Continuing from earlier:
It is unfashionable in the extreme to speak of hellfire and damnation these days, for to do so forces us to stare into truth’s unblinking eye. It demands we confront the evil not only in the world and each other, but ourselves.
The truth about and reality of evil was confronted with the most brutal, direct action imaginable: human sacrifice. Further, this sacrifice was voluntary and for its purpose utterly necessary. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came down to this earth and was born in human form for the express purpose of paying the penalty for our sins, namely death, thus enabling sinful imperfect humanity to individually reconnect with the sinless perfect God.
The honest believer knows this and acts on it by never indulging in the forbidden luxury of acting as judge and jury over others, freely condemning them for their sins. They know nothing — nothing — stands between them and an eternity spent in hell as just punishment for their sins except the shed blood of Christ on the cross. With this in mind and heart, the honest believer acts along with speaking out of love and compassion for all, knowing there is no genuine difference between them and others who do not yet know Jesus. Indeed, this knowledge compels the honest believer to deepen their pursuit of living a holy life, ever reliant on God and always reaching out to others with love in the same way they have been touched by the love and grace of a living Savior.
However, to live in love and reach out in love does not mean benign acceptance of others where they are. Note it’s where they are, not as they are. Huge difference. The honest believer does not condemn others due to their sins — as they are — for as mentioned they know they are no better. That said, the believer also never hesitates to speak up and act upon their knowledge of sin’s ultimate destination, which is death and eternal separation from God. With this harsh reality pressing on them, the believer is even more compelled to speak and live out the truth about Christ; the need for everyone to come to Him and by doing so not remaining where they are.
More in the next post.
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[...] Continuing from the last post: [...]