Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:18
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When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
What can we learn from Michael Jackson’s Life and Death?
1. It teaches us the dangerous power of idolatry.
2. It teaches us the reality that all flesh is like grass.
3. Enormous wealth is poisonous to flesh.
4. It confirms the Biblical Truth that fallen man is given to self-destruction.
5. It was the example of a WASTED LIFE.
6. Shows us that life is a vacuum outside of Jesus Christ.
7. Is a great reminder that it’s been given unto man once to die and then the judgment.
8. It teaches us the vanity of popularity.
9. It reminds us of how short life really is.
10. Teaches us that in the end, he is just another man.
The couple seconds of music at the start is from the song No Hope in Time by Jason Bellard
Who may ascend the hill of the LORD ? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God his Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob. – Psalm 24:3-6
The nest was destroyed, and the poor bird lay bleeding and exposed!
“I thought: Surely I shall die in my nest!” Job 29:18
Job’s nest was very comfortable–and appeared to be very secure. It was on high–and not to be easily reached. He knew that death could reach it–but he thought that nothing else would disturb it.
His conduct was consistent,
his conscience was quiet;
God was his Father, and
providence was his friend.
“I thought: Surely I shall die in my nest!”
But, alas! Suddenly a ‘storm’ arose–the nest was destroyed, and the poor bird lay bleeding and exposed!
No earthly nest is out of danger! Temporal comforts are only lent to us. The higher the tree in which we build–the more exposed to the whirlwind and the storm!
Here on earth–we have no continuing city. In one moment–our fine nest may be devastated! Let us therefore endeavor to leave our matters fully with the Lord–and learn to be content with His appointments.
We must die. But when, and where, and how–should be left with the Lord.
Five minutes after death–it will matter very little whether we died on a bed of down, in a luxurious mansion, and surrounded by kind friends–OR as a poor diseased beggar, dying alone in squalor!
Present comforts may all leave us, and our soft nest may be scattered to the winds–but nothing can disturb our salvation and future glory!
“These all died in faith–and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth!” Hebrews 11:13
“They were longing for a better country–a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a heavenly city for them!” Hebrews 11:16
The nest was destroyed, and the poor bird lay bleeding and exposed!”I thought: Surely I shall die in my nest!” Job 29:18
Job’s nest was very comfortable–and appeared to be very secure. It was on high–and not to be easily reached. He knew that death could reach it–but he thought that nothing else would disturb it.His conduct was consistent,his conscience was quiet;God was his Father, andprovidence was his friend.
“I thought: Surely I shall die in my nest!”But, alas! Suddenly a ‘storm’ arose–the nest was destroyed, and the poor bird lay bleeding and exposed!No earthly nest is out of danger! Temporal comforts are only lent to us. The higher the tree in which we build–the more exposed to the whirlwind and the storm!Here on earth–we have no continuing city. In one moment–our fine nest may be devastated! Let us therefore endeavor to leave our matters fully with the Lord–and learn to be content with His appointments.We must die. But when, and where, and how–should be left with the Lord.Five minutes after death–it will matter very little whether we died on a bed of down, in a luxurious mansion, and surrounded by kind friends–OR as a poor diseased beggar, dying alone in squalor!Present comforts may all leave us, and our soft nest may be scattered to the winds–but nothing can disturb our salvation and future glory!
“These all died in faith–and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth!” Hebrews 11:13″They were longing for a better country–a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a heavenly city for them!” Hebrews 11:16
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ – Matthew 7:21-23
These Olympians, how, how majestic they are, but only for a moment.
They start training when they are four and five years old, they never do anything but train until they’re twenty two, they run a nine second race for a medal they hang up and that’s it!
Cannot, you give equal for eternal things?
Look What God Had Done For Us – Tom Rayborn
Romans 5:8 – But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died FOR US.
Romans 8:26 – In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes FOR US with groanings too deep for words.
Romans 8:31 – What then shall we say to these things? If God isFOR US, who can be against us?
Romans 8:32 – He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up FOR US all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
Romams 8:34 - Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes FOR US.
I Corinthians 8:6 - Yet FOR US there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.
I Corinthians 10:6 – Now these things happened as examples FOR US, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.
II Corinthians 4:17 – For momentary, light affliction is producingFOR US an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.
Galatians 3:13 – Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse FOR US; for it is written, Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.
Ephesians 5:2 - And walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave Himself up FOR US, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
1 Thessalonians 5:10 - Who died FOR US, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.
Titus 2:14 - Who gave Himself FOR US to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
Hebrews 6:20 - Where Jesus has entered as a forerunner FOR US, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Hebrews 7:26 – For it was fitting FOR US to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens.
Hebrews 9:24 – For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God FOR US.
Hebrews 10:20 - By a new and living way which He inauguratedFOR US through the veil, that is, His flesh.
Hebrews 11:40 - Because God had provided something better FOR US, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.
1 John 3:16 – We know love by this, that He laid down His life FOR US; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
1 John 4:16 – We have come to know and have believed the love which God has FOR US; God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
Isn’t it amazing what God has done FOR US ?
-Tom Rayborn
The following is taken from Paul Washer’s Truth About Man Bible Study which is highly recommend for church Bible Study, families, homeschool or Personal Study.
The Sinfulness of Sin by Paul Washer.
To begin our study of man’s personal participation in Adam’s rebellion, we must have a correct understanding of the nature or character of sin. Therefore it is necessary that we study the many attributes and manifestations of sin as they are revealed in the Scriptures. In doing so, we will discover that sin is much more than an error in moral judgment, even much more than disobedience to some impersonal law.
Sin is a crime against the person of God. In our study we must do more than simply define terms. We must regain a biblical understanding of the sinfulness of sin. We live in a world and worship in churches that, for the most part, no longer understand the heinous nature of sin and so we must endeavor to rediscover what has been lost. Our understanding of God and of the greatness of our Salvation in Christ depends upon it.
Sin is Always against God
Sin is always first and foremost a sin against God and an affront to His person. To disobey a divine command is to clench the fist and wag it in the face the One who gives life to all and rules over all. Today, if people speak of sin at all, they speak of sin against man, or sin against society, or even sin against nature, but rarely do we hear of sin against God. A person is thought to be good, because they have good relations with their fellowman, even though they live in total disregard for God and His will. It is often asked how God can judge an atheist, who is a good man, and yet we are blind to the fact that any man who denies His Creator and renders nothing to the One who gives him all things cannot be good. The Scriptures record that King David lied to his people, committed adultery, and even orchestrated the murdered of an innocent man.
And yet when confronted with his sins, he cried out to God, “Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight” (Psalm 51:4). David knew that all sin is first and foremost sin against God. Until one understands this truth, they can never understand the heinous nature of sin.
Sin is Failure to Love God
The greatest of all sins is the violation of the greatest of all commands: “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). Christ declared, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments (John 14:15), therefore, all disobedience is a demonstration of our lack of love toward God. For this reason, when the apostle Paul sought to prove the depravity of mankind in the first three chapters of the book of Romans, he referred to Adam’s race as “haters of God” (Romans 1:30). No greater indictment could be made against fallen man. Not loving God is at the very heart of all rebellion. It should also be noted that a man might be very religious and conscientious of divine law and duty, and yet be a terrible sinner before God, if his obedience is prompted by anything other than love for God.
Sin is Failure to Glorify God
The Scriptures declare that man was created for the glory of God and that all that man does, even the most menial tasks of eating and drinking should be done for God’s glory (I Corinthians 10:31). For man to glorify God is for him to esteem the supremacy and worth of God above all things, to take joy in God and be satisfied in Him above all things, and to live before God with the reverence, gratitude, and worship that is due Him. Sin is the very opposite of glorifying God. When man sins he becomes the opposite of what he was created to be. A sinful man is a creature who has dislocated himself and perverted the very reason for his existence. He has replaced God with self and God’s will with self-determination. Paul the apostle writes, “When they knew God, they glorified him not as God,” and “They changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” (Romans 1:21, 25). Sin’s roots go much deeper that what is seen on the surface. It is man’s refusal to acknowledge God’s right as God. It is man’s determination to set himself above his Creator, usurp His throne, and steal His glory. Sin is fundamentally a refusal to glorify God as God, and it manifests itself anytime that man seeks his own glory above God’s.
Sin is Godless and Ungodly
The word godlessness denotes a refusal to acknowledge God as God, a desire to live a “godless” existence, free from His sovereignty and law. The word ungodliness denotes a refusal to be conformed to the character and will of God, a desire for moral depravity rather than likeness to God. It has been said that the greatest compliment that may be paid to another person is to desire to be “with” them and be “like” them. Sin reveals an inward desire to live “without” God and to be “unlike” God. This is a great affront to God!
Sin is Rebellion and Insubordination
In I Samuel 15:23 the Scriptures declare: “For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry…” The word “rebellion” is translated from the Hebrew word meri, which means to be contentious, rebellious, or disobedient towards. The word “insubordination” is translated from the Hebrew word patsar, which literally means “to press or push.” It denotes one that is pushy, insolent, arrogant, and presumptuous. There are no small sins, because all sin is rebellion and insubordination. To practice any form of rebellion is as evil as partaking in some pagan or demonic ritual. To practice any form of insubordination is as evil as partaking in gross iniquity or rendering worship to a false god.
Sin is Lawlessness
In I John 3:4, the Scriptures declare, “Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.” The word “lawlessness” is translated from the Greek word anomía [a = without, no + nómos= law]. To practice “lawlessness” is to live “without law” or as though God had never revealed His will to mankind. A person may “practice lawlessness” by openly defying the rule and law of God, or by simply being unconcerned and willingly ignorant. In either case, the person is showing contempt for God and His Law. The abominable nature of “practicing lawlessness” is seen in the fact that the antichrist is referred to as the “man of lawlessness” (II Thessalonians 2:3).
Sin is Treachery
The word “treachery” denotes a deceitful and unfaithful act against another. Throughout the Scriptures, treachery is seen as being an aspect found in all sin (Ezekiel 18:24), in rebellion (Isaiah 48:8), in forsaking the true God for idols (I Chronicles 5:25), and in any form of apostasy or turning away from God (Psalm 78:57). All sin a betrayal of the One who created us and lovingly sustains our lives.
Sin is an Abomination
If only one thing could be said about sin, it should be said that above all things sin is an abomination to God. An abomination before the Lord is a foul, disgusting, abominable thing. It is detestable and loathsome to God and an object of His hatred (Proverbs 6:16). In the Scriptures, all sin is an abomination and to sin is to act abominably (Ezekiel 16:52). Proverbs 28:9 declares that “He who turns away his ear from listening to the law, even his prayer is an abomination,” and Proverbs 15:8-9 declares that the lifestyle and sacrifice of the wicked are an abomination. All idolatry (Deuteronomy 7:25) and any unjust act (Deuteronomy 25:16) is an abomination before the Lord, as well as any person who is devious (Proverbs 3:32; 15:26), a liar (Proverbs 12:22), perverse in heart (Proverbs 11:20), or proud in heart (Proverbs 16:5). In Revelation 21:8, 27, the Scriptures conclude with the warning that the abominable and those who practice abominations will suffer eternal punishment.
Sin is Missing the Mark
The most common Hebrew word for sin is chata, which means to miss the mark, miss the way, or go wrong. In Judges 20:16, we read that the men of Benjamin could “sling a stone at a hair and not miss [chata], and in Proverbs 19:2, we read, “He who hurries his footsteps errs or misses the way [chata]. In the New Testament, the most common Greek word for sin is hamartáno, which may also be translated to miss the mark, err, be mistaken, or wander from the path. According to the Scriptures, the mark or goal toward which man is to aim is the glory of God. Any thought, word or deed that does not have the glory of God as its chief end is sin. It is important to note that sin [chata or hamartáno] is never seen as an innocent mistake or honest error, rather it is always a willful act of disobedience resulting from man’s moral corruption and rebellion against God.
Sin is Trespassing the Boundary
The word “transgress” is translated from the Hebrew word abar which means to cross or pass over, to pass through, or to by pass. To transgress God’s command is to go beyond what is permitted by God’s commands. It is to ignore the restrictions imposed upon us by God’s law and to run beyond its fence. In the New Testament, the word “transgress” is translated from the Greek word parabaíno, which means to go by the side of, to go passed, to pass over, or to step over. In Matthew 15:2-3 is found an excellence example of parabaíno: The Pharisees asked Jesus, “Why do your disciples break [parabaíno] the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” And Jesus answered them, “Why do you yourselves transgress [parabaíno] the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?
A massive battle that many true Christians face is getting joy from their performance and not from Christ… this is something that only leads to misery and failure. By God’s Grace alone may we all be truly, fully satisfied on what Christ has done, and stop focusing on ourselves.