H.A. Ironside

Then one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him. He entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. And a woman in the town who was a sinner found out that Jesus was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house. She brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil and stood behind Him at His feet, weeping, and began to wash His feet with her tears. She wiped His feet with the hair of her head, kissing them and anointing them with the fragrant oil.

When the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what kind of woman this is who is touching Him — she's a sinner!"

(Luke 7:36-39 HCSB).

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How God delights to emphasize His grace to great sinners! It was always a matter of distress to the Pharisees that the Lord Jesus showed such a deep interest in those who were despised and outcast because of their wicked lives. His heart went out to them. He came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

I remember hearing a great evangelist say many years ago. "Oh, how hard it is to find sinners. I would be willing to go any distance to find a sinner who recognizes his need of a Savior."

We read in Proverbs 20:6, "Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?" If you try to talk to most men about the Savior and their need of Him, they will begin at once to tell you of their own merits. They try to make a good case for themselves, covering their sins and insisting on their goodness.

In the Word of God, you will find that as long as people try to justify themselves, God cannot help them. But when they recognize their need and own their guilt, He can save them.

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previous topic

God's

marvelous

creation

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Starting Again

The gospel message is the story of God's love and kindness, which is a second opportunity on starting again. But before we begin, it may be helpful to share the good news "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16 ESV). This is a message of love and sacrifice when God, in the person of Jesus Christ, made right the way of salvation.

The message of Jesus Christ crucified was necessary to amend the breach (an act of breaking or failing to observe a law, agreement or code of conduct), which resulted in mankind's expulsion from the Garden of Eden. Therefore, the Word says: “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon" (Isaiah 55:6,7 ESV).

So once again, I'd like to exemplify the greatness of God's magnanimous love that would sacrifice His Son — in order to bring the message and propitiation of salvation. And to the dismay "against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" — the light of God's salvation is witnessed through Jesus and seen today through the many servants of faith. Therefore, the devilish act to eliminate Jesus at Calvary only served to multiply the light of God's salvation. Jesus miraculously rose from the dead and shared the glorious illumination of the gospel.

The reality and beauty of heaven may seem like a distant dream or wonderful vision to most of us. Sure, we're able to look into the sky and see the aurora borealis or australis. But truthfully, this idea of traveling about in the heavenly constellations is only a dream for people without faith. And the most astounding vision is the Holy of Holies in the majesty of God almighty. And it is from this place that Jesus came to us with the everlasting gospel of peace. The hallelujah message was personally delivered through the loving kindness of God's mercy and with the hope of glory. This benevolent and wonderful act is the only way of God's deliverance and justification from this world of sin.

The Bible teaches us — that Jesus is returning and the order of society will be transferred to His ultimate rule. The people of His grace will know the ongoing agape love and splendid appearance of God. And without going into too much detail about prophesy, the Bible swings into judgment for the unbelievers and albeit, don't expect a mighty love bomb or magic potion to sway peoples minds into the faith. The time of God's mercy and joyous salvation message is a decision for today.

Things haven't changed too much since Jesus was here and shared the good news. The audience had the curious onlookers, the power seekers who came to watch the healing and deliverance ministry, and those who genuinely came and received the message of God's fellowship. This is the everlasting message of faith, hope and charity, which is the gift of God's benevolence. For here we have the second opportunity to step into eternity; a missed or postponement of destiny for Adam and Eve.

"Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen (Jude 1:24,25 ESV).

by Glenn Morrison