THE TRUE GOSPEL MESSAGE REQUIRES REPENTANCE AND TURNING AWAY FROM SIN

5/2/2020

It seems like there are many messages coming from the church today. There are a variety of approaches it seems that you can take to be in relationship with God. It is almost like visiting an ice cream parlor and choosing your flavor. Do you ever wonder why there are so many different denominations and doctrines and ideologies and rules and regulations in churches today ? Why each church must specifically spell out their value structure and what their beliefs are grounded in. How can it be that so many churches disagree on what the Bible says, or what is truly sin and what behaviors and lifestyles can be overlooked or accepted because it wouldn’t be loving to correct or rebuke or judge. Haven’t we all had someone tell us we were being “ Judgmental “ on an issue or toward someone’s behavior ? Perhaps the best place to find an answer is in the Word of God.

TRUST IN THE LORD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND DO NOT LEAN ON YOUR OWN UNDERSTANDING. IN ALL YOUR WAYS ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, AND HE WILL MAKE STRAIGHT YOUR PATHS. Proverbs 3: 5-6

LET THE WORD OF CHRIST RICHLY DWELL WITHIN YOU, WITH ALL WISDOM TEACHING AND ADMONISHING ONE ANOTHER WITH PSALMS AND HYMNS AND SPIRITUAL SONGS, SINGING WITH THANKFULNESS IN YOUR HEART TO GOD. Colossians 3:16

REPENT THEN AND TURN TO GOD, SO THAT YOUR SINS MAY BE WIPED OUT, THAT TIMES OF REFRESHING MAY COME FROM THE LORD. Acts 3:19

“THE TIME HAS COME,” HE SAID. “THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS COME NEAR REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOOD NEWS!” Mark 1:15

The question that seems to be so relevant today in the christian community and church is just what should we believe about God and His interaction in our lives. Are His Commandments relative to us today in light of the Grace of our Salvation ? If I am saved, why should my behavior and life not revolve around my prosperity and comfort ? My sin is forgiven. Past, present, and future. God loves me and wants me to be happy and satisfied. He loves me, loves me, loves me….why do you keep talking about hard things like change, obedience, repentance, admonishment, being sharpened and matured. Here is the reason why !

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is about being reborn in Him. Being reborn into righteousness in all that you are by dying to your sinful nature and self, while becoming like Him. When you become like Him, you move away from your old ways. You get rid of the things that weighed you down in sin and iniquity. You repent with the help and the direction of the Holy Spirit, which entered you when you gave your life to Christ. The amazing promise He gives to you is eternal life with Him, and a place in His Kingdom. Jesus tells us we will be tested and persecuted. He never promises us comfort and prosperity in our lives here on earth. He wants us to be different from the masses, not fit in by accepting behavior He abhors. His love is eternal, not just for the time we spend on earth. He seeks those who want to be His, obedient to His character and behavior, and His Word. Eternally.

The true Gospel of Christ is not being taught everywhere today. God’s word makes it abundantly clear that there will be false teachings, false prophets, false beliefs and the acceptance and embracing of truths not from God or His Word. Man will always try to redefine God, His Word, and His Character. Take a hard look at where you are and what you believe ! My biggest frustration with myself is that I didn’t dig deeper into God’s Word and begin to see that I was missing things….and not realizing that God’s true love for me was about helping me to seek Him, be like Him, and deepen my relationship with Him. This is so important today because I think God is blessing us with a time of Reflection and Choices as our lives move forward from the craziness of Covid 19. In my entire life, never have things come to a complete stop like the past few weeks. Look at the changes you have encountered. Deep family time and closeness. Reorganizing your life and priorities. Perhaps doing away with daily activities that now seem trivial. Reaching out and helping your neighbors and the elderly. Teaching your kids yourself, or at least being engaged in how they learn and what they learn….just being with them more ! What an opportunity we have, and especially as followers of Jesus, it is our time to share Him with others ! He has promised He is returning to us and will live in our midst. Our King ! I don’t know the exact time, but I do know I am going to be Ready. I am going to be refining who I am so that I may be His good and faithful servant, just like He tells me to be. How About You ?

FOR THE WRATH OF GOD IS REVEALED FROM HEAVEN AGAINST ALL UNGODLINESS AND UNRIGHTEOUSNESS OF MEN, WHO BY THEIR UNRIGHTEOUSNESS SUPPRESS THE TRUTH. FOR WHAT CAN BE KNOWN ABOUT GOD IS PLAIN TO THEM, BECAUSE GOD HAS SHOWN IT TO THEM. FOR HIS INVISIBLE ATTRIBUTES, NAMELY HIS ETERNAL POWER AND DIVINE NATURE, HAVE BEEN CLEARLY PERCEIVED, EVER SINCE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD, IN THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE. SO THEY ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE. FOR ALTHOUGH THEY KNEW GOD, THEY DID NOT HONOR HIM AS GOD OR GIVE THANKS TO HIM, BUT THEY BECAME FUTILE IN THEIR THINKING, AND THEIR FOOLISH HEARTS WERE DARKENED. CLAIMING TO BE WISE, THEY BECAME FOOLS. Romans 1: 18-32

BUT OF THAT DAY AND HOUR KNOWETH NO MAN, NO, NOT THE ANGELS OF HEAVEN, BUT MY FATHER ONLY Matthew 24:36

May Eternity In God Be In Your Heart Always/JAA