“The Sin of DISCRIMINATION”

 “The Sin of DISCRIMINATION”

 

 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking ALL of it.  James 2:10

 

This is an especially IMPORTANT topic for the TRUE BELIEVER, to keep in their HEART and mind.  Nevertheless, it is an ESSENTIAL part of are RELATIONSHIP with GOD the FATHER and His SON, JESUS CHRIST.   We who are the Children of God, need to exemplify His Character.

James learned FAITHFULLY from his Master, Jesus. And when he asked about the GREATEST COMMANDMENT. Jesus explained that the law has TWO sides to it; LOVE GOD and LOVE your NEIGHBOR.  You cannot claim to LOVE God and at the same time HATE your brother and sister, whom you have seen, and yet LOVE God, whom you have NOT SEEN. God has given us this command:  Anyone who LOVES GOD MUST also LOVE their brother and SISTER.  (1ST John 4:20,21)

James tells us that as TRUE BELIEVERS, we should SPEAK and ACT as those who are going to be JUDGED by the LAW that gives FREEDOM, because JUDGMENT WITHOUT MERCY will be shown to ANYONE who has NOT BEEN merciful.  MERCY TRIUMPHS over JUDGMENT.  (12-13)

 DISCRIMINATION or PARTIALITY are SINS and SHOULD have NO PART in the FAMILY of GOD. Mainly because it is NOT a PART of GOD’S CHARACTER nor that of HIS Son.  What IF JESUS said: “I’m ONLY going to go to the CROSS and SACRIFICE for the JEWS, the GENTILES will have to find another way.”  That would be DISCRIMINATION and PARTIALITY, but THANK GOD, that DISCRIMINATION nor PARTIALITY aren’t a part of either of their CHARACTER. 

If you are a TRUE BELIEVER, and you REALLY KEEP the ROYAL LAW found in Scripture, “Love your NEIGHBOR as yourself,” you are doing RIGHT.  But if you SHOW FAVORITISM, you SIN and are CONVICTED by the LAW as a LAWBREAKER. And REMEMBER: “JUDGMENT WITHOUT MERCY will be SHOWN to ANYONE who has NOT been MERCIFUL.”

If you are NOT a TRUE BELIEVER and have NOT come to JESUS for your SALVATION, you are destined to be JUDGED without MERCY on JUDGMENT DAY, and will be condemned to an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there. You have the OPPORTUNITY NOW to change your DESTINY.

ADMIT that you are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, God’s ONLY SON, who GAVE His Life to SAVE your SOUL.  You MUST BELIEVE with ALL your HEART that JESUS DIED for YOU and is ALIVE in Heaven making intercession for you before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION, and LOVE ONE ANOTHER, with a MERCIFUL HEART.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  HE’S WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

“A Done Deal”

 “A Done Deal”

 

But Jesus lives on forever, and His Work as priest does not pass on to someone else. And so, He is ABLE, NOW, and ALWAYS, to SAVE those who come to GOD through Him, because He LIVES FOREVER to plead with God for them.  Hebrews 7:24-25

 

This makes JESUS the HIGH PRIEST that MEETS our NEEDS.  He is MORE than qualified. He did not become a priest because of His lineage, He was from Judah, and NO priest had ever come from Judah. Jesus was made a PRIEST by the VOW made by GOD. And there was NO SUCH VOW when the others were made priests. God made a SOLEMN PROMISE, and He will NOT take it back:  He said to Jesus: “You will be a PRIEST FOREVER.”  This difference, then, also makes JESUS the GUARANTEE of a BETTER COVENANT.

Another difference of the Priesthood of JESUS was that the other priests DIED and could not continue their work. But JESUS LIVES FOREVER, and His work as priest does NOT pass on to someone else.  And He is able, NOW, and ALWAYS, to SAVE those who will COME to God through Him, because He LIVES FOREVER to intercede with GOD for them.

He does not need to offer sacrifices EVERY DAY for His own sins, He is SINLESS, and then for the sins of the people.  He has offered ONE SACRIFICE, ONCE and for ALL, when HE offered HIMSELF.

Therefore, there is NO OTHER WAY to come to GOD except through His ONLY SON, JESUS CHRIST, who took on ALL the SINS of ALL HUMANITY, in order for them to have a RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with the Heavenly Father.  He is the ONLY WAY to be able to have an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN and to ESCAPE an ETERNAL LIFE in HELL with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE once you are there.

The MAIN point: We have a High Priest who sat down in the place of honor beside the throne of the MAJESTIC GOD in Heaven.  There He ministers in the Heavenly Tabernacle, The TRUE place of WORSHIP that was built by the Lord and NOT by human hands.

We, who have given our HEARTS and LIVES to JESUS, have an ETERNAL ADVOCATE, who LOVES us UNCONDITIONALLY and is ALWAYS AVAILABLE to US, all we need to do is CALL on the NAME of JESUS.  If you have NOT come to Him, when the HOLY SPIRIT touches your HEART, you cannot have that RIGHT RELATIONSHIP with the HEAVENLY FATHER, and your ETERNAL DESTINATION will be an ETERNITY in HELL.  Unless you COME to JESUS and ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, the LORD JESUS CHRIST. You MUST BELIEVE with ALL your HEART that JESUS DIED for YOU and is ALIVE in HEAVEN making intercession for you before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to HIM and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL lifestyle and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and make it a DONE DEAL on your part.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’ t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

 

“ A Call to Action”

 “A Call to Action”

 

Don’t just listen to God’s Word.  You MUST DO what it says.  Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.  James 1:22

 

If you JUST LISTEN to God’s Word and don’t OBEY, it’s like glancing at your face in a mirror. James is speaking of a man who looks at a mirror, he OBSERVES himself, goes away, and IMMEDIATELY FORGETS what kind of man he was.

Looking into the MIRROR of the Word of God involves OBLIGATION. One MUST LOOK INTENTLY into the PERFECT LAW that gives FREEDOM. The PURPOSE and SUSTAINED LOOK with an IMMEDIATE RESPONSE is the KEY to SPIRITUAL STRENGTH and CONTINUED MATURITY. 

God’s Law gives us TRUE FREEDOM. John 8:31-32, tells us that, CHRIST said: “Hold to My teaching, then you will KNOW the TRUTH and the TRUTH will set you FREE.”  And to be able to have such FREEDOM we MUST SUBMIT to GOD’S PERFECT WORD.

The ACTION is being SUBMITTED to God and His Word INTENTLY, NOT CASUALLY in PRAYER and MEDITATION. Those who will SUBMIT to TRANSFORMATION by the WORD and becomes a DOER of the Word will be blessed. 

If you have NOT come to JESUS CHRIST for the REDEMPTION of your SOUL. You are NOT living in TRUE FREEDOM, and you cannot be a DOER of the Word, UNLESS you SUBMIT YOURSELF to His WORD, then you can become a DOER of His WORD. 

To do that you MUST ADMIT that you are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, Jesus Christ, who gave His LIFE to SAVE your SOUL from an ETERNITY IN HELL with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there.  You MUST BELIEVE with ALL your HEART that JESUS DIED for YOU and that He is ALIVE in Heaven making intercession for you before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL lifestyle, and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and answer His CALL to ACTION and become NOT JUST a HEARER of the WORD but be a DOER of the WORD also, and BE BLESSED.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can!!!  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

“From Old Self to New Self”

 “From Old Self to New Self”

 

Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.  Colossians 3:17

 

The Apostle Paul wanted the Colossians to LIVE their New Life in such a way that they would be LIVING with an outward CHANGE as much as the INWARD CHANGE. Notice that he encourages them in WHATEVER they do, whether in WORD or DEED, to do it ALL in the name of the Lord Jesus, and to do it with an ATTITUDE of GRATITUDE. Because they are NOW Children of the LIVING GOD. 

We, who are TRUE believers, need to put off our OLD SELF with its EVIL practices and put on the NEW SELF who is being RENEWED to a TRUE knowledge according to the image of the ONE who CREATED them. In other words, we are to be SO into JESUS that we are JUST LIKE Him in every part of our NEW IMAGE.  We need to be CHRISTLIKE in ALL we DO.  And we should DO it in OBEDIENCE to the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, the MAKER of HEAVEN and EARTH. 

Our demeanor should be one of COMPASSION, KINDNESS, HUMILITY, GENTLENESS and PATIENCE; we should BEAR with one another, FORGIVING each other, and whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave YOU, so also should you be FORGIVING.

Above ALL, put on LOVE, because it is the PERFECT BOND of UNITY.  Let the PEACE of CHRIST RULE in your HEARTS, and in ONE BODY, be THANKFUL.

We are NOT PERFECT, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t be OBEDIENT to the WORD of GOD and WORK at it.  We should be WILLING to STRIVE at that GOAL, because we BELONG to a PERFECT GOD.  And the BEST WAY to do that its to PUT OFF our OLD SELF and PUT ON our NEW SELF. 

If you have NOT DONE this, you have the OPPORTUNITY NOW! If you have been feeling guilty for your SINFUL LIFESTYLE, it is the Holy Spirit of God telling you it’s time for you to come to Him, through His SON, JESUS CHRIST, the ONE who PAID in FULL the PRICE for your SALVATION.  And to be able to receive this SPECIAL GIFT, you MUST COME to Jesus and ADMIT that you are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, you MUST BELIEVE, with ALL your HEART, that JESUS DIED for YOU and that He is ALIVE in Heaven making intercession for you, before GOD. You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ASK Him for His SALVATION.  You MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and OBEY and WORK with your NEW SELF.   Do this NOW while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

 

“The Source of Resurrection and Life”

 “The Source of Resurrection and Life”

 

Jesus told Martha; “I am the RESURRECTION and the LIFE.  Anyone who believes in Me will LIVE, even after dying.  Everyone who lives in Me and BELIEVES in Me will NEVER EVER die. Do you believe this, Martha?”  John 11:25-26

This is the fifth of the “I AM” statements that Jesus made about Himself, concerning His identity. Martha was one of Lazarus’ sisters. And they were CLOSE friends with JESUS.  Whenever Jesus was in the area He would stay with Lazarus, Mary, and Martha, they were good friends.  And Jesus, though He loved Lazarus and his sisters, He knew that what would happen soon, was for the GLORY OF GOD so that the SON of GOD would receive GLORY from this situation.

And by the time Jesus had reached Bethany, He was told that Lazarus had died and had been in the grave for four days. When Jesus arrived, Mary was in the house, and Martha had gone to meet Jesus, and she said to Him; “Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask.” And Jesus response was: “Your brother will rise again.” 

 These words from Jesus gave Martha, HOPE, She BELIEVED that JESUS was the PROMISED MESSIAH, the Son of GOD, the One who had come into the world from GOD. Jesus was deeply moved by the grief of Martha and Mary, and Jesus wept. 

When Jesus arrived at the tomb, He told them to remove the stone that had been rolled across the entrance.  This troubled Martha, and she told Jesus; “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be TERRIBLE. And Jesus, who has POWER over DEATH and the GRAVE, shouted “LAZARUS, COME OUT!” And the DEAD man CAME OUT!

Now, I told you all of this to show you that Jesus has POWER and MARTHA had HOPE.  I have heard the saying: “Where there is a WILL there is a WAY.” And I BELIEVE that MARTHA had the WILL, because she got word to JESUS, I think her HOPE was JESUS. And JESUS KNEW that He was the WAY, He said:  “I am the RESURRECTION and the LIFE. Anyone who BELIEVES in Me will NEVER, EVER DIE!!”

He also knew that it was to bring GLORY to GOD, so that the SON of GOD, will receive GLORY.  And to STRENGTHEN their HOPE and BELIEF and to solidify the TRUTH:  JESUS is the SOURCE of RESURRECTION and LIFE:  DO YOU BELIEVE THAT??  I DO!!

If you have DOUBTS about it and have NOT come to JESUS for the SALVATION of your SOUL, then this is what you MUST DO to obtain God’s Gift of SALVATION and ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN.  When you have that tugging on your HEART. You MUST SURRENDER and COME to JESUS and ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, the LORD JESUS CHRIST, God’s ONLY SON, who GAVE His LIFE to save our SOULS from spending an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE, once you are there.  You MUST BELIEVE with ALL your HEART, that JESUS DIED for you and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST be WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and BELIEVE that JESUS is the SOURCE of your RESURRECTION and ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

 

“Dead to Sin and Alive to Righteousness “

 “Dead to Sin and Alive to Righteousness”

 

He personally carried our sins in His body on the cross so that we can be DEAD to SIN and LIVE for what is RIGHT. By His wounds you are healed. Once you were like sheep who wandered away. But now you have TURNED to your SHEPHERD, the GUARDIAN of your souls.  1st Peter 2:24-25

 

When I read this Scripture, there is always the question WHY?  And the conclusion is that: Jesus’ SUFFERING and DEATH makes it POSSIBLE for believers to be FREE from BOTH the PENALTY and the POWER of SIN and to LIVE for Him; so that we might DIE to SINS and LIVE to RIGHTEOUSNESS. He SUFFERED so it would be POSSIBLE for BELIEVERS to FOLLOW HIM, by His example in suffering and in righteous living.

“By His wounds you are healed is NOT REFERRING to a “physical healing,” the reference is to SALVATION.  The WOUNDS refer to the SCOURGING and DEATH accomplished “HEALING,” the SALVATION of every person who TRUSTS Him as their SAVIOR and LORD.

Christ not only sets the example and provides SALVATION, but He also gives us GUIDANCE and PROTECTION and He is the GOOD SHEPHERD and OVERSEER of our souls. We sometimes are like sheep who wander away from the safety of the flock but then TURNED BACK to the SAFETY and PROTECTION of the GOOD SHEPHERD, the One who who LOVES them and CARES DEEPLY for their SAFETY and PROTECTION.

Do you KNOW the GOOD SHEPHERD, who PERSONALLY carried MINE and YOUR SINS to the CROSS, that we may be DEAD to our SINS and ALIVE to RIGHTEOUSNESS so the ALMIGHTY GOD might be GLORIFIED in and through our RIGHTEOUS LIVING.  We, like JESUS CHRIST, may have to SUFFER for our FAITH, but if we do, we have a COMFORTER, who knows how to SOOTHE our SUFFERING. If we will not WANDER from Him to SEEK another SHEPHERD.  REMEMBER:  He PERSONALLY took YOUR SINS and CARRIED them to the CROSS, and they were on His BACK. And when He SUFFERED and DIED, we were on His MIND and in His HEART. 

Have you felt GUILTY or REMORSE for your SINFUL LIFESTYLE?  That may be the HOLY SPIRIT of the LIVING GOD convicting you of your SINS. And if you keep REJECTING His invitation, HE may quit offering it. You NEED to ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, who carried YOUR SINS to the CROSS and is WAITING for you to COME to Him for your SALVATION.  You MUST BELIEVE with ALL your HEART that JESUS DIED for YOU and that He is ALIVE in HEAVEN making intercession for you before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to Him and ask Him for His FORGIVENESS.  You MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINFUL LIFESTYLE and TURN TO GOD, with a TRUE REPENTANT heart.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and be DEAD to SIN and ALIVE to RIGHTEOUSNESS.  Do this NOW, while you STILL can. He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!! Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

 

“FORGIVE and be FORGIVEN”

 “FORGIVE and be FORGIVEN”

 

Make allowance for each other’s faults and FORGIVE anyone who offends you.  Remember, the Lord FORGAVE you, so you MUST forgive others.  Colossians 3:13

The Apostle Paul tells the Colossians, those who were believers of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, what they should wear as clothes for their NEW SELF.  He tells them to put on COMPASSION, KINDNESS, HUMILITY, GENTLENESS, and PATIENCE and above ALL this, we SHOULD put on LOVE, which is the PERFECT BOND of UNITY. 

One very important way we make these characteristics visible is; by FORGIVING one another.  Some believers may hold on to UNFORGIVENESS, and it results in ANGER and BITTERNESS. They may feel this because they have been mistreated in some way. And therefore, they deserve to be APOLOGIZED TO.

However, they FORGET that God has FORGIVEN them and they in RETURN should be FORGIVING others.  Forgiveness does NOT MEAN that you are APPROVING SIN or EXCUSING EVIL.  But it DOES mean you are RELEASING them from OBLIGATIONS that were incurred by their WRONGDOING against you.  It’s FORGIVING someone who has not ASKED for FORGIVENESS.

What makes FORGIVENESS possible, is REALIZING that the LORD FORGAVE YOU. However, if you REFUSE to FORGIVE, you have STOPPED GOD’S MISSION in your life. But when you FORGIVE, you NO LONGER GRIEVE the Holy Spirit, and you ACT LIKE the ONE who has FORGIVEN YOU.  If there is someone who has WRONGED you, and YOU are a BELIEVER of JESUS CHRIST.  You NEED to FORGIVE them and PRAY for them and for yourself as well.  And above all, CLOTHE yourselves with LOVE, which BINDS us ALL together in PERFECT HARMONY. And let the PEACE that comes from Christ Jesus RULE in your HEARTS. For as members of ONE BODY, we are CALLED to LIVE IN PEACE.  And ALWAYS be THANKFUL!!

If you are NOT a TRUE BELIEVER in CHRIST JESUS, who is GOD’S ONLY SON, and He GAVE His life to SAVE YOUR SOUL and to GIVE you an ETERNAL LIFE in HEAVEN, and to be ABLE to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL its HORRORS and NO WAY to ESCAPE ONCE YOU are there. You MUST BELONG to GOD’S Family and be FORGIVEN of your SINS.

First, you MUST be CALLED, when you feel GUILTY for how you are living, and the Holy Spirit of GOD touches your HEART, you will KNOW that He is CALLING you to FOLLOW JESUS.

 YOU MUST ADMIT that YOU are a SINNER in NEED of the SAVIOR, He is the ONLY WAY to be a part of GOD’S FAMILY. You MUST BELIEVE with ALL your HEART that JESUS DIED for YOU and that He is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  You MUST CONFESS your SINS to HIM and ASK Him for His FORGIVENESS. YOU MUST BE WILLING to TURN AWAY FROM your SINS and TURN TO GOD with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART.  You MUST ACCEPT God’s Gift of SALVATION and FORGIVE OTHERS, and BE FORGIVEN!!!  Do this NOW, while you STILL can.  He’s WAITING and COMING SOON!!!  Don’t Be LEFT BEHIND!!!