The Only Thing We Have a Right to
I was listening to Tim Challies and David Murray talk about entitlement today and this stuck out to me. Right now we’re in a time where people think we’re entitled to everything we want. This quote is specifically from David Murray about the only entitlement that we truly have.
As a Christian, I believe in one entitlement.
I’m entitled to Hell. That’s the only entitlement I have. That’s all I deserve, because of my sin. Anything else is grace, an unmerited bonus from the God of all grace. I don’t deserve a breath of life, a crumb of food, a drop of water, a stitch of clothing, a cent in my wallet, or an hour of education. I’m not entitled to one friend, one vacation, one verse of Scripture, or even one sermon. I’m certainly not entitled to salvation and heaven. I’m entitled to damnation and Hell.
That sense of entitlement makes me seek mercy, receive mercy, enjoy mercy, and be merciful to others. To paraphrase the Apostle Paul, “What have I that I did not receive as a free gift of divine grace? How therefore can I ever boast as if I had actually been entitled to it or earned it?”
So, there are basically only two ways to live: with a proud and angry sense of entitlement or with a humble and thankful sense of responsibility.
To summarize, “The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).
You can listen to the full podcast on Challies website. It’s a quick listen, only about 14 minutes long, but very informative and packed with a lot of truth.
Read MoreWatch “180″ for free!
Ray Comfort from Living Waters has released his documentary, 180, for free! I’ve seen it twice already and it’s an excellent documentary. It’s about WWII, Abortion, the Gospel. Be sure to pass this movie along to your friends and family! You can also purchase the DVD on Living Waters to give away.
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Challies Loaded Kindle 3G Giveaway!
Tim Challies is giving away a brand new Kindle 3G loaded with all three of his books: The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment, Sexual Detox and The Next Story. Head on over to enter to win!
Read MoreThe sacrifice of Himself!
Read More“But now He has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, to remove sin bythe sacrifice of Himself!” Hebrews 9:26
These rich words still amaze me.
That word “sin” feels weighty to a sensible sinner.
But oh! that word “Himself!” seems a million times more weighty!
“Himself!” the mighty God, the precious Man Christ Jesus!
“Himself!” by whom all things were created, and for whom they exist!
“Himself!” whose smile is heaven, whose frown is hell!
“Himself!” whom all angels worship, and all devils obey!
“Himself!” the sacrifice!
Another such sacrifice could not be found! Sins as deep as hell and as high as heaven cannot overmatch it–for it is infinite! Sins of scarlet and crimson dye cannot resist its power–for it makes them whiter than snow!
See as as much as you can of the vileness of self, and the demerit of sin–yet “Himself” a bleeding sacrifice, exceeds it all! Here is the sweet-smelling savor, both to the Lawgiver and the lawbreaker. The Lawgiver is honored–the lawbreaker is saved!
See how He stands most lovingly, as with open arms, saying to every laboring, weary, heavy-laden sinner, “Come! Come unto Me, and I will give you rest! I still receive sinners, to the uttermost I save them, and never am weary of healing their backslidings, forgiving all their iniquities, and multiplying pardons–as they multiply transgressions against Me. I blot all out with My blood, and love them freely and forever!”
Sinner, will not this suffice? It will, if the Spirit applies it–and opens in a little measure, Himself and His sacrifice–in contrast to yourself and your sins. It will take eternity to know it fully; but that your heart may find rest and refreshing in it now, is my affectionate prayer.
“But now He has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, to remove sin by the sacrifice of Himself!”
(Ruth Bryan, “The Marvelous Riches of Savoring Christ!”)
He sat down.
“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.” – Hebrews 1:1-4 ESV
Hallelujah! What a great and magnificent savior Jesus is!
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