Jesus Is…, 29

~ Jesus Christ Is Full of Truth ~

Passage  ~  “And the Word [Jesus Christ] became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:8). 

Significance  ~  “Grace and Truth” is a fascinating pairing. 

Grace and TRUTH:  Emphasis on Truth without equal emphasis on Grace would condemn us for who we are and what we have done—it would condemn us eternally. 

GRACE and Truth:  Emphasis on Grace without equal emphasis on Truth would condemn us to remain who we are—it would also condemn us eternally. 

Grace AND Truth:  This is the necessary and correct balance! 

Comment  ~  Jesus Christ is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6).  One of my favorite definitions of Grace is the acrostic:  God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.  This is a great summary of The Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Grace is receiving something good which is undeserved—theologians often describe grace as “unmerited favor.”

the key question:  “Who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15).  This is the most important question you will ever answer.  If you do not answer it, or answer it incorrectly, you have made the biggest mistake anyone can make!

~ 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/ .

Fact Check, 51

~ Same God ~

Bible Quotation?  ~  “We all worship the same God.”

The Bible Says  ~  “Therefore know this day, and consider it in your heart, that the Lord Himself is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other.  You shall therefore keep His statutes and His commandments which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which the Lord your God is giving you for all time” (Deuteronomy 4:39-40).

“Jesus answered them, ‘I told you, and you do not believe.  The works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me.  But you do not believe, because you are not of My sheep, as I said to you.  My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.  And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand.  I and My Father are One’” (John 10:25-30).

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14:6).

“Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.  This is the “stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.”  Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved’” (Acts 4:8-12).

The Significance  ~  There is only one God and only one way to heaven.  Period!  This means that you cannot reach heaven through Buddha, Joseph Smith, Muhammad, or any other human being. 

~ 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/ .

Learn From Gideon, 15

~ God Sent An Angel To Minister and Guide Gideon ~

The Biblical account of the life of Gideon provides for one of the most interesting character studies in all of Scripture.  In this series we will discover practical lessons for living the Christian life today.  

Scripture  ~  “So Gideon went in and prepared a young goat, and unleavened bread from an ephah of flour.  The meat he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot; and he brought them out to Him under the terebinth tree and presented them.  The Angel of God said to him, ‘Take the meat and the unleavened bread and lay them on this rock, and pour out the broth.’  And he did so.  Then the Angel of the Lord put out the end of the staff that was in His hand, and touched the meat and the unleavened bread; and fire rose out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread.  And the Angel of the Lord departed out of his sight.  Now Gideon perceived that He was the Angel of the Lord.  So Gideon said, ‘Alas, O Lord God!  For I have seen the Angel of the Lord face to face’” (Judges 6:19-22).

Learn From Gideon  ~  God is over all of creation, including both angels, and mankind.  If God calls you He will provide what you need for the job He has given you. 

1. In the Old Testament angels sometimes appeared to God’s people. 
2. In this event an angel came and ministered to Gideon.
3. Today, when God sends angels we are usually unaware of God’s provision and protection.  “Let brotherly love continue.  Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels” (Hebrews 13:1-2).

concluding comment  ~  We learn about Gideon primarily from Judges 6-8, but also Isaiah 9:1-7, and Hebrews 11:1-3, 32-34.

~ 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/ .