Posts Tagged ‘ Gospel ’

A Faith Old Enough to Count in Decades

Many years on this blog I mark a very important date in my own life: January 9. And not just because it is my wonderful mother-in-law’s birthday.

Two of my more favorite passages from the Bible are these:

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
James 4:7‭-‬8, ESV

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.
Psalm 90:12, ESV

What wisdom do we gain by considering our lives and drawing near to God?

Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3, ESV

So, every January 9, I celebrate my Re-Birthday, the day I was born again by faith in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

And on January 9, 2020, (specifically, at 6:47 pm CST), I am celebrating 20 years as a Christian.

And I think people should celebrate their salvation much more than we do, to show the world the joy of the world to bring others to glorify the Lord.

Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord, exulting in his salvation.
Psalm 35:9, ESV

But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the Lord!”

Psalms 40:16 ESV

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
Jude 1:3, ESV

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 5:16, ESV

How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Romans 10:14‭, ‬17, ESV

VerseD: Matthew 5:6

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”
Matthew 5:6, ESV

Those who truly want righteousness and justice find their full satisfaction in Jesus Christ alone.

VerseD: James 4:8

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
James 4:8, ESV

God is always near (omnipresent). Yet, we are more aware when we diligently seek His face through Bible reading, prayer, and fellowship with other Christians.

And only by Him are we made clean and can we think rightly.

VerseD: 2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV

In Christ alone are our sins removed and forgiven, and we are reconciled with God, free of shame and guilt and fear. Let us then go out and help reconcile a fallen world to God, to be made new and whole.

VerseD: John 1:12

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
John 1:12, ESV

We may all be made in God’s image, but we are not all His children.

We become children of God by believing that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God who takes away the sins of the world.

VerseD: Colossians 1:16

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
Colossians 1:16 ESV

Our Creator – through and by whom literally all things were made, including angelic beings and us – came to us as one of us, for we were made for Him. He desires communion with us, His creatures made in His image.

VerseD: Psalm 8:3-4

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?
Psalm 8:3‭-‬4, ESV

The God who created the Moon, stars, and galaxies and keeps them spinning and moving …

Not only created us but became one of us to save us from our sins.

VerseD: John 1:9-10

The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.
John 1:9‭-‬10, ESV

The Light has come.

Let us make Him known to this dark world.

VerseD: Matthew 1:21

“She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:21, ESV

Joseph and Mary were willing servants of God to bring the Savior into the world.

Likewise, we carry Christ to this world to show the world their need for the One who has removed their sins by His sacrifice.

VerseD: Luke 2:14

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Luke 2:14, ESV

Christ did come to bring peace, but only to those with whom He is pleased.

How do we please God?

By being found in Christ through faith.