The Gospel, Pure & Simple — Weekly Encouragement – March 22, 2020

Greetings Friend,

       Have you read some of the messages that have been posted on Facebook in response to the current worldwide Coronavirus situation? I have heard that this is God’s judgment on a sinful world. I have heard that this is God’s call for everyone back to the Hebrew feasts and other commands of the Law. And other reasons why “God is doing this to the world.”

       They are saying we must “do” things in order to be OK with God so this will go away. As if Jesus’ blood wasn’t God’s final judgment on sin (except the sin of rejecting Jesus}. As if Jesus’ sacrifice didn’t bring a New Covenant that replaced all the feasts, etc. of the Law (read Hebrews 8 and 10) – a Covenant of Sabbath Rest in Jesus (Hebrews 4).

       God told us what our message should be, “…God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” (2Corinthians 5:17-18)

       Jesus was clear that the Coronavirus is at the hand of the devil when He said that the enemy only steals (our peace, joy, even our health), kills (our dreams, accomplishments, even our bodies), and destroys (our relationships, finances, even our daily routines). Jesus came to bring Life! (John 10:10)

       A New-Creation Christian message is to be very simply a message of Victory – God Loves us so much that He sent Jesus that we would be reconciled to Him; that He is NOT holding any of our junk against us. “Be reconciled to God!” (2Corinthians 5:19)

       So, here’s the Encouragement: “But, I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.”(2Corinthians 11:3) “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have Eternal Life.” (John 3:16) God Loves you! Believe in and be devoted to Jesus! Be reconciled to God – He’s not counting anything against you!!! It’s just that simple and pure! And in that you have the Victory (1John 5:4-5) – even over Coronavirus, because even in the midst of the world’s panic, God gives His Christian children the Peace and Joy of His Kingdom!

God bless,

Dave