| Whatsoever
Things Are True
by Pastor Dan Coburn An evangelist I had the pleasure of hearing this week, compared the Christian life with “The Big Game”. You know, the one everyone is talking about. (I guess Seattle is still in it.) I don’t follow professional sports. The point he made was this. Defensive Grace versus Offensive Grace. You see most of us who believe in grace, think of it as a sort of safety net to catch us when we stumble or sin; and combined with true repentance, this is certainly true. But this isn’t the half of it. Look at Titus 2:11. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,”----doing what? Vs 12: “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world (age).” Vs 11 is like our defensive team in that when I sin, (and repent), God will cleanse me, heal me, and restore me 1st John 1:9. But then vs 12 is where our offensive team takes the field. There is to be some effort on our part. I’m not saying you can be sinless, but I do believe as you walk with, and grow in Christ, that you should Sin-Less. To what end? When the world watches you, and they do, if there is no change, no growth, what are they to think? You might fool them, you might fool yourself. Obedience is the pipeline through which God’s blessings flow. If that isn’t enough, look at John 14:23-24. Lots of us claim to love Jesus, but He says those who love Him keep His commandments, and those who don’t, don’t. When I was a child, I broke a neighbors window with my BB gun. I went to my father and confessed. He (not knowing he was demonstrating a biblical principal) said he would take care of it. He would replace the window, and he would absorb the cost. Then he said this: “Do not shoot your BB gun anywhere near there again”. Jesus was the same with the woman at the well. The first part of the story every body likes where Jesus drove away her would be executioners. We all love to say “judge not lest ye be judged”. But we kind of forget the second part where Jesus tells her to “go, and sin no more”. If you have not Christ, you are not even in the game. I pray that you are. And if you are, I pray you let your offense play a bunch, cause there is going to be a judgement, which leads us to vs 13. “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;”. Praise God for His defensive Grace, but also exercise His offensive Grace. Apart from a loving, obedient life in Christ, you’ll never know what He has for you in this life. God Bless. |
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