antinomianism.
“Antinomianism is the belief or teaching that since believers are saved by grace through faith, there is no further obligation to follow any moral law or command. The word ‘antinomian’ comes from two Greek terms: ‘anti,’ meaning ‘against,’ and ‘nomos,’ meaning ‘law.’ At its core, antinomianism proposes that under the New Covenant, Christians are completely exempt from all moral guidelines because divine grace supersedes any need for abiding by commandments.”
“Theologically, antinomianism is the belief that there are no moral laws God expects Christians to obey. Antinomianism takes a biblical teaching to an unbiblical conclusion. The biblical teaching is that Christians are not required to observe the Old Testament Law as a means of salvation.”
𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘸𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 [𝘥𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘺, 𝘣𝘺 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦] 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘏𝘪𝘮 [𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘏𝘪𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘤𝘲𝘶𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘏𝘪𝘮]: 𝘪𝘧 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 [𝘧𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘺] 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 (𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴). 𝘞𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴, “𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘏𝘪𝘮,” 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 [𝘧𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘺] 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 (𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴), 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘢𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘵𝘩 [𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥] 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘮. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘴 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘣𝘦𝘺𝘴 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘴 [𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘺], 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 [𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺]. 𝘉𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 [𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯] 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘏𝘪𝘮: 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵 [𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴, 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘏𝘪𝘮 𝘢𝘴 𝘎𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘚𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘰𝘳] 𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 [𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘰𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯] 𝘵𝘰 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘏𝘪𝘮𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧. — 1 John 2:3-6
𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘺 [𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴]? 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘴𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 [𝘎𝘰𝘥’𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘰𝘧] 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘸? 𝘊𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘯𝘰𝘵! 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘦, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘪𝘯, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳? — Romans 6:1-2
First off, I am stepping on toes in this article. Just a fair warning, so if you think to yourself, “Is he writing this about me?” Yes, I am, because I am also writing it for myself.
I see the world, specifically Christians, mesmerized by false doctrine and the false comfort of safety.
I think this was sparked by me watching the world more intently recently. When I wake up and read the news. When I go to work. When I see people interacting with others. When I see other Christians and observe how they act. And more importantly, when I analyze how I represent Christ in my day-to-day life.
But what about this false doctrine I spoke of? The belief that God’s grace covers all sin and that there are no consequences or need to repent and change our wicked ways.
I see it everywhere I go.
A simple one: curse words, which I myself make mistakes with. It is easy for me and all of us to brush it off, saying that it was a mistake in the heat of the moment. “I was tired, annoyed, irritated,” or any number of other excuses.
Paul says this about foul language.
Colossians 3:8 — 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦: 𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳, 𝘸𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩, 𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘦, 𝘣𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘮𝘺, 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩.
There is no doubt that the rise of foul language in music, movies, shows, and our everyday culture has a present effect on us. Jesus said this.
Matthew 15:11 — 𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘨𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘯; 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩, 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘯.
I fall into the trap of cussing and vulgar language and crude jokes. Why? Because it is the “man” thing to do. It is just how life plays out at the workplace. I see it in myself and my coworkers who are professing believers, and I think to myself, “What a horrible image to the world we are when we speak and act this way.”
We all fall into the false doctrine that “Our faith covers all sin.”
This one is tricky, but let me paint a picture for you and honestly let what Jesus said sit with us for a minute. Our world is full of sin and the pursuit of pleasure. Whether that be laziness and idleness, provocativeness and sexual imagery, lust and sexual immorality, drugs and alcohol, and more. What I mean is, our world has numbed our belief that sin is bad.
Had a one-night stand? No worries, Christ died for you while you were a sinner, so do not worry.
Got drunk and could barely function the next day? Christ died for you while you were a sinner, so do not worry.
Got angry and allowed it to fragment a relationship? Christ died for you while you were a sinner, so do not worry.
Watched pornography because “it’s normal” and everyone does it? Christ died for you while you were a sinner, so do not worry.
Cussed up a storm all day? Christ died for you while you were a sinner, so do not worry.
Lied and cheated? Christ died for you while you were a sinner, so do not worry.
Gossiped about family members, friends, and coworkers? Christ died for you while you were a sinner, so do not worry.
Boasted about yourself for clicks, views, and followers on social media? Christ died for you while you were a sinner, so do not worry.
Hate certain groups of society because of their race, gender, religion? Christ died for you while you were a sinner, so do not worry.
Lusted in your heart after someone who isn’t your spouse because “looking doesn’t hurt”? Christ died for you while you were a sinner, so do not worry.
Held a grudge and refused to reconcile with a family member because they didn’t earn your forgiveness? Christ died for you while you were a sinner, so do not worry.
Envied your neighbor’s success, wealth, or lifestyle and resented them for having it? Christ died for you while you were a sinner, so do not worry.
Disobeyed or dishonored your parents or authority because you felt you knew better? Christ died for you while you were a sinner, so do not worry.
Engaged in gluttony and physical excess, treating your body with neglect instead of as a temple? Christ died for you while you were a sinner, so do not worry.
Sowed discord and stirred up drama among friends just to watch the conflict unfold? Christ died for you while you were a sinner, so do not worry.
Ignored the poor, vulnerable, or needy in your community while living in comfortable ease? Christ died for you while you were a sinner, so do not worry.
Swore false oaths, made empty promises, or used God’s name in vain as a casual exclamation? Christ died for you while you were a sinner, so do not worry.
Put money, career advancement, or personal comfort on an altar above God? Christ died for you while you were a sinner, so do not worry.
Loved the approval and praise of people more than the approval of God? Christ died for you while you were a sinner, so do not worry.
Refused to submit to authority or follow the law simply because it inconvenienced you? Christ died for you while you were a sinner, so do not worry.
I tried to paint a picture of the sins we all fall into in this world — and the lie we tell ourselves to whitewash our sins. Of course, Christ DID die for us while we were sinners, so we do not have to worry. But let me show you this. (I am listing the whole chapter, because we — myself included — do not read the Bible enough in our fast-paced world.)
𝘋𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘯 [𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧-𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘫𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘦], 𝘴𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘥 [𝘶𝘯𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘺]. 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 [𝘩𝘺𝘱𝘰𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺] 𝘫𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 [𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵], 𝘴𝘰 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘦𝘥; 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 [𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵], 𝘫𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 [𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘵] 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳’𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 [𝘦𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴] 𝘭𝘰𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘦𝘺𝘦? 𝘖𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, ‘𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘦𝘺𝘦,’ 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘦𝘺𝘦? 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘺𝘱𝘰𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘦 (𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺-𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳, 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳), 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘨 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘦𝘺𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳’𝘴 𝘦𝘺𝘦. 𝘋𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰𝘨𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘭𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘱𝘪𝘨𝘴, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘴.
𝘈𝘴𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶; 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥; 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘬 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘰𝘯 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶. [Luke 11:9-13] 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘥. 𝘖𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘩𝘰, 𝘪𝘧 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥, 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 [𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥] 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘦? 𝘖𝘳 𝘪𝘧 𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢 𝘧𝘪𝘴𝘩, 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 [𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘥] 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘪𝘮 𝘢 𝘴𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘦? 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯, 𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭 (𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘣𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦) 𝘢𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦, 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘰 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯, 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘍𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯 [𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘏𝘦 𝘪𝘴] 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘬𝘦𝘦𝘱 𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘏𝘪𝘮. 𝘚𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯, 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶, 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 [𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧] 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘢𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 [𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘰𝘧] 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘴.
𝘌𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘦. 𝘍𝘰𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘪𝘵. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘴𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘭 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 [𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨] 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘸 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵. [Deut 30:19; Jer 21:8]
𝘉𝘦𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘴, [𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴] 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘱 [𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵], 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘸𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴. [Ezek 22:27] 𝘉𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 [𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴, 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧-𝘧𝘰𝘤𝘶𝘴]. 𝘋𝘰 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘣𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘳 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘴 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘦𝘴? [Luke 6:43, 44] 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘰, 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘵, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘵. 𝘈 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘣𝘢𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘵, 𝘯𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘵. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦, 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 [𝘢𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘵𝘴].
𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘔𝘦, ‘𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥, 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥,’ 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘺 𝘍𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯. 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘔𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘺 [𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘫𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮], ‘𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥, 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥, 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦?’ 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘺, ‘𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶; 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘔𝘦 [𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘔𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦], 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥𝘭𝘺 [𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘔𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴].’ [Ps 6:8]
𝘚𝘰 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯 [𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘳-𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘥, 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯] 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘬. [Luke 6:47-49] 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘭, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦; 𝘺𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘬. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮, 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘣𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩 (𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘱𝘪𝘥) 𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘵 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘥. 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘭, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘣𝘭𝘦𝘸 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘦; 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘭 — 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘭. 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 [𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨] 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘴 [𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯], 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘥𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨; 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘏𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺 [𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘏𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯], 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘦𝘴 [𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘺]. — Matthew 7:1-29
Ask yourself, as I ask myself, whether you live this way. Could I be one of the people that Jesus speaks of here below?
𝘕𝘰𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘔𝘦, ‘𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥, 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥,’ 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘥𝘰𝘮 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘺 𝘍𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯. 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘔𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘺 [𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘫𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮], ‘𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥, 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥, 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦?’ 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘺, ‘𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶; 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘔𝘦 [𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘔𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦], 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥𝘭𝘺 [𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘔𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴].’ [Ps 6:8]
I am not saying that Christ will not forgive. For God Himself died for us, so that we could be forgiven. But do we live up to that? Do we actually follow His commandments? Do we pick up our crosses daily and die to ourselves and live for Him?
Or do we simply abuse the forgiveness He died for by saying:
“Well, I got baptized, so I know I am saved.” “I do not read my Bible, I just go to church.” “I read it every once in a while.” “I try to go to church, but I know I am saved, so why do I have to?” “If I sin, I know God will just forgive me.”
Are we so blinded? Have we not understood what it means to be set apart from this world?
How can we, and I, expect to reach those pearly gates, being called to be not of this world, when I live daily and take part in its sins daily?
I think this is the problem with the Western church. And yes, I know that may ruffle some feathers, but I see it firsthand. Most go to church to see other people and check it off their list, while the message they hear is all touchy-feely and that God is love and nothing you can do is ever wrong. They get told that what they are doing is for the kingdom and that God loves them no matter what, which is true — BUT, there will come a day when we all stand in front of God for judgment, and we will either be told,
𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦, 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘵. 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦; 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘱𝘶𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴; 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘰𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳.
or,
𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘔𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘺 [𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘫𝘶𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮], ‘𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥, 𝘓𝘰𝘳𝘥, 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘸𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘮𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦?’ 𝘈𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘦𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘺, ‘𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶; 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘔𝘦 [𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘔𝘺 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦], 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘤𝘬𝘦𝘥𝘭𝘺 [𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘔𝘺 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘴].’ [Ps 6:8]
I know people do not realize this stratospheric dilemma we face daily. If you died tonight, or if I died tonight, which one do you think you deserve to hear?
Lecrae puts it bluntly in his song “Fear” — what we all should ask ourselves.
𝘐’𝘮 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘐 𝘧𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘐 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘦? 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘐 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘈𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘧𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳? 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘵 𝘎𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘢𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳? 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘐 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘶𝘱 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘺 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘐 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳?
This world is so close to the edge of not hearing “well done,” and there are a multitude of people that I know that could potentially not hear that — but I pray they do. I do worry. For if even I, a wretched man, might not hear it, how could they? I pray you understand what I mean, for I am not trying to be self-righteous, for I feel as Paul did:
𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘧𝘶𝘭 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘢𝘭, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘊𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘩𝘰𝘮 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵. — 1 Timothy 1:15
And the knowledge that I am no Paul makes me weep, for I feel I am much worse than he. But praise God that I am forgiven. And I pray that I do not abuse that forgiveness, but choose to repent and change my ways and do it DAILY.
Maranatha.
