I just reread the scripture from yesterday... still such a powerful verse on the second day...
You know... each time you read a scripture, God can reveal something new to you! It's like reading a new book every time - provided you come to it with prayer and the right attitude!
But that is such an important promise from God, that He will cleanse your sins by Jesus' blood.
Another great passage with the same message:
Romans 5:12-18 - Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned... But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men.
God's grace is wonderful. So wonderful it was worth that lengthy explication. I don't think the apostle Paul would have spent so much time talking about God's grace and the death and resurrection of Christ if it were not so important and pivotal in our relationship with God - and for the salvation of our souls....
That passage is a little difficult to understand in its repeat explanations, but read it again and again until it makes sense. It's worth it.
September 29, 2006
September 28, 2006
In Need Of... Newness.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21 - ...If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them...
God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
ZAP! You are forgiven.
It's really almost that easy! And soooo wonderful!
God sent His Son, Jesus Christ to die for our sins so that we don't have to suffer eternal punishment. Jesus had no sin, and yet He died the death we deserved.
If we were looking at ourselves from a "worldly point of view (2 Cor. 5:16)" we would see all the mistakes we had done in the past, all the mistakes we are making now, every relationship we'd ruined and all the punishment and consequences that are going to happen for all of that.
When God looks at us as forgiven believers in the risen Christ, He sees His beloved children, righteous people, people whom He wants to call His own. He sees Christ in us. That is far from what we deserve.
He sees us as new creations. Newer than a brand new baby - since we are born as sinful people. The blood that Jesus shed when He died on the cross washes us sparkling new - as God originally intended for man to be, except so much better since we don't deserve it.
It's also wonderful to think that anytime we sin - and all people continue to sin, regardless of their intentions - God will wash us clean again... and again... and again. Until the time comes that you meet Him face to face, He will continue to grant you forgiveness! And continue to renew and renew you...!
Woooooonderful!
All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them...
God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
ZAP! You are forgiven.
It's really almost that easy! And soooo wonderful!
God sent His Son, Jesus Christ to die for our sins so that we don't have to suffer eternal punishment. Jesus had no sin, and yet He died the death we deserved.
If we were looking at ourselves from a "worldly point of view (2 Cor. 5:16)" we would see all the mistakes we had done in the past, all the mistakes we are making now, every relationship we'd ruined and all the punishment and consequences that are going to happen for all of that.
When God looks at us as forgiven believers in the risen Christ, He sees His beloved children, righteous people, people whom He wants to call His own. He sees Christ in us. That is far from what we deserve.
He sees us as new creations. Newer than a brand new baby - since we are born as sinful people. The blood that Jesus shed when He died on the cross washes us sparkling new - as God originally intended for man to be, except so much better since we don't deserve it.
It's also wonderful to think that anytime we sin - and all people continue to sin, regardless of their intentions - God will wash us clean again... and again... and again. Until the time comes that you meet Him face to face, He will continue to grant you forgiveness! And continue to renew and renew you...!
Woooooonderful!
September 21, 2006
In Need Of... A servant attitude.
I have been struggling recently with my attitude. With the way i present myself to others, Christians and non-christians alike. Behaving pridefully and self-righteously. Bad, bad, bad.
I have never consciously fought to overcome this attitude before, but i know with God's help (His love pouring through me) I can become a servant to others. By putting the example of Jesus, and the way He lived as a servant, in front of me, i can learn to humble myself and act the way He would.
Jesus washes the disciples' feet in John 13. This is a very humbling passage for me. Jesus is God and he kneels before sinful men (including Judas Iscariot- who betrayed him) to wash their feet. (And these men, I'm sure, were not foot models.)
At the end of that passage, in John 13:14-17, Jesus says: Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
I think that's pretty straightforward. Kinda says it all...
I have never consciously fought to overcome this attitude before, but i know with God's help (His love pouring through me) I can become a servant to others. By putting the example of Jesus, and the way He lived as a servant, in front of me, i can learn to humble myself and act the way He would.
Jesus washes the disciples' feet in John 13. This is a very humbling passage for me. Jesus is God and he kneels before sinful men (including Judas Iscariot- who betrayed him) to wash their feet. (And these men, I'm sure, were not foot models.)
At the end of that passage, in John 13:14-17, Jesus says: Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
I think that's pretty straightforward. Kinda says it all...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
