"And I, the Son of Man, feast and drink, and you say,'He's a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of the worst sort of sinners." (Luke 7:34, NLT)
The President of the United States of America has nominated a homo sexual, anti-military, advocate of abortion-as-contraceptive person to the Supreme Court. America just keeps sliding downward. I know some think I am too critical, judgmental, "Hellfire and brimstone," a sort of "glass-half- empty" type of person. Many like to remind those of us whom they consider fire-breathing, nineteenth century revivalists, that Jesus was, "a friend of sinners." I guess they get that from our text----------- even though that's not what He said.
Without argument, Jesus loved humanity as none else in history. Indeed, "God is love." Jesus said the kindest words the woman taken in adultery ever heard, "Neither do I condemn you." Yet He did not stop there. He manifested Father's Love when He said to her, "Go, and sin no more," or, "Go and don't let it happen again." The latter is much more difficult to accept. After all, who wouldn't join a "movement" which just declares, "We don't condemn you?" It sounds so loving.
The reality of life, however, which much of religion ignores, is that all sin has consequences, has judgment, has penalties-- "Be sure your sin will find you out." The most loving, and I mean, most loving life style of anyone is that which demonstrates and encourages in others to, "go, and sin no more," to, "pursue peace with all, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord." Why not? The Word of God says, "What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed?" The answer is, nothing. I'm sure the Samaritan woman would agree. I know I do.
1 Corinthians 1:30 gives us the cause and affect of the Cross. In contrast with "another gospel" being offered today, the Word of God describes wonderfully here the Gospel of Jesus Christ--- "But it is from Him that you have your life in Christ Jesus, Whom God made our Wisdom from God, [revealed to us a knowledge of the divine plan of salvation previously hidden, manifesting itself as] our Righteousness [thus making us upright and putting us in right standing with God], and our Consecration [making us pure and holy], and our Redemption [providing our ransom from eternal penalty for sin]." I'll take This Gospel!
Father, in Jesus' Name, may You, my Righteousness, reign in me. Amen.
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When an 18 year old Norwegian "heard the call to evangelize China, he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking Unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
