GOSPEL NUGGET #564

Santa In Comparison With The Lord Jesus

* Santa believes that there are intrinsically, innately and inherently good people in this world. Not all are sinners. There are some who are essentially and constitutionally good people around. According to the Book of Claus chapter 1 verse 2, it says there: "He's making a list, And checking it twice; Gonna find out Who's naughty and nice." (Cl 1:2)

The Lord Jesus, on the other hand, views all men as sinners. Romans 3:23 says: "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

* Santa's gifts are not really gifts. They are rewards. They are given to those who have earned and merited it. Still, according to The Book Of Claus chapter 1 verse 2, it says there: "He's making a list, And checking it twice; Gonna find out Who's naughty and nice." (Cl 1:2) Meaning, if you're naughty, you are not going to receive a gift. But if you are nice, you will. In other words, he is giving them something according to what they deserve. Actually, something that is earned or merited is not a gift. It's a reward.

The Lord Jesus' gift of salvation, on the other hand, is given as a gift indeed, hence, it is given gratuitously. He offers it so because salvation is Him being gracious and merciful.

According to the Book of Ephesians chapter 2 verses 8 and 9, it says there: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast."

Titus 3:5 says: "not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us"

GOSPEL NUGGET #563

One of the patrons of our small laundry business is a salon which rents a space in a big department store. Almost everyday I would go there and deliver or pick up their stuff. Doing so would require me to go through a security check at their entrances. The routine involves electronic frisking and physically inspecting the contents of my bag which I carry with me where ever I go.

The bag's usual contents? Two books, a kindle device, gospel tracts and a prominent and conspicuous Bible. Almost on cue, whenever they see the Bible in my bag, they noticeably drop their guard, call off the whole inspection process and casually wave at me to just proceed and enter. This has been my experience with them and their experience with me for the nth time already. At some point, they just stopped jimmying on my bag. Now, I just enter like a boss without them being nosy with what I have with me.

Personally, I don't approve of it really. They should not trust anybody just like that. Just because a person carries a Bible does not mean that he or she is safe. On occasion, I myself would insist that they check me out.

My experience gave me a gospel nugget to write. It is a picture of salvation. You see, a sinner does not enter heaven and enjoy God's presence because of the good character he carries or the absence of some objectionable things in him. No, he or she gets an admission to God because of the Lord Jesus Christ.

When God sees the Lord Jesus in your heart as your Savior, trusting in Him and what He did on the cross for salvation, God graciously nods His head and says: "Come in!" And you can boldly enter like the Boss' child.

GOSPEL NUGGET 562

Sinful Confidences, Sinful Creeds And Sinful Conduct

There is no question that conduct that does not align itself to the divine standard is something that is sinful. However, what many people do not know is that one can have the right conduct but carry in his bosom a sinful essential belief or creed. Not all right conduct is governed by a right essential belief. And a sinful creed or belief is as wrong and wicked as a sinful conduct and behavior. God is concerned with both. A man may do good deeds but if he has the wrong essential beliefs he will still go to hell.

To go even further, it is entirely possible to have the right conduct and the right essential beliefs and still go to hell. Right behavior and right beliefs do not necessarily result in a right kind of confidence.

You can be as orthoprax (having the right practice) as orthoprax can be, you can be as orthodox (having the right beliefs) as orthodox can be but if you have not placed your confidence in the Savior and what He did on the cross alone for salvation, you will still go to hell.

A sinner will not be saved by just merely having the right beliefs ABOUT Christ. No, that is not enough. It should lead to trusting in Him for salvation. Right belief about Christ should lead to confidence in Christ in order for salvation to take place. The devil and his demons rightly believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Savior of the world but it does not mean that they trust in Him for salvation.

Many people today believe that the Lord Jesus is the Savior, that He died on the cross for them. But their faith is not solely in Him for salvation. They feel confident that because they are good people having done a lot of good works that they will be saved for it.

Yes, having the right conduct is important. Yes, having the right creed is important. But it is the right kind of confidence that saves. And one's confidence can only be right if it is confidence in the Savior; not confidence in self, in one's good character and good works.

GOSPEL NUGGET #561

From Rocks To Riches: A Spiritual Gemologist's View Of The Cross

 I've been watching videos about how gemologists do their thing. They have a special ability for recognizing precious stones that others casually overlook. They go to a side of a river and scour for the thing they are looking for and there it is --- they would see it!

To me, the stone looks pretty ho-hum ordinary. But it was actually jasper or sapphire or quartz and other valuable stones. Their eyes lit up and they gasp, saying: "Look! Look!" They would the stone and then they would hold it up against the sunlight and there it is --- a glimmering beauty of a gemstone!

Applying this to salvation, to me, gemologists are like enlightened sinners. They see gems and precious things on an ordinary hill called Calvary where many are unable to see.

1Co 1:18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

How about you my friend? Are your eyes enlightened to the preciousness of what the Lord Jesus did on the cross for you? Is Calvary treasure or trash to you? Is it gold or garbage?

GOSPEL NUGGET #560

Mr 10:14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
 Heb 3:13 but exhort one another daily, while it is called "Today," lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. . 

Notice carefully that the Lord Jesus did not say: “The kingdom of God belongs to these.” No, He says, “the kingdom of God belongs to SUCH as these.” That means it includes everybody including adults who possess childlike qualities we considered a while ago. 
However, based on these words, we can glean and learn a principle that childhood is a fertile ground for salvation. And the more we become older the more hardened our hearts can be if we consistently and stubbornly refuse or delay to repent. And the power to repent is not in us. It is something divinely offered and granted. And God could justly withdraw it if we are obstinate and unyielding. 

In the Gallup Surveys, this is what Gallup found statistically. Below a "Christian" is someone who has truly repented and trusted in Christ for salvation.

* 19 out of 20 people who became Christians did so before the age of 25.
* At age 25, 1 in 10,000 will become Christians.
* At age 35, 1 in 50,000 will become Christians.
* At age 45, 1 in 200, 000 will become Christians.
* At age 55, 1 in 300,000 will become Christians.
* At age 75, 1 in 700,000 will become Christians. .
.
My friend, do not delay repentance. Like a dependent and helpless child, entrust yourself to someone who could do all the saving for you --- the Lord Jesus Christ. He died for your sins and rose from the dead.

GOSPEL NUGGET 559

The World's Biggest Pearl

The world's current (as of 2018) biggest pearl is a ruler wide and more than 2 feet long. It weighs around 34 kilograms. Its worth is estimated to be a whopping 100 million dollars. It was found in the island of Palawan, Phillipines last 2016.  The fisherman who caught it was not aware of its value. It just sat under his bed for 10 years. When he turned it over to the Palawan government it was only then that he realized the treasure he had.

Like the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and its offer of salvation, it is heard in many ordinary and unassuming place or house. Its worth is beyond measure. Many are not aware of its value. They just make light of it. For years and years, it is just laid aside.

My friend, what are you doing with the "world's biggest pearl" found in the Gospel? Are you putting it off as nothing? Or have you seen its immense and infinite value for your soul?

Come to Christ. Trust in Him and what He did on the cross and claim the pearl of salvation all for free.

GOSPEL NUGGET #558

* PS 90:17 Let the favor (beauty) of the Lord our God be upon us ...
* Song 4:7 You are all fair, my love, And there is no spot in you.
* Eph 5:27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

As sinners, we are spiritually hideous. There is not much to look at when God looks at us in ourselves. Sin has made us ugly. But there is a way to be fair and beautiful in God's eyes. A beauty that He Himself will accept with delight.

In Psalm 90 verse 17, the word "favor" can also be translated as beauty. And the Psalmist prays: "Let the favor (beauty) of the Lord our God be upon us..." And that beauty can be upon us in Christ Jesus. His beauty, that is, His righteousness can be imputed to us. And in Him, He can look at us and say: "You are all fair, my love, And there is no spot in you."

Not only will He impute His righteousness upon us, He will also impart it to us. In Ephesians 5:27, those who have been imputed with the beauty of Christ are said to be undergoing a process of a makeover. It says: "that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish."

His imputed beauty is a divine make up put on us. And as we have it on ourselves, it will also transform us and impart to us, by and by, an actual beauty it imputes.

Come to Christ! Rely and trust in His beauty for God to accept us!

GOSPEL NUGGET #557

PR 30:28 The lizard you may grasp with the hands, Yet it is in kings’ palaces.

The lizard referred here is the gecko. Geckos have toes that emit a sticky liquid that enables it to take a firm grip on smooth and slippery surfaces.

The lizard here is a picture of a man who has saving faith. Faith grabs hold of the Gospel and is promised the king's palace in the sky.

The words of the Lord Jesus in John chapter 14 verse 2 which says "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you" was promised to people who trusted in Him and what He did on the cross for salvation.

GOSPEL NUGGET #556

The Landslide In Naga

September 21, 2018 was a fateful day for the residents in Naga. Early morning, sometime after daybreak, the mountain of earth collapsed on a number of houses below, burying people alive, turning the residential area into a mass graveyard in a matter of minutes. It was a heartrending tragedy.

Reader, the tragedy could be repeated in your very own life. This time, on a grand scale. Realize that we all live on the edge of judgment. Without notice, it could collapse on us any moment.

I urge you to flee from the wrathslide to come. Come, hide yourself secure in the Savior of sinners, the Lord Jesus Christ. Turn to Him and trust Him and what He did on the cross for your salvation.

GOSPEL NUGGET # 555

Testimonies That Never Close With Christ

Mt 27:2 And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.
 3 Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
 4 saying, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." And they said, "What is that to us? You see to it!"
 5 Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself.

I am alarmed of testimonies that have a semblance of repentance to it and yet never close with Christ. Yes, like Judas here, they showed remorse over their sin. Yes, like Judas here, they "threw down the pieces of silver" and yet they never close with Christ.

Yes, true repentance can have displays of remorse. Yes, it throws down the pieces of silver. But it always ends with Christ and His work on the cross. Sadly, many testimonies fall short of it. Every genuine pilgrim comes to Calvary Hill. Every genuinely repentant sinner always comes to Christ and what He did on the cross for the removal of his or her burden.

My friend, are you remorseful because of your sin? Have you slammed sin in your life? Are you trusting in Christ and what He did on the cross for your salvation?

GOSPEL NUGGET #554

PR 24:14 Know that wisdom is thus for your soul; If you find it, then there will be a future, And your hope will not be cut off.

This verse can very well be applied to the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus is wisdom Himself personified.

1Co 1:24 ... Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

And if you find Him, if you are in Him, united to Him through the bonds of living faith, He becomes for us wisdom from God. And you will have a future and a hope that will not be cut off. For in Him are righteousness, sanctification and redemption, yea salvation.

1Co 1:30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption--

GOSPEL NUGGET #553

Mt 8:8 "... only speak a word, and my servant will be healed."

Faith takes God at His word. But it could also be said that faith takes God at His work. A man who has saving faith can very well say, taking it from this verse: "Only do the work and my servant will be saved."

Two thousand years ago, the Lord Jesus Christ did the work. He finished it. He died for all our sins and rose again from the dead. There's the work all done for you. And now He is proclaiming it through His messengers. He has done the work. He has been saying the word through the Gospel message: "Christ died for the sins of sinners and rose again from the dead."

Will you trust in His work and His word?

GOSPEL NUGGET #552

2Sa 14:14 "... He (God) devises means, so that His banished ones are not expelled from Him."
We find in this text a principle applicable to the salvation of a sinner. A gospel principle is stated here. Man fell into sin, as a result, he was banished or separated from God. But God, in love, devised a means so that they will not be expelled from Him forever and ever. He contrived for them a way back to Him without sidestepping the demands of His justice.
His means? The Lord Jesus Christ
Ro 5:10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God THROUGH the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, THROUGH whom we have now received the reconciliation. He appointed the Lord Jesus Christ as the representative and substitute of man. As such, the death that He died was truly for them, satisfying God's justice. Come to God's only means of being reconciled to Him. Make use of Him. Come to the Lord Jesus trusting in Him and what He did on the cross for you.

GOSPEL NUGGET #551

Pr 22:3 A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, But the simple pass on and are punished.

Think of a skillful mariner who upon discerning an oncoming bad weather would wisely navigate his vessel onto a safe harbor. That is a picture of a prudent man. Think of a reckless driver who doesn't stop or slow down to read the safety traffic signs but just goes on and falls into a cliff. His reckless imprudence resulted in damages to property and the loss of human lives.That's a picture of a simple man who is without wisdom and knowledge of his situation.

Noah, a prudent man, foresaw the coming calamity, built an ark and hid in it. The rest, who would not listen to Noah's warnings, chose to be simpletons, were carried away by the Flood.

My friend, you know that you are a sinner. Your own conscience forebodes a coming danger of judgment. You know that you could be ushered into eternity any moment. Will you be a prudent man who foresees evil and hide yourself in Christ and what He did on the cross or will you be a simpleton who just passes on recklessly without recognizing the need of a refuge in Christ?

I urge you not to be a simpleton. I plead with you to be a prudent man and come to Christ in faith.

GOSPEL NUGGET #550

Ex 35:2 "Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh day shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of rest to the LORD. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death.

Notice that the Sabbath was to be a day of “complete rest” verse 2. Verse 2 further says that any man who does “any work” on that shall be put to death.

The Sabbath was a picture of Christ. He is our Sabbath. He said: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavily laden and I will give you rest.” Colossians 2:16 and 17 say that the Sabbath is a picture of Christ.

The Lord Jesus Christ, through His work on the cross for us sinners, offers us a complete and perfect salvation. We don’t have to add anything to it. Our lot is to completely rest on Him and what He did on the cross for us. If you add “any work” or any effort on your part to contribute to the saving of your soul, you will be damned, you will be put to death.

Salvation is all about resting on Christ, not about wrestling for our salvation. Faith is simply resting on Christ as you would when you rest on a cozy bed.

GOSPEL NUGGET #549

The Humility Gate

There's a gate in the Church of the Nativity in Israel that is called The Humility Gate. To enter it, one must stoop down. It was designed that way during the Medieval period so that soldiers riding on their horses could not just enter the gate and disrupt the services going on there; to enter, they must step down from their high horses and bend low.

It's exactly the same with salvation. The door of salvation is low that if you come riding on your high horse of self-righteousness you can never go through it. God only saves the humble sinner (Job 22:29) never the proud sinner.

My friend, come with a humble view and estimation of yourself. See your self for who you really are in the sight of God --- a sinner without a single bit of righteousness to commend yourself before God. Come low, trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross and be saved.

GOSPEL NUGGET #548

Song 1:6 Do not look upon me, because I am dark, because the sun has tanned me...they made me the keeper of the vineyards, but my own vineyard I have not kept.

The Shulammite woman here reminds us of the Lord Jesus Christ. Just as she took all the heat of the sun for others, so the Lord Jesus Christ took all the heat of the wrath of God upon Himself for our sakes. Just as she kept other people's vineyards and neglected her own so the Lord Jesus Christ neglected His own welfare and gave Himself for our eternal keeping. He willingly became dark so that we could be light in God.

My friend, will you entrust your soul, your "vineyard," to Him for your eternal salvation?

GOSPEL NUGGET #547

Why did God allow Solomon to be pampered with the things of this world? What was His purpose why Solomon's plate was filled to overflowing with things that everything under the sun could offer?

One of the reasons is this --- He allowed Solomon to abound with so much in order to tell the succeeding generations that man's heart is too big for the world. Here's this one man who gained the world and yet at the end of it all, he says: "Been there, done that, I've been to the top of the world and it's vanity! It's nothing! It's meaningless! It doesn't satisfy!"

He had riches. He had fame. He had knowledge and wisdom. He had pleasure. He had entertainment. He had power. He had romantic relationships left and right. He had accomplishments here and there to fill man's need to be significant. He had the admiration of everybody. Every meal he had for years was a feast. Every single need he had under the sun was satisfied to the hilt --- physical, psychological, mental, relational, you name it.

And yet, at the end of it all, across it all, he said: "Believe you me, it's vanity! Man's heart is too big for the world. You can have all of these things, you will feel a temporary high, but, eventually, in the end, you will feel empty."

My friend, your heart was made for something bigger. You were made for God. You will always be restless until you will find Him in Christ Jesus. If the heart is too big for the world, let me tell you that God is too big for your heart. He will more than satisfy you.

Come to Christ in repentance and faith, trusting in Him for salvation. Be reconciled to God.

GOSPEL NUGGET #546

"... the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, has said, “In repentance and rest you will be saved, In quietness and trust is your strength.” Isaiah 30:15

If you read the entire chapter and the next, the situation here is that Israel was afraid of the Assyrian invasion. Israel knew that he had no chance against Assyria in his own strength. Assyria was just too strong for him and impossible to foil. .

Israel was agitated, worried, harassed and troubled. He was anything but calm and composed. If we were there, we would here the loud clamor of the people about their situation; there was a national uproar among them all. What did Israel do? He trusted Egypt and sought deliverance from him.

And God came saying: "If you repent and change your attitude from trusting in Egypt to resting in Me, if you only repose quietly on Me, trusting in Me, you will find salvation and strength, which you could never find in Egypt."

In the same way, because we are sinners, judgment and condemnation will soon invade our lives forever and ever. We have no chance, in ourselves, to deliver ourselves from it. And our only real refuge and chance is not in anyone and anything else, but in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is our salvation and strength.

In changing our attitude from trusting in anything and anyone else and turning only to Him, trusting in Him for salvation, if we only repose quietly on Him and what He did on the cross, we will find in Him the solid and strong Rock of salvation.

GOSPEL NUGGET #545

Ex 34:20 "But the firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb. And if you will not redeem him, then you shall break his neck.

The Lord said that all the firstborn of every creature belonged to Him. The problem was that the donkey was an unclean animal. It was therefore unacceptable. Without being redeemed, it was facing a sure death.

My friend, we are the donkey here. By creation we belong to God. But because of the Fall, we became sinners that are defiled and are therefore unacceptable to God. Without a sacrifice, without the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, without redemption, we are facing a sure and certain death in the lake of fire.

Don't come to God in yourself and by yourself. Come to Him, trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ and what He did on the cross for you. 

GOSPEL NUGGET #544

 Righteousness Revealed, Reigning And Residing

* Righteousness Revealed

Ro 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed...

* Righteousness Reigning

Isa 32:1 Behold, a king will reign in righteousness...

* Righteousness Residing

2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Today, righteousness is revealed through the Gospel proclamation. No excuse in being ignorant as to how to be right with God. In the Millennium, righteousness will reign. Today, sin reigns in this present evil age. But one day, righteousness will triumph. In the coming new universe, righteousness will reside. Purged with all sin and evil, the universe will be a home for righteousness.

Get on the side with righteousness now. Be on the winning team. Get right with God now by trusting in the Gospel. The Gospel is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself and what He did on the cross for our sins with Him resurrecting from the dead.

GOSPEL NUGGET #543

The Last Will And Testament Of The Lord Jesus Christ

For hundreds of years, after the death, resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus to heaven, people have been resting their hope upon a set of documents known today as the New Testament.

In law, the word "testament" refers to a document communicating the person's final wishes pertaining to the disposition and distribution of his properties after he dies.

When the Lord Jesus left this earth to return to His Father in heaven, He gave and handed down to mankind the possession of eternal life and salvation which a sinner could have, provided that he or she fulfills a certain condition.

John 20:31 says that "...these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name."

The testator (the Lord Jesus Christ) says that you can possess His salvation and eternal life if you put your trust in Him and what He did on the cross. There is so much more. God the Father has a lot in store for Him in the future and you can be His co-heir if you accept the condition that He has set in His last will and testament.

Have you read His last will and testament (the NT)? Have you fulfilled the condition? 

GOSPEL NUGGET #542

Mr 9:8 Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.

It says here that they “… saw no one…but (or except) Jesus only.”

Let’s apply this to salvation. You know, salvation is just like that. Salvation is seeing no one and nothing else except Jesus only. Sadly, when it comes to personal salvation, a lot of people see themselves in it too. They see their good works, their good character and their religious activities.

No. No. No. Just as they saw no one except Jesus only on the Mount of Transfiguration, so, in Mount Salvation, we should see no one and nothing else except Jesus only and what He did on the cross.

When Paul came to Corinth, he said that “I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified (1 Cor. 2:2).”

You see, salvation is seeing Jesus only and what He did on the cross. It is trusting and relying on His person and work on the cross. My friend, if you want to be saved. Behold no one and nothing else. Behold Jesus only.

GOSPEL NUGGET #541

A magazine told a story about a young blind girl who was trapped in the fourth floor of an apartment building which caught fire. She was standing by the window with the billowing smoke engulfing her, with the intense heat surrounding her and the raging fire threatening her.

The firemen hurriedly came to the scene and prepared the safety net for her down below, while the fire chief emerged out of a vehicle and pleaded with her over an amplifier to jump: "We'll catch you! You just jump, we'll catch you!" But the girl could not bring herself to jump.

A very alert police officer came up with an idea. A short while later, a cruiser appeared with all the lights flashing and the sirens going. A man, the blind girl's father, jumped out of the backseat and run to the fire chief and grabbed the amplifier from his hand and directed it to her daughter up above and said: "Honey jump! I will catch you!"

She jumped. Time magazine said that she jumped from the fourth floor of the building into the net without breaking a single bone in her body, indicating that she was so relaxed in the fall, from the top of the building down into the net.

This is a picture of the call of salvation from God. We are on the verge of the fires of judgment. There is nothing we can do. But God has set up His safety net for us in the cross of Calvary, where the Savior died for all our sins.

And God no less, as it were, takes up His megaphone and pleads with us: "Sinner and yet loved, jump! Jump into the Savior and what He did on the cross, rely on what He did for your salvation. I will catch you through Him!"

Will you jump?

GOSPEL NUGGET #540

Ro 5:8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Joh 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

You know, God would rather die than see you perish and go to hell. And that's exactly what He did in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, the second person of the Trinity. He wants you saved. He wants you to be with Him forever and ever.

But He will not force you against your will. Because He is a God of love, He grants you to either reject Him or receive Him freely. Will you not turn and come to Him in repentance and faith?

GOSPEL NUGGET #539

Jude 1:11 Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain ...

What was the way of Cain? Among other things, Cain, as we read in the book of Genesis, was a man who did not have an adequate sense of sin. Hence, he was a man who did not see his need of atonement. Instead of offering a sacrifice, which was a picture of the coming sacrifice of the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, he, instead, offered the work of his hands from the ground; he did not offer an atoning sacrifice at all.

There are people who go about this moral universe who resist the nagging conviction that they are sinners, worthy of judgment, unable to save themselves. Hence, they are a people who see no need of what the Lord Jesus Christ did for them on the cross. Instead, they rely on what they are and what they have accomplished for salvation.

Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain!

My friend, don't you sense the sad fact that you are a sinner worthy of judgment? A sinner who is totally helpless in saving your self? Have you not realized your need of the Savior and what He did on the cross for your sins?

Are you one of the many who tread on Cain's Street?

GOSPEL NUGGET #538

Joh 1:29 ..."Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

And yet, man in his pride says: "Behold! My good character, my good works and my religious deeds which take away the sin of my world!"

If you are looking at yourself and what you are doing in order for you to be saved then you are looking in the wrong direction. Salvation is not to be found in self. Salvation is found in the Savior, who sacrificed Himself for our sins.

"Look to Me, and be saved..." Isa 45:22

To whom or to what are you looking in order to be saved? What is it in your case? Is it "Behold! My goodness that takes away the sin of my world? or is it "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of my world?"

G0SPEL NUGGET # 537

EX 33:5 For the LORD had said to Moses, “Say to the sons of Israel, ‘You are an obstinate people; should I go up in your midst for one moment, I would destroy you.

Though these words apply primarily to Israel, it can be applied to the rest of mankind. 

Man is utterly depraved that apart from the grace of God, apart from the Lord Jesus Christ, there is not a single moment when we are acceptable to God. In ourselves, we are ripe for God’s judgment every single moment.

But thank be God that He gave us the Lord Jesus Christ. 

HEB 7:25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

Every single moment, in ourselves, we are ripe for judgment. But we have the Lord Jesus Christ who always lives moment by moment to make intercession for us. He made a sacrifice on the cross good for all moments, good for all time.

Put your trust in Him and His work on the cross. He is the only way by which God’s judgment and condemnation could be averted.

GOSPEL NUGGET #536

The Lord Jesus Is Good Enough

We will never be good enough in ourselves in order for God to save and accept us. It is a major advance in one's spiritual condition when this truth is realized and humbly accepted. Salvation land is not far away.

Repentance humbly recognizes and acknowledges it while saving faith says: "Yes, I am not good enough and will never be but the Lord Jesus who died for my sins is my representative and substitute and He is good enough for me."

My friend, is He good enough for you?