September 24th 2017
Jesus Saved Us, Not Because Of Righteous Things We Had Done, But Because Of His 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.
Do you pray for justice, or do you pray for mercy? If you desire justice, then prepare to go to hell when you die! For no sinner can get to heaven by being a good person. There is no such thing as a good person in this cursed world! You are conceived with a sinful nature implanted into the fetus, and developed during the pregnancy and born into this cursed world. Every member of mankind MUST have a Savior who has gone before you into heaven, as the perfect sacrifice for your sins, else you go to hell when you die. Titus knew this, because God told him and he believed it. Titus wrote, about Jesus being that one and only Savior, as follows; “he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy –. so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”
Have you accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your Lord and Savior? Peter wrote about being born again, when you take Christ into your life as you guide and Savior. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands for ever." And this is the word that was preached to you. (1Peter 1:23-25). As Peter says here humans are born into this world, and because of the curse they die and leave this life, but each of us have an immortal soul that never dies. Thus, during this lifetime we all have the burden of somehow insuring where this immortal soul will end up when we die. It will either go to heaven or it will go to hell. The way to heaven is controlled by being born again, as Peter states, “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.”
God’s plan to bring Jesus into this world, as Lord and Savior, was not limited to only selected people groups, it was intended for all of mankind. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience towards God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. (1Peter 3:18-22). Jesus did not die just for good people either, as Peter states, “Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”
In (1Peter 1:23-25) above is stated, “And this is the word that was preached to you.” Are you attending a church of your choice on a regular basis, so that you can have the Word preached to you? Are you telling other people about how having Jesus in your life has improved your life? Do you know we are commanded to do both of these good news things? Just before Jesus ascended into heaven and left the Apostles behind, He told them to preach the Good News message! Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. (Luke 24: 45-47, 51). We are all supposed to preach (tell) the Good News story!
Many of us would claim we are too busy with all the demands of this life to have time for witnessing. Jesus tells us we can turn to Him and He will give us rest. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30). Jesus here offers to share our burdens when He says, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” When we take Jesus’ yoke upon us, then He is helping us pull the loads of this life. Is your soul as busy as your body, dealing with the things of this life?
Remember, when you die to this life, all the “things,” and even loved ones, will be left behind to continue striving in this world. You will take nothing worked for and/or obtained from this lifetime, when you leave it. Even if you have all your stuff buried with your body, it will all remain on this earth, and will eventually turn back into dust! God desires a personal relationship with YOU! That is why He sent His Son to die for your sins, so that you can claim your immortal soul’s salvation, even though you are still a sinner, and on your own, do not deserve heaven. Do you feel close to God/Jesus? To get closer to God you must move toward Him. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:8). If God is far from you, it is because you are not seeking Him. Jesus is always seeking a relationship with you, so He can share your earthly burdens.
If you feel distant from God it is because you have moved away from Him. God is immovable and He is your Heavenly Father. Jesus is a relative of yours, and desires to be your friend!
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.
Do you pray for justice, or do you pray for mercy? If you desire justice, then prepare to go to hell when you die! For no sinner can get to heaven by being a good person. There is no such thing as a good person in this cursed world! You are conceived with a sinful nature implanted into the fetus, and developed during the pregnancy and born into this cursed world. Every member of mankind MUST have a Savior who has gone before you into heaven, as the perfect sacrifice for your sins, else you go to hell when you die. Titus knew this, because God told him and he believed it. Titus wrote, about Jesus being that one and only Savior, as follows; “he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy –. so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”
Have you accepted Jesus Christ into your life as your Lord and Savior? Peter wrote about being born again, when you take Christ into your life as you guide and Savior. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands for ever." And this is the word that was preached to you. (1Peter 1:23-25). As Peter says here humans are born into this world, and because of the curse they die and leave this life, but each of us have an immortal soul that never dies. Thus, during this lifetime we all have the burden of somehow insuring where this immortal soul will end up when we die. It will either go to heaven or it will go to hell. The way to heaven is controlled by being born again, as Peter states, “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.”
God’s plan to bring Jesus into this world, as Lord and Savior, was not limited to only selected people groups, it was intended for all of mankind. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience towards God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. (1Peter 3:18-22). Jesus did not die just for good people either, as Peter states, “Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.”
In (1Peter 1:23-25) above is stated, “And this is the word that was preached to you.” Are you attending a church of your choice on a regular basis, so that you can have the Word preached to you? Are you telling other people about how having Jesus in your life has improved your life? Do you know we are commanded to do both of these good news things? Just before Jesus ascended into heaven and left the Apostles behind, He told them to preach the Good News message! Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. (Luke 24: 45-47, 51). We are all supposed to preach (tell) the Good News story!
Many of us would claim we are too busy with all the demands of this life to have time for witnessing. Jesus tells us we can turn to Him and He will give us rest. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:28-30). Jesus here offers to share our burdens when He says, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” When we take Jesus’ yoke upon us, then He is helping us pull the loads of this life. Is your soul as busy as your body, dealing with the things of this life?
Remember, when you die to this life, all the “things,” and even loved ones, will be left behind to continue striving in this world. You will take nothing worked for and/or obtained from this lifetime, when you leave it. Even if you have all your stuff buried with your body, it will all remain on this earth, and will eventually turn back into dust! God desires a personal relationship with YOU! That is why He sent His Son to die for your sins, so that you can claim your immortal soul’s salvation, even though you are still a sinner, and on your own, do not deserve heaven. Do you feel close to God/Jesus? To get closer to God you must move toward Him. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:8). If God is far from you, it is because you are not seeking Him. Jesus is always seeking a relationship with you, so He can share your earthly burdens.
If you feel distant from God it is because you have moved away from Him. God is immovable and He is your Heavenly Father. Jesus is a relative of yours, and desires to be your friend!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
|
|
|