Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; ...
There is more to this passage of scripture but I want to expound a little on the first three verses of Romans, chapter 5. We have learned from my previous blogging that faith is a persuasion (refer back to blogs between Jan 19 & 21). Paul states that we have been justified or made righteous by the persuasions of our heart and those persuasions are based on knowing what God has done for us through our Lord Jesus' death, burial and resurrection.
This persuasion causes us to have "peace" with God, as Paul declares in this passage. The Greek word for "peace" here is "eirene" which is from the primary verb "eirō", which means "to join"; (literally or figuratively); by implication prosperity: - one or oneness, peace, quietness, rest; set at one again.
This faith or persuasion that we are justified (made right with God), joins us to Him, setting us "at one again" with Him, like it was before Adam sinned. He walked in the cool of the day with God, fellowshipping with the One Who created the universe.
Paul goes on to say that through Christ we also have access by our persuasions of God's goodness into this GRACE. The word "grace" here is the Greek word "charis" which is "the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life of the individual". In other words, because of what Christ did for us, we are at peace with God and this revelation has a divine influence of gratitude in our hearts which is reflected in our lives as we remain aware that we are in right standing with God; the fact that He loves us and gave His all for us. This is what "walking in the Spirit" is referring to. Walking in the awareness of God's Spirit indwelling us and being mindful of our righteousness in Christ and not our sin-nature (flesh).
Furthermore, verse two goes on to say this divine influence produces a hope in us. You may recall that the word hope means "a joyful, confident, expectation of good. Of course this grace would produce a joyful confident expectation of good. God said that He has established in us, a New Covenant, a better covenant with better promises (Hebrews 8:6)
Now the next part is what I like. Paul goes on to say that this hope causes us to "glory in tribulations". I used to have trouble with this. Who wants to look forward to pain and hurt and trouble? That is what I thought "tribulations" were. Well that word "trribulation is also translated as "pressure". Now I can handle pressure much better than pain and hurt and trouble. Jesus said, in this world we will have tribulations (pressure) and then He said BUT.... But what? BUT - BE OF GOOD CHEER FOR I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD. So, He is saying that He has overcome these pressures for us.
Now verse three goes on to say that pressure produces patience. Okay, here is another word that doesn't sound like it would be fun. Patience can produce more troubling thoughts because it usuallly means we are learning to wait for something that we wish would arrive sooner than later. Well, once again, if we look at the word "patience" in the context of this verse which is talking about faith and grace, and joyful, confident expectations of good, we find that the word "patience" is the Greek word "hupomone" which means a cheerful or hopeful endurance or constancy. A cheerful; hopeful endurance or constancy? I never thought of patience in so positive a light as this. But this kind of patience manifests in our hearts when we know that God is on our side and He has already sent His son to pay the price for us so that we may have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10)
Let's go one further; this cheerful or hopeful endurance produces an "experience"; the Greek word here for "experience" means "trustiness"; proof.
In other words, when the persuasions of our heart reveal our right-standing with God it produces a peace in us and this peace produces a divine influence in our heart that causes us to have a joyful, confident expectation of good in our lives. Paul goes on to say that this expectation of good manifests in our hearts when pressure tries to come against us. And as we remain confident in our expectation of good, the divine influence in our heart is a cheerful and hopeful endurance against that pressure which sets the stage for an experience that proves out God's goodness and trustworthiness!
We no longer need to fear tribulations or God's plan to develop patience in us. Why? Because His Yoke is easy and His burden is light. He has made a way of escape for us from the pressures and trials of this life and His word promises us a good outcome! Hallelujah!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Who Turned On The Light?
2 Corinthians 4:6 For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
I was sitting and meditating on this thought. Light dispels darkness. If you walk into a dark room, the only way to be able to see is turn on the light. So what happens when we turn the light on? It shines in the room and chases away the darkness. We couldn't expel the darkness by focusing on it and trying to move it out of the room. All we need do is to release an energy that opposes the darkness. Darkness is the absence of light. We can't "will" darkness out of the room. We need to engage that which is absent....light.
When it comes to love and hate. Hate is the absence of love. We cannot guilt hate out of a person. We cannot convince hate out of a person. It's simliar to expelling darkness...we need to employ that which is absent - love.
I believe sin and righteousness have a similar polarity as do light and darkness, love and hate. Sin is produced out of the absence of righteousness. Paul encourages us in Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. The word "walk" is the Greek word peripateo meaning "to be occupied with". So Paul is telling us not to be occupied with the flesh but be occupied with the Spirit.
Paul said there is therefore now no condenmation for those who are in Christ and the way we avoid condemnation is by being occupied with the things of the spirit - the knowledge of our righteousness in Christ. 1 Cor 3:7 Paul tells us what brings condemnation ... Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, (the Law of Moses/The Ten Commandments) brought glory ...vs 9 If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! Paul said earlier in verse 6 that the letter kills but the spirit gives life. What is the letter? The Law of Moses. He referred to the Law of Moses as the ministry of death; the ministry which brought condemnation.
1 Corinthinas 15:56 tells us "the sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law."
So if we want to walk free from sin, we cannot do it by focusing on our sin and trying to "will" it out of our lives, trying to not sin. Paul told us in Romans, chapter 7 that the very thing he didn't want to do, he did. And that which he did want to do, he couldn't. Trying to avoid sin is like trying not to allow darkness in a room. Darkness is made alive by the absence of light. Sin is made alive by the absence of our knowledge of righteousness brought about by faith in Christ. The law was given to reveal our sin, not to do away with it. Only Jesus can dispel the sin in our lives. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory!
Turn on the light of the Good News; the Gospel of Jesus and let that light shine!
I was sitting and meditating on this thought. Light dispels darkness. If you walk into a dark room, the only way to be able to see is turn on the light. So what happens when we turn the light on? It shines in the room and chases away the darkness. We couldn't expel the darkness by focusing on it and trying to move it out of the room. All we need do is to release an energy that opposes the darkness. Darkness is the absence of light. We can't "will" darkness out of the room. We need to engage that which is absent....light.
When it comes to love and hate. Hate is the absence of love. We cannot guilt hate out of a person. We cannot convince hate out of a person. It's simliar to expelling darkness...we need to employ that which is absent - love.
I believe sin and righteousness have a similar polarity as do light and darkness, love and hate. Sin is produced out of the absence of righteousness. Paul encourages us in Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. The word "walk" is the Greek word peripateo meaning "to be occupied with". So Paul is telling us not to be occupied with the flesh but be occupied with the Spirit.
Paul said there is therefore now no condenmation for those who are in Christ and the way we avoid condemnation is by being occupied with the things of the spirit - the knowledge of our righteousness in Christ. 1 Cor 3:7 Paul tells us what brings condemnation ... Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, (the Law of Moses/The Ten Commandments) brought glory ...vs 9 If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! Paul said earlier in verse 6 that the letter kills but the spirit gives life. What is the letter? The Law of Moses. He referred to the Law of Moses as the ministry of death; the ministry which brought condemnation.
1 Corinthinas 15:56 tells us "the sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law."
So if we want to walk free from sin, we cannot do it by focusing on our sin and trying to "will" it out of our lives, trying to not sin. Paul told us in Romans, chapter 7 that the very thing he didn't want to do, he did. And that which he did want to do, he couldn't. Trying to avoid sin is like trying not to allow darkness in a room. Darkness is made alive by the absence of light. Sin is made alive by the absence of our knowledge of righteousness brought about by faith in Christ. The law was given to reveal our sin, not to do away with it. Only Jesus can dispel the sin in our lives. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory!
Turn on the light of the Good News; the Gospel of Jesus and let that light shine!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Remove the Veil - Reveal The Glory
2 Corinthians 4:3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
Paul is telling the church in Corinth that the god of this world, Satan has blinded the minds of those who are perishing. Who is it that is perishing? Those who do not believe in the gospel; the good news of Christ.
He refers to this knowledge as light. What light? The light that Christ is the image of our God. We don't need to IMAGINE God any longer. If you want to see our heavenly Father, study the Son. He came to do the will of the Father. He came to reveal the Fathers' love.
In the previous chapter, Paul explains what this veil is. 2 Corinthians 3:6 ...for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7. But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. verse 14...For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ.
What veil is that? It is Law of Moses. The Law which Jesus came to fulfill. Paul refers to the Law of Moses as the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones. He said that the letter kills, but the spirit gives life. When we live under the Old Covenant; the Law of Moses, it is like a veil over our eyes. We don't see the life giving power of Jesus' blood, washing us and cleansing us from all unrighteousness. All we see is our deeds done in the flesh. We are blinded to the fact that God has called us Kings and Priests in this New Covenant and that He calls us the righteousnes of God in Christ.
What removes the veil from our eyes? vs 14 says Christ takes away that veil. Romans 8:2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death. The Law of Moses is the law of sin and death or the ministry of death as Paul called it in verse 7.
The enemy wants to keep us in the dark. He wants us to live conscious of the law and of our deeds. The bible calls him the accuser of the brethern. But the Light of Life has come to the world. And as we walk in the knowledge of all that Christ purchased for us, it causes His glory to shine in our hearts. We are no longer to walk in a consciousness of sin...being ever so mindful of our flesh and sin nature. We are to walk in the light of the gospel of Jesus. We are to walk in the knowledge of His light that He is our righteousness...the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ.
He took on our sin and nailed it to His cross so that sin would no longer have dominion over us. That debt was paid once and for all and now we can rejoice; walking in a righteousness consciousness - for this ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.
Why do you think Paul said that this ministry exceeds in much more glory? My guess is because once there was a man; one man; Christ Jesus who walked this earth revealing the Glory of God the Father. But now, through faith in Christ and walking in the knowledge of our righteousness in Him, that veil is removed enabling the Glory of God to shine from all our hearts to a lost and dying world. All believers, united in Spirit revealing God's glory!
Remove the veil brought about by sin consciouness and reveal Christ in you, the hope of Glory!
Paul is telling the church in Corinth that the god of this world, Satan has blinded the minds of those who are perishing. Who is it that is perishing? Those who do not believe in the gospel; the good news of Christ.
He refers to this knowledge as light. What light? The light that Christ is the image of our God. We don't need to IMAGINE God any longer. If you want to see our heavenly Father, study the Son. He came to do the will of the Father. He came to reveal the Fathers' love.
In the previous chapter, Paul explains what this veil is. 2 Corinthians 3:6 ...for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7. But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. verse 14...For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ.
What veil is that? It is Law of Moses. The Law which Jesus came to fulfill. Paul refers to the Law of Moses as the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones. He said that the letter kills, but the spirit gives life. When we live under the Old Covenant; the Law of Moses, it is like a veil over our eyes. We don't see the life giving power of Jesus' blood, washing us and cleansing us from all unrighteousness. All we see is our deeds done in the flesh. We are blinded to the fact that God has called us Kings and Priests in this New Covenant and that He calls us the righteousnes of God in Christ.
What removes the veil from our eyes? vs 14 says Christ takes away that veil. Romans 8:2 For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death. The Law of Moses is the law of sin and death or the ministry of death as Paul called it in verse 7.
The enemy wants to keep us in the dark. He wants us to live conscious of the law and of our deeds. The bible calls him the accuser of the brethern. But the Light of Life has come to the world. And as we walk in the knowledge of all that Christ purchased for us, it causes His glory to shine in our hearts. We are no longer to walk in a consciousness of sin...being ever so mindful of our flesh and sin nature. We are to walk in the light of the gospel of Jesus. We are to walk in the knowledge of His light that He is our righteousness...the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ.
He took on our sin and nailed it to His cross so that sin would no longer have dominion over us. That debt was paid once and for all and now we can rejoice; walking in a righteousness consciousness - for this ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.
Why do you think Paul said that this ministry exceeds in much more glory? My guess is because once there was a man; one man; Christ Jesus who walked this earth revealing the Glory of God the Father. But now, through faith in Christ and walking in the knowledge of our righteousness in Him, that veil is removed enabling the Glory of God to shine from all our hearts to a lost and dying world. All believers, united in Spirit revealing God's glory!
Remove the veil brought about by sin consciouness and reveal Christ in you, the hope of Glory!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Reigning As Kings in Life
Romans 5:17 For if because of one man's trespass (lapse, offense) death reigned through that one, much more surely will those who receive [God's] overflowing grace (unmerited favor) and the free gift of righteousness [putting them into right standing with Himself] reign as kings in life through the one Man Jesus Christ ( the Messiah, the Anointed One). Amplified version.
It is because of Jesus' sacrifice that we are made to be in right standing with God enabling us to reign as kings in life. Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines king as "one whose position is hereditary and who rules for life. Reign is defined as one who posseses or excercises sovereign power.
Get a hold of this...before Christ died, death reigned or excercised/possessed sovereign power over our lives. 1Corinthians 15:56 tells us that "the sting of death is sin". So sin reigned in our lives. Before we gave our hearts to Jesus, that old sin nature ruled our hearts. However, because Jesus gave His life as a ransom for us, we have been made righteous [in right standing with God] and now we have "inherited" a position of rule for our entire life, excercising sovereign power over death through faith in Christ. The sin consciousness has no authority over us...no dominion over our hearts and lives.
Colossians 1:22 states, Yet now has [Christ, the Messiah] reconciled [you to God] in the body of His flesh through death, in order to present you holy and faultless and irreproachable in His [the Father’s] presence. Amplified version.
WOW! The Word of God says that we are holy...Jesus says we are faultless and irreproachable in the Father's presence. Let me ask you...Do you see yourself as holy, faultless and irreproachable in God's sight.
Or are you more conscious of your sins; your failures?
Between our own minds and the enemy of our soul (Satan), we can go through life being more conscious of our mistakes. Maybe it was a sharp word spoken to a loved one; we may have copped an attitude with someone who cut us off on the road; or feared sharing the Gospel with someone because we didn't think they would accept it; maybe we misjudged a co-worker...the list can go on.
We can beat ourselves up for this....or maybe it's more subtle...we just feel unworthy...lacking confidence in God's love for us because we see our failures. Focusing on the works of the flesh only steal away our joy and our confidence before a holy God. These issues can impact our entire attitude towards others; towards ourselves.
Jesus said that we are holy; He said that we are faultless and irreproachable in God's sight. We need to be more conscious of His Grace. As we take our focus off of ourselves and meditate on what our Heavenly Father says about us will we be able to reign as kings in this life.
Galatians 2:20 For the life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me. Let the GRACE of God - His favor towards you be the guiding peace in your heart and mind today because His love toward you is so much greater than you can imagine.
It is because of Jesus' sacrifice that we are made to be in right standing with God enabling us to reign as kings in life. Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines king as "one whose position is hereditary and who rules for life. Reign is defined as one who posseses or excercises sovereign power.
Get a hold of this...before Christ died, death reigned or excercised/possessed sovereign power over our lives. 1Corinthians 15:56 tells us that "the sting of death is sin". So sin reigned in our lives. Before we gave our hearts to Jesus, that old sin nature ruled our hearts. However, because Jesus gave His life as a ransom for us, we have been made righteous [in right standing with God] and now we have "inherited" a position of rule for our entire life, excercising sovereign power over death through faith in Christ. The sin consciousness has no authority over us...no dominion over our hearts and lives.
Colossians 1:22 states, Yet now has [Christ, the Messiah] reconciled [you to God] in the body of His flesh through death, in order to present you holy and faultless and irreproachable in His [the Father’s] presence. Amplified version.
WOW! The Word of God says that we are holy...Jesus says we are faultless and irreproachable in the Father's presence. Let me ask you...Do you see yourself as holy, faultless and irreproachable in God's sight.
Or are you more conscious of your sins; your failures?
Between our own minds and the enemy of our soul (Satan), we can go through life being more conscious of our mistakes. Maybe it was a sharp word spoken to a loved one; we may have copped an attitude with someone who cut us off on the road; or feared sharing the Gospel with someone because we didn't think they would accept it; maybe we misjudged a co-worker...the list can go on.
We can beat ourselves up for this....or maybe it's more subtle...we just feel unworthy...lacking confidence in God's love for us because we see our failures. Focusing on the works of the flesh only steal away our joy and our confidence before a holy God. These issues can impact our entire attitude towards others; towards ourselves.
Jesus said that we are holy; He said that we are faultless and irreproachable in God's sight. We need to be more conscious of His Grace. As we take our focus off of ourselves and meditate on what our Heavenly Father says about us will we be able to reign as kings in this life.
Galatians 2:20 For the life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me. Let the GRACE of God - His favor towards you be the guiding peace in your heart and mind today because His love toward you is so much greater than you can imagine.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
What Law Are You Under?
Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
What is the law of sin and death? The law of sin and death is the law of Moses or better known as the Ten Commandments. In Romans, Chapter 7 Paul explains that until he knew the law, he didn't know what sin was. But once he knew what the law said, sin had dominion over him. Romans 7:5 NLT When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death.
Paul is referring to "spiritual death" not physical death. He went on to say in verse 7 Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin...At one time I lived without understanding the law. But when I learned the command not to covet, for instance, the power of sin came to life, 10 and I died. So I discovered that the law’s commands, which were supposed to bring life, brought spiritual death instead.
Corinthians, 15:56 states, "The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law." Let me put it this way, we all understand how the bee functions. That little critter has a stinger on it and when he lands on you and puts that little stinger in your flesh it causes pain. Paul was telling us that the pain or stinger of death is sin. And what is it that causes sin? THE LAW!
Okay, so we now have a clear understanding that sin is strengthen by the Law - the system of "do's and don't's" and that system produces spiritual death or separation from God.
The Good News is that the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law or the system of "do's and don't's". What is the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, you ask? Faith in Jesus Christ, God's Son sent to this earth to redeem us or "buy us back" from what Adam's sin produced.
I want to keep driving home this point that our works or our ability to do all the right things and avoid doing all the wrong things is not what saves us. I don't believe we can ever hear this message too much. Why? Because for too long religion has taught us otherwise. The church has been too "sin conscious" instead of "grace conscious".
Christians who have failed at times are cast aside; treated as lepers, looked down upon by the brethern. The unchurched don't want to hear from us either because they say that there are two things we are known for, 1. telling them what they are doing wrong and 2. asking for money all the time. This is their perception of Christianity.
Jesus commanded us to go and spread the Good News. He said Himself that He didn't come to condemn the world but to fulfill the law. In other words, what the Ten Commandments couldn't do for us, He came to complete.
So which law do you think is the Good News to be spreading?
What is the law of sin and death? The law of sin and death is the law of Moses or better known as the Ten Commandments. In Romans, Chapter 7 Paul explains that until he knew the law, he didn't know what sin was. But once he knew what the law said, sin had dominion over him. Romans 7:5 NLT When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the law aroused these evil desires that produced a harvest of sinful deeds, resulting in death.
Paul is referring to "spiritual death" not physical death. He went on to say in verse 7 Well then, am I suggesting that the law of God is sinful? Of course not! In fact, it was the law that showed me my sin...At one time I lived without understanding the law. But when I learned the command not to covet, for instance, the power of sin came to life, 10 and I died. So I discovered that the law’s commands, which were supposed to bring life, brought spiritual death instead.
Corinthians, 15:56 states, "The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law." Let me put it this way, we all understand how the bee functions. That little critter has a stinger on it and when he lands on you and puts that little stinger in your flesh it causes pain. Paul was telling us that the pain or stinger of death is sin. And what is it that causes sin? THE LAW!
Okay, so we now have a clear understanding that sin is strengthen by the Law - the system of "do's and don't's" and that system produces spiritual death or separation from God.
The Good News is that the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law or the system of "do's and don't's". What is the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus, you ask? Faith in Jesus Christ, God's Son sent to this earth to redeem us or "buy us back" from what Adam's sin produced.
I want to keep driving home this point that our works or our ability to do all the right things and avoid doing all the wrong things is not what saves us. I don't believe we can ever hear this message too much. Why? Because for too long religion has taught us otherwise. The church has been too "sin conscious" instead of "grace conscious".
Christians who have failed at times are cast aside; treated as lepers, looked down upon by the brethern. The unchurched don't want to hear from us either because they say that there are two things we are known for, 1. telling them what they are doing wrong and 2. asking for money all the time. This is their perception of Christianity.
Jesus commanded us to go and spread the Good News. He said Himself that He didn't come to condemn the world but to fulfill the law. In other words, what the Ten Commandments couldn't do for us, He came to complete.
So which law do you think is the Good News to be spreading?
Salvation Unearned
In the second chapter of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul reveals that we have been saved by grace through faith. He goes on to say that this is a gift from God and it is not of our own works, lest anyone should boast.
Salvation isn't something we earn...it is a gift from God...and it comes by way of His Grace or favor. Favor he bestows on us out of His love for us.
Many of us have no problem with receiving the gift of salvation-as it relates to the promise of eternal life but this is only one aspect of salvation. The word salvation in this passage is the Greek word "sozo" which means to deliver, to protect, to heal, preserve, make whole. Every aspect of our being; our spirit, our body...every need we have is met through the shed blood of Jesus. He died to make us whole; whole in every area of our life...and this is a gift from God - it is not based on our works or our abilities.
But like any gift, we must "receive" it in order for us to benefit as recipients of such an awesome gift. One of the problems we face when it comes to "receiving" this gift is the fact that we don't feel worthy of such extravagance. I'm not referring to money or wealth as the extravagance but the value of the gift itself.
Paul said, "while we were yet dead in our sins". He said that God's favor was toward us while in this sinful, ungodly state. Paul went on to say that it isn't based on our works. In other words, there is nothing we did to deserve it. Consequently, except denying Jesus as our Lord, there is nothing we can do to disqualify us from this gift. All we need to do is simply receive Christ as our Lord and Savior and know that this salvation is meant to give us the victory in this life and for eternity.
The enemy of our souls doesn't want us to know this powerful truth because he doesn't want us walking in the divine gift, to its full, as Jesus has provided us.
We must understand that the same faith we exhibit in receiving eternal life through Christ is the same faith applied to all God's promises. And the most important part is that we cannot earn it. It isn't something we qualify for by our actions but are made available to us because of His action, having laid down His life for us.
Trust Christ today to deliver you; no matter what the need may be.
Salvation isn't something we earn...it is a gift from God...and it comes by way of His Grace or favor. Favor he bestows on us out of His love for us.
Many of us have no problem with receiving the gift of salvation-as it relates to the promise of eternal life but this is only one aspect of salvation. The word salvation in this passage is the Greek word "sozo" which means to deliver, to protect, to heal, preserve, make whole. Every aspect of our being; our spirit, our body...every need we have is met through the shed blood of Jesus. He died to make us whole; whole in every area of our life...and this is a gift from God - it is not based on our works or our abilities.
But like any gift, we must "receive" it in order for us to benefit as recipients of such an awesome gift. One of the problems we face when it comes to "receiving" this gift is the fact that we don't feel worthy of such extravagance. I'm not referring to money or wealth as the extravagance but the value of the gift itself.
Paul said, "while we were yet dead in our sins". He said that God's favor was toward us while in this sinful, ungodly state. Paul went on to say that it isn't based on our works. In other words, there is nothing we did to deserve it. Consequently, except denying Jesus as our Lord, there is nothing we can do to disqualify us from this gift. All we need to do is simply receive Christ as our Lord and Savior and know that this salvation is meant to give us the victory in this life and for eternity.
The enemy of our souls doesn't want us to know this powerful truth because he doesn't want us walking in the divine gift, to its full, as Jesus has provided us.
We must understand that the same faith we exhibit in receiving eternal life through Christ is the same faith applied to all God's promises. And the most important part is that we cannot earn it. It isn't something we qualify for by our actions but are made available to us because of His action, having laid down His life for us.
Trust Christ today to deliver you; no matter what the need may be.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Divine Compassion
James 2:13 ... Mercy triumphs over judgment. NKJV
Mercy triumphs over judgment. The word, "mercy" in this passage is the Greek word, "eleos"; meaning Divine Compassion; tender mercies. God's mercy. His Divine compassion toward you and I is a Divine Compassion.
The word "judgment" is the Greek word "krisis" (pronounced kree-sis). This means accusation, condemnation, damnation.
God's Divine Compassion TRIUMPHS over accusations and condemnations railed against us! In the person of Jesus Christ, all accusations, all condemnation; it has all been settled. This is the love of the Father towards us.
He knew us before we were in our mother's womb; He knew every challenge we would face, every wrong choice we would make as well as every right choice. He saw our frailties; those times when we would shun His instruction, defiant in our own ways...Yes even in those times, He saw those days ahead for us...and the miracle of it all is that He still chose to love us. He still allowed His Son to be beaten, cursed and accused...all for our benefit...a benefit we didn't deserve.
When I think about this in from a natural sense of love, I would ask, "Why, Daddy? Why?" Would I allow my son to experience such rejection and pain, even death...for a people who would treat me with such contempt? Who seemed as though they knew it all, despising my instruction? Ignoring the free gift I would provide for them, the gift of eternal life? I know what the answer to that question would be.
However, that is based on a human, natural love. God's love is unconditional. And so He says in His word:"
Mercy tirumphs over judgmment". HIS DIVINE COMPASSION TOWARDS US OVERCOMES, PREVAILS, REJOICES OVER JUDGMENT.
Today, as you go through your day, in the context of James 2:13, know that your Heavenly Father's mercy toward you defeats judgment against you and so allow that to empower you to offer mercy to those whom He brings accross your path; let the joy of His mercy spill out of your heart to others...it'll do your heart good!
Mercy triumphs over judgment. The word, "mercy" in this passage is the Greek word, "eleos"; meaning Divine Compassion; tender mercies. God's mercy. His Divine compassion toward you and I is a Divine Compassion.
The word "judgment" is the Greek word "krisis" (pronounced kree-sis). This means accusation, condemnation, damnation.
God's Divine Compassion TRIUMPHS over accusations and condemnations railed against us! In the person of Jesus Christ, all accusations, all condemnation; it has all been settled. This is the love of the Father towards us.
He knew us before we were in our mother's womb; He knew every challenge we would face, every wrong choice we would make as well as every right choice. He saw our frailties; those times when we would shun His instruction, defiant in our own ways...Yes even in those times, He saw those days ahead for us...and the miracle of it all is that He still chose to love us. He still allowed His Son to be beaten, cursed and accused...all for our benefit...a benefit we didn't deserve.
When I think about this in from a natural sense of love, I would ask, "Why, Daddy? Why?" Would I allow my son to experience such rejection and pain, even death...for a people who would treat me with such contempt? Who seemed as though they knew it all, despising my instruction? Ignoring the free gift I would provide for them, the gift of eternal life? I know what the answer to that question would be.
However, that is based on a human, natural love. God's love is unconditional. And so He says in His word:"
Mercy tirumphs over judgmment". HIS DIVINE COMPASSION TOWARDS US OVERCOMES, PREVAILS, REJOICES OVER JUDGMENT.
Today, as you go through your day, in the context of James 2:13, know that your Heavenly Father's mercy toward you defeats judgment against you and so allow that to empower you to offer mercy to those whom He brings accross your path; let the joy of His mercy spill out of your heart to others...it'll do your heart good!
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