“Our Daily Bread”
http://odb.org/2012/11/29/a-life-of-honor/
The Daily Devotions of Greg Laurie
http://www.harvest.org/devotional/daily-devotions/home.ht
Galatians 4:9… But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? (NKJV)
My Bible’s introduction to the Book of Galatians, has John MacArthur (the author) stating that the Apostle Paul’s Epistle to the Galatians, was written to the people of the churches in southern Galatia… They were being exposed to the heretical teaching of judaizing false teachers; and this shocked the Apostle Paul, because of how quickly they were turning from the New Testament teaching; to a different perverted gospel (Galatians 1:6-7)… The Apostle Paul was warning them of the dire consequences of abandoning the doctrine that Paul taught of justification by faith alone in Jesus Christ…
Unredeemed sinners can not know God, in the intimate way that is required by understanding and obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ; in order to be forgiven of their sins… The Apostle Paul writes this, in…Galatians 4:8… But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods. (NKJV)
Unredeemed sinners are blinded by Satan (the god of this world), to the truth of how God forgives sins… The Apostle Paul reveals this, in…2 Colossians 4:3-4… But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. (NKJV)
It is explicitly stated by Jesus Himself, and other New Testament writers, that a sinner must repent of and turn from their sins, and believe in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, in order to become a Christian…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)
The opening scripture holds the key to today’s writing… I hear it said all the time, that someone has accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, after understand and obeying the gospel of Christ… But it is God that sees the heart (1 Samuel 16:7) of an unredeemed sinning person, that has truly repented of their sins and sought His Son Jesus Christ; and is now redeemed by God as one of His children… But it is God that must first draw the sinner to Himself, before they are capable of realizing on their own, that they are unredeemed sinners in need of a Savior…
Jesus tells us this, in…John 6:44… No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. (NKJV) …It is God that gives us the saving faith to believe; and by God’s gift of grace through saving faith alone in Jesus Christ, God saves us…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)
God first chooses us…we don’t choose Him…John 15:16… You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. (NKJV)
The mystery of salvation, with the exact sequence and timing of a sinner’s repentance; and God’s forgiveness of sins in order to become a Christian in God’s eyes…is a mystery that many of us (including myself), don’t quite understand… I am reminded of an 8 minute video I saw of John MacArthur, the author of my study Bible (NKJV), and over 80 books… He reveals that he doesn’t even know how his own spiritual life works; at about the 2:50 minute mark from the video found in the following link… http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=4mleum3jZ1E
My writing today is based on my own understanding of the scriptures, and on my personal testimony of salvation; God’s gift of grace resulting from the 15 month’s of preaching and teaching by Pastor Ken Campbell from CBC church… Pastor Ken has since gone home to be with the Lord… But he was indeed one of the finest men I have ever known…
The Apostle Paul writes about those who God do not know as His child, because they have not obeyed the gospel of Christ…in this eye opening scripture…2 Thessalonians 1:8-9… in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, (NKJV)
I spent a day writing about how a sinner receives God’s grace, through obeying the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ… Here is the link for those drawn to learning more about being forgiven by God, His way…
Heavenly Father, I pray that You draw those You don’t now know as Your redeemed children, to Yourself (John 6:44)… I pray that You regenerate hardened hearts, and fill them with the love of Christ; as their lifetime of sins are forgiven… I pray that You use this truth found from Your Word today, to cut right to the very soul and spirit of those in need (Hebrews 4:12-13)… I pray for Your divine intervention for those You don’t know as Your child, in Jesus’ most precious name and for His sake…Amen…
written by bruce r mills
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