Emmaus Road Ministries

God’s invitation is given TO THE ENTIRE WORLD.  Invitation, of course, implies that one either accept or reject it.  You must make a choice. Yes, He cleansed the sins of the entire world; but there is one about which He can do nothing:  Unbelief.   He cannot, nor will He, force anyone to accept His invitation. If you refuse His free gift and choose eternal punishment for yourself, He will absolutely respect your decision. He will not stand in your way, even if you will be lost forever.

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That is why universal salvation is a false teaching.  You have the freedom to accept…..just as you have to freedom to reject…..His offer.  You receive the ETERNAL benefits of whatever you choose…..and either suffer or benefit from the ETERNAL consequences.  

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Our job in this world, Church, is the same as the job that Jesus came to do:  Reconcile the world to God.

Reconciliation:  noun; “The restoration of friendly relations; the action of making one view or belief compatible with another.”

We have been given the ministry of continuing His mission, that of RECONCILING THE WORLD TO HIMSELF.  

1. “The expression of very strong disapproval; censure.  Synonyms: censure, criticism, strictures, denunciation, vilification.

Reconciliation extends to fellow Christians as well.  In regard to each other, we also are not to judge, condemn, point fingers, tell them how bad they are, or threaten them with losing their salvation, WHICH IS NOT BIBLICAL, by the way. That is a lie from the pit of hell. We are to “test the spirits,” which we will discuss below.

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(For more on the lie from the pit, you may follow the link below:

https://emmausroadministries.international/2022/12/08/the-unpardonable-sin/)

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This is our job according to Romans 12:15.

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Testing The Spirits.

Both Paul and John told us we must “test the spirits.”  Some may misunderstand that “Testing” means, “Condemning, punishing, or sentencing unbelievers,” and even condemning other believers.  That is not accurate. So what does it mean to “Test the spirits?”

Some of our confusion in this area where is relates to both the saved and the unsaved may come from misunderstanding the verses below.

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1 Thessalonians 5:21, which says, “Test all THINGS; hold fast what is good;”

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1 John 4:1

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but TEST THE SPIRITS, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

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Ephesians 6:12 tells us there are “Spiritual forces of wickedness in high places that exalt themselves against the knowledge of God.”  Notice it does not say, “Knowledge of sin,” and  IT DOES NOT SAY TO TEST PEOPLE.  People are not the problem, Church, though they may be unwitting pawns.  After all, outside of Christ, SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT IS NOT POSSIBLE BECAUSE THEY ARE SPIRITUALLY DEAD.  It is the spirits BEHIND the scenes that are the real culprits.  THOSE ARE WHAT WE TEST.

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Sheep Without A Shepherd.

Jesus never had harsh words for the sinners in His day.  They came to Him in droves.  They saw His love and compassion for them and they loved Him for it!  Matthew 9:36 says He saw the lost as “SHEEP WITHOUT A SHEPHERD.”       

I say again: He never had harsh words for the lost. His scathing rebukes were reserved for the self-righteous, religious bunch; the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes.”  HARDHEARTEDNESS ANGERS JESUS more than anything: not sin or sinners which, as you know, is still active in the world around us.  Sin is not a threat to Him.  He died for us “While we were yet sinners,” the scriptures say.  God LOVES sinful man!

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One Thing You Lack.

Jesus came to seek and save those who are lost and He did a complete work of removing ALL sin.  Even those who have not yet received His free gift have, their sins are not imputed to them.  One thing they lack: They must Ask Jesus to be their Savior and receive the gift of righteousness. As I said above, SALVATION IS NEITHER AUTOMATIC NOR UNIVERSAL…..but:  WE NEED TO TELL THEM THAT.

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One Thing The Church Lacks.

Where the church has failed many times is in not communicating the truth that the only sin left is unbelief and unacceptance of God’s free gift.  All too often, sadly, the unsaved are made to feel that being a Christian means following a bunch of laws and rules in order to be pleasing to God.  That ALSO is not true.  We follow A PERSON:  JESUS!  We love a Savior Who first loved us SO MUCH that He willingly gave up His life to save ours!  We have a relationship with a very loving and a very real Person.

Christianity is not about doctrines we believe.  That is religion.  It is a loving relationship with a Person:  Our Lord JESUS CHRIST.

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I say again: Sin is not, was not, and never will be, a threat to God…..nor is it a barrier to fellowship with Him, contrary to what any modern-day Pharisees may say from the pulpit.

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You and I, Church, have been reconciled to God because we have received the free gift of righteousness.  Our job is not to judge people based on their lifestyle or specific sins.  Our job is to preach the gospel to those who are lost AND RECONCILE THEM TO GOD.  PERIOD.  Full stop.  They need to hear that God isn’t angry with them; that He loves them!

Jesus loves me:  THIS IS WHAT THEY NEED TO HEAR.  We need to see the lost like Jesus sees them:  

AS SHEEP WITHOUT A SHEPHERD.