#3 of #3 “Not Some But All”
Continued from Crumb 0043
“The message of salvation is so simple to the extent that it sounds foolish to the intellectual mind”.
Yet it is this foolish message that is the power of God to impart eternal life to all who believe.
Surely there is something we can or need to do. No we can’t and we don’t, for it’s all been done for us.
One thing is for sure, our human intellect won’t cut it either.
There have been times in all our lives when somebody has done something for us without our contribution. Our response then is one of simple thanksgiving. That’s it.
Why do we find it so difficult to accept the same principle when God has done it for us?
However, the Bible has no problem with the fact that some find it foolish.
Here is what Scripture has to say about the Gospel message: “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” [1 Corinthians 1:18].
The message of the Gospel, though it may sound foolish to some, contains “all of the power of God”. All the power to save us and keep us saved.
A believing heart is the only criteria.
Our intellectual mind has no role to play whatsoever. We can use our intellectuality for anything and everything in this world, but not when it comes to our salvation.
Our Self-Righteousness Will Not Do it
“I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance” said Jesus in [Luke 5:32].
Here is the thing; Christ Jesus did not come for the Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Buddhists, Judaisers or any other religious folk.
The message of the cross is that Jesus Christ came for sinners. And He certainly did not die for me so that I could become religious.
It’s the other way around. He came to set me free from religion and its so-called righteousness.
Herein lies the great religious deception, for every religion teaches you to have a righteousness of your own.
Everybody knows that this righteousness is nothing more than ‘religious cosmetics’, which have been ‘religiously packaged’.
They even have their own branded religious name-tags with sweet smelling “divine flavour”.
“Yet inside we are rotten to the core”. Who are we really fooling?
It takes a humble heart to accept what God has to say about the human heart.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” says the Bible in [Jeremiah 17:9].
Jesus tells us that unless we have a righteousness higher than the highest of the religious leaders, we cannot make it [Matthew 5:20].
In relation to God, our righteousness is as a “filthy rag” [Isaiah 64:6]. The graphic Biblical definition of a “filthy rag” is a discarded menstrual cloth.
That is the Biblical comparison and it’s an offensive truth, which disturbs our ego and pride-filled self. It straightens our back.
What Is Impossible For Men Is Possible With God
Salvation is impossible for men and is possible only with God.
You see, that is what religion and philosophy and the so-called “fundas” don’t get. But they keep trying.
All these ‘sad-gurus’ and ‘mad-gurus’ will take the rap for no man least of all shed their own blood. Their skins are too important to them. They love their own hides far too much to lay it down for you.
But when the “dirt hits the fan” do you really think they’ll stay? Oh no, they’ll be the first to run for cover with their tail between their legs.
Oh they will talk big, godly and convincingly enough to build up the numbers of their followers.
They have the wonderful gift of the gab and many of them are successful orators.
But it will all end up futile, for “if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” [Matthew 15:14].
Not only will these deceptive god-men end up in eternal doom, they will take their followers with them.
Many have broken away from their clutches, having heard and believed in the simplicity of the Gospel of God’s salvation.
God’s Righteousness Revealed
Contained in the message of the Gospel of Grace is the “Righteousness of God” revealed [Romans 1:16-17].
It is “this righteousness” which comes by faith and is a free gift from God. This is the Righteousness that counts for heaven & eternal life.
Religion is NOT our standard. The “Cross Of Crucifixion” is, because ‘that’ is where it all happened.
Simplicity is one of the prime attributes of Truth and is always the prime discerning factor. That is why it will “always” hold its ground. It does not need to run and hide.
If it’s not simple, it must then be a lie, even though it may sound true.
Let us keep remembering that it is God’s Will to “save ‘ALL men’ and come to the knowledge of the Truth” [1 Timothy 2:4].
Certainty Is The Need Of Hour And Day
We definitely are living in uncertain times. Certainty pertaining to every relevant area of our lives is the need of the hour without any shadow of doubt.
Nothing and nobody seems to be reliable any more. The news media for the most part have lost the plot and become puppets. Our governments are not honest with their citizens any more. Every political ideology has lost its way. Lying is the “norm of the day”.
This is where we find ourselves today. And here is the thing: something, somewhere, someday, any day, any moment is going to give.
The bough is just about ready to break and the cradle will fall. And this will be the worst ever period in all of human history like never envisioned before. Hopes and dreams will be shattered like never before.
Our adversary, Satan the devil is gearing up to unleash his final unprecedented assault on the human race. He has his men in place.
We either wait for it or get saved from it, for it’s going to be like the world has never known [Matthew 24:21].
When it comes to our eternal salvation we need something certain that can come only from above. In regard to what is coming in the days ahead we need a “Solid Rock” to stand on.
A great preacher once said, “I find no comfort in uncertainty. Facing the wild waters of the future, I cannot launch my eternal soul on a raft of guesswork and human opinion.
Like Paul the apostle, I say, ‘I know Whom I have believed’ [2 Timothy 1:12] and ‘In Thee O Lord, do I put my trust’ [Psalm 71:1]. I’m speaking about JESUS.”
As Far As East Is From The West
Here’s a “ROCK SOLID” liberating statement that Scripture makes:
“As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us” [Psalm 103:12].
And this is because of the cross where Christ took it all for us personally.
He did not just die for all as though we are a only a statistical number to Him.
Our Creator knows each one of us by name.
HE DIED FOR EACH.
“Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin” [Romans 4:7-8].
This was a lovely reading og a 3-part series on the simple message on Salvation. Cannot be put any more simply – to understand that all that’s needed is to believe in the finished work of the cross – the death, burial and resurrection of Christ Jesus. Amen !!!