The Three R’s – The Saturday Morning Post
Today’s Passages – Leviticus 14 – 15
(Second Milers also read – John 7 – 8; Proverbs 8; Psalms 36 – 40)
“Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.” (Proverbs 8:32-33)
Good morning. Aren’t you glad that God’s salvation is a gift: you don’t have to earn it? In today’s reading of Leviticus 14 and 15, God’s Law is revealed on dealing with leprosy in man, leprosy in houses, and other “issues.” This is what the people had to go through to make themselves and their houses clean. But even back then God had taken care of everything. All those sacrifices had pointed to the one Sacrifice that was to come: the Jews were looking forward to the coming of Christ just as we look forward to His coming when we will meet Him in the air. Galatians 3 tell us…
“Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:21-29)
And Ephesians 2:8 and 9 say…
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
So what should we do in our time period? Here are the Three R’s…
1) REALIZE. Realize that you are a sinner without any hope of saving yourself. Twice in Ezekiel 18 God warns…
“Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” (Ezekiel 18:4)
And…
“The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him.” (Ezekiel 18:20)
Romans 3:10 and 3:23 tell us…
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one…” (Romans 3:10)
And
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23)
2) REPENT. Change your mind about how you can get to heaven. Turn from unbelief to belief.
“And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (Acts 16:23-31)
Romans 10:13 says…
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
3) REMAIN. Being sinners, we are always going to mess up during our life here on earth. 1John 1:9 reminds us that…
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1John 1:9)
Remaining is the easy “R.” Jesus is the one that holds onto us. Jesus said…
“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6:37-40)
Peace. (John 3:16)
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