Category: Salvation

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Something Greater

I need to tie this in with yesterday’s blog. My reading from Romans, chapter 5.

Yesterday I showed you where Abraham hoped against hope and received the heir God had promised he and Sarah years before. He never gave up believing that God would keep His promises.

The Bible tells us that Abraham was called the friend of God. They walked and talked together – friend to friend. The Lord and Abraham would share a meal and the Lord would reveal His plans to Abraham, they had that kind of relationship. (Genesis 13-19)

“When the three men got ready to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked part of the way with them. 17 The Lord said to himself, “I should tell Abraham what I am going to do,” Genesis 18:16-17 CEV

This is when the Lord told Abraham He was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah because of their wickedness.

But let’s go back to Romans now and see how Paul ties Abraham’s relationship to the Lord with the relationship the Lord has chosen to have with us.

“By faith we have been made acceptable to God. And now, thanks to our Lord Jesus Christ, we have peace with God. 2 Christ has also introduced us to God’s gift of undeserved grace on which we now take our stand. So we are happy, as we look forward to sharing in the glory of God. 3 But that’s not all! We gladly suffer, because we know that suffering helps us to endure. 4 And endurance builds character, which gives us a hope 5 that will never disappoint us. All of this happens because God has given us the Holy Spirit, who fills our hearts with his love.

6 Christ died for us at a time when we were helpless and sinful. 7 No one is really willing to die for an honest person, though someone might be willing to die for a truly good person. 8 But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful.

9 But there is more! Now that God has accepted us because Christ sacrificed his life’s blood, we will also be kept safe from God’s anger. 10 Even when we were God’s enemies, he made peace with us, because his Son died for us. Yet something even greater than friendship is ours. Now that we are at peace with God, we will be saved by the life of his Son. 11 And in addition to everything else, we are happy because God sent our Lord Jesus Christ to make peace with us.” Romans 5:1-11 CEV

Do you see what it says there? Something greater than friendship is ours because of Christ’ death. We have something greater than the friendship that God shared with Abraham, something much greater.

Let’s end today’s thoughts by jumping ahead to Romans, chapter 8. Now remember this is all one long letter that Paul was writing and so these thoughts are all part of one teaching.

” 15  God’s Spirit doesn’t make us slaves who are afraid of him. Instead, we become his children and call him our Father.” Romans 8:15 CEV

We don’t have to be afraid of God because of Jesus. His death gave us the right to become God’s children and we now share the same relationship with the Father than Jesus has.

Something greater than friendship is ours. It’s called sonship!!

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The Power of God at Work

This morning I’d like you to do something for me. Before you head out the door, I would like you to go into the bathroom and take a long look in the mirror. No, you’re not looking to see if your hair is combed or there are any bags around your eyes.

I want you to see the power of God at work in your life.

“For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, ‘It is through faith that a righteous person has life.’” Romans 1:16-17 NLT

The power of God planted a seed of faith in your heart and mine. Faith to believe in God’s grace to make us right. From start to finish our walk, our relationship with Him is by faith in His grace.

If you grew up in church, I’m sure at one time or another, you were presented with a list of do’s and don’ts. Don’t smoke, cuss or chew or go with girls that do! Yep, that was pretty much the law that was laid out before us. No movies, no drinking, no running amuck.

But not doing those things isn’t going to get us into heaven. It is by grace. Being conscious of sin doesn’t save us. Being aware of grace and accepting it by faith does.

Grace is the power of God at work!

” God doesn’t accept people simply because they obey the Law. No, indeed! All the Law does is to point out our sin.

21 Now we see how God does make us acceptable to him. The Law and the Prophets tell how we become acceptable, and it isn’t by obeying the Law of Moses. 22  God treats everyone alike. He accepts people only because they have faith in Jesus Christ. 23 All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. 24 But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins. 25-26  God sent Christ to be our sacrifice. Christ offered his life’s blood, so by faith in him we could come to God. And God did this to show that in the past he was right to be patient and forgive sinners. This also shows that God is right when he accepts people who have faith in Jesus.

27 What is left for us to brag about? Not a thing! Is it because we obeyed some law? No! It is because of faith. 28 We see that people are acceptable to God because they have faith, and not because they obey the Law. 29 Does God belong only to the Jews? Isn’t he also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, he is! 30  There is only one God, and he accepts Gentiles as well as Jews, simply because of their faith.” Romans 3:20-31 CEV

Thank you Jesus! The power of God at work in my life is because of what Jesus did and not what I try to do. My faith in Him has made me acceptable, not my works.

So, do yourself a favor. Go back, look in that mirror and say “Thank you Father that I am acceptable to You because of what Jesus did for me. I have faith in Jesus’ sacrifice and in Your power for my salvation. That’s very, very, Good News!”

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It Is Finished

When I went to bed last night the words of this song came to mind:

It is finished, the battle is over
It is finished, there’ll be no more war
It is finished, the end of the conflict
It is finished and Jesus is Lord

Yet in my heart, the battle was still raging
Not all prisoners of war had come home

These were battlefields of my own making
I didn’t know that the war had been won

Oh, but then I heard the king of the ages
He had fought all the battles for me
And the victory, victory is mine for the claiming
And now praise His name, I am free

It is finished, the battle is over
It is finished, there’ll be no more war
It is finished, the end of the conflict
It is finished and Jesus is Lord,

When Jesus said those very words on the cross all the angels in heaven and demons in hell knew what He was saying:

“A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. 30 When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” John 19:29-30 NLT

Jesus was talking about the work He had been sent to do, reconciling God and man, paying the price for sin, bringing salvation to all. He was talking about sin’s authority in our lives. It is finished – our lives being subject to fear, sin, sickness and separation.

“ He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.” I John 2:2 NLT

“The fact is, it was our suffering he took on himself; he bore our pain. But we thought that God was punishing him, that God was beating him for something he did. 5 But he was being punished for what we did. He was crushed because of our guilt. He took the punishment we deserved, and this brought us peace. We were healed because of his pain. 6 We had all wandered away like sheep. We had gone our own way. And yet the Lord put all our guilt on him.” Isaiah 53:4-6 ERV

It is finished – the condemnation and shame.

“ So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 NLT

“‘Don’t be afraid. I saved you. I named you. You are mine. 2 When you have troubles, I am with you. When you cross rivers, you will not be hurt. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not hurt you. 3 That’s because I, the Lord, am your God. I, the Holy One of Israel, am your Savior. ‘” Isaiah 43:1-3 ERV

I want to assure you, I want you to have confidence in what Christ did for each of us on the cross.

“ So be humble under God’s powerful hand. Then he will lift you up when the right time comes. 7 Give all your worries to him, because he cares for you.” I Peter 5:6-7 ERV

God has provided all we need to live victoriously in this life. The enemy’s power has been broken.

It is finished!

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Who Do You Say I Am?

Today I’m going to offer you a physical challenge. It will take you outside your comfort zone, I’m certain. I want you to find someone that you know is a Christian and I want you to ask them to tell you about their Jesus. Don’t interrupt or interject – just listen. Look at their eyes, hear the love in their voice – become enveloped in their story.

Jesus asked this of his disciples: “Jesus went to the area of Caesarea Philippi. He said to his followers, “Who do people say I am?”

14 They answered, “Some people say you are John the Baptizer. Others say you are Elijah. And some say you are Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15 Then Jesus said to his followers, “And who do you say I am?” Matthew 16:13-15 CEV

Who do you say that I am?

If that were the subject of your High School English class essay, how many words, how many pages would it take to answer the question? Sitting here this morning my heart runs to so many places; each time reminding me of God’s love and faithfulness revealed through Jesus.

Peter’s answer to Jesus was this: “Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Matthew 16:16 ERV

Peter’s answer was God given. These men who had lived with Jesus day in and day out had experienced life, God directed life, up close and personal. And yet earlier in this chapter they were caught once again thinking in mere human terms and not in God’s terms. Their spiritual walk was inconsistent but they did move forward seeking to know more.

Jesus reminded them that they should be founded on the rock – in Matthew we have the story of the man who built his house on a rock and when the storms of life came, he was not shaken; when we know that our foundation is Christ, the storms of life won’t shake us.

Recently, I have had several friends all share their love for the Lord with me. Going through struggling times, those things that are beyond our control, can cause us to stagger and even fall. But answering the question, “Who is Jesus to me? Who do I say that He is? – undergirds us with strength and gives us peace.

“Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me [ceased from fretting].” Psalm 131:2 AMPC

Lean into Jesus. Rest and trust in Him.

So let me ask you again – Who do you say that I am? Ask the question today and get to know Jesus through the eyes of a friend.

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Sin is Sin

Doesn’t that sound profound? Of course it is, what God has shown me in my many years is that He doesn’t classify sin. It’s not a white lie or a major sin like murder; sin is sin.

Let’s look at the story of the prodigal son and his brother.

Sin is sin! The younger son in the story was guilty of some pretty “big” things while the older son looked respectable, he was obviously holding bitterness in his heart toward his younger brother. So, which was worse?

Neither! Sin is sin.

Kind of like a broken window; you can throw a rock through it and it shatters, or shoot it with a bb and leave a little hole, it’s still broken.

“One law rules over all other laws. This royal law is found in the Scriptures: ‘Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.’ If you obey this law, you are doing right. 9 But if you are treating one person as more important than another, you are sinning. You are guilty of breaking God’s law. 10 You might follow all of God’s law. But if you fail to obey only one command, you are guilty of breaking all the commands in that law.” James 2:8-10 ERV

The Old Testament teaches us that gossip and murder are both hated by God yet we find one is more socially acceptable than the other.

Sin is sin and we are all guilty. The penalty for sin is not on a sliding scale.

“ All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. 24 But God treats us much better than we deserve, and because of Christ Jesus, he freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins.” Romans 3:23-24 CEV

Jesus words were so powerful when he spoke to the Pharisees about the adulterous woman that they wanted him to stone.

“They were saying this to trick Jesus. They wanted to catch him saying something wrong so that they could have a charge against him. But Jesus stooped down and started writing on the ground with his finger. 7 The Jewish leaders continued to ask him their question. So he stood up and said, ‘Anyone here who has never sinned should throw the first stone at her.‘ 8 Then Jesus stooped down again and wrote on the ground.” John 8:6-8 ERV

The wonderful news is since God sees all sin the same, it makes the payment for that sin the same as well.

“So that one sin of Adam brought the punishment of death to all people. But in the same way, Christ did something so good that it makes all people right with God. And that brings them true life.” Romans 5:18 ERV

We have forgiveness, payment for our sin, with the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ. That sacrifice is available to all – we simply need to receive it!

“12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” John 1:12 KJV

I’m so glad that God doesn’t grade on a curve, but He accepts us all based not on what we’ve done but on what Jesus did!

Yes, sin is sin but God’s grace is greater!!!

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Do You Remember

trading stamps?

When I was a girl I spent many a Saturday morning pasting Gold Bond, Blue Chip and S&H Green stamps into redemption books.

Each time we went to the gas station, the attendant would give my folks green stamps and they would bring them home and put them in a book. We had a green stamp catalog and we would save our books until we had enough to go to the redemption center and get what we had been saving for. That was so much fun, we walked out with something we really wanted and also had an new item that we would start saving for next.

Do you know that we have been “redeemed”? The word redeemed means to rescue or to ransom. Our lives have been redeemed; not by collecting our good works and sticking them in a book for all to see but by the precious blood of Jesus.

“You were rescued (redeemed) from the useless way of life that you learned from your ancestors. But you know that you were not rescued by such things as silver or gold that don’t last forever. 19 You were rescued by the precious blood of Christ, that spotless and innocent lamb.” I Peter 1:18-19

All our good deeds cannot begin to measure up to the price Jesus paid for our redemption. Can’t you see it now, Jesus walking into the redemption center and God the Father asking “what would you like to take home today”?

Jesus says, “I would like Kristi for my own”.

And the Father says, “Well, are you sure you wouldn’t like something better? She has done some pretty foolish things.”

“No,” Jesus says, “I would like her.”

“And what will you give for her redemption? It has to be something very valuable.” says the Father. And he shows Jesus all the charges of my shortcomings and sins.

Jesus stretches forth His hands revealing the nail prints and says, “I think this should cover it.”

“Having cancelled and blotted out and wiped away the handwriting of the note (bond) with its legal decrees and demands which was in force and stood against us (hostile to us). This [note with its regulations, decrees, and demands] He set aside and cleared completely out of our way by nailing it to [His] cross.” Colossians 2:14 Amplified Version

Hallelujah! I have been redeemed. I have been bought with a price, the precious blood of Jesus.

He’s done the same for you. Be blessed today.

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At The Feet of Jesus

In my prayer time this morning I heard myself say, “Lord, I’m laying this at your feet”. That may sound strange, I know, but my heart is filled with such gratitude for all the Lord has done for me; for His forgiveness and love, His direction and peace, His protection and strength.

I don’t want there to be anything that hinders my relationship with Him. My desire is to give Him all that would distract from Him being my Lord and my God. The woman who had a bleeding disorder came to mind when I was thinking about placing all at Jesus’ feet.

“In the crowd was a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. 26  She had gone to many doctors, and they had not done anything except cause her a lot of pain. She had paid them all the money she had. But instead of getting better, she only got worse.

27 The woman had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him in the crowd and barely touched his clothes. 28 She had said to herself, “If I can just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 As soon as she touched them, her bleeding stopped, and she knew she was healed.

30 At that moment Jesus felt power go out from him. He turned to the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”

31 His disciples said to him, “Look at all these people crowding around you! How can you ask who touched you?” 32 But Jesus turned to see who had touched him.

33 The woman knew what had happened to her. So she came trembling with fear and knelt down in front of Jesus. Then she told him the whole story.

34 Jesus said to the woman, “You are now well because of your faith. May God give you peace! You are healed, and you will no longer be in pain.”” Mark 5:25-34

This woman had no right to be in public because of her bleeding disorder. She was deemed “unclean” by Jewish society; yet, she came. If only she could touch the hem of His garment, she believed she would be made well. She sacrificed well-being and reputation, just to be at the feet of Jesus.

Then there was this woman.

“ He turned toward the woman and said to Simon, ‘Have you noticed this woman? When I came into your home, you didn’t give me any water so I could wash my feet. But she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 45 You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You didn’t even pour olive oil on my head, but she has poured expensive perfume on my feet. 47 So I tell you that all her sins are forgiven, and that is why she has shown great love. But anyone who has been forgiven for only a little will show only a little love.”

48 Then Jesus said to the woman, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’” Luke 7:44-48 CEV

Sitting at someone’s feet or washing their feet was a sign of servitude, an act of humility.

Jesus’ feet were pierced for our sins. It was a sign that we have been forgiven all. At the feet of Jesus there is healing, salvation, hope and forgiveness.

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Bought With A Price

Dave and I really enjoyed going to auctions. It’s something we had done for years; our favorite were the on-site farm/ranch auctions. There are always so many treasures to be found.

The biggest frustration though was getting there and finding that several other people have their eye on the same treasure. It came down to who has the biggest bank roll.

Saturday we were watching Mecum Auctions from Florida. The cars were amazing and so were the prices. Car after car, bid after bid and when the day was over millions of dollars had been spent. One car in particular went for the most I have ever seen. It sold for a final price of over $38,000,000. It’s a 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO.

Did you know that each of us have been on life’s auction block? The difference is this – we, as the auctioned treasure, have the free will to choose who will be the winning bidder. We choose when the gavel drops and the auctioneer says sold.

Our heavenly Father is there to buy us but He won’t force the bid unless we desire to give Him our life.

“You know you were not bought and made free from sin by paying gold or silver which comes to an end. And you know you were not saved from the punishment of sin by the way of life that you were given from your early fathers. That way of life was worth nothing. 19 The blood of Christ saved you. This blood is of great worth and no amount of money can buy it. Christ was given as a lamb without sin and without spot. 20 Long before the world was made, God chose Christ to be given to you in these last days.” I Peter 1:18-20 NLV

Bought with a price – the precious blood of Jesus!

“You surely know that your body is a temple where the Holy Spirit lives. The Spirit is in you and is a gift from God. You are no longer your own. 20 God paid a great price for you. So use your body to honor God.” I Corinthians 6:19-20 CEV

“God took us out of a life of darkness. He has put us in the holy nation of His much-loved Son. 14 We have been bought by His blood and made free. Our sins are forgiven through Him.” Colossians 1:13-14 NLV

“For the Son of Man did not come to be cared for. He came to care for others. He came to give His life so that many could be bought by His blood and be made free from sin.” Mark 10:45 NLV

Now I thought it was ridiculous for someone to pay over 38 million dollars for a car. Who has that kind of money? That person had true ambition and a love for the automobile.

But how much more does God love us? The love of God can’t even be compared to that winning bid – it is so much greater than the value of any earthly possession. God finds us priceless, a hidden treasure, something to pursue. He loves us and wants to make us His own.

Going once, going twice, SOLD to God who is love!

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Just Because

When I woke up this morning, my heart was filled with so much love and thanksgiving to the Lord.

Just because…

because He’s God, because He loves me, because He knows me and loves me still. When Jesus was born, wise men from the East saw His star and came to worship Him just because.

” Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.” Matthew 2:1-2 ERV

They knew the heavens declared the glory of God and they came to see the child.

My “just because” came when I realized that God was not holding my sin against me but that I had been “justified freely” by His grace.

” Now God says he will accept and acquit us—declare us “not guilty”—if we trust Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, by coming to Christ, no matter who we are or what we have been like. 23 Yes, all have sinned; all fall short of God’s glorious ideal; 24 yet now God declares us “not guilty” of offending him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in his kindness freely takes away our sins.

25 For God sent Christ Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to end all God’s anger against us. He used Christ’s blood and our faith as the means of saving us from his wrath.” Romans 3:22-24 TLB

God loves us just because, and because He does He sent His Son!

“ The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God. He takes away the sins of the world! ” John 1:29 ERV

Just because of His great love He has given me a robe of right-standing to wear.

“I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding or a bride with her jewels.” Isaiah 61:10 NLT

Jesus came just because of God’s great love!

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The Lost

I get great joy sharing with you each morning. There really is nothing I love more than telling you about the Father’s amazing love and the wonderful sacrifice that Jesus made for each one of us so we can be completely reconciled, made right, with God.

When I was a little girl, I got lost.

I was probably 6 or 7. My dad had taken me to the grocery store with him. We had been walking up and down the aisles when I was distracted by something on one of the shelves. I didn’t notice but my dad kept walking. When I looked up, he was gone.

I went from row to row trying to find him, but I didn’t see him anywhere. I even went to the front door of the store to see if our car was still in the parking lot and it was. I went to the register and with tears rolling down my cheeks, I told the cashier I couldn’t find my dad. She picked up the intercom and said, “Kristi’s dad is lost. Would he come to the register so she can find him.”

In just moments, dad appeared and all was well. I still remember the smile on his face and the way he wrapped his arms around me in a bear hug.

I know our heavenly Father experiences great joy when we are found.

“ Dishonest tax collectors and other notorious sinners often came to listen to Jesus’ sermons; 2 but this caused complaints from the Jewish religious leaders and the experts on Jewish law because he was associating with such despicable people—even eating with them!

3-4 So Jesus used this illustration: ‘If you had a hundred sheep and one of them strayed away and was lost in the wilderness, wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine others to go and search for the lost one until you found it? 5 And then you would joyfully carry it home on your shoulders. 6 When you arrived you would call together your friends and neighbors to rejoice with you because your lost sheep was found. 7 ‘Well, in the same way heaven will be happier over one lost sinner who returns to God than over ninety-nine others who haven’t strayed away!'” Luke 15:1-7 TLB

“The Son of Man came to find lost people and save them.” Luke 19:10 ERV

“ But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful. 9 But there is more! … 10 Even when we were God’s enemies, he made peace with us, because his Son died for us. Yet something even greater than friendship is ours. Now that we are at peace with God, we will be saved by the life of his Son.” Romans 5:8-10 CEV

We were all lost and Jesus went searching for us. He found us, picked us up, carried us home in His loving arms, presented us to His Father and then had a party!

We are invaluable to Christ. So priceless that He willing died to save us!

One of the gifts of Christmas is the lost becoming found and finding peace with God! It’s a gift that needs to be shared.

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