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Is Man Still a Sinner? |
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Written by Pastor Scott
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Sunday, 19 May 2013 00:00 |
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Psalm 53:3 says, "There is no one who does good, not even one." In recent years, Christians have retreated from the idea that man is a sinner. In 1991 a survey of non-Christians and Christians alike revealed an appalling lack of Bible knowledge concerning sin. They were asked whether or not they agreed with this statement: "People are basically good." As expected, 83% of non-believers agreed, but shockingly 77% of believers also agreed. Words like sin, guilt, wickedness and wrong have been replaced with estrangement, mistake, indiscretion, and maladjustment. But sin is any lack of conformity to the moral law and character of God. We are all sinners by nature and have rebelled against our God. If you never understand the depravity of your own heart, you will never see that the cross is the measure of God's love for you. The accumulation of all our sins was laid upon Him. Christ tasted that penalty that we may enjoy God's love! |
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God and History |
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Written by Pastor Scott
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Sunday, 14 April 2013 19:56 |
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What is history all about? As we look at secular history, it concentrates on kings and queens, on presidents and prime ministers, on inventors and generals. They are interested in peace treaties and the greatness of man through the ages. Yet, as we come to the Word of God, we see many of the things the world deems as important are overlooked by Scripture, in light of what looks like insignificant people. The Bible shows people who followed God in human history, but it never glorifies these individuals. The purpose of history is given in Ephesians 2:7, "so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." The purpose of history is to show us the glory, not of humanity or our accomplishment, but of Christ's surpassing grace to us. It is about how He has showered His mercy and love upon unworthy individuals; how He has transformed unlikely individuals into trophies of His grace. As we realize this purpose, we begin to be overwhelmed by His grace, and actively engage in the purposes of purposes. |
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A Greater King |
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Written by Pastor Scott
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Sunday, 07 April 2013 00:00 |
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Our lives are ruled many times as if we are mini-kings of our own little universes. We think that everyone exists for us. One of the consequences of our sin natures is conflicts in relationships. We are concerned and upset with who invaded our own little kingdoms. But we are called to be representatives of a greater King. In 2 Corinthians 5:20 we read, "we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." Imagine how different your marriage would be if there was not two mini-kings fighting for preeminence; imagine how different you would be to your children if you did not view them as hindrances to rest or whatever your goal. We need to view these relationships by being Christ's representative before them, to minister and show His love, and how grand it is to serve this King. Many conflicts begin in our lives because someone has invaded our will or our kingdom. Let's start serving a greater Lord. |
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So Great a Salvation |
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Written by Pastor Scott
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Sunday, 31 March 2013 00:00 |
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One of the failures in Christian circles is we do not realize the greatness of our salvation in Jesus Christ. The perfect Lamb of God came in the humblest forms and gave His life as the perfect sacrifice for sin. We do not like to think about death or sorrow or suffering. Yet, this is at the heart of understanding and savoring the Gospel. The great Creator God came and trod the dusty streets of Galilee, He showed divine mercy and grace to so many suffering the physical effects of the fall, He endured the trek up the side of Calvary through the beating and the mocking, all to pay the price of the things we do by nature. Such love is comforting and at the same time humbling. Christ chose to give all, even knowing what type of people He was dying for. Romans 5:8 says, "God demonstrates His love towards us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." Are we still overcome by this Gospel message? Still amazed by the depths of divine love for such unworthy individuals? It is easy to say we are enamoured with Christ, but the truth is lived out in zealous obedience to the great truths of the Gospel. We live, speak and preach the Gospel to ourselves. Make the Christ of the Gospel central to your life. |
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The Substantive God |
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Written by Pastor Scott
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Sunday, 10 March 2013 00:00 |
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How often do we think about God in the ordinary affairs of life? As we look at the different thoughts that are popular about God today, there seems to be a weightlessness of substance. God is caught off guard by our problems because He does not know everything. God wants to wreck havoc when we enjoy something. God is more intersted in our material well-being than His glory. These thoughts bring God down to our level when God is so much higher and loftier than us. We miss great thoughts like Isaiah 40:22, "It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers." Or verse 23, "He it is who reduces rulers to nothing, who makes the judges of the earth meaningless." Or verse 26, "Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these stars, the One who leads forth their host by number, he calls them all by name; Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, not one of them is missing." Are our thoughts that lofty, that weighty, when it comes to God? Let's be biblical and substantive in our view of God!! |
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