Friday 28 July 2017

Not wanting anyone to Perish

Not wanting anyone to perish
The apostle Peter wrote,
“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. 
He is patient with you, 
not wanting anyone to perish, 
but everyone to come to repentance.” 
                                                 2 Peter 3:9
God is patient. He does not want anyone to perish. Jesus Speaking of himself said,
“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.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, 
but to save the world through him John 
                                                     3:16,17.
I believe sometimes this message is lost on many who call themselves Christians especially here in North America where I live.
Many who call themselves Christians, rather than trying to save the world are too busy pointing out what is wrong with the world to save souls.
Pointing out the wrongs of the world is not the job of Christians. Billy Graham the great American evangelist said,
“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 
God’s job to judge 
and my job to love,” 
                          Billy Graham.
Mr Graham is right. We as Christians have no right to judge those outside the church. The apostle Paul states,
“What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? 
Are you not to judge those inside?” 
                                   1 Corinthians 5:12.
You will never lead a soul to Christ if you are judging them in any way shape or form. As Billy Graham said we are called to love. The apostle Paul defined true Christian love this way,
“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.
This is what true believers in Christ should be showing to the world rather than judging people.
God does not want anyone to perish and the only way for that to happen is if those who believe in God stick to the message Christ gave us when he said,
“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.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, 
but to save the world through him John 
                                                     3:16,17.
The writer of Hebrews tells us,
“Make every effort to live in peace with all men 
and to be holy; 
without holiness no one will see the Lord.” 
                                                       Hebrews 12:14.
If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus are you doing this?
Please think about it.

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