Happy Easter
Happy Easter, everyone!
I think that my friends will agree that I'm fairly inobtrusive when it comes to my religion, so I hope you'll indulge me this once, since it is Easter and all. Easter is probably the most significant day of the year for a Christian, not because it is mandated in the scriptures (in fact, it's not indicated anywhere that we are supposed to celebrate Easter) but because of what it is we are celbrating: the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who had died once and for all (and yes, that does mean ALL. You'll see "all" a lot in here, and don't ever let a "holier than thou Christian" tell you otherwise).
Paul tells us in Romans 3:23 that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Again, ALL, not just gays, people who have abortions, Muslims, and evolutionists (<---tongue in cheek, there. I'm pretty sure that evolution doesn't violate God's law), although you wouldn't guess that anyone else was sinning if you were listening to some preachers now). Then, in Romans 6:23, Paul says "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus, our Lord". In other words, everyone who sins (there's that pesky 'everyone' again) deserves eternal punishment and separation from God. We've earned that by our disobedience. But the GIFT of God is eternal life through Christ. We don't have to earn anything from God. If you come to Him as you are, and accept his gift by accepting Christ, He will gladly wipe your record clean and you will be given the authority to become a child of God (John 1:12).
That's the crux of it. God doesn't care how you are now. He doesn't care if you are the most horrible person ever. He wants you to come to Him, accept his gift, and turn from sin through His grace.
I'll go back to being inobtrusive now. If any of you ever have any questions about my faith, or want to talk about it at all, please don't hesitate to ask me.
I think that my friends will agree that I'm fairly inobtrusive when it comes to my religion, so I hope you'll indulge me this once, since it is Easter and all. Easter is probably the most significant day of the year for a Christian, not because it is mandated in the scriptures (in fact, it's not indicated anywhere that we are supposed to celebrate Easter) but because of what it is we are celbrating: the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who had died once and for all (and yes, that does mean ALL. You'll see "all" a lot in here, and don't ever let a "holier than thou Christian" tell you otherwise).
Paul tells us in Romans 3:23 that we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Again, ALL, not just gays, people who have abortions, Muslims, and evolutionists (<---tongue in cheek, there. I'm pretty sure that evolution doesn't violate God's law), although you wouldn't guess that anyone else was sinning if you were listening to some preachers now). Then, in Romans 6:23, Paul says "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus, our Lord". In other words, everyone who sins (there's that pesky 'everyone' again) deserves eternal punishment and separation from God. We've earned that by our disobedience. But the GIFT of God is eternal life through Christ. We don't have to earn anything from God. If you come to Him as you are, and accept his gift by accepting Christ, He will gladly wipe your record clean and you will be given the authority to become a child of God (John 1:12).
That's the crux of it. God doesn't care how you are now. He doesn't care if you are the most horrible person ever. He wants you to come to Him, accept his gift, and turn from sin through His grace.
I'll go back to being inobtrusive now. If any of you ever have any questions about my faith, or want to talk about it at all, please don't hesitate to ask me.