"GET REAL" About Who You Are and Your Relationship With GOD !"

 

Colossians 2:13  "And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, has HE quickened (made alive) together with HIM, having forgiven you all trespasses;"

     We need to "GET REAL" about who we are and our relationship with GOD. And, of course, the only way that we can find the truth concerning these issues is by consulting the ONE WHO created us in the first place. GOD's WORD has the answers:

(1) You must realize that you were born a sinner and your natural inclination is to sin. We all were born into this world with a sin nature that separates us from a personal relationship with GOD. The Bible tells us that we are sinners by birth (Psalm 51:5; Ephesians 2:3), we are sinners by deed (Romans 3:23), and this sin problem affects our whole person -- intellect, emotion, and will. We are not naturally or inherently good. Yet this is not the end of the story.

(2) You are loved by GOD -- this reality takes us back to why we are here in the first place. The LORD created us for a relationship with HIMSELF. HE desires our fellowship with HIM, even though sin entered the picture. In fact, HE loved the world so much that HE made the ultimate sacrificial provision (John 3:16-18; Romans 5:8; 1st.John 4:9-10) -- HE died in our place and paid the penalty for our sin.

(3) You are of great value to GOD -- GOD's love for mankind gives great value to man. This is not the gospel of "self-esteem" stressed by so many worldly or pseudo-Christian proponents. Our "glorying" and "boasting" should be in nothing of ourselves but only in the GOD WHO made us and in our relationship with HIM (Jeremiah 9:23-24 pictured above). The LORD does not need us. Yet HE chooses to want us, to love us, to use us. Yes, we need to "GET REAL" about who we really are; we must not deceive ourselves into thinking that we are someone or something we are not !

     Not only do we have to "GET REAL" with who we are but we also need to "GET REAL" about our relationship with GOD -- you either have one, or you do not (John 3:36 pictured above). The Bible tells us that you can know you have eternal life based on one simple test: Have you trusted in the person and work of CHRIST alone to save you from sin's death penalty ? If you do not have a relationship with GOD, you need one; if you have one, you need to be grounded and growing. This relationship begins when the HOLY SPIRIT convicts us of sin and our need of a SAVIOR, and the catalyst of this relationship is faith, which is the knowledge of, assent to, and trust in CHRIST's person and work. Consider the three components of faith:

(1) Knowledge -- the intellectual aspect ("I believe in the facts given in GOD's WORD: I am a sinner; JESUS died for my sin and rose from the dead").

(2) Assent -- the personal aspect ("I agree that JESUS died for me").

(3) Trust -- the volitional aspect ("I place my eternal well-being in the PERSON and in the death and resurrection of JESUS. I am not hoping in anything or anyone else to save me").

     Once we are believers, GOD wants us to have assurance of our relationship with HIM. Our assurance must not rely on our feelings or emotions but on the promises of Scripture. John says, "We know that we are of GOD. . ." (1st.John 5:19 pictured above). Those who know HIM not only possess a relationship with HIM now but will enjoy fellowship with HIM for all eternity, having a personal, conscious residence with GOD forever ! We need to "GET REAL" about our relationship with the LORD, understand how we can know we are saved, and then be assured of our eternal salvation (1st.John 5:11-13) and our glorious future. (MDC)

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

Used  with  permission.   www.featoday.org

" One, There is a GOD; Two, You are NOT HIM "

 

Isaiah 44:6-8  "Thus saith the LORD the KING of Israel, and his REDEEMER the LORD of hosts; I AM the FIRST, and I AM the LAST; and beside ME there is no GOD. And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for ME, since I appointed the ancient people ? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them show unto them. Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it ? ye are even MY witnesses. Is there a god beside ME ? yea, there is no god; I know not any."

     There are two immutable facts: One, there is a GOD; Two, you are not HIM." Those are the words on a poster that we displayed in our church foyer for several years, and they are true beyond dispute. The GOD of Heaven has revealed HIMSELF in creation, in HIS written WORD, and in the person of HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST. There can be no mistaking the fact that GOD is -- HE is eternal, and no other GOD exists. No one in his or her right mind could seriously make the claim of being GOD. But the true and living GOD, the SOVEREIGN of the universe, frequently makes this claim in Scripture, for HE is the self-existent ONE WHO reveals HIMSELF. HE is the eternal I AM.

     Reflect on the words of today's text: "Thus saith the LORD. . .I AM the FIRST, and I AM the LAST; and beside ME there is no GOD. . .Is there a god beside ME ? yea, there is no god; I know not any. . .I AM the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the Earth by MYSELF" (vv.6,8,24). Think further upon these words: "I AM the LORD: that is MY name: and MY glory will I not give to another" (Isaiah 42:8). To the nation of Israel, GOD clearly said: "Ye are MY witnesses, saith the LORD, and MY servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe ME, and understand that I AM HE: before ME there was no god formed, neither shall there be after ME. I, even I, AM the LORD; and beside ME there is no savior" (Isaiah 43:10-11). If GOD is GOD (and HE is) and if we are not GOD (and we are not), then our eyes must be upon HIM, our ears must be open to hear HIM, and our heart must be ready to receive HIM. Consider these facts carefully, for you are accountable to the ONE true GOD. JED

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

Used  with  permission.    www.featoday.org

" Let Freedom Ring ! "

 

John 8:21-36  "Then said JESUS again unto them, I go MY way, and ye shall seek ME, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come. Then said the Jews, Will HE kill HIMSELF ? because HE saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come. And HE said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I AM from above: ye are of this world; I AM not of this world. I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I AM HE, ye shall die in your sins. Then said they unto HIM, WHO art THOU ? And JESUS saith unto them, Even the same that I said unto you from the beginning. I have many things to say and to judge of you: but HE that sent ME is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of HIM. They understood not that HE spake to them of the FATHER.

Then said JESUS unto them, When ye have lifted up the SON of MAN, then shall ye know that I AM HE, and that I do nothing of MYSELF; but as MY FATHER hath taught ME, I speak these things. And HE that sent ME is with ME: the FATHER hath not left ME alone: for I do always those things that please HIM. As HE spoke these words, many believed on HIM. Then said JESUS to those Jews which believed on HIM, If ye continue in MY WORD, then are ye MY disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered HIM, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest THOU, Ye shall be made free ? JESUS answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the SON abideth ever. If the SON therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

     "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their CREATOR with certain unalienable right; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Those words, as set forth in the second paragraph of the Declaration of Independence, beat in the heart of every American patriot. Freedom is described as: "The ability to make choices and to carry them out." The greatest freedom of all is deliverance from sin; JESUS CHRIST speaks of this spiritual freedom in today's text. In John chapter eight, the LORD JESUS reveals HIMSELF to mankind as the great LIBERATOR. HE frees believers from death and from slavery to sin, and the basis for that emancipation is Calvary's cross. All through the Gospel of John, the LORD had the cross before HIM, and today's passage reveals that deliverance from death and from slavery to sin was based on the fact that JESUS was going to die in order to pay the penalty for the sin of the world (vv.28,36 cf. John 1:29).

     "When ye have lifted up the SON of MAN, then shall ye know that I AM HE" (v.28a) - the cross work of CHRIST enables the lost sinner to find salvation and the saved believer to find true purpose in life by becoming a "disciple indeed" (v.31). Those who continue in the WORD of GOD can experience freedom from the powerful grip of sin in their daily life: "If ye continue in MY WORD, then are ye MY disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (vv.31-32). Sin is a cruel taskmaster, but JESUS CHRIST offers mankind freedom from sin's captivity. Because of the cross, we have the unalienable right to possess spiritual life, liberty, joy and peace. JED

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

Used  with  permission.   www.feastoday.org

" GOD's Purpose in Creation and in Re-Creation "

 

Revelation 4:1-11  "After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in Heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter. And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in Heaven, and ONE sat on the throne. And HE that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thundering's and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of GOD.

And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to HIM that sat on the throne, WHO liveth for ever and ever, the four and twenty elders fall down before HIM that sat on the throne, and worship HIM that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, THOU art worthy, O LORD, to receive glory and honor and power: for THOU hast created all things, and for THY pleasure they are and were created."

     Why did GOD create me ?

1. I was created for HIS glory (Isaiah 43:7 pictured above). GOD's chief purpose in all that HE does is to bring glory to HIMSELF.

2. I was created for HIS pleasure: "For THOU hast created all things and for THY pleasure they are and were created" (v.11 captioned at the top of the post). The word "pleasure" here means "will." All things were made to fulfill GOD's perfect will.

3. I was created for JESUS CHRIST: "All things were created by HIM (JESUS CHRIST), and for HIM" (Colossians 1:16). I am not on this Earth by blind chance; I am here because of CHRIST: to know HIM and to make HIM known to others.

     Why did GOD recreate me ?

1. I was recreated so that I could be "to the praise of the glory of HIS grace . . . according to the riches of HIS grace . . . that we should be to the praise of HIS glory . . . unto the praise of HIS glory" (Ephesians 1:6-7 pictured above, 12,14).

2. I was recreated "in CHRIST JESUS unto good works, which GOD hath before ordained that [I] should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:10).

3. I was recreated so that I might put on display "the new man, which after GOD is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Ephesians 4:24). I am to reflect the LORD's righteousness and holiness by my walk and by my talk. 

4. I was recreated so that I might show forth the praises (excellencies) of HIM WHO called me "out of darkness into HIS marvelous light" (1st.Peter 2:9).

5. I was recreated in order to radiate "the light of the knowledge of the glory of GOD in the face of JESUS CHRIST" (2nd.Corinthians 4:6 pictured below). In the old creation, HE "commanded the light to shine out of darkness"; in the new creation, HE shined HIS light in my sin-darkened heart so that HE might radiate forth from my life -- all to the praise of HIS glory ! GWZ

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright, FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

Used  with  permission.    www.featoday.org

" The Spiritual Division of ALL Mankind "

 

Acts 26:12-18  "Whereupon as I (Saul before he became the Apostle Paul) went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests, at midday, O King, I saw in the way a light from Heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, Saul, why persecutest thou ME ? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, LORD ? And HE said, I AM JESUS WHOM thou persecutest. But arise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee. To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of the Satan unto GOD. that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and sanctified by faith that is in ME."

     ALL humanity is divided into two camps. The Scriptures clearly delineate this division:

1. All men are either in CHRIST (spiritually alive) or in Adam (spiritually dead) (1st.Corinthians 15:22

2. All are either in CHRIST or outside of CHRIST (Colossians 4:5)

3. All mankind either has the SON or does not have the SON, has life or does not have life (1st.John 5:11-12)

4. Everyone on Earth is either a believer or an unbeliever (John 3:18,36), righteous or unrighteous (1st.Corinthians 6:9-11), justified or condemned (Romans 3:24; John 3:18).

5. Every person is either holy and set apart (1st.Corinthians 1:2) or unclean and filthy (Revelation 22:11)

6. All men are either children of GOD or children of the Devil (Galatians 4:6; John 8:44; 1st.John 3:10)

7. Each individual is either saved or unsaved (1st.Corinthians 1:18)

8. Everybody is either free or enslaved (John 8:32-36).

9. The choice could not be clearer: believe or perish (John 3:16), repent or perish (Luke 13:3,5)

     The minority is on the narrow road that leads to life; the majority is on the broad road that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14 pictured above).

10. Every person is either indwelt by the HOLY SPIRIT, or he does not belong to GOD at all (Romans 8:9)

11. Every sinner has either been quickened (made spiritually alive) in JESUS CHRIST or is still spiritually dead in sins (Ephesians 2:1-5)

12. Either the sinner has his sins forgiven, or he has his sins retained (Ephesians 1:7; John 20:23)

13. Every person either has and endless hope (Titus 1:2) or a hopeless end (Proverbs 11:7)

14. Every individual will have an eternal home prepared by GOD or will suffer in the place prepared for the Devil and his fallen angels (John 14:3; Matthew 25:41)

     In which of these two camps are you ? The LORD invites all to be part of the glorious company of the redeemed (Revelation 22:17 pictured below). Dear Friend, do you know for sure in which group you stand ? Choose life ! GWZ

Your servant in CHRIST,

Julie

Copyright,  FEATURE: A Daily Bible Study Guide.

Used  with  permission.    www.featoday.org