“Our Daily Bread”   

http://odb.org/2012/10/29/making-a-difference/

The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie                                  

http://www.harvest.org/devotional/daily-devotions/home.ht

Mark 16:15-16… And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. ¹⁶ He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.”  (NKJV)

In my last days writing, I wrote about Christians…who (as this opening scripture alludes to), have heard, understand, and have obeyed the “gospel” of our Lord Jesus Christ, to “be saved” from eternal damnation by God (“condemned”, from the opening scripture)… The Christian’s first priority, is to glorify God in everything they say and do (1 Corinthians 10:31)…and to give thanks for all things, whether good or bad (Colossians 3:17)…

The Apostle Paul tells the Christian this, in…Romans 1:16… For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.  (NKJV)

The Apostle Paul then goes on to talk about God’s wrath on those who do not believe (who do not obey the gospel of Christ – 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9)…Romans 1:18… For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, (NKJV)

The Apostle Paul goes on a few verses later and tells us this, in…Romans1:21… because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

There are many “Christians” in the world, which believe they know God… They go to church every week to please Him… They do many works in the name of the Lord; believing these works will allow God to forgive them of their sins… Christians are saved by God’s pure grace through saving faith alone in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9)…  I post this eye opening scripture often, because it accurately reveals the warning Jesus gives those around Him (and us)…that it is not works done in the name of the Lord which will forgive sins…

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)

The “truth” God reveals through His Word…and His “will” that Jesus taught throughout His public ministry, was this…Mark 1:14-15… Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, ¹⁵ and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”  (NKJV)

I spent a day a while back, writing on the need to understand and obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in order to fulfill the will of God the Father to become a Christian in God’s eyes… Here is the link for this writing, titled…“God’s Grace through Obedience to the Gospel of Christ”…for those who are led to find out what God tells us is required to have sins forgiven by Him…https://godsmanforever.wordpress.com/2012/10/20/gods-group-thoughts-for-10202012-gods-grace-through-obedience-to-the-gospel-of-christ/

Heavenly Father, I pray that You would draw those in need of Your saving grace to Yourself…John 6:44…so that those who falsely believe they are Christians, will understand directly from Your Word what is required to have their lifetime of sins forgiven by You… I pray Lord that hearts would be regenerated by You; and that lives would be changed forever…in Jesus’ most precious name and for His sake…Amen…

written by bruce r mills