Subject: people comminting susiced |
Bible Note: "to those who are in Christ Jesus" Hi CurtMan! You have stated the operative words: "those who are in Christ Jesus!" God does not change! Once He came to rescue us SALVATION is for the asking. But as Jesus Himself pointed out to the disciples: do not be glad that you can cure the sick and cast out demons; be glad that your names are written in the book of Life! (Paraphrased) He also warned that: "I am the vine." It is not a contractual obligation that binds the Father to us; it is our acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior! But to do this we can't simply come to Him with lip-service! What else did Jesus say?: "Sacrifice and holocaust did not please you, but you form a body for me!" We can't do anything for our salvation. But just as the last minute guests, those who are invited must come dressed accordingly!: "Stay in my Word--which simply means obey my commandments--and I will set you free!" (Ok... poetical license and paraphrasing!) CurtMan, God is not a man to go back on His Word--the Gift of Salvation is Eternal, but we must act upon our confession... rearranging God's Word to suit the business of the day is not "Keep my Word!" Here's what Jesus said about the world: And the judgement is this: though the light has come into the world people have preferred darkness to the light because their deeds were evil. And indeed, everybody who does wrong hates the light and avoids it, to prevent his actions from being shown up; but whoever does the truth comes out into the light, so that what he is doing may plainly appear as done in God. (John 3:19-21) Are there levels of sin? Only God knows for sure. But I remember a passage where Jesus was comparing the destruction of several groups of people and He asked His audience if they thought that those who were punished were punished because their sin was greater than those who were listening to Him. Another example is where He talks about the woman who had sinned profusely and another person who had not--then He asked which of the two would demonstrate more love towards God, the simple sinner or the extensive habitual sinner? Another comparison that I can give you is the one where Jesus talks about the aflluent gentleman who set out to gather workers for his field... he gathered throughout the day exacting one single contract with all the workers and paying them accordingly... if we are all sinners in the eyes of God, can we attempt to outshine other sinners citing "my sin is not as grave as yours?" Was that not the sin of the affluent guy who stepped onto the front of the Temple "good-ole boying himself" because he was not like that sinner at the back? We spend so much time arguing points about how this should be and why this is... doesn't it remind you of the Pharisees and Sadducees, always sticking to the letter of the Law; yet always usurping Gods command and authority? I pray not only for you but for all of us, that the Holy Spirit guide us to the Truth and bless us with humility and obedience so that we may meet Christ on His terms and not ours! God Bless! Angel |