January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
Current issues / What the Bible teaches us about h
Lifestyles that displease God can be changed
The Word of God makes it clear that the One Who created heaven and earth is the same God Who loves all.
We learned that because God loves us does not mean that He approves of everything that we do; there are things that please Him and there are things that displease Him.
The Bible makes it emphatically clear that God was, is, and never will be in favour of the homosexual lifestyle; our biases, prejudices, and preferences cannot alter that.
Similarly, He cannot tolerate adultery, greed, exploitation, and many other sins. As Christians, we must monitor our approach to sin. Many "hate" homosexuals, refusing to show the love of Christ to them to lead them to Jesus. This is wrong. God does not want us to hate people; rather, He asks us to hate sin.
"Don't just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good." Romans 12:9 (NLT)
All sin displeases God and none of us is righteous on his own. As Christians we must share the good news that despite our past sin, there is forgiveness in Jesus Christ. No one deserves heaven or eternal life, but Jesus gives it freely to all that believe in Him. The church is made up of forgiven (imperfect) people that have been saved and changed by God's love and grace...
"Don't you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people-none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God. Some of you were once like that. But you were cleansed; you were made holy; you were made right with God by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)
God's view is very unpopular in many circles, with some being infuriated by what the Bible teaches. I have read some of the comments in the Bermuda Sun as a result of this series.
However, as a counsellor I have seen many changed by the power of God. I am fully convinced that God can totally change adulterers, racial bigots,
homosexuals, lesbians, murderers of human life by violence or abortion, drug addicts, sex addicts, alcoholics, thieves, and anything else can possibly be imagined.
How can I be so positive of God's life-changing power? Because I can personally introduce you to the persons that I have listed because they are in the church I pastor.
I've heard their stories and can't help but praise God for how powerful His Gospel is to anyone who believes.
Surely there are times when some struggle to overcome the past, but I have seen more victories than failures.
I cannot tell you how exciting it is for someone to share with me how they hated their husband and were headed for divorce because of the many times he hurt them and now, after rededicating their lives to Jesus Christ, I see them both serving God as leaders in our church; or for someone - a homosexual - who gave his heart to the Lord, was transformed, and now is a wonderful example of integrity; or another, conflicted with the guilt of abortion, who is now free in her heart because of Jesus' grace; or a woman who attempted suicide five times but now desires to be a true woman of God; or how God so healed another member that she shared in our church of her rapes as a child and her parents' lack of comfort or action - and she is now a woman of God and a prayer warrior for Jesus Christ; or a man who thought that being "macho" means that you never worship God, and how he's been transformed to be one of the first to lift his hands in surrender in our worship service; and there are many more...
I encourage you today -despite your sin, despite your past or how you were raised, despite being the violator or the victim - to get to know the God who loves you and Who cannot wait to show you His love.
As you develop a personal relationship with God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit will come and live within you so that you may be transformed.
The word transformed in the Bible is a powerful word! It's where we get our English word "metamorphosis." God changes us so radically like that of a caterpillar to a butterfly. You will never be alone and He will bring you the power to change.
I am totally convinced that the cry of every heart, including yours, is for someone to know everything about you, and still love and accept you. That person is Jesus Christ.
His goal, however, is not to simply accept you as you continue in your sin or in your lifestyle; conversely, He specializes in life-change.
He will not have you be the same person you were when you accepted Him; He died and rose again, so that you may have to power to experience a changed life.
"By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence." 2 Peter 1:3 (NLT).
If I, or any part of our leadership team can help you or your children with free
spiritual counselling, I have reserved the month of November to counsel those who are in need of lifechange.
To set up a confidential
appointment simply email me at gsimons@cornestone.
bm or call (441) 295-9640 and ask for my personal assistant Sherry Swan. You have probably tried so many things in your life... I lovingly encourage you now to try Jesus.
Comments:
You must login to comment.