The Pardon of Sin

1 Peter 2:19-21 (New King James Version)
19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us,[a] leaving us[b] an example, that you should follow His steps:
Imitation is not salvation. But salvation brings imitation. Christ did not come here first to be an example but to be a savior. As Christians we first receive the pardon of Christ, then we follow the pattern of Christ.
Only when we have the pardon of Christ, can He become a pattern for us. When Christ saves someone they are transformed into a person who will act like Christ. Not like Him in pardoning, but like Him in loving.Like Him in suffering to do good to others. Like Him in not repaying evil for evil. Like Him in lowliness and meekness. Like Him in patient endurance. Like Him in servanthood. Jesus suffered for us uniquely, that we might suffer with Him in the cause of love.
Our suffering for others does not remove the wrath of God from us. It shows the value of having the wrath of God removed by the suffering of Christ. It points people to Him. But if we are like the world it points people away from Him also.
Remember, we are to imitate His love, but not take His place.

Good Works

Titus 3:14 (New King James Version)14 And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.
Good works are not our foundation of salvation but the fruit of it. We are saved for good works not by good works. Christ does not give us the mere ability to do good works, but the passion to do them. We should hunger to serve Him through doing good works for others. Christ did not die to have half hearted Christians dreading to do His work. He died to produce in us a passion for good works. Gods is shown to be glorious by the good deeds of Christians. We should ask ourselves daily if we are bringing glory to God or are we just claiming the Christian title. When Gods forgiveness and acceptance have freed us from pride and greed, we are filled with joy and love. We want to share the love that Christ has shown us. It does not have to be a disaster for us to help others, we should be helping others daily. We may see something we do for others as small or meaningless, but God will us it for His glory. Remember, when we help others in their times of need, they get help, we get joy, and God gets all the glory!

God Bless,
Dustin

A lie

A preacher was to preach on honesty and he told everyone to read Joshua 25. The next Sunday he came and said,"How many read it?" Half the hands in the church were raised. He said ,"Great. Now you're the ones I need to talk to. Joshua has only twenty-four chapters, and I am especially concerned about you tonight." Honesty is leaving this world. People are suprized when someone tells the truth or does what they say they are going to do. The sad part is that so called Christians are no different from everyone else. Some will say that it is OK to lie in business deals or other things to get ahead. Is that right? I hope you said no, because I can't find it in the Bible were is says it's OK to lie. The ninth commandment says we shall not lie. It doesn't say, Sometimes it is OK, or every now and then we can lie about something. We only have to lie once and we are guilty before God and deserve to go to hell. Think about all the lies you have said in your life. That is just one of the ten commandments, what about the other nine? When you think about how many of them you have broken, you will see how great God's grace is for forgiving you of your sins if, you have repented and put your trust in Christ. We still fall into sin but we don't leap into sin every day. We should see sin as filth and run from it. Check yourself daily to see if you are headed in the right direction. We should be growing towards Christ every day.

Proverbs 12:19 (New King James Version)
19 The truthful lip shall be established forever, But a lying tongue is but for a moment.

God Bless,
Dustin