[UntoHim]

Why would Trapped want to stop listening to sermons? Trapped is a Christian and believes in the God of the Bible. As others have pointed out, we all have to exercise discernment (and even a little common sense) when accepting the teachings of any man.

Originally Posted by Trapped

One of the sermons I heard said that if you are a person who cannot forgive others, then you don't understand the depth you've been forgiven by God. Maybe you don't think you're that bad and need forgiveness, and if that's the case then you should be scared to death.

I don't know who was giving the sermon and the overall context of this quote, but it is absolutely biblical and absolutely good advise!

Originally Posted by Trapped

But as far as the awareness of my dirt and sin or my need of forgiveness, I don't have that much. Even the thought that "my sin put the Lord on the cross".....well, I sin because I was born with the sin nature, none of us are immune, so since it's not something I had any power to prevent why should I whip myself over it?

Thank's for your frankness and honesty. I believe a lot of Christians feel the same way, especially those who have been raised in, or spent many years in, groups like the Local Church of Witness Lee, where the Gospel has been either diluted, corrupted or just flat out changed. You see, the exposing and condemnation of sin is only a part of the Gospel, and if we stop at the exposing and condemnation of sin, we are selling God and what the Gospel offers terribly short.

Let me give a quick example of what I mean - We are all very familiar with the story of "The Woman at the Well" in John 4. The Lord Jesus did not instantly rip into the women about her having 5 husbands. What He did do was to offer her the ultimate gift of living water that she may have eternal life. Only after offering the woman the living water did the Lord Jesus ask her to "go, call your husband, and come here". This comports perfectly with what Jesus told Nicodemus in the previous chapter - "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." (John 3:17)

Actually the Lord Jesus was not sent by the Father to judge and condemn, (although he will eventually judge and condemn mightily at the Judgement) and he does not currently stand at the right hand of the Father to judge and condemn those who belong to him, rather he stands as a "merciful and faithful high priest" (Heb 2:17) and "the author and perfecter of our faith" (Heb 12:2). There is much more to say of course, however I believe that some of us (me included) have a tendency to not keep our eyes on the message of the full and complete Gospel.

Trapped, you have a good and honest heart! God will always honor this if you put your faith in him and his Word. I'll leave you with one more great verse in Hebrews - But without faith it is impossible to please him. For he that draws near to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them who seek him out. (Heb 11:6 Darby)
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