Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Honey or Vinegar?
Tonight in our ladies class, the speaker told of an account of how she had a friend who was out walking track when he was approached by someone who told him he was going to Hell. Was he? Maybe. But that approach was not helpful at all to that person and what kept going through my mind was the old cliche', "you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar." I personally hate cliche's, but they are sometimes the only accurate way to illustrate a sentiment.
I only started attempting personal evangelism a few years ago. I have talked with people who have told me that they had sinned so grievously that they didn't believe God could possibly forgive them. There was a time when I identified with them because the concept of God's grace was so simple to me as to be confounding. Why would He want to let me off the hook? A girlfriend said to me, "Tammy, have you ever persecuted Christians to the point of death like Paul did?" I replied, "No." She said, "Well, if God forgave Paul, what makes you think He wouldn't forgive you?" It made perfect sense to me then. We limit God in our minds when we don't take full advantage of the resources He offers us. Ephesians 3:20 says, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us...." Matthew 19:26 says, "...but with God all things are possible."
You are right if you quote Matthew 7:1-2 in saying, "judge not that you be not judged," for that is a true gospel concept to keep us from nit-picking each other to death. Later on in verses 15-23 of that same chapter, we're called to be "fruit inspectors." We obviously know who is saved and who is not. With that in mind, we have a mandate to go out and try to save those people (Mar. 16:15-16). However, we must do so in the spirit of love (Eph. 4:15) because but for the grace of God go you and I. Are you more inclined to give heed to someone you know loves you on a personal level? I am. People may or may not be turned by a hellfire and brimstone sermon, but you might be able to reach out and touch their heart with tenderness. Above all, be sincere. Nothing turns people off like a phony.
God loves us all so much that He doesn't want anyone to die in their sins. He's holy though, and as such, He cannot accept sin. He's more than willing to forgive for the askance. He's already illustrated His love for us in the gift of His only Son for our sins (Jno. 3:16). He wants us all to come to a knowledge of the truth and be saved (1 Tim. 2:4). Consider the following verses:
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promises as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Pet. 3:9); and my personal favorite,
"...as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." (Psa. 103:12).
When you do eventually decide to obey the gospel, guess what? You don't automatically quit sinning forever and ever, amen. There are no sinlessly perfect people--only redeemed ones. You may not sin purposefully, but you will still sin. Although Christians do still sin, we have the avenue of prayer open to us where we can go to the Father acknowledging our sin and repenting of it. The blood of Christ continually cleanses us (Eph. 1:7). We become justified, which means "just-as-if-I'd-never sinned." God has a big ole' eraser (Rom. 5:6-11). We who have accepted Christ and put him on in baptism still sin, but we can repent to God and we are reconciled to Him through Christ's blood continually.
Whatever might be standing in the path between you and God, push it away. Don't let it hinder you from owning the hope of eternal life and the peace that passes all understanding.
Love Ya,
God Bless!
I only started attempting personal evangelism a few years ago. I have talked with people who have told me that they had sinned so grievously that they didn't believe God could possibly forgive them. There was a time when I identified with them because the concept of God's grace was so simple to me as to be confounding. Why would He want to let me off the hook? A girlfriend said to me, "Tammy, have you ever persecuted Christians to the point of death like Paul did?" I replied, "No." She said, "Well, if God forgave Paul, what makes you think He wouldn't forgive you?" It made perfect sense to me then. We limit God in our minds when we don't take full advantage of the resources He offers us. Ephesians 3:20 says, "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us...." Matthew 19:26 says, "...but with God all things are possible."
You are right if you quote Matthew 7:1-2 in saying, "judge not that you be not judged," for that is a true gospel concept to keep us from nit-picking each other to death. Later on in verses 15-23 of that same chapter, we're called to be "fruit inspectors." We obviously know who is saved and who is not. With that in mind, we have a mandate to go out and try to save those people (Mar. 16:15-16). However, we must do so in the spirit of love (Eph. 4:15) because but for the grace of God go you and I. Are you more inclined to give heed to someone you know loves you on a personal level? I am. People may or may not be turned by a hellfire and brimstone sermon, but you might be able to reach out and touch their heart with tenderness. Above all, be sincere. Nothing turns people off like a phony.
God loves us all so much that He doesn't want anyone to die in their sins. He's holy though, and as such, He cannot accept sin. He's more than willing to forgive for the askance. He's already illustrated His love for us in the gift of His only Son for our sins (Jno. 3:16). He wants us all to come to a knowledge of the truth and be saved (1 Tim. 2:4). Consider the following verses:
"The Lord is not slack concerning his promises as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Pet. 3:9); and my personal favorite,
"...as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." (Psa. 103:12).
When you do eventually decide to obey the gospel, guess what? You don't automatically quit sinning forever and ever, amen. There are no sinlessly perfect people--only redeemed ones. You may not sin purposefully, but you will still sin. Although Christians do still sin, we have the avenue of prayer open to us where we can go to the Father acknowledging our sin and repenting of it. The blood of Christ continually cleanses us (Eph. 1:7). We become justified, which means "just-as-if-I'd-never sinned." God has a big ole' eraser (Rom. 5:6-11). We who have accepted Christ and put him on in baptism still sin, but we can repent to God and we are reconciled to Him through Christ's blood continually.
Whatever might be standing in the path between you and God, push it away. Don't let it hinder you from owning the hope of eternal life and the peace that passes all understanding.
Love Ya,
God Bless!
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