There is none who does good.
Aug 23, 2015 16:50:23 GMT -6
Post by Ron on Aug 23, 2015 16:50:23 GMT -6
Two quotes have caught my eye over the past couple of weeks. They really cut to the heart of the matter concerning the church. The first quote is:
"Here is something you need to understand, Hitler was not an anomaly. Hitler was not a phenomenon. Hitler was what everyone in this room has the potential of being and not only that, you need to understand that even in the wickedness of Hitler, Hitler was still restrained by the common Grace of God. And you need to know this, if it weren't for the common Grace of God, restraining you in your unconverted state, you would make Hitler look like a choir boy. What we do not understand is what Scripture teaches about men -- men are evil! You say, 'well I don't agree.' That's because you have grabbed enough of Christianity to stand, but you don't believe the Bible. The Scriptures testimony is against you, and all men is that we are born with evil and we are evil. Do you have to teach a child to lie? Do you have to teach a child to be self-centered? Do you have to teach a child how to be selfish? Do you have to teach a child how to be brutal to other children? They learn that on their own. Set them free, discipline them not, and see what you have in ten years -- a monster. Why? Because what Scripture says is true. And you hold your ears and you say, 'I don't want to hear it , I don't want to hear it'...in the same way that a person dying from cancer is in denial and says to the doctor, ' I don't want to hear it, I don't want to hear it'. That by cupping the hands over your ears you close yourself off from any remedy. The first thing you must embrace is this...all men are born in sin and given over to sin and all men are born hating God." -- Paul Washer
If you disagree with this quote, you need to read Psalm 14 and Psalm 53. "Why do bad things happen to good people?" is an invalid question because no one on this earth is good. We are all born evil.
What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. 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. Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit; The poison of asps is under their lips; Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; Destruction and misery are in their ways; And the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. -- Romans 3:9-20
The second quote takes this to the next level. The man is an atheist, but he raises a valid point.
And I've always said, you know, that I don't respect people that don't proselytize. I don't respect that at all. If you believe that there's a heaven and hell, and people could be going to hell — or not getting eternal life, or whatever — and you think that, "Well, it's not really worth tellin' 'em this, because it would make it socially awkward", and atheists who think that people shouldn't proselytize, "Just leave me alone. Keep your religion to yourself"... How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that? I mean, if I believe, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that a truck was coming at you and you didn't believe it —that truck was bearing down on you — there's a certain point where I tackle you, and this is more important than that. -- Penn Jillette
Give this some time to sink in. "How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that? I mean, if I believe, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that a truck was coming at you and you didn't believe it —that truck was bearing down on you — there's a certain point where I tackle you, and this is more important than that." The only conclusion I can come up with is this: Christians do not hate non-Christians. It's that most that claim to be Christians are not who they claim to be. 1 John 4 explains it this way:
If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. -- 1 John 4:20-21
Some might try to argue that this verse is talking about family. After all, it does say "brother." Matthew chapter 5 expands on this.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. -- Matthew 5:43-45
Some people say that they love God, but their actions say something entirely different. The prophet Isaiah saw this same problem in his day.
Therefore the LORD said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men, Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work among this people, A marvelous work and a wonder; For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, And the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.” Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel far from the LORD, And their works are in the dark; They say, “Who sees us?” and, “Who knows us?” Surely you have things turned around! Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay; For shall the thing made say of him who made it, “He did not make me”? Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding”? -- Isaiah 29:13-16
What we say doesn't mean anything if our actions are contrary to our words. "Talk is cheap." "Actions speak louder than words." In the book of James we are commanded to be doers of the Word and not hearers only.
Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. -- James 1:21-27
Christians that study the Word of God (the Bible) know who true Christians are by their actions.
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. -- Matthew 7:15-20
Some might say that I just passed judgement. After all, the Bible says "Judge not, that you be not judged." Let's look at this in context.
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. -- Matthew 7:1-5
Notice verse two. "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you." In short, you will be judged in the way that you judge others. Now let's look at verse five. "Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." Here it says that if you remove the plank from your eye, then you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. We need to get ourselves right with God and study His Word before we can see clearly to judge someone else. This does not mean that we condemn someone else. We are to preach the Gospel of Christ so that they can be saved from the wrath of God.
We need to understand that we CANNOT walk the fence when it comes to faith in Christ. We either serve God or we are a slave to sin. Luke chapter 16 says this:
“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” -- Luke 16:13
If you put your faith in Christ there is a list of things that need to change in your life.
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. -- Galatians 5:19-21
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. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. -- 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. -- 1 Timothy 6:9-10
If you are a true Christian (to be Christ-like), you will no longer go to bars, casinos, or adult stores. You will no longer read horoscopes or view pornography. Even the movies you watch should change. Horror movies are demonic and therefore not something a Christian should watch. If you are a true Christian, you will stop walking in darkness. 1 John chapter 1 says this:
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. -- 1 John 1:5-10
If you do these things, refer to 1 John 1:9 -- If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we are truly repentant, we will take action and remove these things from our lives. If we truly believe in Jesus Christ we are made new.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. -- 2 Corinthians 5:17
If we really are Christians, we will be obedient to God.
If you love Me, keep My commandments. -- John 14:15
Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. -- Luke 9:23-24
Being a follower of Jesus Christ demands action. If we submit to God He will lift us up.
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. -- James 4:7-10
Studying the Scriptures DAILY is just as important as continual prayer. The only way to get to know God is to read His Word (the Bible). If you don't, Hosea chapter four gives this warning:
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. -- Hosea 4:6
The only way to acquire this knowledge and, as repeated in the book of Proverbs, to get understanding is to DAILY study the Word of God (the Bible). If one truly desires to follow Jesus Christ there will be a change in that persons life. Christianity is not just a belief, it is a change of who we are.
So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.” -- Matthew 15:16-20
“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. -- Revelation 3:15-19
I want the main focus of this to be, "as many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent." This is Jesus talking to the church. He still loves us. He wants us to be zealous and repent. If we do not repent there will be consequences.
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” -- Romans 10:8-13
Friend, don't wait. No one knows what tomorrow will bring. Today is the day to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. -- 2 Corinthians 6:2
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.
"Here is something you need to understand, Hitler was not an anomaly. Hitler was not a phenomenon. Hitler was what everyone in this room has the potential of being and not only that, you need to understand that even in the wickedness of Hitler, Hitler was still restrained by the common Grace of God. And you need to know this, if it weren't for the common Grace of God, restraining you in your unconverted state, you would make Hitler look like a choir boy. What we do not understand is what Scripture teaches about men -- men are evil! You say, 'well I don't agree.' That's because you have grabbed enough of Christianity to stand, but you don't believe the Bible. The Scriptures testimony is against you, and all men is that we are born with evil and we are evil. Do you have to teach a child to lie? Do you have to teach a child to be self-centered? Do you have to teach a child how to be selfish? Do you have to teach a child how to be brutal to other children? They learn that on their own. Set them free, discipline them not, and see what you have in ten years -- a monster. Why? Because what Scripture says is true. And you hold your ears and you say, 'I don't want to hear it , I don't want to hear it'...in the same way that a person dying from cancer is in denial and says to the doctor, ' I don't want to hear it, I don't want to hear it'. That by cupping the hands over your ears you close yourself off from any remedy. The first thing you must embrace is this...all men are born in sin and given over to sin and all men are born hating God." -- Paul Washer
If you disagree with this quote, you need to read Psalm 14 and Psalm 53. "Why do bad things happen to good people?" is an invalid question because no one on this earth is good. We are all born evil.
What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin. 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. Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit; The poison of asps is under their lips; Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; Destruction and misery are in their ways; And the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. -- Romans 3:9-20
The second quote takes this to the next level. The man is an atheist, but he raises a valid point.
And I've always said, you know, that I don't respect people that don't proselytize. I don't respect that at all. If you believe that there's a heaven and hell, and people could be going to hell — or not getting eternal life, or whatever — and you think that, "Well, it's not really worth tellin' 'em this, because it would make it socially awkward", and atheists who think that people shouldn't proselytize, "Just leave me alone. Keep your religion to yourself"... How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that? I mean, if I believe, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that a truck was coming at you and you didn't believe it —that truck was bearing down on you — there's a certain point where I tackle you, and this is more important than that. -- Penn Jillette
Give this some time to sink in. "How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that? I mean, if I believe, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that a truck was coming at you and you didn't believe it —that truck was bearing down on you — there's a certain point where I tackle you, and this is more important than that." The only conclusion I can come up with is this: Christians do not hate non-Christians. It's that most that claim to be Christians are not who they claim to be. 1 John 4 explains it this way:
If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. -- 1 John 4:20-21
Some might try to argue that this verse is talking about family. After all, it does say "brother." Matthew chapter 5 expands on this.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. -- Matthew 5:43-45
Some people say that they love God, but their actions say something entirely different. The prophet Isaiah saw this same problem in his day.
Therefore the LORD said: “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, But have removed their hearts far from Me, And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men, Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work among this people, A marvelous work and a wonder; For the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, And the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.” Woe to those who seek deep to hide their counsel far from the LORD, And their works are in the dark; They say, “Who sees us?” and, “Who knows us?” Surely you have things turned around! Shall the potter be esteemed as the clay; For shall the thing made say of him who made it, “He did not make me”? Or shall the thing formed say of him who formed it, “He has no understanding”? -- Isaiah 29:13-16
What we say doesn't mean anything if our actions are contrary to our words. "Talk is cheap." "Actions speak louder than words." In the book of James we are commanded to be doers of the Word and not hearers only.
Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. -- James 1:21-27
Christians that study the Word of God (the Bible) know who true Christians are by their actions.
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them. -- Matthew 7:15-20
Some might say that I just passed judgement. After all, the Bible says "Judge not, that you be not judged." Let's look at this in context.
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. -- Matthew 7:1-5
Notice verse two. "For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you." In short, you will be judged in the way that you judge others. Now let's look at verse five. "Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." Here it says that if you remove the plank from your eye, then you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. We need to get ourselves right with God and study His Word before we can see clearly to judge someone else. This does not mean that we condemn someone else. We are to preach the Gospel of Christ so that they can be saved from the wrath of God.
We need to understand that we CANNOT walk the fence when it comes to faith in Christ. We either serve God or we are a slave to sin. Luke chapter 16 says this:
“No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” -- Luke 16:13
If you put your faith in Christ there is a list of things that need to change in your life.
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. -- Galatians 5:19-21
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. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. -- 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. -- 1 Timothy 6:9-10
If you are a true Christian (to be Christ-like), you will no longer go to bars, casinos, or adult stores. You will no longer read horoscopes or view pornography. Even the movies you watch should change. Horror movies are demonic and therefore not something a Christian should watch. If you are a true Christian, you will stop walking in darkness. 1 John chapter 1 says this:
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. -- 1 John 1:5-10
If you do these things, refer to 1 John 1:9 -- If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we are truly repentant, we will take action and remove these things from our lives. If we truly believe in Jesus Christ we are made new.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. -- 2 Corinthians 5:17
If we really are Christians, we will be obedient to God.
If you love Me, keep My commandments. -- John 14:15
Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. -- Luke 9:23-24
Being a follower of Jesus Christ demands action. If we submit to God He will lift us up.
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. -- James 4:7-10
Studying the Scriptures DAILY is just as important as continual prayer. The only way to get to know God is to read His Word (the Bible). If you don't, Hosea chapter four gives this warning:
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children. -- Hosea 4:6
The only way to acquire this knowledge and, as repeated in the book of Proverbs, to get understanding is to DAILY study the Word of God (the Bible). If one truly desires to follow Jesus Christ there will be a change in that persons life. Christianity is not just a belief, it is a change of who we are.
So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.” -- Matthew 15:16-20
“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. -- Revelation 3:15-19
I want the main focus of this to be, "as many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent." This is Jesus talking to the church. He still loves us. He wants us to be zealous and repent. If we do not repent there will be consequences.
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” -- Romans 10:8-13
Friend, don't wait. No one knows what tomorrow will bring. Today is the day to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour.
For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. -- 2 Corinthians 6:2
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.