What sets us apart from the rest of the world, as Christians…?
The Apostle Paul said it this way, “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore
most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of
Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in
reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake.
For when I am weak, then I am strong…(II Corinthians 12:9-10)”
What separates us from all of the other belief systems, religions, cults, etc.?
Have you ever really stopped and give it a true heart felt inventory or
thought for yourself? Is what you have real?
OR
Is what you have with God the result of signing your name to a membership card?
I think it’s worthy of pondering for just a moment, and questioning “Has grace brought me here, and sealed me?”
And that it’s not just the slight or quick pang of conviction as a
result of some Sunday morning sermon. I mean have you ever really
thought about what it is that make you what you confess to be…?
The
great psalmist John Newton pondered this same question. If anyone knew
about grace, I think he did. He wrote in his greatest psalm (song) of
grace…
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found, was blind, but now I see.
T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear. And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear the hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far and Grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me. His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, and mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil, a life of joy and peace.
When we've been here ten thousand years bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise than when we've first begun.
Sir
John Newton had earlier lived a life like the Apostle Paul, on the
wrong side of the Christian perspective. But when the Spirit of God
began to open his heart to the true grace that had been afforded to him
he was crushed. He would say as much in his New Year’s Day Sermon in
1773, where he would quote the words of the Psalmist & King David, “Then
King David went in and sat before the Lord, and said, ‘Who am I, O Lord
God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? 1And even
this was a small thing in your sight, O God; you have also spoken of
your servant’s house for a great while to come. You regard me as someone of high rank, O Lord God! (I Chronicles 17:16-17)” and would sight this passage as part of his inspiration for his poem & song “Amazing Grace”.
When we have to come to the preverbal fork in the road of life that
causes us to choose which path we will take, we often hesitate.
Wondering which will be the most profitable and less painful…
But
the Apostle Paul was happy that his path had taken him down the Highway
of Pain. Because it had caused him to trust God more and lean on
himself less. This doesn’t make sense to those who do not truly and
intimately know the Savior as we do… “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You…(Isaiah
26:3)” The Apostle Paul understood this passage very well because at
the end of his life’s journey he told the Church at Corinth “Finally,
brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind,
live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you. (II Corinthians 13:11)”
We
are different in our Faith in God because was as these two brother
serve Him out of an undying LOVE…not FEAR like all the other worlds
religions. The thing that sets us apart is that they teach you that you
have to do something to curry God’s favor, or avoid God’s wrath…“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I (Jesus Christ) have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)”
But
do not misunderstand me, even though God is a loving God, He does
require us to repent of our sinful ways, jus as Jesus taught a religious
man of His time named Nicodemus…
“There
was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This
man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are
a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do
unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Most
assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the
kingdom of God .” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he
is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of
water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. Do
not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows
where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it
comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the
Spirit.” Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”
Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel , and
do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We
know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness.
If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you
believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to heaven but
He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the
Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish
but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have
everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to
condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
“He
who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is
condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only
begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has
come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because
their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and
does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he
who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly
seen, that they have been done in God. (John 3:1-21)”
When
we truly understand that God loves us and has paid the ultimate price
to save us from ourselves, Grace then takes on a whole new meaning. We
no longer want to sin, we want to live a life pleasing to Him. We then
long to feel his presence and to learn from His Word. “In
this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His
only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In
this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His
Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (I John 4:9-10)” It no longer is about what you want.
The “Me…Me…Me…Me…Mentality”
has gotten more of us into trouble that we care to remember if we’re
honest. This is the thing that causes most people to follow after false
religions, and false teachers. It is the hope of gain without pain that
draws them...
BUT
Lets be honest and real…What is it that really sets Jesus Christ
apart from all the other prophets, teacher, gurus, swamis, etc.?
#1
Thing that I can point to is really quite simple. As I already pointed
out, the major difference between Christianity and all other religions
is that that in all other religions people are willing to die for their
god, while in Christianity is God willing to die for His people…It that Amazing Grace thing again!!! Love so Amazing!!!
#2 Is that He was the on person that was ever sinless… “Seeing
then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the
heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we
do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but
was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:14-15)”
#3 He was accepted and welcomed by God, as our Savior and replacement on the Cross…“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved…(Acts 4:12)” and as we accept His sacrifice in our place we must profess it before men, “When
Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His
disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” So they
said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or
one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the
living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon
Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My
Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 16:13-17)”
#4
We could not pay the debt that we owed with a life time of good works,
or penance as some would have you believe. It would take a trillion
lifetime, then that could scratch the surface of the debt of one single
sin. That’s why He paid your debt… “whom
God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to
demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed
over the sins that were previously committed (Romans 3:25)” “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:2)”
“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins (1 John 4:10)”
What an Amazing Gift the Grace is…
What will you do with it…You now being honest have to ask yourself the
same question Pilate did, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”
(Matthew 27:22) If you're really honest with yourself
you can only do three things…
Accept His Amazing Grace…
You have to take Jesus Christ at His Holy Word, “Come
to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in
heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
(Matthew 11:28-29)” Today…Right Now…Accept His Amazing Grace.
Repent of your sin and ask Him to be your Savior and Lord, “Come
now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as
scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like
crimson, they shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18)” Ask Him right now, “God, I don’t deserve you forgiveness. I don’t deserve your grace, but I accept it.” Will you accept His grace right now?
Trust His Grace…
The world around us is in such turmoil and chaos…the only real peace that can be found is in Jesus, “Peace
I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I
give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid…
(John 14:27)” The most disgraceful thing in the world is to refuse to
accept a gift given to you in love. But some of the most depress people I
have met are people who claim to be Born Again & Spirit Filled
Believers who live in fear, and doubt…Trust Him…He will do great things
in and for you if you will but trust Him.
Share His Amazing Grace…
When
the Lord Jesus delivered the demon possessed man in Luke chapter 8, the
man asked Jesus if he could go with him. He was so grateful for the
change that had been made in him that he wanted to give Him the rest of
his life. I mean think about it this man had been really messed up,
possessed by over a 1,000 demonic spirits, and now he was in his right
mind and free. He was ready to whip the world.
But there had been a change. The Lord loving looked at him and said, “Return
to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.”
And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great
things Jesus had done for him…(Luke 8:39)” You see there had
been a change in him…a change…say it slowly…A C-H-A-N-G-E. That’s the
problem with us we always see the same things over and over, But with
God it’s different everyday, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new…(II Corinthians 5:17)” Go share this amazing grace…
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found, was blind, but now I see.
T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear. And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear the hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far and Grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me. His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, and mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil, a life of joy and peace.
When we've been here ten thousand years bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise than when we've first begun.