Your Out!

Your Out! That is the call that baseball players hate to hear. As the batter walks up to the plate, desiring the perfect pitch, he fears those two words. See, the phrase announces the batter's failure to reach the base. I'm glad that our faith and, more importantly, God's grace isn't hit and miss. See, for the hitter, one key mistake can send him right back to the dugout or even end the game. With Christ, there's a second chance. According to the word, God has extended a helping hand that is accompanied by love, grace, and mercy.



"Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God."- Romans 5:1-2



God has given us the perfect pitch. He sent his Son, to die for us, and to give us redemption. How do we get the redemption? We have faith in Christ, trusting him with our minds, bodies, hearts, and souls. Heard it before? Probably so. But how have you heard it and how have you received it?



You may have heard it the watered-down, 21st century church way or you may have heard it as the truth. In today's church, some voice God's grace as a ticket to heaven but a pass on holy living. Now of course, they don't say it that way. What happens is they talk more about programs, more about Sunday school, and more about what they have done, than they do Jesus. They ignore the cross and speak of grace, altogether forgetting that the cross is what brought grace in the first place! This carelessness for the gospel has brought terrifying results. I say, that this is a big reason denominations that don't denounce homosexuality exist. I say, that this watered-down disgrace is a reason that we have youth group members who have no idea that oral sex is sin. Receive it.



"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,"- Titus 2:11-13



I encourage you to receive and accept the Gospel. I also stress that you accept it for what it is. Don't degrade it, and please don't try to change it. It is holy, pure, and has saved the souls of many. It's purpose is to save, but should also be used to motivate. This "Good News" is not to be used as an excuse but as a motivation. Pushing us and training us to live as one who has seen the Saviour. Motivating us to understand the cross and to wear it daily.



Recently I had my heart broken. My heart was broken because I realized where my heart's desire was. My heart was not as a disciples of Christ should be. My love had been divided and my wants had been scattered. Studies have shown that approx. 138,000 people die without Jesus each die, which means they face eternal damnation. I was not living to change that number. Are you? The problem is, I took the emphasize off of the Gospel. The Gospel saves, so why don't we live accordingly?


See hearing the Gospel and accepting the Gospel are to different matters. Acceptance brings appliance. Once a person hears the Gospel, then he may accept the Gospel, finally the Gospel is applied. For the Christ that we accept, applies his love and his blood to our hearts, minds, and lives. This changes everything. Our minds change, so we think differently. Our hearts change, so we want differently and we are given the ability to love. And through these changes, our life is transformed. We are now made new. We are saved when the Gospel is applied and until then, we are destined for hell.


The Gospel is Genuine. It's true, and it's pure. There is no other. It is not a get rich quick scheme. It is not an excuse. But it is the way. It's all about Jesus. Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. NONE get to the Father, except through HIM. Your resume? It doesn't matter. What we need is a stamp of approval, in which our souls are the paper and in which the ink is the blood of Christ. We are not only to be pressed by this ink, but we are to be covered in it. Is it Glamorous? Maybe not. Will it make you famous? Probably not. Is it the one and only way to salvation? Definitely so.


Take it or leave it. The Gospel is. I warn you, it is offensive. It will change you inside and out... but it's worth it. It can't be bought with money because the price has been paid the precious blood Christ. As the blood is precious, even more so is the man from who it flowed. Take it. It was purchased for you. He took the nails for us.