Today, we will look at the DECLINE OF VALUE put on a human life in our in SOCIETY.
I remember first studying the subject of "euthanasia (mercy-killing)." In my sophomore year of high school I was on the debate team against euthanasia. Basically, my views haven't changed, but what was mostly hypothetical at the time (1970's) is now a sad reality in our society.
As we look at our subject today, I would like to start with two scripture passages.
Genesis 9:6 - “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image."
This scripture is more than a prohibition on the taking of innocent life. Being created by God, we are stewards of our lives rather than owners. Created to be like God, our lives have an eternal purpose; set apart for, and owned by God. Since we are created in the image of God, our lives have intrinsic and immeasurable value. This is the source of the "sanctity of life" concept.
This (Gen. 9:6) is the recorded decree of God -- not because human life was cheap (the murderer's), but because human life (the victim's) was precious. This word from God bears witness to the value and sanctity of human life.
Matthew 10:29-31 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?g And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. 30But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. 31Fear not, therefore; you are of MORE VALUE than many sparrows.
God values the sparrow, but He values you MUCH MORE. Human life is the most valued of all God’s creations!
I would like to share a recent e-mail from a friend of mine in Kentucky, he writes the following:
I thought some of you might find this interesting, I have Muscular Dystrophy, and I no longer qualify for physical therapy or water therapy because my illness is not "rehabilitatable.” Thanks to Obama's Health Care (Death Panel) Package...Since my disease progressively worsens, then they consider it throwing money away giving me therapy...Where will this lead to folks?
I don’t like to get into politics, and when I venture there, some wish I hadn’t – lol! But when I saw my friend post (above), it ticked me off how our government and society are becoming less and less concerned about people, and devaluing the worth of people by actually putting a price on when, what and why people should be helped or not. My friend’s case is not a rare occasion, but becoming the regular mind set.
Richard Land puts it so well:
"Denying life-saving health care to the elderly just because they're old, just because it's not cost-effective, is no less barbaric than leaving your elderly to die of exposure on an ice floe or out in the jungle. The only difference is the sophistication with which the elderly are dispatched. It's still barbarism and must be called as such..."
Also, our government has decided to move up the age for women getting breast exams, stating: “Potential harm of frequent mammograms outweighs benefit, task force says” [ I say it’s a bunch of hogwash!!) Later in the article, Daniel B. Kopans (radiology professor at Harvard Medical School) calls it like it is…"Tens of thousands of lives are being saved by mammography screening, and these idiots want to do away with it," "It's crazy -- unethical, really."
For full article see:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2009/11/16/AR2009111602822.html
This is just the beginning of things to come. Now that the government is involved in health care, expect older people to be at risk of not getting treatment, more breast cancer, and also likely more abortions, and evaluating the treatment of others based not on saving their lives, but asking the question: Is this person worth the treatment???
Life is being treated more cheaply every day. Why? I will tell you why. One source on the internet put it this way (couldn’t say it better myself):
“What is a human being? There are two very different answers that you might hear to this question. The Bible says we are creatures that God made especially in His image. Jesus says that we are of much more value than the birds of the air. That is one answer.
There is a second answer to this question.
This answer says that a human being is a rather complex animal who descended from the monkeys (the brain-washing of otherwise intelligent people) that we are a chance mixture of the right molecules and chemicals that ages ago emerged from the primordial slime and climbed into the trees and viola! - here we are!
It is no coincidence that our attitude toward life has cheapened to the extent that we have rejected or ignored the fact of God. As we in the post-Christian West abandon our Judeo-Christian heritage, life is becoming cheap once again. In the last few decades the secular humanists have done everything possible to remove any thought or consideration of God from the public sphere. Schools are pressured to not even mention the subject of God or to even sing religious songs anymore. Children are systematically taught from k-12 that a human being is really nothing more than a glorified monkey (the brain-washing of otherwise intelligent people). As we are taught and as we believe that we are nothing more than an animal, it should be no surprise to anyone that we will treat each other more and more like animals and get away with it.
This is one reason it is for our good to believe in and to honor God. It is just as the Bible teaches. "The FOOL has said in his heart, 'There is no God.” [Psa. 14:1] When we devalue God, we devalue human life. When we honor God, we give value to human life.” - Unknown Author
That’s my brief thought on it! You who are thrilled with our new government “Health Care,” it isn’t what you think it is, and I hate to say down the road “I told you this government health care is a HUGE mistake”, so I’m saying it here in advance…I TOLD YOU SO!
It’s time like never before to pray for America and Christianity as they once went together, but now they are worlds apart.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we praise you for your amazing grace, help us see the VALUE of HUMAN LIFE is possible in YOU, not in our strength. Lord may your Word in today’s devotion speak to hearts, and bring not condemnation, but conviction, followed by repentance, followed by change to all who read this today. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!
In His Service,
Pastor Jim Mazzulla (jim@biblefood.org)
Our Ministries: www.biblefood.org, www.goproclaim.com and www.christianpoolplayers.com
My FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/jim.mazzulla
Showing posts with label true. Show all posts
Showing posts with label true. Show all posts
Friday, July 02, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
True Conversion – Making your Salvation Sure!
This is where I will be posting blogs for BibleFood devotional from now on.
Periodically I will update the website with these devotions in the archived area of the website, but it will be a lot easier for me to write them here, and really easier for you to read them in here. Plus now you can easily add comments to the devotion too! For other applicati0ns you can go back to website by clicking here: www.biblefood.org
My hope is that the time I save will make it possible for me to write more quality devotions, and I look forward to your comments.
Let's get into today's devotion: True Conversion – Making your Salvation Sure!
Note: Today's devotion was Inspired by a message I heard by Ray Comfort
The purpose of this teaching is NOT to scare you out of your salvation, but to help you have a clear presentation of the gospel and to give you an understanding that all who say they are “SAVED” may indeed not be saved, that’s why their lives have never changed. A life touched by Jesus is a changed life!
In all this I want the true believer to remember the keeping power of the LORD for His children.
John 10:28 (no one will snatch us out of His [God’s] hand)
Heb. 13:5 (I will NEVER leave you…)
Phil. 1:6 (…He has has begun a good work in you will complete it…)
Common Example: Someone said they were saved as a child, yet their lives never changed. Now they are living in the world with no intentions of changing, no conviction, no concern about their spiritual state . It can be false hope to think you are saved when you are not. I’m not judging you, God’s Word does!!!
1. The purpose of the law (10 Commandments) in sharing the Gospel
This brings me to the first area of neglect that I feel is so important in ministering to the lost about Christ (I’m not saying it is the only way – but it is a scripture-based method). We need to use the law (especially the 10 Commandments) to show people their need of Christ. James 2:10 says that no one keeps the law, thus, guilty of ALL.
Rom. 3:19 tells us the Law holds ALL accountable/guilty (see 10 Commandments – Exo. 20), even those who maybe haven’t heard the 10 commandments. ALL have the law in them (written on their hearts). Rom. 2:14,15
We want to see people come to a saving knowledge of Christ, but we haven’t shown them how very guilty they are before a Holy God. How can a man repent if he doesn’t know he is a sinner (guilty)?
Some have experienced a false salvation, as we see in Matt. 7:18-23
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the
will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have
cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you (in the Greek it means not even once – (thus, it is not talking about a backslider): depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Paul hadn’t know sin except the law. (Rom. 7:7) Earlier he said in Rom. 7:4 – “…Dead to the law through Christ.”
I believe without the preaching of the law (that shows us that we are guilty before a Holy God) we have produced a group of people, not just in the world, BUT IN THE CHURCH, who are not saved, but deceived into a false salvation; thus, our churches lack the fear of God (no reverence, no awe, no trembling before God).
My final thought on the LAW is found in Gal. 3:24-25 – The Law is our schoolmaster/tutor. It won’t save you but point you to your need for Christ.
I love the following quote:
“THE LAW CAN ONLY CHASE A MAN TO CALVARY, NO FURTHER” (law can’t save you!) – D.L. Moody
2. True salvation will bring forth repentance and be followed by good fruit
While salvation is not of works (Eph. 2:8,9 & Titus 3:5), the outcome of a true conversion will be repentance and fruit.
If there is no true repentance, then there is no true salvation – Acts 3:19, 26:20, Matt. 3:8
If there is no fruit , then there is no Salvation.
See – John 15:5, 16; Rom. 6:20-22
Rom. 7:4 – Dead to the law – married to another – Jesus Christ --->Fruit unto God
What is the fruit of a true believer (partial list, not all inclusive)?
1. Matt. 3:8, Acts 3:19 – Fruit of REPENTANCE.
2. Col. 1:10, Titus 2;11-14, 3:8 – Fruit of GOOD WORKS.
3. Heb. 13:15 – Fruit of THANKSGIVING.
4. Gal. 5:22,23 – Fruit of the SPIRIT (love, joy, peace…).
5. Phil. 1:11, James 3;17-18 – Fruit of RIGHTEOUSNESS (which results because of Christ in one’s life).
End with this short story:
It is said that years back two Russian guards rushed into a prayer meeting and said, “if you’re NOT ready to die for Christ, then get out of here, and half the church left. ” They did this as they themselves were Christians and wanted to separate the true Christians from the false.
CONCLUSION:
Examine yourself to see if you are in the faith!!! If not, and this message has touched you, repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. Then, get grounded in a good Bible believing church – let me know if you don’t know the churches in your area, I’ll help you find one.
In a few days I will send out another message (part two)on this subject . There is too much material to cover in one devotion.
Audio of this complete message as preached in Nigeria, Africa, is available at: www.sermon.net/biblefood “True Conversion – Making your Salvation Sure!”
In His Service,
Pastor Jim Mazzulla (jim@biblefood.org)
http://www.biblefood.org/
Comments are welcome!!!
Periodically I will update the website with these devotions in the archived area of the website, but it will be a lot easier for me to write them here, and really easier for you to read them in here. Plus now you can easily add comments to the devotion too! For other applicati0ns you can go back to website by clicking here: www.biblefood.org
My hope is that the time I save will make it possible for me to write more quality devotions, and I look forward to your comments.
Let's get into today's devotion: True Conversion – Making your Salvation Sure!
Note: Today's devotion was Inspired by a message I heard by Ray Comfort
The purpose of this teaching is NOT to scare you out of your salvation, but to help you have a clear presentation of the gospel and to give you an understanding that all who say they are “SAVED” may indeed not be saved, that’s why their lives have never changed. A life touched by Jesus is a changed life!
In all this I want the true believer to remember the keeping power of the LORD for His children.
John 10:28 (no one will snatch us out of His [God’s] hand)
Heb. 13:5 (I will NEVER leave you…)
Phil. 1:6 (…He has has begun a good work in you will complete it…)
Common Example: Someone said they were saved as a child, yet their lives never changed. Now they are living in the world with no intentions of changing, no conviction, no concern about their spiritual state . It can be false hope to think you are saved when you are not. I’m not judging you, God’s Word does!!!
1. The purpose of the law (10 Commandments) in sharing the Gospel
This brings me to the first area of neglect that I feel is so important in ministering to the lost about Christ (I’m not saying it is the only way – but it is a scripture-based method). We need to use the law (especially the 10 Commandments) to show people their need of Christ. James 2:10 says that no one keeps the law, thus, guilty of ALL.
Rom. 3:19 tells us the Law holds ALL accountable/guilty (see 10 Commandments – Exo. 20), even those who maybe haven’t heard the 10 commandments. ALL have the law in them (written on their hearts). Rom. 2:14,15
We want to see people come to a saving knowledge of Christ, but we haven’t shown them how very guilty they are before a Holy God. How can a man repent if he doesn’t know he is a sinner (guilty)?
Some have experienced a false salvation, as we see in Matt. 7:18-23
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the
will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have
cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you (in the Greek it means not even once – (thus, it is not talking about a backslider): depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Paul hadn’t know sin except the law. (Rom. 7:7) Earlier he said in Rom. 7:4 – “…Dead to the law through Christ.”
I believe without the preaching of the law (that shows us that we are guilty before a Holy God) we have produced a group of people, not just in the world, BUT IN THE CHURCH, who are not saved, but deceived into a false salvation; thus, our churches lack the fear of God (no reverence, no awe, no trembling before God).
My final thought on the LAW is found in Gal. 3:24-25 – The Law is our schoolmaster/tutor. It won’t save you but point you to your need for Christ.
I love the following quote:
“THE LAW CAN ONLY CHASE A MAN TO CALVARY, NO FURTHER” (law can’t save you!) – D.L. Moody
2. True salvation will bring forth repentance and be followed by good fruit
While salvation is not of works (Eph. 2:8,9 & Titus 3:5), the outcome of a true conversion will be repentance and fruit.
If there is no true repentance, then there is no true salvation – Acts 3:19, 26:20, Matt. 3:8
If there is no fruit , then there is no Salvation.
See – John 15:5, 16; Rom. 6:20-22
Rom. 7:4 – Dead to the law – married to another – Jesus Christ --->Fruit unto God
What is the fruit of a true believer (partial list, not all inclusive)?
1. Matt. 3:8, Acts 3:19 – Fruit of REPENTANCE.
2. Col. 1:10, Titus 2;11-14, 3:8 – Fruit of GOOD WORKS.
3. Heb. 13:15 – Fruit of THANKSGIVING.
4. Gal. 5:22,23 – Fruit of the SPIRIT (love, joy, peace…).
5. Phil. 1:11, James 3;17-18 – Fruit of RIGHTEOUSNESS (which results because of Christ in one’s life).
End with this short story:
It is said that years back two Russian guards rushed into a prayer meeting and said, “if you’re NOT ready to die for Christ, then get out of here, and half the church left. ” They did this as they themselves were Christians and wanted to separate the true Christians from the false.
CONCLUSION:
Examine yourself to see if you are in the faith!!! If not, and this message has touched you, repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. Then, get grounded in a good Bible believing church – let me know if you don’t know the churches in your area, I’ll help you find one.
In a few days I will send out another message (part two)on this subject . There is too much material to cover in one devotion.
Audio of this complete message as preached in Nigeria, Africa, is available at: www.sermon.net/biblefood “True Conversion – Making your Salvation Sure!”
In His Service,
Pastor Jim Mazzulla (jim@biblefood.org)
http://www.biblefood.org/
Comments are welcome!!!
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