10:27 AM
Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord,
But a just weight is His delight. Proverbs 11:1
The balance of the gospel is this: We must present the problem and the solution.
The problem: We are in need of repentance because of our sinful life. We cannot come to a Holy God without being blood washed.
The solution: We must be baptized and repent of our sins. We must allow truth and love to transform our hearts. Without truth, we continue in error. Without love, we will feel alienated from our gracious Father and run away instead of coming to Him.
To always point out the problem without the solution becomes legalism at best. We come under the law, condemnation, guilt, and shame. A God that is not represented in a loving manner will cause believers to come under religious captivity. They, in turn, continue to mispresent God to the world as a judgmental God who condemns the sinner. Religion offers no solution or transformation other than works. We come under the witchcraft described in Galatians 3 believing that we can now perfect ourselves in the flesh.
To always point out the solution without the problem can become lawlessness. To preach a gospel that doesn't present the truth of our sinful condition also brings believers under captivity. They start to believe that God is okay with the way they live and they become careless about their salvation. They start to make excuses and justifications for their sin. They trample under foot the blood of Jesus which is God's mercy and come under a delusion.
It is time, we teach the whole counsel of God. We serve a holy, loving God, who will judge us according to our deeds, and how we treated the sacrifice of His Son. Like Jesus said, "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” John 14:21
