DO NOT SUGARCOAT EVIL WITH GRACE
Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times? Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.” Matthew 18:21-22. Jesus knew that our brothers will make plenty of mistakes or offenses against us and He said that every time they do we should be willing to forgive them not once but - seventy times seven. We should be generous in forgiving others just as generous as God is in forgiving us.
“And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” Matthew 6:12 Here Jesus taught us to pray to Him for the forgiveness of our sin as well as forgiving others who have sinned against us. These two verses lead me to believe that even if I have sinned again God 100 times a day, He will forgive me if I ask. He provided us the pathway through which we can get forgiveness for all of our sins.
"Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, "leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First, be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Matthew 5:23-24. Here is another pathway that Jesus gave us to reconcile with our brothers or sisters and seek forgiveness of our sins from them if we have offended them. As we can see, under the law there is nothing that prevents us from asking and receiving forgiveness from God and from our fellow human beings unless we are too proud to humble ourselves and ask for forgiveness, nothing!
The Apostle Paul said, “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” Romans 6:14.
Whose grace? We don't know. Paul gave his advice, I believe, to Christians who are too proud, too conceited, and too arrogant to humble themselves to ask for forgiveness from God and from their brothers and sisters whom they have offended.
Jesus warned us, "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” Matthew 7:15
“But a prophet who presumes to speak in my name anything I have not commanded, or a prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, is to be put to death.” Deuteronomy 18:20
Then the LORD said to me, “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I have not sent them or appointed them or spoken to them. They are prophesying to you false visions, divinations, idolatries, and the delusions of their own minds. Jeremiah 14:14
This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. Jeremiah 23:16
For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. Matthew 24:24
The time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 2 Timothy 4:3-4
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 2 Peter 2:1-2
Why do we want to circumvent the law? So we can sugarcoat EVIL? Is that why? Brothers and Sisters, now is not the time to play dumb with God. The time to play dumb with God is long over!
We should always be vigilant of false prophets and false teachers.
Comments