For those of you who are comfortable and fulfilled in your cushioned pew each Sunday morning, evening and Wednesday night, this post may not be for you, however, it maybe for one of your friends or family members. Maybe you will be the one to show the next person love rather than rejection keeping them in the fold.
This is a call to all who have lost their religion or believe it has been taken away.
Have you given up praying because someone told you that God would not hear your prayers?
Have you committed a sin that you believe in unforgivable?
Have you been told that you cannot hear from God on your own because of your sin?
Have you been ex-communicated from your church?
Has a church leader asked other church members to ostracize you?
Do you believe that Jesus Christ is your savior and you have been told you are not saved?
If you answered yes to any of these questions you may have been somehow rejected by a religious group calling themselves “the church”. Jesus said this about some religious leaders,
“They tie up heavy bundles which are difficult to carry, and they dump them on people’s shoulders – but they themselves aren’t prepared to lift a little finger to move them!” Matthew 24:4 NTE
The only important question to ask your self is:
“Do you believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins? Do you believe that Jesus is your savior?”
If the answer is “yes” then here is the Good News! Jesus is your savior and you are saved. Start praying now! He is waiting to hear you, welcome you, forgive you and comfort you. Here is the proof.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life”. John 3:16
You are hoping God will find it in His heart to forgive you but you don’t really believe it is possible.
“But with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26 NLT
What you have done was seemingly unforgivable. These “sins” can range from murder to drinking coffee and anything in between. It all depends on our perspective, our upbringing and what we have been taught by our native religion. Your sins can be forgiven, no matter what they are.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”. 1 John 1:9
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God John 3:18 ESV
“Even if our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.” 1 John 3:20
Remember that Jesus came to free us from sin not condemn us. You are not condemned. If you feel guilty and condemned and oppressed because of something in your past this is not of God. The scriptures say that if our hearts, in other words our own conscience, condemns us God is greater than our own conscience. You may feel convicted and when you ask for forgiveness it will be given and you will feel a sense of peace. That is how you know it is of God. Pray for forgiveness, accept His forgiveness and His peace, and let it go.
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1 ESV
He no longer remembers your sin so neither should you.
“For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” Hebrews 8:12 ESV
We cannot offer you a congregation that will love and accept you. We wish we could. We can show that you are part of THE Church that Jesus established of His followers.
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” Colossians 3:15 NIV
Throughout the Bible the “body” refers to the believers of Jesus or some refer to us as the church.
“Christ is the head of the church, which is his body.” Colossians 1:18
The church that Jesus established when he was here on Earth, died on the cross and rose again on the third day. Our living God, Jesus Christ loves you. If you love Him and believe in Him you are a member of His church. He came down here to free you from your sin. He died that day to pay the penalty for your sins even before you were born and even had the chance to commit any sin. Please do not let church leaders who may not understand peace themselves keep you from seeking God.
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.Romans 8: 38-29
In our world of turmoil and angst you can seek and find peace in Jesus Christ. If you find a leader of a church who does not have this signature of peace on their life they may not be representing the God we read of in the Bible.
“Yes, the way to identify a tree or a person is by the kind of fruit that is produced.” Matthew 7:20 NLT
22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law”. Galatians 5:22-23
So when listening and believing leaders look for these attributes and you will know if they are of God of the Bible.
We urge you to spend time every day reading the Bible especially the New Testament. Read it and know it for yourself. Only you can forge a relationship with the Almighty. You can’t buy it, be born into it, or have it given to you by others nor can it be taken away. If you are reading this whole article it must be clear to you by now that God wants you. He loves you and He wants to hear from you and to love you. You need only to open the door through prayer and let Him in.
For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:8
Accept His gracious forgiveness and begin your life with inner peace. This doesn’t mean that all your problems will cease. We still live in a fallen world but you can have peace in year heart.
6“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
I happened upon this scripture one day. Reading the Bible in Balboa Park in San Diego, CA. I had never heard of it before or heard anyone preach about it. I found it through personally reading of the Bible and it has changed everything about my life ever since. It is THE path to peace. No church, no leader, no speaker, no family member or friend can get you where you want to go. If you follow this scripture you are THE Church. No matter what anyone else tells you, you are the body of Christ.
