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Our modern American culture is saturated with the
desires and attitudes of the fallen nature, rejecting the truth
of God. People today hate the Bible for only one reason:
it exposes their shameful sin. When a human being makes
peace with God through faith in Jesus Christ, their heart is
transformed, and it seeks righteousness and truth. The
Gospel message, says Paul the apostle, is the very power of God
to save human lives, converting lost sinners into God's own
children. That's why we continue to share a message that
often brings us into conflict with the people around us.
On the other hand, we Christians need to be
careful that we are sharing the true and living Christ, and not
just another brand of useless religion. God's Word in
Scripture is powerful and effective. But human ideas of
godliness always fall short of true righteousness. The
purpose of the Gospel is not to bring more "outsiders" into our
little club. True followers of Christ know that all have
sinned, all have fallen short of God's glory. We tell
people about Jesus so that everyone can be saved, just as we
ourselves have been saved.
Sharing the good news of Jesus Christ is an act
of love, offering the keys of heaven to anyone we happen to
meet. Religious people need God's grace just as much (if
not more) than people who live in such a way as to know without
a doubt that they are sinners. It is not uncommon for
members of good churches to be saved, even after they have been
teaching Sunday school for years. And this is wonderful —
a true testimony to the power of God's message to reach and save
all kinds of sinners.
God is no respecter of persons. Jesus
Himself promises that He will never turn away anyone who comes
to Him in simple faith (see John 6:37). He also says, "he
who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has
everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has
passed from death into life." (John 5:24, NKJV)
Anyone, no matter who you are, is welcomed by Christ into the
kingdom of God. All you need to do is trust in Jesus.
It isn't enough, of course, to merely claim some
kind of faith in Jesus. In order to become true followers
of Christ we must lay aside our own lives, and embrace His truth
and His teachings. Jesus Himself once said to those who
expressed faith in Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My
disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the
truth shall make you free." (see John 8:31,32 NKJV)
This offended some who were listening (read the
story for yourself in John, chapter 8) because they were already
very religious people, being Jews who claimed to follow Moses
and the prophets. True and simple faith in Christ often
offends religious people who suppose their good living should be
enough to impress God and win His favor.
But the teachings of Jesus also offend
nonreligious people, as we can plainly see in our own culture.
You see it on TV, in magazines, on the Internet, in books, comic
strips, and everywhere you go. Our culture wants to have
its sin, and it will reject anyone and anything that exposes sin
for what it truly is.
For example, sex is a huge part of our culture
today, and it is being flaunted and degraded in every possible
way. People cannot go on in sexual perversion and sin
without paying the consequences, yet they completely reject
anyone who points out this simple and obvious truth.
A lot of people active in churches and in other
"good" groups and causes are addicted to terrible sins of many
kinds. They want to be good, but they are unwilling to
give up the corrupt lifestyle they embrace. They cannot
see how uncontrolled sin degrades their very minds.
Creativity and true wisdom are sacrificed on the altar to
pleasure.
Only the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the teaching
of Holy Scripture is able to cut through the gloom and fog of
confused human reasoning to shed pure light on sin and evil.
And only when we can see our need of a Savior can we be saved
through faith in Jesus Christ. God is able when we are
not. And this applies not only to the sinner but to the
Christian sharing the Gospel. Be led of God and be
empowered by His Spirit. Share in faith, led by love, and
trust God for a good harvest.
Jim
©2008 GospelGifs |
