Romans 3:25-26

God put [Christ] forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus.

Introduction

One of the reasons it is hard to communicate biblical reality to modern, secular people is that the biblical mindset and the secular mindset move from radically different starting points.

What I mean by the secular mindset is not necessarily a mindset that rules God out or denies in principle that the Bible is true. It’s a mindset that begins with man as the basic given reality in the universe. All of its thinking starts with the assumption that man has basic rights and basic needs and basic expectations. Then the secular mind moves out from this center and interprets the world, with man and his rights and needs as the measure of all things.

Zechariah 7:4-6 (The Message)

God-of-the-Angel-Armies gave me this Message for them, for all the people and for the priests: “When you held days of fasting every fifth and seventh month all these seventy years, were you doing it for me? And when you held feasts, was that for me? Hardly. You’re interested in religion, I’m interested in people.

I have often heard (and probably often remarked) that the ‘worship wasn’t my style’ or ‘wasn’t to my taste’. Doesn’t it show what a shallow view we have of worship?

There are many addictions that destroy men souls.
These are the bad habits that can not be control.

When one’s life isn’t completely surrendered to Jesus, sin has a stronghold.
It may be hidden now but will be revealed when negative behavior unfolds.

The fruit of the lips tells what is in a man’s heart.
When he doesn’t speak God’s word, his faith will depart.

If a man can bridle his tongue, his body will follow.
This occurs when Jesus, the Bread of life, is tasted and swallowed.

Then there will be a change in his heart, a new standard is found.
The tongue will begin to be addicted to making a God pleasing sound.

This addiction is good and yet it is still beyond a Saint’s control.
Praising his God continuously, which is edification for his soul.

by
Kelvin Gilmore
www.poeticpersuasion.com