It is important to know and have complete faith in the redemption offered by God through Jesus Christ our Lord. This fact will allow us to know that we have been forgiven of sin and are welcomed into the arms of our loving God. This complete forgiveness will bring peace to the mind and soul. No longer are we troubled by our past transgressions and life. We have been made new, and without blemish. We truly are a new creation, free from past sins and no condemnation for our past. We have the do over so many wish they could have. The new beginning that most people wish they could have. It is true that we have been made a new creature, and now we can live a better life.
God, the Almighty ruler and creator of heaven and earth, and all that is. God, who is all present, all knowing and all powerful, who at any moment can do what we would consider impossible. Just recall the time Jesus calmed the storm. How amazed were His disciples at the sight of His power over the wind and seas. Both of which He created. Also consider the many who were fed with a few loaves of bread and fish. Consider the lame that were made whole and could walk, this done before their very eyes and in the sight of so many witnesses. It is important to consider how much was recorded about Jesus, from even those who did not believe in Him. The Jews recorded what He did, the Romans recorded what He did, as well did the Greeks. We still have those documents to this day. Read for yourselves the many miracles that the Lord has done. Your bible is filled with His works and His great love. The bible is infallible and can be taken as fact.
Consider the many times in the Old Testament that God put His miraculous power on Display. The creation in Genesis, the providing Abraham a son in his old age. The exodus story of freeing Israel from Egypt. The giving of the Promised Land. And the many other stories of His miracles performed for the good of those who love Him. God performed the miracles so there would be no doubt in anyone’s mind that He truly is God.
Consider for a moment, the times when His chosen people turned from Him and committed all sorts of sin. Though He punished them, He never forgot His promise. When they turned back to Him, He was always ready and quick to forgive and restore them. So many books in the Old Testament recount the same scenes, rebellion, punishment and forgiveness. Samson being one of the most memorable.
Nothing has changed in the many thousands of years since that time. People still have stiff necks when it comes to obeying God. Though obedience now is much easier than it was in the time of the law. No more are we required to make sacrifices at the altar. No more are we restricted to simply hear His Word at the temple or through his priests only. We have His Word available readily in the Holy Bible. Church is still a necessary part of our life. It allows each person to enjoy a fellowship with other believers to help us keep our faith built up. To allow each one to replenish our faith with other believers. After all, we are the church, not some building. We, the people of faith are the church, the building is a place to gather for common praise, worship and fellowship.
We can take a great deal of comfort in knowing that Jesus was the last and greatest sacrifice for sin. He paid the full and total price for our sins, past, present and future. He willingly gave Himself for all who would seek Him. For all who would want to be forgiven and cleansed of their sins. To be blameless in the eyes of God Almighty. What an amazing act of love and grace from our Lord.
Jesus was not only human, but of God. He is the original gospel road. Through Him and Him only, can man be saved from the debt owed because of sin. His blood washed clean all who came and accepted Him, both then and now. Jesus is the only way and all who wish to be saved must accept Him as the Son of God and as the savior.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Acts14:12 Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
This is so simple that many are unbelieving because of the simplicity. All we must do is read the Holy Word, of the times before He came. See the suffering that sin has brought. See the destruction of sin in the lives of those who lived before His coming. See how the Lord God had restored His people and how they eventually turned away from Him. As is today, many suffer because of sin. Jesus is ready to forgive and save all who will ask. His arms are open and His comfort is waiting for anyone who will come to Him. No one has to be lost, all anyone has to do is come to Him. Believe and be forgiven. Accept Jesus and be saved. Live in the faith our Lord God and His Son Jesus Christ.
The one thing I was able to see clearly is the fact that we need God more when things are going well, than when they are bad. Most people cry out to God when threatened by danger or extreme need. But too soon He is forgotten when things are going well. Sin can take root and grow strong when God is forgotten. When things are going well in life and we have no dangers or threats that cause us to turn to Him for help. We can easily get lost in our own activities and forget we need Him daily. His blessings still come even when we are not thinking of Him. So it is important to take time and thank God for all He does all the time for us.
We must, therefore, be on our guard constantly. This will keep us from apathy, from being so wrapped up in our daily lives as to forget about our Lord and His love.
His eternal and unconditional love is all that matters. Through that we receive mercy in way of His grace. His grace provides us with hope, forgiveness, knowledge, wisdom, and guidance. His love is so unconditional, that He loves us even when we did not love Him. He loved us even when we did not know Him. He loves all sinners even when they haven’t repented. The Lord God loves all mankind even when shunned or discounted as fake. God does not love the sin or the insincere praise. He does not love the sinful acts of men, but He does love the sinner. God wants all who will come to Him to do so. It is not God’s will that men should perish in sin, but be cleansed and saved. God Has provided a way to be both cleansed and saved. This was is Jesus Christ, the Holy Son of God.
Life is full of choices. We choose where to live, where to work, who to marry and so on. But the most important choice we can ever make is to accept Jesus as Lord. As the salvation from God to a condemned people. We must make that choice on our own, no one can do it for us. We must choose to live according to His Word and in obedience to God eternal. We must choose love over hate. We must choose forgiveness over vengeance. We must choose to live this way completely and all the time. We can’t be part time Christians, because God is a fulltime God. He is constantly with us and we must be on guard against ourselves.
This is not a natural way for the worldly man. But when we accept Christ, we became new creatures. Children of the living God. We are counted as His children and we must make that mean something. We must remember that the price paid for this blessing was immeasurable. As we begin to live according to His word, it will more of a habit than something we have to work at. Life will begin to look different to our hearts. Some of the things we used to like are not so important anymore. Some of the things we used to enjoy are now repugnant. As the old person we were begins to fade away, we begin to enjoy the freedom we have be granted by God. The freedom from sin. Sin is a heavy chain tied to our soul. It breaks the spirit and leads us unhappiness.
Jesus has broken the chains of bondage to sin. We no longer live in the darkness of sin, the fear of being found out. We can live in the light. We can have a full and happy life knowing that this life is not all there is. We can live happily in the knowledge that there is life after death through the truthful resurrection of Jesus. So take the time, read the bible. Take a few passages each day as faithfully as taking medicine. Just as you would take your dosage of medicine to heal your body, your dosage of scripture will heal your soul and spirit. You will begin to see things differently. You will begin to see God working in your life. Your blessings will increase and you will bless others simply by being near them. Let those you know, and the world, see what changes take place. This is a great form of praise to God and His love.
When you attend your church services, remember that the Lord sits next to you. Be happy and joyful in the worship of God. Be at peace with your fellow man and enjoy the life God has provided. Again, we don’t have to live with the guilt of sin. Through the grace of God, we are free from our sin debt. This free gift is of God’s grace, not by anything we did of ourselves. Our inly contribution was acceptance, hardly anything to brag about. This freedom that the Lord has granted is not so we can go sin again, but to be free from the burden of sin. We are to live this new life the Lord gave us free from sin. No one who gets their clothes dirty, and who gets them cleaned, intentionally soils them again. So why should we who have been freed from sin, dirty ourselves again?
We can be also be confident and aware that the Lord is with you always, not just in church or in prayer, but continually. He is never far from each of us, just call out to Him and he is there. We can be made clean and whole through Jesus. If anyone is searching for real peace, then come to Jesus. Come to the Word of God made flesh. You have so many promises from the Lord, and they are yours to claim. Read the words of Paul to the churches. Galatians 1:8-9 (KJV), the Apostle Paul declares that if anyone—including himself or an angel—preaches a gospel contrary to the message of salvation through Christ’s grace already delivered, they are to be "accursed".
So you can trust and have faith in the word of God and receive your reward.
Allow Jesus to take away your sin and be free. Allow the Lord to refresh your spirit and bring happiness into your life. Live in Godly peace and live in hope. Let the peace of God be with you. AMEN.