Monday, September 30, 2013
GOSPEL NUGGET # 280
Ex 17:6 "Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock in Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, that the people may drink." And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.
The people of Israel were craving for water. Their mouths and throats were dry with thirst. There was nothing more precious to them at that time than the sight of water.
"Give us water, that we may drink" (verse 2), they cried.
So Moses with his rod struck the rock and immediately water came out of it, streaming like a river and flowing like a fountain, satisfying the people's thirst.
This is nothing less than a picture of the salvation of the Lord Jesus. Here we are needy sinners in desperate need of salvation. God struck the Lord Jesus on the cross, He poured out all His wrath on Him, when He died for our sins.
As a result, out came from Him, available and free salvation for all. Anyone who has seen and realized their desperate need can come and freely drink, by faith in Him, the refreshing waters of salvation which He freely offers to all.
Come and drink!
Friday, September 20, 2013
GOSPEL NUGGET # 279
Our Own "Pork Barrel Scam"
Ro 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
The pork barrel scam controversy is sizzling hot nowadays in the news. It has become staple news already since it came out many weeks ago. People are talking about it.
Many are angered by it, others are dismayed, some are reeling in shock, while a few could care less. What we need to know, however, is that we are all "scammers." Yes, we all have our own "pork barrel scam."
How many times have we "robbed God", so to speak, of the glory that was due Him?
How many times have we selfishly chosen sin instead of aiming for God's glory in our lives?
How many times, in our lives, have we conspired with self, sin and Satan and "plundered God", so to speak, of the glory that rightfully belonged to Him?
If we are honest with ourselves, many a time, we have chosen to act like pigs or shall I say porks, instead of behaving like humans originally made in the image of God.
My friend, we are all "scammers"; we are all sinners. We can choose to run away, we can choose to deny it or we can, by God's grace, choose to accept the pardon that God is offering to us right now in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anyone who repents and trusts in what He did on the cross will be pardoned and forgiven. He died for all our "scams."
Ro 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
The pork barrel scam controversy is sizzling hot nowadays in the news. It has become staple news already since it came out many weeks ago. People are talking about it.
Many are angered by it, others are dismayed, some are reeling in shock, while a few could care less. What we need to know, however, is that we are all "scammers." Yes, we all have our own "pork barrel scam."
How many times have we "robbed God", so to speak, of the glory that was due Him?
How many times have we selfishly chosen sin instead of aiming for God's glory in our lives?
How many times, in our lives, have we conspired with self, sin and Satan and "plundered God", so to speak, of the glory that rightfully belonged to Him?
If we are honest with ourselves, many a time, we have chosen to act like pigs or shall I say porks, instead of behaving like humans originally made in the image of God.
My friend, we are all "scammers"; we are all sinners. We can choose to run away, we can choose to deny it or we can, by God's grace, choose to accept the pardon that God is offering to us right now in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Anyone who repents and trusts in what He did on the cross will be pardoned and forgiven. He died for all our "scams."
Thursday, September 19, 2013
GOSPEL NUGGET #278
GOSPEL NUGGETS
Romans 11:35: “....WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN?”
The answer to the question of course is "No one!" Who in the universe did ever put God under obligation to him? Let's apply this principle to salvation.
Does God save a sinner because he has done something for God that makes God under obligation to save him?
Is there such a sinner that gave so much good works to God that God had to pay him back with salvation? Can man really put God in debt with man as the creditor? Is it really possible that the infinite source and owner of everything can actually become a debtor to anyone?
Tell me what has man given to God that did not originally come from God Himself in the first place? Is it really possible that a depraved sinner can give something to a holy God that a holy God becomes indebted to him?
When you do good works, when you obey God’s commands, when you do His will, when you pray to God, when you worship God, do you really think that you are doing these things for God’s benefit and welfare? Have you not realized that it is instead the other way around?
Deut. 6:24 says: “…the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God for OUR GOOD ALWAYS and for our survival, as it is today.”
God does not owe us anything at all. Instead, we owe everything to God, including our very selves. Even our very ability to give comes from Him. This question shuts out all human merit. This verse closes the doors on gaining salvation by good works and law-keeping as many people believe.
All are sinners, and so all must look up to God, expecting to receive from Him, as an act of His mercy and not as a repayment of a debt which God owed to us.
Salvation is not a payment made by God to us. God is no debtor to any sinner or any other spiritual criminal. It is freely given by God to those who trust in the Savior at the expense of what Christ did on the cross when He died for sinners.
Romans 11:35: “....WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN?”
The answer to the question of course is "No one!" Who in the universe did ever put God under obligation to him? Let's apply this principle to salvation.
Does God save a sinner because he has done something for God that makes God under obligation to save him?
Is there such a sinner that gave so much good works to God that God had to pay him back with salvation? Can man really put God in debt with man as the creditor? Is it really possible that the infinite source and owner of everything can actually become a debtor to anyone?
Tell me what has man given to God that did not originally come from God Himself in the first place? Is it really possible that a depraved sinner can give something to a holy God that a holy God becomes indebted to him?
When you do good works, when you obey God’s commands, when you do His will, when you pray to God, when you worship God, do you really think that you are doing these things for God’s benefit and welfare? Have you not realized that it is instead the other way around?
Deut. 6:24 says: “…the LORD commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God for OUR GOOD ALWAYS and for our survival, as it is today.”
God does not owe us anything at all. Instead, we owe everything to God, including our very selves. Even our very ability to give comes from Him. This question shuts out all human merit. This verse closes the doors on gaining salvation by good works and law-keeping as many people believe.
All are sinners, and so all must look up to God, expecting to receive from Him, as an act of His mercy and not as a repayment of a debt which God owed to us.
Salvation is not a payment made by God to us. God is no debtor to any sinner or any other spiritual criminal. It is freely given by God to those who trust in the Savior at the expense of what Christ did on the cross when He died for sinners.
Monday, September 9, 2013
GOSPEL NUGGET #277
Objections To The Gospel
#9 "You keep on saying that we are to trust in Christ alone and what He did on the cross for salvation, what's wrong with trusting in both Christ and ourselves and what we could do or trusting in Christ plus someone else for salvation?"
Answer:
Just as "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other" (see Matthew 6:24) so no one can trust in two Saviors equally without trusting one more than the other.
Plus, to trust in two Saviors, when there is only one Savior appointed by God, is giving glory to one whom glory should not be attributed. It is idolatry.
Moreover, trusting in two Saviors, when there is only one Savior appointed by God, is dishonoring and failing to recognize the full glory of the Lord Jesus as Savior.
In order to be saved, God commands all sinners to trust the Savior alone, the Lord Jesus Christ. Not the Savior plus what self is and what self did, not the Savior plus someone else, no He commands "Believe/trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved." (Acts 16:31).
#9 "You keep on saying that we are to trust in Christ alone and what He did on the cross for salvation, what's wrong with trusting in both Christ and ourselves and what we could do or trusting in Christ plus someone else for salvation?"
Answer:
Just as "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other" (see Matthew 6:24) so no one can trust in two Saviors equally without trusting one more than the other.
Plus, to trust in two Saviors, when there is only one Savior appointed by God, is giving glory to one whom glory should not be attributed. It is idolatry.
Moreover, trusting in two Saviors, when there is only one Savior appointed by God, is dishonoring and failing to recognize the full glory of the Lord Jesus as Savior.
In order to be saved, God commands all sinners to trust the Savior alone, the Lord Jesus Christ. Not the Savior plus what self is and what self did, not the Savior plus someone else, no He commands "Believe/trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved." (Acts 16:31).
Thursday, September 5, 2013
GOSPEL NUGGET # 276
Cornelius: A Truly Pious Man Who Still Needed To Be Saved
In the book of Acts, chapter 10, we can read of a man, Cornelius by name, who towered in piety, and yet, he still was a man who needed to be saved.
He is described as a "devout man", "one who feared God", "who gave alms generously", who "prayed to God always" and one who had even seen "a vision of an angel of God" coming to him.
And yet with all these sterling credentials, he was a man who was not saved. He was instructed by the angel to "Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved" (See Acts 11:13-14)
This means that his piety did not at all save him. His alms-giving, his prayers, his vision of an angel from God could not guarantee him a place in heaven where he could be with God and enjoy Him forever.
He needed to hear words by which he will be saved. When the apostle Peter came, he told him about the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior. Where else could anyone find salvation except in the Savior, right? Not in your piety, not in your alms-giving or prayers but in the Savior. Peter then told him a promise from God:
"To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes (or trusts) in Him will receive remission of sins." (Ac 10:43)
In the book of Acts, chapter 10, we can read of a man, Cornelius by name, who towered in piety, and yet, he still was a man who needed to be saved.
He is described as a "devout man", "one who feared God", "who gave alms generously", who "prayed to God always" and one who had even seen "a vision of an angel of God" coming to him.
And yet with all these sterling credentials, he was a man who was not saved. He was instructed by the angel to "Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved" (See Acts 11:13-14)
This means that his piety did not at all save him. His alms-giving, his prayers, his vision of an angel from God could not guarantee him a place in heaven where he could be with God and enjoy Him forever.
He needed to hear words by which he will be saved. When the apostle Peter came, he told him about the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior. Where else could anyone find salvation except in the Savior, right? Not in your piety, not in your alms-giving or prayers but in the Savior. Peter then told him a promise from God:
"To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes (or trusts) in Him will receive remission of sins." (Ac 10:43)
And Cornelius believed, trusted, relied, depended in the Lord Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross for salvation. And there, right that very moment, he found forgiveness of sins and salvation.
A man should be devout, he should fear God, he should give alms to the needy and should pray to God always and a vision of an angel is fine and good, but his salvation does not find its foundation on these things.
He can only find salvation in trusting in the Savior and what He did on the cross for salvation. Trust in Him now!
A man should be devout, he should fear God, he should give alms to the needy and should pray to God always and a vision of an angel is fine and good, but his salvation does not find its foundation on these things.
He can only find salvation in trusting in the Savior and what He did on the cross for salvation. Trust in Him now!
Monday, September 2, 2013
GOSPEL NUGGET # 275
Are You Too Good For Jesus?
For whom did the Lord Jesus Christ come to die and save?
* 1Ti 1:15 ...Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...
* Lu 5:32 "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."
* Ro 3:10 ..."There is none righteous, no, not one;"
* Ro 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
* Lu 19:10 "...the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."
* Ro 4:5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly...
The Lord Jesus came to save sinners. He came for unrighteousness people and not for righteous people since there are none righteous in God's sight. All have sinned. All are spiritually lost. It is the "ungodly" whom God justifies and saves.
If you want to be saved and want to be with God and enjoy Him forever, then you must take the lowly place and admit and realize who and what you really are in God's sight---a sinner in need of the Savior.
If not, if you take the proud place of self-righteousness in believing that you are good enough in yourself for God to save you, then I am just so sorry for you. You are too good for Jesus. He saves sinners only.
For whom did the Lord Jesus Christ come to die and save?
* 1Ti 1:15 ...Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...
* Lu 5:32 "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."
* Ro 3:10 ..."There is none righteous, no, not one;"
* Ro 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
* Lu 19:10 "...the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."
* Ro 4:5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly...
The Lord Jesus came to save sinners. He came for unrighteousness people and not for righteous people since there are none righteous in God's sight. All have sinned. All are spiritually lost. It is the "ungodly" whom God justifies and saves.
If you want to be saved and want to be with God and enjoy Him forever, then you must take the lowly place and admit and realize who and what you really are in God's sight---a sinner in need of the Savior.
If not, if you take the proud place of self-righteousness in believing that you are good enough in yourself for God to save you, then I am just so sorry for you. You are too good for Jesus. He saves sinners only.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)