If you have ever talked to someone who has been in jail you know that they probably didn't do the crime. They were framed. Someone else set them up or they took the rap for a friend, etc. Even if they did commit the crime the law was probably unjust anyway. After all, "a man should be able to have a little fun without the law interfering", right? I promise that if you were to interview the population of any prison you would get the same results. Framed!It is in the fallen nature of humanity to try and protect ourselves. We will justify almost any kind of wrongdoing, often by pointing out the wrongdoings of others. Well, what I did wasn't any worse than what someone else did. You know the drill.
There is coming a day, however, when all of us will have to confess to the sins we have committed. II Corinthians 5:10 says that we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. On that day the books of our lives will be opened (Revelation 20:12.) Everything we have ever done or thought will be recorded there for all the world to see. (Just the thought of that once made me want to run and hide. What about you?) But then another book will be opened called the book of life. This book of life contains the names of all who have been born again of water and Spirit. Those who have had their sins washed away by repentance and baptism in Jesus name and who have been filled with God's spirit will find their names in this book. And I am convinced that once our names have been written in the book of life, the pages where our sins were written down have been blotted out forever. They will not be held against us because they will be covered by the blood of Jesus Christ.
All of us are guilty before a Holy God. We can make excuses of our sins down here on this earth but excuses do not work in heaven. When you stand in court on that day you had better have a good lawyer that is willing to take your case. There is only one lawyer who meets the qualifications to plead our cause before God and that is Jesus Christ. I John 2:1 says that if we sin we have an advocate (lawyer) with the father, the Lord Jesus Christ. If you know you have sinned you can come to Jesus and confess your sin. He will be faithful and just to forgive your sin and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness.
There are some who think that they will be able to plead ignorance on the day of judgment. They will say they were never taught what God's word had to say about salvation. (Some think that those in heathen lands will be exempt from the requirements of scripture). Yet all of us know that ignorance of the law is no excuse in any courtroom in the world. When anyone decides to live in a certain place it is his responsibility to learn the law of the land and abide by it. Well, our God owns this whole earth and he has set certain laws in his word that are required of us all. It is each person's individual responsibility to find out what that law says and obey it. Certainly, it is not our responsibility to be the judge for God will be the judge on that day. But it is our responsibility as Christians to warn the lost (and one another) about what the law says so that each one will have the chance to obey it.
If you know you have broken the law there is a penalty to be paid. In our human courts the penalty for each crime is different. But in God's court, he that is guilty of breaking one commandment is guilty of breaking them all (James 2:10). As hard as it is to imagine, the one who tells a little white lie is just as guilty before God as the rapist and the murderer. The penalty for all sin is eternal separation from God in a place of torment with fire and brimstone forever. It may sound harsh but it is the law and who among us can tell God, the creator of the universe, that his laws are too harsh.
The only escape from this day of judgment is the refuge that we find in Jesus. He has provided a plan of salvation in his word that will pay the penalty for our sins and alleviate our debt to God for breaking his word. If you are worried about the state of your soul today you have a chance to make it right with God. According to the Bible this plan includes repentance for our sins (asking God to forgive us), baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the washing away of those sins, and being born again by the infilling of the Holy Ghost. If you already a Christian and know that some things in your life are not right, you can repent of those things and God will put them under the blood of Jesus.
Don't take a chance with your soul today. It isn't worth the price. Know the law and obey it. It is the only thing that will stand up on that day when excuses won't do!
In Christ's Love,
Rev. Sullivan Jones
There is coming a day, however, when all of us will have to confess to the sins we have committed. II Corinthians 5:10 says that we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. On that day the books of our lives will be opened (Revelation 20:12.) Everything we have ever done or thought will be recorded there for all the world to see. (Just the thought of that once made me want to run and hide. What about you?) But then another book will be opened called the book of life. This book of life contains the names of all who have been born again of water and Spirit. Those who have had their sins washed away by repentance and baptism in Jesus name and who have been filled with God's spirit will find their names in this book. And I am convinced that once our names have been written in the book of life, the pages where our sins were written down have been blotted out forever. They will not be held against us because they will be covered by the blood of Jesus Christ.
All of us are guilty before a Holy God. We can make excuses of our sins down here on this earth but excuses do not work in heaven. When you stand in court on that day you had better have a good lawyer that is willing to take your case. There is only one lawyer who meets the qualifications to plead our cause before God and that is Jesus Christ. I John 2:1 says that if we sin we have an advocate (lawyer) with the father, the Lord Jesus Christ. If you know you have sinned you can come to Jesus and confess your sin. He will be faithful and just to forgive your sin and to cleanse you from all unrighteousness.
There are some who think that they will be able to plead ignorance on the day of judgment. They will say they were never taught what God's word had to say about salvation. (Some think that those in heathen lands will be exempt from the requirements of scripture). Yet all of us know that ignorance of the law is no excuse in any courtroom in the world. When anyone decides to live in a certain place it is his responsibility to learn the law of the land and abide by it. Well, our God owns this whole earth and he has set certain laws in his word that are required of us all. It is each person's individual responsibility to find out what that law says and obey it. Certainly, it is not our responsibility to be the judge for God will be the judge on that day. But it is our responsibility as Christians to warn the lost (and one another) about what the law says so that each one will have the chance to obey it.
If you know you have broken the law there is a penalty to be paid. In our human courts the penalty for each crime is different. But in God's court, he that is guilty of breaking one commandment is guilty of breaking them all (James 2:10). As hard as it is to imagine, the one who tells a little white lie is just as guilty before God as the rapist and the murderer. The penalty for all sin is eternal separation from God in a place of torment with fire and brimstone forever. It may sound harsh but it is the law and who among us can tell God, the creator of the universe, that his laws are too harsh.
The only escape from this day of judgment is the refuge that we find in Jesus. He has provided a plan of salvation in his word that will pay the penalty for our sins and alleviate our debt to God for breaking his word. If you are worried about the state of your soul today you have a chance to make it right with God. According to the Bible this plan includes repentance for our sins (asking God to forgive us), baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the washing away of those sins, and being born again by the infilling of the Holy Ghost. If you already a Christian and know that some things in your life are not right, you can repent of those things and God will put them under the blood of Jesus.
Don't take a chance with your soul today. It isn't worth the price. Know the law and obey it. It is the only thing that will stand up on that day when excuses won't do!
In Christ's Love,
Rev. Sullivan Jones