Any Evidence?? A Word from THE WORD!!! #456

Just a brief (hopefully) word this morning, as I would like us to consider our lives; are we living for the Jesus we claim to know!  Yet, just claiming to know Jesus isn’t what it’s all about!  It is about being born again by the Spirit of God through repentance of our sin (yes, my own sin) and believing/trusting in Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin, yours and mine; all of it—big or small, open or hidden, acceptable by man or not, anything that comes short of the glory of God is sin!  Scripture is replete with reminders of that truth!

“For all have sinned,

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

“But now being made free from sin,

and become servants to God,

ye have your fruit unto holiness,

and the end everlasting life.

23 For the wages of sin

is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”   Romans 6:22-23

John’s gospel reminds us that it’s a work of God not man!  No man can save you except the God/Man/Savior Jesus Christ The Lord, through the work of conviction of sin from the Holy Spirit, and receiving the blood of Jesus as payment for, and cover of our sin!

“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 1:11-13

It’s all about Jesus and what He came to do for all who will believe and receive the completed work of HIS payment for sin at Calvary!  My point is that when we receive Jesus’ salvation for sin, it ought to be visible to the world.

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind,

be sober,

and hope to the end

for the grace that is to be brought

unto you

at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

14 As obedient children,

not fashioning yourselves

according to the former lusts

in your ignorance:

15 But as he which hath called you is holy,

so be ye holy

in all manner of conversation;

16 Because it is written,

Be ye holy;

for I am holy.”  1 Peter 1:13-15

May our lives be an honor to our Lord Jesus and a testimony to the world of His transforming grace.  Paul says it better than I could. (And just FYI, conversation above refers to lifestyle not just our speech!)

“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

So, in closing, let’s determine to be the evidence to a lost and dying world that Jesus can and does save, deliver and transform lives.  He saves us “from “sin not “in” it!  Let’s stand up for Jesus today, and each day that God gives us.

“As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus

the Lord,

so walk ye in him:

7 Rooted and built up in him,

and stablished in the faith,

as ye have been taught,

abounding therein

with thanksgiving.”  Colossians 2:6-7 

Amen and Amen!!!