Romans 5:10-14,21
For if, when we were God's enemies, --
Before we turn to God in repentance and trust in Jesus to pay our debt for us, we were at enmity with God, his enemies.
we were reconciled to Him --
We were changed, as I change my checkbook to agree with the bank statement, so we were reconciled to God, to agree with His holiness, and remove the things that were against us to becoming His righteousness: a miracle in each one of us.
through the death of His Son, --
Because the Son of God, Jesus, God's Christ, was born a Man and died Man's death, the debt we each owe, in the place of each one of us; this is how we have been reconciled, because our debt is paid.
how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! --
Because Jesus conquered Death, He rose from the grave. The life He rose with was more than the human life had been, He returned with Resurrection Life. And because He was Resurrected, so will we. This is the full Redemption, when we will be fully and completely saved, when we also will be Resurrected.
Not only is this so, --
This is our hope in the Lord, that He will return to take us to be with Himself forever, Resurrected with His Eternal Life, like Him.
but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. --
We can be joyful in realizing the Truth of both our future Resurrection and being right with God right now.
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, --
The first man Adam chose to disobey God, which was the first human sin, and the paycheck for sin is death, so death entered the world through this one man.
and in this way death came to all men because all sinned. --
We all are born from the genealogical line of Adam, so we genetically inherit the sin-nature that Adam's natural life became when he sinned. So each of us has that bent toward sin, that makes it easier, or more convenient to choose to do the wrong thing, or to not do the right thing. So we have all, each human person that has ever lived, missed the mark of God's perfection, so we all deserve to die, and we all die.
For before the Law was given, sin was in the world. --
Even before there were rules given to describe what was wrong, people still made foolish and evil decisions to do what they knew was wrong, they still sinned.
But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. --
When there's no law or rule against it, no one can be convicted of it.
Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as Adam did --
People still died, even though they couldn't be charged with breaking a rule, they still suffered the consequences of their choices.
who was a pattern of the One to come.
Adam was a pattern of a member of Mankind who had a decision, a choice to make. Adam made the wrong choice; Jesus made the right choice. He is the One to come, the second Man who had the authority to make a choice that would affect not only himself, but many others, even, all others.
Adam's sin affects every human person who lived or lives or will live.
Jesus's righteousness can affect every person who lived or lives or will live. He is the Second Adam, who can reverse the harm the First Adam caused.
Just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might rein through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. --
So we each have the choice to do right or to do wrong. Each of us is responsible to choose rightly, and is accountable to God for the choices we make, rightly or wrongly. In Adam we all will die. In Jesus Christ we are given the possibility of living forever.
It's our choice.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Saturday, March 12, 2016
Substitutionary Sacrifice
Romans 5:6,8-9
You see, at just the right time, --
God's timing is always perfect.
when we were still powerless, --
We never have had nor will have the power to save ourselves from the consequences of our own poor choices.
Christ died for the ungodly. --
Jesus Christ, the righteous One, the only sinless One; paid the sinner's debt, the human death we all deserve, in our place, substituted for each one of us.
But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: --
God the Father loves each one of us, we all have been made by Him, and He loves everything and everyone He made. This is how He shows us His love.
While we were still sinners, --
While we were still God's enemies.
Christ died for us.
Jesus Christ took upon Himself Death. Death he did not deserve, but we do. A debt He did not owe, but we do. He did this for each one of us, individually, as well as corporately, for all of us and the whole Universe we live in. And by actually dying, going through Death itself, He conquered it, He gained the victory over it, proved by His Resurrection.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
You see, at just the right time, --
God's timing is always perfect.
when we were still powerless, --
We never have had nor will have the power to save ourselves from the consequences of our own poor choices.
Christ died for the ungodly. --
Jesus Christ, the righteous One, the only sinless One; paid the sinner's debt, the human death we all deserve, in our place, substituted for each one of us.
But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: --
God the Father loves each one of us, we all have been made by Him, and He loves everything and everyone He made. This is how He shows us His love.
While we were still sinners, --
While we were still God's enemies.
Christ died for us.
Jesus Christ took upon Himself Death. Death he did not deserve, but we do. A debt He did not owe, but we do. He did this for each one of us, individually, as well as corporately, for all of us and the whole Universe we live in. And by actually dying, going through Death itself, He conquered it, He gained the victory over it, proved by His Resurrection.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Friday, March 11, 2016
Peace, Grace, Hope, Glory
Romans 5:1-2
Therefore since we have been justified --
Declared righteous, not earned righteousness.
through faith, --
By reason of our trusting in Jesus.
we have peace with God --
We are again friends with God instead of His enemies, we don't have guilt between us.
through our Lord Jesus Christ, --
By the means of what Jesus accomplished on our behalf.
through whom we have gained access --
Because of Jesus we can go right in, we have access; the veil is ripped apart.
by faith --
by means of our trusting in Him.
into this grace --
This totally unmerited favor of God.
in which we now stand. --
That we have right now, that benefits us today in the circumstances we find ourselves in at this moment.
And we rejoice in the hope --
We celebrate and take joy in the knowledge of the certainties that haven't happened yet but we know they will without fail. Not just a wish, a future fact.
of the glory of God.
God's goodness, His greatness, His majesty, His enormity and authority, His boundless power to rule and accomplish everything He wills. And He is ours!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Therefore since we have been justified --
Declared righteous, not earned righteousness.
through faith, --
By reason of our trusting in Jesus.
we have peace with God --
We are again friends with God instead of His enemies, we don't have guilt between us.
through our Lord Jesus Christ, --
By the means of what Jesus accomplished on our behalf.
through whom we have gained access --
Because of Jesus we can go right in, we have access; the veil is ripped apart.
by faith --
by means of our trusting in Him.
into this grace --
This totally unmerited favor of God.
in which we now stand. --
That we have right now, that benefits us today in the circumstances we find ourselves in at this moment.
And we rejoice in the hope --
We celebrate and take joy in the knowledge of the certainties that haven't happened yet but we know they will without fail. Not just a wish, a future fact.
of the glory of God.
God's goodness, His greatness, His majesty, His enormity and authority, His boundless power to rule and accomplish everything He wills. And He is ours!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Free, Indeed
John 8:34-35,31-32
Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin." --
Everyone who gives himself to a sin to commit it becomes a slave of that sin; it becomes a habit, then an addiction.
Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, --
A slave has been bought and can be sold again at any time, at the whim of the slave-holder.
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free, indeed. --
The Son has the authority to set a slave free, to never have to return to that position of slavery ever again.
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. --
If I actually take hold of what Jesus said, then I will be a true disciple, a student, learning from the Teacher.
Then you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free. --
So this Truth Jesus is talking about is His Truth concerning Eternal Life, and the power and authority of His Holy Spirit living in us enabling us to do the things He planned for us to do, and avoid the things that are detrimental to us, that draw us away from Him. The authority to break the chains of addiction, and heal broken relationships, and every other enticing way of thinking and acting that would be self-centered rather than God-centered.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Jesus replied, "I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin." --
Everyone who gives himself to a sin to commit it becomes a slave of that sin; it becomes a habit, then an addiction.
Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, --
A slave has been bought and can be sold again at any time, at the whim of the slave-holder.
So if the Son sets you free, you will be free, indeed. --
The Son has the authority to set a slave free, to never have to return to that position of slavery ever again.
Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. --
If I actually take hold of what Jesus said, then I will be a true disciple, a student, learning from the Teacher.
Then you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free. --
So this Truth Jesus is talking about is His Truth concerning Eternal Life, and the power and authority of His Holy Spirit living in us enabling us to do the things He planned for us to do, and avoid the things that are detrimental to us, that draw us away from Him. The authority to break the chains of addiction, and heal broken relationships, and every other enticing way of thinking and acting that would be self-centered rather than God-centered.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
To Not Slip
Psalm 37:30-31
The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, --
The righteous person will say the things that are wise, that show understanding.
and his tongue speaks what is just. --
He will be honest and fair.
The law of his God is in his heart; --
He knows God's Word by heart.
his feet do not slip. --
He will not be in danger of slipping off the road. Because he has extensively read, studied and memorized the Bible and gained a clear understanding of the mind of God thereby, then when he speaks it will be with words of wisdom, compassion, understanding of the bigger picture, and will see the truth of what is going on around him to judge with honesty and true justice.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
(You must pardon my omission of a posting yesterday, my computer was hacked and I had it in the shop for repair.)
The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, --
The righteous person will say the things that are wise, that show understanding.
and his tongue speaks what is just. --
He will be honest and fair.
The law of his God is in his heart; --
He knows God's Word by heart.
his feet do not slip. --
He will not be in danger of slipping off the road. Because he has extensively read, studied and memorized the Bible and gained a clear understanding of the mind of God thereby, then when he speaks it will be with words of wisdom, compassion, understanding of the bigger picture, and will see the truth of what is going on around him to judge with honesty and true justice.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
(You must pardon my omission of a posting yesterday, my computer was hacked and I had it in the shop for repair.)
Monday, March 7, 2016
Sparrows And Hairs
Matthew 10:29-31
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
I cannot think of any detail about me that would have less significance than the number of hairs on my head! Yet my Father's care for me is so great, so extensive, so intensive, that He keeps track of even my hairs. And if He is so concerned for that non-consequential detail, how much more does He care for what impacts my life and the lives of those around me.
O my Father, teach me how to be aware of myself and those around me, to see them through Your eyes, and care for them as You do!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
I cannot think of any detail about me that would have less significance than the number of hairs on my head! Yet my Father's care for me is so great, so extensive, so intensive, that He keeps track of even my hairs. And if He is so concerned for that non-consequential detail, how much more does He care for what impacts my life and the lives of those around me.
O my Father, teach me how to be aware of myself and those around me, to see them through Your eyes, and care for them as You do!
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Sunday, March 6, 2016
The Enormity Of The Reality of God
Job 11:7-9
Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens above--what can you do? They are deeper than the depths below--what can you know? Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.
Job's friend Zophar states here the enormity of the reality of God. Even though some of what Job's friends stated to him, he recognized as lies and deceit about himself and about God (that's why God told him to pray for them), what God allowed to be recorded here excluded the untruthful comments, because He is the God of Truth and this is His Word. So we need not be judges of the Word to determine what we think is true or not. And we see here that God is unfathomable to our human minds, He is far beyond what our minds can conceive.
O my Father, thank you so much that You are God, not us, and that we can trust Your Word to always be True. Grant us please the discernment to understand what You are telling us, and the wisdom to know what to do and how to do Your will, to further Your plans and accomplish Your purposes in Your time.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens above--what can you do? They are deeper than the depths below--what can you know? Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.
Job's friend Zophar states here the enormity of the reality of God. Even though some of what Job's friends stated to him, he recognized as lies and deceit about himself and about God (that's why God told him to pray for them), what God allowed to be recorded here excluded the untruthful comments, because He is the God of Truth and this is His Word. So we need not be judges of the Word to determine what we think is true or not. And we see here that God is unfathomable to our human minds, He is far beyond what our minds can conceive.
O my Father, thank you so much that You are God, not us, and that we can trust Your Word to always be True. Grant us please the discernment to understand what You are telling us, and the wisdom to know what to do and how to do Your will, to further Your plans and accomplish Your purposes in Your time.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
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