Chapter 6
Magnify the Lord
He’s Come to Deliver
FROM SOMETHING TO SOMETHING
Isn’t this an awesome thought? He’s come to deliver. This is a
wonderful truth that brings deep comfort to our souls. Knowing
Jesus as the Deliverer helps us to see one of the most significant
reasons for His coming. When we ponder and meditate on the very
idea of a Redeemer who came to save, we can’t get past the fact it
speaks of a Deliverer. Why a deliverer?
When deliverance is needed, isn’t it always from something that
can harm or hurt us? Therefore, deliverance can only take place if
we have been delivered from that which is harmful to that which
is safe and secure. Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior, has come to
deliver God’s people. He’s come to deliver us from something to
something.
Today, in America, it is common to hear most people make the
claim Jesus is their Savior. We must ask them this simple but most
serious question: Can Jesus be a personal Savior without being a
personal Deliverer? I must say no!
IT’S NOT ABOUT US
On every street corner and in most neighborhoods we often find
people who profess to be saved and acknowledge their connection
with the “church.” The fruit in their life will bear witness against
them and reveal they have actually put their personal faith in a
specific prayer they prayed, an action they did, a preacher, or even
their own faith. The problem with placing faith in these things is
that it won’t deliver anyone from sin. Faith is only worth the object
in which it is put. Faith is valued by God in its origin. If God is not
the origin of grace-given faith, it has no eternal usefulness to Him.
The modern gospel advocated in America today has taught men they
have to do something in order to be saved. The Americanized gospel
(which is a false gospel) has been so effectively preached by the
masses that when the true gospel of the kingdom of God is preached,
it is distinctly rejected by the established church of America. Why
is it rejected? America’s gospel is universally man-centered. God’s
gospel is uniquely Christ-centered. This is one of the reasons why
the established church in America is having very little effect on the
secular culture. There are great claims of salvation everywhere we
turn, yet there is not much biblical evidence of individuals being
called out of this world and set apart by God who are worthy of
the gospel. This is exactly the point. Everyone lives out the gospel
that they’ve heard and believed. If it’s the Americanized gospel, the
marks of it will be upon them. If it’s the gospel of the kingdom of
God, the life of Christ will be manifested in their life. Everyone is
marked by the message they support and promote.
wonderful truth that brings deep comfort to our souls. Knowing
Jesus as the Deliverer helps us to see one of the most significant
reasons for His coming. When we ponder and meditate on the very
idea of a Redeemer who came to save, we can’t get past the fact it
speaks of a Deliverer. Why a deliverer?
When deliverance is needed, isn’t it always from something that
can harm or hurt us? Therefore, deliverance can only take place if
we have been delivered from that which is harmful to that which
is safe and secure. Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior, has come to
deliver God’s people. He’s come to deliver us from something to
something.
Today, in America, it is common to hear most people make the
claim Jesus is their Savior. We must ask them this simple but most
serious question: Can Jesus be a personal Savior without being a
personal Deliverer? I must say no!
IT’S NOT ABOUT US
On every street corner and in most neighborhoods we often find
people who profess to be saved and acknowledge their connection
with the “church.” The fruit in their life will bear witness against
them and reveal they have actually put their personal faith in a
specific prayer they prayed, an action they did, a preacher, or even
their own faith. The problem with placing faith in these things is
that it won’t deliver anyone from sin. Faith is only worth the object
in which it is put. Faith is valued by God in its origin. If God is not
the origin of grace-given faith, it has no eternal usefulness to Him.
The modern gospel advocated in America today has taught men they
have to do something in order to be saved. The Americanized gospel
(which is a false gospel) has been so effectively preached by the
masses that when the true gospel of the kingdom of God is preached,
it is distinctly rejected by the established church of America. Why
is it rejected? America’s gospel is universally man-centered. God’s
gospel is uniquely Christ-centered. This is one of the reasons why
the established church in America is having very little effect on the
secular culture. There are great claims of salvation everywhere we
turn, yet there is not much biblical evidence of individuals being
called out of this world and set apart by God who are worthy of
the gospel. This is exactly the point. Everyone lives out the gospel
that they’ve heard and believed. If it’s the Americanized gospel, the
marks of it will be upon them. If it’s the gospel of the kingdom of
God, the life of Christ will be manifested in their life. Everyone is
marked by the message they support and promote.
MAN-CENTERED
The American gospel communicates to its converts the need for
only a mental or intellectual acknowledgement that Jesus lived, died
for sin, was buried and rose again, and now lives to make intercession
for the church. He also will come one day and get the church to live
with Him forever. The problem with their message is rooted in their
focal point. They have made the ministry of reconciling sinners into
a global enterprise that promotes the message that sinners are sinners
and they can have both God and all the enticements of this world.
They have taken the message of reconciliation and made it marketable
and profitable to fit what the culture wants, not what they need.
Characteristically, the church of America has settled on gaining claims
of salvation in its pursuit to look successful and has utterly denounced
the power of Jesus Christ to unmistakably deliver a life from the power
of darkness into the unparalleled service of God the Father.
The American gospel communicates to its converts the need for
only a mental or intellectual acknowledgement that Jesus lived, died
for sin, was buried and rose again, and now lives to make intercession
for the church. He also will come one day and get the church to live
with Him forever. The problem with their message is rooted in their
focal point. They have made the ministry of reconciling sinners into
a global enterprise that promotes the message that sinners are sinners
and they can have both God and all the enticements of this world.
They have taken the message of reconciliation and made it marketable
and profitable to fit what the culture wants, not what they need.
Characteristically, the church of America has settled on gaining claims
of salvation in its pursuit to look successful and has utterly denounced
the power of Jesus Christ to unmistakably deliver a life from the power
of darkness into the unparalleled service of God the Father.
No comments:
Post a Comment