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Sunday, December 28, 2014

Strong Finish, Strong Faith, Do You Have The Endurance To Win?



Jonathan Nelson wrote a song, “Finish Strong”. Here are the lyrics of the chorus ” I’m going to have a strong finish, strong faith, strong finish, strong faith,I’m going to have a strong finish, strong faith, strong finish, strong faith” , and here is the chant at the end “Strong finish, strong finish, strong finish, strong finish, strong finish, strong faith” . He starts by saying that this race of life that we are in is a marathon and you must have endurance to win.



  Endurance

To develop the endurance that we need we must have faith and our faith must become strong. If not
The Faith Marathon - Photograph by Martineric from Lillie France 
we will cross the finish line but barely, and in that group of stragglers at the tail end of the race. Yes they finish and will get a ribbon that says they finished but don’t you want to be one of the top finishers? I want you to be one of the top finishers because we know that while all believers will enjoy eternal life with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ some will receive greater rewards than others. Those receiving the greater rewards will be those with the strongest faith and having the strongest finish in the race. On my website I give promises of God that help us increase and strengthen our faith. (See Them Here!),  This post is about what it means to have that strong faith.

 In Romans 4:20 Paul says about Abraham;
Romans 4:20-21 (NKJV) 20  He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21  and being fully convinced that what He had promised

Faith is the only way we can obtain blessings from God. 

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)6  But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. 

 So prayer won’t get the answers or result in blessings unless the prayer is made in faith.  Charles Spurgeon said in one of his Spurgeon’s Morning & Evening Devotions, that ” Faith is the telegraphic wire which links earth and heaven-on which God’s messages of love fly so fast, that before we call He answers, and while we are yet speaking He hears us. But if that telegraphic wire of faith be snapped, how can we receive the promise?” We must make sure that our telegraphic wire of faith remains strong so that we can have the endurance to finish strong.

Six Benefits of Strong Faith


  1. Hope - Romans 5:2 “We have also obtained access through Him by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” 
  2. Joy – Acts 16:34 “He brought them into his house, set a meal before them, and rejoiced because he had believed God with his entire household.” 1 Peter 1:8 “You love Him, though you have not seen Him. And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy,” 
  3. Peace – Romans 15:13 “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you
    The Winner by Faith - Image from Church Sports Outreach
    believe ⌊in Him⌋ so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” 
  4. Confidence – Isaiah 28:16 “Therefore the Lord GOD said: “Look, I have laid a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; the one who believes will be unshakable.” 1Peter 2:6 “For it is contained in Scripture: Look! I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and honored cornerstone, and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame!” 
  5. Boldness - Psalms 116:10 “I believed, even when I said, “I am severely afflicted.” . 2 Corinthians 4:13 “And since we have the same spirit of faith in keeping with what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke, we also believe, and therefore speak.” 
  6. Christ is Precious - Ephesians 3:17 “and that the Messiah may dwell in your hearts through faith. ⌊I pray⌋ that you, being rooted and firmly established in love,”, 
1 Peter 2:7 “So honor ⌊will come⌋to you who believe, but for the unbelieving, The stone that the
builders rejected— this One has become the cornerstone,” 

*Scripture references from “The MacArthur Topical Bible”

Six Principles


Here are six principles in obtaining strong faith that Dr. Fred K.C. Price identifies in his book “How To Obtain Strong Faith: (Six Principles)”

  1. You must know the Reality of the Word of GOD. God’s word is Spirit; God’s Word is life. You must get into the Word; continue in the Word; devour it; get it down into your spirit, so that you may know the living reality of God’s Word. 
  2. You must know the Reality of your Redemption in Christ. You must know that you have been redeemed. You are not going to be redeemed. You are not in the process of being redeemed, but the Bible tells you that (if you have accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior) you have been redeemed. 
  3. You must know the Reality of the New Creation. As a Christian, being born by the Spirit of God, you are a new creature in Christ Jesus. God views you as a brand new individual. 
  4. You must know the Reality of your Righteousness in Christ. You don’t have to do any thing to get righteous. You are righteous in Christ. 
  5. You must know the Reality of your Righteousness in Christ. You don’t have to do any thing to get righteous. You are righteous in Christ.
  6. You must know the Reality of the Authority of the Name of Jesus. You must know that there is authority in that name of Jesus. You must know it as a reality. You must know it, not as an idea, not as a philosophy, not as a hope , not as a dream, but you must know that name as an actual, living, vital reality. 

Faith links us with God

With faith we have access to the power of God. Faith puts God on your side in all the battles that you face. With faith you are able to wear the armor of God, and it fits 

Ephesians 6:11-17 (NKJV) 11  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14  Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15  and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16  above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;. 

 Strong faith gives you the endurance to win and causes you to finish strong. Hold fast to and guard your faith because without it you will become exhausted and lose the endurance you have to have to win and receive the rewards that God has for you. When a marathon course of life takes us up the steep hills, along the cliffs, or down the steep grades, do you have the strength to continue to press on toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus Philippians 3:14

Do you have the endurance to win?





Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Faith the Size of a Mustard Seed



Matthew, and Luke record Jesus’ comments about the power of faith even as small as a mustard seed
can move a mountain or uproot a big tree.

Matthew 17:20 (HCSB)  “Because of your little faith,” He told them. “For I assure you: If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.

This was Jesus’ response to his disciples when they asked him why they had been unable to drive the demon out of a boy after Jesus, Peter, James, and John and come down from the mountain where Jesus had been transfigured.

Luke 17:6 (HCSB)  “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed,” the Lord said, “you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.
This was Jesus’ response to the apostles, this time, when they asked Him to increase their faith.

This is where we get the expression “faith as small as a mustard seed” to indicate that it doesn't take a whole lot of faith in God to do extraordinary things or to see extraordinary things happen. Let’s examine each of these cases where Jesus uses faith the size of a mustard seed to make His point about faith.

Why a mustard seed?


Let’s first look at why Jesus may have used the example of a mustard seed. Mustard seeds are the small round seeds of various mustard plants. The seeds are usually about 1 or 2 mm in diameter. Mustard seeds may be colored from yellowish white to black.  These are very small seeds. The mustard seed was the smallest of all the seeds known to the farmers of Palestine. That is why Jesus used the mustard seed to explain that it doesn't take a whole lot of faith.

Matthew 17:20


Let’s look at the Matthew scripture first. Jesus starts by saying that they actually did have little faith already.   In this case however, Jesus is talking about the disciples having doubts about the authorization He had given them earlier;

Matthew 10:8 (HCSB) Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those with skin diseases, drive out demons. You have received free of charge; give free of charge.
Jesus’ point was that a basic belief and trust in God can accomplish much. I doesn’t take a whole lot. Just believe and act in the authority that He had already given them. If we take the statement figuratively, that this small amount of faith, or this basic belief in the word of God,  is symbolic of
any major difficulty rather than it being a real mountain,   then we see how powerful it was to say that faith the size of a mustard seed can move this mountain. Jesus may have even pointed to the Mount of Transfiguration when He made the statement which makes it even more powerful. Now we do know that God can move a real mountain.  After all He created them but let’s keep in mind that faith is trust in God and in His revealed word and will. So faith to move an actual mountain will happen only when God reveals it to be His will, but you get my point. 

Luke 17:6


In Luke Jesus’ reference to faith the size of a mustard seed came at a time when He was giving instructions to His disciples in how they should respond to offenses against them. 

Luke 17:1-4 (HCSB) 1  He said to His disciples, “Offenses will certainly come, but woe to the one they come through! 2  It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than for him to cause one of these little ones to stumble. 3  Be on your guard. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. 4  And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and comes back to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”
After  telling them that they have to forgive and forgive and forgive, the disciples ask Jesus to increase their faith so that they can forgive someone that continues to offend.  He tells them that it’s not how much faith it’s the spirit and exuberance in which it’s exercised. 

Just as the example of the mustard seed in Jesus parable in Matthew 13:31-32 becomes a tree large enough for the birds to build nests the amount of faith, in God, that we need is very small. 

Matthew 13:31-32 (HCSB) 31  He presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. 32  It’s the smallest of all the seeds, but
Mustard
when grown, it’s taller than the vegetables and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches.”

 Just as the few disciples of Jesus, after His death, burial, resurrection and ascension, exercised that “mustard seed faith” to start a movement that has spread the gospel of salvation throughout the world. Jesus was illustrating the power of God when unleashed in the lives of those with true faith.

Who are some of the people with mustard seed faith?


I was going to include the names of great people of faith who over the centuries have exercised “mustard seed faith” but the list is inexhaustible. You can find some of them in these following books:


The people in these books are just as much heroes of the faith as those in Hebrews Chapter 11. They all started with faith the size of a mustard seed just like you and me. In our own ways we can become heroes of the faith to somebody who needs to know how Jesus can change and bless their lives through using the measure of faith  that God gives everybody, that mustard seed faith. Maybe just maybe our mustard seed faith can move the on to “saving faith“. 

Romans 12:3 (HCSB) For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.

Who are your heroes of faith?  Not those listed in Hebrews 11 but the people that you know personally, or have heard about that have become your heroes of faith.



Monday, December 8, 2014

Worry Ends Where Faith Begins


This is for me too

This post is as much for me as it is for you.  I am going through a stressful situation right now but I know that worry ends where stress begins so I’m writing this for me too.

Stress, anxiety and worry are something we all struggle with at some point in our lives.  We are bombarded with advertisements, enticing us with things that we don’t really need or can afford,  and left with the feeling that if we don’t get or don’t have those things that we are
losers, or we’ll never achieve any significance.  So given that jolt we can easily become overwhelmed with worry,  fear of failure and fear of the unknown.  

But God has not given us a spirit of fear but of love and power and a sound mind.  Yes a spirit of courage not fear.   The ultimate end to worry  is to put your trust in God.  Worry ends where faith begins.

What is worry?

Here are some definitions for worry;
  1. give way to anxiety or unease; allow one’s mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles; 
  2. a state of anxiety and uncertainty of actual or potential problems;  
  3. to think about problems or fears : to feel or show fear and concern because you think that something bad has happened or could happen.


Worry is to give way or give in to anxiety or unease, to ponder or consider intently about things that may or may not happen.  If what you are worrying about has already happened then you may need to do something about it.  Worrying about it without doing anything doesn't solve or change anything.  

If what you’re worrying about is a hasn't happened we may be giving in to something that may not happen all.  So we spent time worrying about nothing.  We may need to do some things to prevent what it is we are worrying about but if it hasn't happened yet why give in in advance?  Remember worry ends where faith begins and if our faith is in God then we need to give in to Him and His promises, not to the problems, difficulty or trouble.   In a blog not too long ago I gave you a list of who God is (Lord I Believe; Help My Unbelief).  Look at that list when you start to worry and become overwhelmed.  When you consider who God is then the problem becomes nothing.  

Worry robs us

 Worry robs us of time that we will never get back and,  if we look back at our past most, if not all of the things we worried about never happened or were solved and the worry wasn't the solution.  The scriptures encourage us to keep our minds on Jesus and the peace He brings. 

John 14:27 (HCSB)  “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Your heart must not be troubled or fearful.


John 16:33 (HCSB) I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.” 

Isaiah says that our faith will be expressed as complete trust in the sufficiency of God and the perfection of his will.

Isaiah 26:3 (HCSB) You will keep the mind that is dependent on You in perfect peace, for it is trusting in You.


The Hebrew word for perfect peace here is shalom shalom or peace peace.  This is “a peace that really is peace”  the kind that only God can give not the temporary peace that man gives.

4 Things about worry

Worry doesn’t accomplish anything 


Matthew 6:25-29 (HCSB) “This is why I tell you: Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body
more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the sky: They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? Can any of you add a single cubit to his height by worrying?And why do you worry about clothes? Learn how the wildflowers of the field grow: they don’t labor or spin thread. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was adorned like one of these!”


Worry can be destructive and can even make you ill


Proverbs 12:25 (HCSB) “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a good word cheers it up. “

If we worry we are not trusting God


Philippians 4:6-7 (HCSB) “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Direct your attention on God not the problem 


1 Peter 5:6-7 (HCSB) “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.”


9 more Scriptures to strengthen you

When you start to have anxiety, stress and worry use them to strengthen your faith in God.  Worry is just that,  it’s not the real thing.

  1. Matthew 11:28-30 (HCSB) “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
  2. Colossians 3:15 (HCSB) “And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful.”
  3. 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (HCSB) May the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
  4. Psalm 55:22 (HCSB)  “Cast your burden on the LORD, and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.”
  5. Psalm 23:4 (HCSB) “Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me. “
  6. Hebrews 13:5 (HCSB) “Your life should be free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for He Himself has said, I will never leave you or forsake you. “
  7. Psalm 56:3 (HCSB) “When I am afraid, I will trust in You.”
  8. Proverbs 3:5-6 (HCSB) “Trust in the LORD with all your heart,and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.”
  9. Romans 8:38 (HCSB) “For I am persuaded that not even death or life, angels or rulers, things present or things to come,hostile powers, “


If you are worried, anxious, or stressed give it to God.  Remember worry ends where faith begins.
I would love to talk to you about those things that are stressing you out, causing you sleepless nights, and affecting your health.  I’ve been there and I found the answer in trusting God.   In fact I am fighting stress and anxiety over some stuff that is going on in my life right now so like I said before, this post is for me as much as it is for you.  



Thursday, December 4, 2014

Justification - Under the Gospel



This is the fifth, and final post, in my series on justification.  The first four, “All That Believe Are Justified Through Faith - Or Is It By Faith", "Justification - Promised In Christ", "Justification Is The Act Of God", and "Justification - Under the Law - Is That Possible?", have been leading up to this one.

Before you get excited and say that I'm saying we are justified some other way than through and by faith in what Jesus did for us on the cross let me give you a biblical definition of the gospel.  The dictionary defines the gospel as; 
1) the teachings of Jesus and the apostles; the Christian revelation 
2) the story of Christ's life and teachings, especially as contained in the first four books of the new testament, namely Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  
3) ( usually initial capital letter ) any of these four books. 
4) something regarded as true and implicitly believed: to take his report for gospel. 
5) a doctrine regarded as of prime importance: political gospel. 

 Here’s the apostle Paul's clarification;

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (HCSB) 1  Now brothers, I want to clarify for you the gospel I proclaimed to you; you received it and have taken your stand on it. 2  You are also saved by it, if you hold to the message I proclaimed to you—unless you believed for no purpose. 3  For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4  that He
was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

Paul also wrote;

 Romans 10:9-13 (HCSB) 9  If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10  One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. 11  Now the Scripture says, Everyone who believes on Him will not be put to shame, 12  for there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, since the same Lord of all is rich to all who call on Him.  13  For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. – I’ll proceed with my opinion the justification is in fact under the gospel.

Justification Is not of works


Justification is under the gospel it is definitely not of works.  In the very first blog we quoted Acts 13:39 (HCSB) and everyone who believes in Him is justified from everything that you could not be justified from through the law of Moses. 

Here' further proof;

Romans 8:3 (HCSB) 3  What the law could not do since it was limited by the flesh, God did. He condemned sin in the flesh by sending His own Son in flesh like ours under sin’s domain, and as a sin offering,
Galatians 2:16 (HCSB) 16  know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ. And we have believed in Christ Jesus so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified.

Galatians 3:11 (HCSB) 11  Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live by faith.

Is not of faith and works together

Stay with me here I know that in James it says that faith without works is dead but this blog is about justification not the results of our faith in Jesus which is a requirement of justification.  Here is scripture that proves that justification is not by a combination or unity of faith and works:

Romans 3:28 (HCSB) 28  For we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.

Romans 11:6 (HCSB) 6  Now if by grace, then it is not by works; otherwise grace ceases to be grace.

Galatians 5:4 (HCSB) 4  You who are trying to be justified by the law are alienated from Christ; you have fallen from grace.

Justification Is by faith alone


John 5:24 (HCSB)  “I assure you: Anyone who hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment but has passed from death to life.

Acts 13:39 (HCSB)  and everyone who believes in Him is justified from everything that you could not be justified from through the law of Moses.

Romans 3:30 (HCSB) since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.

Romans 5:1 (HCSB)  Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Galatians 2:16 (HCSB)  know that no one is justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ. And we have believed in Christ Jesus so that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no human being will be justified.

Justification Is of grace


Here is a definition of grace from Baker’s Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology;  

The word "grace" in biblical parlance can, like forgiveness, repentance, regeneration, and salvation, mean something as broad as describing the whole of God's activity toward man or as narrow as describing one segment of that activity. An accurate, common definition describes grace as the unmerited favor of God toward man. In the Old Testament, the term that most often is translated "grace, " is hen [ej]; in the New Testament, it is charis [cavri"].

In short justification under the gospel is through God’s grace which is undeserved and unmerited, nevertheless He has granted it because we believe as it says in Romans 10:9-10.  Here is some scriptural proof:

Romans 3:24 (HCSB) 24  They are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Romans 4:16 (HCSB) 16  This is why the promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace, to guarantee it to all the descendants—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of Abraham’s faith. He is the father of us all

Romans 5:17-21 (HCSB) 17  Since by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. 18  So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is life-giving justification for everyone.
19  For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. 20  The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more 21  so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.



Justification In the name of Jesus Christ


1 Corinthians 6:11 (HCSB) 11  And some of you used to be like this. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
  
By imputation of Christ’s righteousness (credited to us)

Here is the Oxford Dictionary’s definition of impute with regard to theology;  

Ascribe (righteousness, guilt, etc.) to someone by virtue of a similar quality in another:
Christ’s righteousness has been imputed to us.  

Imputed righteousness is the righteousness of Jesus credited to the Christian, enabling the Christian to be justified. Double imputation refers to the imputation of believers' sin to Christ and the imputation of Christ's righteousness to believers.  Want proof from the scripture here it is:

Romans 3:22 (HCSB) 22  —that is, God’s righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe, since there is no distinction.

Romans 5:18 (HCSB) 18  So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is life-giving justification for everyone.

1 Corinthians 1:30 (HCSB) 30  But it is from Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became God-given wisdom for us—our righteousness, sanctification, and redemption,

2 Corinthians 5:21 (HCSB) 21  He made the One who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

By  the Blood of Christ

Romans 5:9 (HCSB) 9  Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, we will be saved through Him from wrath.

By the Resurrection of Christ

Romans 4:25 (HCSB) 25  He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

Justification Frees from Condemnation


Once we are justified we have direct access to God Almighty the Creator of the universe because of the completed work of Christ as described in all of the scriptures quoted above.  This is why I say that we are justified under the gospel as defined in the second paragraph of this blog and because we are justified we are free from condemnation.  I will end with what the Bible says about our justification freeing us of condemnation.
Found on Pinterest 

 Isaiah 50:8-9 (HCSB) 8  The One who vindicates Me is near; who will contend with Me? Let us confront each other. Who has a case against Me? Let him come near Me!
9  In truth, the Lord GOD will help Me; who will condemn Me? Indeed, all of them will wear out like a garment; a moth will devour them.

Isaiah 54:17 (HCSB) 17  No weapon formed against you will succeed, and you will refute any accusation raised against you in court. This is the heritage of the LORD’s servants, and their righteousness is from Me.” This is the LORD’s declaration.

Romans 8:33-34 (HCSB) 33  Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the One who justifies. 34  Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the One who died, but even more, has been raised; He also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.

Because we are now justified we are entitled to an inheritance;

Titus 3:7 (HCSB) 7  so that having been justified by His grace, we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life, and our justification ensures our glorification.  

 Romans 8:30 (HCSB) 30  And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified; and those He justified, He also glorified.

Have you been justified?


If you've never accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior none of what you just read applies to you but God loves you and has provided a way for your justification, pardon and acceptance but it must be your decision.  The way to pardon and acceptance is simple I have referred to it a couple of times in this post.

Romans 10:9-10 (NKJV) 9  that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

If you're ready just repeat this prayer.

"Dear God, I am a sinner and need forgiveness.  I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sin.  I am willing to turn from sin.  I now invite Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Savior.

If you just prayed this prayer the call, text, email, tweet, change your Facebook status and tell somebody.  Please leave me a comment or email me at this LINK.  Welcome to the family of God.