Good News and Bad News

Jesus Christ did not come into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved. However, the gospel is both good news and bad news. To those who prefer to live in sin, the gospel of salvation is bad news… it’s the gospel of the condemnation of sin unto death. Most people know John 3:16 about the gift of eternal life through Christ. However, death is not the result of sin, but rather rejection of the Saviour from sin. The context of John 3:16 says that those who prefer the darkness instead of light and sin over righteousness condemn themselves. According to the context of John 3:16, John 3:18-21 says, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

To turn from sin, you must first acknowledge that sin is a problem. ”A parishioner said to the country preacher, “I wish you wouldn’t preach so much about sin, condemnation and hell, but more about the meek, lowly and loving Jesus.” He answered, “Every thing I know about hell fire and damnation, I learned from the meek, lowly and loving Jesus.”

There is an alarming passage in Matthew 7:23 about self deception and following the deception of false prophets. To these people, Jesus will say, “I never knew you.” The context of this verse is in John 7:15-23: “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17. Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

There are four responses after hearing the gospel message. The first is outright rejection by those who prefer to hide in darkness to conceal their sin.

Many Americans today are in the second category. These people may attend church or have a favorable opinion of Christianity. However they have never had a conversion experience where they turn from their own sinful nature in repentance and to the Lord Jesus Christ. For the most part, our American culture has turned away from God. Even though most Americans no longer consider America a Christian nation, it doesn’t mean that the Word of God isn’t true. An individual’s and a nation’s response to the truth will determine their eternal destiny. Even though they may call good evil and evil good, the word of God is still the standard for truth.

God has called godly Christians to godly marriages to illustrate the relationship between Christ and his church. Just like our attitude toward our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, our attitude toward our wives must be cultivated. When you’re in love, you look at her through “rosy colored glasses.” When you’re in love she can do no wrong. Love covers a multitude of sins. Likewise we must “Keep our hearts with all diligence for out of the heart proceed the issues of life. We must cultivate our love of God and learn to treasure His word.

There are many false prophets who appear to have the same gifts as true shepherds. These false prophets are wolves dressed up like sheep. A false prophet always bears bad fruit. Abraham Lincoln said, “you can fool all of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.” According to the passage in Matthew, by their fruits you shall know them. God hasn’t called us to be judges. Rather he’s called us to be fruit inspectors. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

This is why the gospel message is both good news and bad news. To those who are called unto salvation, it is the sweet smelling fragrance of life unto life. To those who are perishing, it is the stench of death unto death.

It’s easy to deceive ourselves that we know more than others. To approach the throne of God’s grace we must come to him with a broken and a contrite heart of meekness and humility. The right attitude is to pray that God will send someone into our lives to rebuke and reprove us. The Word of God is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, and correction. That the man of God may be perfect, throughly perfected unto all good works. Whom the lord loves, he chastises. To correct is to restore to an upright position.

Peter thought that he could serve Jesus in his own power. However, Jesus knew Peter’s heart. He said, “before the cock crows twice, you shall deny me thrice.” Peter’s heart had to be broken so that God could heal his heart…. A broken and a contrite heart God will not forsake. He will break our heart for what breaks his…to make our hearts malleable and conformable to his will.

Paul said, I buffet my body to bring it unto submission to my lord. Ye are slaves to whom ye obey: either the lust of the flesh or the spirit of life in Christ. It’s a miracle when a man humbles himself and asks for forgiveness of those he’s wronged and before God.

A heart of humility asks,” Is there anything in my life that you would change if you could?” The second question is. “how can I help you?” This is the servant’s heart of humility and meekness.

Jesus knew what was in the heart of a man. The false prophet in Matthew 7 asked Jesus, “Didn’t we perform miracles and cast out Devils in your name?” Jesus’ response was, “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”

The key to keep thy heart with all diligence is in Psalm 1. According to this Psalm, Blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law doth he meditate day and night….and he shall be like a tree that is planted by the rivers of waters that bringeth forth his fruit in his season. His leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

The question is not “Do I know him,” but rather, “Does he know me.” Jesus said, “my sheep hear my voice and they know me and I know them. They follow me for I give them everlasting life.”

The miracles that the false prophets did were similar to the miracles that Jesus did. Jesus’ miracles, signs and wonders made the false prophets want to kill him because he was stealing their thunder. They wanted to glorify themselves with their mighty works.

Category three is those who respond to the gospel by thinking they’re saved by their own good works. They are works based and not grace based. If you put people under works then you can control them. The subtle message is, you’re condemned if you don’t perform. However the basis of grace is God’s mercy and forgiveness through the price Jesus Christ paid on our behalf at Calvary’s cross. Jesus said, blessed are the pure in heart and blessed are the peacemakers. Blessed are the meek, those who acknowledge that their sufficiency and their salvation is only in the Lord.

Category four is those who know that they know that they are saved. The spirit of Christ bears witness with their spirit that they are sons of God. They have accepted the free gift of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the grace of God, not of works lest any man should boast.

Ministry is doing the right thing to please God and not ourselves or others. To enter category four, we must believe that Jesus is Lord and that God has raised him from the dead. Confession unto salvation starts with a broken and a contrite heart of repentance. Repentance means to turn from making myself Lord to making Jesus Lord. It starts with acknowledging “I have found the enemy and he is me.” Living the gospel message is to live to the praise of the glory of His grace for he has made us acceptable in the beloved.

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Remarkable

Jesus Christ, The word of God made manifest is the Remarkable One. Remarkable means likely to be noticed, especially to be uncommon and extraordinary. That which is remarkable piques a person’s interest and makes one want to investigate in order to learn. Remarkable things are different from the usual and ordinary. They are wonderful and amazing in a new, exciting, and distinctive way.

In Matthew 9, Jesus was going through the city and healing the people. Jesus said, the harvest is plentiful but the laborer’s are few. It’s one thing to lament the state of the affairs of this world…that they call good evil and evil good. Some have said that no matter the question, the answer is Jesus Christ. The next question is, “are we a part of the problem or are we a part of the solution?” Are you a fellow laborer with Christ or are you a critic of the world? We’ve not been called to judge others. Jesus said, If you judge non-believers for not acting like Christians you’re like the man who was complaining about the splinter in the other guy’s eye while you’re blinded by the two-by-four in your own eye. You have to yank the plank before you can minister to others. The plank is the critical spirit in your own eye. For Jesus came not to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved.

The harvest is still plentiful. God’s redemptive plan was to send his only begotten son “in the fullness of time.” The world had never seen a teacher like Jesus. He was remarkable in the best way. Jesus talked about the “salt of the earth in Matt 5.” He said “Ye are the salt of the earth.” Salt was precious for preservation of food. The Romans paid their soldiers in salt. Salt is essential to sustain and preserve life.

The word for fellowship is “koinonia” in the Greek text. Fellowship means to share fully that which God has made us in Christ. We meet together according to God’s divine appointment so that we can partake of the fellowship of Christian believers. The gospel of the grace of God is caught and not taught. We gather together to fan each others’ flames…to seek to excel to the edification, the building up or the body of Christ. As Paul said, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of the holy spirt?”

If you’re the salt of the earth and have lost your “saltiness” then you’re like salt that has lost its flavor. It’s good for nothing except to be thrown into the street to be walked on. Those of us who are born again of the Holy Spirit are God’s life giving savor, for we preach not ourselves but Jesus Christ and him crucified. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We’re remarkable when we represent our Lord Jesus Christ. We have been called as lights in the midst of darkness. We reflect the light, Jesus Christ the Word of God revealed. Therefore let your light so shine among men that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven.

On the day of Pentecost, Peter preached about God’s plan of redemption through Jesus Christ. Those who heard his message at the temple were moved to action and said, “men and brethren what shall we do?” They wanted to know what action they could take to believe on the Lord. Everyone marveled that Peter, an uneducated Galilean who was a lowly fisherman, spoke such powerful words. Then they remembered that he had been with Jesus.

Jesus had said, “when the holy spirt has come upon you ye shall be clothed with power from on high and ye shall be witnesses unto me.” When he opens the eyes of our spiritual understanding, as Jesus said to John the Baptist’s followers, “we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

When we turn from ourselves and to Christ, we can have this attitude which was also in Christ Jesus. He humbled himself and became a bond servant to serve God’s people from a heart of love. Jesus, for the joy of your salvation and mine, endured the suffering and was obedient unto death even unto the death of the cross. For he who was without sin became the perfect sacrifice for sin on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.

Paul said that the follower of Christ must not be quarrelsome. He must not strive but be peaceable unto all men, apt to teach, and patient. Jesus said, “my peace I leave with you. My peace I gave unto you. Not as the world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

When the spirit came upon the apostles at the day of Pentecost, they received the power of the holy spirt. As Paul said, only let your conversation, your citizenship, your manner of living be as it becometh the gospel of Christ. For we are citizens not of this world but of our new heavenly kingdom.

The gospel mission is not about our commission. It’s not about what we get but about what we get to give. It’s not about us, it’s about him. For he is our peace who has made of two one new man.

As followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, the question is “what would Jesus do?” Our prayer is, O Lord, more of thee and less of me. The peace that passes all understanding is to “let go and let God.” The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. All things are God’s and ye are Christ’s and Christ is God’s.

He has called us remarkable as we walk according to the path that he foreordained for us. According to Peter we are a peculiar people, an holy nation, a royal priesthood to his praise and honor and glory.

In closing, please listen to the words of the song to “Only Jesus” by Casting Crowns. Here is the link to the video on YouTube:

May we ever live to the praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

The Remarkable One

The gospel of the good news of Jesus Christ is the truth that sets men free. Jesus Christ, the word of God made flesh is the Way, the Truth and the Life. This is the message of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

It’s easy to lament the state of affairs of this world…for they call evil good and good evil. However, Jesus came not to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved. Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful but the laborer’s are few.” The depravity of this fallen world is the field, having remained fallow but is now ready to be planted and watered with the seed of the gospel of truth. He has called us as fellow laborers to plant, water and bring in the harvest.

The gospel of the truth of the word of God is remarkable. Jesus the word made flesh is the Remarkable One. Remarkable means likely to be noticed. It makes others want to investigate and learn. When the people saw Jesus, they were drawn to him. They had never seen someone who spoke with the authority of God and did the miracles that he did. Remarkable means that which is beyond the ordinary. They marveled that he was able to heal the sick and raise the dead. Remarkable is wonderful in a unique and marvelous way. It is extraordinary and rare, atypical and standing apart from the norm. They had never seen anything as remarkable as Jesus the Christ the son of the living God.

Jesus said to the lame man whose friends laid him before Jesus, “Your sins are forgiven, rise up and walk.” The Pharasees were furious because Jesus said, “your sins are forgiven.” They considered this blasphemy. However, regardless of the scoffers and unbelievers, the world will take notice when the power of God is manifest.

At the day of Pentecost, Peter preached the first sermon after Jesus’ resurrection. The crowd at the Temple marveled at his remarkable words. They noticed that he was an “unlearned and ignorant” Galilean. Then they took note that he had been with Jesus. Peter had been filled with the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit and preached empowered by the spirit.

Jesus said, “Ye are the salt of the earth.” Salt was precious for the preservation of food. The Romans paid their soldiers in salt. It is also required to preserve life itself since many biological processes depend on salt. However, if the salt has lost its flavor, what good is it? It’s only good to be cast into the street and walked on. Jesus Christ is the savor (flavor and sweet smelling fragrance) of life unto life to those who are called to salvation. Jesus said, when the Holy Spirit is come upon you, then you will be witnesses unto me. The power of my resurrection will be manifest in your life. You will be able to do all things whatsoever I have commanded you. For ye are our epistles known and read of all men.

Grace is caught and not taught. To understand grace we must spend time in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is grace personified. As we delight ourselves in the law of the fullness of grace, we will be like a tree that is planted by the rivers of living waters…that giveth forth his fruit in due season. His leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Jesus went about doing remarkable things. His manner of living was to proclaim the gospel. He felt compassion for the people who were like sheep without a shepherd.

After Adam and Eve sinned, God came to them in the cool of the evening, like the wind of the Holy Spirit, a rushing mighty wind. They didn’t pursue him. They ran and hid from God in their guilt and shame. Whose seeking whom? He’s the hound of heaven that will leave the ninety nine sheep to seek the one lost sheep.

Jesus said, the harvest is plentiful but the laborer’s are few. He said, ye are the salt of the earth. Ye are the light of the world. He has called us as able ministers of the New Testament. We are his fellow laborers in the field of harvest.

Jesus taught his disciples the meaning of humility and service when he wrapped a towel around his waist, bowed down, and washed their feet.

Jesus’ prayer to his Heavenly Father was to bring forth laborer’s unto the harvest. The question is, “are you doing what you’re doing for the commission or for the Great Commission?” Therefore, whatsoever your hand findeth to do, do all as unto the Lord and not unto men. The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.

He has called us to relationships so that we can bear one anothers’ burdens….so that we can build each other up within the body of Christ. There is no greater relationship than the one he has called us in marriage. A marriage relationship is a picture of Christ’s relationship with his church.

God has called us to live remarkable lives to the praise of the glory of His grace!

The song “Only Jesus” by Casting Crowns is on point: The name of Jesus Christ is the only name to remember! He is the remarkable one. Your heart will be uplifted when you listen to this song. Here is the link to the video on U Tube:

Jesus Christ is the Remarkable One.
May we live to his praise and honor and glory!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Which Dog?

We band together with likeminded believers so that we can “choke in the dust of others who are chasing after Christ.” Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we have been empowered to be witnesses of the gospel of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Despite the pain and tribulation of a fallen world, our joy and rejoicing is in fellowship with our Heavenly Father, his son our Lord Jesus Christ and with like minded believers in the body of Christ.

Even though we have been saved by grace, we must still contend with the nature of our sinful flesh. Romans 7:14-17 defines every man’s battle: “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.”

When we came to Christ and accepted the gospel of salvation, we received a new nature of the spirit of life in Christ. However, the battle rages on between the flesh that we inherited from Adam and the spirit of life in Christ that we inherited when we were born again.

An old legend says that there are two dogs in the soul of every man. There is a good dog and a bad dog. These two dogs fight for control. The dog that wins is the dog you feed. How do you feed the “good dog” of the new nature of life in Christ?

God didn’t displace the sinful nature when we accepted Christ. Verse 24 says, “O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this dead body?” Who shall set me free from the bad dog inside my soul? The answer to this question is in the next verse and continues in Romans chapter 8: “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. THERE is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” The good dog of the spirit of life in Christ will win when we feed him by walking according to the spirit of life in Christ.

The theme of the book of Philippians is “that your joy may be full.” Living in the Joy of the Lord and in fellowship with likeminded believers is one way that we feed the good dog of the spirit of life.

Acts Chapter 16 is the record of Paul’s missionary journey to Philippi. When Paul and Silas arrived in Philippi, they encountered women who were praying by the river side. One woman named Lydia was an influential business woman who was a seller of purple. She and her household were converted to Christ through Paul’s teaching. Paul and Silas also ministered to a slave girl who was possessed by a demon. Her masters made their living by using her to tell fortunes. Paul cast the demon out of the young girl. Her masters were infuriated because they had lost their means of making a living. They incited a crowd in the market place, called the magistrates and Paul and Silas were cast into prison. As a Roman citizen, Paul made an appeal to Cesar. He had been wrongfully imprisoned and had been denied his right to due process as a citizen of Rome.

Paul wrote the epistle to the church at Philippi from a Roman prison three years after this record in Acts 16. He greeted them in Philippians chapter 1 beginning in verse 2, “Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3. I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4. Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, 5. For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; 6. Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

Paul purposed in his heart to complete the work to which God had called him until the day of Christ’s return. He longed for fellowship with the believers in Philippi.

Verse 7 continues: Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace. 8. For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ. 9. And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;”

Paul confirmed the gospel in them. There is a thief in every chapter of life that will steal your joy. There is also a rescuer who will confirm the joy and rejoicing in your heart. Trials and tribulations are guaranteed, however even though we cannot control our circumstances we can choose our heart’s response. As Suzan often said, Joy is not the absence of pain, rather joy is the presence of the Lord.

Paul continues in verse 12, “But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;”

Regardless of our circumstances, we like Paul can pray that whatever happens we can choose to live for the furtherance of the gospel. The purpose in life is according to verse 27, “Only let your conversation (your behavior, your manner of living) be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. 28. And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God.”

Chapter 2 of Philippians is about having the attitude of heart that was in Christ. Even though he was God’s only begotten son, he humbled himself and became obedient even unto death. Humility is the theme of this chapter. Humble thyself therefore under the mighty hand of God and in due time he will exalt you and lift you up.

Repentance in humility is the way to approach God’s throne of grace. Like David who repented and prayed, Create in me a new heart O God and cleanse me from all my sins, God will welcome us when we come to him with a broken and a contrite heart.

We are God’s plan. He has entrusted us with the gospel of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. According to 2 Corinthians chapter 4, God has given us the ministry to reconcile his people back to himself and he has committed unto us his word of reconciliation. Through the power of Christ in us the hope of Glory, we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. Therefore let your conversation, your behavior be as it becometh the gospel of Christ. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

This is the gospel message. This is unfailing love. This is amazing grace.

May we ever live to praise of the glory of His grace!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael