Jeremiah
32:27 -
"Behold, I am the LORD, the God of
all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?"
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Throughout many long years, preachers seem to have worked overtime making the bible boring, when in truth, the bible is anything but. The bible is actually jam packed with fascinating facts and good news, but lets start with the "best" of the good news. The Good News of Jesus Christ, and that can be found in John 3:16. John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.Why is this particular scripture the best of the good news? Because, it does not just deal with your problems or time here on earth, but thereafter, It has to do with eternity. Truly the gift that keeps on giving. Truly it is very good news, but who does it apply to? Jesus said it applies to "whoever". Who is whoever? Who would it be if "you" used the word? If you were a doctor and told your friend: "take this $100.00 bill into the bus terminal and give it to whoever. Would your friend interpret this to mean, give it to another "doctor" or one who has proven themselves and saved hundreds of lives? Of course not. Whoever would mean "you" or "Me" or anyone else who happened to be standing in the bus terminal. Your name is "Whoever" and so is mine! (Thank God) THE RULES The son of God did not come to us with rules and laws to live by as a prerequisite to get into heaven. Similarly, Jesus did not give us a list of things "not" to do, or go to hell. The son of God did not condemn even one sinner during his time on earth. When Jesus arrived here on earth, there were already 613 old covenant laws in place to cover all that. These laws were impossible for any man to live by faithfully. Men were at that time required to make animal sacrifices to God. A person would pick their very best lamb. They would kill it and shed it's blood on the alter. The purpose was, the persons sins would be put on the lamb and they would be put right with God by doing so. The slate would be wiped clean for a time, until the next sacrifice. To fully understand the Good News of Jesus Christ, you would have to have lived in 33 AD. The Good News is that we are "set free", but what exactly does that mean? Set free from what? Set free from who? Again, if you had lived in 33 AD, you would know what a precious gift this was and still is. Jesus was the sacrifice offered up by God himself. The perfect sacrifice. Once done, no other sacrifice would ever be required. Jesus was therefore called the "Lamb of God". Jesus was the only person ever to live by, uphold and "fulfill" all of the 613 laws of the old covenant. It was his purpose for coming, to accomplish this. Matthew 5:18 - "For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Now that it has been accomplished, what happened to the law? It was made null and void! That is the Good News, and that is what we are set free from! But are we really free? Jesus did not condemn sinners, but he did condemn the church and religious people. Among other things, It was the church, with it's strict rules, laws, hypocrisy and hierarchy that Jesus set us free from. The church however, did not like Jesus disrupting their way of life. They were getting rich keeping people in bondage. Mainly bondage to the tithe! With the 613 laws of the old covenant, they were enjoying the "Rock Star" status of being "Holy" and Lording it over everyone else. When Jesus threatened their way of life, they killed him! Jesus came here with a specific mission, to fulfill and do away with the curse of the law, and he did. The last words Jesus spoke before he died was "It is finished". John 19:30 - Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. The Church has not changed very much to this day. People are still kept in bondage and churches are still getting rich keeping them there. Pastors, Deacons, elders and the more "well to do" church members still like to display their righteousness like a trophy. The theme is the same, only the laws have changed. Don't drink, don't smoke, give 10% of all your earnings, don't swear! etc . . You have been set free from these laws and I might add that drinking and smoking were not even condemned under the old covenant laws! A sin is only sin because God speaks it! Sin means: "Transgression of the law". The more we come to know God, the more we want and try to control these things that come so naturally to us, that may be displeasing to God. It is a way of honoring God, and it pleases him. Find out what pleases God, then please "God only". DO YOU FEEL OUT OF PLACE? Do you feel out of place in church? Here is more good news. If you are a sinner, if you feel you are a bad person or if you think for a moment that there is no hope for you, you are exactly who God wants coming into his house seeking him and wanting to talk to him! You are more welcome than "all" the non sinning, non smoking, non drinking, never said a bad word in their whole life folks that attend there every week! You are an honored guest in Gods eyes and are exactly the one he wants to talk to! (whether you are made to feel welcome by the congregation or not!) Luke 15:10 - "In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."There is "more" than hope for you! There is a promise! Do you feel you've done something so terrible that God could never forgive you or accept you? Stealing? abortion? adultery? even murder? Maybe you didn't know that most of the new testament of the "Holy Bible" was written by a murderer! True! Read it for yourself. (Read the book of ACTS 9:1 thru 9:22 and beyond) MORE GOOD NEWS! The good news (gospel) was written for you. Not just for some monk who lives in the mountains and eats tree bark and enters into trance like prayer 23 hours a day. God wants a personal relationship with "you". That's right! The creator of the universe, of heaven and earth wants to be the most important person in your life. Why would he bother you ask? That my friends is the great mystery, but none the less "true". Once again, Whoever, means you! (yeah you Smokey) If you believe in him. John 11:26 - and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" (I do) God Bless You Dan Douglass ~ GIVE ONLY WHAT YOU CAN COMFORTABLY AFFORD ~
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Last Updated
06/07/2010
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What is the Good News? The Good News is:
In 4,000 years, God has
not changed and Jesus has not changed. For those of you that might not
already know, the words "Good News" translated, means - "Gospel".
