Romans 5-8: Being here in the Holy Land it is very interesting how so many faiths trace their roots back to this piece of land. You can stand in one spot and see and hear people from the Jewish faith, Muslim faith, Catholic, and that is just to name the largest ones. In one church there are 5 faiths represented and it doesn’t even cover the big 3 mentioned. I use the word faiths because they do believe in something, but only a handful believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Even fewer believe that you are justified by faith in Him alone. Yet look at what Romans 5 says.
5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
It is not Jesus plus good works, Jesus plus religious activity, Jesus plus keeping the commandments. It is just JESUS by faith!
We talked last night about how it truly is so simple a child can understand. Yet man puts so many added things onto it and some miss Jesus all together. One very religious young man yesterday walked by us and spit on the ground right beside one of our men expressing his disdain for us being in his “holy place”. I just want to take him and so many other with them and say, “Where is your love?” There was a priest of some kind last night at one of the “holy places” that fussed at me because I was standing in the wrong place why he and his brothers were doing some kind of ceremony. I thought then, His hatred was evident! I contrasted that with another priest in another church who smiled, spoke to us with joy, and even joined in as we sang hymns. I laughed at the end because he wanted to sing the Battle Hymn of the Republic. As we sang “Glory glory Hallelujah His truth is marching on!” I thought to myself, “I would come back and be a part of his service!” He saw us. He cared for us. He acted more like Jesus than any of the priest reciting their “Stuff!” and not loving the people. One group of “holy men” were ruthless in their ordering people around yesterday morning as we got ready to enter another church. It as though these “church men” don’t like each other and they think that those coming to worship the Lord are a distraction. Oh how I long to tell people, Jesus will love you period. No matter where you step or how you enter He LOVES YOU!!! All of this was to pay the price for You to believe and receive eternal life!!! So don’t get caught up in the laws, the rituals, or the pomp and circumstance. Love the Savior, listen for His voice, and turn from sin. He is worth it!