Tag Archives: Sin IS the issue

Redeemed Through The Blood?? A Word from THE WORD!!! #392

28 Sunday Sep 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Form of godliness?, Are You Ready, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus IS Truth!!!, Jesus Saves!, Jesus' Sacrifice, Redeemed By HIS Blood, Redemption or Rehearsal?, Redemption Through HIS Blood, Regeneration, Renewing or Reviewing, Repentance, Restoration, Saved by Grace Through Faith, Saved FROM Sin, SIN, Sin IS the issue

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Redeemed Through The Blood?? A Word from THE WORD!!! #392

“To the praise of the glory of his grace,

wherein he hath made us accepted

in the beloved.

7 In whom we have redemption

through his blood,

the forgiveness of sins,

according to the riches of his grace;”  Ephesians 1:6-7

As Paul also told the Colossian believers, almost the same thing.

“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

What is redemption?

Redemption: an act of atoning for guilt…an act or the state  

of being rescued…repurchase of something sold, as to a pawn shop…

Redemption is the act of God’s love in being bought back; in the case of man, being bought back from the penalty of sin, which is death (going all the way back to Genesis chapter 3!)  We must know that sin is the issue, it is the death penalty for all who have sinned, and that includes every human, excepting the God/Man/Savior, Jesus, who did no sin.  He’s the only one.

“For even hereunto were ye called:

because Christ also suffered for us,

leaving us an example,

that ye should follow his steps:

22 Who did no sin,

neither was guile found in his mouth:

23 Who, when he was reviled,

reviled not again;

when he suffered,

he threatened not;

but committed himself

to him that judgeth righteously:

24 Who his own self bare our sins

in his own body on the tree,

that we,

being dead to sins,

should live unto righteousness:

by whose stripes ye were healed.

25 For ye were as sheep

going astray;

but are now returned

unto the Shepherd

and Bishop

of your souls.”  1 Peter 2:21-25

My question is, if you claim to have been redeemed, has it made a difference in your life.  The Apostle John paints a picture for us in his first letter to believers, let’s consider what he calls us to.

“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.

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 1:6-10

How do we “make him a liar”?  We make God a liar when we say we have not sinned—not me, I’m good…I’ve done___!  I’ve been______!  Paul declares the truth that SIN is the issue in his letter to the believers in Rome.

“For all have sinned,

and come short

of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23

But the beauty of God’s plan of redemption, is that we don’t have to stay short of God’s glory, we can find salvation, justification and redemption in JESUS; let’s see what Paul goes on to tell us about this sin issue (Jesus is the cure!)

“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;

26 To declare, I say,

at this time

his righteousness:

that he might be just,

and the justifier

of him which believeth in Jesus.” Romans 3:24-26

Jesus provided the sacrifice for sin for all who will come to Him in repentance of sin, and faith/belief in HIS substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin—the only acceptable payment for sin.  Even as Jesus said in John 14:6, “… I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me”!

And without coming to Jesus, we will face the fate that Paul declares as truth to the Roman believers.

“For the wages of sin

is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 6:23

To make it simple, have you been born again?  Have you received the “gift of God…Jesus Christ our Lord”?  I pray that you have; but if you haven’t you can call on Him even now, and I’ll leave you with His call to you who don’t now Him. If you do know Him, are you living like the redeemed?  We’ll talk more about that next time.

“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!!!

The Foolishness Of Preaching??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #356

15 Sunday Jun 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, Cleansed from all sin, Confidence, Conformed or Transformed?, Conformed to HIS image, Consider Your ways, Following Jesus, Following Jesus or the World?, For Such A Time As This, Jesus Knows YOUR Storm, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus SinLESS Son of God, Jesus' Sacrifice, Signs of the times?, SIN, Sin IS the issue, SMILE!!! Jesus loves YOU!!, Someone is following you!, Sowing and Reaping, Speaking The Truth In Love, Spiritual Drought!, The Cross or the world?, The Crucified Life, The foolishness of preaching, The Gospel, The Greatest Evangelist, The greatest evangelist? Dead or alive?, The greatest gift!!!, The Light of The Word IS Jesus, The Lord Is My Shepherd, Today IS Today!, Tomorrow, Touch them while you can?, Transformation

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The Foolishness Of Preaching??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #356

“For after that in the wisdom of God

the world by wisdom

knew not God,

it pleased God

by the foolishness of preaching

to save them that believe.

22 For the Jews require a sign,

and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

23 But we preach Christ crucified,

unto the Jews a stumblingblock,

and unto the Greeks foolishness;

24 But unto them which are called,

both Jews and Greeks,

Christ the power of God,

and the wisdom of God.”  1 Corinthians 1:21-24

My heart is grieved that we have, in many places and situations, abandoned this choice of God—”the foolishness of preaching” which is the way that GOD has chosen “to save them that believe”!  Oh dear friends, I have an evangelist that we know, whose family experienced a great loss this week, as they buried their first-born, and I could relate to their pain, but you see, much like me, they had the absolute confidence that their child left this world, and we know whose arms our children passed into!  But so many don’t know The Lord, and likewise their loss brings great remorse, uncertainty, and a grief that has little to no hope!  Yet Paul tells us that God chose preaching as the means to bring the true Good News “to save them that believe”!

Believe what?  Believe in the substitutionary, atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ our Lord for SIN!  It’s why we must share the gospel of Jesus—the only way! Jesus said it Himself—what?  That HE was/is/and ever shall be God in the flesh, the One who came to die for the sins of all who will believe.

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth, and

the life:

no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:6

No man can come to God but by Jesus!  Why, because no human man, a sinful man, could pay the price to pay for sin, which only a spotless, sinless Lamb of God could pay!  And without His blood payment there is no salvation—for sin is the issue.

“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 1:21-23

And as Paul reminds us:

“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

Sin was the issue, is the issue and Jesus came to resolve the sin debt for all who would believe and receive of His abundant grace!  It’s the only way, and preaching is God’s means of getting out the news!  In the simplest terms, preaching is speaking forth God’s truth—not man’s words, but God’s Word!  What are you sharing with people? God’s Word or man’s?  Peter spoke God’s truth in Jerusalem shortly after the day of Pentecost.  It brought amazing results.  But to preach, so to speak, we must know what God says; we must know His Word and put it into our hearts that God can bring it out to others at the right time, and place, unashamedly and boldly but not meanly.  What are you “spouting” out?  God’s Word or the most popular terms that the world is using?  It’s your choice but choose wisely, there is a test.

“Be it known unto you all,

and to all the people of Israel,

that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,

whom ye crucified,

whom God raised from the dead,

even by him doth this man stand here

before you whole.

11 This is the stone

which was set at nought of you builders,

which is become

the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other:

for there is none other name under heaven

 given among men,

whereby we must be saved.”  Acts 4:10-12

No other name—but the name of Jesus!  No other man—but the God-man-Savior who died for our sin; it’s why He came.  Don’t die in your sin, but rather IN JESUS—the One whom the world calls insignificant, but we know HE IS the Son of God—the Lamb of God.  John the baptizer said it best.  I pray that you’ll come to Him in repentance (turning away from your own sin and turning to The Savior of the world) and faith in the sacrifice that Jesus made for our sin, He still saves and changes lives today.  How about you?

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him,

and saith,

Behold the Lamb of God,

which taketh away the sin of the world.”  John 1:29

In closing, here is what I call, Paul’s Gospel in a nutshell (so to speak).  It’s what God calls us to preach; let’s go share!

“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 15:3-5 

I praise God for the gift that God imparted to me, many years ago when I trusted in Jesus.  I praise Him for the gift that He gave to my daughter before her death—salvation in a most unlikely spot (but salvation, none the less); I praise God for our evangelist friend and his family, for the same gift that their hope is in as well—a child who belongs to Jesus, both now and for eternity. And as David said so long ago!  May we depend upon God’s ways not man’s!

“And he said, While the child was yet alive,

I fasted and wept: for I said,

Who can tell whether GOD will be gracious to me,

that the child may live?

23 But now he is dead,

wherefore should I fast?

can I bring him back again?

I shall go to him,

but he shall not return to me.”  2 Samuel 12:22-23

Amen and Amen!!!

It’s All About Sacrifice??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #340

17 Thursday Apr 2025

Posted by in 'Come unto me, 'Tis The Season?, Abundant Life In Jesus, All About Jesus!, All Sufficient God!, Almost But Lost, Amazing Grace, Jesus Built A Bridge, Jesus Is Alive, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus IS Lord--bow before Him!, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus IS Truth!!!, Jesus lives today!, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves!, Jesus SinLESS Son of God, Jesus' Sacrifice, Jesus--our all in all, SIN, Sin IS the issue, Speaking The Truth In Love

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It’s All About Sacrifice???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #340

 

We talked last time about fighting like Jesus, and today I would like us to consider the price that Jesus paid for us to be able to be with Him and to reflect His glory as His child!  It means we must be “born again”!  It’s not about bunnies, or eggs, or baskets or even spring!  It is all about the sacrifice that Jesus paid for our sin—and yes, Sin is the issue—and that sacrifice was, is and ever shall supply the payment for sin to all who will come to Jesus in repentance of sin, and faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin.  Yet while the payment was made at Calvary, the victory over sin, death and hell came at the tomb!  That very tomb where Satan thought he had won, came to prove that Jesus not only paid for sin at the cross, but HE rose again to bring forgiveness of sin to all who believe; as well as life, hope, joy and a home in heaven for those who come to HIM, when we leave this life behind.

“He was in the world,

and the world was made by him,

and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 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.”  John 1:10-13

Jesus said of himself that HE came that we might have real 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.

11 I am the good shepherd:

the good shepherd giveth his life

for the sheep.”  John 10:9-11

 Jesus was the sacrifice for sin to all who believe and trust to His amazing sacrifice.  May we be encouraged and equipped to go forward with Jesus, calling the world to salvation in Jesus and nothing less!  We talked earlier about Paul’s great gospel in a nutshell in 1 Corinthians 15:3-7, and we can be confident in what Jesus has done knowing that He has finished the work of salvation!

“By the which will we are sanctified

through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ

once for all.

11 And every priest standeth daily

ministering

and offering oftentimes

the same sacrifices,

which can never take away sins:

12 But this man,

after he had offered one sacrifice

for sins

for ever,

sat down on the right hand of God;”  Hebrews 10:10-12

May we remember what the Apostles and disciples preached and shared after Pentecost—may it ever be our motto and our message without compromise!

“Be it known unto you all,

and to all the people of Israel,

that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth,

whom ye crucified,

whom God raised from the dead,

even by him

doth this man stand here

before you whole.

11 This is the stone

which was set at nought of you builders,

which is become the head of the corner.

12 Neither is there salvation in any other:

for there is none other name under heaven

given among men,

whereby we must be saved.”  Acts 4:10-12

Will you be one who believes or one who puts Jesus to death again and again in vain.  It’s your choice but choose wisely there is a test.

“But ye denied the Holy One and the Just,

and desired a murderer to be granted unto you;

15 And killed the Prince of life,

whom God hath raised from the dead;

whereof we are witnesses.”  Acts 3:14-15

The test is coming; are you ready?  Only Jesus can write your name in His book—not your works, not your wealth, not your social standing, not even your religion.  Ready or not, here HE comes:

“And whosoever was not found written

in the book of life

was cast into the lake of fire.”   Revelation 20:15

Amen and Amen!!!

Just Asking??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #242

21 Sunday Jul 2024

Posted by in Abiding In Jesus, Choices And Consequences, Confidence, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Righteousness, Righteousness exalts a nation, SIN, Sin IS the issue, The Only Way, The Resurrection Life!, The Word

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Just Asking???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #242

“Trust in the LORD

with all thine heart;

and lean not

unto thine own understanding.

6 In all thy ways

acknowledge him,

and he shall direct thy paths.

7 Be not wise

in thine own eyes:

fear the LORD,

and depart from evil.

8 It shall be health to thy navel,

and marrow to thy bones.”  Proverbs 3:5-8

 Not accusations, just asking each of us to consider where we are, where we want to go, what God has for us, and how to draw near to HIM.

What if:

       I exchanged my way for God’s way?

       I relied on God’s Word rather than a bottle (of whatever)?

       I relied on offering my heart rather than ‘burnt offerings’?

       I spent as much time on God as TV? Sports? Popularity?

       I wanted to please God as much as myself?

       I thought of others more than myself?

       I chose my attire by God’s standard of modesty not fashion?

       I practiced God’s love toward others as a priority?

       I knew God’s Word as well as I know popular theme songs?

       I put God’s Word in my heart more than:

              Movies, Music, TV

              Books

              Sports Statistics

              Modern pills, eastern religious activities, Mystical ideas?

       I was faithful to God with my resources?

       I lived biblical morality, taught and promoted it?

       I was kind in all my ways (shopping as well as church)?

       My heart was set on pleasing God first in every way?

       My priority was to reflect Jesus before a lost world?

       I/we were as faithful to the church as the world?

We all know that the list could go on, but I just want to call us to examine ourselves so see if we are biblically pleasing to our Lord.

“Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me,

which to you-ward is not weak,

but is mighty in you.

4 For though he was crucified through weakness,

yet he liveth by the power of God.

For we also are weak in him,

but we shall live with him by the power of God

toward you.

5 Examine yourselves,

whether ye be in the faith;

prove your own selves.

Know ye not your own selves,

how that Jesus Christ is in you,

except ye be reprobates?

6 But I trust that ye shall know

that we are not reprobates.

7 Now I pray to God that ye do no evil;

not that we should appear approved,

but that ye should do that

which is honest,

though we be as reprobates.

8 For we can do nothing against the truth,

but for the truth.”  2 Corinthians 13:3-8

May we be known as true children of God, that He may be glorified, and others may be drawn to His Kingdom via the blood of Jesus which “cleanseth us from all sin”!

Amen and Amen!!!

A Christmas Word–Part 1??? A Word from THE WORD!!! #166

15 Friday Dec 2023

Posted by in 'Come unto me, 'Tis The Season?, A Call To Look Unto Jesus!, A Father's Love, Abiding IN Jesus or the World?, Blood of Jesus cleanses us, By His Grace, Christmas, Christmas IS Jesus, Christmas IS?, Christmas Ponderings, Creation, Creator, Creator of ALL, Cross, JESUS, Jesus In Genesis!, Jesus Is Coming Again., Jesus is our peace, Jesus IS The Gift!, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Is Truth, Jesus Never Fails, Jesus Saves!, Jesus SinLESS Son of God, Jesus' Sacrifice, Jesus--our all in all

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A Christmas Word–Part 1???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #166

I’d like to spend some time today thinking about the only true ‘reason for the season’, and that my friends is JESUS!  No, He wasn’t born on December 25th, but it is the date chosen to honor our Lord’s birth—the long-awaited coming of The Messiah to Redeem mankind; for all who will believe.  So let’s back up a bit and do a short review of why we need Jesus!

“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

Why do we need this gift, you might ask; well that’s a good question, and we’ll briefly consider the answer—it’s the reason we trust The Word of God—it gives us the ‘whole truth’.  And that begins in Eden with the first man and woman (And yes, God created them “male and female”, read the account!).  We won’t go into the whole story but just some portions of Genesis 1, 2 and 3; and yes, my friends, I believe the Bible from Genesis to Revelation; I believe that we were/are are created in “the image of God….”!  Let’s dig in.

“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.”  John 3:16

“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

Why was/is man perishing?  It’s because of sin—it’s the disease; we all have it, we can’t cure it, only Jesus can, how did we get in this shape?  Our first parents failed the test, but in God’s love and mercy HE already had a plan in place to redeem us; He knew we would fail, and He created us anyway—a concept that is beyond my comprehension (and yes, I believe in the Genesis account of creation in six literal days).

“In the beginning

God created

the heaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

“And God said,

Let us make man in our image,

after our likeness:

and let them have dominion

over the fish of the sea,

and over the fowl of the air,

and over the cattle,

and over all the earth,

and over every creeping thing

that creepeth upon the earth.

27 So God created man

in his own image,

in the image of God created he him;

male and female

created he them.”  Genesis 1:26-27

Genesis 2 goes on to fill in some more of the details for us and sets the stage for us to understand.

“And the LORD God formed man

of the dust of the ground,

and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life;

and man became a living soul.

8 And the LORD God planted a garden

eastward in Eden;

and there he put the man

whom he had formed…

…16 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying,

Of every tree of the garden

thou mayest freely eat:

17 But of the tree of the knowledge

of good and evil,

thou shalt not eat of it:

for in the day that thou eatest thereof

thou shalt surely die.”   Portions of Genesis 2:7-17

The saddest part of this account to me, is that we failed to believe God, at the prompting of Satan, the great “father of lies” (see John 8:44); how sad that we’re still falling for the same old lies!  But we did eat, and we did die spiritually on the spot, and physically later, and still do! It’s why Jesus so boldly and powerfully reminds us:

“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 10:10-11

Jesus came to give us back the life with God that Satan stole, tricked, and deceived our first parents out of.  How much have we been tricked out of by this ‘liar of liars’? There is a price to pay, and we pay it every day, except as we walk “in the Spirit” with our Lord (See Galatians 5:16 & 25)!  But back to Genesis, He’s our Lord not only because He came, but because God promised HIS coming from before the beginning!

“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

Jesus IS the great restorer!  Our great and good Redeemer!  Our soon-coming KING!  This is why I celebrate HIS birth!  How about you?

“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 1:21-23

Amen and Amen!!!