Tag Archives: sin

Freedom

22 Monday Feb 2016

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Jesus Advocate

Today’s Reading: 1 John 2:1 Version NIV
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+2%3A1&version=NIV

When a Christian commits an error, a mistake, a grave sin, there are those who are ready and willing to condemn and ridicule his behavior.

Only a few people remember that Christ forgiveness cleans and purifies our sins; Christ accepts the sinner again and again without restriction.

No one needs to carry that feeling of guilt, head down and ashamed, if it was forgiven and received by Christ. Peter denied his Master, lied, then confessed and pulled out of his chest the rottenness that his act meant. The burning tears streamed down his face, Jesus opened his arms to receive and restore him. That sin was forgiven. Forgiveness is forgiveness!

There are grave sins that destroy our inner being and need to be removed. This problem does not have an easy solution. For the children of God, although freed by Christ, live a life burdened by a thousand rules and precepts. The rituals of religion, worship and everyday life become enslaving and a heavy burden, after all, didn’t Christ set us free from all of these? You say, “I do not know, I’m free but yet, I’m still scared. He is a righteous judge; could we be condemned by our defense counselor, our advocate?

If Jesus does not condemn you, who will? Have confidence in God’s forgiveness. Repent, confess your sins, turn to God and live in peace and enjoy freedom! Jesus is our Advocate!

Ildefonso Torres

The Message

02 Tuesday Feb 2016

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The Prophet Final-1
Today’s Reading: Amos 7:10-14 Version NIV
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Amos+7%3A10-14&version=NIV

When I think of a prophet, I think of that young man from the desert named Amos.

He appeared in public preaching against disobedience and corruption of the people and government. Amaziah, who was the priest of the most important sanctuary in the country, learned of the preaching of Amos and send a message to the king: “Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent a message to Jeroboam king of Israel. Amos is raising a conspiracy against you in the very heart of Israel. The land cannot bear all his words. For this is what Amos is saying: Jeroboam will die by the sword, and Israel will surely go into exile, away from their native land. Then Amaziah said to Amos: Get out, you seer! Go back to the land of Judah. Earn your bread there and do your prophesying there. Don’t prophesy anymore at Bethel, because this is the king’s sanctuary and the temple of the kingdom. Amos answered Amaziah: I was neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but I was a shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees.”

Amos was a prophet; however, this was not his profession. He was not a visionary or a puppet of formal religion and lifeless, of Amaziah the priest.

You know what? Today, there are “prophets” by profession, seers who make fortunes and amaze people with their “supernatural powers”. There are “prophets” by conceit, a kind of spiritual conceit. These “prophets” are trying to convince us that they speak on behalf of the Lord. When the Lord speaks to us today he speaks through the Son, Jesus the Prophet. (Hebrews 1: 2) The message of Jesus comes from God and it may be uncomfortable: “Leave your life of sin!”

Ildefonso Torres

Confess!

17 Thursday Dec 2015

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Confess to Each Other
Today’s Reading: James 5:14-16 Version NIV
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+5%3A14-16&version=NIV

A friend is one to whom we open our hearts, who analyzes its content with wisdom and gentleness, and keeps what is of worth and, with a breath of kindness, erases the rest.

We all have heard and many have experienced that confession is good for the soul. And it is true. When someone has a disease, he needs to identify it to find the cure. The same applies to those suffering for sin. There are, however, those who laugh at the idea of ​​confessing one’s sins to one another; they claim that this is a thing of the past. However, these are the same people who spend a fortune consulting psychologists confessing them the darkest details of their past, in an attempt to bring peace to their souls today.

Confession implies a full and frank admission of our guilt. When we confess, we need to say: “I did it!” We cannot say: “It was his fault”, or “my parents are to blame, because they raised me like that”. We need to confess with honesty and truth.

Let us remember that the first step to our healing is admitting we are sick. Without this, not even God, the great physician of souls, can do anything for us. Let us ask God for the humility to recognize our mistakes and the courage to confess them. Only then we will be healed.

Ildefonso Torres

God’s Forgiveness

09 Wednesday Dec 2015

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Death Penalty 1
Today’s Reading: Romans 6:22-23 Version NIV
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+6%3A22-23&version=NIV

The criminal was tried and sentenced to death. By a squad?  By the electric chair? By lethal injection? No matter the method, the goal is the same: Death!

The history of mankind is the history of death, the death of thousands and millions of men and women, old, young and children.

In newspapers, radio, television, or the internet, the news are always hot when it relates to fatalities.

How many will die this year in wars, revolutions, terrorism, bombings, and assaults?

You and I are doomed! Condemned to die! Today, tomorrow or within a few years, but it will happen because there is condemnation “The wages of sin is death,” says the Bible.

In this confusion of bodies and in the unbearable stench of death, there is a ray of hope. The smell of life emerges and spreads: Jesus, the Son of God, agreed to be sentenced to die in our place, but transformed his death into life, life for himself and for all who are condemned to die.

Jesus is God’s forgiveness to free us of the death penalty!

Ildefonso Torres

Remedy

23 Monday Nov 2015

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A Health Problem
Today’s Reading: Matthew 9:11-13 – Version NIV
Human beings need to recognize and acknowledge their own sin. This is one of the most difficult demands of Christianity.

People easily see the mistakes and shortcomings of others, but does not admit their own mistakes. If someone criticizes us, we become hostile and always find some reason to justify our attitudes.

The truth is only one, nobody’s perfect. We sin with our thoughts and our deeds; when selfishness overcomes us and we stop doing what is right.

If someone is ill but continues to say that it’s not, he will die without receiving medical attention.

We need to acknowledge and recognize our sin immediately in order to be able to receive God’s remedy. God’s remedy is forgiveness and new life. These are the words of Jesus: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Admit and confess our sin is not easy. Start with a gesture of humility; follow the path of repentance and end in a serious decision to change your attitudes and your lives.

One thing is certain, when we admit and confess our sin; we end up looking at the faults of others with more understanding and patience.

Ildefonso Torres

Greed

16 Wednesday Sep 2015

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Envy
Today’s Reading: Galatians 5:19-26
Envy or greed is the desire to possess what belongs to someone else. Of course, God does not like envy or greed. In one of the Ten Commandments, greed is prohibited.

Envy made Cain murdered Abel, his younger brother. The envy of Joseph’s brothers made them sell him as a slave to the Egyptians. The envy of the Jewish priests led them to deliver Jesus to Pilate to unfairly be crucified.

Envy is not just a desire for new clothes, a luxury car or new toys; it is the uncontrolled and selfish desire to own something that belongs to our neighbor.

The immense desire to possess something reveals our inner dissatisfaction and leads to anger, hatred and even murder. That’s why the Bible condemns envy and addresses this issue very seriously.

The sooner we despise this kind of sin in our hearts, the better will it be for us and for our relations with others and with God.

If the Spirit of Christ takes hold of our lives, we will have the strength to conquer envy. There will be no room for envy in a happy and loving heart.

Ildefonso Torres

New Beginning

07 Monday Sep 2015

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Nee Beginings 1
Today’s Reading: John 8:3–11
Someone wrote: “How I wish there was a place called ‘Land of new beginnings’ where all our disappointments and bitterness could fall from our shoulders like dirty old garments which we will not use again.”

The Pharisees arrested an adulterous woman and brought her to Jesus, insisting that to comply with the law she had to die by stoning. Jesus challenged the Pharisees, saying, “Let him who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Jesus did not agree with the immoral life of the woman. However, he gave her the chance to start anew. “Go and sin no more,” he told her.

In God’s love and goodness there is a place, a place where you can drop the old and dirty clothing of bitterness, disappointment and sin. And the best is that you will never have to wear them again.

In God’s love and goodness, there is a place where you can start again. How wonderful is this! Although we are not worthy of much compassion, the love of Jesus makes us new people with a new life ahead. Blessed be His name!

Ildefonso Torres

Remedy For Sin

30 Thursday Jul 2015

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IMG_5860

Today’s Reading: Psalm 32:1-5
The first step to a cure is to recognize that you are sick. The second will be to seek a remedy. The person who does not get its objectives presents a similar situation. The offender, in their folly, tries to ignore the problems, disguises the situation. Sometimes you do not know, or refuse to understand that everything is clear in the eyes of God. For human beings, knowledge is hereinafter gradually obtained. By contrast, the knowledge of God is simultaneous, all at the same time. He sees things in their entirety. That divine knowledge is called omniscience. God knows us completely and perfectly. It is therefore sheer nonsense to try to hide our transgressions. We need to address them and fight them. Without treatment, a disease continues, corrodes and kills. Likewise, the act of hiding a sin in our heart is a sign of spiritual death. Conceal transgressions bring misfortune, defeat and ruin, more confession and forsaking of sin will bring merciful forgiveness and peace. We must pray daily: Lord, help us to be honest before you, because we want to receive your mercy and forgiveness in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Ildefonso Torres