Pastor on April 17, 2005 taught on John 5:41-44. He asked us to read the passage, then to read the passage changing "accept" to "receive."
"I do not [receive] praise from men, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. I have come in my Father's name, and you do not [receive] me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will [receive] him. How can you believe if you [receive] praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?"
Why don't people receive Christ? Receiving Jesus as who we are is the biggest problem we face. Our selfishness keeps us from resting in Christ to take our place, to take away our condemnation.
People don't go to hell for not knowing something; they go because of guilt and sin. We don't receive Christ because He knows us, and He knows that we do not have the love of God in our hearts. He knows all about our guilt and sin. Simply put: We do not receive God because we do not have His love in our hearts because of shame, guilt, and sin...
If I truly loved the Lord, I would show it by receiving Christ every morning. In the words of Luke 9:23, I would be taking up crosses daily from midnight to midnight if I had the love for God in my heart... But I am so afraid of Him seeing my sin, my guilt...
So, I have to rethink. Where is the center of my life? What do I put their sef-consciously? Am I trying to earn the love of God on my own? The root of my faith and love should be the love of God THROUGH Christ. If I love God, I love His Son; even if He can see my guilt and shame.
I love His Son, Jesus Christ, because of what He did for me. In His ultimate love, He gave His life away so that my guilt and shame would no longer be seen in the eyes of the Father God. Through Christ, I no longer fear my sin and guilt.
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death."
(Romans 8:1-2) *How I pray for this to be my waking thought - Then Luke 9:23...*
"I do not [receive] praise from men, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. I have come in my Father's name, and you do not [receive] me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will [receive] him. How can you believe if you [receive] praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God?"
Why don't people receive Christ? Receiving Jesus as who we are is the biggest problem we face. Our selfishness keeps us from resting in Christ to take our place, to take away our condemnation.
People don't go to hell for not knowing something; they go because of guilt and sin. We don't receive Christ because He knows us, and He knows that we do not have the love of God in our hearts. He knows all about our guilt and sin. Simply put: We do not receive God because we do not have His love in our hearts because of shame, guilt, and sin...
If I truly loved the Lord, I would show it by receiving Christ every morning. In the words of Luke 9:23, I would be taking up crosses daily from midnight to midnight if I had the love for God in my heart... But I am so afraid of Him seeing my sin, my guilt...
So, I have to rethink. Where is the center of my life? What do I put their sef-consciously? Am I trying to earn the love of God on my own? The root of my faith and love should be the love of God THROUGH Christ. If I love God, I love His Son; even if He can see my guilt and shame.
I love His Son, Jesus Christ, because of what He did for me. In His ultimate love, He gave His life away so that my guilt and shame would no longer be seen in the eyes of the Father God. Through Christ, I no longer fear my sin and guilt.
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death."
(Romans 8:1-2) *How I pray for this to be my waking thought - Then Luke 9:23...*
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