Archive for the ‘ Gospel ’ Category
But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
Acts 20:24, ESV
We have been called to faithfulness. It is God’s grace that helps us remain faithful, especially to share the Gospel of grace to this world, even if it costs us our earthly lives. That was the cost for our grace from Jesus.
All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.
Hebrews 12:11, NASB
Many of the difficulties we face in this life come from our own bad decisions, but God uses those difficulties to overcome them and to grow us in Christlikeness. It does not feel pleasant, but like Christ conquering death through His death and resurrection, we see the hope of peace on the other side, the righteousness of Christ that is made ours.
It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
Hebrews 12:7-8, NASB
Many of the problems we face in life come from our own bad decisions, but God uses those situations to help us overcome this world and grow in the likeness of Christ. This discipline should give us hope, knowing that it means we are His children through the blood of Christ.
but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever.’” This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.
Hebrews 7:21-22, ESV
God called us to perfect obedience, but only God is able to make us perfect after our sin. The Old Covenant was based on obeying God’s Law, but the New Covenant is based on Christ’s obedience and love.
Believe in our High Priest who sacrificed Himself for us.
For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.
Hebrews 7:18-19, ESV
God’s Law shows us how sinful we are. God Himself came to us as a human, perfectly obeyed the Law, and then took our place of punishment and became our High Priest. When we believe in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, we are able to draw near to the One who first drew near to us.
This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.
Hebrews 7:15-16, ESV
We were called to legal and moral perfection, but only God is perfect. Christ is our High Priest who paid for our failings a d proved He is God through His resurrection.
Believe and be clothed in His righteousness.
This is a good summer.
A few churches have come together to send youth on a combined Junior High/High School summer camp, July 22-25.
The theme for this camp is “Breakthrough,” overcoming sin that hinders and doubts that slow our walk. I personally have some youth coming who have discussed needing this.
Please join us in praying for true breakthrough for our preteens and teens this coming week!
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:13, ESV
God established His Law to show the impossible expectation of human perfection, that we live in perfect obedience. Then He came to us as Christ, and now we only need believe in His life, death, and resurrection to receive the perfection of Jesus our High Priest.
For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.
Hebrews 7:14, ESV
Only God could save us from our sins and His wrath, and even though Jesus was not necessarily descended from the tribe of priests, He proved He is our High Priest who takes away our sins and saves us from wrath.
For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well.
Hebrews 7:12, ESV
We could never save ourselves from God’s wrath and the sin revealed by His Law. When Jesus was established as our High Priest at His death and resurrection, we who put our faith in Him are no longer under the Law, but we obey out of love for our Lord.
a simple man of God 