They Don't Ask the Right Questions

Most "Christians" will not ask us if we love Jesus Christ, they will ask which church we attend and who is our pastor? A Clue!

Forgiveness and Love Requires Repentance for there to be a Changed Heart

Ephesians 4:31-32 "…31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you."

It is not possible to confess offenses when we are bitter and full of rage. It is not possible to forgive someone who does not confess their bitterness and rage. Forgiveness has a purpose and that is to reconcile. Reconciliation cannot happen when only one of these things happens, both are necessary.

I find it interesting that our modern culture expects forgiveness when there is no sorrow over offenses. The culture expects to be forgiven even when there is no desire to change what is wrong. This culture places pressure on one to forgive but no pressure on one to confess offenses. It is not merely unbalanced but it does nothing to reconcile the relationship.

When confession occurs and forgiveness is extended the relationship grows stronger than it was before.

How did Christ forgive? He forgave when there was repentance for the purpose of reconciling a relationship.

Proverbs 28:13

"Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy"

James 5:16

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed"

1 John 1:5-10, 2:1-2

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all injustice"

Luke 17:3-4 "…3 Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

A relationship can only be reconciled when there is confession of offense and forgiveness extended. These are two sides of the same coin and both must be present for there to be reconciliation.

When the Bible is ignored the good is not allowed to progress and change in hearts does not occur.

Humility is required to confess sin and it is also required to obey God in waiting for the confession before extending forgiveness that is not received because a heart has not been changed.

The lie that we will become bitter if we do not forgive the unrepentant has diminished the purpose of confession and forgiveness, it has cause the words "I forgive you" to become lame and meaningless.

When God said love your enemies, we do no harm to them but the love requires responsibility that changes the heart. It is not harmful to withhold forgiveness to one who is not sorry, and it may save their eternal life.

When a culture gives into the ways of the world and is steeped in psychology it will cause people to become offended over accountability and it will be helpless and meaningless.

Relating Biblically SESSION 4: When Your Spouse's Heart Is Not Changing

Knowing Truth does not save anyone from hell.

"Knowing" the truth does not save anyone from hell. Satan knows the truth and that is where he is going.

 
Matthew 7:21-23 "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 people described in Matthew 7 knew the truth but tried to get to heaven in their own strength their own way, without ever trusting in Christ. They thought their "goodness" would get them there, but instead, it condemned them to hell because it could not change their character and all they did was for themselves. Their character remained self-willed defined as self pleasing.

May many who think they are good and working their way to heaven on their own merit repent and trust in Christ to be changed by Him.

Trusting in Christ not an Institution Devised by Man

Many believers are realizing the truth about the institutional church. God is placing in the hearts of many believers who were raised to believe they must attend a large gathering and sit like a lump under a one-man-paid-pastor system that God never commanded, the truth of what the gatherings were intended to be and it is nothing like what happens in our day.

God intended that every believer participate in the gathering, edifying one another while making Christ the center. However, church gatherings today are man-centered.

We were called to edify one another with God's Word. We were never called to sacrifice for Christ, He is the only one whose Sacrifice was worthy to cover the sin of those who trust in Him. He offered this to every man but only those who trust in Him will be saved.

We must believe in Christ desiring to be changed by HIm into a new creation. God will not live in or change anyone who believes in Him but wants to change themselves.

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."

Anyone depending on themselves has not submitted to Christ. They have merely added His name to their own works and are not born-again.

2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new"

Christ changes us into a new creation, He continues the process of cleansing us throughout our lives until He takes us to our eternal home. It is all His work after we have trusted in Him.

Proverbs 3:5-6

"5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

All I Want is Jesus!!!!

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1912541225891178

Modern Sacrifices for Christ are a Stench

Modern "worship services" are focused on sacrificing for Christ instead of what He sacrificed for us. Mankind loves to pridefully control their own destiny by their own actions.

There are no sacrifices we would make that would count for anything. We praise God because He sacrificed for us.

Romans 12:1 says, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service".

When we make ourselves available to Christ desiring Him working in us His good will, it will not be "sacrifice" but rather obedience.

Psalm 51:16-17

"For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart— These, O God, You will not despise".

Isaiah 1:11-14

"The LORD says, “I do not want all these sacrifices. I have had enough of your burnt sacrifices of male sheep and fat from fine animals. I am not pleased by the blood of bulls, lambs, and goats".

Hosea 6:6

"For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings"

Sacrifice has to do with burnt offerings brought to God but there is no longer a need for this because Christ sacrificed Himself on our behalf on the cross.

When we love Christ we do not do things to impress Him, we do things to please Him without regard to whether or not it brings anything to us.

I get this idea of not wanting sacrifices because of what many have experienced from family. Some will bring a birthday gift or send a card but whenever they are in company together they find a way to demean, ignore or mock those they wish to hurt. God understands this better than anyone could.

He died for the world and the response of many is to do something for Him that He never wanted and ignore His commands that He loves.

Receiving a gift or sacrifice from someone who demeans you the rest of the year is more like a stench than a blessing.