"For God did not sent His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of Light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates The Light, and will not come into The Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed." John 3:17-20 (NIV)
God does not condemn us, we condemn ourselves by what we do, what we say, and what we believe. Most of us who sin and do wrong or evil, do not want our deeds made public knowledge. Jesus, The Light of the world (John 8:12 & 9:5), just exposes us for who we really are. We need to repent and turn from our wicked ways.
"If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
The Gospel, The Good News
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16 (NIV)
This is the gospel, the good news of the Bible, summed up in one verse.
Share this good news with someone today and you will be blessed.
This is the gospel, the good news of the Bible, summed up in one verse.
Share this good news with someone today and you will be blessed.
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Changed - Born Again
"In reply Jesus declared, 'I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again ... unless he is born of water and The Spirit.'" John 3:1-6 (NIV)
All Christians have two birthdays, the date of their physical birth and the date of their spiritual birth. With our physical birth, we were born into sin when we entered this world. With our spiritual birth, we are released from the penalty of sin when we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
When we are born again, we undergo a spiritual transformation. We are a "changed" group of people who act, talk, and think differently because of the effect of The Holy Spirit upon our lives. We are not perfect, we make mistakes, and we still sin, but we are not as bad as we used to be. Hopefully, we are getting better, more Christ-like, each day because we have been born again.
All Christians have two birthdays, the date of their physical birth and the date of their spiritual birth. With our physical birth, we were born into sin when we entered this world. With our spiritual birth, we are released from the penalty of sin when we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.
When we are born again, we undergo a spiritual transformation. We are a "changed" group of people who act, talk, and think differently because of the effect of The Holy Spirit upon our lives. We are not perfect, we make mistakes, and we still sin, but we are not as bad as we used to be. Hopefully, we are getting better, more Christ-like, each day because we have been born again.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Help The Weak And The Less Enlightened
"We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Each of us should please our neighbor for his good, to build him up." Romans 15:1-2 (NIV)
The spiritually strong and enlightened among us are to tolerate and help the weaker and less enlightened until they too become strong in the faith.
We are to help our weaker brothers bear their burdens by showing loving support and practical consideration for them. We are to build them up, encourage, correct, inform, and strengthen them whenever possible.
The Christian life is centered on helping and strengthening others. We are not just to live selfishly and satisfy our own desires. Share with others what you have and what you know.
The spiritually strong and enlightened among us are to tolerate and help the weaker and less enlightened until they too become strong in the faith.
We are to help our weaker brothers bear their burdens by showing loving support and practical consideration for them. We are to build them up, encourage, correct, inform, and strengthen them whenever possible.
The Christian life is centered on helping and strengthening others. We are not just to live selfishly and satisfy our own desires. Share with others what you have and what you know.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Confess Believe And Be Saved
"That if you confess with you mouth, 'Jesus is Lord', and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved." Romans 10:9-10 (NIV)
Confession is more than an acknowledgement, for even the devil and his demons know this to be true. (James 2:19) Confession is a personal conviction, repenting from sin, trusting in Jesus, and submitting to Him as Lord. Justification means that the sinner is declared innocent in the sight of God by the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
If we confess and believe, we will be saved from the penalty of sin.
Confession is more than an acknowledgement, for even the devil and his demons know this to be true. (James 2:19) Confession is a personal conviction, repenting from sin, trusting in Jesus, and submitting to Him as Lord. Justification means that the sinner is declared innocent in the sight of God by the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
If we confess and believe, we will be saved from the penalty of sin.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
We Fight Within Ourselves Daily
Christians are human and as such are constantly fighting an internal war. Our spirit and our flesh are battling for control of our soul and behavior.
So like Paul we can say, "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good , but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do, this I keep on doing." Romans 7:18-19 (NIV)
We must pray for God's help to do, to say, and to think the right things.
So like Paul we can say, "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good , but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do, this I keep on doing." Romans 7:18-19 (NIV)
We must pray for God's help to do, to say, and to think the right things.
Friday, December 9, 2011
The Penalty Of Sin And The Gift Of God
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23
Because we all have sinned, we all deserve the penalty of death. And not just the physical death, but separation from Jesus The Christ. We cannot pay the debt that we owe for our sins. However, Jesus has already paid the debt for us and has given us the opportunity for eternal life with Him, if we believe in him.
Death is both physical and spiritual. The physical death is the separation of the body and the spirit. Spiritual death is the "second death" when the soul is cast into the "lake of fire" for eternal damnation and torment. The only way to escape the second death is acceptance of the gift of eternal life.
Because we all have sinned, we all deserve the penalty of death. And not just the physical death, but separation from Jesus The Christ. We cannot pay the debt that we owe for our sins. However, Jesus has already paid the debt for us and has given us the opportunity for eternal life with Him, if we believe in him.
Death is both physical and spiritual. The physical death is the separation of the body and the spirit. Spiritual death is the "second death" when the soul is cast into the "lake of fire" for eternal damnation and torment. The only way to escape the second death is acceptance of the gift of eternal life.
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