Rough flight coming to an end

A few weeks back I wrote that this would be a very rough flight as we discussed sin and God’s righteousness. Today I want you to experience the love of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
“But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
If we are not careful we will overlook a very important sentence in this paragraph. We have already learned about the righteousness of God, about responding in faith to God’s promptings, and our sin. The love of God is such that he justifies us, that is, he sets us in a right relationship with himself as a free gift. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Are you a person that prefers to give gifts or receive gifts? If you are the one that enjoys the buying, surprising and giving then you are able in a simple and small sense to understand the way the Father feels in offering you His gift of grace. He sent Jesus to purchase this gift for you. If you are the person who enjoys receiving the gift, opening the package and finally seeing the surprise waiting inside, you have a package awaiting you, full of peace, joy and love, the gift of Jesus.
With any gift there comes a time of decision, you have to decide whether to receive or to reject. If you receive this gift you are not promised an easy life or a life of luxury while on this earth. However, you are promised an eternal life spent with the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit in Heaven, perfection for eternity. Rejecting this gift, will result in Jesus, who could have been your advocate, instead denying He ever knew you and you living eternally in hell. Are you truly certain that Jesus knows your name or will he deny YOU?

A Changed Heart

Circumcision of the Heart
Have you ever sang this song, Change my heart oh God”? For us to really be in a right relationship with God and with others around us we need Jesus Christ to do for us what we cannot do ourselves. That is to change our hearts. Here in this passage of Scripture we will read Paul addressing Jewish Christians who were counting on their ethnicity and the outward sign of the covenant(circumcision) to get them into heaven. He raises from question that they would have asked as a result of reading the first two chapters of Romans. Let's read what he writes to the church.
For circumcision is indeed profitable if you keep the law; but if you are a breaker of the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. Therefore, if an uncircumcised man keeps the righteous requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be counted as circumcision? And will not the physically uncircumcised, if he fulfills the law, judge you who, even with your written code and circumcision, are a transgressor of the law? For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. “Romans 2:25-29”
Paul is writing to the Jew Christian letting them know that if they can keep the whole law without sinning their circumcision is profitable. They are not able to keep the whole law therefore their circumcision is unprofitable. Notice the line of thinking that the Apostle uses. If an uncircumcised man is able to do this then his uncircumcision will be counted as circumcision. The problem is this, some of the Jews were counting on their ethnicity and circumcision to keep them from experiencing the righteous judgment of God. Today, I’m afraid that we are guilty of propagating something just as bad. We may be guilty of counting on our Christian heritage, the church we grew up in and our outward baptism we experienced as a child or an adult. If our heart is not changed by Jesus Christ none of this will get us into heaven. Let’s read the last sentence again. There is a heart matter that must be taken into account. Circumcision that matters is not the outward one that the Jew was counting on, nor the outward act of water baptism or sprinkling. The circumcision that matters is the circumcision of the heart. The baptism that matters is the baptism of the heart. If God has not baptized and placed you in the body of Christ you do not have forgiveness of sins, no power to live the Christian life today and no eternal home in heaven? Ask Jesus these two questions: Am I yours? Am I holy? The Holy Spirit of God will answer these two questions. If you belong to God you’re set aside for his purposes. When a person is baptized by God they hunger and thirst to know him, to know Jesus and to be controlled by the Holy Spirit. All who are saved by the Lord will grow to be faithful believers living for Christ. If you are struggling with sin I invite you to come to Jesus and ask him to change your heart. He can take the sin away and give you a new heart with the strength you need to walk with him.

Just reminded

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The False Security of Many

Romans 2:17-24

Here in our passage today, the apostle Paul brings to Jew’s to the forefront of the conversation in his letter.  The rest of this chapter is going to be aimed at the Jews and help them to see that they are under sin to.  Why does Paul stay so long on the subject of sin? “But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast in God and know his will and approve what is excellent, because you are instructed from the law; and if you are sure that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of children, having in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal?  You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?  You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law.  For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” (Romans 2:17-24) Paul stays so long on the subject of sin because the Jews have a sin problem to.  He lets them know that just because they have the word of God written out for them and are instructed out of it they are not able to obey it perfectly either.  They have a false security if they are resting on their heritage of being a Jew, having the written word being instructed out of it.  This is not what saves a person!  This is the problem today we have to many people who are resting on the fact ht    Paul wants the Jew to know that they have a sin problem that they cannot fix as well.  The same could be said for someone who really had God fearing parents or grandparents, went to the same church, went through the baptismal waters but didn’t have a change of heart concerning their sin.  In fact it is ok to point out other people’s sin but not your own.  This is how sin deceives us.  You probably have heard this: do as I say not as I do.  The person instructed know that you really believe it is ok to do what you told them not to do because your actions tell them that is what you really believe.  If you teach a child not to steal, and then you steal what have you taught the child? That it is alright to steal.  The reason why revival tarries is because we want other people to repent of their sin.  Why do you need salvation if you don’t have a sin problem?

God doesn't force repentance!

We have learned that God’s judgment is according to truth, that he will render to each person according to their deeds and that he shows no partiality. Will God let a person into heaven even though he has never put his faith in Jesus Christ?  Let’s read:  “For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.” (Romans 2:12-16)  In this passage the word law is the Mosaic Law (Genesis through Deuteronomy) given to Israel through Moses.  Today the complete book of instructions is called the Holy Bible.  God’s instructions are always to be followed by faith.  These people did not follow God’s instruction and so they died.  All those who have received the Law and stilled sinned will be judged by the law.  God has allowed two groups of people to coexist at the same time- those who would hear and those who have not heard the Law of God.  Those who have been told the gospel, given a Bible have a decision to make-will I submit and obey or rebel. Every person’s heart knows the difference between right and wrong. Mankind was created in the image of God with a conscience.  Our conscience either accuses or excuses our decisions. No human being is able to keep the whole law of God perfectly.  This is why a works based salvation will not save a person. God will judge each person’s secrets.  He will not allow sin into heaven.  Here’s the gospel: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners!  Jesus being completely God and completely human lived a perfect life and he laid down his life having died on the cross for our sins. He did what no human alone could do-live a perfect life fulfilling the law of God.  If you place your faith in him and submit to him you will be saved. You ask what about those who have never heard? That is why we give, go and tell so they will hear the good news.  This we know God is Truth. He judges according to the truth, according to the light they were given, and without partiality.   He will judge you according to your response to Jesus’ offer of salvation. This is why it is very important for you to respond to the Lord's offer of salvation and not delay.

God's two judgments

God’s two judgments

We have learned that God judges a person in the light of truth and that his kindness is designed to lead us to repentance. Let’s read these verses and learn about God’s judgment.

“But because of your hardness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed. He will repay each one according to his works: eternal life to those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality; but wrath and indignation to those who are self-seeking and disobey the truth but are obeying unrighteousness; affliction and distress for every human being who does evil, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek; but glory, honor, and peace for everyone who does what is good, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. There is no favoritism with God.” (Romans 2:5-11)

God will accept no excuse for our sin.  The Scripture teaches us that God’s judgment is righteous and that he shows no favoritism.  God warns us to change our ways in his word.  God will judge each person in the light of His word.  The Bible is his instruction given for all people to follow.  We cannot plea ignorance of the Law.  Why? Because God’s law is written on every heart no matter your religious beliefs.  Because of this even the person who has never read the Bible will have no excuse.  God will judge them in righteousness.  God will repay each person according to his works on judgment day.  We each are responsible for the judgment we receive.  There are two basic judgments mentioned: eternal life and the receiving of God wrath.  Eternal life is spending eternity in the presence of God.  Eternal life begins when a person is born again in Jesus Christ.  Jesus told the Jews “My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them from My hand.” John 10:27-28 To receive eternal life a person must respond in submission to Jesus Christ as Lord for salvation.  At that moment they are baptized (placed) into the body of Christ, having died to sin and self-control taking on the identity of Christ. At that moment the Holy Spirit comes into that person’s heart and begins a work that they will live out.  The Apostle Paul wrote the Galatians this: I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)  I would like to invite you to First Baptist Church or one of the other local churches where Jesus is being taught so that you can grow in your faith.    

The Kindness of God

What happens to that person who judges another person and practices the same sin?  Let’s read and find out what happens:  “We know that God’s judgment on those who do such things is based on the truth. Do you really think—anyone of you who judges those who do such things yet do the same —that you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you despise the riches of His kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? But because of your hardness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed.” (Romans 2:1-5 HCSB) God’s judgment is based on truth. Jesus said, “I am the way the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father but through me.” (John 14:6)  We think that we will escape the judgment of God when we judge others and are practicing the same sin.  It is possible for a person to go to church, go through baptismal water’s, tithe, do good works and bust hell wide open because they have never been born again.  What happens is the person looks down on the goodness, forbearance and longsuffering of God that he exhibits toward others.  When God shows his goodness--kind acts toward you he does so because he loves you.  When he shows his forbearance- his patience, enduring with you through the difficulty of being changed, it is because he loves you.  When he is showing his longsuffering toward you-- the emotional calmness that normally would cause someone’s anger to flare up toward you, he does so because he loves you.  His kindness toward you is designed to bring about repentance, a change of heart toward our sin.  True repentance has visible out working’s that others will see.  This is a spiritual issue that must be dealt with! Yes, some people have a hard and impenitent heart toward God and others while sitting in church every Sunday.  This hard heart is stubborn, prideful! It knows the truth but will not change their mind, unless God brings conviction.  An impenitent heart is unrepentant, refusing to turn to God.  This results in a compounding interest as God’s wrath multiplies for the day of wrath and revelation of Jesus Christ toward such a person. Hell is waiting to receive all who are hard and impenitent of heart toward God and Jesus Christ!  I beg you in the name of Jesus Christ to repent of your sin, stubborn and pride turning to Jesus Christ alone for salvation.  I invite you to come to First Baptist Church or any of the local churches here in Columbia County where the Bible is taught so that you can grow in a relationship with Jesus that will save and change your life today so that you will not be the recipient of God’s compounded wrath on Judgment Day.