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| THE FIRST STEP TO BLESSING |
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| CRM Editorial Note: There are so many false conversions within Christianity. People who "prayed a prayer" and assume that they are "born again". One cannot get saved unless he/she knows that they are truly LOST. The Lord Jesus died to SAVE US FROM OUR SINS. If a person comes to Him for any other reason, that person is a FALSE convert. The well known bible teacher, CA Coates, wrote the following piece and explains why a person must view himself as utterly lost in order to be saved. Christ died for sinners...not for "good people who sin". (Romans 3:10) _______________________________________________________________________________________________ The first step to blessing is to learn what you are in God's sight, and to accept His estimate of you. The first utterance of God in creation was "Let there be light," and in the new creation of a soul this is the first act of grace. A dirty man in the dark may think he is clean; so a sinner whose conscience has not been enlightened may be satisfied with himself. But when God says, "Let there be light," a Job cries out, "I am vile". An Isaiah groans, " Woe is me"; Simon the fisherman confesses, "I am a sinful man, O Lord"; and one like Saul of Tarsus can only call himself "chief" of sinners. Romans 5:6-10 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. In the opening verses of Romans 5 we have a four-fold description of those for whom Christ died: (1) "When we were yet without strength," v. 6. (2) "In due time Christ died for the ungodly," v. 6. (3) "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us," v. 8. (4) "When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son," v. 10. How wonderfully do "GRACE AND TRUTH" shine together in this passage! Here the foul disease and the certain remedy are seen together. Guilt is fully discovered, but it is in the light of grace. Sin appears in connection with love that puts it away. And if our true character is painted in its darkest colours, it is that we may know the riches of the grace that seeks our blessing in spite of all. Do not then, I beseech you, imitate the Pharisees, who "rejected the counsel of God against themselves," and refused to take the guilty sinner's place before Him. For if the light of God's grace does not find you out and expose you in your true character now, depend upon it, the light of His judgment will find you out by-and-by. Be honest with your own soul and with God, and take home to yourself the solemn truth that you are without strength, ungodly, a sinner, and an enemy, needing to be reconciled to God. If you refuse to accept this four-fold description as being true of yourself, you thereby shut yourself out from the saving value of Christ's death. It was for those who could by no means save or help to save themselves that Christ died. It was for ungodly sinners that He gave His life; and if you are not such an one, you have neither part nor lot in the blessings which flow from His death. A lifeboat is for the drowning, a physician is for the sick, and a Saviour is for lost sinners. Do not make a mistake. You may be decent and moral in your life, fair and upright in your dealings with your fellow-men, a good husband, a dutiful wife, an obedient child, or a faithful servant, and yet be unsaved. You may attend church, chapel, or mission room with the greatest regularity, and yet be among the many who are on the broad road. You may even be a communicant, a church member, a liberal giver to charitable and religious causes, a Sunday-school teacher, or a preacher, and at the same time be a lost sinner on the way to death and eternal judgment. Blame not that honesty of speech which warns you in plain terms of your carnal security in this world. What good is it to "live it up" here in this life but be damned in the next? Think of eternity. The day speeds on when "the earth also, and the works that are therein, shall be burned up. . . and the elements shall melt with fervent heat." At that day you will either be seated in glory around the Lamb once slain, or suspended in space before the Great White Throne to be judged according to your works. Either inside the Heavenly city whose light is the Lamb, or outside, lighted along the dark road to judgment by the crimson torch of a burning world. Thank God! it is not yet too late, but do not trifle with present grace. You may remember the loss of the vessel called the Central America. She was in a bad state, and had hoisted a signal of distress. A ship came close to her, the captain of which asked, through the trumpet," What is amiss?" "We are in bad repair, and are going down: lie by till morning," was the answer. But the captain on board the rescue ship said, " Let me take your passengers on board now." "Lie by till morning," was the message which came back. Once again the captain cried, " You had better let me take your passengers on board now." "Lie by till morning," was the reply which sounded through the trumpet. About an hour and a half after, the lights were missing, and, though no sound was heard, she and all on board had gone down into the fathomless abyss. Unconverted friend, do not say, "Lie by till morning." Now is the accepted time. Today you may enter into life; to-morrow the door may be shut. C. A. COATES _____________________________________________________________ CRM EDITORIAL NOTE: There are MANY false conversions taking place because folks are receiving the WRONG "jesus". Jesus came for ONE Purpose and that was to save His people from their SINS. Matthew 1:21 says, "thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." One cannot be born again coming to a "jesus" who will make them "a better person." One must cry, "I am lost. I cannot save myself." Until that realization is made, no amount of "sinners prayers" will convert the soul. That is why the preaching of the Law and the preaching of sin (which is the transgression of the Law) is so important. The Ten Commandments is the mirror to show men how guilty they stand before a HOLY AND RIGHTEOUS GOD. The Gospel is the GOOD NEWS message that even though one stands utterly guilty, the Lord Jesus Christ took our place upon the cross and bled and died for OUR sins. One must receive the correct Jesus-- the One who is the crucified and risen Lord. One must repent and receive Christ Jesus as their Savior. Trusting in Christ to save from their sins-- because the wages of sin is death--future judgment and eternity in the Lake of Fire. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. If you have broken one Commandment, you have broken them all: James 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. False conversions are the result of wishy-washy preaching that mentions nothing of hell or judgment or sin. One cannot know they are lost unless they have heard the Word of God concerning judgment and salvation. Romans 5:8-9 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Notice from the above passage that we are saved "from wrath" through Christ Jesus. Preachers like Joel Osteen don't like to preach on wrath but more "positive things" but yet he still invites folks to get saved at the end of the telecast. Well...Saved from what? Saved from marital problems? Saved from family troubles? Anyone who prays a "sinner's" prayer after a "feel good" sermon is a false convert. One must know that he is completely lost in order to be saved. That is why it is so important to wait for children to come to Jesus on their own without pressure from the parents to do so. The Lord Jesus cannot be received "as a friend" but as the Savior. One must know he is LOST before he or she can be saved. Children understand that they have transgressed their parents' laws but it is ONLY when they understand the severity of breaking God's law, that they can be truly saved. This comes in time and cannot be rushed. Teaching your children the Ten Commandments will be as mirror to them in helping them see the need for the Savior. The Holy Spirit can work on their hearts as they HEAR the Word of God. John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. The Gospel is Good News but it is only good news when one understands that the "wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men" (Romans 1:18). The Lord Jesus is the ONLY Savior. He died for our sins and one can only be saved if they receive Him as Savior-- for He took our place upon the cross. For more information, see why Jesus died for us. Edited by Cobblestone Road Ministries Copyright © 2006 Cobblestone Road Ministries FURTHER READING: Jesus Died For Us False Preachers - Passing out candy on the way to destruction Jesus is The Great I AM What Is Wrong With Joel Osteen's Message? The Greatest Sin What Is Man? Why Did Christ Die? |
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