The personal site of Jonathan Hayashi
Since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, we have needed the rescuing hand of God to deliver us from evil and sin. God’s love for us was ultimately displayed when he sent Jesus Christ to die for us on the cross, only to rise from the dead so that we may be saved.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer puts it this way in his book Life Together, “Those who remain alone with their evil are left utterly alone.”
Baptism is a wonderful and easy way to remember the outline for a powerful new life that Christ has for us. How are we supposed to live for Christ day by day? How can we break sin habits? How can we put the past behind us and live a new life?
People from all walks of life will often ask one or more of the following metaphysical questions: Why should I believe the Bible? Is there salvation outside of Christianity? How do we know that God exists? Given evil, how can one justify God?
Paul’s sole confidence lied within Christ alone for he was radically transformed by this good news of the gospel.
Forgiving others is a mark of genuine disciples of Christ.
When we look deep down in the soul, what do we find? What part of our self are we supposed to be, “true to”?
Theological disagreement can cause church splits, tear up churches and ultimately jeopardize Christian Unity.
In certain countries, there are 3,572,000 orphans, with nearly 5000 children with Down syndrome who are unwanted. Many of those children are killed at birth. The “lucky” ones end up in orphanages.
Let my name die everywhere, let even my friends forget me, if by that means the cause of the blessed Jesus may be promoted.
– George Whitefield
Some preachers used it as an acronym as, “God’s Righteousness At Christ’ Expense.” For as followers of Christ, we know how the Christian life is indeed all about grace.
“I love Jesus, but not the church. So, I ditched the church.” Have you heard statement made by Christians? Is this a big deal?
Because of the cross and the empty tomb, the way is now open for all to come. Sins have been fully paid and fully accessible!
Many people are seeking purpose and identity horizontally such as their wife, from a job, from achievement, from health, or wealth which the cycle continues on over and over again.
“The mission of the Church is to seek and to save them that are lost.” – James H. Aughey
To get at the nature of that faith, it is helpful to ponder why faith alone justifies. Why not love, or some other virtuous disposition?
The heart of the matter is to whom/what is worship given and how does one’s life exert what one truly value?
I come with singing and everlasting joy within my heart. I obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing goes away.
“If you believe what you like in the gospel, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.” ― Augustine
However difficult it is to engage the world, believers are called to engage this ever-changing culture with the never changing gospel!
The doctrine of hell is one of the most difficult aspects of the Christian faith for many people.
The Contemporary gospel is an American cultural artifact, namely, you can become a Christian and not follow Jesus, discipleship is optional.
The ordinary Christian will always fight the status quo of lukewarm Christianity. The ordinary Christian will always fight nominal, passionless Christianity.
Stats shows that 80% of young people who dropped out of church said they did not plan to do so during high school.