Posts Tagged ‘ Sin ’

Advent 2022 – Day 25: John 3:16-18

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.“

John 3:16-18, ESV

At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.

Jesus came to live amongst us, teaching the truths of God and proving them with miracles, signs, and wonders.

Whether we grow up surrounded by religious teachings or nothing spiritual, it can be difficult to comprehend salvation.

Jesus explained to Nicodemus, and thus to us, that it is pretty simple how to be saved, but we make it oh so difficult.

Yet, God came to us, showing us we saved only by believing in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

If we don’t choose to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, fully God and fully man, who is the God we have all sinned against, that He died for our forgiveness and restoration to Himself, and that He bodily rose back to life, we remain condemned to the wrath of God for our sin.

If we don’t believe all of that, we are in danger of not being saved.

Jesus is full of grace, and He is our only source of hope and forgiveness.

God came to us as a man to save us by taking our punishment on Himself, and we must believe this to be saved.

It is not difficult to understand, but we don’t want to admit our faults or that it can be so easy to be saved yet difficult to live by God’s standard.

May we seek the Lord who has saved us from wrath and given us the path to eternal life.

2022
12/21
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VerseD: Isaiah 9:2

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

Isaiah 9:2, ESV

We all walk in the darkness of sin, unable to break through. God came to us in the Person of Jesus, the source of light breaking through our darkness.

By this light we are saved from sin.

2022
12/20
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Advent 2022 – Day 23: John 3:5

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

John 3:5, ESV

At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.

Jesus came to live amongst us, teaching the truths of God and proving them with miracles, signs, and wonders.

Even the religious elite could see it, but they could not understand without help.

If the most religious and smartest could not understand the ways of God, what hope could the rest of us have?

Yet, God came to us, showing us how to understand how we are saved.

What does Jesus tell us about salvation?

Born of water: baptism does play a role, but this also tells us that only humans can be saved. (Fallen angels cannot be saved.)

Born of the Spirit: only those who believe and receive the Holy Spirit can be saved. (John 16:7-15)

This is difficult to comprehend, but only by trusting the Holy Spirit and the truth of the gospel of Christ can we inherit eternal life in Christ.

Jesus came to bring us life free from sin and in eternity with Him.

Christ has come, and we must seek the wisdom of His Holy Spirit and forgiveness of sins. (James 1:5; 1 John 1:9)

May we seek the Lord who has offered us His Holy Spirit, salvation, and eternal life.

2022
12/19
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Advent 2022 – Day 21: Matthew 2:22-23

But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee. And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.

Matthew 2:22-23, ESV

At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.

Jesus came to live amongst us, bringing danger to His earthly family.

Though one danger may pass, it does not mean all danger is gone.

We still see that God protects His own.

The one who tried to kill fellow image-bearers in an attempt to destroy God had died, but his just as twisted son took his place.

God once again sent a dream to Joseph to protect this family. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph were still not completely safe, but in this moment we can see that God keeps His promises.

God was not surprised by any of the events surrounding the birth and early childhood of Jesus. In fact, He had it prophesied centuries earlier.

There were still those who would hurt the young Jesus and God’s faithful servants.

Yet, God came to us, showing His omniscience and omnipotence, that He knew it would all happen but that He would stop our enslavement to sin and rebellion.

This world may not be safe, and we also know that this world is not our home, but we can rely on the promises and prophecies of God.

Again, Christ has shown us how to live and trust and love in the midst of danger.

May we seek the Lord who has saved us from sin and shown us His power over time, death, and evil.

2022
12/17
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Advent 2022 – Day 15: Matthew 2:1-2

Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Matthew 2:1-2, ESV

At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.

Our sins have stacked up to heaven, deeper and more vile than we could know.

But God was not willing to leave us mired in our sin.

God came to us, born as an infant, weak, physically powerless, yet without sin.

And wise men came to see this miracle, to give honor and gifts.

Most people miss that our Lord has come to be with us as one of us.

We often still ignore Him.

Yet, God came to us, showing us that even in our ignorance He comes after us.

We may not have much to offer but our sin, and maybe we have great wealth and/or skills to give, but only the wisest seek God who has come.

May we seek the Lord who grants wisdom to the lowly and grace to the humble.

2022
12/11
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Advent 2022 – Day 14: Isaiah 40:21-22

Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in

Isaiah 40:21-22, ESV

At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.

Our sins have stacked up to heaven, deeper and more vile than we could know.

We think that our sin will go unnoticed by God, that there isn’t really anything He can do against us.

We think that God is impotent, powerless, and unable to hold us accountable for our sin. This is evidenced in the way we live, how we talk, what we do, ignoring His ways, saying “He’ll forgive me” or “I can do what I want.”

But this is the God who can create everything from nothing, hold everything together and within His hands, and stretches out the univers with those same hands.

Yes, we are basically nothing compared to Him, but God intimately knows every part of His Creation, from the farthest flung stars to our innermost thoughts.

He knows how the cosmos work, and He knows our every sin, our every rebellion against Him.

Yet, God came to us, showing usthat He is a personal and loving Creator, becoming like one of us to show His might over even our rebellion and sin.

We therefore prepare ourselves by admitting we don’t understand as much as we think we do, turning to our Creator and Savior who became our example and demonstrated His vast power over our own vast stubbornness.

May we seek the Lord who has no reason to consider us, yet He still lavishes His love and grace on and in us.

2022
12/10
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Advent 2022 – Day 12: Isaiah 40:13-14

Who has measured the Spirit of the Lord, or what man shows him his counsel? Whom did he consult, and who made him understand? Who taught him the path of justice, and taught him knowledge, and showed him the way of understanding?

Isaiah 40:13-14, ESV

At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.

Our sins have stacked up to heaven, deeper and more vile than we could know.

Sin is rebellion against the character of God.

And we think we can tell God what is good? What justice and goodness are? That we know better what God’s character and will are?

Who do we think we are? Why do we think we understand God’s creation and character better than He does when He has revealed it through HisbWord by His prophets and apostles?

And this is what the prophets, including John the Baptist, were telling us.

“Repent! Stop your foolish thinking, and turn from your sin! The kingdom of God is at hand, and you think you can judge your Creator? Prepare for His coming, now!”

But we still try to justify our sin, correct God on His justice, and fix His revelation.

Yet, God came to us, showing us the depth of our misunderstanding of sin, revealing His character in person, and taking on Himself the justice we deserved.

We therefore prepare ourselves by admitting we don’t understand as much as we think we do, turning to the Word and trusting the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth of Christ to us.

May we seek the Lord who took on the just punishment we deserved, preparing ourselves by seeking His revelation.

2022
12/08
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Advent 2022 – Day 10: Isaiah 40:6-8

A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

Isaiah 40:6-8, ESV

At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.

Our sins have stacked up to heaven, deeper and more vile than we could know.

Sin is the act of willfully separating from God, putting something between God and ourselves, weakening ourselves from the inside out as we cut ourselves off from the source of life.

And God will let us have what we want. (Romans 1:20-32)

Therefore, we internally die continually, and the only hope is a long life to stave off the eternal death and suffering.

All because we choose our sin over God and His Word.

Yet, God came to us, breathing out His Word and His Spirit to give us new life through His death and resurrection.

We therefore prepare ourselves by investigating His eternal Word through reading the Scriptures and trusting in the Son.

We may still suffer in this world, but we have the hope of eternal life in New bodies with our Lord forever.

May we seek the Lord who gives us life, preparing ourselves by seeking His Word.

2022
12/06
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Advent 2022 – Day 9: Isaiah 40:3-4

A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.

Isaiah 40:3-4, ESV

At Advent, we look back at why Jesus had to come, that He came, and then that He will come again.

Our sins have stacked up to heaven, deeper and more vile than we could know.

The sin we all commit and have committed have left rocks in our path that we trip over, created potholes that we stumble in, and knocked down debris that block our way and push us to different paths.

The Prophets of old worked to prepare people for God.

John was born to begin preparing hearts for the coming Messiah, claiming he was the fulfillment of this passage. (Matthew 3:1-3; Luke 3:1-5)

The Baptizer called us to repent, to change our thinking and actions, to prepare for our Savior.

We still struggle to be clean and clear, to obey and love.

Yet, God came to us, He comforts our souls and does the initial work of removing those rocks, filling the potholes, and moving debris from our way.

We can prepare ourselves by seeking our Creator and Savior who is capable of leveling out our lives, knowing that only in Him is it completely possible.

We will still stumble and deal with consequences for our sins, but the way is made easier in Christ.

May we seek the Lord who helps us, preparing ourselves by seeking His path.

2022
12/05
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VerseD: John 8:12

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12, ESV

Our world is shadowed in the darkness of sin and rebellion, but our Light and Lord has come to us.

Turn to Jesus, our source of life.

2022
12/04
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