If Anything Causes You to Stumble

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

If Anything Causes You to Stumble

Date: Apr. 7, 2016

Passage

Mark 9:42-50 (ESV)

42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ 49 For everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 9:47

And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell,

First, if anyone causes one to stumble (42-48). Jesus continued to teach his disciples who were concerned about greatness. He taught them about what God is concerned about. Jesus took sin seriously, and he teaches that this is God's truth. When we see others we need to be concerned about what sin does to them. When we look at ourselves it is the same. It is a matter of life, yet we are often more concerned about who is great. Jesus wants each one to enter the kingdom of God. He died for our sins so that we may avoid eternal condemnation and enter life.

Second, have salt among yourselves (49-50). Jesus said that everyone will be salted with fire. Sin will be judged by God completely. It is like being salted with fire. For those apart from Jesus it is a fire unquenched. For those in Jesus it is the fire that refines and purifies. Just as salt preserves food, Jesus offered himself to preserve us for his kingdom. When Jesus is among us we have true peace-with God and each other.

Prayer: Prayer: Help me to take sin seriously-in myself and in others. Thank you for Jesus who died so that we may enter eternal life in the kingdom of God.

One Word: Enter life through Jesus

Countless Saved from God’s Wrath by the Blood of the Lamb

Revelation 7:1-17

Key Verse: 7:9-10

A Great Multitude from Every Nation

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”

Today's Question

Are all sins equally evil?

See answer and references