Much attention has been given by the news and social media to the trial of Derek Chauvin. I'm not going to elaborate on my personal feelings on this case. The jury has spoken and he and the rest of our country will have to live with the verdict and the soon to be announced sentencing.
It is always a spectacle after these high profile cases when we are bombarded with celebrities and sports figures giving us their opinion on the verdict. It's ironic that condemned men and women are so eager to weigh in on the plight of a condemned man.
You heard that right. Condemned celebrities and assorted athletes who are also in a state of condemnation making their flawed judgments on another condemned man.
Why do I call them "condemned"? Because the Bible makes that determination on all of us. Here is what the Apostle Paul had to say about humanity in the third chapter of Romans...
v.10 As it is written, There is none righteous no not one.
v.11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
v.12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no not one.
v.23 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
So there you have it, we all have something in common with Derek Chauvin, we are all condemned. The Apostle Paul describes the bad news about all of us. So the next time you feel "righteous" enough to take pot shots at some unfortunate soul who has fallen into the hands of our judicial system remember that you speak as one of the condemned.
This third chapter of Romans has some bad news but it also has some amazing good news. Let's examine the good news...
v. 21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the Prophets;
v.22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference.
Romans chapter three tells us some amazing truths. First, we are all condemned people because there are none of us who are good, righteous or who seek God. Did you catch that? There are NONE!
Then Paul tells us that we can gain the righteousness of God by faith in Jesus Christ. By believing in the gospel story that Jesus Christ died on the cross, was buried and then rose again so that He could impart to us eternal life and God's righteousness.
There are only two types of people in the world - the condemned and the redeemed. Which camp are you in?
Are you interested in becoming a forgiven person and gaining eternal life? Watch the short video below.
I love to explore youtube and one of my favorite searches is "street guitarists". I recently discovered Damian Salazar who I believe is the best street performer I have ever seen. Let me know what you think.
I hope you enjoyed that as much as I did. I watch these amazing artists and I wonder how their life is going and most of all I wonder if they have believed on Jesus Christ for eternal life. How about you, have you placed your faith in Him for eternal life? If not, I encourage you to watch the very short video below.
John 14:6; “Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.” (any emphasis mine)
Acts 4:12; “And there is Salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven, given among men by which we must be saved.”
Romans 8:1; “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 2:4-5; “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even though we were dead in transgressions, made us alive together with Christ; by grace you are saved.”
Ephesians 2:8-9; “For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast.”
Today, during these very trying times with people “fainting with fear and with foreboding” (Luke 21:26), there is One we can turn to who knows exactly how we feel. Today is a good time to refresh our minds as to just what was done for us about 2,000 years ago.
Jesus the “Christ” (anointed one – Wikipedia), one third of the Holy Trinity, came to this earth as a lowly human (Hebrews 2: 7-9) to pay for sins He never committed, nor would He ever commit. From the beginning of earth’s creation until our Savior’s crucifixion, humans had to make sacrifices regularly in order to receive temporary relief from sins. However, “it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sin” (Hebrews 10:4).
There was only one sacrifice that would be made once for all, that would appease the Father. It had to be the perfect, sinless blood of the “Lamb of God” that was not tainted by any human blood. All humans carry the sin nature that was first introduced to the world in the Garden of Eden in Genesis 3. Although Jesus grew in Mary’s womb, His perfect blood did not come from Joseph, nor did it mix with Mary’s. From birth through Calvary, Jesus never sinned, even once, even though He was tempted in person by Satan in the wilderness.
Jesus knew every emotion and experienced every one except hate and carnal lust. He loved everyone, even those who caused Him great pain. He just didn’t like some people because of their earthly beliefs. In fact, He had the biggest problems with the so-called religious leaders of His era.
Before Jesus ever came to this earth, He knew exactly what He would have to endure. Isaiah and others wrote that He would be killed. Yet, in John 10:11;15-16;18, Jesus tells us, 11“I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep…. 15just as the Father knows Me, and I know the Father, and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16And I have other sheep that are not of this fold [This includes everyone]. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, One Shepherd…. 18No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.”
In the John 3:16 “For God so loved…” verse, Jesus has the same love for us. Because of His unselfish grace, we are offered a gift we definitely do not deserve. Instead, we are given mercy from the Father to keep us from the punishment we do deserve.
One question stands out here; if anyone rejects the wonderful gift that the Son of God suffered and died for us lowly humans, would you expect those people to receive grace and mercy? All who reject Jesus will have blasphemed the truth that the Holy Spirit has provided, and they will spend eternity in the Lake of Fire. This is pointed out in Revelation 20:11-15.
It’s either Jesus in our hearts, or Satan and his lies. Sadly, it’s becoming more obvious daily that Satan is gaining numerous followers. We were told there would be a turning away from the Truth in the last days, and it is here right now. Matthew 7:13-14 gives us the paths of the saved and the condemned. Yes, there are those who are still calling out to Jesus and being saved (Acts 2:21; Romans 10:13), but a substantial number are going the other way. False prophets and antichrists are here and even have entered some previously Bible-based churches. They are pulling souls away from the Savior in service to their master – Satan. God will not put up with this much longer.
We’re just about at the end of this age, and soon the true believers will be removed. Those who are left behind will still be able to call on Jesus, but the cost will most likely end in martyrdom.
We have a “Grace Greater Than Our Sin” as given in a hymn by Julia H. Johnston (1849-1919) in 1911. Please consider the words, and especially the last line of the last stanza.
(1) Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt. Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured, there where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.
(ref) Grace, Grace, God’s Grace; Grace that will pardon and cleanse within. Grace, Grace, God’s Grace; Grace that is greater than all our sin.
(2) Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold, threaten the soul with infinite loss. Grace that is greater – yes, grace untold – points to the refuge, the mighty cross.
(3) Dark is the stain that we cannot hide. What can we do to wash it away? Look; there is flowing a crimson tide. Brighter than snow you may be today.
(4) Marvelous, infinite, matchless Grace, freely bestowed on all who believe. All who are longing to see His face, will you this moment HisGrace receive?
Today would not be too early and could possibly be just in time before He calls up His true believers to meet Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:13-17; 1 Corinthians 15:51-53).
Jesus came “willingly” to save us (John 10:18), and He would like us to “willingly” call upon Him (Romans 10:9-13). It is the only way to be kept from the coming wrath/tribulation that will soon be here. Your choice; please choose wisely.
Do you want to receive the gift of eternal life and the grace of God? Watch the video below.
