Posts Tagged ‘christianity’

30 Sep

Searching for Bargains

Posted by sandhillspastor in Best Life, Eternity, Gospel, Grace, Hope, Planning, The Good News. Tagged: , , , , .

Greetings all,
You have to like this fall weather. If we could get a little rain, it would be a lot better. On a personal note, we traveled to Colorado to visit my brother and sister-in-law last week. It’s been a few years since we have seen each other, so it was good to reminisce over old times. The trip was mostly uneventful, although the roads were a lot rougher than I remember. The best highway was US 30, and I-76 in Colorado was the worst! I have nothing to say about our local county road…

When we returned on Saturday, we were reminded of the Junk Jaunt weekend. As we approached our home territory, we started so see hand-made signs alerting us to the many bargains to be had at various locations. This was the worst traffic of the whole trip! People were everywhere looking for a bargain.

Our pastor pointed out Sunday morning that Christians have the best bargain ever. We have as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. There is no better deal in this world. As it is written in God’s word, ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

God’s gift of salvation is free for the asking. The price has been paid at the cross of Calvary. No extra taxes or fees are due. All that is required is that one comes confessing their sins, asking for God’s forgiveness, and accepting his Son as Savior. Scripture reminds us, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

In another place we are told, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). You won’t find a better deal than that anywhere!

I repeat myself, but if you are looking for a bargain, look no further than the Lord Jesus. His salvation is the ultimate great deal.

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift (2 Corinthians 9:15)! It’s a deal you must not refuse.

For Him,
Pastor Jerry

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