| PLEASE CONSIDER 1. THAT GOD LOVES EVERYONE. The precious word of God says, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” (Romans 5:8, 9). Also, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:4-7). Wont you love God because He first loved you (I John 4:19)? Love for God is shown by keeping the commandments he gives. “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” (I John 5:2, 3). God loves the great sinners and wants them to be saved. God also loves the morally good people who have not yet come to Him and he wants them to be saved. God’s rich mercy is shown in his longsuffering. “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9). It is in the mercy of God that he has not already sent Christ. God wants all who will to repent of their sins and obey his gospel. He does not bring swift destruction on the human race because of their rebellion and sin. He gives all a chance to change.
This was part of the plan of love that God had for all. “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” (I John 2:1, 2). A propitiation is a sufficient price or sacrifice for sins. When Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to the disciples to drink while he said, “For this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins (Matthew 26:28). Christ invited all that labor and are heaven laden to come to him and he will give them rest (Matthew 11:28-30). Everyone can come to Christ by just humbling self before him and submitting to his will.
The gospel needs teaching (2 Timothy 4:2, 3). The gospel needs believing (Romans 1:16). The gospel needs obeying (Romans 10:16; I Peter 4:17; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9). To obey the gospel begins with faith (Mark 16:16) and continues with repenting (Luke 13:3). The penitent believer needs to confess faith in Christ (Romans 10:10), and to be baptized in water to be saved (Mark 16:16). The only ones who can be saved without gospel obedience are those who are mentally incapable of understanding it. Those of us who are able to understand what we read, and to apply what we have read to our hearts can be saved if we will accept and obey the gospel.
Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10). The Christian life is the best life for married people because it requires an ethical standard of living. People need to be able to trust other people to be married to them and live with them. The Grace of God teaches us to live soberly, righteously and godly in this present world. (Titus 2:11, 12). The Christian life makes good citizens in any nation. The Christian life makes for good workers in the work place. Honesty and truthfulness are of the highest priority in living the Christian life. (2 Corinthians 8:21; Colossians 3:9, 10). Loving one’s neighbor as himself is one of the premiums of the Christian life. (Matthew 22:39). This helps people get along with one another. And besides all this there is hope that when the Christian dies a better place is reserved for him.
For us to go there we must walk through the strait gate and down the narrow way for that is the only way to this eternal life (Matthew 7:13, 14). Jesus gave an invitation saying, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28). We cannot enter into heaven unless we have our sins washed away. “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie” (Revelation 21:27). If you have spiritual needs why not take advantage of the opportunities afforded you to get right with God? --C. D. CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO THE GOSPEL HERALD ARCHIVES CLICK HERE TO RETURN TO THE MAIN PAGE |
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