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He Never Apologized

10/29/2015

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Scr.- Heb.4:14-15; 1 Pet.2:21-22
Key verse: "...but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin."--Heb.4:15b (NKJV)

In public interaction, you are sometimes misunderstood and confronted about what you have just said. Sometimes, you say something badly and need to quickly rephrase it.  On occasion, you realize that you have spoken an inflammatory or inappropriate remark and must make amends.

We observe high profile persons having to apologize for certain words or behavior. During an interview or at a social gathering, a celebrity/athlete/political figure makes a remark or commits a social blunder which angers other people. A retraction or apology is instantly demanded---and usually granted.

Throughout the course of His public ministry, Jesus angered lots of people. In fact, He angered certain people so much they plotted to kill Him. But, He never issued an apology.  He never backpedaled on any of His comments; He never became embarrassed or publicly humiliated about His conduct. He never declared: "I'm sorry, I was out of line,  it was wrong of me to say that."

This is significant. The Messiah's enemies tried repeatedly to trap Him on the basis of what He said (Matt.22:15-18; Luke 20:26; John 8:4-6). They employed one argument after another in order to discredit Him. They crafted numerous schemes to make Him look awkward in public.

Not once did they succeed.

Scripture presents Jesus as the sinless Son of God. He was without sin, despite being fully human as well as fully Divine. He never apologized to people because He never sinned.  And: He never told a lie because He was and is the very Truth of God.

However, the sinless and true Savior died for sinners who would become people of faith in Him.  His sacrifice in our place has secured for all believers a place in heaven. Salvation---not a public apology---is what God has given to the people of His Son.

"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."---2 Cor.5:21


 


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FOR and AGAINST

10/9/2015

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One of the frequent accusations hurled at Christians is that we are better known by what we are AGAINST than what we are FOR. Christians are often stereotyped as being Against nearly everything, but For almost nothing!

Granted, some very confrontational Christians may contribute to this perception. In point of fact, though, there are many occasions when being for something automatically means that you are against something else---and there can be no middle ground.

The organization Mothers Against Drunk Driving is FOR responsible, unimpaired driving. Members of this organization will not congratulate drunk drivers, but will argue for safe, sober driving on the part of all motorists---and rightly so.

Or: Consider vocal environmentalists. If such people are for protecting the environment, they will speak out against whatever harms the environment. Such persons will not publicly applaud incidents of pollution being streamed into the atmosphere, nor will they endorse the dumping of toxic waste into rivers and streams. Devoted environmentalists will be Against such behaviors by speaking up For environmental preservation---and rightly so.

In Matt.12:30, Jesus declared: “He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad."  Jesus  announced that whoever was not FOR or WITH Him was in fact AGAINST Him. He offered no neutrality with reference to Himself. Why should He offer neutrality?  After all, the Crucified and Risen Savior gave Himself for sinners who place their trust in Him concerning their salvation, so that they will be With Him forever (1Thess.4:17).

Are you For and With Jesus Christ? Do you have genuine faith in Him as Lord and Savior? There is no middle ground.


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LUCK

10/6/2015

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During a sermon, the preacher made this statement: "Christians are people of LUCK." A gasp of horror rippled through the assembled worshipers. The preacher went on to clarify his point:
"We Christians are LUCKy because we are

Living
Under
Christ's
Kingdom."



In our society, when someone tells you ‘good luck’, he is wishing you well.  However, this wish for your personal ‘luck’ cannot do anything. This luck refers to a series of events hopefully working in your favor, but the act of saying 'good luck' exerts no magical power at all. Hoping in luck achieves nothing!

By contrast, Jesus Christ already is the King of Kings. He already is qualified to rule. He has achieved salvation for His servants. He will return and His kingdom will come to full fruition.  And that kingdom has certainly begun.

Observe, Rom.14:17- “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit”—ESV.   "The kingdom of God IS." Jesus reigns in the hearts of His true subjects.

What Christians eat and drink is secondary to "righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." Our righteous King is the Prince of Peace (Is.9:6). We have been reconciled to God by way of Him and because of Him (Rom.5:1). Righteousness and peace are connected to a joy that is ongoing, despite the hardships of life. Such LUCK is assured because God has given people of Christian faith a reliable, all-wise, Righteous King. Thus, our hope in Jesus Christ is centered upon the provision of God and the strong ministry of the Holy Spirit.


“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”—Rom.15:13


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Supernatural Kindness

10/1/2015

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For over 10 years, a story has circulated in cyberspace:
  A woman bought a book and a box of crackers before she boarded an airplane. Once on board, she settled down with her book, but she was already tired from a long day, so she dropped off to sleep. When she woke up, the man beside her had opened up the box of cookies, placed the box between them and was busily eating her cookies.
The woman did not want to make a scene, but she was annoyed that this stranger had the nerve to open her cookies and start eating. She was not about to let him have all her cookies so she reached in, got a handful, and started to eat herself. He then reached in and got another handful. She wanted to punch the guy; however, she was a Christian so she did not do that. But she made sure that whenever he ate a cookie, she ate a cookie. She was at least going get half of her cookies. It got down to the last one. With a smile, the man took the last one, broke it in two and gave her half. She thought, this guy has some nerve. He did not even say, 'thank you'.
A little later the plane landed, and the stranger left. She was glad to see that cookie thief go. She got up and began to collect her belongings. She opened her bag to put her book in, and saw her box of cookies.
In total shock, she realized that she had been eating his cookies that he had willingly shared with her. She was the rude and unthankful person who had been treated with startling kindness by this stranger.

To a point, this story conveys something of the love of God toward ungrateful sinners. But, the gospel of Jesus Christ is about more than a voluntary division of food, and more than a Divine willingness to share. The gospel is about something unnatural, something that it difficult for us to truly understand. The gospel is about supernatural kindness heaped upon God's former enemies who have received His Son as Lord and Savior.  According to Luke 6:35b, God
"is kind to the unthankful and evil."

Throughout Scripture, we read about promises of heavenly blessing for every true believer in Christ. Certainly, supernatural kindness is evident in God's communication of these promises to us. God has never been under an obligation to reveal anything to us; yet He kindly has revealed these wonderful promises.

Additionally, supernatural kindness is given every time a believer in Christ recognizes his or her sin and cries out for forgiveness from God.  God is the Ultimate Forgiver. The Holy, Sovereign, All-wise Creator and Sustainer of the universe is mercifully inclined toward those who confess their sins to Him, in the Name of Jesus Christ. And He always will be.

Recall the moment of your conversion. Remember your startled wonder at the kindness of the Most High God lavished upon you. Bring to mind the stunned awe you experienced when you realized the scope and degree of God's love for you. Contemplate again the astounding spiritual reality: You who were once an enemy of God, full of ingratitude and wickedness---you have been brought into a condition and an estate of salvation by the eternally self-existent Being Who can get along just fine without you.

"But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."--- Titus 3:4-7.

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    Gary L. Jones

    Husband, father, Sinner saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

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