John 3 Study: The New Birth 8of10, Evans Olang

John 3:18, “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

The greatest sin is unbelief. This is the sin that finally condemns. Anyone who dies in unbelief, their fate is sealed. The downfall of the Israelites was not because they were not religious enough; it is because they counted on their own righteousness. They lacked the true knowledge that would lead them to Christ for their justification by faith to secure righteousness. They had fallen from grace (Galatians 5:4).

I see a direct correlation between John 3 and Romans 10. Here is Paul’s analysis and cry to God for men like Nicodemus and his people, “1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes”, Romans 10:1-4. Unbelief was their downfall; their only hope was the righteousness of Christ to be received by faith.

God And Sinners Reconciled, Pastor Phil Sessa

2Corinthians 5:20, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”

Merry CHRISTmas! I love saying that. We live in an age where the world wants us to be culturally tolerant, and politically correct. All other religious “holidays” are not really holidays if we agree that the word holiday is really the word HOLY DAY. How is Kwanza, or Ramadan holy? Kwanza does not focus on Christ, because the focus is on culture and man not on Christ the Lord.

Redeemed Through His Blood, Evans Olang

Ephesians 1:7, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace”

Of late I have been thinking about the saving grace of our Lord Jesus and I am constantly amazed at what He has done for a wicked wretched man that I am. I am forever thankful to Him for what He has done.

There are some truths that continue to humble me in learning of saving grace and here is the biggest one, Jesus did not suffer and die on the cross because man was worth saving, He suffered and died on the cross because He was worthy to save. No one’s sacrifice was worthy to satisfy the demand of the law death.

What Must I Do To Be Saved? Part 1of2, Evans Olang

Matthew 19:16-22,”16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” 17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

I am a firm believer of going out of my way to speak to the lost about the gospel. There is nothing wrong witnessing with our lifestyle which is important, I just believe we live in a time where people are not searching to know the truth and therefore we have to go out of our way and awaken them to their need of a Savior. For the last 20 years I have been a Christian, I have never encountered with anyone who came to me to ask how they can be saved or the hope that is in me. The bible says in John 3:19, “and this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness, rather than light, because their deeds were evil”. This is one of the reasons people are not seeking to be saved, they love darkness and they don’t want the light to expose it so they will not ask.

When He Calls Me, 3of5, Evans Olang

Jonah 1-4, “And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice”

After Jonah was woken from his sleep, the men in the boat cast lots to see who was the reason for their obstacles. Many knew that any time something was not happening right, most likely someone had sinned and the only way they could deal with it was to zero out the person and deal with that sin so as to have peace again. The situation would not change until the issue was dealt with. It’s even with us today, many of our prayers will not be answered even though they may be genuine until sin is dealt with in our lives.

Clothed In Spite Of, Evans Olang

Genesis 3:21, “21 And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins, and clothed them,” (TRSV).

Adam and Eve disobeyed God, Eve was deceived and Adam listened to his wife and disobeyed God. Immediately they went into hiding because they were naked and a shamed of what they did. They tried to cover themselves with leaves, which did not do a good job as they were bound to dry and fall off.

Running Out Of Time, Evans Olang

Hebrews 9:27, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment”

Statistics show ten of ten people die. The number one killer in the world is not AIDS or cancer, the number one killer is death. We are all on death row whether we believe it or not. We are one beat away from death and the bible says, “It’s appointed for men to DIE ONCE“, one life to live on this earth then after this is judgment. The question to ask, what would you preach to someone who has little or no time left before they pass into eternity? Would you tell them “Jesus loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life?” or a soldier who is about to face a fierce battle and could lose his life, would you instruct him on “How to live his best life now”? Do we realize we are running out of time to reach the lost day by day by? Jesus’ last command ought to be our first priority. Is it?

A Covenant Made With My Eyes, Evans Olang

Job 31:1, “I made a covenant with my eyes, not to look lustfully at a girl” NIV

One thing that scares me daily is the thought that I have the ability to sin and sin is constantly knocking on my door. I usually joke about two things I’m allergic to, sin and pain. There are no two things I can think of that have destroyed many men of God like sexual sin and greed. This continues to plague men daily in a sexually charged world and a world of greed. In the age of Internet, TV, movies, magazines, beaches, dressings etc. all around has created a challenge for men and some women in generral, something we call “every man’s battle”. I think that the level of temptations faced by David, Solomon, Samson and others in the past cannot be compared to what we face today and yet the standard of God’s purity for man has not changed and never will. It’s easy to try and poke holes in God’s word to find something to justify sin, however we need to always remember, God’s word is truth, He has no revised edition to fit our time. The word was set to address everything in any age. God’s still holds us to the highest standard revealed in the Holy Scriptures.

Submitting To God’s Righteousness, Part 7of10, Evans Olang

Romans 10:3, “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God”

God forgave David and he truly appreciated it as demonstrated by his sacrifice to the Lord. He refused to offer God what cost him nothing. It cost God a lot to bring him out of his sin, he also understood that it will cost him a lot to live for Him. Isaiah’s lips were touched with alive coal of fire and his sins departed, he then heard the Lord say, “who shall go for us”, Isaiah was quick to say, “Here I am Oh Lord send me”. In other words, if you could do this for me by giving the very best, I will do anything for You. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” and because of that, I will serve You for the rest of my life. I will be a living witness of Your saving grace. I will stand like Isaiah and say, “Here I am Oh Lord send me”. I will offer sacrifices that will cost me. I will not give you what cost me nothing. I will delight to do thy will. The gratitude I may not express in words, I will express in works. I will give you what is RIGHT not what is LEFT. I HAVE SEEN THE COST TO APPRECIATE THE SACRIFICE.