11:39 a.m. – I got on the news to see what was going on in the world. The first article I read was an article about President Obama calling for legalizing illegal aliens so that they could be covered under the new health care plan. A few days ago he stated that there was nothing in his health care plan that would cover illegal aliens, to which one congressman, Joe Wilson, responded, “You Lie!” Now, Obama wants to legalize illegals, which means “amnesty” for 12 million undocumented people who are living and working in the United States illegally, so that they can get healthcare. Obama: Legalize illegals to get them health care - Washington Times
Illegal – against the law; dishonest; immoral; criminal (Encarta), which is basically what we are outside of Christ. Amnesty – forgiveness; pardon; reprieve; acquittal (Encarta), which is what Jesus has provided for us by his death on the cross. He paid a huge debt (his life) that we might go free. And, the way we receive that pardon is by His grace and by our individual responses of faith (Eph 2:8-9) via repentence, i.e. turning from our sin and turning to God in obedience and surrender, making him Lord of our lives. [See verses below.]
So, Obama wants to pardon 12 million criminals. Who pays the debt for this amnesty? And, what is required of the criminals in response to this offer of pardon? Are they being rewarded for their criminal acts? And, at what cost? Whose cost? Jesus made the choice to die on the cross for our sins. He did that because he loves us and because he wants us to be in relationship with him and to have eternal life and he wants to see us living in victory over our sin. But, it was his choice to die. Do we, as Americans, get a choice about pardoning these 12 million criminals?
And, what have these criminals done or what are they required to do in response to this offer of pardon? You see, Jesus paid it all – all to him I owe. Yet, just because he died on the cross for our sins doesn’t mean that everyone in the world is pardoned. We have to make a heart response to God Almighty that includes faith – repentance and obedience. God is not rewarding sinful behavior. On the contrary! He requires repentance. He requires that we turn from our sin and that we turn to him and follow him and that we die to our old lives. We do not do this in our own flesh. We can only do this by the power of God working his will in our hearts and our lives – even the ability to repent is a gift from God, so that no one can boast.
Going back to this song, I believe the message here is that you can live however you want and that God is going to say “It’s ok,” i.e. he is going to pardon us. If that is the case, then everyone is going to heaven, because Jesus paid the price for our pardon. But, that is not true. The Bible teaches that the road to heaven is narrow and that there are few that enter. We can not think that we can just live however we want and still be in relationship with Jesus Christ! Yet, our society today is teaching us that it is “ok” to sin – hey, it is working for the “illegal aliens,” is it not? They are going to be pardoned and get full benefits, i.e. they will be rewarded for their crimes. That is the message I believe I am getting from this song, too. It is all about what God does for us despite what we do, but this is not true to scripture:
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. – Acts 3:19-20
"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man's design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." – Acts 17:29-31
I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. – Acts 20:21
I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. – Acts 26:20b
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. – II Co. 7:10
Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. – II Tim 2:25-26
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. – II Pet 3:9
Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. – Rev 2:5
Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. – Rev 2:16
Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. – Rev 3:3
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. – Rev 3:19
Illegal – against the law; dishonest; immoral; criminal (Encarta), which is basically what we are outside of Christ. Amnesty – forgiveness; pardon; reprieve; acquittal (Encarta), which is what Jesus has provided for us by his death on the cross. He paid a huge debt (his life) that we might go free. And, the way we receive that pardon is by His grace and by our individual responses of faith (Eph 2:8-9) via repentence, i.e. turning from our sin and turning to God in obedience and surrender, making him Lord of our lives. [See verses below.]
So, Obama wants to pardon 12 million criminals. Who pays the debt for this amnesty? And, what is required of the criminals in response to this offer of pardon? Are they being rewarded for their criminal acts? And, at what cost? Whose cost? Jesus made the choice to die on the cross for our sins. He did that because he loves us and because he wants us to be in relationship with him and to have eternal life and he wants to see us living in victory over our sin. But, it was his choice to die. Do we, as Americans, get a choice about pardoning these 12 million criminals?
And, what have these criminals done or what are they required to do in response to this offer of pardon? You see, Jesus paid it all – all to him I owe. Yet, just because he died on the cross for our sins doesn’t mean that everyone in the world is pardoned. We have to make a heart response to God Almighty that includes faith – repentance and obedience. God is not rewarding sinful behavior. On the contrary! He requires repentance. He requires that we turn from our sin and that we turn to him and follow him and that we die to our old lives. We do not do this in our own flesh. We can only do this by the power of God working his will in our hearts and our lives – even the ability to repent is a gift from God, so that no one can boast.
Going back to this song, I believe the message here is that you can live however you want and that God is going to say “It’s ok,” i.e. he is going to pardon us. If that is the case, then everyone is going to heaven, because Jesus paid the price for our pardon. But, that is not true. The Bible teaches that the road to heaven is narrow and that there are few that enter. We can not think that we can just live however we want and still be in relationship with Jesus Christ! Yet, our society today is teaching us that it is “ok” to sin – hey, it is working for the “illegal aliens,” is it not? They are going to be pardoned and get full benefits, i.e. they will be rewarded for their crimes. That is the message I believe I am getting from this song, too. It is all about what God does for us despite what we do, but this is not true to scripture:
Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus. – Acts 3:19-20
"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man's design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." – Acts 17:29-31
I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. – Acts 20:21
I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds. – Acts 26:20b
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. – II Co. 7:10
Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will. – II Tim 2:25-26
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. – II Pet 3:9
Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. – Rev 2:5
Repent therefore! Otherwise, I will soon come to you and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth. – Rev 2:16
Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. – Rev 3:3
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest, and repent. – Rev 3:19
