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How do you get to heaven?

19 Sep

How do you get to heaven?

Galatians 2:15-21   We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. 17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. (ESV)

True or False: You get to heaven by being a good person and following the rules of Christianity.

How you answer that question determines your eternity. If the “law” is that set of rules that you try so hard to follow, you are relying on your own power to get right, or be justified before God. You may understand that you are a sinner, and you may think you understand Christ, but it has gotten twisted somewhere in your basis of belief on following the rules to get your key to paradise. I grew up thinking that going to church got me into heaven; as a part of that belief was inter-twined that system of following the rules. I mean, there could be no way I did not have to do something to pay my way, right? There had to be some rule about prayer, forgiveness, hard work, changed ways, repentance; at least being better than that bad person I know right? Maybe it is as simple as on God’s scales of justification, that my good deeds outweigh my bad. I think I can pull this off; live my life to the fullest for a few years, and then spend my remaining years righting all the wrongs I had done……..plenty of time…….in that statement is the works based faith that condemns, and you pay eternally for that mistake……that was me for most of my life.

Salvation is not found in a church pew, following all the rules, or even the mis-conception of anything called God’s scales weighing out your life. There is only ONE way to heaven, and it is by the free grace that God gave you through the sacrifice of his Son, Jesus Christ. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. Grace is defined as unmerited favor; giving us something we do not deserve. The Gospel is this good news; that God gave us this grace in Christ; the forgiveness of sins through His blood on the Cross. All it takes is a humble, repentant heart, seeking that grace upon which he gave. To come to that understanding that we can never achieve it, only humbly accept it. Upon it, your life will never be the same, from here into eternity. #thankyouJesus

 
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Posted by on September 19, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Access Denied

17 May

Access Denied

Galatians 4:8-9    Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?

Paul had written this letter to encourage those in Galatia to remain in their faith alone in Christ Jesus; to not return to the ways of the Law. The Jewish legalists were demanding circumcision as a means to obtain righteousness, and all the demands of the Law. The Judaizers had demanded that Salvation was obtained in the Law, and Paul had refuted that claim; that Christ had come to compete the Law that no man could ever obtain righteousness in. The Law points us to our need for Christ, but we do not gain access to Christ through it. That is a works based faith system, and puts the power of access to God in your ability, and not in the grace of God through Christ’s sacrifice. The understanding of justification through that grace is the only means of salvation and access to God. Justification by faith alone. Galatians 2:16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

It is sad to see so many religions today that still preach justification by works; to gain access to God by ritualistic methodology that places the faith in ones own works, or the completion of the tasks required to gain access alone. The only task that is truly required by God is repentance, and on that repentance comes the understanding of His grace found in His Son. That humble, repentant heart is a heart that has found faith and Salvation in Jesus Christ alone. That humble, repentant heart now seeks to live a better life; to seek to fulfill the requirements of the Law as a disciple of His; not to gain the access already given, but to live their life as an example of one saved by grace and not of works. The transformed heart seeks to model a life consecrated to the One who gave them life, not stand in the pride of ones own accomplishments. Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

Reflect on your own “religious system”. What do you truly believe? You are defined at the core by what you believe. It affects your decisions, your actions, your daily life. Do you go through the repetitions of ritualistic worship; monotony exemplified in your faith? Do you feel those rituals, and or requirements gain you access to God? More directly, do you feel in them you gain Salvation? That is a works based faith; it does not save, it condemns. You will pay eternally for your mistake. Galatians 3:11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.” Access to God is only gained by the humble heart that sees its need for Christ. Access to God is found in the faith of the grace of God. Access to God is never found in self; it is found in only in Christ.

 
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Posted by on May 17, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Concept of Grace

15 May

Concept of Grace

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Satan really wants you to realize you are a bad person; he wants you to think you cannot obey the rules God set before you. He wants you to think that knowing you will fail in The Law, leaves little options on how to get to God. He wants you to seek the pleasures of this world instead of the demands of it. He may even take the route of letting you feel comfortable in the religiosity of your church participation, the rituals that you go through to fell good about yourself for the week. Satan has many tactics to keep your eyes and heart from the promises found in God’s grace. Grace is an undeserved gift, freely giving you what you do not deserve. God’s grace is found in the sacrifice of his Son, to justify the necessary sin debt due; to open the door to eternal paradise with Him. Satan never wants you to grasp the concept of Grace.

Galatians 2:17-21 is a confrontation between the apostles Peter and Paul. Peter had exemplified hypocrisy, and to the point that many followed his lead. He dwelled with the sinners (Gentiles), until the religious Jews arrived. He then removed himself and ate what only the Jews ate, to appear holy and righteous. Paul called him out on it, and presented the Gospel of God’s grace to all that would hear. 15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. (ESV) The purpose of the Law is to point us to our need of Christ. It is to reveal our sin to us, and to help us understand that we cannot abide by the Law to become righteous before God. Any works based faith goes against all of God’s grace found in Christ.

I grew up thinking you went to heaven because you went to church. It was not until much later in life that I came to grasp the concept of Grace. In that realization of a life of rebellion against God, it humbled me. How could God not strike me down and condemn me for the sinful lifestyle I had lead? How could God offer me anything, let alone everything, without paying a price? A humble heart that repents and pleas for the forgiveness found through Christ will be transformed. Grasping that Grace produces a life as a disciple; produces the good works after Salvation, not as a means to earn it. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. (ESV) I now seek to live my life for God; to make my life about the eternal, and not the temporary work or pleasures found here. If you truly grasp the concept of Grace, you will rest in the hope and promises of it, and dedicate your life to it.

 
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Posted by on May 15, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Live by Faith

06 May

Live by Faith

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

“Live by faith” is found five times in the Bible. It was first quoted by the prophet Habakkuk, when he was questioning God’s plans; he was not understanding the ways of God to let Judah go unpunished for their sin. He came to realize God’s sovereignty and control over the universe, and he came to rest in the peace of that understanding. Habakkuk 2:4 “Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith. These were some of the first words spoken by the Lord in response to his questions. The proud person elevates themselves and their supposed intellect, no need for God. The humble person understands their place under God, and His control over the world; they rest in their faith, and under His mercy and grace.

The apostle Paul had come to that understanding after his encounter with Christ on the Damascus road. His once prideful spirit had been humbled by the power of God. He had come to see how he had been persecuting the One who could give him all that he desired for eternity. He was humbled at a great cost, he suffered for Christ and the cause of Christ for the remainder of his life. Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. Paul saw past this temporal life, he saw into eternal paradise with the One who created both. He knew that all in this life was a preparation for the next; in that his faith was strengthened in the small understanding of God’s sovereignty for this life into eternity. When you humble yourself and approach God in that same spirit; God will strengthen you for your time here.

When Paul finally made it to Rome, early in his teachings he began to present the Gospel of Christ to some of the proudest of that days society. The Romans were the greats of their time, and Paul began to teach them of humility and the rewards of it through Christ. Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” The power of Christ to deliver us from sin, and eternal rewards from the resting in the grace of God for that provision. When you come to grasp all that rests in the grace of God, the forgiveness of your sin in Jesus Christ, you will be moved to a life that you live by faith in Him. You will live your life by responding with your heart and your actions to that He places before you. You will become an example just as Paul of that which is available to everyone who believes in Jesus Christ, the one who came to set you free from all that entangles you, for eternity.

 
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Posted by on May 6, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Are you worried about what they think?

10 Jan

Are you worried about what they think?

Galatians 1:10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. (ESV)

I love the introduction in my favorite study Bible to the book of Galatians. “In the whole Bible, there is no more passionate, comprehensive, yet concise statement of the truth of the gospel than Galatians.” The apostle Paul defends the gospel and himself as a minister of the good news that Christ has given him. The early church in Galatia had been infected by those who were perverting the simplicity of the gospel; “well yes, but you have to also do this…..”. They were adding to that which needs none. There were and are no works of man that need to be added to the justification by Christ in faith in Him. Galatians 2:16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

Paul before his conversion to Christ was an elevated man. He was held in high regard in the Jewish society; he was somebody in his own eyes. Christ had humbled him greatly, and showed him that he was nothing without Christ. Paul had swallowed his pride and lived a life dedicated to pointing others to Christ. It was his sole focus, it be the minister of the gospel that Christ had entrusted him with. Philippians 3:14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Paul saw the grace that he had been given even as the great sinner that he was. He had persecuted even unto death those that were following Christ, yet Christ wanted and claimed Paul as His own in the free grace He provided. Christ showed Paul that there is no sin that cannot be forgiven, and there is no work that man can do to earn the grace of God.

Paul did not care what other people thought of him, he only cared that they heard his message that God had entrusted to him. His only concern was to spread the Good News, and to suffer all that he must as a result of that mission. Do you have that passion? Do you worry too much about what people may think; so much so that you may remain silent; do you even hide your faith? Will Christ ask you why you were silent when He asked you to speak? Mark 8:38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” If the Spirit living inside of you is prompting you to speak; either to share the gospel; to defend the gospel, or to denounce sin; do not remain silent in fear of what others may think. It is only you who have to answer for what He is asking you to do or say regarding what you have been entrusted with.

 
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Posted by on January 10, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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I am second

28 Dec

I am second

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

There is a movement out there called “I am Second” that focuses on the struggles of life we all face, and presents the testimonies of individuals that have found the answer to their struggles in Christ. Stories of lives changed through the Gospel; stories of people that as a result of that change come to realize that their lives revolve around Christ; not Christ around them. Putting Him first in your life means that you no longer live in the selfishness that the world breeds; you become elevated in a way the world does not understand by becoming a slave to it’s King. A heart transformed in the understanding of Christ as the ruler of your life, is a heart that shines in thanksgiving for His sacrifice and provision of it.

The Apostle Paul got it. He understood the sacrifice that Christ had made for him; he understood the outpouring of grace on a person who formerly dedicated his life to going against Christianity. Paul had such zeal for the Law that he persecuted Christians to death. He was in that pursuit of Christ followers when Christ approached him on the Damascus road in a blinding light. Acts 9:4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” Paul had been living a prideful life; he was greatly known and respected in his knowledge of religion. He even was present at the martyr of Stephen, holding the coats of the men who stoned Stephen. This started a great persecution of the Christian church with Paul (then Saul) as a leader.

When Christ came into his life, transformed and saved it, Paul came to realize how bad he was before Christ. He thought of himself as the baddest of the bad. 1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. When you accept what Christ has offered you as a child of His forever forgiven, it should move you to a place of humble thanksgiving. It should move you to the pursuit of God and the things of God in every day of your life. It should move you to share what He gave you with others who have not found the answer in Him yet. It should move you to a pursuit in prayer and His Word every day. It should move you to place Him above everything else in your life. Becoming second is no longer the first looser, but is the eternal winner in Christ.

Take a look at this website and the stories of struggles and healing people found in Christ.

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Posted by on December 28, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Two steps forward; one back

27 Dec

Two steps forward; one back

Galatians 2:18 For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

The Apostle Paul begins Galatians giving a timeline of his testimony. He speaks of his life of sin persecuting Christians, his conversion, and the early years after that seeking God. More than 10 years later he goes to Jerusalem again and even has a confrontation with Peter about some hypocrisy he sees in the Apostle Peter. Peter had been called by Christ to witness to the Jews; Paul had been called to witness to the Gentiles. Peter’s acts were damaging his ministry. Paul begins to preach of how they must lead in their dying to the Law’s of tradition; the Law that Christ came to fulfill. The Law did not produce righteousness, and Peter was stepping back into traditions, back into sin.

As I read these scriptures this morning, the Holy Spirit spoke to me of how I easily do the same thing sometimes. The power of the Living Word at work in my soul. I am far from perfect; struggle and fail every day; and need God to prick me every now and then to remind me of it. Those convictions hurt, but in them should bring humble repentance and healing. If I let sin build back into my life, as Paul did in those Jewish traditions, I stand condemned. The law points us to our need for Christ; for we cannot satisfy it’s requirements. Paul explains this in Galatians 3:19-25. Galatians 3:24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. The Law points us to our need for Christ; it is that simple.

Paul continues to pour out his heart in one of the most powerful statements of a person sold out for Christ. He shows he has a life with no other focus than to be a slave to Christ; a sold out disciple with his only purpose to share the hope that lies within him. Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Paul saw nothing else with any purpose than Christ in his life. He was so sold out to he says he “lives by faith in the Son of God”. He recognizes the sacrifice Christ made; he recognizes the life of sin he led; he recognizes his need for Christ every single day to live. Christ will let you fall, only to pick you up again. Seek Him every day, for you need Him every day to live as Paul says. Thank you Lord for your grace you provide every single day.

 
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Posted by on December 27, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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The Key

06 Jun

The Key

Galatians 2:20-21 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

I am always constantly amazed by the way God aligns His messages around us. The sermons we hear, our conversations with other Christians, even sometimes secular viewpoints, and His Word. The last 24 hours I have been surrounded by the “good deeds” and hypocrisy views. Two broads subjects that are many times woven together. The Apostle Paul in Galatians 2 had been confronting the Apostle Peter regarding hypocrisy and how Peter conducted himself depending upon who was present. Peter was walking both sides of the road in the Jewish traditions, and then the Gospel to the Gentiles. Paul called him out on it! We are not saved by traditions or good works; period.

Romans 6:4-11 speaks about how we have been crucified with Christ also, and we are dead to sin. Romans 6:11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. The Law is designed to convict us of our sin. It points us to Christ. It is what God demands, yet we cannot meet His requirements of perfection. All of the good deeds we strive to attain are futile wasted efforts without Christ. If we could attain what God requires to come into paradise with Him, why would He have sent His Son to die such a horrible death? Romans 3: 4-26 speaks much about this. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

You will NEVER attain heaven through any life of good works. Satan will have you join him in Hell for eternity with that belief system. You can only attain heaven by the humble acceptance of the One who died to forgive your sins as the only way to open the door to paradise. John 14:6 I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No man comes to the Father but by Me. Trample your pride under the power of Christ and ask Him for the key.

 
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Posted by on June 6, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Dying to self

27 May

Dying to self

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.

Hopefully Memorial weekend you will spend some time reflecting on those who paid the ultimate price for your freedom with their lives. In that same respect we know that God gave us His Son as a sacrifice to pay for our sin with His life. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. In the scripture above, Christ is asking us to lay down our lives for Him. He is not asking us for martyrdom necessarily (but that may come), but asking us to forsake the lusts of the world, and live a life for Him seeking eternal and not temporal pleasure.

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. What is a living sacrifice anyway? A sacrifice is thought of as a death to bestow honor correct? Matthew Henry said, “A living sacrifice, that is, inspired with the spiritual life of the soul. It is Christ living in the soul by faith that makes the body a living sacrifice.” The world and the lusts of it are Satan’s tactics to draw you away from Christ. The list would be long of the idolatry he uses today in our world that places so much value on self pleasure and stuff. But we can move in our relationship with Christ to the point that the “stuff” just does not matter anymore, and what matters is what we feel led to do in honor of Him, and share the joy He brings with those that do not see yet.  Paul said in Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. You can place honor on the one who died for you for eternity, by dying to the lusts of yourself, and placing yourself at His feet for service.

 
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Posted by on May 27, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Strength in humility

27 Apr

Strength in humility

Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

It is always good to share; to unload your burdens on a willing ear. As men we are wired prideful and feel as through we can handle all these burdens on our own. We feel as though we must be the “strong one”, and pride is the spine of that emotion. We tend to keep things bottled up and find ways to handle the stresses of life our own ways.  These paths can take us down dark downhill roads of sin.  These lead us away from Christ and pride becomes that enabler for that journey. But before we head down those paths, we can cast our cares upon Him as in Matthew above. We can swallow that pride and as in James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. This step of humility is the beginning of change and healing.

When you realize your sin, and take your sin to Him in the plea of forgiveness, the Salvation that follows is a releasing of those burdens. You truly now have Christ living within you, and the strength and provisions that come with that are the power of the Holy Spirit, the “Enabler”. John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. We can begin to press that manly pride down through the strength that Christ brings to fight the demon of pride. Pride is straight from Hell, and it takes the power of Heaven to fight that enemy that lies within you. You can have that power living in you upon Salvation and accepting Christ as the only way. Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Thank you Jesus!

 
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Posted by on April 27, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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