Tag: saved by grace

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Beginning to Forever, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study

The Road that Leads to Grace

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There is such beauty and hope in the book of Romans. It is the hope of our salvation. It is the glory of the Father and the reality of the Son. It is the forgiveness of sin, the promise of Heaven, and the gift of eternal life. It is the message we have been commissioned to carry to the ‘farthest ends of the earth, so that all might hear and believe and share in the hope of our salvation.

When we come to Christ as broken sinners, He exchanges our sin for His righteousness.

Gotquestions.org

Today’s journey is a collection of passages known as the Romans Road, which leads us straight to God’s gift of eternal life—by grace, through faith in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:8-9). This road through Romans is the main thoroughfare of our faith. It presents the problem, which is sin (Rom 3:23), and then the answer/provision, which is God’s deep, deep love for us, even while we were sinners (Romans 5:8). The next stop on the journey (Romans 6:23) reminds us that our sin demands a payoff, and that payoff is death. But thanks be to God, Jesus paid our debt! So that now, when we confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in our heart that God raised Him from the dead, we will be saved (Romans 10:9-10). ~ As today’s journal entry puts it: “It is at this moment that we are saved and cross over from death to life. God no longer views us by our sin but by Christ’s righteousness.”

“For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”

2 Corinthians 5:21.

Friends, while God’s gift of eternal life is good news for us who have believed and been saved, for those who have not yet believed in the message of the Gospel, there is bound to be a fair amount of discouragement and misery on this Romans Road. For without faith in Jesus and the eternal life that is available to all who believe, there is no hope. This, my friends, is why we must not neglect our calling to shine the light of Jesus wherever we go in this dark, foreboding world.

Father, may we align our hearts with Your desire for all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the Truth1 – and may we live and pray to that end. ~ In the name of Jesus and for Your eternal glory, I pray ~Amen.

If you have not put your faith in Jesus Christ, if you do not know the hope of eternal life, I invite you to visit the link ‘Know These Truths’ and let me introduce you to the One who gave His life so that you might live. If you have questions or are ready to take the next step, please message me at m.black@lmbc.org ~

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Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Beginning to Forever, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study

The Ark of Grace

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based on the LGG Study, From the Beginning to Forever/w1d4

Read Genesis 6:11-14 and 17-22 or KJV; SOAP: Genesis 8:1

Now God saw that the earth had become corrupt and was filled with violence. 12 God observed all this corruption in the world, for everyone on earth was corrupt. 13 So God said to Noah, “I have decided to destroy all living creatures, for they have filled the earth with violence. Yes, I will wipe them all out along with the earth!

14 “Build a large boat from cypress wood and waterproof it with tar, inside and out. Then construct decks and stalls throughout its interior.

“Look! I am about to cover the earth with a flood that will destroy every living thing that breathes. Everything on earth will die. 18 But I will confirm my covenant with you. So enter the boat—you and your wife and your sons and their wives. 19 Bring a pair of every kind of animal—a male and a female—into the boat with you to keep them alive during the flood. 20 Pairs of every kind of bird, and every kind of animal, and every kind of small animal that scurries along the ground, will come to you to be kept alive. 21 And be sure to take on board enough food for your family and for all the animals.”

22 So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.

Genesis 6:11-14, 17-22 NLT

But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and livestock with him in the boat. He sent a wind to blow across the earth, and the floodwaters began to recede.

Genesis 8:1 NLT (KJV)

I recently went with a friend to the “Sights and Sounds” production of Noah, so it is very fresh in my mind, making today’s portion of the journey a bit more 3-D in my mind’s eye. Watching it play out on the big screen certainly made me realize, at least in some small way, the depth of courage, faith, and work it must have taken for Noah and his family to actually live through the reality of it…not to mention the fear and agony of knowing the earth would be destroyed and all life with it. The unknown factors, such as whether the boat would truly keep them safe, and what would happen afterwards, not to mention the thought of being trapped on an enclosed vessel for that long, would have been added concerns, at least for me. Reading the story on the pages of Scripture has never been less than a marvel, but seeing it portrayed in the theater, was an impressive revelation to Noah’s complete trust in God, his commitment to this strange call of God, and his family’s commitment to work with him and follow Noah’s lead despite the unknowns.

While the theatrical production embellished the story for effect, the reality is we only know the short version of what God tells us in His Word, where we see God’s utter disappointment in humans and what they had become and what they had done to His once tranquil and beautiful creation. Adam and Eve’s sinful choice to trade life for death had indeed brought about death and destruction, except for Noah and his family, because Noah had found grace in the eyes of the Lord. As I poured these words out on the pages of my journal, I couldn’t help but thank God for the grace He has shown to me/us, through the righteousness of Christ alone, and the salvation extended to all who abide in Him.

In the show about Noah, there were a few scenes where he would warn others about what was coming. He pleaded with them to listen, so that they would not perish. Whether or not this is how it actually happened, in the years it took to build the ark, possibly 120 years, Noah certainly had the time to “preach righteousness1” Gotquestions.org points out an interesting and convicting truth, saying: “In addition to Noah’s proclamations to the unbelieving world of his day was his “wordless preaching.” In the very construction of the ark, Noah bore witness to righteousness. Every hammer blow, every pounding of a nail was a call to repentance and a declaration that judgment was coming.

May our hearts be burdened for those who are lost and in danger of perishing. May God find us faithfully sharing His message of love and gift of grace, and bearing witness to righteousness – so that no one will perish.2

Friends, as Noah’s family entered into the Ark, trusting God to save them, we must enter into a relationship with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. When we do this, we receive the promise of eternal life, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us, enabling us to abide (live in) Christ. Because of this act of love and grace, when this earth is again destroyed,3 those who are found “in” Christ will be saved from the destruction to live with God for eternity. 4

The More We Know

Jesus called out the fact that Noah’s contemporaries ignored the message that would have saved them. At the same time, the Lord warned us of making the same mistake: “Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man. People were eating, drinking, marrying and being given in marriage up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all” (Luke 17:26–27).

The point of Peter referencing Noah and others like him in his second epistle is that, if God did not spare the ancient world who rejected Noah’s warnings, how much less can He be expected to spare those who dismiss His calls to repentance today?

Gotquestions.org

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time, Secure In Christ

A Good Man …

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Based on the LGG Study, Secure in Christ, w2d2

Read Ephesians 2:6-10; SOAP: Ephesians 2:8-9

 For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 it is not from works, so that no one can boast.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)

I read, quote, and pray these verses often, but for some reason, as I read the passage today, I was reminded of Mr. Perry. When I was a teenager, I used to witness to Mr. Perry, who went to my church. He was a weekly, (nearly) every service church-goer, but he wasn’t saved. He sat in the same pew week after week, listening to the sermons. He interacted with the people, attended the fellowship dinners and other church-wide events, and supported the teen choir when we had car washes. However, whenever I talked to him about Jesus and salvation, he would tell me: “Sweetheart, I’m a good man, and God knows it, so don’t you worry about me getting to heaven.”

We didn’t see each other much after I grew up and changed churches. When we did, he kept the conversation to ~”I’m good, sweetie, don’t you worry about me.” It made me sad to think that, after all the years of sitting in church and being involved with Christians on a regular basis, he had never gotten past the belief that his goodness/good works were enough. I wanted so much for my friend to understand that salvation is based on nothing he had done, or could ever do. I longed for him to trust Jesus as His savior and to understand that no amount of goodness and kindness could ever make up for our sins. Ultimately, I was reminded by a mentor that I wasn’t responsible to save him, only to share the gospel, live it out, and pray that he would come to believe the message that he continually heard preached in church and shared by those who witnessed to him personally.

Mr. Perry passed away about five years ago. My heart was filled with sorrow at his passing. However, joy soon followed when I learned that at the time of his death, he wasn’t just a ‘good man’ but a believer saved by grace.

The More We Know

Who can you tell about Jesus and God’s grace? Who can you pray for that isn’t saved or believes that their good works are enough? Ask God to use you and don’t stop praying for them. – Need help sharing the message? Feel free to use or share the following page.

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Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Prayer Starters, Quiet Time, Secure In Christ

Chosen in Christ

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Based on the LGG Study, Secure in Christ, w1d2

Read: Ephesians 1;3-6; SOAP: verse 4

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. 4 Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.

Ephesians 1:3-6

In yesterday’s journey, we learned that God radically transformed Paul’s life from a persecutor of Christians to an apostle of Jesus Christ. Today’s journey reveals how the transformation happens. Namely, all those who identify themselves as followers/disciples of Christ, which according to Luke 9:23 means that they have turned from their wicked ways and taken up their cross daily to follow Jesus, are gifted with “every spiritual blessing.”

Gifts of Redemption

According to gotquestions.org, these blessings are “gifts of redemption.” They are only available to those who identify themselves as followers/disciples of Christ. They include: “eternal life (Revelation 5:9-10), forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7), righteousness (Romans 5:17), freedom from the law’s curse (Galatians 3:13), adoption into God’s family (Galatians 4:5), deliverance from sin’s bondage (Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 1:14-18), peace with God (Colossians 1:18-20), and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). To be redeemed, then, is to be forgiven, holy, justified, free, adopted, and reconciled. See also Psalm 130:7-8; Luke 2:38; and Acts 20:28.”

An Act of Love

Paul sums these gifts up in verses 4- 5, beginning with how and why God chose to adopt us as His children. Today’s LGG journal entry explains it this way: “He did this out of His great love for you and for all who would trust in Jesus as their Savior. And it doesn’t stop there. He not only chose us to be part of His family and adopted us, but He has chosen to make us holy (set apart), blameless (fully forgiven), and has given us countless blessings… In Christ, we have access, freedom, purpose, family, and so much more… If you have trusted in Jesus, this is true of you! And while the best is yet to come in heaven, God has a purpose for you in the here and now. He has chosen you to become like Him. He wants you to be His holy and blameless child, loving others as He loves you.”

Our Response

Friends, as the journal entry goes on to say: “If God has chosen us to live in such a way, we can expect Him to accomplish His mighty work in us. We should pray daily to grow in holiness and love. And when the devil wants to plague us with temptation, fear, and doubt, it is vital to remember that we have been loved and chosen by God from before the creation of the universe.”

To know that I have been loved and chosen by God, not because of anything I have done, but before the creation of the universe, is one of the most wonderful, life-changing, calming truths I have ever known. Singer/songwriter Matthew West put the truth into a song, one that is embedded in my head and heart and has rescued me from many wrestling matches with the enemy. My favorite line is: “I don’t have to answer to any name that the enemy tries to call me ~ I don’t have to answer to any name but chosen child of God.”

You changed my name
You changed my name
From too far gone to saved by grace
And now I am forever changed
All because You changed my name
It’s all because You changed my name
And I don’t have to answer to any name that the enemy tries to call me
I don’t have to answer to any name but chosen child of God
Oh, I don’t have to answer to any name that the enemy tries to call me
I don’t have to answer to any name but chosen child of God.

Chorus/Chosen Child of God/Matthew West

Want to hear the full song? Just click the video below –

The More We Know

Find all the Adoption Truths and Process Below …

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Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Living Faithful in a Faithless Land, Quiet Time

Created With a Purpose

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based on the Love God Greatly Study, Living Faithful in a Faithless Land / w6d5

Scripture: God’s Road Map for Our Journey / Ephesians 2:1-10 (8-10)

For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 it is not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are his creative work, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we can do them.

Ephesians 2:8-10
Observations and Applications

Much like the confession of the Israelites that we read in our previous day’s journey, what Paul writes in Ephesians chapter two reminds us that, like Israel, the Ephesians and believers throughout the ages—including us—have sinned against God. Paul’s list is explicit – and points to the beautiful truth that God’s grace is greater than all our sin.

  • We were dead in our sins. (1)
  • We were under Satan’s rule. (2-3)
  • BUT GOD… being rich in mercy, love, and grace...(4-5)
  • raised us up to demonstrate the boundless and free measure of grace in Christ (6-7)
  • By this grace, we are saved (through faith), which is a gift of God (8)
  • It is a free gift, not related to or requiring any work so that no one can boast (9)
  • We are God’s creation – created with a purpose – in Christ – to do good works, which God prepared for us to do (10)

Take hope in these words from the LGG Journal entry today:

In our study of the book of Daniel, we first saw that God fulfilled His words to remove the people of Judah from their land if they didn’t return to Him. The people had become prideful and were convinced that God would never remove them from Jerusalem. Yet, what they had not thought possible became true.

The people of Judah were taken to Babylon, a place famous for evil and sin. The 70 years of exile were tough for the people of God. Yet, while God humbled them, he also transformed and restored them.

As God provided for the people of Judah, He has provided in incredible ways for believers. God has given us the gift of faith. We can’t boast as we didn’t earn it and don’t deserve it. There is no place for pride. God has a plan and a purpose for our lives; therefore, we should listen and obey Him.

You can be sure that you are exactly where God wants you to be. Even if, like Daniel, you may be somewhere you wouldn’t have chosen to be, know that God is at work. He is interested in your character and how you choose to live in all circumstances.

Ask God to lead you to the good works He has planned for you. Look for the new opportunities God is now leading you into.

God is at work. His plans and purposes will be fulfilled throughout every season of your life. He can be trusted with your today, your tomorrow, and your eternal home. You are saved by His wonderful grace! Your future is sure. So go and live transformed by God’s amazing love, which saves even people like us!

Prayer of Response to the Journey

Father, thank You for saving us by Your grace and not according to our works. You have created us on purpose and for a purpose; help us fulfill that purpose to Your glory. Thank You to Your Spirit, who empowers us to do the good works that we were created to do. Thank You that we are no longer under Satan’s authority, no longer dead in our sins – and that we never have to worry about losing our salvation! What a joy to know that it is a free gift from You that no one can take away! Rejoicing in the power and depth of Your grace – in Jesus’ name and Your glory!💜

The More We Know

Don’t miss the last LGG Post of the study –

Posted in Bible study, From the Insideout, He Sees He Knows He Cares, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

None Righteous, Not Even One

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Inspired by: He Sees, He Knows, He Cares / w2d4

Scripture Reading: Luke 5:27-6:11; SOAP / Luke 5:32

I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Luke 5:32 NET

Jesus makes it clear that His purpose was not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. He said this in response to a question that had been raised by the Pharisees concerning why He and His disciples were eating and drinking with the tax collectors and sinners. To be righteous is said to mean you are morally right or justifiable, which is exactly how the Pharisees and experts of the law saw themselves. However, we would do well to understand and remember that Scripture says – “There is none righteous not even one.”, but that – “all have sinned“, and having done so, face the penalty of death. It is this group of people that Jesus says He is calling to repentance. Which, in relation to salvation is changing your mind from rejection of Christ to faith in Christ. Summarizing a quote from Gotquestions.org, repentance is not something we do but something God gives; and that it is only possible because of His grace – Acts 5:31, 11:18; John 6:44; Romans 2:4 and 2 Peter 3:9

He Took The Time

The conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees doesn’t stop with our focus verse, but is followed up with more questions and lessons from Jesus, as well as details about another healing which I hope you’ll read. If you were to look at my Scripture reference page for this day you would see many red highlights around the words “Jesus answered them” or “He said to them”. You would also find where I scribbled in the margin how “I love that Jesus took the time to not only listen to them but to answer them, to try to relate to them, and to teach/show them His ways and power.” Whether we are filled with mindless rage, as the Pharisees were after Jesus healed a man’s withered hand on the Sabbath or we simply have yet to repent – we are all left with this one question – “What will we do with Jesus?”

Knowledge Into Wisdom

Taking the facts from this passage and what Jesus said we should be – is a great reminder that:

  • We can talk to ‘sinners’, eat dinner with them, and even invite them to church. While we must not be like them our goal should not be to avoid them but to demonstrate and to share the love of Christ with them.
  • We should, as has already been pointed out, never forget Paul’s words to the church at Rome when he wrote, “There is no one righteous, not even one, there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away, together they have become worthless; there is no one who shows kindness, not even one.” (Romans 3:10-12). To be clear, “not only one” means “not even me”. Only through God’s grace have we been clothed in the righteousness of Christ – to forget this will quickly lead to attitudes like those of the Pharisees and the experts of the law.

Which leads to this last statement –

  • We should daily rejoice in the grace of God, without which we would still be a sinner condemned unclean.
Responding to God’s Word

Father, I was a sinner condemned unclean but You called my name and I was forever changed! You set me free! You changed my name from too far gone to saved by grace! No longer condemned for I am Yours, a chosen child of God! Thank You for Jesus! Thank You for the cross and the empty tomb – without which I would still be lost, a sinner condemned unclean! Thank You God for Christ’s righteousness which You have imputed or credited to me. Jesus, thank You for Your example not just with the sinners and tax collectors but with ALL – so that all might come to know You – including me! Oh Yes Holy Three in One! Thank You, thank You, thank You! It is in Your name I pray and trust – Amen and Amen!

Know These Truths