"Get Out of Jail Free"

A century ago, evangelists used to preach Fire and Brimstone - the judgement was coming and you were in dire straights if you did not have God on your side to save from it!   Today, this has eroded down to an understanding of:

Heaven equals pleasure
Hell equals torture
Salvation is composed of "magic words"

Salvation is your "Get Out of Jail Free" card.  You can get it, hold it, do what ever you want and then produce the card at the end of you life and God HAS to honor it! 

Right?

When you bring Jesus' sacrifice to this low of an understanding, then humanism is just as good, in fact you are a humanist for even thinking this way!  Gees, God is God!  He is not constrained in the least by your desires!

Galations 1:1-10

Jesus Called You
Paul was challenged as to whom he thought he was to tell anyone about Jesus, after all he was not a recognized Apostle.  Which is to say, he did not walk with Jesus during those three years of ministry.  It may well be that he was at the crucifixion and certainly at the stoning of Stephen shortly there after.  So, a hater, not a follower!

We are not called by men, your grandmother, circumstance, churches, nor by money or education attainment.

Jesus calls you alone for the ministry.
Jesus assigns.
Jesus supports your efforts you are called to.

Turn To Jesus
Galatians was written to believers in a church which was sliding away from the truth of whom Jesus is.  It was accepting popular ideas and replacing the simplicity of the Gospel.

Works, like circumcision and following of the Jewish Law, were being added to the basis of salvation.

But, we are not Christians because we do "works" much less "good works"!  But, you are because of your relationship with Jesus.

Live For Jesus
And for Jesus/God alone!

He paid the price for you living your life by your rules.
And all He asks is for you live in a relationship with Him.


It is your choice, but understand that if you want to live by your rules, no matter how much respect from others you gather - you are still living for yourself not him. I dare say this is the condition of the majority of the "church" today.  And in the end, your get out of jail free card you will find will fail you when the time comes for you to account for your life lived for yourself, to your end - not His.

And it does not have to be that way .....