on the new self created to be like God in righteousness and holiness (Eph 4:23).’ We are to no longer live the way that we used to before coming to Christ; we are to be different – we are to be like Christ. Renewed Minds: Whatever is true, lovely, praiseworthy… (Phil 4:9) we are to think on those things instead. We are to set our minds on God (Col 3:2) and not on earthly things. Real change can only happen if we change our thinking, that is why we need to address this vital area of our lives. Once we have fulfilled these conditions then we will be able to test and approve what the will of God is – his good, pleasing, and perfect will. The Permissible Will of God 1 Cor. 6:12 “Everything is permissible for me” — but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me” — but I will not be mastered by anything. There are many things that are permissible for Christians, but some things are better left alone. Paul mentions two areas in the Christian life that can easily entangle the believer: food and sex. These two areas can be used for good or for ill. Paul is saying that in his pursuit of God’s will he is not prepared to be mastered by anything – for Christ has set him free. There are things in life we are free to use at our discretion. What to wear, what to eat, what kind of music we prefer, films to watch at the cinema etc. If we do these things with thanksgiving, God will bless them. These are permissible choices. However, in our choice we must ask ourselves are they constructive for godliness. Clothes, music, media, and the arts can all master us unless we use them wisely. With choice comes responsibility before God. 1 Cor. 10:23 “Everything is permissible” — but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible” — but not everything is constructive. Paul uses introduces another factor in helping us make good choices – the ‘weaker brother’. In 1 Corinthians 10:23-33 Paul says that even if something is perfectly acceptable, if it causes someone else to stumble in their faith, then we should be prepared to forfeit that for their sake. 1 Cor. 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Amen Personal Prayer In Part 7 we consider how we cant test the will of God.

The importance of nurture and discipleship Discovering ‘God’s will’ should never take priority over discipleship. If our focus is on events rather than process, we tend to concentrate on the present or the next few weeks or months. God’s discipleship plan will take a lifetime to unfold. Few people have the foresight to be able to see long-term. Sometimes the call of God can take a decade or two to mature; often we are just not ready to give God everything. God often gives us a glimpse of what he is going to do, and we tend to assume that he is going to do it right now. Abraham, Moses, and Joshua were all in their old age when the promises of God were finally realised. Many characters in the bible had to go through a sustained time of ‘training’ before they were ready to serve God at his level. So often we want to bypass discipleship and dive into the programme. For God, discipleship is the programme. Discipleship is not a means to an end; it is the main thing. He is much more interested in who we are and what we’re becoming than he is about choosing what kind of job we would like. True discipleship is about learning to lay down our will for his will. We cannot fulfil God’s will unless our own will has died. Jesus said, ‘take up your cross and follow me.’ Even he had to lay down his will in order to discover his Father’s will. Matt. 26:39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” Doing stuff for God doesn’t make us mature believers – discipleship does. Eph 4:13 … until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Heb. 5:14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Deitrich Bonhoeffer in his book the ‘Cost of Discipleship’ talks about the Christian who assents mentally to the gospel’s message but fails to put its truth into practice; he calls this ‘cheap grace’ - “Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ. It remains an abstract idea, a myth that has a place for the Fatherhood of God but omits Christ as the living Son. … There is belief in God, but no following of Christ… He wants to follow but feels obliged to insist on his own terms to the level of human understanding. He places himself at the God’s disposal, but at the same time retains the right to dictate his own terms. This is no longer discipleship, but a program of our own to be arranged to suit ourselves, and to be judged in accordance with the standards of our own rules." When we practice true discipleship, we will be well on the road to discovering the will of God. Process is much more important than event; event is short lived and temporary; process is the steady gradual transformation of a person’s life. Discipleship is studying the life of Jesus and then putting his words and example into practice. Finding God's will require us to seek Him by spending time reading His Word, the Bible. God's Word is the primary source for discovering His will. Prayer is also essential in finding God's will. Through prayer, we humbly ask God for direction and share with Him our desire to accomplish His will. This involves placing faith and trust in Him, knowing that He has a plan and purpose for our lives. Amen Personal Prayer In Part 6 we consider how to offer a sacrifice that is holy and pleasing to God.

Is it an event or a lifestyle? Lifestyle Versus Event Today's society is very event led; life seems quite dull unless we are doing something. Recent politics have emphasised performance related pay. At the same time many modern churches have a stringent programme of activity. The result of this can inadvertently lead to a person’s worth being measured by what they do. It can also make us believe that God is ‘programme-based’ in his love for us. We often associate God’s will as an event, i.e. doing this or that, going here or there, apply for this job, marry that person and so on... ‘God’s will’ can include specific instruction, but more often it is to do with relationship, lifestyle, and nurture. Relationship It is God’s will for us to have an intimate and close relationship with him. Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Jeremiah 30:21 I will bring him near, and he will come close to me, for who is he who will devote himself to be close to me?’ declares the LORD. Knowing God’s will does not necessarily equate with activity. Sometimes God withholds his plans from us so that we will master the art of waiting. Waiting on God is an essential ingredient to knowing God’s will. Many people want to bypass the waiting and get straight into the doing. For some people, doing nothing is a waste of time, for God our inactivity is a vital element in getting to know him. Psalm 119:166 I wait for your salvation, O LORD, and I follow your commands. Psalm 130:5 I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word, I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning, more than watchmen wait for the morning. Activity without intimacy is of little importance. It’s not uncommon for people to want to know God’s will more than they actually want to know God! Activity is an event; relationship is a process. We cannot effectively hear God’s voice or do God’s will unless we have first learned the art of knowing God. It’s like having the benefits of sexual pleasure without the security of a loving relationship, or like a farmer reaping a great harvest without first labouring over the crop. Knowing God’s requires intimacy, time, and commitment. There are no shortcuts to doing God’s will. Many Christians fall away because they have become bored, impatient, or distracted. Others spend so much time trying ‘to do’ God’s will that they simply burn themselves out. Isaiah 40: 29 He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LORD, shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. Lifestyle Doing the will of God is much more about being the right person rather than doing the right things. People often focus on life-events rather than the process of a sanctified life. God is much more interested in ‘who we are’ than he is in ‘what we do’. It’s easy to get caught up with Christian activity and neglect the importance of Christian character. It is God’s clear will that we: Be financially responsible (Luke 12:21) Live by faith, not by sight (Rom 1:17) Live a life of sacrifice and service (Rom 12:1) Renew our minds (Rom12:2) Transform the way we live (Rom12:2) Fellowship with other believers (Rom 15:32) Give ourselves fully to God (2 Cor 8:5) Do the best job for our employer (Eph 6:6) Stand firm, and remain standing (Col 4:12, Eph 6:13) Mature into strong believers (Col 4:12) Have a servant attitude (Phil 2:5) Avoid sexual immorality (1 Thes. 4:3) Live a pure life (1 Thes. 4:3) Rejoice in every circumstance (1 Thes 5:18) Keep our eyes on Jesus – the perfect example (Heb 10:7, 12:2) Persevere in the work (Heb 10:36) Do good to all men (1 Peter 2:15) Understand that God’s will includes suffering (1 Peter 4:19) Be faithful in prayer (1 John 5:16) Most of these verses are direct references to the ‘will of God.’ There are, however, simply hundreds of other commandments on how we should live our lives. It is God’s will that we honour our parents, tell the truth; that we should be kind, generous, and gentle. We should be calm, temperate, and full of compassion. The list goes on and on. ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­ It is clear that our attention needs to be on our character and personal development rather than ‘activity or events.’ It is God’s will, first and foremost, that we live a life that is a true reflection of the Lord Jesus Christ. God wants us first of all to be pure, blameless, and holy. Amen Personal Prayer In Part 5 we see the need to be nurtured in discipleship.