Have you ever had a favorite piece of clothing and spilt something on it that stained and would not come out, no matter what you used. You try all kinds of miracle cleaners and stain removers and nothing seems to work. The stain may fade out but you can see it even though sometimes others might not unless you tell them that it is there.
That is how we sometimes as Christians treat our Lord and Saviors' work on the cross. He died for all sins and yet we still carry our stains around with us as if His blood wasn't good enough to wash them out. I know I carried mine around for a long time until my Pastor at the time told me that it was as if I was telling Jesus to sit this one out because it was too big a job for Him, I would just have to take care of it myself. WOW! What an eye opener. Never since have I carried that stain with me.
Have you something in your life that you feel like it is so bad that God will not forgive you. That is the enemy telling you that lie. What does the enemy do? He comes to kill, steal and destroy. He doesn't want you to see who you really are in Christ Jesus, because then he knows that you will no longer believe his lies.
John 10 v 10....the theif does not come except to steal, and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly......
We are starting a new series on Wed. nights "Keeping up with the Corinthians". I am excited because people will learn how much God really loves them and what Jesus' work on the cross did for them. They will be freed from being under condemnation of the law and better able to understand that they are under His Grace and what it means being washed by His blood.
Let's look in chapter 6 of 1 Cor. and see what does the word say about those stains you are holding on to.
1 Cor. 6 v 9-11.....Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be decieved. Neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor coveteous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God......
Well, there were a few stains of mine in there and still some that were not listed. But Praise God! Did you see what His word tells you? You were WASHED, SANCTIFIED, and JUSTIFIED. AMEN! So many times people are quick to point out to us what we did with this verse and leave off the BUT part. Aren't you glad God's word said "BUT WAIT" You were washed, sanctified, and justified. Hallelujah! That's the good news. AMEN!
1 Cor. 6 v 20....For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's....
In other words, there are no longer any stains. You are God's own child. His children bear no stains and no condemnation. He paid a non negotiable price with His Son's blood. The slate has been wiped clean, there are no longer any stains.
How can you find out more about this love God has for you?
STAY IN THE WORD!
If you don't have a church home let me invite you to be my guest and come visit on Wed. nights and let's study the Word together.
LifeWay Church, 7621 Old Mocksville Rd, Salisbury, NC
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