Forgiveness does not lead to repentance as some have believed. It is conviction of sin that leads to repentance. When we prematurely forgive when there is no repentance there is a hardening of the heart. If someone is forgiven without repentance and they rage it is because there already was hardness of heart.
Isaiah 26:10 "10 Though grace is shown to the wicked man, he does not learn righteousness. In the land of righteousness he acts unjustly and fails to see the majesty of the LORD. '
Grace and mercy is shown to the repentant. Those who do not love Christ will not have His grace and mercy.
Mercy and grace is offered to all mankind but it is conditional to trusting in Christ. There will be no mercy or grace for those who reject Christ, they will be thrown into the lake of fire without ever receiving these gifts from God.
The reason we see so many Christians walking on egg shells around unbelievers is because they have believed the false premise that showing grace and mercy leads people to repent.
Romans 2:4 " 4 Or do you despise c the riches of His goodness, d forbearance, and e longsuffering, f not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?"
It is the goodness of God that offers forgiveness upon repentance. It is because of His goodness and justice that will not forgive those who are unrepentant. His goodness requires holiness, justice and compliance to His principles.
Those who resist His principles, His justice and holiness are also resisting His mercy. God is many things and most of all He is love and justice.
Without justice there can be no love. Without justice the unrepentant gets mercy and the righteous are persecuted. Most Christians today do not understand this principle. The devil has done a very effective job in fooling people into believing the opposite of what God teaches in His Word.
How we think determines how we act. When a culture elevates psychology above God's Word them the culture will be brain washed to follow that which they have heard most of their lives.
A good example of this is an old saying that we used to hear as children. That saying goes like this; "if you can't say anything good then don't say anything at all." This was not a biblical saying, it was based on "going along to get along."
A society that lives under this premise of never saying anything hard will never rebuke for sin, they will never speak truth that makes someone feel badly. When this happens the whole culture has been intimidated to refrain from truth in favor of good feelings. This produces a culture that ultimately ends up defending the evil and chastising the righteous.
It is vitally important that we are continually evaluating what we have been taught according to the Bible. Those who love the easy life of "going along to get along" will ultimately end up facilitating sin while negating truth and righteousness.
If you have found yourself defending the sinner in the middle of their sin while chastising the one who points out sin, then you are part of the problem. Sin is growing in the churches because most people have bought into the premise that we should make sure everyone "feels" good about themselves. It isn't until we feel bad about ourselves that we can repent and seek Christ.
Romans 6:1-11 "1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?
2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?
3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?
4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have become [a]united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be [b]in the likeness of His resurrection,
6 knowing this, that our old [c]self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be [d]done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;
7 for he who has died is [e]freed from sin.
8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,
9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, [f]is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him.
10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.
11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus."
Those who refuse to obey God are those who cause division. It is not the one who is pointing out the disobedience who is divisive, it is the one who is in rebellion against God who causes division. We must avoid those that bring false teaching that only enables those who will not turn from their sin.
Titus 3:10-11
"As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned."
1 Timothy 5:20
"As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear."
We are to expose sin for the sake of those looking on as well as for those in the sin that they might be ashamed and correct their attitude and behavior.
James 5:19-20
"My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins."
Saturday, December 1, 2018
Friday, November 30, 2018
Pampering the Wicked One While Beating Up the Righteous
I find it interesting that sometimes we are accused of bitterness for not forgiving an unrepentant heart, but the one who sins and lives in rebellion refusing to confess and turn is hailed as the victim.
It is psychology that has perpetrated this falsehood on the world. The devil knows that when someone is not required to be accountable for their life or actions they will only grow worse.
Ignoring sin does not make it go away, facing it, confessing it and resolving to be cleansed by Christ will remove sin.
This is classic narcissism in our world: pamper the one who has done terrible things and is not sorry while pressuring and demeaning the one who will attempt to hold the evil person accountable.
Think about it!!!
Isaiah 26: 10-11 "10 Though grace is shown to the wicked man, he does not learn righteousness. In the land of righteousness he acts unjustly and fails to see the majesty of the LORD. 11 O LORD, Your hand is upraised, but they do not see it. They will see Your zeal for Your people, and be put to shame. The fire set for Your enemies will consume them!…"
Proverbs 24:1 "1 Do not envy wicked men or desire their company; 2 for their hearts devise violence, and their lips declare trouble.…"
Romans 16:17
"Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them."
1 Corinthians 5:11
"But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a one."
Psalm 26:4
"I do not sit with deceitful men, Nor will I go with pretenders."
The challenge today is to ask ourselves if we are seeking Christ and reading His word for His truth?
It is psychology that has perpetrated this falsehood on the world. The devil knows that when someone is not required to be accountable for their life or actions they will only grow worse.
Ignoring sin does not make it go away, facing it, confessing it and resolving to be cleansed by Christ will remove sin.
This is classic narcissism in our world: pamper the one who has done terrible things and is not sorry while pressuring and demeaning the one who will attempt to hold the evil person accountable.
Think about it!!!
Isaiah 26: 10-11 "10 Though grace is shown to the wicked man, he does not learn righteousness. In the land of righteousness he acts unjustly and fails to see the majesty of the LORD. 11 O LORD, Your hand is upraised, but they do not see it. They will see Your zeal for Your people, and be put to shame. The fire set for Your enemies will consume them!…"
Proverbs 24:1 "1 Do not envy wicked men or desire their company; 2 for their hearts devise violence, and their lips declare trouble.…"
Romans 16:17
"Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them."
1 Corinthians 5:11
"But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a one."
Psalm 26:4
"I do not sit with deceitful men, Nor will I go with pretenders."
The challenge today is to ask ourselves if we are seeking Christ and reading His word for His truth?
Advise to Fellow Believers
What should the response be when a fellow Christian advises someone to quit smoking because it dishonors God?
Just recently a woman told me she is a good mother because she is teaching her children not to smoke. She smokes herself but tells them not to do what she does.
My response to her was that when we do something that we tell others not to do we are a hypocrite.
Matthew 7:4-5 "…4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while there is still a beam in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye."
Not only was this woman flying in the face of God's word she was teachingt her children far more by actions than by words.
"More is caught than taught" is a saying we might want to pay close attention to, since the realization that we are more powerful in our actions than our words makes a big difference in how we live our lives.
Titus 2:7
"Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,"
As I muddled through the conversation frustrated that the attacks against me had nothing to do with what I was trying to convey, but all about how "mean" I was in saying it. The way I said it was not mean, just that I said it at all incurred her wrath.
I was not mean, I didn't call names nor did I accuse her of bad character, I simply repeated the words of God. Showing her the difference between the lack of power of words and the power of example.
Not only did this woman use filthy language to show her disdain for me, she also proclaimed loudly the people she knew that were godly. She told me of her relatives that were preachers and missionaries while stating boldly "you don't know who I am" as though knowing all those people made her special. She claimed to be a Christian herself.
I stated that I didn't care who she knew, I was only concerned about the discussion at hand.
Then the real attacks came, her friend on the thread derided me for my delivery saying nothing about the filthy language or smoking of the other woman. They commiserated with one another at my brashness and lack of love, while they were displaying these things and I was not.
The other woman in the discussion who was upholding and pampering the smoker, was demonstratively compassionate toward the smoker as though she were a victim of her addiction rather than having made a choice.
This is common now in the church. Those who tell the truth unreservedly will be personally attacked while the message is ignored completely.
Any challenge at all no matter how mild will be met with hostility.
It is absolutely classic that those who are rebellious and are convinced they are special people will not hear a correction or rebuke.
After all that in the discussion, when I did not retaliate in any way, just quoting scripture, this woman returned to say that she believed her thyroid condition may cause her to be cranky, no mention of her bad habit or her filthy language. Then she regressed even further into excuses stating that maybe our genes from our ancestors caused us to act certain ways.
Once again the truth burned within me, the Holy Spirit could not remain silent. Making excuses that make others at fault for our own sins is also classic narcissism.
Explaining that when we get before God we will not be asked who else made us do something, I added more scripture. We will stand before the Lord by ourselves without excuses for our behavior. We will not be allowed to blame others for our sins.
This set the bomb for another attack. Once again those simple words of truth ignited a fire storm of attack against me for being so harsh. No mention at all about "what" I said only that I said it at all.
Everyday I run into more and more people who demonstrate their psychological bent who think that all their own sins were someone else's fault.
It was interesting to me that the woman didn't consider it a sin to smoke, but just a bad choice. The sin of addiction to anything is clearly mentioned in the Bible. The way anyone begins smoking is to show off for their friends to fit into the culture. Generally it all starts at the bars. Sadly, perhaps the showing off is over, someone grows up and is not showing off anymore but now they are addicted, an equally sinful condition.
It is also sinful to defend those who are in sin to spare their feelings. When we do not speak truth to help someone overcome an addiction then we are a willing partner in their sin.
Proverbs 27:17
"Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another."
We are to hold our brothers and sisters accountable for one another's lives. We are to help them in their journey toward holiness.
James 5:16
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."
Those who will not confess their sin in defiance of God's Word will see the consequences of that defiance.
James 5:19-20
"My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins."
Satan has taken over the modern church through the lies of psychology that do not permit accountability or even caring God's way.
A narcissist sees a correction or rebuke as a personal attack. It is my opinion that someone who cannot be corrected by a Christian brother or sister will not stand correction by God. Their heart is stubborn and God will have to bring harder and harder trials to get this person's attention.
Colossians 3:16
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."
When there is denial of accountability and resistance to correction, there is rebellion that prevents any spiritual growth If the resistance persists then there is regression.
It is my observation that most people in our world today are not born again. Those who are born again and have a besetting sin will be ashamed, not angry and vengeful, but ashamed.
Jeremiah 6:14-15 "…14 They have dressed the wound of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace at all. 15 Were they ashamed of the abomination they committed? No, they were not at all ashamed. They did not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they will collapse,” says the LORD."
Those who enable the one who sins participates in their rebellion. These enablers have no help for those they encourage in their sin.
Hebrews 3:12-13
"Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."
When someone is caught in an addiction they are not only involved in the addiction itself, they are examples for all others around them, they are denying the need to be delivered, therefore they deny Christ no matter what their words say.
When we deny Christ by refusing to stop the sin we are saying the following things without a word:
"I don't care what God thinks"
"I will not ask God to help me become delivered"
"I don't care what kind of an example I am to others."
"I don't care that I am defiling the temple of God.
"I don't care that this addiction will one day cause me illness and distress.
"I don't care that others will have to take care of me when my body reacts violently to the poison of this habit.
When we love people God's way it is far more important that we support them in seeking holiness than it is to make them feel momentarily happy. The love of God has nothing to do with feelings it has to do with truth. Feelings are a by product of stimuli, they are often wrong and based on self exaltation. Facts and truth are what help people to overcome that which keeps them captive.
Here is how it all could have sounded;
"oh my goodness, I never thought of all that, thank you for sharing, I will pray to be delivered."
Wow what a difference that would have made in the smokers life.
Just recently a woman told me she is a good mother because she is teaching her children not to smoke. She smokes herself but tells them not to do what she does.
My response to her was that when we do something that we tell others not to do we are a hypocrite.
Matthew 7:4-5 "…4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while there is still a beam in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye."
Not only was this woman flying in the face of God's word she was teachingt her children far more by actions than by words.
"More is caught than taught" is a saying we might want to pay close attention to, since the realization that we are more powerful in our actions than our words makes a big difference in how we live our lives.
Titus 2:7
"Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,"
As I muddled through the conversation frustrated that the attacks against me had nothing to do with what I was trying to convey, but all about how "mean" I was in saying it. The way I said it was not mean, just that I said it at all incurred her wrath.
I was not mean, I didn't call names nor did I accuse her of bad character, I simply repeated the words of God. Showing her the difference between the lack of power of words and the power of example.
Not only did this woman use filthy language to show her disdain for me, she also proclaimed loudly the people she knew that were godly. She told me of her relatives that were preachers and missionaries while stating boldly "you don't know who I am" as though knowing all those people made her special. She claimed to be a Christian herself.
I stated that I didn't care who she knew, I was only concerned about the discussion at hand.
Then the real attacks came, her friend on the thread derided me for my delivery saying nothing about the filthy language or smoking of the other woman. They commiserated with one another at my brashness and lack of love, while they were displaying these things and I was not.
The other woman in the discussion who was upholding and pampering the smoker, was demonstratively compassionate toward the smoker as though she were a victim of her addiction rather than having made a choice.
This is common now in the church. Those who tell the truth unreservedly will be personally attacked while the message is ignored completely.
Any challenge at all no matter how mild will be met with hostility.
It is absolutely classic that those who are rebellious and are convinced they are special people will not hear a correction or rebuke.
After all that in the discussion, when I did not retaliate in any way, just quoting scripture, this woman returned to say that she believed her thyroid condition may cause her to be cranky, no mention of her bad habit or her filthy language. Then she regressed even further into excuses stating that maybe our genes from our ancestors caused us to act certain ways.
Once again the truth burned within me, the Holy Spirit could not remain silent. Making excuses that make others at fault for our own sins is also classic narcissism.
Explaining that when we get before God we will not be asked who else made us do something, I added more scripture. We will stand before the Lord by ourselves without excuses for our behavior. We will not be allowed to blame others for our sins.
This set the bomb for another attack. Once again those simple words of truth ignited a fire storm of attack against me for being so harsh. No mention at all about "what" I said only that I said it at all.
Everyday I run into more and more people who demonstrate their psychological bent who think that all their own sins were someone else's fault.
It was interesting to me that the woman didn't consider it a sin to smoke, but just a bad choice. The sin of addiction to anything is clearly mentioned in the Bible. The way anyone begins smoking is to show off for their friends to fit into the culture. Generally it all starts at the bars. Sadly, perhaps the showing off is over, someone grows up and is not showing off anymore but now they are addicted, an equally sinful condition.
It is also sinful to defend those who are in sin to spare their feelings. When we do not speak truth to help someone overcome an addiction then we are a willing partner in their sin.
Proverbs 27:17
"Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another."
We are to hold our brothers and sisters accountable for one another's lives. We are to help them in their journey toward holiness.
James 5:16
"Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working."
Those who will not confess their sin in defiance of God's Word will see the consequences of that defiance.
James 5:19-20
"My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins."
Satan has taken over the modern church through the lies of psychology that do not permit accountability or even caring God's way.
A narcissist sees a correction or rebuke as a personal attack. It is my opinion that someone who cannot be corrected by a Christian brother or sister will not stand correction by God. Their heart is stubborn and God will have to bring harder and harder trials to get this person's attention.
Colossians 3:16
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God."
When there is denial of accountability and resistance to correction, there is rebellion that prevents any spiritual growth If the resistance persists then there is regression.
It is my observation that most people in our world today are not born again. Those who are born again and have a besetting sin will be ashamed, not angry and vengeful, but ashamed.
Jeremiah 6:14-15 "…14 They have dressed the wound of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace at all. 15 Were they ashamed of the abomination they committed? No, they were not at all ashamed. They did not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they will collapse,” says the LORD."
Those who enable the one who sins participates in their rebellion. These enablers have no help for those they encourage in their sin.
Hebrews 3:12-13
"Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin."
When someone is caught in an addiction they are not only involved in the addiction itself, they are examples for all others around them, they are denying the need to be delivered, therefore they deny Christ no matter what their words say.
When we deny Christ by refusing to stop the sin we are saying the following things without a word:
"I don't care what God thinks"
"I will not ask God to help me become delivered"
"I don't care what kind of an example I am to others."
"I don't care that I am defiling the temple of God.
"I don't care that this addiction will one day cause me illness and distress.
"I don't care that others will have to take care of me when my body reacts violently to the poison of this habit.
When we love people God's way it is far more important that we support them in seeking holiness than it is to make them feel momentarily happy. The love of God has nothing to do with feelings it has to do with truth. Feelings are a by product of stimuli, they are often wrong and based on self exaltation. Facts and truth are what help people to overcome that which keeps them captive.
Here is how it all could have sounded;
"oh my goodness, I never thought of all that, thank you for sharing, I will pray to be delivered."
Wow what a difference that would have made in the smokers life.
Thursday, November 29, 2018
Use the Rest of the Verse Too
Eileen Heuston said this: It makes good sense!!!
"Has anyone realized how often we hear quoted "...resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7) but how we almost never hear the first part quoted: "SUBMIT yourselves to God". Is it maybe cos folk want the devil to leave them alone but are not keen on submitting their lives i.e their wills, thoughts and actions to God?"
"Has anyone realized how often we hear quoted "...resist the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7) but how we almost never hear the first part quoted: "SUBMIT yourselves to God". Is it maybe cos folk want the devil to leave them alone but are not keen on submitting their lives i.e their wills, thoughts and actions to God?"
When the Devil Accuses
"When the devil reminds you of your past sins, remind him of his future."
Irwin Lutzer
There are those who will accuse us of our past sins because we preach against sin, as though if someone had ever sinned they have no right to speak against it now
God never said not to confront people on their sin. He told us to be sure we have the log out of our own eye first then we can go to the brother who is sinning.
Most people leave off the "then you can take the speak out of your brother's eye."
Modern psychology has managed to brainwash an entire country into believing we should never speak to others about a problem in their life. This is patently unbiblical.
Correction has been made to seem mean and everything must be cloaked in flattery and praise if it is said at all. It has been my experience that bold talk brings out the real person.
A person can continue to be phony when they are flattered, but the real them emerges when we speak truth without reservation.
As I was in discussion with someone this person didn't like my correction. Within a few minutes of the discussion she spewed out some filthy language, showing me her inner heart . A born again believer does not speak filthy words.
Sometimes the best way to get the real self to emerge is to challenge someone on their actions or belief. Even done in the mildest terms a challenge angers the one who is engaging in pretense.
Once the pretense is done away with we can see if this person is teachable or whether or not they are a kindred spirit.
Just a thought, let the Holy Spirit guide as we obey Him.
Irwin Lutzer
There are those who will accuse us of our past sins because we preach against sin, as though if someone had ever sinned they have no right to speak against it now
God never said not to confront people on their sin. He told us to be sure we have the log out of our own eye first then we can go to the brother who is sinning.
Most people leave off the "then you can take the speak out of your brother's eye."
Modern psychology has managed to brainwash an entire country into believing we should never speak to others about a problem in their life. This is patently unbiblical.
Correction has been made to seem mean and everything must be cloaked in flattery and praise if it is said at all. It has been my experience that bold talk brings out the real person.
A person can continue to be phony when they are flattered, but the real them emerges when we speak truth without reservation.
As I was in discussion with someone this person didn't like my correction. Within a few minutes of the discussion she spewed out some filthy language, showing me her inner heart . A born again believer does not speak filthy words.
Sometimes the best way to get the real self to emerge is to challenge someone on their actions or belief. Even done in the mildest terms a challenge angers the one who is engaging in pretense.
Once the pretense is done away with we can see if this person is teachable or whether or not they are a kindred spirit.
Just a thought, let the Holy Spirit guide as we obey Him.
The Modern Christian Response to Correction
Lord have mercy!!!!
They always do this, whenever we speak boldly about something someone is doing or their need for correction, we are accused of not saying it right.
Just because someone didn't like what we said does not mean we said it badly.
This is the work of psychology to assume someone said something in a mean way simply because the hearer got angry.
People are not dogs who respond to stimuli automatically. Dogs respond to discipline and correction with humility and love you anyway, even if they don't like the correction. They even modify their behavior to please their owner.
Human beings are not like that, they bite, growl and attack anyone who dares to point out a flaw. It is interesting that they will call us mean spirited for speaking truth but when they perceive a slight in us they are free to spew out all kinds of venom.
This is the world we live in. Those who are being chastised to learn refuse to listen. They refuse to even ponder what is said unless it is bathed in flattery and praise.
Proverbs 29:5
"A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet."
Proverbs 26:24-28
"Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling. A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin."
They always do this, whenever we speak boldly about something someone is doing or their need for correction, we are accused of not saying it right.
Just because someone didn't like what we said does not mean we said it badly.
This is the work of psychology to assume someone said something in a mean way simply because the hearer got angry.
People are not dogs who respond to stimuli automatically. Dogs respond to discipline and correction with humility and love you anyway, even if they don't like the correction. They even modify their behavior to please their owner.
Human beings are not like that, they bite, growl and attack anyone who dares to point out a flaw. It is interesting that they will call us mean spirited for speaking truth but when they perceive a slight in us they are free to spew out all kinds of venom.
This is the world we live in. Those who are being chastised to learn refuse to listen. They refuse to even ponder what is said unless it is bathed in flattery and praise.
Proverbs 29:5
"A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet."
Proverbs 26:24-28
"Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly. Whoever digs a pit will fall into it, and a stone will come back on him who starts it rolling. A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin."
Only God's Love Matters
Our world no longer knows what love looks like. Worldly love is based on feelings rather than facts.
Love motivates us to do what is best for others not necessarily what they would like.
Fact: those who do not trust in Christ are going to hell.
Feelings: everyone is going to heaven because we feel they should.
John 3:1-8
"3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus[a] by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again[b] he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.[c] 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You[d] must be born again.’ 8 The wind[e] blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Love motivates us to do what is best for others not necessarily what they would like.
Fact: those who do not trust in Christ are going to hell.
Feelings: everyone is going to heaven because we feel they should.
John 3:1-8
"3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus[a] by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again[b] he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.[c] 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You[d] must be born again.’ 8 The wind[e] blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)