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More Thoughts from an Old Man

In my previous post, I told you what Jesus Christ had done for your salvation and that you have to sin to qualify for salvation. Is there any other response you have to make besides sin? Yes, but first I will tell you what it isn’t.

It is not being good or trying to be good or trying to stop swearing. This is for two reasons: 1) It is futile. 2) “Goodness” is not acceptable to God.

All the other religions in the world say you have to be good. Yes! How successful are they in being good? Not very. It only proves that these are man-made religions.

Here are words that describe man’s response to the sacrifice of Jesus. They are not synonyms, but they all have the same object and the same result. Pay attention:

“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12). The subject is “all,” the verb is “received,” the object is “Him,” and the result is “children of God.”

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). The subject is “all you,” the verb is “come,” the object is “me,” and the result is “rest.”

“Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29). The verb is “learn,” the object is “from me,” and the result is rest for your souls.

“For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:30). The subject is “all you,” the verb is “take,” the object is “my yoke,” and the result is a light burden.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). The subject is “whoever”, the verb is “believe,” the object is “Him,” and the result is “eternal life.”

“That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). The subject is “you,” the verb is “confess,” and the object is “Jesus is LORD.”

“For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved” (Romans 10:10). The subject is “you,” the verb is “believe,” the object is “God raised Him from the Dead,” and the result is “saved.”

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). The subject is “everyone who,” the verb is “call,” the object is “the name of the LORD,” and the result is “saved.”

“And, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him” (Hebrews 5:9). The subject is “all who,” the verb is “obey,” the object is “Him,” and the result is “eternal salvation.”

“He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus" (2 Thessalonians 1:8). The subject is “who,” the verb is “do not obey,” the object is “the gospel of our Lord Jesus,” and the result is everlasting destruction.

“In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent” (Acts 17:30). The subject is “God,” the verb is “commands to repent,” the object is “all men everywhere.” Repentance is not an option. It is a command to all men everywhere.

God has appointed a day when He will judge the world with justice.

How can the gospel be obeyed? By obeying the command to repent.

“Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 2:38). The noun is “everyone of you,” the active verb is “repent,” the object of the prepositions “in” and “for” are “the name of Jesus Christ” and “the forgiveness of your sins.” In the second sentence the object is “you,” the verb is “will receive,” the the object is “the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

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