May 29, 2006

For those in the United States, this is Memorial Day, a day to honor all of the men and women who have given their lives in defense of their country. It is very difficult to accept what politicians define as defending their country. Men and women dying alone in far off lands for flimsy causes. All we can do is support the men and women of our respective countries who are putting their lives on the line for us and remember that God put His Son on the line to die for us that we would be saved!

Human wars and killing are probably one more reason why, more than ever, we need to gain peace with God:

Where do we begin? Where shall we start? Jesus said that there is only one way back to God. It has nothing to do with keeping the law. There is no life in the law. The only way is to be “born again� back into the family of God. Jesus said unless you are converted you won’t enter the kingdom of heaven. You must believe with your heart and not your head. There must be a change in your thinking and an intellectual acceptance of Jesus Christ. Christ demands a change in the way you live. There must be a conversion of the will. There must be that determination to follow Christ. Your will must be bent to the will of God.

 

The Holy Spirit makes you realize that you are a sinner. Jesus Christ through the Spirit of God takes up residence in your heart. Conversion is so simple that the smallest child can be converted, but it is also so profound that theologians throughout history have pondered the depth of its meaning. God has made the way of salvation so plain. No person will ever be barred from the kingdom of God because he couldn’t understand it.

 

The believer will now find himself in a state of complete reverence, confidence, obedience, and devotion. There will be a reverential fear of God, a constant gratitude to God, a dependence on God, and a new loyalty to Him. Now, righteousness and holiness of heart, and living the Christian life will be placed above all other concerns, for pleasing Christ will be the only thing of real importance. 

 

The three elements of conversion are repentance, faith, and regeneration. Repentance is the turning around from sin. Sin is the rejection of authority and the denial of all obligations to God. We are to renounce the evil influence of the world, the flesh, and the devil.

 

When you fall in love completely and absolutely with Jesus Christ you will not want to do the things the He hates. You will automatically renounce all the sins of your life when you surrender by faith to Him. You cannot have faith without genuine repentance. The word repentance is sadly missing today. Jesus called on men to acknowledge their guilt and to turn from their ungodliness. He said that repentance must come before He could pour out His love, grace, and mercy on men. Until this is done, faith is absolutely    impossible.

 

Salvation, forgiveness, and justification are based entirely upon the atoning work of Christ. An individual must repent of sin and accept Christ by faith. Knowledge of sin is the first aspect of repentance. It is the Holy Spirit who brings about this conviction. Repentance cannot take place until there is first a movement of the Holy Spirit in the heart and mind. It is possible to be convicted of your sin and know that you are a sinner and even shed tears over your sins and yet not repent.

 

The second aspect of repentance is emotion. The third aspect involves the will. There must be a determination to forsake sin. The Bible teaches that when a person comes to Christ a change takes place that is reflected in everything he does. There is not one verse of scripture that says that you can be a Christian and live any kind of life you want. God expects that nothing less than all of your work will be performed in His name. Christ will not receive us into His kingdom until we turn from all the sin in our lives. When you have determined that you are renouncing sin and yielding all to Christ, you have taken another step toward peace with God.

Thanks again for joining us on this Memorial Day. We ask God's blessing on your family members serving in the military and pray that He might see that they need never go in harm's way.

Until tomorrow, thanks and God Bless. 

Pastor Bob Emery

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