“Jesus answered him, Will you lay down your life for my sake? Truly, truly, I say unto you, The rooster shall not crow, till you have denied me three times” (vs38).
Even though we love God, we are sinners, and there is no way around it. Sin keeps us LOVING God instead of complaining, and it makes us LOVE the brethren in repentance and faith. The fact that God loves sinners is the beginning, middle, and end of the gospel; it is the fact that while we were sinners Christ DIED for us, and the fact that I am a sinner still (1 Tim 1:15).
Never think of yourself as strong or able to stand in your strength, and don’t look down upon your weaker or failing brethren. They are NO different before God: He had to pay for your sins, the ones you and I do daily, as well as theirs. No one is saved or blessed by merit, and no matter how greatly you’re blessed now, there is SIN in you, so you don’t deserve it (Ps 115:1).
If you preach or teach, it is by grace. If you have power to obey, then it is the mercy of God GIVEN to you in Christ. We must be thankful and exalt the Only One that is able to save, the One that obeyed God perfectly, and the One that loves us as we are because of His blood, Spirit, and the promises of the Father to us.
Jesus is Lord. Let everyone bow to Him willingly, knowing you’re the SINNER He both saved and saves. He found you in the ditch, and He pulls you from sin continually (Rom 6:14).
Let no man say, “I’m a sinner, so I will sin”, but let us obey the gospel, trusting Christ, and being thankful rather than short with people and proud (Col 3:15). Set before you the Lord’s mercies. You and I will have PLENTY of occasion to think upon Him (Col 3:2).
And, do not let your sins EVER keep you from grace. You will hate your deeds repeatedly, but the Son of God says, “I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not”, so He WANTS us to believe, and we’re to believe always (Luke 22:32). Just never look upon yourself as less than mercifully saved.
Never think of yourself as strong or able to stand in your strength, and don’t look down upon your weaker or failing brethren. They are NO different before God: He had to pay for your sins, the ones you and I do daily, as well as theirs. No one is saved or blessed by merit, and no matter how greatly you’re blessed now, there is SIN in you, so you don’t deserve it (Ps 115:1).
If you preach or teach, it is by grace. If you have power to obey, then it is the mercy of God GIVEN to you in Christ. We must be thankful and exalt the Only One that is able to save, the One that obeyed God perfectly, and the One that loves us as we are because of His blood, Spirit, and the promises of the Father to us.
Jesus is Lord. Let everyone bow to Him willingly, knowing you’re the SINNER He both saved and saves. He found you in the ditch, and He pulls you from sin continually (Rom 6:14).
Let no man say, “I’m a sinner, so I will sin”, but let us obey the gospel, trusting Christ, and being thankful rather than short with people and proud (Col 3:15). Set before you the Lord’s mercies. You and I will have PLENTY of occasion to think upon Him (Col 3:2).
And, do not let your sins EVER keep you from grace. You will hate your deeds repeatedly, but the Son of God says, “I have prayed for you, that your faith fail not”, so He WANTS us to believe, and we’re to believe always (Luke 22:32). Just never look upon yourself as less than mercifully saved.
