The really big issues, in five words, for Gorey, Wexford and everyone

I love words that open windows and shed light on the big picture. Of course, that’s because I think there’s a big picture. I know it sounds pretentious, although I didn’t mean it. Yes, there are big claims to what I’m saying and I invite you to think about them.

So wherever you are, regardless of what you believe, here are some of the really big issues:

1. DEITY
In the Bible, God reveals himself to be wonderfully personal; in fact, three persons in one God. The glorious Father, the wonderful Son and the merciful Holy Spirit. But there is never any need to try to ‘prove’ the existence of God – God IS. No, that’s not an escape. He is the eternal I AM, an eternally existing living God. In addition, he has already given ample evidence of his eternal power: just look at a starry sky, a sunrise, a bird’s feather, a small blue flower growing on an old stone bridge, the human personality and his consciousness, just look at what it’s here!

2. REALITY
The Universe is here! But then how do we try to understand it? Will modern science tell us what it means? I have looked at many ways and have come to accept that only the Bible fully deals with the reality of why we are the way we are. So, not everything is a cosmic dream, but rather an understandable and truly existing reality. All truth comes from God, the Creator of all things. Only with biblical revelation do we have a foundation and a framework for a meaningful and understandable reality, including ourselves.

3. HUMANITY
We are unique: there is both wonder and mystery! We are the work of a special creation: each of us has his own identity, made in the image of God. So we have a moral, rational and personal being. Supremely, we were created to know and love God, but terrible lawlessness occurred at the time of the Genesis fall. Now we are all separated from God and in need of his forgiveness, for which there is a remedy. One is enough! And it is so radical that no one except the Son of God himself would die and bear the condemnation that others deserved. Holy Scripture teaches these wonderful truths.

4. PURPOSE
When Jesus died on the cross, he offered himself to God as the final sacrifice for sin. His death is not repeatable. He paid the price in full: he achieved the final solution. The death of Jesus reveals the totally undeserved favor and love of God and lays the foundation for a restored relationship with God. The death of Jesus reveals God in the fullness of him. So we have to face the biblical meaning of ‘sin’ and the death of Jesus to see the amazing wonder of the way God reconciles us to himself. Are you a true Christian? Have you repented of your sin and put all your trust in the Lord Jesus to save you? Did he really die for your sins? Make sure. The purpose is – once did it – once was enough.

5. COMMUNITY
We are made for the community, the family, society in general and the new community – the communion of all people who belong to the Lord Jesus. Now in our own locality as we worship together, we are called to grow in faith, our knowledge of God’s word, and love. Our communion is with God through Christ our Savior, our Mediator and great High Priest. All this is the work of the Holy Spirit, for the glory of God. Yes, there must be biblical oversight, care, and nurturing of the flock that leads to maturity and true unity in which all members of the body participate in the building up of the body. In all of this ‘Christ is all and in all’ (Colossians 3:11). He must be preeminent!

Here’s a summary:
I sought the GODHEAD and found that all the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Christ.
I searched for REALITY and found its fullness of life in Christ.
I sought to understand HUMANITY and found it perfectly revealed only in Jesus.
I made sure of the PURPOSE when I saw that the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross is finished, complete, once and for all.
And when I trusted him myself, I discovered that we were a COMMUNITY, a true global family.

You know that once the really important problems are solved, the others start to fall into place. So I hope they do it for you. Seek the Lord with all his heart and let yourself be found by him today!

Dr Michael JS Austin