Turning A Sinner and Saving Them!

"My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins." (James 5:19,20 NIV)

Think about the implications of this passage of scripture. James--the brother of Jesus--is reminding us we are brothers and sisters in Christ--when we have accepted the work on the Cross--and we have the ability to bring a person back from the abyss of destruction when we caution, admonish, instruct, and correct based upon the Truth of The Word. When we see sin--we must call it sin--and love the sinner into the knowledge of his/her sins, until they own it and repent. Repentance--a complete turning away from sin--provides them an avenue for new life--in Christ.

We who know Truth, should always speak Truth, whether people like it or not, whether they belittle us or not, whether they believe it or not. If by our words and deeds we demonstrate the love of God in all we say and do, they will see Truth in action. Once they have been exposed to Truth, they become accountable for whether they accept it or not and our job is done--to speak and live Truth.

While I can understand those who are worldly--either not knowing God or not believing Him--it is truly difficult for me to understand why Believers sit silently, unmoved, willing to allow a sinner to suffer the consequences of their actions rather than speak Truth to them. Is it fear or apathy that motivates Believers to remain silent on sin? Are we so caught up in ourselves that we don't see the need to speak truth and save a person from themselves? Is it enough for us to just think, "As long as I'm saved, what do I have to do with that sinner?"

The same God who loved us enough to die for us to save us from ourselves is the same God who loves all people enough to give us the courage and boldness to expose and reveal sin to all who are influenced by evil, so they too can be saved from the lake of fire. Do we have enough love in us to speak God's Truth to save another or will we remain silent--ignoring what is right in front of us? Are we not responsible for telling people the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?

If we are truly capable of loving as God does--unconditionally--we have all we need within us to share His truth as He said it. Everything God said is sin, is sin. We cannot sugar-coat sin, gloss over sin, cover up sin--no matter what the label or term used to describe it--if it leads a person to live in opposition to God, it is sin. Every Believer has a responsibility to expose sin for what it is by calling it what it is and then encouraging the sinner to repent--turning away from sin. That is our responsibility. Once we tell people truth, our accountability ends and if they choose to ignore Truth, they are on their own. They are accountable for acceptance of Truth or denying it.
Do we love someone enough today to tell them the Truth--God's Truth--and help them to see the error of their ways so they, too can spend eternity with Jesus?

I do and I will keep loving enough to keep telling Truth no matter what--until my eyes close for the last time--I will speak God's Truth and declare what He said: sin is sin and all who sin, must repent, understand the love in the work on the cross, accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, in order to live with Him for all eternity.

While We Were!

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8 NIV)

Who is the "us" Paul references? In this letter to the church at Rome, Paul is speaking to the Jewish converts, now called Christians, followers of Christ--reminding them of God's love for us--who are followers of Christ. While we--before we became Christians and lived any way we wanted to live--He died for us--that's God's love for us.

Most of us can quote John 3:16, but I often wonder if we really know what it means. I have learned from experience that being able to quote a scripture doesn't mean a person comprehends the magnitude of the words they quote.

"For God so loved the world, He gave His one and only Son that whoever believed in Hm would not perish, but have everlasting life."

There is a distinct difference between what John tells us and what Paul says. John tells us that "whoever" (I am a whoever) believed Jesus is the Son of God would not perish but live for all eternity. The whoever applies to anybody and everybody who chooses to believe. Paul says, to those who have already believed and proclaim to be Christians--"remember, we were also sinners at one time," and His love saved us--and His love continues to save others.

Now, there is so much debate about the term sinner that for simplicity's sake, I'll explain it this way. A sinner deliberately chooses to live in opposition to God's Word. Since I am not a sinner (though I was and His grace saved me), and do not deliberately do things in opposition to God's Word, I will not say, "I am a sinner." I am not perfect and when I inadvertently mess up, I am quick to repent and seek His forgiveness. I know many won't agree with me and that's okay. When we get to heaven, we can seek clarity from the One who said it. We need to understand the "tenses" of the verbs--the distinction between "present and past" tenses--am (still doing), were (no longer)!

The important thing to take from this passage of scripture is for us to remember, we once were sinners, living in opposition to God's Word, until we received understanding and chose to live according to God's Word. And while we were living in sin, He loved us so much that He chose to die for us so we might have access to heaven. Now that we know, we cannot condemn those who are "yet in their sin" but pray for them, teach them and bring them into the Light of God's love.
That's why we're saved--to bring others into the marvelous light of Jesus Christ and His love.

Remember, while we were doing our own thing, He still loved us and now we must demonstrate that love towards so they too, can walk in the light as we are in the light.

Any Faithful In The House?

"Know that the LORD has set apart his faithful servant for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him" (Psalm 4:3 NIV).

"When I call upon the name of the Lord, He hears me." Do we really believe this?

The question is asked because of observations made when listening to people pray. The first thing we must remember is when we pray--we are talking to God--not people around us, in front of us, over the telephone or even on the Web. Since we are talking to God to ask of Him--is there any need for us to have long, repetitious conversation with God? Do we need to moan, groan, or screech or pierce ear drums to get His attention? The answer very simply is--no!

God is not deaf and He does not have a memory problem, nor is He distracted by our noise or other superficial modes of conversing with Him. He knows who we are and whether we have been faithful to Him or not. Do we know if we have been faithful or not? Perhaps--we don't. Hence, this is why some go through all the machinations of presenting oneself to be holy or righteous in the sight of others. Perhaps, if we truly read the Bible with understanding we would know this and church services could be cut in half.

When Jesus is teaching, He uses the story of the Pharisee (religious one) and the tax collector who were praying in the temple (Luke 18:11-13). But now, this is the response that Jesus gave His disciples regarding the one who understood they were talking to God. “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Luke 18:14 NIV). For those who may still be lost on the inference--Jesus explained that the tax collector was more justified with his simple request than the Pharisee who has a feeling of superiority and therefore thinks God should hear him.

Public prayers should be simple and get right to the point. We should not pray in an attempt to impress others with our wordiness or emotional state.  When we know we are faithful to God (not so concerned with man), we can pray effective prayers that God will hear and answer. An offering prayer (before or after) should be about the offering--not the sick or government or anything else. A prayer to ask God's blessings over food should be just that--not everything and everyone else. A prayer for the pastor should be about the pastor--not everyone else. A prayer for leadership (all types) should be about that. A prayer for the sick should be for those who are incapable of praying for themselves and when possible--accompanied with the laying on of hands and/or anointing with oil. A prayer to receive Holy Spirit does not take all night (just moments), nor does a person have to be in a specific position or mode of prayer to receive--the gift--just a willingness to receive. A prayer of repentance should be just that--an acknowledgment of turning away from sin. People have repented of sin when they were alone and God responded. I know--I did! We need to understand the purpose of specificity in our prayer lives rather than trying to impress others.

We make too much of a public spectacle of ourselves during times of prayer because of our lack of knowledge. God does not respond to emotionalism--He responds to faith. The faithful, He has set apart for Himself. The next time you pray, be faithful and know that He hears the first time--even if you whisper.

Father, in the name of Jesus, thank You for hearing and answering prayer. Holy Spirit guide us in everything we do that glorifies God, and keep us focused on being faithful to Him.

Are You The One?

"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers" (Psalm 1: 1-3 NIV).

Are you the one who is blessed?

Are you out-of-step with the wicked (not going along with everything the wicked--those who never knew God-- do)?

Are you standing on the other side of the street (figuratively speaking)--away from the sinners (those who once knew God, but turned away)?

Are you sitting far away from those who mock (not joining in) those who believe God?

Are you taking pleasure in God's commandment of loving, unconditionally?

Are you reading and meditating on the Word throughout the day?

If you are doing all these things--then The Word says--you shall be like a tree planted by streams of water--always being watered by the Word--establishing deep, strong roots (foundation for living God's way) and you will have good success at whatever you do (everything you do, prospers).

Are you the one?

When we do what God tells us to do we can expect to receive what He says we will get. When we don't--there is still an expectation--though not a pleasant one--we will receive the consequence of our actions.

God help us to be the one who lives according to Your Word so we may blessed with all spiritual and natural blessings in all we do. Remind us on a daily basis to share the love You have poured into our hearts and convince others to seek You for themselves by our conduct and in being a living testimony of Your goodness. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen!

Saved (excerpt 2)

Sinner vs Wicked
“The Lord is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous” (Proverbs 15:29).  Some people have used this scripture to support their belief that God does not hear the prayer of the sinner (not the wicked).  If this were true, then no sinner could be saved.  We know that God indeed hears the prayers of sinners (who are seeking repentance) because if he didn’t, where would we be?

The sinner is one who knows the way and chooses to take short cuts along the way; sometimes getting lost, but finding their way back. The wicked have never come into the knowledge of who Jesus is or what He has done for us and will persecute those who do believe.  The wicked are those who do not have a conscience and could care less about how their actions affect anything or anyone else. The wicked are totally self-serving and narcissistic.  The only thing that matters to them is them. The wicked are found in high places and in low places.  They are found in church and outside the church.  The wicked see themselves as a god and acknowledges no other authority than themselves. (Psalm 36:1) These are the truly wicked.

Sinners have to know the will of God in order to subvert it. The wicked do not know the will of God, nor do they care to know it.  They are a law unto themselves.  Indeed the Lord is far from the wicked because He has never been acknowledged by them and as such, has no obligation or relationship to honor with them.  The difference then is the sinner can be saved while the wicked has no hope. We have to remember that the Word of God tells us that He has created the wicked to fulfill His purposes.  Once we know the difference between a sinner and the wicked, we must determine who we are and what it is we want or where we want to spend eternity.  It is now time to make a commitment to be in a position to receive God’s best.

This excerpt is from, Saved, But Not Yet Delivered! available on amazon.com

Godless, Sinner or Saved?

In spite of the many different ideologies about religion and who is right, when I read the Bible I see what God has indicated in The Word.

As a people—we fall into one of three categories.  We are either Godless –having no relationship with God; Sinner—thinking we have a relationship with God, but still practicing sin; or saved—having surrendered our lives in total submission to the will of God in relationship with Him.

These are the conclusions I have drawn from all that is said in the Bible.

• ·       God created man to be in relationship with Him and we failed— and some were Godless for a season

• ·       Man trying to live without God is pointless and hazardous for our health.

• ·       God came to earth in the person of Jesus to restore/reconcile our relationship with God—saving us from ourselves.

• ·       Religious people—practice a form of religion, but have not come to the truth about how God wants us to live and treat others.

• ·       If we are saved, we should not practice sin and if we think practicing sin is okay with God; then we are religious, but have no right relationship with Him because we do not understand Him, will not listen to Him, and are not open to His correction.

• ·      People in right relationship with God, do not practice sin, but know they have an advocate if they fall short; are quick to repent and repair the breach in the relationship, and live according to God’s Word, not man’s word.

• ·       People in right relationship with God receive correction and know how to love all.

• ·       People in religions know how to recite The Word, but do not live according to it.

My conclusions are not based on any assumptions or personal opinions, but on The Word that arises in me, when I am tempted to sin.  James tells us that when we are tempted, we are drawn away from God by our own desires—the things we want to do because they feel good, but we should not do. God does not tempt us.  He has no need to do so since He knows exactly what we will do and when we will do it. He knows which of us are Godless, Sinner or Saved and we cannot hide who we are from Him.

I do not profess perfection, but I profess to love God so much that I only want to please Him. And when I am about to do something that would not please Him, I hear the Holy Spirit, gently remind me that there are things I cannot do because of who I am and to whom I belong. My love for Him settles it.