October 22nd 2017
Jesus Died For Your Sins, And They Have Been Forgiven, And Forgotten! Praise God!
Luke 18:14 (NIV)
"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
The Pharisee prayed about himself and how good he was, but the tax collector prayed for God’s mercy! To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: (Luke 18:9). To read in context see Luke 18:9-14. In this day-in-age we see many people choosing to be critical of everyone else, and being very impatient. This impatience shows itself in such thing as road rage, and may be the main factor in bullying, which often shows up in electronic bullying on the Internet social media sites. When people believe their views are the only ones that can be right, because they are “confident of their own righteousness!” Here righteousness is not related to being blessed by God, but really a self-righteousness that comes through pride in self!
James wrote about this pride problem he could see in people who believed they were religious people. These people professed a belief in one God, yet they maintained their independent righteousness as a personal pride possession. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. (James 3:9-10). There is an old adage that once was quoted when someone called you a bad name. “Sticks and stone may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!” This is of course, a lie, as words are the most used form of bullying, and today can be broadcasted across the social network to the ends of the earth. Words can hurt very much, and have been responsible for causing people to commit suicide! In the selected verse Jesus is quoted as saying, “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled.”
It seems almost everyone is seeking a form of freedom, which allows them to feel free, but takes away someone else’s ability to experience their own freedom. Paul wrote about such things under the guise of permission to self that it is okay to do things that are permissible, but may cause you to become enslaved by your “freedom!” "Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything. (1 Corinthians 6:12). Permission to do what you want to do is a form of freedom that can enslave you! A new adage tells us whatever we do, no matter how bad it is, or who it may hurt is okay. It is expressed in some different forms, one such quote is, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Las Vegas is also referred to as sin city. If you are a professing follower of Jesus Christ, you MUST know that nothing you do, no matter where on this earth you do it, it is witness by Him! After all, you take Him with you wherever you go, as He resides in your heart.
Think about this fact the next time you contemplate doing something Jesus would not be willing to do with you! You may think this limits your freedom of choice, but it does not really stop you from sinning, only you can do that, again remember what Paul wrote about permission, as you still hold those keys, so to speak. If you chose to sin, it may make you become enslaved to repeating such actions, even though you would not really want to continue such behavior. This is how bad habits are formed, and thus, repeated. Take note though, that Jesus will also see the good deeds you do, and it is likely He may lead you to a place where you can choose to do good. Luke wrote about such an event in the life of a Gentile believer, who was blessed by God for his good deeds. Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked. The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. (Acts 10:4)
God will notice your good deeds. In the above case God sent Peter to meet with this man, and thus, his conversion was completed, and Peter was also blessed because of this meeting. Peter came to know that salvation was not limited to Israelites only, but extended to everyone in this world. Later Peter gives his witness to the Israelites about how the Holy Spirit came to rest on these Gentiles, proving to Peter that salvation was available to all of mankind. After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. (Acts 15:7-9). This is the Good News to me, and it should be good news to everyone, as God does not show favoritism as He has included every member of mankind to be able to gain salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ!
Salvation is of course limited, as it is only available through acceptance of the perfect sacrifice made by Jesus Christ. Jesus told us this fact Himself! "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:1-6)
There is only one way to be saved, please believe this as a fact, not some religious claim. If you do not believe there is only one way to be saved for your immortal soul, then you would have no reason to try to explain this wonderful fact to someone you love or like, who may not have yet come to believe. Jesus told us we are to tell everyone about Him being the only way to be saved, He even told us to tell those who profess to hate us, and consider themselves to be our enemies. Jesus may put you in a place soon, even today, where you will have the opportunity to tell someone, how having Jesus in your life has made you a happier person.
You can, and should know that your immortal soul has been saved, because it does NOT depend upon the good stuff you do that saved you, it is what Jesus did for you. Jesus died for your sins, and they have been forgiven, and forgotten! Praise God!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Luke 18:14 (NIV)
"I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
The Pharisee prayed about himself and how good he was, but the tax collector prayed for God’s mercy! To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: (Luke 18:9). To read in context see Luke 18:9-14. In this day-in-age we see many people choosing to be critical of everyone else, and being very impatient. This impatience shows itself in such thing as road rage, and may be the main factor in bullying, which often shows up in electronic bullying on the Internet social media sites. When people believe their views are the only ones that can be right, because they are “confident of their own righteousness!” Here righteousness is not related to being blessed by God, but really a self-righteousness that comes through pride in self!
James wrote about this pride problem he could see in people who believed they were religious people. These people professed a belief in one God, yet they maintained their independent righteousness as a personal pride possession. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. (James 3:9-10). There is an old adage that once was quoted when someone called you a bad name. “Sticks and stone may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!” This is of course, a lie, as words are the most used form of bullying, and today can be broadcasted across the social network to the ends of the earth. Words can hurt very much, and have been responsible for causing people to commit suicide! In the selected verse Jesus is quoted as saying, “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled.”
It seems almost everyone is seeking a form of freedom, which allows them to feel free, but takes away someone else’s ability to experience their own freedom. Paul wrote about such things under the guise of permission to self that it is okay to do things that are permissible, but may cause you to become enslaved by your “freedom!” "Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything. (1 Corinthians 6:12). Permission to do what you want to do is a form of freedom that can enslave you! A new adage tells us whatever we do, no matter how bad it is, or who it may hurt is okay. It is expressed in some different forms, one such quote is, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Las Vegas is also referred to as sin city. If you are a professing follower of Jesus Christ, you MUST know that nothing you do, no matter where on this earth you do it, it is witness by Him! After all, you take Him with you wherever you go, as He resides in your heart.
Think about this fact the next time you contemplate doing something Jesus would not be willing to do with you! You may think this limits your freedom of choice, but it does not really stop you from sinning, only you can do that, again remember what Paul wrote about permission, as you still hold those keys, so to speak. If you chose to sin, it may make you become enslaved to repeating such actions, even though you would not really want to continue such behavior. This is how bad habits are formed, and thus, repeated. Take note though, that Jesus will also see the good deeds you do, and it is likely He may lead you to a place where you can choose to do good. Luke wrote about such an event in the life of a Gentile believer, who was blessed by God for his good deeds. Cornelius stared at him in fear. "What is it, Lord?" he asked. The angel answered, "Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. (Acts 10:4)
God will notice your good deeds. In the above case God sent Peter to meet with this man, and thus, his conversion was completed, and Peter was also blessed because of this meeting. Peter came to know that salvation was not limited to Israelites only, but extended to everyone in this world. Later Peter gives his witness to the Israelites about how the Holy Spirit came to rest on these Gentiles, proving to Peter that salvation was available to all of mankind. After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. (Acts 15:7-9). This is the Good News to me, and it should be good news to everyone, as God does not show favoritism as He has included every member of mankind to be able to gain salvation through the shed blood of Jesus Christ!
Salvation is of course limited, as it is only available through acceptance of the perfect sacrifice made by Jesus Christ. Jesus told us this fact Himself! "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:1-6)
There is only one way to be saved, please believe this as a fact, not some religious claim. If you do not believe there is only one way to be saved for your immortal soul, then you would have no reason to try to explain this wonderful fact to someone you love or like, who may not have yet come to believe. Jesus told us we are to tell everyone about Him being the only way to be saved, He even told us to tell those who profess to hate us, and consider themselves to be our enemies. Jesus may put you in a place soon, even today, where you will have the opportunity to tell someone, how having Jesus in your life has made you a happier person.
You can, and should know that your immortal soul has been saved, because it does NOT depend upon the good stuff you do that saved you, it is what Jesus did for you. Jesus died for your sins, and they have been forgiven, and forgotten! Praise God!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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