Posted on 02/23/2015 7:40:36 AM PST by RnMomof7
Most people understand that doing evil can keep us out of heaven. But few realize the Bible also teaches that doing good cannot get us in. None of us could ever gain enough merit to deserve heaven. We are sinful, and God's standard is utter perfection. Jesus said, "Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20). He added, "you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
Then who can be saved?
The disciples asked Jesus this same question (Matthew 19:25). His answer? "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (v. 26). In other words, our salvation is not something we can accomplish. It is something God must do for us.
What if I stopped sinning now and never sinned again?
We are hopelessly in bondage to sin and could not cease sinning no matter how hard we tried. Scripture says even our hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). In other words, we are sinful to the core. Furthermore, a single sin would be enough to destroy us forever: "Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all" (James 2:10). But even if we never sinned from now on, we still bear the guilt of our past sins. And "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23).
Is there any way to be free from the guilt of sin?
The Bible says, "The blood of Jesus ... cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:7).
How can Jesus' blood cleanse our sins?
When God forgives, He doesn't merely overlook sin. Atonement must be made. Christ's death made full atonement for those who trust Him. His dying counts in our stead if we believe. However, that only erases the guilt of our sin. Remember, we still need perfect righteousness in order to enter the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:20).
Where do we get that perfect righteousness?
The full merit of Jesus' righteousness is imputed, or credited, to those who trust Him alone for salvation. Scripture teaches that God "justifies the ungodly" by reckoning Christ's righteousness to them (Romans 4:5). They are clothed in His righteousness, and God accepts believers solely and exclusively on that basis. That's why Paul was willing to discard all his own efforts to earn God's favor, preferring instead to stand before God robed in a righteousness that was not his own (Philippians 3:8-9).
If you are not a Christian, you need to lay hold of this truth by faith: the sin that will keep you out of heaven has no cure but the blood of Christ. If you are weary of your sin and exhausted from the load of your guilt, He tenderly holds forth the offer of life and forgiveness and eternal rest to you: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28).
How can I be sure Christ will save me?
No one will be turned away: "The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out" (John 6:37). All are invited: "The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely" (Revelation 22:17).
“Historically, Islam is not the only such religion to have murdered those who disagree.”
Clearly people of every religion have murdered... That said, give us an example of a religion, other than Islam, that has promoted it.
Here’s the jaw-dropper. Christ offers this free gift of salvation aware not only of every sin you committed in your past but every sin we will commit in the future. We are, unfortunately, still left with this mortal flesh that still desires to be sinful but Jesus knows this and understands.
As the only saying goes “Christians aren’t perfect; just forgiven.” He has given us the escape from our sins and all who receive it should repent out of gratitude and obedience as children to a parent. Real growth in Christ is understanding that the parent doesn’t kick out the child because of a few willful acts. We are forgiven because of Christ’s free gift.
Islam is not the only such religion to have murdered those who disagree. So, the same applies to all false religions that practice killing in the name of their god.
Democrats aside...
That's the funny thing about confession or even finding that you or I have an awakening and come back to Christianity or Catholicism..... we get full of ourselves and think ourselves just peachy and great...maybe just a little bit better than our brothers and sisters cause they can't quite be as good as we think we are.
So then maybe my little missteps are to be understood and forgiven cause in my heart I'm just a good guy.
Well there you see how that little smidge of pride can sink us. That's what hit me. Is that no matter how hard I try I think sinful things, I look at stuff in a sinful way, I hope sinful things about certain people, I steal by goofing off at work or fudging on the taxes ...and on and on.
Then I realize what I've done and go back and ask forgiveness and retry to live a life without sin but I keep failing. It's a never ending process and I ask God everyday to help and thank him for every small little victory.
But I know it isn't enough and I fear that I will end up where I deserve... and pray and hope upon hope that I somehow will receive the grace of God and he will find it in his heart to forgive me and all my sins. I think that's what any of us can do. Just pray and give our best efforts (God knows what's in our hearts and not just on our lips) and hope/pray it is good in his eyes.
Thanks for the reply, never thought of it that way. Very inspirational in itself. DM
The murder your way to righteousness is NEVER from God, always from men, and usually from Satan through men. The only commands to kill that I would assign to God’s commands are found in the OT where the abominable inhabitants of the land would remain an evil source for generations were they not annihilated. Have you any other qualms?
See you there.
What exactly is between the "..." in your excerpt?
John 6:
53 Then Jesus said to them,“Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58 This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”
59 These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.
60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?” 61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them,“Does this offend you? 62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.”
Adds a bit more context to the discourse. In fact we would have to go back to chapter 5 to get the full context.
In re-reading your post, I can see that you had it correct. I apologize for reading your post I the obtuse. I wonder though, how many readers will miss the depth of meaning in ‘false religions’?
IB4SIPAIEAY
Please explain.
It has been my observation that most people who expect and look forward to life beyond the one they have do nothing to deserve the life they actually have, having totally wasted it. I wonder why those who value so little the life they actually have should want another.
1. From the depths of woe I raise to Thee, a voice of lamentation.
Lord, turn a gracious ear to me, And hear my supplication.
If Thou iniquities dost mark, Our secret sins and misdeeds dark,
O who shall stand before Thee?
2. To wash away the crimson stain, Grace, grace alone availeth.
Our works, alas! are all in vain; In much the best life faileth.
No man can glory in Thy sight, All must alike confess Thy might,
And live alone by mercy.
3. Therefore my trust is in the Lord, And not in mine own merit.
On Him my soul shall rest, His word upholds my fainting spirit.
His promised mercy is my fort, My comfort, and my sweet support.
I wait for it with patience.
4. What though I wait the live-long night, And ’til the dawn appeareth.
My heart still trusteth in His might, It doubteth not nor feareth.
Do thus, O ye of Israel’s seed, Ye of the Spirit born indeed,
And wait ’til God appeareth.
5. Though great our sins and sore our woes,
His grace much more aboundeth.
His helping love no limit knows, Our upmost need it soundeth.
Our Shepherd good and true is He, Who will at last His Israel free,
From all their sin and sorrow.
The pope says who is he to judge....you should be alright confessing your sins to man.....add in about 1000 “hail mary’s”.... /s
More context is fine. Thank you.
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