Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – July 6, 2016
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 1 Timothy 1:15
Jesus came to save sinners—sinners like all of us. Just as we all need water, air and food—we all need a Savior to forgive our sin. The gospel of Christ grows greater in value—the more we view the hideous nature of our sin. The darker we see our soul stained by sin, the more urgent our desire to be cleansed by the grace of God. Sin taken lightly, merely gives lip service for the need of a Savior—but sin taken seriously, has a desperate desire to seek Christ’s forgiveness. Eternal security and sin’s cure comes from my admission of spiritual illness—only Jesus can save me.
Paul gives us one of his five trustworthy sayings—Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. The truth of the gospel deserves full acceptance: the cross of Christ followed by the resurrection of Christ. Without Jesus rising from the grave the gospel is eviscerated of its power to forgive sin, transform lives, affirm Christ’s teachings and validate His miracles. The gospel is good news, because of the bad news of mankind’s separation from God. A person either fully embraces the gospel of Jesus or rejects Jesus—there is no middle ground. Like a healthy marriage, committed Christians embrace and celebrate their love relationship with Jesus.
“The faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace” (Colossians 1:5-6).
If sin were closely monitored by the Food and Drug Administration it might carry a warning label similar to this, “Warning: Sin is a rapidly spreading disease, destroying everything it comes in contact with.. Extremely dangerous to your relationship with God and people—Creates pain and regret 100% of the time..” Yet, some Christians naively flirt with sin like it was a harmless encounter with a cute puppy. How can this be when in reality the cute puppy is a rabid wolf ready to infect and perhaps devour its prey? Only those who see themselves as the chief of sinners can fully fear the Lord and experience the full measure of God’s all sufficient grace.
Does the gospel permeate your being to the point of an exclamation of praise, worship and thanksgiving to the Lord? Does the gospel motivate you to submit to the Spirit’s fullness and follow hard after God? Jesus saved your soul, so you can help other lost souls find faith in Jesus. Christ makes you whole, so you can help plug the hole in our gospel: serving the poor and needy in the name of Christ. The gospel is a righteous remedy waiting to be spread by the righteous. Love prescribes Jesus to the spiritually sick and trusts God to heal them. If Christians cannot or will not communicate the cure for sin and warn sinners of the wrath of God—who will?
“When Jesus heard this, He said to them, “Those who are healthy have no need of a physician, but [only] those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners [who recognize their sin and humbly seek forgiveness]” (Mark 2:17, AMP).
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for the good news of Jesus and the privilege to show and tell the gospel to a lost and needy generation.Application
Whom can I serve and care for in the name of Jesus?Related Reading
Matthew 26:13; Mark 8:35; Acts 15:7; Romans 1:1-17; Galatians 1:6-11Post/Tweet today
Like a healthy marriage, committed Christians embrace and celebrate their love relationship with Jesus. #WisdomHunters #thespiritualcureWorship Resource
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