The Good News is Jesus Christ said "IT IS FINISHED"
Real Forgiveness from God that is unearned and must be received as a gift.
Real forgiveness from Jesus Christ even on your worst day
Acts 13:38-39
38 Let it be known to you
therefore, brothers, that through this man Jesus forgiveness of sins
is proclaimed to you, 39 and through him every one that believes is
free from everything from which you could not be free by the law of
Moses.
REAL FORGIVENESS THAT IS NOT EARNED
but is a real gift from God
To begin lets talk about the simple Gospel of
Jesus' love, his forgiveness and his grace. To my Christian
brothers and sisters remember this always Jesus said, "IT IS
FINISHED." Your salvation is only by God's grace and mercy.
Jesus Christ at Calvary purchased this grace for you so he could
give a pardon and forgiveness to whoever asks him for it as a
gift. This gift from Jesus is unearned & undeserved by you. In
fact Jesus Christ requires that you receive his forgiveness as a
gift, not as some perceived earned right. Friends it is a real
gift from God through the Cross-and the blood of Jesus Christ. To
non-believers reading or those of other religions who have never
known Jesus Christ by the power of his Holy Spirit, then I say to
you ask God the Father in Jesus' name to help you believe today.
Forget about any teaching or any Christian that may have
wronged you or hurt you. Go directly to God the Father in the name
of Jesus Christ right where you are today. Jesus Christ warned
there would be false Christians; so do not hold that against Jesus
what false Christians have done in his name. Ask Jesus Christ to
reveal himself to you by the power of his Wonderful Holy Spirit.
You do not have to do anything except ask him. DO NOT go to
any Christian church unless the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ
reveals to you where and when. The Holy Spirit knows who are the
real Christians and who are false Christians. Trust the Holy
Spirit to teach you once you begin experiencing his presence, his
peace and his power. The scriptures declare that Kingdom of God is
not just with words but also with power and joy in the Holy Spirit
of God.
Now continuing concerning the Law of Moses and
the ten commandments.
The Law of Moses is Holy as a
schoolmaster until faith comes, but the Law of Moses does not save
you. God's main purpose for the Law of Moses besides being guide
of conduct and moral law is the uncovering of our absolute need
for a savior and an intercessor. But the law by itself saves no
one, rather the law reveals sin and it's punishment according to
God's standard. It's like the penalty phase in a courtroom after
you are found guilty.
This is why the grace Covenant paid
for by Jesus is so important. The Book of Romans states, "When sin
increases grace increases all the more abundantly." We are covered
and washed by the blood of Jesus, which was shed for us. This
being done for us by Jesus during our weakness, not during our
strength.
In other words if we could have done it on our
own, Jesus Christ would never have had to suffer and die to pay
our price required by the Law of Moses. Jesus Christ took our
place (the Law’s required death penalty for our sins) so
the Law of Moses could be fulfilled and completed and a new
covenant of grace by Jesus' finished work could be established.
GRACE DEFINED: Divine assistance given to man, or woman,
for their regeneration and sanctification, unmerited, pardon,
gift, a special favor, leniency, mercy.
Many Christians
misunderstand the finished work of the Cross, this causes some of
them to be judgmental, depressed and numerous other problems. They
say they are saved by Jesus' grace, but then they preach the Law
of Moses as the way to attain righteousness. Its sort of like
having the cart before the horse. Trusting in Jesus is not a faith
that trusts in the Law of Moses for salvation. It is a faith that
honors Jesus' work in fulfilling the law and for paying our price
required by the law of Moses on our behalf. Trust Jesus' finished
work, not your own ability brothers and sisters, that is the real
Gospel.
When Jesus said, "it is finished", one of the
things he was declaring is that he was establishing a new covenant
of grace, and righteousness by faith in that new covenant. Not by
the perfect works of keeping the law. "For it is written not one
does good, all have fallen short of the glory of God."
Paul and Timothy also reinforced this in their letters to
the church. Paul said "Those of you who would be justified by the
law, you are fallen from grace." Timothy said, "Those of you who
would keep the law (or be justified) but then breaks it in even
one point, then this person would be guilty of breaking all of it.
The point is this; Jesus knew we could never obey the law
perfectly. This because of the inherited sin from Adam's fall,
grace is God's gift to us through the price paid by Jesus on the
Cross so we would not fall back in fear or doubt when we fail,
sin, or worse.
This does not mean Jesus does not
discipline intentional misuse of his grace. It's a heart thing and
only Jesus knows our hearts to judge us correctly. Sometimes the
person, who is sinning the worst, is the one who loves God the
most. They are trying so hard in their own strength and own effort
to obey God, not understanding God's grace covenant correctly, the
result, pain, fear, guilt, depression, anger and so on. STOP
TRYING to be perfect in your own strength and just seek him as a
child. Be honest with Jesus. He knows all your weaknesses and
failures already; Jesus Christ knows you will have many weak
moments as you grow in him. That is what HIS AMAZING GRACE IS ALL
ABOUT.
An example of law and grace. Paul said when speaking
on the rapture of the church, he said we would be changed in the
twinkling of an eye. He then said; "Oh Death where is your
victory, where is your sting, for death is swallowed up in
victory." This of course by the blood of Jesus.
Let us
remember what Paul says just after this. If you understand this
you will be blessed. Paul said: "FOR THE POWER OF SIN IS THE LAW."
Let me say that once more, the power of sin is trying to be
righteous by the law of Moses. You honor the Law of Moses by
agreeing it shows your sin and it is holy for this purpose. But
you glorify Jesus Christ when you accept his finished work on the
cross for you by faith, that faith is this; "Jesus said it's
finished, Jesus is saying. "I have finished paying for their sin
required by the Law of Moses, I judge them not, I have taken their
death penalty in their place because I love them." Now you say
amen and agree with Jesus and say also "It is finished" the one
who loves me above all has paid my price and with a praise from
the heart and your mouth, you thank the Lord Jesus for dying for
you and your sin.
When you doubt his love when you have
sinned, or have had a weak moment after accepting Jesus, then you
are not really trusting Jesus' finished work and love. Your still
trusting your ability to obey him, in order to receive his love.
Jesus loves you on your worst day sons and daughter's, trust his
love and grace. Jesus did not die for you just so he could sit
around and wait for you to sin again so he could judge you and
punish you. NO! JESUS LOVES YOU! He died for all your sins, past,
present and future. It's a heart thing. Jesus gives you love,
forgiveness and grace and he wants you to give the same to others,
even to those who reject Jesus. So love and love one another.
Do you understand why Jesus said to judge not in the new
covenant of his grace? It is because he decided not to judge you
according to the Law of Moses, rather than judge you by the law,
Jesus allowed himself to suffer the pain and the shame of the
cross, then Jesus died for us in our place in order that the price
and death penalty required by the Law of Moses could be paid in
full. This so we could live, as well as walk in his new covenant
of his grace and all his promises. This includes miracle healing,
deliverance, knowing his voice and his love and peace that
surpasses knowledge.
Another important reminder about
judging. Apostle Paul said "Who are we to judge outsiders, God
judges the outsiders." Outsiders of course are those persons who
do not yet believe in Jesus. When we judge outsiders, Jesus
disciplines us for not giving the same grace and forgiveness to
them, as he has given us.
Apostle Paul understood the law
of God very well; he tried and tried to keep it after accepting
Jesus. In the book of Romans Paul discusses his own experience.
Most reading now should be able to relate to this same experience
Apostle Paul had.
Paul said in Romans, "Every time I try to
do the good that I want, (Trying to keep the law perfectly) I do
the very thing that I hate. Wretched man that I am who will
deliver me from this body of Death. But thanks be to God, through
our Lord Jesus Christ."
Paul declares that law was given to
increase the trespass, and that through it sin would become
utterly sinful. Why? Because the law is holy, but we in our
physical nature are not. We are unable to obey it perfectly no
matter how hard we try.
So the law is holy and good,
because it reveals to us what is good, and of course that it's
impossible to obey it perfectly without Jesus' grace, love and
power. Remember to keep the law perfectly you must also in effect
die. The law of God says all who have fallen short must suffer the
penalty of the law. This penalty is death, with no wiggle
room.
This is also why Jesus died for us, not just to take
our sins, but to pay the just requirement of God's law which is
the death penalty. He took our place, because he loves us ALL so
much.
The law of God always causes one of two things, it
causes a person to either seek after God and a Savior, or it
cause's a person to rebel because they find it impossible for them
to keep the Law. This is where most non-believers become confused,
or angry with God. They hear those that profess to be Christians
saying, " Do! Do! Do! or else, keep the law of Moses, or go to
hell. They say; "Quit this, stop doing that, come only to this
denomination, give 10 percent and give that 10 percent only to us
and so on and so on. That is not the truth, or real Christianity.
Jesus said just come, come as you are. You do not try to clean up
your own life, or change before you come, you just come to Jesus
as you are and you ask him to help you believe. That's it, Jesus
does all the rest, either at that very moment, or at a time in the
future.
Please do not misunderstand there are still many
wonderful churches with real believers, but there are also those
DO, DO, DO, or else churches as well. Stay away from the DO, DO,
or else churches. However do pray for them that Jesus would
correct them.
Current non-believers reading, you never
need to set foot inside of any church to be saved by Jesus Christ.
All a person must understand and know is that Jesus Christ is the
one God sent to pay your price, and know that God raised him from
the dead. But to be honest, to really know this is true you need
to be touched by the Holy Spirit. You need to ask God in Jesus'
name to give you the GIFT of faith. When the Holy Spirit touches
you powerfully and tangibly that gift of faith will be given.
A quick true story about a miracle given to a man who had
NO real faith.
Many years ago according to the Bible, a
man came to Jesus on the behalf of his son. This man asked Jesus
for a miracle for his son and Jesus asked the man if he believed.
This man was honest with Jesus about his unbelief, he said, "Jesus
I believe, but please help me with my unbelief." In other words
this man wanted to believe, but he was being honest with Jesus
saying that he still did not believe. This man had no real faith.
He had heard of Jesus and the miracles but he was not sure, for he
had not seen them for himself. This man knew that if he lied to
Jesus and said he believed when he didn't, then if Jesus was for
real that lie might prevent a miracle, a miracle his son needed so
badly.
So this man gave an answer that he thought Jesus
would want to hear and then added his complete honesty and asked
for help with his unbelief. That request was good enough for Jesus
and Jesus healed that man's son with a powerful miracle. Through
that miracle to his son, this man was given the gift of real
faith. The Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ will give you the miracles
and the power to believe, if you will ask him to help you
understand and believe. Real salvation in Jesus Christ is always
personal and private. Seek him even if you feel like your only
talking to thin air. Say Jesus if you’re really the truth help me
believe, that's the best I can do today. I promise you if you do,
sooner, or later that air you feel silly talking to will be filled
with such power and love that you can feel, you will have a hard
time speaking because of Jesus' awesome presence and love, your
doubt will melt away like ice cream in a hot Las Vegas desert. On
that day you will be forever changed and forever grateful.
Now lets talk some more about Jesus' grace and how some
Christians get confused and fearful after sinning, or backsliding
during a weak moments in their walk.
When a new Christian
receives Jesus, their burden is lifted, sin is washed and they
feel brand new. Many call this the first love experience in Jesus,
it's Wonderful to say the very least. But as time goes by some
weakness, or sin, or bondage resurfaces in their lives. Then we
try to repent of it, we ask, we pray, we beg and of course we feel
so terrible and guilty, the harder we try, the worse it gets. We
say Oh, Jesus I'm sorry, I won't do it again, forgive me. Then we
go for a little while and sure enough in most cases it happens
again. Now we are feeling torn and separated from Jesus' Holy
Spirit, and even worse, in some cases the heart starts to grow
cold, sometimes angry, then sin gets worse and worse.
Do
you see how God's holy law works, it makes sure we are all put to
death in our own Righteousness and ability. The law of God always
will crucify you until you truly understand Jesus' covenant of
grace properly. And of course after the law has put you to death,
immediately as you die, (Your ability, spiritually speaking) Jesus
then keeps his promise and does for you, what you could not. Jesus
makes you alive in him again and his covenant of grace and All his
promises.
Jesus always starts when we are finished in our
own strength and ability. This is why Paul said, "Through the Law
I died to the law, that I might live to God." Of course Paul was
speaking of faith in Jesus' finished work. Also he knew for sure
he could never attain righteousness by the law. Walk by the Spirit
of grace, not the letter of the Law.
It's very important
that all Christians stop trying to please Jesus in their own
ability. He will never accept it, no matter how good the
intentions. If you’re in caught in any type of sin, or bondage you
will NEVER be free by your own effort. At best you might be able
to stop for a while, but sooner or later if it's only your ability
and not Jesus', you will surely fall back into it, whatever that
might be.
You must understand all deliverance, healing,
restoration is having faith in Jesus' finished work. By His
stripes we are healed. Never by our stripes, or our good works, or
by our church's good work, or even our pastor's good works, always
and only by Jesus' finished work on the Cross.
Jesus loves
you on your worst day my brothers and sisters, not just your good
days, when I am weak, Jesus is strong Paul declared. God makes
perfect in weakness. Sometimes Jesus allows you to fall into the
trap of legalism, or some sin. Sometimes he even leaves you there
for a while. Why? So when he delivers you and heals you can truly
understand. "He, or she that is forgiven much, loveth much. Those
that are forgiven only a little, love only a little." Also: That
you might come to know the height, the breath, and the depth of
the Love of God, in Christ Jesus.
The most dangerous thing
any Christian can do is judge a non-believer. When we do that we
make ourselves a judge in the law, rather than a minister of the
gospel of Jesus Christ and his grace covenant, it also opens you
up to attacks from the enemy. Jesus said to judge not and you will
not be judged, forgive and you will be forgiven. Jesus was not
just saying this because it is just good sense, he said it to
protect us.
If your going to stand as a judge in the Law,
even though you are saved by grace, then when you judge a
non-believer you also judge yourself. Jesus made it clear, JUDGE
NOT. Now when we make this mistake God's Mercy and Grace is still
with us, but his discipline will begin to work in our lives.
The law by which we judged others will now come to bear
against us until we are put to death again by it. This is a very
painful place to be, but this death process through the Law when
completed allows Jesus to restore us to his blessings of Grace
when we have repented. Repenting to what? Jesus said, "Love,
forgive and to judge not, even towards our enemies. To trust
Jesus' grace and his finished work.
Jesus gives us more
grace when we fail like this, but he allows things to touch our
lives to discipline us. He works all things to the good, for those
who love him, and he disciplines all those called by his name.
Sometimes that discipline hurts. We must love all brothers and
sisters, even our enemies as Jesus taught. If we don't then we are
not only breaking the lesser commandments of the Old testament,
but we are breaking the greatest new commandment Jesus gave to his
twelve disciples and of course to us. Jesus said, "LOVE ONE
ANOTHER." This is how the world will know you are my
disciples.
If you’re a Christian that is struggling in
these things, or some sin, or backslidden, listen to me please.
Jesus Christ is closer than your next breath by the power of his
Holy Spirit. I MEAN RIGHT NOW !! I don't care if God seems a
million miles away. He is right there with you right now. Please
listen to me carefully, Jesus humbly I ask you to give them the
ability to hear their brother who has been through this. Let them
know I am telling them the truth, your truth Lord Jesus.
Brothers and sisters restoration is exactly like your
salvation. You come with your weaknesses, your failures and your
sins. You bring everything to Jesus except your ability and good
works, there is nothing you can give Jesus that he does not
already own. Except one thing, your sins.
Jesus loves you,
no matter what, it's not silver vessels that he needs, nor golden
vessels that he wants, but yielded vessels, trusting his grace and
his love no matter what.
Ask Jesus from your heart in your
own way,
Lord Jesus, Forgive me for doubting your
forgiveness and your grace. I keep trying to get back to my first
love in you and cannot do it. I have sinned over and over and I
may even do it again tomorrow. I don't want to be this way, I love
you Jesus. Help me surrender and trust your grace when I am weak,
give me an increase in faith. Jesus right now I don't need
theology, or religion, I need only you Lord Jesus. I can only
understand your grace to the level I know it this day. But you can
teach me, you can write it fresh in my heart. I cannot depend on
anyone completely Lord Jesus except you. Others cannot always be
with me to help, but you can Lord Jesus. Help me lean on you and
trust your promises and love.
I cannot promise you anything
Jesus, except that I want to be able to love you, like you love
me, help me love, like you love me Jesus give me your ability. I
surrender my ability for yours, my love for yours, my strength for
yours, my righteousness for yours, I love you Father God please
help me be a little child again. Help me come home in faith
because your grace and ALL your promises. Holy Spirit help me
today, thank you Lord Jesus. Help me know you as a friend and
brother, not just as Lord and Savior. Be my best friend, my very
best personal friend with benefits Thanks Jesus,
Amen
Let's continue ....
It's not by Might, nor by
Power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord.
Obviously, the
Holy Spirit is Mighty, and the Holy Spirit of the Lord Jesus is
powerful. So what does this scripture really mean? It means; NOT
by your own natural ability, NOT by your natural strength, NOT by
your natural position, or influence in the world, NOT by your
personal natural wealth, or lack of wealth, NOT by anything you
can produce by and of your own natural ability. It means by The
Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ.
Ask Jesus to help you
surrender and trust His Grace. He loves you more than I can even
imagine. And that's saying a lot. Jesus love's the good, the bad
and the ugly my friends. He Loves us even when we don't love him.
Remember he loves you on your worst day, not just your best, Jesus
will never leave or forsake you, trust his grace when you are
weak, judge not, especially your enemies. Invite Jesus to refresh
you by His Holy Spirit and remember He will not do any of those
things by your own effort, only by his grace, thank God for that,
for if it was by our good works based on the Law of Moses we would
all be doomed. I hope you have been blessed.
Lord Jesus
touch all your children, restore them heal them, and those that
are already strong, give them the strength and the wisdom, and the
love to teach and strengthen others. Thank you Lord
Jesus.
You have already promised to do all those things, I
know you will in each case exactly at you decide in your perfect
time. I love you Father, Lord Jesus. Help us all to Love. For in
the end, only kindness matters.
Those of you visiting from
other countries, I ask humbly that you would pray for America.
Jesus will be listening with all his heart.
44 Then Jesus cried out and said, "He who believes in Me,
believes not in Me but in Him who sent Me. 45 And he
who sees Me sees Him who sent Me.
Isaiah
45-21-23
21 Tell and bring forth your case; Yes,
let them take counsel together. Who has declared this from ancient
time? Who has told it from that time? Have not I, the Lord? And
there is no other God besides Me, A just God and a Savior; There
is none besides Me.
22 "Look to Me, and be saved, All
you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no
other.
23 I have sworn by Myself;
The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not
return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall
take an oath.
John 14:9
9 Jesus
said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not
known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how
can you say, 'Show us the Father'?
Isaiah
9:6
6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son
is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And
His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
John 20:26-28
26 And after eight
days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus
came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said,
"Peace to you!" 27 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger
here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it
into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." 28 And
Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my
God!"
From the author Scott Branson
Brothers and sisters Jesus Christ must direct you and perfect
you by his Holy Spirit each and everytime and each and everyday
when doing real ministry in his name. This is true both for
ministry as well as for you personally. Your ministry is your
service to him, but in heaven your relationship is what is most
important to him. There is a clue for you, on earth as it is done
in heaven. So revival starts with you and your relationship with
the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ, not with a chore list of works or
even well meaning good intentions. Brothers and sisters if your
service to him or if your ministry causes you to be busy with
emotions and things to do, but does not cause you to have a close
tangible relationship with Jesus Christ by his Holy Spirit
everyday, then stop and find out why. Jesus does not need
servants, he wants son's and daughters who love him and want to
serve. Jesus is not interested in giving you a job, rather he
wants to give you a hug and a holy kiss. You see when Jesus said
it is finished he knew what he was talking about, even if some of
us are still a little unclear about it.
May the Lord Jesus Christ keep all of you who trust IN HIM
in his Hand always. And may the Holy Spirit guide you in all Truth,
and Wisdom.
Your brother and servant in our Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ