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I wonder how many more people open and read this than usual when they see the title? We are surely and adulterous generation, both in the sense of having other gods, like money or power, or sex, and in the true sense of the word adultery. The website in the text is truly and excellent rescource to help put habitual sin out of our lives. Check it out! Jesus Loves you and so do I!
- dr joe
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Matthew
5:28-32 NIV
(28) But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully
has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
This is Jesus setting a very high standard. Is there a man or woman among us that hasn't committed adultery by this standard? Then Jesus gives the following "solution."
(29) If your
right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is
better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body
to be thrown into hell. (30) And if your right hand causes you to sin,
cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of
your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
What? Ouch! Really? Yes, we need to abandon whatever it is in our lives that makes it possible or easier for us to sin. Does Jesus mean to literally disfigure ourselves? I think He is trying to make a point here. Look at this next scripture dealing with adultery:
John 8:9-11 NIV But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. (2) At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. (3) The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group (4) and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. (5) In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" (6) They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. (7) When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." (8) Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground. (9) At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. (10) Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" (11) "No one, sir," she said. "Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."]
So Jesus does not condemn her. He does not give her some horrible penance. He forgives her and gives her grace.
Romans 5:6-8 (6) You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. (7) Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. (8) But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
This is the radical teaching that Jesus brought to the Jews. He is the Way, the Truth, the Life. It is through Him, with Him, in Him and more important Him in us that saves us from the curse of sin. He saves us from ourselves. While we must do what we can to keep ourselves from sinning, only He can really clean us from the inside out. Only letting Him take over and purify our hearts is it possible to stop sinning.
Have you surrendered your life and yourself entirely to Jesus? If you have and you still struggle with some habitual sin, here is a really great website. Check it out. It will help both remove the things that promote sin in our lives and show how to allow Jesus to forgive and heal and purify us.
http://www.settingcaptivesfree.com/
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Questions?
Please e-mail me with any questions about today's scripture message or anything related to the Bible or Christianity.
I might not know the answer but I'll try real hard to find it. | |
 Announcements
Lighthouse Wesleyan Church has MOVED! Sunday service is now held at the previous St. Pauls UCC on the corner of Lackawanna and Washington Streets in Wayland. GOD GAVE US A CHURCH! Service starts at 10am.
I'd love to see you there!If you want a signed copy of Becky's book, click below or e-mail me.
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