I've hit a particularly hard struggle with being optimistic for awhile now and it's reassuring to hear you're message. I am looking at my relationship with the Lord on a whole and realizing how my attitude in long-suffering is important. Thanks again for all the hard work you do. May God be with you as you work for him .
I am going through my final exam week and this is exactly what I needed! I asked God to speak to me about this because I'm finding a hard time knowing when to keep on working (on my academic work) and when to stop. And I think He spoke to me through this podcast! This helped clarify a lot! Thank you so much!
After listening to this I started writing down a whole list of questions that i would ask pastor John if i could, but then i realized that I should probably be asking God about these question too 🤦♀ God knows everything, i suppose, so he will give the best answers.
@@trevorjennings721 Hey mate, i'm going alright, I suppose, thanks for asking. I've already had the virus at the start of the month, thankfully me and my family didn't get badly. but I hope you going well too?
@@Knighty-hr2dw that’s good to know that you’re okay.. Well I’m also safe from the Virus too.. So tell me Sarah, hope you’re having a nice and a wonderful day today??
Ecclesiastes 3 :12-13 "I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil-this is God's gift to man."
Such a wise answer. I appreciate how JP puts the focus back on God. ‘Excellence’ is a word that unsettles me. One reason is that it is man centered, who is excelling in relation to who? It is all about looking good compared to others. Who can really be ‘excellent’ before God. John 5:44 [44] How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? Maybe you say I only care what God thinks and I want to do an excellent job. Very well. But let it be it be God’s opinion that you care about, not your own - wanting really to be glorious in your own eyes. I am troubled by the word excellence because I feel very keenly my own imperfection as a sinful man. But God’s Son perfected me by his own life’s blood. Before God I’m always accepted and a son of God because of him. I’m free to do the best I can in anything, and Christian so are you. If you do your best, God is pleased, if it’s for him - like a child’s rubbish drawing pleases their parents. They did there best, and it’s not a sin that it isn’t very good! God loves you! Timothy Killer’s The Freedom of Self Forgetfulness is a good short book that helps us look more at God than our own performance. God bless you.
I’m super new to construction work. Live in Louisiana so it’s definitely a conditioning process and I’m trying to balance 10-12 hour days with church and everything. I deal with a lot of anxiety cause I’m so new to everything in this job.
"Have I Sinned If I Fall Short of Excellence at Work?" Kind Sir...that is a VERY interesting question...For I... ... (for 69 yrs of my 90 yrs) was one of those that: "Had to be "excellent" with all of my duties in the workplace. And of course; few were trying to be that. Not to mention that NO matter what is done in the workplace; NOTHING matters like being Excellent to Jesus (who IS God). For THAT: is what we should ALL be trying to do; until death for our precious Lord Jesus, and our Creator. But Sadly...VERY few people; who have ever lived come close; to being "Excellence" with Jesus. Because, almost all give little towards Jesus; except for Sunday Morning. And the moment they leave church, Jesus is dead (in essence) until the next Sunday Morning at 11:00 AM, Etc. May Jesus have mercy... To which we all should (to hell) with excellence, with ANY thing; UNTIL we have proven that with what Jesus' desires for us. Praise His Holy Name. Amen! End of Story and I rest me case... ...In any case kind Sir, Please Pray OFTEN and Praise Jesus OFTEN; for He is the ONLY true "God Almighty"; there will ever have been. And may Jesus bless you and yours always. AMEN!
I heard someone say once that Christians should be the 'best employees at their jobs'. Now I just started a new job recently. I am trying to have the attitude mentioned in this video. But one of my coworkers, I suspect may be an actual genius... I can't surpass that. So much of excelling or going above and beyond others is out of our control. All we can control is our inner attitude... All we can control is what we can control.
Something I am struggling with; really like my job and the study associated with it working in IT, the company I work for are also really happy with my work and I was able to transfer to the Networking team, love studying and learning all of the things to do with that. But I feel like I put it before God, really feeling convicted at times. In that kind of work though there is the expectation to keep studying as IT, technology is constantly evolving and the sheer amount of variety we have to work with, different vendor equipment etc requires constant learning
The Lord is near! Amen. God is merciful. He always forgives. Never be ashamed to take your failures to him. He is for you, not against you! God is with you in the storm. He knows your troubles, he hears you! He is for you, on your side, always! It may feel silent at times, but he’s holding you close! May the Lord return soon! We are drawing closer. He is coming! Believe and trust in the Lord, you will be saved. Period. May the Lord bless you all! Hang in there family. Stay strong. It is not easy following the Lord. We are scoffed at. We give up our earthly dreams, our fleshly desires. What the enemy offers is short lived, but heaven is forever! Life may seem or be unfair, but God is with you! Always remember that. Things may get better or worse for you, but a kingdom awaits you! Finish the race! Repent daily and carry your cross. This world is fading fast. Your troubles are temporary! New channel here, I’d appreciate any kind of support. Don’t give up! God loves you so much! So do I. The Lord bless you!
Wow, that is such an awesome word! Absolutely awesome Word! It speaks volumes to my current situation. What people do not seem to understand, as you move in......and forward towards the things of God!! Transformation begins to take place! Your appetites literally change. Your hunger and thirst changes. You only simply desire an habitual diet of THE WORD OF GOD! Manna from heaven i.e. Bread of Life!! And That living Water! In essence ALL YOU WANT IS JESUS CHRIST....and for that, persecution is hot on your trail!! Yet I wouldn't have it any other way! Thank you for the encouragement! Be blessed!😍🙏❤👍
help us Lord to not obsess over perfection because we don't even know what that is everything we say is perfect in our eyes most assuredly has a flaw in the flesh only you are qualified to say what is and isn't perfect instead let us do the best we possibly can in your spirit so that our hearts may please you in this life
I was terminated from my job as a medical device builder due to being unable to keep up with production. It was difficult for me. I could not do it fast. And when I did it fast, I would make irreversible mistakes and the product had to be rejected. I got written up twice. My co-workers and senior supervisor hated me for not being able to do it fast and I hated that job so much. It was so stressful and I had to do everything quick without mistake which made it more stressful. That was not the right job for me and I am glad that I was terminated. Now I pray every day that God helps me to employ myself. I have no idea how am I going to do so, but I pray that I can employ myself in an area that I am skilled at and enjoy. Also, so that I don't need to deal with toxic co-workers and supervisors. One sister in Christ told me "Pray to God. He will bring you." Blessings, Nait --- There is no marriage (sexual intercourse) between other people in heaven. The only marriage in heaven is to Jesus and it will be better. There is also no childbearing either. God will give the childless a name better than children. Many people have renounced their faith because of this, even though there is no marriage and childbearing in hell. Marriage between men and women was created as a symbol of the marriage to Jesus in heaven. Because the marriage to Jesus is the real thing, marriage between men and women will not be in heaven. There will be no sea in heaven either, but heaven will be more beautiful than whatever was on the earth. No one has seen or heard the things that God has prepared for those who love him. Heaven is a paradise without the sea or sexual pleasure, but it will be far better. The Bible is real. The prophecies of the Bible have all come true except the future ones that are referring to the end times. Even the Chinese characters contain events from the first book of the Bible. Luke 20:34-36 34 And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: 35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: 36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. Isaiah 56:4-5 4 For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant; 5 Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. Ephesians 5:31-33 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. Revelation 21:1 1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 1 Corinthians 2:9 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
It's also common in corporate settings (that perhaps JP has little experience in) that actual work output is frustrated by things outside your control even when you are being excellent.
The FED has lost it and the sad fact is, it's pretty obvious we are headed for hyperinflation. I think stores better have tight security because when people can't afford to feed their families, things might get ugly....
Presumably it is a sin to fall below what you are capable of. I am not sure everyone is capable of excellence per se. God needs people's best but that might not be excellent
What if your trying to do your best but the employer is doing their best to get you to quit? How do you honor God in the midst of a situation like that? When they go around doing things that make it seem like you have made big mistakes. This could be very discouraging for a new employee.
How do u deal with unethical bosses and coworkers and orgs? I forgive and care but want to work for God, not men. I Trust God to be kind faithful loving true in Jesus name. Amen.
I understand and agree with what you're saying, however, what if doing your best gets you in trouble with the boss and the coworkers because you are significantly outperforming them and it makes them look and feel bad and they make passive aggressive trouble for you? I have found that by doing quality work but much less quantity, appearing more incompetent, and being less reliable has made my work life way more tolerable. I get along with everyone much better but it isn't my best by far. I do wonder if that is sinning. If my boss is ok with my work performance and he sanctions a very different work ethic, is it a sin to go along with it?
I suppose my view is more extreme than Pipers. I think everything we do is tainted by sin. There is not anything we can do that is perfectly heard from the Holy Spirit. God still honors our effort and what we do well, even if it isn't perfect.
In the old testament you find that God has a similar conversation with Israel. They were offering him blemished offerings and the Lord asked them if they would give the same to their human rulers. While I would wholeheartedly agree that we are imperfect beings by nature, I would ask you how we can remain imperfect in response to God's offering of a perfect redemption? To be redeemed is to recieve lost value once again. How the can we offer only imperfect things if 1) God hated imperfections with his whole being and 2) the Spirit of purity and holiness resides in us? We cannot, unless we have simply not been redeemed. Beware of a false humility that calls you to doubt. It can lead you to lose joy and a reward for a work built of suitable material 1 Corinthians 3:13-15
I think sin infecting all our deeds was the case in our unrighteousness from not repenting, but I think that changes in our justification. We inherit the Spirit of God, and the righteousness of Christ and they both "equip us with everything good to do His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him" (Hebrews 13:21). I don't think a heart that absolutely taints all deeds with sin makes sense after we have died with Christ, inherited the Spirit of God, and are at the moment of justification the new creation. But I would agree with you that the heart behind even our "serving deeds" is more often wrong than we realize.
The Gospel: Plain and Simple “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” - 2 Corithians 11:3 Ask someone today if they are saved and you will most likely hear responses like these: “I have accepted Jesus into my heart.” Or “I have made him Lord of my life.” “I’ve been baptized.” “I said a prayer.” Sounds all good and churchy don’t it; but it is difficult to de-termine whether or not a person actually knows the gospel that saves them. These useless phrases don’t describe a thing about what the gospel is and has left a devastating effect of people not knowing what it is that they are saved from nor how they are saved; which leaves a more serious effect of people questioning their salvation. Let’s not muddy the simplicity of salvation that is in Christ with vague church sounding phrases that do not communicate anything. But rather present God’s word with clarity and assuredness. So here is the gospel: plain and simple. Sin was passed upon all men by one man Adam, and death is a consequence of this sin (Rom 5:12). Mankind has an eternal destiny of condemnation and wrath - Hell - because of this sin (Rom 6:23). No matter what good works one might do we are still found sinners in the sight of our Creator God. And all unrighteousness and those who follow get indignation and wrath. We cannot be found righteous for by God’s law we are found sinners (Rom 3:19-20). If we have broken even one law we are found guilty. It is for this reason of not being able to create our own righteousness and being born in a sinful flesh that we need a savior (Titus 3:5). Christ is that Savior, God manifested in the flesh, sinless, died in our place on a cross 2000 years ago. Taking upon him the wrath and judgement that was intended for us sinners. And it is through his bloodshed, burial, and resurrection on our behalf that we are able to have peace with God and forgiveness of our sins (1 Cor 15:1-4, Col 3:14). This good news is unto all but only those that believe in it are made righteous in Christ (Romans 3:22). It is then after we have heard this good news of Christ’s righteousness available to us freely, that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit and we are now part of Christ’s body the church (Eph 1:13) There is nothing that we need to do, no good works that are required, and no bad works that can separate us from our new position in Christ (Romans 8:35-39). Faith and belief in this information from God’s word is the gospel. The gospel is not accepting Jesus into your heart. The gospel is not making him lord of your life, it is not saying a prayer and it is not being baptized with water. So next time someone asks you if you are saved. Give them the clear assured answer “Yes And let me tell you why! Find more free resources at: www.graceambassadors.com
Good way to start the work week
I've hit a particularly hard struggle with being optimistic for awhile now and it's reassuring to hear you're message. I am looking at my relationship with the Lord on a whole and realizing how my attitude in long-suffering is important. Thanks again for all the hard work you do. May God be with you as you work for him .
I am going through my final exam week and this is exactly what I needed! I asked God to speak to me about this because I'm finding a hard time knowing when to keep on working (on my academic work) and when to stop. And I think He spoke to me through this podcast! This helped clarify a lot! Thank you so much!
After listening to this I started writing down a whole list of questions that i would ask pastor John if i could, but then i realized that I should probably be asking God about these question too 🤦♀
God knows everything, i suppose, so he will give the best answers.
Hello Sarah, how are you doing today, hope you’re fine and safe from the Virus??
@@trevorjennings721 Hey mate, i'm going alright, I suppose, thanks for asking. I've already had the virus at the start of the month, thankfully me and my family didn't get badly. but I hope you going well too?
@@Knighty-hr2dw that’s good to know that you’re okay..
Well I’m also safe from the Virus too..
So tell me Sarah, hope you’re having a nice and a wonderful day today??
God can answer through his people so it may be ideal to do both: submit questions and pray to God for an answer!
@@a7c777 Yeah, that's so true. ❤🙏
Ecclesiastes 3 :12-13
"I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil-this is God's gift to man."
Such a wise answer. I appreciate how JP puts the focus back on God. ‘Excellence’ is a word that unsettles me. One reason is that it is man centered, who is excelling in relation to who? It is all about looking good compared to others. Who can really be ‘excellent’ before God.
John 5:44
[44] How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?
Maybe you say I only care what God thinks and I want to do an excellent job. Very well. But let it be it be God’s opinion that you care about, not your own - wanting really to be glorious in your own eyes. I am troubled by the word excellence because I feel very keenly my own imperfection as a sinful man. But God’s Son perfected me by his own life’s blood. Before God I’m always accepted and a son of God because of him. I’m free to do the best I can in anything, and Christian so are you. If you do your best, God is pleased, if it’s for him - like a child’s rubbish drawing pleases their parents.
They did there best, and it’s not a sin that it isn’t very good!
God loves you! Timothy Killer’s The Freedom of Self Forgetfulness is a good short book that helps us look more at God than our own performance. God bless you.
I’m super new to construction work. Live in Louisiana so it’s definitely a conditioning process and I’m trying to balance 10-12 hour days with church and everything. I deal with a lot of anxiety cause I’m so new to everything in this job.
Thank you Lord God for this lesson.
“You are serving Christ in serving others. Have this attitude in your work”
Beautiful 🙌🏾🙌🏾
God bless you so much
Thank you for this!!!!
"Have I Sinned If I Fall Short of Excellence at Work?"
Kind Sir...that is a VERY interesting question...For I...
... (for 69 yrs of my 90 yrs) was one of those that: "Had to be "excellent" with all of my duties in the workplace. And of course; few were trying to be that. Not to mention that NO matter what is done in the workplace; NOTHING matters like being Excellent to Jesus (who IS God).
For THAT: is what we should ALL be trying to do; until death for our precious Lord Jesus, and our Creator. But Sadly...VERY few people; who have ever lived come close; to being "Excellence" with Jesus.
Because, almost all give little towards Jesus; except for Sunday Morning. And the moment they leave church, Jesus is dead (in essence) until the next Sunday Morning at 11:00 AM, Etc. May Jesus have mercy...
To which we all should (to hell) with excellence, with ANY thing; UNTIL we have proven that with what Jesus' desires for us. Praise His Holy Name. Amen!
End of Story and I rest me case...
...In any case kind Sir, Please Pray OFTEN and Praise Jesus OFTEN; for He is the ONLY true "God Almighty"; there will ever have been. And may Jesus bless you and yours always. AMEN!
I heard someone say once that Christians should be the 'best employees at their jobs'. Now I just started a new job recently. I am trying to have the attitude mentioned in this video. But one of my coworkers, I suspect may be an actual genius... I can't surpass that. So much of excelling or going above and beyond others is out of our control. All we can control is our inner attitude... All we can control is what we can control.
Something I am struggling with; really like my job and the study associated with it working in IT, the company I work for are also really happy with my work and I was able to transfer to the Networking team, love studying and learning all of the things to do with that.
But I feel like I put it before God, really feeling convicted at times. In that kind of work though there is the expectation to keep studying as IT, technology is constantly evolving and the sheer amount of variety we have to work with, different vendor equipment etc requires constant learning
The Lord is near! Amen. God is merciful. He always forgives. Never be ashamed to take your failures to him. He is for you, not against you! God is with you in the storm. He knows your troubles, he hears you! He is for you, on your side, always! It may feel silent at times, but he’s holding you close! May the Lord return soon! We are drawing closer. He is coming! Believe and trust in the Lord, you will be saved. Period. May the Lord bless you all! Hang in there family. Stay strong. It is not easy following the Lord. We are scoffed at. We give up our earthly dreams, our fleshly desires. What the enemy offers is short lived, but heaven is forever! Life may seem or be unfair, but God is with you! Always remember that. Things may get better or worse for you, but a kingdom awaits you! Finish the race! Repent daily and carry your cross. This world is fading fast. Your troubles are temporary! New channel here, I’d appreciate any kind of support. Don’t give up! God loves you so much! So do I. The Lord bless you!
Wow, that is such an awesome word! Absolutely awesome Word! It speaks volumes to my current situation. What people do not seem to understand, as you move in......and forward towards the things of God!! Transformation begins to take place! Your appetites literally change. Your hunger and thirst changes. You only simply desire an habitual diet of THE WORD OF GOD!
Manna from heaven i.e. Bread of Life!! And That living Water! In essence ALL YOU WANT IS JESUS CHRIST....and for that, persecution is hot on your trail!! Yet I wouldn't have it any other way! Thank you for the encouragement! Be blessed!😍🙏❤👍
help us Lord to not obsess over perfection because we don't even know what that is everything we say is perfect in our eyes most assuredly has a flaw in the flesh only you are qualified to say what is and isn't perfect instead let us do the best we possibly can in your spirit so that our hearts may please you in this life
Mary and Martha are a great example of this and how we should view service and work. The most needful thing is time at the feet of Jesus.
I was terminated from my job as a medical device builder due to being unable to keep up with production.
It was difficult for me. I could not do it fast. And when I did it fast, I would make irreversible mistakes and the product had to be rejected. I got written up twice. My co-workers and senior supervisor hated me for not being able to do it fast and I hated that job so much. It was so stressful and I had to do everything quick without mistake which made it more stressful.
That was not the right job for me and I am glad that I was terminated. Now I pray every day that God helps me to employ myself. I have no idea how am I going to do so, but I pray that I can employ myself in an area that I am skilled at and enjoy. Also, so that I don't need to deal with toxic co-workers and supervisors.
One sister in Christ told me "Pray to God. He will bring you."
Blessings,
Nait
---
There is no marriage (sexual intercourse) between other people in heaven. The only marriage in heaven is to Jesus and it will be better.
There is also no childbearing either. God will give the childless a name better than children.
Many people have renounced their faith because of this, even though there is no marriage and childbearing in hell.
Marriage between men and women was created as a symbol of the marriage to Jesus in heaven. Because the marriage to Jesus is the real thing, marriage between men and women will not be in heaven.
There will be no sea in heaven either, but heaven will be more beautiful than whatever was on the earth. No one has seen or heard the things that God has prepared for those who love him.
Heaven is a paradise without the sea or sexual pleasure, but it will be far better.
The Bible is real. The prophecies of the Bible have all come true except the future ones that are referring to the end times. Even the Chinese characters contain events from the first book of the Bible.
Luke 20:34-36
34 And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:
35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.
Isaiah 56:4-5
4 For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;
5 Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
Ephesians 5:31-33
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
Revelation 21:1
1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
1 Corinthians 2:9
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
It's also common in corporate settings (that perhaps JP has little experience in) that actual work output is frustrated by things outside your control even when you are being excellent.
The FED has lost it and the sad fact is, it's pretty obvious we are headed for hyperinflation. I think stores better have tight security because when people can't afford to feed their families, things might get ugly....
Presumably it is a sin to fall below what you are capable of. I am not sure everyone is capable of excellence per se. God needs people's best but that might not be excellent
YEA I MADE IT EARLY
👏
👍
What if your trying to do your best but the employer is doing their best to get you to quit? How do you honor God in the midst of a situation like that? When they go around doing things that make it seem like you have made big mistakes.
This could be very discouraging for a new employee.
CYA 😎
How do u deal with unethical bosses and coworkers and orgs? I forgive and care but want to work for God, not men. I Trust God to be kind faithful loving true in Jesus name. Amen.
I understand and agree with what you're saying, however, what if doing your best gets you in trouble with the boss and the coworkers because you are significantly outperforming them and it makes them look and feel bad and they make passive aggressive trouble for you? I have found that by doing quality work but much less quantity, appearing more incompetent, and being less reliable has made my work life way more tolerable. I get along with everyone much better but it isn't my best by far. I do wonder if that is sinning. If my boss is ok with my work performance and he sanctions a very different work ethic, is it a sin to go along with it?
Jesus paid the price for our sins so we wouldn’t have to! So trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Also repent so you don’t perish!
I suppose my view is more extreme than Pipers. I think everything we do is tainted by sin. There is not anything we can do that is perfectly heard from the Holy Spirit. God still honors our effort and what we do well, even if it isn't perfect.
In the old testament you find that God has a similar conversation with Israel. They were offering him blemished offerings and the Lord asked them if they would give the same to their human rulers. While I would wholeheartedly agree that we are imperfect beings by nature, I would ask you how we can remain imperfect in response to God's offering of a perfect redemption? To be redeemed is to recieve lost value once again. How the can we offer only imperfect things if 1) God hated imperfections with his whole being and 2) the Spirit of purity and holiness resides in us? We cannot, unless we have simply not been redeemed. Beware of a false humility that calls you to doubt. It can lead you to lose joy and a reward for a work built of suitable material 1 Corinthians 3:13-15
I think sin infecting all our deeds was the case in our unrighteousness from not repenting, but I think that changes in our justification. We inherit the Spirit of God, and the righteousness of Christ and they both "equip us with everything good to do His will, and may He work in us what is pleasing to Him" (Hebrews 13:21). I don't think a heart that absolutely taints all deeds with sin makes sense after we have died with Christ, inherited the Spirit of God, and are at the moment of justification the new creation. But I would agree with you that the heart behind even our "serving deeds" is more often wrong than we realize.
The Gospel:
Plain and
Simple
“But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent
beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your
minds should be corrupted from the simplicity
that is in Christ.” - 2 Corithians 11:3
Ask someone today if they are saved and
you will most likely hear responses like these:
“I have accepted Jesus into my heart.” Or “I
have made him Lord of my life.” “I’ve been
baptized.” “I said a prayer.” Sounds all good
and churchy don’t it; but it is difficult to de-termine whether or not a person actually
knows the gospel that saves them. These useless phrases don’t describe a thing about what
the gospel is and has left a devastating effect
of people not knowing what it is that they are
saved from nor how they are saved; which
leaves a more serious effect of people questioning their salvation.
Let’s not muddy the simplicity of salvation that is in Christ with vague church
sounding phrases that do not communicate
anything. But rather present God’s word with
clarity and assuredness. So here is the gospel:
plain and simple.
Sin was passed upon all men by one man
Adam, and death is a consequence of this sin
(Rom 5:12). Mankind has an eternal destiny of
condemnation and wrath - Hell - because of
this sin (Rom 6:23). No matter what good
works one might do we are still found sinners
in the sight of our Creator God. And all unrighteousness and those who follow get indignation and wrath. We cannot be found
righteous for by God’s law we are found sinners (Rom 3:19-20). If we have broken even
one law we are found guilty.
It is for this reason of not being able to
create our own righteousness and being born
in a sinful flesh that we need a savior (Titus
3:5). Christ is that Savior, God manifested in
the flesh, sinless, died in our place on a cross
2000 years ago. Taking upon him the wrath
and judgement that was intended for us sinners. And it is through his bloodshed, burial,
and resurrection on our behalf that we are
able to have peace with God and forgiveness
of our sins (1 Cor 15:1-4, Col 3:14). This good
news is unto all but only those that believe in
it are made righteous in Christ (Romans
3:22).
It is then after we have heard this good
news of Christ’s righteousness available to us freely, that we are sealed with the Holy Spirit
and we are now part of Christ’s body the
church (Eph 1:13)
There is nothing that we need to do, no
good works that are required, and no bad
works that can separate us from our new position in Christ (Romans 8:35-39).
Faith and belief in this information from
God’s word is the gospel.
The gospel is not accepting Jesus into your
heart. The gospel is not making him lord of
your life, it is not saying a prayer and it is not
being baptized with water.
So next time someone asks you if you are
saved. Give them the clear assured answer
“Yes And let me tell you why!
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