Post by Les Brewer on Feb 18, 2012 13:13:00 GMT
John Wolf
Good day to all and may the Lord bless you and keep you! Matthew 10:32-39 speaks of taking a stand for Jesus Christ and confessing Him before mankind as the only solution to the ills of the human condition.It may come as a suprise to some and maybe even to late for others who say that they believe in Jesus Christ a...s their Lord and Saviour,but are too ashamed to say it before mankind.Jesus plainly teaches us in this context of Scripture that we must take a stand for Him sooner or later as the Only way to the Father. There are many today,in this world,who find it more and more difficult to take a stand for what's right for fear that they may lose their position of influence or popularity.If this is true,and it no doubt is for some,then they are not in it for the right reasons.A person who believes that Jesus truly is the Only way,must never be ashamed to say so.It may strike you as a contradiction in the character of Christ for Him to say in verses 34-39," I do not come to bring peace on earth,but a sword." However,there is no contradiction at all.If you are claiming Christ as your own,but your life has not changed for the better.If you are still living the same way you were before your profession of faith in Christ,then you may need to check your faith to see if it is the correct kind of faith.We as christians can not expect to be apple trees with oranges hanging on the branches.We hear all the time that we shouldn't judge anyone for their beliefs,but, the truth of the matter is we judge things all the time whether we are willing to admit it or not.The same Jesus who said "Judge not lest ye be judged" also said "Judge righteous judgement".Did Jesus contradict Himself?Me thinks,NOT! The problem with christians who say don't judge anyone,shows a complete lack of understanding in spiritual matters.If we are not to judge anyone as to the salvation of a soul,then the "Great Commission" commanded by Jesus Christ Himself has no meaning whatsoever.If we begin to assume that all people are saved,so we shouldn't judge them,then what is our purpose as christians in this sin sick world?Jesus said "And do not fear those who kill the body,but can not kill the soul.But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both the body and soul in Hell (Matt.10:28). True christians are faced with making a descision in these last days.Are we going to be politically correct,in an effort to try and please mankind and not be an offense to anyone,or are we going to take our stand for Jesus Christ and His truth?We can not have it both ways.If we do the former,we become offensive to God and we will, in the end, be cast out as an unprofitible servant into outer darkness,where there is weeping and nashing of teeth.If we do the latter,we will offend man,who has proven time and again that he will not be pleased even if he gained the whole world.I will choose to stand on the winning side,the latter point. We as christians need to have enough spiritual backbone to say no to the flood of secularism and anti-christ thought into our lives from the liberal thinkers of this nation.We must come back to the God of the Bible,not the god of our own imagination or theirs.This medicine may be to strong for some,but severe sickness calls for strong medicine.You can not put a bandage on an arterial gash in the leg,it just won't work......Thank you..............JW
Good day to all and may the Lord bless you and keep you! Matthew 10:32-39 speaks of taking a stand for Jesus Christ and confessing Him before mankind as the only solution to the ills of the human condition.It may come as a suprise to some and maybe even to late for others who say that they believe in Jesus Christ a...s their Lord and Saviour,but are too ashamed to say it before mankind.Jesus plainly teaches us in this context of Scripture that we must take a stand for Him sooner or later as the Only way to the Father. There are many today,in this world,who find it more and more difficult to take a stand for what's right for fear that they may lose their position of influence or popularity.If this is true,and it no doubt is for some,then they are not in it for the right reasons.A person who believes that Jesus truly is the Only way,must never be ashamed to say so.It may strike you as a contradiction in the character of Christ for Him to say in verses 34-39," I do not come to bring peace on earth,but a sword." However,there is no contradiction at all.If you are claiming Christ as your own,but your life has not changed for the better.If you are still living the same way you were before your profession of faith in Christ,then you may need to check your faith to see if it is the correct kind of faith.We as christians can not expect to be apple trees with oranges hanging on the branches.We hear all the time that we shouldn't judge anyone for their beliefs,but, the truth of the matter is we judge things all the time whether we are willing to admit it or not.The same Jesus who said "Judge not lest ye be judged" also said "Judge righteous judgement".Did Jesus contradict Himself?Me thinks,NOT! The problem with christians who say don't judge anyone,shows a complete lack of understanding in spiritual matters.If we are not to judge anyone as to the salvation of a soul,then the "Great Commission" commanded by Jesus Christ Himself has no meaning whatsoever.If we begin to assume that all people are saved,so we shouldn't judge them,then what is our purpose as christians in this sin sick world?Jesus said "And do not fear those who kill the body,but can not kill the soul.But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both the body and soul in Hell (Matt.10:28). True christians are faced with making a descision in these last days.Are we going to be politically correct,in an effort to try and please mankind and not be an offense to anyone,or are we going to take our stand for Jesus Christ and His truth?We can not have it both ways.If we do the former,we become offensive to God and we will, in the end, be cast out as an unprofitible servant into outer darkness,where there is weeping and nashing of teeth.If we do the latter,we will offend man,who has proven time and again that he will not be pleased even if he gained the whole world.I will choose to stand on the winning side,the latter point. We as christians need to have enough spiritual backbone to say no to the flood of secularism and anti-christ thought into our lives from the liberal thinkers of this nation.We must come back to the God of the Bible,not the god of our own imagination or theirs.This medicine may be to strong for some,but severe sickness calls for strong medicine.You can not put a bandage on an arterial gash in the leg,it just won't work......Thank you..............JW
