Persecution of Judgment

  Persecution or Judgement

The book of Acts records the apostle Paul being brought before Agrippa for preaching the gospel of Christ. Paul never wavered in his faith. Telling Agrippa his story. The book of Acts then records,

“Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" 

Paul replied, "Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains." Acts 26: 28,29.

Paul was being persecuted because he had said,

"...I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds." Acts 26:20b.

Paul was not being persecuted for judging anyone. He was simply presenting the gospel of Christ to anyone who would listen. Calling on people to repent of their sins.

The religious leaders however disliked this and had him arrested.

Today sadly many people where I live in North America say they are being persecuted when if the truth be known they are not.

Many calling themselves Christians are judging others and trying to have the rights of others taken away. They have mixed politics and their faith. Thus people turn on them calling them in extreme cases judgmental bigots. 

Remember Jesus said,

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged.  

For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Matthew 7:1,2.

So it should be no surprise that if you are judging someone they will judge you the same way. This is not persecution. It is simply the result of someone calling themselves a Christian who are judging others.

Billy Graham the late American evangelist said,

“It is the Holy Spirits Job to Convict, 

God’s job to judge

 and my job to love,” 

                               Billy Graham

If we are to be persecuted let us be persecuted for presenting the true Gospel of Christ. And not because we are judging others.

Please think about it.

Not by Works

Not by works
The apostle Paul wrote,
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9.
Writing to Titus he said,
“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,  he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, Titus 3:4,5.
We are saved by the grace of God. We get to heaven because of God’s mercy.
The apostle Paul writing to the Romans says,
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 
Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!  
For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!  
Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation” Romans 5:6-11.
Christians do not believe we can be good enough to stand before a Holy God, simply because we are human and flawed falling short of God’s ideal.
C. S Lewis points out 
“The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”  C.S. Lewis
As Christians we do not believe we have to wait for judgement day to know whether or not we will enter heaven. We can know here and now by sincerely accepting the sacrifice of Jesus.
I know to some who are not Christians reading this, this may seem odd event the apostle Paul said,
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18.
I suppose if man had his way God would simply come down and say “here I am worship me.” But I believe Gd realized that, that would not produce true followers. Many would simply worship because they feared what he could do to them.
I believe God in His wisdom knew that those who believed in Him through faith are true followers who would follow Him no matter the cost.
Thus it is a faith thing. Either you believe or you do not. What I would ask you the reader to do however is to take time to read the New Testament. To see what the believers in the time of Christ believed . Then make an informed decision for yourself. After all you have nothing to loose and I believe you have eternity to gain.
Please think about it.