2Ti 2:25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth
Read the portion concerning repentance again: "if God perhaps will grant them repentance..."
It is God who grants repentance. No sinner by his own power can repent and turn to God. Many people forego repentance saying: "I can repent when I am older. For now, I want to enjoy sin." They are ignorant of the fact that repentance is God's granting. That repentance is a privilege and an offer that God could withdraw anytime He wants.
The sinner's mind is darkened by sin. His desires are corrupted by it. His will is in bondage to it.
God is not under obligation to save any sinner. When we talk about salvation, we are talking of God's mercy not His obligation. He could have justly swept us all to hell the very first time we sinned but God in His mercy desires that we be saved.
And so He comes to a depraved sinner in mercy and grace, He opens his understanding, enlightening him about his helpless condition and opening his mind to understand the salvation that is in Christ.
He then grants him the desire to repent and trust in Christ. He frees up His will in bondage to sin, enabling him and granting him the ability to repent and trust Christ.
If he does not resists and reject this gracious operation of God, he will be saved. However, constant stubborn rejection of God's offer will result in God withdrawing His grace leaving man back again to his depraved and hardened state.
Don't presume on repentance saying: "Later in life. I will repent." For that moment may never come. For it is not in your power. It is God's granting. If you desire repentance right now, don't put it off. It is God-given. It might be the last time you will ever desire to repent.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
GOSPEL NUGGET #180
2Co 5:20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God.
Through Christian preachers and Christians themselves when they preach and share the Gospel, God is as though pleading through them.
Can you imagine that? God pleading, entreating, beseeching and begging! That is a staggering thought. God pleading, entreating, beseeching and begging that you turn to Him and repent and trust in the Savior for the salvation of your soul.
God does not need anything from us. He begs and pleads not for His sake but for our sake, for our good---He truly wants sinners saved.
Ezekiel 33:11 'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live..."
2Pe 3:9 God is "not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."
With tears in His eyes, God pleads: "Please, I beg you for your own good. You don't have to die and go to a place of torment. I don't want you to experience My wrath and condemnation. So please, come and turn to Christ for salvation. Be reconciled to Me through Him by repenting and trusting in Him for salvation!"
Be warned though. God will not beg and plead always. A time will come when He will stop and say: Okay, have it your way. Your will be done."
And this time, it will be you who will beg and plead...but it will be too late. You will go to hell forever and ever stepping over Christ's dead body, sidestepping the Holy Spirit's conviction and evading God's pleas and entreaties.
Through Christian preachers and Christians themselves when they preach and share the Gospel, God is as though pleading through them.
Can you imagine that? God pleading, entreating, beseeching and begging! That is a staggering thought. God pleading, entreating, beseeching and begging that you turn to Him and repent and trust in the Savior for the salvation of your soul.
God does not need anything from us. He begs and pleads not for His sake but for our sake, for our good---He truly wants sinners saved.
Ezekiel 33:11 'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live..."
2Pe 3:9 God is "not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."
With tears in His eyes, God pleads: "Please, I beg you for your own good. You don't have to die and go to a place of torment. I don't want you to experience My wrath and condemnation. So please, come and turn to Christ for salvation. Be reconciled to Me through Him by repenting and trusting in Him for salvation!"
Be warned though. God will not beg and plead always. A time will come when He will stop and say: Okay, have it your way. Your will be done."
And this time, it will be you who will beg and plead...but it will be too late. You will go to hell forever and ever stepping over Christ's dead body, sidestepping the Holy Spirit's conviction and evading God's pleas and entreaties.
Thursday, September 20, 2012
GOSPEL NUGGET #179
Satan does not mind you being sincere (Rom. 10:1-2), he does not mind you being religious (Php. 3:5-6), he does not mind you preaching and performing miracles (Mat. 7:21-23), he does not mind you confessing your sins (Ex 10:16), he does not mind you listening to a sermon and enjoying it (MK 6:20)....
....so long as in all these things you don't truly repent and put your trust in Christ Jesus alone for salvation. That's just fine with him.
....so long as in all these things you don't truly repent and put your trust in Christ Jesus alone for salvation. That's just fine with him.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
GOSPEL NUGGET #178
Why Do Good Things Happen to Bad People?
Ro 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
Favorable circumstances and situations do not necessarily indicate a right standing with God. There are many people today who imbibe the idea that having health and wealth is a sign that they are okay with God.
God "makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust" (see Mat. 5:45). The apostle Paul told the idolaters in Lystra that God gives "rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness" (see Acts 14:17).
If you have not repented and trusted in Christ for salvation, the good things that you are enjoying right now in your life do not indicate that God is condoning your sin. On the contrary, He is giving you these things that you might be led to repent of your sins through His goodness.
And that's why good things happen to bad people.
Ro 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
Favorable circumstances and situations do not necessarily indicate a right standing with God. There are many people today who imbibe the idea that having health and wealth is a sign that they are okay with God.
God "makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust" (see Mat. 5:45). The apostle Paul told the idolaters in Lystra that God gives "rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness" (see Acts 14:17).
If you have not repented and trusted in Christ for salvation, the good things that you are enjoying right now in your life do not indicate that God is condoning your sin. On the contrary, He is giving you these things that you might be led to repent of your sins through His goodness.
And that's why good things happen to bad people.
Friday, September 7, 2012
GOSPEL NUGGET #177
Repentance Illustrated
Repentance means a change of heart attitude resulting in a change of behavior. It literally means in the Bible a "change of mind". But minds in the Bible are closely linked with attitudes. And so it means a change of heart attitude.
Ryan is a varsity basketball player. His coach has been having headaches about him because every time he plays the game, he would deliberately and intentionally miss the ball for some no-one-knows, out-of-this-world and mysterious reason.
One day he realized his mistake and folly. He changed his attitude about his game. He went to his coach and apologized for the way he's been playing and promised to play seriously as he should.
Ever since, Ryan is a different player on the court. Now, every shot is calculated and calibrated. Every attempt is done with the intention to make the basket and score. He now laments every missed shot.
And his coach could never be more happy. Ryan has changed his attitude about the game. Ryan's detractors however would not hesitate to launch their verbal missiles against him. They told his coach: "But, he still misses some shots!"
His coach replied: "I know. But no player is perfect no matter how they desire to be better each game. What's important is that Ryan has now changed his attitude about the game. Every fiber of his being and every single moment on the playing court is now focused on making the shot and winning the game. I know his heart. He's for us."
Have you changed your attitude about sin and God? Do you now despise sin and are you now taking God seriously? Have you changed your attitude about yourself that you can never save yourself and you are now trusting Christ alone for salvation?
In short, have you repented?
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
GOSPEL NUGGET #176
GOSPEL NUGGETS
GOSPEL NUGGETS
My Personal Resolution And Apprehension
Ever since I came to realize years ago by the conviction of the Holy Spirit that I am helpless and powerless in myself to save myself and that Christ's work on the cross was enough and sufficient for my eternal salvation, I spontaneously came up with some personal resolution and apprehension:
1) I will never ever do good works and obey His commands WITH THE INTENTION OF SAVING MYSELF. I always watch my motives every single time I do these things. I do these things not to be saved. I do them out of the intention to please the One I love who loved me first by giving Himself for me on the cross.
I do good works and obey His commands not to be saved but because I want to please My Savior who saveD me. I willingly and gladly do them because of my love for Him. I want to please Him. It's never a burden to do these things to the One I love. It's a delight.
2) Ever since, I have always feared of putting my trust in anything and in anyone else for the salvation of my soul except on the Lord Jesus Christ. The greatest fear of my life is this---that I may cease trusting in Him ALONE for salvation, that I might trust in anyone and anything else but Him.
It is very clear in my mind: I can't do anything to save myself. Only Christ can. I realized that He is my only hope of salvation.
GOSPEL NUGGETS
My Personal Resolution And Apprehension
Ever since I came to realize years ago by the conviction of the Holy Spirit that I am helpless and powerless in myself to save myself and that Christ's work on the cross was enough and sufficient for my eternal salvation, I spontaneously came up with some personal resolution and apprehension:
1) I will never ever do good works and obey His commands WITH THE INTENTION OF SAVING MYSELF. I always watch my motives every single time I do these things. I do these things not to be saved. I do them out of the intention to please the One I love who loved me first by giving Himself for me on the cross.
I do good works and obey His commands not to be saved but because I want to please My Savior who saveD me. I willingly and gladly do them because of my love for Him. I want to please Him. It's never a burden to do these things to the One I love. It's a delight.
2) Ever since, I have always feared of putting my trust in anything and in anyone else for the salvation of my soul except on the Lord Jesus Christ. The greatest fear of my life is this---that I may cease trusting in Him ALONE for salvation, that I might trust in anyone and anything else but Him.
It is very clear in my mind: I can't do anything to save myself. Only Christ can. I realized that He is my only hope of salvation.
Monday, September 3, 2012
GOSPEL NUGGET #175
One time a man was drowning in a river. He fought, struggled, labored, strained, strove and did his best to the utmost (the whole nine yards) to save himself.
While all this was happening, his friend who was an expert swimmer watched and did nothing. He just looked on and on attentively. The rest, who did not know how to swim, watched helplessly spewing out angry words against the expert swimmer.
"Do something!!! He is drowning!!!"
"Hey! What are you waiting for? The man is drowning!!!"
"What are you doing just standing there?!!?"
After a few moments, the drowning man was gradually losing strength, all efforts to save himself proved futile. Exhaustion began to quickly set in until it completely consumed him...and then he ceased trying to save himself.
With cat-like quickness, it was then that the expert swimmer briskly and nimbly dived to his rescue. Without difficulty, he easily rescued the man, pulling him to safety.
He then explained to the rest: "You see, I was waiting for him to be exhausted. I could not save him if he still struggles to save himself. We would go down and drown together if I attempt to rescue him while he was still very active striving to save himself. He would forcefully grab me all over in the wrong places and bring us down. I must do all the rescuing."
Applying this to spiritual salvation---It is only until we realize that we are helpless and powerless in ourselves to save ourselves that we are ready for the salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ. He must do all the saving.
While all this was happening, his friend who was an expert swimmer watched and did nothing. He just looked on and on attentively. The rest, who did not know how to swim, watched helplessly spewing out angry words against the expert swimmer.
"Do something!!! He is drowning!!!"
"Hey! What are you waiting for? The man is drowning!!!"
"What are you doing just standing there?!!?"
After a few moments, the drowning man was gradually losing strength, all efforts to save himself proved futile. Exhaustion began to quickly set in until it completely consumed him...and then he ceased trying to save himself.
With cat-like quickness, it was then that the expert swimmer briskly and nimbly dived to his rescue. Without difficulty, he easily rescued the man, pulling him to safety.
He then explained to the rest: "You see, I was waiting for him to be exhausted. I could not save him if he still struggles to save himself. We would go down and drown together if I attempt to rescue him while he was still very active striving to save himself. He would forcefully grab me all over in the wrong places and bring us down. I must do all the rescuing."
Applying this to spiritual salvation---It is only until we realize that we are helpless and powerless in ourselves to save ourselves that we are ready for the salvation of the Lord Jesus Christ. He must do all the saving.
Sunday, September 2, 2012
GOSPEL NUGGET #174
THE 32 ATOMIC BOMBS THAT BARELY MISSED THE PHILIPPINES LAST FRIDAY (Aug. 31 2012)
Repent Or Else
Re 2:16 'Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer the earthquake that struck the Philippines was "equivalent to 32 Hiroshima atomic bombs." "But a combination of factors spared the Filipinos destruction from a catastrophe, scientists said yesterday."
"Director Renato Solidum of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the 7.6-magnitude quake would have been more strongly felt had its epicentre been on land or if there was more vertical displacement of ocean water, triggering a destructive tsunami, as what happened in the Moro Gulf quake that killed thousands of people in southern Mindanao and Sulu in 1976."
That 32-atomic-bomb earthquake last Friday was a warning shot from God. God was saying: "Repent or else!"
Or else what? "I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth."
The "sword" represents punishment and judgment. "Sword of My mouth" means the pronouncements of judgments that He would utter against unrepentant sinners. He would just speak the word of judgment and it is all over for us. Sinners are like wild flowers, easily blown away by the breath of God's word of judgment.
Do not picture God as a robber trying to get something from us for His benefit using fear and intimidation. Picture God as a concerned policeman, aiming His gun at a hostage taker saying: "I don't intend to mean you harm, let go of that gun or else!!!"
Repent Or Else
Re 2:16 'Repent, or else I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth.
According to the Philippine Daily Inquirer the earthquake that struck the Philippines was "equivalent to 32 Hiroshima atomic bombs." "But a combination of factors spared the Filipinos destruction from a catastrophe, scientists said yesterday."
"Director Renato Solidum of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) said the 7.6-magnitude quake would have been more strongly felt had its epicentre been on land or if there was more vertical displacement of ocean water, triggering a destructive tsunami, as what happened in the Moro Gulf quake that killed thousands of people in southern Mindanao and Sulu in 1976."
That 32-atomic-bomb earthquake last Friday was a warning shot from God. God was saying: "Repent or else!"
Or else what? "I will come to you quickly and will fight against them with the sword of My mouth."
The "sword" represents punishment and judgment. "Sword of My mouth" means the pronouncements of judgments that He would utter against unrepentant sinners. He would just speak the word of judgment and it is all over for us. Sinners are like wild flowers, easily blown away by the breath of God's word of judgment.
Do not picture God as a robber trying to get something from us for His benefit using fear and intimidation. Picture God as a concerned policeman, aiming His gun at a hostage taker saying: "I don't intend to mean you harm, let go of that gun or else!!!"
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