Hypocrites Keep You Out of the Church?

Don’t let hypocrites keep you out of the church

Dear friend, I hope this letter finds you well. I have spent many minutes reviewing our discussion about why you have left the church. I appreciate you being willing to sit down and talk with me. I hope that we can continue to sit down and discussing some of your thoughts and beliefs. I wanted to address one specific issue you brought up. You mentioned you have a problem with specific people at your local congregation. I think I remember you saying that their words had hurt, and that many of them were hypocrites.

hypocrites church

“Hurt people hurt people.”

Let me begin by apologizing for anyone who may have hurt you. I wish attending a worship service could always be a wonderful experience, but the truth is the church is made up of imperfect people. Not that it justifies what was said or done to you, but I have been hurt by people before as well. In fact, a few have said really ugly things to me—things that if I wasn’t careful could have easily gotten my blood boiling! But please think about this, I never let their words affect my relationship with the Creator of the Universe!

What I have found is often the case is that “hurt people hurt people” – meaning people who are hurting on the inside are commonly the ones to lash out. If you are looking for a place where people will exhibit perfect behavior all the time then you are out of luck. Because the reality is we are human and we fail—if we didn’t then we would not need Jesus.

This is where you have to learn to extend some grace and mercy—because the reality is you may need that same grace and mercy when you are having a bad day.

You mentioned hypocrites. I agree. I do not care for hypocrites either. You’ve probably read the meme on Facebook that says, “Not going to church because it is full of hypocrites is like not going to the gym because it’s full of fat people.” Try to remember the church is supposed to be a hospital for sinners, not a museum for saints. Romans 5:8 reminds us, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” My prayer is that those who are not truly expressing a Christian life will grow and mature and focus their attention on what is truly important.

Jesus did not like hypocrites either. In fact, He called them out on several occasions. Look at how many times He calls the Pharisees hypocrites in Matthew 23. In fact, Jesus calls these people who thought they were holy white washed tombs “which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness” (Matthew 23:27).

I encourage you to read an occasion where Jesus called out these hypocritical Pharisees in Matthew 15. They were complaining that the disciples did not wash their hands before they ate bread (verse 2). So what would have happened if the disciples saw what was happening and began to ridicule the Pharisees for washing their hands? What if they took the position, “The way to be holy is to do like us and not wash your hands.”

In this case, them not doing something would be just as hypocritical, as they would come across as thinking they were better than the Pharisees. It would be the disciples who were the hypocrites then.

But isn’t this exactly what you are doing? You are not doing something (attending worship) and assuming you are better than the Pharisees (or Christians). So who is the hypocrite now? Does you staying at home make you more holy because you have removed yourself from any type of organized religion? Haven’t you in essence placed yourself on a pedestal to judge others—an in doing so become the very hypocrite you say you despise? I hope you will seriously consider this and come back.

Do not ever let someone else interfere with your relationship with God. So they come to church but drink in bars during the week? So what do not let that keep you away from heaven. So they teach a Bible class but you know they are addicted to pornography? That is very sad, but it doesn’t have to destroy your relationship with Jesus. Who knows, maybe God revealed their hypocrisy to you so that one day you may be able to restore them in meekness and love.

I hope you will think on these things. Until next time, I continue to pray for you,

Brad

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Bearing Fruit? Works Salvation? Or Do Nothing?

Bearing Fruit? Works Salvation? Or Do Nothing?

There are those who will proudly proclaim that no one has to do anything in order to be saved and loudly complain about a perceived works salvation. So, let’s be clear and balanced here: Does the Bible teach that we don’t have to do anything? Not even close! Does the Bible teach that we somehow merit our salvation by the works that we do? Nope, doesn’t teach that either. The truth, as often is the case, lies somewhere in between these two extreme ideas.

works Salvation

Does one have to do nothing to spend eternity in heaven?

John demanded that those who came out to be baptized return and “bear fruit” if they hoped to be saved (Luke 3:8–9). When many came to him asking what they needed to do he didn’t say that they didn’t have to do anything but instructed them in the ways of righteousness. When Jesus came along he not only taught righteous living but also went about doing good, leaving us an example to do just as he did (Acts 10:38).

Obedience to God is absolutely essential! Yet we must also consider that just going about doing good doesn’t define Christianity or righteousness. Jesus also said that the gospel needed to be preached (Mark 13:10). Doing good and bearing fruit is a vehicle through which we gain the opportunity to tell others about Christ, His love, and the hope we have in Him. Obey God, bear fruit, and preach the Good News. Faithful living is essential to our salvation (Matthew 25:21, 23)!

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The Hand of the Lord

The Hand of the Lord

One of the thoughts we find most comforting is summed up in that song which has the phrase, “He’s got the whole world in His hands.” Each verse then talks about how He has “you and me brother” and “you and me sister” and “the little bitty babies” in His hands. The very concept that we are cradled in the hands of God brings peace to our soul.

Hand Lord

He is mighty and powerful and the fate of the world is in His hands.

The phrase, “the hand of the Lord,” is found thirty-nine times in the Bible. It is most frequently used to describe those times when God moved in judgment against the wicked. The writer of the letter to the Hebrews said, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31). On the other hand, it is wonderful to envision our calling out to God and see His almighty arms reach down from heaven and His tender hands to hold us. It is true that “He’s got you and me in the hollow of His hand.”

The people in Isaiah’s day failed to realize that sin can destroy this situation. They had prayed to God and could see no evidence that He was helping them. The prophet explained the reason for this. “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He will not hear” (Isa. 59:1-2). If sin had not been in their lives, His face would have been turned toward them and His hands extended toward them.

Jesus described the wonderful blessing of being in the hand of God. “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand” (John 10:29). We may choose to turn against God, but there is no man on earth and no demon from hell who can snatch us from His hand. “He’s got you and me in the hollow of His hand.”

God holds us in His hand. Have you ever considered how great His hand is? How does His hand compare with the hands of others? How great is His hand? To see this, consider that the diameter of the entire universe is thought to be over 93 billion light years. (A light year is the distance light travels in one year). The universe is 5,500,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 miles wide! Now look at Isaiah’s description of this in relationship to the size of the hand of God. God has “…measured heaven with a span” (Isa. 40:12). The span of a man’s hand is the distance between his thumb and his little finger when fully extended. God’s hand fully extended is larger than our universe. How wonderful it is to know that it is this hand that holds us. “He’s got you and me brother, you and me sister, in the hollow of His hand.”

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EL DEBATE SOBRE EL ORIGEN DE JESUS 

EL GRAN DEBATE SOBRE EL ORIGEN DE JESUS 

Los cuatro relatos del Evangelio fueron dirigidos a audiencias especificas con temas muy bien definidos. Mateo (a Judíos) presenta a Jesús como verdadero Rey. Marcos (A Romanos) presenta a Jesús como siervo de Dios. Lucas(a griegos) presenta a Jesús como hombre pero sin pecado, mientras que Juan (a todos) presenta a Jesús como Dios en naturaleza misma. No existe entonces otro mejor lugar en todo el N.T para estudiar la naturaleza del Señor Jesús que aquí en Juan y en esta ocasión Juan 8. Iniciando desde el v.11 Tenemos el primer contraste entre ley y Gracia. Del 12-20 luz y tinieblas, del 21-30 otro contraste entre vida y muerte, del 31-43 libertad y esclavitud , del 44-47 hijos de Dios versus hijos del Diablo y por último del 47-59 un contraste entre honra y deshonra.

ORIGEN DE JESUS

El origen de Cristo queda más que demostrado, su origen es divino.

El debate esta vez jira en torno al origen mismo de Jesús, pero se usan términos tanto sucios Los opositores plantean sus argumentos y premisas falsas para su origen (1. Nacido de Fornicación( v.41) Eres Samaritano (48) Tienes Demonio (V.48) y el Señor responde de la manera más estupenda como siempre lo hace.

TENIA SEÑORIO SOBRE LA MUERTE(V.51):A travez de sus palabras.

No era algo nuevo. El había dicho esto antes en su sermón en la sinagoga (Juan 6:39–40, 44, 54). De nuevo los dirigentes no tuvieron la perspectiva espiritual para comprender lo que estaba diciendo. V.53 Todos los hombres grandes murieron ¿eres tu mejor que ellos? Jesús no responde a tan absurdo argumento. Ellos están en modo completamente carnal. La perspectiva de Dios es distinta que la del hombre (ellos no estaban muertos). Como fallamos en entender esto nosotros hoy.  Abraham murió, aunque fue justo; y los profetas fieles también habían muerto. Todo lo que hizo esta plática fue convencerles aun más de que Cristo tenía un demonio (Juan 7:20). Al afirmar ser Señor sobre la muerte, Jesús estaba afirmando ser Dios (Juan 5:21–29). Esto no era un honor que se tomó para sí mismo; el Padre se lo dio. No nada más lo enseñó más tarde ellos iban a ser testigos en Juan 11 que a travez de sus palabras él tenía señorío sobre la muerte. Resucitar a alguien como Lazaro requiere con todo y todo, a un elemento extra. Pero la mas grande prueba de su señorío sobre la muerte es la su propia resurrección (Juan 10:18).

CONOCIA A ABRAHAM(V.56). El Señor por un lado estaba afirmando existencia contemporánea con alguien que había vivido casi 2000 años antes que él. Esto puede ser una de las cosas mas interesantes que Jesús haya dicho. Sabemos que Jesús vio a Abraham pero cuando vio Abraham a Jesús partiendo de lo que afirma Hebreos 11:13 ¿Cómo fue que Abraham vio el día de nuestro Señor, o sea su vida y ministerio en la tierra? De la misma manera que vio la ciudad futura; por fe (Hebreos 11:10, 13–16). Dios le dio a Abraham percepción espiritual para ver estos eventos futuros… “vio mi día” (Ministerio). Por cierto que

  1. Abraham pudo ver el nacimiento del Mesías en el nacimiento milagroso de su propio hijo, Isaac.
  2. Seguramente vio el Calvario cuando ofreció a Isaac a Dios (Génesis 22), (Heb.11:19).
  3. En el ministerio sacerdotal de Melquisedec (Génesis 14:17–24) Abraham pudo ver el sacerdocio celestial del Señor (Heb 7).
  4. En el matrimonio de Isaac, Abraham pudo haber visto un cuadro de las bodas del Cordero (Génesis 24).

Mencionar a Abraham y su relación con él traía a la mente y ratifica en completa unidad lo que había dicho anteriormente y que fue el primer punto de esta lección, su señorío sobre la muerte En Mateo 17:1 el había visto a Moisés y Elias cuanto más a Abraham el dijo: “el que guarda mi palabra nunca verá muerte.”  Ahora deja caer la BOMBA.!!!! 

 SE HACIA  A SI MISMO DIOS (V.58) “Yo Soy” (Ego EIMI) (Vr.Pre.Act.Ind.1Per,Sing.) El verbo indica YO siempre he sido. El siguiente es una traducción literal de las notas de un erudito llamado Calmet. “Yo soy desde toda la eternidad. Yo he existido antes de todos los tiempos.Ustedes consideran en mi a alguien que ha aparecido en un tiempo en particular, pero más allá de su naturaleza humana que ustedes creen conocer, existe en mi una divina y eterna naturaleza de la que usted no tienen la remota idea.” Las palabras traducidas “fuese” y “soy” son bien distintas. La una quiere decir que “Abrahán fué introducido en la existencia”; la otra, “que yo existo” (“existia, continuaba existiendo y continúo existiendo” todo en la forma del verbo). La afirmación no es pues que Cristo empezara a existir como fué el caso de Abraham (como dicen los arrianos que es el caso. Los testigos Alegan eso, observe lo que dice su versión.) Lo que Jesús hace aquí es mostrar no nada más que tiene señorío sobre la muerte, que conoce a Abraham sino que lo lleva a otro nivel a cual???? Al más Alto. Muchísimo antes que Abraham él ha sido.. está apelando a Ex3:14 e indiscutiblemente (en la mente de los judios) El único mayor a Abraham era Dios.. Este hombre merecía Morir inmediatamente.

 Reacciones al Majestuoso “Yo soy de Cristo”. V.58

  1. Tomaron piedras… NO había margen de error en lo que ellos habían entendido (Los Testigos de Jehová hubieran ayudado a pasar piedras).
  2. Se fue entre medio de ellos del templo. Habiendo tantas personas ahí (8:2) Inclusive guardias y alguaciles que estaban constante en el templo…nadie le prendió. Esa gente seguramente estuvieron al igual que yo lo hubiera estado atónitos y helados de la declaración y la seguridad con la que habló el Señor.

CONCLUSION

El origen de Cristo queda más que demostrado, su origen es divino, el es deidad por todo lo que dice, por todo lo que hace y por todo lo que es. El debate termina con un triunfo de la verdad. Hay varias lecciones que podemos aprender: No podemos dejar de admirar su valor al presentar la verdad e invitar a los religiosos ciegos a confiar en él y ser hechos libres. ¡Qué ejemplo!.

Los lideres estaban contra él, estaba en el templo, los Romanos estaban contra el, el pueblo estaba contra él, mi pecado estaba contra el, aún así Jesús no desistió. El mundo también está contra nosotros pero no estamos solos no importa lo que venga.  Este gran “Yo soy” no está en listado dentro los 7 “Yo  soy “de Jesús en Juan sin embargo es uno de los más grandes. Cada vez que el cristiano observa de cerca la  grandeza de la naturaleza de nuestro Cristo no queda más que caer rendido a sus pies. La cena del Señor cada domingo no es como una eucaristía que hay que golpearse el pecho si tiene pecado primero y luego participe de la cena…no la cena del Señor ese espacio para que Jamás olvidemos el sacrifico intenso de aquel que era Dios en la carne por amor mío. Cuando caemos rendidos ante eso, precisamente estamos adorando.  Este debate nos enseña la naturaleza divina de Cristo. El es Dios. La pregunta crucial es: Es CRISTO ¿Su Dios? ¿Es el Dios que gobierna su vida publica como su vida privada? ¿El es Dios de su dinero? ¿Es el Dios que está incluido en sus planes del futuro? Hagamos el mejor de nuestro fuerzo los 365 días del año para honrar su naturaleza y persona divina.

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We will Glorify The King of Kings

We will Glorify The King of Kings

There is a hymn that is sung, “We will Glorify,” the lyrics of which, begin as follows: “We will glorify the King of Kings, we will glorify the Lamb; we will glorify the Lord of lords, who is the great I am.”

The sentiment of the song is quite appropriate. God is truly deserving of such praise. As the scriptures say, “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.” (Revelation 4:11; NKJV) And our Savior, Jesus Christ is likewise deserving, as we read a little further, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” (Revelation 5:12; NKJV)

King of Kings

Who is the King of your life? Do you serve Him? Do you glorify Him?

Each individual who truly believes in God as their Creator, and Jesus as the Savior of men, should do all they can to glorify them. Nor should this glory be limited to a few trite platitudes uttered upon occasion. The Psalmist expressed it thusly: “My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day.,” (Psalm 71:8; ESV) and elsewhere, “whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

But is this what we are doing? Are we truly glorifying God?

For most in the world, the answer must be, “No!” Life is not lived to the glory of God, but to the glory of some other. All too many live so as to bring glory to themselves. When they boast, they boast about their deeds, their wisdom, their ideas, their riches, their property, and their own accomplishments. They do not have the attitude of the one who wrote, “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14)

Many others live for the glory of some institution or association, such as their family or their country. Consider those who may not brag about themselves all that often, but they are more than happy to tell you all the wonderful things their children, grandchildren, or other kin have done exceptional. Or consider the politician, soldier, or nationalist who is all too happy to tell you why their country is the best on earth and are eager to fight and sweat and work to make it even better.

Are we glorifying God, or are we living for another?

Again, heed the words of Scripture: “Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” Therein is the expectation of God for His people. He is our Creator, the mighty King, the great I am; and if we consider ourselves the people of His pasture, then He alone is worthy to receive the glory, honor and blessing due Him.

If we wish to truly honor God, then we need to give some careful thought to how to go about doing this.

Most obviously, we should spend time in worship to God, both privately and collectively with the Lord’s church. Glorifying God is intrinsically linked to the worship of God. “Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name; Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.” (Psalm 29:2) Why would we claim to want to glorify God, but refuse to worship Him?

But glorifying God cannot be limited to the actions of a worship service. Again, as the Psalmist said, “my mouth is filled with your praise,” and as the apostle reminded us, our boasting, if we are to boast, should be boasts about what God through Christ has done for us. Can we be said to glorify God if we refuse to speak to others about how great God is.

Then too, Jesus taught His followers: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16; NKJV) We bring no glory to God if we claim to be His follower but our lives do not reflect positively on Him. It is through our loving deeds that others may know we are indeed true followers of Christ (cf. John 13:35) Can we be said to be glorifying God if we are living selfish lives of sin? The answer is clearly, No.

So let us be serious about glorifying God, and think seriously about who our lives are actually bringing glory to. Let us glory God in worship, in word, but most especially in deed, letting our light shine brightly in His holy name!

 

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