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As we see in Scripture, God is holy. He is sinless perfection, and He created us in His own image (Genesis 1:26). As His creation, we are charged with the responsibility of acting in such a way that He receives the praise. We are to conduct ourselves so that God's glory shines through us. "In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father." (Matthew 5:16) 1 Peter 1:15-16 states, "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.' " Just like a well-manner child causes his parents to receive praise, so should God's creation cause Him to receive praise and honor. Unfortunately, though we were created to make our Father proud, we have all been found guilty of coming short of what has been expected of us. We have all embarrassed Him at one time or another. For last month we learned that "There is none righteous, no not one."- Romans 3:10. Have you noticed that when the sun shines, the flowers of the field reach upward? Have you noticed that the birds of the air know when to fly south? Have you noticed that all of nature knows what to do and when to do it, and that every time they do what they were created to do, we are blessed? Have you noticed that a field of wheat knows to drink in the rain and then to produce it's fruit in it's own season? This is because God created everything for its own purpose and when it obeys Him, it glorifies Him. Have you also noticed that of all of God's creation, it is only that which He made in His own image that has failed to obey His purpose? Have you noticed that the highest creation of God next to angels (Hebrews 2:7) has failed to glorify Him by obeying Him? Who is that creature that continuously brings shame to God's name? That creature is referred to as man. And what is worse is that he does it with no regard to the Father's Heart and care for him. And by doing so, he has brought grief to His creation, for sin always results in death . Romans 8:19-22 says, "For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, everything on earth was subjected to God*s curse. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. All creation anticipates the day when it will join God*s children in glorious freedom from death and decay." Why not repent today and ask the Father to forgive you for the pain your sin has caused Him, His creation, and yourself?  Wages - what is given in return Sin - offense against God Death - permanent ending of all life During the past two months, we have discussed sin and the fact that we have all been declared to be guilty of sin. We learned that all have sinned and come short of God's sinless perfection. We learned that there are none righteous (right in God's sight apart from His salvation). So what is the result of such a condition? The result is death. The Bible declares in Romans 6:23 that "The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." According to God's sovereign and holy will, all who practice sin will be permanently removed from Him and His righteous family. Psalm 37:9-11 says, "For evildoers shall be cut off; but those who wait on the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more; indeed you will look carefully for his place, but it shall be no more. But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace." God has promised peace to His children. That peace cannot coexist with evil. So, though many disagree with the existence of Hell, it is a reality. There has to be some place where God will send Satan and all who practice evil so that He can fulfill His promise of peace to His faithful children. And contrary to popular belief, there will not be an ongoing party there where you and your friends can spend eternity having a good time! You will suffer - FOREVER! "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life (eternal life) maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched - where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched." (Mark 9:43-44) You see, we were all created to live forever. However, we were created to live for ever in God's Presence. But sin has robbed us of that priviledge. The soul that sins shall die. And spiritual death means permanent ending of all life In God's Presence. The sinner dies with no hope of ever having peace or forgiveness from God. Hell is forever! Perhaps you are concerned about this fact because you know yourself to be a sinner. You may even enjoy your sin. But you realize that you are in danger of having to reap the wages of your sin. If so, the second half of Romans 6:23 gives us hope and a solution to our problem with sin. It says, "...but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Now that's good news. Even though we have sinned and secured ourselves a place in Hell, there is an alternative. God has given us a gift that is sort of like a "Get out of Jail Free" card. The only difference is that it was not free to Him. The Bible declares in John 3:16 that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son just so that whoever believes on His Son (Jesus Christ) will not perish and go to Hell, but will be saved! That is what we call the Gospel, or the good news. The fact that God sent His Son to die for our sins and to rise again from death is the good news that saves our souls. But here is the catch - we must believe it and receive it. Jesus said that He was the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and that no one would have access to God the Father unless they went through Him (John 14:6). Today, if you sense the Love of God drawing you in so that you can hide under the shelter of His Love, do not ignore Him. Do not risk your eternal life. Today could be your last day on earth. And it would be a shame if you died and went to Hell when the price for your sin has already been paid. If you would like to discuss this further, please contact me. Put "Romans 6:23" in the subject line of your email. Or, if you leave a message, be sure to leave a number where you can be reached. Jesus wants to spend eternity with you in Heaven, and so do I. - Kim In the first three lessons, we talked about a dreadful subject - sin. We learned that no one is perfect in the sight of God apart from His Son because we are all guilty of transgressing His law and committing sin. We learned that we could be guilty of committing sin based on what we think, what we say (or do not say), and what we do (or do not do). Quite frankly, the human nature is basically a sinful nature. We also learned that sinners cannot have fellowship with God, so our destiny is an eternity in Hell. What an aweful thought! After spending years toiling on earth to find peace and happiness, we will have to spend forever and ever and ever being tormented in hell without the possibility of ever being paroled. What a horrible future!!!!! But, thanks be to God, that His love for us makes a way for us to escape our eternal sentence. And we learn of this pardon by way of the Gospel. What exaclty does that word mean. Well, the word, "Gospel" means "good news". What is the good news, you ask? Well, I'm glad that you asked. According to the Bible, here is the good news: "Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, and by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you - unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) NKJV The Apostle Paul (one who had formerly killed Christians because of their belief) is telling the church about the Gospel. He tells them that because they had heard and received the fact that Jesus Christ died on the cross for their sins, they were saved. And if they held onto what they first received, without letting anyone take that truth away from them, they would be saved (Colossians 1:21-23). First, let's look at what they heard and received. According to 1 Corinthians, they had heard and received that not only had Jesus died on the cross, but that He had also been buried and had risen from the dead. Many dwell on the fact that He died, and that was important because He died to settle our sin debt with God (Romans 15:3), but we must also look at the fact that He was buried and and that He rose. As He hung on the cross dying, He committed His Spirit to God the Father to do with It what- ever was necessary to pay the price for our sins (Luke 23:46). And the Father decided that His Son must descend into Hell in place of us. But, according to the Scriptures, Jesus did not stay there, but came out. And when He rose, He rose with all power! (Matthew 28:18) Why is this important to you? Well, if Jesus had not risen, you will still have to pay for your own sins (1 Corinthians 15:17). The fact that He rose shows that He, Himself, had no sin debt to pay, so death, hell, nor the grave had any right to hold Him. His resurrection shows us that He has power over death, and therefore, has the right to give that power to you. If we receive Jesus as our Savior, we are asking the same Spirit that raised Him from the dead to live in us and ensure that the same happens to us. What is the secret of salvation - that Christ living in us is the only hope that we have of going to heaven (Colossians 1:27, 1 John 3:3). Here is a question for you to ponder. If we are approaching sinners to give them "good news", why do they run in the opposite direction when they see us coming? Could it be that we have misrepresented the call of Christ by giving more than the gospel? Could it be that they feel judged and condemned by us? Remember, God has empowered His Word so that it does what He has ordained it to do. Keep it simple when sharing this good news with others. It sounds foolish, but it works. "I know very well how foolish the message of the cross sounds to those who are on the road to destruction. But we who are being saved recognize this message as the very power of God. As the Scriptures say,*I will destroy human wisdom and discard their most brilliant ideas. So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world*s brilliant debaters? God has made them all look foolish and has shown their wisdom to be useless nonsense. Since God, in His wisdom, saw to it that the world would never find him through human wisdom, He has used our foolish preaching to save all who believe." (1 Corinthians 1:18-21 NLT) "NOT GUILTY!" How much would you imagine that the two accused snipers, Malvo and Muhammad, would pay to have those words pronounced over them by the judges assigned to their cases? No amount of money would be too much. But until all of the facts have been presented by the prosecution and all of the defense's efforts have been made, we will not know what will become of these two men. How awful it must feel to have your destiny rest in the hands of people who don't know you personally, but only have evidence, to make such important decision concerning your life. Their view of the facts that will be presented puts Malvo and Muhammad at their mercy. What a terrible place to be - in the hands of mankind. Well, that's exactly where Jesus placed Himself when He came to the earth. Jesus told His disciples that no man takes His life from Him, but He lays it down for the sheep (John 10:15-18). In other words, Jesus came to die. Why would anyone do that? Here's why: "But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God*s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God*s judgment." (Romans 5:8-9) Jesus came to die to serve the sentence that every sinner will be given on Judgment day if they do not turn away from their life of sin, and ask Jesus to become their savior from sin. If God took you to court, would He find you guilty? Here's what the Bible says about that in Romans 1:18-2:1-3 18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who push the truth away from themselves. 19 For the truth about God is known to them instinctively. God has put this knowledge in their hearts.20 From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that God made. They can clearly see his invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing God.21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. The result was that their minds became dark and confused.22 Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead.23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people, or birds and animals and snakes.24 So God let them go ahead and do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other's bodies.25 Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about God, they deliberately chose to believe lies. So they worshiped the things God made but not the Creator himself, who is to praised forever. Amen. 26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other.27 And the men, having normal sexual relationships with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men and, as a result, suffered within themselves the penalty they so richly deserved.28 When they refused to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their evil minds and let them do things that should never be done.29 Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, fighting, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip.30 They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They are forever inventing new ways of sinning and are disobedient to their parents.31 They refuse to understand, break their promises, and are heartless and unforgiving.32 They are fully aware of God's death penalty for those who do these things, yet they go right ahead and do them anyway. And, worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too. 1 You may be saying, *What terrible people you have been talking about!* But you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you do these very same things. .2.And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. .3.Do you think that God will judge and condemn others for doing them and not judge you when you do them, too? Jesus died on the cross in place of you, and His Blood makes you NOT GUILTY before God IF you ask Jesus to come into your heart. Do you have a better defense team than the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? If not, I suggest that you ask God to be your Public Defender today! "I want to be wrong!" "I like being out of order." "I like the thought of God being displeased with me." These statements will strike a nerve in most people who read them because they are absurd statements. I would surmise that the majority of people prefer to be right. Not many people take tests to fail, or rejoice when they receive "boos" and "hisses" in response to their performances. The truth is that people like to be accepted. People like to be right! So, how do we feel when we read in the Bible that "there is none righteous, no not one" (Romans 3:10), or that all of our righteousness is like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6)? Many of us lose hope because it sounds that there is no hope. It seems that there is no way that we could ever be right with God. It sounds that not one person who lives, has ever lived, or will ever live, will ever have a chance at getting God's "Nod of Approval". Not so! There was One person who totally fulfilled God's requirements for righteousness - Jesus Christ, the Righteous (Matthew 3:17). The Bible teaches us that by Adam, sin entered the world, but Romans 5:15 says "And what a difference between our sin and God*s generous gift of forgiveness. For this one man, Adam, brought death to many through his sin. But this other man, Jesus Christ, brought forgiveness to many through God*s bountiful gift" (New Living Translation). While it is true that sin rules and reigns in the lives of God's creatures, there is a way to become right in God's sight. The Bible declares that God accepted a subsititute for you. Yes, you are a sinner, but Jesus is not. God is allowing Jesus to be the substitute for all who call on Him and have faith in the Gospel. The Bible says, "For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ." (2 Corinthians 5:21 -New Living Translation). So, you see, there is ONE way to be righteous. That is to accept the free gift of God's Son as your substitution. How do I get this gift? - by faith. "And a righteous person will live by faith. But I will have no pleasure in anyone who turns away.* (Hebrews 10:38 N LT) Faith is hoping for what you cannot see, and believing that it exists. In order to be robed in God's righteousness, you must believe that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, and rose again from death. You must also believe that He will return for those who are clothed in His Righteousness. You must cease from trusting in your own good deeds to get favor with God. As He has stated, all of your good works are like dirty rags to Him. It is His Son who pleases Him, and you must be in His Son to be acceptable. Those who are in Christ Jesus are called "the Church". Church is not a building, but a Body of Believers. Many people will not attend church because of church peoples' attitudes. Beware-not everyone who attends church is in the Church (Jesus' Body of Believers). So do not let them turn you away. You have a right to be in your Father's House! Find one where the Lord is worshiped and stay there until God says otherwise. God has done everything necessary to get you into Heaven. But you must receive it by simple faith. God waits to clothe you in His Righteousness so that when you appear before His Throne, you appear innocent as His very own Son, Jesus Christ. Saints all over the world sing praises unto the Lord- "I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewel" (Isaiah 61:10). When you realize that God allowed His Only Begotten Son to be killed and sent to Hell in place of you, you cannot help but shout out praises to Him. So, what are you waiting for? When will you call on Him to save you from your sins? "As God*s partners, we beg you not to reject this marvelous message of God*s great kindness. For God says,*At just the right time, I heard you.On the day of salvation, I helped you.*Indeed, God is ready to help you right now. Today is the day of salvation " (2 Corinthians 6:1-2). " Without question, this is the great mystery of our faith: Christ appeared in the flesh and was shown to be righteous by the Spirit. He was seen by angels and was announced to the nations. He was believed on in the world and was taken up into heaven." - (1 Timothy 3:16 New Living Translation) (G)od's (R)iches (A)t (C)hrist's (E)xpense "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:1-10 NIV) The story of Cinderella is an all-time favorite. It is the tale of a young servant girl who goes from being a peasant to being a palace princess. Her filthy, soot-covered dress is changed into a radiant ball gown as her fairy godmother transforms her into the “Belle of the Ball”. This make-believe story has touched the hearts of people for many generations because it is the account of "hope" being transformed into "reality". It grips the heart of every person who finds himself in an unfortunate situation because it allows him to see that it is possible to be kissed by God's blessings, and rise above his circumstances. The story of Cinderella also allows us to understand the grace of God. Whenever I teach the concept of grace to young children, I use the acronym G.R.A.C.E. to help them understand that grace is (G)od’s (R)iches (A)t (C)hrist’s (E)xpense. Just like Cinderella, we are covered in “filthy rags”(Isaiah 64:6). Our very best is filthy in God’s sight, and worthy of nothing other than the garbage can or a blazing bonfire. But just like Cinderella, we have been given a radiant outfit in place of our filthy rags. God has provided a way for us to be robed in righteousness. His only Son, Jesus Christ, has come like a knight in shining armor to rescue us from our horrible fate of eternity away from God - an eternity in Hell! Just like the fairy godmother in Cinderella, Jesus has come and changed our mourning clothes into garments of praise (Psalm 30:11). He chose us out of the world to forever be with Him in His Father’s house. There was nothing about us that made Him choose us. He chose us because He knew that there was something better for us. Simply put, He loved us when we were dirty and He wanted to clean us up (Romans 5:8). However, we could never go to the Palace dressed in filthy rags. So He clothed us as if we were His Bride, and presented us to His Father. When He presents us, we are glorious, and The Father is pleased. When we present ourselves, the Father sees our filthy rags and remembers why we do not belong in His Palace. Do you remember how the ugly stepsisters kept dressing themselves up to get the attention of the Prince? Do you also remember how they never got a second look from him? One of them had noisy knees and the other had a hidious laugh. But when Cinderella appeared in garments that were graciously given to her, she turned every head. That is how it is when we present ourselves to God with our own attempts at righteousness. He sees and hears every flaw in us. But when we go in the garments that have been provided for us (Salvation by Jesus Christ), we turn heads in Heaven and on earth. And when Cinderella left her shoe at the ball, she left the Prince a deposit of his future bride. He searched until he found the one who could fit it. Jesus will also return for His Bride - those who believe. The Bible says that He will be coming for those who have His Holy Spirit in them (Romans 8:9). Believers receive the Holy Spirit of God as a deposit from the Lord (Ephesians 1:13-14). It is those who will be able to “fit the shoe” when Christ returns. It all may sound like a fairy tale, but it is 100% true. And the fact that some do not believe does not change God’s mind one bit! If you want to live in the Palace, you need a Prince. And the Bible calls Jesus the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Unless he presents you to the King, you will appear as an ugly stepchild who has no inheritance in God’s Kingdom. Why not ask the Prince to be your groom and escort today? Then you'll know for sure that the "shoe will fit" you.  Order the tape entitled, "Dress to Impress" to enhance Lesson #7. (Click on the Picture)  | The Roman Road: Pathway to Salvation | | S.O.S. - Supplications of the Saints | Over the Horizon | The Roman Road to Salvation | From the Desk of the Superintendent | TugBoat Times Youth Pages | From the Sheepfold | Holy Humor | |
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