June 26
2 Kings 9:14-10:31 | PS 144:1-15 | Prov 17:27-28 | Acts 17:1-34
We are all sinners. This is a message clearly revealed throughout the entirety of Scripture. One's realization of this is essential to seeking salvation in the Messiah, Jesus Christ. But many prefer religion over the Bible. Though Mosaic Judaism clearly spoke of the reality of sin and the necessity to make sacrifice for one's sins in the Old Testament, Rabbinic Judaism which began between the Old and New Testament period elevated the rabbis or sages, and led the people to believe that all Jewish individuals are saved due to their ancestry. With this repentance was done away with and one could feel safe in one's genealogy. In Catholicism, this was borrowed and one could tap into the righteousness of the "saints", their church attendance, performing the sacraments, etc. The concept of purgatory was established in which one could reach their final destination based on the actions of those acting on their behalf after their death, which clearly goes against Hebrews 9:27. Many Protestants will lean on the faithfulness of their families, elevating pastors, etc. in their families. All of this misses the point. We are all sinners and will one day stand before a completely holy and perfect God. It is only through our acknowledgement of and repentance of our sins and our acceptance of our living sacrifice, the Lord Jesus Christ in which one can be permitted entrance into heaven. Again, please understand what was said above was not to pick on any particular religion, for if there was one correct denomination, one correct church congregation, one correct pastor/priest/rabbi then I would state it. The problem lies when we unduly elevate these and in so doing place our eyes and hopes on them and take our eyes off our desperate need for a Savior.
Sadly, religion clouds things. Various theological positions are elevated over the simplicity of God's Word as put forth clearly in Scripture. We read in Acts 17:10-12, "That very night the believers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth. As a result, many Jews believed, as did many of the prominent Greek women and men." The little known Bereans got it right. Completely open to the word of God they devoured the message that Paul brought them. Paul then found himself before the learned Athenians who prided themselves in their philosophies and expertise on the latest educated positions of the day, and we see the result of Paul's message on them in 17:32, "When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt, but others said, “We want to hear more about this later.” There was not much fruit from his message there because their hearts were not opened to his message.
We should never minimize Jesus' first beatitude in Matthew 5:3, as all else hinges on this, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven". Poor in spirit, or realizing in humility one's standing before an all-knowing, all-seeing, perfect God. It is the essential realization that we understand that we are not that good, not that smart, not that loving. It is the acknowledgement that we have done nothing to attain heaven. Our ancestors can not bring us, our religion cannot help us, our religious leaders cannot will it. Ultimately, we all stand by ourselves, and we either accept the sinners that we are and the opportunity before us, not earned, but by grace, it is gifted to us, if we simply seek Him and accept the Lord Jesus for who He is and what He has done on our behalf. All of Scripture culminates on Calvary. So, decide for yourself, but I would strongly recommend, like the Bereans so many years ago, open up the entirety of the Scriptures, and avail yourself to the truth that will set you free from the bondage of sin and the fear of death. The words of man pale in comparison to the authority of Scripture. Decide yourself which you will raise up.
Messages from Pastor Lloyd Pulley: