"Grace expresses two complementary thoughts: God's unmerited favor to us through Christ and God's divine assistance to us through the Holy Spirit." -
Jerry Bridges.
Jesus’ revelation was final. There is no new revelation. Folks, Jesus said don’t let anyone add anything to this book. If anyone will subtract or will add, let him be anathema, let him be a curse. Jude 3: Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you and exhort you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. Revelation 22: For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book. If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the book of life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.
There may be sins of which a man cannot speak, but there is no sin that the blood of Christ cannot wash away.
~C.H. Spurgeon~
According to the Old Testament Law, think how difficult it was to have your sins forgiven, but they were only covered. Jesus came and shed His blood for us so that our sins are completely forgiven––erased––forgotten.
I think of the story of Joseph in the Book of Genesis and the horrible things that Joseph suffered because his brothers betrayed him. At the time that he could have had them all executed, he instead forgave them and said, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive” (Genesis 50:20 NKJV).
To have faith is to live by faith, to live with Jesus alive in me.
There’s no safer position than to be desperate for Jesus to lead and rely on His guidance.
If you disagree with someone, that’s fine. But don’t be obnoxious; be nice. I’ve found that the greatest joys in life come from a relationship with God and from relationships with others. Also, some of the simplest joys in life are before us every day.
God has never promised to forgive a single sin that man is not willing to forsake.
~John Blanchard~
Some folks will “get it.”
Some folks will “know better.”
Neither opinion truly matters for it is not the critic who counts.
God desires to impart His power to the feeble. "He gives power to the weak." Those who are of the world cannot partake of this power, because they do not know the giver of this heavenly power. Sadly, many of God's own children do not receive this divine enabling, because they are unwilling to admit their weakness. Actually, the privileged place for receiving the Lord's empowerment is to confess that we have no might at all on our own.
Everyone needs counsel consistently. We all need to find valid guidance and direction through the opportunities and challenges of life. The Lord is to be our constant resource for such counsel. "This also comes from the LORD of hosts, who are wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance" (Isaiah 28:29). The counsel of the Lord is wonderful; it is excellent! In fact, when Messiah would come (Jesus, the Christ), one of His descriptive title names would be "Wonderful Counselor" (Isaiah 9:6). This wonderful counsel of God comes to us through the word of God. "Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors" (Psalm 119:24)
A true mark of spiritual maturity is taking our eyes off ourselves and thinking of others. As believers, we should be looking for ways to tell others about Jesus and “disciple” them.
I am a pilgrim in the world, but at home in my God. In the earth, I wander, but in God, I dwell in a quiet habitation.
~C.H. Spurgeon~
To love our neighbor (parent, sibling, friend), we need to forgive, just as God lovingly forgives us.
Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in God’s truth. Breathe out trust. The truth is that we don’t know what’s best for us. Sometimes what seems horrible and painful to us is what God is using to change us, grow us, and help us. Not everything is good, but we have to have faith that our God is good and will use everything for good.
As the sun can be seen only by its own light, so Christ can be known only by His own Spirit.
~Robert Leighton~
Do you realize you are a living testimony of God’s love for others? The Gospel of Jesus Christ dwells in you––in your earthen vessel. In prayer, wait on the Lord daily for His empowerment. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, you will become a living witness and testimony of the reality of Christ’s eternal existence. Those who do not know Christ will want what you have and seek to find Christ and receive Him as their Savior.
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