Romans 6:23 NIV
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
10/25/06-10/27/06
The consequence of sin death. We have all earned death since we have all sinned. But God offers us the gift of eternal life, of a right relationship with Him through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. It is a gift and not something we have earned, must earn, can earn, or will earn. A gift by it’s very nature is free and unearned. To attempt to repay someone who gives is an insult, it is to reject the gift as it was given.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Thursday, October 26, 2006
#11 Romans 6:11-13 NLT/NIV
Romans 6:11-13 NLT/NIV
So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires…but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life and offer the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness.
10/22/06-10/24/06
When we came to saving faith, embracing God’s gift of grace, we were then “crucified with Christ” (Gal. 2:20). It was then that we died to sin for the old, sinful nature was in that moment nailed to the cross and we became a “new creation” (2Cor. 5:17) in Christ. Since this is true, it follows that we should no longer live in sin. This does not mean that we will not fall on occasion, for though the old nature is crucified it is not entirely dead just yet. But now we, as an act of our will, offer our whole selves to God to perfect us into the image of Christ so that less and less often do we fall into sin. I pray, “Lord, may all Your children fully surrender them selves to You that You might work in us and through us every day to bring glory to Your name.”
So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires…but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life and offer the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness.
10/22/06-10/24/06
When we came to saving faith, embracing God’s gift of grace, we were then “crucified with Christ” (Gal. 2:20). It was then that we died to sin for the old, sinful nature was in that moment nailed to the cross and we became a “new creation” (2Cor. 5:17) in Christ. Since this is true, it follows that we should no longer live in sin. This does not mean that we will not fall on occasion, for though the old nature is crucified it is not entirely dead just yet. But now we, as an act of our will, offer our whole selves to God to perfect us into the image of Christ so that less and less often do we fall into sin. I pray, “Lord, may all Your children fully surrender them selves to You that You might work in us and through us every day to bring glory to Your name.”
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
# 10. Romans 3:22-24 NIV
Romans 3:22-24 NIV
This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
10/19/06-10/21/06
True righteousness comes from God alone by faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. This clearly precludes any merit or works on our part. Salvation is purely the gift of God. We are “justified freely by His grace” because the price of redemption – our ransom, the punishment of our sin – has already been paid by Jesus Christ in His suffering and death on the cross. The price for our sin having been paid, God is now able of His grace to freely justify all who believe. God placed our sin on Christ the sinless lamb and has placed the righteousness of His Son, Jesus, upon us – that we may be holy and blameless in His sight.
There is no difference between peoples when it comes to a need and the means of salvation. Since all have sinned and missed God’s perfect standard of righteousness then all are in need of salvation and there is only one way to be saved.
This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
10/19/06-10/21/06
True righteousness comes from God alone by faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. This clearly precludes any merit or works on our part. Salvation is purely the gift of God. We are “justified freely by His grace” because the price of redemption – our ransom, the punishment of our sin – has already been paid by Jesus Christ in His suffering and death on the cross. The price for our sin having been paid, God is now able of His grace to freely justify all who believe. God placed our sin on Christ the sinless lamb and has placed the righteousness of His Son, Jesus, upon us – that we may be holy and blameless in His sight.
There is no difference between peoples when it comes to a need and the means of salvation. Since all have sinned and missed God’s perfect standard of righteousness then all are in need of salvation and there is only one way to be saved.
# 9. Romans 1:16 NIV
Romans 1:16 NIV
I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.
10/16/06-10/18/06
“The gospel” – the good news that forgiveness and true righteousness has been made available through the atoning work of Jesus Christ – “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” This “good news,” this divine truth works in the heart of everyone who will believe – granting them salvation.
“Salvation” – to be saved from the wrath of God upon sin, from the power and slavery of sin, from guilt, from the second death which is eternal separation from God. Therefore, no matter that the world may persecute and ridicule us for it. The gospel is the means by which God has decided to display the power of salvation through the inward work of the Holy Spirit. We cannot be ashamed of it for it is through this same gospel that we have been saved, set free of sin and judgment and made children of God. We ought to always be ready to give account of the hope in us. This hope is found in the saving work of Christ Jesus – the unshakeable hope of salvation through faith in God trusting in the gift of the Lamb.
I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.
10/16/06-10/18/06
“The gospel” – the good news that forgiveness and true righteousness has been made available through the atoning work of Jesus Christ – “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” This “good news,” this divine truth works in the heart of everyone who will believe – granting them salvation.
“Salvation” – to be saved from the wrath of God upon sin, from the power and slavery of sin, from guilt, from the second death which is eternal separation from God. Therefore, no matter that the world may persecute and ridicule us for it. The gospel is the means by which God has decided to display the power of salvation through the inward work of the Holy Spirit. We cannot be ashamed of it for it is through this same gospel that we have been saved, set free of sin and judgment and made children of God. We ought to always be ready to give account of the hope in us. This hope is found in the saving work of Christ Jesus – the unshakeable hope of salvation through faith in God trusting in the gift of the Lamb.
# 8. Acts 4:10&12 NIV
Acts 4:10&12 NIV
“Then know this…it is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed… salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
10/13/06-10/15/06
“By or in the name of Jesus Christ” – in line with the will of and by the power of Jesus Christ that is the power of God. Demonstrating that all the apostles preached about Him is true. God did miracles to authenticate the messengers and their message as coming from Him.
Salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone. It does not matter who your parents are or who your forefathers were. It does not matter what kind of religious rituals you engage in. it does not matter how “good” you are. Every person is in the same leaky boat – everyone is stuck in the same pit and it is God alone in the person of Jesus Christ who can save us. We are called to put all our faith and trust in Him alone and enter into relationship with Him. Everything that follows then will flow out of a grateful heart full of love and an eagerness to obey.
A name in ancient times meant much more than it does now. To speak of “the name” of Jesus Christ is to speak of who He is and all He does. The “name” we are given by which we must be saved is Christ Jesus Himself for salvation is found in no one else. He alone lived the perfect life we could not live and He alone died to take our sin away if we would only trust in Him for it.
“Then know this…it is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed… salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
10/13/06-10/15/06
“By or in the name of Jesus Christ” – in line with the will of and by the power of Jesus Christ that is the power of God. Demonstrating that all the apostles preached about Him is true. God did miracles to authenticate the messengers and their message as coming from Him.
Salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ alone. It does not matter who your parents are or who your forefathers were. It does not matter what kind of religious rituals you engage in. it does not matter how “good” you are. Every person is in the same leaky boat – everyone is stuck in the same pit and it is God alone in the person of Jesus Christ who can save us. We are called to put all our faith and trust in Him alone and enter into relationship with Him. Everything that follows then will flow out of a grateful heart full of love and an eagerness to obey.
A name in ancient times meant much more than it does now. To speak of “the name” of Jesus Christ is to speak of who He is and all He does. The “name” we are given by which we must be saved is Christ Jesus Himself for salvation is found in no one else. He alone lived the perfect life we could not live and He alone died to take our sin away if we would only trust in Him for it.
# 7. John 14:21 & 23 NIV
John 14:21&23 NIV
“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him… If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”
10/10/06-10/12/06
If you love someone, you will do what they ask of you in order to demonstrate your love. If you love someone who is in authority over you, you will obey – trusting that what they ask of you is good – thereby showing your love and trust. How much more does this apply to God – who alone is worthy of all our love and every bit of our faith and trust. For God to come to us, to make His home with us and in us forever – is there anything any better?
“Show my self to him” – to open our eyes and our hearts that we may truly know Him. By His Spirit in us, He teaches us about Himself from scripture and enables us to understand. He shows us who He is and reveals His will to us that we may obey. If we truly love and obey Him, He will reveal more of Himself and His will to us. If we do not obey what we do know, why should He show us more? Those who seek to know His will so that they may obey – whatever it is – will be shown. God does not hide from us, but He wants us to know Him. For this very reason He created us, became human like us, died for us, and gave scripture to us – that we might know Him. That knowing right now is imperfect. Sin distorts our view, but the day will come when we will “see face to face” and “know in full even as (we are) fully known” (1st Corinthians 13:12). We will have clear vision to “see Him as He (truly) is” (1st John 3:2-3) and then we will finally be fully like Christ.
“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him… If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”
10/10/06-10/12/06
If you love someone, you will do what they ask of you in order to demonstrate your love. If you love someone who is in authority over you, you will obey – trusting that what they ask of you is good – thereby showing your love and trust. How much more does this apply to God – who alone is worthy of all our love and every bit of our faith and trust. For God to come to us, to make His home with us and in us forever – is there anything any better?
“Show my self to him” – to open our eyes and our hearts that we may truly know Him. By His Spirit in us, He teaches us about Himself from scripture and enables us to understand. He shows us who He is and reveals His will to us that we may obey. If we truly love and obey Him, He will reveal more of Himself and His will to us. If we do not obey what we do know, why should He show us more? Those who seek to know His will so that they may obey – whatever it is – will be shown. God does not hide from us, but He wants us to know Him. For this very reason He created us, became human like us, died for us, and gave scripture to us – that we might know Him. That knowing right now is imperfect. Sin distorts our view, but the day will come when we will “see face to face” and “know in full even as (we are) fully known” (1st Corinthians 13:12). We will have clear vision to “see Him as He (truly) is” (1st John 3:2-3) and then we will finally be fully like Christ.
Sunday, October 22, 2006
# 6. John 14:6
John 14:6 NLT
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
10/7/06-10/9/06
Coming to Jesus is the only way we can come to God. forgiveness of sins by Christ’s atoning work on the cross is the only way in which we can be reconciled to God, have fellowship with Him, and enter His heaven. Any other “way” is man’s attempt to “try harder” or “be better.” These are all part of the “broad road” leading to destruction. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the truth of God, there is no other truth apart from God. The lies of this world are many and convincing, but the word of God alone is truth. Those who keep the truth in their hearts and on their minds, will not be led astray by the lies that come to their ears. Test everything against the scriptures for that is the only standard. God alone gives and sustains life. “This is eternal life; that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.” (John 17:3) to live as a willing servant of sin and an enemy of God is not living but the death of the soul/spirit. Sin will gradualy and finaly destroy all joy, real love, and any kind of lasting fulfillment – it corrupts the heart and twists the mind. If we could truly see sin as it really is, for what it realy does – even the “smallest” sin – we would hate it as God hates it. God has provided escape from the devistating effects of sin and ultimate freedom from it through the blood of Christ. God not only forgives us so that we may have eternal life after death, but He breathes in new life by His Spirit right now. “That you may have life and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)
Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
10/7/06-10/9/06
Coming to Jesus is the only way we can come to God. forgiveness of sins by Christ’s atoning work on the cross is the only way in which we can be reconciled to God, have fellowship with Him, and enter His heaven. Any other “way” is man’s attempt to “try harder” or “be better.” These are all part of the “broad road” leading to destruction. The gospel of Jesus Christ is the truth of God, there is no other truth apart from God. The lies of this world are many and convincing, but the word of God alone is truth. Those who keep the truth in their hearts and on their minds, will not be led astray by the lies that come to their ears. Test everything against the scriptures for that is the only standard. God alone gives and sustains life. “This is eternal life; that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.” (John 17:3) to live as a willing servant of sin and an enemy of God is not living but the death of the soul/spirit. Sin will gradualy and finaly destroy all joy, real love, and any kind of lasting fulfillment – it corrupts the heart and twists the mind. If we could truly see sin as it really is, for what it realy does – even the “smallest” sin – we would hate it as God hates it. God has provided escape from the devistating effects of sin and ultimate freedom from it through the blood of Christ. God not only forgives us so that we may have eternal life after death, but He breathes in new life by His Spirit right now. “That you may have life and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)
# 5.John 14:1-3 NLT
John 14:1-3 NLT
“Don’t be troubled. You trust in God, now trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s home, and I am going there to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would have told you plainly. When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”
10/4/06-10/6/06
Trust in God is the cure for anxiety. In heaven, we will never be separated from Him, from His presence, ever again – even by the smallest degree. We will enjoy fellowship with Him to a depth and intimacy that we cannot now even imagine. All veils, all barriers, will be gone forever. The Lord will come and get us. “He is not slow in keeping His promise, as some count slowness. He is patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2nd Peter 3:9). So perhaps a part of getting “everything ready” is drawing al those who will be saved before He comes to get us. He waits till all those who will come to Him have come. To have a room in the Father’s home speaks of belonging and a close family relationship. A home is an intimate and personal setting. Jesus prepares for us a place in His Father’s home bringing us in as His brothers and sisters, as children of the Father. He also brings us into the Father’s home as His beloved bride. So we are doubly God’s children – we are Jesus’ bride, thus His children through marriage to the Son, and we are His adopted sons and daughters.
“Don’t be troubled. You trust in God, now trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s home, and I am going there to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would have told you plainly. When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”
10/4/06-10/6/06
Trust in God is the cure for anxiety. In heaven, we will never be separated from Him, from His presence, ever again – even by the smallest degree. We will enjoy fellowship with Him to a depth and intimacy that we cannot now even imagine. All veils, all barriers, will be gone forever. The Lord will come and get us. “He is not slow in keeping His promise, as some count slowness. He is patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” (2nd Peter 3:9). So perhaps a part of getting “everything ready” is drawing al those who will be saved before He comes to get us. He waits till all those who will come to Him have come. To have a room in the Father’s home speaks of belonging and a close family relationship. A home is an intimate and personal setting. Jesus prepares for us a place in His Father’s home bringing us in as His brothers and sisters, as children of the Father. He also brings us into the Father’s home as His beloved bride. So we are doubly God’s children – we are Jesus’ bride, thus His children through marriage to the Son, and we are His adopted sons and daughters.
# 4. Mark 12:30-31 NIV
Mark 12:30-31 NIV
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this; love your neighbor as yourself. There is no greater commandment than these.”
10/1/06-10/ /06
God is the only one worthy of such love. If we do not give it all to Him then we will give it to something which will only disappoint us. So then, this command is made in part to protect us from the pain and disappointment of what could be called idolatry. To fall in love with God is the start of an eternal romance, one that will never disappoint but only get better, stronger, deeper – every day of forever. To truly love God and others will keep us from sin. It is only when we lose that love, even for a moment, that we fall into sin. The more truly we love, the more unattractive sin becomes, for how can we deliberately harm one we love so deeply. Yet who can stir their own heart to love? Therefore, God must pour His own love into our hearts. This He will and do and all the more as we ask it of Him. Let our prayer be every day, “Lord, pour Your love into me that I may love You in return and love those around me as You have commanded. Help me to love You and tem better every day. Amen.”
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this; love your neighbor as yourself. There is no greater commandment than these.”
10/1/06-10/ /06
God is the only one worthy of such love. If we do not give it all to Him then we will give it to something which will only disappoint us. So then, this command is made in part to protect us from the pain and disappointment of what could be called idolatry. To fall in love with God is the start of an eternal romance, one that will never disappoint but only get better, stronger, deeper – every day of forever. To truly love God and others will keep us from sin. It is only when we lose that love, even for a moment, that we fall into sin. The more truly we love, the more unattractive sin becomes, for how can we deliberately harm one we love so deeply. Yet who can stir their own heart to love? Therefore, God must pour His own love into our hearts. This He will and do and all the more as we ask it of Him. Let our prayer be every day, “Lord, pour Your love into me that I may love You in return and love those around me as You have commanded. Help me to love You and tem better every day. Amen.”
# 3. Matthew 16:24-26 NIV
Matthew 16:24-26 NIV
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. what good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul?”
9/28/06-9/30/06
We are to follow the Lord with complete and whole hearted devotion, even to the point of physical suffering and death. Anything you gain in this world is left behind at Your death and then what good will it be to you? It will never save you from judgment and hell.
Deny self – to deny my natural (carnal) self in which there is no good and to deny that I can do anything to change or save myself – to deny that I am the rightful ruler of myself or my life. If we give up our natural and worldly lifestyle and ambition in order to follow Christ, we will find true life – a life of love, peace, and purpose, we will also find that this true kind of life – dedicated to God – is an eternal life continuing after death in heaven and at the resurrection. But those who seek to save their worldly life style and ambition instead of following Christ will not find love, peace, and purpose; either in this life or after death. When they have died, they will see how empty their life truly was and know that they have not only lost the life that they had worked for, but they have also lost any kind of life at all.
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. what good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul?”
9/28/06-9/30/06
We are to follow the Lord with complete and whole hearted devotion, even to the point of physical suffering and death. Anything you gain in this world is left behind at Your death and then what good will it be to you? It will never save you from judgment and hell.
Deny self – to deny my natural (carnal) self in which there is no good and to deny that I can do anything to change or save myself – to deny that I am the rightful ruler of myself or my life. If we give up our natural and worldly lifestyle and ambition in order to follow Christ, we will find true life – a life of love, peace, and purpose, we will also find that this true kind of life – dedicated to God – is an eternal life continuing after death in heaven and at the resurrection. But those who seek to save their worldly life style and ambition instead of following Christ will not find love, peace, and purpose; either in this life or after death. When they have died, they will see how empty their life truly was and know that they have not only lost the life that they had worked for, but they have also lost any kind of life at all.
# 2. Matthew 5:6&8 NIV
Matthew 5:6&8 NIV
“Blessed are those who hunger and thrist for righteousness for they will be filled.”
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God!”
9/25/06-9/27/06
We who desire perfect righteousness and obedience will have this desire fulfilled when we leave this world in this present age and step into God’s eternal presence. Then His grace which justified us, sanctified us, will glorify us also and we will never sin again. Amen! This righteousness comes from God through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe in Him (Romans 3:22). Lord, fill us with Your perfect righteousness! Make us like Christ, living in obedience and submission to Your will alone.
Pure in heart – in a right relationship with God. He creates in us a “clean heart”, He gives us a “new heart”.
Pure in heart – single purposed in devotion to God. Lord, set my heart on fire with a passion for You and for Your gospel.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thrist for righteousness for they will be filled.”
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God!”
9/25/06-9/27/06
We who desire perfect righteousness and obedience will have this desire fulfilled when we leave this world in this present age and step into God’s eternal presence. Then His grace which justified us, sanctified us, will glorify us also and we will never sin again. Amen! This righteousness comes from God through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe in Him (Romans 3:22). Lord, fill us with Your perfect righteousness! Make us like Christ, living in obedience and submission to Your will alone.
Pure in heart – in a right relationship with God. He creates in us a “clean heart”, He gives us a “new heart”.
Pure in heart – single purposed in devotion to God. Lord, set my heart on fire with a passion for You and for Your gospel.
# 1. Psalm 132:13-14 NIV
Psalm 132:13-14 NIV
For the Lord has chosen Zion, He has desired it for His dwelling: “This is my resting place for ever and ever – here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired.”
9/21/06-9/24/06
Zion – temple of God – those who belong to God.
We are God’s dwelling forever. Our hearts, our lives, are to be His throne because He desires it strongly. God has chosen us, so we can be sure that He will not reject us when we come to Him. He will remain in us and with us forever – He will never leave or abandon us. (Heb. 13:5)
Zion – city of God – new Jerusalem – new heavens and earth.
God has also chosen to live with His children. He deserves to be with us forever. We are united in Him and under Him. We are one people with one God and King, forever.
For the Lord has chosen Zion, He has desired it for His dwelling: “This is my resting place for ever and ever – here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired.”
9/21/06-9/24/06
Zion – temple of God – those who belong to God.
We are God’s dwelling forever. Our hearts, our lives, are to be His throne because He desires it strongly. God has chosen us, so we can be sure that He will not reject us when we come to Him. He will remain in us and with us forever – He will never leave or abandon us. (Heb. 13:5)
Zion – city of God – new Jerusalem – new heavens and earth.
God has also chosen to live with His children. He deserves to be with us forever. We are united in Him and under Him. We are one people with one God and King, forever.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)