B4 I was born, I was going 2 Church in my Mother's womb. I went all my childhood, teenage years, as an adult, but was not born again till I was 44 yrs. old.
Resurrection Life Ministries (Daily Reflections from the Word): Peter Warns All Believers Against False Teachers Within and Exhorts Us to be Steadfast Volume 10: https://t.co/Q7KhPkmabX
The realization that faith is the gift of Godโnot the result of the persuasion of the evangelistโshould encourage us to pray with confidence. It means that no one, however hardened he or she may be, is beyond the regenerating, life-creating work of the Holy Spirit.
"Don't get the idea that Jesus died to save you from hell. He died to save you from sin. And if He can't save you from sin, He can't save you from hell." โ Adrian Rogers
@5SolasMissy Without repentance, that is, an internal turning from sin, the good news of the Gospel is never received (Luke 3:8). There are a lot of baptized pagans.
I always appreciate how Jonny Ardavanis, pastor of Stonebridge Bible Church, intentionally works to equip his congregation to understand the times and to reach out to the lost in both truth and love.
In his sermon this morning, "What Does the Bible Say about Homosexuality?", he shared important guidance on the error of believing that it's loving to affirm others in their sin:
"[Paul] says, 'even though they know the truth, they do the same thing, and they give hearty approval to those who practice them.' Which means what?
The most hateful, evil group of people that I could possibly imagine on planet Earth are churches that know the truth of what the Bible says and say, 'We affirm you.'
To give hearty affirmation and approval to what God condemns is not love. It is the epitome of hatred.
If I saw someone playing, pouring gasoline all over their body, and lighting matches, I would not say, 'Hey, is that fun for you?' I would say, 'You're in danger. You're in danger! This is going to destroy you! Don't do this!'
It's not loving to say, 'Well, that's different than me.' No, that's hatred...
The point of the law is to show people they are at odds with God, that they need a Savior, that they need to turn from sin, to repent, which is the first word of the gospel.
And the church is the pillar and buttress of the truth. We are to herald this truth in love. And it is not love to hide what God hates.
If you do not tell people to repent of this sin, you're aiding and abetting them on their way to a Christless eternity in Hell. Furthermore, you're denying them real joy in this life.
Now, is there good news for the homosexual or for the transgender? You better believe it. Turn back with me to 1 Corinthians 6 where we started..."
Link to full sermon below
Sinners cannot imagine that the things they love are the very things that keep them from happiness. Their fear of the light and refusal to let go of the darkness is a struggle against joy.
@Christocentrism Imagine the glee of the devil; getting human sinners to celebrate ๐ฅณ sin which God/Jehovah detest by naming the month by the sin God/Jehovah hates. ๐ก๐คฌ๐ค๐คฏ๐คฎ
God isnโt going to make you the most popular person on earth. Heโs going to give you a close relationship with him that you wonโt care a hill of beans about anybody elseโs opinion or thinking.
We human beings are all addicts. We are all born addicted to sin. It is only when we are brought to convincing of our addiction by God the Holy Spirit that we will say this,
"And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, โGod, be merciful to me a sinner!โ"
The sufferings of this life are part of a universal, God-decreed collapse of creation into disorder cause of sin. God subjected the world 2 futility cause of sin. Therefore, all the misery of the world is a bloody declaration about the ghastly horror of sin. John Piper
Resurrection Life Ministries (Daily Reflections from the Word): Peter Warns All Believers Against False Teachers Within and Exhorts Us to be Steadfast Volume 9: https://t.co/UCC3wtuwfc