Total Gospel

Job 19:25-27 - For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!

There’s a yearning in my heart...to see my Redeemer. It will be either upon my death or when He returns. I can’t imagine....

Dwelling on a sermon our Pastor preached and how it so ties in with a recent post. I’m so amazed at how this God of ours is so great. He never ceases to surprise me. My thoughts being in tune with His or others’.

Twice in one week I either posted on Facebook or wrote a blog and shared or published with a hint of trepidation. I fear being way off base in my thoughts or offending, yet Jesus’ Words often offended those who did not want to hear. Sometimes pastors, those whose desire is only to show people the truth of the Word, will offend too. In one instance what I posted was well received. The blog was confirmed that morning after I posted it!

The post of July 15, 2018 spoke of humility. Having a humble heart before the Lord. It’s the only way we can come to Him and probably why so many will not receive Christ. Pride gets in the way. The number one sin. 

In Sunday school in the Book of Job, the scriptures above, we see a picture of Jesus. This is Old Testament. They didn’t know about Jesus. But the manner of His life and death was beginning to emerge. Here, our Redeemer would be resurrected, which means He had to have died, and would live on for all to see. 

Many churches preach on having a good life now, taking in all we can before our time is up. Bucket lists come to mind. Checking off all the things we’d like to do before we go. What if we go next week? Or never wake up in the morning? Was knowing Jesus ever on that list? He should be the first thing on that list...then the list would be meaningless!!! You’d have all you need. 

We got to talking about churches preaching the total Gospel. What is that? A lot of churches today only preach the love of God and how we are saved by grace and good works. But there’s something missing. The thing churches avoid so as not to offend...our sin. Why do we need a Redeemer? Because of our sin. But I’m a good person. In your eyes you might be, but we’re all sinners just the same. God says so! We’re born into sin. We live in that sin until we repent of it and turn to Jesus for forgiveness. 

Our sermon was called Activating the Remedy. The remedy for what? For sin. What is the remedy? The blood of Jesus. The previous Sunday a guest preacher spoke on sin and how only...only...the blood of Jesus can cleanse us of our sin.

That means humbling ourselves before the Creator of this universe, ridding ourselves of stiff necks and turning to Him. Only.the.blood.of.Jesus. His death on that old rugged cross.

A song we sang (Nothing But the Blood) says this: 
Nothing can for sin atone: 
nothing but the blood of Jesus. 
Naught of good that I have done: nothing but the blood of Jesus. 
There you have it. Nothing.but.the.blood.of.Jesus.

So someone in Sunday school described the Total Gospel message. It started just after creation with life, then death when sin entered in. We see it all around us daily, seasonally, politically and physically, this birth, life, then death. It continues. Jesus was born, lived, died then resurrected and still lives today. Our eternal life is only through Him. Because He lives we can live along side Him. Our old lives must die so a new spiritual life can be birthed that we might live in Christ forever. We must humble ourselves, though. That can be the hard part. The hard heart must be softened and stiff necks against God loosened up. 

One last thing that I jotted down that really didn’t seem to fit here but now I see it does! Job went through some horrendous trials. We can ask ourselves why we go through some of the things we do. Illness, loss, doubt, insecurity. It was said: God never takes us to a place where He is not (if we are in Christ). That can also apply to receiving Christ. He will be there and will stay if your heart is truly turned to Him. You won’t be taking that step of faith without Him as a safety net. You will be safe! He will never leave or forsake us.

Without Jesus we will die. Like I've said many, many times. This is not head knowledge of who He is but a heart attitude for Him. There is no heaven for those who are not right with the Lord. You are still an enemy, as I mentioned one time. The road to destruction is very large but the road to eternal life is very narrow, and growing narrower today as many of us have noticed. But listen to what God will do...from the Old Testament. This is written many times in the Word.

2Chronicles 36:12-13 - He did evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and did not humble himself... And he also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear an oath by God; but he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning TO the LORD God of Israel.
2Chronicles 12:12 - When he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, so as not to destroy him completely; and things also went well in Judah.