Tag: SOAP

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, Firm Foundation, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Life through His Crucifixion

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based on the LGG Study, Firm Foundation, w3d2

Scripture and Observation:

Read: Isaiah 53:5 and 1 Peter 3:18

But he was pierced for our rebellion,
    crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
    He was whipped so we could be healed.

Isaiah 53:5

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

1 Peter 3:18

Peter writes about the reality of Isaiah’s prophecy. A reality that is very much to our benefit and is the incredible testimony of our God’s mercy, love, and grace. Christ was crucified, suffered, and died so that we could be healed from our sins and shame. Why? Because all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory and the wages of those sins is death; but God so loved the world that He gave His only son that whosoever believes in HIm should not perish but have eternal life.

Without the suffering of Christ on the cross – pierced, crushed, and beaten – sinners/humanity – you and I would never know peace with God. You see, while Christ is sinless(righteous), we are sinful(unrighteous), which is why Peter wrote: “…the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God …”

Living Out the Journey: Application

The Love God Greatly journal entry for today explains that “The crucifixion was not just a tragic event; it was the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. Jesus willingly laid down His life, bearing the weight of our sins. This selfless act of love satisfied the justice of God, who cannot overlook sin. By carrying our sins, He willingly took on the punishment that you and I both deserve. Jesus made it possible for us to receive forgiveness and be restored to a right relationship with God.”

Friends, our sin rendered us lifeless and hopeless and destined for death, but in love, God made a way for us to come back into a right relationship with Him and enjoy eternal life in His presence. May we return His love and enter into that relationship wholeheartedly. May our faith rest firm in the foundation of His death and resurrection, through which we have new hearts, peace, and healing. May we live not as the sinners we were but as the new creations we’ve become – covered in the righteousness of Christ and filled with His Holy Spirit.

Prayer for the Journey

Father God, thank You for the crucifixion – the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Thank You for sending Jesus to take our place on a cross of sin and shame and suffering – that we might be healed and receive Your free gift of salvation by grace through faith that leads to eternal life. This is the hope and joy we cling to and give You praise – now and forever more – Amen!

The More We Know

The crucifixion also reveals the incredible depth of God’s love for us that He was willing to sacrifice His own Son to save us. This act of grace is the foundation of our faith and the assurance of our salvation.

Love God Greatly, Firm Foundation/p97

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, Firm Foundation, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Jesus lived A Sinless Life

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based on the Love God Greatly Study, Firm Foundation, w3d1

Scripture for and Observation of the Journey

Read: Hebrews 4:14-16 and 1 Peter 2:21-25/SOAP: Hebrews 4:15 and 1 Peter 2:22

15 For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 4:15

He committed no sin nor was deceit found in his mouth.

1 Peter 2:22

Our focus this week comes in the form of a question: What did Jesus Do? We will explore five different answers throughout the week, the first of which is – He lived a sinless life. This truth can be said of no one else, nor can anyone claim it about themselves without making themselves out to be a liar or lacking in understanding of the truth of the Gospel,1 for we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory.

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1 John 1:8

If we have chosen to follow Jesus, then friends, we have chosen to strive to live an exemplary life. That life can only be well lived when it is lived by the power of His Spirit within us. The Spirit that Jesus told His early disciples would be their advocate, live within them, teach them everything, and remind them of everything Jesus had told them.

Paul speaks of the Spirit to the people of Galatia, teaching them to live by the Spirit so that they will not gratify the desires of the flesh. To the Colossians, Paul wrote, “Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. 10 Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him.” – This brings us full circle to the second passage from today’s journey, where Peter makes it clear to his readers that no deceit was found in the mouth of our Savior.

Jesus’ sinless life serves as a powerful example for us. While we will never achieve sinlessness on this side of heaven., His example shows us the importance of striving for holiness and relying on God’s strength to resist temptation. Jesus’ life reminds us that we are not alone in this journey but are empowered by the Holy Spirit to guide us and daily work in us to become more like Christ.

Love God Greatly, Love God Greatly, Firm Foundation, p93

Do you want to live and love like Jesus? Take a cue from His exemplary life, strive for holiness, and rely on God’s strength. When you are tempted in any way – do not give in to sin, and – let no deceit be found in your mouth. Sound impossible or too difficult? Remember these words of Paul: “God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, God will show you a way out so that you can endure.”

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure

1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT
The More We Know
For more insight into today’s journey read today’s LGG Blog Post
Do you want to know more about Jesus and His sinless life?
https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/03/14/know-these-truths/
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

More than a Miracle Birth

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based on the LGG Study, Firm Foundation/w2d5

Scripture and Observation
Read: Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:18-25/ SOAP: Matthew 1:20-23

As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet:

23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child!
    She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
    which means ‘God is with us.’”

Matthew 1:20-23

Fresh out of the Christmas season, it might be easy to breeze right over/through this passage. However, this portion of the “Jesus story” should not be relegated to Christmas alone. For it is the long-awaited promise of God in action. The gift of God’s salvation is an everyday story of love – and hope – and life.

She will give birth to son
and you will name him Jesus
because he will save his people from their sins.

Matthew 1:21

As I read through this today, letting it sink in like fresh water for my soul, several thoughts flowed through my mind – but this one was at the center: the miracle wasn’t just in His immaculate conception but in what He would do and who He would do it for! The son of God – Jesus, incarnate – God in the flesh came to save the enemies of God from their sins1. He came to offer us a real and lasting relationship with the God of Heaven so that we might live with Him forever.

Living it Out, the Application of the Journey

It occurs to me that the miracle gift we’ve been given is meant to be embraced. I believe we are to make the most of the opportunity to know His forgiveness … the power of His Spirit in us … the blessing of being a child of God instead of an enemy …, boldly embracing the relationship with God … and following the examples of Jesus’ life so that we honor You – wherever we are.

Prayer of Response to the Journey

Father, how great Your love is for us that You would give us Your only son to save us from our sins, to make us new creations in Christ Jesus, the one who came to save His people from their sins. Thank You for keeping Your promises and for opening the door for us, Your “enemies,” to believe and be called the ‘children of God.’ Help us to live and love like Jesus, telling His story with our lives and words wherever we go so that others will know Him also.- Amen!

The More We Know

For more insight into today’s journey be sure and read today’s LGG Blog –

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, Firm Foundation, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Jesus – Incarnate

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Friends, 💕 Today, let’s focus on the incarnation of Jesus Christ, God in the flesh. This is yet another crucially essential part of our faith and belief in the Trinity. For, you see, if Jesus Christ is not God in the flesh, He is just another man – unable to meet the requirements of the law – unable to rise from the dead – unable to save us from our sins, thus rendering our faith worthless.🦋

I encourage you to take some time to read and re-read through the passages today, particularly John 1:1-14, a beautiful word picture of the incarnation and what it means. –

In the beginning the Word already existed.
    The Word was with God,
    and the Word was God.
2 He existed in the beginning with God.
3 God created everything through him,
    and nothing was created except through him.
4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,
    and his life brought light to everyone.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
    and the darkness can never extinguish it.

6 God sent a man, John the Baptist, 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

John 1:1-14. NLT

Philippians 2, is equally as beautiful, revealing the humility of Christ and His love for both the Father and for us.

Though he was God,
    he did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges
    he took the humble position of a slave
    and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
8     he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

9 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
    and gave him the name above all other names,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:6-11.

The commentary shared today is borrowed from the Love God Greatly Journal, p 79 in Firm Foundation –

These journals offer wonder insight into the Word, and every purchase helps to translate these studies/God’s Word and get it to the hands of women, who would otherwise never be able to read/study/or grow in their understanding of the Gospel and salvation through Jesus Christ. – visit https://lovegodgreatly.com/about/ for more details –

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, Firm Foundation, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Quiet Time

No One Righteous

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based on the LGG Study, Firm Foundation/w2d3

Scripture and Observation

Read: Romans 3:9-23 / SOAP: 10-12

As the Scriptures say,

“No one is righteous—
    not even one.
11 No one is truly wise;
    no one is seeking God.
12 All have turned away;
    all have become useless.
No one does good,
    not a single one.”

Romans 3:10-12

Well then, should we conclude that we Jews are better than others? No, not at all, for we have already shown that all people, whether Jews or Gentiles, are under the power of sin. Romans 3:9

In order to understand the question that is asked in verse nine and subsequently answered by Paul in the rest of the chapter, it is helpful to look back to the preceding verses, in this case, to chapter two of Romans. It is here that Paul points out that in and of itself, being a Jew was not a get-out-of-jail-free card. There were certainly benefits that came with being a Jew,1 but like all other people on the earth, they had inherited the sinfulness of the first man/Adam – and would, like all others, answer to God’s judgment for their sins.

The Jews, while chosen by God, were not to believe they were better than the Gentiles, and the Gentiles were not to think they were lesser than the Jews – for as Paul points out, none of them – “not even one” was righteous. The depravity of man stretches across every race on the earth, and as Paul writes in verses 20 and 22: “No one is declared righteous before him by the works of the law.” Instead, Paul makes it clear that “… the righteousness of God comes only through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ to those who believe.”

Living it out (Application from the Journey)

Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved2 – is the most significant takeaway from this passage. However, second to it – in my estimation and understanding both personally and from Scripture. – is that all of us, Jew or Gentile … barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free are sinners in need of a savior and utterly dependent on the mercy and grace of God for salvation.3

In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us (who have believed).

Colossians 3:11 NLT/emphasis mine
Prayer of Response to the Journey

Father, as sinners, condemned unclean, we are all utterly dependent on Your mercy and grace. I rejoice in knowing that You are a gracious and merciful God. I praise You for the Savior, Your Son whom You sent, to make a way where there was no way – opening the door of salvation not only to Your chosen people of Israel but to the Gentiles and all who by faith believe in Jesus Christ! In Him, I am made new, a new creation – the old has gone, the new is here, and in Him, I am free from the law of sin and death – no longer condemned but declared righteous before You in Him – by His blood! Indeed, we have all sinned and fallen short of Your glory, but by faith – we take hold of eternal life, a free gift You have offered to all who believe! Hallelujah and amen!

The More We Know
The LGG Blog Post
https://atomic-temporary-62140760.wpcomstaging.com/2023/03/14/know-these-truths/

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, Firm Foundation, From the Insideout, Joshua, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Two Representatives

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based on the LGG Study, Firm Foundation/w2d2

Scripture and Observation

Read: Romans 5:12-21/SOAP: verses 12 and 17

Romans can be a tricky book to understand, but wow! It is filled with the news that we are sinners deserving of and destined to death. He makes it known that there is no one good, not even one. However, he also delivers the wonderful news that we have been offered a free gift of grace that leads to salvation, forgiveness of sins, freedom from slavery to sin, a relationship with God, and so much more – including eternal life. Is it any wonder that this is one of my favorite books?

Today’s part of our journey covers very little of Paul’s message, which was written primarily to Gentile believers living in Rome, but boy, is the message a good one! Up to this point, Paul has been pointing out the unrighteousness of all people (Romans 3:10-12) and the need that they all have for salvation and God’s provision of a Savior.

What then? Are we any better off? Not at all! For we have already charged that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin,
10 as it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one.11 There is no one who understands;there is no one who seeks God.12 All have turned away;all alike have become worthless.There is no one who does what is good,not even one.

Romans 3:9-12

When we arrive at today’s destination, we find Paul introducing and explaining two representatives to the people. Adam is the representative of sinful humanity, which includes “all people” (Rom 3:23), but Christ represents only those who, by faith, have believed in Him. One created and one begotten, but both from God – the difference is Adam – the created – chose not to obey God, while Jesus, the begotten son of God, chose to surrender to the Father’s will and give His life as a ransom for many. ((John 12:49; 8:28))

Some have noted that Adam and Christ are alike, in that they affected many, many people by their choices.

For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.

Romans 5:17
Application from the Journey

Today’s application of this passage is profoundly simple … it was mentioned yesterday and is worth noting/sharing again today: We must remember and heed the encouragement of Joshua, who said: “But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” – Joshua 24:15 – It’s profound in the fact that the choice isn’t always easy – to turn away from worldly pleasures or what looks like the better choice/outcome to us at the time … or to follow God’s way choosing Him over everything … but we must remember one leads to death but choosing God’s way always leads to ‘life’.

Choose today whom you will serve – But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.

~Joshua 24:15
The More We Know

What does Romans 5:16 mean?

Paul continues to compare the impact of pivotal choices made by two men at two points in the history of the world. Adam, on the one hand, introduced sin into a world that knew no sin. He was the first to break God’s command. That choice caused all born after him to be born into sin. In response, all people lived under judgment for their sin and faced God’s condemnation.

Jesus, born as a man thousands of years later after many, many had sinned and broken God’s law, chose to become the source of God’s free gift of grace. He did this by dying on the cross to pay for human sin. His one action brought justification from God for everyone who receives it by faith.

Adam, by sinning, brought death and condemnation to all. Jesus, by not sinning and then dying, brought justification to all who believe. This “justification” is a declaration, as if in a courtroom setting. No person is actually righteous (Romans 3:10, 23), but Christ’s sacrificial death pays our penalty, allowing us to have peace with God (Romans 5:1).

Bibleref..com/Romans 5:16 (For the full commentary on chapter five visit Romans chapter 5
Posted in Bible study, Devotion, Firm Foundation, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Quiet Time

No Longer Ashamed

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based on the LGG Study, Firm Foundation, w2d1

Scripture and Observation

Read: Romans 6:21-23 / SOAP v23 (It is most helpful to read the entire chapter)

So, what benefit did you then reap from those things that you are now ashamed of? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now, freed from sin and enslaved to God, you have your benefit leading to sanctification, and the end is eternal life. 23 For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

WOW! Talk about. a truth that changed everything and is essential to our firm foundation. We could stop here with the reading of these three verses, soak them in and move on – but we would do ourselves an injustice. You see – the question asked in verse 21 requires us to look back to the previous verse(s) to see what Paul is talking about. I found reading the whole chapter to be most helpful, but even going back a few verses revealed that he is referring to slavery to sin, which had resulted in impurity and lawlessness.

Before believing in Christ, the people had been free from the obligation to do/live righteously, and the result of that freedom led to sin and shame. However, and a mighty HALLELUJAH! The result of believing in Christ brought freedom from sin and shame and a life with God, which leads to eternal life!

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 6:23 NLT
Application from the Journey

If you haven’t placed your faith and hope in Jesus Christ – I plead with you to do that today. – The Bible tells us the way to this salvation, this hope, and freedom from slavery to sin, and the shame sin brings is to “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.”1 – If you have believed – rejoice in the freedom from sin and shame and live the holy life He has called us to by giving yourselves as slaves to righteousness, through the power of Christ and His Spirit in us. 2

I am so thankful for the freedom from sin and truly rejoice in the freedom from shame. That’s right – God didn’t just free us from the law of sin and death – He poured His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit whom He gave to us, and because of that hope, we do not stand in shame but rejoice in the righteousness of Christ and His blood that covers us! (please tell me this brought a hallelujah!) Friend, because of this hope: “There is now no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus! Scripture makes it clear that …

  • We are made right with God by faith (Rom 5:1,3, 5 and 7)
  • We have peace with God because of what Christ did for us (Rom 5:1)
  • Our sins are put out of sight (Rom 5:7-8)

“Hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

(Romans 5:5)
Prayer and Worship Response to the Journey

Father, You are worthy of more praise than we can give – for You have saved us not only from our sins but from the stain and shame those sins marked us with. You have removed their power over us, and You have covered us with the righteousness of Christ and poured the love of Your Spirit out into our hearts! We are most blessed to stand before You, forgiven and cleansed – not because of anything we have done or ever could do but because of what Christ did for us on the cross. He took our sins and their shame upon Himself that we might be made right with You, have peace with You, and have our sins be put out of Your sight! Ah! Lord God – Hallelujah! How very loving and merciful You are! – May we, in turn, give ourselves fully to You, living as slaves to righteous living… being holy as You are holy, hating sin and all that is wrong, and clinging to what is good. This is my prayer in the name of Jesus who bore my sin and shame – Amen and amen!

The More We Know
Click Here for more insight from Love God Greatly

Last week’s journey led us through a lesson on the holiness of God and His instruction for His children to be holy as He is Holy. In backing up and reading the passage that led to our verses today, I found this nugget of gold. If we want to become/live the holy life, “we must give ourselves to be slaves to righteous living.3“

Now you must give yourselves to be slaves to righteous living so that you will become holy.

Romans 6:19

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, Firm Foundation, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, LGG Study, Quiet Time

To Act Justly

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based on the LGG Study, Firm Foundation/w1dd5

Scripture and Observation

Read: Deuteronomy 32:1-4 and Psalm 9:1-8 / SOAP: Deut 32:4 and Ps 9:7-8

He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect.
    Everything he does is just and fair.
He is a faithful God who does no wrong;
    how just and upright he is!

Deuteronomy 32:4

But the Lord reigns forever,
    executing judgment from his throne.
8 He will judge the world with justice
    and rule the nations with fairness.

Psalm 9:7-8

“.When we say that God is just, we mean that He is perfectly righteous in His treatment of His creatures. God shows no partiality.” This definition is from gotquestions.org. It is truly as simple as it sounds, yet so much more profound that I encourage you to visit the link for the fuller and most helpful explanation included in the footnotes below.

“.When we say that God is just, we mean that He is perfectly righteous in His treatment of His creatures. God shows no partiality.”

gotquestions.org/What Does It Mean that God is Just?1

I believe it is safe to say that we all want to be treated justly (fairly) in this life. Likewise, we also struggle with the injustices of this world, where the wicked are known to prosper. The problem is we live in a flawed world, and more often than not, we come to the various situations and encounters of this life with a variety of opinions on what is fair and what is not fair. This is because, In large part, humans are ruled by their emotions, and decisions are made far too often in the heat of the moment, based – not on what is good and right in God’s eyes but on our emotions at the time.

It is important to remember that on this side of Heaven, our sinful nature will remain a thorn in our flesh to deal with, which is why we must also remember that “Those who belong to Christ Jesus are to have nailed their passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.” This is why we must choose to live, not by our emotions, blown and tossed about by the wind, but guided by the Word and ways of God. Heeding the warning of Paul – we should strive to “keep in step with the Spirit.” When we walk in step with the Spirit, not only will our hearts and minds be ruled by the Spirit, but we will act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God, which is yet another call of God on the lives of His people.2

He has told you, O man, what is good,
and what the Lord really wants from you:
He wants you to carry out justice, to love faithfulness,
and to live obediently before your God.

Micah 6:8

Today’s LGG journal entry, p57, explains that – “The importance of understanding God’s justice is vital to understanding His righteousness. It goes on to say, that God’s justice and righteousness are inseparable.

The More We Know

Do you struggle with the injustices of this world? Consider these words found in today’s LGG Journal entry:

“In a world where injustice still exists and evildoers, unfortunately, often prosper, we can trust that God will ultimately judge all sin one day (Psalm 9:7-8). As followers of Christ, we are called to reflect God’s justice by protecting the vulnerable and confronting evil, while walking humbly with our God (Micah 6:8).

God’s justice informs our understanding of righteousness by teaching us that true righteousness embodies fairness, integrity, and obedience to God’s ways, as listed out in Scripture. In times of doubt or frustration over the injustices around us, we can take comfort in knowing that God is a good, fair, and loving judge. His justice will ultimately prevail, and His righteousness will shine forth.”

p 57 of Love God Greatly’s, Firm Foundation, journal
Prayer of Response to the Journey

Dear Jesus, thank You for Your perfect justice and righteousness. Help me to trust in Your fairness and to reflect Your justice in my life. Thank You for the reminder that we are to carry out justice, to love faithfulness, and to live obediently before our God. May we be careful to keep in step with the Spirit and not let our emotions hinder us from acting justly. – In Jesus’ Name and power, Amen

,

For More Insight on the Journey click HERE

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, Firm Foundation, From the Insideout, God is good, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study, Quiet Time

Love Is Essential

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based on the LGG Study, Firm Foundation, w1/d4

Scripture and Observation

Read: 1 John 4:7-10 and John 3:16-17 / SOAP: 1 John 4:8 and John 3:1

But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

1 John 4:81

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

Love is essential to Christian living because it is an essential part of God’s identity.

bibleref.com/1 Jn 4:8

Fresh off of yesterday’s journey exploring God’s call on our life to be holy as He is holy we are now met with the measure of His love and what it means if we do not love. I’m not sure which is harder to embrace: the act of being holy as God is holy or the act of loving others the way God loves us, and what it says about us if we don’t. Both callings are acts that God has called us to and equipped us for, but both can seem impossible to carry out. Actually, in and of ourselves, they are impossible. Holiness and love require the presence of God in us, and His presence is only received when we place our faith in Jesus – the second person of the Trinity – who Himself is holy and loved us enough to leave heaven’s splendor and die for our sins on a cross of shame. Now, this is love!

I don’t know about you but throughout the course of my life there have been some people that have been particularly hard for me to like, let alone love. So when I read our passages today, particularly 1 John 4:8 and the inference that if we do not love then then we do not love God – I knew I had to look a little deeper into the meaning behind it. I found the commentary from bibleref.com to be the most helpful:

To “know” God requires a person to have a relationship with Him … Love comes from God, so those who demonstrate love show they have fellowship with Him. The inverse is also true. The person who does not demonstrate love does not know (or is not walking in fellowship with)* God.

Bibleref.com/1 John 4:8

If we are walking close to God His love will naturally flow through us – even toward those who we don’t really care for. For this holiness and love to be seen and heard in us we must be in fellowship with God. To “know” God requires a person to have a relationship with Him, Love comes from God, so those who demonstrate love show they have fellowship with Him. 

This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

1 John 4:10

When we place our faith in Jesus Christ, we are filled with His Holy Spirit, the third person of the Triune God, who teaches, guides, and empowers us to live as God called us to live.2 Paul teaches us that believers are not only sealed with the Spirit but we are filled with and controlled by the Spirit. He also teaches that when we let the Holy Spirit guide our lives, we will be known by His fruit – which includes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.3

But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.)

Romans 8:9

 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

Ephesians 1:13-14

The bottom line is this: if we want to live out God’s calling on our lives of holiness and love, we must first believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.4 Following our salvation, we must choose for ourselves which nature will control us – the old sinful nature or the new spiritual nature. 5One leads us away from God, and the other leads us to a life of holiness filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control.

It seems fitting to close with these words of Joshua to the Israelites: “But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”6

Prayer of Response to the Journey

Father, Your love is indeed powerful – it saves and actively, lovingly pursues. Yours is a relentless love, or as David described it, a “love that follows us all the days of our lives…” and for this, I am most grateful. I pray for everyone who is on this journey with me that they might be building their lives on the truths of Your Word. I pray that they might find their feet firm on the foundation of Your Word and live out Your calling on their lives. I pray that we will choose to live by Your Spirit and not by our old sinful nature. I pray for anyone on this journey who does not know you to believe in Jesus and be saved that they too might know and share in the power and promise of Your Love – In the mighty name of Jesus, I pray and praise You – Amen!

*Emphasis mine

Posted in Bible study, Devotion, Firm Foundation, From the Insideout, Journey Through The Word, Know These Truths, LGG Study

A Holiness to Imitate

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based on the Love God Greatly study, Firm Foundation/w1d3

Scripture and Observation

Isaiah 6:1-5 and 1 Peter 1;13-16/Soap: Isaiah 6:3 and 1 Peter 1:16

“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies!
    The whole earth is filled with his glory!” Isaiah 6:3

For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:16

God is holy, and He has called His people to be holy. So, if as God’s people, we are committed to living the holy life He has called us to, we must be wise and search the Scriptures to understand first…

  • What it means that God is holy.
    • There are plenty of explanations out there but I love this one from gotquestions.org:
      • “In Him, there is not even the faintest trace of evil He is impeccably pure, wholly without fault, and uncompromisingly just. He cannot lie. He cannot make wrong decisions. He is blameless, tireless, and sinless.
Application from the Journey

We must also ask ourselves:

  • Can we be holy, and if so, how?
    • Can we? Without a doubt – yes. You see, if God has called us to something He has equipped us to do it. One of the ways He has done this, is explained by Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:17, where he tells us that if anyone is in Christ they have a “new nature..” He says, “the old is gone the new is here.” As we learn in Romans this means we are no longer controlled by the law of sin and death.1 Instead, we have been given His Spirit, and as Paul wrote, “when we let the Spirit control our mind it leads us to life and peace.”2
      • On top of this, Peter told his readers that God has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. It is through these promises that He has given us His very great and precious promises
    • But how can we possibly be holy like God is? Thankfully, God didn’t just call us to be holy but He told us how in His Word:

Clearly, God did not call us to holiness without making a way to be holy and telling us how to be. if we want to live out God’s call for holiness we must choose a life of faith and heed the teaching of God in His Word – not to follow the world’s ways but to let God transform us into His image.

So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. Romans 8:6

Prayer of Response to the Journey

Father, thank You for equipping us to live as You have called us to live. Whether it is to live and love like Jesus, to be holy as You are holy, to forgive others, to obey Your commands, to go and make disciples, to be light and salt in this dark and corrupted world, to walk by faith and not by sight … or the myriad of other teachings we know that we can do all these things through Christ who strengthens us. Thank You for Your Spirit in us and for Your Word that is living and active, a light to our path and correction when we veer from that path. How blessed we are to be loved and called by You and to have Jesus, our King and Savior, as our example. Thank You for Your promised forgiveness when we fall short of Your glory and for this study about building our lives on the truths of Your Word, our Firm Foundation. – Strengthen us all to Your glory and honor – Amen and Amen!

The More We Know about the Journey
lovegodgreatly.com blog post
  1. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace. Romans 6:14 ↩︎
  2. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. Romans 8:6 ↩︎