Tag Archives: Revelation 1:5

Re-Newing Or Just Re-viewing??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #778

16 Wednesday Feb 2022

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Cleansed from all sin, Let This Mind Be In You, Let You Light So Shine, Redeemed By HIS Blood, Renewing or Reviewing, SIN, Sin IS the issue, The blood of Jesus IS the only Way

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #778  Re-Newing Or Just Re-Viewing???

 

“I beseech you therefore, brethren,

by the mercies of God,

that ye present your bodies

a living sacrifice,

holy,

acceptable unto God,

which is your reasonable service.

2 And be not conformed to this world:

but be ye transformed

by the renewing of your mind,

that ye may prove

what is that good,

and acceptable,

and perfect,

will of God.”  Romans 12:1-2

I want to share a word of encouragement, warning and hope this morning; one I pray will help us “be” all that God is calling HIS own to “be” and will help us to consider what God is asking of us.  Not just what we “do”—which is important—but even more importantly–what we are to “be”!  For unless we have been changed by the power of the cross and the blood of Jesus, we aren’t HIS own nor can we “do” what God has called HIS own to “be” and “do”!  For ‘being’ must always precede the ‘doing’!  It may be the cause of much of our spiritual frustration.  (See Colossians 1:14)

“But now

in Christ Jesus

ye who sometimes were far off

are made nigh

by the blood of Christ.”   Ephesians 2:13

The author of Hebrews paints an amazing picture of what the “blood of Jesus” has done, will do and wants to ‘do’ in us as we draw near to the throne of God through the “blood of Jesus”!  And yes, the “blood” is what saves us, no matter how much it has been and is being discounted by many.

“Having therefore, brethren,

boldness to enter into the holiest

by the blood of Jesus,

20 By a new and living way,

which he hath consecrated for us,

through the veil,

that is to say,

his flesh;

21 And having an high priest

over the house of God;

22 Let us draw near

with a true heart

in full assurance of faith,

having our hearts sprinkled

from an evil conscience,

and our bodies washed

with pure water.

23 Let us hold fast

the profession of our faith

without wavering;

(for he is faithful that promised;)

24 And let us consider one another

 to provoke unto love

and to good works:

25 Not forsaking the assembling

of ourselves together,

as the manner of some is;

but exhorting one another:

and so much the more,

as ye see the day approaching.”   Hebrews 10:19-25

We can only enter that “holy place”—God’s presence—by Jesus’ blood, which was shed for us—for your sin and mine, and one of my favorite reminders from the book of The Revelation says it so clearly.

“And from Jesus Christ,

who is the faithful witness,

and the first begotten of the dead,

and the prince of the kings of the earth.

Unto him that loved us,

and washed us from our sins

in his own blood.”  Revelation 1:5

John reiterates this same truth 1 John.

“But if we walk in the light,

as he is in the light,

we have fellowship one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son

cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin,

we deceive ourselves,

and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just

to forgive us

our sins,

and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned,

we make him a liar,

and his word is not in us.”  1 John 1:7-10

WOW!  OUCH!  Sin is the issue for both the unbeliever who needs forgiveness unto salvation, and the believer who is to walk in obedience and holiness—being “in the light”!

And in closing, a most amazing passage that we ought to consider regularly to see if we are allowing God to “renew” our hearts and minds through His Word or are we just “reviewing” our own past wins and losses?  Whose mind is working in you and me?  Is my knee bowed before HIM, or is my nick “bowed” against Him? Renewing?  Reviewing?

“Let this mind

be in you,

which was also in Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in the form of God,

thought it not robbery

to be equal with God:

7 But made himself of no reputation,

and took upon him the form

of a servant,

and was made in the likeness

of men:

8 And being found in fashion as a man,

he humbled himself,

and became obedient

unto death,

even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also

hath highly exalted him,

and given him a name

which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus

every knee should bow,

of things in heaven,

and things in earth,

and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.”   Philippians 2:5-11

Amen and Amen!!!

Christmas Ponderings #3??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 18 No. 06

06 Monday Dec 2021

Posted by in Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, All Sufficient God!, Before the foundation of the world, Eternal Plan of God, Jesus Built A Bridge, Jesus Saves, Saved by Grace Through Faith

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 18 No. 06   Christmas Ponderings #3???

 

As we looked earlier at Joseph, the earthly father to Jesus, a builder—the carpenter–, we find that while Joseph was a builder of various objects for life in has day, objects that might last a lifetime, some longer, some not so long; but Jesus built a bridge with HIS life, death and resurrection—a bridge that delivers us from sin, death and hell and opens the way into God’s presence.  This babe who was born in a barn and put to bed in a manger (a feeding trough), visited by shepherds and wisemen became the means of salvation for all who will believe in HIS substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for salvation!

“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.”  Romans 5:1-6

We receive the “Holy Ghost” (or Holy Spirit) of God, the Spirit that HE shared with Adam and Eve before sin—the part of them that died because of sin—the part that Jesus restored at Calvary—for you and me:

“…the blood of Jesus Christ his Son

cleanseth us

from all sin…”.   1 John 1:7b

One of the things that amazes me, is that God had this plan in place before HE created us; HE knew we would fail, that Adam would sin, and yet HE “so loved the world”—you and me, every sinner ever born (and the two who were directly created by God’s own hand!)—that HE had already provided for our redemption (to buy us back) from this sin of ours, and the death and hell that it leads to if unchecked by the blood of Jesus.  Why would I say this?  Because God said it in HIS Word by more than one author, and as we prepare to celebrate (or like me just plain celebrate Jesus every day!) Jesus’ birth, we need to understand that HE wasn’t ‘plan B’—HE was always the exact plan!  Let’s consider some scriptures to see what we find.

“In the beginning

God created

the heaven and the earth.”  Genesis 1:1

“And I will put enmity

between thee and the woman,

and between thy seed and her seed;

it shall bruise thy head,

and thou shalt bruise his heel.”  Genesis 3:15

“And from Jesus Christ,

who is the faithful witness,

and the first begotten of the dead,

and the prince of the kings of the earth.

 Unto him that loved us,

and washed us from our sins

in his own blood,”  Revelation 1:5

Just as God “created” all things, (and remember the reference to “beginning”, means “our” beginning NOT God’s) HE knew that we would fail—that we would sin—yet HE had already prepared a plan to ‘buy us back out of sin, death and hell’, oh, praise HIS dear name.  Do you know Jesus?  Have you come in repentance and faith to the cross where HIS precious blood was spilled out for you and me?  This precious Lamb of God who, as John the Baptizer declared:

“Behold the Lamb of God,

which taketh away

the sin of the world.”  John 1:29b

And when was this plan established?  Not when we sinned, but before “the foundation of the world”!

“And it shall come to pass,

that whosoever shall call

on the name of the Lord

shall be saved.

22 Ye men of Israel,

hear these words;

Jesus of Nazareth,

a man approved of God among you

by miracles

and wonders

and signs,

which God did by him

in the midst of you,

as ye yourselves also know:

23 Him,

being delivered

by the determinate counsel

and foreknowledge

of God,

ye have taken,

and by wicked hands

have crucified

and slain:

24 Whom God hath raised up,

having loosed the pains of death:

because it was not possible

that he should be holden of it.”  Acts 2:21-24

The “determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God” tells us that God had already established the plan before Jesus came.  And even before that!

“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.

15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying,

This was he of whom I spake,

He that cometh after me

is preferred before me:

for he was before me.

16 And of his fulness

have all we received,

and grace for grace.

17 For the law was given by Moses,

but grace and truth

came by Jesus Christ.”  John 1:14-17

“In the beginning

was the Word,

and the Word

was with God,

and the Word

was God.

2 The same was

in the beginning

with God.

3 All things were made

by him;

and without him

was not any thing made

that was made.

4 In him was life;

and the life

was the light of men.”  John 1:1-4

Jesus, God the Son, was always God, always with God, and part of the very creation of all that we know!  Yet not only was Jesus before creation, but He was also the redeemer before “the beginning” all began.

“Father,

I will that they also,

whom thou hast given me,

be with me where I am;

that they may behold my glory,

which thou hast given me:

for thou lovedst me

before the foundation

of the world.”  John 17:24

Not only was Jesus “before the foundation of the world”, and we were in the heart and mind of God for salvation then as well.

“Blessed be the God and Father

of our Lord Jesus Christ,

who hath blessed us

with all spiritual blessings

in heavenly places

in Christ:

4 According as he hath chosen us

in him

before the foundation of the world,

that we should be holy

and without blame

before him in love:”  Ephesians 1:3-4

“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

So, as we consider the “incarnation” of the babe in the manger, the savior of the world, the creator of all things, may we be grateful and mindful that HE came for us, not as a second thought but because HE chose us and prepared for our salvation before the foundation of the world.  Thank you, LORD, —Father, Son and Holy Spirit—for loving me/us and preparing the sacrifice for my/our salvation.  May my/our life be a true reflection of your glory, in all things—before, during and after this Christmas celebration!!!

“Grace be to you

and peace from God the Father,

and from our Lord Jesus Christ,

4 Who gave himself for our sins,

that he might deliver us

from this present evil world,

according to the will of God

and our Father:

5 To whom be glory

for ever and ever.

Amen.” Galatians 1:3-5

“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.”   Titus 2:14

And the greatest celebration that we could have is to share the truth of Jesus’ eternal plan to save us unto Himself by grace through faith. May you truly know HIM.

“For by grace are ye saved

through faith;

and that not of yourselves:

it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works,

lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus

unto good works,

which God hath before ordained

that we should walk in them.”   Ephesians 2:8-10

May you find the hope that the “Babe” brought to all who will believe!  He came for you and me! Take heart my dear friends.  Jesus still saves and changes lives today!

Amen and Amen!!!

 

Living In My Season??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 17 No. 26

18 Monday Oct 2021

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, All About Jesus!, God Who Sees, God's Faithfulness, God's provision, Living In My Season, Running in my lane, Seasonal or Steadfast?

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 17 No. 26   Living In My Season???

 

“This is the day

which the LORD hath made;

we will rejoice

and be glad in it.”  Psalm 118:24

I am a ‘senior’ citizen, and while I can’t do, or go or produce like I once did, there are so many things that I can still do, and what I’d like to share today is that regardless of our season of life, we are called to “rejoice and be glad in it”!  But are we?  There are times when we can all be distracted by the “what if’s” and allow the enemy to steal our joy, by getting our attention onto the other person’s lane.  You remember the old saying, “The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence!”  And those of us who live in cattle country, whether we raise cattle or not, see those cows stretching their necks through the fence to get that “other” grass regardless of the grass that is in their own pasture.  The author of Hebrews deals with this very issue, let’s consider his counsel.

“Wherefore

seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside

every weight,

and the sin

which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run

with patience

the race that is set

before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus

the author

and finisher

of our faith;

who for the joy that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down

at the right hand

of the throne of God.”   Hebrews 12:1-2

I love this passage, yet it is so often misunderstood as our being ‘cheered on in a great stadium’, when, in reality, it is a conclusion of chapter 11—the great ‘Hall of Faith’ chapter—which paints the amazing picture of faith through the ages.  A passage revealing those in prosperous circumstances as well as those who endured distress, torture, and even death for their faith.  Yet they kept on keeping on regardless of the circumstances or season they were called to endure.

We can learn so much from this brief passage about the seasons of life, and how we are to respond; I would like to simply share some insight from this great passage. Firstly, we are called to consider and learn from the faith of those who have gone before us, both those in near proximity as well as those long gone, as Hebrews 11 pictures.  To do that we must delve into the Word of God to know our God and those who have left us great examples of faith, strength, and courage; those who set examples of how to “lay aside” the sins, weights of life, and challenges which confront each of us daily—sometimes moment by moment!  God reminds us that we don’t have to be “beset” or thrown off track by these things; and while sin is almost always an issue, we can overcome it by “Looking unto Jesus”!  And no matter our season of life, Jesus is ever sufficient to lead, guide and provide for us, for HE has “been to Calvary” for us; and because HE endured every attack of Satan, sin, and life—yet without sin!

“For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched

with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points tempted

like as we are,

yet without sin.”  Hebrews 4:15

“Without sin”!  As the Southern Gospel song proclaims, “Oh, What A Savior” (written by Marvin P Dalton), I am so glad that He “endured the cross” for you and me—and because of HIS sacrifice we can run “the race that is set before us” with confidence no matter the time, season, trial, or temptation!  He accomplished our victory at Calvary!  Oh, how grateful I am, that my past is under the blood—forgiven–, my present is perfectly in HIS hands, regardless of the season of life I am in, and my future is secure in HIS victory of salvation accomplished at Calvary!

As Paul described it so beautifully, the sacrifice of Jesus, for you and me (If you would, the Gospel in a nutshell, and combined with John 3:16-19, all we need to know about what Jesus did, does and will do for us!) is DONE:

“Moreover, brethren,

I declare unto you

the gospel which I preached

unto you,

which also ye have received,

and wherein ye stand;

2 By which also ye are saved,

if ye keep in memory

what I preached unto you,

unless ye have believed

in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you

first of all

that which I also received,

how that Christ died for our sins

according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried,

and that he rose again the third day

according to the scriptures:

5 And that he was seen of Cephas,

then of the twelve:”  1 Corinthians 15:1-5

His blood has bought and paid for my sin, and because I have come to HIM in repentance and faith, I can run this “race that is set before” me.  For you see, it is the race that Jesus has set before “ME”, and that HE has set before “YOU”—and while they are not in the same lane or course, the sufficiency isn’t yours or mine, but in the blood bought victory of Jesus Christ our Lord!  The Apostle John recorded it beautifully in the Revelation.

“And from Jesus Christ,

who is the faithful witness,       

and the first begotten of the dead,

and the prince of the kings of the earth.

Unto him

that loved us,

and washed us from our sins

in his own blood,”  Revelation 1:5

Oh, praise HIS dear name—He did it all for you and me!  And HIS work isn’t seasonal—it is full time–permanent, regardless of time, age, season, troubles, or successes!  He has bought and paid for the victory!  I’m so glad that Jesus knew, knows, and will always know what I need—what you need—and where my lane and yours is going.  Just think of it, Samuel was called as a young child, Daniel as a teenager (and both of these young people served God into their 80’s/90’s)!  Then there’s Moses who didn’t really get started with His greatest work until he was 80!  And Jesus our Lord’s work was finished (by God’s design) at some 33 years!

So, my friends, it doesn’t matter our “season” of life, or ministry, or work, or leisure, or any other limitations that we may think are on our life and service, God has set our race, and HE simply calls us to run it with grace, power, faith, and dependence upon HIS all-sufficient power, to just keep running!  He doesn’t call us to be as speedy as our neighbor or friend, HE simply calls us to be faithful with what HE has given to us to be and do!  My race isn’t yours, nor yours mine!  We are called to keep our eyes “looking unto Jesus” not anyone else’s lane!

“Moreover

it is required in stewards,

that a man be found faithful.”  1 Corinthians 4:2

And as faithful stewards we are given access to our Lord for every need.

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest,

that is passed into the heavens,

Jesus the Son of God,

let us hold fast our profession.

15 For we have not an high priest

which cannot be touched

with the feeling of our infirmities;

but was in all points

tempted like as we are,

yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore

come boldly unto the throne of grace,

that we may obtain mercy,

and find grace to help

in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:14-16

And if I may simply add that no matter what you are facing, no matter the season of life, trial, struggle, success, power, or weakness you are “running” with, remember that God has you, HE has your race, HE is in that lane with you.  Look up my friend, run to that “throne of grace”, and press on!  WE WIN!!!  Amen and Amen!!!