Tag Archives: Romans 3:23

Christmas Ponderings!!! #1 Bible Ballistics: BBs #767

01 Wednesday Dec 2021

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Christmas, Christmas IS?, Christmas Ponderings

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #767   Christmas Ponderings!!! #1

 

As we are entering the month of December, I would like to spend this month considering Jesus, His birth, His impact and just some things that have been on my heart and mind of late.  May we spend this time together focusing on The Lord Jesus and what HIS incarnation means to those who are believers as well as to a lost and dying world who needs HIS truly amazing grace, mercy, and love.  But are we making a difference and reflecting HIS glory?  We need to!

God’s love was expressed in Jesus’ birth, His life and His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin which provides eternal life to all who will believe!  I’d like to start this series by looking at the shepherds.  Why were they chosen to receive the news of The Messiah’s birth; I have a few simple thoughts on the subject, and I believe they call us to consider how great a gift The Father gave as HE “gave His only begotten Son”!  God sent The Son, Jesus, using two simple people of faith to be the parents of this precious Son of God, Messiah, Redeemer, and soon coming King. Yet what the messenger told Joseph was not just about His titles, but JESUS’ purpose.

“But while he thought on these things,

behold, the angel of the Lord appeared

unto him in a dream, saying,

Joseph, thou son of David,

fear not to take unto thee Mary

thy wife:

for that which is conceived

in her is of the Holy Ghost.

21 And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people

from their sins.

22 Now all this was done,

that it might be fulfilled which was spoken

of the Lord by the prophet, saying,

23 Behold, a virgin

shall be with child,

and shall bring forth a son,

and they shall call his name

Emmanuel,

which being interpreted is,

God with us.”  Matthew 1:20-23

A Son, who is, “God with us”—The “ONE” way to The Father (see John 14:6), yet also, as John the Baptizer declared HE was/is and ever shall be “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”  To be that “ONE” way, it would cost His life’s blood on a cruel cross as the sacrificial Lamb!!!  I can’t help but think that is one of the reasons that God chose humble shepherds—some of the lowliest of people of their day—to receive the news of the “newborn KING”—a king born in a barn and laid in a manger—a feeding trough! Jesus our LORD!

“And there were in the same country shepherds

abiding in the field,

keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord

came upon them,

and the glory of the Lord

shone round about them:

and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not:

for, behold, I bring you good tidings

of great joy,

which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day

in the city of David

a Saviour,

which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you;

Ye shall find the babe

wrapped in swaddling clothes,

lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel

a multitude of the heavenly host

praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth

peace,

good will

toward men.

15 And it came to pass,

as the angels were gone away

from them

 into heaven,

the shepherds said one to another,

Let us now go even unto Bethlehem,

and see this thing

which is come to pass,

which the Lord hath made known

unto us.

16 And they came with haste,

and found Mary,

and Joseph,

and the babe

lying in a manger.

17 And when they had seen it,

they made known abroad the saying

 which was told them

concerning this child.”  Luke 2:8-17

Simple men of faith received an amazing, unbelievable message from God, via the angels, and not only believed what they heard, but believed it enough to get up, leave their sheep, and go to see the object of this heavenly message. Then they shared the good news with others and left the convincing up to God!  I can’t help but think that God was telling them so much more than that a “baby had been born” but that a “LAMB” had arrived to be the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for all who would believe.  As THE Lamb, that John identified clearly.

“The next day John seeth Jesus

coming unto him, and saith,

Behold the Lamb of God,

which taketh away

the sin of the world.

30 This is he of whom I said,

After me cometh a man

which is preferred before me:

for he was before me.

31 And I knew him not:

but that he should be made manifest

to Israel,

therefore am I come

baptizing with water…

…. 36 And looking upon Jesus

as he walked,

he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

37 And the two disciples heard him speak,

and they followed Jesus.”  John 1:29-31

This humble, man of the wilderness came obeying God and preaching a message that appealed to some, offended others, and puzzled most—much like the response to believers who want to share the message of Jesus’ saving grace today.  But we must remember in this time of celebrating the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ—the very Lamb of God who “taketh away the sin of the world”– that there is “nothing new under the sun” (see Ecclesiastes 1:9)!  We must remember that every person has the choice to receive HIM in repentance and faith or reject HIM and go their own way; in other words, we can accept by faith through grace the payment of sin that Jesus made at Calvary!  Or we can reject Jesus’ saving work of salvation, go our own way, and pay for our own sin.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:

for it is the power of God

unto salvation

to every one that believeth;

to the Jew first,

and also to the Greek.

17 For therein is the righteousness of God

revealed

from faith

to faith:

as it is written,

The just shall live by faith.”   Romans 1:17-18

“For all have sinned,

 and come short

of the glory of God;”  Romans 3:23

“For the wages of sin

is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ

our Lord.”  Romans 6:23

It’s your choice, but choose wisely, there is a test.  So, please use this time of celebrating Jesus’ birth to “consider your ways” (See Haggai 1:5 & 7) and make sure that you are right with God; what the world thinks won’t matter when you stand before God (See Revelation 20:11-15)!  My prayer is that you will find HIM faithful and give your all to HIM!  He has never failed me—ever!  Blessings on you and yours!

Amen and Amen!!!

 

Making Worship For Me Or GOD? Bible Ballistics: BBs #737

23 Wednesday Jun 2021

Posted by in All About Jesus!, All Sufficient God!, Amazing Grace, Are You Ready, Faithful is He that has Promised!, Faithfulness, False Lives, Holiness, Holy Living, Holy Spirit, Repentance, REvival, Righteousness, Salt & Light, Salvation

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #737. Making Worship For Me Or GOD?

 

I may lose some of you today, but I must share the burden on my heart.  I am so grieved with the worldly things that are called ‘worship’ today; there was a time when holy things came out of the church to the world, but it seems to me, that many times now and in many places, the world has been invited into the ‘church’ to attract a crowd!  Let’s draw a crowd is the new “mantra” of the church in many ways, rather than lifting up Jesus, and calling people to repentance and faith, then “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you”!  (See Matthew 28:19-20). We spend way more time teaching people “books about The Word”, if we teach them anything, rather than teaching them “The Word of God” and how to apply it.

“Jesus answered and said unto him,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born again,

he cannot see

the kingdom of God…

… 5 Jesus answered,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born of water

and of the Spirit,

he cannot enter into

the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh

is flesh;

and that which is born of the Spirit

is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee,

Ye must be born again…

…14  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.”   Portions of John 3:3-15

As Jesus told the crowds shortly before His death—for HE knew HE would give HIS life for our salvation– HIS CROSS was, is and ever shall be the only way to God.  Jesus gave HIS life for yours/mine; knowingly, willingly, lovingly—yet we think we can come with our pretty words and claim HIS salvation without cost! Yes, salvation is the “gift of God”, but we can’t hold on to our way and cling to the cross at the same time!

“And I,

if I be lifted up from the earth,

will draw all men unto me.

33 This he said,

signifying what death he should die.”   John 12:32-33

Jesus had a lot to say about the “cost” of following HIM; but we seem to have neglected that part of Jesus’ message.

“I tell you, Nay:

but, except ye repent,

ye shall all likewise perish…

… 5 I tell you, Nay:

but, except ye repent,

ye shall all likewise perish.” Luke 13:3 & 5

Repent means to make a 180-degree turn, from my sin into the arms of Jesus, trusting in His substitutionary (in my place), atoning (making up for wrong), sacrifice (payment for my sin)!  And there’s even more!

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples,

If

any man

 will come after me,

let him deny himself,

and take up his cross,

and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life

for my sake

shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

or what shall a man give

in exchange

for his soul?”  Matthew 16:24-26

Yet the popular “t-shirt” philosophy of the day rules with total disregard for what Jesus said, I’ve seen several of late and it grieves my heart!  You fill in the blank, “I love Jesus, BUT_____”: I drink a little, I cuss a little, I fornicate a little, I lie a little, I steal a little, I disobey God a little (a lot really!)!  What kind of transformed life is this?  Jesus made it clear.

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”    John 14:15

We have so compromised the message of Jesus, that we have a culture—a church—which believes and preaches the love of God apart from the holiness of God; or that God calls those who come to HIM to take up their own cross, denying themselves to follow Jesus—not in our own power but in the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.  And my friend, if you don’t have the indwelling Holy Spirit, you DON’T have Jesus! Ouch!  Hard but true according to GOD’s WORD!

“But ye are not in the flesh,

but in the Spirit,

if so be that the Spirit of God

dwell in you.

Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ,

he is none of his.

10 And if Christ be in you,

the body is dead because of sin;

but the Spirit is life

because of righteousness.

11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus

from the dead

dwell in you,

he that raised up Christ

from the dead

shall also quicken your mortal bodies

by his Spirit

that dwelleth in you.”  Romans 8:9-11

Paul also goes on in Romans 12 to call us to a holy walk, a holy life before God and the world.

“11:36 For of him,

and through him,

and to him,

are all things:

to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

12:1 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.

3 For I say, through the grace given unto me,

to every man that is among you,

not to think of himself more highly

than he ought to think;

but to think soberly,

according as God

hath dealt to every man

 the measure of faith.”   Romans 12:1-3

What are you thinking?  Who are you seeking?  God, others or simply self?  We seem to have made the message, the music and the ministry of the ‘Church’ about gratifying the flesh rather than calling men to repent and asking God to send real heaven-sent, Holy Ghost “RE”vival!  When our music makes people want to do the ‘boogaloo’ dance instead of breaking our hearts for our sin and neglect of our Lord, and falling down before God Almighty, what do we expect?  Well, if you’ll pardon my ‘French’, I think we have gotten exactly what we’ve asked for: crowds with no conviction—people with no power—followers with no fire!  Oh, precious Lord, please send the convicting power of YOUR HOLY SPIRIT upon our hearts, that our churches may fall down before you in repentance, restoration and renewal to the Bible and The CROSS!  “There Is Power In The Blood” (written by Lewis E. Jones) and nowhere else.  May we truly sing “Revive Us Again” (written by Willian Mackay), and not “I’m Satisfied With ME” (instead of asking “Is my Savior satisfied with me?” from “I Am Satisfied With Jesus”, Written by B.B McKinney).

“If I regard iniquity in my heart,

the Lord will not hear me:”  Psalm 66:18

James made it very clear that we will give an account.  So, those of us who claim the name of Jesus, and especially those of us in positions of leadership, I pray that we fall down before our God and ask HIS forgiveness as we repent and humbly seek HIS face!  May we truly take James’ advice and humble ourselves “in the sight of the Lord” asking that HE “shall lift you up”!  Oh, Jesus may it ever be so—today!

“From whence come wars and fightings

among you?

come they not hence,

even of your lusts

that war in your members?

2 Ye lust,

and have not:

ye kill,

and desire to have,

and cannot obtain:

ye fight and war,

yet ye have not,

because ye ask not.

3 Ye ask,

and receive not,

because ye ask amiss,

that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses,

know ye not

that the friendship of the world

is enmity with God?

whosoever therefore

will be a friend of the world

is the enemy of God.

5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain,

The spirit that dwelleth in us

lusteth to envy?

6 But he giveth more grace.

Wherefore he saith,

God resisteth the proud,

but giveth grace unto the humble.

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God.

Resist the devil,

and he will flee from you.

8 Draw nigh to God,

and he will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands,

ye sinners;

and purify your hearts,

ye double minded.

9 Be afflicted,

and mourn,

and weep:

let your laughter

be turned to mourning,

and your joy

to heaviness.

10 Humble yourselves

in the sight of the Lord,

and he shall lift you up.”  James 4:1-10

May we not be like Cain, bringing the fruit of our own hands, expecting to please God doing “our own thing”, building on the sand and not the “Rock”! Jesus still saves lives today!

“For all have sinned,

and come short of the glory of God;”   Romans 3:23

“For the wages of sin

is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”   Romans 6:23

Please Lord, have mercy on us today.  Amen and Amen!!!

He’s Alive!!! Are You??? Bible Ballistics: BBs #719

05 Monday Apr 2021

Posted by in Abundant Life In Jesus, All About Jesus!, Almost But Lost, Amazing Grace, Are You Ready, Know Whom I Believe, Lies That Defeat Us, Listening To God, Salvation

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #719  He’s Alive!!!  Are You???

 

“And you hath he quickened,

who were dead

in trespasses

and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked

according to the course

of this world,

according to the prince

of the power of the air,

the spirit that now worketh

in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation

in times past

in the lusts of our flesh,

fulfilling the desires of the flesh

and of the mind;

and were by nature

the children of wrath,

even as others. 4

But God,

who is rich in mercy,

for his great love

wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins,

hath quickened us

together with Christ,

(by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together,

and made us sit together

in heavenly places

in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come

he might shew the exceeding riches

of his grace

in his kindness

toward us

through Christ Jesus.”  Ephesians 2:1-7

God’s amazing grace brings life to the “dead in sins”, and Paul reminds us that we are all born in sin, as well as the fact that we choose to sin!  “But God” loved us so much that He sent Jesus to give us life—that’s what “quicken” means—to give life to those “dead in trespasses and sins”; and because Jesus was raised from the dead, we too can be raised to “walk in newness of life”!

“Therefore we are buried with him

by baptism

into death:

that like as Christ was raised up

from the dead

by the glory of the Father,

even so we also

should walk in newness of life.

5 For if we have been planted together

in the likeness of his death,

we shall be also

in the likeness of his resurrection:”   Romans 6:4-5

I would encourage you to read all of Romans 6 to get a real picture of the life victorious over sin and death that Jesus will grant to those who come to HIM in repentance and faith. It’s the crucified life—I choose to follow The Christ who died for me, receiving HIS life and living by HIS power and grace through His Holy Spirit dwelling within me!

“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

So, my simple question for us today is this:  Have you been crucified with Christ?  Has the Holy Spirit confronted you with your sin?  Have you heard the voice of Jesus calling you to repent and believe in His substitutionary (in your place), atoning (paying your cost), sacrifice (being the very payment for sin by HIS precious blood)?

“For all have sinned,

and come short

of the glory of God;”  Romans 3:23

That means you and me!  But God didn’t stop there—praise be to HIS name!

“For the wages of sin

is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”   Romans 6:23

So, in conclusion, I pray that the words of Jesus HIMSELF will speak to your heart and cause you to examine yourself and see if you have “resurrection life” from THE ONE who can give you eternal life, if you will but hear and receive, because HE IS ALIVE!

“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

God is waiting for you today—don’t put it off!

“Then Agrippa said unto Paul,

Almost thou persuadest me

to be a Christian.”  Acts 26:28

I implore you, don’t be like Agrippa and the old gospel hymn, “almost–but lost”!  (From Almost Persuaded, by Philip Bliss).  Won’t you come to Jesus today.

“How shall we escape,

if we neglect so great salvation…”  Hebrews 2:3a

Don’t let the enemy of your soul lie to you and cause you to miss Jesus and the LIFE that He gives!  Choose LIFE!

“I am the door:

by me if any man enter in,

he shall be saved,

and shall go in and out,

and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not,

but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:

I am come that they might have life,

and that they might have it

more abundantly.”  John 10:9-10

Amen and Amen!!!

How Good Is Your Goodness??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 15 No. 01

02 Monday Mar 2020

Posted by in A Father's Love, Believe IN Jesus, Faith, Repentance, Salvation

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 15 No. 01  How Good Is Your Goodness???

 

I would like to share a brief word this morning (for I usually write this ‘Sunday’ post on Sunday evening, and that just didn’t happen yesterday, so I’ll hop on this Monday morning wagon!) that I pray will help us all to remember that I can never be “good” enough to save myself or attain to God’s standard.

“This then is the message

which we have heard

of him,

and declare

unto you,

that God is light,

and in him is no darkness at all.

6 If we say that we have fellowship with him,

and walk in darkness,

we lie,

and do not the truth:

7 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.”  1 John 1:5-8

We can never be ‘good enough’ to meet God’s standard, for until we recognize that truth, we will never see our need for a Redeemer and Savior!

“What then?

are we better than they?

No,

in no wise:

for we have before proved

both Jews

and Gentiles,

that they are all under sin;

10 As it is written,

There is none righteous,

 no,

not one:

11 There is none that understandeth,

there is none that seeketh after God.

12 They are all gone out of the way,

they are together become unprofitable;

there is none that doeth good,

no,

not one.”  Romans 3:9-12

Even as Paul told the Corinthians, it was, is and ever shall be Jesus’ righteousness which is imparted to those who come to Him in repentance and faith, and therefore receive HIS righteousness credited to our account!

“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

All because of Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice—for you and me!

“For all have sinned,

 and come short

of the glory of God;”  Romans 3:23

But we have hope in Jesus—it’s a choice between life and death!

“For the wages of sin

is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”   Romans 6:23

God has provided our way to HIM because HE loves us—but we must understand that while the “love” of God is unconditional, HIS forgiveness is totally conditioned on what we do with Jesus!

“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.”   John 3:16-18

God gave us the ultimate gift in Jesus, what will you do with that gift?  Will you receive it and have eternal life, or will you reject it at the peril of your soul?

“For whosoever will save his life

shall lose it:

and whosoever will lose his life for my sake

shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited,

if he shall gain the whole world,

and lose his own soul?

or what shall a man give

in exchange for his soul?”   Matthew 16:25-26

God has given us the free will to choose.  What choice have you made?  What will you do with the life that God has given you?  Will you hear His voice calling you to Himself?

“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 has provided Jesus to redeem those who will come to Him.  Will you cling to your sin, or let go of it and embrace the Savior who loves you?  I pray that you will hear His voice today.

“But we are all

as an unclean thing,

and all our righteousnesses

are as filthy rags;

and we all do fade

as a leaf;

and our iniquities,

like the wind,

have taken us away.”   Isaiah 64:6

“Behold, the LORD’S hand is not shortened,

that it cannot save;

neither his ear heavy,

that it cannot hear:

2 But your iniquities

have separated

between you

and your God,

and your sins

have hid his face

from you,

that he will not hear.”   Isaiah 59:1-2

The choice is yours, but choose wisely, there is a test!  And as Jesus makes so clear:

“I tell you, Nay:

but, except ye repent,

ye shall all likewise perish…

 5 I tell you, Nay:

but, except ye repent,

ye shall all likewise perish.”  Luke 13:3 & 5

May God draw you/me near to Himself today!

Amen and Amen!

 

 

 

 

 

Live, Breathe, Be??? Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No. 16

02 Sunday Jun 2019

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, Amazing Grace, Born Again, Choices And Consequences, Consider Your ways, Crucified With Christ, Filled With His Spirit, For Such A Time As This, IN Jesus!, It's Your Choice, JESUS, SIN, The Love of God, The Word Or The World?, Trusting Jesus

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 13 No. 16   Live, Breathe, Be???

 

I have friends, and you probably do too, who have chronic illnesses, in fact I have several friends who have not only chronic illnesses, but genetically based diseases.  That would be a hard thing to deal with, knowing that you could pass on a disease to your children and/or grandchildren, especially since it is out of my/your control.; but there’s something else that we need to consider, for it is even more far-reaching than a chronic disease, and if not treated appropriately, it is truly fatal.  That is “SIN”, and while we all pass it on to our children and our grandchildren, there is something that we can do—something that IS within our control!  And that something is JESUS!  While we may not have a choice about the genetic pool that is passed on to us, we do have a choice about our response to sin, and the choice that we make will affect those around us whether we are related or not!

Scripture clearly tells us that we are all afflicted with the disease of sin!

“As it is written,

There is none righteous,

no,

not one:”  Romans 3:10

That means that sin is the issue—we all have it, but only Jesus can provide the cure (so to speak)!

“For all have sinned,

and come short of the glory of God;”  Romans 3:23

All–that means me; and that means you!  Every human being is born into sin (except the God-Man Savior, Jesus), and we can choose to respond to the gospel of Jesus, hear the convicting voice of the Holy Spirit, repent and receive the saving grace that He died to provide; or you can choose to pay for you own sin!

“For the wages of sin is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”   Romans 6:23

We are all born in sin, but when we come to Jesus in repentance and faith, we don’t have to die in our sin.  Jesus has already done that for us; therefore, Hell doesn’t have to be our future.  We can have life now and forever—abundant life IN Jesus!

“Then said Jesus unto them again,

Verily, verily, I say unto you,

I am the door of the sheep.

8 All that ever came before me

are thieves

and robbers:

but the sheep did not hear them.

9 I am the door:

by me if any man enter in,

he shall be saved,

and shall go in and out,

and find pasture.

10 The thief cometh not,

but for to steal,

and to kill,

and to destroy:

I am come

that they might have life,

and that they might have it

more abundantly.

11 I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd giveth his life

for the sheep.”  John 10:7-11

Jesus IS the good shepherd, for HE gave His life for our salvation, all because God loved us.

“We love him, because he first loved us.”  1 John 4:19

What a wonderful verse!  Salvation was, is and ever shall be God’s idea, God pursued us, for salvation is always initiated by God—it’s not our idea!  We can only respond to HIS grace which has been extended to us as His Spirit reveals Him to us.  Have you heard His voice? His knock at your heart’s door?

“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

And to be the Redeemer, Jesus gave His own life, of His own will to save us!  God sent Jesus to pay for ‘my’ sin and ‘yours’!

“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 2:22-24

Not only preached by Peter and the apostles, but also foretold by Jesus Himself.

“And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold:

them also I must bring,

and they shall hear my voice;

and there shall be one fold,

and one shepherd.

17 Therefore doth my Father love me,

because I lay down my life,

that I might take it again.

18 No man taketh it from me,

but I lay it down of myself.

I have power to lay it down,

and I have power to take it again.

This commandment have I received

of my Father.”   John 10:16-18

Jesus came out of love for us and obediently lay down HIS life for me and you!  Praise God for His amazing grace that saves and keeps those who will come to HIM! Oh, to have the words to describe the wondrous grace that He has bestowed on me/us, and to express the gratitude that fills my heart.  And because of that gratitude and recognition of the blessings of God, we ought to behave in accord with what we have received.  I truly believe that one of the problems we face today is an overabundance of people who profess what they don’t possess!  But God knows those who are HIS, and Jesus made it clear that what’s in our hearts will come out—one way or another; sooner or later!

“Nevertheless the foundation of God

standeth sure,

having this seal,

The Lord knoweth them that are his.

And, Let every one

that nameth the name of Christ

depart from iniquity.”  2 Timothy 2:19

We can find victory in living when we learn to depend on the direction, provision and instruction of God’s Word and His Holy Spirit.

“16 This I say then,

Walk in the Spirit,

and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh…..

24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh

with the affections and lusts.

25 If we live in the Spirit,

let us also walk in the Spirit.”   Galatians 5:16 & 24-25

How much we miss when we forget that when we belong to Jesus, He provides all we need for faithful, godly living.

“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 1:3

Power to overcome is found in The Spirit and The Word of Him who laid down His life for me and you!  We can live and prevail by His grace, as we die to self and live “in Jesus”!

“For in him

we live,

and move,

and have our being;

as certain also of your own poets have said,

 For we are also his offspring.”  Acts 17:28

“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

All because Jesus holds it all together—right now, and always.

“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person,

and upholding all things

by the word of his power,

when he had by himself purged our sins,

sat down on the right hand

of the Majesty on high;”  Hebrews 1:3

So, a few questions, “In “whom” (or how) do you ‘live, and move, and have your being”?   Have you died to self at the cross, to live by “faith of the Son of God”?  The choice is yours but choose wisely; there is a test at the end!

One last word to challenge our minds!

“And be not drunk

with wine, wherein is excess;

but be filled

with the Spirit;

19 Speaking to yourselves

in psalms

and hymns

and spiritual songs,

singing and making melody

 in your heart to the Lord;

20 Giving thanks always

for all things

unto God and the Father

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

21 Submitting yourselves

one to another

in the fear of God.”  Ephesians 5:18-21

Are you “filled with the Spirit” (which means to be pervaded, controlled by) or is something else ‘controlling’ you? (It matters not if it’s drugs, liquor, sex, greed, lying and deceit, power, manipulation, ego, sloth, or ambition).  What are you filling your life with!