Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you,
and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you.
For the Lord is a God of justice;
blessed are all those who wait for him.
Christ is waiting on you, even now, so that he can be gracious towards you. He is at this moment at your door, arms full of gifts, desiring for you to come to him to that he may be generous to you. For this reason Christ died to purchase for you every good gift and every blessing in the heavenly realms. He was exalted to the highest place so that he may be able to show mercy to us by bringing us to where he is. He will show compassion on whom he will show compassion for He is a God of Justice, rebuking the oppressors and lifting up the oppressed.
And just as Christ waits on us, we wait on him. Just as He longs for us so shall we long for Him. This is the Great Anticipation, when Husband and Bride shall be united at last, when all that is His shall be ours as well. He has dressed us in all his splendor and bought for us a garment of praise. He has adorned us with the crown of life.
But his gifts come to us even in this life as we pray as well for justice to be done. Heaven is breaking into Earth at the place where God dwells inside his temple, inside each and every believer by the power of the Holy Spirit, the first fruits of what is to come.
Showing posts with label Grace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Grace. Show all posts
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Isaiah 1:24-26
"Therefore the Lord, the LORD Almighty,
the Mighty One of Israel, declares:
“Ah! I will vent my wrath on my foes
and avenge myself on my enemies.
I will turn my hand against you;
I will thoroughly purge away your dross
and remove all your impurities.
I will restore your leaders as in days of old,
your rulers as at the beginning.
Afterward you will be called
the City of Righteousness,
the Faithful City."
God never ceases to amaze. God vents his wrath not for the sake of destroying sinners, but to restore his holy people. His turning of his hand against us is the same as his removing all unrighteousness. He wants to restore us back to what were were at the beginning so that afterward we would be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful city.
However, the restoration and purification of God's elect involves the removal of those who are not God's elect. All who have sinned and gone astray will be purged as dross so that only the faithful remain. But not one of us is elect. All have sinned and are unrighteous, only to be purged, had not God sent His Righteous One to intercede for us. Only one has been faithful and obedient, Jesus Christ, and it is only as we find ourselves in him that we take part in the life of the elect for only Christ is elect. For the sake of one righteous man, God spared the world.
the Mighty One of Israel, declares:
“Ah! I will vent my wrath on my foes
and avenge myself on my enemies.
I will turn my hand against you;
I will thoroughly purge away your dross
and remove all your impurities.
I will restore your leaders as in days of old,
your rulers as at the beginning.
Afterward you will be called
the City of Righteousness,
the Faithful City."
God never ceases to amaze. God vents his wrath not for the sake of destroying sinners, but to restore his holy people. His turning of his hand against us is the same as his removing all unrighteousness. He wants to restore us back to what were were at the beginning so that afterward we would be called the City of Righteousness, the Faithful city.
However, the restoration and purification of God's elect involves the removal of those who are not God's elect. All who have sinned and gone astray will be purged as dross so that only the faithful remain. But not one of us is elect. All have sinned and are unrighteous, only to be purged, had not God sent His Righteous One to intercede for us. Only one has been faithful and obedient, Jesus Christ, and it is only as we find ourselves in him that we take part in the life of the elect for only Christ is elect. For the sake of one righteous man, God spared the world.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Isaiah 1:9
Unless the Lord Almighty
Unless the Lord Almighty
Our God is overflowing with grace and mercy, forgiving sins for no reason other than that it pleased him to do so through the death of His own Son, Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God!
had left us some survivors,
we would have become like Sodom,
we would have been like Gomorrah.
God's inequity is not God's injustice. In God's wrath, some will perish. It is the inevitable truth that not all people will be saved on that great and fearful day. Such is the heart of a man that is desperately sick (Jer 17:9), resisting even in the last days (Rev 9:20). Even the greatest of evangelists during our time understand this, that sometimes you just need to kick the dust off your feet and move on (Matt 10:14; Mark 6:11).
Is God being unfair or unjust by choosing to save only some? By no means! God did not have to save anyone at all. All men have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God (Rom 3:23), the glory they were made to reflect (Gen 1:27). Again and again, we see God punishing mankind for their sins, but never to the extent it deserves. Genesis 6, Exodus 32, and all through Judges and the prophets, and yet he never fully erases humanity from the face of the Earth.
So we say with great thanksgiving,
had left us some survivors,
we would have become like Sodom,
we would have been like Gomorrah.
Our God is overflowing with grace and mercy, forgiving sins for no reason other than that it pleased him to do so through the death of His own Son, Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God!
Friday, August 12, 2011
Deuteronomy 5:29
"Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!"
This is the LORD's hope and prayer for us. His one desire here is to see it go well with us and our children forever. He has given us his divine precepts, the Ten Commandments, in order that we might live healthy and blessed lives. His intention is not to harm us or to condemn us, but so that we might prolong our days and live. The Law was meant for our good, but because of sin in us, it has brought about our destruction (cf. Rom 7).
We break the rules and cast aside the law which was put in place for our own protection and benefit. We believed the lie that it is a restriction on our freedom when it was the very thing that allowed us to enjoy it without fear. We have thrown ourselves into bondage as slaves to unrighteousness and have brought about our own destruction. Who will save us?
But God's prayer is not frustrated. He is the Almighty, able to do anything he sets his will to. By his strength he has rescued us from sin and caused us to live. By his grace through faith in His Son Jesus it will go well for us who fear the LORD. Where the law made us willing, the Spirit now makes us able. No longer do we live according to our own sinful desire, but we live by God and God alone.
This is the LORD's hope and prayer for us. His one desire here is to see it go well with us and our children forever. He has given us his divine precepts, the Ten Commandments, in order that we might live healthy and blessed lives. His intention is not to harm us or to condemn us, but so that we might prolong our days and live. The Law was meant for our good, but because of sin in us, it has brought about our destruction (cf. Rom 7).
We break the rules and cast aside the law which was put in place for our own protection and benefit. We believed the lie that it is a restriction on our freedom when it was the very thing that allowed us to enjoy it without fear. We have thrown ourselves into bondage as slaves to unrighteousness and have brought about our own destruction. Who will save us?
But God's prayer is not frustrated. He is the Almighty, able to do anything he sets his will to. By his strength he has rescued us from sin and caused us to live. By his grace through faith in His Son Jesus it will go well for us who fear the LORD. Where the law made us willing, the Spirit now makes us able. No longer do we live according to our own sinful desire, but we live by God and God alone.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Isaiah 55:1
"Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price."
What does it cost to get into heaven? What must I do and how should I worship? These are the most common questions people ask about heaven to which the most common answer is "be a good person". The answer is wrong simply because the questions are also wrong. Heaven is absolutely free to get into. It was bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ and you simply need to believe in the message of Jesus Christ. Simple right?
Actually, it absolutely is. God needs absolutely nothing from you. He's GOD, he doesn't need anything because everything is already his. Heaven is already yours if you believe what God has said. He has already done everything for you so you need not do anything.
However, if you truly believed in God, we can expect certain reactions: Thanksgiving and worship of God, faith in what he has done, living a full life according to God's word, and lastly testifying in love and truth to the graciousness of our God. None of these things buy salvation because salvation is free and because it is free, these things are sure to follow those who believe it.
So how do you get to heaven? Don't do anything but rather respond to what has already been done!
What does it cost to get into heaven? What must I do and how should I worship? These are the most common questions people ask about heaven to which the most common answer is "be a good person". The answer is wrong simply because the questions are also wrong. Heaven is absolutely free to get into. It was bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ and you simply need to believe in the message of Jesus Christ. Simple right?
Actually, it absolutely is. God needs absolutely nothing from you. He's GOD, he doesn't need anything because everything is already his. Heaven is already yours if you believe what God has said. He has already done everything for you so you need not do anything.
However, if you truly believed in God, we can expect certain reactions: Thanksgiving and worship of God, faith in what he has done, living a full life according to God's word, and lastly testifying in love and truth to the graciousness of our God. None of these things buy salvation because salvation is free and because it is free, these things are sure to follow those who believe it.
So how do you get to heaven? Don't do anything but rather respond to what has already been done!
Friday, July 15, 2011
Job 32:2-3
"But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, became very angry with Job for justifying himself rather than God. He was also angry with the three friends, because they had found no way to refute Job, and yet had condemned him."
As guilty as a person may be, if there is insufficient evidence to convict of sin, there can be no condemnation. A person is "innocent" until proven "guilty" and because Job had not yet been refuted by his friends, he started to actually believe himself to be innocent. He justified himself rather than God whom he accused of wronging him, something Elihu recognized rightly to be utter nonsense.
Elihu became God's defense attorney and also Job's prosecutor, showing him his fault and defending God's name. But it wasn't enough. God himself stepped out of Heaven to Job's front door and began his cross examination of Job, once and for all convicting him of sin. But Job was not sentenced. He was not punished. Rather he humbled himself and all things were restored to him and more!
So how much more, then, has a God who has proven the world's sin and guilt, exonerate those who humble themselves and repent? How much more will he restore to them not only their lives, but eternal life? Through the Law our transgressions multiplied so that we should be proven utterly sinful, but through our Judge Jesus Christ we bear no burden if we humble ourselves and obey.
As guilty as a person may be, if there is insufficient evidence to convict of sin, there can be no condemnation. A person is "innocent" until proven "guilty" and because Job had not yet been refuted by his friends, he started to actually believe himself to be innocent. He justified himself rather than God whom he accused of wronging him, something Elihu recognized rightly to be utter nonsense.
Elihu became God's defense attorney and also Job's prosecutor, showing him his fault and defending God's name. But it wasn't enough. God himself stepped out of Heaven to Job's front door and began his cross examination of Job, once and for all convicting him of sin. But Job was not sentenced. He was not punished. Rather he humbled himself and all things were restored to him and more!
So how much more, then, has a God who has proven the world's sin and guilt, exonerate those who humble themselves and repent? How much more will he restore to them not only their lives, but eternal life? Through the Law our transgressions multiplied so that we should be proven utterly sinful, but through our Judge Jesus Christ we bear no burden if we humble ourselves and obey.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
1 Corinthians 10:23
"“All things are lawful,” but not all things are helpful. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up."
Paul in his letter to the Corinthians does not refute their statement but adds onto it. In Christ there is no condemnation for sin (Rom 8:1) and no eternal punishment for laws that are broken. How can there be if Christ died for all sin and was raised for all glory? For the Christian, all things are lawful and permissible. You can do anything you want with the freedom Christ gives you. Paul acknowledges this but asks a deeper question, "Why would you?"
Those who have been touched by grace and have been shown God's favor have no need to keep on sinning. God's love and kindness leads them to repentance (Rom 2:4), no longer his righteous judgments. In our new found freedom, we are free to pursue relationship with God without consequence. That is the gift of grace and of the cross of Christ. No longer must we fear stumbling, but we can boldly approach the throne of grace without fear of reproach. If you died with Christ, Sin has no hold on you and death has lost it's power. Don't you believe it?
Do not ask "If Jesus paid it all, why can't I go on sinning?" If you truly believed Jesus paid it all, you know why. Don't waste your time sinning when there is a harvest to gain and treasures to store up in heaven.
Paul in his letter to the Corinthians does not refute their statement but adds onto it. In Christ there is no condemnation for sin (Rom 8:1) and no eternal punishment for laws that are broken. How can there be if Christ died for all sin and was raised for all glory? For the Christian, all things are lawful and permissible. You can do anything you want with the freedom Christ gives you. Paul acknowledges this but asks a deeper question, "Why would you?"
Those who have been touched by grace and have been shown God's favor have no need to keep on sinning. God's love and kindness leads them to repentance (Rom 2:4), no longer his righteous judgments. In our new found freedom, we are free to pursue relationship with God without consequence. That is the gift of grace and of the cross of Christ. No longer must we fear stumbling, but we can boldly approach the throne of grace without fear of reproach. If you died with Christ, Sin has no hold on you and death has lost it's power. Don't you believe it?
Do not ask "If Jesus paid it all, why can't I go on sinning?" If you truly believed Jesus paid it all, you know why. Don't waste your time sinning when there is a harvest to gain and treasures to store up in heaven.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Acts 10:15
"Again a voice came to him a second time, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.""
Are you holy? Have you been washed by the blood of Jesus Christ? Has the cross taken away all of your sins?
Truly if you are in Christ by faith in his blood then you are holy. God has pardoned you. Because you believed God has done what he has promised, it has been credited to you as righteousness.(Gen 15:6) So what God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy. You are a new creation (2Cor 5:17) not because of anything you did, but because God cleansed you. You are holy because God is holy and is the one who makes you holy. (Lev 21:7,15,23;22:9,16,32)
So do not blaspheme God by calling what is holy unholy. If you have believed in Christ, do not dare to deny what Christ has done through confessing your sinful nature. You are no longer sinners, but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1Cor 6:11) You have died to it,(Rom 6:2) how can you still confess to be in it? Profess that "Though I was once a sinner, Christ took away my sin, and by his Power I am kept holy, pure, and blameless" lest you deny the reality of that which justifies you, Christ Jesus and him crucified.
Or do you not believe the gospel of grace so generously poured out on your behalf?
Are you holy? Have you been washed by the blood of Jesus Christ? Has the cross taken away all of your sins?
Truly if you are in Christ by faith in his blood then you are holy. God has pardoned you. Because you believed God has done what he has promised, it has been credited to you as righteousness.(Gen 15:6) So what God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy. You are a new creation (2Cor 5:17) not because of anything you did, but because God cleansed you. You are holy because God is holy and is the one who makes you holy. (Lev 21:7,15,23;22:9,16,32)
So do not blaspheme God by calling what is holy unholy. If you have believed in Christ, do not dare to deny what Christ has done through confessing your sinful nature. You are no longer sinners, but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1Cor 6:11) You have died to it,(Rom 6:2) how can you still confess to be in it? Profess that "Though I was once a sinner, Christ took away my sin, and by his Power I am kept holy, pure, and blameless" lest you deny the reality of that which justifies you, Christ Jesus and him crucified.
Or do you not believe the gospel of grace so generously poured out on your behalf?
Monday, June 20, 2011
Romans 9:18-20
Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who resists his will?” But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’”
Salvation is God's choice. There is no doubt about that. However, what people cannot accept is its corollary: condemnation is also God's choice.
One implication is the question asked in verse 19. Paul's answer isn't very comforting, even though it is deeply rooted in Old Testament Scripture (Isa 29:16, 45:9, Job 38-42). How on Earth is God justified to do this? Is He just a tyrant?
God is God. Whatever he does, he does out according to his good pleasure. What pleases God? Certainly not wickedness! He is good, holy, and righteous. He is a God who is for us that none may stand against us.
How do we know this? Because Jesus Christ is the full revelation of God. The Scriptures are his divinely inspired self revelation because he is a God who wants to be known for who he is and who he is is perfect, pleasing, and good. Therefore, we have no need to question God's motives, nor is it our place. Who can understand why God does what he does? God is who He says He is and that is enough.
Salvation is God's choice. There is no doubt about that. However, what people cannot accept is its corollary: condemnation is also God's choice.
One implication is the question asked in verse 19. Paul's answer isn't very comforting, even though it is deeply rooted in Old Testament Scripture (Isa 29:16, 45:9, Job 38-42). How on Earth is God justified to do this? Is He just a tyrant?
God is God. Whatever he does, he does out according to his good pleasure. What pleases God? Certainly not wickedness! He is good, holy, and righteous. He is a God who is for us that none may stand against us.
How do we know this? Because Jesus Christ is the full revelation of God. The Scriptures are his divinely inspired self revelation because he is a God who wants to be known for who he is and who he is is perfect, pleasing, and good. Therefore, we have no need to question God's motives, nor is it our place. Who can understand why God does what he does? God is who He says He is and that is enough.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Hebrews 12:14-15a
"Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one misses the grace of God..."
God is most clearly shown in holiness for He is Holy. If our lives do not point to the Lord, that is to the Holy One in our midst, who can see the invisible God? Jesus Christ, the image of the invisible God who lives in us through the Holy Spirit, is the one who makes us holy. To live holy is to live incarnationally as the salt and light of the earth.
And so we also see to it that no one misses the grace of God for unto us a new righteousness has been revealed. Because of Jesus Christ, all have free access to the throne of God. Those who resist grace do so because they do not recognize grace. Grace is irresistible save for the act of God himself which makes men have eyes but never seeing and ears but never understanding lest he turn and be healed. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
So as we live holy as God is Holy, we continue to shine the light of the world that was brought forth from the virgin's womb and begotten of the Father through the Holy Spirit. It is this light which opens the eyes of men that the scales might fall off.
God is most clearly shown in holiness for He is Holy. If our lives do not point to the Lord, that is to the Holy One in our midst, who can see the invisible God? Jesus Christ, the image of the invisible God who lives in us through the Holy Spirit, is the one who makes us holy. To live holy is to live incarnationally as the salt and light of the earth.
And so we also see to it that no one misses the grace of God for unto us a new righteousness has been revealed. Because of Jesus Christ, all have free access to the throne of God. Those who resist grace do so because they do not recognize grace. Grace is irresistible save for the act of God himself which makes men have eyes but never seeing and ears but never understanding lest he turn and be healed. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.
So as we live holy as God is Holy, we continue to shine the light of the world that was brought forth from the virgin's womb and begotten of the Father through the Holy Spirit. It is this light which opens the eyes of men that the scales might fall off.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Hosea 2:23
"I will show my love to the one I called 'Not my loved one' I will say to those called 'Not my people', 'You are my people' and they will say, 'You are my God'."
Originally this verse is taken in the context of the election of Israel over all other nations, however now all who were non-elect have access to this God who takes for himself a people to worship him eternally because Christ. God's purpose for us, then, is for us to realize the glory he has given us in causing us to be elect in Christ.
And this realization is not a "choice". We don't choose to recognize if our houses are on fire or not. We could deny the reality but our houses will burn down regardless. Our job as Christians is to tell of this glory and grace that all might recognize the world as it truly is.
Everything God does is so that he might be revealed to us as God. God has, throughout history, revealed himself through Human instrumentality. He has revealed himself through the history of the Jewish people as preserved in the Old Testament and through the humanity of Jesus Christ, the image of the invisible God, and now through his Church, the Body of Christ in the present age. He lifted us up out of our sin. Once you realize the totality of the grace you have been given, you will be brought to faith by God.
Originally this verse is taken in the context of the election of Israel over all other nations, however now all who were non-elect have access to this God who takes for himself a people to worship him eternally because Christ. God's purpose for us, then, is for us to realize the glory he has given us in causing us to be elect in Christ.
And this realization is not a "choice". We don't choose to recognize if our houses are on fire or not. We could deny the reality but our houses will burn down regardless. Our job as Christians is to tell of this glory and grace that all might recognize the world as it truly is.
Everything God does is so that he might be revealed to us as God. God has, throughout history, revealed himself through Human instrumentality. He has revealed himself through the history of the Jewish people as preserved in the Old Testament and through the humanity of Jesus Christ, the image of the invisible God, and now through his Church, the Body of Christ in the present age. He lifted us up out of our sin. Once you realize the totality of the grace you have been given, you will be brought to faith by God.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Genesis 18:25
"Far be it from you to do such a thing--to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Will not the Judge of all the Earth do right?"
Abraham is not pleading to change God's will. The story wasn't written to give an account of history but as narrative theology. This is a righteous God, who for the sake of ten righteous people, would not wipe out the entire wicked city. Because of ten righteous people, the entire cities of Sodom and Gomorrah would be spared even though everyone but those ten were wicked. That is the scope of the grace of God.
However, "there is no one who is righteous, not even one... All have turned away, they have together become worthless. There is no one who does good, not even one." (Ps 14:1-3; Rom 3:10,12) We should've become just like Sodom. We should've wept just like Gomorrah. So why do we rejoice?
Because there was and is a Righteous One in our midst. For the sake of one righteous man, God had spared the entirety of the world. It is because that Righteous One dwells with us through the power of the Holy Spirit that our cities are spared. And not only does this Righteous One dwell with us, he is only present because God himself sent him so that he might spare us. That is the scope of the grace our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the present reality we live.
Abraham is not pleading to change God's will. The story wasn't written to give an account of history but as narrative theology. This is a righteous God, who for the sake of ten righteous people, would not wipe out the entire wicked city. Because of ten righteous people, the entire cities of Sodom and Gomorrah would be spared even though everyone but those ten were wicked. That is the scope of the grace of God.
However, "there is no one who is righteous, not even one... All have turned away, they have together become worthless. There is no one who does good, not even one." (Ps 14:1-3; Rom 3:10,12) We should've become just like Sodom. We should've wept just like Gomorrah. So why do we rejoice?
Because there was and is a Righteous One in our midst. For the sake of one righteous man, God had spared the entirety of the world. It is because that Righteous One dwells with us through the power of the Holy Spirit that our cities are spared. And not only does this Righteous One dwell with us, he is only present because God himself sent him so that he might spare us. That is the scope of the grace our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the present reality we live.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Romans 3:25
"God displayed [Jesus Christ] publicly as a Mercy Seat through faith in His blood. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;"
We have a public mercy seat for the forgiveness of sins, but not everyone realizes what it is. They see it clearly, but they do not understand it because it is not of this world, but now that this mercy seat has been revealed, there is no excuse not to come to it other than a failure to recognize it for what it is, that is a failure to recognize the goodness of the revealed Christ because it is foolishness to the wise and incomprehensibly foreign sinful man.
This is why we Christians must lead others to the mercy seat and testify to it's goodness. The grace is publicly available to all and is not resisted but simply not understood as grace. God's sovereign work is not recognized and is his basis for judgment because now that there is no condemnation in Christ, there is no justification for remaining condemned. The world must be brought to recognize Christ and confess that He is Lord and He is for them. They only need to come to the mercy seat empty-handed.
This is the good news that we take part in sharing: That God has elected himself for suffering and damnation and that God has elected us for salvation through Christ. Salvation has come to all men, so come to salvation!
We have a public mercy seat for the forgiveness of sins, but not everyone realizes what it is. They see it clearly, but they do not understand it because it is not of this world, but now that this mercy seat has been revealed, there is no excuse not to come to it other than a failure to recognize it for what it is, that is a failure to recognize the goodness of the revealed Christ because it is foolishness to the wise and incomprehensibly foreign sinful man.
This is why we Christians must lead others to the mercy seat and testify to it's goodness. The grace is publicly available to all and is not resisted but simply not understood as grace. God's sovereign work is not recognized and is his basis for judgment because now that there is no condemnation in Christ, there is no justification for remaining condemned. The world must be brought to recognize Christ and confess that He is Lord and He is for them. They only need to come to the mercy seat empty-handed.
This is the good news that we take part in sharing: That God has elected himself for suffering and damnation and that God has elected us for salvation through Christ. Salvation has come to all men, so come to salvation!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Isaiah 45:22-23
"Turn to me and be saved,
all you ends of the Earth;
for I am God, and there is no other.
By myself I have sworn,
my mouth has uttered in all integrity
a word that will not be revoked:
Before me every knee will bow;
by me every tongue will swear"
God is self existent and self sufficient. God has life in and of himself. Everything God does is an act of grace because God does not have to do anything. He is perfect and content as he is and everything he does is thus "for his good pleasure". (Eph 1) God can never fail, and thus his grace never fails.
At any given moment, we are always already immersed in God's grace, our own existence a manifestation of it. However we do not realize it just as a fish does not understand that it is wet. There is only One God by which we can be saved for only one exists and as surely as the LORD lives, he is God over all people. It is only when we recognize and confess grace through the revelation of God that we are brought to faith by God and thus salvation.
He swears by himself because there is nothing greater to swear by. He is who He is and the only prerequisite for his being is his being the great unchanging "I AM" God's existence is an essential characteristic. He cannot "not be" for he is existence in and of itself.
all you ends of the Earth;
for I am God, and there is no other.
By myself I have sworn,
my mouth has uttered in all integrity
a word that will not be revoked:
Before me every knee will bow;
by me every tongue will swear"
God is self existent and self sufficient. God has life in and of himself. Everything God does is an act of grace because God does not have to do anything. He is perfect and content as he is and everything he does is thus "for his good pleasure". (Eph 1) God can never fail, and thus his grace never fails.
At any given moment, we are always already immersed in God's grace, our own existence a manifestation of it. However we do not realize it just as a fish does not understand that it is wet. There is only One God by which we can be saved for only one exists and as surely as the LORD lives, he is God over all people. It is only when we recognize and confess grace through the revelation of God that we are brought to faith by God and thus salvation.
He swears by himself because there is nothing greater to swear by. He is who He is and the only prerequisite for his being is his being the great unchanging "I AM" God's existence is an essential characteristic. He cannot "not be" for he is existence in and of itself.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Hebrews 10:1
"The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming--not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship."
Christ died once and for all sin for truly if you believe in Christ your sins are forgiven and if they are forgiven, there is no longer any need for sacrifice. Neither was sacrifice ever meant to take away sins. It only served as a reminder of sin. Neither was sacrifice something God desired, rather he desires us to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God. To confuse the Law with Salvation is the same as confusing a map of the world with the world itself. It is simply a pointer towards God and the grace that he offers. The law is only a shadow of the good things to come.
But notice, Christ died for the forgiveness of sins, not to prevent anyone from sinning. Forgiveness (and I mean true forgiveness) and reconciliation are only possible when the offending party admits their wrongdoing and asks for forgiveness. That is the purpose of the law, so that we might know our sins and confess them. But in Christ, no sooner does the confession leave our lips and the Spirit of repentance floods into our hearts does Christ forgive us of our sins. This is grace which redeems and overflows. We need only to turn back to him.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Galatians 5:13
"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another in love."
Those who have been set free by grace should not return to the old ways of doing things (that is, the Law). Giving to the poor does not make you good. Reading your bible does not sanctify. Fasting does not make you holy. Only God in heaven is capable of doing that. How foolish it is to try and earn by human effort what can only come through the Spirit! After receiving grace, will you now try to earn it? We were not saved due to our good works, but from believing the gospel which we had heard.
Those who are under grace are free to sin without eternal consequence. However, Paul states that in our freedom we choose no longer to sin but rather serve in love. When we sin, it is not because we wanted to sin, but Sin living in us (our fallen nature). It is no longer we who sin, but Sin living in us, but now it no longer causes our condemnation! Hallelujah!
Christianity is not based on Law, but on Grace. There is now forgiveness for sin in Christ Jesus. So don't you dare feel guilty you hadn't prayed more or fasted longer. Those things only serve to worship the One who makes us holy, not to make us holy. You were called to be free from such nonsensical thinking.
Those who have been set free by grace should not return to the old ways of doing things (that is, the Law). Giving to the poor does not make you good. Reading your bible does not sanctify. Fasting does not make you holy. Only God in heaven is capable of doing that. How foolish it is to try and earn by human effort what can only come through the Spirit! After receiving grace, will you now try to earn it? We were not saved due to our good works, but from believing the gospel which we had heard.
Those who are under grace are free to sin without eternal consequence. However, Paul states that in our freedom we choose no longer to sin but rather serve in love. When we sin, it is not because we wanted to sin, but Sin living in us (our fallen nature). It is no longer we who sin, but Sin living in us, but now it no longer causes our condemnation! Hallelujah!
Christianity is not based on Law, but on Grace. There is now forgiveness for sin in Christ Jesus. So don't you dare feel guilty you hadn't prayed more or fasted longer. Those things only serve to worship the One who makes us holy, not to make us holy. You were called to be free from such nonsensical thinking.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Psalms 73:3-5,12
"For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong.
They are free from common human burdens;
they are not plagued by human ills...
This is what the wicked are like—
always free of care, they go on amassing wealth."
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong.
They are free from common human burdens;
they are not plagued by human ills...
This is what the wicked are like—
always free of care, they go on amassing wealth."
Those who prosper are not necessarily well off. One may look at a rich man and say "Oh, you have been blessed by God! He has surely shown you favor!" but it is not so. Prosperity is no gift to those who are perishing. Wealth is no blessing to those who need salvation.
For them, God has extended grace and they have refused it, choosing instead to chase after material wealth. They amass riches by their own strength, not through God's blessing. They acquire health through their wealth, not by divine favor or fortune. God has shown them salvation and they have slapped away his hand.
As Christians, the more money we desire from God, the less we desire God himself. God does indeed bless his children, and sometimes with wealth, but those he has blessed with wealth have already proven they can use it appropriately for God's kingdom. Those trustworthy with a little money can be trusted with larger and larger amounts. God always blesses so that we in turn can bless in kindness and generosity. God gives so that we can give back, not to amass wealth and be carefree. Such is wickedness.
For them, God has extended grace and they have refused it, choosing instead to chase after material wealth. They amass riches by their own strength, not through God's blessing. They acquire health through their wealth, not by divine favor or fortune. God has shown them salvation and they have slapped away his hand.
As Christians, the more money we desire from God, the less we desire God himself. God does indeed bless his children, and sometimes with wealth, but those he has blessed with wealth have already proven they can use it appropriately for God's kingdom. Those trustworthy with a little money can be trusted with larger and larger amounts. God always blesses so that we in turn can bless in kindness and generosity. God gives so that we can give back, not to amass wealth and be carefree. Such is wickedness.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Revelation 22:17
"The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life."
John in his revelation rings the sentiments of Isaiah 55:1
Not everyone goes to heaven because not everyone wants to be there. Not everyone loves God or desires his gifts. They discard their invitations, and although they get a new one in the mail everyday, they cast them aside. However, one day the wedding will happen and there will no longer be any need to send invites.
So do you desire God? Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness? Blessed are those who have nothing because they will partake in everything! Theirs is the invitation to the wedding banquet. They are clothed by Christ with the finest clothing, the whitest and most elegant wedding gowns. Everything is free of cost for the one who merely desires to attend the reception. It's all paid for, so come!
John in his revelation rings the sentiments of Isaiah 55:1
Come, all you who are thirsty,Who gets the invitation to the table? Who gets to partake in the graciousness of God? It is only those who hunger and thirst. It is only the one who desires to be filled and satiated. Those who are content are turned away. Actually, they were never invited at all.
come to the waters;
and you who have no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without cost.
Not everyone goes to heaven because not everyone wants to be there. Not everyone loves God or desires his gifts. They discard their invitations, and although they get a new one in the mail everyday, they cast them aside. However, one day the wedding will happen and there will no longer be any need to send invites.
So do you desire God? Do you hunger and thirst for righteousness? Blessed are those who have nothing because they will partake in everything! Theirs is the invitation to the wedding banquet. They are clothed by Christ with the finest clothing, the whitest and most elegant wedding gowns. Everything is free of cost for the one who merely desires to attend the reception. It's all paid for, so come!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Romans 1:16
"I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for salvation to all who believe, first for the Jew and then for the Greek*)
Yet, we find an incessant need to do things because that’s what good Christians do. We go to church because Christians go to church. We read our Bibles because Christians should read their Bibles. We often feel guilty for not praying as often as we should. But should guilt really be the motivating factor in how we live out our faith? Is this gospel just a divine guilt trip (Jesus died for you so you owe him big time)? In the words of Paul, “Me genoito!" (May it never be!)
We were not set free from the law only to become slaves to another law. Nobody who does a "spiritual" act of worship or kindness because of guilt will gain anything by it. A person who gives out of guilt or ambition plants rocks instead of seed. If love is not our weapon and God our prize, we will not harvest anything that lasts.
Do not give or act out of guilt. It is a waste of time even if you are praying or going to church out of guilt. Give because you want to give and act because you want to love. Leave guilt nailed to the cross where it belongs.
Do not give or act out of guilt. It is a waste of time even if you are praying or going to church out of guilt. Give because you want to give and act because you want to love. Leave guilt nailed to the cross where it belongs.
*Many translations use gentile
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Titus 3:14
"Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good, in order that they may provide for daily necessities and not live unproductive lives."
Why should we do good rather than evil if in the end nothing we do is righteous to God and no sin can ever separate us from Christ crucified? As Paul writes in Titus, there are two very practical reasons among many others. First that we might provide for daily necessities and secondly not live unproductive lives.
We do good in order to bless others by providing for their basic needs and in return they bless us with gifts of humility and joy. In addition we receive blessings from God and store up for ourselves treasures in heaven. In so doing, we live productive lives because we are literally working for that which is eternal and does not rust or decay. Nothing we do in this life is productive because ultimately everything in this world passes away. How many ancients civilizations have there been with astounding technology lost forever to time? No doubt they thought they were being productive at the time, but in the end they are forgotten as if they had never been.
And it all starts with hearts and minds transformed by the Holy Spirit. So then we give ourselves over to Him so that we may be self-controlled, hospitable, upright, holy, and disciplined so that in every way we will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
Why should we do good rather than evil if in the end nothing we do is righteous to God and no sin can ever separate us from Christ crucified? As Paul writes in Titus, there are two very practical reasons among many others. First that we might provide for daily necessities and secondly not live unproductive lives.
We do good in order to bless others by providing for their basic needs and in return they bless us with gifts of humility and joy. In addition we receive blessings from God and store up for ourselves treasures in heaven. In so doing, we live productive lives because we are literally working for that which is eternal and does not rust or decay. Nothing we do in this life is productive because ultimately everything in this world passes away. How many ancients civilizations have there been with astounding technology lost forever to time? No doubt they thought they were being productive at the time, but in the end they are forgotten as if they had never been.
And it all starts with hearts and minds transformed by the Holy Spirit. So then we give ourselves over to Him so that we may be self-controlled, hospitable, upright, holy, and disciplined so that in every way we will make the teaching about God our Savior attractive.
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