Behold, His Precious Gift!!

Look at the cross! Behold His precious Gift transfixed to it, and that by His own hand, and for your sins! Then look at your present circumstances, survey your needs, your trials, your chastisements, your bereavements, your heart-sickening, heart-breaking tribulations, and know that God still is love. 

If He had love strong enough, deep enough, to give you Jesus; to tear Him, as it were, from His bosom, and to transfix Him on yonder accursed tree for your iniquities; has He not love enough to bow His ear to your cry, and His heart to your sorrow? Will He not rescue you from this difficulty, deliver you out of this trouble, shield you in this temptation, supply this need, support and comfort you in this grief? 

Oh yes, He will! Doubt it not! The cross of Calvary is a standing pledge; standing until sin and guilt, need and woe shall be known no more; that God, who "spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, will with Him also freely give us all things" necessary to our good, and promotive of His glory. 

[Octavius Winslow]

Romans 8:32 ... He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

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Back To School

I combined a lot of your ideas together and wanted to focus on the concept that Christ is with us wherever we go. The next few weeks mark the beginning of a new school year for many students. This is an exciting time, but there is also a lot of nervous energy on that first day. Please be prayer for all of the kids, the parents, and the teachers. They definitely need it! 

However, the main message of this image is that wherever your feet take you, the Lord is always nearby. That is true of private school, public school, universities and colleges, and even homeschooling as well. And it doesn't matter if your school isn't "welcoming to Jesus", you will still find His presence all the same. And the fact that Jesus is with us in school cuts both ways. 

Firstly, He is there to give us a spirit of power, and love and sound mind. He gives us courage when we are scared and confidence when we are timid. He hears our cries, our prayers, our burdens, and our stress and takes those prayers directly to the Father even when don't know how to pray. The Lord is near in every situation. 

But the second thing to consider, is that if Jesus is with us, then we ought to be a good and faithful representative of Him. If we are believers in Him, then we are also ambassadors for His gospel. When Christ is with us, we ought to act like Christ. For many students, they may never step foot inside a church or have ever read a Bible. Your character and integrity compassion might just be the closest thing some will ever get to experiencing the gospel of Christ. 

So, as this school year begins, I encourage you to walk with Christ inside your school. He'll be with you, and you'll be with Him. Be a light that shines in your class, in the lunchroom, and on the bus. And may this be a school year that God is glorified and honored in all that you do or say!

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Isaiah 41:10 ... Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Matthew 28:20 ... Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Hebrews 13:5 ... Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. ❤

Simultaneously Righteous, and a Sinner

"Simul justus et peccator". This insightful principle means:  "Simultaneously righteous, and a sinner."

That is a genuine believer in Jesus is simultaneously: 

1. RIGHTEOUS (justus) in the sight of God through faith in Christ, having received His imputed righteousness. This is our identity in Christ. "For we maintain that a man is justified by faith, apart from observing the law." (Romans 3:28) "However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness." (Romans 4:5) "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:1) 

2. A SINNER (peccator) in his own sinful flesh, which remains unchanged even after conversion. "I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do this I keep on doing." (Romans 7:18-19) "For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want." (Galatians 5:17) Hence every believer daily experience the constant battle between the flesh and the spirit the new spiritual nature in Christ. Though we are genuinely converted, our sinful flesh remains with us until we receive our resurrection bodies. "He will transform our lowly bodies, so that they will be like His glorious body!" (Philippians 3:21) 

 "Simultaneously righteous, and a sinner." What I am in Christ: RIGHTEOUS. What I am in my flesh: SINNER. 

In justification, God credits Christ's perfect righteousness to our account, while our sinful flesh remains with us. We live in constant tension: legally righteous before God, yet we have an ongoing struggle with our sinful flesh. Therefore, we are to be continually confessing our sins and failures, while at the same time continually clinging to God's grace and forgiveness. Our every sin has been imputed to Jesus, and His perfect righteousness has been imputed to us. As we are fully aware of our continual battle with sin so we must ever face our sinfulness. In ourselves, we remain greatly marred by our sinful flesh our indwelling corruption. Yet at that same moment, we are clothed in Christ's perfect righteousness. 

When our spotless Substitute hung on Calvary, He bore our sin and fully satisfied Divine justice. "God made Him who had no sin, to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21) This dual reality delivers us from both despair and self–reliance. We no longer strive to earn acceptance with God, for it is already ours in Christ. And we no longer revel in sin, for we love Him who first loved us. Thus, we confess sin and flee to the cross.

As we reflect on Luther's profound insight, we must understand that our flesh is far more sinful than we can ever know. We are likewise far more righteous in Christ, than we could ever imagine. These twin truths will humble us, comfort us, and give us great hope for what we soon will be when we will inhabit glorious, Christ-like bodies. Luther's profound principle will save us from a thousand theological and practical pitfalls, as it concisely explains the true Christian's continual paradox: Why do I have this constant battle with sin and so often fall into sin? 

 

"Simultaneously righteous, and a sinner." Think about it and commit it to memory.

[Martin Luther]

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"Coming To Jesus"

This is an apt description of the whole of the Christian life. I consider it to be a complete picture of a saint, drawn with one stroke. In all circumstances and conditions, we are to come to Jesus alone. The Christian life is begun, continued, and perfected altogether in dependence upon the Lord Jesus. He is both the author and the finisher of our faith. 

If we begin aright, we begin with "Christ is all!" If we live aright, we live with "Christ is all!" And if we finish aright, we finish with "Christ is all!" 

We are to be always coming to Him: coming to Him for spiritual nourishment; coming to Him for needed grace; coming to Him for cleansing, guidance, support and comfort; coming in fact, for everything. The whole Christian life is drawn in one line it is a continuous "coming to Jesus!" I am persuaded that the only happy, holy, safe way for a Christian to live, is to live in daily dependence upon Jesus and to come to Him at all times, in all respects, under all circumstances, for everything! May it be the habit of our lives to be incessantly coming to our loving and merciful Savior. 

[Charles H. Spurgeon] 

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1 Peter 2: 3-4 ...  If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,

Matthew 11:28 ... Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Revelation 22:17 ... And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. ❤

Born and Born Again

No matter if you think you were "born this way,"

you cannot remain that way.

You must be born again!

John 3:6-7 ... That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. ❤

He Prays That We May Experience It!

Paul acknowledges that the love of Jesus is too great to be fully understood, yet he prays that we may experience it! The apostle is not referring to a merely intellectual understanding, but a personal, transformative relationship with the Lord Jesus. We can only truly experience this love, through the Gospel. Christ's love is most clearly seen in the cross.  

As we meditate on Jesus' wondrous sacrifice for our sins, we are overwhelmed by the vastness of His love. Though we may never fully comprehend it, we can rest in the assurance that His love for us is infinite, and deeper than all of our sins and shame! May His measureless love for us, lead us to a life of gratitude, worship, humility, and holiness. 

We shall never know the depths of Christ's love for us, until we feel the weight of our sin, and the worth of His sin-atoning death, which delivers us from the Hell that we rightly deserve. This unsearchable love of Jesus humbles the pride of man, exalts the grace of God, and calls us to a life of holiness! 

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

Romans 5:8  ... But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

 Ephesians 3:18-19 ... May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. ❤

Splendid Sins ...

The holiest actions of the holiest saint that ever lived, are all more or less full of defects and imperfections. They are either wrong in their motive, or defective in their performance, and in themselves are nothing better than splendid sins, deserving God's wrath and condemnation.  To suppose that such actions can stand the severity of God's judgment, atone for sin, and merit Heaven is simply absurd! 

The only righteousness in which we can appear before God, is the righteousness of another even the perfect righteousness of our Substitute and Representative, Jesus Christ the Lord. His work, and not our work is our only title to Heaven. This is a truth which we should be ready to die to maintain! 

[J.C. Ryle] 

Galatians 2:16 ...  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

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Listening ...

When you are tired of all of the evil happening in the world and you're just waiting for the trumpet to sound … 

Matthew 25:13 ...  Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

1 Thessalonians 5:6 ... Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

Luke 12:37 ... Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. ❤

God's Rod is a Pencil to Draw Christ's Image Upon Us!

Affliction is never accidental for the believer. Every trial, pain, and hardship is sovereignly appointed by God for His glory and our good. The world sees suffering as meaningless, or merely as an obstacle to their happiness. But Scripture teaches that suffering is a tool in the hands of our loving Father to purify our faith, to humble our pride, and to draw us nearer to Jesus. 

God often uses affliction: to bring His people to repentance, to teach them humility, to refine them in the furnace of affliction, to draw them closer to Himself, to cause them to live a more holy life, to strengthen their faith, and to conform them to Christ. God's rod is a pencil to draw Christ's image upon us! God's people never grow strong in grace without trials. 

Troubles are the tools with which God polishes His jewels. The pruning knife is never out of His hand, and it is never used without wisdom or love. Affliction is not the end of the story. One day, every tear will be wiped away, every pain will be no more, and we will see our trials as God's instruments that shaped us for eternity. Until that day, we endure with faith, knowing that God is working out His perfect plan. 

[Charles H. Spurgeon] 

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Job 23:10 ... But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Romans 8:18 ... For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 ... For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.❤

"Omnipotent"

When one says God is omnipotent (omni-all, potent—power) they are proclaiming that He not only has ultimate power over all things, but He is also the source of all power. Though He sets limits on all of creation, He Himself is limitless in strength, wisdom, love, holiness, and the ability to perform His sovereign will. He is the initiator of all that exists, the only uncaused entity in all of creation. 

[Jennifer Slattery]

Psalm 147:5 ... Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.

Romans 1:16 ... 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.

Hebrews 1:3 ... 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:

Matthew 28:18 ... And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Revelation 19:6 ... And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. ❤

A New Creation!!

Whenever anyone is saved by the sovereign grace of God and regenerated by the Holy Spirit he becomes a new creation in Christ.  This is not a mere moral improvement, nor a religious reformation, nor the adoption of a more wholesome lifestyle but a supernatural work of the Spirit, producing a new nature. Having experienced this miracle of salvation, this new man now has new views, new ambitions, new convictions, new desires, new notions, new hopes, new dreads, new pleasures, new aims, new principles, new affections, new joys, and new pursuits. Everything about him is changed. He does, as it were, live in a new world! He was once spiritually dead, enslaved to sin, governed by the flesh, blind to truth, and hostile to God!

Now, his affections are changed he loves what he once hated and hates what he once loved! Now, his mind is renewed he no longer sees life through the lens of popular culture, but through the lens of Scripture. Now, his will is liberated he longs to do the will of God, though not without struggle. Though sin still remains in his flesh, it no longer reigns in his life. The believer is brought into a new realm: from darkness to light; from death to life; from the kingdom of Satan to the kingdom of God. He is adopted as God's child, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, and sealed for the day of redemption. In Christ, every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms is now his! 

His past is forgiven, his present is transformed, and his future is secured. But the glory of this new creation lies not in the man himself, but in the One who made him new. Just as the original creation displayed the majesty of God, so this new creation displays the greatness of His sovereignty, mercy, and grace. Christian, never forget who you are--you are not what you once were. And though you are not yet what you will be--you are already made new in Christ. Let this truth humble you, encourage you, and move you to walk in newness of life, to the glory of God! 

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

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Ephesians 1:3 ... Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 

Colossians 1:13–14 ... Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

2 Corinthians 5:17 ... Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. ❤