Read His Words Before Ours!
Matthew 7:13-23
Luke 13:23-30
John 1:9-13
Misunderstood, Day 15
You’ve probably heard it said that “We’re all God’s children.”
While this phrase is meant to be all nice, fluffy, and inclusive,
I feel like I need to let you know that it’s a lie.
Even typing those words makes me a bit uncomfortable,
but I since we’re all friends here,
I have an obligation to tell you the truth.
Kind of like if you had something in your teeth, or the tag was showing on your shirt.
I don’t want you to be blindsided and confused as to why no one cared enough to tell you
one of the biggest misconceptions we face in our daily Christian walk.
Our culture today has become incredibly focused on our political correctness,
even to the point of misleading and misguiding our fellow believers and those who don’t believe in Jesus.
Now before I go any further, I do want to clear a few things up.
God both created and loves every single human being on planet Earth.
He wove us together in our mother’s womb, and numbered every hair on our head.
But, God the Father, has only one begotten Son, Jesus.
The rest of us, must be adopted into God’s family, as it is written,
He is the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6)
In order to be a child of God, and in God’s family,
we must ask God, through Jesus, to adopt us.
We also can’t just believe in God.
James writes, “Even the demons believe—and they shudder.” (James 2:19
We have to accept Him and surrender to His lordship.
This means agreeing with God about our sin, recognizing that because of our sin we are eternally separated from the Holy God,
then truly want to repent, and turn away from our sin,
running towards the grace of Jesus.
Adoption isn’t about believing in God,
it’s about a relationship with God.
“But to all who did receive Him,
He gave them the right to be children of God,
to those who believe in His name.” John 1:12
Jesus is both tolerant and intolerant;
utterly exclusive and wholly inclusive.
He made it plain and simple in Scripture:
“No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
There are no other “gods” (Buddha, Gandhi, Muhammad..),
simply, only, Jesus.
Because He alone is able to save and stand in the gap and take our punishment for sin.
Jesus Christ lived the human life flawlessly in our place, being fully God, yet becoming fully human,
He alone could bear the full measure of God’s wrath upon Himself.
Yet, beautifully.
Gracefully.
This Truth of the gospel is for everyone!
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29
“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13
The narrow gate to Heaven is wholly inclusive.
As I’ve prepared for this journey study I spent more hours than I’d like to admit diving into the teachings of pastors like Rob Bell and Joel Osteen. These men are widely known, and followed by masses, yet they continuously preach a false Gospel message of inclusivity.
“Universal Salvation”, they preach; claiming that “love” wins.
The idea that everyone ends up in heaven is false doctrine, Sisters.
And we need to be know the truth!
But is Rob Bell’s love…..really love?
A love that doesn’t insist on justice?
A love that says there is no consequence for sinning against the Holy One?
Is it love that declares Hitler innocent?
No, it isn’t.
Is it love that says everyone can go to Heaven?
Everyone who has sinned?
Everyone who has spit in the face of God?
Shunning His ways, rejecting His truth, stomping on His righteousness and boasting in ourselves instead?
No, it isn’t.
Praise Jesus for the gospel!!
Only in the gospel do we see the vast love of God married to the flawless justice of God,
overflowing in abundant invitation of adoption to all.
Our sin, which requires death, demands justice.
And because we could never pay the penalty, Christ did it for us in our place.
Justice.
It’s love that holds out nail-pierced hands, wounded for our transgression,
and invites with deep, unknowable love, “Come to me, all of you.”
Love.
Being a child of God means that we:
Love Jesus John 8:42
Believe that Jesus is the Savior 1 John 5:1
Love well John 13:34
Are His Own Galatians 4:6
Adoption.
Justice + Love = Adoption
THAT is how love wins!
Jesus warns, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers! (Matthew 7:21-23)
Charles Spurgeon says it like this:
“Many loud professions of faith will count for nothing in that day of judgment.
All of us must see to it that we have more than a mere profession of belonging Christ.
There is no hope for (the one whom Christ does not know).
To be unknown to Christ is to be devoid of hope forever and forever.”
The good news here my sisters is that there is hope.
There is room for each of us in the family of God.
Are you His?
Want to chat more about this?
Comment here or send me an e-mail.
Let’s hold onto truth, as we wrap ourselves in grace!
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