Itching Ears

There's a man-centered “gospel” that says that Jesus died because you were so valuable. He saw the "gold" underneath your sin and was motivated by your worth or value to save you. Another way that this is said is, "The cross isn't a revelation of your sin, but a revealing of your value." Some even explicitly teach that the infinite value of the blood of Jesus is equal to the value of your life (God wouldn’t pay an infinite price, if your life wasn’t in equality with His blood).
But what does Scripture say? Let's look at the example of why God chose to save Israel in the book of Deuteronomy:
"It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”- Deuteronomy 7:7-8
God didn't choose to save Israel because they were more valuable or greater in number than other nations (they were the fewest of all peoples). His motivation for saving Israel was based in His love, not their value, greatness, or worth. In Ezekiel chapter 16, God even tells Israel that their sins are worse than Sodom and Samaria’s sins, and yet God chose to be merciful to Israel (and give the others justice) because of His covenant love:
“As I live, declares the Lord God, your sister Sodom and her daughters have not done as you and your daughters have done.” - Ezekiel 16:48
“Samaria has not committed half your sins. You have committed more abominations than they, and have made your sisters appear righteous by all the abominations that you have committed.” - Ezekiel 16:51
“Yet I will remember my covenant with you in the days of your youth, and I will establish for you an everlasting covenant. Then you will remember your ways and be ashamed when you take your sisters, both your elder and your younger, and I give them to you as daughters, but not on account of the covenant with you. I will establish my covenant with you, and you shall know that I am the Lord, that you may remember and be confounded, and never open your mouth again because of your shame, when I atone for you for all that you have done, declares the Lord God.” -Ezekiel 16:60-63
The same truth applies to our salvation. Christ died for us while we were ungodly sinners-- His enemies:
“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person-though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die-but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”- Romans 5:6-8
“For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.” - Romans 5:10
When we begin to think that we are "worthy," then God's grace is nullified, and man's glory is central. But when we realize that we are unworthy and unlovable, but God sets His love upon us in spite of our sin (an infinite debt), then God's love and grace looks more glorious.
"But aren't we valuable because we are made in God's image?" Yes, we have created value because God created us in His image (Gen. 1:26). But that image was marred by sin in the Fall, and has left all mankind guilty, worthy of God’s wrath, or justice in hell:
“None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” -Romans 3:11-12
Our created value does not play into the motivation or reason that God chose to be compassionate and gracious toward sinners. He chose to love and save sinners because He is love. The reason our salvation required the infinite value of the blood of Jesus is because our sin is an offense against an infinitely holy God, which means we owe an infinite debt that we cannot afford to pay.
We are valuable because God loves us. God doesn't love us because we are valuable. One message appeals to our pride and focuses our attention on our own greatness, while the other humbles us as we focus on the depth of God's amazing love for unworthy sinners, who He adopts as sons and daughters!
#gospel #americangospel #christianity

[@eskews__me]

Alright, admit it - who else thought it was Dr. James White in the thumbnail? Anyways, great video!

[@lesliegoode8962]

I did

[@cynthiagarciasosa9809]

🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️

[@neurostorm24]

The reason I clicked

[@JHustle21MHST]

Lol Same

[@jdvitualla.renewed]

Guilty as charged lol

[@jdvitualla.renewed]

Thought it was James White in the thumbnail and Ray Comfort narrating 😅

[@patriciacampos8225]

Tottaly

[@JaviLpz116]

😅😂😂 yeah bro, I hadn’t noticed that his voice is like Ray Comfort

[@FollowingTheSon]

God does not need us, it is we that need Him. (Psalm Chapter 8 Verse 4)

[@Carla-bg1xz]

Thank you Mr Rick Becker. Love the message and the view of the Cape.

[@petehobson1054]

Very true about how conversion opens your eyes to the complete mess that, up until then, you were very happy and content with. It is an extremely jarring realisation and that is what is truly humbling and forces someone to their knees because we realise that we simply cannot get out of the mess we created without Christ.

[@corbinlangham9644]

The death of Jesus reveals how sinful were are in that it took the death of God's only Son to atone for our sin, yet at the same time, it demonstrates just how much He loves. The King died for His enemies and now calls them friends. There's no greater love than that. God bless this ministry.

[@gracepilditch9388]

It’s not about me but always God’s glory

[@NoyzRose492]

Very good! Thank you

[@FollowingTheSon]

*1:21* The early church, New Testament martyrs who took up their cross and followed Jesus were not heroes, nor were they considered to be heroes. Seems like many in churches today would rather be conformed to the likeness of an Old testament King David as oppose to being conformed to the likeness of Jesus Christ.

[@krakoosh1]

Deceived and deceiving others

[@ferrosjewellers4558]

Another false message we hear from false teachers is.." Jesus has a wonderful plan for your life bro.!!" "Just say the sinners prayer and bingo.. you are saved!!. Welcome to the family" They dont preach hell, the blood of Christ and what it actually means, they dont condemn sin and the human condition of the heart. They ommit all the doctrines and preach how wonderful you are, how highly favoured and anointed you are. A king's daughter or son. How we are little gods and command angels, declaring and decreeing is just normal. Then they are slain in the spirit, babbling like drunks. Prophecies and "words for the lord" are uttered, speaking only good and tickling the ears of the lost. Lulling the hearers straight into hell as their serpent tongues lie for profit. The blind leading the blind. Makes me sick how these vile abominations corrupt the body of Christ. Clouds without rain, wells without water as they speak ill of heavenly dignitaries.

[@grahmedmisten231]

Pray for Todd White. He came to town and it wasn't a sinful heretical sermon. His older stuff is no good.

[@rodneyclements6190]

Todd White needs our prayers folks. Straight up heretical whenever he speaks. Everything is about Christ Jesus. Everything.

[@mijlaid]

There is NOTHING good about me except save Jesus Christ! Psalm 16:2

[@aubreystrawberry214]

What is the name of Rick Becker's church?

[@brianevans4]

Wow, interesting to put the clips of Todd white alongside the true interpretation of scripture.

[@engineer9528]

2:45 the Lord's death on Cross was needed ONLY because of our SIN - to wash it once and for all if we accept Lord's feee gift to us - His Salvation. This has nothing to do with our value, because value doesn't change. Every people in the world has the same value at all times for Father, no matter what.

[@nyaiteerakakandevictoria4556]

The devil wants you to be self absorbed to the point that you think you were worthy of the blood of Jesus. He wants to distort your understanding of total depravity and grace