4/3/14

From Jim McGuiggan... Jesus forgiving our sin


Jesus forgiving our sin

A letter to a very shy and sensitive friend:

I'm happy that you want to come to terms with your sin but I would caution you against giving it too important a place. It's bad enough that we sin but it's part of the effect of sin that its paralyses us or diverts us from righteousness. It's too easy to reflect again and again and again on sins committed or attitudes adopted. A firm renunciation of them in the name of Christ and his cross and move on—this is smartest and most like Paul. You'll remember he said, "One thing I do...I forget the past...and move on." I talked to a young preacher—weeping bitterly he told me he had watched porn on the computer several days earlier. His first time. I asked him how long it took him, I forget, maybe fifteen minutes. I said, fifteen minutes to sin and now three days of paralysis. The time in weeping isn't "wasted"—nothing is wasted for those who are God's. But the time can be better spent. I put my hands on him (I judged he needed the physical touch) and in God's name said that his sins were forgiven in Christ and prayed with him, telling him he must now go on, made modest by his shortcomings, more understanding and patient toward sinners, more grateful for God's protection.

So must you. No one in Christ needs to feel frozen in his or her sin. There in your own little space, in God's name and through Christ I speak the forgiveness of your sins and tell you now to go on in righteousness. (I'm prfoundly aware that I'm a fellow sinner but I'm also aware that I minister the gospel of God in Christ.)

Be fevered by nothing because in Christ, as the poet said, "fought the fight, the victory won." He was speaking of Christ as you well know. Someone carried the colours of our human nature all the way to hell and back and it's in him that we have the victory (1 John 5:1-5).

No events in your life should be isolated and viewed as standing alone. There is a single precious package that is you and it's that whole package that Christ has taken as his own—there's nothing unknown to him, nothing that repulses him or would keep him away from you. What he sees as unlike himself only drives him to rescue you. Your sin is no threat to him, it is a threat to you and without him it would become Apollyon, the destroyer of souls; but Christ will not have it.

Yes, part of your shyness is almost certainly a sense of unworthiness. That need not be bad unless you’re fooled into thinking that you must focus on that. If you were a thousand times better than you are, in his presence you'd be unworthy, though he would never tell you that. You never hear or see Jesus act or speak that way. As well as you know him, can you imagine him with a curled lip speaking to some sinner and saying, "You understand you're not worthy to be in my presence"? Can you imagine that? If you heard someone say he was like that, for all your shyness you'd jump up and protest and you wouldn't care how many people heard you. You mustn't think that about him yourself. And if you think it—in any shape or form—you should stand up and protest against yourself. Let your repentance be one that gives him his due and come to him as one that said, "I have come to seek and save the lost." Come to him as one that has said, "I have come that you might have life and have it to the full." Let that be your deepest thought of him and let that inspire your righteousness.

From: Wayne Jackson, M.A.... Why Do Men Reject God?





http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=224

 

Why Do Men Reject God?

by  Wayne Jackson, M.A.

Most people in the world, throughout the ages of history, have believed in some concept of a Supreme Being. They may have had a perverted sense of Who that Being is, but they were convinced that there is a Personal Power greater than man. Given the evidence available, faith is reasonable. That is why the psalmist declared: “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God” (Psalm 14:1). The Hebrew word for “fool” suggests one who is not thinking rationally.
Since unbelief is neither reasonable nor the norm, one cannot but wonder why some people become atheists. I am convinced, after reflecting upon the matter for many years, that religious disbelief does not result from logical conclusions based on well-researched data. Rather, generally speaking, emotional motivation of some sort is a primary causative factor.
Consider the following case. In 1996, Judith Hayes, a senior writer for The American Rationalist, authored a caustic, atheistic tirade titled: In God We Trust: But Which One? In this treatise, Mrs. Hayes revealed two clues as to why she left the Lutheran Church (Missouri Synod) and became an atheist.
As a youngster, she had a friend who was a Buddhist. Judith was very close to “Susan,” and she simply could not tolerate the idea that her friend, who did not accept Jesus Christ as the Son of God, might be lost apart from the biblical redemptive system. So, rather than carefully examining the evidence to determine whether or not the claims of the Lord (as set forth in the New Testament record—see John 14:6; Acts 4:12) are true, she simply decided, on an emotional and reactionary basis, that Christianity could not be genuine.
Eventually Judith married, but the relationship degenerated. Mrs. Hayes claims her husband was verbally abusive. Again, though, instead of considering the possibility that she might have been responsible for having made a bad choice in her marital selection, or that her husband decided on his own volition to be abusive (in direct violation of divine teaching—Ephesians 5:25ff.), she blamed God for her disappointment. “[H]ow could I possibly have wound up married to a tyrant? Why had God forsaken me?,” she wrote (1996, p. 15). God did not forsake her. He honored her freedom of choice, and that of her husband as well. Human abuse of that freedom is not the Lord’s responsibility.
The infidel William Ernest Henley (1849-1903) was known principally for his skeptical poem, Invictus. As a youngster, Henley contracted tuberculosis, and had to have one foot amputated. He suffered much across the years and became quite bitter. He wrote:
In the fell clutch of circumstance I have not winced or cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance, my head is bloody, but unbowed.
His disbelief, however, was emotional, not intellectual.
The late Isaac Asimov once wrote: “Emotionally I am an atheist. I don’t have the evidence to prove that God doesn’t exist, but I so strongly suspect that he doesn’t that I don’t want to waste my time” (1982, emp. added).
In one of his books, Aldous Huxley acknowledged that he had reasons for “not wanting the world to have a meaning.” He contended that the “philosophy of meaningless” was liberating. He confessed that the morality of theism interfered “with our sexual freedom” (1966, p. 19). This is hardly a valid argument for rejecting the vast array of evidence that testifies to the existence of a Supreme Being!
Here is an important point. When men have motives for resisting faith in God, and when—out of personal prejudice—they are predisposed to reject the Creator, they become “ripe” for philosophical skepticism.

REFERENCES

Asimov, Isaac (1982), “Interview with Isaac Asimov on Science and the Bible,” Paul Kurtz, interviewer, Free Inquiry, pp. 6-10, Spring. See also Hallman, Steve (1991), “Christianity and Humanism: A Study in Contrasts,” AFA Journal, p. 11, March.
Hayes, Judith (1996), In God We Trust: But Which One? (Madison: WI: Freedom From Religion Foundation).
Huxley, Aldous (1966), “Confessions of a Professed Atheist,” Report: Perspectives on the News, Vol. 3, June.

From Mark Copeland... A Servant Of God And The Lord Jesus Christ (James 1:1)

                         "THE EPISTLE OF JAMES"

             A Servant Of God And The Lord Jesus Christ (1:1)

INTRODUCTION

1. In our introductory study, we concluded that James, the Lord's
   brother, was most likely the author

2. If this is so, then it is interesting that James does not identify
   himself as such, but rather as simply "a servant of God and of the
   Lord Jesus Christ" (1:1)

3. Perhaps it was a case of humility; yet, calling himself a "servant"
   was not peculiar to James
   a. Paul described himself as such as well - Ro 1:1; Php 1:1
   b. So did Peter (2Pe 1:1) and Jude (Jude 1)

4. Why did these men refer to themselves as "servants"?
   a. The Greek term (DOULOS) literally means "a slave"
   b. Why use such a term to describe themselves?
   c. And why should WE think of ourselves as "servants"?

5. In this lesson, I shall explain why, and make some other observations
   concerning the idea of being a servant

[First of all...]

I. BEING A SERVANT IS "WHAT A DISCIPLE OF JESUS IS CALLED TO BE"

   A. JESUS STRESSED THIS TRUTH ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS...
      1. While pointing out the faults of the scribes and Pharisees
         - Mt 23:8-12
      2. During the Last Supper, with a vivid demonstration of servitude
         - Jn 13:12-17
      3. Even by His own example, as He came to serve - Mt 20:25-28;
         Php 2:5-8

   B. SPECIFICALLY, WE ARE CALLED TO SERVE...
      1. God - Jm 1:1; He 9:14
      2. Jesus Christ - Jm 1:1; 1Co 4:1
      3. Righteousness - Ro 6:17-18
      4. Each other - Ga 5:13; 1Co 9:19-23

[The early Christians called themselves "servants", because that is what
they were!

But what is so good about being a "servant"?  For one thing...]

II. BEING A SERVANT IS "A MARK OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY"

   A. AN IMMATURE PERSON IS USUALLY VERY SELFISH...
      1. For example, newborn babies are very ego-centrical
      2. Normally, as people grow older, they begin to concern themselves
         with the needs of others
         a. If they do, they are becoming mature
         b. If they remain selfish, it is an indication of immaturity

   B. A PERSON WHO SERVES OTHERS...
      1. Is certainly not selfish, but concerned with the needs of others
      2. And thereby demonstrates mature behavior

   C. JAMES' DESCRIPTION OF HIMSELF FITS IN VERY WELL WITH THE "THEME"
      OF HIS EPISTLE...
      1. Remember, the theme is:  MARKS OF SPIRITUAL MATURITY
      2. By being a servant, James is demonstrating his own spiritual
         maturity
      3. And we can make the point that one of the marks of spiritual
         maturity is truly being "a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus
         Christ"!

[Are we trying to be servants of God, and of His Son, the Lord Jesus
Christ?  If so, then we are on the road to spiritual maturity!

But before we answer too hastily, let's consider that...]

III. BEING A SERVANT HAS SEVERAL "IMPLICATIONS"

   A. IT IMPLIES "ABSOLUTE OBEDIENCE"...
      1. In a slave-master relationship...
         a. The slave knows no law but his master's word
         b. He has no rights of his own
         c. He is the absolute possession of his master
         d. He is bound to give his master unquestioning obedience
      2. Does this describe our relationship to Christ?
         a. It should, especially in light of 1Co 6:19-20
         b. We have to come to Jesus on HIS terms, not our own - Lk 6:46; Mt 7:21

   B. IT IMPLIES "ABSOLUTE HUMILITY"...
      1. Otherwise, absolute obedience is not possible
         a. When we have a humble opinion of ourselves, we are receptive
            to the idea of complete obedience
         b. For example, consider Paul's self-estimation - 1Co 15:9-10;
            Ep 3:8; 1Ti 1:15
      2. Does this describe our relationship to Christ and His Will?
         a. Jesus said it should! - Lk 17:10
         b. But if we murmur or complain about what Jesus tells us to do,
            can we really be considered "servants"?

   C. IT IMPLIES "ABSOLUTE LOYALTY"...
      1. Since we become servants FREELY, it should be expected that we:
         a. Are to be loyal to Him first - cf. Ga 1:10
         b. Do not consider our own profit or preference important, but
            that of the One we freely serve!
      2. But it is amazing how anyone can claim to be servants of the
         Lord Jesus Christ, while:
         a. Complaining about having to do the will of God, OR...
         b. Being negligent or slothful in carrying out His will
      3. But some act as though they are being forced against their own
         will!
         a. They don't "have to" serve the Lord Jesus...
            1) Of course, the alternative is not very inviting
            2) If we don't serve Jesus, by default we serve Satan, and
               are destined for hell!
         b. But God by His grace has offered salvation, and how dare we
            ever grumble or complain that He calls us to life of service
            in grateful appreciation!

[These are some of the implications of being called a "servant".  It
is costly in terms of service, pride, and allegiance.

But consider also that...]

IV. BEING A SERVANT IS "A GREAT HONOR"

   A. FAR FROM BEING A TITLE OF DISHONOR, IT WAS THE TITLE BY WHICH THE
      GREATEST MEN OF THE OLD TESTAMENT WERE KNOWN...
      1. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob - Deut 9:27 ("Thy servants")
      2. Moses - 1Ki 8:53 ("Thy servant")
      3. Joshua - Josh 24:29 ("Servant of the Lord")
      4. Caleb - Num 14:24 ("My servant")
      5. Job - Job 1:8 ("My servant")
      6. Isaiah - Isa 20:3 ("My servant")
      7. The prophets - Jer 7:25 ("My servants")

   B. HOW WONDERFUL IT WOULD BE IF GOD LOOKED UPON US AS COMPANIONS OF
      THESE GREAT MEN...
      1. Who found freedom, peace, and glory!
      2. Who found it in perfect submission to the Will of God!

CONCLUSION

1. He will, IF we are willing to accept the call to serve Him and His
   Son Jesus Christ with...
   a. Absolute obedience
   b. Absolute humility
   c. Absolute loyalty

2. And when we are serving God, His Son Jesus Christ, and even each other
   in this manner, we are making great strides towards SPIRITUAL
   MATURITY!

"...a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ" - can this be said
of us?

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Gary.... And the birds will sing!!!


What a lovely day in Florida!!!!  This morning's walk was delightful. The sun was shining brightly, no visible clouds at all and the birds were singing. And then I sat down to do a posting and this is the first picture I saw. THANKS TO WALTER VOGT for this composition!!!!  As beautiful as some animals can be, they are nothing when compared to God's ultimate creation- every single man and woman who have ever lived. So, when we see beauty in them, think about how God views us as well. But, speaking of them... I wonder how they view us...???

Romans, Chapter 8
  16  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God;  17 and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.  18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which will be revealed toward us. 19 For the creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.

No one really knows what a bird thinks.  But since it is part of creation, then verse nineteen applies. Well, this could get confusing, but I think verse 19 is talking about the last state of human beings- resurrected in glory!!!  Frankly, I am unsure as to exactly that will be like, but I feel quite certain that the birds will sing a beautiful song on that last day!!!  I wonder what the song will be.....