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Let us never underestimate just how merciful God really is, unwilling that “ANY should perish.” (2 Peter 3:9) In fact, all I have to do is look in the mirror to be reminded of the most evil sinner ever born and to realize afresh just how merciful the LORD has been!
 
Read Titus 3:5-7. Have you memorized Ephesians 4:32
 
According to the Son of God, the definition of a hypocrite is one who stands in judgment of others while he himself has sin in his own life he hasn’t dealt with in repentance before a holy God (Matthew 7:1-5). Such a man is heaping undiluted judgment upon his own pate/head (James 2:13).

“When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Mark 2:17

Those who refuse to see their need for the Great Physician cannot possibly see their need to go to Him in repentance.

After all, who would schedule an appointment to see a doctor if they haven’t first realized and admitted they have an ailment?

Ever notice how some seem to preach repentance as if EVERYONE needs to repent except themselves and those in their little self-righteous clique?

The cross reveals your sin, and God’s love, not how wonderful you are! Repent!

By biblical definition, anyone who is self-righteous has less chance than harlots to go to Heaven (Matthew 21:31).

The reason we don’t freely forgive others is because we don’t yet realize just how wicked and depraved we ourselves are and how utterly in need we are of divine mercy.

Self-righteousness was one of the sins of the pharisees and is soul damning (Matthew 23, etc.). Even the publicans and harlots will be in Heaven before the self-righteous religionists (Matthew 21:31).

“For the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7) Men see church-goers, religious people and think they’re saved/going to Heaven. Jesus sees harlots (whores) and sees them as closer to the kingdom (closer to getting saved) than the self-righteous (Matthew 21:31).

“ALL have sinned” against our God and so our own good works do not atone for our sins (Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:10, 23). ONLY Jesus could and did do that for us.  

Sinful self-righteousness has no place in the life of a disciple of Jesus. Matthew 21:31

When God calls us to repent, it’s because we are sinners. “ALL have sinned and come short of the glory (acceptance) of God” (Romans 3:23). Of this verse of truth, John Wesley wrote:

“I came not to call the righteous – Therefore if these were righteous I should not call them. But now, they are the very persons I came to save.”

When our conscience is convicted, when our hearts weigh heavy under the burden of sin, that is the divine call for us to repent—to turn back to the LORD with sincerity and contrition—confessing our sins.

Those not admitting they are sinners cannot possibly see the need of repentance. This is the sin that blinds the self-righteous and seems to be most egregious to God.

Of this passage, F.B. Meyer writes:

“The sinner’s friend, Mark 2:13-22. They thought to coin a term of reproach, but they added a crown of glory. In eternity the Friend of sinners will surround His table with saved sinners who have become His guests.”

A Verse of Truth to Remember

“Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.” Matthew 21:31

Here the Son of God seems to make it clear what infuriates God the most. Jesus is speaking here of the self-righteous religionists who refuse to realize their own sinful state and need for divine forgiveness. He informs us that the fornicators will go to Heaven before the self-righteous. And, we know that no unrepentant fornicator will be in glory (Revelation 21:8, etc.).

The fornicators will go into the eternal kingdom of Christ before those who did not admit their need for divine forgiveness and carry through with repentance that was manifested in a holy life (Matthew 3:7-10).

Jesus came for and saves those who admit they have sinned and are sinners, and their desperate, great need for Him. This is in eternally stark contrast with those who think they are righteous in themselves. Jesus told us that even the prostitutes, the harlots, will be in Heaven before self-righteous religionists! (Matthew 21:31)

“Greater Damnation”

If you still don’t perceive the divine anger against self-righteousness, watch this:

In Christ’s most scathing lambasting on record, He is seen rebuking the self-righteous religionists who used their positions to lord it over and to rob the people. The Son of God foretells their “damnation” which He makes clear will be “greater” than that of others.

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.” Matthew 23:14

Jesus used this term – “greater damnation” – just one time and He applied it to the self-righteous (this was recorded by all 3 of the synoptic Gospels). “Greater damnation” is coming to the self-righteous religionists of our day.

Of this truth, Debbie Lord writes:

“Jesus clearly spelled out that self-righteousness is the worst sin in that the self-righteous will have to stand in line to enter Heaven behind the very ones they judge and condemn, which we are told will not enter (unrepentant) into the kingdom of Heaven. Our flesh, which rises up in self-righteousness is an adherence to the lie from Satan which blinds us to our own sin — which ultimately denies and takes the place of the work of Christ’s righteousness the Holy Spirit desires to work in us to fruition — being changed into the image of Christ.”

Is self-righteousness not the product of pride and “an evil heart of unbelief”? (Hebrews 3:12-14)

“Without faith it is impossible to please him.” (Hebrews 11:6) Faith in the Redeemer. He is the Savior, not us. Some don’t like it when they can’t feel like they are earning their own way with God, earning their own salvation. Romans 3:21-25; 4:4-5

According to Christ, many today who in their hearts and attitudes judge fornicators, thieves, liars and adulterers, are possessed with a worse sin—self-righteousness.

Self-righteousness is the ultimate sin of rejecting the only saving righteousness God provided through Christ. The self-righteous spit in the face of the Almighty as they call Him a liar! The self-righteous impugn the God they claim to serve by casting doubt and indictment upon Him as a fool who sent His only begotten Son in vain!

“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Galatians 2:21

Whatever you do, if you will be with Christ, you’d better cry out to the LORD today to strip from every whit of your being, any and all traces, all vestiges of self-righteousness!

If you cast judgment on others in your attitudes toward them for their sin, check yourself (James 1:20). Just because the flavor of their sin may be different than yours, in no way makes your sin any less vile in the eyes of a holy God who is the Judge of your eternal soul (James 2:10)! He sees the very intent and thought of your heart (Luke 9:47; Hebrews 4:13).

The sin that should concern us the most, is our own sin!

If we vainly imagine that someone else’s sin is more vile than our own in the eyes of a holy God, we still don’t have a Gospel clue! (Genesis 32:10; Jeremiah 17:9; James 2:10, 13; Titus 3:3-7, etc.)

Of this verse, the words of Christ in Matthew 21:31, Adam Clarke wrote:

“The publicans and the harlots – In all their former conduct they had said No. Now they yield to the voice of truth when they hear it, and enter into the kingdom, embracing the salvation brought to them in the Gospel. The others, who had been always professing the most ready and willing obedience, and who pretended to be waiting for the kingdom of God, did not receive it when it came, but rather chose, while making the best professions, to continue members of the synagogue of Satan.”

F.B. Meyer writes the following of this verse:

“The parable of the two sons teaches that hard hearts may lie under fair words, while those of whom we expect least and whose first greeting is abrupt and disappointing, may later prove to be the most devoted and hopeful disciples. If a man repels the gospel with violence, he is more likely ultimately to be won than he who gives a polite and facile assent.”

Of this passage, John Wesley wrote:

“He answered, I go, sir: but went not – Just so did the scribes and Pharisees: they professed the greatest readiness and zeal in the service of God: but it was bare profession, contradicted by all their actions.”

What righteousness does any person have in and of themselves— without that righteousness that God alone provided?

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Isaiah 64:6

Christ’s apostle Paul declared this of himself:

“For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. … O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Romans 7:18, 24

One disciple writes:
 
“The greatest need for repentance today is among those today represented by the elder son in Luke 15:11-32. ‘Father, I have been always keeping your commandments and working in your fields, and you have never so much as given a kid goat for ME and MY friends to celebrate!’ ‘Whatsoever is not of faith (legalism) is sin’. Rom 14:23. Christ is of no effect to those who think they are justified by law. Gal 5:4. They work as hard as Self-effort can NOT to sin and to do good works for God. Severed from Christ and fall from Grace!”

“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” Philippians 3:9 

No teaching in the Bible more profoundly states the need for contrition and humility when approaching God than does Jesus’ parable of the two men who went up to pray.

It’s either Christ’s righteousness or it’s our own. One is from glory, the other from hell beneath. The harlots will be in Heaven before the self-righteous (Matthew 21:31).

Men successfully approach God only when they do it in the realization of their own sin and need, and on the basis of the shed blood of Jesus Christ!

All who approach God any other way than that plain way in which He prescribed, will be found by Him to be “a thief and a robber.”

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.” John 10:1-2

Bible Verses to Get to Know — To Memorize and Meditate Upon

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;” Titus 3:5-6

“I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant;” Genesis 32:10

Showing God’s mercy as He freely gave it to us in Christ “while we were yet sinners.” (Romans 5:6, 8) Mercy

PRAYER: Precious dear Father in Heaven, I come to You now in the name of Jesus Christ, confessing my utter need for You. As a vile, wretched, rank sinner, I have no righteousness of my own. On Thy mercy, poured out in the Person of Jesus Christ, as He offered His life blood for me on that cross, I now fall. Without You, I can do nothing LORD Jesus. In this very instant, I now turn fully to You and ask You to please take me into Thy kingdom, wash me in the blood of Jesus. Jesus Christ the LORD is from this moment forth the Master of my life. Please cleanse and fill this vessel to love, worship, and serve You Holy Father. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray, amen!

Self-RighteousnessSINLESS PERFECTIONISM: WHOSE Righteousness are You Trusting?

God Aggrandizes How We FINISH

“It is Finished”! 

“Two Men Went Up into the Temple to Pray” [podcast]

Walking with Jesus [podcast]

A Living Sacrifice unto God [podcast]

Your Life Will Never be the Same [podcast]

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Video Update Mission Mexico [video]

You can help us minister to the people of Mexico. Your prayers and financial support is needed. It’s a grand evangelism opportunity. | Support Mission Mexico


Mission Mexico

Mission Mexico – See more here.


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Laying Up Treasure in Heaven 60 second video #shorts


“but as his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.” 1 Samuel 30:24 

A financial investor takes your money and multiplies it for your last few years in this temporal life, right? In contrast, laborers for Christ take your support and multiply it for Christ and themselves for all eternity. In Christ’s eternal kingdom – everybody wins, all the time, forever. King Jesus reigns forever!

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

“Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.” Luke 6:38

Paul was not coveting any man’s money – “I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.” (Acts 20:33) No! He wanted God’s people to invest in Christ’s eternal kingdom – into eternal souls – and by doing so fill their “account” in Heaven. – “Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.” (Philippians 4:17)

God gives the increase of lost souls as “For we are labourers together with God.”

“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8  Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour. 9  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-9 

Gospel train rolling. Team Jesus! We must obey our LORD Jesus’ Great Command saints. You are not alone – God is with you, and us!

“And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” Matthew 28:18-20

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The Essential of Forgiveness: Are Your Hands Around Someone Else’s Throat? [podcast]


Forgiveness is ultra important to God. If you don’t forgive all others, you are not forgiven of your own sin and are as sure for hell as if you were already there. If you refuse to forgive you damn your own soul, non-negotiably. irrevocably.

GOD SAW IT ALL – HE SAW ALL YOUR SIN AND YET YOU HOLD UNFORGIVENESS TOWARD ANOTHER. IF you want to be forgiven, you MUST forgive. Do it now (Mark 11:25-26). Begin by admitting aloud to God what He already knows – that you are pure evil and have sinned against Him innumerable times! cry out to Him for mercy and declare aloud that no one needs Jesus more than you do!

“Harboring unforgiveness against someone else is like drinking poison and hoping the other person dies.” unknown

The reason people have a hard time forgiving, is that they’ve not yet been brought to the place in God to realize just how wicked THEY themselves are – and how merciful God was when He sent His only begotten Son to die for them “WHILE we (they) were yet sinners.” (Romans 5:6-8)

Outside of Christ’s righteousness, YOU are utterly wicked and depraved in the eyes of a holy God (Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 3, 7). When this finally sinks down into your heart, you will immediately and freely forgive all you’ve harbored ill will against – in utter forgiveness. This breaking all begins when we repent (Acts 3:19).

The sins that should concern us the most, are our own!

People who don’t forgive simply do not realize just how wicked they themselves are.

God will not forgive the sins of any person who refuses to forgive all others – from their heart (Matthew 18:21-35; Mark 11:25-26, etc.). Unforgiveness is non-negotiably, irrefutably, soul damning sin.

Forgiveness is a Non-Negotiable Essential for having a relationship with the LORD and going to Heaven.

ANYone who doesn’t forgive EVERYone is going to hell irrevocably! Matthew 18:21-35

GOD mercifully forgive each of us, His children, not on our own merit or behalf, but rather on the perfect behalf of Christ Jesus! He now requires us to freely forgive all others as He mercifully forgave us. Non-negotiably saints.

We shall not receive divine mercy unless we freely show it to others (Mark 11:25-26). And anyone who denies this calls the son of God a liar.

Father, please forgive my hardness of heart, my obstinance, my heart rebellion. Please forgive my gross sins and grant this heart to be a heart of flesh dear LORD. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“Unforgiveness is poison to your soul. I see many who think by holding hatred and anger they are hurting the person they are mad at! But it damns their own soul! And will destroy you from the inside out! That is God’s judgment if we choose not to forgive.” Karen Cochran

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant:  A Parable is Simple an Earthly Story with a Heavenly Meaning. Matthew 18:21-35

Mat 18:21  Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 
Mat 18:22  Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. 
Mat 18:23  Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 
Mat 18:24  And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 
Mat 18:25  But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 
Mat 18:26  The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 
Mat 18:27  Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 
Mat 18:28  But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. 
Mat 18:29  And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 
Mat 18:30  And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 
Mat 18:31  So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 
Mat 18:32  Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 
Mat 18:33  Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 
Mat 18:34  And his lord was wroth (furious), and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 
Mat 18:35  So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. 

Forgiving others is essential to answered prayer. It’s a non-negotiable, divinely required condition.

“Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. 25 And when ye stand praying, FORGIVE, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” Mark 11:24-26 

Clear it all out…. the past is the past saints … “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:31-32)

God forgave us in our wickedness, “while we were yet sinners”, on the basis of Christ’s righteousness and in spite of our own evil, sinful state (Romans 5:6-8). Now, as His children, we are non-negotiably commanded to freely forgive all. If we don’t, the Father will not forgive us and if we die that way, we shall perish irrevocably (Mark 11:25-26).

ALL it takes to go the eternal hell is to not forgive just 1 person (Matthew 18:21-35; Mark 11:25-26).

You are not forgiven if you don’t forgive – all, from your heart.

When we realize just how “desperately wicked” WE ourselves are outside of the present saving mercy of God, then will we freely forgive all others (Jeremiah 17:9).

IF THE LORD ISN’T A GOD OF MERCY, WE’RE ALL IN TROUBLE…. SELAH. GIVE OUT MERCY LIKE YOU NEED IT – BECAUSE YOU DO!!!

AS you were shown mercy in your sin, God requires that you show mercy to all others – and if you don’t, you lose His divine mercy. Repent. Acknowledge your own utter wickedness and myriad of sins before God in true repentance, and forgive all – now. Memorize James 2:13 now. 

“For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.” James 2:13

A sure way to bring judgment on ourselves is to judge another while we have sin in our own life (Matthew 7:1-5; James 2:13). Repent now.

PRAYER: Dear heavenly Father, I come to You as a vile sinner in and through the precious blood and name of Jesus Christ. I am guilty of infinite sin before You and here and now express to You my thanksgiving for sending Your only begotten Son to die on that cross for me, for my sin of which I am 100% guilty. There is no good thing in me except You LORD Jesus. I am not good but You are dear LORD. Having been freely forgiven by You LORD, I have no business not forgiving all others. In light of how You’ve mercifully forgiven me, I fully understand that You will damn my soul to eternal hell if I refuse to forgive all others of all offenses. Jesus please rebuke and break me to the core of my being, taking away all hardness of heart and granting to me a heart of flesh. Please fill me with Your love Father, in Jesus’ name, amen.

Forgive as You Have Been Forgiven with Todd Tomasella and Frank Telford [podcast]Forgiveness | Mercy | The Daily Cross

Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison MinistryMexico Mission here | All Ministry Updates | Because You Care Page | The Greatest of these is CharityBe Ready in the Morning [podcast]The Sure Mercies of David [podcast]That Repentance and Remission of Sins should be Preached [podcast]At His Feet | Prepared to be Used of God Walking with Jesus on His Stated Terms – the Cross | Fasting and PrayerThe Old Man Must be Put Down [podcast]The 5 Sins That Keep God’s People Out of Their Promised Land [podcast]What Did Paul Mean by “I Keep Under My Body”? [podcast]“Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith” [podcast]A Living Sacrifice unto God [podcast]Departing from Hell BeneathPrayer

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