Christian actions, Eternal consequences
Jesus said,
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:13-16.
Here is an interpretation I heard about this verse.
“Christians are the salt of the earth. Their moral values are the moral values of God. They must live out those moral values everyday of their lives for people to see and want to emulate. This draws people to God.
Christians are the light of the world. They are a beacon to a world that is headed toward the rocks of destruction. They are a light shining to show the world the pathway to God.”
If Christians are not living moral lives we cannot be effective witnesses for God.
If we are hiding our faith we cannot point people to God.
A vicious light falls on Christians. We cannot do things lightly. Jesus said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20.
Christians have but two responsibilities in this world.
1/ To “ go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
2/ To “teaching them(the new converts/disciples) to obey everything I (Jesus) have commanded you”
Nothing more. We are not to judge the world no matter how abhorrent the sin.
Jesus knew what it would take to win the world for Him. He said.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”
Matthew 5:43,44
When asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:36-40.
The love Jesus called for is pure love spoken of by the Apostle Paul when he wrote,
Love, pure love from God, makes no room for judgement. It says I love you no matter who you are or what you have done.
Only when we are showing this kind of love are we able to dreaw people to Christ.
If we are not doing so our actions can and will have eternal consequences.
Please think about it.
Jesus said,
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:13-16.
Here is an interpretation I heard about this verse.
“Christians are the salt of the earth. Their moral values are the moral values of God. They must live out those moral values everyday of their lives for people to see and want to emulate. This draws people to God.
Christians are the light of the world. They are a beacon to a world that is headed toward the rocks of destruction. They are a light shining to show the world the pathway to God.”
If Christians are not living moral lives we cannot be effective witnesses for God.
If we are hiding our faith we cannot point people to God.
A vicious light falls on Christians. We cannot do things lightly. Jesus said,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20.
Christians have but two responsibilities in this world.
1/ To “ go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
2/ To “teaching them(the new converts/disciples) to obey everything I (Jesus) have commanded you”
Nothing more. We are not to judge the world no matter how abhorrent the sin.
Jesus knew what it would take to win the world for Him. He said.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,”
Matthew 5:43,44
When asked,
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
This is the first and greatest commandment.
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22:36-40.
The love Jesus called for is pure love spoken of by the Apostle Paul when he wrote,
“Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast,
it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking,
it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil
but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails....
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.
But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.Love, pure love from God, makes no room for judgement. It says I love you no matter who you are or what you have done.
Only when we are showing this kind of love are we able to dreaw people to Christ.
If we are not doing so our actions can and will have eternal consequences.
Please think about it.
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