All Clean to Hear the Gospel

“²⁸And he said to them, ‘You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean.’” – Acts 10:28 (ESV)

Peter was in the house of an Italian, not exactly the kind of house a Jew was to enter and associate at the time according to the law. But, Peter was taking his direction from God and not from the law. The “new” law of God, the New Covenant, was the action that Peter was taking into account when he joined this Italian and all others in his house. Thanks to Jesus all people, yes all, were to be led to the LORD, Jew and Gentile.

“¹²In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air. ¹³And there came a voice to him: ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’ ¹⁴But Peter said, ‘By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.’ ¹⁵And the voice came to him again a second time, ‘What God has made clean, do not call common.’” – Acts 10:12-15 (ESV)

You see, Peter had seen in a vision just a few days before that all was clean now thanks to the LORD. Yes, we see in the vision that there was reference to all animals, and not “all” lineage of man, but this was a vision and things are not always literal. The parallel is related to uncleanliness according to Jewish law. Like some animals, some people where considered unclean according to the law. But the law had changed.

Thanks be to God for the change in the law. He made it possible that I might hear the gospel and have the opportunity to be saved. Thanks be to God that I am not considered unclean and not able to know Him. Thanks be to God that Jesus came and died for my sins to wash me clean. Thanks be to God, thanks be to God!

What is your view of clean versus unclean? Are there those that would be considered unclean? What if we think in terms of the New Covenant and know that all are clean thanks to and in the eyes of the LORD to receive the gospel and know Him?

Faith to be Clean

“¹²While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, ‘Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.’” – Luke 5:12 (ESV)

Notice the man’s faith. He knew that Jesus could clean him of the leprosy that plagued him. He did not need to see any additional proof. He did not even know what would be expected of him or what would take place for him to be cleaned, he just knew that Jesus could heal him, or make him clean.

I think that we do not have that kind of faith today. This man was cast out from society based on an illness he contracted. It seems as though he was just waiting on the opportunity to meet Jesus. He knew, without question, that Jesus could heal him. And more than just being healed, he could be made clean so that he could rejoin society.

This was not the only time that someone had that kind of faith in Jesus.

“²⁰And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, ²¹for she said to herself, ‘If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.’” – Matthew 9:20-21 (ESV)

This woman’s faith was so strong that she did not even need Jesus to know. She only needed to touch his garment to be healed and cleaned. Again without knowing how, only that He could, the woman reached out in full confidence and faith.

I say we get back to faith in God that He will heal and clean us. Jesus wants us to have full confidence in Him. He let’s us know that all we have to do is ask and he will be there for us. And not just to fix things, but to bring us back to where we are to be. He cleans us up so that we can rejoin society.

“¹³And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, ‘I will; be clean.’ And immediately the leprosy left him.” – Luke 5:13 (ESV)

“²²Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, ‘Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.’ And instantly the woman was made well.” – Matthew 9:22 (ESV)

Notice Jesus’ responses when these two reached out in full faith. In both cases, it was not the fact that they needed to be healed and cleaned, it was that they had faith that Jesus could and would. There were and are plenty of people that have a condition that is not healed and cleaned. But these two did not require severe action from Jesus. They prayed that He was present an opportunity to show Jesus their faith in Him and when it came, they seized that opportunity.

I have to be better at my faith. I have to know that Jesus does what we ask of Him. We only need the full faith that He can and will clean us up. I have to KNOW He will not let me suffer any longer.

What is your view on faith? Do you rely on the physical to resolve things? What if you were to have faith in Jesus and rely fully on His grace and mercy to clean you up?

I Suck, God is Awesome

The title of my writing this morning is from a friend of mine, Jared Carter. During our discipleship study, with three other friends, Jared Campbell, Nelson Pereira, and Rob Whitehead we broke down our relationship with God and His with us. One of the themes that came up time and time again is that God’s mercy and grace and love are not what we should be getting, but, that is the thing with God, He is bigger and better than we.

This morning the question in my study by James MacDonald that hit me the hardest is this, when we die and are standing before God and He asks, “Why should I let you into heaven?” How will I answer? How will I plead my case for entrance. The answer from MacDonald shocked me a bit, but is true, “You Shouldn’t. Lord, I can’t believe I’m even here.”

This is so true. I don’t deserve the mercy and grace and love of God. I am a sinner who fails time and time again. I sin consciously and unconsciously. I cannot escape sin in this world. Yet, even in all of that He loves me and provides for me and has pardoned all of it so that I can enter His kingdom and rule with Him.

“⁵he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,” – Titus 3:5 (ESV)

“⁸For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,” – Ephesians 2:8 (ESV)

As sinful as we are, we are not able to get to Heaven on our own. We need help. There is nothing we can do to get there. No actions we can take. No tasks that check the right box. We cannot reach God and lay down a list of items completed to reach the pinnacle of favor with Him. We need His mercy, grace, and love. We need what He has already provided and offered to us, salvation. God gave His Son Jesus to die. He died for me. He took my sin upon Himself so that I would not have to die for them myself.

When I stand before God, and He asks why He should let me into Heaven, my answer will be something like this. I gave myself to you. I have believed that you gave Jesus to die for my sins. You shouldn’t let me in because I don’t deserve it. But I know you and love you and trust you and you mercy, grace, and love. GOD, I suck and YOU ARE AWESOME!!! I choose you.

What is you choice? Are you choosing to keep trying to measure up? What if you choose to surrender to Him and His mercy, grace, and love and recognize that we suck and God is Awesome?

The Way Out has Been Paid

Our way out of the consequences of sin has been paid. Yes, prepaid. We no longer have the payment for sin due. We only need accept the payment has been made and be grateful.

Notice what I wrote above, accept and be grateful. There is no repayment that can be made. I cannot make up the debt. God provided the payment for our sin and there is nothing we can do but accept that the payment has been made and be grateful for it.

“¹⁰In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” – 1 John 4:10 (ESV)

“²³for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” – Romans 3:23 (ESV)

I am a sinner and will always be a sinner in this world. But, the escape from the consequences has been provided. Christ came to this world to walk as I do and take on the sin that I commit and then He died so I do not have to. Not that I will not die, but Christ died in my place as the consequence for my sin.

“²³For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 6:23 (ESV)

I was destined to die for my sin, and Jesus came, or rather was sent, to die in my place. It is the only way out and it was made so by God. God’s grace (getting what we don’t deserve) and mercy (not getting what we do deserve) is demonstrated in His offering of forgiveness for the sin that we are born with and will always have in this world. This offering of forgiveness is made possible only by payment and that payment was made by Jesus’ death.

Our role in all of this is to believe and choose the gift of salvation provided thanks to the payment for our sin. That payment was extreme and I will say, Thank you God for providing and Thank you Jesus for paying and Thank you Holy Spirit for walking with me daily. I believe and choose to escape the consequence of my sin through acceptance and gratefulness in you and your grace and mercy.

What is your understanding of the consequence for sin? Are you able to get out of it on you own? What if you accept that the payment has already been made and you should believe and choose to accept and be grateful for the grace and mercy of God?

Sin Leads to Perish

“¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 (ESV)

See in the verse above, “should not perish”. Perishing is the consequence related to sin. There is no varying degrees of sin, sin is just sin. Whether you tell a little white lie, or swipe a pack of gum, or rob a bank, or engage in immoral acts. All sin is in the same bucket of working against God and for that His wrath is the result of that working against Him.

Perish: “1: to become destroyed or ruined: cease to exist 2: deteriorate, spoil” – Merriam-Webster Online

Let’s talk about that perishing for a moment. Notice the definition above from Merriam-Webster Online. The one that gets me and is most like the Biblical review is to “deteriorate, spoil” and then there is “ruined”. Yes, there is the destruction and ceasing that comes with perishing but from the Biblical review, we will be cast into the lake of fire, Hell, and will be tormented, bonded, will have our memory, will fully experience lake of satisfaction, and will be separated from God. There is not full destruction of us, only that we will be miserable for eternity. I have written about Heaven based on my study and it is going to be wonderful, beautiful, and frankly a place of immense joy and glory. As lovely as it will be, think of the exact opposite as it come to Hell.

Look back at John 3:16 above. There is a way to avoid the consequence of Hell.

James MacDonald writes, “The key word that unlocks the door to John 3:16 is believe. And believe always includes choice.”

So the choice is to perish or celebrate eternally. God gives a way to avoid the consequence of sin. Make no mistake, we are still and will always be sinners in this world, but as we believe in the salvation provided by Christ taking our sin upon Himself and dying for us, we have an escape from eternal anguish.

It is important to understand sin and the consequence of it so that we are able to make an informed choice. When we gloss over the perishing part, we are not taking into account the long term impact of our choice and only work with the now in which the evil one is working hard to deceive us as to the consequences.

MacDonald writes, “Hell will go on forever because no amount of punishment for sin can justify the choice to reject the forgiveness God so freely offers.”

“⁹The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” – 2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)

Even as we continue to sin in this world, God is not giving up on us. He is waiting patiently for our choosing of Him. We have until that time when we cease to exist in this world to choose to believe. But, we have to get on the ball as we do not know when that time comes. And I don’t know about you, but I do not want to perish.

What is your thoughts on the consequences of sin? Are you of the varying degrees and consequences camp? How do things change for you when with the understanding that all sin is sin and the consequence of that sin is perishing eternally?

Choose to Believe

“¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 (ESV)

This morning I was taken to what is likely the most well known verse in God’s Word, John 3:16. It is so well known that it has been seen at all types of public events, sports games, concerts, and countless others. People will have it with them for all to see, but how many are clued into fully the weight of this verse.

In my study this morning, James MacDonald writes, “The key word that unlocks the door to John 3:16 is believe. And believe always includes choice.”

Isn’t that true. We have to choose in order to believe. I was reminded in my study that even being undecided is a choice. Choices are not binary but have additional options that are not really considered. For example, believe or not believe or just walk away from the idea altogether. There are three options, not just the two initially thought. So therefore, being undecided is a choice just as the other two.

Too often, we find something to carry as a badge. Whether a verse, a quote, a poem, a way of doing things, or any number of others. We have chosen to carry the badge and in a lot of cases, we believe in our heads that it is quite the good thing. And where that badge may be powerful in your head and impacts other when seen, is it in your heart as well as your head.

I choose God’s Love. I have seen in my study the value and impact of God’s Love. I have taken it to the point where it is firmly implanted in my head. I have believed in my head. Where that is a great place to start, I have to be honest with myself in applying my belief to my heart as well. I have to connect the two. I have to take the intellectual belief and infuse emotional belief to gain the full value and impact of God’s Love.

I am not saying that I have not done so. What I am saying is that I have to be conscious of my belief. I have to choose to connect my head and my heart through belief in God’s Love. I have to know that whether situations are good or hard, leaning on God’s Love is that which will get me through.

Let’s go back to John 3:16. Look closely at this verse. See that God’s Love is demonstrated in what He did for you and me. He gave His Son to die so we would not have to. Jesus, His only Son. And why did He send Jesus, because He loves us. He chooses to love us. He chose to save us from our sin. The sin that we brought upon ourselves and have no escape on our own. He chose to afford us eternal life with Him. God’s Love is for us and I choose to believe.

Where is your belief? Do you choose belief, unbelief, or are you walking away? What if you made the choice to believe with both your head and your heart to know that you can lean on God’s Love regardless of the situations you find yourself in?

Facts Leading to Faith in God

Faith – 2 a (1): belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2): belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion b (1): firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2): complete trust – Merriam-Webster Online

I think it is interesting that the definition of faith above indicates that there is no proof, yet we ignore facts that are true and cannot be explained. And those facts lead to our faith.

In my study this morning I was pointed to evidence for faith in God. Cosmological, evidential, and moral. Each makes a case for having faith in God, and the question is asked by James MacDonald, to choose whether or not you believe them or not. Again with another choice. It is up to us to choose.

“³All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” – John 1:3 (ESV)

The cosmological evidence is that all things in this world are based on an effect with a cause. God created all things, even the universe, which may be too big for us to fathom. But read the verse above once again and think it through. Isn’t it proof.

“¹The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.”

— Psalm 19:1 (ESV)

The evidential evidence is that all things made for our existence are perfect. Our place in the solar system is perfect for us to live. Our distance from the sun. How fast we go around the sun. The moon we have. The atmosphere. All things point to proof that we were not an accident. Isn’t that proof.

“¹⁴For when Gentile, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. ¹⁵They show that the wok of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them” – Romans 2:14-15 (ESV)

And then there is the moral evidence. We know right from wrong and we do not have to be taught it. It is in our DNA. Other creatures created by God do not have that in their DNA as it was us that were created in God’s image, no other. God is the moral right and as we are created in His image, we have the moral right as well. Isn’t that proof.

Well there you have it. Three examples of facts that point to proof for having faith in God. When you look up the significance of the number three, you will find that it points to balance and completeness. It has long been my favorite number and as such I choose to believe the proof leading to my faith in God.

What evidence to you have to have faith in God? Did you even know that there was evidence? What if you look to all of the evidence, will you choose to believe the proof?

Turn to One Another

The LORD is coming. This much is certain. I know that it is as the LORD has told me so in His Word. There will be death and destruction and all of the evil will be vanquished at His hand. Those who have turned to Him and accepted the salvation gift in their hearts will be spared this destruction. I will be turned to comfort in that time.

“⁵Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. ⁶And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” – Malachi 4:5-6 (ESV)

I will not have to figure out where to turn for comfort, the LORD will take care of that. He will send the one to turn me. I will recognize the time to turn and will do so, to where they will comfort me and I will comfort them. I know that the verse above indicates fathers to children and children to fathers, yet I chose to believe that the LORD will ensure that the turning is to the one who will comfort and not specifically fathers and/or children. Just look at the verses below.

“¹⁶And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God, ¹⁷and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” – Luke 1:17-18 (ESV)

The thing is, we will be turned to one another for the comfort that will be needed in that time. We are not meant to be alone. We should be in community with one another for that comfort. I know that I am grateful for the men I study God’s Word with. Where we are together intimately for about 90 minutes a week, we can turn to one another for comfort any time. We are a community of believers and that community is strong in the LORD.

The LORD knows that we need comfort. He has sent the Holy Spirit to be our helper and comfort while He prepares our place in heaven. And to go along with the Holy Spirit, He has provided us the community of believers to turn to as well. We must turn to one another for our comfort and/or when they need comfort themselves.

Where do you turn when you are in need of comfort? Are you turning to solitude to just deal with it? What if you were to turn to a community of others who believe as you do for comfort and love in your time of need?

Believe, have Faith, Trust the LORD

I wonder on the regular, what am I doing and where is the LORD in it all. I am sure that situations and circumstances have come up that are very difficult to see to the other side on. There is a lack of understanding as to the path forward and frankly if deliverance will be achieved.

The LORD has a plan and as I have noted on many occasions in my writing, that plan is way more that I can understand or fathom. Everything is in His design and has an outcome that may be far from known or seen by us. The Israelite escape from Egypt is an example.

The LORD had delivered the Israelites from the rule of Pharaoh. Then, He had them turn back slightly at the edge of the Red Sea. Yes, they turned back when they could have just kept going and felt as though they were getting away for good. I don’t know about you, but given the choice to keep running and escape or turn back and wait, I would keep going. The LORD told Moses that He was going to conquer the Egyptians. And, Moses being Moses led the people back and as expected, they were concerned.

“¹¹They said to Moses, ‘Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? ¹²Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: “Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians”? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.’” – Exodus 14:11-12 (ESV)

The people expressed their lack of belief, faith, and trust in the LORD in this moment of fear. But, the LORD again had plans that the people were not able to see.

“⁴And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.” – Exodus 14:4 (ESV)

Now, we know the rest of the story that the people made it across the Red Sea on dry ground and Pharaoh and his army perished in the sea. So, the LORD did as He said and fully delivered the people from the Egyptians.

Here is where I was going with things this morning. We see the story of this escape as the great escape, and it was. But it is not without its drama. What I see is the lack of belief, faith, and trust in the LORD by those same Israelites that had already been delivered from the immediate rule of Egypt. And yet they did not believe the LORD would continue to do so even just a few days later.

I find myself in this exact situation all the time. I will ask the LORD for deliverance and then take things into my own hands because I am not getting the result I think I should be getting. I know that the LORD will deliver me, as He has done so many times before and will continue to do so. But I continue the trying to do things on my own thanks to my lack of belief, faith, and trust in Him. And, you know what, the LORD knows I will, and He continues His work despite my doubt.

My pastor indicates that doubt is okay, because is generates questions to generate understanding, leading to belief. Therefor, I will continue to question to gain belief. I will have faith, and trust that the LORD will do His work despite of me as He wants nothing but the best for me.

Where is your belief, faith, and trust in the LORD? Are you in a position where you are lacking in any or all of them? What if instead of not believing or having faith or trusting in Him, you questioned to understand and know that He will deliver?

Added to the Family of God

I think about all that takes place to be added to a family here in this world. Well first there is the natural order of child birth. That is not the simplest of things and takes a good amount of time. Second, there is adoption and that can be time consuming and expensive and there is a lot of work to be done. There is a lot to it being added to a family here in this world. What about to be added to the family of God?

“⁴¹So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls…⁴⁶And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, ⁴⁷praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.” — Acts 2: 41 & 46-47 (ESV)

I read this morning in Acts that what is required to be added to the family of God is receiving the Word of God. Only the need to hear and be added. All can happen in a few minutes. No long time to prepare. No money needed. Only to believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord and to devote yourself to Him.

“²¹And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’” — Mark 10:21 (ESV)

The only requirement is to believe and follow Christ to be added to the family of God. It is not hard to be added, and the cost does not seem high. There is only to follow Christ and believe in Him to be added. And as noted from the rich young man’s story in the following verse, it is still more than most are willing to commit.

“²²Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” — Mark 10:22 (ESV)

Being added to the family is an undertaking. Whether it is adding to this worldly family and going through all the work and or time it takes. Or is it being added to the family of God and giving all of yourself to Him. Either is something that takes commitment. Although to become a member of the family of God is easy in the actions needed and only takes a moment, it is not to be done without the commitment to Christ. The devotion to Him is an in kind devotion He has to me. I have to give all of myself to Him and know that for it, I have received salvation and a relationship with Him, and my final rewards are not of this world, but in heaven.

It is worth the commitment to me. I have family here in this world that took work and continues to do so each day. I have been added to the family of God and where being added was not as difficult, my commitment is one that takes work and continues each day.

What does being added to the family of God look like to you? Are you resistant to the thought of what is required? What if you accepted the Word of God to be added to the family and then committed to the work that continues each subsequent day?