How to Contemplate Calamity

 “The waves of death encompassed me, the torrents of destruction assailed me. . . . This God — his way is perfect.” (2 Samuel 22:5, 31)

After the loss of his ten children owing to a natural disaster (Job 1:19), Job said, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). At the end of the book, the inspired writer confirms Job’s understanding of what happened. He says Job’s brothers and sisters “comforted him for all the evil that the Lord had brought upon him” (Job 42:11).

This has several crucial implications for us — lessons for us here at the dawn of a new year — as we think about calamities in the world and in our lives — like the massive disaster that occurred December 26, 2004, in the Indian Ocean — one of the deadliest natural disasters on record with 1.7 million people made homeless, half a million injured, and over 230,000 killed.

Lesson #1. Satan is not ultimate; God is.

Satan had a hand in Job’s misery, but not the decisive hand. God gave Satan permission to afflict Job (Job 1:12; 2:6). But Job and the writer of this book treat God as the decisive cause. When Satan afflicts Job with sores, Job says to his wife, “Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:10), and the writer calls these satanic sores “the evil that the Lord had brought upon him” (Job 42:11). So, Satan is real. Satan brings misery. But Satan is not ultimate or decisive. He is on a leash. He goes no farther than God decisively permits.

Lesson #2. Even if Satan caused that tsunami in the Indian Ocean the day after Christmas, 2004, he is not the decisive cause of over 200,000 deaths; God is.

God claims power over tsunamis in Job 38:8 and 11 when he asks Job rhetorically, “Who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb . . . and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?” Psalm 89:8–9 says, “O Lord . . . you rule the raging of the sea; when its waves rise, you still them.” And Jesus himself has the same control today as he once did over the deadly threats of waves: “He . . . rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm” (Luke 8:24). In other words, even if Satan caused the earthquake, God could have stopped the waves. But he didn’t.

Lesson #3. Destructive calamities in this world mingle judgment and mercy.

God’s purposes are not simple. Job was a godly man and his miseries were not God’s punishment (Job 1:1, 8). Their design was purifying, not punishment (Job 42:6). James 5:11 says, “You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.”

But we do not know the spiritual condition of Job’s children who died. Job was certainly concerned about them (Job 1:5). God may have taken their life in judgment. We don’t know.

If that is true, then the same calamity proved in the end to be mercy for Job and judgment on his children. This double purpose is true of all calamities. They mingle judgment and mercy. They are both punishment and purification. Suffering, and even death, can be both judgment and mercy at the same time.

The clearest illustration of this is the death of Jesus. It was both judgment and mercy. It was judgment on Jesus because he bore our sins (not his own), and it was mercy toward us who trust him to bear our punishment (Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 2:24) and be our righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Another example is the curse and miseries that have come on this earth because of the fall of Adam and Eve. Those who never believe in Christ experience it as judgment, but believers experience it as merciful, though painful — a preparation for glory. “The creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope” (Romans 8:20). This is God’s subjection. This is why there are tsunamis. But this subjection to futility is “in hope.”

Lesson #4. The heart that Christ gives to his people feels compassion for those who suffer, no matter what their faith is.

When the Bible says, “Weep with those who weep” (Romans 12:15), it does not add, “unless God caused the weeping.” Job’s comforters would have done better to weep with Job than talk so much. That does not change when we discover that Job’s suffering was ultimately from God. No, it is right to weep with those who suffer. Pain is pain, no matter who causes it. We are all sinners. Empathy flows not from the causes of pain, but from the company of pain. And we are all in it together.

Lesson #5. Finally, Christ calls us to show mercy to those who suffer, even if they do not deserve it.

That is the meaning of mercy — undeserved help. “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6:27). This is how Christ treated us (Romans 5:10), dying for us when we were his enemies. By that power, and with that example, we do the same.

WE ARE STEWARDS OF GOD'S GIFTS!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY DECEMBER 25, 2021.

SUBJECT: WE ARE STEWARDS OF GOD'S GIFTS!

Memory verse: "For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed received it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?" (First Corinthians 4 vs 7).

READ: Deuteronomy 8 vs 17 - 18; First Peter 4 vs 10 - 11:

Deut. 8:17: Then you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.

8:18: And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your father's, as it is this day.

First Peter 4:10: As each one has received a gift, minister to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

4:11: If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

INTIMATION:

A steward is a manager of another's resources or affairs. The earth, the world, and the fullness thereof is the LORD'S (Psalm 24 vs 1; 89 vs 11). And whatever we have is put in our custody and care by the Lord—the Owner of all the earth. Therefore, we must realize that all possessions, gifts, and abilities come from the Lord; “A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.” (John 3 vs 27.) He has given us all those resources, gifts, and abilities for the achievements of His purpose and set objectives. 

God demands that we should be effective and efficient managers or stewards of all He has put in our care. The Scripture says, "Moreover it is required of a steward that one be found faithful" (First Corinthians 4 vs 2). God is a purposeful God, and has predetermined His plans and purposes for all He has committed to our care, and demands that we manage all things to achieve His purposes. Consequently, we should dedicate our all to God's service wholeheartedly, and not holding back anything, realizing that nothing is for our personal success. 

Though we are differently gifted in nature, power, and effectiveness, according to God's wisdom and graciousness, our role is to be faithful and to seek ways to serve God and others with what He has given us. And that is being faithful, and effective stewards.

The reason people are so stressed out about possessions, such as money, is that they think they are owners of them, and are in control of those possessions. People tend to think they are responsible for all of the factors that lead to acquisition of possessions, talents, and gifts; that their abilities have given them the prosperity and all they needed to survive. They are worried about losing any of their possessions; such things as losing their jobs, or a downturn in the economy because they see themselves as the source of their provision.

In reality, all we have are gifts from the Lord, and we are just stewards. Seeing yourself as the source of blessing in your life puts a lot of pressure on you in trying to control circumstances that are really beyond your control. One of the benefits of seeing yourself as a steward is peace of mind and a sense of security. When you know God is your source, you aren't worried about the natural circumstances. If God can prosper Abraham and feed his flocks and herds in a desert, then He can bless and prosper you in any economic situation. It doesn't matter what is going on around you. 

In our Bible reading today, First Peter 4 vs 10, the Scripture says, "As each one has received a gift, minister to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." Obviously, it is by the grace of God you are what you are. Therefore, be a good steward of what is entrusted to your care and management. 

Every one of us needs to realize that our possessions are entrusted to our care and management by God, and then ask ourselves what God wants us to do with it. Knowing that your possessions are really God's, makes you approach life with a totally different attitude; knowing that your attitude toward them is more important than what you do with them.

The primary purpose of God’s blessings in our lives is that we should bless others. God clearly stated this fact to Abraham when He said to Him, “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shalt be a blessing.” (Genesis 12 vs 2.) Therefore, we should be selfless with all God has given us. 

Interestingly, the Bible, in Luke 16 vs 1 - 13, tells us the parable of Jesus about the shrewd steward. In verse 8, Jesus said, "The master commended the unjust steward because he has dealt shrewdly." This steward was unjust (cheating on the master)—a son of this world. But was commended by his master for his shrewdness—cleverness, sharpness, intelligence, astuteness, craftiness. Why? Because he utilized the resources available to him to make friends for himself, so that when he fails, they may receive him into their homes. 

Jesus recognized that this attitude—the attitude of being a blessing with our possessions, that is, being a blessing to others when the opportunity calls, especially when blessed by God, is lacking among the believers—the sons of light. The key to using our resources wisely is to see how much we can use them for God's purposes, that is, being good and effective stewards. Instead of accumulating as much as we can for ourselves. Good stewardship is reflected in the way you use your resources to reflect kingdom values appropriately. 

Though, we are responsible to care for our own needs and the needs of our families and dependent relatives so as not to be a burden on others, we should, however, be willing to give up anything if God asks us to do so. This kind of attitude allows nothing to come between us and God, and keeps us from using our God-given possessions selfishly. 

How much of a blessing have you been to others? How much of your possessions have you given out to others, especially the less privileged who may not be able to give back to you? How much have you been supportive with your possessions for the sake of the kingdom? The answers are with you, and reflect the efficiency and effectiveness of your stewardship.

Prayer: Abba Father, all things are Yours, and You have put things in my care and management for You. Endue me with the spirit of effective and efficient stewardship for all You put in my custody in accordance with Your Will, in Jesus' Name I have prayed.. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Three Christmas Presents

 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. . . . My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 3:7–8; 2:1–2)

Ponder this remarkable situation with me. If the Son of God came to help you stop sinning — to destroy the works of the devil — and if he also came to die so that, when you do sin, there is a propitiation, a removal of God’s wrath, then what does this imply for living your life?

Three things. And they are wonderful to have. I give them to you briefly as Christmas presents.

Gift #1. A Clear Purpose for Living

It implies that you have a clear purpose for living. Negatively, it is simply this: don’t sin — don’t do what dishonors God. “I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin” (1 John 2:1). “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).

If you ask, “Can you give us that positively, instead of negatively?” the answer is: Yes, it’s all summed up in 1 John 3:23. It’s a great summary of what John’s whole letter requires. Notice the singular “commandment” — “And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.” These two things are so closely connected for John he calls them one commandment: believe Jesus and love others. That is your purpose. That is the sum of the Christian life. Trusting Jesus, loving people the way Jesus and his apostles taught us to love. Trust Jesus, love people. There’s the first gift: a purpose to live.

Gift #2. Hope That Our Failures Will Be Forgiven

The second implication of the twofold truth that Christ came to destroy our sinning and to forgive our sins is this: We make progress in overcoming our sin when we have hope that our failures will be forgiven. If you don’t have hope that God will forgive your failures, when you start fighting sin, you give up.

Many of you are pondering some changes in the new year, because you have fallen into sinful patterns and want out. You want some new patterns of eating. New patterns for entertainment. New patterns of giving. New patterns of relating to your spouse. New patterns of family devotions. New patterns of sleep and exercise. New patterns of courage in witness. But you are struggling, wondering whether it’s any use. Well, here’s your second Christmas present: Christ not only came to destroy the works of the devil — our sinning — he also came to be an advocate for us because of experiences of failure in our fight.

So, I plead with you, let the fact that failure will not have the last word give you the hope to fight. But beware! If you turn the grace of God into license, and say, “Well, if I can fail, and it doesn’t matter, then why bother fighting sin?” — if you say that, and mean it, and go on acting on it, you are probably not born again and should tremble.

But that is not where most of you are. Most of you want to fight sinful patterns in your life. And what God is saying to you is this: Let Christ’s covering of your failure give hope to fight. “I write this to you that you might not sin, but if you sin you have an advocate, Jesus Christ.”

Gift #3. Christ Will Help Us

Finally, the third implication of the double truth that Christ came to destroy our sinning and to forgive our sins is this: Christ will really help us in our fight. He really will help you. He is on your side. He didn’t come to destroy sin because sin is fun. He came to destroy sin because sin is fatal. It is a deceptive work of the devil, and it will destroy us if we don’t fight it. He came to help us, not hurt us.

So here’s your third Christmas present: Christ will help overcome sin in you. First John 4:4 says, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” Jesus is alive, Jesus is almighty, Jesus lives in us by faith. And Jesus is for us, not against us. He will help you in your fight with sin in the new year. Trust him.

Two Purposes for Christmas

 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:7–8)

When 1 John 3:8 says, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil,” what are “the works of the devil” that he has in mind? The answer is clear from the context.

First, 1 John 3:5 is a clear parallel: “You know that he appeared in order to take away sins.” The phrase he appeared to occurs in verse 5 and verse 8. So most likely the “works of the devil” that Jesus came to destroy are sins. The first part of verse 8 makes this virtually certain: “Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning.”

The issue in this context is sinning, not sickness or broken cars or messed up schedules. Jesus came into the world to enable us to stop sinning.

We see this even more clearly if we put this truth alongside the truth of 1 John 2:1: “My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin.” This is one of the great purposes of Christmas — one of the great purposes of the incarnation (1 John 3:8).

But there is another purpose which John adds in 1 John 2:1–2, “But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”

But now look what this means: It means that Jesus appeared in the world for two reasons. He came that we might not go on sinning — that is, he came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8); and he came so that there would be a propitiation for our sins, if we do sin. He came to be a substitutionary sacrifice that takes away the wrath of God for our sins.

The upshot of this second purpose is not to defeat the first purpose. Forgiveness is not for the purpose of permitting sin. The aim of the death of Christ for our sins is not that we relax our battle against sin. The upshot of these two purposes of Christmas, rather, is that the payment once made for all our sins is the freedom and power that enables us to fight sin not as legalists, earning our salvation, and not as fearful of losing our salvation, but as victors who throw ourselves into the battle against sin with confidence and joy, even if it costs us our lives.

WE ARE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN CHRIST!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY DECEMBER 24, 2021.

SUBJECT : WE ARE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN CHRIST!

Memory verse: "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”  (Second Corinthians 5 vs 21..) 

READ: Romans 3 vs 21 - 26:

3:21: But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

3:22: even the righteousness of God, through faith of Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;

3:23: for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God, 

3:24: being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

3:25: whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God has passed over for the sins that were previously committed,

3:26: to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

INTIMATION:

Righteousness is the character or quality of being right or just. It was formerly spelled ‘rightwiseness,’ which clearly expresses the meaning. It is used to denote an attribute of God. Therefore, the “righteousness of God” means essentially the same as His faithfulness, or truthfulness, that which is consistent with His own nature and promises. 

God’s righteousness as exhibited in the Death of Christ, which is sufficient to show humanity that God is neither indifferent to sin nor regards it lightly. On the contrary, it demonstrates that quality of holiness in Him which must find expression in His condemnation of sin.

The righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ is the righteous dealing of God with sin and with sinners on the ground of the Death of Christ. The apostle Paul, for the most part, uses it as that gracious gift of God to men whereby all who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are brought into right relationship with God. This righteousness is unattainable by obedience to any law or by any merit of man’s own, or any other condition than that of faith in Christ. Therefore, the man who trusts in Christ becomes ‘the righteousness of God in Him,’ that is, becomes in Christ all that God requires a man to be, all that he could never be in himself.

Jesus died in order that we might become the justified sons of God in Christ. It is because of His death that we are able to be righteous before God. Since we cannot establish our own righteousness on the basis of perfect keeping of law or meritorious good works, then all men must be drawn to the cross in order to be justified from sin. It is at the cross that we are justified by the grace of God. 

When we trust in Christ, we make an exchange: He takes our sin and makes us right with God. Our sin was laid on Christ at His crucifixion. His righteousness is given to us at our conversion. This is what Christians mean by Christ’s atonement for sin. In the world bartering works only when two people exchange goods of relatively equal value. But God offers to trade His righteousness for our sin—something of immeasurable worth for something completely worthless. How grateful we should be or His kindness to us. 

Before the cross, men were under the curse of sin in that they could not deliver themselves from spiritual death through meritorious law-keeping or good works. Therefore, as a result of God’s grace, the sinless Son of God was offered as a sacrifice for sin. Jesus thus bore the sins of all humanity on the cross. In order for any person to take advantage of God’s grace, he must obediently respond to the gospel. 

The gospel shows us both how righteous God is in His plan for us to be saved and also how we may be made fit for eternal life. By trusting Christ, our relationship with God is made right. From start to finish God declares us to be right with Him because of faith and faith alone. God has now fulfilled His promise. His righteousness has now been revealed as to how He has forgiven sins through the cross. He forgives all men who approach Him through faith that moves one to obey the gospel. 

The righteousness of God is the revelation of the justification of God in order to save men regardless of the inability to keep the law. It is the remedy for man’s problem of sin and death. Man faced condemnation by the law, for the law brings sin and death because under the law man could not be justified to be saved by the keeping of the law.

In the sayings of the Lord Jesus, righteousness is whatever is right and just in itself, whatever conforms to the revealed will of God, whatever has been appointed by God to be acknowledged and obeyed by man, the sum total of the requirements of God, and religious duties required of man (distinguished as almsgiving , man’s duty to his neighbor, prayer, his duty to God—worship, fasting, the duty of self-control). 

For instance, because Abraham accepted the Word of God, making it his own by that act of the mind and spirit which is called faith,and, as the sequel showed, submitting himself to its control, therefore, God accepted him as one who fulfilled the whole of His righteousness (Romans 4 vs 3). 

Prayer: Abba Father, Your righteousness is revealed in Your love for us, and Your saving grace given to us in Christ. Thank You for the gift of this unparalleled show of love and care. Give me the grace to be completely committed to Your precepts,  in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

God’s Indescribable Gift

 If while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (Romans 5:10–11)

How do we practically receive reconciliation and exult in God? We do it through Jesus Christ. Which means, at least, that we make the portrait of Jesus in the Bible — that is, the work and the words of Jesus portrayed in the New Testament — we make that portrait the essential content of our exultation over God. Exulting in God without the content of Christ does not honor Christ. And where Christ is not honored, God is not honored.

In 2 Corinthians 4:4–6, Paul describes conversion in two ways. In verse 4, he says it is seeing “the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” And in verse 6, he says it is seeing “the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” In either case you see the point. We have Christ, the image of God, and we have God in the face of Christ.

To exult in God, we exult in what we see and know of God in the portrait of Jesus Christ. And this comes to its fullest experience when the love of God is poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, as Romans 5:5 says. And that sweet, Spirit-given experience of the love of God is mediated to us as we ponder the historical reality of verse 6, “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.”

So here’s the Christmas point. Not only did God purchase our reconciliation through the death of the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:10), and not only did God enable us to receive that reconciliation through the Lord Jesus Christ, but even now we exult in God himself, by the Spirit, through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:11).

Jesus purchased our reconciliation. Jesus enabled us to receive reconciliation and open the gift. And Jesus himself shines forth as himself the indescribable gift — God in the flesh — and stirs up all our exultation in God.

Look to Jesus this Christmas. Receive the reconciliation that he purchased. Don’t put the gift on the shelf unopened. And when you open it, remember God himself is the gift of reconciliation with God.

Exult in him. Experience him as your pleasure. Know him as your treasure.

HOW TO BE DECLARED “NOT GUILTY” BEFORE GOD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY DECEMBER 23, 2021.

SUBJECT : HOW TO BE DECLARED “NOT GUILTY” BEFORE GOD!

Memory verse: "For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1 vs 17.) 

READ: Romans 3 vs 21 - 29:

3:21: But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

3:22: even the righteousness of God, through faith of Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;

3:23: for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God, 

3:24: being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

3:25: whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God has passed over for the sins that were previously committed,

3:26: to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

3:27: Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? No, but by the law of faith.

3:28: Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

3:29: Or Is He the God of the Jews only? Is he not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

INTIMATION:

God gave humanity laws that will govern them in accordance with the principles of life obtainable in His kingdom. And to be justified before God one has to be flawless in keeping all the laws. The law of works demanded that man live flawlessly in order to gain his acquittal from sin. Through law one cannot be acquitted of sin simply because he has committed sin against law, and consequently, is guilty before God. 

All humanity has fallen short of that which is required for one to dwell in the presence of God. The result of law is that all are made sinners. The result of sin is the separation from God. And the result of separation from God is spiritual death which eventually lead to a second death. Since all men sin, then apart from the grace of God, no man can stand justified—not guilty—before God on the basis of law alone

God sent Jesus Christ as a propitiation for our sins. In His death, Jesus was God’s offering to appease His wrath that would eventually have to be poured out on sinners. In order for God to stand just in judgement of free-moral humans, there had to be a choice for humanity to be saved from condemnation. Through the offering of the blood of Jesus, God gave that choice. Though the offering had to be made at a point in time of human history, the required response to God by faith on the part of man has always been in existence.

God promised that He would send the Savior into the world for the blessing of all nations. Through the Sanai law and the Prophets the promises were made. And through the faithfulness of God the promises were accomplished by His gift of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, as a propitiation for our sins. The promises were not fulfilled because of man’s perfect obedience of law, but because of the grace of God to do such regardless of the sinfulness of man. 

Salvation has come to man by the blood offering of Jesus on the cross, not through the meritorious efforts of men. The sacrificial blood offering of Jesus was for the sins of humanity from creation to the consummation of this world. The righteousness of God is the justification of those who obediently respond to the grace of God that was revealed on the cross. It is the righteousness (justification) that is accredited to those who seek God by faith. God is just because He has revealed the means by which men can be made righteous.

It was through Jesus’ faithfulness to go to the cross that the righteousness of God was accomplished. Justification was also accomplished because of the faith of those who believed in the cross. Both the faithfulness of Jesus in going to the cross, and man’s faith response to the cross, were necessary in order to accomplish God’s eternal plan to reconcile men to Himself through Jesus.

Christ died in our place, for our sins. God declares Christ’s death to be the appropriate, designated sacrifice for our sin. Christ then stands in our place, having paid the penalty of death for our sin, and He completely satisfies God’s demands. His sacrifice brings pardon, deliverance, and freedom. We are, therefore, declared not guilty by trusting Jesus Christ to take away our sins. Trusting means putting our confidence in Christ to forgive our sins, to make us right with God, and to empower us to live the way He taught us. God’s solution is available to all of us regardless of our background or past behavior. 

Why does God save us by faith alone? (1) Faith eliminates the pride of human effort, because faith is not a deed that we do. (2) Faith exalts what God has done, not what we do. (3) Faith admits that we can’t keep the law or measure up to God’s standards—we need help. (4) Faith is based on our relationship with God, not our performance for God.

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son as a propitiation for our sins. I completely and wholeheartedly accept the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for my sins, and declares Him as my personal Lord and Savior. I anchor my faith completely on Him, and pray that nothing will be able to take my guess off Him, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!