We Can Accept Jesus, Can Intimately Know Him, Follow Him Closely.. Even In The Savior’s Path Of Obedience To The Father With No Spiritual Compromise And Live Blessed Forever!
We share because we care. The truth and free speech are important. The timing and context are very important, but if a leader or a group has a problem with that in the right context then it's a bad group and you don't need to be a part of that group.
Have you ever felt some rejection or been rejected before? I have ..and I really have been rejected as well. Perhaps not nearly as much as others have been. Sometimes the rejectors refuse to even tell the rejected why. Should it matter to you or me? It hurts sometimes, and sometimes it doesn't. Is it really a loss for a believer?
Back in the day, I took the challenging California Real Estate Exam and failed by missing it with three questions. (I'd previously heard they made this test harder every time more than 50% passed it). They told me exactly which questions I missed it on, so I paid and took the test again only to pass. Yay, and for a long time I enjoyed working in that arena. Glad they didn't cancel me.
Interesting days huh. You and I are living in a day of "cancel culture", of rejection, of mean vindictiveness, but we don't have to be a part of all that.
Should I take more exams when I already have testings and trials? Q: Ever paid a lot of money to take an exam to join a friendship type group and then they rejected you and refused to tell you how you failed it? How many times? Are they allowed to..why keep putting up with it? Professional exams are for getting better in your profession right, and school exams are for real learning or for getting better in how to learn what is true. Secret societies (such as Freemasonry, no worries. I'd never join em) are organizations that are exclusive to their members. They keep certain information from outsiders, and often, through their teachings and rituals, promote a hierarchy of progression its members strive to attain—ostensibly to improve themselves, like in how they serve others, and serve society at large.
Secret societies pose a number of problems for a real Christian. The very concept of a secret society is extra-biblical at best, and anti-biblical at worst. The Bible sets no precedent that encourages joining any "elite" or other organization marked by secrecy and “hidden truth.” We can well network among those not in such a group. God never commands to join one anywhere, and there are no examples of godly men in Scripture who ever joined one.
Is Mormonism properly defined as a cult?
Should a Christian join a fraternity or a sorority?
Who are the Jehovah's Witnesses, and what do they believe?
Should Christians attend weddings of those in other faiths?
Of course, I'm not perfect like Jesus is, or great like some great saints but perhaps something should be said about this topic.
Yes, Christ is still flawless and sinless, No Christian is. Christ was rejected by those he was only kind to. Let's talk about it.
God is able to easily get you through doors that he opens for you, and he is able to close doors for you as well. He knows what's best for you. If you are rejected for believing in Christ and standing for righteousness, or for speaking out and living like Jesus did, then good! That's SO pleasing to God the Father and He will reward you. But let's not get rejected for being unlike Christ.. for being stupid and unrighteous.
The Bible says, "But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear." 1 Peter 3:14-16 nlt
Q: Who did you vote for in the last election and why? It was a bifurcated thing -- there were only two choices. Looking at all the stats, wasn't it a no-brainer which candidate would be better for your country? Sure it was. Did you get rejected by some of your friends when they found out who you were going to vote for? If you factually know what is best for your country, isn't it then incumbent upon you to not only vote, but to influence your friends and countrymen to go with those solid facts that are helpful as well? Sure! Was it due to the pile of media lies (and subsequently the deception) that many on the other side really started hating your candidate, and you over?
"Man, I've only been kind to those people. I've served some of them, I've shown nothing but respect, kindness and love towards them ..just as they are and this (rejection) is what I get for that?"
Hey, we're all sinners here and God loves us all the same, so why can't we saved-sinners continue to show love toward all people with His type of selfless love (yes, I mean minus all spiritual compromise)?
Your sin, and my sin has caused sorrows here. Face it. There'd be no sickness, sadness, depression, disease or death if sin never happened.
Have you (with gentleness and respect) witnessed to someone on your free time with the good gospel message and then been rejected by them, and by all their friends too? You know that's nothing Christian missionaries on a foreign field of service haven't experienced.
Rejection, I've experienced some of that. Not near as much as sinless Christ has. I've not been rejected as much as He has been. I've not felt the intensity of pain that he felt. Sometimes when I've been rejected I don't take it at all personally because it's not really me they have rejected. It's Christ in me, or a biblical belief that I hold to.
I've been asked to officiate at a few weddings before, but I just couldn't do so with a good conscience. I've done many weddings feeling great joy inside, but with some couples (even straight or sober) I simply couldn't feel good inside about it. Part of doing a wedding is the pre-ceramony counseling where you listen to and ask some questions.
This might sound kind of weird or religious, but I couldn't righteously perform some weddings. Yes, because it would grieve the Holy Spirit inside and go against the teachings in the Bible. It would publically endorse what is destructive
and wrong (what God has clearly called an abomination). God sure loves all people. He really wants the best for each one of us sinners, but Jesus couldn't and wouldn't do certain weddings either.
Do you really want to please the Lord? The Bible alone can help you with this. There sure are a whole lot of things to do, to serve Him with, and a lot of hurtful things to avoid doing. that would hurt Him (I mean the sin. See Leviticus 18:22). What are your inner motives and thoughts like? Are they holy or impure?
I want to stay fairly positive as a realist here. Good idea: Let's all, as reborn-Christians, be more known for what we are for, than for what we are against.
Let's continue to point to and brag on Jesus the most, live holy lives, and be pullin' for people everywhere.
So what's hermeneutics? It's the art and science of interpretation. It's the careful study and correct interpretation of a text and it involves the methodology behind it. It can be applied to a variety of disciplines, including theology, philosophy, jurisprudence, medicine, and the humanities. Hermeneutics is carefully applied in translation studies. It's so important to interpret the Bible accurately and be inspired by God's Word.
I hate that feeling coming from real rejection! If you feel rejected, believer, will that stop you from living wholeheartedly for the Lord? I hope not!
The worst persecution came from the religious leaders back in the day (Acts 4:1–3). Satan is religious too. Jesus told His followers, "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:10). I don't think I've been all out persecuted yet, but Christ reminded His disciples, "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first" (John 15:18).See what the Apostle Paul in Timothy 3:12 said, "Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." As in biblical times, many Christians in different countries today have found that making a public declaration of faith in Christ can result in imprisonment, beatings, torture, or death (Be encouraged by Hebrews 11:32–38; 2 Corinthians 12:10; Philippians 3:8; Acts 5:40).
If Jesus paid the price for our sin, why do we still suffer here?
Why does God allow us to go through trials, testings, and tribulations here?
Why do I face the consequences of Adam's sin when I did not eat the fruit?
What is lacking in Christ's afflictions (Colossians 1:24)?
Does God cause suffering?
How has Jesus surely borne our griefs and carried our sorrows (Isaiah 53:4)?
Are we to hate all sins and evil, while never hating people? Are we to be showing love towards all sinners by the power of the Spirit? Yes! If you don't, believer, then there is room for growth.
Rejection is like a wound that cuts real deep, piercing the heart with an ongoing ache at times.. that few words can soothe.
For Christians, it is absolutely a shared sorrow with our Savior, Jesus Christ, who was "despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain" (Isaiah 53:3).
Though we strive to reflect God's love and unchanging truth, we are reminded that no level of moral living, or professional success, or human approval can exempt us from the fierce sting of rejection fro those of this world system.But why do people reject Jesus, the only One who offers life eternal? Understanding this mystery should draw us closer to the heart of our Savior. It should embolden us to get right with.. to get close to.. and to bear the rejection that He bore.
Want To Know The Reasons Why.. People Reject Jesus, The Man Of Sorrows?
Just as rejection took many forms during Christ’s earthly ministry here, so too today many human hearts find a myriad of lame excuses to turn away from God. Yet these reasons often fall into four central categories, each rooted in the same tragic misunderstanding of who Jesus is and what He offers.
1) A Misguided Sense of Self-Sufficiency
Many view themselves as “good enough” without the only Savior living on the inside of them. Have you repented and invited Jesus in?
They fail to see the depth of their own sin and the fierce holiness of the one God of the whole universe. Jesus declared plainly, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Without Christ, there is no viable defense before the holy throne of God. Yet pride blinds the mind and heart of unbelievers, and many prefer to rely on their own merits, which cannot save.
2) The Fear of Social Consequences
The pull of human approval often outweighs the call of Christ to some people. Why let it? Today it seems like the gay and transgender-lifestyle is being pushed on all people through the media more than ever before, and some company CEOs are feeling compelled to fly the rainbow flag in my country. Why should they do that for a whole month when it really has nothing to do with their business? Leaders of companies fear the consequences of appearing to be anti-gay. They fear having their companies rejected etc. Aren't we to witness to and show kindness toward gay people? Sure we are. Please don't waist your sorrows and trials here, become a more effective witness to all people around you.
The Christian church and the believers must emphasize the power of the gospel to transform lives.. anyone's life. (See 1 Corinthians 6:11).
Man, I'm not anti any people, I am for all kinds of people and want the best for them, yet at times I get rejected.
There can be real fallout for taking a stand for what is right (like say..as a Christian) for what you know is right according to the Bible, or for taking a stand against a lifestyle you are totally convinced is destructive for people. We want to see none destroyed, or eternally lost.
In John 12:42–43, even those who believed in Jesus refused to confess Him openly because “they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.”
Fear of losing relationships, status, or reputation keeps countless souls bound to the shifting sands of human favor or mere opinions, rather than anchored in the steadfast word and love of Christ.
The rich young ruler who approached Jesus in Matthew 19:16–23 wanted eternal life but could not part with his temporal earthly treasures. The allure of temporary pleasures often eclipses the promise of eternal joy for many people. It's the love of money..not money itself.. that is the root of all evil. As Paul reminds us, “What is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18). Yet the world’s dazzle keeps many from fixing their eyes on the Savior.
"For the love of money [that is, the greedy desire for it and the willingness to gain it unethically] is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves [through and through] with many sorrows." 1 Timothy 6:10 amp
4) Resistance to the Holy Spirit and His plan
Ultimately, rejection of Christ stems from a hardened rebellious heart. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned--how can lost people even know why they are doing what they do. Walkng dead people here don't even know they are dead spiritually.
Stephen was a good witness to lost people and his bold words to the Sanhedrin still echo through the ages: “You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit!” (Acts 7:51). The Spirit woos us. He gently convicts us, and tenderly draws people to Jesus if they are open to the truth and willing, but human blindness, hardness and stubbornness can drown out the Spirit's gentle whisper of truth to them.. even though He's got their best interests at heart.
"An excuse is a skin of a reason stuffed with a lie." ~ Billy Sunday
The Tragic Consequences of Rejecting Jesus
To reject me, hey, you lose nothing. To reject Christ means losing everything. It is to choose eternal separation from God. Scripture is unequivocal: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). Those who reject Him face “outer darkness” and the anguish of separation from the Source of all light and love (Matthew 25:30).
Yet, even in rejection, Jesus brought salvation. His death, orchestrated by those who despised Him, became the very means by which He redeemed the world. “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone” (1 Peter 2:7).
Our Response to Rejection
"Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room.."
As followers of Christ, we are to pray for and show love toward our enemies (Prayerfully meditate upon Romans 12:17). We are called to tread the path He walked and do it His way, not our own. He bore the shame of rejection for our sake, and we are invited to share in His sufferings: “Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore” (Hebrews 13:13).
When we face rejection, let us remember that the world rejected our flawless Savior first. Don't really take it personal. His wounds on the Cross became our healing, This mess you're now in can become your message when walking with Christ.
His rejection meant our acceptance into the Father’s embrace. Though painful, rejection for His sake is a mark of our union with Him—a sign that we are truly His disciples. You can be forgiven even now.
An Invitation to Believe in Christ Has Generously Been Extended
Today, Jesus still lovingly extends His open (nail-scared) hand and love to a world that often despises and rejects Him.
When He left heaven and came here during the first Christmas, he and his family were turned away from that Inn. There was no warm-Concierge-welcome there.
In His earthly rejection, He made room for every sinner willing to repent and receive Him by faith. The decision to accept or reject Jesus is the ultimate crossroads of life. What will you decide? There is no greater question you will ever have to deal with. Will you embrace the One who was rejected for you? Will you put the decision off, or will you flat-out turn away from the giver of life (Christ)? Will you choose the fleeting temporal things over what's eternal?
Remember, not to choose is to choose.
The choice is yours, but the consequences are eternal. Believe in the One who was rejected, for in Him alone is life everlasting. "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them" (John 3:36). Today is the day of salvation. Will you come to Him?
Jesus, The Man of Sorrows, Is The Ulitmate Victor Of All Victors. He Has Triumphed Over All His SufferingsIn Isaiah 53:3, Jesus is described as "a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief." This title, though heavy with sadness, is not the sum total of His life or character. Instead, it reflects the profound depth of His suffering, His mission, and His ultimate victory. His sorrows were not His own; they were ours. Every step He took, every pain He bore, and every tear He shed was for the redemption of humanity.
Glory Left Behind, It's Like Jesus Became The Father's first Righteous Missionary Coming Here
Jesus’ sorrow began long before His earthly ministry. Imagine the eternal Son of God stepping down from the unimaginable glories of heaven to enter the brokenness of a fallen world. Paul reminds us that “though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor” (2 Corinthians 8:9). The One who spoke worlds into existence clothed Himself in frail humanity, facing hunger, weariness, and rejection. For the One who is perfect in holiness, the very presence of sin and its effects must have been agonizing beyond comprehension.
The Pain That Comes From Living In This Fallen World
As the Creator walked among His creation, He bore not only physical suffering but also the spiritual grief of witnessing humanity’s rebellion. Who can fathom the sorrow He felt when He saw death, disease, and despair ravage the people He loved? His spirit must have groaned as He encountered hearts hardened by sin, rejecting the very life He came to offer.
Yet Jesus did not retreat from this sorrow. He embraced it. His was not the sorrow of defeat but of purpose. He was sorrowful for the suffering of others, yet resolute in His mission to bring redemption.
Bearing the Wrath of God
The pinnacle of Jesus’ sorrow was at the cross. There, the God-man bore the full weight of God the Father’s wrath against sin. As He hung on the cross, He felt abandoned and cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). In that moment, the sinless Lamb of God took upon Himself the sins of the world, experiencing the agony of separation from the Father so that we never would.
The Joy Set Before Him
Though He was a man of sorrow, Jesus was not overcome by grief. He carried His sorrows with purpose, driven by the joy that awaited Him. As Hebrews 12:2 beautifully declares, “For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” This joy was not for Himself alone—it was for us. His joy was in fulfilling the Father’s will and in securing salvation for His people.
The End of Sorrow
Jesus’ sorrows were not the end of His story, and because of Him, they are not the end of ours either. We believe in Him. His victory over sin and death ensures that one day, all sorrow will cease. Revelation 21:4 promises, “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain.” The Man of Sorrows endured the ultimate sorrow so that we could experience His eternal joy.
As His followers, we are not promised a life free from sorrow and pain, but we are given the same hope that sustained Jesus Christ. Our sorrows, though real and painful, are not meaningless. They are woven into the greater tapestry of God’s redemptive Bible plan. We can endure them with the assurance that, like Jesus, our sufferings will one day give way to eternal joy in heaven.
So, let us fix our eyes on Him who was rejected, the Man of Sorrows who bore our griefs and carried our sorrows, and let us walk with Him. Let's walk in His footsteps even, confident that the final outcome is worth every tear shed along the way.
"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." Hebrews 12:2-3
Q: What Bible versions use the word sorrows? The King James Version, New King James, and English Standard Version use tha word. See how Isaiah 53:3 identifies the Messiah as “a man of sorrows.” The NIV translates the word as “suffering.” Isaiah 52:13—53:12 is the climactic fourth of the Servant Songs and is often referred to as the “Song of the Suffering Servant.” If you simply read these verses carefully, you will note how much pain, suffering, and sorrow that Jesus, the Suffering Servant, actually endures (italics added for emphasis):
“See, my servant will act wisely;
he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
Just as there were many who were appalled at him—
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being
and his form marred beyond human likeness—
so he will sprinkle many nations,
and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand.
“Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.
“Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
“He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was punished.
He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.
“Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.
After he has suffered,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.”
Philip Bliss wrote an old hymn that fits well...
“Man of Sorrows,” what a name
For the Son of God, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim!
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood—
Sealed my pardon with His blood:
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Guilty, vile and helpless, we,
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
Full atonement! can it be?
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
Lifted up was He to die,
“It is finished,” was His cry;
Now in heav’n exalted high:
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew this song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah! what a Savior!
The Bible says, "Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory places, whereby they have made thee glad." Psalm 45:7-8
Jesus said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad and easy to travel is the path that leads the way to destruction and eternal loss, and there are many who enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow and difficult to travel is the path that leads the way to [everlasting] life, and there are few who find it." Matthew 7:13-14 amp
This is the broadest narrow gate there is. Whomsoever will may enter to get right with the Father. Yeah, that's my metaphorical way of meaning it's the most accessible or easiest option within a limited entrance category. Jesus spoke of his yoke of Lordship as being easy for you and me. The "broadest narrow gate" represents the most welcoming or open or least restrictive good path in.
There is still only one way of salvation (the Jesus Christ of the Bible). Personal faith in this Lord and in His finished work on the Cross is the Father's only way for you in. True!
Faith in God's Bible promises is the only way to find peace in the midst of rejection or trouble. You want peace with God and the peace of God in this jacked-up world today. Don't you?
Revelation 22:17 says, "And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely".
Jesus said he is the gate, the door.. "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" John 14:6 niv
Are you a rejecter or a rejectee today? "There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” Acts 4;12
Got some pain from sorrows or rejection today? “Enter into the joy of your Master” (Matthew 25:21, 23).
Reject me and I'll quickly brush that off. I don't need really what you have because I've got Christ a friend that sticks closer than a brother. He's enough for anyone.
I'm not going to worry about this. It's not a big deal, but to reject Christ that's a different story -- very serious. To go your whole life like that not accepting him, is literally to commit blaspheme of the Holy Spirit and that doesn't end well for people.
Many people are simply resisting the Holy Spirit’s attempts to woo and draw them to faith in Christ. Stephen, a leader in the early church, told those who were about to murder him, “You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!” (Acts 7:51). The apostle Paul made a similar statement to a group of gospel rejecters in Acts 28:23-27.
Whatever the reasons why people reject Jesus Christ, their rejection has disastrous eternal consequences. “There is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” than the name of Jesus (Acts 4:12), and those who reject Him, for whatever reason, face an eternity in the “outer darkness” of hell where there will be “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matthew 25:30).
"Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses." Proverbs 27:6
"Faithful are the wounds of a friend [who corrects out of love and concern], but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful [because they serve his hidden agenda]." amp
