Tag Archives: John 1:12-14

Are You Re-Deemed??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 19 No. 06

03 Sunday Jul 2022

Posted by in A Father's Love, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Are you ready?, Choose You This Day!, Choosing Jesus or The World?, Redeemed By HIS Blood, Redemption Through HIS Blood

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 19 No. 06. Are You Re-Deemed???

Redeemed: to buy or payoff….to buy back, as from a pawn shop… to recover by payment or other satisfaction….to obtain the release or restoration of, as from captivity, by paying a ransom… Theologically:  to deliver from sin and its consequences by means of a sacrifice offered for the “sinner”. 

Deemed:  a set value, assumed or judged of value… 

Have you received the payment for sin that Jesus came to be, and IS?  We were ‘deemed’ valuable by God when He created us, we chose sin, but GOD “re-deemed” us through the blood of Jesus—HE bought us back!  All because HE deemed YOU/ME valuable enough to HIM to send Jesus to RE-deem all who will come to HIM through faith!!!

“Giving thanks

unto the Father,

which hath made us meet

to be partakers of the inheritance

of the saints

in light:

13 Who hath delivered us

from the power of darkness,

and hath translated us

into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

even the forgiveness of sins:”         Colossians 1:12-14

God created us (read Genesis 1-3), we chose to sin, and all died spiritually losing our intimacy with God.  We died, just as God told Adam he/we would (See Genesis 2:17), and while it was immediate ‘spiritual death’ the physical death was not immediate, but certain (See Hebrews 9:27).  Yet, praise God in His mercy and grace He had already provided a way of redemption—Jesus, His “only begotten Son”, who would pay for our sin—buy us back from the slavery of sin and death we had sold ourselves into.

It’s like we ‘sold the farm’ to Satan, and he holds the mortgage—Jesus paid that mortgage in full at Calvary for those who will come to Him in repentance from our sin and faith in HIS substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for SIN!  He’s paid off the mortgage, he has just not taken (or re-taken) possession of HIS world YET!  But HE’s on the way!  Has your debt been paid or are you still planning on paying your own debt?

“For all have sinned,

and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely

by his grace

through the redemption

that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth

to be a propitiation

through faith in his blood,

to declare his righteousness

for the remission of sins that are past,

through the forbearance of God;”  Romans 3:23-25

And the amazing picture Paul painted as he continued his letter to the Romans:

“For the wages of sin

is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 6:23

I love this picture—the picture of sinners falling prostrate before The Holy God–Father, Son, and Holy Ghost–for the mercy that can forgive sin—pay the debt we owed–receiving HIS grace, mercy, and forgiveness of our sin; and receiving the “righteousness” which only God can impart, to every repentant, believing sinner.  It is what the word “propitiation” means—meeting God at the “mercy seat” with a proper sacrifice!  And Jesus, my friend, IS the proper, appointed, and perfect sacrifice which will save, deliver, and REDEEM you and me from our sin.

“For he hath made him to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made the righteousness of God

in him.”  2 Corinthians 5:21

And just when did God come up with this plan?  Scripture tells us!

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed

with corruptible things,

as silver and gold,

from your vain conversation

received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ,

as of a lamb without blemish

and without spot:

20 Who verily was foreordained

before the foundation of the world,

but was manifest in these last times

for you,

21 Who by him do believe in God,

that raised him up from the dead,

and gave him glory;

that your faith and hope

might be in God.”  1 Peter 1:18-21

Before He created us, God knew we’d blow it—yet HE created us any way, knowing it would cost Jesus HIS life’s blood for all who would believe and receive HIS RE-deeming grace, even as John records in his gospel:

“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:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

 but of God.

14 And the Word was made flesh,

and dwelt among us,

(and we beheld his glory,

the glory as of the only begotten

of the Father,)

full of grace and truth.”  John 1:12-14

Just in case you’re still not sure about being “re-deemed”, bought back from the brink of death by the “buying back” of our soul by the Savior; then let us consider the picture that Paul paints of the most profound transaction, if you would, of grace and love in all of scripture!  I pray that it will reach to the depths of your/my soul and draw us nearer to the Savior in gratitude and love—either in restoration if you have drawn away from your Redeemer, in a deeper intimacy with HIM, or in salvation if you don’t know Jesus.  I invite you to join me and ponder this message of the beauty and truth of this REDEEMER who gave Himself for all who will believe and receive Jesus!

“Therefore being justified by faith,

we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith

into this grace

wherein we stand,

and rejoice in hope

of the glory of God.

3 And not only so,

but we glory in tribulations also:

knowing that tribulation

worketh patience;

4 And patience,

experience;

and experience,

hope:

5 And hope

maketh not ashamed;

because the love of God

is shed abroad in our hearts

by the Holy Ghost

which is given unto us.

6 For when we were yet without strength,

in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man

will one die:

yet peradventure for a good man

some would even dare to die.

8 But God commendeth his love toward us,

in that, while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.

9 Much more then,

being now justified

by his blood,

we shall be saved

from wrath through him.

10 For if, when we were enemies,

we were reconciled to God

by the death of his Son,

much more,

being reconciled,

we shall be saved by his life.

11 And not only so,

but we also joy in God

through our Lord Jesus Christ,

by whom we have now received

the atonement.”  Romans 5:1-11

And if you you don’t know the One who made “the atonement” for you, who loves you more than anyone else ever could, please know that He is waiting for you now!

“Behold, I stand at the door,

and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.”  Revelation 3:20

Amen and Amen!!!

To Know HIM More Today??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No. 22

14 Sunday Jul 2019

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Born Again, King Jesus, Take Up YOUR Cross

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No. 22     To Know HIM More Today???

 

We heard a good message this morning about our Good King!  Jesus, The King of Glory!  Oh, how blessed we are to know Him, to be His, to be privileged to share the “Good News’ of the salvation that our ‘Good King’ has provided through our Lord Jesus Christ—The very Son of God—our ‘Good King’!  And it’s HIM that we want to focus on today.

“Lift up your heads,

O ye gates;

and be ye lift up,

ye everlasting doors;

and the King of glory

shall come in.

8 Who is this King of glory?

The LORD strong and mighty,

the LORD mighty in battle.

9 Lift up your heads,

 O ye gates;

even lift them up,

ye everlasting doors;

and the King of glory

shall come in.

10 Who is this King of glory?

The LORD of hosts,

he is the King of glory. Selah.”  Psalm 24:7-10

And Jesus IS His name—He came through those ‘gates’ once in human flesh and blood!  He lived a perfect life, gave His life to die as the perfect Lamb of God, rose from the dead on the third day, and HE IS coming back again, to walk through those ‘gates’ again.  Do you know HIM?

“My sheep hear my voice,

and I know them,

and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them

eternal life;

and they shall never perish,

neither shall any man pluck them

out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me,

is greater than all;

and no man is able

to pluck them

out of my Father’s hand.

30 I and my Father are one.”   John 10:27-30

Jesus was, is and ever shall be “one” with The Father!  And because HE IS God, His sacrifice was the ultimate, perfect sacrifice that provides salvation for all who will come to Him in repentance and faith!

“And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people

from their sins.” Matthew 1:21

Jesus came—and oh how glad I am that He did; and because He did, we can have new life in Him, now and into eternity.

“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:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.

14 And the Word was made flesh,

and dwelt among us,

 (and we beheld his glory,

the glory as of the only begotten

 of the Father,)

full of grace and truth.”   John 1:12-14

When we come to Jesus, He gives us His Holy Spirit to dwell within and to provide all that we need to live a life of godliness.

“Grace and peace be multiplied

unto you

through the knowledge of God,

and of Jesus our Lord,

3 According as his divine power

hath given unto us all things

that pertain unto life

and godliness,

through the knowledge

of him that hath called us

to glory

and virtue:

4 Whereby are given unto us

exceeding great and precious promises:

that by these

 ye might be partakers

of the divine nature,

having escaped the corruption

that is in the world through lust.”    2 Peter 1:2-4

But, not only do we have all we need for “life and godliness”, we have a Lord and Savior who is coming again to establish His Kingdom on this earth—and I believe HE is coming soon!  Are you ready?

“Let not your heart be troubled:

ye believe in God,

believe also in me.

2 In my Father’s house

are many mansions:

if it were not so,

I would have told you.

I go to prepare a place

for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place

for you,

I will come again,

and receive you

unto myself;

that where I am,

there ye may be also.

4 And whither I go

ye know,

and the way

ye know.

5 Thomas saith unto him,

Lord, we know not whither

thou goest;

and how can we know

the way?

6 Jesus saith unto him,

I am the way,

the truth,

and the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”   John 14:1-6

Jesus is the only way to God, and we can not only be known of Him, but we can draw nearer and nearer to Him, and come to know Him more and more.  That is to be the pursuit of our lives—to know Him more each day.  To grow in intimate relationship and fellowship with Him! Paul paints a wonderful picture of this relationship that we are pursuing.

“But what things were gain to me,

those I counted loss

for Christ.

8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss

for the excellency

of the knowledge of Christ Jesus

my Lord:

for whom I have suffered

the loss of all things,

and do count them but dung,

that I may win Christ,

9 And be found in him,

not having mine own righteousness,

which is of the law,

but that which is through the faith

of Christ,

the righteousness

which is of God

by faith:

10 That I may know him,

and the power of his resurrection,

and the fellowship of his sufferings,

being made conformable unto his death;

            11 If by any means I might attain

unto the resurrection of the dead.

12 Not as though I had already attained,

either were already perfect:

but I follow after,

if that I may apprehend that

for which also I am apprehended

of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended:

but this one thing I do,

forgetting those things

which are behind,

and reaching forth unto those things

which are before,

14 I press toward the mark

for the prize

of the high calling of God

in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:7-14

I’d like us to simply take a walk through this message, my paraphrase, if you will.  With Paul may we:

Measure life with Jesus ruler—

See all as rubbish, compared to Knowing Jesus—

Want to KNOW Jesus more than anything else—

Suffering for Jesus is less than HIS suffering for us—

Victory is in HIS righteousness imparted to us—

To KNOW Him more—is to be conformed to HIS image—

I haven’t arrived, but as I walk with Jesus, I will—

To ‘arrive’, I must

 Forget the past—

 Pursue what is ahead—

 Press toward the God’s ‘mark’—

 Seek His prize—JESUS IS the prize!

Simply said, but not easily done—but it is doable as we follow our Lord in all things—giving up self to seek the Savior!  This picture pricks my heart, every time I read it! It calls me to draw near to God and seek HIS face, and not my own ways.  Oft times that is difficult with all the busyness around us; but we must choose the things of “the Spirit” rather than the things of the flesh.  As Paul said so clearly:

“That I may know him,

and the power of his resurrection,

and the fellowship of his sufferings,

being made conformable

unto his death”

And as Paul told the Galatians and us there is only one way to be “made conformable unto his death”, and that is to “die” to self, even as our Lord called us to do!

“I am crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me:

and the life which I now live

in the flesh

I live by the faith

of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself for me.”   Galatians 2:20

Jesus calls it ‘denying self…taking up our cross…and following Jesus’ (And ‘taking up’ your cross  doesn’t mean enduring your daily trails, but it means that I die to self, every day, living unto Jesus—by His power, provision and the presence of HIS Holy Spirit within us!).  Just as Jesus died to give us life, we must die to self, allowing HIS life to be seen through us!!!

“Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things,

and be rejected

of the elders

and chief priests

and scribes,

and be slain,

and be raised the third day.

23 And he said to them all,

If any man will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross daily,

and follow me.

24 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

but whosoever will lose his life

for my sake,

the same shall save it.

25 For what is a man advantaged,

if he gain the whole world,

and lose himself,

or be cast away?”  Luke 9:23

I pray that you will join me in “coming after” Jesus!  And the only way that we can live for HIM, is to die to my flesh.

“This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh…

….25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory,

provoking one another,

envying one another.” Galatians 5:16 & 25-26

Will you draw near to Him today? I pray that you know Him and will yield to His work in and through you.  If you don’t know Him, I invite you to call upon this same Jesus who gave Himself for YOU—in His own words:

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,

even so must the Son of man

be lifted up:

15 That whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have eternal life.

16 For God so loved the world,

that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him

should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son

into the world

to condemn the world;

but that the world

through him

might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him

is not condemned:

but he that believeth not

is condemned already,

because he hath not believed

in the name

of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation,

that light is come into the world,

and men loved darkness

rather than light,

because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil

hateth the light,

neither cometh

to the light,

lest his deeds should be reproved.

21 But he that doeth truth

cometh to the light,

that his deeds may be made manifest,

that they are wrought in God.”   John 3:14-21

Won’t you seek to know Him more today?  I pray that you will join me as we:

“press toward the mark

for the prize

of the high calling of God

in Christ Jesus”!

Amen and Amen!

 

 

 

Confident Or Cocky??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 12 No. 26

10 Sunday Feb 2019

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, Choose You This Day!, Confident Or Cocky?, Follow Jesus, Gospel

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 12 No.26 Confident Or Cocky???

 

It is important that as believers, we exhibit our confidence before a lost and dying world, yet never with arrogance.  We can have absolute confidence in our Lord, yet we must be on guard against a cocky attitude of heart.

“Being confident

of this very thing,

that he

which hath begun a good work

in you

will perform it

until the day of Jesus Christ:”     Philippians 1:6

You see, our confidence is in Jesus, our Lord and Savior, not in ourselves.  There is no place for arrogance, self-righteousness, or selfish pride!  The only thing that we have to be proud of is our LORD—oh how I cling to HIS cross and remember that HE has given me immeasurably more than I could ever earn or deserve. He “giveth more grace” for each day—it’s all about HIM not me—for “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us”!

“For the grace of God

that bringeth salvation

hath appeared to all men,

12 Teaching us that,

denying ungodliness

and worldly lusts,

we should live soberly,

righteously,

and godly,

in this present world;

13 Looking for that blessed hope,

and the glorious appearing

of the great God and our Saviour

Jesus Christ;

14 Who gave himself for us,

that he might redeem us

from all iniquity,

and purify unto himself

a peculiar people,

 zealous of good works.

15 These things speak,

and exhort,

and rebuke

with all authority.

Let no man despise thee.

3:1 Put them in mind

to be subject to principalities and powers,

to obey magistrates,

to be ready to every good work,

2 To speak evil of no man,

to be no brawlers,

but gentle,

shewing all meekness

unto all men.

 3 For we ourselves also

were sometimes foolish,

disobedient,

deceived,

serving divers

lusts

and pleasures,

living in malice

and envy,

hateful,

and hating one another.

4 But after that the kindness

and love

of God our Saviour

toward man appeared,

5 Not by works of righteousness

which we have done,

but according to his mercy

he saved us,

by the washing of regeneration,

and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

6 Which he shed on us

abundantly

through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

7 That being justified by his grace,

we should be made heirs

according to the hope

of eternal life.”  Titus 2:11-3:7

Because God “so loved the world that HE gave”—we can have life, new life in Christ Jesus!  We must never forget that it is of God’s mercy that we are saved.  Even as Jeremiah wrote, after the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians, knowing his confidence was anchored in his God, not himself!  After all, it was God who had warned them for some 40 years to repent, with very little response to Jeremiah’s message!

“This I recall to my mind,

therefore have I hope.

22 It is of the LORD’S mercies

that we are not consumed,

because his compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning:

great is thy faithfulness.

24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul;

therefore will I hope in him.

25 The LORD is good unto them

that wait for him,

to the soul that seeketh him.”    Lamentations 3:21-25

There was also a contemporary of Jeremiah’s latter years, who received a message from God for those who would respond—and that message is as true for us today as it was those thousands of years ago.  Have you responded to God’s call?  Have you humbled yourself before Him, and come to know God through His son Jesus?

“And such as do wickedly against the covenant

shall he corrupt by flatteries:

but the people that do know their God

shall be strong,

and do exploits.”  Daniel 11:32

“And they that be wise

shall shine as the brightness

of the firmament;

and they that turn many to righteousness

as the stars for ever and ever.”  Daniel 12:3

But how can we know God and turn others to righteousness?  There is only ‘One Way’, Jesus, and seeking Him through His Word and through prayer.  And when we draw near to God, and depend upon His grace and power, we can learn to recognize the opportunities that He gives us to share the gospel of the cross.  Even as He gave to Paul, who testified of his total reliance on Jesus blood, and the truth of the “crucified” and risen Lord Jesus!

“And I, brethren,

when I came to you,

came not

with excellency of speech

or of wisdom,

declaring unto you the testimony

of God.

2 For I determined not to know any thing

among you,

save Jesus Christ,

and him crucified.

3 And I was with you

in weakness,

and in fear,

and in much trembling.

4 And my speech

and my preaching

was not with enticing words

of man’s wisdom,

but in demonstration

of the Spirit

and of power:

5 That your faith should not stand

in the wisdom of men,

but in the power of God.”    1 Corinthians 2:1-5

As John shared in his gospel account.

“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:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.

14 And the Word was made flesh,

and dwelt among us,

(and we beheld his glory,

the glory as of the only begotten

of the Father,)

full of grace and truth.”   John 1:12-14

So, as we consider the choices that lay before us this week—may we approach them with humble confidence, yet with boldness as we speak the truth of the Gospel; not swelling with pride and arrogance, or lording it over those we encounter, as if we were better than they, but humbly sharing the truth of the cross.  May we join with Paul in recognizing our own sin and weakness, and follow the Lord  Jesus who calls us—to take up our cross (which means that we are to die to self and live to Him) as we follow Him; yet even that is done by God, His Holy Spirit whom He has given to dwell within every believer, and through His power—that it may of Christ alone.

“I am crucified

with Christ:

nevertheless I live;

yet not I,

but Christ

liveth in me:

and the life which I now live

in the flesh

I live by the faith

of the Son of God,

who loved me,

and gave himself

for me.”  Galatians 2:20

Jesus summed it up in John 15.

“Abide in me,

and I in you.

As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself,

except it abide in the vine;

no more can ye,

except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine,

ye are the branches:

He that abideth in me,

and I in him,

the same bringeth forth

much fruit:

for without me

ye can do nothing.”  John 15:4-5

So, remember that while “I can do all things through Christ”, it is only because “Christ liveth in me”!  Confident in HIS love, grace and power—never being cocky in my own power!

“Pride goeth before destruction,

and an haughty spirit

before a fall.” Proverbs 16:18

“Humble yourselves

in the sight of the Lord,

and he shall lift you up.”  James 4:10

Praise Him today!

“Great is the LORD,

and greatly to be praised;

and his greatness

is unsearchable.”  Psalm 145:3

Amen and Amen!