Archive for the ‘Evil deeds’ Category

11 Mar

Sin’s Definition

Posted by sandhillspastor in Christian Living, Evil deeds, Forgiveness, God's Word, Sin, Truth. Tagged: , .

Dear friends,
On the home scene, life remains busy. If there is a time in life when we are not busy anymore, it hasn’t appeared on my horizon. The change to daylight saving time supposedly gives us more daylight hours, and I’m going to need every minute.

I think it is clear to most people that it is not popular these days to talk about sin. Sin, as described in the Bible, is minimized, glossed over, white-washed, or ignored, but few people are willing to call it disobedience to God’s commands.

Here is a case in point: The television series “The Bible” is airing this month. I did not see all of the first installment, but I will. I did read a review of that episode. In it the reviewer stated that people watching it would get the idea that Sodom and Gomorrah were judged and destroyed for their lack of hospitality. When I read the account in the Bible, I come away with the understanding that those two cities were destroyed because of rampant sexual immorality, including the sin of homosexuality, and others. There were not even 5 people in the cities who met God’s standard of righteousness.

I believe the lesson here for us is this: If we don’t preach and teach that every word in his Book is faithful and true, we are setting ourselves up for a similar judgment at some point. Those ten commandments are not the “ten suggestions.”

Sin is sin. To call it anything else is to call God a liar (1 John 1:10). The good news is Jesus Christ died on the cross to provide forgiveness of sin, no matter what the sin. God forgives all who come to him on the basis of the shed blood of his Son. The end result of this, according to the apostle, is that the one who trusts in Christ will not continue in his or her sin. “No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God” (1 John 3:9).

Let us call sin what it is. Follow that up with confession. Confession is agreeing with God that we are sinners. Then, ask his forgiveness, trust his Son Jesus to save you, and as Jesus said, “Go and sin no more.” And if you should sin again, which you may very well do now and then, do as we are instructed in 1 John 1:9… “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Forgiven,
Pastor Jerry

25 Feb

The Unchanging Word

Posted by sandhillspastor in Evil deeds, God, God's Word, The Good News, Truth.

In our day, as has been the case since the beginning of the church, there are those in pulpits who claim to speak for God, yet “prophesy” falsely. They come with a message that isn’t found in the Bible, claiming they have a “new word” from the Lord. Let’s remember, every word intended for us to have from Him is recorded in the Bible. There is no “new word” from the Lord. If you hear of such a person, distance yourself from him.

The scripture is explicit in its command concerning the adding to, or the subtracting from God’s Word. “I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes words away from this book of prophecy, God will take away from him his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book” (Revelation 22:18-19). Although this passage is in Revelation, it, by association would indicate that all of the Bible is to be seen as God’s unchangeable and final word.

“Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you” (Deuteronomy 4:2).

“Every word of God is flawless…Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar” (Prov. 30:5-6).

2 Peter, chapter 2 gives more details concerning false teachers (prophets), their ways, and their destiny. You can look it up.

We must examine the teaching of anyone who claims to speak for God, and that includes your pastor. (Acts 17:11). I appreciate those who hold me accountable for the words I speak and write, although I may sometimes not show it right away….

In His Love,
Pastor Jerry

21 Jan

An Unhappy Anniversary

Posted by sandhillspastor in Evil deeds, Forgiveness, Prayer, Sanctity of Human Life, Sin.

This week (Tuesday) marks the 40th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in America. I want to say a few words concerning the sin of abortion. I believe we must call it sin, because God created humans in his image, and to destroy human life is murder. It is murder at any stage of life. Nowhere in scripture is the murder of a human being at any stage of life condoned, especially the lives of innocents.

Much is made in the news media of the murder of young people in a school, or the slaughter of people attending a movie, but there is no outcry, no sorrow over the millions of lives terminated by abortion in the last 40 years. In the most recent report from Planned Parenthood, we find the organization performed 333,964 abortions in 2011. This amounts to 915 abortions per day. Where is the media uproar over this?

There has been much talk recently from the president and others about stricter gun laws, but I have heard nothing about the clear and present danger to the unborn in the form of abortion. I believe the issue is not one of taking guns from law-abiding citizens. Instead it is about a country, a government that breaks God’s moral law by sponsoring abortion (murder).

God is not mocked. Whether as individuals or as a nation, we will reap what we sow (Galatians 6:7). When the Israelites were sacrificing their children to pagan gods, God judged them (Leviticus 20:2-5).. Why would we think he will not do the same when our country is in effect sacrificing our unborn children to the “god of convenience”, or to the “god of choice?”

I believe that our country will be judged for this sin, if in fact we are not being judged already. Sin has consequence, and even if America would confess her sin and repent of it, she will surely suffer some consequence of her past actions.

The Bible is God’s Word, and if God’s Word says murder is a sin, who are we to try to tell Him He is wrong? In my mind and in my understanding of the Bible, there can be no justification for abortion for any reason.

Praying for America,
Pastor Jerry

17 Dec

Some Thoughts on This Week

Posted by sandhillspastor in Evil deeds, Faith, Forgiveness, Sin, The Good News.

We have had some praiseworthy events this week. Alex has permission from the doctor to start leaving the crutches behind. It appears his surgery is having the desired effect. My knee is healing, although I now know there is a problem with some arthritis. And, probably the most encouraging event of the past week has been the rain we received here Friday night into Saturday morning. I suspect there has been a lot of happy dancing out there.

The annual Wheeler County Community Choir concert was held Sunday afternoon in two locations. It is a blessing to hear talented volunteers sing the songs of the season, proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Still another violent tragedy has happened in our country. What happened at that school in Connecticut is beyond our comprehension. Most people have an opinion of why these things happen, but I believe the only source for the answer is God’s word. If we don’t understand these things from a Biblical perspective, we basically are left with no hope, and no answers. I also believe that we will never have all the answers, because God doesn’t give them all to us. However, he does give us enough to carry us through.

It is unimaginable to us that these things happen, but at this season of the year I believe it is of the greatest importance for us to remember that Jesus Christ came to earth to be the specific remedy for sin in the world. It is sin, after all that is at the root of this horrible act. I don’t pretend to know why God did not prevent this from happening. There are so many things in life for which we have no answer. I do know that God tells us his thoughts and his ways are not the same as ours. (Isaiah 55:8-9). In that same chapter of Isaiah, there is an invitation to come to God, to call on him for the forgiveness our of sin, and to receive his salvation.

At the risk of sounding overly simplistic, I must say I believe that unless and until all people acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, events similar to last Friday can and will occasionally happen. Until that time, God is still sovereign, He is still on His throne, and He is still in control of times and events. Praise His Name forever!

Leaning on the everlasting arms,
Pastor Jerry

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