Wednesday, September 30, 2015

WE NEED EACH OTHER

Rom. 12:4,5 Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.

So many of us struggle with this truth. We may find our niche in the church, but then so often we fail to acknowledge or appreciate what others do. We are prone to think of others or even ourselves as insignificant and not needed in the functioning of the church. We may appreciate what others do, especially if they are leaders in the church, and take for granted the roles that everyone else plays.

Our text today reminds us that each of us plays a significant role in the body of the church. Everyone is equally important to the health of the church. We all do different things and if anyone doesn't do what they are given to do, the body suffers. Ideally, we all serve in the area of our giftedness, but if we don't, what we do is still very important. It takes the whole body functioning together to be a healthy church the Lord can use.

We are a needy people. As we strive to live out our faith in and outside of the church, we need each other. We need to know that we need each other. We need to know that we are not alone. We need the support, wisdom, encouragement, guidance and love of each other. We need to draw from one another what we need in order to remain faithful to Christ in the world. No one can be effective in faith by being a lone wolf. It is as we serve and commune together that we are made strong and effective.

We are a community of believers, let us each do our part for each other that the Lord may by lifted up and honored amongst us. Let us strive to always be aware of our need for each other. Let us often give thanks to the Lord for each other. Working together, let us always strive to lift up the name of Jesus in all we do.

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

IS IT WELL WITH YOUR SOUL?

.Rom. 12:3 As God's messenger, I give each of you this warning: Be honest in your estimate of yourselves, measuring your value by how much faith God has given you.

When was the last time you took an honest look at yourself to see how your faith was doing? I suspect it has been awhile. We so often assume all is well with us and the Lord instead of knowing for sure whether it is or not. We assume that because we are not doing bad things, saying bad things, or dwelling on bad things, that all is well. We assume that because we get along with others and are responsible citizens that all is well. We assume that because we go to church and occasionally read our Bibles and pray that all is well. But, is it well with your soul?

We can easily fall into the trap of going through the motions of faith and not be living in the faith. We ought to be more like Christ than the world. We ought not to be participating in evil things. But, all of our goodness is nothing apart from Christ. It is impossible to be right with God apart from a saving knowledge of Christ and a living knowledge of Him as Lord.

When looking at yourself in the mirror of Christ's righteousness, forget about how good you think you are. Forget about what others think of you. Forget about a confession you may have mouthed in the past. Look at Christ and see yourself in comparison to Him. He alone can make us holy before God. He alone determines the value of our faith. If we are living submissively and obediently to Christ, then all is well with your soul. If you are not, then you need to repent and get right with Him while you can.

Monday, September 28, 2015

CHRIST OR THE WORLD

Rom. 12:2 Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will is.

There are far too many copycats in the church today. Far too many people bring into the church worldly behavior and customs. Some people hide what they do and seemingly get away with it, while others are exposed and brought to public shame. No one gets away with anything because the Lord knows and judges the soul according to their deeds. We need to wake up now before we are lulled to sleep spiritually and lose out on salvation. We cannot be like the world and like Christ at the same time. We must choose what we are going to be like, the world or Christ.

We need to humble ourselves before God and let Him transform the way we think about who we are and how we ought to behave and think. What is going on in the name of Christ today is not working very well. We are slipping farther and farther away from holy living. We are not loving each other like we should be. We need a blood transfusion and mind transformation that we might be who God created us to be in Christ Jesus.

When we are aligned with God, we will know what His will is and how we must live in order to be pleasing and acceptable to Him. I fear that there are a lot of people in the church today who do not please God at all. Many people go through the motions of salvation, but do not know Christ as their Savior and Lord. We desperately need to be a people after God's own heart and not like the world. Let the Lord make you anew into a person after His own heart, holy and acceptable to God.

Sunday, September 27, 2015

JESUS SAVES!

Rom. 10:9-10 For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.

Here is the Gospel message in a nutshell. We can have a personal relationship with God through Jesus. It's not very hard at all. It involves opening up our heart to believe in who Jesus is and what He did for us at Calvary. It involves declaring our faith in Him and confessing our sins to Him so He can make our hearts right with God.

We must know that Jesus is Lord of life, that is, that He is the supreme ruler over all things. We must know that He is the one who took upon himself the condemnation for our sins. We must know that His death on the cross makes it possible for us to have our sins forgiven and forever forgotten.

Declaring that it is true is not quite enough though. We must believe in our hearts that it is true. It means that we commit ourselves to this wondrous, marvelous truth. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and God raised Him from the dead and brought Him back to heaven from whence He came. When we truly believe in what Jesus did for us we are then saved. It means that we believe in Him and forsake our sins. It means that we let Him redirect our lives so that now we live for Him and not for ourselves or anything or anyone else

Saturday, September 26, 2015

GOD LOVES YOU. PERIOD.

Rom. 8:39 Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Hear what Paul is saying here. NOTHING IN ALL CREATION will ever be able to separate us from the love of God. NOTHING. It is impossible for us to ever go anywhere or do anything that will keep us away from God's love. God loves us. Period. It's hard to wrap ourselves around this wonderful truth. God loves everyone equally the same. He is not capable of not loving us. He will always love us.

Now, we can spurn His love and not know His love. It doesn't mean we aren't loved; it means that we have chosen not to be loved by Him. What a tragic way to live. So many go through life not knowing the love of God because of their decision to live in sin. It's always there, but unless one repents and chooses to live life in Christ, they do not know what the love of God is all about.

How do we know that God loves everyone? He showed it to us at Calvary. Jesus did not die for just a select few. He died so that whosoever would want to be saved can be saved. He died for the whole world with no strings attached. It is possible for every human being ever born to be saved. There is no greater proof of one's love than to die in their place. Jesus did that for us. Not only did He die for us, He went face-to-face with Satan and defeated him and his death grip over us. We no longer have to die in our sins; we can now die in Christ's righteousness and go to heaven when we die.

The greatest news man has ever heard is that God loves him just the way he is. God opens up His heart to anyone who desires a relationship with Him. He turns no one away. Yet, He loves us so much that He does not make us love Him. We can spurn His love and make our eternal bed in hell. The choice is ours to make. Do you know what it is to be loved by God and to love Him?

Friday, September 25, 2015

GOD REALLY DOES LOVE YOU!

Rom. 8:38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away.

How convinced are you that this verse is really true? Be honest. How many times have you wondered if God really loved you and was for you? Maybe you still wonder. Satan is very good at casting doubt on our being loved by God. We think we have done or said things that would cause God to love us no more. We think that God doesn't love us because we aren't loving Him. We come up with all kinds of reasons to believe that we are not loved by God, but we are.

God loves us regardless of any conditions or circumstances we may come up with. We don't even have to be His child in order for God to love us. God is love. But, just because we are loved by God doesn't mean that we can do what we want and be found acceptable to God. God can only accept us as His children on the basis of Christ's righteousness within us. We will not make it to heaven just because God loves us; we need Jesus.

Dear child of God, don't listen to Satan's lies. You cannot stop God from loving you. You may mess up royally and need to be taken to the wood shed, but if you do, be assured that God loves you and is doing it for your good. Life may be very difficult and seemingly hopeless, but be assured, God loves you and is nearby to help you through whatever you are facing. You may have been abused by others or judged wrongly, but God loves you. God loves you, always has and always will.

Thursday, September 24, 2015

GOD IS FOR US!

Rom. 8:31 What can we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?

What can we say? If God be for us, who can be against us? What does it really matter who is against us if God is for us? Think about it. God is the absolute creator and authority over everything. He is the one who gives and sustains life. He is absolute power and there is nothing that can ever come close to withstanding Him. He is God and if He is for us, we are safe and secure. There is nothing to fear when God is with us.

The real issue then is how do we know for sure that God is for us? There is only one way that we can count on God being for us, and that is for us to be living in Christ. We must not only proclaimed our allegiance to Him, we must live like He is our Savior and Lord. God is with those who are with Christ and He is not with those who do not know Christ. It's as simple as that.

There is so much God wants to do in us. There is so much He wants to show us. There is so much power He wants to display through us. There is so much He wants to give us of His goodness and love. But, He will not do anything for us if we don't seek Christ and His forgiveness. What Jesus did at Calvary is the key to know that God is us.

If God is not for us, then He is against us. We must choose which way it is. Do you know for a fact that God is for you? If so, thank Him and praise Him today for your salvation and the life you live in Christ. If you don't know that God is for you, you can know it for a fact right now. Call on the name of Jesus, confess your sins, ask Him to forgive you, and accept what He has done for you at Calvary and you will be saved and you will know God is for you.

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

CHOSEN TO BE LIKE CHRIST

Rom. 8:29 For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn with many brothers and sisters.

God chooses us in Christ to be like Christ so that Christ would always be first in our lives. We are chosen to be like Christ. Paul tells us in Phil. 2:5 that we need to have the same attitude that is in Christ. So, we need to measure ourselves in light of how well we are living like Christ did.

Christ was a servant-leader. Everything He did He did according to God's will for Him. He came to us for no other reason than to do God's will. If we are not doing God's will for our lives, we are not right with God. We need to prayerfully evaluate what we are living for and if we are not living to do God's will for us, we need to change our ways. If we don't, we are living in sin.

Christ was a loving servant. He did not do what He did to draw attention to himself. He did what He did because He loved those He was with and tried to help them understand and know God on a personal level. His whole life on earth was to help others to be who God created them to be, children of God. If we aren't living as servants to help others know God and know Him better, we are living in sin.

Christ was a sacrificial servant. He often set aside His own needs for the sake of others. He did not pass up an opportunity to help someone who genuinely wanted His help. He showed us by example that we ought to sometimes go out of our way in order to help those in need. If we aren't willing to reach out to others in need, we are living in sin.

Everything we do should be to bring Christ honor and glory amongst men. We have been saved to not hoard our salvation, but to pass it on. We are saved to be difference-makers in the world. We are to be so like Christ that others can readily see Him in us. Our lives should be focused on one thing, to lift Him up so that all will see that indeed He is the Son of God, the firstborn of all creation, the Lord of life and the church.

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

GOOD IN ALL THINGS

Rom. 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

This verse speaks volumes about God and His involvement in our lives. He stays involved because He loves us and wants only what is best for us. He longs to see us be a holy people who are fit for heaven when we die. Therefore, He is always at work to help make it happen in us.

We have a hard time seeing the good in many of the events of our lives. We struggle and look for ways to make our struggles stop. We see our struggles as a bad thing, not pausing very often to consider that what we may perceive to be bad might indeed be good.

God declares that He is working all things out in our lives for our good. We must know that this is true, because to believe otherwise means that we question God's character. God cannot lie and since He declares that all things work together for our good, they do.

God knows what is going on in our lives. He knows what we need in order to be who we need to be in our walk with Him. He knows how to make all things that happen to us good for us. Trust in God. Do not look at things from a negative perspective and doubt the goodness of God because life is not easy for you. You may not see the good in what is happening now, but God is in control and it is good for you.

God does not abandon His children and let them deal with life without Him. He is always at work to make their lives better. Let the Lord help you and teach you more about how to live in Him. Let Him teach you about himself. Let Him teach you about yourself. God loves you more than you love Him. Yield to Him and He will fulfill His purpose in your life for His honor and glory.

Monday, September 21, 2015

HELP IN PRAYER

Rom. 8:26-27 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

If there ever was a passage of Scripture that should keep us motivated to pray, it is these verses. We are minded that when we pray, we don't pray alone. Whether we pray when we are in distress or when things are good, we don't pray alone.

Most of us know what it is like to be under distress. It's just a part of living on earth. The natural response for those who believe in God is to pray for help during those times. If we don't pray much at any other time, we do when we are in distress.

The wonderful and comforting news is that the Holy Spirit is with us and helps us when we are underneath the load of life. When we call for help, the Spirit is there to help us. Even greater news is that when we don't even know how to pray for help, the Spirit does and prays on our behalf for us.

Wow! Talk about a loving Heavenly Father! Words are sometimes very hard to come by for us, but not with God. He knows our hearts and our circumstances and He knows our needs. He hears our heart cry and comes to our rescue. He knows exactly how to best minister to our needs and does it.

Don't just pray when you are in great need; we are to pray without ceasing. But, when you are in great need, don't get discouraged thinking that your prayers are not being heard or answered. Keep on praying for the Holy Spirit is with you and praying for you as well, in a way that only God knows and understands.

Sunday, September 20, 2015

BELIEVERS STRIVE TO RESIST SIN

Rom. 8:12-14 So, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation whatsoever to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you keep on following it, you will perish. But if through the power of the Holy Spirit you turn from it and its evil deeds, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.

One of the things that sets apart true believers from the rest is how they are affected by sin. A child of God is not under obligation to sin when tempted. Without Christ, the natural thing to do is not resist the temptation and plunge right into sin. We are to stand up against Satan and not give in to sinful urges. With Christ's help, we are able to do that.

The reality of it is, if we keep falling into sin, we will fall so deep into it that we will not be able to find our way out of it and into fellowship with God. The end result of all sin is eternal separation from God. Hell awaits those who live in sin and stay there. The only hope we have is to let the Holy Spirit take us by the hand and lead us out of sin to Calvary.

When we turn to Christ for the forgiveness of sin, we turn away from sinful living. We do not continue to live like we have lived. We stand up to Satan and say no to sin. We seek instead to live holy lives before God. God's children do not seek to sin against God. We are not perfect and will sin, but it is not what we normally do. Instead, we seek to do what we know is right before God and please Him. Pleasing Him becomes the desire of our hearts instead of pleasing ourselves or others.

If you are not being led by the Holy Spirit away from a life of sin, you are not a child of God.

Saturday, September 19, 2015

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT?

Rom. 8:5-6 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. If your sinful nature controls your mind, there is death. But if the Holy Spirit controls your mind, there is life and peace.

What do you think about the most? Whatever it is, it's a good indicator of where you are at spiritually. If you are always thinking about things that are not holy, then your heart is not right with God and you are heading for certain spiritual death. If your thoughts are more geared to godly things, then you are more apt to be right with God.

Now, I know that it's not possible to always avoid sinful thoughts and always focus on godly things. We life in the flesh in a very sinful world and our minds do pick up on our surroundings and sinful thoughts do come. However, if your soul is healthy, you will not dwell on those things. You will redirect your thoughts away from those things so that you can be more focused on godly things.

When we make the conscious choice to dismiss evil thoughts, we discover that there is reassurance of our salvation and peace with God. Only the Spirit of Christ can set us free from the bondage of sinful thoughts. He pulls us away from them so that they do not become fixtures in our minds. We gain victory over their hold on us when we let go of them and let the Spirit have His place in us instead.

If you are struggling and can't seem to enjoy peace in your relationship with God, check your thought life. Do not linger on those things which are sinful. Do not let yourself be entertained by them. Do not stay around where those things prevail. Protect your mind and you are protecting your soul.

Friday, September 18, 2015

NO CONDEMNATION!

Rom. 8:1-2 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death.

There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ because He has taken care of our sin problem. He graciously forgives us for whatever we have done and has forever taken it out of our hearts. He has put all of our sins underneath His blood and given us in their place His righteousness and holiness. He changes the essence of who we are so that we can now be children of God and live lives that honor Him.

There is no condemnation because the Holy Spirit has freed us from the power of sin that leads to death. The end result of sin is separation from God. It keeps us away from God and makes us incapable of doing anything that pleases Him. Sin is a barrier that we cannot cross to get to God. But, because Jesus has broken the power of sin's hold on us, the Spirit is able to break down those barriers that separate us from God. He frees us up so that we can live in, and enjoy, fellowship with God.

Don't let Satan deceive you into thinking that you are not good enough for fellowship with God. Don't let him convince you that all of your sins have not been forgiven. Don't let him get away with holding you down with false guilt or shame over forgiven sins. Forgiven sins and forgotten sins. They are no more in God's eyes. Christ's righteousness has taken care of them for you. Satan is a liar. Shut him out and ignore him.

There is no condemnation for a true child of God. Now, live like you have been set free.

Thursday, September 17, 2015

GOD'S LAW IS GOOD

Rom. 7:14 The law is good then. The trouble is not with the law but with me, because I am sold into slavery, with sin as my master.

There is nothing wrong with God's law. It is very useful for our spiritual lives. It shows us what kind of behavior is acceptable to God and what isn't. It shows us our sins so that we might turn to God for His forgiveness. It raises the bar of our expectation on how we ought to live. It shows us how to be holy.

The law is good; it's us that are the problem. We are by nature sinners. We are not capable on our own of living by God's law. We all fail to perfectly walk by the law. If we stumble on just one little point, we are guilty of breaking the whole law. Jesus even took it a step further; He said that if our motive for keeping the law was wrong, we were guilty of breaking the law. Like it or not, we are slaves to sin from the day we are born until we die, unless we repent and ask the Lord to forgive us for our sins.

Repentance is our only hope for escaping the demands of the law. We cannot be righteous without it. When we acknowledge our sins before God, ask the Lord to forgive us with a sincere heart, embrace our forgiveness by changing our behavior so that we live by God's standards and not our own, we will be declared righteous by God and accepted by Him.

Only in Christ is there no condemnation for sin. Only in His righteousness and holiness are we able to have peace with God. Only in Him can we be assured that we will go to heaven when we die. Only in Christ are we set free from a life to sin to live for God.

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

DEAD TO SIN

Rom. 6:11 So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God.

If you are a child of God, you should consider yourself dead to sin. What this means is simply that a child of God no longer considers himself to be held captive by sin. He no longer is bound to sin when faced with temptations. He no longer is a victim, but a victor.

A child of God no longer dwells on sin or seeks opportunities to do it. He strives to squelch any attraction sin may have on him. He senses when he is being drawn into it and takes measures to get away from it. He sees sin as an enemy and not a friend. He understands the nature of sin is death and strives to not sin against God.

A child of God sees life from a totally different perspective. He sees himself as free from the burden and condemnation of sin and strives to live for the glory of God. Life is no longer temporary pleasures, but eternal joys. His life becomes a living testimony of how great God is and how majestic He is in love and mercy. He honors Christ in all he does. His life becomes a living testimony of God's grace and it brings glory to God as he lives amongst men.

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

NO LONGER A SLAVE TO SIN

 

Rom. 6:5-7 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised as he was. Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.

Far too many professing Christians do not get what Paul is saying in these verses. There is a great lack of turning away from sinful practices. Many believe that because sins are forgiven that it no longer matters what we do and say. Many act no differently than they did before they repented. There is not a lot of effort being made to stay away from sin. The thought is that grace overrules our sinful hearts and God will take us into heaven regardless of what we do.

A true child of God does not continue to live in sin. Christ changes his heart so that he no longer has the desire to sin all the time. He no longer is a slave to sin. He no longer acts or talks like sinners do. It doesn't mean he will never sin, but it does mean he will resist sin more times than not. It means he will seek to live a holy life and sin will not rule over him. Grace never gives us a license to sin or to ignore the sin we do. Sin is dealt with before God. A child of God knows when he sins and he confesses his sin to Christ and seeks His forgiveness. Forgiven, he strives not to repeat the sin again.

Christ has set us free from the need to sin. He has set us free from the bondage of sin. He has set us free from sin's condemnation. He has made it possible for us to live godly lives. In fact, God demands it. Without holiness, no one will make it to heaven; no one will see God. He whom Christ sets free is free indeed, to sin no more.

Monday, September 14, 2015

DO YOU SEE SIN IN YOUR LIFE?

Rom. 5:20-21 God's law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God's wonderful kindness became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God's wonderful kindness rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God's law was given to show us just how sinful we are. No one can read God's law without admitting how far short of it we are. No one is capable of keeping all of the law. God's standards for holiness far exceeds our ability to achieve it. History and life prove just how sinful our hearts are. If it were not for the fact that God is merciful and kind, all humanity would have perished a long time ago.

We see the kindness of God over and over throughout history. Whenever God brought judgment upon His wayward people, He always provided a way out of their punishment. He provided those who would deliver them from their oppressors and oppressions. He gave His chosen children multiple opportunities to repent and return to Him.

God's ultimate act of kindness was His giving us Jesus to be our Savior. There is no greater act of love than this; God gave us His Son to die on the cross for our sins. God did what was impossible for us to do; He made it possible for us to have a relationship with Him. God opened up heaven's doors for all who accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!! We no longer are bound to sin; we have been set free through the shed blood of Christ to live lives of righteousness and holiness before God both now and forever.

Do you see how sinful you really are? Do you know the kindness of our God in giving us a Savior? Do you know the freedom in Christ to no longer live in sin? Do you know for sure that you are forgiven and that you are in right standing with God? God gives us assurance of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. To God be the glory forever and ever.

Sunday, September 13, 2015

GOD SENT JESUS TO BE OUR SAVIOR

Rom. 5:8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

The wonder of salvation is this: while we were still sinners, Christ came and died for us. Thousands of years had passed since Adam and Eve first sinned. Man had become quite the sinner. There wasn't anything that was beyond his ability to do against God. He had pushed God to the limits of his patience time and time again. Mankind did not deserve a Savior! He deserved judgment, not mercy.

Yet, in spite of what we had become and deserved, God sent Jesus to be our Savior. He loved us in spite of the fact we were so unlovable. He loved us, even though we had spurned Him and gone our own wicked ways. Don't ask me how He could have such a love for us, I can't even begin to fathom it. All I know is that God loves us with that kind of love.

Because of sin, we are not able to love God. God first loves us and draws us to himself so that He can pour out His love into our hearts. We can only love Him through Jesus' love. When Jesus forgives us, we then can love God and experience forgiveness from God, for ourselves, and for others. There is no way to know what true love is apart from the love of God as displayed through the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord.

Do you know the love and forgiveness of God today?

Saturday, September 12, 2015

REJOICE WHEN TRIALS COME

Rom. 5:3-4 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us--they help us to learn to endure. And endurance develops strength of character in us, and character strengthens our confident expectation of salvation.

Wait a minute! When was the last time you rejoiced because you were having problems and trials? If you are like most people, probably never. Instead, we tend to complain about them and feel sorry for ourselves because of them. We often will do everything we can to avoid problems and trials, even though we know they come, usually unexpectedly.

The Apostle Paul really suggests something radical here in today's verses. He says that we can REJOICE when troubles and trials come. Rejoice?!! Yes, rejoice. How is that even possible? Well, we need to look beyond the moment and at the bigger picture of our lives. We need to ask ourselves what we might learn from our troubles. If they were caused by something we said or did, then we can learn not to do it again. If they happened because of something out of our control, then we can learn to deal with them in a manner that would honor Christ and strengthen our faith.

Some of us are slow learners, but if we are looking to get better at all, we do learn. One of life's most important lessons is to learn from our experiences. We learn to endure what we are going through, knowing that better times are ahead of us. No matter what it is, it doesn't last forever and we are better for having gone through it. Endurance helps us build strong character and strong character helps us to know that the most important thing in our lives is our salvation, that the moment will pass away but our salvation will last forever.

The next time you face problems or trials, think about these things. Lean on the Lord for your wisdom and strength. He will see you through the moment and your faith will grow as a result of it. There is much good through the tough times of life, if we will but have eyes to see it. Rejoice, for the Lord is with you and will see you through to the other side of all your trials and tribulations.

Friday, September 11, 2015

WE CANNOT SAVE OURSELVES

 

Rom. 5:1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.

There is no other way to be made right with God other than by faith. In fact, without faith, we have no clue as to what is really right in God's sight. It is God who makes it clear how we should live. It is God who gives us understanding and guides us on how apply to life His ways. Without faith, living to please God is nothing more than guess work, hoping we get it right. Without faith, everything we do is based on our efforts and the work of Christ at Calvary is rendered meaningless.

Even if it were possible to live right before God on our own, we would still have our sin problem. It is impossible for right living to take away our sins. Right living may be able to cover up our sins in such a way that no one would ever know what we have done, but God knows. God knows every sin we have ever committed and holds us accountable for them, unless we turn to Christ and let Him take them away. Only the righteousness of Christ can wash away our sins. When Christ deals with our sins, God then sees Christ in us instead of our sins and we are deemed to be righteous in His sight.

God makes it very clear that we cannot save ourselves, no matter how hard we try. We must trust in what God has done on our behalf and on what He can do in our lives. We must trust in His ability to do what we can't do, get rid of our sin problem. We must believe that Christ's righteousness alone is our salvation. Rejecting Christ as the way, truth and life condemns our soul to hell.

There is no greater comfort than to know all is well with our souls before God. There is a deep, abiding peace that only a righteous heart can know. It is a peace that sees us through whatever may come our way in life. It is a peace that passes all understanding and it is only found in Christ.

Thursday, September 10, 2015

BELIEVE GOD'S PROMISES

Rom. 4:20-22 Abraham never wavered in believing God's promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was absolutely convinced that God was able to do anything he promised. And because of Abraham's faith, God declared him to be righteous.

Abraham serves as an example of how a righteous man lives. He never wavered in believing God's promise. God had told Abraham that his descendants would be so many that they could not be counted and that they would inhabit the Promise Land. Abraham believed God explicitly. He knew that it would be so because God said it. End of story.We would do well to follow Abraham's example and simply believe what God has promised simply because God said it.

In fact, Abraham grew in his faith in what God had said. We read of some very severe testings of his faith, like the time he was commanded to take his only son from his wife, Sarah, Isaac, and offer him up as a sacrifice to the Lord. Abraham passed the test with flying colors and God provided a ram in place of Isaac. We would do well to follow Abraham's example and grow in our faith to the point where we would be willing to give our all to the Lord without reservation.

Abraham was absolutely convinced that God was able to do anything He promised. We say we believe God, but so often we don't live like we do. We believe with our lips, but struggle to believe with our feet. We need to be like Abraham and absolutely believe that God is able to do all that He has promised.

Abraham believed God without any reservations and he was considered to be righteous before God. We too are declared righteous when we believe and live like we truly do believe in God's promises and that He is able to fulfill them.

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

SALVATION IS A GIFT

Rom. 4:4-5 When people work, their wages are not a gift. Workers earn what they receive. But people are declared righteous because of their faith, not because of their work.

The Apostle Paul is making it clear here that we cannot work our way into God's favor. Salvation is a gift from God and to see it any other way will prevent us from being saved. We are made right with God by receiving what He has done for us at Calvary. Jesus did all the work needed for our salvation. He took upon himself all of our condemnation for sin. He satisfied the law's demand of death for he who would sin against God. He alone was able to do it because He alone was able to live a sinless life on earth. He did all that there was to do for us to be forgiven by God and accepted by Him into His family.

We do not, nor can we ever, earn our way into heaven. We live in Christ to work, but we don't work to live. What we do proves that what Christ has done in us is for real. We live in Christ and live for Christ. All of our living should be a reflection of our salvation. We work out our salvation, but never for it. No one is made righteous because of what they do.

It is also true that no one who is truly saved will fail to show it in how they live. Works always follow salvation. We cannot live in Christ without living for Him. As long as we are able to move, we show the righteousness of Christ in us. We serve Him in all we do. We cannot be saved and do nothing for Him. He gives everyone of His children tasks to do. He equips us to do our tasks and sends us out into the world to do them. If we fail to live for Christ, we are disobeying Him and it is sin.

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

WHAT IS THERE TO BOAST ABOUT?

Rom. 3:27-28 Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on our good deeds. It is based on our faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.

We have nothing to boast about when it comes to our souls. We owe our salvation to the Lord and we owe His workings in our lives to Him. There is nothing we can take credit for. We are saved by grace, kept by grace, and will make it to heaven by grace.

Jesus did all there was to do for our salvation. There is nothing left to do on our part. He started and finished the work of salvation at Calvary. He didn't need our help then, and He doesn't need it now. All we can do is accept what He did for us by faith. We trust in His finished work. We confess our sins to Him, repent of them, and by faith claim His forgiveness, righteousness and holiness.

We cannot take credit for keeping our souls saved. It is by faith that we let go of the control of our lives to the Holy Spirit and let Him work in us our salvation. We simply give Him the freedom to make us holy. We put into practice the faith we have and let the Lord do the rest. He will only work with a willing and yielded vessel. He can only do in us what we are willing to let Him do.

When we live by faith and obey the Lord, the Lord will see us through unto heaven. Our readiness for heaven is guaranteed when we live by faith in His finished and ongoing work in us. He makes us holy, a people after God's on heart, a people fit for heaven. If we must boast, let us only boast in the working of Christ on our behalf at Calvary and the workings of Christ in us daily to make us holy.

Monday, September 7, 2015

JESUS ALONE CAN TAKE AWAY OUR SINS.

Rom. 3:22 We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.

This is the greatest news mankind has ever heard. It is shouting news that should be proclaimed everywhere to everyone who will listen. We are made right with God when we trust in Christ to take away our sins. Our sins can be taken away from us and Jesus is the only way it can be done. It is a horrible thing to have to carry around with us our sins. They make us ugly and robs us of peace that our souls long for. God has shown His great love for us by putting our sins upon Jesus as He hung on the cross. Jesus can free us from all of our guilt, shame, and bondage that sin brings.

Jesus alone can take away our sins. No man can stand before God on our behalf and declare our sins are forgiven. Nothing we can do can make our sins go away. We can't bury them and make them go away. Only Jesus can rid our souls of sin's infestation and the certain judgment of God because of them. Only Jesus can make us righteous before God.

No one has a corner on salvation. Anyone who comes to Jesus can have their sins taken away. God has no favorites amongst people. He doesn't care who we are or where we are from; we can all be saved. No one is excluded from God's offer of salvation. No one. All who come to Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins are made right in God's sight and their sins are taken away from them, as far as the east is from the west, to be remembered no more.

Sunday, September 6, 2015

CHRIST ALONE MAKES US RIGHTEOUS

Rom. 3:19-20 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses and to bring the entire world into judgment before God. For no one can ever be made right in God's sight by doing what his law commands. For the more we know God's law, the clearer it becomes that we aren't obeying it.

The law was given by God to keep people from having excuses for their sins and to show everyone that they are facing the judgment of God. The law clearly states that those who keep it are made righteous before God. The catch is that no one is able to keep the law perfectly. No matter how hard a person may try to live by the law, he will fail miserably and fall short of God's perfect standard.

Paul makes it even harder when he says that the more we discover about God's law, the clearer it becomes that we are not doing it. The law of God is very demanding and to fail at just one point makes us guilty of breaking the whole law.

Even if by some miracle someone were to be able to perfectly obey the law, Jesus makes it even harder when He made it clear that God judges the motives of the law as well as the letter of the law. Why we do what we do matters as much as what we do. And, no one can honestly say that they always do the right thing with the right attitude.

Our righteousness is never in what we do or don't do; it's only in Christ. The soul is made right with God only through the finished work of redemption of Christ on the cross of Calvary. So, if you are trying to make things right with God by what you do, stop it now and trust in Christ alone. He alone can save you and keep you saved.

Saturday, September 5, 2015

WHO ARE CHILDREN OF GOD

Rom. 2:29 No, a true Jew is one whose heart is right with God. And true circumcision is not a cutting of the body but a change of heart produced by God's Spirit. Whoever has that kind of change seeks praise from God.

All throughout the Scriptures we see God's special love and favor upon the Jewish people. It all began with Abraham who was found to be righteous in God's eyes because he believed and trusted in God without reservation. God honored the heart of Abraham by promising him that his descendants would inherit the Promised Land and would be so great in number that they could not be counted.

Although God made it clear that His promise was to be kept through the nation of Israel, we discover that this promise was not confined to the Jewish people. God's promise of blessing is for all whose heart is right with God. All who know Jesus as Savior are part of the fellowship of God that He had with the Jews. For in God's eyes, a Jew is one whose heart has been made righteous by the shed blood of Christ at Calvary. God promises are for all who are His children.

No one is excluded from God's promises and blessings whose heart has been changed by God's Spirit at Calvary. We are an anthem of praise that ascends unto God. His glory is seen in all who are His. He takes delight in His children and they are a living testimony of God's grace and mercy for all to see.

Friday, September 4, 2015

WHAT GOD WANTS FROM YOU

Rom. 2:18 Yes, you know what he wants; you know right from wrong because you have been taught his law.

Very few people can honestly say that they have no clue as to what God wants from them. Most, if not all, people have a moral code they live by that originates in God. They know what they ought to do and what they ought not to do. Now, whether or not they do what they know is right or not is another story. Everyone makes choices of whether or not they will do what they believe to be right. God holds everyone accountable for their choices.

The more knowledge we have of God, the more responsible we are for abiding by His laws. Knowledge of God raises the bar of responsibility. No one can claim ignorance when it comes to living in obedience to righteousness. All righteousness flows from Calvary.

Jesus is our righteousness. He alone can make us acceptable to God. He alone can stand between God and man and bring us together. Jesus clearly has shown us what is right and wrong. Without His righteousness, no one will see God. Jesus is our shield from God's wrath. He makes it possible for us to be good enough to be in God's presence. But, in order for us to found to be righteous before God, we must confess our sins to Jesus and forsake them. We must believe that He died for our sins, was buried and rose from the dead on the third day and is now seated in heaven at God's right hand.

You know what God wants from you. He wants you to accept Christ as your Savior and live life in Him. It is what is right before God and all who live in Christ will never go wrong. If you haven't turned to Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins yet, you are making a choice right now as to whether you will or not and God holds you accountable for your choice.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

DO WHAT YOU KNOW BIBLICALLY

Rom. 2:13 For it is not merely knowing the law that brings God's approval. Those who obey the law will be declared right in God's sight.

Knowing and doing are two entirely different things. There are so many who were taken to Sunday School and church early in their lives who have chosen to not live what they learned. They can recall and sing the songs they learned. They can recite some of the more well-known Scriptures that they memorized. They may even understand what it all means, yet they have chosen to not live it.

It is good that one learns the simple things of the Gospel. It is good that people have the truth ingrained within them. It is good that we know that Jesus loves us and wants to have a relationship with us, but none of it will do us any eternal good if we don't take it to heart and let Jesus be our Savior and then Lord.

What we know does not make us right with God. It may influence our lives and help us to live "good" lives, but it will not get us into heaven. God is not impressed by what we know, no matter how well we know it. He does not accept those who do not accept Him.

Only those who accept Jesus as their Savior and strive to live righteous lives will make it to heaven when they die. God declares righteous those who live righteously before Him.

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

JUDGMENT IS COMING

Rom. 2:5,6 But no, you won't listen. So you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself because of your stubbornness in refusing to turn from your sin. For there is going to come a day of judgment when God, the just judge of all the world, will judge all people according to what they have done.

Are we listening? We better be. There is coming judgment from God for all those who do not listen to Him. God knows those who are listening and those who aren't. For those who stubbornly refuse to listen to God, certain judgment is coming.

Most people are so stubborn when it comes to the way they live life. They prefer to live in sin and its momentary pleasures than listen to God and repent. Most have no intention of changing their behavior. They would rather be a part of the crowd than stand on their own two feet and do what is right before God. Most know better, but it doesn't seem to matter to them that judgment is coming.

Because of the nature of a sin-darkened soul, most would even deny that there is coming a Judgment Day. Most don't give it a thought and live like they will live forever here on earth. If they do believe in the eternal, they figure that they have plenty of time to repent before they die, not looking at the reality that eternity is but one breath away for any of us.

Most people do not have a sense of urgency regarding their soul. Yet, God makes it very clear that there is a price to pay for living in sin. Listen to what God says before it is too late. If you don't pay attention to Him now, you will later, but then it will be too late. Now is the day of salvation. Turn to the Lord today while you can; your day of judgment may begin tomorrow.

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

GOD AND SEX

Rom. 1:28 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other.

People had rejected God. They had made the choice to do what was right in their own eyes. They took the low moral road and went after the momentary pleasures of the flesh. They did not have moral boundaries in place. It got so bad that God had had it. He simply quit on them and let them live by lust. He did not send anyone to warn them of what was ahead. He no longer showed them the way of righteousness.

God does reach His limits of tolerance. He warns and instructs man over and over again and when man refuses to listen, God lets them go on to wallow in their sinful behavior. He lets them be objects of His wrath. He no longer tries to rescue them. God gives us the freedom to choose what we want to do, but what happens as a result of the choices we make is on our souls.

All homosexual activity is sin. You may or may not agree with me, but God said it and I believe it. God makes it clear that those who participate in homosexuality or any other type of immoral behavior, are sinning against Him and will face the consequences. No amount of political correctives or popular opinion are going to change the facts. Everyone will stand before God and He will judge the soul based on Christ's righteousness and His Word.

You cannot be right with God and live immorally before Him. If you have a problem with that, argue with God about it. God abandons those who live immorally. It is true of us as individuals and us as a society. If we don't repent and change our ways, certain judgment will soon be upon us.