Two Things

I was challenged this morning when I read in Colossians 1 Paul's words :

"Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love [which ye have] to all the saints"

Paul had heard about these Christians and was firstly, thanking God, and also praying for them.
Why ? Because he had heard two things, which he was thankful for.
He had heard:

1. of their faith in Christ Jesus

2. of their love of all the saints.

Two Things.

It's important to understand that faith must be in Jesus Christ. That's the starting point and no amount of reasoning can do away with this. WE must be ever so careful of this.

I was sent a link (thanks Maureen) which I read, and they seemed to conclude that faith doesn't necessarily have to be in Christ alone, quotes:

"Even if we think Christ - as the divine Logos - is the way to God, that doesn't mean that you have to become a Christian to find Him."

"Once they know his name, some people will then be able to connect that name with the Truth that has been in them all along." ?yikes (further in colossians it seems to say, "and you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in [your] mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled". In order to become reconciled, they needed to understand how estranged and alienated they truly were. Not that truth has been in them all along. (yikes). Truth can only become a part of us through Christ. He is the one who makes us new and the old 'me' pass away. To be alienated means to be separated from or estranged from. The only way to not be alienated and an enemy is to understand our need for His redemption because of our lost condition. Knowing Christ truly is not understanding or appreciating truth that has been in us all along, but understanding our own NEED to be forgiven and reconciled and that apart from Christ's mercy and forgiveness we cannot be restored and become His reflection. )

"I KNOW in my heart of hearts that it is to that light that every one of us will return.. call it Jesus or God or Allah or Goddess or Krishna.. it doesn't matter.. It is the place that we come from and it is the place that we return to heal and whole once again."

**the implication in this article is that there are many ways to know the Light, the Truth, and even though they may disagree on the name or way to the Light, they are still the same. There is alot of talk about feelings, experiences, and statements like 'in Love and in the Light' .. yes, feelings and experiences are fine but they can also deceive us all and lead each of us astray very quickly

Please stay faithful to Him. Yes, it is Jesus.

Love Him.

Love the Saints.