THE JUDGE AND HIS DAUGHTER

The snow was still falling And all had turned white. The day was a long one And now it was nite. Right before Christmas Was due to arrive He heard many cases, but still one survived. "Bring in the last case, Let's get out of here!" When lo and behold But who should appear. He knew her from childhood They went back a ways And here was the law now His daughter to pay. The facts were presented; The judge clearly saw No doubt about it, She'd broken the law. The payment was heavy A long time in jail. The judge knew his daughter Would not have the bail. What a dilemma! For all there to see. Two roles to play, Which one would it be. The role of a judge - There's justice to pay. The role of a father - His love to display. The judge started thinking, He had to act fast And then it came to him, The solution at last! Down went the gavel, "She's guilty as sin" No one could say now, The judge wasn't in. Then came the next thing - Who would have guessed. He walked down beside her To write out a check. He said to his daughter Extending his hand, "You can't buy your freedom, But I surely can". The story would end here With everyone glad, But as it turns out It ends very sad. The payment he offered Would now be rejected. The daughter so prideful She would not accept it. If you think it foolish The gift she turned down, Remember this story A truth to be found. God up in Heaven A judge to begin Then came down to die The payment for sin. So when you consider The daughter, her pride, Remember your soul There's no need to die. -- Daniel Aceituna

GOD HAD A DILEMMA! A dilemma brought about by His character.   For you see, God hates sin (Proverbs 6:16-19), but loves the sinner (Romans 5:8; John 3:16).   God is holy and just (Romans 1:29-32).   In fact, He must judge sin and unrighteousness if He is to remain holy.   But God is also love (I John 4:16) and would rather not judge and condemn man to a devil's Hell (Ezekiel 33:11).   So, this was God's dilemma - How to carry out justice and display love at the same time.   How would God do both without compromising one for the other? The answer is found in the preceding poem.   Just like the judge, God paid for our sins Himself when He died on the cross (Romans 5:6-11).   Just like the judge He now offers this payment as a gift (Ephesians 2:8,9; Romans 6:23) if we only admit our guilt as sinners, change our minds from rebelling against God in repentance (II Peter 3:9), and put our trust in the fact that Christ has paid it all (I Timothy 2:3-6; Romans 10:9-13). Don't be like the daughter in the poem.   Don't let pride stand in your way.   No one can pay their own sin debt through their good works (Galatians 2:16,21).   That is why Christ paid it for us (Romans 8:3-4). To learn more about this free gift, please read God's plan of salvation on the following [below] page.

GOD'S PLAN OF SALVATION FIRST THE BAD NEWS: 1.   We must realize that we are lost, sinners that are spiritually dead. * "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."   Luke 19:10 * "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Romans 3:23. * "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."   John 3:3 * "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."   John 3:6 2.   As spiritually dead, lost sinners, God's judgment and wrath are upon us. * "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:" Hebrews 9:27. * "For which things' sake [sin] the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience [sinners]:" Colossians 3:6. 3.   Our good works can't stop this judgment and wrath.   God demands death as payment for sin. * "Not of works..." Ephesians 2:8,9. * "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:" Romans 3:10. * "the soul that sinneth, it shall die."   Ezekiel 18:4 * "For the wages of sin is death;" Romans 6:23. NOW FOR THE GOOD NEWS!! 4.   God is willing to accept someone else's death in our place.   That someone is Jesus Christ. * "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; (6)Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time."   I Timothy 2:5-6 * "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."   Romans 5:8 5.   Jesus has bought salvation for us and now God can offer it as a gift by grace. * "Ye are bought with a price;" I Corinthians 7:23. * "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9)Not of works, lest any man should boast."   Ephesians 2:8,9 How does someone accept this gift?   Through repentance and faith. REPENTANCE: means to change your mind and adapt an attitude of not rebelling against God. FAITH: means to simply take God at His Word, i.e., believe the verses you have just read. * "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."   Acts 20:21 * "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."   Romans 10:13 6.   Upon being saved and born again spiritually, we become converted to a new creature in Christ. * "And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."   Matthew 18:3 * "Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."   II Corinthians 5:17

CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH 2030 West Main Street Valley City, North Dakota 58072 Speaking the truth in love Ephesians 4:15 701.845.9220 Schedule of Services Sunday Morning Worship . . . . . 10:30 a.m. Sunday Evening Service . . . . . . . 6:00 p.m. Wednesday Bible Study . . . . . . . 7:00 p.m.

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