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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
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