What makes you want to be a "better Christian"? There are a lot of possible answers to that questions. Today, I am going to highlight one answer. 2 Peter 1:8-9 states,
"If you possess these qualities (goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love) in increasing measure, they willl keep you from being ienffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins."
The easiest way to become "ineffective and unproductive" is to forget that you have been cleansed from your past sins. Just a few quick points...
#1 We all have a sinful background. If we are honest, we would all fail a "background check." We all, like sheep, have gone astray (Isaiah 53:6). The sins you committed may be different from the sins I, or someone else committed, nevertheless, we all are GUILTY. The Bible simply says, "There is no one who is righteous" (Romans 3:10).
#2 If you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ you have been cleansed from your past sins. The good news the Bible contains is that God is willing to forgive us, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). Isaiah 1:18 states, "Come now let us reason together, says the Lord, though your sins are like scarlet I will make them white as snow. Though they are red as crimson I will make them white as wool." That is great news. God is willing to wash/cleanse/forgive/blot out the crimes we committed. This is possible because of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 3:19-28). In order to be forgiven a person must confess his guilt and place his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. When one does this, he is forgiven of his past sins, and he has peace with God (Romans 5:1).
#3 The key to Christianity is remembering that we are pardoned criminals.
In reality, every Christian is a pardon criminal. According to Peter, if someone lacks goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and/or love (and if they are unproductive and ineffective in their personal life) it is because they have forgotten that they have been pardoned! If you disagree please go back and read 2 Peter 1:5-9. Peter really says that a poor memory is the problem!!!! To put it another way, the person who remembers that Christ died for him, and that God has forgiven him, is the one who is going to be willing and eager to serve the LORD.
Christianity is not complicated. A sinner is granted a pardon by God, then, in response to receiving the pardon, he serves (and loves) the King. The key is remembering (everyday) that we are pardoned. Its not good enough to have this in the back of our minds. It must be in the front, or else, as time passes, we will become unproductive and ineffective. In conclusion, I will offer you some very practical (and very easy steps) to help you remember that you are forgiven of your past sins.
1. Attend a Church where someone is preaching the gospel on a regular basis!
2. Celebrate the Lord's Supper on a regular basis (the purpose is to remember).
3. Read the Bible, particuarly the New Testament, on a regular basis.
4. Listen to extra preaching (radio, internet, etc.)
5. Find a good daily devotional.
6. Go out of your way to talk to other believers about the Lord.
Until next month, remember you are a pardoned criminal!
Friday, July 8, 2011
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Pride vs. Humility
The verse of the "year" is Luke 18:14b which states, "... Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Just two obvious comments about this passage.
First, the text makes it clear that pride prevents a person from obtaining eternal life.
It is important to understand the story that proceeds the statement. Jesus had just told a story about two men who went to church to pray. The first was a very religious man (a Pharisee) who boldly stood up and thanked God that he was "not like other men" (He claimed he was not a thief, adulterer, or unrighteous man). He even reminds God that he tithes from all of his income and fast two days a week!
However, there is a serious problem! Jesus begins the story by making it clear that he is telling a story about people "who trusted in themselves that they were righteous." Jesus concludes the story by making it clear that such people, who trust in themselves, will ultimately be humbled in the end.
The sad reality is that many people, just like this Pharisee, falsely believe they have lived a righteous life. They really feel like they are better than other people (i.e. criminals, drug addicts, alcoholics, prostitutes, etc.) The startling claim the Bible makes is that all people are in "the same boat."
Just consider...
Romans 3:10, "There is no one who is righteous..."
James 2:10-11, "Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
Simply put, everyone is a law breaker. We are all in "the same boat." A person who fails to understand this is very likely to trust in their own righteousness. This is a huge mistake. Church attendance, tithing, fasting, and abstaining from some particular sins is not the path that leads to heaven.
Proverbs 14:12 states, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to destruction." The Pharisee, who believed that his "good works" satisfied God, is typical of many people. Tragically, this path leads to destruction. The person who believes he is righteous will be humbled before God at the final judgment when all the books are opened and the individual is judged according to God's law. Tragically, the individual will be pronounced guilty and enter into eternal punishment.
Second, the text makes it clear that a humble person can enter the kingdom of God.
The good news the Bible contains is that anyone, regardless of their past history, who recognizes their own guilty can obtain entrance into the kingdom of God. The second man who enters the church to pray is the exact opposite of the first man. He is a tax collector (which likely indicates that he was a lying thief). He refuses to even look up to heaven (demonstrating humility), but beat his chest, and cried out, "God have mercy on me a sinner!" Jesus concludes the story by stating, "The man (the tax collector) went home righteous before God, rather than the Pharisee (religious man).
Jesus shocks his audience by announcing that this man went home righteous before God rather than the other. Simply put, the humble man is pardoned when he pleads guilty. That is the key to Christianity. A person receives a pardon when they plead guilty, and call out to the Lord for mercy. Then, and only then, does a person obtain eternal life.
First, the text makes it clear that pride prevents a person from obtaining eternal life.
It is important to understand the story that proceeds the statement. Jesus had just told a story about two men who went to church to pray. The first was a very religious man (a Pharisee) who boldly stood up and thanked God that he was "not like other men" (He claimed he was not a thief, adulterer, or unrighteous man). He even reminds God that he tithes from all of his income and fast two days a week!
However, there is a serious problem! Jesus begins the story by making it clear that he is telling a story about people "who trusted in themselves that they were righteous." Jesus concludes the story by making it clear that such people, who trust in themselves, will ultimately be humbled in the end.
The sad reality is that many people, just like this Pharisee, falsely believe they have lived a righteous life. They really feel like they are better than other people (i.e. criminals, drug addicts, alcoholics, prostitutes, etc.) The startling claim the Bible makes is that all people are in "the same boat."
Just consider...
Romans 3:10, "There is no one who is righteous..."
James 2:10-11, "Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.
Simply put, everyone is a law breaker. We are all in "the same boat." A person who fails to understand this is very likely to trust in their own righteousness. This is a huge mistake. Church attendance, tithing, fasting, and abstaining from some particular sins is not the path that leads to heaven.
Proverbs 14:12 states, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to destruction." The Pharisee, who believed that his "good works" satisfied God, is typical of many people. Tragically, this path leads to destruction. The person who believes he is righteous will be humbled before God at the final judgment when all the books are opened and the individual is judged according to God's law. Tragically, the individual will be pronounced guilty and enter into eternal punishment.
Second, the text makes it clear that a humble person can enter the kingdom of God.
The good news the Bible contains is that anyone, regardless of their past history, who recognizes their own guilty can obtain entrance into the kingdom of God. The second man who enters the church to pray is the exact opposite of the first man. He is a tax collector (which likely indicates that he was a lying thief). He refuses to even look up to heaven (demonstrating humility), but beat his chest, and cried out, "God have mercy on me a sinner!" Jesus concludes the story by stating, "The man (the tax collector) went home righteous before God, rather than the Pharisee (religious man).
Jesus shocks his audience by announcing that this man went home righteous before God rather than the other. Simply put, the humble man is pardoned when he pleads guilty. That is the key to Christianity. A person receives a pardon when they plead guilty, and call out to the Lord for mercy. Then, and only then, does a person obtain eternal life.
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