WHAT EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

Ok, you've heard it and so have I.  "The ten commandments are SO old fashioned" or something like that.  We hear all the time how the ten commandments are really taken as though they are the ten suggestions.  We don't like to consider them as binding on our lives.  After all, since they are in the Old Testament and we now live in the New Testament times, they no longer apply. 

Today, I want to challenge that thinking as being shallow, immature, and destined to destroy our relationship with Jesus Christ.  We may not find it acceptable to stone violators, but the Bible DOES say Christ fulfilled the law - which started with the ten commandments.  Proper Biblical interpretation requires us to hold the same view of the OT scriptures as the Apostles did - and they held the OT as Divinely Inspired and as part of the story of the relationship between man and God.  For the Apostles, that story was unfolding - and it is for us as well.  Prophecies are found in the Bible about what is yet to come, as certainly as what has already happened.  Christ is the way to God - and Christ fulfilled the ten commandments.  He did so not to free us from them, but to cause us to look to Him for help as we seek to follow them.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not talking about a legalistic view of them, either.  Our salvation is based on the finished work of Christ on the cross and the empty tomb.  Neither will we STAY saved by following the ten commandments.  BUT, our spiritual maturity and strength is sapped when we try to pick and choose what to follow without any help from proper biblical understanding.  That understanding demands we understand the ten commandments in light of the new testament, NOT ignoring them all together.

Over the next few days, I will be posting some thoughts about the ten commandments and how ignoring them is destroying our intimacy with the Lord and we don't even realize it.  While the ten commandments SHOULD point everyone to their need for Christ's saving work in their lives, they also reveal cracks in a believer's relationship with Jesus.  If you are hungry for a deeper, more intimate relationship with Christ, then join me on this 10 day journey starting tomorrow!

And that's Just a Thought for today!

May the Lord Bless and Keep you!


Pastor Greg

HOLINESS, NOT HAPPINESS

Contrary to popular opinion, God's greatest wish is NOT our happiness, it's our HOLINESS.  Jesus didn't die to make us happy, He died to make us holy.  He didn't forgive us so we could be free of guilty feelings, He forgave us so we would be free of the penalty for our sin - eternal separation from our righteous Creator. 

A change in our lifestyle, interests, and pursuits is in order.  Before salvation, we lived for ourselves, we did ungodly things, and we were unholy in our thoughts and our deeds.  We had no hope of being able to do or think rightly, godly, and purely.  But God, in His mercy, sent Jesus to pay our penalty on the Cross of Calvary.  God in His grace, offers this truth to all men, that those who receive salvation through Jesus Christ will learn to deny the ungodliness and worldly lusts and live for the godly, rightous, and pure ways of God.  There really IS a way out of much of the pain of living in this world - and it is by living for Jesus rather than self!

Titus 2:11-14 (KJV) ¹¹  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, ¹²  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; ¹³  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; ¹⁴  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

This means that the drug addicted, sex addicted, homosexual, rapist, murdering, abortionist, lying, stealing, bitter, lonely, drunken, judgmental, angry, hopeless, fearful, gluttonous, deviant persons in this world have hopes of being made pure and right with God forever.  The salvation that Jesus brings is a salvation from all these things, not a means of gaining happiness through them, or an excuse to continue. 

But before you try to reform yourself to obtain that salvation, you'd better think again.  It is not in the deed that the sin resides.  It is in the desire!  That means that you'll need to be made into someone you aren't!  And that is exactly what the grace of God is when applied to your life.  God makes you a new creature in Christ Jesus - complete with new desires, abilities, and purpose in life. 

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Suddenly, happiness is intertwined with holiness.  What will now make you happy is that God has made you holy!  And you will work alongside the Lord to grow in holiness.

Are you saved?  Is living for Jesus an act of gratitude for His grace to you by making you perfectly holy in God's sight (Your position in Christ)?  Are you living a more holy life today than you were yesterday (Your practice in Christ)? 

If not, will you take a moment and repent of your sins, and seek the Lord's grace of forgiveness and ask Him to make you new today?  Give yourself to Him, let Him teach you what is sin, and purify you from it - for the rest of your life.  You will not be disappointed when holiness is your aim.

That is Just A Thought for today.  May the Lord bless you and keep you as you practice these things.

The Answer for a Guilty Conscience

"Perfect in Christ Jesus." - Col_1:28

Do you struggle with failure, imperfection, and self-worth issues? Do your limitations constantly seem to be "in your face"? Does your temper get away from you? Do you fight unforgiveness and bitterness? Do you find yourself involved in gossip and slander from time to time? Each imperfection is another block in the wall of separation between you and your God who is perfect. Remember, my friend, that God's perfect word says that you are "perfect in Christ Jesus." You are complete in Him. In His sight, you are perfect, for you are in His perfect Son. You are "accepted in the beloved."

But there is a second perfection to look forward to as well. It is the perfection of living in heaven with the Lord, washed from all sin stains; presented faultless before the throne, without spot or wrinkle, or any such thing. You will be so pure that not even the perfect eye of the all-seeing Perfectly Holy One can spot a blemish or spot. You will be as Holy as the Holy One.

Take comfort, dear brother; let your heart not be troubled, dear sister. Your Lord has made you perfect in your faith, and whatever ails you in this life, is never to follow you forever. There is nothing Your Savior cannot forgive, does not forgive, and will not forgive - save unbelief. Thus, your faith has made you perfect. When you stumble on imperfections, confess them to the Lord, and He will cleanse you perfectly of it every time.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9 HCSB)

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Morning Devotions

Bible Reading: Exo 25:6

In a day of electricity, oil for our lamps seems a bit removed. However, there is something to be said by the biblical picture of using oil for the light. Better than candles, the pure olive oil that was used gave a clearer flame, brighter and more effective - or so I am told. It is what God would allow in the temple for the lamp of worship. Oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives. It reveals much about our relationship to the Lord. May we will allow the symbolism of the illustration to teach us?

Oil is the force that gives the lamp its purpose. So the believer derives his purpose from the presence of the Holy Spirit. Oil must be pure for the best light. So the believer must not allow any impurities into his heart to dim the light of the Holy Spirit shining through and in him. Oil can be found in many places, but only one will do. Oil may be bought, borrowed, or taken from petroleum, nuts, fish; what have you. But only the extra pure, extra virgin olive oil is acceptable to God. So it is that our pretenses, our attempts to earn God's approval through ritual, special deeds of kindness, or service to the church will not do. "For whatsoever is not of faith is sin." - Rom 14:23 Only the pure force of the Holy Spirit will suffice to make our spiritual light shine acceptably to our Lord who made us to be the light of the world.

Oil resides within. The Holy Spirit must dwell within or the light will burn out. He is a never-ending supply. We cannot dip our wicks into the church and burn for long. We need the presence of the Holy Spirit each and every moment during the week. It is He who teaches us how to burn. It is He who opens the hearts of those around us to let in the Holy Light of Divine truth. It is He who empowers us to accomplish what He will, and He who leads us through the trials and temptations of life. We must not let anything else in but Him, and we must be sure to live by His power alone.

May your day be one that shines bright with the flame of the Holy Spirit, boldly declaring the good news of Jesus Christ to all who are around you this day.

Bro. Greg