Now is not Always

First, now is not always.

NOW, in this "present evil age (Gal. 1:4)", our lives and world live under the cloud of “futility (Rom. 8:20)”, “anxieties (1 Pet. 5:7)”, and “groanings (Rom. 8:19)”.

NOW, the “sufferings of this present time (Rom. 8:18)” give way to "mourning, crying, pain", and worst of all "death (Rev. 21:4)."

But the gospel says, "Now is not always! Things won't be like this forever!"

For God has

  • "set a Day when He will judge the world (Act. 17:31)",
  • "banish ungodliness (Rom. 11:26)"
  • and "punish (Is. 24:21-22)" the wicked that have,
  • through their sin, brought all of these ills upon the world.

In doing so, God will

  • “fulfill His promise (2 Pet. 3:9)”
  • to “restore all things (Act 3:21)”
  • in a “new heavens and earth (2 Pet. 3:13)”,
  • “wipe every tear”
  • and “swallow up death forever (Is. 25:8).”

Now is not always.

 

Jesus Died for Our Sins

Second, Jesus died for our sins.

In order to inherit the glorious future God promises, humans must be made right before God.

Since

  • "all have sinned (Rom. 3:23)”,
  • all deserve punishment
  • and will therefore on “the Day of Judgement (2 Cor. 5:10)"
  • receive their “just condemnation (Rom. 3:8)."

This is bad news.

However, because

  • God "is patient"
  • and "not wishing that any should perish (2 Pet. 3:9)",
  • in love, "He gave His only Son Jn. 3:16)"
  • as "sacrifice for our sins (1 Jn. 4:10)."

Or, as St. Paul put it in Romans 5:6-10

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly…God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

 

Responding to the Gospel

The message of the good news has two simple elements.

  1. (Jesus) is the one appointed by God to be the judge of the living and the dead.
  2. And everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins.

Those who

  • "repent (Act. 17:30)" of their sins 
  • and "trust (Jn. 3:14-17)" in Christ crucified, buried, raised, ascended, and returning 
  • will be "saved from the wrath (Rom. 5:6-11)" to come
  • and will be "rewarded (2 Tim. 4:8)" in the resurrection.

Those who

  • reject the message of Christ crucified
  • will not be saved from the wrath to come
  • and will be punished in the resurrection.

At CLC, we're pleading with you to choose the path of life, recieve forgiveness, and put all of your trust for eternal life in Jesus. 

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