Today I should be able to finish my look at Salvation which as I have stated past is like having a large over size umbrella and under it having serval smaller ones. One of which is redemption the others are no less important as they are sanctification, obedience, justification, righteousness, holiness and godliness. If one reads the small book titled "Pilgrims Promise" within it these things are laid out nicely. Now for Pastor Hoekstra and his teaching on GOD's Grace as received when we become One with our ascended LORD. And then I will look at Salvation Only through Christ, with the use of the ESV translation and as always should the LORD provide more light I will add it instantly.
"Still More on God's Ability and His Promises"
"For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day." (2Timothy 1:12)
"A growing appreciation of GOD's ability produces in us an increasing tendency to rely upon GOD's promises. In this present meditation, we will be reminded of how our Relationship with the ascended Lord, Who is the Now LORD as seen in ancient times again restored to His original position is always at the heart of the Christian life. He is no longer the man Jesus and Messiah and Lord of an earthly walk for mans Redemption but is Now the LORD of mans Salvation for those who become His, as being One in unity with His. There by having both the Spirit of GOD and Christ in agreement with John 17.
The setting for Paul's "one verse testimony" was the suffering that he was experiencing. "For this reason I also suffer these things." The reason he suffered was related to his calling to preach the gospel, "to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles" (2Timothy 1:11). When the LORD first called Paul to serve Him with the good news of Grace, his future sufferings were addressed. "I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name's sake" (Acts 9:16). Suffering is inevitable while serving GOD in an ungodly often hostile world. Jesus Himself was our example. "For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps" (1Peter 2:21).
Although Paul suffered, he was not shamed by his suffering. "Nevertheless I am not ashamed. " If our suffering is for godly reasons, we likewise do not need to be ashamed. "If anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify GOD in this matter" (1Peter 4:16). Because of faith Paul had to endure sufferings properly came from His growing Relationship with Jesus. "For I know Whom I have believed. " Since he originally believed in the LORD, Paul had become increasingly acquainted with Him. A wonderful consequence of increased intimacy with Christ is that we become increasingly convinced of His ability." This conviction covered every matter that Paul entrusted into the care of His Master. "He is able to keep what I have committed to Him." Also, it covered every day right up until the return of the LORD: "until that Day." Again, Jesus left us a similar example. He committed His daily situations into the hands of His able heavenly Father: "When He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him Who judges righteously" (1Peter 2:23).
Salvation Only through Christ,
Luke 1:67-79, 2:25-32 (John the Baptist's) "His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying, "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, for He has visited and Redeemed His people and has raised up a horn of Salvation for us in the house of His servant David, as He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us; to show the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, the oath that He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the LORD to prepare His ways, to give knowledge of salvation to His people in the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our GOD, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."
Luke 2:25-32 "There was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the LORD's Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, he took him up in his arms and blessed GOD and said, "LORD, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel."
The only door,
John 10:1-10 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what He was saying to them. So Jesus again said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by (means of, through) Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief (satan, anti-Christ, false prophet) comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."
The only Savior,
Acts 4:5-12 "The next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, "By what power or by what name did you do this?" Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom you crucified, Whom GOD raised from the dead—by Him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
His Grace our Sufficiency,
Acts 15:6-11 "The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter. And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that in the early days GOD made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. And GOD, Who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as HE did to us, and HE made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed (purified, as in circumcision of) their hearts by faith. Now, therefore, why are you putting GOD to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the Grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will."
His blood Avails,
Romans 5:6-11 and 1Thessalonians 5:1-11 "While we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but GOD shows His Love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified (made innocent, righteous) by His blood, much more shall we be saved (to save, make whole, to heal) by Him from the wrath of GOD. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to GOD by the death of His Son, much more, now that we are reconciled (made different by intensity), shall we be saved by His life. More than that, we also rejoice in GOD through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have now received reconciliation."
1Thessalonians 5:1-11 "Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the LORD will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For GOD has not destined us for wrath, but ,to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing."
For the Obedient,
Hebrews 5:5-10 "Christ did not exalt Himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by Him Who said to Him, "You are MY Son, today I have begotten You"; as HE says also in another place, "You are a Priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek." In the days of His flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to Him Who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence. Although He was a son, He learned obedience through what He suffered. Being made perfect, He became the source of Eternal Salvation to all who obey Him, being designated by GOD a High Priest after the order of Melchizedek."
At His coming,
Hebrews 9:23-28 "It was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifice than these. For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of GOD on our behalf. Nor was it to offer Himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then He would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, He has appeared once for all at the end of the (this Israel only) age to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the (satan) sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him."
Saturday, August 6, 2016
Friday, August 5, 2016
Discovering the Great and Precious Promises of GOD (Christ Centered)
Thinking on all that my LORD GOD has revealed to me and has worked within me from the first inception of doing a blog and then doing two of them. I must say this humbled once ignorant blind and some what spiritless person has indeed grown in the Truth and Grace that is Christ Jesus, my LORD. I could say that it is no longer the I of self-sin or satan's sin that lives or rules me. For the Now is the I AM Now I AM that rules me, of Christ. Now for Pastor Hoekstra and his teaching on Grace and its relationship to the old Law of condemnation and imprisonment of Moses. And then more on GOD's Salvation receive by the Faith of Christ our LORD. Using the ESV translation as has become my habit these days. And while sharing these things should the LORD give me more enlightenment I will as if on autopilot add it.
"Even More on God's Ability and His Promises"
"Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace . . . Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy." (Daniel 3:17 and Jude 24)
"The basic subject matter in this section of our meditations on growing in the Grace of GOD pertains to the promises of GOD. Living by the promises of GOD is just another way to consider living by the Grace of God. Again, our present verses speak of the ability of GOD. The more our understanding grows concerning what GOD is able to do, the more extensively will we trust in His promises.
Three young Israelites (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego) gave powerful testimony of the ability of GOD. King Nebuchadnezzar had ordered all the people to engage in idolatry, under threat of severe consequences. "To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that at the time you hear the sound of the horn . . . you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace" (Daniel 3:4-6). The three young men had a bold answer, based on the ability of GOD. "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace." They did not bow down, so they were thrown into the blazing furnace. Yet, the LORD GOD demonstrated His ability on their behalf. When the king looked into the furnace, he exclaimed, "Look! . . . I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God" (Daniel 3:25). Yes, GOD proved able to deliver them.
Hundreds of years later, Jude addressed GOD's ability regarding two other important arenas. "Now to Him Who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy." This aspect of GOD's ability offers assurance that GOD can keep His people from stumbling while on earth and present them faultless when they reach heaven. We all know our own capacity to stumble spiritually into transgression or compromise. We also struggle with the condemnations of the enemy that rob us of expectation to eventually stand before our LORD in glory fully forgiven, cleansed, and transformed. Our GOD is able to work effectively in both arenas for all who humbly trust in Him."
Conditions of Salvation:
Endurance,
Matthew 10:21-22 (Jesus is speaking) "Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved."Faith and Confession,
Romans 10:5-13 and 1Corinthians 1:18-25, 15:1-2 and 2Timothy 3:10-17 "Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the Law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) "or 'Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is LORD and believe in your heart that GOD raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes Him will not be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same LORD is Lord of all, bestowing His riches on all who call on Him. For "everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved."
1Corinthians 1:18-25 "The word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of GOD. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of GOD, the world did not know GOD through wisdom, it pleased GOD through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of GOD and the wisdom of GOD. For the foolishness of GOD is wiser than men, and the weakness of GOD is stronger than men."
1Corinthians 15:1-2 "Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain."
2Timothy 3:10-17 "You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. For all Scripture is breathed out by GOD and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."
Spiritual Receptivity,
James 1:19-26 "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of GOD. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless."
Spiritual Diligence,
2Peter 1:1-11 "Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our GOD and Savior Jesus Christ: May Grace and Peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of GOD and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him Who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which HE has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the Divine Nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our LORD Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former (satan) sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ."
Spiritual Cleansing,
Revelation 22:14-15 "Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood."
"Even More on God's Ability and His Promises"
"Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace . . . Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy." (Daniel 3:17 and Jude 24)
"The basic subject matter in this section of our meditations on growing in the Grace of GOD pertains to the promises of GOD. Living by the promises of GOD is just another way to consider living by the Grace of God. Again, our present verses speak of the ability of GOD. The more our understanding grows concerning what GOD is able to do, the more extensively will we trust in His promises.
Three young Israelites (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego) gave powerful testimony of the ability of GOD. King Nebuchadnezzar had ordered all the people to engage in idolatry, under threat of severe consequences. "To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, that at the time you hear the sound of the horn . . . you shall fall down and worship the gold image that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up; and whoever does not fall down and worship shall be cast immediately into the midst of a burning fiery furnace" (Daniel 3:4-6). The three young men had a bold answer, based on the ability of GOD. "Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace." They did not bow down, so they were thrown into the blazing furnace. Yet, the LORD GOD demonstrated His ability on their behalf. When the king looked into the furnace, he exclaimed, "Look! . . . I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God" (Daniel 3:25). Yes, GOD proved able to deliver them.
Hundreds of years later, Jude addressed GOD's ability regarding two other important arenas. "Now to Him Who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy." This aspect of GOD's ability offers assurance that GOD can keep His people from stumbling while on earth and present them faultless when they reach heaven. We all know our own capacity to stumble spiritually into transgression or compromise. We also struggle with the condemnations of the enemy that rob us of expectation to eventually stand before our LORD in glory fully forgiven, cleansed, and transformed. Our GOD is able to work effectively in both arenas for all who humbly trust in Him."
Conditions of Salvation:
Endurance,
Matthew 10:21-22 (Jesus is speaking) "Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved."Faith and Confession,
Romans 10:5-13 and 1Corinthians 1:18-25, 15:1-2 and 2Timothy 3:10-17 "Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the Law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) "or 'Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is LORD and believe in your heart that GOD raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes Him will not be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same LORD is Lord of all, bestowing His riches on all who call on Him. For "everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved."
1Corinthians 1:18-25 "The word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of GOD. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of GOD, the world did not know GOD through wisdom, it pleased GOD through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of GOD and the wisdom of GOD. For the foolishness of GOD is wiser than men, and the weakness of GOD is stronger than men."
1Corinthians 15:1-2 "Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain."
2Timothy 3:10-17 "You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. For all Scripture is breathed out by GOD and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."
Spiritual Receptivity,
James 1:19-26 "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of GOD. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless."
Spiritual Diligence,
2Peter 1:1-11 "Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our GOD and Savior Jesus Christ: May Grace and Peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of GOD and of Jesus our Lord. His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him Who called us to His own glory and excellence, by which HE has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the Divine Nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our LORD Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former (satan) sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ."
Spiritual Cleansing,
Revelation 22:14-15 "Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood."
Thursday, August 4, 2016
Discovering the Great and Precious Promises of GOD (Christ Centered)
As I draw closer to the close of this blog and thinking back over what has been revealed of GOD and His Christ. And how the Mysteries or Secret things hidden within scriptures all speak to Christ along with the Promises. And how it is that all find their individual fulfillment and completion in Christ. It becomes obvious to me that if we have not the Spirit of GOD which is Christ, by our receiving Him, we remain none of His. There I have finally got it out. Now looking at Pastor Hoekstra and his teaching on Grace. And then my subject which I did not do yesterday. Salvation the Promise of GOD. And again with the use of the ESV translation and the LORD's help I will look at my targeted subject.
"More on God's Children by God's Promises"
"Those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of GOD; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. For this is the word of promise: "At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son" . . . Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise . . . As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the LORD, so walk in Him." (Galatians 4:28; and Colossians 2:6)
"Again, our verses reveal a GOD of promises, Who brings forth spiritual children of promise. This Truth not only dictates how we enter the Family of GOD, it also determines how we are to live as the children of GOD.
Ishmael could not be counted as the true seed of Abraham, because he was the product of fleshly ingenuity. "Those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of GOD. " Only Isaac could be called the true qualified seed. "But the children of the promise are counted as the seed." This is true concerning us as well. We became GOD's children through faith in the promise of His Gospel. "As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of GOD, even to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12). We could not be saved by any fleshly provision: "Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of GOD" (John 1:13). Isaac was born through faith in the promise of GOD. "For this is the word of promise: 'At this time I Will come and Sarah shall have a son'." We also were born again through faith in the promise of GOD. "Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise."
Children of promise are spiritually birthed by promise and spiritually developed by promise. Now that we have been born into GOD's Family by faith in His promises, we are to live day by day in the same way that we became His children. "As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the LORD, so walk in Him. " The parallel is simple and straightforward: "As . . . so. " As we were saved, so we are to walk. We started out with the Lord by faith in the life-giving promise of His Gospel "And this is the promise that He has promised us - - Eternal Life" (1John 2:25). We are to live each day by faith in the life-developing promises that are inherent to His Gospel. "He Who believes Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38).
The Gift of GOD:
John 3:16-21 "For GOD so loved the world, that HE gave His only Son, that whoever believes Him should not perish but have eternal life. For GOD did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him (the transformation placed all of mankind in Redemption at one instant, the problem is that one not all have heard, second not all have trusted what they heard, and three not all have received the Truth). Whoever believes in (into) Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in (into) the name of the only Son of GOD. (into means as a woman becomes a wife and takes upon herself her husbands name so it is with those who become as Christ children of promise) And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in GOD."
John 4:7-14 and Romans 5:15-17 "There was a woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give Me a drink." (For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to Him, "How is it that You, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?" (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of GOD, and Who it is that is saying to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." The woman said to Him, "Sir, You have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do You get this living water? Are You greater than our father Jacob? He gave us this well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock." Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I Will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I Will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to Eternal Life."
Romans 5:15-17 "The free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the Grace of GOD and the free Gift by the Grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free Gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free Gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of Grace and the free Gift of Righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ."
Romans 6:20-23 "For when you were slaves of (in satan's) sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from (satan's) sin and have become slaves of GOD, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, Eternal Life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free Gift of GOD is Eternal Life n Christ Jesus our LORD."
Romans 8:31-9:5 "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He Who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will HE not also with Him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against GOD's elect? It is GOD Who Justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one Who died—more than that, Who was raised—Who is at the right hand of GOD, Who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loves us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of GOD in Christ Jesus our LORD. I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, Who is GOD over all, blessed forever. Amen."
2Corinthians 9:6-15 "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all Grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, "He has distributed freely, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever." He Who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to GOD. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to GOD. By their approval of this service, they will glorify GOD because of your submission that comes from your confession of the Gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing Grace of GOD upon you. Thanks be to GOD for His inexpressible gift!"
Ephesians 2:1-10 "You were dead in the trespasses and (satan's) sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But GOD, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which HE loves us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by Grace you have been saved— and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming Ages HE might show the immeasurable riches of His Grace in kindness toward us in (through) Christ Jesus. For by Grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the Gift of GOD, not a result of (human) works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which GOD prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
"More on God's Children by God's Promises"
"Those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of GOD; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. For this is the word of promise: "At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son" . . . Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise . . . As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the LORD, so walk in Him." (Galatians 4:28; and Colossians 2:6)
"Again, our verses reveal a GOD of promises, Who brings forth spiritual children of promise. This Truth not only dictates how we enter the Family of GOD, it also determines how we are to live as the children of GOD.
Ishmael could not be counted as the true seed of Abraham, because he was the product of fleshly ingenuity. "Those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of GOD. " Only Isaac could be called the true qualified seed. "But the children of the promise are counted as the seed." This is true concerning us as well. We became GOD's children through faith in the promise of His Gospel. "As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of GOD, even to those who believe in His name" (John 1:12). We could not be saved by any fleshly provision: "Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of GOD" (John 1:13). Isaac was born through faith in the promise of GOD. "For this is the word of promise: 'At this time I Will come and Sarah shall have a son'." We also were born again through faith in the promise of GOD. "Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise."
Children of promise are spiritually birthed by promise and spiritually developed by promise. Now that we have been born into GOD's Family by faith in His promises, we are to live day by day in the same way that we became His children. "As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the LORD, so walk in Him. " The parallel is simple and straightforward: "As . . . so. " As we were saved, so we are to walk. We started out with the Lord by faith in the life-giving promise of His Gospel "And this is the promise that He has promised us - - Eternal Life" (1John 2:25). We are to live each day by faith in the life-developing promises that are inherent to His Gospel. "He Who believes Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water" (John 7:38).
The Gift of GOD:
John 3:16-21 "For GOD so loved the world, that HE gave His only Son, that whoever believes Him should not perish but have eternal life. For GOD did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him (the transformation placed all of mankind in Redemption at one instant, the problem is that one not all have heard, second not all have trusted what they heard, and three not all have received the Truth). Whoever believes in (into) Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in (into) the name of the only Son of GOD. (into means as a woman becomes a wife and takes upon herself her husbands name so it is with those who become as Christ children of promise) And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in GOD."
John 4:7-14 and Romans 5:15-17 "There was a woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give Me a drink." (For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to Him, "How is it that You, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?" (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of GOD, and Who it is that is saying to you, 'Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water." The woman said to Him, "Sir, You have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do You get this living water? Are You greater than our father Jacob? He gave us this well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock." Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I Will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I Will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to Eternal Life."
Romans 5:15-17 "The free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the Grace of GOD and the free Gift by the Grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free Gift is not like the result of that one man's sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free Gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of Grace and the free Gift of Righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ."
Romans 6:20-23 "For when you were slaves of (in satan's) sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from (satan's) sin and have become slaves of GOD, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, Eternal Life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free Gift of GOD is Eternal Life n Christ Jesus our LORD."
Romans 8:31-9:5 "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He Who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will HE not also with Him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against GOD's elect? It is GOD Who Justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one Who died—more than that, Who was raised—Who is at the right hand of GOD, Who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loves us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of GOD in Christ Jesus our LORD. I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the Law, the worship, and the promises. To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, Who is GOD over all, blessed forever. Amen."
2Corinthians 9:6-15 "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all Grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, "He has distributed freely, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever." He Who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to GOD. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to GOD. By their approval of this service, they will glorify GOD because of your submission that comes from your confession of the Gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing Grace of GOD upon you. Thanks be to GOD for His inexpressible gift!"
Ephesians 2:1-10 "You were dead in the trespasses and (satan's) sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But GOD, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which HE loves us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by Grace you have been saved— and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming Ages HE might show the immeasurable riches of His Grace in kindness toward us in (through) Christ Jesus. For by Grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the Gift of GOD, not a result of (human) works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which GOD prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
Discovering the Great and Precious Promises of GOD (Christ Centered)
Sometimes I have to kick back and wonder just how many people actually know and understand the transformation that GOD brought about that the book of Acts bears the witness of. From my observations not vary many. Even through some have read their Bible as a book for many many years. Indicating to me one that for them it is just literature or they have not the Spirit or put another way they have not the Bible's author indwelling them. Maybe they lack faith, the very key that unlocks the secret gems and finds the treasure of gold within it's pages. Okay enough, now for Pastor Hoekstra and his teaching on Grace and then my subject for today, Salvation GOD's Gift. And has become my norm I will use the ESV translation for my outline with the LORD's help. Before I get into my subject and because of the subject of Pastor Hoekstra's subject matter I am going to add another of his insightful teachings dealing with the Law, in place of my own.
"Reflections on Obedience by God's Grace"
"For (this is satan's) sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under Grace . . . that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." (Romans 6:14 and 8:4)
"Before we leave this vital subject of obedience, let's reflect upon how it is related to GOD's Grace. Various key passages that we have examined previously can help us accomplish this goal.
Romans 6:14 is such a passage. Herein, we are told how to get out from under the domination of satan's sin. "For sin shall not have dominion over you." Anyone who is ruled by sin is living in disobedience. Sin and disobedience are virtually synonymous, as they are the very nature and character of Satan. Grace is the path of deliverance from disobedience. "For you are not under law but under Grace." Sin is transgression of the law of God. The law can call us to the holy standards of GOD, but the Law of Moses cannot help us to obey those perfect standards. "For the law made nothing perfect" (Hebrews 7:19). Grace is GOD's resource for us to find forgiveness of sin (thus rescuing us from the dominating penalty of satan's sin): "In Him we have Redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His Grace" (Ephesians 1:7). Grace is also GOD's Strength for living daily in victory over sin (thereby rescuing us from dominating influence of satan's sin hold): "Be strong in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus" (2Timothy 2:1).
Romans 8:4 is another passage that indicates the connection between obedience and Grace. The opening words address a primary reason why Christ died on the cross: "that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us." It is GOD's desire that the holy demands of the law be increasingly lived out in our lives. This would amount to a life of obedience. The Law of Moses itself could never produce this. "For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, GOD did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of (satan's) sin: He condemned sin in the flesh" (Roman 8:3). Did you catch that, He condemned Satan's sin in mans flesh. What GOD's law could not do (because of man's inability to live up to it), GOD did through His Son. Now, by means of all that Christ has provided for us, obedience is available to us. Who is it that experiences this available obedience? Those who "do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." Christians who face each day by the flesh only access the carnal resources of natural man. On the other hand, those who address the daily issues of life in dependency upon the Spirit draw upon the Grace resources of a supernatural GOD."
"God's Children by God's Promises"
"For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise . . . Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise." (Galatians 4:22-23, 28)
"Our GOD is a God of promises. He characteristically works by making and fulfilling promises. We are His children. We are children of promise. We were birthed spiritually into GOD's family through faith in His promises. Two sons of Abraham (Ishmael and Isaac) provide a vivid contrast that attests our sonship by promise.
GOD had promised to make Abraham a mighty nation, through which would come the Messianic seed that would bless all nations. "I will make you a great nation . . . and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Genesis 12:1-2). Yet, the years passed by, and Abraham was still without a son. Eventually, he implied to God that his servant would have to be the beginning of this promised seed. "Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house (Eliezer, his servant) is my heir! " (Genesis 15:3). However, the LORD clarified His promise to give Abraham a true son, sired from his own body. "This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir" (Genesis 15:4). As time passed, the aging couple decided that they would have to come up with another alternative for God. "Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children . . . So Sarai said to Abram, 'See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.' And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived" (Genesis 16:1-2, 4). Thus, Ishmael was born as the result of Abraham's and Sarah's ingenuity: "he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh."
Thereafter, the LORD reiterated His promise of a son. "My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year" (Genesis 17:21). As GOD promised, so He did. "And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had spoken" (Genesis 21:1). Thus, Isaac was birthed as a result of GOD's promises. This is a picture of the only possible way that we could ever have become GOD's children, by His fulfilling of His promises. "Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise."
From this point on from Pastor Hoekstra's writings I will share these as I believe that you get the picture of how we become obedient through GOD's working in us, when we have become Christ centered.
"Reflections on Obedience by God's Grace"
"For (this is satan's) sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under Grace . . . that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." (Romans 6:14 and 8:4)
"Before we leave this vital subject of obedience, let's reflect upon how it is related to GOD's Grace. Various key passages that we have examined previously can help us accomplish this goal.
Romans 6:14 is such a passage. Herein, we are told how to get out from under the domination of satan's sin. "For sin shall not have dominion over you." Anyone who is ruled by sin is living in disobedience. Sin and disobedience are virtually synonymous, as they are the very nature and character of Satan. Grace is the path of deliverance from disobedience. "For you are not under law but under Grace." Sin is transgression of the law of God. The law can call us to the holy standards of GOD, but the Law of Moses cannot help us to obey those perfect standards. "For the law made nothing perfect" (Hebrews 7:19). Grace is GOD's resource for us to find forgiveness of sin (thus rescuing us from the dominating penalty of satan's sin): "In Him we have Redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His Grace" (Ephesians 1:7). Grace is also GOD's Strength for living daily in victory over sin (thereby rescuing us from dominating influence of satan's sin hold): "Be strong in the Grace that is in Christ Jesus" (2Timothy 2:1).
Romans 8:4 is another passage that indicates the connection between obedience and Grace. The opening words address a primary reason why Christ died on the cross: "that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us." It is GOD's desire that the holy demands of the law be increasingly lived out in our lives. This would amount to a life of obedience. The Law of Moses itself could never produce this. "For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, GOD did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of (satan's) sin: He condemned sin in the flesh" (Roman 8:3). Did you catch that, He condemned Satan's sin in mans flesh. What GOD's law could not do (because of man's inability to live up to it), GOD did through His Son. Now, by means of all that Christ has provided for us, obedience is available to us. Who is it that experiences this available obedience? Those who "do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." Christians who face each day by the flesh only access the carnal resources of natural man. On the other hand, those who address the daily issues of life in dependency upon the Spirit draw upon the Grace resources of a supernatural GOD."
"God's Children by God's Promises"
"For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise . . . Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise." (Galatians 4:22-23, 28)
"Our GOD is a God of promises. He characteristically works by making and fulfilling promises. We are His children. We are children of promise. We were birthed spiritually into GOD's family through faith in His promises. Two sons of Abraham (Ishmael and Isaac) provide a vivid contrast that attests our sonship by promise.
GOD had promised to make Abraham a mighty nation, through which would come the Messianic seed that would bless all nations. "I will make you a great nation . . . and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed" (Genesis 12:1-2). Yet, the years passed by, and Abraham was still without a son. Eventually, he implied to God that his servant would have to be the beginning of this promised seed. "Look, You have given me no offspring; indeed one born in my house (Eliezer, his servant) is my heir! " (Genesis 15:3). However, the LORD clarified His promise to give Abraham a true son, sired from his own body. "This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir" (Genesis 15:4). As time passed, the aging couple decided that they would have to come up with another alternative for God. "Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children . . . So Sarai said to Abram, 'See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.' And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai. So he went in to Hagar, and she conceived" (Genesis 16:1-2, 4). Thus, Ishmael was born as the result of Abraham's and Sarah's ingenuity: "he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh."
Thereafter, the LORD reiterated His promise of a son. "My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah shall bear to you at this set time next year" (Genesis 17:21). As GOD promised, so He did. "And the LORD visited Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah as He had spoken" (Genesis 21:1). Thus, Isaac was birthed as a result of GOD's promises. This is a picture of the only possible way that we could ever have become GOD's children, by His fulfilling of His promises. "Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise."
From this point on from Pastor Hoekstra's writings I will share these as I believe that you get the picture of how we become obedient through GOD's working in us, when we have become Christ centered.
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Discovering the Great and Precious Promises of GOD (Christ Centered)
I wont to look into the Salvation of GOD as my targeted subject for todays blog. But first Pastor Hoekstra's writing on Grace and then using the ESV translation I will turn my attention on the Salvation of GOD.
"God Glorified by Working Obedience in Us"
"Now may the God of peace . . . make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:20-21)
"Let's make one more visit to these tremendous words in Hebrews 13:20-21. When the Lord works in us unto obedience ("what is well pleasing in His sight"), He Himself is the one who appropriately receives the glory ("to whom be glory forever and ever").
Throughout eternity, GOD is to be glorified and magnified by all. "I heard the voices of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: 'Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!' And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him Who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever! " (Revelation 5:11-13).
Here in the midst of time and space, GOD is also to be glorified in and through our lives. "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of GOD" (1Corinthians 10:31). That which the LORD wants us to do for His glory is clearly revealed in His commands. In the New Testament, our LORD commands His New Covenant servants in many areas. He calls us to genuine love, godly service, earnest prayer, and habitual hospitality: "Let love be without hypocrisy . . . serving the LORD . . . continuing steadfastly in prayer . . . given to hospitality" (Romans 12:9, 11-13). He instructs us to be truthful, hard-working, kind, and forgiving, "each one speak truth with his neighbor . . . let him labor, working with his hands what is good . . . be kind to one another . . . forgiving one another" (Ephesians 4:25, 28, and 32).
These commands are the things that are "well pleasing in His sight." These are also the things that He wants to bring forth by His work in us: "working in you what is well pleasing in His sight." When we seek the LORD to do such work in and through us, He is certainly the one who should get all the glory and honor."
The Salvation of GOD,
Psalm 27:1-3 "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident."
Psalm 37:35-40 and 62:1-2 "I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like a green laurel tree. But he passed away, and behold, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found. Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace. But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off. The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their stronghold in the time of trouble. The LORD helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him."
Psalm 62:1-2 "For GOD alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken."
Isaiah 12:1-6 "You will say in that day: "I will give thanks to You, O LORD, for though You were angry with me, Your anger You turned away, that You might comfort me. "Behold, GOD is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation." With joy I will draw water from the wells of salvation. And I will say in that day: "Give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the peoples, proclaim that His name is exalted. "Sing praises to the LORD, for He has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel."
Isaiah 25:6-12 and Jeremiah 3:21-23 "On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. And He Will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever; and the LORD GOD Will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of His people He Will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. It will be said on that day, "Behold, this is our GOD; we have waited for Him, that He might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for Him; let us be glad and rejoice in His salvation." For the hand of the LORD Will rest on this mountain, and Moab shall be trampled down in his place, as straw is trampled down in a dunghill. And he will spread out his hands in the midst of it as a swimmer spreads his hands out to swim, but the LORD Will lay low his pompous pride together with the skill of his hands. And the high fortifications of his walls he will bring down, lay low, and cast to the ground, to the dust."
Jeremiah 3:21-23 "A voice on the bare heights is heard, the weeping and pleading of Israel's sons because they have perverted their way; they have forgotten the LORD their GOD. "Return, O faithless sons; I will heal your faithlessness." "Behold, we come to you, for you are the LORD our GOD. Truly the hills are a delusion, the orgies on the mountains. Truly in the LORD our GOD is the salvation of Israel."
Zephaniah 3:14-20 and 1Timothy 4: "Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away the judgments against you; He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil. On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: "Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty One Who will save; He Will rejoice over you with gladness; He Will quiet you by His love; He Will exult over you with loud singing. I Will gather those of you who mourn for the festival, so that you will no longer suffer reproach. Behold, at that time I Will deal with all your oppressors. And I Will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I Will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. At that time I Will bring you in, at the time when I gather you together; for I Will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes," says the LORD."
1Timothy 4:6-10 "If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living GOD, Who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe."
"God Glorified by Working Obedience in Us"
"Now may the God of peace . . . make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:20-21)
"Let's make one more visit to these tremendous words in Hebrews 13:20-21. When the Lord works in us unto obedience ("what is well pleasing in His sight"), He Himself is the one who appropriately receives the glory ("to whom be glory forever and ever").
Throughout eternity, GOD is to be glorified and magnified by all. "I heard the voices of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: 'Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!' And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him Who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever! " (Revelation 5:11-13).
Here in the midst of time and space, GOD is also to be glorified in and through our lives. "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of GOD" (1Corinthians 10:31). That which the LORD wants us to do for His glory is clearly revealed in His commands. In the New Testament, our LORD commands His New Covenant servants in many areas. He calls us to genuine love, godly service, earnest prayer, and habitual hospitality: "Let love be without hypocrisy . . . serving the LORD . . . continuing steadfastly in prayer . . . given to hospitality" (Romans 12:9, 11-13). He instructs us to be truthful, hard-working, kind, and forgiving, "each one speak truth with his neighbor . . . let him labor, working with his hands what is good . . . be kind to one another . . . forgiving one another" (Ephesians 4:25, 28, and 32).
These commands are the things that are "well pleasing in His sight." These are also the things that He wants to bring forth by His work in us: "working in you what is well pleasing in His sight." When we seek the LORD to do such work in and through us, He is certainly the one who should get all the glory and honor."
The Salvation of GOD,
Psalm 27:1-3 "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident."
Psalm 37:35-40 and 62:1-2 "I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, spreading himself like a green laurel tree. But he passed away, and behold, he was no more; though I sought him, he could not be found. Mark the blameless and behold the upright, for there is a future for the man of peace. But transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; the future of the wicked shall be cut off. The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their stronghold in the time of trouble. The LORD helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in Him."
Psalm 62:1-2 "For GOD alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken."
Isaiah 12:1-6 "You will say in that day: "I will give thanks to You, O LORD, for though You were angry with me, Your anger You turned away, that You might comfort me. "Behold, GOD is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation." With joy I will draw water from the wells of salvation. And I will say in that day: "Give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the peoples, proclaim that His name is exalted. "Sing praises to the LORD, for He has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel."
Isaiah 25:6-12 and Jeremiah 3:21-23 "On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. And He Will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever; and the LORD GOD Will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of His people He Will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken. It will be said on that day, "Behold, this is our GOD; we have waited for Him, that He might save us. This is the LORD; we have waited for Him; let us be glad and rejoice in His salvation." For the hand of the LORD Will rest on this mountain, and Moab shall be trampled down in his place, as straw is trampled down in a dunghill. And he will spread out his hands in the midst of it as a swimmer spreads his hands out to swim, but the LORD Will lay low his pompous pride together with the skill of his hands. And the high fortifications of his walls he will bring down, lay low, and cast to the ground, to the dust."
Jeremiah 3:21-23 "A voice on the bare heights is heard, the weeping and pleading of Israel's sons because they have perverted their way; they have forgotten the LORD their GOD. "Return, O faithless sons; I will heal your faithlessness." "Behold, we come to you, for you are the LORD our GOD. Truly the hills are a delusion, the orgies on the mountains. Truly in the LORD our GOD is the salvation of Israel."
Zephaniah 3:14-20 and 1Timothy 4: "Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The LORD has taken away the judgments against you; He has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil. On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: "Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty One Who will save; He Will rejoice over you with gladness; He Will quiet you by His love; He Will exult over you with loud singing. I Will gather those of you who mourn for the festival, so that you will no longer suffer reproach. Behold, at that time I Will deal with all your oppressors. And I Will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I Will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. At that time I Will bring you in, at the time when I gather you together; for I Will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes," says the LORD."
1Timothy 4:6-10 "If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living GOD, Who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe."
Monday, August 1, 2016
Discovering the Great and Precious Promises of GOD (Christ Centered)
Now I will call on Pastor Hoekstra's writing and teaching of Grace. And then get into two areas dealing with Salvation, the first is free, the second is sought, making use of the ESV translation. And when the LORD gives more insight I will as usual add it there and then.
"God Working in Us What Pleases Him"
"Now may the God of peace . . . make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:20-21)
"Our attention is focused upon Hebrews 13:20-21. In the two previous devotionals, we saw that the God of Peace makes obedience available to us through the blood of Christ and then equips us to do His Will (plan and purposes). Now we will see that this involves GOD working in us what pleases Him.
Obedience is about pleasing GOD, doing "what is well pleasing in His sight." This is why Christ died for us. "He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him Who died for them and rose again" (2Corinthians 5:15). Living to please self is the ultimate disobedience to GOD. As God's children, we want to live for His approval. "Walk as children of light . . . proving what is acceptable to the LORD" (Ephesians 5:8-10).
The means ordained for us to actually live pleasing in His sight is GOD at work in us: "the GOD of peace . . . working in you what is well pleasing in His sight." We cannot properly live obedient, pleasing lives for GOD, unless we look to the LORD to be working within us. If we are to be faithful representatives of the LORD here on earth, we need Him working through us. "Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though GOD were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to GOD" (2Corinthians 5:20). This is how the early church effectively pleased the LORD in their service. "For He Who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles" (Galatians 2:8).
Ultimately, pleasing GOD by doing His Will is an internal matter of the heart. "That He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our GOD and Father at the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ with all His saints" (1Thessalonians 3:13). When our LORD returns, He wants to find obedient children. He wants His followers to be "blameless in holiness before our GOD and Father." This is only possible as we allow our GOD to do a spiritually stabilizing work deep within us: "That He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness."
Not surprisingly, all of this working of GOD within us is done "through Jesus Christ." It is all based upon Who Jesus is, all that He has done for us, and all that He alone can accomplish as He lives in us!"
Free Salvation,
Isaiah 55:1-5, 6-8 "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to Me; hear, that your soul may live; and I Will make with you an Everlasting Covenant, My steadfast, sure love for David. Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your GOD, and of the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified you.
"Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion on him, and to our GOD, for HE Will abundantly pardon. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the LORD."
Romans 3:21-26 "Now the Righteousness of GOD has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the Righteousness of GOD through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short (in satan's sin) of the glory of GOD, and are justified by His Grace as a Gift, through the redemption that is through Christ Jesus, Whom GOD put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith. This was to show GOD's Righteousness, because in His divine forbearance HE had passed over former sins. It was to show His Righteousness at the present time, so that HE might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."
Revelation 22:17 "The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price."
Salvation Sought,
1Chronicles 16:7-36 "That day David first appointed that thanksgiving be sung to the LORD by Asaph and his brothers. Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that He has done, His miracles and the judgments He uttered, O offspring of Israel His servant, children of Jacob, His chosen ones! He is the LORD our GOD; His judgments are in all the earth. Remember His covenant forever, the word that He commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant that He made with Abraham, His sworn promise to Isaac, which He confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan, as your portion for an inheritance." When you were few in number, of little account, and sojourners in it, wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people, He allowed no one to oppress them; He rebuked kings on their account, saying, "Touch not My anointed ones, do My prophets no harm!" Sing to the LORD, all the earth! Tell of His Salvation (to save, heal, deliver H3444) from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and joy are in His place. Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering and come before Him! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth; yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!" Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD, for He comes to judge the earth. Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast Love endures forever!Say also: "Save us, O GOD of our salvation (saving, safety H3468) and gather and deliver us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to Your holy name and glory in Your praise. Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting!" Then all the people said, "Amen!" and praised the LORD."
Psalm 31:14-18 "I trust in You, O LORD; I say, "You are my GOD." My times are in Your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! Make Your face shine on Your servant; save me in Your steadfast love! O LORD, let me not be put to shame, for I call upon You; let the wicked be put to shame; let them go silently to Sheol. Let the lying lips be mute, which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt."
Psalm 54:1-3 "O God, save me by Your name, and vindicate me by Your might. O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers have risen against me; ruthless men seek my life; they do not set GOD before themselves."
Psalm 85:4-7 "Restore us again, O GOD of our salvation (H3468), and put away Your indignation toward us! Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations? Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? Show us your steadfast love, O LORD, and grant us Your salvation (H3468)."
Psalm 106:4-5 "Remember me, O LORD, when You show favor (Will H7522) to Your people; help me when You save them, that I may look upon the prosperity of Your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation, that I may glory with Your inheritance."
Psalm 119:41-48
Waw.
"Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD, Your salvation (to save from trouble H6886) according to Your promise; then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in Your word. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in Your rules. I will keep Your law continually, forever and ever, and I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought Your precepts. I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame, for I find my delight in Your commandments, which I love. I will lift up my hands toward Your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on Your statutes."
Acts 16:25-34 "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." And they spoke the word of the LORD to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in GOD."
"God Working in Us What Pleases Him"
"Now may the God of peace . . . make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13:20-21)
"Our attention is focused upon Hebrews 13:20-21. In the two previous devotionals, we saw that the God of Peace makes obedience available to us through the blood of Christ and then equips us to do His Will (plan and purposes). Now we will see that this involves GOD working in us what pleases Him.
Obedience is about pleasing GOD, doing "what is well pleasing in His sight." This is why Christ died for us. "He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him Who died for them and rose again" (2Corinthians 5:15). Living to please self is the ultimate disobedience to GOD. As God's children, we want to live for His approval. "Walk as children of light . . . proving what is acceptable to the LORD" (Ephesians 5:8-10).
The means ordained for us to actually live pleasing in His sight is GOD at work in us: "the GOD of peace . . . working in you what is well pleasing in His sight." We cannot properly live obedient, pleasing lives for GOD, unless we look to the LORD to be working within us. If we are to be faithful representatives of the LORD here on earth, we need Him working through us. "Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though GOD were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to GOD" (2Corinthians 5:20). This is how the early church effectively pleased the LORD in their service. "For He Who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles" (Galatians 2:8).
Ultimately, pleasing GOD by doing His Will is an internal matter of the heart. "That He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our GOD and Father at the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ with all His saints" (1Thessalonians 3:13). When our LORD returns, He wants to find obedient children. He wants His followers to be "blameless in holiness before our GOD and Father." This is only possible as we allow our GOD to do a spiritually stabilizing work deep within us: "That He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness."
Not surprisingly, all of this working of GOD within us is done "through Jesus Christ." It is all based upon Who Jesus is, all that He has done for us, and all that He alone can accomplish as He lives in us!"
Free Salvation,
Isaiah 55:1-5, 6-8 "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to Me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to Me; hear, that your soul may live; and I Will make with you an Everlasting Covenant, My steadfast, sure love for David. Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your GOD, and of the Holy One of Israel, for He has glorified you.
"Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that He may have compassion on him, and to our GOD, for HE Will abundantly pardon. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the LORD."
Romans 3:21-26 "Now the Righteousness of GOD has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the Righteousness of GOD through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short (in satan's sin) of the glory of GOD, and are justified by His Grace as a Gift, through the redemption that is through Christ Jesus, Whom GOD put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith. This was to show GOD's Righteousness, because in His divine forbearance HE had passed over former sins. It was to show His Righteousness at the present time, so that HE might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus."
Revelation 22:17 "The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price."
Salvation Sought,
1Chronicles 16:7-36 "That day David first appointed that thanksgiving be sung to the LORD by Asaph and his brothers. Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice! Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His presence continually! Remember the wondrous works that He has done, His miracles and the judgments He uttered, O offspring of Israel His servant, children of Jacob, His chosen ones! He is the LORD our GOD; His judgments are in all the earth. Remember His covenant forever, the word that He commanded, for a thousand generations, the covenant that He made with Abraham, His sworn promise to Isaac, which He confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant, saying, "To you I will give the land of Canaan, as your portion for an inheritance." When you were few in number, of little account, and sojourners in it, wandering from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another people, He allowed no one to oppress them; He rebuked kings on their account, saying, "Touch not My anointed ones, do My prophets no harm!" Sing to the LORD, all the earth! Tell of His Salvation (to save, heal, deliver H3444) from day to day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised, and He is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and joy are in His place. Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name; bring an offering and come before Him! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth; yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved. Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice, and let them say among the nations, "The LORD reigns!" Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD, for He comes to judge the earth. Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast Love endures forever!Say also: "Save us, O GOD of our salvation (saving, safety H3468) and gather and deliver us from among the nations, that we may give thanks to Your holy name and glory in Your praise. Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting!" Then all the people said, "Amen!" and praised the LORD."
Psalm 31:14-18 "I trust in You, O LORD; I say, "You are my GOD." My times are in Your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! Make Your face shine on Your servant; save me in Your steadfast love! O LORD, let me not be put to shame, for I call upon You; let the wicked be put to shame; let them go silently to Sheol. Let the lying lips be mute, which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt."
Psalm 54:1-3 "O God, save me by Your name, and vindicate me by Your might. O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth. For strangers have risen against me; ruthless men seek my life; they do not set GOD before themselves."
Psalm 85:4-7 "Restore us again, O GOD of our salvation (H3468), and put away Your indignation toward us! Will You be angry with us forever? Will You prolong Your anger to all generations? Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You? Show us your steadfast love, O LORD, and grant us Your salvation (H3468)."
Psalm 106:4-5 "Remember me, O LORD, when You show favor (Will H7522) to Your people; help me when You save them, that I may look upon the prosperity of Your chosen ones, that I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation, that I may glory with Your inheritance."
Psalm 119:41-48
Waw.
"Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD, Your salvation (to save from trouble H6886) according to Your promise; then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in Your word. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in Your rules. I will keep Your law continually, forever and ever, and I shall walk in a wide place, for I have sought Your precepts. I will also speak of Your testimonies before kings and shall not be put to shame, for I find my delight in Your commandments, which I love. I will lift up my hands toward Your commandments, which I love, and I will meditate on Your statutes."
Acts 16:25-34 "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." And they spoke the word of the LORD to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in GOD."
Discovering the Great and Precious Promises of GOD (Christ Centered)
Before I get into todays Salvation thought I wont to look at it's Greek meaning to do that I will use the Thayer Greek Dictionary and then the Webest's 1828 Dictionary.
In the Greek New Testament there are two words used for Salvation their numbers are G4991 and G4992:
G4991
σωτηρία
sōtēria
Thayer Definition:
1) deliverance, preservation, safety, salvation
1a) deliverance from the molestation of enemies
1b) in an ethical sense, that which concludes to the souls safety or salvation
1b1) of Messianic salvation
2) salvation as the present possession of all true Christians
3) future salvation, the sum of benefits and blessings which the Christians, redeemed from all earthly ills, will enjoy after the visible return of Christ from heaven in the consummated and eternal kingdom of God.
Part of Speech: noun feminine
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: feminine of a derivative of G4990 as (properly, abstract) noun
G4992
σωτήριον
sōtērion
Thayer Definition:
1) saving, bringing salvation
2) he who embodies this salvation, or through whom God is about to achieve it
3) the hope of (future) salvation
Part of Speech: adjective
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: neuter of the same as G4991 as (properly, concretely) noun
Citing in TDNT: 7:1021, 1132
G4980
σχολάζω
scholazō
Thayer Definition:
1) to cease from labour, to loiter
2) to be free from labour, to be at leisure, to be idle
2a) to have leisure for a thing
2b) to give one’s self to a thing
3) of things
3a) of places, to be unoccupied, empty
3b) of a centurion’s vacant office
3c) of vacant ecclesiastical offices
3d) of officers without charge
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G4981
Daniel Webster's 1828 Dictionary:
Salvation
SALVA'TION, n. [L. salvo, to save.]
1. The act of saving; preservation from destruction, danger or great calamity.
2. Appropriately in theology, the redemption of man from the bondage of sin and liability to eternal death, and the conferring on him everlasting happiness. This is the great salvation.
Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation. 2 Cor 7.
3. Deliverance from enemies; victory. Exo 14.
4. Remission of sins, or saving graces. Luke 19.
5. The author of man's salvation. Psa 27.
6. A term of praise or benediction. Rev 19.
In the Greek New Testament there are two words used for Salvation their numbers are G4991 and G4992:
G4991
σωτηρία
sōtēria
Thayer Definition:
1) deliverance, preservation, safety, salvation
1a) deliverance from the molestation of enemies
1b) in an ethical sense, that which concludes to the souls safety or salvation
1b1) of Messianic salvation
2) salvation as the present possession of all true Christians
3) future salvation, the sum of benefits and blessings which the Christians, redeemed from all earthly ills, will enjoy after the visible return of Christ from heaven in the consummated and eternal kingdom of God.
Part of Speech: noun feminine
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: feminine of a derivative of G4990 as (properly, abstract) noun
Citing in TDNT: 7:965, 1132
G4992
σωτήριον
sōtērion
Thayer Definition:
1) saving, bringing salvation
2) he who embodies this salvation, or through whom God is about to achieve it
3) the hope of (future) salvation
Part of Speech: adjective
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: neuter of the same as G4991 as (properly, concretely) noun
Citing in TDNT: 7:1021, 1132
σχολάζω
scholazō
Thayer Definition:
1) to cease from labour, to loiter
2) to be free from labour, to be at leisure, to be idle
2a) to have leisure for a thing
2b) to give one’s self to a thing
3) of things
3a) of places, to be unoccupied, empty
3b) of a centurion’s vacant office
3c) of vacant ecclesiastical offices
3d) of officers without charge
Part of Speech: verb
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G4981
Daniel Webster's 1828 Dictionary:
Salvation
SALVA'TION, n. [L. salvo, to save.]
1. The act of saving; preservation from destruction, danger or great calamity.
2. Appropriately in theology, the redemption of man from the bondage of sin and liability to eternal death, and the conferring on him everlasting happiness. This is the great salvation.
Godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation. 2 Cor 7.
3. Deliverance from enemies; victory. Exo 14.
4. Remission of sins, or saving graces. Luke 19.
5. The author of man's salvation. Psa 27.
6. A term of praise or benediction. Rev 19.
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