[There is another post on this forum, "What Does 'Born Again' mean?" This post will speak of 'Salvation', it's meaning, and what should follow in a Christian's lifestyle.]

-SALVATION
A Clean Heart
PSALM 119:9-11
--
Reaching our full potential begins with a clean heart—one that loves the Lord and desires to obey Him. However, each of us was born with a nature bent away from God. Jeremiah 17:9 describes the heart as deceitful and inclined towards wickedness. Pleasing self is man's normal state.

Salvation changed our hearts and lives. Jesus' death on the cross paid the penalty for our sin and broke its power over us. By receiving Christ as Savior, we each became a new creation—with a heart sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading and a mind that strongly desires to know the Father better. We also received the Spirit's power to deny our selfish desires and obey God. With clean hearts, we can begin to realize the capabilities our loving Lord has given us.

The best way to maintain a clean heart is by meditating on Scripture. It acts like a mirror in which we see ourselves as God does. Through it, we discover the areas where we have been faithful and also the places where we've veered from His path. Expressing genuine repentance brings God's forgiveness and cleansing (1 John 1:9).

The heart represents the seat of our mind, will, and emotions. When we strive to keep it pure, we will more easily discern the Lord's plan, submit our will to His, and follow Him obediently.

Becoming the person God planned for each of us to be requires an intimate relationship with Him and a desire to obey His Word. Apart from Jesus, we can't achieve anything of lasting value (John 15:5). Cooperating with the Holy Spirit's transforming work will help us keep our hearts clean.

---In Touch

-He Not Only Keeps Us Safe, He Dwells Within

-BIBLE MEDITATION:
"For the which cause 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 that which I have committed unto Him against that day." 2 Timothy 1:12

-DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
It is a miracle today that I know Jesus Christ. I didn't say that it is a miracle that I know about Jesus Christ. I know Him. I can read a book about Abraham Lincoln, but I don't know him. I know Jesus Christ because I have believed Him. And how did that happen? The Holy Spirit has taken the things of Christ has shown them to me, so that He has become real to me. Is Jesus Christ real to you?-

The Holy Spirit reveals God to each of us. Without Him, we would have no understanding of a relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ. Hallelujah!

How wonderful it is that God has chosen to know us through His Son by the Holy Spirit. We have a constant companion. The job of the Holy Spirit is not only our teacher, but He is our protector who is protecting the interests of God in His
children every day.

-ACTION POINT:
Thank God today for choosing not only to redeem you, but choosing to indwell you through His Holy Spirit!

--Adrian Rogers/ Power Point

-What Sin Really Is

BIBLE MEDITATION:
"He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not
believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." (John 3:18)-

-DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
The world doesn't really know what sin is. They think sin is lying, stealing, murder, adultery, arson, rape. Do you know what sin is? Sin is the rejection of Jesus Christ that will damn a soul to hell. You don't go to hell because you steal, lie, kill, or fornicate.

I hear people say, "Sure, I lie every now and again, but God isn't going to send me to hell for that. I might fry a few years in purgatory, but to die in hell for lying doesn't make sense."

When a man talks that way, he doesn't understand sin.

Sin is high treason against a holy God. Sin is a clenched fist in the face of God. Sin says to God, "I will not bow to You. I will not serve You. I will not trust You." That is sin.

-ACTION POINT:
The great commandment is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind.
The great sin is not to do it.

______________________________________
No, God doesn't 'send' anyone to Hell. They simply choose to go there. Heaven or Hell. It's our choice.

--Adrian Rogers

What 'believers' gain.....

-Freedom in Christ
1 CORINTHIANS 6:12-17
--
In his first letter to the church at Corinth, Paul tells Christians that freedom in Christ is a serious responsibility. Yes, we can eat what we want, spend our time as we please, and pursue activities we enjoy. However, as believers, we are inseparably joined to Christ's church. This means that when we die, we are raised up to live with Him forever. And even before that time, while we live on this earth, our bodies and souls are united with Christ (1 Cor. 6:14-15). Simply put, they are not our own.

As temporary owners of these bodies, we have the responsibility to find out what is and what is not good for them. We must exercise discipline with our God-given liberties because there is no value in "freedom" that spiritually cripples believers or causes pain, shame, and guilt.

Notice the distinction that Paul makes between freedom in Christ and reckless abandon: God's grace and forgiveness cover our sins, but that doesn't give us permission to engage in harmful behavior. As followers of Jesus, we're to give ourselves over to the pursuit of godly living, not to self-serving pleasures. Christians are "earthen vessels," created by God to fulfill His purpose and bring honor and glory to Him (2 Cor. 4:7). Therefore, anything that violates the human body is not permissible for us.

True freedom means living without the chains of sin and destructive behavior. Jesus Christ paid a price to release you from those bonds. Therefore, do not put your body into slavery to damaging habits. Glorify God with your whole self—heart, mind, soul, and body.

--In Touch / - JESUS IS LORD!

The Age of Accountability
DEUTERONOMY 11:18-20

I recall an interesting conversation I once had with a young first-time mom while she allowed me to hold her infant son. I commented, "It's hard to believe that they are born with a sinful nature." She protested, and I thought it best not to argue with her. But I would have liked to call her a couple of years later when the boy was a toddler to see if she thought any differently!

At one point or another, all of us have felt a tug to do something that we knew was wrong. As adults and believers, we've learned that giving in to temptation is a sin against God. But small children do exactly as their natures dictate. Mother says, "Don't touch," but they reach out anyway. Little ones do not yet see the wisdom of following a parent's rules. Boys and girls must be taught to recognize the difference between good and evil before they can make the wise choice to do right.

In the early years, a child is in a state of innocence. He is neither righteous nor saved, but he is safe from God's wrath—if he dies, he goes to heaven. The Bible refers to the innocent period in Deuteronomy 1:39 and again in Isaiah 7:16. The Word of God confirms that there is a period of time when children are not morally accountable for their conduct.

The age of moral responsibility differs from child to child. As little ones grow, they each develop the spiritual capacity to pursue righteousness or knowingly give in to evil. The years of innocence are the time for parents to pour into their offspring sound biblical training and lessons on obedience.
----
--In Touch

Once a person is 'saved', the Lord begins to show us His way. We find Him in the Bible. He will speak to your heart, and you will begin to change, from the inside out.

Jesus wants His followers to be a 'light' for Him. SHINE!

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.(John 1:5)-

Have you ever noticed that when you're in the dark, everything is confusing? Some things may look closer or farther away than they may be. And many things can't be distinguished at all. That's why, when you're in the darkness, the most instinctive thing to want to do is turn on the light.

And you know, that's the way so many people are living today in
this dark world. They're stumbling and falling and failing
because they're living in a dark and decaying world and barely
managing to get around. And that's exactly why Jesus told us as his people, "You are the light of the world" (Matthew
5:14).

Jesus has given his people the unique privilege of being his light in the world. But the light that we shine in the darkness is not our own. We, like the moon, reflect the light of a power much greater than ourselves.

As God's people, you and I are to simply be reflections of
God's light to a dark world. So shine God's light by living a Christ-filled life to a watching and waiting world. When you
do that, you'll make a significant impact for Christ on the
people around you!

SHINE GOD'S LIGHT IN A DARK WORLD BY LETTING OTHERS SEE CHRIST'S CHARACTER IN YOU!

-Jack Graham

Overcoming the Fear of Moving Forward!
--Jack Graham

I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:14 -

David Livingstone was a famous missionary from Scotland who was known for his pioneering medical missions in Africa. His adventurous spirit characterized his entire life. In fact, he was once quoted as saying,"I'll go anywhere as long as it is forward."

It's not easy to move forward in the face of adversity. I'm sure even Dr. Livingstone, while hiking through the dark
jungles of Africa, sweating and mosquito-bitten, probably had a few moments when he thought, "Did I really decide to do this?!"

It's been said that "Courage is not the absence of fear, but the judgment that something else is more important than
fear." And when moving forward in the Christian life, whether changing how you live, changing how you act, or even becoming a missionary, our obedience to God should always be the driving factor over our fear!

You may be facing some adversity today. Perhaps there are scoffers in your life who make fun of you for your beliefs. Maybe you have some kind of addiction and you don't think you can break free. Or, it's possible God is calling you to do something big for Him.

When it comes to your response to these questions, don't act
based on your fear. Act despite your fear because your service to God is the most important thing in your life!

DON'T LIVE THE CHRISTIAN LIFE BASED ON FEAR. BUT MOVE FORWARD IN OBEDIENCE TO GOD DESPITE THE FEAR YOU MAY BE FEELING.

--Jack Graham

-A New Nature
-1 THESSALONIANS 5:21-23

When we trust Christ as Savior, the Holy Spirit takes up residence within us. That is the moment of salvation, when we become a new creation. Yet until life in these earthly bodies ceases, there will continue to be a war between the old and new patterns of behavior.

To lead us to victory, the Lord may allow difficulty that brings about brokenness. His purpose is to rid us of our old "flesh" so that we can experience fullness of life in Christ.

Let's examine this flesh. The following are indications that the sinful self still thrives: self-advancement, self-centeredness, self-will, self-dependency, and self-righteousness. These motives exist in all people to some extent, but over time our heavenly Father lovingly breaks them in His children.

At salvation, God gives us His nature, the evidence of which is fruit of the Spirit: "love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control" (Gal. 5:22). These qualities allow us to love and be loved. And people will be attracted to Jesus when they sense these characteristics in believers. On the other hand, if these attributes are missing, we can never truly experience life as God intended. The process of brokenness and restoration is unpleasant. But the end result is well worth the suffering that it requires.

What rules your actions, choices, and thoughts? Are they primarily influenced by the Holy Spirit or by your flesh? It takes courage to look at your heart and notice its true condition. Ask God to work in your life so that His Spirit can reign freely in your heart.

--In Touch

-Jesus Took Our Place
By: Dave McCarrell
President, Pacific Garden Mission

~~I was thinking the other day about the wonderful transfers that take place when we trust Christ as our personal Savior. The following is a list of the things that came to my mind. I am sure that those of you that know Christ as personal Savior could add to this list.

Christ was born once so we could be born twice; born again. Jesus took all our demerits so we could have all of His merits. He became poor so we could be amazingly rich.(2Cor8:9)

He became homeless so that we could have a Heavenly Home. He was stripped of everything (clothing) on the cross, so that we could be clothed forever in the Righteousness of God. He was forsaken so we would never be forsaken. He was bound so that we might be set free. He was sad so we might be eternally glad. He was a servant, that we might become sons of God. He was hungry so we might have our needs supplied forever; He is the bread of life. He who knew no sin was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God through Him. He died so we could have eternal life. He rose from the grave so we could conquer death. He is coming again to take us with him so He can display the riches of His Grace towards us forever and ever.

Without faith it's impossible to please Him; without faith its impossible to receive Him.

What a wonderful Savior! If perhaps you have never received Christ as your personal Savior, why not by faith, ask Christ to forgive you for your sins, and confess Him as your Lord today.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." ~~JOHN 3:16

--Chief of Sinners
1 Timothy 1:12-17

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."
--(2 Corinthinas 4:7)

Paul was not a baby Christian when he called himself the "chief of sinners" or described his own tenacious battle with sin. Though he had walked with God and seen miracles, he still sinned often, trying hard to obey God yet finding that even when he desired to do what was right, he couldn't carry it out. If the great apostle Paul had that problem, should we be surprised by our own ongoing struggles?

Paul's conclusion is perfect: "Who will rescue me from this body of death? Jesus Christ" (Romans 7:24-25)! We have been delivered already from the death our sin deserves; one day we will be delivered from our bodies of death as well. As glorified saints in a new creation, our sin will be gone forever--and thank God! Until then, we will stuggle with very real, painful sin.

To survive life's failures, look to Christ, the author and finisher of your faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross. You are His joy! Look at Him and not at yourself, and your soul will flourish as a result of your weakness.
----
God saves some notorious sinners just to prove that He can, and they stand as unique trophies of grace and monuments to His redeeming power.

--Haven Today

-Learning to Love, Learning to Hate

BIBLE MEDITATION:
"Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: He preserveth the souls of His saints; He delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked." Psalm 97:10

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
This may come as a surprise to you, but just because you're a Christian doesn't mean you're supposed to love everything.

Now, we hear that Christians are to be a people of love, and that is true. But did you know that if you're a Christian, not only must you learn to love, but you also must learn to hate?

If you love God, then you are to hate what God hates. It is true in every realm. If you love flowers, you hate weeds. If you love health, you hate germs. If you love God, you hate evil. It is just that plain.

Romans 12:9b tells us in even stronger terms to "abhor that which is evil." A hypocrite, something none of us want to be, is someone who says he loves God, but then he doesn't hate sin.

ACTION POINT: -
Don't tell others you love God if you don't hate that which nailed His Son to the cross.

Praying in Jesus' Name
JOHN 14:13-14

Jesus taught the disciples to pray "in His name." He assured them that when they did, God would do whatever they asked. This is a powerful promise with a specific requirement. So let's look at what it means to pray in Jesus' name.

First, it points out the necessity of a family relationship with God through Christ. Scripture teaches that all of us were once separated from God and under His wrath. But that changes when a person confesses his sinfulness, acknowledges need of a Savior, and believes that Jesus died in his place to pay the price for iniquity. Praying in Jesus' name is possible for all who belong to God's family.

Second, praying in this way acknowledges that access to God is possible through Christ alone (John 14:6). The Savior opened the way for us to approach God as Father and receive answers to our prayers. Only those whose sin debt has been paid by Jesus' blood can come near to holy God.
----
Third, because of Jesus, we as believers have the authority to enter the heavenly throne room with our petitions. And we come, not as beggars, but as heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:17). Because of Jesus, we can pray with confidence that our requests will be heard and answered (Heb. 4:16).

The Savior pledged that praying in His name—that is, according to His will—would give Christians open access to the throne of grace and authority to present requests to the Father. How do you petition God—on the basis of your need, your own good works, or your relationship with Jesus?

-LOOKING
FOR WATER

John 4:1-15
---
Whoever drinks of
the water that I shall
give him will never
thirst.--John 4:14
---
The United States has spent millions of dollars looking for water on Mars. A few years ago, NASA sent twin robots, Opportunity and Spirit, to the red planet to see if water had ever been present. The scientists who are poring over data from those two little Martian rovers are trying to figure out if life ever existed on Mars. And for that to have happened, there had to be water. No water, no life.

Two thousand years ago, a couple of "rovers" set out across the countryside of an Earth-outpost called Samaria looking for water. One was a woman who lived nearby. The other was a man from Galilee. They ended up meeting at a well near the village of Sychar. When they did, Jesus found the water He was looking for, and the woman found the water she didn't know she needed (John 4:5-15).

Water is essential for both physical and spiritual life. Jesus had a surprise for the woman at the well. He offered her the Water of Life--Himself. He is the refreshing,
renewing "fountain of water springing up into everlasting life" (John 4:14).

Do you know anyone who is spiritually thirsty? Introduce that person to Jesus, the Living Water. It's the greatest discovery of all time.

Gracious and Almighty Savior,
Source of all that shall endure,
Quench my thirst with living water,
Living water, clear and pure.
---
Only Jesus, the Living Water,
can satisfy the thirsty soul. ~

ODB/DB

--Simplify Faith

“He who receives Me receives Him who sent Me.” Matthew 10:40, NKJV

How do you simplify faith? ... Simplify your faith by seeking God for yourself. No confusing ceremonies necessary. No mysterious rituals required. No elaborate channels of command or levels of access.

You have a Bible? You can study.

You have a heart? You can pray.

You have a mind? You can think.

Plain and simple. No need to confuse the Gospel. Only believe what Jesus says in His Word. If you don't read, study and pray, you are not following the Lord's path.

-How Can a Man Be Just before God?

"Then Job answered and said, I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?" (Job 9:1-2) ---

The patriarch Job was the most "just" (i.e., "righteous") man of his age, according to the testimony of God Himself (Job 1:8; 2:3), yet his friends were insisting that his terrible suffering had been sent by God because of his sins. He knew he was innocent of the sins of which they were accusing him, and he knew he had earnestly tried to be obedient and faithful to God. Yet he also knew that he, like all men, had come far short of God’s holiness (Romans 3:23). "I have sinned," he had confessed, "what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men?" (Job 7:20). "Cause me to understand wherein I have erred" (Job 6:24). And then comes the plaintive plea in our text. "How should a man be just with God?"

There is, indeed, no way by which a man can make himself righteous before God, for he is even born with a sin nature, inherited from father Adam. "If I justify myself, mine own mouth shall condemn me: if I say, I am perfect, it shall also prove me perverse" (Job 9:20). Yet God created man for His own glory (Isaiah 43:7) and wants "all men to be saved" (1 Timothy 2:4). The great enigma is, how can God justify unrighteousness in men and still be righteous Himself.

The answer, of course, is that God, in Christ, has paid the price to make us righteous by dying for all our sins. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace" (Ephesians 1:7).

Even Job finally realized that God must somehow become his redeemer. "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and . . . in my flesh shall I see God" (Job 19:25-26). It is indeed wonderfully true that God can both "be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (Romans 3:26).

ICR/HMM

-The Lamb ~
Isaiah 53

"The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)

A litle lamb looks innocent and vulnerable. When God commanded Abraham to sacrifice his son, Abraham obeyed and took him to Mount Moriah. At some point young Isaac asked his father where the lamb was for the burnt offering, since they had brought fire and wood but no animal.

God, in His mercy, provided a substitute for Isaac. To cover and cleanse our own sins, no mere animal would suffice; only the Lamb of God would. He alone can take away our sins. Indeed, He has come to take away the sins of the entire world.

When God was about to bring the people of Israel out of Egyptian slavery, He commanded them to prepare a lamb. It was to be one year old, blemish-free and was to be slaughtered at twilight on the fourteenth day of the first month, the Passover month. The deliverance was to be a new beginning for the freed Israelites.

Similarly, Jesus, the unblemished Lamb of God, was sacrificed on the cross at Passover time to set free such lowly people like you and me. Our new beginning is now!
--
"For Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed." (1 Cor. 5:7b).

--Haven Today/ MIGHTY TO SAVE!

-To the Jew First
Ezekiel 36:22-38

"Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council."
--(John 3:1)

The nighttime conversation of Jesus with Nicodemus is recorded only in this Gospel, falling just before John 3:16 and the story of the Samaritan woman. Here Jesus is telling Nicodemus of his need to be born from above, or 'born again' (the Greek word actually can mean both). Nicodemus should have recognized the Messiah because of Old Testament passages he surely had studied and memorized. Jesus' words about being born from the Spirit should have made Nicodemus at least consider, "Is this the One?"

Jesus also reminded him that as Moses raised the serpent in the wilderness to save those that were bitten by a snake (Numbers 21:8-9), so also the Son of Man would be lifted up. The raising of the serpent on the pole gave life to those who were doomed to die, and now the Son of Man would be lifted up on the cross and give life to many, including us.

We have the privilege and blessing of being able to understand the full meaning of Jesus' words to Nicodemus when we look on Jesus and believe.
---
"...The Gospel...is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes; first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." (Romans 1:16)

-To the Samaritan Next
2 Kings 17, John 4

"'If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.'"
--(John 4:10)

We live in a world of hostility. Crime, wars and terrorist attacks are part of daily life, particularly in the region where I live, the Middle East! But at the time of Christ, there was also a real enmity between the Jews and the Samaritans, a hostility that started back in the time of the Israelite kings. We see the depth of it in the response of John and James when they were willing to call fire to come down to destroy the Samaritan village that did not welcome Jesus.

Yet, Jesus initiates a conversation with a Samaritan woman, one whose reputation left much to be desired. And He spoke to her of living water as she drew physical water from Jacob's well. This Samaritan woman, just like Nicodemus in John 3, had no clue about the spiritual things of which Jesus was speaking. Both were thinking of literal, worldly things--going back to the womb and drawing water from a well.

Jesus came to the world of hostility to show His amazing love, to bring peace, and to quench our thirst with living water.
--
A new era has dawned, as even Samaritans are coming to faith and believing in the God and Messiah of Israel.

--Haven Today

-Received—Not Earned

"For God did not send His Son
into the world to condemn the world, but that
the world through Him might be saved."
--John 3:17

Can you imagine prospective parents saying, “We’d like to adopt Johnny, but first we want to know a few things. Will he be a good child? Healthy always? Oh, and can he fix his own meals? Do his own laundry?”

No agency would stand for such talk. They’d say, “Wait a minute. You don’t understand. You don’t adopt this child because of what he has; you adopt him because of what he needs. He needs a home.”

The same is true with God.
John 3:17 says, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

He doesn’t adopt us because of what we have. He doesn’t give us His name because of our intelligence, or our wallet or good attitude.… Adoption is something we receive, not something we earn.

--Max Lucado

"YOU ARE MY HIDING PLACE" / SELAH

-Always Be Ready to Give an Answer-

-BIBLE MEDITATION:
"But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear." 1 Peter 3:15

-DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Be ready to give an answer when someone asks you about your faith. In seminary, we call this "apologetics." Contrary to what you might think, this does not mean you are to apologize for your faith! Instead, "apologetics" comes from the Greek word that means "to give a defense, as in front of a judge."

Can you defend your faith? It is not enough for you to demonstrate your faith; you must also defend your faith. If you ran into someone who was dying, and he asked you to share your faith with him, could you? You need to be ready.

You need to also be reasonable. You need to study God's Word and know what it says about salvation, sin, heaven, and hell. Are you ready?

-ACTION POINT:
If not, get ready today. There's no better time.
-----
Salvation is absolutely necessary to be assured that when you die you will be "absent from the body and present with the Lord." There is a heaven and there is a hell. Please be assured that you will go to be with the Lord Jesus when you take your last breath.

How? Admit you are a sinner in need of a Savior, Christ Jesus.

Believe in your heart that God has raised Jesus from the dead, and is now in heaven.

Confess that you want to turn from your old ways of living, and live for Jesus.

Romans 10:9-10 "That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved:

"For with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses resulting in salvation" ROMANS 10:9-10

-Our True Identity
-Ephesians 1:3-8 (recommended reading)

When I hear a believer announce, "I'm just a sinner," I feel like saying, "That's what you used to be." A lot of folks cling to a view of themselves as a patched-up, slightly-better-than-before version of their old self. The Bible contradicts that opinion: "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away, behold, new things have come" (2 Cor. 5:17). In fact, according to Scripture, we're dramatically different once we are complete in Christ.

The question is whether people will trust in what they feel or believe what God says about them. His Word calls us saints (Rom. 1:7), disciples (Matt. 28:19), and fellow heirs with Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:17). If your opinion is that you are "just a sinner," then you cannot fully experience and enjoy your identity in Christ.

Believing what God says about our new self is a choice. Satan certainly conspires to convince believers that God's Word doesn't apply to them. He knows that people held captive by spiritual poverty back away from opportunities to share the gospel and serve the Lord's kingdom. It's much easier to spiritually bankrupt someone who already thinks of him- or herself as "just a sinner" than it is to conquer a disciple who knows God is his loving Father.

Our true identity is defined not by our past actions but by the Savior's. Jesus purchased our lives with His blood and brought us into relationship with God the Father, who adopted us as beloved children. We have every reason to hold our heads high, stand firm, and courageously proclaim the gospel.

--In Touch
-----
Do you know God? Revelation 3:20 reveals that God is always with us, knocking on the door of our heart, waiting to be invited in. By dying on the cross and rising from the grave, He became the Bridge between eternal life and us. Say, 'YES' to the Savior and receive the gift of salvation. You can use the following prayer or your own words:

"Lord Jesus, I believe You are truly the Son of God. I confess that I have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed. Please forgive all my wrongdoing, and let me live in relationship with You from now on. I receive You as my personal Savior, accepting the work You accomplished once and for all on the cross. Thank you for saving me. Help me to live a life that is pleasing to You. Amen." ~~
---------
We will gladly send you our free 'All Things Are New' kit to help you take the next step in your relationship with God. Contact our Customer Care department at 800-789-1473, or visit <www.intouch.org> for more information./ JESUS LOVES YOU!

-JUST BELIEVE
-By: Max Lucado

What is it, then, that God wants us to do? What is the work he seeks? Just believe. Believe the One he sent. “The work God wants you to do is this: Believe the One he sent.”

Someone is reading this and shaking his or her head and asking, “Are you saying it is possible to go to heaven with no good works?” The answer is no. Good works are a requirement. Someone else is reading and asking, “Are you saying it is possible to go to heaven without good character?” My answer again is no. Good character is also required. In order to enter heaven one must have good works and good character.

But, alas, there is the problem. You have neither.

Oh, you’ve done some nice things in your life. But you do not have enough good works to go to heaven regardless of your sacrifice. No matter how noble your gifts, they are not enough to get you into heaven.

Nor do you have enough character to go to heaven. Please don’t be offended. (Then, again, be offended, if necessary.) You’re probably a very decent person. But decency isn’t enough. Those who see God are not the decent; they are the holy. “Anyone whose life is not holy will never see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14).

You may be decent. You may pay taxes and kiss your kids and sleep with a clean conscience. But apart from Christ you aren’t holy. So how can you go to heaven?

Only believe.

Accept the work already done, the work of Jesus on the cross.

Only believe.

Accept the goodness of Jesus Christ. Abandon your own works and accept his. Abandon your own decency and accept his. Stand before God in his name, not yours. “Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved, but anyone who does not believe will be punished” (Mark 16:16).

It’s that simple? It’s that simple. It’s that easy? There was nothing easy at all about it. The cross was heavy, the blood was real, and the price was extravagant. It would have bankrupted you or me, so he paid it for us. Call it simple. Call it a gift. But don’t call it easy.

Call it what it is. Call it grace.

-Hope and Encouragement for Your Everyday Life
(Thomas Nelson, 2011) Max Lucado

-Regarding: "You Must Be Born Again."
-By: Max Lucado

-Recommended Reading: Romans 4:1-25

-Situation-
Paul showed that Abraham's leadership in God's family was dute to faith.

-Observation-
-We accept God's gift by faith; we cannot earn it by good works.

-Inspiration-
-Jesus makes no mention of Nicodemus's VIP status, good intentions, or academic credentials, not because they don't exist, but because, in Jesus' algorithm, they don't matter. He simply issues this proclamation: "Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (John 3:3).

Behold the Continental Divide of Scripture, the international data line of faith. Nicodemus stands on one side, Jesus on the other, and Christ pulls no punches about their differences.

Nicodemus inhabits a land of good efforts, sincere gestures, and hard work. Give God your best, his philosophy says, and God does the rest.

Jesus' response? Your best won't do. Your works don't work. Your finest efforts don't mean squat. Unless you are born again, you can't even see what God is up to.

Nicodemus hesitates on behalf of us all. Born again? "How can a man be born when he is old?" (v.4). You must be kidding. Put life in reverse? Rewind the tape? Start all over? We can't be born again.

Oh, but wouldn't we like to? A do-over. A try-again. A reload. Broken hearts and missed opportunities bob in our wake. A mulligan would be nice. Who wouldn't cherish a second shot? But who can pull it off? Nicodemus scratches his chin and chuckles.

"Yeah, a graybeard like me gets a maternity-ward recall." Jesus doesn't crack a smile. "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God" (v.5). About this time a gust of wind blows a few leaves through the still-open door. Jesus picks one off the floor and holds it up. God's power works like that wind, Jesus explains. Newborn hearts are born of heaven. You can't wish, earn, or create one. New birth? Inconceivable. God handles the task, start to finish.
Nicodemus looks around the room at the followers. Their blank expressions betray equal bewilderment.

Old Nick has no hook upon which to hang such thoughts. He speaks self-fix.
-But Jesus speaks--indeed introduces--a different language. Not works born of men and women, but a work done by God.
-----
-(From 3:16 / By: Max Lucado)
-Application-
-Picture yourself at a department store. On the shelf you see something you've wanted for years, but the price is still too high. How would you feel if a caring friend or relative bought the item, wapped it, and gave it to you?
Thank God for giving you a gift you could never afford.
-Exploration-
-Faith- Genesis 15:6; 2 Chronicles 20:20; Psalm 32:1, 2; Isaiah 7:9; Habakkuk 2:4; Matthew 9:29; Acts 15:9; Romans 4:16;5:1; 10:17.
------

-TURNAROUND

-Galatians 1:11-24
---
He who formerly
persecuted us now
preaches the faith
which he once tried
to destroy.
--Galatians 1:23
---
Bill was a friend of mine in seminary who had come to Christ out of a blatantly sinful lifestyle. He described it this way? "I was driving down the street drinking a bottle of brandy with another man's wife at my side. When I saw some Christians on the sidewalk witnessing to passersby about Christ, I drove by and shouted, 'Fools!' But only a few weeks later I found myself kneeling in a church and asking Christ to become my Savior and Lord." Bill's conversion resulted in his giving up his old ways and experiencing a new life in Christ. It was a life-changing turnaround.

True repentance, which is initiated by the Holy Spirit, includes a real turnaround. Often we see that the greater the opposition to the Gospel prior to conversion, the more stunning the change of direction afterward. When Saul of Tarsus encountered Christ on the road to Damascus, he was changed from a persecutor to a preacher of the Gospel. Of this many observed: "He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy" (Gal. 1:23).

Authentic conversion includes repentance, which is a change of mind and direction. For the follower of Christ, repentance means to keep turning away from sin and turning toward Christ in obedience.
----
-Repentance is being so sorry for sin
that you are willing to give it up.

--ODB/DF

-To Be Found in Christ

-BIBLE MEDITATION:
"But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption."
-- 1 Corinthians 1:30

-DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Paul thought it was the greatest of blessings to be found "in Him" (see Philippians 3:9). Paul exchanged a set of rules for a friend.

Hadn't you rather have a friend than a set of rules? Before this, Paul had the law. Now, he has the Lord. And what a difference!
What a safe place--to be found in Jesus Christ.

You're not just a church member if you are saved, you are in Christ. You are in His body and He is in you. Talk about fellowship divine! You may be alone, but you'll never be lonely again because the Lord Jesus Christ is in you and you are in the Lord Jesus Christ.

-ACTION POINT:
If you have a hymnal in your home, find the hymn "In The Garden" and meditate on its truth, that "He tells me I am His own."

--A Matter of the Heart

"Not everyone who says to me,"Lord, Lord," will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." --Matthew 7:21
--
-Being a follower of Jesus Christ is a matter of the heart...it's not about folowing rules or rituals,or being "religious" as some people think.

Of course, it's important to obey the Lord's commands, and by doing so, you demonstrate your love for Him. But God has always been more interested in the state of your heart than what you can do to impress Him.

When your heart is humble and you genuinely seek to serve Him because of your relationship with Him, He is pleased by that.

But He sees right through the fac'ade when a person is simply going through the motions, or doing their "good works" to receive applause from men. This kind of "religion" will never win God's favor.

That's the difference between being a disciple of Jesus and being "religious". Keep your heart engaged with Him and serve Him out of true devotion, and you will bring pleasure to the heart of God.

-GOD IS NOT IMPRESSED BY "RELIGION",
BUT BY HEARTFELT DEVOTION TO HIM.

--Encounter With God/JG

-Right Before God~

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."
--Romans 3:23-24

The most important question a person could ever ask is found in JOB 9:2, "How can a man be in the right before God?"

No one has been born righteous, and there is no religion or human effort that can make us right with God. Which is why we must look to the pardon and provision of God's grace for our salvation.

If you have placed your faith in Jesus Christ, God has declared you righteous. You have been forgiven of your sins through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. That's the Good News!

It can be easy to go through the day--or even many days--and not think about this powerful truth. But a heart of gratitude will constantly remember what God has done...and how our lives have been forever changed by the sacrifice of Jesus!

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8).

-EVERY DAY, BE THANKFUL THAT YOU ARE
RIGHTEOUS IN GOD'S SIGHT BECAUSE OF FAITH IN JESUS.

-Encounter With God/JG

-The Judge
-Read | Acts 10:42-43-Recommended Reading
--In Touch

During our life on earth, Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. However, as our days here draw to a close, and especially at the end of time, He takes His seat as Judge and prepares to reward believers for the good things they did in His name.

I think there is a widespread misconception that God the Father will be our judge. But it is Christ who gave us, His followers, the charge to go into the world and make disciples (Matt. 28:19). Therefore, He has been given the right to determine which of our actions and thoughts furthered His goal (John 5:22).

Christ is an impartial judge. He is not influenced by what others think or say, but rather, He determines what is right and good based on His honorable, just standard. We'll be stripped of our worthless works--in other words, the actions and words we used for selfish ambition or vain conceit. All that will remain are the worthwhile things we thought, said, and did to honor God. These are the valuable parts of our lives for which we will be rewarded.

Reward is the whole point of placing believers before the judgment seat of Christ. Shame and guilt over past sin and mistaken motivation have no place there (Rom. 8:1). Our loving Savior is eager to show us our heavenly treasure.

Christ will expose the real you at the judgment seat by casting away the worthless things you've done. What remains will be the man or woman who endeavored to please the Lord.
Let us determine to be powerful reflections of our Savior, both on earth and in heaven.~~

-What About those who Abandon Their Faith? Saved??

-"They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.
--1 John 2:19

Every so often, I’ll receive an email or a phone call from someone asking me about a loved one who has walked away from the Lord. They say they’ve followed Him faithfully for years, even decades, and one day just decided they were done. So I’m inevitably asked the question, “Are they still saved?”

It’s hard to respond to that question. I know for a fact that there are many faithful believers who experience a time of rebellion and ultimately come back to following the Lord. And for those, I’d say they never lost their salvation. They had it all along, and that’s why God called them back to fellowship with Him.

Then there are those who don’t return. And while I won’t generalize too much on their salvation, the Bible clearly teaches there are those who hear the message of Christ, seem to accept it, but don’t persevere in the faith. And in passages like today’s we’re told it’s because they never really had a saving faith in the first place.

Salvation is a work of God, not of us. We can’t convince others to follow Christ through wisdom or clever words. But we can have every confidence that if God has saved us through authentic faith in Christ, we’ll never lose that precious gift.

-SALVATION IS A WORK OF GOD ALONE. SO TRUST HIS SOVEREIGN PLAN WHEN YOU SEE OTHERS WALK AWAY FROM THE FAITH.

--Jack Graham

-Your Position as a Born-again Believer
---
"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." -- (John 3:3)

Someone asked me one time, "Are you a born-again Christian?" And you know what's funny? That's the only kind of Christian there is! If you're not born again, the Bible says you'll never enter the Kingdom of God. To be a child of God, you must experience this kind of supernatural rebirth in which you are converted and changed from the inside out.

Becoming a born-again believer isn't just getting a new start; it's getting a new life. It means you are born into the family of God by receiving Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.

I often speak with Christians who get confused when they read their Bibles because it sometimes says we're born into the family of God. Yet, other times the Scriptures say that we're adopted in the family of God. Well, adoption in the biblical times meant that person immediately received full standing in the family. It's the same as being born into it!

You and I were orphans. We were alienated and aimless. But God the Father has accepted us into His family! And the reason He did that wasn't because you and I deserved it. It was because He loves us. So remind yourself each day of your full standing in God's family as a born-again believer in Jesus Christ!

--As a born-again believer in Christ, remember you've been given full standing in the family of God! You are His child!

--Daily Word/JG

--Made of a Woman~~
"When the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the Law."

This verse in Galatians (4:4-5), is key to understanding the incarnation and God's plan of slavation. God promised in Genesis that the seed of the woman would bring salvation from sin and Satan. In God's chosen time, Christ came as Isaiah prophesied, miraculously conceived and born of the virgin.

In Galatians, Paul carefully used the Greek word ginomai, translated "made," to indicate the unique nature of Christ's entrance into the world. In fact, His human body had to be specially "prepared" by God so that He could be born with neither an inherent sin nature nor any inherited genetic defects from either parent. Jesus was truly "without blemish and without spot."

He was not only "made of a woman" but also "made under the Law" so that He could be shown to live without committing sin. Only through God's written Law do we really know what sin is.
Therefore, because He was "made under the Law" and had come "to fulfill" the Law, He can indeed redeem every sinner who will come to Him in repentance and faith.~~

-Scriptures: Galatians 4:4-5; Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14: Hebrews 10:5: 1 Peter 1:19; Matthew 5:17 ~
--Days of Praise/ ICR

-DOES GOD SEND PEOPLE TO HELL? ABSOLUTELY NOT! TO GO TO HELL IS A 'CHOICE'! GOD GIVES EACH INDIVIDUAL PERSON THE CHOICE TO CHOOSE HIM AS SAVIOR AND LORD, OR TO TURN AWAY FROM HIM, TO REFUSE HIM. HE DIED SO THAT YOU MIGHT LIVE! HE PAID YOUR SIN-DEBT ON THAT CROSS! "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin." His blood paid your, [and my], sin-debt.

--Unbelief

--BIBLE MEDITATION:
"He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." John 3:18

-DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
Men don't go to Hell primarily because they lie, steal, or cheat. It's much worse than that! Men go to Hell because of unbelief.
Unbelief is the major sin-the mother sin, the father sin, the
sin out of which all other sins grow. It is the one sin that will damn you and send you to Hell.

Unbelief is a terrible, horrible sin. It's never an intellectual matter; it's always a moral matter.

-ACTION POINT:
-Can you think of any sin greater than to point the finger of unbelief at God and say, "You lie!"
There is no greater sin than to aim the gun of unbelief at the Christ on the Cross and refuse to receive Him.

--Adrian Rogers

--
SALVATION=
-This 'new life' takes place once you have received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, confessed and repented of your sins, and ask Jesus to come into your life and take control. That's right. He wants a surrendered life totally to Him. He died to keep you, and all the people who will accept his 'free gift', from living throughout eternity without God. That is a 'choice' each person must make individually. There is a real Heaven and there is a real Hell. The 'choice' of where you spend eternity He leaves up to you. He never forces Himself on anyone.

Once you admit you are a sinner in need of a Savior, accept His death on the Cross for the forgiveness of your sins, then you can have the "peace of God that passes all understanding." (Philippians 4:7)
Once you have simply invited Him into your life, you will be able to follow Paul's example. Paul was the man the Lord used to take His Gospel to all people. Paul wrote much of the New Testament. Please read on....

--Paul as Our Example
--By: Henry Morris, Ph.D.

“Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.” (Philippians 4:9)

-The apostle Paul many times urged his readers to follow his example in living the Christian life. To the Philippians, Paul said: “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample” (Philippians 3:17).

The initial reaction to such exhortations is to think of Paul as arrogant. To the believers in the Corinthian church, he said: “Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me” (1 Corinthians 4:16). To those at Thessalonica, he said: “For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you. . . . Not because we have not power, but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us” (2 Thessalonians 3:7-9).

At the same time, Paul considered himself to be “the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle” (1 Corinthians 15:9). Later he called himself “less than the least of all saints” (Ephesians 3:8), and finally he said that he was even the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15).

In no way was the apostle Paul an egotist. Nevertheless, he knew that his converts needed an example to see, as well as precepts to learn. The Lord Jesus Christ, of course, is our real example (1 Peter 2:21). But by living a life patterned after Christ, however, Paul could say: “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).

People need to see Christ in the lives of their Christian leaders. By the grace of God, we also need to live as Christ did, so that when people follow us, they also will be following Christ. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven” (Matthew 5:16).
--ICR/HMM

--WHO IS
-THIS MAN?

-Read: Matthew 27:32-44
-----
"Our Lord..was...
declared to be the
Son of God..by the
resurrection from the
dead. --Romans 1:3-4
--
WHEN Kelly Steinhaus visited Harvard Square to ask college students what they thought of Jesus, most answers were respectful of Him. One said He was "a person who took care of people." Another said, "He sounds like a cool guy." Others rejected Him outright: "He was just a guy. I don't think He was the Savior." And "I do not accept any faith system that says, I am the only way to God.'" Some people thoughtfully question who Jesus is and some reject Him.

As Jesus faced death 2,000 years ago, many people mocked the idea that He was anyone special. "They put up over His head the accusation written against Him: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS'" (Matt. 27:37). Those who said, "You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself!" (v.40) were doubting His power. The religious people even said, "He saved others; Himself He cannot save" (v.42).

In His death, Jesus may have seemed powerless. But when we read the whole story, we see that He gave His live willingly. He proved Himself to be the Son of God and limitless in power as He burst forth from the tomb. Grasp the value of His death and behold the power of His resurrection.
--Jesus is the Savior of the word! He is alive!
---
--Jesus' resurrection spelled the death of death.~~

--ODB/DB

--WHAT DOES THE CROSS MEAN TO YOU?

-"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
--2 Corinthians 5:21

-I heard a woman sharing her testimony some time back at our church. She talked about how she had gotten away from church and felt like she was out of fellowship with God. But she drove past our church one morning on the way to work and noticed the Cross we have on top.

Every morning for the next few months, she would drive to and from work and see that same Cross. And each time she did, it was a constant reminder to her of how God loved her and was waiting with open arms for her to come back to Him.

That’s what Christ’s death on the Cross is all about. It’s a demonstration that while we were still in the very act of rejecting God and sinning against Him, He sent His Son to die in our place and take the punishment and penalty of sin for us. And because of that, we’re welcomed with open arms into His loving presence.

When we look at the Cross, we see God’s punishment and condemnation. But the beauty of the Cross is that this punishment and condemnation was taken away from us and put on Jesus Christ. Thank God today for that truth and let the Cross remind you of the God who now welcomes you with open arms!

-LET THE CROSS REMIND YOU OF THE PUNISHMENT TAKEN AWAY FROM YOU AND THE LOVING FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD THAT’S YOURS THROUGH JESUS.
[The Bible tells us 'Without the shedding of blood there is no sacrifice for sin.' That is why someone, a Being, had to die and pay our sin debt. Jesus was the only perfect human to ever live. He died on that old rugged Cross, so that we might live eternally with Him. Be sure to Thank Him for the Cross!]

--PP/JG =/ Jesus Messiah / Chris Tomlin
<http://youtu.be/FwJzTV1uurU>

--Crucified with Christ

“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” (Galatians 5:24)

-Death by crucifixion was surely one of the cruelest and most painful forms of execution ever devised. Yet the Lord Jesus “for the joy that was set before him endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2); He “hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit” (1 Peter 3:18).

But just as He sacrificed Himself for us, we are now privileged to offer our “bodies a living sacrifice” to Him (Romans 12:1). This spiritual sacrifice is actually compared to crucifixion. “Our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin” (Romans 6:6).

Crucifixion is not an instantaneous death but a very slow and painful death. Just so, the death of a Christian believer to sin does not take place in a moment of special blessing, but—as in physical crucifixion—is painful and slow. Nevertheless, it is basic in the truly effective Christian life.

In the book of Galatians, we are told three times by the apostle Paul that the Christian believer should be following Christ in His crucifixion—in crucifixion to self, to the flesh, and to the world.
First we are to be crucified to the love of self. “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
Secondly, we are to be crucified to the flesh, for “they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” (today’s text).

Finally, we should be crucified to the lure of this world. “God forbid that I should glory, save in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Galatians 6:14).
-This Crucifying of the flesh is a daily, on-going process until we finally reach Heaven's Gates! Praise the Lord!

--ICR/ HMM

--SOMETHING NEW ~~
--(Ephesians 2:10-22)

--"We are His
workmanship,
created in Christ
Jesus for good
works, which God
prepared beforehand
that we should walk
in them." (v.10)
----
--IT WAS ONLY SCRAP WOOD, but Charles Hooper saw much more than that. Salvaging old timbers from a long-abandoned corncrib, he sketched some simple plans. Then he felled a few oak and poplar trees from his wooded property and painstakingly squared them with his grandfather's broadax. Piece by piece, he began to fit together the old lumber with the new.

Today you can see Charles and Shirley Hooper's postcard-perfect log cabin, tucked away in the trees on Tennessee Ridge. Part guesthouse, part museum for family heirlooms, the structure stands as an enduring tribute to Charles' visual insight, skill, and patience.

Writing to a Gentile audience, Paul told the church at Ephesus how Jesus was creating something new by bringing together Jewish and non-Jewish believers as a single entity. "You who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ," Paul wrote (Eph. 2:13). This new structure was "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord." (vv.20-21).

The work continues today. God takes the brokenness of our lives, artfully fits us together with other broken and rescued people, and patiently chips away our rough edges. He loves His work, we see this when Christ died for us on that old rugged Cross.
---
'Lord, we can't thank You enough for Your passionate love for us. Help us see that You bring us together in this beautiful body of believers known as 'Your Church.' Lord, let our hearts be lead by mercy. Break our hearts for what breaks Yours.'~~

--OUR ROUGH EDGES MUST BE CHIPPED AWAY TO BRING OUT THE IMAGE OF CHRIST.~~
--ODB/TG
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv0C1gCuayI#t=194>

--READY TO MAKE AN HONEST CONFESSION?

==BIBLE MEDITATION:
-“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
--- (1 John 1:9)

--DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
-What does it mean to “confess your sins”? It doesn’t mean to simply admit your sin. There are a lot of people who have admitted their sins, who have never confessed their sins.

I’ve spoken to people many times and asked, “Do you know that you’re a sinner?” And they respond, “Yes, I know. We’ve all sinned.” But those people aren’t confessing; all they’re doing is admitting. There is a difference.

The word “confess” is a compilation of two words, “con” and “fess,” which mean “to agree with.” To confess your sins is “to say with” God what God says about them.

--ACTION POINT:
As you go before the Lord in prayer today, rather than just admitting you’ve sinned, agree with God about your sin. Then ask for His grace to overcome.
--Adrian Rogers~
-----------
-HOW TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN~~

-THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR PERSONAL IMPROVEMENT, but our efforts can take us only so far. In fact, there's just one thing that can transform us into a masterpiece--a relationship with Jesus Christ.

The story of God and humankind begins with a broken relationship. When sin entered the human race, it severed our communion--our unhindered connection--with the holy God. And today, our personal sins continue to be a barrier between us and Him. But the Bible tells us that "God is love" (1 John 4:8). In fact, He loves us so much that He sent His Son to reconcile us to Himself. On the Cross, Jesus defeated sin and then rose from the grave, triumphing over death (Colossians 1:19-22).

By choosing to live in relationship with Jesus Christ, we're no longer slaves to the way of life that ends in spiritual death--eternal separation from God and His lovingkindness. Through Him alone, we can experience freedom and joy. But to saved, we must confess from our heart that Jesus is Lord, believing that He rose from the dead and is alive today (Romans 10:9-10).

You can have eternal life now by asking Jesus to become your Savior. Pray a prayer like this or use your own words:

'Lord Jesus, I believe You died so that I might be accepted as a child of God. Please forgive me, help me turn from my sins, and show me how to follow You each and every day. Thank You for saving me and giving me eternal life. Amen. ~
------
To take the next step, call 1-800-980-0020 or visit <www.intouch.org> to receive our free resource,
'Now That You Believe: Beginning Your New Relationship with Jesus.'

--[Jesus is alive today. Jesus loves you and wants to be your Savior and Lord and help you live for Him, to receive eternal life, with Him forever! Please, Come to the Father through Jesus his Son. ~~]
----------
<https://youtu.be/5nh1_LSHOdw>

---Are you SAVED?
Have you been 'born-again' (spiritually)? (John 3:3,and (vss. 16-21)

--Do you desire to know all you can possibly learn by studying the Holy Bible? When you give your heart to Jesus Christ, He takes you, and begins a new work inside of you. He will point out the areas in your life that are not in His steps. If you truly give your life to God, He will speak to your inner-spirit saying, "This is the way, walk in it." "Seek Me and I will be found be you, saith the Lord."
-----------
--DO YOU SEEK THE LORD?

--BIBLE MEDITATION:
“And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary, His mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto Him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.”
--(Matthew 2:11).

--DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT:
--Wise men seek the Lord. Do you seek the Lord? Is that the burning ambition of your heart and life? You say, “Well, I come to church.” I’m not talking about that. Think about these men from the east. Do you know where “the east” was? They’re talking about Babylon. Three hundred miles across Syrian desert, distance and difficulty.

Now, Christmas cards picture them coming on camels. I don’t know how they came, but I know how they didn’t come…by airplane, bus, automobile, or motorcycle. I know where they didn’t stay. They didn’t stay at the Holiday Inn.

And they came in spite of danger. It was the time of King Herod, insane with jealousy and rage, who had had his own wife and three sons murdered.
In the face of that danger, these men said, “We have come to seek Jesus Christ.” Wise men will seek Him in spite of distance, danger and difficulty.

The wise who seek Him will see Him. When they came into the house, they fell down and worshipped Him. It’s worth seeking Him because, friend, when you seek Him, you will see Him. “Ye shall seek Me and find Me when ye shall search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13). They searched, found Him and saw Him.

--ACTION POINT:
Do you have a desire to know Him? To love Him? To serve Him? Do you find something drawing you to God? That, my friend, is the Holy Spirit. Thank God for the ministry of the Spirit, the third Person of the God-Head (Trinity). Hallelujah!
--Adrian Rogers /O Come, O Come, Emmanuel / By: Selah /'God With Us'
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Q6iesplJRM>

--ARE YOU GROWING IN CHRIST?

--Growing By His Plan

“…see the works of the Lord, and His wonders in the deep.For He commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof…Then they cry unto the Lordin their trouble, and He bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still…so He bringeth them unto their desired haven.” - Psalm 107:23-30

It is God who is the master of the winds and the waves. He is able to cause storms to come or to calm them.

--It is a very shallow theology that says if we’re in the will of God, we’ll always sail smoothly on the sea of life. We’ll have no sickness, no sorrow, no disappointment, know no separation. There’ll be no problems in our family. The “joy boys” get on television and say, “You just believe God and send me an offering, and you’ll never be sick. Everything’ll be fine.” This is the gospel of cash and Cadillacs. Friend, there’s a Greek word for that—“baloney.”

No, we are going to have difficulty. And the first thing you can say when difficulty comes is that God’s providence is over it all. “I am governed by His providence.”

Not only am I governed by His providence, butI am growing by His plan. Now God’s plan is not to indulge you; God’s plan is to enlarge you. “Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress.” (Psalm 4:1)

Those of you who’ve been on the trail for awhile, who have walked a long time with the Lord, when did you grow the most? When everything was fine? When there was smooth sailing? Or when the storm came? Did you not grow more in the storm, in distress, when you were crowded to Christ, and when you had to call upon Him? You are growing by His plan.
-Adrian Rogers~/ Master of the Wind/ Candy Hemphill
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j10Sy-KRUUE>

--JESUS' DEFINITION OF SIN~~

Jesus gave us a definition of sin: “A nobleman was called away to a distant empire to be crowned king and then return. Before he left, he called together ten of his servants, saying, ‘Invest this for me while I am gone.’ But his people hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘we do not want him to be our king’” (Luke 19:12-14 NLT).

To sin is to state, “God, I do not want you to be my king. Sin shouts, “I want to run my own life, thank you very much!” Sin is insurrection of the highest order, and you are an insurrectionist. So am I. But. . .oh that wonderful word. . .but, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Christ died to set the insurrectionist—you and me—free.

--God is With You Everyday/ML~~

God offers each person the 'free gift' of salvation through His grace.
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." --(Ephesians 2:8-9)~
You can have eternal life now by asking Jesus to become Your Savior. Pray a prayer like this or use your own words:
'Lord Jesus, I believe You died so that I might be accepted as a child of God. Please forgive me, help me turn from my sins, and show me how to follow You every day. Thank You for saving me and giving me eternal life. I am a sinner in need of your forgiveness. Please be my Lord and Savior. I trust in You.' Amen~~

[To take the next step, call 1-800-789-1473 or visit intouch.org to receive our free resource, 'Now That You Believe: Beginning Your New Relationship With Jesus.' (In Touch)~~]-Refiner's Fire/ By: Brian Doerksen ~
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6awdZ1cekk>
----------

---NO CONDEMNATION~~
----(Please Read/ Romans 8:1-4)

Some believers are plagued by feelings of condemnation. Either they think they'll never live up to God's expectations for them or they're nearly drowning in guilt over past sins. These men and women cannot seem to shake the sense that God is displeased with their puny efforts at being Christlike.

The book of Romans confronts this lie head-on: "There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1). When the Savior went to the Cross on our behalf, He lifted the blame from our shoulders and made us righteous before God. Those feelings of condemnation do not belong to us; they are from Satan. He amplifies our guilt and feelings of inadequacy and then suggests that's how the Lord feels about His "wayward child." Nothing could be further from the truth. Our sins are wiped clean, and we are chosen and loved by God.

-Condemnation is reserved for those who reject the Lord. "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on Him."-(JOHN 3:36) Sin is a death sentence (Rom. 6:23). Anyone who chooses to cling to sin instead of seeking divine forgiveness must pay the penalty, which is an eternity separated from God. Two synonyms of condemn are 'denounce' and 'revile.' Those words certainly describe Jesus' statement to unbelievers in "Depart from me, accursed ones."-(Matthew 25:41)

There is no condemnation for those who receive Jesus Christ as their Savior. The believer's penalty for sin is paid, and he can stand blameless before God. Trust in the Lord's love and let go of Satan's lie. God's beloved children are covered by His grace and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.~~
--IN TOUCH~--/ Wonderful Merciful Savior/ lyrics by Selah
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGgoMWgVRk0>
--------

---THE FREEDOM OF SALVATION~~
----(PLEASE READ: Galatians 3:10-13, Galatians 3:21-24)-

Most of us are accustomed to working for a reward. We get paid for a completed job, and there’s a bonus when our effort exceeds expectation. It’s understandable, then, why so many people assume salvation depends upon our actions. But thankfully, that is simply not the case.

God gave commandments to reveal His standard for holiness, but—with the exception of Jesus—no one has ever obeyed them perfectly. In fact, James 2:10 points out that “whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.” Just one single jealous thought, unkind comment, or dishonoring action is all it takes to be a lawbreaker, according to God’s specifications. In other words, if salvation depended on our inadequate self-righteousness, nobody could be saved. God’s laws weren’t intended to save us; rather, they were intended to show our helplessness and point us to Jesus Christ (Gal. 3:24).

-Our heavenly Father knew that our own strength was insufficient for keeping His law. Yet out of grace, He sent His sinless Son Jesus to take the penalty we deserved for our wrongdoing—death (Rom. 6:23). The Savior bore our iniquities, died, and rose from the grave. In doing so, He conquered sin so we can be free.

Jesus’ death and resurrection broke the bonds of sin. Are you living in the freedom His blood made possible? We can do nothing to reconcile ourselves to God; our only hope is to [u]accept the free gift of the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf. In surrendering our life to Him, we find genuine liberation.~~

**--IN TOUCH~~**
["He that winneth souls is wise." Each of us are on this planet to lead others to Jesus Christ. We were born in the flesh, in order to be born in the Spirit. To live for Christ is all Spiritual. There are many questions that we do not have the answers for. BUT we do know that Jesus Christ had to die a brutal death on the Cross in order to pay our sin-debt. "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin." This blood had to be completely clean, without spot of any sin. Jesus Christ NEVER sinned. He took our sins and nailed them to the Cross. We must accept His ' free gift' in order to be saved. Invite Him into our heart and lives and we will be a 'new person'. It's totally an amazing gift of GRACE, from our LORD.

There are many churches, or religions, that teach contrary to this Word. They are wrong. According to God's Word, the Holy Bible, Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'--(JOHN 3:5-7)~

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
"For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him."
--(JOHN 3:16-17)

-"If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord , and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation " --(ROMANS 10:9-10)~~]
----"HOW DEEP THE FATHER'S LOVE FOR US" --/SELAH~~ <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKDujmtyAVk>
---------

--JESUS IS THE BRIDGE BUILDER~~

--God’s plan for humanity, crafted in the halls of Heaven and carried out on the plains of Earth. Only holiness could have imagined it. Only divinity could have enacted it. Only righteousness could have endured it.--

When God chose to reveal himself, he did so through a human body. The hand that touched the leper had dirt under its nails. The feet upon which the women wept were calloused and dusty. And his tears—oh, don’t miss His tears. They came from a heart as broken as yours or mine has ever been. So people came to him! Not one person was reluctant to approach him for fear of being rejected.

Remember that the next time you find yourself amazed at your own failures! Or the next time you hear a lifeless liturgy. Remember… it’s man who creates the distance.
It’s Jesus who builds the bridge!

Read/In the Manger/ML~~
----------
--FRANKLIN GRAHAM / SALVATION PRAYER
--"If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved:
For with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation." --(ROMANS 10:9-10 NASB)
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6rQNopfLzI>
--------

---AVOIDING CONFUSION ABOUT SALVATION~~
----(Please Read/ 1 John 5:11-15)

---God never intends to trick or puzzle believers. He wants us to be confident about our salvation and has clearly laid out the plan. So if uncertainty should arise in your mind, realize the problem isn’t with the Lord.

Someone else, however, does want us confused: Satan knows that doubts will make us less effective as Christians. Here are four major tactics he uses:

1.) Sin When we give in to temptation, our enemy piles on feelings of guilt so we’ll think, 'How can I be saved when I’m living like this?' But Scripture assures us there’s no condemnation for believers in Christ (Rom. 8:1).

2.) Ignorance Unless we’re immersed in God’s Word, it’s easy to have just a hazy notion of what transpired when we came to faith. But if we’re well grounded, we’re less likely to question our salvation in tough times.

3.) Feelings Once we are saved, nothing can snatch us out of the Father’s hand (John 10:28-29). And yet sorrow and shame can make us want to hide instead of confessing and keeping lines of communication with God clear. (See Gen. 3:8; 1 John 1:9.) Be aware that feelings have nothing to do with the truth of our salvation.

4.) Harassment Sometimes the devil comes at us like a roaring lion, other times like an angel of light (1 Peter 5:8; 2 Corinthians 11:14). Whatever his approach, he wants to take our eyes off Jesus. Scripture, however, promises that no weapon formed against believers will prosper (Isa. 54:17).

Spending time in God’s Word will help you to stand securely in your salvation. Then you’ll be better prepared to resist Satan’s strategies.
--IN TOUCH~~--/---- 'Jesus, Friend of Sinners'/Casting Crowns~~<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jv0C1gCuayI#t=194>
--------

---THE GOD WHO SAVES ~~
--(Please Read/ Ephesians 2:8-9)--

--Recently I was talking with a fellow about his spiritual life. When I asked, "Are you saved?" he answered, "No, but I'm working at it." When I pressed him, he explained that he was making some changes in his life. He had given up smoking and drinking, among other things. I knew that I should help him understand a few important principles, as his only guarantee so far was better health.

What this gentleman needed to realize was that what we do or what we give up for Jesus doesn't amount to much. The Lord isn't looking for people who change a few habits by sheer force of will; He's calling people to surrender themselves to Him. The only action God expects of a "seeker" is to believe in Jesus--that He is who He says, He will do what He says, He has the authority to forgive, and He will equip His people to live a godly life. Because of those convictions, a new Christian is empowered to turn away from his old life--in other words, to repent--and begin the process of becoming "a new creation" (2 Cor. 5:17).

We don't evolve, (become regenerated or born-again), into a saved people by deleting old habits and instituting better religious ones; we are transformed by the saving power of Jesus Christ when we believe in Him.

Since salvation isn't something we earn, no one can boast before God. All of our moral living, good deeds, and strenuous efforts to change bad habits amount to a pile of trash compared to the holiness of Jesus Christ . Only His righteousness can cover our sins and make us right before the Father.[Isa. 64:6]
--IN TOUCH~

--Friend,
If you have not yet given your life to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, please do it now. He died a brutal, excruciating painful death on that Cross, to save you so you can one day spend eternity with Him, in Heaven. Yes, there most definitely is Heaven. There is also Hell. He leaves that choice up to you, where you will spend eternity. You may not be here tomorrow. Only the Lord knows the day or hour that He will return. "It is appointed unto man once to die, and then the Judgment." ---(HEBREWS 9 verse 27).

Have you ever walked through a (cemetery), grave yard, maybe to find someone who passed on, or to visit the grave site of someone else? Look around and you will find, people die at all ages, from their first day of life all the way through 100+. The Bible says our days are numbered. Please, if you have not accepted Jesus as your Savior, do so now.
[-Sadly, there are many babies that are killed by abortion. God will hold them [abortionists], accountable. "Thou shalt not kill." When a baby dies, they go straight into the arms of Jesus.]

Say a prayer such as, "Lord, I am a sinner in need of You to be my Savior. Please forgive me of all my sins, come into my life and help me to live for You. Thank You, Lord Jesus for saving me. Help me to never be ashamed of You. I accept your gift of salvation. I give myself to You, Lord Jesus.~ amen"

-"That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;
"For with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.
"For Whoever will call on the Name of the Lord will be saved." --(Romans 10: verses 9,10,13/ NASB)--
------
---PROOF OF IDENTITY~~

--"Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; for I have been called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts."
---(Jeremiah 15:16 / NASB)--

---Jeremiah was humbling himself before the Lord and reminding Him that he loved His words and was called by His name. When you believe in Jesus as the Messiah and submit to His lordship over your life, you become a new creation with a new name. What kind of name have you had? Have you been known as an angry person, a violent person, an immoral person, a self-righteous person, someone unwilling to believe? Just as certainly as you are a new creation in Christ, you are now known by His name: child of God, Jesus-follower, Christian. The power of God is present to help you become more like Him. Whatever you have done, His mercy is sufficient to forgive you. Whatever you have been, He can change you. The power of God will mean more to us and be more available to us if we will humble ourselves and lean into God’s Word. Won’t you commit to trust Him more fully today?

THINK ABOUT IT
--The only way to realize your true identity is to discover your identity in Christ Jesus. The One who made you knows exactly who He made you to be. To know who you truly are, start by knowing Him. By reading the Holy Bible, Jesus speaks to us. Perhaps start in the Gospel of John. Ask the Lord to open your spiritual eyes to understand His Word.

PRAYER
"Heavenly Father, You can make all things new, including me. I trust Your work in me, My Creator and Redeemer. May my image increasingly reflect Your Son. I am in awe of Your workmanship in Your creation and in me. In Jesus’ name, amen."
Blessings,
Pastor Allen Jackson
--------------

--CONFESS AND BE FREE~~

-"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse
us from all unrighteousness."
--(1 John 1:9)--

----You will make mistakes. You will act outside of God's will--and even against it--and immediately know in your heart you've failed. But understand that the Lord doesn't reveal your sins in order to shame you or make you feel miserable--though those may be natural by-products of what you've done. Rather, He does it so you can be free.

--If you've ever had a loved one who is an alcoholic or drug addict, you understand the concept. You would do anything to see your loved one liberated of the habit that is both controlling and destroying him or her. The same is true for Jesus: His desire is to free you of the devastating hold that sin has on your life. That's why He's always there welcoming you with open arms when you return to Him. Yes, He is your 'Blessed Hope.' You can always turn to Him when you have questions or in need of repentance. By reading the Holy Bible our Lord speaks to us. And in return, as we pray, we speak to Him. He is always available for us.

So when you fail, remember that God wants you back. Then, confess that He is right about what you've done and trust Him to teach you how to turn away from it forever. ~~

--"Lord Jesus, I know the sins You are pinpointing in my heart. I agree with You and want freedom from them. Teach me how to walk in a way that honors You, my Lord, Savior, and Redeemer. I give You praise, honor and thanks for who You are, the great 'I AM' In Christ's Name, amen"~

---MY HOPE IS IN JESUS BECAUSE HE ALWAYS WORKS TO SET ME FREE.~~

--'Jesus, Our Perfect Hope' /CS~ --"I SURRENDER"--/ Hillsong United~~-<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klj5xQf6tWo>
-----------------

---LIFELONG JOURNEY ~~

--"But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves."
---(James 1:22/ NLT)--

----You may have believed in the reality of Jesus enough to accept Him as Lord of your life and make a profession of faith, have your sins forgiven, and be birthed into the Kingdom of God. You may have taken another step and publicly declared your faith in Him through baptism. You may be a regular church attender. I commend you for all of those things, but they are not the terminal point in your journey as a Christ-follower. The goal of being a Christ-follower is not to show up on the weekend and sit and stand and be preached at. The goal of a Christ-follower is to become His faithful disciple who loves Him with a whole heart and serves Him joyfully. To gain knowledge of the Lord but never put it to practical use is to live an incomplete Christian life. I would encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to help you find a place of service in God’s Kingdom. You will be a blessing to others, and you will be abundantly blessed as well.

THINK ABOUT IT
--We have been created in Christ Jesus for good works which God has already prepared for us “to walk in.” Walking implies motion—getting out there, and getting it done on an ongoing basis. Ask the Holy Spirit how you can make serving His purposes a lifestyle more than random events.

PRAYER
--"Heavenly Father, thank You I can find a place of service which You have prepared for me. Help me to recognize Your invitations—especially those beyond my expectations—and fill me with Your Holy Spirit to accomplish all Your will. Lord, please give me the courage to teach others of the new life (born-again), found only in You. I praise You and bless Your Holy Name, Jehovah Elohim, the God above all gods." In Jesus’ name, amen."
*Blessings,
**Pastor Allen Jackson

~~TIMELESS PRINCIPLES FROM HEBREWS 8 / -[SALVATION]
----[PTV/RJ~]

--[**Friend, please remember, we are saved by grace through faith. and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God not as a result
of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."
---(Ephesians 2:8,9,10) ]

--"Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him."
---–(Hebrews 9:28)--

---**What do the truths in Hebrews 9 mean for us today? Let’s look at three timeless principles.**

**First, our forgiveness is costly. One of the greatest heresies today is the idea that God accepts you as you are. That is a heresy straight from the pit of Hell. God cannot overlook our sin. Habakkuk 1:13 says, “[God’s] eyes are too pure to approve evil.” Then what hope do we have? Here is the hope: We can come to God with our sin, but we have to stand at the cross of Jesus Christ and allow ourselves to be cleansed by Christ’s blood. It is only through receiving that gift of salvation that God will cleanse us of our sins. Some people say, “I cannot believe in cheap grace.” There is nothing cheap about grace. It cost God the death of His Son.

**Second, God’s redemption is complete. For the last 2,000 years, people have tried to hang a sign around the cross of Jesus Christ that reads: “Necessary, but not enough.” Yes, they say, the death of Christ was important, but it was not quite enough to secure our salvation. We need to add to it. They say things like: “It is Jesus Christ and baptism.” “Jesus Christ and joining the church.” “Jesus Christ and accepting the sacraments.” “Jesus Christ and confessing to the priest.” No, it is Jesus Christ plus nothing by which we are saved. Hebrews 9:26 says that by His death Jesus has forever taken away our sin. It is Jesus Christ alone who offers complete forgiveness.

**Third, our salvation is incomplete. Yes, the moment we trust in Christ as Savior our sins are forgiven forever. But salvation is more than forgiveness of our sins. There is a future aspect of our salvation that we still eagerly await. The writer talks about this in verse 28: “Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.” When the high priest once a year went into the Holy of Holies to offer that sacrifice for the sins of the people, the Israelites stood in the courtyard of the temple breathlessly awaiting that moment when the high priest would reemerge. When they saw that happen, they knew that the high priest had finished his work, that the sacrifice had been accepted. If the high priest offered the wrong offering or did it in the wrong way, then he would be struck dead in the Holy of Holies. That is why the people waited anxiously to see the high priest come out. The writer of Hebrews was saying that we as Christians are awaiting that moment when Jesus Christ will reappear from Heaven so we can all see Him again. Why is He going to do that? To complete our salvation. One day our high priest, Jesus, is going to reappear and finish the job of salvation by delivering us from this sin-infected world. Hallelujah! That is why Jesus said, “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places . . . for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2-3).

~~~GOD'S STORY ~~~

~~~“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand.”
---- (1 Corinthians 15:1)--

~~~The word “gospel” comes from the Anglo-Saxon “god-spel,” meaning “God-story.” The Greek word is euaggelion, from which we get our word “evangel,” and it means literally “a good message” or “good messenger.” Thus, the gospel is the great story of God that is to be preached as by an angel dispatched from God. The word normally is used in the sense of “good news” or “glad tidings,” but this good message is specifically God’s Story, sent to lost men from a loving, caring, and saving God.

As our text says, it is a message to be “declared” by its messenger, then “received” by its hearers. It is the message “by which also ye are saved” (v. 2) and “wherein ye stand.” Then, verses 3 and 4 declare the very heart of what is to be received and believed—the substitutionary death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. It is a dynamic Gospel—“the power of God unto salvation” (Romans 1:16) for every true believer.

It is a “glorious Gospel” (2 Corinthians 4:4) through which Christ “hath brought life and immortality to light” (2 Timothy 1:10). It is the “Gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:15) and brings “the fullness of the blessing” (Romans 15:29).

Its duration is “everlasting” (Revelation 14:6), and its foundation is the primeval making of “heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters” (Revelation 14:7) by Christ Himself (Colossians 1:16). The apostle Paul gravely warns against “any other gospel” than this gospel that he had preached (Galatians 1:8-9). This Gospel, this glad story of God’s grace in creation and salvation, is to be preached “to every creature” (Mark 16:15).
--ICR/ HMM
[**PLEASE NOTE** We read in 2 Timothy 3:16,17 / "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."
--"I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words, of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book."
---(Revelation 22:18-19).
Many churches, organizations, and (so-called) ministries are adding words that are not God-breathed. They are making them up, and telling you to 'send them money and you will be blessed.' Some say the Lord will give you 100 fold of what you mail in. The lies are relentless. Please DO NOT listen to or watch these television programs. Ask the Lord Jesus to lead you in knowing what to listen to, watch and read. Yes, Pastors Charles Stanley, Allen Jackson, Jack Graham, and many others (true) Bible believers are warning of these lying ministries. If it does not line up with Holy Scriptures, turn it off! Please, our Spirit grows by what we feed it. The enemy of our soul, the devil, will put doubt and fear in your mind. He is the father of lies, as Jesus tells us (John 8:44). The 'end-times' are upon us. BEWARE!

---What does it mean to be born again? IT MEANS SALVATION~

[~~~One prominent Pastor said that his daughter's first day in college was such a surprise. It was to me as well. She had asked a few ladies 'if they were saved?' Had they been born again? Had they accepted Jesus as their Savior?'
The reply was shocking, especially since her (earthly father) pastors a prominent church in the Bible-belt of United States.
Both of the ladies replied, "Saved from what?" "Born again, what's that?" And the most shocking, "Who's Jesus?" That is most startling indeed.

Often we don't think of 'The Blessing of Repentance'. We read in Psalm 51 verse 17, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise." While we live in this fallen world, (since Adam and Eve were it's first people, and they listened to the devil instead of Jehovah God--(Genesis Chapter 3 ) 'The Fall of Man', sin entered this world and continues until Jesus returns to restore this Earth to perfection and get rid of the devil. We are all sinners. "There are none righteous, no not one." . ~~
~~~~
--"THE BLESSING OF REPENTANCE"

~~It may seem odd to think of repentance as a blessing, because it's not something anyone looks forward to. But repentance isn't supposed to feel good. In fact, if it does, you're probably doing it wrong.

Repentance is a blessing because it allows us to grasp the depth and love of God. And it's an essential part of our life as Christians because Jesus calls us to it--and He is faithful and just to forgive us when we confess our sins (1John 1:9).-- In repenting, confessing, and humbling ourselves before God, we are not merely turning away from our wrongs. We are embracing the Father's love.

--THINK ABOUT IT~~

***Repentance frequently leads to some outward behavior, but the Lord wants us to experience a change in the direction of our heart as well. Think about your own experience with confession and repentance--have you felt more aware of or closer to the Father's love?

**John the Baptist calls for followers of God to "bear fruits in keeping with repentance" (Luke 3:8). What do you think it means for our actions to be the fruit of repentance? ~~

**What do think it means to be 'born again', the New Birth? (Please Read John Chapter 3).
--IN TOUCH~~
~~~~~~~~~~~

---SALVATION IS FROM GOD~~

--[Please Read / Ephesians Chapter 2 verses 1-9]
------- ----
---DO YOU EVER DOUBT THAT YOU ARE SAVED? Once we ask Jesus into our heart, we're saved. He never leaves us. John 10:28 says that nothing can snatch us out of His hand, but sometimes we might still feel uncertain. Maybe we can't remember the specific time and place of our decision to follow Him. Or perhaps we've messed up and sinned so badly that we wonder how He could forgive us.
--Let's see that the Bible says about it~~

**GOD MADE US ALIVE TOGETHER WITH CHRIST BY RAISING HIM FROM THE DEAD (Ephesians 2:4-5).
We're all born dead in our sins. There's nothing we can do to make ourselves spiritually alive; our salvation is the result of God's love and mercy. And once He makes us alive, we can never become spiritually dead again.

**WE'RE SAVED BY GOD'S GRACE, NOT BY OUR GOODNESS OR PERFORMANCE. ~~Verses 8-9 tell us. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works." We didn't do anything to deserve or earn God's grace, yet He still chose to save us.

Our salvation isn't because of our goodness or works, nor is it maintained by us. We are saved simply through faith and should recognize that as God's gift. As a result, we enjoy the blessings of belong to His family, and one day we will know the full reality of being seated with Jesus in Heaven (v.6).
Only Jesus Christ can save you! Come to Him for eternal life.
--IN TOUCH~--"ONLY JESUS"~~Casting Crowns// <https://youtu.be/TAtx1y58jS0>
~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~PREPARED TO PERSEVERE ~~

~~"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
---(Hebrews 12:2 / NIV)

---Here we get a perspective of Jesus’ life, both in time and in eternity. We might think of them as two separate things, but they are in fact a seamless whole. In time, Jesus was nailed to a Roman cross and left to suffocate. He was publicly humiliated and died alongside two criminals. Jesus endured that because of the joy that was set before Him.
The joy wasn’t in time, because Jesus was never vindicated before His enemies. As far as they were concerned, He was dead and out of their way. But Jesus endured so that He could take His place at God’s right hand in eternity. If you don’t believe there’s a reward, you’ll fold like a cheap tent when challenges come—and so will I. But if you believe that God will reward you in eternity for the way you yielded to Him and served Him in time, you’ll be able to persevere when difficult seasons come.

THINK ABOUT IT
Always keep eternity in view. Have confidence in the word Jesus spoke in Matt. 16:27 (NIV®) that when He comes He “will reward each person according to what he has done.”

PRAYER
~~"Heavenly Father, I believe Jesus is coming back and His reward is with Him. Help me make the choices and accomplish the works You will reward in eternity. Direct my heart to persevere as Christ did, as I too yield to You. Help me do those things that are pleasing in Your sight, my Lord and Redeemer. ~ In Jesus’ name, amen."
Blessings,
Pastor Allen Jackson
~~~~~~

--IN FOCUS~~

-"By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you
see and know was made strong." [ACTS 3:16]

---AUTHOR Mark Twain suggested that whatever we look at in life--and how we see it--can influence our next steps, even our destiny. As Twain said, "You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus."

Peter too spoke of vision when he replied to a lame beggar, a man whom he and John encountered at the busy temple gate called Beautiful (ACTS 3:2). As the man asked them for money, Peter and John looked directly at the man. "Then Peter said, "Look at us!'" (v.4).

Why did he say that? As Christ's ambassador, Peter likely wanted the beggar to stop looking at his own limitations--yes, even to stop looking at his need for money. As he looked at the apostles, he would see the reality of having faith in God.

As Peter told him, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk" (v.6). Then Peter "helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong. He jumped to his feet and began to walk" and give praise (vv. 7-8).

What happened? The man had faith in God (v.16). As evangelist Charles Spurgeon urged, "Keep your eye simply on Him." When we do, we don't see obstacles. We see, God the One who makes our way clear. ~

--"Heavenly Father, when my eyes wander from You, focus my gaze on Your unlimited power. Thank You, Lord, in Jesus Name. amen~"

--ODB/PR~

--"Who You Are to Me"// Chris Tomlin and friends/ feat Lady A =<https://youtu.be/7RIWWFxXkDs>
~~~~~~~

---A SERIOUS CHOICE ~~

--"Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day…"
---[Hebrews 3:12-13 / NSAB)

Belief in God is healthy and productive, whereas unbelief is corrosive and destructive. Unbelief isn’t about gaining information or having life experience; it is a choice that we make. It’s as if belief is offered to us and we push it away like a food we don’t want to eat.

We have been too accommodating of unbelief and have devised all sorts of ways to soft-sell it. Some people say, “Maybe if I studied more, if I learned more about it …” or “With my education, it’s just too difficult for me to believe in something I can’t see” or “None of my friends have fallen for this.” Unbelief is a serious choice with consequences that affect your days under the sun and your days in eternity. When we choose unbelief, we wall off the invitation to have a relationship with God. If you are living with skepticism and doubt, I invite you to put aside your unbelief and place your life in the hands of Jesus, the Savior of the world.

THINK ABOUT IT
The decision to believe God in the face of doubt is one you can have full confidence in. Faith is the catalyst for much of God’s miraculous intervention in the lives of His children, and He is delighted when we put it into action.

PRAYER
--"Heavenly Father, I repent of any doubts about You I have harbored. Please help my unbelief and increase my faith in You. Jesus, I acknowledge You are Lord and put my life in Your saving care. In Jesus’ name, amen."

Blessings,
Pastor Allen Jackson
[Friend, the most important decision you will ever make in your life is what you do with Jesus. He is Master, Savior, Lord, Redeemer, and King above all kings. Please do not let another day pass without putting your faith in Him. We are not promised tomorrow. Do it now, please! JESUS LOVES YOU. ]
~~~~~~~~

---NEW LIFE IN JESUS ~~
~~ A Beginner's Guide to Life ~~

--"The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
--[Romans 6:23] --

----Paul wrote a "beginner's guide" that explains how to obtain eternal life. In Romans 6:16-18, he contrasts the fact that we're all born in rebellion to God (sinners) with the truth that Jesus can help us be "set free from [our] sin" (v.18).

Paul then describes the difference between being a slave to sin and a slave to God and His life-giving ways (vv.19-20). He continues by stating that "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life" (v.23). Death means being separated from God forever. This is the devastating outcome we face when we reject Christ. But God has offered us a gift in Jesus--new life. It's the kind of life that begins on earth and continues forever in Heaven with our Lord Jesus.

Paul's 'beginner's guide' to eternal life leaves us with two choices--choosing sin, which leads to death, or choosing Jesus' gift, which leads to eternal life. May you receive His gift of life, and if you've already accepted Christ, may you share this gift with others today. ~~

--"Lord Jesus, thank You for loving me and forgiving me. You paid a debt I couldn't pay and gave me a gift I couldn't buy. Blessed be the Name of the Lord!"

--ODB/MW
~~~~~~~~~~

---COMING TO THE WEDDING ~~
--[Please Read / Matthew 22:1-14]

---"Verily, Verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep."
---[John 10:7]

----Weddings provide happy times for families. In today's Bible reading, Jesus told a parable about a king who invited guests to his son's wedding. They didn't want to come. A second set of invitations went out, but these were rudely answered with flimsy excuses. Some actually killed the king's servants who had invited them. This greatly upset the king. He sent out his "national guard" to kill these people and destroy their city. But the wedding was still waiting, so the king sent out invitations to whoever wanted to come. Finally the wedding hall was filled.

Then another problem arose: one man came without being properly dressed--he wore no wedding garment. The king ordered him to be cast into outer darkness.

What does this parable mean? What is a wedding garment? Does this mean that we must dress or act in a certain way?

To find the answer, let's consider another parable Jesus gave. I John 10, Jesus called Himself the door of the sheepfold. Those who come in must enter by the door. Entering by the door means repenting sincerely, confessing our sins, and putting personal faith in Christ. It is not enough simply to be baptized. Mere church membership will not do.

The wedding garment is the robe of righteousness that Jesus gives to those who enter by the door. Life's most important question still hinges on what Jesus told Nicodemus, "Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye must be born again." --[John 3:3]

---BSW/PM

--HIDING FROM GOD ~~

--"The LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?" -[Genesis 3:9] -

--I squeezed my eyes shut and started counting aloud. My fellow third-grade classmates tore out of the room to find a place to hide. After scouring every cabinet, trunk, and closet for what felt like hours, I still couldn't find one of my friends I felt ridiculous when she finally jumped out from behind a lacey, potted fern hanging from the ceiling. Only her head had been eclipsed by the plant--the rest of her body had been in plain sight the entire time!

Since God is all-knowing, when Adam and Eve "hid [Him] from Him " (Genesis 3:8) in the garden of Eden, they were always in "plain sight." But they weren't playing any childhood game; they were experiencing the sudden awareness--and shame of their wrong doing, having eaten from the tree God told them not to eat from.

Adam and Eve turned from God and His loving provision when they disobeyed His instructions Instead of with drawing from them in anger, however, He sought them out, asking, "Where are you?" (v.9) It's not that He didn't know where they were, but He wanted them to know his compassionate concern for them.

I couldn't see my friend hiding, but God always sees us and knows us--to Him we're always in plain sight. Just as He pursued Adam and Eve, Jesus sought us out while we were "still sinners" --dying on the cross to demonstrate his love for us (Romans 5:8). We no long need to hide. He is with us always, and reaches out to us to come to Him. ~~

--"Father GOD, thank You for demonstrating Your love and care for me despite the ways I wrong You. Thank you, Lord, that you will never leave me nor forsake me, in Jesus Name."

--ODB/EH