“Our Daily Bread”   

http://odb.org/2012/08/02/take-notice/

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie                                  http://www.harvest.org/devotional/daily-devotions/home.ht

Titus 2:11-12… For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, ¹² teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, (NKJV)

Christian’s are graced by God with salvation…  We are all sinners from birth; and there is nothing we as sinners can possibly do on our own, to have our sins forgiven (Romans 6:23)…  Scripture reveals that God’s grace is a free gift, and not about the works we have done in the name of the Lord…Ephesians 2:8-9… For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast.  (NKJV)

All of our self-righteous works done in the name of the Lord (like going to church every week), do nothing to forgive us of our sins… The prophet Isaiah expresses this in a profound way, by comparing all of our self-righteousness to filthy rags, in…Isaiah 64:6… But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.  (NKJV)

The only way to heaven is through Jesus Christ…John 14:6… Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.  (NKJV)

The blood Jesus shed on the cross at Calvary is what will cleanse us of our lifetime of sins… And the only way to allow Christ’s blood to cleanse us of our sins, is if we understand and obey the gospel of Jesus Christ…  We must turn from our sinful way of life…repent and turn from our sins…and through faith alone in Jesus Christ…seek Jesus Christ to become our personal Lord, our Master, and our Savior…

There is no other way to be graced with salvation… The apostle Paul explains what will happen to those who fail to obey  the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, in this eye opening scripture…2 Thessalonians 1:8-9… in flaming firetaking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NKJV)

There is one more eye opening piece of scripture, spoken by Jesus Himself…as He warns us that God will not recognize anyone to be a Christian, who falsely believes their self-righteous works will forgive their sins; and that they will be turned away from heaven when they die, when it will be too late to seek Christ…

Matthew 7:21-23… “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. ²² Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ ²³ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ ” (NKJV)

Only those that do God’s will (which is to obey the gospel of Jesus Christ)…will be allowed to “enter the kingdom of heaven”… Works that are done for the Lord, like going to church every week…tithing 10% of your gross pay…even being baptized as an infant…will not forgive sins… These false beliefs are not found in the Bible… God’s Word is what needs to be understood…not rules, laws, and regulations handed down by man, through churches that do not preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ for salvation…

God’s Word is capable of cutting right to the heart and soul of a sinning, un-repentant person…Hebrews 4:12-13… For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. ¹³ And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.  (NKJV)

Heavenly Father, I pray that You draw those readers who You do not yet know as Your children, to Yourself (John 6:44)…  I pray Father, that You would open their eyes to the truth found in Your Word today… I pray Father, that those who have not yet obeyed the gospel of Your Son Jesus Christ…would not be able to rest easy, until they speak to someone, or read for themselves from Your Word…what this necessary act of obedience is all about… And Father; I pray that Your children would use today’s writing, to boldly share the gospel of Jesus Christ to their family, their friends, their neighbors, and their co-workers – without shame (Romans 1:16)…  And lastly Father, I pray that today’s writing will bring honor and glory to the Lord; for it is in Jesus’ most precious name and for His sake that I pray…Amen…

written by bruce r mills

P.S.  The gospel of Christ is presented in the writing below, to plant the seed toward salvation for those who want to become part of God’s family; to be sure they are righteous in God’s eyes, and filled with the awesome power Holy Spirit…