Good News of Peace #1084

And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:15, NKJV)

From heads of state to lowly peasants, pleas for peace are heard around the world. God, in the gospel of Christ, has sent the world a message of real and lasting peace; a peace that is formed between God and sinners. Peace requires at least two things. First, removal of the adversarial conflict must occur. The fighting must end. Paul draws from the prophet Nahum, who saw the feet of the messenger who announced that God was about to remove brutal Assyria from the scene; God judged and destroyed the adversary (Nahum 1:12-15). Even so, sin has put us at war with God. The oppressive yoke of sin must be broken in order for peace with God to exist. The enemy of sin was defeated at the cross of Jesus. Secondly, sin’s conflict must be replaced with the tranquility of divine fellowship. Even so, Paul calls upon Isaiah 52:7, as Isaiah spoke of the beautiful feet that proclaim salvation to Zion, because, “Your God reigns.” The gospel of Jesus Christ offers forgiveness, replacing alienation with peaceful harmony between God and those who are saved in the Son. What beautiful news of peace we proclaim!

“Do not lust after her beauty” #960

25  Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, nor let her allure you with her eyelids. 26  For by means of a harlot a man is reduced to a crust of bread; And an adulteress will prey upon his precious life. (Proverbs 6:25–26, NKJV)

Yielding to fleshly lust is a losing proposition. What appears so appealing and promising such satisfaction, invariably causes pain, sorrow, regret and loss. How many men have literally squandered a fortune on the fleeting fantasies of the flesh? The passion of lust promises pleasure but produces the spiritual bondage and death of sin. Many men and women have been led to the depths of disgrace and despair by its sordid appeal. Sin, whatever form it takes, is never a good deal. Today’s verse reminds us that even more than material poverty, lust bears fruit that brings a person spiritual shame and deprivation. Thanks be to God there is a Savior who lifts sinners out of the muck and mire of sin. Jesus Christ forgives sinners (1 Tim. 1:15)! Trust and obey Him; not the lusts of the world (1 Jno 2:15-17).

Worse Sinners #933

1 There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:1–3, NKJV)

The horror inflicted upon these worshiping Galileans by Pilate did not mean they were worse sinners than everyone else. The misfortune of others is not our solace when bad things do not happen to us. It is easy to measure ourselves against others. We can always point to someone and perceive them and their sin to be worse than ourselves. By doing so, we can rationalize our own sins, while continuing in them, unabated. Jesus emphatically says this is distorted thinking that will condemn us. Unless we repent of our sins, we will perish – regardless of what others do or do not do. Instead of comparing yourself to others, compare yourself to the “perfect law of liberty” (the gospel), and correct yourself by doing God’s will (Jas. 1:22-25). Otherwise, “you will all likewise perish.”

Worse Sinners? #583

1  There were present at that season some who told Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2  And Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3  I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:1–3, NKJV)

It is false to conclude that a horrific death of suffering signifies that person was particularly evil. The Galileans murdered by Pilate were no worse sinners than others. Death comes to us all, and sometimes, in very tragic ways. A worse fate awaits every sinner who refuses to repent. Do not fall into the trap of comparing yourself with others and comforting yourself in their suffering. All of us have sinned, and unless we repent we face a fate worse than physical suffering. Jesus described hell as a place where “their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched” (Mk. 9:47-48). Only with a change of heart (repentance) are we equipped to serve Christ. Without repentance, we perish.

Genuine Mercy #444

10  Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. 11  And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” 12  When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 13  But go and learn what this means: ‘I DESIRE MERCY AND NOT SACRIFICE.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” (Matthew 9:10-13)

Some use the fact that Jesus ate “sinners” to justify not explaining sin to the sinner. (One might recall that every person Jesus ate with was a “sinner”, since “all have sinned”!). The issue is not that Jesus ate with sinners, but rather what did Jesus do when He ate with sinners? Did He ignore their sin? No. Did He redefine their sin? No. Did He rationalize their sin? No. Jesus identified their sin, presented Himself and His truth as the solution to their sin, and called the sinners to repent of their sins. Thus, the Son of God shows us the meaning of the mercy he desires us to show those lost in sin. As our Master did, let us call sinners to repentance, pointing them to Jesus, the Savior of the world.