The Patient, The Doctor And Salvation
Marielle went home from school with a dull pain near her navel. Gradually the pain became sharp and moved to her lower right abdomen. She lost her appetite and felt sick all afternoon. She struggled with the feeling of wanting to throw up.
Her mother immediately rushed her to the hospital and found out that it was appendicitis and that an emergency operation must be done right away. She hesitated and wanted to take a pill instead.
But the doctor told her that no pill would do. Her only option is an operation. What could she do? She felt helpless. She could not do anything about her condition.
She had to submit herself to the doctor. She laid down and the doctor put her to sleep and did the emergency procedure that saved her life without any help from her whatsoever.
Her life was not saved by submitting herself to the doctor and then helping the doctor with the operation. No, she only submitted herself to him and laid there and had the doctor do his thing.
It is the same way with salvation. We are spiritually sick, we have a terminal disease and we can't do anything about it. If we are willing to admit it, we have no other option but the divine physician Himself---the Savior.
The only thing He asks from us is that we submit ourselves to Him in faith. He can do it ("Operation Salvation") by Himself without our help.
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
GOSPEL NUGGET #262
Gravity, Airplanes And Salvation
We are all under gravity. Everything we do and everything in us is affected by gravity. Jump so high in order to go to heaven, you cannot. It is impossible. Gravity pulls you down.
You can't pull yourself by your own bootstraps. You need something that can overcome the law of gravity...like an airplane for example. You just simply step into the plane and let it do all the work.
And Lo and Behold! The law of gravity is overpowered and you are flying across the face of the sky, sitting pretty, free as a bird!
It’s the same way with salvation. We are all under sin. Everything we do and everything in us is affected by sin. You want to go to heaven to be with God forever and enjoy Him, you cannot. It is impossible. Sin pulls you down.
You can't pull yourself by your own resources. You need Someone who can overcome sin and get rid of it---the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. You just simply trust your soul's salvation to Him and let Him do all the mighty work, a work of salvation which He already finished, when He died on the cross.
And Lo and Behold! Sin is overcome and rendered powerless. And when the time comes, at the Rapture, you will be caught up to Him in the skies to be with Him forever, looking glorious and forever free at last!
We are all under gravity. Everything we do and everything in us is affected by gravity. Jump so high in order to go to heaven, you cannot. It is impossible. Gravity pulls you down.
You can't pull yourself by your own bootstraps. You need something that can overcome the law of gravity...like an airplane for example. You just simply step into the plane and let it do all the work.
And Lo and Behold! The law of gravity is overpowered and you are flying across the face of the sky, sitting pretty, free as a bird!
It’s the same way with salvation. We are all under sin. Everything we do and everything in us is affected by sin. You want to go to heaven to be with God forever and enjoy Him, you cannot. It is impossible. Sin pulls you down.
You can't pull yourself by your own resources. You need Someone who can overcome sin and get rid of it---the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. You just simply trust your soul's salvation to Him and let Him do all the mighty work, a work of salvation which He already finished, when He died on the cross.
And Lo and Behold! Sin is overcome and rendered powerless. And when the time comes, at the Rapture, you will be caught up to Him in the skies to be with Him forever, looking glorious and forever free at last!
Sunday, June 23, 2013
GOSPEL NUGGET #261
The Old Game Of Hide And Seek
You know the game. Although there are a lot of variations of it in the world, let me tell you the way we played it:
One player buries his face in his hands on a certain spot and then the others would scamper and look for a place to hide. After he finished counting to "a million," he would then come out of his spot and start looking for them.
The first player to be caught in his sight becomes the "It," he becomes the next seeker and predator. Only the person who is able to make contact and take refuge on the agreed and approved spot will be "saved."
Many people today are playing hide and seek with God. They know that they are guilty and so they run away from God's judgment, hiding and taking refuge in just about anybody and anything they could think of that could save them.
Many take refuge and hide themselves under the pile of their good works. Others take refuge and hide themselves behind an image of a saint. Some take refuge and cover themselves with religion.
Sadly, none of these will do. The only hiding place from God's wrath and judgment is God Himself in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. "You (God) are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble..." (Psalm 32:7).
There is only one divinely approved spot in the world where one could hide and take refuge from God's judgment---it is Calvary where the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins. The sinner who takes refuge in Calvary by faith is saved and delivered.
Ac 4:12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
Come and take refuge in the Savior and what He did on the cross!
You know the game. Although there are a lot of variations of it in the world, let me tell you the way we played it:
One player buries his face in his hands on a certain spot and then the others would scamper and look for a place to hide. After he finished counting to "a million," he would then come out of his spot and start looking for them.
The first player to be caught in his sight becomes the "It," he becomes the next seeker and predator. Only the person who is able to make contact and take refuge on the agreed and approved spot will be "saved."
Many people today are playing hide and seek with God. They know that they are guilty and so they run away from God's judgment, hiding and taking refuge in just about anybody and anything they could think of that could save them.
Many take refuge and hide themselves under the pile of their good works. Others take refuge and hide themselves behind an image of a saint. Some take refuge and cover themselves with religion.
Sadly, none of these will do. The only hiding place from God's wrath and judgment is God Himself in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. "You (God) are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble..." (Psalm 32:7).
There is only one divinely approved spot in the world where one could hide and take refuge from God's judgment---it is Calvary where the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins. The sinner who takes refuge in Calvary by faith is saved and delivered.
Ac 4:12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
Come and take refuge in the Savior and what He did on the cross!
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
GOSPEL NUGGET #260
Which Among The Many Is The True Denomination?
A man in a dream found himself at the gates of hell. He knocked and inquired as to who were inside:
* "Are there Baptists in here?" he asked. "Yes" was the answer.
* "Are there any from the Born Again group?" he asked again. "Yes, we have some of them here." came the answer.
* "What about Methodists?" Again, the answer was "Yes."
* "How about Roman Catholics?" he curiously asked. "Yes, we have them too," was the reply.
As he continued asking, he realized that there are people in hell coming from all denominations. He walked away perturbed, puzzled and perplexed. When he found himself in heaven, he asked the angel standing at the gate:
"When I went to hell, I discovered that there are people there coming from all denominations. I am in distress because I belong to one of them. Which then, among the many, is the true denomination in order for one to go to heaven?"
The angel replied: "You are greatly mistaken! Going to heaven and being with God and enjoying Him forever is not a matter of which denomination you belong to. It is what you do with His Son whom He sent as the Savior of sinners. Have you trusted in Him or not? That's the issue. That's the question."
Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
A man in a dream found himself at the gates of hell. He knocked and inquired as to who were inside:
* "Are there Baptists in here?" he asked. "Yes" was the answer.
* "Are there any from the Born Again group?" he asked again. "Yes, we have some of them here." came the answer.
* "What about Methodists?" Again, the answer was "Yes."
* "How about Roman Catholics?" he curiously asked. "Yes, we have them too," was the reply.
As he continued asking, he realized that there are people in hell coming from all denominations. He walked away perturbed, puzzled and perplexed. When he found himself in heaven, he asked the angel standing at the gate:
"When I went to hell, I discovered that there are people there coming from all denominations. I am in distress because I belong to one of them. Which then, among the many, is the true denomination in order for one to go to heaven?"
The angel replied: "You are greatly mistaken! Going to heaven and being with God and enjoying Him forever is not a matter of which denomination you belong to. It is what you do with His Son whom He sent as the Savior of sinners. Have you trusted in Him or not? That's the issue. That's the question."
Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me."
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
GOSPEL NUGGET #259
NBA Championship
NBA basketball has reached fever pitch these days now that the NBA Finals is on. The first team to win four games merits the trophy.
The Larry O'Brien NBA championship trophy is only awarded to the team that deserves it. Only the hungrier, more talented team that works hard for it will earn the prestigious and coveted NBA title.
Many people think that obtaining salvation from God is like winning an NBA title. They think that a sinner must work hard for it. That he must earn it in order to get it.
But thank God, He does not give salvation and eternal life this way. If God decided to grant eternal life as an award, none of us can bag it. God demands a perfect field goal percentage in order for one to get it.
In His mercy and grace, He decided to give salvation not as a trophy to be won but as a gift to be received freely: "...the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23.
NBA basketball has reached fever pitch these days now that the NBA Finals is on. The first team to win four games merits the trophy.
The Larry O'Brien NBA championship trophy is only awarded to the team that deserves it. Only the hungrier, more talented team that works hard for it will earn the prestigious and coveted NBA title.
Many people think that obtaining salvation from God is like winning an NBA title. They think that a sinner must work hard for it. That he must earn it in order to get it.
But thank God, He does not give salvation and eternal life this way. If God decided to grant eternal life as an award, none of us can bag it. God demands a perfect field goal percentage in order for one to get it.
In His mercy and grace, He decided to give salvation not as a trophy to be won but as a gift to be received freely: "...the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
GOSPEL NUGGET#258
Salvation Principles Taken From Events In Life
Clair scanned the small secluded bathroom he was accidentally confined in. The door just refuses to open.
His hands were clammy and a trickle of cold sweat can be seen on his forehead. His heart raced and skipped a beat. The walls around him seemed to close in on him as he struggled to catch his breath.
Trapped, alone, isolated and helpless he frantically called out for help but no one could hear his cries as it was drowned by the deafening noise outside. A band was playing, filling the place with war music.
His efforts to extricate himself were to no avail. He could not do anything at all. The situation was beyond him. Forever went by and then help finally came. But one by one, they proved to be no match to the situation. They were all not equal to it. He was still tightly shut in and jammed as he was.
Deliverance only came when a carpenter was called in who skillfully undid the door knob.
What we have here is nothing less than a picture of salvation. Man as a sinner is jammed and shut in by sin. He could never free himself from the penalty, power and presence of sin. He is totally helpless.
Man-made helps like religion, morality and other self-help schemes could never pull him out. Deliverance could only come from the Carpenter from Nazareth, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is He alone who can undo sin and who can successfully pull you out from the spiritual rot and detention you are in.
Clair scanned the small secluded bathroom he was accidentally confined in. The door just refuses to open.
His hands were clammy and a trickle of cold sweat can be seen on his forehead. His heart raced and skipped a beat. The walls around him seemed to close in on him as he struggled to catch his breath.
Trapped, alone, isolated and helpless he frantically called out for help but no one could hear his cries as it was drowned by the deafening noise outside. A band was playing, filling the place with war music.
His efforts to extricate himself were to no avail. He could not do anything at all. The situation was beyond him. Forever went by and then help finally came. But one by one, they proved to be no match to the situation. They were all not equal to it. He was still tightly shut in and jammed as he was.
Deliverance only came when a carpenter was called in who skillfully undid the door knob.
What we have here is nothing less than a picture of salvation. Man as a sinner is jammed and shut in by sin. He could never free himself from the penalty, power and presence of sin. He is totally helpless.
Man-made helps like religion, morality and other self-help schemes could never pull him out. Deliverance could only come from the Carpenter from Nazareth, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is He alone who can undo sin and who can successfully pull you out from the spiritual rot and detention you are in.
Saturday, June 15, 2013
GOSPEL NUGGET #257
Father's Day
The Fatherhood of God is a thing that has been misunderstood by many. In a ***CREATOR---CREATURE*** sense, we are all His children. God was the one who created us, He is the source of our existence and so in that sense, He is our Father and we are His children.
AC 17:28 for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’
However, not everyone is a child of God in a ***SPIRITUAL REDEMPTIVE*** sense. In a spiritual redemptive sense, only those who have received the Savior by trusting in Him are God's children.
Galatians 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
When Gal. 3:26 says: "...YOU are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus", the writer did not mean automatically you and me. The pronoun "you" refers to people in a place called Galatia long ago who trusted in the Savior alone for salvation.
The apostle John is very clear: "as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe/trust in His name."
This Father's day, is God your Father? Have you trusted in the Savior alone for salvation?
The Fatherhood of God is a thing that has been misunderstood by many. In a ***CREATOR---CREATURE*** sense, we are all His children. God was the one who created us, He is the source of our existence and so in that sense, He is our Father and we are His children.
AC 17:28 for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’
However, not everyone is a child of God in a ***SPIRITUAL REDEMPTIVE*** sense. In a spiritual redemptive sense, only those who have received the Savior by trusting in Him are God's children.
Galatians 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
When Gal. 3:26 says: "...YOU are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus", the writer did not mean automatically you and me. The pronoun "you" refers to people in a place called Galatia long ago who trusted in the Savior alone for salvation.
The apostle John is very clear: "as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe/trust in His name."
This Father's day, is God your Father? Have you trusted in the Savior alone for salvation?
Thursday, June 13, 2013
GOSPEL NUGGET #256
Independence Day
Joh 8:34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
John 8:36 “If the Son therefore shall make you FREE, ye shall be FREE INDEED”
Many people living in this free country are under bondage. They are under the bondage of lust, selfish ambition, pride and many other sinful attitudes.
When Master Lust says: "Go and do this!" They find themselves unable to resists him. They go and do his bidding.
When Master Selfish Ambition says: "Go and aim for this!" Off they go and chart their lives after his wishes.
When Master Pride says: "Go and exalt and promote yourself!" They go and seek great things for themSELVES!"
Countless other masters have enslaved many of us here. At the end of the day, these slaves find themselves hurt, devastated and bewildered. They have pierced themselves with many sorrows with the consequences of their slavery to Master Sin.
Do you want to be freed from the slavery of sin? Come to Christ, The Emancipator!
Joh 8:34 Jesus answered them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
John 8:36 “If the Son therefore shall make you FREE, ye shall be FREE INDEED”
Many people living in this free country are under bondage. They are under the bondage of lust, selfish ambition, pride and many other sinful attitudes.
When Master Lust says: "Go and do this!" They find themselves unable to resists him. They go and do his bidding.
When Master Selfish Ambition says: "Go and aim for this!" Off they go and chart their lives after his wishes.
When Master Pride says: "Go and exalt and promote yourself!" They go and seek great things for themSELVES!"
Countless other masters have enslaved many of us here. At the end of the day, these slaves find themselves hurt, devastated and bewildered. They have pierced themselves with many sorrows with the consequences of their slavery to Master Sin.
Do you want to be freed from the slavery of sin? Come to Christ, The Emancipator!
Thursday, June 6, 2013
GOSPEL NUGGET # 255
The Worst Kind Of Death
Many people say "Strangulation! To die from strangulation is a terrible way to die. Can you imagine dying by being choked?"
Others say "Decapitation! To have your head chopped off from you is the worst of all deaths."
Still others say "Incineration! To be burned alive is the worst of all deaths."
Some say "Deterioration! To have your body eaten up bit by bit by a disease is a very painful death."
But none of these can qualify as the worst kind of death. In the Bible, the worst kind of death is to die without a Savior. Imagine facing God with all your sins and spending eternity away from Him in hell forever and ever?!!? That would be like strangulation, decapitation, incineration, deterioration and more all in one! That's the worst kind of death!
My friend, you can avoid dying the worst kind of death by having the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior. Trust in Him alone for salvation!
Many people say "Strangulation! To die from strangulation is a terrible way to die. Can you imagine dying by being choked?"
Others say "Decapitation! To have your head chopped off from you is the worst of all deaths."
Still others say "Incineration! To be burned alive is the worst of all deaths."
Some say "Deterioration! To have your body eaten up bit by bit by a disease is a very painful death."
But none of these can qualify as the worst kind of death. In the Bible, the worst kind of death is to die without a Savior. Imagine facing God with all your sins and spending eternity away from Him in hell forever and ever?!!? That would be like strangulation, decapitation, incineration, deterioration and more all in one! That's the worst kind of death!
My friend, you can avoid dying the worst kind of death by having the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior. Trust in Him alone for salvation!
Sunday, June 2, 2013
GOSPEL NUGGET #254
Pay Attention Or Pay The Price
(The Danger Of Ignoring God's Warnings)
A young man took a hike with loud rock music blasting in his ears, while, at the same time, reading a comic book in his hands.
His attention was so riveted to what he was reading and listening that he was totally oblivious to the frantic shouts of people around and the blare of the oncoming train's horns, all warning him of the danger he was in.
He did not pay attention. And his inattention cost him his life.
In the same way, many people are so engrossed with the passing and trivial things of this world, without paying attention to God's warnings of a coming judgment through gospel tracts, radio messages, Facebook messages, concerned Christian classmate or co-worker or friend who told about them about the wrath to come.
How about you my friend? Are you so absorbed with the fleeting things of this world that they blind your eyes and deafen your ears to the danger which is rapidly approaching?
"Flee from the wrath to come" (Mat. 3:7) and run and hide and take refuge in the Rock of salvation, the Savior, Jesus Christ.
(The Danger Of Ignoring God's Warnings)
A young man took a hike with loud rock music blasting in his ears, while, at the same time, reading a comic book in his hands.
His attention was so riveted to what he was reading and listening that he was totally oblivious to the frantic shouts of people around and the blare of the oncoming train's horns, all warning him of the danger he was in.
He did not pay attention. And his inattention cost him his life.
In the same way, many people are so engrossed with the passing and trivial things of this world, without paying attention to God's warnings of a coming judgment through gospel tracts, radio messages, Facebook messages, concerned Christian classmate or co-worker or friend who told about them about the wrath to come.
How about you my friend? Are you so absorbed with the fleeting things of this world that they blind your eyes and deafen your ears to the danger which is rapidly approaching?
"Flee from the wrath to come" (Mat. 3:7) and run and hide and take refuge in the Rock of salvation, the Savior, Jesus Christ.
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