God has not just arbitrarily acted as though our sin never happened. That would violate His justness. The wages of sin had to be paid by death, and in due time Christ died for the ungodly (Romans 5:6).
When Christ mediated for mankind through His death, reconciliation with God became possible by faith. When Jesus fulfilled the law, He fulfilled it as a representative of mankind thus mediating as an equal representative of man and God.
Justification required debt satisfaction, and no man could nor ever will fulfill the law. Jesus did, and, because He died as a sinless Savior, He could mediate for all mankind having endured the suffering and wages of sin He did not deserve.
"God does not begin by asking us about our ability, but only about our availability, and if we then prove our dependability, He will increase our capability." — Neal A. Maxwell
The Lordship of Jesus makes disobedience unacceptable. Also, our Lord taught His early disciples to instruct all future disciples about obedience:
"Faith is not the belief that God will do what you want. It is the belief that God will do what is right." — Max Lucado
Our Lord Jesus wants His followers to live in obedience to His will: "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:20a). Our Lord is with us in every step of our pilgrimage, granting us His grace unto obedience.
"Faith is seeing light with your heart when all your eyes see is darkness." — Barbara Johnson
As servants of the new covenant of grace, the Lordship of Jesus is part of our message. "For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord" (2 Corinthians 4:5). The early church proclaimed Jesus as Lord. "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ…The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ-He is Lord of all… believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved…
"Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend." — Martin Luther King Jr.
When we placed our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, we were born again. We were made new in Christ. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). We received a new spiritual heart, as promised by the old. "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you" (Ezekiel 36:26).
We Americans are not that different than the woman in the village in Nepal. We also make regular offerings to our gods. How so? Go to any college football game, professional basketball game, Justin Bieber concert, art museum, or fashion show, and you will see all the ways we worship people, places, and things. Still not convinced? What occupies your thoughts and time?
No amount of spiritual posturing, religious rituals, or even ministry work can replace the raw humanity of a believer pouring his or her heart out to God. By allowing ourselves to be honest and genuine, we can let God take all that pain and sorrow.
Your identity is found in who God uniquely created you to be—His child.
“Joy is love exalted; peace is love in repose; long-suffering is love enduring; gentleness is love in society; goodness is love in action; faith is love on the battlefield; meekness is love in school; and temperance is love in training.” —Dwight L. Moody
The world offers a fleeting happiness that comes and goes. But God offers a happiness that will be there despite our circumstances. This happiness doesn’t come from what you have; it comes from who you know.
If you’re living your life without God, even if you have everything this world has to offer, it can be downright depressing. But with God, you wake up each morning knowing there are new opportunities to worship Him, to walk with Him, and to serve Him.
We can fear less tomorrow than we do today.
One of the most important teachings in the Bible is the warning that each of us must love our neighbor.
The effect we have on people around us is important. Our witness is greater than we think it is and we’re observed more than we are aware. Let’s preach the gospel of Jesus in our daily lives!
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