Memory/Focus Verse: For of His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. John 1:16
Challenge: This week in your journals, record one way God is good to you each day.
TRUTH OR LIE? – YOU HAVE TO EARN GOD’S LOVE
Read: Ephesians 2:8; 1 John 4: 19 and SOAP: Ephesians 2:8
For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God;
Ephesians 2:8 NET
What do you think? (share your answer below)
Why can’t you earn God’s love?
Why is this TRUTH freeing?
Nothing is free, right? Things like grades … wages … respect … promotions … friends … trust all have to be earned – but your relationship with God is completely different.
And so he is the mediator[a] of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance he has promised,[b] since he died[c] to set them free from the violations committed under the first covenant. 16 For where there is a will, the death of the one who made it must be proven.[d]17 For a will takes effect only at death, since it carries no force while the one who made it is alive. 18 So even the first covenant was inaugurated with blood.[e]19 For when Moses had spoken every command to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats with water and scarlet wool and hyssop and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 and said, “This is the blood of the covenant that God has commanded you to keep.”[f]21 And both the tabernacle and all the utensils of worship he likewise sprinkled with blood. 22 Indeed according to the law almost everything was purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. 23 So it was necessary for the sketches[g] of the things in heaven to be purified with these sacrifices,[h] but the heavenly things themselves required[i] better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands—the representation[j] of the true sanctuary[k]—but into heaven itself, and he appears now in God’s presence for us. 25 And he did not enter to offer[l] himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the sanctuary year after year with blood that is not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the consummation of the ages to put away sin by his sacrifice. 27 And just as people[m] are appointed to die once, and then to face judgment,[n]28 so also, after Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many,[o] to those who eagerly await him he will appear a second time, not to bear sin[p] but to bring salvation.[q]
So if perfection had in fact been possible through the Levitical priesthood—for on that basis[a] the people received the law—what further need would there have been for another priest to arise, said to be in the order of Melchizedek and not in Aaron’s order? 12 For when the priesthood changes, a change in the law must come[b] as well. 13 Yet the one these things are spoken about belongs to[c] a different tribe, and no one from that tribe[d] has ever officiated at the altar. 14 For it is clear that our Lord is descended from Judah, yet Moses said nothing about priests in connection with that tribe. 15 And this is even clearer if another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, 16 who has become a priest not by a legal regulation about physical descent[e] but by the power of an indestructible life. 17 For here is the testimony about him:[f] “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”[g]18 On the one hand a former command is set aside[h] because it is weak and useless,[i]19 for the law made nothing perfect. On the other hand a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. 20 And since[j] this was not done without a sworn affirmation—for the others have become priests without a sworn affirmation, 21 but Jesus[k] did so[l] with a sworn affirmation by the one who said to him, “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever’”[m]— 22 accordingly Jesus has become the guarantee[n] of a better covenant. 23 And the others[o] who became priests were numerous, because death prevented them[p] from continuing in office,[q]24 but he holds his priesthood permanently since he lives forever. 25 So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.26 For it is indeed fitting for us to have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separate from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need to do every day what those priests do, to offer sacrifices first for their own sins and then for the sins of the people, since he did this in offering himself once for all. 28 For the law appoints as high priests men subject to weakness,[r] but the word of solemn affirmation that came after the law appoints a son made perfect forever.
Question of the Day: Why is Jesus able to save completely those who come to God through Him?
I’ve recently started using the NET (New English Translation) Bible and was fascinated with the rendering of verse 16. “For this is the way God loved the world:” This is a demonstrative statement that demonstrates God’s expressed love. A love so deep and wide that He held nothing back. We were all sinners (Romans 3:23) condemned (Romans 6:23) unclean but God’s love triumphed over sin and death and brought not just life but eternal life to all who would believe (Acts 16:31). The action of “giving His one and only Son” for the salvation of all who would believe showed an unimaginable love not just for the collective world but for each individual, no matter their race or station in life – Jew or Gentile, uncivilized, slave or free. The demonstration wasn’t just for show or done without thought – He planned and carried out each detail. So, He didn’t just give His Son, He gave Him with the knowledge that He would be crucified on a cross of shame for the sins of the world, more pointedly for your sins and mine. Simply stated, belief would equal salvation and salvation would equal eternal life and not because of anything we had done or could do – but simply and yet profoundly because HE SO LOVED THE WORLD! 💜
My encouragement for today – Let this knowledge move you to worship Father and Son for their deep and matchless love. Let it move you to live and love like Jesus. Finally, let it move you to share this message with at least one other person (friend, family member, neighbor…) today. Who knows, maybe they will share it with their friends and on and on until the whole world knows of God’s amazing love.
Father, You are good! You are kind and gracious to call us into Your Presence and to give us Your Word and Your Spirit that we might hear from You and know You and Your will. And in doing so – we are forever changed!
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Rom 10:17
We are saved by Your Word! We are built up and sanctified by It – changed and set apart for You.
Now I entrust you to God and to the Word of His grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those He has set apart for Himself. Acts 20:32
Knowing It protects us.
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against You. Ps 119:11
My child pay attention to what i say. Listen carefully to My words, for they are life to those who find them and healing to their whole body. Prov 4:20-22
Your Spirit teaches It to us and counsels us with It and by It we are convicted and made right.
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father sent will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to You. John 14:26
Father, no matter what else I forget and no matter how deaf or blind I may continue to become – please – never let me fail to remember Your Word or to hear Your voice or to follow where It leads. In Jesus’ powerful name – amen and amen!
