March 14th, 2022
by CJ Terry
by CJ Terry
Good morning with a word for the day -
When I was born, I was born into sin, or as a sinner. John 3:18 says, ‘he who does not believe is condemned already.’ If there is any comfort, I did not have to do anything to be a sinner, it just came along with me when I came into the world.
When I was born, I was born into sin, or as a sinner. John 3:18 says, ‘he who does not believe is condemned already.’ If there is any comfort, I did not have to do anything to be a sinner, it just came along with me when I came into the world.
No one has to remain in that sin. That is the beauty of the Gospel. God created me and gave me the power of choice. I was born with a natural willingness to choose the sinful nature instead of dying to sin and choosing life. It is in my control. I can also think, see, learn, and process information. I have the choice to make ‘good’ contributions to society, or make ‘bad’ ones. None of these change the nature in which I was born, a sinner. People may look at someone and say this person is a ‘good sinner’ or a ‘bad sinner,’ but both are still sinners. Jesus said in John 3:3,’…unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ This means I can choose to do something about the nature I was born into.
I have two choices. I can choose to remain unchanged and live with the sin I was born with, or I can be born again. To be born again means to become something that I am not; from within. To be unchanged would mean to continue to live as flesh and blood would choose to live. But, to be born again means to live as the spirit of God chooses to live. The first is of this earth, the second of heaven. One will not inherit the kingdom of God and one will. One was born a sinner and will likewise perish a sinner, while the other will be saved from their sins. It's a choice. God places life and death in the hands of everyone, without prejudice. Deuteronomy 30:19 says’ ‘I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you (giving you the ability to choose) life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life.’
God, in His mercy, has given every human being the opportunity to know and choose: Remain a sinner or be forgiven of that sin. It's the individual’s choice. No one can do it for someone else or take that right away from another. The right to choose life or death is built into every human being. It cannot be surgically removed, stolen, or forced away from the holder.
God gives you a choice. It's yours to do with as you will do it. But you must choose wisely because it's an everlasting choice.
1 Corinthians 15:47-58
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