Is Repentance Necessary For Salvation?

                                                 Is Repentance Necessary For Salvation?

Matthew 3:1-12

 

Imagine one sunny evening when you were taking a stroll with your family on Boston Commons, a crowded park. All of a sudden, you heard a thundering voice saying, " You poisonous people, unless you all change your minds, you are all going to die and go to hell." You move closer to see a man wearing a goatskin, a leather belt around his waist, and holding a long stick. You hear him shout again, " The time has come for you to burn in hell!" What will you do?

You might think, here is another lunatic preaching a fire-and-brimstone message, and you will move on. If you were a state trooper, you might arrest him for causing public unrest. But that was not the case with this man, who preached a similar message over 2000 years ago.

Crowds from the whole region came to listen. The crowd included law enforcement officers, lawyers, religious leaders, tax officers, and a bunch of common people. The crowd's response indicates that his message resonated with them. Are you wondering who this commanding person was? What is his message, and how will it impact you? Matthew 3:1-12

I. Thunder in the Desert: John The Baptist.

            In 740 B.C Isaiah prophesied about John, referring to him as, "Thunder in the desert! Prepare for God's arrival! Make the road smooth and straight." Matt 3:3 (Isaiah 40:3). The Message. Another prophet, Malachi, 400 years before his arrival, said this of John, "See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. Malachi 4:5.

            So, when John arrived on the scene in the wilderness of Judea, people everywhere had been waiting for Elijah to come again. Seeing John wearing camel's hair clothing and a leather belt at his waist, people may have been amazed at the fulfillment of the prophecy. John ate a high-protein diet of Locusts and wild honey. By the way, the locusts were kosher food. Lev 11:22. John had one message to the crowds: "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven has come near."

            Let us break this very familiar yet not usually spoken sentence in the world today: "What is repentance?" Is it necessary for Salvation? Who should repent? What is the fruit of Repentance? What does it mean for the Kingdom of Heaven to have come near you?

II. What is Repentance?

The call to repent is a consistent theme throughout the Bible, yet it is so often ignored. Biblical Repentance is not feeling guilty and remorseful for wrongdoing. It is much more than that. In the Bible, the word repent means "to change one's mind." The Bible also tells us that true Repentance will result in a change in actions. The short biblical definition of Repentance is "a change of mind that results in a change of action."[1] To repent is to change our wrong ways of thinking about God, ourselves, and the world, and to return to God by faith, resulting in a life of right living that is pleasing to God and a blessing to many.

II. Is Repentance Necessary For Salvation?

To summarize Matthew 3:5-7, the crowds from Jerusalem and all Judea, and the whole region of the Jordan, came to John, confessing their sins and were baptized by John in the Jordan River. Many Pharisees and Sadducees also came to where John was baptizing, seeing them, John addressed them, saying: "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

This explains the connection between Repentance and Salvation. From the time Adam and Eve sinned against God in the Garden of Eden, the whole of humanity has turned away from God and deserves the wrath of God, resulting in us burning in hell forever.

But thank  God! Out of His great love and mercy for us, He calls us to repent and turn back to Him through the confession of our sins and receive forgiveness. We see this call to Repentance several times in the Bible, and it is clearly stated in Peter's address on the Day of Pentecost. Acts 2:37-38.

"When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Without any exception, Peter called all of them to repent. Repent from what?

Peter calls on people who rejected Jesus (Acts 2:36) to change their minds about that Sin and about Christ Himself, recognizing that He is indeed "Lord and Messiah." Even today, there are people who either willfully or unintentionally ignore and reject Jesus and what He came to offer them. Let's not take God's patience for granted and keep rejecting Christ. The Apostle Paul, who himself had a change of mind, said this to those who are willfully rejecting Christ.

Acts 17:30-31, "In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, for he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead."

The scriptures also tell us that this is the day of your Salvation. 2Cor 6:2. If you hear his word, do not harden your heart as you did in the past in your rebellion. Hebrews 3:7-8. Paul lays out the connection between Repentance and Salvation. The kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from Sin and results in Salvation. There's no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks Repentance, results in spiritual death. 2 Cor 7:10. NLT.

Let me share a story that explains why you need to repent now—Ex Eagle on the carcass of an animal in the river. Similarly, the Devil offers us Sin as very attractive and enjoyable. We are enticed by it! Some of us even think, "let me enjoy it for now." I can turn away from Sin whenever I want. But if we don't turn away from it and continue to live in it, we will perish in hell along with the Devil. The Devil never repents, and he is destined for hell, but you don't have to follow him. You can repent of your Sin before it is too late and escape from hell.

When you repent of your sins and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you will be saved from eternal destruction and have eternal life. Now do you see why Repentance is crucial? Yet some people think they don't need to repent because they are good people who do a whole lot of good to others, so God must be obligated to let them into heaven. It doesn't work that way!

IV. What Is the Process and the Product Of Repentance?

John the Baptist and Jesus later on preached the same message, saying, "Repent, for the Kingdom of heaven has come near you. (Matt 3:3, 4:17) We will deal with what it means for the Kingdom of heaven to have come near you later on. For now, let's look at the process and the fruit of Repentance. Our own efforts cannot manufacture Repentance; it is the gracious work of the Holy Spirit in the life of an individual, which begins with the conviction of Sin. (John 16:8)

Under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, we acknowledge that we have sinned against God, ourselves, and others, and confess our Sins to Jesus, asking for His mercy and Pardon. Jesus is always eager to forgive whatever Sin we may have committed and to offer us Salvation.

Then comes producing fruit in keeping with Repentance, according to John. What would that look like? John lays out a whole list of actions to follow after Repentance in Luke 3:11-12. A person who has repented of their sins and received forgiveness lives differently, being led by the Holy Spirit and following the Kingdom principles. Fruit of Repentance is counter-cultural!

You will no longer go with the flow of the culture of the world, but go against it because you belong to another Kingdom and serve the King of Kings, taking His orders.

A repentant person is generous with his resources and willing to share them with others who might be struggling. They live a life pleasing to God by producing the fruit of the Holy Spirit. (Gal 5:22-23). In closing, if you are hearing God's call to Repent, how will you respond today? Don't ignore that call. If you are already saved, how are you producing the fruit of Repentance?

 

 

 

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[1] https://www.gotquestions.org/repentance.html  

God's View On Immigrants (Exploring Matthew)

                                                     GOD'S VIEW ON IMMIGRANTS

                                                            

One of the most challenging assignments in my ministry was completing my Doctoral studies. I was greatly relieved when I completed it a few years ago. My dissertation was titled "Pastoring Small Churches Through Biblical Preaching." My thesis was that members of New England churches are not being true witnesses for Christ in their communities. Where lies the problem with their apathy and disengagement? Part of the reason is a lack of Biblical understanding of shepherding, which leads to a lack of biblical preaching and biblically illiterate witnesses. Is there Biblical illiteracy in the US? How does it impact our lives?

According to Life Way Research, "America has a literacy problem. Almost 14 percent of the adult population cannot read. But illiteracy isn't just a problem in secular society. A far worse kind of illiteracy affects the church: Biblical illiteracy." Only 20 percent of Americans read the entire Bible at least once. Only 22 percent systematically read through a section of the Bible daily. A third of Americans never read the Bible independently. This lack of Bible reading indeed has led to a lack of biblical doctrine."[1]

 

This is how Biblical illiteracy manifests among Christians. A pastor compiled a list of the top ten phrases we often use that are not in the Bible: God wants you to be happy. We are all God's children. God helps those who help themselves. God will not give more than you can handle. When you die, God gains another angel. The Devil made me do it.[2] Etc. These studies and my interviews with several pastors in New England and across the country have made me realize the need for Biblical Preaching. I endeavor to preach through the whole Bible. For the next several weeks, we will journey through the whole Gospel of Matthew. Matthew 2:13-23

I. Introduction to the Gospel Of Matthew

Matthew in the Bible was one of Jesus' disciples. Matthew's Gospel is the longest of the four, and some scholars believe it was the first to be written. Before Matthew became a disciple of Christ, he was a tax collector or "publican" in the town of Capernaum (Matthew 9:9; 10:3). Matthew is also called Levi, the son of Alphaeus, by Luke and Mark (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27).

In Hebrew, Matthew means "Gift of Yahweh." At the time, the Jews were under the Roman Empire's control. Publicans like Matthew were considered greedy, selfish, and traitorous. As a tax collector, he was viewed as a Roman agent. But all that changed when Jesus saw him at the tax office and called him, saying, "Follow Me." He got up and followed Him.

Some suggest that Matthew wrote this Gospel as early as 50 A.D. It was written for a Jewish audience. Matthew emphasizes Jesus as the promised Messiah. He validates Jesus as the King and legitimate heir to the throne of David by opening the Gospel with these words, "This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham." Matthew 1:1.

 

II. A Family's Escape from Danger At Night!

            One of the most controversial political issues in our country these days is "Immigration." Engaging in Immigration battles is breaking up families, churches, causing heartache, and at times loss of life. The scriptures don't give us specific policies on how we should conduct our Immigration, how many immigrants we should accept, or who should stay or leave. We leave that matter to the legislators and to the laws that enforce it.

However, the Bible does contain so many immigrant and refugee stories and shows us God's heart for immigrants and how we are to treat them. We begin our study of Matthew by looking at Jesus' family's escape to Egypt. After the birth of Christ. The angels have returned to heaven, and the shepherds to their fields. The Magi took another route to return to their home.

An angel appears to Joseph in a dream and gives him a message saying, "Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him." So Joseph got up and took the Child and His mother while it was still night and left for Egypt." Matt 2:13-14,(NASB).

Pay attention to the word flee from which we get the word "refugee," the one who flees. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees defines A refugee as someone who has been forced to flee their country because of persecution, war, or violence. A refugee has a well-founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group."[3]

 

The family of Jesus was forced to flee their hometown for fear of persecution at night. In modern times, we call them refugees in a foreign land. A Jesuit priest notes, "Did Joseph and Mary apply for official refugee status? Of course not. Those kinds of regulations were most likely not in effect. There may not have even been any borders at the time."[4]

After Jesus' family fled to Egypt, Herod's soldiers began the Massacre of killing male children two years and under. Matthew, under the inspiration of connecting the grieving mothers' loss of their children due to the Massacre ordered by Herod to the historical exile of Israel to Babylon. Matt 2:18, "A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more."

Jesus's family escaped from one danger and lived as refugees in Egypt. When the threat had passed, God told them to return to their homeland, but recognizing a far worse danger, they went and lived in Nazareth. Why did Jesus' family have to flee to Egypt and settle in Nazareth? All this happened to fulfil the scriptures. What does this mean to us? Do we hear the cries of the millions of refugees worldwide? God does! What provisions did God make for Immigrants?

III. God's View On Immigrants

When it comes to dealing with immigrants, we can be biased based on our political and cultural backgrounds. Let's be unbiased and non-judgmental and approach this matter from God's perspective. God's view of immigrants is far different than what you are used to. God created all people, male and female, in His image, and because of that, He loves all people.

Even more so, He views immigrants, the oppressed, and the harassed with kindness and compassion, and He made several provisions for them in the scriptures. Here is how God sees immigrants, refugees, strangers, and foreigners. He wants us to love them and be kind to them.

-Deuteronomy 10:18-19, "He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt."

-Zechariah 7:10 "This is what the LORD Almighty said: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another." Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.'

-Psalm 146:9, "The LORD watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked."

-Hebrews 13:5," Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it."

 

            Why do we care for Immigrants and refugees? Later in the Gospel, Jesus reminds us that whenever we "welcome the stranger," we welcome Jesus himself (Matthew 25:37). Refugees and migrants are our brothers and sisters, desperately in need of our help. Jesus' command to care for the strangers. Here are a few ways we can care for immigrants:

First, pray for all people (immigrants), leaders, and all those in authority, so that we might live in Peace. I Timothy 2:1-4. Second, be filled with the Holy Spirit and move in love, patience, and kindness towards Immigrants (Gal 5:22). February  17^th is celebrated as National Random Acts of Kindness Day. You don't have to wait until then; you can be kind to the immigrants today. Kindness goes a long way. Here are two acts of kindness that our family experienced when we first moved to the USA in 2005.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[1]  By Ken Braddy  LifeWay Research https://research.lifeway.com/2017/07/10/discipling-in-an-age-of-biblical-illiteracy/ 12-8-2023

[2] https://pastorchrisbass.wordpress.com/2017/09/19/thats-not-in-the-bible-10-unbiblical-statements-christians%e2%80%8b-believe-part-2/

 [3] https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2017/12/27/were-jesus-mary-and-joseph-refugees-yes/

2-5-2026

[4]  The Rev. James Martin, S.J., is a Jesuit priest, author, editor at large at America, and founder of Outreach.

 

Why Church Matters

                                                 Why Church Matters

As far as I can remember, I grew up in a small rural Lutheran Church in India. As a child, I was baptized by sprinkling water and later confirmed. At age eighteen, I got saved in the same Church and was baptized as an adult at a Pentecostal Church convention. I was very active as a youth in that Church, acted in Christmas dramas, led a Youth Group, and, on one Good Friday, preached my first sermon. Looking back, I have fond memories of that small Lutheran Church.

As a missionary with Youth With A Mission, I became a member of the Assemblies of God Church. I served and ministered in that Church. We got all three of our daughters dedicated there. We stayed with that Church for 20 years until we moved to the USA in 2005. After completing my theological studies, I have been pastoring two churches for over 16 years.

I love being part of a local church, not only because I am a pastor, but also because I am a sheep who needs to belong to a flock and be cared for by a kind shepherd. In India, when it comes to practicing religion, Hindus go to Temples, Muslims go to Mosques, Sikhs go to Gurdwaras, and Christians go to Churches weekly if not more. In the USA, many christians don't go to Church and deconstruct their faith. Some churches are neither christian nor a church. In this pluralistic country, does the Church really matter? How about a local Church, however small or big it may be? Today, we will look at Why Church Matters, what secular people say about the Church, and why we need to be committed to a local Church. Hebrews 10:19-25.

What is the Church?

Many people today have a wrong notion of the Church as a building and programs. The English word Church is a translation of the Greek word ekklesia, which is defined as "an assembly of called-out ones who gather for Worshipping God and fellowshipping with other believers. It is not necessarily a building. Biblically, we can regard the Church in two ways:

The Global and the Local Church. The Global Church refers to every believer in Christ who has ever lived. Every follower of Christ everywhere, regardless of denominational label, whether in a church building, a tent, or a little hut, is part of the Universal or Global Church.

The other way "church" is used is to refer to a local group or a specific place. Like the Church at Corinth, Ephesus, Philippi, or the Church that met in Lydia's home, the Church is used locally. It's used only four times in the Bible to refer to a general, universal sense. Almost every time you see the word "church," it refers to a specific group of believers in a specific locality.

Hope Church, First Baptist Church, Our Lady of Sorrows, etc., are not the Church in the sense of the Global Church. Rather, they are local churches, local bodies of believers.

The moment you give your life to Jesus, you are automatically a part of God's Global Church. But you don't become a part of a local church until you make that choice. Being part of a local Church is being part of a family. Every Christian needs a church family. Let us explore why the Church matters and why we really need the local Church.

I. The Church is a Meeting Place where the Living God is Worshipped.

            What are Mosques, Temples, Synagogues, Gurudwaras, and Churches called by the Government? Houses of Worship. Worshipping God dates back to Cain and Abel. (Gen 4:1-5). By looking at how they worshipped, we can see that God accepts only certain ways of worship.

and rejects others. In the OT, people worshipped God by offering sacrifices on the altars and in the Tabernacle, or the Tent of Meeting, a portable sanctuary, later on in the Temple.

Here is God's view of the Tent of Meeting: It was a place of regular offerings. A place where God met with Moses and the Israelites and spoke with them. He consecrated the altar, the tent of meeting, and the Levites and their sons. He dwelt among the Israelites and became their God. Exodus 29: 42-46. Local Church is a poor imitation of the Tabernacle or the Temple.

What happened in the Tabernacle, in the OT, I hope, also happens in a small way whenever God's people gather to worship God in a local Church. We offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, which is our true and proper worship. (Rom 12:1). David A. Currie notes, "Historically, the drama of Worship has followed a four-act model: 1. God gathers Us to himself. 2. God speaks to us through His Word. 3. God moves us to respond. 4. God sends us out to serve. God is the main actor in these four movements since Worship is God's Idea."[1]

When we gather for worship on Sunday mornings, I hope that we see these four acts of God. God consecrates and dwells in the hearts of people. We will sense God's presence among us. God will speak to us through His anointed servants and will send us out to be His witnesses.

II. When Everything Else Is Destroyed, God's Church Will Endure Forever.

There is only one thing that Jesus Christ is actively building is His Church. Matt 16:18, "And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Jesus has laid a foundation for a worldwide, indestructible Church on Himself. It is not a structural building in a certain location, but the Kingdom of God's people.

According to Paul, "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit."

Over the centuries, many have tried to destroy God's Church, and even today, many are trying to destroy it, but they have never succeeded. All believers together belong to that indestructible Global Church, but they gather locally to worship God and grow in their faith.

III. Why We Really Need The Local Church

            Though we belong to God's universal Church, we really need the local Church. "A local church is a visible, tangible, and real-world expression of the body of Christ," says Joshua Harris, in Why Church Matters.[2]  To become emotionally and mentally healthy, we need to be committed to a local Church. That is what even secular people are realizing these days.

Let's suppose you suffer from chronic physical or mental illness and are looking for one magic pill to fix it. What if a Harvard School of Public Health Professor says, "A pill of that sort exists, and prescribes it for you? Tyler VanderWeele notes, "The good news is that this miracle drug religion, and more specifically regular Church attendance, is in reach of most of us."

You might not have expected a Harvard professor to write you this prescription: "Church. Take once a week (or more) for better effects." Data has shown that people who attend religious services once a week or more are happier, healthier, and longer lived than those who don't."[3] I encourage you to attend Church every week and see how it improves your mental and physical health. For more on this, read this book "How Church Could (Literally Save Your Life)."

IV. Attending Local Church Regularly protects us from heresy in the Last Days.

            We are living in a world where there are so many conspiracy theories, including in the Churches. How can you combat these heretical teachings if you never attend the Church, hear wholesome teaching, and read God's Word? For that reason, as the Apostle Paul warned us, let us make it a habit to attend Church regularly, as the Day of the Lord fast approaches. Hebrews 10:24-25. In closing, the Church really matters because it is the meeting place where we worship God. When Everything else fails, God's Church endures forever. Attending a local Church protects us from heresy and promotes our emotional and mental health. 

 

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] David A. Currie, “The BIG Idea Of Biblical Worship.” Page 24

[2] Joshua Harris, Why Church Matters. Page 35

[3] Rebecca McLaughlin, How Church Could (Literally) Save Your Life,  Page 3. 

The Heart Of Christ For Sinners and Sufferers

                                        The Heart Of Christ For  Sinners and Sufferers

A few days ago, I had an interesting conversation with a young man in the Gym. He said, Francis, give me a  Word Of encouragement. I quoted from Philippians 4:4-6,  Rejoice in the Lord always, the Lord is Near, don't be anxious about anything, the Peace of God will guard your heart and mind, etc. He then said, " What about Matthew 11:28, which he heard a lot about while taking a course in catholic school on Bible doctrines, but he couldn't remember.

I couldn't remember what it said either, so I pulled out my YouVersion Bible on my phone, and we both read. Matthew 11:28, "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest." Which made me think maybe more people know about it or heard about it more than we can think and imagine. But how many actually pause, think, and respond to that open invitation coming from Jesus Christ, the one who created all things, including you and me.

             No matter who you are, whether young or old, poor or rich, educated or uneducated, citizens of the USA or immigrants, Christians or non-Christians, we are all weary and burdened. We carry daily burdens of guilt and shame, burdens of lack and want. We bear those burdens because of our poor choices and sometimes the poor choices of others.  

            The greatest burden of all burdens is the burden of Sin. Whatever your burdens are today, you don't have to carry them on your own. God is the burden lifter, and the carrier will do the heavy lifting. He is standing among us, giving us an open invitation to all people, for sinners and sufferers alike. The invitation is, "Come to Me, and I will give you rest." How do you respond?

Remember the story of the Pilgrims' Progress? "A Christian is carrying a heavy burden on his back—the weight of his sins—and doesn't know how to get rid of it. He's also struggling with the knowledge that his hometown, the City of Destruction, will soon be destroyed by a fire. When he tells his wife and kids this, though, they think he's delirious, and they mock and reject him.

Christian soon meets a man named Evangelist who tells Christian that he must escape the impending destruction and that he must flee by passing through a gate, called the Wicket-gate, in the distance. Taking Evangelist's advice to heart, Christian runs eagerly toward the gate, ignoring the cries of his family and neighbors, who think he's crazy. But he was not crazy; all the others were, he was wise, running to get rid of his burden of Sin.

As the story progresses, bearing his burden with great difficulty, Christian runs along the narrow highway, which is bordered by a wall called Salvation. He runs until he reaches a Cross standing on a small hill; below it stands a sepulcher. Just as he reaches the Cross, Christian's burden falls from his shoulders. The burden tumbles into the Sepulcher and out of sight.

Though Christian was saved by Christ when he entered by the Wicket-gate, it seems that he does not lose the subjective (mental and emotional) burden of his sins until he reaches the Cross, which symbolizes Christ's sacrificial death for sinners. When he sees the sign of Christ's death on his behalf, Christian realizes he no longer needs to feel guilty or troubled, because he has been forgiven and redeemed by Christ.

Immediately, Christian is filled with joy. He gazes at the Cross for a while, amazed at his newfound ease. He even begins to weep. Soon, three Shining Ones appear and greet Christian. The first angel tells him, "Thy sins be forgiven." The second angel takes off Christian's rags and puts on new clothes. The third angel gives Christian a sealed roll, telling him to look at it as he journeys, and to hand it in when he reaches the Celestial Gate. Christian leaps three times for joy and goes on, singing of his Salvation."[1] The essence of the story is that no matter what we do, we can never free ourselves from the burden of Sin; only when we come to Jesus are we set free from the burden of Sin. The invitation to come to Jesus appeals to both sinners and sufferers.

Matthew 11:29, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." ESV. Here is another profound truth God is communicating to us that is nowhere found in the four Gospels: The heart of Jesus. If you really want to know what Jesus's heart is really like, here we will find that He is Gentle and Lowly in heart. This is the heart of Jesus toward Sinners and Sufferers a like.

He loves all people regardless of who they are. His heart is filled with compassion, even more so toward sinners. The greater sinner you are, the greater compassion Christ shows towards you. How do we Christians respond to sinners? We hate them, and we want them to be killed and destroyed. But all through the scriptures, God's heart of love and compassion triumphs over his anger and justice. There is a whole book written on Jesus's Heart, Gentle & Lowly. Let me share a few scriptures that convey the heart of God toward sinners and sufferers:

2 Corinthians 1:3, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort."

Exodus 33:19 "And He said, And the Lord said, "I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

Exodus 34:6 "And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, 'The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness."

Psalm 86:15 "But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness."

Psalm 103:8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. Matthew 9:36-38, "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

Jesus is gentle and lowly (meek and humble). He invites us to come to him so that we can find rest for our souls by having our sins forgiven. His heart is filled with compassion for all other sinners who are harassed and helpless. He doesn't want them to perish; that is why we pray for nations like Senegal and the unreached people like Wolof and Fulani. Amen!

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[1] https://www.litcharts.com/lit/the-pilgrim-s-progress/part-1-the-cross

[2] Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/God,-Compassion-Of

 

God's Unusual Picks Part II

                                                                

GOD'S UNUSUAL PICKS-PART II

During our high school years, some of us had a strong desire to play a team sport such as Soccer or Football. Recollect the moment when you were being picked to be part of the team. In India, team captains select the best players, often their favorites, for the team. I badly wanted to play Soccer, but a few times I was overlooked, perhaps I wasn't good enough. So, I decided to play individual power sports like Weightlifting, Hammer throwing, Discus throwing, etc.

I have good news for you. Your desire to play in a team is fulfilled. When God wanted to put together a winning team, He overlooked many people and came to us, the most unlikely people to play on His team, so that when the team wins, He gets the glory.

Though at times He may use individuals to play significant roles in fulfilling His purposes, more often He wants us to work together as a team. Last week, we learned about two of God's Unusual Picks who were included in His redemptive plan. Today, we will learn about three more such Unlikely Women: Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary. Matthew 1:1-6 and Vs 16

I. Ruth: An Immigrant Becomes a Loyal Friend to her Jewish Mother-in-Law: (Ruth 1-4)

The book of Ruth follows the book of Judges. In Judges, we read about several of God's unusual picks who played crucial roles in redeeming Israel from its enemies. In contrast to everyone doing what was right in their own eyes, in Judges and in Ruth, we read about someone who set aside her own selfish interests and sacrificially served her Jewish mother-in-law. Ruth's story was about a migrant (Naomi), an Immigrant (Ruth), and a guardian redeemer (Boaz).

A migrant is someone who moves from place to place in their country or across borders, usually for economic reasons, seeking better opportunities." An Immigrant is someone who decides to leave their home and move to a foreign country with the intention of settling there."[1]

The Hebrew word for a guardian redeemer is a legal term for a relative who is obligated to redeem another relative in serious difficulty (Lev 25:25-55). During a famine in the land of Judah, Elimelek, along with his wife Naomi and two sons, migrated to Moab. Over time, Naomi loses her husband and her sons, leaving her with her Moabite daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpah.

When the time comes for Naomi to return to her own country, Ruth decides to go with her, leaving her family and her country, and never to return. Listen to Ruth's covenant to Naomi and her God: "Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried." May the LORD deal with me, be it so severely if even death separates you and me." Ruth 1:16-17.

Ruth, a Moabite, immigrated to Judah and became a loyal friend to Naomi, as her name suggested. Ruth was at the prime of her youth, yet she did not pursue other young men in the land. Instead, at Naomi's advice, Ruth worked in Boaz's fields, those of a very wealthy and kind landowner who was also a guardian redeemer for Naomi. One day, he notices Ruth, admires her loyalty, and shows generosity and kindness to Naomi through her. Boaz loved Ruth!

Over time, Boaz fulfilled all the legal obligations and married Ruth. The Lord enabled Ruth to bear a son. The women said to Naomi, "Your daughter-in-law who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons has given you a son." Naomi took the child in her arms, cared for him, and named him Obed, who later became David's grandfather.

Matthew included the genealogy of Jesus Christ to show that God could use non-Israelites in His redemptive plan. In the NT. Christ is often regarded as an example of a kinsman-redeemer because, as our brother (Hebrews 2:11), in Ruth 3:9, when Boaz asks Ruth, "Who are you? She says, "I am your servant Ruth, spread the corner of your garment over me," in a way requesting His protection. Similarly, we can ask Jesus to redeem us and satisfy us with His love.

II. Bathsheba: A Sexually Exploited Woman Becomes a Queen Mother (II Samuel 11-12)

The name Bathsheba means, "Daughter of Abundance." "She was the daughter of Eliam, who was one of David's mighty warriors, an elite group of soldiers who played a crucial role in securing and expanding David's kingdom (2 Samuel 23:34)."[2] She was also the wife of Uriah, a faithful soldier who fought in King David's Army. And she was a gorgeous woman.

One afternoon, King David saw her bathing from the roof and sent messengers to bring Bathsheba to the palace, and slept with her, committing adultery. Men, refrain from throwing stones at David, saying, how could he do such a thing, and I would never do it. David's actions could be explained this way in modern terms: "A military officer's wife was violated and sexually exploited by the most powerful man in the land, the Commander-in-Chief of the army.

What was Bathsheba's crime? Where would she go for Justice? Who would vindicate her? To cover up his adultery, David gets her husband Uriah killed. We can only imagine the shame, the guilt, pain, and grief that Bathsheba endured. When her mourning was over, David took her as his wife, and she bore him a son. However, the evil that David did displeased God.

God sent his prophet Nathan to expose and rebuke David's sin. Amid this scandal, Bathsheba's innocence stands out. While confronting David, Nathan portrays her as a little innocent ewe lamb, who became a victim of the lustful appetites of a rich and powerful man. To punish David, God kills their firstborn son. Later on, they had another son, whom they named Solomon, meaning "loved by the Lord," who eventually became the wisest king of Israel.

Bathsheba's innocence leads her to become the Queen Mother. In Christ's genealogy, she was mentioned as Solomon's mother and the wife of Uriah. Bathsheba's story reminds us that God has a plan and can work, even through difficult situations and involving imperfect people.

III. Mary: A Teenager Becomes the Mother of the Savior of the World (Luke 1:46-56)

            Forty-two generations have passed from Abraham to the promised Messiah, yet God did not forget His promise, nor did He stop working on His redemptive plan. This time in the life of a teenage girl named Mary living in Nazareth, a town in Galilee. What do we know about Mary?

            Some scholars say Mary was around 15-16 and a virgin. The angel Gabriel appears to her and addresses her as "Highly Favored" (Luke 1:28). The phrase "Highly Favored" comes from a single Greek word that essentially means "much grace." Mary received God's grace. Grace is an unmerited favor, a blessing we receive from God, despite not deserving it. Though Mary was troubled by this unusual greeting, her response to God's will indicates her spiritual maturity.

            The shocking news was that she would become pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit, give birth to a son, and would call him Jesus, who would be the Savior of the World. Upon hearing the news, she bursts forth into a song of praise, saying, "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, (Mary too needed a Savior), for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on, all generations will call me blessed." (Luke 1:46-48)

Much could be said about this teenage girl who became the mother of the Savior of the World. Here are a few reasons God might have chosen this unassuming young woman to fulfill His redemptive plan. Mary demonstrated faith and obedience to God's will. (Lk 1:38). She was not proud but took the posture of a humble servant (Lk 1:48). Her song of Praise was full of references to what God has done, indicating her scriptural knowledge.

            All five of these women were ordinary, yet God chose them to do extraordinary things. They did nothing to be part of God's winning team; it was all God's doing. He included them by his own choice in Christ's genealogy. If God could use these five unassuming women in His redemptive plan, He could use any of us, despite our backgrounds and imperfections.

 

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[1] https://www.rescue.org/article/migrants-asylum-seekers-refugees-and-immigrants-whats-difference#:~:text=Who%20is%20a%20migrant?,they%20were%20to%20return%20home.

[2] https://biblehub.com/topical/e/eliam.htm