First I would like to thank God and my Lord Jesus Christ for being able to sit and write this column. I appreciate the Daily Reporter for asking, as always.
Friends, our world is in trouble as it is becoming more and more common to call “good bad and bad good” (Isaiah 5:20). We see it here in our own country, things I never thought I would see or hear in my lifetime being played out.
May I say that I too (in my past) am ashamed of actions I committed. I was not brought up in church.
Oh, I was taught morals; I was instructed on the difference between right and wrong. My family were rural, country folks who worked hard for a living.
But somewhere along the way I got off course. The rowdy part of me came out, the booze drinking, and hanging out in places I never should have been.
Then one Sunday morning I went to a little church, sat on the back row and heard an “old-fashioned Kentucky preacher” preach straight from the Bible. Everyone else could have left, because I believed that God through this man was speaking straight to me.
There was no whitewashing the Word, no jokes told; this ol’ preacher didn’t beat around the bush, not once. And that day I surrendered my life to Jesus Christ! I’m sure thankful I heard the truth of God’s Word.
In the Bible’s book of Galatians, it is written: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other Gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other Gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8-9).
The Apostle Paul was saying to the Galatian church that it should receive no messenger, regardless of how impeccable his credentials, if his doctrine of salvation differed in the slightest degree from God’s truth revealed through Christ and the apostles. That is strong language.
On that Sunday I took a seat on the back pew, I sensed God’s drawing Spirit in my heart. Prior to this I had thought about where I was in life, the way I had been living, and it bothered me. I knew from the Bible that God said my actions were sin. They were wrong in His eyes, and I knew his opinion was the only one that mattered.
As the preacher spoke of Jesus Christ being nailed to the cross so that God could be just in forgiving those who come to His Son in faith, tears fell from my eyes. My heart was broken because I knew I was lost. Without Jesus Christ I had no hope of salvation, forgiveness and eternal life.
That is a scary place when we realize that one day we will all die, then stand before God and answer for every single thing we did in life. This is why it it so important to proclaim the truth of the Bible as it is written.
The Gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:2-4). The Apostle Paul is saying some may have a shallow, non-saving faith. Some believed only as the demons believed (James 2:19); they believed the Gospel is true but had no love for God, Christ and righteousness. True believers hold fast to the Gospel.
Will a true Christian be perfect? No, only Jesus Christ is perfect. But a true Christian’s heart desire is to follow and obey the Lord.
J. Vernon McGee told of a man who said to him, “I want to become a Christian. I am going to try to be a little better, and if I improve, I am going to become a Christian.”
McGee said, “If you improve on your own you will never become a Christian. The only class that God is saving is the ungodly.”
Jesus said He didn’t come to call the righteous; He came to call sinners. The Bible says there are none righteous, no not one (Romans 3:10). Even the righteousness of man is as filthy rags in God’s sight (Isaiah 64:6). Law condemns us, and it must make us speechless before grace can save us.
It is Christ alone who died in our place, Jesus alone who can forgive us, save us and give us eternal life.
I pray there is one reading this that God has spoken to. He is drawing you to himself wanting to forgive, cleanse and give you a new life through Christ. It’s not given automatically, friend, you must ask him personally.
You won’t be turned away, no matter what you have done. Jesus said that “whosoever cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37).
Trust Him, and God bless you!
Lance Stevens pastors at Huntsville Evangelical Community Church in Pendleton. He and his wife, Judy, are formerly of Greenfield. This weekly column is written by local clergy members. Send comments to dr-editorial@greenfield reporter.com.
