It is amazing, the grace God showed toward us, because we all know what it feels like to be disliked or ignored, we want to reject the person who does this. If we are believers we don't act in angry ways toward these people, but it is unlikely that we will take their sin on ourselves to pay their penalty.
Romans 5:6-8 "6 For at just the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 It is rare indeed for anyone to die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.…"
Friday, October 27, 2017
Unjustified Sin
Anyone who lives a lifestyle of "I don't have to", to justify sin, cannot be born again. Not because they lost their salvation, but because they never wanted to be changed by Christ in the first place. Those who come to Christ authentically come broken over their sinfulness and desire to be changed by Him.
Words Must Match the Actions
There is an old saying that goes like this; "More is caught than taught." Our example speaks far louder than our words. If our words do not match our actions, then those watching have no reason to believe us.
1 Peter 3:10 "10 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech."
It is a form of deceit to say one thing and do another.
1 Peter 3:10 "10 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech."
It is a form of deceit to say one thing and do another.
Growing in Holiness
The more we see ourselves in truth and confess what we see, the more we will grow in holiness. Those who cannot admit what they are, do not grow.
We must always be asking the Lord to reveal our shortcomings to us, that we would confess them to grow in holiness.
We must always be asking the Lord to reveal our shortcomings to us, that we would confess them to grow in holiness.
An Affair as Seen by God
There are those who will become angry at a married person having an affair with someone other than their spouse, but have no problem with someone divorcing their spouse eventually remarrying someone else.
God calls remarriage after a divorce, adultery.
Luke 16:18 "Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery."
This instruction from Christ clearly states in the original languages that this practice of adultery is an on going state, not a one act that goes away after the remarriage.
Those how think the next marriage after a divorce is a legitimate marriage is denying the words of Christ.
God calls remarriage after a divorce, adultery.
Luke 16:18 "Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery."
This instruction from Christ clearly states in the original languages that this practice of adultery is an on going state, not a one act that goes away after the remarriage.
Those how think the next marriage after a divorce is a legitimate marriage is denying the words of Christ.
Are You Good Enough?
How many of you think you are good enough Christians, raise you hands?
Romans 3:10 "10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 There is no one who understands; no one who seeks God.…"
Anyone who thinks they are good enough to get into heaven, will not be going there. Those who love to recount their good deeds as reasons why they will make into heaven, do not understand that nothing they DO will get them into heaven. Only those who have trusted what Christ DID on the cross will be going to heaven, not based on their good deeds but on His finished work on the cross on our behalf.
Those who think they will get into heaven because they KEPT their salvation cannot be saved either. One cannot receive salvation by grace alone and claim to keep themselves saved by their own works.
We are born again by trusting Christ, for believing, for salvation, after that for growth and for works and everything else in between. It's all about Him. To take any credit for our salvation is to diminish what Christ did on that cross.
Matthew 7:21-23
I Never Knew You
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"
Ephesians 2:10
"10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Romans 3:10 "10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 There is no one who understands; no one who seeks God.…"
Anyone who thinks they are good enough to get into heaven, will not be going there. Those who love to recount their good deeds as reasons why they will make into heaven, do not understand that nothing they DO will get them into heaven. Only those who have trusted what Christ DID on the cross will be going to heaven, not based on their good deeds but on His finished work on the cross on our behalf.
Those who think they will get into heaven because they KEPT their salvation cannot be saved either. One cannot receive salvation by grace alone and claim to keep themselves saved by their own works.
We are born again by trusting Christ, for believing, for salvation, after that for growth and for works and everything else in between. It's all about Him. To take any credit for our salvation is to diminish what Christ did on that cross.
Matthew 7:21-23
I Never Knew You
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"
Ephesians 2:10
"10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
The Culture Has It Wrong
Those who belong to Christ will see discipline and correction to keep them on the narrow path. Never fear brothers and sisters, if you are being chastised, then you are dearly loved.
Children today have difficulty understanding discipline as love, they see it as hate because the culture has convinced them that it is mean to discipline.
Hebrews 12:5-9
"…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, or lose heart when He rebukes you.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.”
7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…"
"…8 If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.
9 Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live?…"
Children today have difficulty understanding discipline as love, they see it as hate because the culture has convinced them that it is mean to discipline.
Hebrews 12:5-9
"…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, or lose heart when He rebukes you.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises everyone He receives as a son.”
7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…"
"…8 If you do not experience discipline like everyone else, then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.
9 Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live?…"
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