September 8 – A New Everything

 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)

In Christ Jesus each believer becomes a new creation and a child of God. We are more than friends of God for through adopted we are children of God. In Christ we become fellow heirs and fellow member of the body of believers. (Ephesians 3:6)  The two words ‘in Christ’, cover a brief but very profound statement of the immeasurable significance ⸺ that of the believer’s redemption. For this, the believer is accepted in Him (Christ) with whom God alone is well pleased. As believers our future assurance is in Him who is the resurrection to eternal life and the sole guarantor of our inheritance in heaven. As believers in Christ, we are granted participation in the divine nature of Christ, the everlasting Word (2 Peter 1:4). We are not divine but Christ is and in us shares His divine nature with us. We have been made new through new birth spiritually. We can with the help of Christ in us be done with the old ways of doing things and embrace our new spiritual perception. The powerful truth is that in Christ we now live for what is eternal and not the temporal things. 

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2 Corinthians, new, passed, come,

November 12 – Sovereign Over our Lives

  “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” – John 6:37 (ESV)

Some of the promises of God that we find in our Bible are difficult to understand. Why is this?  Mostly it is because the promise conflicts with our own reasoning. It just doesn’t fit the way we think things are or should be. Some think their reasoning supersedes God’s words. Those who believe the Bible to be God’s Word believe that everything the Bible says is true. Even historical accounts in the Bible are accurate. Today’s promise is one of those passages but it is wonderful to accept and believe, if we will by faith. Our verse sheds light on the sovereign will of God in the selection of those who come to Him for salvation. God the Father has predestined all those who would be saved. Based totally on the sovereignty of God, Jesus is absolutely confident in the success of His mission. The security of our salvation rests in the sovereignty of God’s will, because when God promises⸺it’s a guarantee. “All” He has chosen will come to Him for salvation. Whom the Father gives will come to the Son, Jesus Christ. We are a gift of the Father’s love; we are a love-gift to the Son.

 

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September 26 – Trading Weary for Rest

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” – Matthew 11:28 (NASB) 

Weary. Heavy-laden. Do not we all feel this way from time to time? in this passage. This is an open invitation from Jesus to all who hear—but expressed in such a way that the ones who will respond to the invitation are those who are burdened by their own effort of trying to be good enough to please God and “qualify” for heaven. The ‘rest’ that Jesus promises is rest from just that self-effort to be righteous enough through one’s own good works. Many will think and say “I’ve lived a pretty good life and I’m going to heaven.” A pretty good life will never be good enough. There is only one way any of us will find ourselves to be that good and that is through Jesus Christ who gives to us His righteousness. It is impossible for us to be good enough even though we’ve been better than pretty good. Jesus says, “Come to Me because I can give you rest from your weariness. I can lift that heavy burden off of you. And it is free.” He bought that rest for us when he was crucified without sinning and died for sinners⸺that’s us. 

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August 13 – A Place, A Return, A Gathering, Forever

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14:3 -   (NASB)

The Gospel of John give us an account of what Jesus said to His disciples at their observance of Passover Seder. We believe that Jesus' words in John 13-17 were spoken before they went out to the garden where Jesus was arrested.  Many promises were given at this time and much encouragement was offered because Jesus knew they would need it.  Judas was planning a betrayal for a bounty.  Peter was soon going to deny that he even knew Jesus and he was going to do it three times. Most of the rest would run for their lives and hide in fear. We believe the promises and encouragement are intended for all who have believed in Jesus as Savior and Lord.  Our verse today has four promises, or maybe we might say, four parts to one promise.  Jesus promises to prepare a place for us.  Jesus promises that He will come again.  Jesus promises that He will take us to Himself.  Jesus promises that we will be where Jesus is and that is for all eternity.  A place prepared, He comes again to gather His believers to have them with Him for the rest of time without end.  Let these promises be front and center today as we each attend to our responsibilities and duties.  

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