Christ's Transcendent Loveliness!

The prophet Isaiah, speaking of graceless men as disliking, not desiring, not loving Jesus; brings them in as saying, "He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him!" (Isaiah 53:2)

 

What! No loveliness in Him who is "the brightness of the Father's glory, and the express image of His person!" Yes, there is, but they had no eyes to see it! It is as if a blind man would say that the sun is dark, because he has no eyes to behold its light. How could they look upon Him with an eye of love; when they did not discern Him with an eye of faith?

But a holy soul, whose eyes are divinely opened, so sees the superlative goodness, beauty, and excellence in Jesus that all other things, which are good with an inferior goodness, seem to him as dross and rubbish! "But whatever was to my profit, I now consider loss for the sake of Jesus. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things! I consider them rubbish," things cast to dogs, or dog's food, "that I may gain Christ!" (Philippians 3:7-8) The holy man, whose mind is savingly enlightened, can say: I see that goodness in the Savior, which far surpasses all the goodness of the creature!

Though the stars can be seen in the night; yet when the sun arises, they all disappear. Just so, in my night of ignorance, when my mind was blind, my heart hard, and my affections frozen; I was bewitched with the glare of riches, of honors, and of worldly pleasures. But then the Sun of righteousness with His radiant rays shined into my soul, and with His warming influences thawed my benumbed and frozen heart. And then the glory of all those earthly vanities which once dazzled my eyes, vanished and withered away! When I once got a view of Christ's transcendent loveliness; then in comparison to Him, I saw an emptiness and vanity, in all the creature's fullness; shame, in all the world's nobility; dishonor, in all the world's glory; poverty, in all the world's richest; darkness, in the world's most resplendent luster; folly, in the world's highest wisdom; deformity, in the world's loveliest beauty!

Yes, the soul whose love is fixed upon Jesus, adores His superlative goodness, beauty, and excellence!

[Thomas Doolittle]

Song of Soloman 5:16 ... His mouth is most sweet: yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem.

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Turn Your Eyes to Jesus!!

A living, breathing relationship with the Savior of the world will drive porn out of your life quicker than anything else. When you turn your eyes to Jesus, there isn’t room for anything else in your heart because He fills it up. When you open the blinds of a pitch-black room, the sunlight drives away the darkness.

[Heath Lambert]

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Hebrews 12:2 ... Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Colossians 3:2 ... Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

Philippians 4:13 ... I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. ❤

Submission to Gods Will

Our wills are naturally selfish. We love to have our own way. It's not easy to submit to the will of another, unless there is some strong motive that impels us to submission. The carrying out of our wills in a selfish way, only leads to more selfishness and to a stronger inclination to have our own way. It is this selfish inclination in the will, that makes it necessary for God to demand submission from us.

His will is never selfish, but always benevolent. The cheerful doing of it always leads to an increase of benevolence in us. Therefore, when God demands us to submit our wills to him, he is doing that which is best for us. The more consideration for others and true benevolence is developed within us the more our natures are purified and exalted and the more we are able to fulfill the purpose of our creation.

Submitting to God is often the hardest of all tasks, yet it's the most necessary, if we're to be exalted to fellowship with God and enjoy the highest development of our faculties and powers. Selfishness always tends to degrade. Its ignoble exercise tends to dwarf and blight the finest things in our characters. The adoption of a submissive attitude toward God and his will, paves the way for the natural development of those qualities within us which are most worth developing, and which ennoble us most when they're developed. The more our souls run out God-ward, the more like him we become; and the more like him we become, the happier and more useful we are. Unselfish devotion to benevolent service toward God and toward our fellow man, enriches the heart and life as nothing else can do, and leads the way to happiness, peace, and contentment, which make one truly blessed.

Submission to God is the one necessary thing in order to enjoy the Christian life. The more fully we are submitted to his will, the more cheerfully we can carry it out, and the sweeter and richer will be the joy of doing it. Reluctant submission to God is not real submission. Reluctant obedience is never real obedience. It's only when the heart responds to God willingly and cheerfully, that the power of such service to make one joyful is realized. We must conquer our reluctant wills. "The essence of sacrifice of self is the sacrifice of the will. Unwilling offerings are a contradiction, and in fact, there are no such things. The quality of unwillingness destroys the character of the offering and robs it of all sacredness. Reluctant Christianity is not Christianity."

True nobility of both the inner and the outer life comes from submission to, and cooperation with, God. The nature of our relations with God depends upon the extent of our submission to him.

[Charles Naylor]

Matthew 6:10 ... Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Philippians 2:13 ... For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Colossians 1:9 ... For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; ❤

Think on Good ~~~

Did you know your mind believes what you tell it? Even the Bible says as a man thinks so is He. (Proverbs 23:7)

Choose to think on GOOD things.

[Caroline Joy James]

Philippians 4:8 ... Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

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"My Children"

Lord, I place my children into Your hands today. There was a time when I could see everything, when I knew their struggles, guided their steps, and helped carry their burdens. But now they are walking paths I cannot always follow, facing things I may never fully understand.

And if I’m honest, that can feel heavy.

I still care deeply. I still want to protect them, to fix what hurts them, to guide every decision. But I’m learning that my role has changed, and in that change, You are inviting me to trust You more.

You see what I cannot see. You understand what they cannot express. You are present in every moment of their lives, even the ones hidden from me.

Teach me to cover them in prayer instead of worry. To trust that You are guiding their choices, guarding their hearts, and working in ways far beyond my reach. Remind me that You love them even more than I do, and that Your plans for them are good.

When I feel the urge to control, help me surrender. When I feel anxious, fill me with peace. And when I don’t know what to pray, remind me that You already know exactly what they need.

Thank You for never leaving them, for patiently leading them, and for faithfully finishing the work You started in their lives. I trust you with their journey.

[God's Grace]

Facebook - God's Grace

Philippians 4:6-7 ... Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. ❤

On Our Way!!

He whose daily life is a fixing his eyes on Jesus, has Heaven on his way to Heaven!

[Henry Law]

Philippians 3:20 ... For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: ❤

Jesus is LORD.

 Whether you accept Him or not and whether you believe or not, Christ is LORD.

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Philippians 2:10-11 ... That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Acts 10:36 .... The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

Psalm 14:1 ... The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.

Revelation 17:14 ... These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful. ❤

Eternal Fountains

Numerous are the sources of sorrow here on earth but God will dry them all up in Heaven.  There will be no mourning Christian to drop tears there, "for all sorrow and sighing shall flee away!" There is nothing in that happy residence to distress or annoy.  Jeremiah will utter no plaintive language there. Transgressors will grieve the holy no more. Bartimaeus is the poor blind beggar no more. Lazarus's sores have been replaced by immortal beauty. The weeping widow is no longer crushed to the dust by the heavy hand of poverty. The orphan child is no longer forsaken and homeless. Pinching poverty and wasting disease are unknown. 

The distressing complaint will never accost the ear, "I am sick!" The sting of death and the terrors of the grave will never present themselves there. There are no graves in the land of eternal life. There is no death of friends there. Martha and Mary go to no beloved brother's grave to weep. 

Yonder, there is no deceitful heart, no secret foe, no fascinating world, no artful Satan! The former things have passed away, and the era of immortality has arrived.  God shall give them everything calculated to secure, continue, and increase their happiness. "He will lead them to springs of living water," which shall never be exhausted. A spring is termed living water, because constantly bubbling up, and running on. These "springs of living water" indicate endless sources of happiness, which Christ will supply to His redeemed people from His own infinite plenitude. 

These eternal fountains will make an infinite variety for the enjoyments of the blessed. There will be no sameness, and therefore no weariness to the spirit. Every moment will open a new source of pleasure. And as God is infinite, so His attributes are infinite, and throughout infinity more and more of those attributes will be unveiled and the discovery of each will be a new fountain of enjoyment. These sources will be ever opening through all eternity and yet, through all eternity, there will still remain in the absolute perfections of the Godhead, an infinity of them still to be opened! 

[William Nicholson] 

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Revelation 7:17 ... For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Psalm 36:9 ... For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.

Philippians 1:23 ... For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: ❤

Leaning on Paul's Instruction

You don't have to go to a church to be Born Again.  You don't have to tithe for God to bless you. You don't have to dress in a certain way to please your Heavenly Father.

Once you understand how Grace works and how Christ changed what we couldn't, then you will fully understand how God simply want our fellowship, not our allegiance. 

This is why we lean on what Paul instructed, that every person walk according to their own conscious and work out one’s own salvation with fear and trembling. But resting in the fact that Christ is easy and his yolk is light.

[Christopher Gregory]

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Philippians 2:12-13 ... Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Matthew 11:29-30 ... Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Galatians 5:1-4 ... Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace. ❤

Time to Pray!!

As the war in Iran rages on, experts are warning that World War III may be closer than ever. Scientists have moved the Doomsday Clock to just 85 seconds before midnight the closest it has ever been to symbolic global catastrophe.

Not surprisingly, fear and anxiety are surging. Among adults under 30, depression rates have nearly doubled since 2017. Almost one in five American adults experienced an anxiety disorder last year alone. Millions are glued to their phones, doomscrolling, constantly looking down, absorbing one alarming headline after another.

But Jesus told us to do something very different. He said, “When you see these things begin to happen, look up, for your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:28)

In other words... don’t panic. Look up.

Don’t panic. Pray.

[Greg Laurie]

Philippians 4:6-7 ... Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. ❤

Consider Them Rubbish!

When the grace of God commences its work in a man's soul, he begins to be serious and thoughtful. This is one of the first noticeable changes in him: he renounces his former foolishness and indifference, and becomes a sincere, considerate man, in whose mind there is a deep concern as to his own heart and character in the sight of God. He is concerned to avoid temptations, lest they should prove too much for him, and he should be betrayed into sin. 

He longs to lead a holy life; in fact, holiness is now his great aim and desire. He becomes a praying man, and studies God's Word devoutly. He is an earnest man now, concerned about his soul's affairs, his sins, his life, his death, and his eternal salvation. He hears the wheels of eternity sounding in his ears, and henceforth lives for Jesus, and puts away childish vanities. Such matters were sport to him once, but they are serious concerns to him now. 

He has thrown off the cap and bells of the jester and taken up the life of a pilgrim; confessing in an unmistakable manner, that life is short, death is sure, and Heaven and Hell are the most sobering realities. He is the best Christian, who most exemplifies in his own practice, what is recorded in the Gospel of the temperament, converse, and actions of the holy, the harmless, and undefiled Jesus; and depends the most absolutely upon Him, for wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. 

[Charles H. Spurgeon] 

Philippians 3:7-8 ... But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

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Priceless Jewel in Worship

Heart worship is the most precious thing in the sight of God. The only worship that God accepts is that priceless jewel the love and devotion of the heart. Nor is it hard to see why it is so; for it is plain that if a man had kept all the rituals of the Mosaic law, yet he might not be a sincere worshiper of God at all. He might drive whole flocks of his sheep to the temple to sacrifice; and yet he might feel no love or reverence for the Highest God. 

It has been proved times without number, that the most careful and zealous attention to external religious ceremonies, is quite consistent with the absolute absence of any true communion with God, and hearty love for Him. The conscious lack of inward, vital, and saving grace may even drive a man to a more intense zeal in religious formalities, in order to conceal the sins in his heart. It is written, "Israel has forsaken his Maker, and builds temples." You would think that if a man would build temples, then he must love and reverence God. But it is not so. Beneath the folds of priestly vestments, ordained ministers often attempt to cover over their wicked hearts. 

Fine music often proceeds from proud hearts. The smoke of incense often becomes a cloud which attempts to conceal a man from the face of God. It is no doubt that certain rich men who give large contributions to religious causes, often do it in pride to show off their wealth, or to display their generosity. A large monetary gift might be nothing more than a bid for popular esteem and so it is a mere offering to selfishness and vanity. With such sacrifices, God is not pleased. 

Alas, how easy it is to defile the worship of God, until it becomes an odious stench to Him. Singers may lift up their sweet voices, so that others may hear how charmingly they sing. Ministers may preach with eloquence, so that they may be admired for their exquisite speech. Believers may even pray devoutly, so that their fellow Christians may see how pious they are. 

Alas! This blight of SELF may come into any and every part of religious service and turn the worship of God into an occasion for self-glorification! 

[Charles H. Spurgeon]

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John 4:23-24 ... But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.   God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

Matthew 15:8-9 ... This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.  But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Philippians 3:3 ... For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. ❤

"Your Daughter is Dead"

"While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. 'Your daughter is dead!' he said." Luke 8:49 

Let us notice in this verse how universal is the dominion which death holds over mankind.  We see death coming to a rich man's house and tearing from him the desire of his eyes with a stroke!  Such tidings as these, are the bitterest cups which we have to drink in this world. Nothing cuts so deeply into man's heart as to part with beloved ones and lay them in the grave.  Few griefs are so crushing and heavy as the grief of a parent over the death of an only child.  

Death is indeed a cruel enemy! He makes no distinction in his attacks. He comes to the rich man's mansion as well as to the poor man's cottage.  He does not spare the young, the strong, and the beautiful any more than the old, the infirm, and the grey haired.  Not all the gold of Australia, nor all the skill of doctors can keep the hand of death from our bodies, in the day of his power.  When the appointed hour comes, and God permits him to smite then our worldly schemes must be broken off, and our darlings must be taken away and buried out of our sight. 

These thoughts are melancholy, and few like to hear of them. The subject of death is one that men shut their eyes at and refuse to look at. "All men think all men mortal, but themselves!"  But why should we treat this great reality in this way?  Why should we not rather look the subject of death in the face, in order that when our turn comes, we may be prepared to die?  Death will come to our houses, whether we like it or not. Death will take each of us away despite our dislike to hearing about it. Surely it is the part of a wise man to get ready for this great change. Why should we not be ready? 

There is one who can deliver us from the fear of death. Christ has overcome death, and "brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel." He who believes on Him, has everlasting life. Though he dies yet shall he live. Let us believe in the Lord Jesus and then death will lose his sting. We shall then be able to say with Paul, "To me, to die is gain!" (Philippians 1:21) 

[J. C. Ryle]

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Romans 8:13 ...  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

John 5:24 ... Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Galatians 6:8 ... For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. ❤

"Fellowship"

1 John 1:7 ... 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.

1 Corinthians 1:9 ... God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Philippians 3:9-11 ... And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. ❤

Fixing Someone ...

Only God can change the situation. Pray and give it to the Lord!

"Our prayers may be awkward. Our attempts may be feeble. But since the power of prayer is in the One who hears it and not in the one who says it, our prayers do make a difference."

[Max Lucado]

Philippians 4:6 ...  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Proverbs 3:5 ... Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

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. 

1 Peter 5:7 ... Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.❤

The Prince of Peace

Peace does not come from circumstances.  Peace comes from Christ. He is the Prince of Peace!

Isaiah 9:6 ... For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Philippians 4:7 ...  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

John 16:33 ... These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. ❤

ALL The Time!

We just don't need God when we are in trouble.  We need God twenty-four hours per day and three-hundred-sixty-five days per year!!  Amen!!

Philippians 4:19 ... But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 13:6 ... So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Psalm 37:3-5 ... Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.  Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

Philippians 4:11-13 ... Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

John 15:5 ...  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

1 Peter 5:6-7 ... Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ...  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

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Every True Citizen of Heaven!

Every true citizen of Heaven not only has his home in Heaven, but his heart is there too. Not only does he look forward to dwelling there hereafter but even now he seeks to be holy and heavenly in life and character. Thus, he is known by all that he does and says - to be one who belongs to Heaven, and that more and more, as he gets nearer to his eternal home. Those who live the life of faith, and love their Savior, and strive to serve God are different in their whole conduct from men of the world. It is plain that they are not of this world. Their life shows it. Their citizenship is in Heaven. There ought to be no mistaking a citizen of Heaven. 

But alas! There is too much of worldliness and carelessness even in those who are in the narrow way. Too often it would be hard to know them as travelers towards Zion, seeking the heavenly country. What! Shall those who are to live forever with God have so little fellowship with Him now? Shall those whose treasure is in Heaven, where no rust nor moth can corrupt care so much for the perishing things of this world? Shall those for whom Jesus has gone to prepare a place fret against the little hardships and discomforts along the way? 

Thus, the Christian should often remind himself of the heavenly home to which he belongs. It would help him to be heavenly in heart and life. "Our citizenship is in Heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ!" (Philippians 3:19-20) We look for Jesus, we expect Him, we are waiting for Him. He said that He would return and told us to watch for His coming. He has told us to be ready, so that when He comes, we may receive Him with joy. This is the position of the Christian on earth waiting for his Lord and Savior! We do not know when He will come, and we do not know how He will come. He may come while, yet we are living or we may die before His coming; no one knows. 

To be thus looking for the coming of the Lord must have a great effect on a man's character and life, must keep him from living in sin or in carelessness, must make him watchful, diligent, and in earnest, must tend greatly to a spiritual mind, must lead him to draw off his affections from the world and to fix them upon eternal realities! Thinking of Him, looking for Him, wishing for Him, doing His will, engaged in His work this is what Jesus would have us to do and be. Lord, make us so more and more! 

[Francis Bourdillon]

Hebrews 11:13-16 ... These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.  For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.  And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

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The Last Four Things

1. DEATH – The Inescapable Appointment Death is not a possibility--it is a divine certainty. It is the wages of sin (Romans 6:23), the last enemy (1 Corinthians 15:26), and the doorway to eternity. No one escapes it. The rich and the poor, the righteous and the wicked, the young and the old, all must pass through its shadow. Yet for the believer, death is not the end, but the beginning of glory. Christ has removed the sting of death (1 Corinthians 15:55), and to die is now gain (Philippians 1:21). But for the unrepentant, death seals their eternal doom. "So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12) 

2. JUDGMENT – The Unavoidable Reckoning After death comes judgment not reincarnation, not annihilation, not a second chance. Every soul will stand before the throne of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10). The books will be opened (Revelation 20:12), and every thought, word, and deed will be weighed. For the believer, Christ has borne the judgment. For the unbeliever, every sin will be exposed and justly condemned. There will be no appeals, no excuses, no escape. "For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:14) 

3. HEAVEN – The Eternal Home of the Redeemed Heaven is not earned, it is purchased by the blood of Christ. It is the home of righteousness (2 Peter 3:13), the dwelling place of God (Revelation 21:3), and the eternal inheritance of the saints (1 Peter 1:4). There, we shall see Christ face to face (1 John 3:2), worship without sin, and rejoice without sorrow. No more tears. No more death. Only unending joy in the presence of the Lamb! "In Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." (Psalm 16:11) 

4. HELL – The Eternal Justice of God Hell is real. It is not a metaphor, not a scare tactic, but a terrifying reality. It is the just punishment for sin, under God's righteous wrath (Matthew 25:46; Revelation 14:10–11). Jesus spoke more of Hell than anyone else in Scripture. The Cross of Christ is the only refuge from the Fire of Hell. Those who reject Christ, will be tormented with burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and of the Lamb; the smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever, and they will have no relief day or night. There are many ways to enter Hell. There is only one way to avoid Hell. There is no way to escape Hell. "These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." (Matthew 25:46) 

These Four Last Things are not distant abstractions they are imminent realities. You will die. You will be judged. You will spend eternity in either Heaven or Hell. The only hope is Jesus Christ, who died and rose again to save sinners. 

Repent and believe the gospel. Cling to Christ. Live every moment in light of eternity!

[Various Authors]

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Hebrews 9:27 ...  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Amos 4:12 ... Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. ❤

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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