True Compassion is Loving the Sinner

 Not the Sin. 

Welcome, today. Today we are going to talk about a growing movement in some of our "churches." It goes right along with some of the information we talked about last time. People are seeking out, and being taught by like-minded individuals, what they want to hear. Which can be disguised as compassion. The word declares this.

"For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions," 2 Timothy 4:3

Romans 1 also warns us of this.

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

For this reason, God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them." Romans1:18-32

We are taught, falsely, that we need to have compassion for all. Who are we to judge? They chose to live one way and you chose another. Who really cares what they do? They do not affect you. Just love them.

This is false teaching, I will tell you, I truly believe is straight from the devil himself. It is just the way the devil works. He wraps it up and tries to present it as love and compassion. If you speak against it, you are told you are the one with the problem. Not the sin. Wait. Sin? Who said so? Who are you to try to push your morality onto someone else?

Now let me start off by saying this. We all sin.

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23

We are warned by John that we should never think of ourselves as holier than thou.

"If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:8-9

This is the whole reason Jesus came for us.

"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5:21

As a matter of fact, it was while we were in the middle of our sin, that Jesus came and died for us.

"But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

This is NOT a sermon about telling sinners they are going to hell. This is NOT a sermon telling Christians that they are going to heaven. We are no better than the worse sinner, save one major difference. Jesus. Look how Paul introduced himself in his letter to Timothy.

"The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost." 1 Timothy 1:15

Please do not misunderstand. This is not a "we are better than they" type of message. What this is though, is a warning. We must be careful. We must love the sinner. Have compassion for the sinner, but we must NEVER condone the sin. We must never justify the sin by failing to teach it is sin, in the fear of offending the sinner.

Is "Abortion" a sin? Yes {Exodus 20:13, Psalm 139:13-18, Exodus 21:22-25} Homosexuality? { Leviticus 18:1-5, 22-24, 29, Leviticus 20:13, Ezekiel 16:49-51, Romans 1:18-32,} Many ways to heaven? {John 14:6, Acts 4:12, 1 Timothy 2:5, John 3:18}

These are absolutes. Absolutely sin. Absolutely spelled out in the word as against God. There is no justification for these sins. Yet, many of our "churches" today shy away from, or water down their teaching about these, and many more, sins, out of fear of being labeled, or out of fear of offending those who are partaking in, or have partaken in these sins.

Julie got pregnant and had no business being a mother so she had an abortion. It is legal. It is a "medical procedure." It is no big deal. Just love Julie and keep your opinions to yourself. What about the next Julie? Well, it is her body so her right. Just shut up about it.

I have a friend who happens to be a lesbian. I love her. She is like the mirror image of me. We have been friends for over 20 years. As long as we do not discuss politics or religion, we are great together. She does know where I stand on Homosexuality. I have talked briefly about it. She knows that I love her. However, she also knows I do not condone her lifestyle. Do we hate each other? No. We truly do love each other. Ultimately what she chooses to do in the acceptance of Jesus or not, is her choice. Just like mine is mine. I hope of course she does.

Grandma was a great lady. She fed the entire neighborhood on holidays and special occasions. Everyone that knew her loved her. However, she did not believe in Jesus. So whenever someone starts talking to me about Jesus, I think about Grandma. So you are telling me that this woman that was a saint on earth is in hell because she did not believe in Jesus? This or that religion says she is in heaven because she was a good person. There are many ways to heaven.

You get the point. As children of God, and especially if you are a leader in the church, you are obligated to teach the whole truth and to love the sinner. We must be careful to never accept or justify the sin. Sin is sin, and good is good. Remember the word warns us of the time coming, that I would suggest to you is already here. We are starting to call sin good and good sin. We must never do that.

What was sin then, is still sin now. it has not changed with the times. God did not change His mind. True compassion and true love are NOT watching someone walk into the pit, or the fire, but trying to warn them not to. Warning them they do not have to. Telling them there is a way out. His name is Jesus.

We must be careful, child of God, to never accept or justify the sin, in accordance with loving the sinner. Jesus said to the man who was healed, and the adulterous woman, "go and sin no more." {John 5:14, John 8:11} We cannot say. "Welcome, your sins are forgiven you, so sin on. We just will not talk about it." We tell the truth. Just like us when we hear the truth, must decide to accept it or not, they have to as well.

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I believed He raised from the dead. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God hath raised him from the dead, you shall be saved." Romans 10:9. You need to find a Church that God leads you to and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A New Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."Colossians 3:10

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!