•10:24 AM
This post is again for the kiddoes ~ Aidan, Evan and Meagan. I want to make sure that I leave them a clear presentation of the Gospel, since there is so much muddy water out there right now. So here goes:
Are you a good person? (Seriously, are YOU? Look inside your heart.)
I'm going to assume that you said, "Yes." Everybody does. We tend to look at ourselves through glasses that we ourselves have made, and we look pretty good to ourselves.
But how do you think you're doing by God's standard?
(Everybody pretty much thinks that they are good by God's standards, so I'll assume that you think you're doing pretty good, too.)
Do you know what God's standard for goodness is?
God's standard is the Ten Commandments. Have you ever heard of them? Let's look at them one at a time, and see how you do!! (They are in the Bible in Exodus chapter 20.) We'll just look at a few of them.
#9 says, "Thou shalt not lie." Have you ever lied before? Even a little white lie? Of course you have! Think back on your life. Remember the last time that you lied? The last time you 'fudged' the truth a little bit?
What is a person called who lies? A liar. Are you a liar?
#8 says, "Thou shalt not steal." Have you ever stolen anything? This includes cheating on tests, and taking things so small that 'nobody will ever know.' It includes being lazy on the job which is taking money from your boss when you didn't do the job.
What do people call a person who steals? A thief. Are you a thief? (You may say, "But I only did it one time." How many times does a person have to murder to be a murderer? Just once. How many times does a person have to lie to be a liar? Just once. And, how many times does someone have to steal to be a thief? Just once.)
#3 says, "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." Have you ever used God's name as a cuss word? Have you ever used the name of Jesus in a dirty joke? Is "G-- d--" something that you might say when you hit your thumb with a hammer?
What do people call a person who blasphemes? A blasphemer.
Are you a blasphemer?
#5 says "Thou shalt honor thy father and thy mother." Have you ever at any time disobeyed your parents? Have you ever talked back to them, even once? What would your mom say if I asked her how you're doing?
God's Law requires perfect holiness. How are you doing? We still have 6 commandments to go!
#6 says, "Thou shalt not murder." Before you say that you have never killed anyone, the Lord Jesus clarified this commandment by saying that if you're angry at a person without cause then you've committed murder already in your heart. Have you ever been angry at somebody just because YOU were in a bad mood even though they didn't do anything to you personally? How about getting mad at the driver in front of you who is going slow when you are in a hurry? How about getting mad at your mom when she is telling you to turn off the video games because it's bed time?
Have you ever been angry at somebody without a cause? Jesus said that you are guilty of murder.
#4 says, "Thou shalt remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." Do you honor God by giving him one day each week? Have you ever missed a day?
As you can see, God's requirement for being 'good' is too high for anyone to attain. James 4:10 tells us, " For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."
Why is this? Take a mirror which represents the righteousness of the Law, and write on it with a magic marker the numbers 1 thru 10; these numbers represent the 10 commandments. Now, whack one of the numbers with a hammer. Pick only one number and whack it only one time; you have to break just that one number without breaking the entire mirror when you do it. It's impossible. And you break God's laws every day.
Or write the numbers 1 thru 10 on a balloon. Try to pop one of the numbers without popping the entire balloon. Again, it's impossible.
You see the issue of righteousness requires you to be 100% good. Even a tiny transgression disqualifies you for heaven. That's right. You have to be righteous to go to Heaven. 100% right with God.
"The soul that sinneth it shall die." This verse refers to the second death, the death of the soul in Hell.
But doesn't that make God a meany? Not really. Think about this: A 10-year old boy slaps his father. What are the consequences? He may get a spanking, a good talking to, or be grounded for life. Or all three! Now, the same 10-year old boy slaps a police officer. What are the consequences? He will probably go to jail, and it'll be on his permanent record. Now imagine that the same 10-year old boy slaps a king or the ruler of a country. What are the consequences? He may end up with his head on the chopping block.
A spanking, a jail term, or the chopping block. The same offense but with very different consequences. What made the difference? The authority of the one who was offended!
So what happens if we offend an INFINITE Ruler like God? Offending an infinite God by breaking his infinite laws brings the infinite punishment.
This is why the Bible states that all liars will have their place in the Lake of Fire. Hell is simply the reward of sinning against a holy God.
"But I didn't know about God's laws!" you might say.
God responds, "And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD; though he wist [know] it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity." (Lev. 5)
Ignorance of the Law is no excuse! If you transgress the Law one time, you are guilty of all. If you are guilty at all, you justly deserve the full punishment of an Almighty Holy God.
Let me ask you the same question that we started with: "Are you a good person?" The Bible says, "There is none righteous, no not one," and "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
That's the bad news. Now comes the Good News! (Gospel means 'good news').
Imagine a courtroom setting. The Judge is sitting behind the bar. Your case has been reviewed, and you are guilty. The Judge raises the gavel and bring it down with a loud BANG! You have been officially declared guilty by God (Romans 3:19 states that "all the world" has been declared "guilty before God." And that includes you.)
The gavel is raised a second time, this time to declare your eternal punishment. But before it can be lowered, a Person steps forward and volunteers to take your guilt . . . and also your punishment! This Person loves you. His name is Jesus. He wants to die in your place!
The Judge says that he will allow it, but that only a man can die in the place of another man. Jesus would have to leave Heaven, leaving behind everything that made him God, and become a Man. And then, he would have to live a totally perfect life so that his death would not be for his own sins. He would have to be sinless. Righteous in every action, word, and thought.
Jesus takes up the challenge. He comes to earth, is born in a manger, and then grows to an adult. He never sins one time. He is then falsely accused and crucified. His blood is shed. He dies.
But three days later, he rose from the grave! He ascended to the Father, the Judge. And there, he presents to the Father his precious blood. Is it sufficient for this man's sins? For your sins?
Yes! The Judge accepts the blood, the life that was given in your place!! We know this because the Father raise Jesus from the dead.
The Judge now turns to you and makes the following offer: "You have sinned against God. Being guilty of breaking the Law, you are guilty of breaking the entire Law. Because you have offended the INFINITE authority of a holy God, you will be punished with an infinite punishment ~ infinite in scope, in strength, and in duration. But Jesus has died as your substitute. Will you accept his sacrifice in your place? If you do, you will be free from any and all condemnation for any and all sin that you have committed or will commit in your life. This Court will hold you as RIGHTEOUS before God forever. Will you accept Jesus sacrifice? Or will you go it alone?"
That is the question that God sets before you today. Will you accept Jesus' blood that was given in your place, knowing that you will be declared right with God if you do so, or will you reject Jesus knowing that you already stand guilty before God, and that your eternal punishment is as certain as the word of God.
If you accept what Jesus has done for you, then bow your head and tell God that you accept Jesus' sacrifice in your place. If you do, the Bible says, "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." You will be saved!
If you reject what Jesus has done for you, then bow your head and tell him that. The Bible tells us, "There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Rejection of the blood of Jesus leads only to Hell.
Just because you're my child, doesn't mean that God will accept you into Heaven. I love you. I accepted Jesus' gift of eternal when I was 18-years old. I want you to be with me in Heaven some day. Please accept Jesus today. Right now.
Are you a good person? (Seriously, are YOU? Look inside your heart.)
I'm going to assume that you said, "Yes." Everybody does. We tend to look at ourselves through glasses that we ourselves have made, and we look
(Everybody pretty much thinks that they are good by God's standards, so I'll assume that you think you're doing pretty good, too.)
Why is this? Take a mirror which represents the righteousness of the Law, and write on it with a magic marker the numbers 1 thru 10; these numbers represent the 10 commandments. Now, whack one of the numbers with a hammer. Pick only one number and whack it only one time; you have to break just that one number without breaking the entire mirror when you do it. It's impossible. And you break God's laws every day.
Or write the numbers 1 thru 10 on a balloon. Try to pop one of the numbers without popping the entire balloon. Again, it's impossible.
You see the issue of righteousness requires you to be 100% good. Even a tiny transgression disqualifies you for heaven. That's right. You have to be righteous to go to Heaven. 100% right with God.
"The soul that sinneth it shall die." This verse refers to the second death, the death of the soul in Hell.
But doesn't that make God a meany? Not really. Think about this: A 10-year old boy slaps his father. What are the consequences? He may get a spanking, a good talking to, or be grounded for life. Or all three! Now, the same 10-year old boy slaps a police officer. What are the consequences? He will probably go to jail, and it'll be on his permanent record. Now imagine that the same 10-year old boy slaps a king or the ruler of a country. What are the consequences? He may end up with his head on the chopping block.
A spanking, a jail term, or the chopping block. The same offense but with very different consequences. What made the difference? The authority of the one who was offended!
So what happens if we offend an INFINITE Ruler like God? Offending an infinite God by breaking his infinite laws brings the infinite punishment.
This is why the Bible states that all liars will have their place in the Lake of Fire. Hell is simply the reward of sinning against a holy God.
"But I didn't know about God's laws!" you might say.
God responds, "And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD; though he wist [know] it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity." (Lev. 5)
Ignorance of the Law is no excuse! If you transgress the Law one time, you are guilty of all. If you are guilty at all, you justly deserve the full punishment of an Almighty Holy God.
Let me ask you the same question that we started with: "Are you a good person?" The Bible says, "There is none righteous, no not one," and "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."
That's the bad news. Now comes the Good News! (Gospel means 'good news').
Imagine a courtroom setting. The Judge is sitting behind the bar. Your case has been reviewed, and you are guilty. The Judge raises the gavel and bring it down with a loud BANG! You have been officially declared guilty by God (Romans 3:19 states that "all the world" has been declared "guilty before God." And that includes you.)
The gavel is raised a second time, this time to declare your eternal punishment. But before it can be lowered, a Person steps forward and volunteers to take your guilt . . . and also your punishment! This Person loves you. His name is Jesus. He wants to die in your place!
The Judge says that he will allow it, but that only a man can die in the place of another man. Jesus would have to leave Heaven, leaving behind everything that made him God, and become a Man. And then, he would have to live a totally perfect life so that his death would not be for his own sins. He would have to be sinless. Righteous in every action, word, and thought.
Jesus takes up the challenge. He comes to earth, is born in a manger, and then grows to an adult. He never sins one time. He is then falsely accused and crucified. His blood is shed. He dies.
But three days later, he rose from the grave! He ascended to the Father, the Judge. And there, he presents to the Father his precious blood. Is it sufficient for this man's sins? For your sins?
Yes! The Judge accepts the blood, the life that was given in your place!! We know this because the Father raise Jesus from the dead.
The Judge now turns to you and makes the following offer: "You have sinned against God. Being guilty of breaking the Law, you are guilty of breaking the entire Law. Because you have offended the INFINITE authority of a holy God, you will be punished with an infinite punishment ~ infinite in scope, in strength, and in duration. But Jesus has died as your substitute. Will you accept his sacrifice in your place? If you do, you will be free from any and all condemnation for any and all sin that you have committed or will commit in your life. This Court will hold you as RIGHTEOUS before God forever. Will you accept Jesus sacrifice? Or will you go it alone?"
That is the question that God sets before you today. Will you accept Jesus' blood that was given in your place, knowing that you will be declared right with God if you do so, or will you reject Jesus knowing that you already stand guilty before God, and that your eternal punishment is as certain as the word of God.
If you accept what Jesus has done for you, then bow your head and tell God that you accept Jesus' sacrifice in your place. If you do, the Bible says, "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." You will be saved!
If you reject what Jesus has done for you, then bow your head and tell him that. The Bible tells us, "There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Rejection of the blood of Jesus leads only to Hell.
Just because you're my child, doesn't mean that God will accept you into Heaven. I love you. I accepted Jesus' gift of eternal when I was 18-years old. I want you to be with me in Heaven some day. Please accept Jesus today. Right now.
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