“A Word of Truth” from Immanuel Lutheran Church of Mankato…
A Word of Truth #021
The word “gospel” is used frequently in Christian circles, but what does it mean? Some define it in social terms, suggesting that the “gospel” is all about people helping people make this world a better place.
Biblically speaking the “gospel” is not about what people do for other people, but rather what God has done for people through Jesus Christ. St. Paul says, “God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them.” (2 Cor. 5:19). How could a just God not count men’s sins against them? St. Paul explains, “God made him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21).
The “gospel” is a message of reconciliation. We were separated from God because of sin, but Jesus bore our sins on the cross, so that we might be forgiven.
A Word of Truth #022
God said to Adam, “Have you eaten from the tree which I commanded you that you should not eat” Adam said, “The woman whom You gave to me gave me of the tree and I ate.” (Genesis 3:12)
From the very beginning, people have looked for ways to excuse their sin. Today, sinners continue to look for escape clauses to avoid the reality of their sin. “God is love,” someone might say, “a loving God wouldn’t condemn what I’m doing.”
God IS LOVE, He tells us that in His Word. However, God’s love is not an excuse for sin nor permission to continue in it. God loves us through Christ Jesus. Jesus came to RESCUE US FROM sin, not to make it possible to pursue it all the more. It is spiritually harmful to excuse the sins God hates. Better by far is to confess our sins, turn away from them, and rely upon the love of God through Christ for the forgiveness of our sins.
This has been “A Word of Truth” from Immanuel Lutheran Church of Mankato.
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