by Julius M. Kwedhi
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."
(Romans 3:23-24)
(Romans 3:23-24)
If I am preaching repentance from sin and dead works, and some Christian (with a twisted understanding of grace) responds with a rebuke for me to stop judging people when I tell them to repent, I have a question for such a person, "What does the Gospel mean to you?"
I am afraid the new "Grace Movement" in the Church has missed the Gospel. I say 'they have missed the Gospel' because there is only one true Gospel of Jesus Christ. All others are false. If Grace doesn't begin with repentance from dead works, which the new grace preachers shy away from and rather finding comfort in telling people that they are basically good; if it doesn't begin with repentance from sin, in view of God's mercy, justice and holiness and righteousness, then there is no Grace, only motivational speaking.
God has called us to more than just motivational speaking. He called us to preach the Gospel. He called us to preach the whole counsel of God's Word. Yes, even the preacher is not perfect. But do you think Jesus didn't know that when He told the preacher to preach all that He commanded them?
"Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:48)
"...teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen." (Matthew 28:20)
Grace is not telling people that they are good and strong. If that is the case, then there is no need to preach the Gospel. Grace is telling people that they are sinful and they need to, in fact must, repent from their sins (be it homosexuality, abortion, stealing, sexual immorality, lying, idolatry, cheating etc.), in order to receive God's forgiveness and abundance of life.
God is Holy! He cannot dwell in sin. There is no sin or darkness in Him.
If we see a sinful person, either outside or inside the Church, and we, instead of correcting their sins, tell them they are doing alright and God accepts them for who they are, and that God is not angry at them, that is a lie. We need to tell people the Truth! Repentance from sin is a MUST if we are to walk in holiness and righteousness day-by-day in Christ Jesus, and if we are ever to come closer to Him.
I am convinced that the philosophy and psychology of thus world is now taking over the pulpit. We see people as simply having "genetic", "psychological", and "mental" problems instead of seeing them as sinful people that need the saving power of Jesus. And this has, by far, robbed the Church of its right standing before God. The Church doesn't know the wonder-working power of the blood of Jesus anymore because it has been blinded by psychology, philosophy and the new scientific knowledge.
We have forgotten that when Jesus saw the paralytics, the epileptics, the lepers, the crazy men, the woman who had a back bent for many years, and many such, He did not just see them as people with physiological and hormonal imbalances. He saw them bound by Satan and the only way they were going to be free was by calling on God by prayer and fasting. Some of them had demons that needed to be cast out. Others needed forgiveness for them to be healed from the bed of sickness. Others were blind in order for God to reveal His power in healing them. And, sadly, much of the Church of today doesn't see the world through the eyes of the Father. We need our eyes to be washed with salve so that we can see clearly as God sees this sinful world.
Men love their sins. And they will do just about anything to defend their sins. In fact they can even go so far as using the Bible to defend, justify and promote their sins and sinful lifestyles. I know that a number of scientific studies today are working to promote this sinful agenda, too, and in the process they increase the sin of this generation. And when the cup of their sin is filled to the brim, God will finally pour out His anger and wrath on this generation.
I am afraid the new "Grace Movement" in the Church has missed the Gospel. I say 'they have missed the Gospel' because there is only one true Gospel of Jesus Christ. All others are false. If Grace doesn't begin with repentance from dead works, which the new grace preachers shy away from and rather finding comfort in telling people that they are basically good; if it doesn't begin with repentance from sin, in view of God's mercy, justice and holiness and righteousness, then there is no Grace, only motivational speaking.
God has called us to more than just motivational speaking. He called us to preach the Gospel. He called us to preach the whole counsel of God's Word. Yes, even the preacher is not perfect. But do you think Jesus didn't know that when He told the preacher to preach all that He commanded them?
"Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:48)
"...teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen." (Matthew 28:20)
Grace is not telling people that they are good and strong. If that is the case, then there is no need to preach the Gospel. Grace is telling people that they are sinful and they need to, in fact must, repent from their sins (be it homosexuality, abortion, stealing, sexual immorality, lying, idolatry, cheating etc.), in order to receive God's forgiveness and abundance of life.
God is Holy! He cannot dwell in sin. There is no sin or darkness in Him.
If we see a sinful person, either outside or inside the Church, and we, instead of correcting their sins, tell them they are doing alright and God accepts them for who they are, and that God is not angry at them, that is a lie. We need to tell people the Truth! Repentance from sin is a MUST if we are to walk in holiness and righteousness day-by-day in Christ Jesus, and if we are ever to come closer to Him.
I am convinced that the philosophy and psychology of thus world is now taking over the pulpit. We see people as simply having "genetic", "psychological", and "mental" problems instead of seeing them as sinful people that need the saving power of Jesus. And this has, by far, robbed the Church of its right standing before God. The Church doesn't know the wonder-working power of the blood of Jesus anymore because it has been blinded by psychology, philosophy and the new scientific knowledge.
We have forgotten that when Jesus saw the paralytics, the epileptics, the lepers, the crazy men, the woman who had a back bent for many years, and many such, He did not just see them as people with physiological and hormonal imbalances. He saw them bound by Satan and the only way they were going to be free was by calling on God by prayer and fasting. Some of them had demons that needed to be cast out. Others needed forgiveness for them to be healed from the bed of sickness. Others were blind in order for God to reveal His power in healing them. And, sadly, much of the Church of today doesn't see the world through the eyes of the Father. We need our eyes to be washed with salve so that we can see clearly as God sees this sinful world.
Men love their sins. And they will do just about anything to defend their sins. In fact they can even go so far as using the Bible to defend, justify and promote their sins and sinful lifestyles. I know that a number of scientific studies today are working to promote this sinful agenda, too, and in the process they increase the sin of this generation. And when the cup of their sin is filled to the brim, God will finally pour out His anger and wrath on this generation.
Further Scripture Reading:
"This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us." (John 8:32)
For more spiritual resources visit:
http://www.repentandpreparetheway.org
www.facebook.com/saint.kingjulius.kwedhi
www.kingjesusreigns.blogspot.com
http://www.repentandpreparetheway.org
www.facebook.com/saint.kingjulius.kwedhi
www.kingjesusreigns.blogspot.com
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