John 3 Study: The New Birth 7of10, Evans Olang

John 3:17, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

The first mission of the coming of the Lord was not to condemn, He came as the Savior. Not the Savior of good people but bad people. He is coming the second time as a judge.

I have heard it said by some that we should not listen to what men like Apostle Paul wrote because they condemned, that we only should listen to the red letters of Christ. Those who make such arguments lack understanding that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”, 2Timothy 3:16. What Jesus did not say in person, He said it through other men like the Apostle Paul.

What’s Wrong With The Gospel? Section 1:”The Missing Parts”, Part 2of6, Keith Green 1953-1982

Continued Missing Parts,

3. The Threat and Terrors of Hell, and the Guilt of Sinners. We often hear people say, “I’m tired of hell-fire and brimstone preaching!” “Well,” I often reply, “when was the last time you heard any?” It is true, very few people preach on hell anymore – it is no longer in vogue. We shouldn’t scare the poor sinners, no, that wouldn’t do. They’re just unfortunate, misguided souls, right? Wrong! The Bible clearly shows that they are rebels who have robbed and dishonored the living God, infinitely offending Him.7 They have no right to look at themselves in any other light.

Here I Am Send Me, Part 3of3, Evans Olang

Isaiah 6:1-8, vs. “8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?”Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

Who is the man of unclean lips, it is one who has given the Lord the lip service but the heart is far away. We Sang songs with our lips but did not honor the Lord with our actions making our lips unworthy. If the angels who I would consider more holy than man could gaze upon the Lord and cover their faces because of His holiness, how much more should we fear God and reverence in His presence? None of us comes even close. At least those who are saved are better off yet we still fall short of God’s glory. What about the lost souls? To quote Matthew Henry, ” Those who are to teach others the knowledge of God ought to be well acquainted with Him themselves”

Here I Am Send Me, 2of3, Evans Olang

Isaiah 6:1-8, vs. “8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “Whom shall I send, And who will go or Us?”Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

In preparation for calling Isaiah to be the prophet, he would proclaim the coming judgment. God gave him a vision of His majestic holiness so overwhelming that it devastated him and made him realize his own sinfulness.

Here I Am Send Me, Part 1of3, Evans Olang

Isaiah 6:1-8, “8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ” Whom shall I send, And who will go or Us?”Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

Isaiah 6 is one of my favorite passages. In the early chapters of the book of Isaiah, we see him having a vision from the Lord concerning the wickedness of Judah. He goes into lengthy detail to address its condition based on the vision. He talks about the future house of God, the day of the Lord, judgment on Judah and Jerusalem, oppression, the renewal of Zion and then in chapter 6 we see dramatic experience that changes him forever.

It’s All Been Paid For, Evans Olang

Luke 18:9-12, “9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’”, (NIV)

To live a Christian life is never easy, there are ups and downs in this walk. I mentioned recently how we often measure the success of our walk by what we accomplish rather than what He has accomplished for us on the cross. We say something like this, “dying on the cross for our sins was something we could never do, but living the life of a Christian is something we are most capable of doing”. I come across many sermons preached on “How to” rather than what “He has”. A while back I was in a Christian book store, it’s shelves were filled with self-help books, filled with “how to’s”. Examples, “how to write your ticket with God”, “7 steps to being blessed”, “how to get God’s attention and favor”. We say we are saved by grace and behave as though our salvation is kept and maintained by the law.

True And False Conversion, Part 4of5, Evans Olang

Matthew 13:3&9, “3Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. … But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

I am spending more time on the groundwork because it is most necessary and easily neglected in the gospel. If we met already humbled convicted people, there may be little or no need for ground preparation because it is already prepared, under conviction, a repentant heart. All we would do is plant the seeds (give the good news) and expect God to grow them. I have shared my faith many times, rarely did I meet a humble person. Most were very self-righteous like the rich young ruler.