courage (Isaiah 41:10)
so, is getting to heaven easy?
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my victorious right hand."
1* a Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.
2b He fasted for forty days and forty nights,* and afterwards he was hungry.
3 The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.”
4* He said in reply, “It is written:c
‘One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.’”
5* Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple,
6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written:
‘He will command his angels concerning you’
and ‘with their hands they will support you,lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”d
answer: yes and no
it's easy to get to heaven because Jesus died for our sins.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life." John 3:16.
it's hard because sometimes we believe that our sins are so great. How can I go to heaven given the number and gravity of my sins?
answer: God loves us and God forgives us if we are sorry for our sins.
"If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing." 1 John 1:9
It takes courage, another of God's gifts, to believe that God loves and forgives us.
"Do not fear: I am with you;
do not be anxious: I am your God.I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my victorious right hand."
Isaiah 41:10
We, like Jesus, are tempted. The temptation of Jesus is described in Matthew, Mark and Luke.
2b He fasted for forty days and forty nights,* and afterwards he was hungry.
3 The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.”
4* He said in reply, “It is written:c
‘One does not live by bread alone,
but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.’”
5* Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple,
6 and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written:
‘He will command his angels concerning you’
and ‘with their hands they will support you,lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”d
7 Jesus answered him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’”e
8 Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence,
9 and he said to him, “All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.”*
10 At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan! It is written:
‘The Lord, your God, shall you worship
and him alone shall you serve.’”f
11 Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.
8 Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence,
9 and he said to him, “All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.”*
10 At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan! It is written:
‘The Lord, your God, shall you worship
and him alone shall you serve.’”f
11 Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.
Matthew 4: 1-11
"Satan's temptations were hedonism, egoism, and materialism. John the Evangelist in his epistle categorized these temptations as "lust of eyes" (materialism), "lust of body" (hedonism), and "pride of life" (egoism). Temptations intend to deceive and corrupt three main human characteristics; to think, wish and feel which are inside the mind, soul, and heart as Jesus alludes in the Greatest Commandment. These are related to transcendentals or ultimate ideals in three areas of human interests; science (truth), arts (beauty), and religion (goodness). Christians are called to seek divine virtues; faith, hope, and love that link them directly to God who Himself is Truth, Beauty, and Goodness."
"Satan's temptations were hedonism, egoism, and materialism. John the Evangelist in his epistle categorized these temptations as "lust of eyes" (materialism), "lust of body" (hedonism), and "pride of life" (egoism). Temptations intend to deceive and corrupt three main human characteristics; to think, wish and feel which are inside the mind, soul, and heart as Jesus alludes in the Greatest Commandment. These are related to transcendentals or ultimate ideals in three areas of human interests; science (truth), arts (beauty), and religion (goodness). Christians are called to seek divine virtues; faith, hope, and love that link them directly to God who Himself is Truth, Beauty, and Goodness."
so, getting to heaven can be both easy and difficult. Be courageous and believe that God loves you despite your sins.
Comments
Post a Comment