HOW OFTEN HAVE WE HEARD, "I can't go to church. I am not good enough" ~ OR ~ "I can't go to church. I'm a sinful person" ~ OR ~ "I can't go to church. They will not accept me"?
Yet, in the Bible, Jesus Christ makes it very clear that He did not come to praise we believers for being so perfect, for we are not. We are only "forgiven sinners." He came, died, and rose again to offer Life, Eternal Life, to all of us - all who have believed, or will believe - and especially to those still trapped in and living in the secular world's benighted and preferred world of unBiblical lifestyles. The secular world may tell you that those lifestyles are the new "norm" for all the world. But the Bible tells us:
1 Corinthians 6:9-10, (nkjv). "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God."
The eternal question, the one which will determine every person's eternal destiny, is: Will YOU believe the world - or - will you believe the Word of God? Jesus Christ came to bless, not save the righteous - but, most importantly, He came to save and bless those who are still lost. We are told that in these Scripture passages:
Mark 2:17 (nkjv), "When Jesus heard it, He said to them, 'Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.'"
Luke 19:10 (nkjv), "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."
Luke 5:32 (nkjv), "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance."
Romans 3:10-12 (nkjv), "As it is written: 'There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.'"
Pass this on. Jesus Christ came to save YOU regardless of your sins, regardless of the lifestyle you are currently living, regardless of any and all your sins - past, present, or future - if YOU will only "believe and receive" Him as your Lord and Savior (John 1:12).
We are assured of that in Ephesians 1:13 (paraphrased here for personal understanding) that if, "after YOU hear the Word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation; . . . having believed, YOU will be sealed with the Holy Spirit" - meaning that the Holy Spirit will, from that moment on, resides within you (guiding you, teaching you, convicting you so that you may repent and correct your errors).
And we are told that the Holy Spirit will reside in you, never leaving you, until the day of your redemption, the day you leave this mortal earth through death or the Rapture to be with Him eternally. And, Jesus Christ gave us these two amazing promises: Revelation 3:20 (nasb), "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if ANYONE hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me."
Note: "Anyone" means exactly that - "Anyone" down through the ages, who will hear His voice, hear Him ringing the doorbell of their heart, and will open it to receive Him - that person WILL dine with Him, Jesus Christ, eternally.
John 10:27-29 (nasb), "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and NO ONE will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and NO ONE is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand."
Note 1: "No one" means exactly that - NO ONE! No power on earth or in heaven, and especially not the believer himself/herself - can snatch the believer from the hands of God. And, no, that believer, once sealed and indwelled with the Holy Spirit - "cannot" evict the Holy Spirit and walk away from God.
Note 2: "Eternal" means "no beginning and no ending." Jesus Christ has existed eternally (no beginning) - and together with Him, we who believe and receive Him will live eternally (no ending) with Him, in fellowship with Him, dining with Him, loving Him - eternally.
So, my Friend, if you do not currently have a church home - whether you are a believer who has not found a church where you feel that you fit - or you are not yet a believer and feel that we believers will reject you - don't worry, just come visit us. We welcome YOU!
Most importantly, let me emphasize that it is not the people in a church who can receive you, or reject you. That is up to Jesus Christ alone - and He will NOT reject you when you come to Him. If you live in the Southern California area, or have a friend or loved one living in our area who needs a loving, Godly church family - we will be thrilled to include YOU in our church family.
We are: International Bible Baptist Church
Located at: 5932 Challen Avenue, Riverside, CA 92503
Sunday Services: Morning Worship at 10:00 AM ~ Sunday School at 1:30 PM ~ Afternoon Worship at 2:30 PM
Bible Study / Prayer Meeting: Every Friday evening at 7:00 PM - in our 5932 Challen Avenue church facility Assembly Room.
Come, join us, and bring a friend, or two or three. We will welcome you all (all y'all if you are Southern) with open arms and a Godly loving heart.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
No comments:
Post a Comment