My Notes from the Book ‘Basic Christianity’ by John Stott: "Who on Earth is Jesus Christ" (Part Three)

Article Title: My Notes from the Book ‘Basic Christianity ’ by John Stott: "Who on Earth is Jesus Christ" (Part Three)
Shared by: Craig Lock
Category (Key Words/Tags): Christianity, Jesus, Jesus Christ, Basic Christianity, John Stott, Books, Thoughts on Jesus, Spiritual Growth , Faith, Empowerment, Transformation, Inspiration, Empowerment, Spirituality, Spiritual Growth , Spiritual Writings, Awareness, God
Web site: www.basichristianityfordummies.wordpress.com
Craig’s blog (with extracts from his various writings: articles, books and new manuscripts) is at http://en.search.wordpress.com/?q=%22craig+lock%22&t=post and http://craiglock.wordpress.com
Other Articles are available at: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/user/15565 and http://www.ideamarketers.com/library/profile.cfm?writerid=981
(Personal growth, self help , writing, internet marketing, spiritual, ‘spiritual writings’ (how ‘airey-fairey’), words of inspiration and money management, how boring now, craig and may be freely published)

Publishing Guidelines:

These thoughts in point-form (as with all my articles) may be freely published, electronically or in print.

"We share what we know, so that we all may grow."

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"WHO ON EARTH IS JESUS CHRIST?" (PART THREE)

Submitter’s Note:
The Book 'Basic Christianity ' by John Stott

(Published by Inter-Varsity Press, UK (First edition 1958)

I took these brief notes from the above book – a most illuminating, revealing and enlightening read on the life and person of Jesus Christ. Incidentally, this book (and others by John Stott) is available for download (PDF) at http://www.pdflibrary.info/en/ebook/Basic%20Christianity%20John%20Stott-...

Here are some of my notes (in point form) from this "simple and easy to read" book by John Stott, a UK Christian teacher and preacher, that I am currently reading, researching and “studying”. And as I share, I learn more too. No matter what you may know, believe, or not believe about this most significant (and controversial) figure in human history. Hope it’s not too “heavy religious” and that it may even be “enlightening” to you. Anyway, enjoy...

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PART FOUR: MAN"S RESPONSE

COUNTING THE COST

Involved a demand (in the form of commitment) as well as as an offer (of salvation).

Jesus never lowered his standards or modified his conditions to make his call more readily acceptable. He asked for total commitment from his disciples . "Follow me!"

Doing this involves an inner surrender (to God’s will).

First, there must be a renunciation of sin, ie. repentance.("Go and sin no more")

2. Renunciation of self, which is denying oneself (in terms of time and money). "Take up the cross."Even to the point of losing our life: "Whoever loses his life... will save it."

God has a purpose for every life. Our purpose is to discover it and do it (and honour the mission, the service). However, be aware that God's plan may be different from our parents' or our own. It's a path of "serving the Lord and not men."

Christ spoke of the clash of loyalties which sometimes arises within a family, when one of its members begins to follow him: "Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace , but a sword." (And this verse is widely misunderstood, as Jesus was the ultimate "Prince of Peace ")

For most, his command is to an inner detachment, rather than a literal renunciation of material possessions. The New Testament does not imply that possessions are sinful in themselves. Christ simply meant to put following him above material wealth, just as we are to put him above family ties(??)

The call to confess Christ

We are commanded not only to follow Christ privately, but to confess him publically. It is not enough to deny ourselves in secret, if we deny him in the open.

So an open confession of Christ cannot be avoided. Paul declared it to be a condition of salvation. In order to be saved, he wrote, we have not only to believe in our hearts, but to confess with our lips that Jesus is Lord, "For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved."

It costs to be a follower of Christ; but it costs far more not to be!.

For the sake of others. We should not submit to Christ only for what we get, but for what we can give. "Whoever loses his life for the gospel's sake, will save it."

*Chapter 10: REACHING A DECISION

We cannot remain neutral. Nor can we merely drift into Christianity . We must decide for ourselves.

True faith will translate mental belief into a decisive act of trust. Intellectual conviction must lead to personal commitment.

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want."

"The Lord is my light and my salvation."

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Chapter 11: BEING A CHRISTIAN

Becoming a Christian is one thing; being a Christian is another.

When you invited Christ to come as your Lord and Saviour, at that moment what can only be described as a miracle took place.

It's an intimate relationship
It's an assured relationship.
It's a secure relationship.

LIVE the faith
Prayer then follows naturally, just as if you're talking to a friend.

Our duty to the church

Our duty to the world

This is the life of discipleship to which Jesus Christ calls us. He died and rose again that we might have newness of life. He has given us his spirit, so that we can live out this life in the world.

Now he calls us to follow him, to give ourselves wholly and unreservedly to his service.“Lord

Let me be a channel for YOUR peace , a window for Your light to shine through to everyone I meet. Lord, touch me where I need the touch the most. Let more people experience the REAL YOU, Who You really are. God, Use my 'little' life as a focus for YOUR infinite possibilities.”

Shared by craig (with gratitude to John Stott)

("Information and Inspiration Distributor, Writer for Self Empowerment , Incorrigible Encourager and People-builder")

" Faith sees the invisible,follows the unfathomable...
and achieves the impossible."

"I'd rather attempt something great and fail, than attempt nothing and succeed."- Norman Vincent Peale

"Let the light of your BEING shine brightly; so revealing Who You Really Are. Be a Bringer of the Light, which emanates from our soul, God, our Creator, the Source, the Essence of Life (and Ground of our very Being). Therefore, it can do more than illuminate your own path.YOUR spirit will help makes the lives of others easier by illuminating others paths. For this light is our humanity, the spirit of God, truth, wisdom, beauty and especially love...and it lies within each one of us. Through your actions and your being, let your light, YOUR spirit truly shine brightly on the world, like the radiance emitted by a candle at midnight."

- craig (as adapted from Neale Donald Walsh in 'Conversations with God’ Book 3).

"Together, one mind, one life at a time, let's see how many people we can impact, encourage, empower , uplift and perhaps even inspire to reach their fullest potentials."

These thoughts may be freely published

"God is a mystery, the 'mystery of life', a Creative Presence, Who/That allows me to be who I really want to be and become."

"God, the Essence of Life, is the great mystery in the vast unknown; yet He(??) is understandable."

May the light of God light your path up ahead