Many people have been greatly let down by those whom they thought were Christians. They are shocked to have discovered that some trusted religious leaders were secretly living evil and sinful lives, and were not really wanting to obey and please God!
It is easy for you and me to be fooled by outward appearances, but God cannot be fooled! Jesus warned us not to be deceived because “many” of those who claim to be His messengers, and who even say and do good things, are false and will never be accepted by Him! (Matthew 7:21-23.)
Let us hear what Jesus said and that will help us to recognise true messengers of Christ.
Jesus came to His true disciples after His resurrection and said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.” (verse 21.)
Jesus had been sent by God the Father into this world, which He knew would reject Him. He had come, not only to tell mankind of God’s wonderful plan of Salvation, but also to become the Saviour who would make it possible for God to forgive and save us! In the power of the Holy Spirit He had "finished" all He had been sent to do by the Father. (1stJohn 4:14. John 17:4..19:30.)
Now, Jesus was about to send out His true followers to do a work for Him. The sinful unfriendly world that had rejected Jesus, would oppose His true followers too. Jesus “breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” (verse 22.)
Only GOD can give God’s Holy Spirit to anyone; no Man, or sacrament can! Jesus is God, and He gave the Holy Spirit to them making them able to work for Jesus, and able to say “no” to sin in their own lives. (Titus 2:11-14.) Those who are still slaves of sin and sinful habits are certainly not controlled by the Holy Spirit!
Jesus the Saviour was sending His followers out to be preachers! You see, how would people know to believe if they were not told to? And how would they be told if someone didn’t preach to them? (Romans 10:13-15.) People have to be told they must trust in Jesus for forgiveness of sins. Preaching may seem like foolishness to some, but God forgives and saves those who believe the Gospel of His Son!
That’s why Jesus was able to say to His group of preachers, “If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (verse 23.)
You see, as the Gospel of Christ is preached, one of two things happens to the hearers: many reject the message and refuse to trust in Jesus alone - they do not receive forgiveness! Others do believe the message and trust in Jesus - they are forgiven! (Acts 10:42-43.)
But it is NOT THE PREACHER who absolves the sinner! Only GOD has the power to forgive sins! The true preacher only has the authority to tell the sinner who trusts in Jesus Christ as Saviour, “Your sins are forgiven”. He has also the authority to say to those who refuse to trust in Jesus, “You're not forgiven! You are still condemned by God!” (John 3:16-19.)
YOU can have forgiveness, even as you read this, if you will put your trust in Jesus as your only Saviour!
Read Jesus words to His disciples in John chapter 20, verses 21-23.
John Nixon, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
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