While studying the Word of God, meditating on it and praying over it this morning, I once again realized how so many people in our world are trying to "reform" themselves and their behavior - which in and of itself is not a bad thing; however, reformation and doing better or doing good has never and will never convert a man to Christ and grant him entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven (GOD). He may be reformed outwardly but he will still be damned to eternal Hell, separated from God and the joys of Heaven forever because he was not been thoroughly changed inwardly by Christ. Oh dreadful and tragic thought...that a person would spend their whole life trying and working so hard and strive so much to make positive changes in their life; such as the addict who stops using, the thief who stops stealing, the greedy person who becomes generous and gives a vast portion of their wealth away to do good, the adulterer who breaks off his illicit relationship and stops being an adulterer to save his marriage and keep his family together, the sexually immoral who stops having sex outside of marriage ect., ect.; to do all of that with the best of intentions only to be ultimately cast into the eternal "Lake of Fire." (Revelation 19:20, 20:10, 14-15; 21:8). How terribly tragic and unnecessary! And it is unnecessary because there is REAL hope that yes they can change; that they can be transformed, but only when it is done inwardly and eternally by faith in Jesus Christ, through the power of the Word of God and the person of the Holy Spirit entering their lives.
The good news is that there is yet hope for them as there is for anyone who is still alive. Yes, there is GOOD NEWS! If I could I would shout it from the mountains high as well as in the valleys low; I would proclaim it on the city streets as well as in the gutters and places of darkness and despair where the drunkard, the thief, the glutton, the idolator, the prostitute, the homosexual and all who reject God dwell and hide in their shame. I would tell them with a broken heart and in love...there is good news...there is hope...there is help...but it is not in reformation or in your best efforts my dear ones...the good news is the gospel. And if they asked what the gospel is I would tell them as is summarized by the Wycliffe Encyclopedia , "The central truth of the gospel is that God has provided a way of salvation for men through the gift of His son to the world. He suffered as a sacrifice for sin, overcame death, and now offers a share in His triumph to all who will accept it. The gospel is good news because it is a gift of God, not something that must be earned by penance or by self-improvement" (REFORMATION) (Jn 3:16; Rom 5:8–11; II Cor 5:14–19; Tit 2:11–14).
The core or fundamental ingredients of the Gospel according to the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, is summarized as, the death, burial, resurrection, and appearances of the resurrected Christ. Note the four clauses introduced by the word that in bold type in verses 3-5 below:
I Corinthians 15:1 Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel that I preached to you, that you received and on which you stand, 15:2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 15:3 For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received—that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, 15:4 and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures, 15:5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve." (For more information refer to Bible.Org/what Gospel).
So, first I would tell them that they need Salvation and not reformation!
Secondly, I would tell them once they were saved they would experience "Sanctification" which is the transformation of their entire life by the power of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit who enters their hearts and lives upon the moment of their Salvation. And make no mistake about it...there is NO SALVATION where there is no evidence of SANCTIFICATION. What I mean is this, that when a person gets saved their life changes...the thief will steal no more, the addict will give up his or her addiction or habit for Christ, the prostitute will begin to respect herself and not sell her body for a day's wages, the homosexual will stop their immoral and sinful practices and live a life of holiness and purity before God...in other words...what ever their behavior, practice or sin that is contrary to the teaching of the Word of God...they will stop doing it. But not in their own power or by their own might and strength; but rather, in the power and might of God, the all-powerful, eternal, and life-changing God. The God whom I know and love as he has saved me. He has sanctified and transformed me and one day in the future I will reign with him in Heaven.
One final thought...Sanctification; that is, Transformation by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit), is a process and takes time. It is not a one time event whereby a person is so changed that they become perfect to never sin again. No! That is not true. HOWEVER, upon the moment of a person's SALVATION and the Holy Spirit entering their life, the person who truly believes WILL BE changed in their beliefs as well as their behaviors and there will be a life-long process of change that will take place as the person loves God and follows after Christ in obedience to him and to his word and will. For more information concerning Sanctification and what it means please refer to the following web page, The Shorter Catechism. On that page you will find a very good and thorough explanation of what I am referring to when I write of the SALVATION, SANCTIFICATION and TRANSFORMATION of a person who truly believes in Christ.
So, if you are trying ever so hard to do better and to be better and you are failing in your attempts. If you are trying to do something to earn your way to Heaven or to be good enough to go to Heaven. Forget it! You can and will never be good enough on the basis of your own works or by your own merit to receive, experience, and ENJOY eternal life. It can only be and will be accomplished through your placing your faith, trust and hope in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
If after reading this you have any questions please email me at haroldcameron56@gmail.com and I will feel honored to respond to your question or questions. Please allow me up to 3 days to respond to you by email. If you need to or wish to talk with me personally, PLEASE CALL ME between the hours of 10 AM and 5 PM, (I take a lunch from 12:30 to 1:30 PM) Monday-Saturday and I will gladly talk with you personally. You can feel free to call me other times and if I am available I will gladly talk with you. If you do not reach me personally please leave me a voice mail and I will return your call at my earliest opportunity.
Do not delay! If God is speaking to your heart today concerning your need for salvation...call upon the name of his son Jesus Christ today and ask him to save you. God will meet you any time and any place - no matter where you are or what you are - if only you will humble yourself, will cry out to him for mercy, and ask him to save you, confessing Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord and you will be saved.
Thanks for reading!
I am so amazed by his grace,
Harold
Philippians 1:21
Phone (267) 357-1292
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