Licence to Serve!

(Romans 3:4) Let God be true though everyone were a liar, as it is written, "That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged."

Grace = Licence to Serve. I saw this comment in the remarks column on another blog site and I thought it would be fitting to consider this a little deeper. We are covered by the grace of God; we can do nothing in ourselves to earn points in finding saving favour before God almighty. This is probably the clearest point the bible makes. Wherever you look you will find reference to this teaching; it was only the Lord Jesus who carried the burden of sin, without every sinning; therefore without his accomplishment here on earth there would be no opportunity for anyone to make it to heaven. Why? “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. (Romans 3:23)

All have sinned and after judgment if found guilty, even for one sin, by breaking God’s law, the guilty would then need to be punished for sin. Why punished? God is who He is and He is righteous and therefore requires what is right. If a law is broken a price must be paid. That is what it means to be righteous, no wiggle room for family and friends. I have often heard people say, “I am a good person”, be careful with that sought of ideology it is just another lure, leading mankind away from finding forgiveness for their sins. Without forgiveness we will end up in hell. It will never be because we were a good person that keeps us out of hell, it can and will only ever be safe for those who have been covered by the blood of the Lamb. If the Lord Jesus did not accomplish what He did achieve here on earth, then all of mankind would have been doomed to hell forever. Think of it like this; there was a waiting room in the heavens full of waiting candidates; Abraham, Noah, Isaac, Jacob, Daniel, Job and many more who could see the beauty of heaven but there was a large chained gate that kept them from the actual presence of God and the only person who had the power and the key to unlock that gate was the Lord Jesus Christ. Now everything hung in the balance while He walked the face of the earth. Many opposed the Lord Jesus, Satan and all his heavenly allies, but be not fooled even men and woman were and are still on his side, even if they are not aware of it.

King David explains the account of Jesus on the cross like this; “Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet—“(Psalms 22:12-16)

We can clearly see descriptive evidence (strong bulls of Bashan) that the Lord endured hardship in the spiritual realm while He was on the cross. And therefore we accept that there was a war between Satan and the Lord Jesus in the heavens. Yet without mankind’s involvement how would He have been crucified as a man. Get the point! Although we do not see into the spiritual realm with our natural eyes, we are still played like pawns by the forces of darkness, until we are set free by the glorious gospel message. If we are still blind to the Gospel and have not found forgiveness for our sin, in and through no other than the Lord Jesus Christ. We are part of Satan’s army and not God’s army. Hear me carefully now, if you do not believe that the Lord Jesus is the only way, the only true and the only way the you in person can escaped eternal damnation (judgment), then you are an enemy of the cross! Not different to me on the other side as an enemy of all the evil forces who oppose the only true and living God, Jehovah God, the Father of Jesus Christ my Saviour. I know I may often stumble with this and that in my life, and not be the greatest example in consistent application to the Christian lifestyle; I have made many mistakes along the way, but let it be clear that my banner is out for all to see and it reads, “Jesus Christ is my Lord!” My Saviour is the only way to God the Father and He is the only One who has the ability to keep all repentant believers from the clutches of Satan. No one else ever walked upon the face of the earth, lived their lives without ever breaking God’s law except the Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, Ghandi, Mandela, the Dalai Lama, mother Teresa and the like all have been brilliant in their field, they have accomplished more that most in their lifetime, but if their message is not this: If they do not believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and became a man and live on earth without sin and then paid the price for sin, died and then rose again from the dead, so that repentant sinners could go free. Then they are the enemies of the cross, they are God’s enemies and therefore in opposition to His truth, which is the only truth! "Let God be true though everyone were a liar, as it is written, "That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged." (Romans 3:4)

What would it help if we had licence to serve, but we where serving a lie. Repent and believe on the only true God, He is the way the truth and the life and no man will get to His Father but by Him. Do not take the opinions of others lightly, there is a war, we have been in it from birth but now it is about to heat up, so choose this day who you will serve! Will we be amongst that number that stands for truth regardless of its price or will barter and negotiate with the wage of compromise? I understand that even the remnant are covered by grace and have been handpicked by God. “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal." So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. (Romans 11:4-5)

Will we be like Jacob and wrestle with God until we are blessed, even if it leaves us limping for the rest of our lives. Surely it will be worth it all! Or will we glibly go about our daily lives?

Grace indeed frees us to serve, let us just make sure that it is the Lord Jesus we serve and not another, “The kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” The world may put on a loving face but let us be on my guard when they where possible, as a time will come they will betray us as they did our Master, it may even be with a kiss. Their message will be a different message, there is no other true way outside of Christ that will lead a man to heaven, and every other way will be a lie! And only a liar with another agenda tells a LIE! Whenever a man is about to stab what is true, he usually professes very great reverence for it. They may even make reference to Jesus as a good man or a prophet, but only a false prophet would claim himself to be equal to God; “I and the Father are one." (John 10:30) He cannot be a good person and be full of lies only a deceiver behaves like that!

The Lord Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6)

Be warned and on guard any other message no matter how nice and cuddly it may sound is a lie and has been back by hell itself.

Father God, hone our eyesight and help us keep the wolves at bay as they are on the increase. But we know our Saviour has overcome the enemy, in him we do trust!

Signing Off

Tyrone