RLJ-822OL

CHRIST IN YOU-THE HOPE OF GLORY 
Part Six

26 May 2002
It is Christ in us who gives us the strength to face the world, who gives us faith, joy and power! Colossians 1:26-27

However, this does not relieve man of his responsibility, which is TO MAKE CORRECT DECISIONS! Decisions have to be made at all times, every moment of our lives. Each decision must be made by the person himself.  The Holy Spirit will guide us, but He will not make the decision for us!  Matthew 12:36-37; Galatians 6:3-9

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT?
It was God himself who made the decision to make the created world that we live in and to create man. Genesis 1:1; 26-27

Adam and Eve were created without sin and with perfect bodies. They did not initiate sinning; they were presented with a choice by the Devil!   We can see how God distributed the blame:

        1) The serpent became cursed because he loaned out his body to the Devil. 

        2) The Devil was blamed for leading Adam and Eve into sin.

        3) Adam and Eve were cursed because they made the wrong decision. Genesis 3:9-19

Mankind could not initiate a reconciliation between themselves and God. For thousands of years man has tried, and the result is the many religions in the world.

Only God himself could make that decision and only God himself could pay the penalty for sin! John 1:1-14; 3:12-21; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; Hebrews 9:1-28

Men and women of themselves do not seek God; it is not in the sinful nature of man to seek God.  Romans 3:1-20

Unless God draws a man, he cannot be saved!  John 6:44; 65

Thus the entire salvation process is the work of God, God initiated it, God paid for it, God offers it to man!  But as this gift of salvation is presented to a human being, THAT HUMAN BEING MUST MAKE A DECISION TO ACCEPT IT OR REJECT IT!   Acts 2:36-41; 3:12-19

Now understand the following: To be presented the Salvation offer is the greatest privilege that can happen to a human being!  Most people who have lived on the earth and who are living now and those who will live in the future NEVER KNEW OR WILL KNOW ABOUT JESUS! This is more than difficult for man to understand; it totally rubs against everything we know in the flesh and have learned on the earth.

The apostle Paul sums it up in Romans 9:1-33

When God reveals himself and people in rebellion and unbelief reject it, then the judgment of God is that he removes all their understanding of his truth! God revealed this truth to Isaiah some 700 years before Christ.  Isaiah 6:8-13

It was repeated by Jesus himself - Matthew 13:10-17

The apostle Paul clearly states that when men reject the truth from God, the judgment is unbelief and embracing lies - 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12

Man’s responsibility is TO MAKE THE CORRECT DECISION AND FOLLOW HIM, NOT THE DEVIL! Hebrews 3:1-19

As a born again believer in Christ, are you THANKFUL?  Are you praising God?  Do you really love God by obeying Jesus?  Are you crying out in prayer for those who are lost in their sins?  Luke 10:1-2