For since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies,we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his death. -Romans 5:10.
Annoyed about the gospel
Since Mark has retired he has had a stall at the market where he regularly hands out Bibles and Christian literatures.One morning,when he was setting up his stall,his neighbour,who sold clothes,did not look at all happy.In the course of the morning he came over to Mark's stall several times and showed his annoyance.
When it was time to pack up,as most customers had left,he again came over to Mark and gave vent to his feelings:"You have no right to stand here.If you come back,I'll set light to all your junk!" Mark could only reply,"I'm only here to tell you that God loves you as you are." The following week they were both back.The atmosphere was strained,but the market day passed off without any serious incident.Then weeks passed when Mark didn't see the dealer.One day the man was back and came over to him: "I want to apologize for my behaviour at our first meeting.Then I was still a bad fellow,full of evil thoughts towards God.But He has found me and saved me.You know,I believe in Jesus now."
If the message of the Bible annoys us,particularly when it speaks of sin or the coming judgment,then we ought to stand still and start thinking.It is a sign that we need to put things right with God!
How can our hostility give way to peace with God? By confessing the sins of our life to Him,so as to obtain His full forgiveness.God offers it because Jesus made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of his blood on the cross. -Colossians 1:20.
The message of salvation through Christ is a message of hope not of condemnation.However,whoever rejects this message is surely heading for eternal condemnation.The Bible says,"So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death." -Romans 8:1-2.The entire human race is bound to the power of sin that leads to dead.This power of sin is so strong in us thus make us reject the message of salvation again and again.It's a force we can't resist due to our weaker nature.But that is precisely why Jesus had to come.He knew that if we are allowed to face the power of sin alone,we would sink into it even the more and thus keep dying.But he came and overcame sin so that anyone who believes in him will also overcome sin through him.He said,"My gracious favor is all you need.My power works best in your weakness." -2 Corinthians 12:9.
Therefore,in order to escape this condemnation,one must accept Jesus as his Lord and personal Saviour.It is normal to feel bad,be annoyed or hate the message especially when we think it takes away our freedom by condeming most of the things we so much love doing and believe to be ok.But the truth is: it is these very things we enjoy doing that exposes us to sin thus keeping us far away from God.The dealer above hated the message because he was not comfortable with it,but the day he encountered God and gave his life to Jesus,that hatred was gone.You may hate it now because you may've probably not had the same experience as the dealer,but the day you do,you'll realize that it is the best thing that had ever happened to you.No wonder the psalmist said,"Taste and see that the Lord is good.Oh,the joys of those who trust in Him!" -Psalm 34:8.
Annoyed about the gospel
Since Mark has retired he has had a stall at the market where he regularly hands out Bibles and Christian literatures.One morning,when he was setting up his stall,his neighbour,who sold clothes,did not look at all happy.In the course of the morning he came over to Mark's stall several times and showed his annoyance.
When it was time to pack up,as most customers had left,he again came over to Mark and gave vent to his feelings:"You have no right to stand here.If you come back,I'll set light to all your junk!" Mark could only reply,"I'm only here to tell you that God loves you as you are." The following week they were both back.The atmosphere was strained,but the market day passed off without any serious incident.Then weeks passed when Mark didn't see the dealer.One day the man was back and came over to him: "I want to apologize for my behaviour at our first meeting.Then I was still a bad fellow,full of evil thoughts towards God.But He has found me and saved me.You know,I believe in Jesus now."
If the message of the Bible annoys us,particularly when it speaks of sin or the coming judgment,then we ought to stand still and start thinking.It is a sign that we need to put things right with God!
How can our hostility give way to peace with God? By confessing the sins of our life to Him,so as to obtain His full forgiveness.God offers it because Jesus made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of his blood on the cross. -Colossians 1:20.
The message of salvation through Christ is a message of hope not of condemnation.However,whoever rejects this message is surely heading for eternal condemnation.The Bible says,"So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death." -Romans 8:1-2.The entire human race is bound to the power of sin that leads to dead.This power of sin is so strong in us thus make us reject the message of salvation again and again.It's a force we can't resist due to our weaker nature.But that is precisely why Jesus had to come.He knew that if we are allowed to face the power of sin alone,we would sink into it even the more and thus keep dying.But he came and overcame sin so that anyone who believes in him will also overcome sin through him.He said,"My gracious favor is all you need.My power works best in your weakness." -2 Corinthians 12:9.
Therefore,in order to escape this condemnation,one must accept Jesus as his Lord and personal Saviour.It is normal to feel bad,be annoyed or hate the message especially when we think it takes away our freedom by condeming most of the things we so much love doing and believe to be ok.But the truth is: it is these very things we enjoy doing that exposes us to sin thus keeping us far away from God.The dealer above hated the message because he was not comfortable with it,but the day he encountered God and gave his life to Jesus,that hatred was gone.You may hate it now because you may've probably not had the same experience as the dealer,but the day you do,you'll realize that it is the best thing that had ever happened to you.No wonder the psalmist said,"Taste and see that the Lord is good.Oh,the joys of those who trust in Him!" -Psalm 34:8.
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