Wednesday, January 29, 2014
GOSPEL NUGGET #315
Sin Is No Cheap Thrill
Nu 32:23 "...be sure your sin will find you out."
You can pursue a life of sin and seemingly get ahead and away from it, but be sure of this, it will pursue you and track you down and overtake you when you least expect it.
Sin is a relentless and merciless creditor that will follow you wherever you go and ruthlessly demands that you pay your debts. The ghosts of your sins in the past will eventually catch up with you to haunt you, distress you and even destroy you.
A sinful act hardens into a sinful habit, a sinful habit solidifies into a sinful character. And a sinful character will eventually make a mess of himself with others.
Let a man or a woman alone in his lust and greed and eventually he or she will be involved in a situation where he or she in effect punishes himself or herself with guilt, shame, suffering, sorrow and pain. All these because of his or her own fault.
God oftentimes uses one sin as an instrument in exposing another. A man indulging in some private sin sets himself up for a public one. Just give him time and he will expose himself.
Slowly, subtly but surely, your sin will come back to you and announce to the world that he belongs to you.
God will make you realize that sin always has an inescapable consequence, temporal and eternal. You will always reap a harvest to the sin that you sowed, sooner or later. Be sure your sin will find you out.
But there is a way to deal with the eternal consequence of your sin. I say eternal because God never promised everyone to remove the temporal consequence of our sins. "If the righteous is repaid on earth, how much more the wicked and the sinner!" Prov. 11:31
To remove or not to remove the temporal consequence of our sins is His discretion. The way to deal with the eternal consequence of our sin (punishment in the lake of fire) is to have our sin removed, dismissed and taken away!
If that is the case, then the eternal consequence of our sin will never find us out! "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29
Come to Christ in repentance and faith and have your sins taken away before it finds you out. And the eternal consequence of your sins will never find you out because it found Him with your sins on the cross!
Sunday, January 26, 2014
GOSPEL NUGGET#314
Are You A Careless Fool?
A man sold everything he possessed down to the last item. Then with the money, he bought a very costly pearl. The pearl represented everything that he possessed in life.
Hopping into a small and narrow row boat, he made his way to an island. Inside the boat, to while away the time, to somehow amuse himself, he played with the pearl.
He would toss the pearl high up in the air and catch it and toss it again and catch it again. On and on, he did this with the surrounding ocean opening its mouth wide ready to gobble up the pearl the moment it would slip away from his hand.
You say: "That man is a careless fool! I would never do such a thing!"
Really? Well, you are worse, if you are one who has never repented and trusted Christ alone for salvation.
That pearl represents your soul. And you are going through this life just being careless with it. Without entrusting it to the Savior, you are exposing it to constant danger. Anytime, it could sink into a place of torment.
Be a careless fool no more. Come to Christ in repentance and faith, trusting in Him and what He did on the cross alone for salvation.
A man sold everything he possessed down to the last item. Then with the money, he bought a very costly pearl. The pearl represented everything that he possessed in life.
Hopping into a small and narrow row boat, he made his way to an island. Inside the boat, to while away the time, to somehow amuse himself, he played with the pearl.
He would toss the pearl high up in the air and catch it and toss it again and catch it again. On and on, he did this with the surrounding ocean opening its mouth wide ready to gobble up the pearl the moment it would slip away from his hand.
You say: "That man is a careless fool! I would never do such a thing!"
Really? Well, you are worse, if you are one who has never repented and trusted Christ alone for salvation.
That pearl represents your soul. And you are going through this life just being careless with it. Without entrusting it to the Savior, you are exposing it to constant danger. Anytime, it could sink into a place of torment.
Be a careless fool no more. Come to Christ in repentance and faith, trusting in Him and what He did on the cross alone for salvation.
Monday, January 20, 2014
GOSPEL NUGGET#313
The Mechanics Of Salvation
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, that no one might boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
* The Cause Of Salvation: "Grace"
* The Availability Of Salvation: "SaveD" Notice the past tense. You can be saveD now.
* The Method Or Means Of Salvation: "Through faith"
* The Source Of Salvation: a) "Not of yourselves" b) "It is..of God"
* The Nature Of Salvation: "It is the gift of God"
* The Principle Of Salvation: "Not of works"
* The Purpose Of Salvation: "That no one might boast"
* The Dynamic Of Salvation: It is God's "workmanship"
* The Project Of Salvation: "Created"
* The Sphere Of Salvation: "In Christ Jesus"
* The Result Of Salvation: "Unto good works"
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, that no one might boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
* The Cause Of Salvation: "Grace"
* The Availability Of Salvation: "SaveD" Notice the past tense. You can be saveD now.
* The Method Or Means Of Salvation: "Through faith"
* The Source Of Salvation: a) "Not of yourselves" b) "It is..of God"
* The Nature Of Salvation: "It is the gift of God"
* The Principle Of Salvation: "Not of works"
* The Purpose Of Salvation: "That no one might boast"
* The Dynamic Of Salvation: It is God's "workmanship"
* The Project Of Salvation: "Created"
* The Sphere Of Salvation: "In Christ Jesus"
* The Result Of Salvation: "Unto good works"
Sunday, January 19, 2014
GOSPEL NUGGET #312
"When You See A Turtle On A Fence Post, You Know He Didn't Get There By Himself"
This is a famous statement in the US. It was originally a joke aimed at incompetent politicians. An old man was talking to a young man:
"When you're driving down a country road and you see a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that's a post turtle. You know he didn't get up there by himself. He doesn't belong there; he can't get anything done while he's up there; and you just want to help the poor, dumb thing down."
This is sadly true of many politicians who are in office.
When you come to think of it, the statement is true to all of us, spiritually speaking. When you see a sinner up there in heaven, you know that he did not get there by himself. Somebody saved him to be up there.
Like helpless turtles, we could not climb heaven by our own efforts. God's standard is perfection. No sin at all. Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden of Eden on the demerit of a single sin.
That's a very tall order for us. It's an impossible uphill climb for all of us. No human being (excepting the Lord Jesus) has ever climbed Mount Perfection and stood over its summit.
The Bible describes us sinners as "without strength" (Romans 5:6) to perfectly do God's will and save ourselves.
We all need the Deliverer, the Savior, who will pull us out from the abyss of condemnation to the celestial and exalted heights of salvation to ultimately enjoy God forever in heaven.
Anyone who clings in faith to the Savior and what He did on the cross will be delivered.
This is a famous statement in the US. It was originally a joke aimed at incompetent politicians. An old man was talking to a young man:
"When you're driving down a country road and you see a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that's a post turtle. You know he didn't get up there by himself. He doesn't belong there; he can't get anything done while he's up there; and you just want to help the poor, dumb thing down."
This is sadly true of many politicians who are in office.
When you come to think of it, the statement is true to all of us, spiritually speaking. When you see a sinner up there in heaven, you know that he did not get there by himself. Somebody saved him to be up there.
Like helpless turtles, we could not climb heaven by our own efforts. God's standard is perfection. No sin at all. Adam and Eve were driven out of the Garden of Eden on the demerit of a single sin.
That's a very tall order for us. It's an impossible uphill climb for all of us. No human being (excepting the Lord Jesus) has ever climbed Mount Perfection and stood over its summit.
The Bible describes us sinners as "without strength" (Romans 5:6) to perfectly do God's will and save ourselves.
We all need the Deliverer, the Savior, who will pull us out from the abyss of condemnation to the celestial and exalted heights of salvation to ultimately enjoy God forever in heaven.
Anyone who clings in faith to the Savior and what He did on the cross will be delivered.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
GOSPEL NUGGET #311
Question: If Christ paid for all our sins then God would be unfair by exacting double payment if He sends anyone to hell to pay for his sins. Would this be the case?
Answer:
We must realize that what Christ did on the cross for our sins was provisional in nature. Being provisional, there is therefore the need to receive and avail ourselves of it through faith in Him and what He did on the cross, if we are to enter into the good of it.
Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ provided the payment for our sins when He died on the cross, with God giving His nod of approval of it when He raised Him from the dead.
But that provisional atonement/payment can only be applied actually to us and to our sins the very moment we receive it by faith in Him.
If we learn to distinguish between provision and application, then double payment is not an issue. Since the provision is never applied automatically to all but is only applied to those who trust in Him.
His death on the cross was sufficient for all the world, but it is applied only to those who put their trust in Him.
Joh 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes/trusts in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
Answer:
We must realize that what Christ did on the cross for our sins was provisional in nature. Being provisional, there is therefore the need to receive and avail ourselves of it through faith in Him and what He did on the cross, if we are to enter into the good of it.
Yes, the Lord Jesus Christ provided the payment for our sins when He died on the cross, with God giving His nod of approval of it when He raised Him from the dead.
But that provisional atonement/payment can only be applied actually to us and to our sins the very moment we receive it by faith in Him.
If we learn to distinguish between provision and application, then double payment is not an issue. Since the provision is never applied automatically to all but is only applied to those who trust in Him.
His death on the cross was sufficient for all the world, but it is applied only to those who put their trust in Him.
Joh 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes/trusts in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
1Ti 4:10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.
GOSPEL NUGGET # 310
Uncle Tom's Cabin
When US president Abraham Lincoln met Harriet Beecher Stowe at the start of the Civil War, Lincoln declared, "So this is the little lady who started this great war."
The American Civil War (1861-1867) had its origin in the issue of slavery of the black people in America.
Harriet Beecher Stowe was the one who wrote the best-selling book in the 1800's next to the Bible called Uncle Tom's Cabin. It gripped the minds of people in America and in England. It was very instrumental in catapulting the idea that slavery must be abolished. One little lady made a difference for millions of people.
The story is about a godly, black Christian slave called Tom. Here is the gospel in the story:
Tom was separated from his family when his master sold him to a slave trader. The slave trader in turn sold him to a rich man who had a little young girl who took a particular friendly affection for Tom.
Little did everyone know that the young girl was dying. After she died, Tom was released as a free man, to his surprise. The rich man told Tom that his daughter made her promise that he would let Tom go a free man when she dies. And so he did.
Isn't this exactly what the Lord Jesus did when He died for us? We were hopelessly enslaved to sin. But God the Father and God the Son made a covenant together. God the Father promised the Lord Jesus Christ that anyone who trust in Him and what He did on the cross will be freed from the slavery of sin.
Freed by the death of His Son.
When US president Abraham Lincoln met Harriet Beecher Stowe at the start of the Civil War, Lincoln declared, "So this is the little lady who started this great war."
The American Civil War (1861-1867) had its origin in the issue of slavery of the black people in America.
Harriet Beecher Stowe was the one who wrote the best-selling book in the 1800's next to the Bible called Uncle Tom's Cabin. It gripped the minds of people in America and in England. It was very instrumental in catapulting the idea that slavery must be abolished. One little lady made a difference for millions of people.
The story is about a godly, black Christian slave called Tom. Here is the gospel in the story:
Tom was separated from his family when his master sold him to a slave trader. The slave trader in turn sold him to a rich man who had a little young girl who took a particular friendly affection for Tom.
Little did everyone know that the young girl was dying. After she died, Tom was released as a free man, to his surprise. The rich man told Tom that his daughter made her promise that he would let Tom go a free man when she dies. And so he did.
Isn't this exactly what the Lord Jesus did when He died for us? We were hopelessly enslaved to sin. But God the Father and God the Son made a covenant together. God the Father promised the Lord Jesus Christ that anyone who trust in Him and what He did on the cross will be freed from the slavery of sin.
Freed by the death of His Son.
Monday, January 13, 2014
GOSPEL NUGGET #309
Saved By Faith Alone And Not By Works By An Ergonomic Chair
Sitting in front of my computer is an ergonomic chair. It has saved me from falling one too many times.
"Come, rely and entrust yourself wholly to me and I will save you from falling," it seems to say to me everyday.
Being totally confident, I always find myself giving my whole body totally to it, day after day after day. I would just sit on it and let go of my whole weight leaving the business of holding myself up completely to my chair.
I never worry. I never tried helping it carry me like lifting myself up somehow by straining my legs like we do when we sit on air. I never exert any effort at all believe you me! I just simply let the chair do all the saving, or carrying for me! And it has never failed me.
If the Lord Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross were a chair, would you be willing to entrust yourself to Him, leaving the whole business of saving yourself from an eternal fall to Him?
Ac 16:30 And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
31 So they said, "Believe (trust and rely or shall we say SIT) on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved...
Sitting in front of my computer is an ergonomic chair. It has saved me from falling one too many times.
"Come, rely and entrust yourself wholly to me and I will save you from falling," it seems to say to me everyday.
Being totally confident, I always find myself giving my whole body totally to it, day after day after day. I would just sit on it and let go of my whole weight leaving the business of holding myself up completely to my chair.
I never worry. I never tried helping it carry me like lifting myself up somehow by straining my legs like we do when we sit on air. I never exert any effort at all believe you me! I just simply let the chair do all the saving, or carrying for me! And it has never failed me.
If the Lord Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross were a chair, would you be willing to entrust yourself to Him, leaving the whole business of saving yourself from an eternal fall to Him?
Ac 16:30 And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
31 So they said, "Believe (trust and rely or shall we say SIT) on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved...
Thursday, January 9, 2014
GOSPEL NUGGET #308
Let me tell you a story that happened to me last Saturday afternoon. I was driving my car to get my new glasses at Shopwise. You can just imagine the mad rush of cars on the street.
My attention was jumping from one car to another, I was being careful not to collide with any of them. Just ahead, my attention was caught by a road sign placed in the middle of the road that said: "No left turn." That sign was not usually there before. And I very seldom go by this highway.
There is something about road signs that are not there before that makes your mind focus on it a little bit more. And so I was careful to obey it, didn't make a left turn but made a U-turn.
Just then, an officer appeared and signaled me to pull over. In astonishment, I asked him: "What was wrong?" He pointed to a "No U-Turn" sign just meters away from the "No Left Turn" sign!
That would mean reckless driving on my part, although, in reality, to me, it was more like restless driving, due to my restlessness and concern about not getting hit by passing cars, I did not see the sign.
He really looked determined to have me go through that dreaded seminar for reckless drivers. But I explained to him what went through my mind when I made the infraction, although I knew that law was law.
And then he said something like this: "Okay, in the spirit of CHRISTmas, I am dismissing the charge against you." I thanked him profusely and sped off to get my new eyes.
The officer did not know that he uttered a Gospel Nugget for me to write. I remembered Ephesians 4:32 in the King James Version of the Bible, these words: "even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
I broke God's law, and a reckless sinner like me deserved to be condemned. But for Christ's sake, He dropped and dismissed the charges against me because of Christ.
We don't receive forgiveness from God for the sake of the good things we have done, we can have forgiveness from Him because of Christ. Come to Him in repentance and faith.
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
GOSPEL NUGGET #307
"Do you believe that I am able to do this?" (Mat. 9:28)
This is the question posed by the Lord Jesus Christ to blind men who came to Him for healing. They came to Him for sight because they believed that He had the might to bring light to their night.
They saw their utter helplessness and their need of Him who is able to do for them what they could never do for themselves. He was their only hope and they were counting on Him to brighten their dark world. And so they came to Him in faith and went on their way with a new life.
In the same way, have you seen you utter helplessness to save yourself? Have you realized the fact that it is only Christ who can save you? Do you believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is able to save you completely? Do you believe that His work on the cross was mighty enough to save you?"
This is the question posed by the Lord Jesus Christ to blind men who came to Him for healing. They came to Him for sight because they believed that He had the might to bring light to their night.
They saw their utter helplessness and their need of Him who is able to do for them what they could never do for themselves. He was their only hope and they were counting on Him to brighten their dark world. And so they came to Him in faith and went on their way with a new life.
In the same way, have you seen you utter helplessness to save yourself? Have you realized the fact that it is only Christ who can save you? Do you believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is able to save you completely? Do you believe that His work on the cross was mighty enough to save you?"
GOSPEL NUGGET #306
The Meaning Of The Gospel Message
The Gospel is the good news that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins and was raised back to life (see 1 Cor. 15:1-4).
What does it all mean? What does it all imply?
The death of the Lord Jesus Christ for our sins is the provisional payment He made on the cross for all our spiritual crimes against God.
That He was raised to life again refers to the fact that God was satisfied with the provisional payment He made on the cross. God accepted the payment the Lord Jesus provided. For if God was not satisfied with what the Lord Jesus did, He would never raise Him back to life.
His resurrection was God's "Amen!" to the Lord Jesus' "It is finished!"
So, summing it all up, the Gospel message just simply means this---we are all sinners, but the Lord Jesus provided a satisfactory payment for us and God has accepted it as the only acceptable payment for our sins! At last an open door has been provided in order for us to be saved and forgiven!
Note however that the payment is provisional. Meaning, we must avail ourselves of the payment He freely provided for us all.
Look at it this way. Christ did not provide cash for us all. No, He provided checks for our sins against God. There is therefore the need to receive the checks and endorse it by faith as it were.
After all, what are available and free and good checks if we don't receive it and endorse it? What is an available and provisional bridge if you don't cross it? What is free medication if we don't take it in? What is a provisional payment if we don't avail ourselves of it? What is an open door if we don't enter in?
The Gospel is the good news that the Lord Jesus Christ died for our sins and was raised back to life (see 1 Cor. 15:1-4).
What does it all mean? What does it all imply?
The death of the Lord Jesus Christ for our sins is the provisional payment He made on the cross for all our spiritual crimes against God.
That He was raised to life again refers to the fact that God was satisfied with the provisional payment He made on the cross. God accepted the payment the Lord Jesus provided. For if God was not satisfied with what the Lord Jesus did, He would never raise Him back to life.
His resurrection was God's "Amen!" to the Lord Jesus' "It is finished!"
So, summing it all up, the Gospel message just simply means this---we are all sinners, but the Lord Jesus provided a satisfactory payment for us and God has accepted it as the only acceptable payment for our sins! At last an open door has been provided in order for us to be saved and forgiven!
Note however that the payment is provisional. Meaning, we must avail ourselves of the payment He freely provided for us all.
Look at it this way. Christ did not provide cash for us all. No, He provided checks for our sins against God. There is therefore the need to receive the checks and endorse it by faith as it were.
After all, what are available and free and good checks if we don't receive it and endorse it? What is an available and provisional bridge if you don't cross it? What is free medication if we don't take it in? What is a provisional payment if we don't avail ourselves of it? What is an open door if we don't enter in?
GOSPEL NUGGET #305
Why Good Works, Religiosity And Philanthropy Cannot Save Us
Let me give you one of the reasons.
God set the penalty for sin from the beginning---death. Eternal, spiritual and physical death, separation from God in the lake of fire. God said:
"...the wages of sin is death..." Rom 6:23
The moment you truly believe in these words is the moment you will stop attempting to save yourself and earn for yourself forgiveness by doing good, by being religious and by being philanthropic, because, by then, you will be convinced that God will never accept these substitutes to the penalty He has truly set.
You want to really and truly pay for your sins yourself? Then you must die and be eternally separated from God forever. IF FOREVER ENDS, you can come back as a spiritual ex-convict and you can say to everybody: "I paid the penalty myself. I was separated from God forever in hell, and now I am here free!"
Yes, you don't want to take that option. It's not even a possibility. Here's the only other option:
You trust and rely on what the Lord Jesus Christ did for you on the cross for your salvation. Being God, He is an eternal person and therefore His death on Calvary had an eternal value that satisfied the penalty that God's justice and holiness demanded.
Let me give you one of the reasons.
God set the penalty for sin from the beginning---death. Eternal, spiritual and physical death, separation from God in the lake of fire. God said:
"...the wages of sin is death..." Rom 6:23
The moment you truly believe in these words is the moment you will stop attempting to save yourself and earn for yourself forgiveness by doing good, by being religious and by being philanthropic, because, by then, you will be convinced that God will never accept these substitutes to the penalty He has truly set.
You want to really and truly pay for your sins yourself? Then you must die and be eternally separated from God forever. IF FOREVER ENDS, you can come back as a spiritual ex-convict and you can say to everybody: "I paid the penalty myself. I was separated from God forever in hell, and now I am here free!"
Yes, you don't want to take that option. It's not even a possibility. Here's the only other option:
You trust and rely on what the Lord Jesus Christ did for you on the cross for your salvation. Being God, He is an eternal person and therefore His death on Calvary had an eternal value that satisfied the penalty that God's justice and holiness demanded.
GOSPEL NUGGET #304
The Poisonous Snake, The Antidote And Salvation
Jessy was playing in a prairie. The grass looked inviting to the young child of six. And so out he went to play. The world looked green and beautiful through the eyes of an innocent child.
Suddenly, Jessy let out a painful cry. A biting pain clasped around his leg. To the horror of his parents who ran to his rescue, a poisonous snake sank its deadly fangs into Jessy.
9-11 was called. In no time, paramedics were on Jessy's side. The snake was captured and information was sent immediately to an institute specializing in poisonous snakes.
Time was running fast with death running through Jessy's veins. They felt helpless, they could only wait. Minutes felt like eternity. Then, in the nick of time, somebody showed up with the antidote.
Then down rushed life and salvation into Jessy, chasing death to beat it to his heart. Gradually, the color of life began to return to Jessy. Jessy was on his way to recovery.
Did you notice that in Jessy's case, we can say that his salvation is by faith alone?
The family did not object to the antidote that was to be infused into him. They were confident that it alone could cure Jessy. They never improved it or added anything to it. They simply stood there, doing nothing at all, and let the antidote by itself do its saving work. Jessy too just laid there the whole time, contributing nothing at all. He was simply counting on the antidote to do its mighty work.
The words of Moses would fit in perfectly well to their situation when he said to Israel: "Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today..." (Exodus 14:13)
You see, sin has bitten us all. And we are all dying. If no Antidote comes, we will perish and die separated from God forever. Thankfully, God has sent His antidote, the Lord Jesus Christ.
And just like in Jessy's case, He is an antidote who is enough and effective who can do all the work of saving you. All He asks is that you take Him in by faith, putting your entire confidence in Him and what He did on the cross.
Jessy was playing in a prairie. The grass looked inviting to the young child of six. And so out he went to play. The world looked green and beautiful through the eyes of an innocent child.
Suddenly, Jessy let out a painful cry. A biting pain clasped around his leg. To the horror of his parents who ran to his rescue, a poisonous snake sank its deadly fangs into Jessy.
9-11 was called. In no time, paramedics were on Jessy's side. The snake was captured and information was sent immediately to an institute specializing in poisonous snakes.
Time was running fast with death running through Jessy's veins. They felt helpless, they could only wait. Minutes felt like eternity. Then, in the nick of time, somebody showed up with the antidote.
Then down rushed life and salvation into Jessy, chasing death to beat it to his heart. Gradually, the color of life began to return to Jessy. Jessy was on his way to recovery.
Did you notice that in Jessy's case, we can say that his salvation is by faith alone?
The family did not object to the antidote that was to be infused into him. They were confident that it alone could cure Jessy. They never improved it or added anything to it. They simply stood there, doing nothing at all, and let the antidote by itself do its saving work. Jessy too just laid there the whole time, contributing nothing at all. He was simply counting on the antidote to do its mighty work.
The words of Moses would fit in perfectly well to their situation when he said to Israel: "Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the LORD which He will accomplish for you today..." (Exodus 14:13)
You see, sin has bitten us all. And we are all dying. If no Antidote comes, we will perish and die separated from God forever. Thankfully, God has sent His antidote, the Lord Jesus Christ.
And just like in Jessy's case, He is an antidote who is enough and effective who can do all the work of saving you. All He asks is that you take Him in by faith, putting your entire confidence in Him and what He did on the cross.
GOSPEL NUGGET #303
If The Lord Jesus Christ Were A Surgeon, A Car Mechanic And A Banker
If Christ Jesus were a surgeon, and if I have a fatal ailment that could only be eliminated by surgery, I would willingly and wholeheartedly submit myself to Him. I would entrust myself to Him, feeling totally safe, knowing that He is fully able to do for me what I could never do for myself.
If Christ Jesus were a car mechanic, and if I have a car that needs an overhaul, I would willingly and wholeheartedly entrust my vehicle to Him, feeling confident that He could do something for my car, what I could never do for it.
If Christ Jesus were a banker, I would willingly and wholeheartedly deposit all my life savings to Him, knowing fully well that it is in safe hands, who could guarantee sure interests to it.
My friend, what if Christ Jesus is all of that spiritually speaking? What if He is the Savior (and He is), would you be willing to submit, entrust and deposit the salvation of your soul entirely to Him and what He did on the cross?
If Christ Jesus were a surgeon, and if I have a fatal ailment that could only be eliminated by surgery, I would willingly and wholeheartedly submit myself to Him. I would entrust myself to Him, feeling totally safe, knowing that He is fully able to do for me what I could never do for myself.
If Christ Jesus were a car mechanic, and if I have a car that needs an overhaul, I would willingly and wholeheartedly entrust my vehicle to Him, feeling confident that He could do something for my car, what I could never do for it.
If Christ Jesus were a banker, I would willingly and wholeheartedly deposit all my life savings to Him, knowing fully well that it is in safe hands, who could guarantee sure interests to it.
My friend, what if Christ Jesus is all of that spiritually speaking? What if He is the Savior (and He is), would you be willing to submit, entrust and deposit the salvation of your soul entirely to Him and what He did on the cross?
GOSPEL NUGGET 302
If The Lord Jesus Christ Were A Parachute, A Zip line Harness Or A Bridge
If Christ Jesus were a parachute, I would wholeheartedly jump out of the plane feeling completely safe with Him supporting me on top. The very moment I stepped off the plane, I could not do anything at all to save myself. At that moment, my salvation all depends on my parachute.
If Christ Jesus were a zip line harness, I would wholeheartedly strap myself to Him feeling completely safe with Him supporting me all the way. The very moment I stepped off from one point of elevation towards the next, I practically, at that point, committed all my safety to the reliability of my harness. I would relax and be at ease, knowing that my harness will carry me safely to the end.
If Christ Jesus were a bridge, I would wholeheartedly travel on top of Him feeling completely safe towards the other end. On top of the bridge, my safety now all depends on its strength. I could not do anything to help strengthen it one more bit. I just content myself with it and whistle all the way through. I know it will not collapse.
I am so confident that what Christ Jesus did on the cross would save me completely and eternally to a point that I will not do anything to save myself. I leave it all to Him.
There are many people who fight with the idea that salvation is solely by faith in Christ alone, by relying on Him alone and not by works. They seem to forget the fact that they do it in other areas of their lives.
When they jump off the plane with a parachute, when they glide with a zipline harness, when they travel on top of a bridge, they all attest to this very fact. All these activities involve faith alone or reliance alone in their "saviors." They never bother helping the parachute, the harness or the bridge. They just breeze through with these equipments feeling completely safe, totally abandoning their salvation to these things.
Is God's "Parachute," "Harness" and "Bridge" less reliable?
If Christ Jesus were a parachute, I would wholeheartedly jump out of the plane feeling completely safe with Him supporting me on top. The very moment I stepped off the plane, I could not do anything at all to save myself. At that moment, my salvation all depends on my parachute.
If Christ Jesus were a zip line harness, I would wholeheartedly strap myself to Him feeling completely safe with Him supporting me all the way. The very moment I stepped off from one point of elevation towards the next, I practically, at that point, committed all my safety to the reliability of my harness. I would relax and be at ease, knowing that my harness will carry me safely to the end.
If Christ Jesus were a bridge, I would wholeheartedly travel on top of Him feeling completely safe towards the other end. On top of the bridge, my safety now all depends on its strength. I could not do anything to help strengthen it one more bit. I just content myself with it and whistle all the way through. I know it will not collapse.
I am so confident that what Christ Jesus did on the cross would save me completely and eternally to a point that I will not do anything to save myself. I leave it all to Him.
There are many people who fight with the idea that salvation is solely by faith in Christ alone, by relying on Him alone and not by works. They seem to forget the fact that they do it in other areas of their lives.
When they jump off the plane with a parachute, when they glide with a zipline harness, when they travel on top of a bridge, they all attest to this very fact. All these activities involve faith alone or reliance alone in their "saviors." They never bother helping the parachute, the harness or the bridge. They just breeze through with these equipments feeling completely safe, totally abandoning their salvation to these things.
Is God's "Parachute," "Harness" and "Bridge" less reliable?
GOSPEL NUGGET #301
Would You Be Lonely And Feel Out Of Place In Heaven?
Rev 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying, "You are worthy to take the book and to open its seals, for You were slain and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation."
This is a vision of the apostle John about the choir of redeemed people singing praises in heaven in the future. All who will be in heaven will sing the words to the Lord Jesus Christ: "...You were slain and have redeemed us to God by Your blood..."
Zero in on that expression please. Those words are the very reason why they will be in heaven, enjoying God forever.
Many people believe that they can be with God forever because they have redeemed themselves by being good, philanthropic and charitable to others. All these have their proper place, but they are not the basis of salvation and redemption.
The reason why a sinner can be saved and redeemed and be with God forever in heaven is the redemption of the Lord Jesus Christ by His blood that was shed on the cross.
If you can go to heaven and be with God forever by redeeming yourself through your own efforts, then you would be the loneliest man or woman in heaven. You would feel out of place.
Why? Because you cannot truthfully sing with them to the Savior: "You were slain and have redeemed us to God by Your blood" because in reality it was you who redeemed yourself through your own efforts. Singing that would be a lie. And "Liars go to hell" so they say.
You see, you don't get redeemed and get saved and be in heaven to be with God forever by working for it, by your own striving. No, you go there by being redeemed by the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, when you come to Him in repentance and faith.
Ask the choir!
Rev 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying, "You are worthy to take the book and to open its seals, for You were slain and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation."
This is a vision of the apostle John about the choir of redeemed people singing praises in heaven in the future. All who will be in heaven will sing the words to the Lord Jesus Christ: "...You were slain and have redeemed us to God by Your blood..."
Zero in on that expression please. Those words are the very reason why they will be in heaven, enjoying God forever.
Many people believe that they can be with God forever because they have redeemed themselves by being good, philanthropic and charitable to others. All these have their proper place, but they are not the basis of salvation and redemption.
The reason why a sinner can be saved and redeemed and be with God forever in heaven is the redemption of the Lord Jesus Christ by His blood that was shed on the cross.
If you can go to heaven and be with God forever by redeeming yourself through your own efforts, then you would be the loneliest man or woman in heaven. You would feel out of place.
Why? Because you cannot truthfully sing with them to the Savior: "You were slain and have redeemed us to God by Your blood" because in reality it was you who redeemed yourself through your own efforts. Singing that would be a lie. And "Liars go to hell" so they say.
You see, you don't get redeemed and get saved and be in heaven to be with God forever by working for it, by your own striving. No, you go there by being redeemed by the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, when you come to Him in repentance and faith.
Ask the choir!
GOSPEL NUGGET #300
New Year Solution
Many people on New Year's eve are like the old durian tree. The Durian tree, after many years of being a Durian, finally got tired of it all and said: "I am going to resolve that, this coming year, I will never ever bear smelly durian fruits anymore! Starting this year, I am going to bear oranges."
He signed the paper at the bottom and announced it to his friends so that they could at least help him reinforce his New Year's resolution should he fail to keep it.
But in the process of time, Durian could not resists the force of nature, he naturally bore durian fruits as before. He just could not help it.
In the same way, we are all sinners by practice, by nature and by birth. Inside of us all is a big factory of sin. We just could not help it but produce sin. We are not sinners because we have committed sins. No, we sin because we are sinners.
No New Year's resolution can arrest our sinful nature from sinning.
The solution to New Year's resolutions is the new birth. We must be born again; we must be new creations in Christ Jesus. God must recreate us into a new creature with a new nature to counter our sinful nature.
And God only recreates into new creatures in Christ those who come to Christ, trusting in Him alone and what He did on the cross.
The solution to our consternation is the transformation in salvation.
Many people on New Year's eve are like the old durian tree. The Durian tree, after many years of being a Durian, finally got tired of it all and said: "I am going to resolve that, this coming year, I will never ever bear smelly durian fruits anymore! Starting this year, I am going to bear oranges."
He signed the paper at the bottom and announced it to his friends so that they could at least help him reinforce his New Year's resolution should he fail to keep it.
But in the process of time, Durian could not resists the force of nature, he naturally bore durian fruits as before. He just could not help it.
In the same way, we are all sinners by practice, by nature and by birth. Inside of us all is a big factory of sin. We just could not help it but produce sin. We are not sinners because we have committed sins. No, we sin because we are sinners.
No New Year's resolution can arrest our sinful nature from sinning.
The solution to New Year's resolutions is the new birth. We must be born again; we must be new creations in Christ Jesus. God must recreate us into a new creature with a new nature to counter our sinful nature.
And God only recreates into new creatures in Christ those who come to Christ, trusting in Him alone and what He did on the cross.
The solution to our consternation is the transformation in salvation.
GOSPEL NUGGET #299
Why God Became Man Without Ceasing To Be God
Man was separated from God because of sin. A great eternal gulf was wedged between them.
He had to become Man so that He could be the substitute and representative of fallen man. Fallen man without a substitute and representative will eternally suffer and pay for his sins. Fallen man with a substitute and representative could be saved from sin.
He had to be Man at the same time God so that His substitutionary work on the cross can have eternal value and perfectly satisfy God, since only God, being eternal, can bridge the eternal gulf between Him and fallen man. Moreover, being God, His death on the cross can have an infinite dimension to it. As such, He could die for, not just one, but, for all sinners. An infinite person could do an infinite work for all.
The God-Man (the Lord Jesus Christ) is the only possible way for fallen man to be reconciled to God. In Himself, being God and at the same time Man, in one blessed person, He can unite and reconcile Man back to God.
Through faith in Him and what He did on the cross, God and Man can have at-one-ment (reconciliation) through the eternal value of the atonement He made on the cross.
Man was separated from God because of sin. A great eternal gulf was wedged between them.
He had to become Man so that He could be the substitute and representative of fallen man. Fallen man without a substitute and representative will eternally suffer and pay for his sins. Fallen man with a substitute and representative could be saved from sin.
He had to be Man at the same time God so that His substitutionary work on the cross can have eternal value and perfectly satisfy God, since only God, being eternal, can bridge the eternal gulf between Him and fallen man. Moreover, being God, His death on the cross can have an infinite dimension to it. As such, He could die for, not just one, but, for all sinners. An infinite person could do an infinite work for all.
The God-Man (the Lord Jesus Christ) is the only possible way for fallen man to be reconciled to God. In Himself, being God and at the same time Man, in one blessed person, He can unite and reconcile Man back to God.
Through faith in Him and what He did on the cross, God and Man can have at-one-ment (reconciliation) through the eternal value of the atonement He made on the cross.
GOSPEL NUGGET # 298
Christ In The Head But Not In The Heart
When Herod knew about the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, he gathered Bible scholars to inquire about Him:
Mat 2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
Mat 2:5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
Mat 2:6 And thou Bethlehem, [in] the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
Ah, these Bible scholars knew their Bibles like the back of their hands. Bible prophecy was their specialty. The Hebrew language was as easy as breathing for them, enabling them to read and study the original Old Testament Bible. When Herod inquired about the birth of Christ, they could glibly pinpoint the exact location of His birth.
But sadly, like many people today, they have Christ only in their heads but not in their hearts. They did not go and see Him for themselves. They were content with their intellectual knowledge about Him and had no interest in having an actual encounter with Him. Like dead and lifeless signposts, they pointed the location but are themselves not there.
Men from a remote place were the ones who did experience Christ when they sought Him, inquired about Him and found Him. Christ was not only in their heads, He was in their hearts.
It is one thing to know about Christ like these Bible scholars, it is entirely another to experientially know Him.
Many people this season, know about Christ, but do not know Him experientially themselves. He is in their heads but not in their hearts.
Are you one of them? Is He, as Lord and Savior, only an idea in your head and not a reality in your life? You know about Him as Savior but have you been saved by Him by repenting and relying solely on Him and what He did on the cross for you?
When Herod knew about the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ, he gathered Bible scholars to inquire about Him:
Mat 2:4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.
Mat 2:5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,
Mat 2:6 And thou Bethlehem, [in] the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.
Ah, these Bible scholars knew their Bibles like the back of their hands. Bible prophecy was their specialty. The Hebrew language was as easy as breathing for them, enabling them to read and study the original Old Testament Bible. When Herod inquired about the birth of Christ, they could glibly pinpoint the exact location of His birth.
But sadly, like many people today, they have Christ only in their heads but not in their hearts. They did not go and see Him for themselves. They were content with their intellectual knowledge about Him and had no interest in having an actual encounter with Him. Like dead and lifeless signposts, they pointed the location but are themselves not there.
Men from a remote place were the ones who did experience Christ when they sought Him, inquired about Him and found Him. Christ was not only in their heads, He was in their hearts.
It is one thing to know about Christ like these Bible scholars, it is entirely another to experientially know Him.
Many people this season, know about Christ, but do not know Him experientially themselves. He is in their heads but not in their hearts.
Are you one of them? Is He, as Lord and Savior, only an idea in your head and not a reality in your life? You know about Him as Savior but have you been saved by Him by repenting and relying solely on Him and what He did on the cross for you?
GOSPEL NUGGET #297
Lessons That Adam And Eve Learned
#1 They learned that one single sin is big enough to banish and separate them away from God. They ate the forbidden fruit and they were out. God is that holy. "Strike one! You're out!"
And yet many today think that they can go to heaven and be with God forever if somehow they are able to manage to keep their sins at a minimum level. They think that if their good deeds outweigh their bad ones, they can be admitted into heaven.
#2 They learned that the violation of a seemingly minor command is enough to banish them away from God's presence.
And yet many people think that if they are able to avoid the big sins with only the minor sins blotting their record, they are okay and fine with God. They can go to Him when they die.
For them, only the commission of big spiritual crimes, make them a spiritual criminal before God. It seems that, for them, God has a lower standard than that of the laws of our land. Here on earth, one crime (big or small) is enough to make you a criminal worthy to be punished.
#3 They learned that their efforts was not sufficient to cover and hide the consequences of their sin.
When they fell into sin, they realized that they were naked. And so, guilt, fear and shame, made them sew fig leaves for a covering and they hid themselves from God's presence. But God was still able to detect and see their guilt. Their efforts to cover and hide their guilt and sin were to no avail.
It is still the same with many people today. Out of guilt, fear and shame, they cover themselves and their sins with good works, philanthropy, religiosity etc.
#4 They learned that the only sufficient covering to cover and hide the consequences of sin was the covering which God Himself provided for them.
God replaced their fig leaves of their own making. "...the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them." Gen 3:21 Blood had to be shed in order to procure "garments of skins" for them. The life of an animal (I believe it was a lamb) had to be sacrificed.
That sacrificed lamb was a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ dying on the cross for our sins. We are guilty before God. We have sinned against Him one sin too many. We can never do anything to cover and take away our sins.
Our only hope is the Lamb of God (the Lord Jesus Christ) who takes away the sin of the world.
GOSPEL NUGGET #296
Lessons That Adam And Eve Learned
#1 They learned that one single sin is big enough to banish and separate them away from God. They ate the forbidden fruit and they were out. God is that holy. "Strike one! You're out!"
And yet many today think that they can go to heaven and be with God forever if somehow they are able to manage to keep their sins at a minimum level. They think that if their good deeds outweigh their bad ones, they can be admitted into heaven.
#2 They learned that the violation of a seemingly minor command is enough to banish them away from God's presence.
And yet many people think that if they are able to avoid the big sins with only the minor sins blotting their record, they are okay and fine with God. They can go to Him when they die.
To them, only the commission of big spiritual crimes, make them a spiritual criminal before God. It seems that, to them, God has a lower standard than that of the laws of our land. Here on earth, one crime (big or small) is enough to make you a criminal worthy to be punished.
#3 They learned that their efforts was not sufficient to cover and hide the consequences of their sin.
When they fell into sin, they realized that they were naked. And so, guilt, fear and shame, made them sew fig leaves for a covering and they hid themselves from God's presence. But God was still able to detect and see their guilt. Their efforts to cover and hide their guilt and sin were to no avail.
It is still the same with many people today. Out of guilt, fear and shame, they cover themselves and their sins with good works, philanthrophy, religiosity etc.
#4 They learned that the only sufficient covering to cover and hide the consequences of sin was the covering which God Himself provided for them.
God replaced their fig leaves of their own making. "...the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them." Gen 3:21 Blood had to be shed in order to procure "garments of skins" for them. The life of an animal (I believe it was a lamb) had to be sacrificed.
That sacrificed lamb was a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ dying on the cross for our sins. We are guilty before God. We have sinned against Him one sin too many. We can never do anything to cover and take away our sins.
Our only hope is the Lamb of God (the Lord Jesus Christ) who takes away the sin of the world.
#1 They learned that one single sin is big enough to banish and separate them away from God. They ate the forbidden fruit and they were out. God is that holy. "Strike one! You're out!"
And yet many today think that they can go to heaven and be with God forever if somehow they are able to manage to keep their sins at a minimum level. They think that if their good deeds outweigh their bad ones, they can be admitted into heaven.
#2 They learned that the violation of a seemingly minor command is enough to banish them away from God's presence.
And yet many people think that if they are able to avoid the big sins with only the minor sins blotting their record, they are okay and fine with God. They can go to Him when they die.
To them, only the commission of big spiritual crimes, make them a spiritual criminal before God. It seems that, to them, God has a lower standard than that of the laws of our land. Here on earth, one crime (big or small) is enough to make you a criminal worthy to be punished.
#3 They learned that their efforts was not sufficient to cover and hide the consequences of their sin.
When they fell into sin, they realized that they were naked. And so, guilt, fear and shame, made them sew fig leaves for a covering and they hid themselves from God's presence. But God was still able to detect and see their guilt. Their efforts to cover and hide their guilt and sin were to no avail.
It is still the same with many people today. Out of guilt, fear and shame, they cover themselves and their sins with good works, philanthrophy, religiosity etc.
#4 They learned that the only sufficient covering to cover and hide the consequences of sin was the covering which God Himself provided for them.
God replaced their fig leaves of their own making. "...the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them." Gen 3:21 Blood had to be shed in order to procure "garments of skins" for them. The life of an animal (I believe it was a lamb) had to be sacrificed.
That sacrificed lamb was a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ dying on the cross for our sins. We are guilty before God. We have sinned against Him one sin too many. We can never do anything to cover and take away our sins.
Our only hope is the Lamb of God (the Lord Jesus Christ) who takes away the sin of the world.
GOSPEL NUGGET #295
The Difference Between A Righteous Man And A Good Man
A righteous man is a man who conforms to a standard. He is an exact man. He exactly fulfills the requirements. He is a man that draws out our respect and honor.
A good man is a righteous man but he is more. He is an exact man, yes, but he is also considerate and kind and benevolent. He is a man that elicits our affection.
A righteous man arrives exactly at the appointed hour of meeting, not a second too late and not a second too early. If you fail to arrive on time as agreed, he justly leaves with the blame squarely and fairly laid on you.
A good man arrives exactly at the appointed hour of meeting, not a second too late and not a second too early. If you fail to arrive on time as agreed, he is considerate, kind and benevolent enough to wait for you, even if you come 30 minutes late.
Rom 5:7 ...one will scarcely die for a RIGHTEOUES PERSON--though perhaps for a GOOD PERSON one would dare even to die--
Rom 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still SINNERS, Christ died for us.
It is rare to find one person dying for a good person, a man that we can be affectionate about. It is more rare to find one person dying for a righteous person, a man that we can honor and respect. But it is even more rare to find a man dying for a hideous, unlovable and a despecable person---a sinner, a spiritual criminal in the eyes of God.
But the Lord Jesus Christ made everybody's jaws drop to the floor when He did just that. He did not die for you when you were respectable and honorable enough. He did not die for you when you were lovable enough. No, He gave His life for you when you were a hateful and unlovable spiritual loser.
Your being a sinner is not a hindrance in coming to Him. It is only a hindrance if YOU let it be---if you don't come to Him. Don't forget that He only saves SINNERS.
Come to Him right now in repentance and faith, entrusting your soul's salvation to Him and what He did on the cross for you.
A righteous man is a man who conforms to a standard. He is an exact man. He exactly fulfills the requirements. He is a man that draws out our respect and honor.
A good man is a righteous man but he is more. He is an exact man, yes, but he is also considerate and kind and benevolent. He is a man that elicits our affection.
A righteous man arrives exactly at the appointed hour of meeting, not a second too late and not a second too early. If you fail to arrive on time as agreed, he justly leaves with the blame squarely and fairly laid on you.
A good man arrives exactly at the appointed hour of meeting, not a second too late and not a second too early. If you fail to arrive on time as agreed, he is considerate, kind and benevolent enough to wait for you, even if you come 30 minutes late.
Rom 5:7 ...one will scarcely die for a RIGHTEOUES PERSON--though perhaps for a GOOD PERSON one would dare even to die--
Rom 5:8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still SINNERS, Christ died for us.
It is rare to find one person dying for a good person, a man that we can be affectionate about. It is more rare to find one person dying for a righteous person, a man that we can honor and respect. But it is even more rare to find a man dying for a hideous, unlovable and a despecable person---a sinner, a spiritual criminal in the eyes of God.
But the Lord Jesus Christ made everybody's jaws drop to the floor when He did just that. He did not die for you when you were respectable and honorable enough. He did not die for you when you were lovable enough. No, He gave His life for you when you were a hateful and unlovable spiritual loser.
Your being a sinner is not a hindrance in coming to Him. It is only a hindrance if YOU let it be---if you don't come to Him. Don't forget that He only saves SINNERS.
Come to Him right now in repentance and faith, entrusting your soul's salvation to Him and what He did on the cross for you.
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