Advertise on podcast: Redemption Calvary Podcast

We live in an age where everyone wants a label for themselves because everyone wants to be a part of something bigger; that’s just human nature. But if you don’t find that in your job, family, or hobbies… where do you find it? Pastor Cody reminds us today that, Jesus is the only option if you want to truly satisfy your soul. He offers to belong to anyone and everyone who desires it and is willing to receive it. Don’t break your back trying to belong in this world when you can have eternal belonging through Christ.

We’re pretty good at screwing up relationships. There are so many things we can do to lose people’s trust or respect. Maybe you know what it feels like to push people too far and end up alone. Today, Pastor Cody lovingly reminds us that God’s threshold for immoral behavior is much higher than our own. If the heart is willing, there is nothing that can separate you from Christ. His compassion covers all of your mistakes – both internal and external. Don’t think that anything you’ve done is beyond God’s saving grace.

People can go through the exact same things in life and come through with very different attitudes. If an alcoholic father has two sons, one may be very successful because he wants to be nothing like his dad, while the other may become a drunk and blame it on his dad. Today, Pastor Cody reminds us that, receiving salvation is a matter of the heart. You might hear a Bible verse and move right past it, and later in life, you hear the same verse, and it changes everything. Don’t be afraid to let God move in you.

We have a habit of putting stipulations on our actions; if someone has continually given you reasons to doubt their loyalty, you might say they have to prove themselves to you before you can trust them again. But today, Pastor Cody reminds us that there aren’t any stipulations when it comes to Christ. Why? Because God gave himself up as a sacrifice for our sins before we even had the chance to mess up. Instead of putting conditions on your faith, put it in the One who will never let you down.

How many times can you forgive someone for the same mistake? Our tolerance for sins against ourselves is minimal at best. But today, Pastor Cody reminds us that God forgives, and forgets our sins as far as the East is from the West. These directions are eternally separated; they can’t intertwine. This means God erases those sins which you’re repentant of. But it does require your repentance. Everything you could want, Jesus Christ offers, but you have to have your heart fixed towards Him.

We often think of forgiveness as a free pass. You got away with whatever it is you wanted to do, all those involved are still okay with you, so it must be okay. But Pastor Cody reminds us today that forgiveness doesn’t negate consequence. One of the reasons that we can point to say that God is so loving, is the fact that He’s already paid the cost for our sins. The only thing that we need to do is be repentant of them. If you don’t think you’ve done wrong, then what’s the point of Him suffering on the cross?

It’s easy to take advantage of kind people, even if we don’t mean to. You become used to that friend always forgiving you and looking over your shortcomings that when they don’t, it seems cruel. Today, Pastor Cody looks at some of Jesus’ last words as He was hanging on the cross; not only did Jesus not curse those who put Him there, but He prayed and asked for forgiveness on their behalf. He could’ve stayed silent even! But He reached out to those who – not only didn’t even believe IN Him – but didn’t trust Him.

God is good and right when He judges sin and saves sinners. The Bible has many paradoxes within it, things that seem to be opposing ideas but that actually work together in the mind and plan of God. While it might be easier for us to understand God as either just or merciful, the biblically correct to understand Him is not as either/or but as both/and. The justice and mercy of God are on display through the cross of Jesus where His sacrifice appeases the justice of God and His mercy is dispensed to those in desperate need. The justice and mercy of God are also on display through Revelation 7 where we see vast multitudes receiving salvation even as the judgment of God falls on the rebellious unbelieving world.

Vince Maldonado, one of the Deacons at Redemption, preaches through Revelation 6. Our attention is directed from the worship service in heaven to The Great Tribulation on earth. As as Jesus removes the seven seals from the scroll that was in the right hand of God the Father, the wrath of the Lamb is unleashed. Through this chapter we see that Jesus is in control of human history and when his wrath is released no one will be able to stand. Yet Jesus took the wrath of God against sin on His cross, and still extends the offer of salvation to any who would take it. The choice is yours, will you accept Jesus’s sacrifice in your place? Or will you choose to take the wrath of God against your sin by yourself? Choose Jesus, and choose life.

The attention shifts from God’s throne in chapter 4 to the scroll that God is holding in chapter 5. While we cannot be sure what the scroll contains, we will see in the following chapters of Revelation that this scroll is intimately connected to the completion of Jesus’s work of judgment and redemption. Though no one in heaven, on earth or under the earth is worthy to open the scroll, Jesus steps forward as the only one who is. Because He alone is the Redeemer, Jesus is worthy to receive worship.

Revelation 4 marks a significant shift in the progression of this incredible prophecy. According to Jesus’s divine outline in 1:19, chapter 4 begins the future prophetic events. John is instantly taken from his task of writing letters dictated by Jesus to the 7 churches, to the throne room of God in heaven. Before any of the judgment begins to descend upon the earth, God’s presence and power are established, and He is glorified as the eternal, almighty, creator who is worthy of worship.

Complacency obscures your ability to see Jesus clearly and reflect Jesus correctly. The church in Laodicea had grown increasingly passive and passionless. They were indifferent and complacent and Jesus had an issue with their lukewarm attitude toward Him. Jesus has an issue with their lukewarmness, not necessarily that they are lukewarm but because they are O.K. with it. So he goes after their complacent arrogance with force and precision because He loves them and wants to wake them up from their passivity. When a "good enough" mentality grips our hearts, we must hear the voice of Jesus calling us back into a relationship that is hot and passionately burning. As Jesus knocks on the door of your heart, will you open it?