Making Sin Peronal

I would not have known what sin was, had it not been for the law. –Romans 7:7

            Many people have driven back and forth through this area on Hwy 64 speeding under the assumption that there is little risk of them getting caught, only to find themselves staring at blue lights flashing in their rear view mirror. Whether we admit it or not, each and every one of us have been guilty of assuming that our speed is no big deal, especially on a four lane highway.

            We mistakenly assume that since everyone else around us is driving fifteen mph over the speed limit, our transgression of the law is no big deal. That is of course, until we see blue lights flashing in our rear view mirror. All of a sudden we really could care less if everyone else is speeding too. We have become frightfully aware that we are guilty not anyone else. Our transgression of the law is no longer what everyone else is doing, it has become personal.

            It is the same when we apply God’s Law (The Ten Commandments) to our lives. At first we think, who hasn’t told a fib here and there, looked at someone lustfully, had sticky fingers, taken the Lord’s name in vain on occasion in a weak moment? Everybody does it, and so long as we aren’t hurting anybody, what’s the big deal? Then God’s Law enters the rear view mirror of our conscience. That “little fib” becomes a lie or false witness. Our sticky fingers make us a thief. Our lust becomes adultery. Taking God’s name in vain becomes blasphemy.

            All of a sudden we realize the truth that we have become guilty of transgressing God’s Holy Law by which He will hold us accountable to on Judgment Day. We tremble as we remember how God in His righteous justice is so holy that He sees lust as adultery and hatred as murder in our hearts. He has promised to not only bring justice to the murderers, rapists, and terrorists, but also to thieves, blasphemers, and even liars and hypocrites. Our behavior is no longer “what everyone else is doing”, it has become personal sin against a holy God. It seems like every time we turn around, we lose someone tragically to death. What if you’re next? Are you ready?

            Don’t assume that your sin is innocent, of no harm, and no different than anyone else’s. When death finally rips your soul from your body and you stand before God with all your actions, words, and even thoughts exposed, there will be nowhere to run and no one to blame. When the light of God’s Law reveals and casts into the open even the things you thought you did in secret, you will have to answer for your personal transgressions of God’s Law, not anyone else’s. You personally are guilty.

            When that officer of that law hands you that ticket with that hefty fine, there is a moment of finality as you sit on the side of the road. Can you imagine your reaction if before the officer drove away, a stranger pulled beside the both of you and paid your fine for you? Now you’re free to go! You would be overjoyed and grateful. That is exactly what Jesus Christ did for you when He died on the cross nearly 2,000 years ago.

            He took the punishment for your transgressions, the penalty for your crimes, He paid your fine. Now, if you repent (turn from) of your sins and put your faith in Jesus as your Savior, God will forgive your sins, commute your sentence, and dismiss your case. You will be pardoned and granted Eternal Life. You will not face judgment when you die, but an eternity in Heaven. Your sin is your own, it’s personal. Repent and trust the Savior today while your heart still beats.

From Bulls to Baals

Something is happening to Christianity that is unsettling. Churches and even entire denominations are watering down the Gospel, compromising the Word, approving of immorality, and incorporating other religions into our faith. The Presbyterian Church recently opened up their annual meeting with a prayer to “Allah” and even invoked the name of the false prophet Muhammad. 

The United Methodist Church voted to begin discussing the possibility of approving homosexuality and allowing openly gay ministers to serve in their churches. Even though that process is not yet complete that didn’t stop them from nominating three openly gay ministers to high positions of office in the UMC.

The Southern Baptist Convention recently supported the construction of a Mosque. The Presbyterian Church USA, the Episcopal Church, Disciples of Christ/Christian Church, and many others now accept gays and lesbians into membership and welcome openly gay ministers.

The Churches of Christ even teach the demonic doctrine that you have to be baptized to be saved.There is a movement going around called “Chrislam” which seeks to unite Christianity and Islam into one religion.

Why is this happening? Why are entire denominations and churches watering down the Gospel, compromising the Word, blessing perversion, and including other gods and religions into our faith?Allow me to turn your attention to 1st Kings 12:28, 31-32.

“After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves. He said to the people… ‘Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you out of Egypt.’

Jeroboam built shrines on high places and appointed priests from all sorts of people, even though they were not Levites. He instituted a festival on the fifteenth day of the eight month, like the festival held in Judah, and offered sacrifices on the altar.”

Notice that King Jeroboam of Israel did not create a new religion or make a new god. He said to the people, “Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you out of Egypt.” King Jeroboam in his mind, didn’t create a new religion, he simply made a false counterfeit version of the one that was handed down by the Lord to Moses. 

King Jeroboam even instituted a counterfeit priesthood and a counterfeit version of the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles to imitate the faith of the Israelites (1stKings 12”31-32). The New Testament says as we approach the conclusion of the Last Days, the same thing will happen to Christianity.

“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.”  -1st Timothy 4:1

“For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.”  -2nd Timothy 4:3

That is exactly what we see happening when we see these “Christian” denominations watering down the word, coming out in approval of gay marriage, and incorporating Islam into their worship services. This “apostasy” will continue until eventually what we will see is a false counterfeit version of Christianity. 

These denominations and “churches” that I have mentioned are not seeking to create a new god or institute a new religion. They are just creating a counterfeit version of Christianity. The Bible tells us this will continue to happen. During the End Times the Bible tells us that a false ecumenical church will arise and dominate religion and global politics. 

This “church” will be a sugar coated, watered down, distorted version of Christianity that approves of eviland includes aspects of other religions in order to appease the culture. King Jeroboam did the same thing.It didn’t stop there. In 1st Kings 16, King Ahab led the Israelites from following a counterfeit watered down version of Judaism to following the Baal religion and worshipping the Baal statues.

Revelations chapter 13 tells us that the same thing will happen to this apostate ecumenical church. During the Tribulation, the Antichrist will abolish this “church” and create a religion centered around himself and will even have a statue of the Antichrist that people will be forced to worship.

“He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God.” -2nd Thessalonians 2:4

“He ordered them to set up an image in honor of the beast…” –Revelation 13:14

Saints, this is why we must stay in the Word. These denominations will continue to distort and water down Christianity. They will continue this until the dominant form of Christianity in our nation will be counterfeit version of our faith that we won’t even recognize. Then after God’s TRUE Church has been raptured, they will follow the Antichrist to worshipping him and his image.

If your church or denomination has “departed from the truth”, I encourage you to heed the words of God found in Revelation 18 when he spoke of this end time counterfeit church,

“Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; for her sins have piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crimes.” -Revelation 18:4-5