He would admit, when he looked into a mirror, that his hair and his whiskers showed about as much gray as brown, but that was a sign of maturity and reliability.”
–Elmer Kelton (The Smiling Country)
“So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”
“So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.”
–Hebrews 9:28(NKJV)
———————————–
How to Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World
Key Verse: “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” –1 John 5:19 (NASB)
Sometimes it is hard to be a loving person, except for self-love, in this crazy, insane world. Why, just look at what has happened in the past couple of weeks, and can you feel the love oozing for Mr. Rittenhouse after he was found innocent. We should be nodding our heads that justice did its job, but no, hatred is all around. Yet in spite of the hatred, the terror, the evil, we are called to love, especially those of the household of faith.
There is a tendency to live for self, to live for the moment. I want that and I want it now. Eve’s sin was that she wanted to taste of the fruit–she wanted it. She didn’t take much time to think of the eternal consequences, but I want to taste it now. We must remember that our life is not an automatic kind of life–our life is a continuous whole. The whole of life must always be present in our minds, and we must always be doing everything in the light of its eternal consequences. That is one reason why a biblical worldview is so vital; the world must be seen through the lenses of the Bible.
We abide in God, therefore we must abide in love. It is hard to love the “unlovely,” and it can be done only through the Holy Spirit. Some people find it easier to love others, or should I say, show compassion to others, than others. The final proof that God dwells in us and we in Him is that we love.
“By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.”
–1 John 4:17 (NASB)
Love has been perfected in us. Know that salvation is more than pardon and forgiveness. It is the beginning of sanctification.
“that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
–Titus 2:14(NASB)
Love produces good works. There is the doctrine of sanctification; one that is hatred and often neglected. Yet we are to be a sanctified person. The test of sanctification is humility. So many people look at sanctification with a negative perspective: I can’t do this, I can’t do that, no to this, no to that. Sanctification is not the deliverance from certain sins, but of becoming more and more like Him.
Now is the day of salvation! Time will end at death–no longer can it be redeemed. Our abiding in Jesus and having His love perfected in us give us boldness in the day of judgment. Once we die our fate is determined; however, it is not death that determines our fate. Death puts us in the place and position in which we can do nothing about it any longer. There will be no second chance–destiny is decided in this life and world of time.
———————————–
How to Live in a Pagan, Apostate, and Foolish World
Key Verse: “We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” –1 John 5:19 (NASB)
Sometimes it is hard to be a loving person, except for self-love, in this crazy, insane world. Why, just look at what has happened in the past couple of weeks, and can you feel the love oozing for Mr. Rittenhouse after he was found innocent. We should be nodding our heads that justice did its job, but no, hatred is all around. Yet in spite of the hatred, the terror, the evil, we are called to love, especially those of the household of faith.
There is a tendency to live for self, to live for the moment. I want that and I want it now. Eve’s sin was that she wanted to taste of the fruit–she wanted it. She didn’t take much time to think of the eternal consequences, but I want to taste it now. We must remember that our life is not an automatic kind of life–our life is a continuous whole. The whole of life must always be present in our minds, and we must always be doing everything in the light of its eternal consequences. That is one reason why a biblical worldview is so vital; the world must be seen through the lenses of the Bible.
We abide in God, therefore we must abide in love. It is hard to love the “unlovely,” and it can be done only through the Holy Spirit. Some people find it easier to love others, or should I say, show compassion to others, than others. The final proof that God dwells in us and we in Him is that we love.
“By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.”
–1 John 4:17 (NASB)
Love has been perfected in us. Know that salvation is more than pardon and forgiveness. It is the beginning of sanctification.
“that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
–Titus 2:14(NASB)
Love produces good works. There is the doctrine of sanctification; one that is hatred and often neglected. Yet we are to be a sanctified person. The test of sanctification is humility. So many people look at sanctification with a negative perspective: I can’t do this, I can’t do that, no to this, no to that. Sanctification is not the deliverance from certain sins, but of becoming more and more like Him.
Now is the day of salvation! Time will end at death–no longer can it be redeemed. Our abiding in Jesus and having His love perfected in us give us boldness in the day of judgment. Once we die our fate is determined; however, it is not death that determines our fate. Death puts us in the place and position in which we can do nothing about it any longer. There will be no second chance–destiny is decided in this life and world of time.