Faith in Christ Alone

When our faith is in Jesus Christ alone we have no expectations of human beings.

Let's examine the story of a young woman who was devastated when she discovered her grandparents were not as moral or wonderful as she had thought growing up.

You see, her parents never told her all the messy things about her grandparents so she believed they were perfectly wonderful without flaws.

This young woman was devastated when she discovered things in the grandparents past that were sinful, even disbelieving them in order to maintain her fantasy about them.

When we cannot see people in truth we are placing our trust in man rather than Christ. When we know all human beings are flawed, desperately wicked without remedy as God says, then we have no expectations that any human being will be perfectly wonderful. In fact we will know that no one deserves our worship or over the top praise.

Jeremiah 17:9
"9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?"

When we know the human condition has always been evil without Christ, then we can love people we know to be imperfect. When we refuse to face the truth about man kind, expecting things out of people that we have no right to expect, then we have fashioned an idol in our hearts that is above God.

When we can accept that man is desperately wicked and that Jesus Christ is the only answer to this problem of evil, then we can unconditionally love people without expectations of them. It does not mean we accept sin in them, it means we love them enough to speak the truth of God's Word so they can make an informed decision.

Yes, there are some people who cause problems in our lives and will not discuss them to resolve them, these people we must avoided. However we cannot avoid people because they have flaws or past sins we would have to get out of the world.

1 Corinthians 5:9-11 "9 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. 10 I was not including the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.…"

Christ died for mankind while we were still in our sin. He loved His creation that much. There are certain things we cannot allow in our lives because of the continual problems these people bring, mostly they work against our Christianity without regard to the principles of God.

Those who attempt to draw us away from our God undermining our walk with Him must be removed. However there are unsaved people who do not work against us they merely live their lives in imperfection.

How dare anyone judge another person as unworthy of love because of past forgiven sins. Anyone who thinks like this is still in their own sin. To act superior to others is a sign this person never understood their own sinfulness, they have chosen to believe if they do all the right things all the right ways they are saved. These are those who are working their way to heaven based on their own elevated view of their own goodness.

Romans 3:23
"23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"

Anyone who believes their sins were not as bad as the sins of others is prideful and diluted. The slightest sin, even a white lie is worthy of hell, that's just how pure and perfect God is, so perfect that not even the slightest sin can be in His presence.

This is the reason Christ died, to pay for sin that His sacrifice for us would cover our sinfulness. Only He is perfect, only He paid for sin. Only His blood can cover our sin.

We can only trust Christ to become born again when we confess our own sinfulness and have faith that Christ paid that debt. Then we must desire to be cleansed by Him. Good deeds cannot cleanse us or save us, only faith in Christ and His work in us will save us.

When He saves us He comes to live in us and begins the cleansing process called sanctification that changes us.

1 John 1:9
"9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

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."

When we see ourselves in truth, when we see everyone in truth, we will not place anyone in high regard. We will love people as Christ loved them, that is to tell them the truth so they will want to repent and confess their sinfulness to be saved.

When someone does not receive our correction we walk away and leave them to God. Perhaps He will send someone else to speak to them..

1 Corinthians 3:6-9
"6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one; but each will receive his own [a]reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s [b]field, God’s building."

When we are trusting Christ knowing we are merely a messenger we are able to walk away and leave people to Him. Wasting our time with those who will not listen is fruitless. Perhaps one day with more trials to make them see their need for Christ, they will begin to see their own sinfulness as we had to when we became born again.

No one is greater than anyone else, no one is sinless and no one deserves worship except God. God is One God, in three persons. The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Bottom Line: Love people enough to speak truth to them and worship only God.

2 Timothy 4:1-3 "1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. 3 For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.…"

Let the Holy Spirit Only

We should not allow wicked people to control us, not because we are independent and prideful, but because when they control us we will not be controlled by the Holy Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 5:19
"19 Do not quench the Spirit."

Ephesians 4:30
"30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption."

Allowing anyone but the Holy Spirit control us grieves Him.

John 14:16
"16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever,"

When we are deeply affected by wicked people that is a form of control over us. We must learn to never take seriously the antics of the wicked person. When they can affect our witness, destroy our joy and intimidate us into silence, they are in control of us.

Acts 7:51
51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you."

Isaiah 40:26
"26 Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name; by the greatness of his might and because he is strong in power, not one is missing."

It is Christ Who is all powerful, bullies not so much!!!!

When Christ is our focus the bullies and the naysayers will have no power over our thinking or our joy!

Cult....ure

Notice the word "culture" has another word within it? That word is "cult".

Cult Definition: "a misplaced or excessive admiration for a particular person or thing."

When we follow the culture we are following people or things not Christ.

Go With God Not the Culture

We can pretty much depend on this principle: if the culture loves it then something is wrong with it, be discerning!

The "Semmelweis" Effect

The "Semmelweis" effect:

When we see what we want to see and hear rather than what is really in front of us.

Our mind often interprets things the way we wish to interpret them based on biases and gossip far more than though analytical thinking.

Those who are analytical in their thinking, look at the information to determine truth are more likely to be rejected in a culture that loves its fantasies far more than it loves truth.

The anti-christ is preparing to deceive many with illusions and promises. He will begin his reign of terror with promises of great things and end with terrible torturous destruction. He will torment the very people he made wonderful promises to while leading them into the fires of hell.

Think about it!!!

America Drunk on Itself

America is drunk on itself! We wave the finger of blessing as if we are number one in a ball game. Pride dominates this country!

Let the Holy Spirit Guide You

If the culture is driving your understanding of the Bible you will be in error constantly.