Re: I genuinely hope..
Submitted by Splash! on February 15 2002 03:28:16
In reply to I genuinely hope.. submitted by Babel-17 on February 15 2002 01:36:52
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Hi John, I say, thank God for His grace. But how great is God's grace? Is it sufficient for me? Is it sufficient for you? Is it sufficient for all? The Bible says that all liars go to hell. We all lie. Do we all go to hell? The Bible says we do. It is said that it is not good for a man to lie [in bed] with another person of the same sex. It is also said that it is not good for a man to have long hair. What about people who wear make-up and jewelry. How legalistic do we get? And how do we determine which sin is greater than another? Is marking one's body with a tattoo as bad as committing adultery? How do we know which is the greater sin? Or are all sins equal? Is murdering someone the same as wearing jewelry? Does God overlook them both? Neither? One over the other? Why or why not? How do we know? Even if I think homosexuality is a sin, aren't there greater sins? There are things people do that destroy others' lives. Some say homosexuality does the same. But can't homosexuality also bring two people together in love? There must be a greater sin. What about the corportate mogul who gains his prosperity through the blood, sweat, and tears of others? How many families has he destroyed? Is he not the greater sinner? I don't know if I have the answers to these questions. Maybe not in another 30 years and beyond. All I know is that for myself, I'm going to stay in the Word, in prayer, in fellowship, and do what I believe the Lord is telling me I should be doing. What should we be doing? For each of us it might be different. Jesus said that His parables were for those who could hear and understand. What if I'm one of those who doesn't understand them? Does that let me off the hook? Maybe there are certain things that might be a sin for me but not for you? I can only hope that my sins (growing long hair, covering a pimple with make-up, thinking a lustful thought, yelling at someone in anger) are covered by God's grace. Afterall, didn't Jesus die for all our sins? Past, present, and future? God stopped me in the middle of this e-mail and showed me these verses. Please read them carefully: "What shall we say then? [Is there] unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then [it is] not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy. For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will [have mercy], and whom he will he hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed [it], Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? [What] if God, willing to shew [his] wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? As he saith also in Osee [Hosea], I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved. And it shall come to pass, [that] in the place where it was said unto them, Ye [are] not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God" (Romans 9:14-26). "What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because [they sought it] not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed" (Romans 9:30-33). We are saved (or made righteous) by faith. No matter who we are or what we do, this is our hope: that "whosoever believe on him shall not be ashamed" -- liar, homosexual, adulterer, smoker, drinker, murderer, men with long hair, women with make-up, teenager with a tattoo, etc. None shall be ashamed if they believe on His name. Of course, how do we know that we really "believe" and how does it show? By what we do? Then again, maybe it's different for each one of us. All I can suggest is that we seek the Lord -- each one working out our own salvation. Besides that, it doesn't really matter what I think, does it? Splash |
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