It's not about YOU
The GOSPEL is a divine imperative
which reveals Jesus Christ
to guilty sinners
in a fallen world.
What does the Bible say is the means
the Holy Spirit uses
to unveil the Savior,
to proclaim His one way of salvation,
and to elicit saving faith in sinners?
The Law and testimony of the Scriptures
regarding the Christ!
"To the Law and to the Testimony:
if they speak not according to this Word,
it is because there is no light in them."
if they speak not according to this Word,
it is because there is no light in them."
~ Isaiah 8:20
Romans 10:17 declares:
"Faith comes by hearing and hearing comes by the WORD of GOD."
Being nice, kind, loving, understanding, tolerant or "cool" are fine and dandy,
but they are not the instruments by which the Lord saves sinners.
You may get some glory out of being those things,
but our goal is not to make ourselves look good to sinners;
it is to make manifest the holiness and love of God in Jesus Christ.
but they are not the instruments by which the Lord saves sinners.
You may get some glory out of being those things,
but our goal is not to make ourselves look good to sinners;
it is to make manifest the holiness and love of God in Jesus Christ.
Yes, we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. No excuses.
Love is patient and kind. (Read I Cor 13:4-7)
But, real love may look very, very different from sentimental feelings and actions
which can, and often do, serve as a counterfeit for genuine love for the others.
which can, and often do, serve as a counterfeit for genuine love for the others.
We may be tempted to make people feel good about themselves.
This "personal fulfillment" stuff can really be a trap.
(Remember how the serpent made Eve FEEL good about herself?)
(Remember how the serpent made Eve FEEL good about herself?)
We can fall into the devil's trap of tacitly (or overtly) APPROVING of the sin which God condemns as evil in His sight. And, lest we forget, that which is evil in God's sight is always bad for the person who commits the evil and for those who are affected by the evil.
For example, do you try and make sexually immoral people (heterosexual, bisexual or homosexual) feel good about themselves while they are IN THEIR SIN?
Do you try to make abortion-bound (or post-abortive) mothers feel good about themselves while they are still IN THEIR SIN?
That, my friends, is unbiblical behavior for a Christian.
Why?
Because your approval of the person who practices the sin,
serves to approve of the sin itself.
That, my friends, is unbiblical behavior for a Christian.
Why?
Because your approval of the person who practices the sin,
serves to approve of the sin itself.
Listen to the warning of Romans 1:32
"Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death,
they not only continue to do these very things but also APPROVE of those who practice them."
they not only continue to do these very things but also APPROVE of those who practice them."
Our greatest desire as followers of Jesus should be
to know Christ and to make Him known.
Our highest aim in life is not to make friends,
it is to make disciples for Jesus.
Our greatest hope is NOT to give glory to ourselves
or to OTHERS.
Our life's goal should be to give glory to CHRIST
and to reveal His holy Person,
His perfect good work in His life, death and resurrection,
and His divine gospel ultimatum
to our friends, family and neighbors.
That, my friends, is REAL love.
Jesus said:
"The seed is the Word of God." (Luke 8:11)
We are the sowers.
His Word is the seed.
The love of God in and through the holy Person
suffering, perfect work,
and Blood of Jesus Christ
is far superior to ours. (See John 3:16-21)
"Whoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God,
God dwells in him,
and he in God.
And we have known and believed the love that God has to us.
God is love;
and he that dwells in love
dwells in God,
and God in him.
Herein is our love made perfect,
that we may have boldness in the day of judgment:
because as He is,
so are we in this world."
~ I John 4:15-17
Be prepared.
Although Jesus is the fullness of the Godhead bodily,
living,
speaking,
teaching,
healing,
saving,
keeping,
raising,
all in PERFECT love:
"He was despised and rejected by men;
a Man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as One from whom men hide their faces
He was despised,
and we esteemed Him not."
~ Isaiah 53:3
Our goal as Christians is not to be popular with people.
It is not to gain a reputation for ourselves.
Jesus was despised and rejected by HIS OWN PEOPLE.
They spit in His beautiful face.
They pulled out His precious beard.
They cried out for His innocent blood!
And yet, beloved brethren, we can take heart
Listen to the Savior comforting promise:
"I have said these things to you,
that in Me you may have peace.
In the world you will have tribulation.
But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
~ John 16:33
And rejoice!
"But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings,
that you may also rejoice and be glad
when His glory is revealed."
~ I Peter 4:13
It's not about YOU.
It's not even primarily about THEM.
It's about HIM.
The beginning,
progress,
and strength of faith
is by hearing.
But it is only hearing THE Word.
Not YOUR WORDs.
Not even your 'LOVE'.
The beginning,
progress,
and strength of faith
is by hearing the seed of faith:
The Word of God.
Now, "Go" & sow some of that Good Seed,
for Life and Eternity
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