Triune Redemption

~ The Work Of The Trinity In Our Redemption ~

Redemption By Blood (the work of the Son)  ~  “Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, ‘Be holy, for I am holy.’  And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:13-19). 

Redemption By Power (the work of the Father)  ~  “You were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.  He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God [the Father], who raised Him [the Son of God] from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God” (1 Peter 1:18-21).  

Redemption Through The Word (the work of the Holy Spirit)  ~  “God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.  Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the Word of God which lives and abides forever, because ‘All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.  The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.’  Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you” (1 Peter 1:21b-25). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Apostle Paul, 1of7

~ Consider 4 Aspects of the Apostle Paul’s Spiritual Growth ~

Paul’s Conversion (a complete change of direction)  ~  “I [Saul, later Paul] persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.  Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me.  And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’  So I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?'  And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’  And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me.  So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’  And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.’  And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.  Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’  And at that same hour I looked up at him” (Acts 22:3-13, also see Acts 9:3-6 and 26:12-18).

Paul’s Confession (chief of sinners)  ~  “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.  However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life” (1 Timothy 1:15-16).  “Indeed, I myself thought I must do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.  This I also did in Jerusalem, and many of the saints I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them.  And I punished them often in every synagogue and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities” (Acts 26:9-11). 

Paul’s Persuasion (I am persuaded)  ~  “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-39).

Paul’s Determination (I determined)  ~  “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).  

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

The Gospel in Genesis

~ 4 Individuals Show The WAY ~ 

In Scripture there are many “types” or “foreshadows” of things to come. Some are much clearer than others. A great many of these are pictures of the coming Messiah, some present the Good News of the Messiah, and there are others.

The last 39 chapters of the book of Genesis, covering about four centuries, primarily contain a record of the lives of four men following the great flood. Each illustrates a critical component of the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Abram  ~  Abram was called apart from God to be the Father of the nation of Israel. Abram represents God’s great grace in God’s program of divine redemption. We read the account of Abraham in Genesis 12-50. Like Abraham all Christians are called apart for God’s specific purposes in their lives.

Isaac (Abram’s son) ~  In Isaac we see selective calling (election, predestination), of God to an individual.  Isaac’s story is found in Genesis 24-26.

side note:  Do I fully understand the interaction of God’s “election” of individuals and the “free will of man.” No! Many past Christian leaders have also acknowledged this lack of comprehension. One of my favorite quotes is by C. I. Scofied: “In all the Christian centuries men have endeavored to account, philosophically, for the apparent paradox of God’s sovereign election and man’s free will, but none have ever succeeded. Both are wholly true, but the connecting and reconciling truth has not been revealed.”

Jacob (Abram’s grandson)  ~  In the life of Jacob in addition to grace we clearly see justification by faith. Jacob’s story is found in Genesis 27-36.

Joseph (Abram’s great grandson)  ~  In Joseph we clearly see a picture of ultimate glorification. Joseph’s story is found in Genesis 37-50.

side note:  Joseph’s life is also one of the clearest “types” of the coming Messiah—Jesus Christ. It is fascinating to study the parallels between their lives.

summary:  In the lives of these four individuals we see the progressive steps of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Abram’s story we have picture of the separation or calling to God—which is strictly by God’s grace and grace alone. Isaac provides a picture of election or predestination by God of His children—who He knew “before the foundations of the world” would become His children. In Jacob we see that justification is by faith and faith alone—the individual’s part. Finally, in Joseph we have a picture of the ultimate glorification of God’s people which is yet future—the Christian’s future is known and secure. 

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified” (Romans 8:28-30). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .