Tag: sin

I love you enough to tell you

Rev. Cecil Thorn

Love is not just a feeling—it’s a commitment to truth, even when that truth is hard to hear. In today’s world, where comfort and convenience often take priority over honesty, speaking truth in love can be a challenge. But real love isn’t about avoiding discomfort; it’s about caring enough to say what needs to be said.

Love Speaks Truth

Ephesians 4:15 (ESV) reminds us, “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ.” If we truly love someone, we won’t sit back and watch them walk into danger—whether spiritually, emotionally, or physically—without warning them. Love requires courage. It means stepping up to share God’s truth, even when it’s unpopular.

What Jesus Did for Us

Romans 5:8 (ESV) says, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus took the punishment for our sins so that we could be reconciled to God. He bore our sins on the cross, as stated in 1 Peter 2:24 (ESV): “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”

Through His sacrifice, Jesus provided the way for us to receive eternal life. John 3:16 (ESV) declares, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” His resurrection conquered sin and death, offering us victory in Him (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).

Love Confronts Sin with Grace

Jesus never shied away from speaking truth. When He encountered the woman at the well (John 4:1-26), He lovingly pointed out her sin, but He also offered her grace. He didn’t condemn her—He called her to something better. That’s what real love does. It doesn’t ignore sin; it confronts it with the hope of redemption.

Love Warns of Eternal Consequences

Perhaps the hardest truth to share is the reality of sin and its consequences. Romans 6:23 (ESV) says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” If we truly love people, we cannot be silent about eternity. We must tell them about the hope and salvation found in Jesus Christ.

Love Does Not Enable Destruction

Love doesn’t mean tolerating everything for the sake of peace. It doesn’t mean supporting harmful behaviors or remaining silent when someone is making destructive choices. Proverbs 27:6 (ESV) says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.” True friends don’t flatter; they sharpen each other (Proverbs 27:17).

Love Stands Firm in Truth

In a world that promotes subjective truth, we must stand on the unchanging truth of God’s Word. 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 (ESV) instructs us, “Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.” Our goal isn’t to win arguments, but to win souls. Love must be the foundation of our words and actions.

I Love You Enough to Tell You

So today, let me say this: I love you enough to tell you that Jesus is the only way, truth, and life (John 14:6). I love you enough to tell you that sin separates us from God, but His grace is greater. I love you enough to tell you that real peace and purpose are found in Christ alone. And I love you enough to encourage you to walk in obedience to Him, even when it’s hard.

Speaking truth in love isn’t always easy, but it is necessary. Love isn’t silent. Love speaks, because love saves.

Here I Go Again By Casting Crowns

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What is expected of Christian’s under the New Covenant?

Rev. Cecil Thorn

Under the New Covenant of Jesus Christ, Christians are expected to follow the teachings of Jesus and live according to His commandments. Here are some key aspects of what is expected of Christians:

  1. Faith in Jesus Christ: Christians are called to believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Savior.
  • John 3:16 (ESV): “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

1. Repentance and Forgiveness of Sins: Christians are called to repent of their sins and seek forgiveness through Jesus Christ.

  • Acts 2:38 (ESV): “And Peter said to them, ‘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.'”

2. Love for God and Others: Christians are called to love God with all their heart, soul, and mind, and to love their neighbors as themselves.

  • Matthew 22:37-39 (ESV): “And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'”

3. Living a Holy Life: Christians are called to live holy lives, set apart for God’s purposes, and to pursue righteousness.

  • 1 Peter 1:15-16 (ESV): “But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.'”

4. Following Jesus’s Teachings: Christians are expected to follow the teachings of Jesus, including His moral teachings and commandments.

5. Spreading the Gospel: Christians are called to share the good news of Jesus Christ and make disciples of all nations.

  • Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV): “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

These are foundational expectations for Christians under the New Covenant, as outlined in the teachings of Jesus and the apostles in the New Testament of the Bible.

Jesus summarized His commandments and teachings in several key passages in the New Testament. Here are some of the most prominent ones:

  1. The Great Commandment – Love God and Love Your Neighbor:
  • Matthew 22:37-40 (ESV): “And he said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.'”
  1. The Golden Rule – Treat Others as You Want to Be Treated:
  • Matthew 7:12 (ESV): “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”
  1. The Sermon on the Mount – A comprehensive teaching on various aspects of Christian living, including humility, forgiveness, prayer, and righteousness:
  • Matthew 5-7 (ESV): This entire section contains many of Jesus’s teachings, including the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12 (ESV)), instructions on prayer (Matthew 6:5-15 (ESV)), and ethical teachings on various topics.
  1. The New Commandment – Love One Another:
  • John 13:34-35 (ESV): “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.”
  1. The Great Commission – Make Disciples of All Nations:
  • Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV): “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
  1. The Parable of the Good Samaritan – Show Mercy and Compassion:
  • Luke 10:25-37 (ESV): This parable illustrates the importance of showing mercy and compassion to others, regardless of their background or circumstances.

These teachings encapsulate the essence of Jesus’s message and the principles He wanted His followers to live by. They emphasize love, compassion, humility, and obedience to God’s will.

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Copyright Notice © 2024 Rev. Cecil Thorn Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this work authored by Rev. Cecil Thorn, to distribute, display, and reproduce the work, in its entirety, including verbatim copies, provided that no fee is charged for the copies or distribution. This permission is granted for non-commercial distribution only.

An Easter Hallelujah

Rev. Cecil Thorn

If you didn’t hear this yet, you will want to.

An Easter Hallelujah Cassandra Star & her sister Callahan

Artists Cassandra Star & her sister Callahan

What a great way of telling the story of Jesus’s crucifixion and resurrection.

Let us never forget what Christ did for us on that day He gave all of himself (The perfect lamb) for you and me so that we could be forgiven of our sins and so we can have every lasting Life with the Father.

John 3:15-17(KJV)

15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Jn 3:15–17(KJV).

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