...that servants of sin are free from righteousness. True, but his bondage to sin only leads him deeper into slavery so that it becomes harder and harder to do what is right. The Prodigal Son is an example of this.
When he was at home, he decided he wanted his freedom, so he left home to find himself and enjoy himself. But his rebellion only led him deeper into slavery. He was the slave of wrong desires, then the slave of wrong deeds; and finally he became a literal slave when he took care of the pigs.
He wanted to find himself, but he lost himself. What he thought was freedom turned out to be the worst kind of slavery. It was only when he returned home and yielded to his father that he found true freedom.
Romans 6:16 Know ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
Whatever you yield to becomes your master. Before you were saved, you were the slave of sin. Now that you belong to Christ, you are freed from that old slavery and made the servant of Christ.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Without God, you may deny that you are a sinner,
...but you're wrong -- 1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
Sin has consequences. -- Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Sin comes short of God's standards. God is holy, righteous, good, and true; and we don't measure up. -- Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
But God devised a plan of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus. Separated from God, man can't get there on his own. Through the death of Jesus and His abundant mercy, there is provision for sin when he humbly accepts Jesus as His Savior.
The sinner is now a new creature, born again in Christ Jesus. He is saved from the wrath of God's final judgment. His sins are removed as far as the east is from the west. Jesus makes a sinners heart as white as snow. Salvation is God's love for man.
It's hard chosing the right path sometimes, and society doesn't want to hear about God.
But Jesus still saves the lost, and Christians should pray that the Holy Spirit will draw them to Him.
Sin has consequences. -- Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Sin comes short of God's standards. God is holy, righteous, good, and true; and we don't measure up. -- Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
But God devised a plan of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus. Separated from God, man can't get there on his own. Through the death of Jesus and His abundant mercy, there is provision for sin when he humbly accepts Jesus as His Savior.
The sinner is now a new creature, born again in Christ Jesus. He is saved from the wrath of God's final judgment. His sins are removed as far as the east is from the west. Jesus makes a sinners heart as white as snow. Salvation is God's love for man.
It's hard chosing the right path sometimes, and society doesn't want to hear about God.
But Jesus still saves the lost, and Christians should pray that the Holy Spirit will draw them to Him.
Some things we can't do without,
...such as water, food or air. Humans are miserable without love. Without the shedding of blood there is no remission for sin, and we can't go to heaven.
In the Old Testament the priest offered a sacrifice for the atonement, killing a lamb and applying it's blood to the altar to cover sins.
In the New Testament we have the Lamb of God, slain on the cross, taking away the sins of the world, once for all.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
Without faith we can't please God, we can't be saved. Without faith we have no security in eternity. With faith in Jesus we can be certain. With faith we can be sanctified daily unto Him by prayer and Bible study. With sanctification we can go before a Holy God and say, "Please show me where I have failed you." Christians should do this daily.
Is God pleased with you? Have you by faith accepted Him as your Savior?
Without Him I could do nothing.
In the Old Testament the priest offered a sacrifice for the atonement, killing a lamb and applying it's blood to the altar to cover sins.
In the New Testament we have the Lamb of God, slain on the cross, taking away the sins of the world, once for all.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
Without faith we can't please God, we can't be saved. Without faith we have no security in eternity. With faith in Jesus we can be certain. With faith we can be sanctified daily unto Him by prayer and Bible study. With sanctification we can go before a Holy God and say, "Please show me where I have failed you." Christians should do this daily.
Is God pleased with you? Have you by faith accepted Him as your Savior?
Without Him I could do nothing.
The Apostles seem to be arguing
...about something.
"What was it that you disputed among yourselves on the way?" Jesus asked.
They didn't have the guts to say it was about who would be the greatest, but Jesus knew. Peter, James, and John had just watched Christ talk on the mountain with two men who had been dead a long time. The Apostles had just seen Him cast demons out of a boy. Jesus told them twice about his death, burial, and resurrection, but they didn't understand. They only wanted to discuss who would be the greatest.
Be careful about judging these guys. We're just like them. We want credit when credit is due. We toot our own horn.
Mark 9:35 And He sat down and called the twelve and saith unto them, "If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all."
Everybody should strive to be their best for Jesus and not compete with each other.
Who is the greatest in our church? Its the humble person serving without expecting anything in return. Its the one willing to take last place. Lord, give us that mindset.
"What was it that you disputed among yourselves on the way?" Jesus asked.
They didn't have the guts to say it was about who would be the greatest, but Jesus knew. Peter, James, and John had just watched Christ talk on the mountain with two men who had been dead a long time. The Apostles had just seen Him cast demons out of a boy. Jesus told them twice about his death, burial, and resurrection, but they didn't understand. They only wanted to discuss who would be the greatest.
Be careful about judging these guys. We're just like them. We want credit when credit is due. We toot our own horn.
Mark 9:35 And He sat down and called the twelve and saith unto them, "If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all."
Everybody should strive to be their best for Jesus and not compete with each other.
Who is the greatest in our church? Its the humble person serving without expecting anything in return. Its the one willing to take last place. Lord, give us that mindset.
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