r L n -- really LOVE now! : WHAT IS SIN -- And GOD's Remedy to His WRATH against SIN?

Saturday, February 23, 2019

WHAT IS SIN -- And GOD's Remedy to His WRATH against SIN?

The LOVE of GOD for ALL sinners (you and me alike) has been revealed -- through the DEATH of CHRIST JESUS on Calvary's CROSS.

BUT the WRATH of GOD for SIN (yours and mine alike) has ALSO been revealed -- at Calvary's CROSS when the sinS of SINful men were JUDGED through the DEATH of The GOD-Man, Who was Himself the sinLESS, blameLESS, spotLESS Lamb of GOD -- the ONE and the ONLY Perfect SACRIFICE for SIN and sinS, the ONE and the ONLY infinitely qualified SUBSTITUTE Who offered HIS OWN BLOOD as the FULL atoning Payment for the SINs of men, for those who would BELIEVE INto Him, for those who would trust ONLY in JESUS' fully accomplished Work of SALVATION -- not trusting in their OWN SELF-glorifying "righteous" works to save themselves from HELL, not trusting in their OWN "good" works, which are but 'FILTHY rags' in the sight of The THRICE-Holy GOD, Creator of the entire Universe (the realms of the visible and the INvisible).

WHAT IS SIN? WHAT is that word "SIN" that has almost been obliterated by man's efforts to excuse his sinS? The TRUE meaning of SIN has been toned down, watered down, dumbed down by philosophers, psychologists and postmodern thinkers by REdefining SINs as BUT mistakes in life, or socially UNacceptable, politically INcorrect actions -- due to one's character defects, inherited tendencies from one's genetic makeup, MISbehaviors caused by childhood traumas.

BUT WHAT IS SIN to The THRICE-Holy GOD Who created ALL things, great and small, visible and INvisible -- Who gives LIFE to ALL of HIS Creation (you and i included)? WHAT is that SIN that caused The GOD of LOVE to send His ONLY Begotten SON to DIE on The CROSS for that SIN which He ABOMINATES, and the resulting sinS which He HATES?

IT IS WRITTEN -- 'GOD’s WRATH is revealed from Heaven against ALL UNgodliness and UNrighteousness of people who by their UNrighteousness suppress the TRUTH' (Romans 1:18). GOD's HOLY Scriptures UNequivocally, UNambiguously, UNapologetically define SIN as BEing UNgodly and DOing UNrighteously. SIN is the breaking of GOD's Law -- The TEN Commandments, His HOLY Rules for living out LIFE-101.

The REAL essence of SIN is UNGODLINESS -- an UNgodly RELATIONSHIP with GOD -- a wrongful attitude or mindset against GOD, a heart set in rebellion against GOD. "UNGODLINESS means a REFUSAL in ANY shape or form to live ENTIRELY and ONLY to GOD's Glory and to the Praise of His HOLY Name. ANY failure to do that or ANY lack of desire to do that is SIN" (Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones). UNGODLINESS is the transgression of GOD's First Commandment -- 'You shall have NO OTHER gods before Me' -- the SIN of enthroning in one's heart ANY created person (SELF, spouse, child; Mary, Buddha, Muhammed; rich-and-famous shaker-mover/head-of-state, celebrity/politician/philosopher -- dead or alive) OR thing (money, sex, food/drugs, nationality, man-made religions/philosophies, etc).

SIN is the breaking of ANY of GOD's TEN COMMANDMENTS -- by thought/motive or actual deed -- 'You must not have ANY OTHER god BUT Me. You must not make for yourself an IDOL of ANY kind or an IMAGE of ANYthing in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must NOT MISUSE the Name of The LORD your GOD. Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. HONOR your father and mother. You must NOT MURDER. You must NOT COMMIT ADULTERY. You must NOT STEAL. You must NOT TESTIFY FALSELY against your neighbor. You must NOT COVET (NOT LUST AFTER) your neighbor’s house, or your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or ANYthing else that belongs to your neighbor.' (see Exodus 20:3-17)

As summed up by The LORD JESUS, the first and greatest Commandment is -- ‘You shall LOVE The LORD your GOD with ALL your Heart, with ALL your Soul, with ALL your Strength, and with ALL your mind.' And just as important is -- 'You shall LOVE your NEIGHBOR AS yourself. The ENTIRE Law and ALL the demands of the Prophets are based on these TWO Commandments' (see Matthew 22:37-40). SIN is the breaking of the first and greatest Commandment -- of not loving GOD with ALL of one's BEing. It is having a WRONG relationship with GOD. SIN is BEing UNgodly -- not BEing in a RIGHT relationship with GOD.

NO ONE in the ENTIRE human race (dead or alive) has EVER obeyed PERFECTLY the first and greatest Commandment -- ‘You shall LOVE The LORD your GOD with ALL your Heart, with ALL your Soul, with ALL your Strength, and with ALL your mind' -- except the Man JESUS. NO man who has EVER lived (past or present) has obeyed PERFECTLY the second and equally important Commandment -- 'You must LOVE your NEIGHBOR AS you LOVE yourSELF' -- except the Man JESUS.

NO ONE IS RIGHTEOUS because NO ONE IS GODLY. We who are GOD's creatures were made in His HOLY image so that we may GLORIFY Him. BUT we ALL have FALLEN short of glorifying HIM. 'As the Scriptures say, “NO ONE IS RIGHTeous—NOT EVEN ONE! NO ONE IS TRULY WISE; NO ONE IS SEEKING GOD. ALL HAVE TURNED AWAY; ALL HAVE BECOME USELESS. NO ONE DOES GOOD, NOT A SINGLE ONE. Their TALK is FOUL, like the STENCH from an open grave. Their TONGUES are FILLED WITH LIES. Snake VENOM drips from their LIPS. Their MOUTHS are FULL of CURSING and BITTERNESS. They RUSH to COMMIT MURDER. DESTRUCTION and MISERY ALWAYS FOLLOW them. They DON'T KNOW where to find PEACE. They have NO FEAR of GOD at all.”' (Romans 3:10-18)

'ALL HAVE SINNED and FALL SHORT of The GLORY of GOD!' (Romans 3:23) ALL have committed countless sinS of UNrighteousness as the CONSEQUENCE of the SIN of BEing UNgodly. NO ONE can be TRULY righteous without GOD. GODliness and RIGHTeousness are INseparable. INward GODliness is always commanded FIRST -- TRUE RIGHTeousness is then the OUTcome of BEing rightly related to GOD. ("UNGODLINESS" by Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones -- https://www.mljtrust.org/sermons-online/romans-1-18/ungodliness/)

WHAT, then, is GOD's Remedy to man's SIN-nature (UNgodliness) and his resulting sinS (UNrighteousness)? GOD Himself is THE Remedy. GOD The SON, Who was sent of GOD The FATHER, came down from His heavenly Kingdom to this darkened world, to RECONCILE sinners back to personal fellowship with GOD. We are ALL sinners by nature -- under the WRATH of GOD, without any hope of escaping HELL...

BUT GOD -- PRAISE Him, The FATHER of our LORD JESUS CHRIST -- Who is Himself LOVE Incarnate IN CHRIST, brought TRUTH and GRACE IN the very Person of Messiah JESUS, Whom GOD SENT to DELIVER us SIN-natured SIN-doers from SIN, SELF, Satan, SEPARATION (from GOD, eternally) and SUFFERING (from EVERlasting HELL). PRAISE GOD, The FATHER, for HIS Plan of SALVATION -- the GREATEST Good News EVER delivered to SINful humankind. HalleluJAH! ("The GOSPEL of GOD" by Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones -- https://www.mljtrust.org/sermons-online/romans-1-1/the-gospel-of-god-2/)

BUT GOD -- PRAISE Him, The SON -- 'The LAMB of GOD, Who takes away the SIN of the world' (John 1:29) -- 'Though HE was GOD -- HE did not think of equality with GOD as something to cling to. Instead, HE GAVE UP HIS DIVINE PRIVILEGES; HE took the HUMBLE position of a SLAVE and was BORN AS a HUMAN BEing. When HE appeared in HUMAN FORM, HE HUMBLED Himself in OBEDIENCE to GOD and DIED a criminal’s DEATH on a CROSS' (Philippians 2:6-8). i PRAISE and THANK my Beloved LORD JESUS for HE has set me FREE! CHRIST Who is Himself 'The WAY and The TRUTH and The LIFE... and The RESURRECTION' (John 14:6, 11:25) -- has PAID IN FULL with His OWN BLOOD Sacrifice -- my REDEMPTION, liberating me from the Power of SIN, the Domination of SELF, the Power of Satan, Eternal SEPARATION from GOD and EVERlasting SUFFERING in HELL. HalleluJAH!

BUT GOD -- PRAISE Him, The Holy SPIRIT -- The Promise of GOD, sent of The FATHER and of The SON to INdwell ALL Believers IN CHRIST -- HE IS the ALL-Mighty Helper, the ALL-Wise Advocate, the ALL-Compassionate Comforter to those who are BORN AGAIN of GOD. Holy is HE -- The SPIRIT of TRUTH Who will GUIDE Believers IN CHRIST by giving discernment and LIGHT to ALL the TRUTH that is GOD's Word. HE will CONVICT the world of SIN, of UNgodliness and UNrighteousness. The SPIRIT of TRUTH will point to JESUS as The CHRIST -- the ONLY WAY to The FATHER, the ONLY WAY to escape the WRATH of GOD against SIN, the ONLY WAY to TRUE PEACE With GOD, to TRUE JOY EVERlasting, and the ONLY TRUE HOPE for an up-close and very personal LOVE-Relationship between a THRICE-Holy GOD and SINful man.

PRAISE GOD -- The FATHER, The SON, and The Holy SPIRIT -- for His GOOD News of CHRIST JESUS! For SUCH UNdeserved, UNearned Favor -- for SUCH INcomparable, OVERwhelming, Amazing GRACE! For SUCH INdescribable, INcomprehensible SALVATION -- SO FREELY GIFTED at SO INFINITE A COST to GOD! For the REALITY of being made a NEW creation IN CHRIST -- vitally united with Him forEVERmore. For the SURE HOPE of Heavenly GLORY yet to come! PRAISE The LORD, O my soul! \o/

Dear reader... is The Almighty Sovereign GOD your FATHER in Heaven? Is CHRIST JESUS your LORD, your Almighty Savior? Is the Holy SPIRIT your Almighty ADVOCATE, your Helper and Comforter? Your ETERNAL DESTINY is made REAL in the PRESENT... in the NOW, with HOW you respond to the GOOD News of GOD. So TURN from your SINs and TRUST that GOD sent CHRIST JESUS to take your just punishment for your SIN of UNgodliness and sinS of UNrighteousness. BELIEVE with SAVING Faith IN JESUS' Perfect LIFE, Atoning DEATH on the Cross, Factual RESURRECTION and ASCENSION back to His original GLORY with The FATHER as GOD's ONLY method of saving sinners from Eternal HELL. REPENT and BELIEVE and be SAVED -- for your UNbelief will be the cause of your own ETERNAL Condemnation. Your very soul is at stake -- your ETERNAL soul will stand before GOD on Judgment Day. Will you be JUSTIFIED, deemed worthy and fit to enter into GOD's Heavenly Kingdom, where He rules with HOLY Perfection and Harmony -- with GRACE and LOVE and LIGHT and PEACE and JOY and GOODNESS and GLORY? OR will you be CONDEMNED to EVERlasting SEPARATION from GOD -- separated forEVERmore from His GRACE, His LOVE, His LIGHT, His PEACE, His JOY, His GOODNESS, His GLORY?

'TOday, if you will hear GOD's voice, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTs as in the rebellion.' (Psalm 95:7-8; Hebrews 3:15) RECEIVE GOD's PERFECT and ONLY Remedy for your SIN of UNgodliness and sinS of UNrighteousness -- CHRIST JESUS Himself, 'full of GRACE and TRUTH.' The LORD JESUS Himself IS 'The WAY and The TRUTH and The LIFE. NO ONE comes to The FATHER except through Him' (see John 14:6).

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my Prayer For You

When i think of the wisdom and scope of GOD's plan, i fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. i pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will give you mighty inner strength through His Holy SPIRIT. i pray that CHRIST will be more and more at home in your heart as you trust in Him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of GOD's marvelous love.

And may you have the power to understand, as all GOD's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love really is. May you experience the love of CHRIST, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from GOD.

Now to Him Who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by CHRIST JESUS to all generations, forever and ever. AMEN!

(Ephesians 3:14-21)

The Great I AM

I AM the Bread of life. He who comes to Me will never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
(John 6:35)

I AM the Light of the world. He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the Light of life.
(John 8:12)

I AM the Door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I AM the Door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
(John 10:7, 9)

I AM the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep. I AM the Good Shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.
(John 10:11, 14)

I AM the True Vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. I AM the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
(John 15:1, 5)

I AM the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
(John 11:25)

I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
(John 14:6)

Pilate therefore said to Him, "Are You a king then?" JESUS answered, You say rightly that I AM a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the Truth hears My voice.
(John 18:37)

LOVE is...

Though i speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, i have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

And though i have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though i have all faith, so that i could remove mountains, but have not love, i am nothing.

And though i bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though i give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

When i was a child, i spoke as a child, i understood as a child, i thought as a child; but when i became a man, i put away childish things.

For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now i know in part, but then i shall know just as i also am known.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

(I Corinthians 13)

Rejoice!

Rejoice in the LORD always. i will say it again: Rejoice!

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The LORD is near.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to GOD. And the peace of GOD, which transcends all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in CHRIST JESUS.

Finally, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.

(Philippians 4:4-8)

How Great Thou Art!

O LORD, my GOD! When i in awesome wonder consider all the works thy hands have made.
i see the stars, i hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

And when i think that GOD, His Son not sparing, sent Him to die, i scarce can take it in;
That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

When CHRIST shall come with shout of acclamation and take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then i shall bow in humble adoration and there proclaim, my GOD, how great Thou art!

Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior GOD to Thee: how great Thou art! How great Thou art!

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! i once was lost, but now am found; was blind, but now i see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved; how precious did that grace appear the hour i first believed.

Through many dangers, toils and snares, i have already come; 'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

The LORD has promised good to me, His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be, as long as life endures.

Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, and mortal life shall cease, i shall possess, within the veil, a life of joy and peace.

The world shall soon dissolve like snow, the sun refuse to shine; but GOD, who called me here below, shall be forever mine.

When we've been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun; we've no less days to sing GOD's praise than when we'd first begun.

The Holy BIBLE -- The Word of GOD

The BIBLE contains the mind of GOD, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.

It is the traveler's map, the pilgrim's staff, the pilot's compass, the soldier's sword, and the CHRISTian's charter. Here is Paradise restored, Heaven opened, and the gates of hell disclosed.

CHRIST is its grand subject, our good the design, and the glory of GOD its end.

It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.

(Foreword from The Gideons International)

Saturday, February 23, 2019

WHAT IS SIN -- And GOD's Remedy to His WRATH against SIN?

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