Scripture and message:
I John 2:15-17 “Do not love the world
or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life— is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
I Corinthians 6:9-10 “Do you not know
that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators [sex outside of marriage], nor idolaters [elevating the worth of things over God],
nor adulterers [even lust is this], nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves,
nor covetous [greed, jealousy, envy, ungodly desire], nor drunkards, nor revilers [foul speech], nor extortioners [unjustly abusive] will inherit the kingdom of God.”
Luke 13:23-27 “Then one said to Jesus, “Lord, are there few who are saved?”
And He said to them, “Strive to enter
through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in
Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’”
Matthew 15:8 “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”
John 3:3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly,
I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”
John 16:5-7 ““But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper
will not come to you; but if I depart,
I will send Him to you.”
Isaiah 53:5-6 Jesus was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace wasupon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
James 4:8 “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”
Acts 2:38 “”And Peter said to them,“Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
A changed heart is what repentance is,
and to repent is apart of believing.
Believing that sin divides us from a just, holy and good God, and that to have power to live in pure love and righteousness, as commanded, we need Him AND SHOULD go to Him.
We cannot go to Him without remission.
God sent Jesus to be our redeemer.
Now the amazing love of Christ says come, have you sins washed away by my blood, and be rooted in me.
He’ll heal you into the way of salvation,
now and forever.
He’ll take you in and grow you out of the ways of death and into life.
He’ll start and finish a good work in you,
IF you welcome Him.
• Where there is disorder, there is a lack of God. – Christians are peacemakers, as the love of Christ extends to make things well for all, indiscriminately, as they share His Spirit.
• Christianity is not about earthly blessing, but about divine, loving and life-giving light shining for anyone to reject or receive.
• To be a Christian is to see this as a reality in your life. – Believing in His active love, and seeing His active love pour out, because He gives His Holy Spirit into whoever truly believes (or believes the proper truth- little taught nowadays).
“… The first thing he [Paul] said was, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? Did you take God into your mind only, or did you also embrace him with your heart? Did he get inside you?” “We’ve never even heard of that—a Holy Spirit? God within us?””
Acts 19:1-2 (Paraphrased from the MSG)
• Sin is a deadly spiritual disease. God says that all have sinned (Romans3)
• Jesus is the physician (Mark2:17) He’s life (John14:6)
• He gives grace not so that we can enter “heaven”, but for our redemption and unity with God’s heart.
• Ask Christ to change your heart to desire Him and His ways. The power of our redeemer is trustworthy, so depend on it.
Does your heart desire to welcome a holy God? If God has led your heart to see your sin as an offense and you want Him, then you believe. So be new and full of faith! Follow Jesus (this thread says a little about next steps, also read #scripture), and know that His mercy and forgiveness is with you! • If your heart is still more for pride than God, then I’ll pray for you. 🙏🏾Don’t deny infinite love and betray your soul!
Knowing the real Christ is invaluable.
Matt16:15 “But who do YOU say that I [Jesus] am?””
This question is answered wrong so often, and it causes the damage and deceit shown at the beginning of this thread.
Don’t go to Christ if you are not for Him. Hot or cold! And don’t go to Christ in ignorance. He is gracious to save, but also holy to restore.
I’m praying over you readers!