Monday, February 16, 2009
Monday, January 5, 2009
but I'm a good person...
If you ask most lost people if they think that they will go to heaven when they die, they will most likely answer "I'm a pretty good person...I've never done anything seriously bad like kill anyone and stuff like that. So yeah, I think God will let me in." I have heard this...a lot. The problem is, God will not be comparing us to man's idea of righteousness, but He will compare us with perfect righteousness...that of Christ. Next to perfect, we all fall short. Romans 3:20-23 tells us:
Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
You see, it is not about who is bad and who is worse. It's about what we have in common...our sin nature. Ps.58:3 states the wicked go astray from the womb, they err from their birth speaking lies. And Eph. 2:3 says Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
We see the beginnings of it in the most innocent looking of little babes. A lie, hiding the evidence, and "passing the buck". It is evident in our selfishness. Our need to please ourselves, our desires to be someone important, powerful, popular, successful, beautiful, needed, rich, etc. We see it in our lusts, and especially in our secret sins that we think no one knows. But God does..and we know it. He knows all the wicked thoughts, the lies, the gossip, the backbiting. And the way that we fail most of all is that we fail to recognize the Lordship of Christ, and we fail to trust and worship the one true God.
It is because of this that we deserve the wrath of God...that's right deserve. So we could stop right there and take it no further, remaining in our delusion that we are "good people" or we could see the truth. We are here sinners under the wrath of a holy and righteous God.
If your eyes then have been opened to this reality by the Holy Spirit...rejoice! The very Words of God that condemn us offer us amazing hope...redemption. Romans 6:23 state: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Wages are what you earn. A gift you do not deserve. God gives His Son freely who fulfilled the Law and paid the penalty for our sins. Eph. 2:4-9 proclaims: (4)But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)...(8) For by grace you have been saved, through faith, and not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Not of works so that no man can boast.
Oh friend, have faith in Christ your risen Savior! Trust His Word and believe it to be completely true (2 Tim. 3:16). Turn away from your sins and trust Christ and only Him to completely save you. Acts 4:12 tells us Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Trust Him today to take away your misery and sin and give you a new heart full of peace and joy that loves God and is eager to serve Him (Eph. 4:21-24). The way will be wobbly, your steps at times unsure. But He will give you His Spirit to guide you and give you strength as He makes you everyday more like His Son. Eph. 1:13-14 gives us this encouragement: In Him you also trusted, after you heard the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. If you sin (and you will in your walk with God), remember the words of John the Apostle in 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. You will find that the Spirit of God will cause you hate your sin as He does and cause you to want to get rid of that sin.(Romans 7:14-25) In this way, God will constantly change you until you bear more and more of a family (heart)resemblance...to Christ that is! We all have a feeling that our lives were meant for something greater, for Someone greater. Be no more a slave to sin, become a servant of the God who loves you!
Love in Christ
Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
You see, it is not about who is bad and who is worse. It's about what we have in common...our sin nature. Ps.58:3 states the wicked go astray from the womb, they err from their birth speaking lies. And Eph. 2:3 says Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
We see the beginnings of it in the most innocent looking of little babes. A lie, hiding the evidence, and "passing the buck". It is evident in our selfishness. Our need to please ourselves, our desires to be someone important, powerful, popular, successful, beautiful, needed, rich, etc. We see it in our lusts, and especially in our secret sins that we think no one knows. But God does..and we know it. He knows all the wicked thoughts, the lies, the gossip, the backbiting. And the way that we fail most of all is that we fail to recognize the Lordship of Christ, and we fail to trust and worship the one true God.
It is because of this that we deserve the wrath of God...that's right deserve. So we could stop right there and take it no further, remaining in our delusion that we are "good people" or we could see the truth. We are here sinners under the wrath of a holy and righteous God.
If your eyes then have been opened to this reality by the Holy Spirit...rejoice! The very Words of God that condemn us offer us amazing hope...redemption. Romans 6:23 state: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Wages are what you earn. A gift you do not deserve. God gives His Son freely who fulfilled the Law and paid the penalty for our sins. Eph. 2:4-9 proclaims: (4)But God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)...(8) For by grace you have been saved, through faith, and not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. Not of works so that no man can boast.
Oh friend, have faith in Christ your risen Savior! Trust His Word and believe it to be completely true (2 Tim. 3:16). Turn away from your sins and trust Christ and only Him to completely save you. Acts 4:12 tells us Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. Trust Him today to take away your misery and sin and give you a new heart full of peace and joy that loves God and is eager to serve Him (Eph. 4:21-24). The way will be wobbly, your steps at times unsure. But He will give you His Spirit to guide you and give you strength as He makes you everyday more like His Son. Eph. 1:13-14 gives us this encouragement: In Him you also trusted, after you heard the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. If you sin (and you will in your walk with God), remember the words of John the Apostle in 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. You will find that the Spirit of God will cause you hate your sin as He does and cause you to want to get rid of that sin.(Romans 7:14-25) In this way, God will constantly change you until you bear more and more of a family (heart)resemblance...to Christ that is! We all have a feeling that our lives were meant for something greater, for Someone greater. Be no more a slave to sin, become a servant of the God who loves you!
Love in Christ
Monday, December 15, 2008
A Cheerful Christmas in Bethlehem
Today I read an interesting article on Bethlehem's booming tourism this December and January as a more peaceful atmosphere returns to the West Bank. The most interesting thing I saw in the article was that 40% of Bethlehem's 32,000 residents are Christian, quite amazing since the town was comprised of 90% Muslims in the 1950's.
You can read more at:
Cheerful Christmas in Bethlehem
You can read more at:
Cheerful Christmas in Bethlehem
Monday, December 8, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Thanksgiving quotes
It must be an odd feeling to be thankful to nobody in particular. Christians in public institutions often see this odd thing happening on Thanksgiving Day. Everyone in the institution seems to be thankful "in general." It's very strange. It's a little like being married in general.
Cornelius Plantinga, Jr.
Preoccupied with ourselves, we have lost the grace of being thankful. It is sad to live in a world where there is no one to thank because we have ourselves become the cause and source of all good things.
John Hannah
To God be the Glory, Crossway, 2000, p. 11.
A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves.
Henry Ward Beecher
Love in Christ!
Cornelius Plantinga, Jr.
Preoccupied with ourselves, we have lost the grace of being thankful. It is sad to live in a world where there is no one to thank because we have ourselves become the cause and source of all good things.
John Hannah
To God be the Glory, Crossway, 2000, p. 11.
A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves.
Henry Ward Beecher
Love in Christ!
Monday, October 20, 2008
Gayle Williams....to the Greater Glory of God
I read a news report this morning of a 34 year old Christian aid worker in Afghanistan being killed for "spreading her religion". She was targeted by men full of hate for the witness she bore and the glory it gave God. Let us pray for her family in this time, and that her death may lead to many coming to the cross in that region because of the power of Christ in her.
Gayle Williams martyr
Love in Christ
Gayle Williams martyr
Love in Christ
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Reformation...our great heritage
For those of you who aren't familiar with what all this Reformation stuff is...the video below is an overview. I notice so many of my friends on myspace who by their religion put "Christian other" when they are members of Protestant churches. Nothing bad about it, but I think it is so important to remember the history of the church, and those who have given their lives in devotion to the truth and purity of the gospel. We take it so for granted in our day, and I feel it is not a good thing to remove ourselves from the Christians of the past. I think that because we have forgotten where we come from, we have more allowed false teaching and world views into our lives and our churches.
Love in Christ
Love in Christ
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