Post by Les Brewer on Apr 19, 2012 11:08:03 GMT
John Wolf
Calvary's Cross Ministries
Preaching Christ Crucified...I Cor.1:18-25
From the Pastor's desk...
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!Praise His name forever!Hi to all,and God bless you all,in the name of Jesus.
Question:
Would it be a fair and reasonable assumption for anyone to believe,that since their sins are not as bad as anyone else's,such as say,a child molester,murderer,rapis...t,extortioner,kidnapper,etc.etc.,as compared to say,a gossip,liar,deceiver,haters,perjurers,and so on?Would it be reasonable to believe,since their sins are not as bad as others,God will let me into heaven?
To be sure,when it comes to human thinking,there is a certain amount of the grading of some sins as worse than others.This is true,there is no way around it.Murder is definitely worse than lying,for example.The one issue that man has though is that we will always compare our sins with other people's sins from our view of what is bad and what is good.Or what is not so bad and what is better.
However,from God's perspective,and really this is the only real perspective there is,we have all sinned and fallen far short of His glory.There is only one standard of what is right and wrong,good and bad,and it will all be compared to Jesus Christ.If we can meet this criteria,perfection,then we will certainly be allowed into Heaven.
In the book of Ezekiel chapter 18:1-3,we find a strange proverb that the children of Israel used; " The fathers have eaten sour grapes,and the children's teeth are set on edge." God uses the prophet Ezekiel to set the children Israel straight concerning this false proverb.God says through the prophet that they will no longer be able to use this as a standard of truth.The proverb basically says that,the punishment of the sins of the parents is passed on to the children.Which a complete reading of the entire chapter will reveal this idea.However,what God wants them to know and for us as well,is to realize that all men everywhere will be judged for their own sins and not the sins of others.For an unbeliever,this will prove most troublesome.Because their idea of righteousness will never match the righteousness of Christ.
The Holy Spirit,which is the One who is actually speaking through the prophet says,"You will no longer use this proverb in Israel." The people complained in verse 25,that "the way of the Lord was not equal or fair",but God's response was,"My ways are equal and fair,it is your ways that are not equal and fair." Evidently,just as the disciples of Jesus believed that the sins of the parents caused the blindness of their son (John 9),so too did the children of Israel believe that the guilt of sin was passed on to the children.
God very clearly refutes this false belief in Chapters 18 and 33 of Ezekiel.If you are reading this post and are one who may believe in God but have never committed your ways to Christ,do not deceive yourself into thinking that you are saved,you are not.But you can be!If you are one who is reading this post and have committed your ways to Christ,but have found yourself caught up in the worldliness of the day and you are away from God,there is hope of forgiveness for both.I would like to suggest that we all re-read these two chapters,and allow the search light of the Holy Spirit to search out our hearts and ask Him to show us anything that is not pleasing to Him.
God says in verse 30 of chapter 18 that He will judge us according to our ways,if we do not repent.He clearly says to repent and turn away from ALL your transgressions (sin).Verse 31 says,"Cast away from you ALL your transgressions which you have committed,and get a new heart and a new spirit." Clearly this is a reference to being "born again" as Jesus said in John 3:3-5.
Repentance is the key to being saved,to being"born again",without it,you can not be saved.If you are one who loves sin more than you love God,well then,God will let you make that choice.However,you will have nothing to stand upon on Judgement Day,and He promises His judgement will be fair and equal.On the other hand,Jesus took, on the cross, the judgement from God for us.If you choose Christ then you will not enter into judgement from God.Your sins are already judged in Christ,and this my friends is the true gospel of Jesus Christ.Why anyone would rather take a chance and try to earn salvation apart from Jesus,is a mystery.
Jesus paid it all,all to Him I owe.
Sin had left it's crimson stain,
Jesus washed it white as snow.
I pray that you allow the Holy Spirit to renew your heart before God in true repentance and faith in Christ....God bless you all.....J.W
Calvary's Cross Ministries
Preaching Christ Crucified...I Cor.1:18-25
From the Pastor's desk...
Praise God from whom all blessings flow!Praise His name forever!Hi to all,and God bless you all,in the name of Jesus.
Question:
Would it be a fair and reasonable assumption for anyone to believe,that since their sins are not as bad as anyone else's,such as say,a child molester,murderer,rapis...t,extortioner,kidnapper,etc.etc.,as compared to say,a gossip,liar,deceiver,haters,perjurers,and so on?Would it be reasonable to believe,since their sins are not as bad as others,God will let me into heaven?
To be sure,when it comes to human thinking,there is a certain amount of the grading of some sins as worse than others.This is true,there is no way around it.Murder is definitely worse than lying,for example.The one issue that man has though is that we will always compare our sins with other people's sins from our view of what is bad and what is good.Or what is not so bad and what is better.
However,from God's perspective,and really this is the only real perspective there is,we have all sinned and fallen far short of His glory.There is only one standard of what is right and wrong,good and bad,and it will all be compared to Jesus Christ.If we can meet this criteria,perfection,then we will certainly be allowed into Heaven.
In the book of Ezekiel chapter 18:1-3,we find a strange proverb that the children of Israel used; " The fathers have eaten sour grapes,and the children's teeth are set on edge." God uses the prophet Ezekiel to set the children Israel straight concerning this false proverb.God says through the prophet that they will no longer be able to use this as a standard of truth.The proverb basically says that,the punishment of the sins of the parents is passed on to the children.Which a complete reading of the entire chapter will reveal this idea.However,what God wants them to know and for us as well,is to realize that all men everywhere will be judged for their own sins and not the sins of others.For an unbeliever,this will prove most troublesome.Because their idea of righteousness will never match the righteousness of Christ.
The Holy Spirit,which is the One who is actually speaking through the prophet says,"You will no longer use this proverb in Israel." The people complained in verse 25,that "the way of the Lord was not equal or fair",but God's response was,"My ways are equal and fair,it is your ways that are not equal and fair." Evidently,just as the disciples of Jesus believed that the sins of the parents caused the blindness of their son (John 9),so too did the children of Israel believe that the guilt of sin was passed on to the children.
God very clearly refutes this false belief in Chapters 18 and 33 of Ezekiel.If you are reading this post and are one who may believe in God but have never committed your ways to Christ,do not deceive yourself into thinking that you are saved,you are not.But you can be!If you are one who is reading this post and have committed your ways to Christ,but have found yourself caught up in the worldliness of the day and you are away from God,there is hope of forgiveness for both.I would like to suggest that we all re-read these two chapters,and allow the search light of the Holy Spirit to search out our hearts and ask Him to show us anything that is not pleasing to Him.
God says in verse 30 of chapter 18 that He will judge us according to our ways,if we do not repent.He clearly says to repent and turn away from ALL your transgressions (sin).Verse 31 says,"Cast away from you ALL your transgressions which you have committed,and get a new heart and a new spirit." Clearly this is a reference to being "born again" as Jesus said in John 3:3-5.
Repentance is the key to being saved,to being"born again",without it,you can not be saved.If you are one who loves sin more than you love God,well then,God will let you make that choice.However,you will have nothing to stand upon on Judgement Day,and He promises His judgement will be fair and equal.On the other hand,Jesus took, on the cross, the judgement from God for us.If you choose Christ then you will not enter into judgement from God.Your sins are already judged in Christ,and this my friends is the true gospel of Jesus Christ.Why anyone would rather take a chance and try to earn salvation apart from Jesus,is a mystery.
Jesus paid it all,all to Him I owe.
Sin had left it's crimson stain,
Jesus washed it white as snow.
I pray that you allow the Holy Spirit to renew your heart before God in true repentance and faith in Christ....God bless you all.....J.W
