May 17th 2015
It Is Not Suffering Which Is Undeserved, But God’s Grace And Mercy!
Titus 3:3-7 (NIV)
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Many people today believe that freedom is found in being able to have pleasurable experiences, and by possessing earthly riches. This freedom allows them to cheat in whatever areas of life that they thrive. Our children are being taught that cheating is okay, as they are now given the answers to tests, so that the schools score high in the areas of testing results, which helps them get more money from the government. Many people believe that athletics is a good area for their children to learn lifestyle lessens. Every athletic team is taught that is okay to cheat, because the coaches usually try to cheat by stealing the other team’s signs, so they can prevail by knowing what the other team is planning to do next.
Recently one of our superstar athletes was fined for cheating, because he may have allowed the footballs to be underinflated so he could grip them better, and thus, could throw the footballs more accurately. Cheating has become so popular that many marriages breakup because one or both of the people has been caught cheating by having sex with another person. This type of cheating is happening all too often, and the divorce rates are proof of it. Of course, there are other reasons for divorce and many of them can still be traced to some form of a breakdown in trust!
Let’s face it, if we believe “everybody is doing it” that is cheating in some form, and then we must also loose trust in other people. Some people have lost a trusting feeling about the police, who are supposed to be there to help and protect them from themselves! Yes, it is true we need good people to protect us from the bad people. However, remember there really is no such thing as truly totally unbiased good people, as we are all sinners. That is exactly why Jesus came into this world to save us from ourselves.
So far this commentary is a real downer, because it is dealing with a view that all human beings are evil and unable to do good. Please believe this is true, if you or they are living without Jesus in their life. The selected verses start with this view in mind, as it says, “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.” However, do not stop reading there; see the rest of the story. “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.”
Some people present themselves as being good people, as they show their goodness by observing the laws. Some people believe their good life will save them, so that when they die they will go to heaven, if there is actually a place like heaven. Read what Paul wrote about such belief in his letter to the church in Rome. Therefore no-one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:20-24)
Notice what Paul wrote about observing the law, “Therefore no-one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.” Having the law, or having laws, is only valuable to the individual who knows the law, as it will then alert them that breaking the law, is a sin! Thus keeping the law only means we are not sinning, it does not make us become good people. Thus keeping the laws will not save us, because we are only avoiding sin by obeying the law, but our sinful nature will still take us to hell when we die! Pretending to be good will not save your immortal soul, we must have Jesus as our Savior to have us appear sinless to God, when we die.
There are people who actually use the laws to help them scam other people, and such people do not really believe there is such a thing as sin. Many people who attend a church of their choice do not believe there is such a thing as sin, and of course, they do not believe they have a sinful nature that must be changed! What do you believe? Do you really try to avoid sinning? There is little or no evidence that people try to avoid sinning by not breaking the laws of the land. All you have to do is drive on any expressway, and observe all of the people breaking the speed limit! Some would say this is minor, and dismiss this example as not really being an important law. However, many people die each year because of people breaking the speed limit, and we are told they died just because someone was speeding and lost control of their vehicle.
Some people actually text while they a driving, and thus, they wreck and often kill someone because of their distain of the law! Do you ever text while you are driving? Do you ever break the speed limit, “intentionally” while you are driving? Do you do such things, because you are somehow above the law? Okay, now you may be thinking, the commentary has gone too far, it is now not instructing, but instead meddling. Please just think about in the manner of WWJD?
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:6) Think of it as the writer of Proverbs tells us about the training we received, and then, what training are we giving to those who observe us? If you were taken to court, and charged “with being a Christian,” would there be enough evidence found in the way you live your life, to be found guilty? Are you guilty of being a Christian, can you prove it?
I do not know about you, and what you believe you deserve, but as for me, I seek mercy not justice! Thanks be to God for giving me Jesus Christ that I may be saved.
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Titus 3:3-7 (NIV)
At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Many people today believe that freedom is found in being able to have pleasurable experiences, and by possessing earthly riches. This freedom allows them to cheat in whatever areas of life that they thrive. Our children are being taught that cheating is okay, as they are now given the answers to tests, so that the schools score high in the areas of testing results, which helps them get more money from the government. Many people believe that athletics is a good area for their children to learn lifestyle lessens. Every athletic team is taught that is okay to cheat, because the coaches usually try to cheat by stealing the other team’s signs, so they can prevail by knowing what the other team is planning to do next.
Recently one of our superstar athletes was fined for cheating, because he may have allowed the footballs to be underinflated so he could grip them better, and thus, could throw the footballs more accurately. Cheating has become so popular that many marriages breakup because one or both of the people has been caught cheating by having sex with another person. This type of cheating is happening all too often, and the divorce rates are proof of it. Of course, there are other reasons for divorce and many of them can still be traced to some form of a breakdown in trust!
Let’s face it, if we believe “everybody is doing it” that is cheating in some form, and then we must also loose trust in other people. Some people have lost a trusting feeling about the police, who are supposed to be there to help and protect them from themselves! Yes, it is true we need good people to protect us from the bad people. However, remember there really is no such thing as truly totally unbiased good people, as we are all sinners. That is exactly why Jesus came into this world to save us from ourselves.
So far this commentary is a real downer, because it is dealing with a view that all human beings are evil and unable to do good. Please believe this is true, if you or they are living without Jesus in their life. The selected verses start with this view in mind, as it says, “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.” However, do not stop reading there; see the rest of the story. “But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.”
Some people present themselves as being good people, as they show their goodness by observing the laws. Some people believe their good life will save them, so that when they die they will go to heaven, if there is actually a place like heaven. Read what Paul wrote about such belief in his letter to the church in Rome. Therefore no-one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:20-24)
Notice what Paul wrote about observing the law, “Therefore no-one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.” Having the law, or having laws, is only valuable to the individual who knows the law, as it will then alert them that breaking the law, is a sin! Thus keeping the law only means we are not sinning, it does not make us become good people. Thus keeping the laws will not save us, because we are only avoiding sin by obeying the law, but our sinful nature will still take us to hell when we die! Pretending to be good will not save your immortal soul, we must have Jesus as our Savior to have us appear sinless to God, when we die.
There are people who actually use the laws to help them scam other people, and such people do not really believe there is such a thing as sin. Many people who attend a church of their choice do not believe there is such a thing as sin, and of course, they do not believe they have a sinful nature that must be changed! What do you believe? Do you really try to avoid sinning? There is little or no evidence that people try to avoid sinning by not breaking the laws of the land. All you have to do is drive on any expressway, and observe all of the people breaking the speed limit! Some would say this is minor, and dismiss this example as not really being an important law. However, many people die each year because of people breaking the speed limit, and we are told they died just because someone was speeding and lost control of their vehicle.
Some people actually text while they a driving, and thus, they wreck and often kill someone because of their distain of the law! Do you ever text while you are driving? Do you ever break the speed limit, “intentionally” while you are driving? Do you do such things, because you are somehow above the law? Okay, now you may be thinking, the commentary has gone too far, it is now not instructing, but instead meddling. Please just think about in the manner of WWJD?
Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. (Proverbs 22:6) Think of it as the writer of Proverbs tells us about the training we received, and then, what training are we giving to those who observe us? If you were taken to court, and charged “with being a Christian,” would there be enough evidence found in the way you live your life, to be found guilty? Are you guilty of being a Christian, can you prove it?
I do not know about you, and what you believe you deserve, but as for me, I seek mercy not justice! Thanks be to God for giving me Jesus Christ that I may be saved.
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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