I am greatly troubled by the trend we are witnessing in the church of America today. It seems our message is "Come as you are and remain as you are." I believe that our door should be open to anyone and everyone and that our goal should be to get the sinner into the doors of the church... but I also believe that if they come in, they will hear a message of the Gospel and that message will affect a reaction. No, I'm not saying that our "goal" should be to offend (Lord knows, there are churches a plenty that will do that) but the plain and simple fact is, if the truth is preached, people will not be comfortable remaining in their sin. All one need to do is read the four gospels of the New Testament and it is easy to see that where ever Jesus went and taught, there was always a reaction. Some loved him and followed him. Some thought him a nut. Others hated him enough to plot to kill him. It should be the same today.When light is introduced to darkness, things change. That's the way the Word of God should be. And this most certainly holds true in the lives of those who profess to have accepted Christ and call themselves "Christian."
Paul wrote, concerning our conversion, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17 That certainly does not sound like there is any room for this modern preaching which allows people to continue down the same road that they were on before they met Christ. No, the gospel of Christ is about the creation of a brand-new species of man. The phrase "New creation" is an accurate description of the nature and status of all those we call Christians. The word "new" as used in this scripture literally means "previously unknown, previously unheard of, a new kind, unprecedented." This is pretty powerful because it reveals that the new creation is not a "cleaning up" or renovation or refurbishment, as we so often put it, but rather the result of a completely brand new work of creation. God literally places within us a brand new heart. Not the heart that beats and pumps blood... but a new spiritual nature! This new creation can also be referred to as the "new man" who has taken the place of the "old man" who was in existence before you received Jesus in your heart and became born again. In God's eyes, if you are now born again, the old man is no longer in existence and everything that had to do with him has passed away. If in fact that old man is dead and gone, then it only serves to reason that all the habits and actions of that old man are gone too... right? So where do we get off with dragging all the old "junk" into the life of the new man? Dare I say it? Many of the folks who call themselves "Christian" are not. They have never truly had an encounter with Christ and become "born again." If they had, then that old man would not be dominating their lives. I believe this is illustrated to us in Matthew 7:21-23 where we read, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers!'
Yes, there are going to be some shocked people, because they've played the modern religious game to the hilt, but they've never been born again! To be born again means, old things are gone, all things are new. If the old still dominates, then you need to be asking yourself if you've ever died to self and surrendered your life to Christ. Nothing less will do.
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