SCRIPTURE FOR TODAY
",,,,God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions---it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the comming ages he might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith---and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God----not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:4-9
WOW! Just heard a message by one of my favorite teachers that really hit home and I am finally able to share this now, being fully able to explain it. It's about "grace" and what it means and what it "does" for us who believe.
We should all know by now what the Gospel of the Lord Jesus is. The word 'gospel', means, "good news" . When we talk about the Gospel to others what are we saying? Do we remind people of all that they do wrong? Is this the Gospel? Do we tell them that their sin will send them straight to hell and that God does not love them on account of their sin? Is this the Gospel? When there is unconfessed sin in our lives and we die, we die in our sins and are bound for hell to spend eternity with the Devil and all the demons in suffering and torment and darkness, is this what we tell them?
No!! Those things are not the "Good News"! That was not the message of Jesus. John said it in his Good News writting when he said, "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son that whosoever believes in Him will not parish but have everlasting life.....For God did not send His Son to condemn the world but to save it through Him..." This is what JESUS said, and now that's "Good News." At least it is for us who know it and believe it. Thats why I feel a certain pity and remorse for those who by their own choice deny the Gospel, or, those who were never taught it, or, just simply hate it for obvious reasons.
The Gospel of Christ is freedom from the guilt and condemnation of sin and our fleshly desires. It's not a licence to 'sin', but rather a 'release' of the stress that comes from being under the 'law' or the Old Covenant. When Jesus shed His blood and gave His life in exchange all of ours He released us from that law. Now that we're released and set free, what are we going to do with our sinful selves?
Here's what the apostle to the Gentiles, Paul, had to say, "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No"to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and Godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope---the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." Titus 2:11-14 And He goes on to say, "At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, decieved, and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one and other. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." Titus 3:3-7
So, God's favor is not earned, it cant be had by good works, extra prayers, kissing up, denying ourselves, or any other way. God gives it 'freely'. This must be the Good News. Now that we know this truth what are we to do with it? Say, "Yippi, I can do anything I want and I can still have God's grace and forgiveness!" " I can sin all I want and God will still forgive me!" "Wow, I think I'll go out and steal, and lie to people and commit every sin I can.." NO! We won't do that if we are truely called by God to recieve His Word and His Grace...Because He 'first' loved us! He, depite all our sin and unrighteousness, he has made a way for us where the was no way before this 'Grace". We were doomed by our sin when we were under the Law because it was impossible for us to be obedient to the law, and our Heavenly Father knew this and He loved us anyway! He sent Jesus to pay for our transgresssions so we would see how much He loved us... Now that we know this, what should we do? Simply, believe it, recieve it, and thank Him for it by getting to know Him, because to know Him is to love Him and to love Him is to obey Him and to obey Him is to be in His favor and to be in His favor is to experience all the joy, peace, love, freeedom, health and healing, abundance and prosperity, all the good things He put in this world for us to have and enjoy...
Some of us are obedient in more things than others and some of us have more of an understanding than others... But the key is, to start our walk with God and learn His mind, which is found in His word, The Bible. The truth is in there. It will lead us on a path to His kingdom and show us what we need to know, not what we need to do, because when we know just how much He really loves us we won't want to 'do' those things we 'know' He does'nt like even though when we do those things He forgives us because He loved us first. Do you see?
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father God Yahweh, In the name of Jesus, Yeshua my Lord and Savior, I thank You for Your saving grace and mercy that sets me free from my sin and guilt. I thank You for the Word You have given us so that we may know Your mind and have the peace that surpasses all understanding. I thank You Father God that You loved me first and gave me the best of all gifts and I ask that You help me to grow in obedience and wisdom and not feel bad about who or what I am, and no mattter what, You made a way for me through Jesus and the Holy Spirit to please you and through them I am made righteous, not by my works, but by Him who shed His blood for me... Thank You Father God, in the name of Jesus, Yeshua, our Lord and King. I, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they will prosper that love thee."
",,,,God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions---it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the comming ages he might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith---and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God----not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:4-9
WOW! Just heard a message by one of my favorite teachers that really hit home and I am finally able to share this now, being fully able to explain it. It's about "grace" and what it means and what it "does" for us who believe.
We should all know by now what the Gospel of the Lord Jesus is. The word 'gospel', means, "good news" . When we talk about the Gospel to others what are we saying? Do we remind people of all that they do wrong? Is this the Gospel? Do we tell them that their sin will send them straight to hell and that God does not love them on account of their sin? Is this the Gospel? When there is unconfessed sin in our lives and we die, we die in our sins and are bound for hell to spend eternity with the Devil and all the demons in suffering and torment and darkness, is this what we tell them?
No!! Those things are not the "Good News"! That was not the message of Jesus. John said it in his Good News writting when he said, "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son that whosoever believes in Him will not parish but have everlasting life.....For God did not send His Son to condemn the world but to save it through Him..." This is what JESUS said, and now that's "Good News." At least it is for us who know it and believe it. Thats why I feel a certain pity and remorse for those who by their own choice deny the Gospel, or, those who were never taught it, or, just simply hate it for obvious reasons.
The Gospel of Christ is freedom from the guilt and condemnation of sin and our fleshly desires. It's not a licence to 'sin', but rather a 'release' of the stress that comes from being under the 'law' or the Old Covenant. When Jesus shed His blood and gave His life in exchange all of ours He released us from that law. Now that we're released and set free, what are we going to do with our sinful selves?
Here's what the apostle to the Gentiles, Paul, had to say, "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No"to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and Godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope---the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good." Titus 2:11-14 And He goes on to say, "At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, decieved, and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one and other. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." Titus 3:3-7
So, God's favor is not earned, it cant be had by good works, extra prayers, kissing up, denying ourselves, or any other way. God gives it 'freely'. This must be the Good News. Now that we know this truth what are we to do with it? Say, "Yippi, I can do anything I want and I can still have God's grace and forgiveness!" " I can sin all I want and God will still forgive me!" "Wow, I think I'll go out and steal, and lie to people and commit every sin I can.." NO! We won't do that if we are truely called by God to recieve His Word and His Grace...Because He 'first' loved us! He, depite all our sin and unrighteousness, he has made a way for us where the was no way before this 'Grace". We were doomed by our sin when we were under the Law because it was impossible for us to be obedient to the law, and our Heavenly Father knew this and He loved us anyway! He sent Jesus to pay for our transgresssions so we would see how much He loved us... Now that we know this, what should we do? Simply, believe it, recieve it, and thank Him for it by getting to know Him, because to know Him is to love Him and to love Him is to obey Him and to obey Him is to be in His favor and to be in His favor is to experience all the joy, peace, love, freeedom, health and healing, abundance and prosperity, all the good things He put in this world for us to have and enjoy...
Some of us are obedient in more things than others and some of us have more of an understanding than others... But the key is, to start our walk with God and learn His mind, which is found in His word, The Bible. The truth is in there. It will lead us on a path to His kingdom and show us what we need to know, not what we need to do, because when we know just how much He really loves us we won't want to 'do' those things we 'know' He does'nt like even though when we do those things He forgives us because He loved us first. Do you see?
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father God Yahweh, In the name of Jesus, Yeshua my Lord and Savior, I thank You for Your saving grace and mercy that sets me free from my sin and guilt. I thank You for the Word You have given us so that we may know Your mind and have the peace that surpasses all understanding. I thank You Father God that You loved me first and gave me the best of all gifts and I ask that You help me to grow in obedience and wisdom and not feel bad about who or what I am, and no mattter what, You made a way for me through Jesus and the Holy Spirit to please you and through them I am made righteous, not by my works, but by Him who shed His blood for me... Thank You Father God, in the name of Jesus, Yeshua, our Lord and King. I, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, they will prosper that love thee."
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