Two Reactions To Sin

When we realize the black destructive evil of our sin, we either attempt to run and hide from God, or we see God as our Savior and cry out for Him to forgive us, and cleanse us from the darkness of sin.

The first is impossible while the second is imperative.

In the Bible we have two people who demonstrate the one who hides from God and the one who cries out to God.

"So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden" Genesis 1:6,7,8.

Having done what God expressly commanded him not to, as soon as Adam realized he was a sinner, he ran and hid from God's presence. Now covered by the evil of his sin, Adam knew he couldn't stand before a righteous and holy God.

When someone knows they are a sinner, (and inherently, because everyone is a descendant of Adam, therefore everyone does), many times that person stays far away from anything remotely connected to God. They hate the name Jesus, and cannot stand the witness of Christians.

They will attempt to cover their sin by making a self-righteous religion that satisfies the longing to be connected to God. Because of this false belief in a man-made religion, they reject anything that reminds them that God is true salvation. This hatred sometimes goes to the extreme and they kill the one who tells them about Jesus' love that will forgive them.

In total opposition to Adam's self-righteous attempt at covering his sin with his own efforts, (sewing fig leaves for clothing), Jesus wanted to stay connected to God the Father.

"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?' That is, 'My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?'" Matthew 27:46 (see also Psalm 22)

Jesus is fully God and fully Man, yet God the Father stepped out of Jesus' life because, at this point, all the sins of the world, from Adam to the last person to die at the battle of Armageddon, were placed upon Jesus, the Man. All the black destructive sin of the world became Jesus' sin. The sinless Man took the punishment of all the wrath of God. The horrible black evil of sin made God abandon His one and only Son.

"For He made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" 2 Corinthians 5:21.

Jesus felt that horrible separation Adam felt in the garden but in contrast to Adam running and hiding, Jesus cried out that His separation was painful and He wanted the connection returned. We cannot understand all of this, but we believe it.

"For we walk by faith and not by sight" 2 Corinthians 5:7.

When we see our sin as black destructive evil separating us from God, we, like Jesus, cry out to God to receive the connection from which Adam ran.

Because Jesus carried the wrath of God to death, we get to receive eternal life. Three days after Jesus was entombed, He rose from the dead, proving that God accepted the death debt He paid.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" Romans 6:23.

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Boaz, Ruth & the Closer Relative

In Chapter 4 of the book of Ruth we see Boaz and the Closer Relative of Naomi transact the Kinsman/Redeemer law. And it all plays out to God's satisfaction when Boaz and Ruth are finally wed to live happily ever after.

Because Boaz was going to carry out the Kinsman/Redeemer law to it's fullest extent, none of the land he obtained in keeping the law would be his. It would go to Obed, their son, who would inherit to perpetuate the family name of his grandfather Elimilech.
All Boaz took from this marriage was Ruth. Just as when we become the bride of Christ, we bring nothing with us into the marriage but ourselves, redeemed by our Savior.

This simile is not a perfect fit, and I have never heard this connection before; I could be way wrong, but I do like it.

• The Closer Relative = God the Father
• Boaz = Jesus
• Ruth= us, the church, the bride of Christ

• Ruth came to Boaz and asked him to marry her. We come to Jesus and ask Him to save us.
• Boaz presents Ruth to the Closer Relative. Jesus presents us to God the Father.
• The Closer Relative does not become the husband but gives her to Boaz. God the Father gives us to Jesus, His Son, to be His bride.

• And, to add another far out extension is Naomi, who led Ruth to Boaz = the Holy Spirit leads us to God and Jesus.

• Jesus, the Son, is the way to the Father, who ultimately extends His grace to us when we ask His forgiveness. Jesus says, “No one comes to the Father but by Me." (John 14:6).
• Jesus says "no one comes to Him expect the Father draws them." (John 6:44).
• Jesus says that "the Father gives all to Him." (John 6:37).
• All born again Christians are called the Bride and are married to Jesus, because God the Father gave us all to His Son. (Ephesians 5:27).

The First Kinsman Redeemer

(God the Father)

gives us to

the One who is the Bridegroom

(Jesus)

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Jesus Is God From Everlasting To Everlasting

My favorite verse is  "For faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God" Romans 10:17.

The Bible holds all the power of God in it's words, so knowing some good verses (they're all good) to speak when witnessing helps allow the powerful Spirit of God to convict the person to whom you are witnessing.

Jesus said… “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” Matthew 9:12, 13

The Webster Dictionary definition of repent is a verb, a visual action on our part. Latin poenitēre, to cause to feel sorry, regret. “Being sorry for my wrong.” Outward visual of grief over committing a wrongdoing.

Webster’s defines penitent as an adjective, a description of an action, also in the definition of the Latin root repent and to suffer. Paenit-(ere) plus pa-ti.

“I am sorry and turning from my wrongdoing and doing the correct.” The penitent person displays a distinct visual action from wrong to right, a change of heart for accountability and credibility.

Webster’s defines mercy as a noun, an object, or something of substance. Latin root word: mercēd: wages, reward. Late Latin root word: favor, leniency. “I will pity.” The action of not giving punishment deserved by a wrongdoing. 

Jesus came to the lost, unrepentant world,

to save us to repentance

“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” Mark 10: 35

Jesus hates sin. Sin came into the world through Adam’s willful rebellion in the Garden of Eden. We inherited Adam’s sin because we all descended from Adam. That means that the absolute best behaved, most generous, most morally right person ever to live is still a sinner. Because of sin, no one can be in God’s presence. Only perfect people can stand before God, and no one is perfect. Our imperfection is sin. We have all missed having sinless perfection.

‘For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.’ Romans 3:23

All people are sinners

Jesus loves sinners

‘But God demonstrates His own love toward us, that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.’ Romans 5: 8

God is perfect. God’s perfection cannot and will not tolerate sin. He must and will destroy any and all imperfection.

‘Who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.’ 1 Timothy 6:16
We all are condemned to death—to separation from God in the ‘outer darkness, where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.’ Matthew 8:12

‘For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ Romans 6:23

The gift He gives that we don’t deserve

‘As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no not one; There is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one.’ Romans 3: 10, 11, 12

The Good news is: ‘God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not die but have eternal life.’ John 3:16
 

Grace

is

God’s favor

on an

unlovable,

undeserving,

sinful world!

Christians are born again believers, once were unrepentant, He has now made penitent. Those trusting in Jesus for Salvation can and will stand in the presence of God. The grace of God allows them to come near Him. Our Salvation is our faith in Jesus.

‘And being found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.’ Philippians 3: 9

If you do not have the Son of God, you are not His. You are still in your sins, unrepentant, and destined for eternal death.

‘He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.’ 1 John 5: 12

The Good News: ‘…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,…’ 1 Corinthians 15:3, 4

Jesus, God, came to earth, was born of a virgin, died on the cross for the sin of the world, buried in a tomb, rose again the third day from the grave because His sacrifice for mankind fulfilled the death penalty required. He ascended back to heaven to sit on the throne beside the Father, and He will return someday to take believers to live with Him forever and to judge the unbelievers to separation forever. Without Jesus, there is no hope of salvation. That is the Gospel taught in the Bible from Genesis 1: 1 to Revelation 22: 21.

That is the Gospel. He does not want anyone to die and be eternally separate from God in the outer darkness, where there will be wailing a gnashing of teeth. He came and died so no one would have to be lost forever.

‘In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.’ 1 John 4: 10

May it be every believing, born again Christian’s desire that no one die and be eternally separate from God in the ‘outer darkness, where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.’

We attend church, perform good works, and pray. We sing, fellowship, and worship but He desires mercy from us, not just the performance done in His name. He commands that we are to let others know about the wonderful miracle He gives to the whole world; eternal Salvation. Let us have mercy on the lost and dying world and tell them the gospel of Jesus.

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28: 19

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25 Life Applications from the Book of Ruth

Here are 25 Life Application to be found in the book of Ruth.

There were so many places in this story where disobedience, selfish ambitions, and pride of any number of those involved could have created disaster. But three people, Boaz, Ruth and Naomi were determined to obedience to the law given to Moses so that God would be glorified.

#1 Have quiet patience with people who insult us.
      Ruth holds her peace even as Naomi ignores her. (1:21)

#2 Seek God, even when we don’t know what’s going on.
      Ruth leaves all she knows, trusting in God, whom she's newly put her faith in to take care of her. (1:16,17)

#3 Trust God when we are taking a new direction.
      Ruth travels to Bethlehem not knowing what awaits her, only she knows that the God of Israel will take care of her. (1:22)

#4 When repenting, don’t just stop doing something, but leave it far behind.
      Ruth left Moab and a life of idolatry. (Ruth 1)

#5 Our everyday, ordinary conduct is an integral part of our witness.
      Ruth stays pure and holy in her new life.

#6 Pray despite your pain.
     Naomi prays for her two daughters in law. (1:8,9)

#7 Our loyalty shouldn’t hinge on the character of the person we love (unconditional love).
       Ruth ignores Naomi's urging to stay in Moab, and insists on going to Bethlehem. (1:15)

#8 Stick to your promises.

     Ruth stays with Naomi through all the troubles.

#9 Respect is earned, never granted.
      Boaz and Ruth have both earned the respect of the harvesters. (2:4-7)

#10 Humility is knowing your limits and your needs.

      Ruth humbles herself to ask for the charity of gleaning in Boaz' fields. (1:7)

#11 Once we’re saved, God has forever forgiven us of our past.
       Boaz never derides Ruth because of her ancestry.

#12 As ambassadors of Christ, we need to guard our reputations.
       Ruth, Naomi and Boaz stay true to God among an immoral society. (Judges 21:25)

#13 Some sacrifices will hurt severely, but the rewards for pleasing God are worth it.
       Boaz and Ruth sacrifice their desire to marry to keep the Kinsman/Redeemer Law. (3:13)

#14 Many times our sacrifices to God will make no sense to anyone else but us.
       To fulfill the law, Boaz sticks to the rules and offers Ruth, whom he loves, to the closer relative. (4:1-5)

#15 God moves in our ordinary lives to bless us in extraordinary ways.
       God moves behind the scenes through the entire book of Ruth.

#16 No one is beyond the amazing salvation of God.
       Even though a Moabite, Ruth is saved through her faith in God.

#17 Obedience is rewarded.
      Boaz, Ruth and Naomi enjoy the birth of Obed. (4:13-16)

#18 Our need is to continue to pray about everything.

#19 God is always with His children through everything.

#20 God wants us to rely on Him for everything.

#21 If your prayer isn’t answered right away, keep praying.

#22 What we choose to do good or bad is going to affect the reputations of our fellow Christians.

#23 We should do nothing that would cause unbelievers to blaspheme the name of our Lord

#24 God can make us wait before He fulfills all He’s going to give us.

#25 God sees the end from the beginning. He sees us in heaven right now enjoying our rewards. He is seeing our worship perfected.

Ruth Boaz and Naomi show how to live our lives

in obedience, purity, holiness and faith.

Christians are not under the law today, but we are to live holy lives, set apart for God's glory.

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