| Whatsoever
Things Are True
by Dan Coburn Pastor, Emmanuel Baptist Church pastordan@mtida.net “I’ll say it Real Slow”. In John 10:22 and following, Jesus has entered the temple at what we call Hanukkah. He is literally ambushed by the Pharisees (religious leaders) who demand that He tell them flat out; “Are you the Christ or not?”. He replies, “I’ve told you and told you, and you just aren’t getting it” - paraphrase. And why don’t they believe? Because “ye are not of my sheep” vs 26. Let’s turn the Spiritual Switch. Jesus only promises security to True Sheep. Sheep were “clean” animals, as opposed to -say- dogs and pigs for instance? “For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.” 2nd Peter 2:21-22. If you see someone that has made a profession of faith, even a grand emotional one, only to return to the world in unrepentance: “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” 1st John 2:19. If there is no change, there was no salvation. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” - 2nd Cor. 5:17. Question: Could they have believed? Was it available to them? Jesus (in the previous chapters) had invited, urged, challenged and warned them, and they still didn’t? Why? What’s the key? Doesn’t everyone want salvation? Doesn’t everyone want forgiveness? Wouldn’t everyone rather spend eternity with Jesus in a place and state of painlessness - without stress, temptation, sickness, death or tears? Sure they would. Everyone would. So why don’t they? Some of the responsibility lies with me. Preachers. We talk about all those things, but leave out a Key Component. The Lordship of Christ. We lead people to walk the isle, pray the prayer, join a church, tithe, give up this or that, but we don’t give near enough attention to the fact that one must accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. In Rom. 10:9-10, it doesn’t say “if you will receive My forgiveness, or My inheritance, or My salvation”, it says rather: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,” To confess (agree) that He is Lord. To de-throne self, and make Him Lord of your life. Every aspect. Count the cost. Then, “thou shalt be saved.” Not might be, not - my name goes into the drawing, - not if I measure up (you can’t) but “thou shalt be”. The Pharisees weren’t about to do that. What about you? I’m satisfied that in the chronicles of your life you have been invited, urged, challenged, and warned. Jesus is Lord, the issue is - is He yours? “If ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins” - John 8:24. |
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