IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S PREACHING THE GOSPEL, BUT IT DOESN'T

IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S PREACHING THE GOSPEL, BUT IT DOESN'T

Josimar Salum

   I watched a famous preacher who said that our goal is to be like Jesus. I was thrilled until a minute later I was disappointed. He then said with the support of a large crowd that filled the theater ‘that it is very difficult to be like Jesus.’

   But how difficult is it if it is the work of the Holy Spirit? How difficult is it if for God everything is possible?

   Yes, it is very easy to be like Jesus. This work is His.

   “But we all, with open face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2Corinthians 3:18

   IT IS BY THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD THAT WE ARE TRANSFORMED FROM GLORY TO GLORY INTO THE SAME IMAGE.

   “And in the same way also the Spirit helps our weaknesses; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings that cannot be uttered.

   And he who examines the hearts knows what the intention of the Spirit is; and it is he who according to God intercedes for the saints.

   And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called by His decree.

   For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.

   And those whom he predestined, these he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified.” Romans 8:26-30

   “See how great love the Father has given us: that we should be called children of God.

   Therefore, the world does not know us, because it does not know it.

   Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet manifest what we will be.

   But we know that when he appears, we will be like him; because we will see it as it is.

   And whoever has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he also is pure.” 1John 3:1-3

   And continuing to watch it the next thing I heard is that we are all bad, gossipers, etc. We are Christians, but we are bad. My God! Why does this legalistic religion still is taught by best speakers in the country?

   What does the Word say? One should not appear to be preaching the Gospel, he must preach it.

   “Whoever abides in Him does not sin; whoever lives in sin has not seen him nor known him.

   Whoever practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning since the beginning.

   For this purpose the Son of God manifested himself: to undo the works of the devil.

   Whoever is born of God does not live in the practice of sin; because his seed remains in him; and he cannot live in sin, because he is born of God.” 1John 3:6, 8-9

   “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God?

   Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who have sexual relations with men, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor alcoholics, nor slanderers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

   Some of you were like that.

   However, you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” 1Corinthians 6:9-11

   We were like that. We lived like that. We are no longer. If we are indeed saved and therefore we are children of God.

   “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the children of God.

   For you did not receive the spirit of slavery, to be in fear again, but you received the spirit of adoption as sons, by which we cry: Abba, Father. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God.

   And, if we are children, we are, therefore, heirs too, heirs of God and co-heirs of Christ; if indeed we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified with him.”

Romans 8:14-17

   “In this love is perfect toward us, so that on the Day of Judgment we may have confidence; because, as HE is, so are we in this world.” 1John 4:17

   “And he quickened you, when you were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked, according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, according to the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience; among whom we also all formerly walked in the desires of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and we were by nature children of wrath, like others also.

   But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together with him, and made us sit on the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus;

   For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:1-6, 10

   “But God proves his love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

   Therefore, much more now, being justified by his blood, we will be saved from wrath through him.

   For if we, being enemies, were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” Romans 5:8-10

   “He made him who knew no sin to be sin for us; that in him we might be made the righteousness of God.” 2Corinthians 5:21

   If you are still a gossiper, evil, adulterer, or anything else, “Examine yourselves whether ye continue in the faith; prove yourself.

   Or do you not know, as for yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? If not, you are already disapproved.” 2Corinthians 13:5

   Lord Jesus, I humble myself and ask that You give understanding to Your sons and daughters, so that they may believe in Your Word, and live a life by Your Spirit.

   #ASONE