Number 10

"Prove yourselves doers of the Word, and not merely hearers." James 1:22

Our heart's desire is that you will enjoy the abundant life in Christ. We hope these letters will spark your interest in God's Word. Prayerfully check these quotes in your own Bible. God has great things in store for those who seek Him. Please feel free to copy this newsletter or re-write it for your own use. If you want to be added/deleted or want more info, please write us. It goes out to about 50 families and friends. We want to share God's treasures with you.

GOD'S GRACE AND GOD'S JUSTICE

A) FORGIVENESS - Don't leave home (or anywhere) without it.
When it seems that the Christian life is too hard, then meditate on God's
unconditional Love demonstrated by forgiveness. What Jesus did for us on the
Cross is incredible. We often recklessly take this salvation for granted.
"While we were yet sinners, He died for us." Rom 5:8
"God so loved the world that He gave His only Son ..." John 3:16
Being sorry is important, but we need to ASK for forgiveness. Forgiveness
requires a repentant heart (a willingness to change our ways). When we hurt
someone, we can try to do a hundred different things for them to appease them, but often this does not work until the offended person knows that we are sorry and have mended our ways. A barrier as mighty as the Wall of China can form in a spiritual sense. Many illnesses are due to unrepentant or unforgiven sin.

"If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive
them, they are not forgiven." John 20:23
"If you forgive men when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will
also forgive you..." and if you don't, He won't 	Matt 6:14
"Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those ..." 	Luke 11:4
Again, note that in human nature many people that have been offended won't
accept any kind of goodwill from the offender until a sincere apology has been made. Then, why do people think they can appease the Living God with "good works"? God offered His Son as the Ultimate Sacrifice to pardon our sins.
"Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin." 	Heb 9:22
"Christ died once for all." 	Heb 7:27 Heb 10:10

To think that we can approach God by our own good works is to reject God's
plan of salvation and the precious Blood of our Savior, Jesus. Our works are
to be fruit of a love relationship with God. Works for God can't gain us
merit, otherwise they're not God's works. Jesus said (in John 15) He is the
Vine, and we are to be branches. Apart from Him we can do nothing. Accept what Jesus did for you and abide in Him. Take joy in being united with Him.
 
We can appear before the Throne of God, when we have been made pure by the
Blood of the Lamb. There was no sacrifice for premeditated sin in the Old
Testament. Therefore when King David sinned he cried " Have mercy on me, O
God." Psa 51 Look at God's wonderful promises to repentant sinners.
"Blessed is he whose sins are covered ... " Psa 32
"He forgives all my sins, and heals all my diseases." Psa 103:3
"as far as the east is from the west, He's removed our sins." Psa 103:12
"though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow." Isa 1:18
"I will forgive and will remember their sin no more." Jer 31:34
Those promises made in the Old Testament were fulfilled through Jesus. We may
not understand it all, but we need to accept God's Way as our way, every day.
"Through His Blood, the forgiveness of sins ... " Eph 1:7
Jesus said " my Blood shed for many for remission of sins." Matt 26:28
"the Blood of Jesus cleanses us form all sin. ... If we
confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us." 1 John 1:7,9
"Jesus is the propitiation for our sins, and those sins of the
whole world." 1 John 2:2
" ... their sins and iniquities I will remember no more." Heb 8:12

B) JUDGEMENT - The Time is coming soon.
Judgement seems to be always viewed in a negative sense. To those that are not
in Christ Jesus it is scarey. Hell is a real and horrible place. Sadly enough
many people are not motivated until negative stimulus is given to them.
"Man is appointed to die once, then comes the judgement." Heb 9:27
"He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice." Acts 17:31
"Each of us will give an account of himself to God." Rom 14:12
"by your words you will be acquitted ... (or) condemned." Matt 12:37
"when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown ..." 1 Peter 5:4

Did you trust Jesus as your Lord and Savior or not? Could this be the ultimate judgement called the separating of the sheep? God's Word above says when we are cleansed of our sins by His Son, the Father never sees these sins again. Will God go back on His Word? So for the believers, we can stand cleansed before our Father. For unbelievers, Do you think God will care to hear about all the sins and evil of the past? Don't you think He would want to know why they rejected His Son, and wasted their lives. 

Why do people gamble away the time and not enter into the valley of decision. Will you (re-)commit your life to Jesus, today? Don't you want to be cleansed by Jesus and ready for J-day? The greatest work we can ever do here on earth is to wholeheartedly commit our lives to Jesus Christ. Then the Holy Spirit can do many wonderful works through us. If we do this, we can joyfully look forward to His judgement and coming.
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