“ Excellent ” This was an excellent message. All TRUE Christians need to be aware of how much God loves His elect, united to His Son. For Jesus' sake, the Father does all things. For Jesus' sake, the Father loves the elect with the same love that the Father has had for the Son from all eternity. There is no greater love than this.
“ A Great Explanation of this Difficult Subject ” I suppose that still more could be said on this topic, but even so, for a single sermon this hit all of the main points. Namely, that God made us for Himself, that we may declare His greatness and know Him in all of His perfections. My analysis of this issue would be that it's not that He needs us, but that He has given Himself to us for our enjoyment, and thus ultimately His pleasure in being enjoyed.
Dessie, We never, never compromise the message of truth. While it is surely true that God brings His elect to Himself, He has chosen His vessels to share that love and that message. The Book of Acts shows God's messengers helping, healing, and loving sinners while utterly refusing to compromise the message that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone for the glory of God alone. Working together with unbelievers to help solve a common 'human' problem is in no way a compromise as long as we speak the truth. If my ship is sinking, I don't mind unbelivers helping bail water or throwing me a life preserver. I would do the same for them (regardless of their politics or preferences)in hope that my act of kindness out of a heart of love would be God's instrument to open their hearts to the Gospel. I said this is a difficult topic. I once prayed with a Muslim in an ICU waiting room and wept with her at the death of her mother. My compassion could not make her a Christian, but it did show that the love of Jesus is still active in our world today.
This is a difficult topic. When the Chicago fire broke out, I am sure there were many Christians and non-Christians who were fighting to put it out. They would have even welcomed Hindus and Muslims to help save the city. I see the AIDS crises in a similar way. While it is true that gays are 'getting what they have brought on themselves' in some cases, we have all been the repipient of the consequences of our sins. Jesus showed mercy to sinners and offered forgiveness and healing to many without any expectation that they would faithfully follow Him. Where were all those He healed when He was crucified? While cannot mix our message with heresy and expect to see the lost saved, we can come together as liberals, conservatives, straight, gay, Christian, Muslim, or whatever and try to stop the spread of AIDS and rescue the children and adults who are suffering and dying of this disease. It might be that the kind of healing love shown to them could soften hearts to the Gospel by which they can be born again.
11/3/07 3:07 PM
7/23/07 11:06 PM
