New Creation

~ Your New Life In Jesus Christ ~

According to the Word of God a person who has accepted Jesus Christ as personal Savior is a new creation—not a remake of their old sinful self. They are literally born again spiritually. They now have both a natural life from natural birth and a spiritual life from spiritual birth. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17, emphasis added).

New Birth (their new creation’s entrance)  ~  “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God’” (John 3:3).

New Person (their new creation’s characteristic)  ~  “You have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him” (Colossians 3:9b-10).   

New Life (their new creation’s walk)  ~  “We were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4).  

New Song (their new creation’s song)  ~  “He has put a new song in my mouth—Praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord” (Psalm 40:3).  

New Path (their new creation’s route)  ~  “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:19-11).

New Destination (their new creation’s fulfillment)  ~  “Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’ Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful’” (Revelation 21:2-5). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Quote: Jim Elliot, 3

~ Sin’s Effects ~

Do you understand what sin does to your spirit, body, and soul?

The following is an excerpt from a book.

“Well, what does sin do to your spirit? Just as sin is a cancer in the body, so it is corrosion to the soul, and to the spirit it is a callus. Sin makes us callous. Sin solidifies our attitudes.”

~ from “JIM ELLIOT: A Christian Martyr Speaks to You” edited by Robert Lloyd Russell, pg 25 (ISBN: 9781615797646)

Learn more about this important book at Amazon, the Publisher, or the Author’s website. 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Messiah, 41

~ Messiah Would Be God’s Son, 3 ~

“Search the Scriptures—they testify of Me.”

— Jesus Christ (John 5:39)

The Scripture

“‘I have installed My King on Zion, My holy hill.’ I will proclaim the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son; today I have become Your Father. Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession. You will rule them with an iron scepter; You will dash them to pieces like pottery’” (Psalm 2:6-9).

The Messiah  

“When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’” (Matthew 3:16-17). 

~~~ EXPLANATORY “MESSIAH” NOTES ~~~   

(1)  Each Saturday ALN posts an example of a Hebrew Scriptures prophecy (or foreshadowing) related to the coming Messiah which was fulfilled in the birth, life, death, or resurrection of Jesus Christ.

(2)  While extensive it will not be a complete list—there are hundreds of prophecies of the coming Messiah which have been fulfilled by one man—Jesus Christ at His First Coming.

(3)  It is important that there are many more prophecies of the Messiah, yet unfulfilled, which Christians believe will be fulfilled at the time of His Second Coming.  A particularly relevant Scripture verse in this regard is: “Do not despise prophesies” (1 Thessalonians 5:20).

(4)  These posts will typically consist only of Scripture—which speaks for itself.  Sometimes italicized or bold font will be used by ALN for emphasis.

(5)  The numbering of these fulfilled prophecies of the Messiah is used to differentiate individual posts. It is not chronological (either by time of the prophecy or by sequence in the life of the Messiah).  The posting sequence will, for the most part, be in the order that the prophecies appear in Scripture.

(6)  Because of the chosen methodology (#5 above) we will find many specific prophecies repeated multiple times throughout the Scriptures.

(7)  These serial posts are in addition to our regular Tuesday ALN postings on random topics.

(8)  Subscription to ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog is simple—just use the link on the left sidebar.  Once subscribed you will not miss future posts.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

Second Coming Alphabet

 ~ The ABCs of Christ’s Second Coming to Earth ~

Abide in Christ until His return  ~  1 John 2:28

Blameless in daily living is our goal until His return  ~  1 Thessalonians 5:23; 1 Corinthians 1:8; 2 Peter 3:14; Jude 24  

Comfort those in bereavement because of His return  ~  1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Deliverance to the groaning creation at His return  ~  Romans 8:19-21

Encourage one another to endure until He returns  ~  2 Thessalonians 1:4-8

Faithful in Christian service until He returns  ~  1 Corinthians 2:2-5

Glad countenance because of salvation until He returns  ~  1 Peter 4:13

Holy living in light of His return  ~  1 Thessalonians 5:23; 1 John 3:2-3

Immortal and incorruptible because of His return  ~  1 Corinthians 15:50-54

Just dealings in light of His return  ~  1 Thessalonians 2:10-12; Titus 2:11-13

Keep the confession of our faith while waiting for His return  ~  Hebrews 10:23

Likeness to Christ increases as we wait for His return  ~  1 John 2:3

Manifested glory with Christ at His return  ~  Colossians 3:4

Nearness of completed salvation as we approach His return  ~  Romans 13:11

Occupy in Christ’s service until He returns  ~  Luke 19:13

Patience until our Lord returns  ~  Hebrews 10:36-37; James 5:7

Quietness of spirit until our Lord returns  ~  1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Isaiah 26:3

Redemption of our body at His return  ~  Romans 8:23  

Stimulus to Christian service while waiting for His return  ~  2 Timothy 4:1-2

Threefold work of Christ enabled His return  ~  Hebrews 9:24-28

Until the Scripture is fulfilled when Christ returns  ~  Luke 19:13; Acts 3:21; Romans 11:25; 1 Corinthians 4:5, 11:26; Philippians 1:6; Revelation 2:25

Vigilance commanded by Christ until His return  ~  Mark 13:33-37

Waiting for His return  ~  1 Thessalonians 1:10; Philippians 3:20; Hebrews 9:28

‘Xcellent glory at His return  ~  2 Peter 1:16-17

Yielded in light of the fact of His return  ~  Philippians 4:5

Zeal should characterize our living as we wait for His return  ~  2 Peter 3:11-12

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW