Gospel News — Jun-Aug 2012

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working in my members..." (Romans 8:19).

Temptation is everywhere, sin is a common result. This unfortunate situation comes directly from our forebears, Adam and Eve. No one, other than the Lord, has ever overcome or beaten it!

However, the reality is that we struggle even more, because we are determined (with a self-imposed mindset) to try to live `sinless lives' like our Lord did - a truly worthy goal, but hardly unachievable. I believe that `faithful lives' (not sinless lives) are what God really wants from us. Faithful lives can truly glorify Him.

Hosea 6:6-8 carries this message from God.

Now this is a goal or objective we can achieve. Jesus invites believers to strive for this goal. This is possible; we can be faithful and right to the end! "Be faithful to the point of death, and I will give the crown of life."(Rev 2:10) Abraham appears to have met this criteria.

Faithfulness is the fruit of a single-minded approach to a Godly life. "A double minded man is unstable in all his ways." Jas 1:5. So let's try to focus more on faithfulness, less on sinlessness, encouraging one another to this end. This is the positive approach. Sadly, when sinlessness engages us – it's usually about another! You may well know the words of our Lord about motes and beams, specks and planks!

Faithfulness is singular and faithfulness is uniquely personal. Faithfulness honours God, pleases our Lord and is helpful to others. Let's be determined to focus more on achieving faithfulness. It will please God and generate a more peaceful mind.

Our Preservation

Bro Henderson Sosola (Mtenthela, Malawi)

The best position and highest privileges will fail to keep a man right with God. Dependence on the Lord, and obedience alone can do this. The greater the privilege, the worse the fall if the soul does not wait upon God. It is a great mistake to think that only the wicked can fall; the Christian (brother or sister) may, and must, also fall, if unwatchful.

The condition of a true worshipper is not such that he remains immovable as a statue. He is alive unto God, but he is responsible morally. He ought to grow but may decline. No doubt he has his `old man'; the only thing to do with it is to judge it, treating it as vile and evil according to the cross, where it was condemned, root and branch in Christ who was made sin for us (Romans 6:6; 8:3).

Calvary

Bro Herbert Tigerepasi (Lusaka, Zambia)

When they were come to the place which is called Calvary, there they crucified Jesus, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood: "Christ suffered without the gate" (Heb 13:12). Christ, our representative, was to suffer without the boundaries of Jerusalem. He died outside the gate where murderers were executed; "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us" (Gal 3:13).

The news of his condemnation had spread throughout Jerusalem, and people of all classes and ranks flocked toward the place of crucifixion. The Saviour's burden was too heavy for him in his weak and suffering condition. Did they know that they were putting to the torture one who had come to save the sinful race from