Most of us ignore God all of our lives.  He sustains our breathing, gives us good food, air conditioning, cars to drive, but we have ignored Him.  We use His name in vain, but we sometimes have cursed Him.  We have not treated our neighbors as we would like to be treated.  But God is patient and kind to us.  Here is some good news... 

While We Were Yet Sinners, Jesus Christ Died for Us

What is a sinner?  Well, it is someone who has broken God’s laws.  There is none who is free from this curse of sin.  We all do it.  All have sinned.  In fact, we are born sinners.  From our very early lives, we sinned.  Have you ever had to teach a small child to be selfish, greedy, or covetous?  No.  They already know how to do these sins.

God gives most of us a good place to live, plentiful harvest of good food, good water to drink, good air to breath, a job, and we pay God back by cursing His name, complaining, fighting, and ignoring Him.  All of our days, we think about how we can get ahead, how we can rule our lives, and reign in our carnal world.  We think of how we can gain pleasure at the expense of others by lying, stealing, and coveting, how we can enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.  But there is only bad wages waiting for sin.  The soul that sins, it shall die, says the Scriptures.  Sin is transgression of God’s holy law.  Sin is always exceedingly sinful.

I’m Not That Bad… 

Sin is the transgression of the moral law which is given to us by the Moral Law Giver, God.  Lying, stealing, blasphemy, hatred, murder, lusting, cursing, drunkenness, disobedience to parents, and sexual immorality, are all examples of sins.  The list goes on:  not loving God with our whole hearts, thinking objects of affection will make us happy, ungratefulness, hypocrisy, backbiting, enmity, jealousy, bickering, gossiping, and coveting.  

You say you're not that bad?  Well, by human standards, you very well might be a "moral" person.  But here's the truth:  you have sinned.  “But I’ve never committed adultery!  I’ve never murdered!  I’m not that bad!”  Well, it is unfortunate you still don’t see your predicament.  The Bible says that if you have hatred in your heart, to God, it is the same as murder.  If you look with lust, to God, it is considered adultery of the heart.  God’s standard of what you call “morality” is perfect, pure, righteousness.  

God's standard is total perfection.  He cannot have any fellowship with one who is defiled by sin because He is perfect.  God is so perfect and holy; He cannot even be looked upon.  Have you ever tried to look at the sun?  It is so blinding and powerfully bright; you cannot stand to look on it.  This is like the brightness of God’s perfect holiness.  

OK, Maybe I’m Not So Good, Now What?

The only right place for sinners who have defiled themselves and broken God’s perfect law is a place called hell.  Hell is the place set aside for sinners to receive the full justice of God.  Hell is perfect, white-hot justice carried out on sinners for eternity.  God’s punishment is for eternity because sinning against a perfect, holy God cannot ever be paid, because He is eternal.  Therefore, punishment in hell is also eternal.

If you are a sinner, God can't forgive you and still be considered just. Let me write that again. God can’t forgive you, a sinner, and still be considered just.

Unless – unless – there is a perfect payment for your sin that God will accept, satisfying God’s justice and his Holy Wrath towards sinners - it is called “propitiation.”  God's answer for being pardoned from His justice is this:  

- that the punishment you deserved was put on Jesus Christ. -

Jesus did no wrong, yet gave His life willingly so that His children would be saved from the wrath to come.  God accepted Jesus as a worthy sacrifice for your sinning against Him.  Sinners broke God’s law, and Jesus paid the fine for his people by dying a brutal death on a wooden cross.

Alas, there are many arguments against God’s perfect justice. Many argue that God is different than Scriptures say He is. 

But God Is a Forgiving God!  

Well, yes, He is forgiving, but there still must be a payment for your sin.  He will never just overlook them.  If He did so, He would not be just.  You've sinned against a Holy God who is just and good.  His justice demands a payment.  Yes, He is forgiving, but He will not let your sin go unpunished.  Either you will pay for it in a place called "hell," a place of perfect holy justice, or He will have poured out his wrath on His only Son Jesus, allowing us to become children of God, who will live in heaven with Him forever.  Good news indeed!

But I’m Really Not That Bad of a Person!  Really!

Really?  Let’s do this.  Let’s say we could put a tiny recording device attached to your thought life.  That device would record every thought you had for just a week.  Now, let’s show that recording to a movie theater full of your friends and family.  Are you really good?  Would you be embarrassed like most of us would?  Be honest!  

But I Am Not Like Really Bad People Like Adolf Hitler or a Murderer!  

Yes, but only by the Grace of God!  Still, God’s standard is perfection.  Remember, He will not ignore sin!  One act of defilement against God’s Holy Law deserves eternity of punishment in hell.  God is everlasting and eternal, so His justice must also be everlasting and eternal.  Your punishment for sinning against the eternal Creator is eternal – you can never pay it back, so you must be in hell forever and ever, receiving the just due for your hatred towards God.  Unless there is a Savior of course, who can and did pay the fine for sinners.

Why Would God Allow Death For His Only Son?  

That doesn’t sound loving to some.  If I were to tell you I was going to sacrifice my son, you would call the police.  But God says in His Word that there is no love greater than a man give up his life for his friends.  This is what God did – He gave His only Son (who is actually God), so that we may live.  This was his perfect plan from the beginning. But Jesus’ death is not the end of the story!  He was in the grave three days, and actually rose again from the dead!  This is life eternal that you might know God, and His joy can be yours.  Think of it this way – God, by dying – God by sacrificing – God by giving – God by living – can be both just (by punishing the innocent and perfect, Jesus on behalf of sinners), and the justifier (by giving us His Son, and forgiving sinners).  This means that after you are dead, if you receive this gift of life from God, you can rise again and live with Him in heaven forever! Oh, such great news!  Sinners set free!  Oh, what love! 

In the inspired Word of God, in the book of John chapter 3, the bible says:

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
 
Do You Know This Great Love?  

The Bible says that God is love.  It also says that while we were sinners, not deserving of anything good, Christ died for us.  What is love?  Love is a passionate demonstration of dying to oneself for the sake of others.  Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.  This is what Christ did for sinners.

Do You Know This God of Wonderful Love and Grace?  

What is grace?  Grace is when someone shows love to another even when they didn’t deserve it.  God would be just in killing us the first time we sin because He is so holy, but He doesn't.  He is patient and kind.  He is a God who forgives.  Amazing love, how can it be, that you, my God, would die for me?

Why Did God Die for Sinners?  

God made the earth.  He makes the rules and He expects us to live by them.  Our proper response to a loving, merciful God is to repent (turn from sin), and put our trust in Jesus Christ for our salvation based solely on His finished work (that He will be our advocate on judgment day), so that God would be glorified!  The Bible says we are enemies of God, rebels, wanting to rule our own lives.  The truth is that He has claim on everything that is and ever was.  

We Have No Life in Us if We Live for Ourselves

You have a nice house, perhaps a couple of children, a wife, just got a promotion, food to eat, nice cars, etc.  But the Bible says that it will profit you nothing to have all of these things without considering your soul.  What happens when someone dies?  The Bible says it is appointed man once to die, and then the judgment.  It also says that when you are absent from the body, you are instantly present with the Lord.  

Perfect Peace Comes From Knowing Him

For the unbeliever, the one who mocks and scorns Christ, it is said, “Destruction and misery are in their ways:  And the way of peace have they not known:  There is no fear of God before their eyes.”  But God says to His people:  “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

Perfect Joy Comes From Knowing Him

What is the Kingdom of God?  The Scriptures say:  “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”  Apart from the Holy Spirit (God), we can never know this kind of peace and joy.  It must be given to you by Him:  “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes.  So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

He is Our Reward

If we claim to know Him, we will bear fruits of righteousness and repentance.  Our lives will become a living sacrifice.  Everything we will ever do from now on will be for Him.  To know Him is to know love because He is love.  

Even if you don't believe, Christ will receive the full reward of His suffering.  He is worthy to be praised, worthy of love and life-dedication.  He is worthy because He is God.  He is worthy and rose from the dead on the third day, meeting with His people, reunited once again out of His beautiful sacrificial love.  How can you go on without recognizing this great love from the one who loved you first?  God is love.  He is saving a sinful people.  Jesus is the very essence of love, the picture of perfect love and holiness, undefiled, smitten, yet stricken by God.  God will get glory, even when He sends sinners to everlasting torment.

And you say that it doesn't make sense for a sinless man to pay the penalty of sin ("He who knew no sin became sin for us").  Do not mock God, for this was His perfect plan!  He is a saving God, and a God of our Salvation.  There is a chance that you may be “seated in the heavenlies” today if you put your full trust in this Rock, this Lamb of God, this Son of the Living God, Jesus Christ.  He suffered at the hands of evil men by crucifixion on the cross, died, and was raised from the dead, defeating death.  Perfect in every way, sinless, yet gave His life for us so that we might be with Him forever, praising Him and worshipping Him.  You say this is not so great news?  Perhaps you have never known His great love.

John 15:25  But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’

No Thanks, I’ll Just Keep Doing Good In Order To Get To Heaven

Really?  What do you have that you have not been given by God Himself?  Good looks, charm, works, nor sacrifice will earn you a place in His Kingdom.  It is by grace that one can be saved, through faith in Jesus, not of works.  It is a gift!  Free, loving, wonderful gift!  

The Creator of the universe even knows the number of hairs on our head.  Choose today whom you will serve.  If you worship useless idols, serve them.  If you know there is a God who made the heavens and the earth, serve Him because He is worthy.  May God deliver and redeem you from death.  God says to come to Him, and He will not cast you out.  God says to come and purchase eternal life without money.  

No Thanks, I’ve Got My Religion.  

Religion won’t save you on that day of judgment.  Only faith towards the One Living God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, God the Father, Three-in-one.  Religion, by its very definition, is dead works towards appeasing a god of your own making.  Jesus hated it.  He places a curse on those who try to work their way to heaven.  

God simply says to the sinner:  “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth.”  Look to Christ.  Look unto Christ, hanging on the cross!  Poor sinner, look unto Him!  There is no doing – only looking – to Him who can pardon you from sin!  Look!

I Need to Clean Myself Up First

No!  Just look!  No doing.  No idol-self-worship.  Just look at the blood-stained cross of Christ.  

Woe is Me, a Sinner!

Perhaps you have tried crying out to God and He won’t answer?  Keep looking!  Don’t stop looking unto Him.  Look unto Him until He saves you!  

My friends, there is wonderful hope in a Savior who dies for His friends.  My hope is that you will believe today, and that you would have life eternal and abundant.  Amen.  

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God allowed me to witness and share Christ in Texas with tlc ministries - great people and very gracious.http://tinyurl.com/osfr7p

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This paper is based on the first chapters of John MacArthur's book, "Body Dynamics" and explains what it means to me to be a part of the Body of Christ and why I go to church.  As the book explains, the Church is not confined to a building or a set of buildings, but the Church is described as a Body made up of all believers in Christ.  In fact, not everyone who goes to church is a Christian, and those who are false believers are weeds or the part of the harvest that gets thrown into the fire (Matthew 13:24-30).

We are called out to be one Body

1 Cor. 12:12

"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ."

Just as members of my own body (my feet, my hands, my eyes, etc.) cannot exist without the other parts of my body, I cannot exist without fellow believers in Christ.  Some in my congregation are teachers of the word.  Some encourage me.  Some help me when I need help.  I can't imagine trying to get along without them. 

We are called to be like Christ

God is glorified when a sinner like me becomes more Christlike. 

John 9:25 

"One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see."  If Christ lives in us, we can do things through the Holy Spirit given to us:

John 14

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

We are commanded to love our Christian brothers and sisters. 

John 15 says:

12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and a bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.

We are to exercise our individual gifts in the Body

Ephesians ch. 4 says: 

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,  12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is a the head, into Christ, 16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

I so need this!  I tend to be somewhat gullible, and when I err, the Body of believers pulls me back in.  Thereby, God is glorified.

We were called before the foundations of the earth 

Eph. 1:4-6

4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 l he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

Since the Bible clearly states that I was chosen before the foundations of the earth to be a Christian, I am mezmorized by this truth and it makes me want to worship him even more. 

We are as a Body, called to be a love gift to Christ.  Since He is worthy to be praised, it makes sense to urgently seek Him and to know Him. 

We are called to be responsible Christians 

The Bible is filled with exhortations for holy living, for which I am responsible.  "Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church."  "For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved," and the words of Jesus:  "No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish" (Luke 13:3).

God adopted me as his son

In ancient times, when a child was adopted into a family, if he had any debts, all of those debts were forgiven.  God adopted me and I am forever grateful for His grace and His mercy. 

Gal. 4:4-7
4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Therefore, I want to go into His house! 

John 14:1-2

“Let not your hearts be troubled.  Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. 

It is my reasonable service! 

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

There is no where else I would rather be! 

John 6:68-69
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

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My Prayer 04/10/2009
 

My Prayer

Heavenly Father, 

  Here is my solemn prayer today.

  Father, that you would save my entire family and loved-ones, and that when I get to heaven, I could get to know the family members I never knew.   

  Acts 16:33

  And he took them that very hour of the night and washed   their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all   his household.

  Luke 16:19-31

  19"Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day.

 20"And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores,

 21and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man's table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores.

 22"Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried.

 23"In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom.

 24"And he cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.'

 25"But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony.

 26'And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.'

 27"And he said, 'Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father's house--

 28for I have five brothers--in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.'

 29"But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.'

 30"But he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!'

 31"But he said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.'"

  That you would use the talents you gave me to lift up your name every day. 

  Matthew 25:14-30

 14"For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them.

 15"To one he gave five talents, to another, two, and to another, one, each according to his own ability; and he went on his journey.

 16"Immediately the one who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and gained five more talents.

 17"In the same manner the one who had received the two talents gained two more.

 18"But he who received the one talent went away, and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

 19"Now after a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.

 20"The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, 'Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.'

 21"His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'

 22"Also the one who had received the two talents came up and said, 'Master, you entrusted two talents to me. See, I have gained two more talents.'

 23"His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'

 24"And the one also who had received the one talent came up and said, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you scattered no seed.

 25'And I was afraid, and went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have what is yours.'

 26"But his master answered and said to him, 'You wicked, lazy slave, you knew that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I scattered no seed.

 27'Then you ought to have put my money in the bank, and on my arrival I would have received my money back with interest.

 28'Therefore take away the talent from him, and give it to the one who has the ten talents.'

 29"For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.

 30"Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

  That you would forgive me my sins today.
 
  1 John 1:9
  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

  That you would reveal, in Your time, to me that my good works are making a difference. 

James ch. 2

  That you would keep me ordinary, doing a little bit every day with what I have and what you have given me. 

  1 Cor. 2:1

  And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God

  That I would use the time you gave me wisely.  
  James 4:14
 
  14Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away

  That all the people I have mistreated will find it in their hearts to forgive me. 

  Luke 19:1-10
 1He entered Jericho and was passing through.

 2And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich.

 3Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature.

 4So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way.

 5When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, "Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house."

 6And he hurried and came down and received Him gladly.

 7When they saw it, they all began to grumble, saying, "He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner."

 8Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much."

 9And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham.

 10"For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."

  That you would work on me oh, Lord, and sharpen me for better use. 

  Phil. 2:13

  for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure

  Gal. 5:22-23

 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

  That you would impress on the hearts of this nation that it is only You who has the right to give life or to take it away.  

  Job 1:21
  He said,
         "Naked I came from my mother's womb,
         And naked I shall return there
         The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away.
         Blessed be the name of the LORD."

  Lord, thank you for providing for my daily needs. 

  Matthew 6:11

 Give us this day our daily bread.

  Thank you, Lord, for your salvation.  

  Psalm 13:5

 5But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness;
         My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.

  Lord, thank you for your lovingkindness and mercy.  

  Titus 3:4-5

 4But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared,
5He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

  Lord, thank you for daily bread. 

  Matthew 4:4

 4But He answered and said, "It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.'"

  Lord, thank you for my dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ who help me. 

  2 Cor. 13:11

  Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

  Phil. 4:1

 1Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.

  Col 3:16 16Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

  Lord, thank you for bringing godly men and women who love me enough to correct me when I go astray. 
  2 Tim. 4:2

 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.

  Lord, thank you for everything you are and everything you have given me.  

  1 Chron. 16:35

Then say, "Save us, O God of our salvation,
         And gather us and deliver us from the nations,
         To give thanks to Your holy name,
         And glory in Your praise."

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Well, yes, they do sin obviously.  A Christian can fall into sin, but he won't stay there.  God will always pull him lovingly back into fellowship with Him.  Perhaps the better question is:  Can a Christian live in a lifestyle of constant sin?  1 John 1:6 says:

If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and don't tell the truth.  

Your comments welcome!

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