Friday, March 1, 2024
The Sad State of the Apostate Church Today
In recent years I have become keenly aware of how many "church goers" do not know the Bible and who have false beliefs that are against the Bible.
One man who says he is a Christian said to me that we are not a thief just because we have stolen one thing. I was astounded and explained to him that we could never steal even the smallest item unless we were already a thief in our hearts.
Matthew 5:27-28
Adultery in the Heart
27 “You have heard that it was said [a]to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
We could go our entire lives without stealing anything and still have a heart of thievery simply by wishing we could or endorsing it in others.
Many people who do not steal will go to hell for not trusting in Christ. All have sinned in their hearts and are destined to hell if they do not confess their sinfulness and ask God to cleanse them from their sin.
Even after we are born again Christ spends the rest of our lives cleansing us from sinful thoughts and attitudes. Those who hold themselves in high regard cannot trust in Christ. They are trusting in their own goodness and are proud of it.
It was pride that got the devil thrown out of heaven. He desired to be like God, better than everyone else. And yet, he is the vilest of beings that exists and is continually tormenting mankind to become like him in hating God.
As long as there is pride and a superior attitude toward others there cannot be humility that comes from trusting in Christ.
The first thing that happens to us to become born again is the brokenness over our own sinfulness. Those who have never been broken will not be saved.
Those who continually live to elevate self above others cannot be saved.
Proverbs 16:18-19 "18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. 19 It is better to be lowly in spirit among the humble than to divide the spoil with the proud.…"
The greatest prayer a sinner can pray is that Christ remove from our heart any pride and sense of superiority that lingers then allow the Holy Spirit to cleanse us.
Remember these guys?
Luke 18:9-14 "9 Now He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt:
10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
11 The Pharisee stood and began praying this in regard to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, crooked, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.
12 I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’
13 But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to raise his eyes toward heaven, but was beating his chest, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’
14 I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other one; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
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