If someone is darkness then the light will drive them away.
John 3:19-21
"19 And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.
20 Everyone who does evil hates the Light and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
21 But whoever practices the truth comes into the Light, so that it may be seen clearly that what he has done has been accomplished in God.”…"
Proverbs 28:1-2 "1 The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
2 A land in rebellion has many rulers, but a man of understanding and knowledge maintains order.…"
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
First the Bad Then the Good!
First, we need the bad news, then we need good news. Both are necessary for a solution to be reached.
The bad news informs us of the problem, the good news gives us the solution to the problem.
When someone preaches only the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ to the lost it sounds foolish to them because they don't think they are sinners. They like their life just fine even thinking they are a good person.
We must show people they are bad before we can tell them how they can be made good through Jesus Christ.
Romans 3:23-24 "…22 And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."
If they don't know they are bad they will see no need for change by Christ. It will sound useless and silly to them.
Perhaps those who only like to share the good are fearful of being rejected themselves. Therefore their gospel is self-centered with the hope of making a friend when all it does is make them a friend as the sinner remains an enemy of God.
If anyone is more interested in making people like them than they are in the eternal soul of the person to whom they preach, then they have no business preaching at all. These are the ways that produce false happy converts who join with churches only to bring chaos, rebellion, and division.
The sinner needs both the bad news first, that they are sinners on their way to hell and then we can share the good news that Christ paid their debt for that sin on the cross and all they have to do is admit their sinfulness and trust in Him. Then He will change them into a new creation.
Acts 17:30
"The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,"
Acts 2:38
"And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Matthew 3:8
"Bear fruit in keeping with repentance."
Once Christ has changed us into a new creation we begin to bear His fruit in our lives. We love His commandments and become conviction for others because the Law Giver (Christ) lives in us.
2 Corinthians 5:16-18 "…16 So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:…"
What is the fruit of the Spirit of God that is now in us?
Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law."
The fruit is character qualities that lead us to obey His principles and worship Him.
Do not think for one minute that you can develop these qualities in your own effort, you cannot. These are gifts from the Holy Spirit Who lives in those who have been changed into a new creation by Him.
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."
Sadly there are far too many people who try to be Christian in their own effort, or they try to pretend they are without any desire to obey Christ. They love their sin but go to church, these are the pretenders who want to be included but were never changed by Christ. Do not be one of these people, they are going to hell.
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.’"
The bad news informs us of the problem, the good news gives us the solution to the problem.
When someone preaches only the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ to the lost it sounds foolish to them because they don't think they are sinners. They like their life just fine even thinking they are a good person.
We must show people they are bad before we can tell them how they can be made good through Jesus Christ.
Romans 3:23-24 "…22 And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."
If they don't know they are bad they will see no need for change by Christ. It will sound useless and silly to them.
Perhaps those who only like to share the good are fearful of being rejected themselves. Therefore their gospel is self-centered with the hope of making a friend when all it does is make them a friend as the sinner remains an enemy of God.
If anyone is more interested in making people like them than they are in the eternal soul of the person to whom they preach, then they have no business preaching at all. These are the ways that produce false happy converts who join with churches only to bring chaos, rebellion, and division.
The sinner needs both the bad news first, that they are sinners on their way to hell and then we can share the good news that Christ paid their debt for that sin on the cross and all they have to do is admit their sinfulness and trust in Him. Then He will change them into a new creation.
Acts 17:30
"The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,"
Acts 2:38
"And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Matthew 3:8
"Bear fruit in keeping with repentance."
Once Christ has changed us into a new creation we begin to bear His fruit in our lives. We love His commandments and become conviction for others because the Law Giver (Christ) lives in us.
2 Corinthians 5:16-18 "…16 So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:…"
What is the fruit of the Spirit of God that is now in us?
Galatians 5:22-23
"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things, there is no law."
The fruit is character qualities that lead us to obey His principles and worship Him.
Do not think for one minute that you can develop these qualities in your own effort, you cannot. These are gifts from the Holy Spirit Who lives in those who have been changed into a new creation by Him.
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."
Sadly there are far too many people who try to be Christian in their own effort, or they try to pretend they are without any desire to obey Christ. They love their sin but go to church, these are the pretenders who want to be included but were never changed by Christ. Do not be one of these people, they are going to hell.
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.’"
The Bad News and the Good News We Need Both!
There are those who say they only want to share the "good news" as though they only wish to be positive in their assertion that God just loves everyone and wants to bless them.
The sad thing about the "positive" message is that it leaves out the sin problem as well as the message of repentance. One will not accept the gospel as being good news if they don't think they sin and need saving.
God gave the ten commandments as a schoolmaster to lead people to Him. It teaches that no one can be good, that everyone is a sinner and must be sorry for it trusting in Christ for their salvation.
The commandments convict people of their sin. Until we tell them they are sinners they think they are good people. We must tell the whole truth. Everyone who becomes born again must come broken over their sinfulness before they can admit they have need of a Savior.
"God loves you" is not the gospel. The whole gospel is that mankind is sinful without remedy. The only solution is that Christ died to pay our debt for sin and offers this to mankind, however the condition for receiving it is to believe in Christ and trust in Him. If someone refuses this then they will go to hell.
Those who only bring a happy gooy message of "God loves you" merely bring temporary good feelings but it does not save or cleanse a person from their sin.
Only through brokenness over our sinful nature can we trust in Christ and become born again.
John 3:3-5 "…3 Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” 4 “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time to be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.…"
if someone does not want to be broken over sin they cannot be born again.
John 6:40
"For it is My Father's will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.""
Acts 3:19
"Repent, (meaning to change one's mind) therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out,"
When we have admitted we are sinners without hope and turn toward Christ to be changed into a new creation then He will do it. But He will not change anyone who does not want to be changed. He will not change anyone who is content in their sinful state.
No one who claims to be a Christian but enjoys retaining their sin is born again. This is what is called a pretender, they want to be in the church, they want the protection and love of God but they don't want Him. Like spoiled children, these people want to have all the perks of the born again believer without any love for Christ or the brethren.
Romans 12:10
"Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor."
1 John 3:14
"We know that we have passed out of death into life because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death."
Ephesians 4:2
"With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,"
1 Corinthians 1:10
"I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment."
You might be wondering how it is possible to have fellowship without division with all the different personalities. Its really quite simple, but it does not happen very much, that is those in the fellowship seek God together in prayer and bible study when there is a disagreement. If the disagreement is not a matter of salvation or blatant heresy then disagreements may happen but there is no fighting and arguing over them.
Because of our modern hierarchy system the "pastors" lord it over the people and often will not listen to correction. All those who attend a group have the Holy Spirit and therefore are qualified to correct anyone.
When there are several elders all of whom preach and teach, there must be an agreement through seeking Christ together. No one has the final say or remains superior to anyone else.
Too often the "pastors" who have been educated, often by those with bad theology, elevate themselves above others refusing to listen to anyone who does not have the degree.
Some born again believers who follow the Bible are mocked and even asked to leave a gathering when they come against false teaching in gatherings where there are paid, seminary graduates. All of which is unbiblical.
The sad thing about the "positive" message is that it leaves out the sin problem as well as the message of repentance. One will not accept the gospel as being good news if they don't think they sin and need saving.
God gave the ten commandments as a schoolmaster to lead people to Him. It teaches that no one can be good, that everyone is a sinner and must be sorry for it trusting in Christ for their salvation.
The commandments convict people of their sin. Until we tell them they are sinners they think they are good people. We must tell the whole truth. Everyone who becomes born again must come broken over their sinfulness before they can admit they have need of a Savior.
"God loves you" is not the gospel. The whole gospel is that mankind is sinful without remedy. The only solution is that Christ died to pay our debt for sin and offers this to mankind, however the condition for receiving it is to believe in Christ and trust in Him. If someone refuses this then they will go to hell.
Those who only bring a happy gooy message of "God loves you" merely bring temporary good feelings but it does not save or cleanse a person from their sin.
Only through brokenness over our sinful nature can we trust in Christ and become born again.
John 3:3-5 "…3 Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” 4 “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time to be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.…"
if someone does not want to be broken over sin they cannot be born again.
John 6:40
"For it is My Father's will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.""
Acts 3:19
"Repent, (meaning to change one's mind) therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out,"
When we have admitted we are sinners without hope and turn toward Christ to be changed into a new creation then He will do it. But He will not change anyone who does not want to be changed. He will not change anyone who is content in their sinful state.
No one who claims to be a Christian but enjoys retaining their sin is born again. This is what is called a pretender, they want to be in the church, they want the protection and love of God but they don't want Him. Like spoiled children, these people want to have all the perks of the born again believer without any love for Christ or the brethren.
Romans 12:10
"Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor."
1 John 3:14
"We know that we have passed out of death into life because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death."
Ephesians 4:2
"With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,"
1 Corinthians 1:10
"I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment."
You might be wondering how it is possible to have fellowship without division with all the different personalities. Its really quite simple, but it does not happen very much, that is those in the fellowship seek God together in prayer and bible study when there is a disagreement. If the disagreement is not a matter of salvation or blatant heresy then disagreements may happen but there is no fighting and arguing over them.
Because of our modern hierarchy system the "pastors" lord it over the people and often will not listen to correction. All those who attend a group have the Holy Spirit and therefore are qualified to correct anyone.
When there are several elders all of whom preach and teach, there must be an agreement through seeking Christ together. No one has the final say or remains superior to anyone else.
Too often the "pastors" who have been educated, often by those with bad theology, elevate themselves above others refusing to listen to anyone who does not have the degree.
Some born again believers who follow the Bible are mocked and even asked to leave a gathering when they come against false teaching in gatherings where there are paid, seminary graduates. All of which is unbiblical.
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