“And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey His Voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go.” Exodus 5:2
When properly delivered, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is an ultimatum; a demand of what God demands from the sinner AND the Saints…not a ‘diplomatic word’ which leaves room for compromise. It drives man to a choice and leaves no room for their excuse.
The world is ignorant of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified and will harden their neck towards His Ways as can plainly be seen in the world today. Just as Pharaoh knew not the Lord, neither do they. They are not lost because they reject Jesus as their Lord and Saviour but the reject Jesus as their Lord and Saviour because they are lost. A liar is not a liar because they lie, they lie because they are a liar.
“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but God now commands all men everywhere to repent.” Acts 17:30
When the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified is properly presented it will harden the heart as clay or soften the heart as wax. The rejection of the Cross of Christ by the world is done because of pride, self will or greed.
The world will at times accept the ‘theology’ of Jesus Christ and Him crucified but it is because of greed in their hearts. They have accepted the method as a means of prosperity by they have not accepted The Man, Jesus Christ, as their Lord and Saviour nor their. They simply sell the theology for gain. In order to sell the ‘theology’, the gospel presented must be diplomatic; it will not offend as an ultimatum offends. This diplomatic word is not does not seek to bring one to a decision but a compromise. Because these words appeal to flesh of man who doesn’t want to offend anyone and it appears ‘good’, the people pay a high price to support the aptly compromising ‘preacher of righteousness’ who is in reality from the pits of hell, anointed of the devil speaking lies in hypocrisy. They may have indeed started out well but their conscience has been seared.
The moral authority of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified has been a stumbling block for those who have an intellectual understand of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. They have a theological understanding but have rejected It’s moral authority over their hearts and lives. These are religious zealots that the world loves. Why? Because they are one of them. There was no ultimatum delivered unto them but a diplomatic word; another gospel and another Jesus. They are on every street corner seducing the young Christians; those who don’t yet understand the Scriptures (Proverbs 7). Jesus said suffer not the little children to come unto Him (Matthew 19:14). These children are not just young in age but young in the Lord.
When the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified is delivered among you, recognize the condition of your heart when it is heard. Does it harden or soften? It is the moral authority of the Gospel, that which calls us out from among the world and be ye separate that brings us to a point of decision. Do we submit unto God’s Ways or do we seek a diplomatic word from another?
Choose this day in whom you will serve. Submit unto the Lordship of Jesus Christ and Him crucified and be Saved or reject the Lordship of Jesus Christ. At Calvary’s Cross the penalty of sin was paid in full by Jesus Christ. Death has died at the Cross of Christ and we who have freely chosen to believe are freed from the penalty of sin and the power of sin. There is no more condemnation in death and sin’s dominion has been dethroned for those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. This is not based on an intellectual understanding of the theology but on a willing acceptance when presented with the ultimatum of Who Jesus is and What He did for whosoever will believe.
As for me and my house, we believe. Give us this day our daily bread, forgive us our debts…lead us not into temptation. Lord, we believe…help our unbelief.
-Donna Clark Warren
Living in The Spirit 