Welcome back to another day of the daily scriptures. I welcome all those who believe in both God and Jesus, those who don't believe in any, and those who believe in God but not Jesus. God welcomes all.
Before we begin, let's take a minute of prayer.
...
Amen.
We were discussing the topic of God's strong love. We have learnt about how God sent His only Son to die so that we can be redeemed. We saw how God is always waiting for us to repent and how he will receive us with open arms when we repent, while also learning not to be like the oldest son in the story of the lost son, who is physically with the Father but not because of love.
Now we are going to see. The cornerstone of Christianity.
There is something about Christians that has been there since Jesus and is still here and is not going to go anywhere.
Lukewarmness.
75% of Christians are found to be Lukewarm.
What does Lukewarm mean? This is a state where something/someone is neither hot nor cold. Some people are neither hot in Christ nor cold.
Revelation 3: 15-16; I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth.
Jesus revealed to John during 95-96 AD. During this time, Jesus had just revealed to John a powerful lesson about being Lukewarm. If you stay neither hot nor cold, when the day of judgment is upon us, Jesus shall spit you out. And I pray for all my lukewarm Christians who are reading this book now to take a moment after this, look into your heart, and examine what state you are, hot or cold?
This was a warning from Jesus about lukewarm Christians, but for this sermon, I want us to go back into the book of Genesis. For us to understand the cornerstone of Christianity, we need to go back to the first sin committed on Earth. We all know the story of Adam and Eve. Adam was made by God to rule all of His previous creations. God gave him one commandment only. Never eat the fruit of the tree in the middle of the Garden of Eden. But Adam was lonely, so God took out a rib from him in his sleep and created a woman for him.
But in chapter 3, something happens. A snake comes to Eve one day and convinces her to eat from the fruit in the middle of the garden. And Eve, fully knowing that it was against God's law, still made the decision to eat the fruit.
Let's turn to Romans 7:7: What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, 'You shall not covet.
I bolded this because it is something we need to know. The law is not there to condemn; it is here to expose sin. Paul wrote, "I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law."
God put the law so that the devil can be exposed. The law is holy and does not kill or harm, but anything against the law is now sin.
Adan and Eve knew this, but they still ate the fruit. What do you think made the very people who were with God from creation sin against him like this? Was it the beauty of the fruit?
Genesis 3: 5; For God knows that when you eat from it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.
This is what got Eve. You will be like God.
What was the first sin?
Pride.
By who?
Lucifer.
This was the first sin in Heaven and on earth. Trying to be God.
This also catches many lukewarm Christians. When lukewarm Christians fall into temptation, they try to be their own gods.
After that sin, God kicked them out of Eden.
But then, 2000 years later, God appears to Abraham in Genesis 12: 1-2. He promises to bless all who bless Abraham and curse all who curse him. He finishes verse 2 with powerful words. And all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.
But another 2000 years go by, and the Israelites (descendants of Abraham) are still waiting for their promised Messiah. Then Jesus is born.
The gospel begins.
Jesus was born to a virgin woman
Lives a sinless life
Gets baptized and tempted by the devil
Teaches the poor
Heals the sick
Gets betrayed by one of his disciples
Gets denied by another
Gets beaten until he is beyond recognition
Gets hanged on a tree
Gets buried
Three days later
The tomb is empty
This is the gospel. In short. The birth, the life, the death, and the resurrection of Christ.
This is the cornerstone of Christianity.
Said so by Jesus himself.
Matthew 16: 15-18; "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter(rock), and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.
When Jesus said, on this rock, I will build my church, he didn't mean on Peter. He meant on the words he had just said. Jesus is the Christ. The son of the living God. Buddah is dead, Muhammed is dead. But Christ's tomb is empty.
This is where Christianity is set apart from other religions. We are built on the firm foundation that Christ is the Son of the living God and that he was sent here to take away the sins of the world.
John 1:29; The next day, John saw Jesus coming towardds him and said. "Look, the lamb of God who will take away the sin of the world!"
This was Jesus' mission and why?
Romans 5:18; Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people(Genesis 3), so also ones righteous act results in justification and life for all people.
We belive that because we sined when Adam sined. We were slaves to sin waiting for death, but God in his enternal love, gave us a second chance. He sent his only Son and he bought us back from sin. I will make a chapter dedicated to teach the mystry of the cross, but for now we should know that we are saved by God's grace through our faith.
You want to be saved from enternal damnation?
Have faith that God has sent his Son to save you and you are already saved.
And then after.
Matthew 28:19; Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy spirit.
Name, not names. One.
We will talk about that also.
For now, let's pray for the lukewarm Christians, the non-believes, and all thise misguided.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for this presious hour you have given us to talk about your word. We show you the lukewarm Christians here, Lord. Help them, draw them closer to you. Lord, may you help them off the fence they are on. Draw them closer to you through your enternal love and show them the light and the way. I show you the non-believers, may you reveal yourself to them. May they see your goodness, Lord. May they see you for who you truly are and may they know that you are love and have it in abundance.
In the mighty name of our Lord and saviour Jesus' Christ
Amen.
Thank you all for your continued support, may the Lord our God give you more blessings and may he be with you from here onwards.
Peace✌️