Blasphemy Against The Law!

Did you know that it is against the law to blaspheme in Massachusetts??

PART IV. CRIMES, PUNISHMENTS AND PROCEEDINGSIN CRIMINAL CASES

TITLE I. CRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS

CHAPTER 272. CRIMES AGAINST CHASTITY, MORALITY, DECENCY AND GOOD ORDER

Chapter 272: Section 36. Blasphemy

Whoever wilfully blasphemes the holy name of God by denying, cursing or contumeliously reproaching God, his creation, government or final judging of the world, or by cursing or contumeliously reproaching Jesus Christ or the Holy Ghost, or by cursing or contumeliously reproaching or exposing to contempt and ridicule, the holy word of God contained in the holy scriptures shall be punished by imprisonment in jail for not more than one year or by a fine of not more than three hundred dollars, and may also be bound to good behavior.

If the state were to enforce this law, would it not cause more people to see how they have transgressed the Holy Law of God - to whom they must give account on the day of judgement?

You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain. Exodus 20:7

The Gospel!!

Tony Miano does a wonderful job presenting the gospel to this young man! He clearly takes him through the law, points out why God's wrath abides on him, and then gives him the good news... the gospel!

Law to the proud, grace to the humble.

Jesus came to save sinners... that is, he came to save all - for all have sinned! When we repent of our sin, of our unbelief, of our self righteousness, and turn to Christ, crying out for mercy and putting our trust in Him - He will save. He will not turn them away who come to him broken and humbled!

"Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out." - John 6:37

No limit is set to the duration of this promise. It does not merely say, "I will not cast out a sinner at his first coming," but, "I will in no wise cast out. " The original reads, "I will not, not cast out," or "I will never, never cast out. " The text means, that Christ will not at first reject a believer; and that as he will not do it at first, so he will not to the last.

But suppose the believer sins after coming? "If any man sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." But suppose that believers backslide? "I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him. " But believers may fall under temptation! "God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. " But the believer may fall into sin as David did! Yes, but he will "Purge them with hyssop, and they shall be clean; he will wash them and they shall be whiter than snow"; "From all their iniquities will I cleanse them. "

"Once in Christ, in Christ for ever, Nothing from his love can sever."

"I give unto my sheep," saith he, "eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand." What sayest thou to this, O trembling feeble mind? Is not this a precious mercy, that coming to Christ, thou dost not come to One who will treat thee well for a little while, and then send thee about thy business, but he will receive thee and make thee his bride, and thou shalt be his for ever? Receive no longer the spirit of bondage again to fear, but the spirit of adoption whereby thou shalt cry, Abba, Father! Oh! the grace of these words: "I will in no wise cast out."

- Charles Spurgeon

The Lonliness Of Christ

There never was anyone in all humanity so lonely.

He was alone in holiness. How the sin of his disciples and those around him must have grieved him. How their arguments about who would be the greatest must have wearied him who was infinitely greater than all!

He was alone in righteousness. There is no one who does right, no not one. He had no other companion, no other man to the right of him. All were to the left.

He was alone in wisdom and understanding. He had much to say but they could not bear it, or even hear it.

He was alone in truth. He understood, comprehended, beheld and experienced the truth in all its glory but had no one of like greatness to share that with, no one who could comprehend.

He was alone in ministry. Every single person that came to him needed or wanted something from him. He borrowed nothing from them but supplied them with all. Like beggars to a rich man!

He was alone in companionship. As the Father declared during the creation of the world that it is not good for man to be alone, so it is that we were designed to have a help mate. An intimate companion. A husband or wife.

He was alone in zeal. There was no one else who share the same passion, the same zeal, the same fire for glorifying God, for preaching Truth, for proclaiming freedom to the captives and sight to the blind!

He was alone in prayer. No one could pray as Jesus prayed, no one could pray alongside him as his equal (that is why the disciples said - teach us how to pray Lord). He often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

He was alone in temptation & testing. No one from the beginning of time until now has been tempted & tested with such intensity, such persistence, such relentlessness, to the point of bloodshed when praying in the garden of Gethsemane.

He was alone in suffering. His appearance was marred more than any man. No one (I believe) has ever suffered worse physical punishment that our Lord.

He was alone in death. Crucified outside of the city, amongst the refuse in the dump. Naked, torn, hung on a tree. Forsaken by man and forsaken by God!

As we become more like Christ, we will in greater degree share in his loneliness. There will be less who understand, less with that intensity, passion and zeal, more who take, more who misunderstand, more who accuse, more resistance, more suffering, more testing, trial and temptation…

Christ had only one to rest in, one to lean on, one through whom and by whom he was able to accomplish all he was sent to do... the Father. So it will be with those who are becoming increasingly more like Christ. There will be no one else that satisfies, no one else that strengthens, no one else that encourages, no one else that teaches...but the Father through his Holy Spirit

An Inexhaustible Fullness

"Yes, He is very precious to you who believe!" 1 Peter 2:7

Christian! Jesus is your Savior, your Friend, and your Portion!

You are guilty: His blood cleanses from all sin.
You are miserable: He is rich in mercy.
You are helpless: He is mighty to save.
You are impoverished: His riches are unsearchable.

His treasures of grace are inexhaustible! There is an inexhaustible fullness in Him, answerable to all your necessities—be they ever so many, or ever so great. He is the ever-flowing, the over flowing fountain of living waters. He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can ask or think. It has pleased the Father, that in Him all fullness should dwell. Indeed, we have all received grace after grace from His fullness. His kindness and mercy are unbounded.

If the kindness of men has a tendency to win your hearts—how much more should the infinite love of Jesus constrain you to love Him! He is precious in the glorious perfections of His person, His transcendent worth, and His all-surpassing excellency. Surely then, it is reasonable, it is highly proper—that He should be chief the object of your love!

All that is excellent, all that is desirable, all that is comforting—is concentrated in Him. He is fairer than the children of men, the chief among ten thousands, and altogether lovely! O how unspeakably—how infinitely precious! "Yes, He is very precious to you who believe!" 1 Peter 2:7

Love to Jesus is maintained and continued in its warmth and fervor—by frequent meditation on His adorable person, His dying love, and His infinite excellence and preciousness. If we lose sight of Him as the spring of all our happiness, and of His ineffable glories—the fervency of our love for Him will be abated.

If Jesus Christ is so superlatively precious in Himself, we have reason to be ashamed that we love Him no more. Alas! how languid are our affections towards Him who is altogether lovely—and how easily are our hearts captivated with vanities and trifles! This is matter of deep humiliation, grief, and sorrow.

(John Fawcett, "Christ Precious")

God vs Man!

(The earth in comparison to the sun)

I saw this photo the other day on the NASA website and it reminded me of something... how small and weak we are compared to how big and powerful God is!

For all those who are apart from Christ, don't think you are going to stand boldly before the throne of God on the day of judgement! Because of your sin will be like a wax figurine standing in front of a blast furnace.

In fact, the bible declares that on that day every knee shall bow and every tongue confess Jesus Christ is Lord!

Think about it... God in his sovereignty has declared that every knee shall bow. Man in his sinful rebellion proudly asserts "I shall never bow my knee to you God!" The result: Man makes a decision to spurn the kindness of God and refuses to bow his knee under grace, but will be forced to bow his knee under sentence of the law and judgement.

So what will happen? Man will melt like a wax figurine in front of a blast furnace!

Grace Gems

If you haven't already stumbled across these guys in cyber space... it is well worth your time to subscribe to their daily devotional email.

Their purpose...

To humble the pride of man,
to exalt the grace of God in salvation
and to promote real holiness in heart and life.

http://www.gracegems.org

Amazing Love

And can it be that I should gain
an interest in the Savior’s blood!
Died he for me? who caused his pain!
For me? who him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be
that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?
Amazing love! How can it be
that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

’Tis mystery all: th’ Immortal dies!
Who can explore his strange design?
In vain the firstborn seraph tries
to sound the depths of love divine.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
let angel minds inquire no more.
’Tis mercy all! Let earth adore;
let angel minds inquire no more.

He left his Father’s throne above
(so free, so infinite his grace!),
emptied himself of all but love,
and bled for Adam’s helpless race.
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
for O my God, it found out me!
’Tis mercy all, immense and free,
for O my God, it found out me!

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
thine eye diffused a quickening ray;
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
my chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed thee.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in him, is mine;
alive in him, my living Head,
and clothed in righteousness divine,
bold I approach th’ eternal throne,
and claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th’ eternal throne,
and claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Peace With God!

I have peace with God,
I'm not afraid,
Without a doubt my debts been paid,
By faith I trust,
His Son He Gave,
I do not fear death or the grave,
Died once for all,
It is complete,
His blood upon the mercy seat,
Amazing grace,
A wretch like me,
Saved from death, in Him, set free!

You will never have the peace of God until you have peace with God through his Son Jesus Christ!