Justification!

(Act 17:4) “And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas…”

 Persuasion is a word that carries with it a lot of weight. It is powerful, meaningful and has finality attached to it. It speaks volumes and leaves no wriggle room for any form of distortion on what is said. “For I am persuaded”, can mean nothing else! It does not suggest that I might believe something if I see more evidence or it invites me to taste and then I will be convinced. “For I am persuaded” means exactly that! No ifs or buts, no more evidence required…

Why do I spend time writing a blog many may ask? “For I am persuaded” that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life; regardless of opinionated differences on this truth, from all different walks of life and religions. “I am persuaded” that Jesus Christ is the only true God who has the power to save sinners from their predicament, every other religion is a lie, a decoy to misguide the masses into following God’s enemy, deceiving those blinded by their own sin. Satan has been so successful that even organizations that fly a Christian flag have been hoodwinked into placing their own corrupt efforts above God’s perfect work in and through His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ! They too have missed the mark completely!

If a person wanted to arrive at a required destination, a specific address, they would need to be given accurate directions, or their trip would be chaotic. How many times have you keyed in an address into a GPS device and then been sent on a rabbit hunt, especially in a country like South Africa with so many boomed roads. Going in circles and ending up in the same location, yet no nearer to arriving at your destination. Something was off! In this instance satellites cannot locate a boomed road and therefore it sends you down a road that has a dead-end. Religions do exactly the same thing; you think you are on track to please God when in fact you are doing anything but that! The Roman Catholic Church is such an organization. It puts people under pressure forcing them to confess to men and then being pardoned by a man not God. We all need God’s forgiveness and that can only ever be achieved on a personal level. It is between you and God! And this is how we shall all be judged one day, one on one. Do not be fooled into believing that you can earn an entrance into heaven on your own merit, this is a lie from the very pit of hell and “I am persuaded” that there is no other way to find favour from the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Now the Muslims believe that Abraham was their father, but neither Isaac nor Jacob had anything to do with their claim and their religion. They believe in another God and he is not the God of truth! Of that “I am persuaded”! So then what is needed for those who do not have the same conviction? You must acknowledge your sin before the great “I AM” and confess to Him and Him alone, seeking out His forgiveness and then the light switch will be triggered. Only then will you be persuaded!

Here are the words of a man who once believed that to follow Mohammed’s instruction was the only true way to ensure his salvation, with death as the only assurance of entering paradise. The Jihad’s believe that if you die under Mohammed’s instruction found in the Koran, you will be guaranteed an entrance into paradise, “I am persuaded” that is a lie! 

Here is part of this man’s testimony who once believed that lie; Al Fardi was a man born in Saudi Arabia and he was taught that he would be punished if he doubted any of Islam’s laws. His religion taught him that you had to work for salvation. The bible in Hebrews chapter six teaches us that this type of mentality is no more than a dead work and it will never free the individual. You will always strive to please God but always find disappointment in your efforts. The only way man will ever find forgiveness for their sin is in and through the sacrifice of God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. He paid the price for sin and no one else will ever accomplish what He has. Islam teaches a lie and Al Fardi came to this realization in spite of the prophet Mohammed teaching that the only way to be assured of heaven was to be martyred.

He came into contact with a Christian family in America with the intention of converting them to the Muslim faith, but it wasn’t that easy, they were Christian. Today He is a Christian and declares that message! God had mercy on Him and He now is able to declare the truth. He has an interesting story and it was refreshing to hear about his conversion. It was this verse that came to me whilst listening to his testimony; “And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” (Revelation 5:9)

The mercy of God who can measure it!

Signing off

Tyrone