Offender. We see that word, "offender", around here a lot. " You have received a JPAY offender payment." We get "Offender Monthly Statements." Even my hiring letter from CI began with "Offender Byars." Our atmosphere is designed to remind us that most of us have offended people and society and we should not forget what we've done to be here. If we look at it spiritually, God says that we all were offenders. Jesus gives us a very stern warning about causing offenses (Lk. 17:1, Mt. 18:7). The Bible tells us that we all have sinned (Rom. 3:23) and sin offends God. Adam's original sin spread to every person ever born for which we all earned the death penalty (Rom. 6:23a). Our inherited sin nature makes us born offenders. Praise the Lord that this is not the end of the story! Romans 5:15 says "the free gift is not like the offense. For if by one man's offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many." God offers us a free gift of grace through faith in Christ. If we accept this gift, we are no longer condemned in God's court, our offenses are forgiven, and we are released from death row. This clemency is our only way out and the Bible says again and again that it is free. Our state sentences for our offenses against society are temporary. Our death penalties for offending God are eternal unless we accept the free gift given by our Advocate Jesus "who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification" (Rom. 4:25). Brothers and sisters, I encourage you that if you have already accepted this gift, live a gratefully obedient life. If you have not accepted the gift, I urge you to heed this warning while there is still time.
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