| The son of
God did not come to us with rules and laws to live by to get into heaven.
Jesus did not give us a list of things "not" to do, or go to hell.
The son of God did not
condemn even one sinner during his time on earth. When Jesus arrived here on
earth, there were already 613 old covenant laws in place to cover all that.
These laws were impossible
for any man to live by faithfully. Men were at that time required to make
sacrifices to God. A person would pick their very best lamb.
They would kill it and
shed it's blood on the alter. the purpose was, the persons sins would be put
on the lamb and they would be put right with God by doing so. The slate
would be wiped clean.
To fully understand the
Good News of Jesus Christ, you would have to have lived in 33 AD. The Good
News is that we are "set free", but what exactly does that mean? Set free
from what? Set free from who? Again, if you had lived in 33 AD, you would
know what a precious gift this was and still is.
Jesus was the sacrifice
offered up by God himself. The perfect sacrifice. Once done, no other
sacrifice would ever be required. Jesus was therefore called the "Lamb of
God". Jesus was the only person ever to live by and uphold all of the 613
laws of the old covenant. It was his purpose for coming, to accomplish this.
Matthew 5:18 - "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass
away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the
Law
until all is accomplished.
Now that it has been
accomplished, what happened to the law? It is done away with! That is
the Good News, and that is what we are set free from! But are we really
free?
Jesus did not condemn
sinners, but he did condemn the church and religious people. It was the
church that Jesus set us free from. The church however, did not like Jesus
disrupting their way of life. They were getting rich keeping people in
bondage.
Mainly bondage to the
tithe! With the 613 laws of the old covenant, they were enjoying the "Rock
Star" status of being "Holy" and Lording it over everyone else. When Jesus
threatened their way of life, they killed him!
Jesus came here with a
specific mission, to fulfill and do away with the law, and he did. The last
words Jesus spoke before he died was "It is finished".
John 19:30
-
Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said,
"It is finished!" And He bowed His head and
gave up His spirit.
The Church has not changed
very much to this day. People are still kept in bondage and churches are
still getting rich keeping them there. Pastors, Deacons, elders and the more
"well to do" church members still like to display their righteousness like a
trophy.
The theme is the same,
only the laws have changed. Don't drink, don't smoke, give 10% of all your
earnings, don't swear! etc . . You have been set free from these laws and I
might add that drinking and smoking were not even condemned under the old
covenant laws!
A sin is only sin because
God speaks it! Sin means: "Transgression of the law". The more we come to
know God, the more we want and try to control these things that come so
naturally to us. It is a way of honoring God, and it pleases him.
Find out what pleases God,
then please "God only". Don't strive to please the church. As far as the
sins mentioned above, are they really sins?
-
Harsh or strong language - Paul spoke about using strong
language. That is common sense. It serves no purpose and does not promote
Godly feelings, but the only harsh language that is a "Sin" is using the
Lords name in vain and blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. (Paul wrote that bad
language "Leads" to sin)
-
Talking harshly to your spouse - Again, common sense.
Malachi 2:16 - God hates divorce, fighting, arguing and the treachery that
goes with it. "That makes it a sin".
-
Drinking - Jesus himself drank wine. The only scriptures
condemning drinking only condemns "Drinking too freely". One of our most
Holy of ceremonies (Communion) Includes wine. There are many scriptures
praising wine and really none against it.
-
Smoking - Even though the polls and statistics are greatly
overblown, exaggerated and falsified concerning smoking, I'm sure even
the most hard core smoker will agree and tell you that smoking is "Not"
good for you.
-
There are no scriptures
condemning smoking! Please don't quote: "Your body is a temple of the
Holy Spirit. Jesus said: It is not what goes into your body, but what
comes out of your mouth that defiles you.
-
Sex - Is wonderful! God invented it and only a fool would
disagree with that. Common sense would also suggest that unless you are
brought up within a religion or culture that promotes it, have sex with
only one wife! And wives, one husband!
-
In most of our marriage
ceremonies today, you agree to forsake all others! In short, you've made a
commitment to God and to another person. If you break that vow, it's a
sin!
-
Solomon had seven
hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines (1Kings 11:3) Good
for him, but I say, If you have one "good" wife, you won't desire anything
more.
Again, Strive to please God, Not the
Church
The Good News is: God has
not changed and Jesus has not changed. For those of you that might not
already know, the words "Good News" are an interpretation of the word "Gospel".
Throughout many long
years, some preachers seem to have worked overtime making the bible boring,
when in truth, the bible is anything but. The bible is actually jam packed
with good news, but lets start with the "best" of the good news. The Good
News of Jesus Christ, and that can be found in
John
3:16.
John 3:16 -
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Why is this the
best of the good news?, because, it does not just deal with your problems or
time here on earth, but thereafter, It has to do with eternity. Truly the
gift that keeps on giving.
Truly it is very
good news, but who does it apply to? Jesus said it applies to "whoever".
Who is whoever? Who would it be if "you" used the word? If you were a doctor
and told your friend: "take this $100.00 bill into the bus terminal and give
it to whoever.
Would your friend
interpret this to mean, give it to another "doctor" and one who has proven
themselves and saved hundreds of lives? Of course not. Whoever would mean
"you" or "Me" or anyone else who happened to be standing in the bus
terminal.
Your name is "Whoever" and
so is mine! (Thank God)
Do you feel out of place?
Do you feel out of place
in church? I have news for you my friend. If you are a sinner, if you feel
you are a bad person or if you think for a moment that there is no hope for
you, you are exactly who God wants coming into his house seeking him and
wanting to talk to him!
You are more welcome than
"all" the non sinning, non smoking, non drinking, never said a bad word in
their whole life folks that attend there every week!
You are an honored guest in Gods eyes and are exactly
the one he wants to talk to! (whether you are made to feel welcome by the
congregation or not!)
There is "more"
than hope for you! There is a promise! Do you feel you've done something so
terrible that God could never forgive you or accept you? Stealing? abortion?
adultery? even murder?
Maybe you didn't know that
most of the new testament of the "Holy Bible" was written by a murderer!
True! Read it for yourself. (Read the book of
ACTS
9:1 thru 9:22 and beyond)
Good News!
The good news was written
for you. Not just for some monk who lives in the mountains and eats tree
bark and enters into trance like prayer 23 hours a day.
God wants a personal
relationship with "you". That's right! The creator of the universe, of
heaven and earth wants to be the most important person in your life. Why
would he bother you ask? That my friends is the great mystery, but none the
less "true".
Once again, Whoever,
means you! (yeah you Smokey) If you believe in him.
John 11:26 - and everyone who lives and believes
in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" (I
do)
God Bless You
Dan Douglass
DID THIS ARTICLE/PAGE HELP?
Let me know! This form
is simply an easy way to contact me. Just type your message in the box below
and hit the button that says" "SEND".
.
Your gift is needed and appreciated |
