Christian Action, 7of39

~ Do Not Be Proud ~

Series Note  ~  In just the single chapter of Romans 12 the Apostle Paul gave believers a list of 39 things which are part of the Christian life which pleases God.  This chapter is crying out saying, “If you name Jesus Christ as your Savior then please act like a Christian!”  It is Paul’s “To Do List” for us.  The key principle is that while you and I cannot change God’s character (who He really is) we have the clear potential to damage His reputation (what others think He is). 

Scripture to Meditate On  ~  “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.  For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.  Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us” (Romans 13:3-6a).

Comment  ~  Since God, Himself, has distributed natural talents and spiritual gifts to the individual members of His body where is the logic of any pride?

Related Passages  ~  “These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look [the very first on the list], a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren” (Proverbs 6:16-19).  While I don’t have room to develop the concept here I believe that all seven of these sins, in fact all sins, have a root in pride. 

~ 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/ .

Christ in the Bible

~ Jesus Christ Is Revealed in Every Book of The Bible ~

Old Testament  ~  Salvation was available under the Old Testament Scriptures.  The Apostle Paul clearly states that the Scriptures “are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:15).  And how was it available?  “Through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”  Moses, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Elijah, Daniel, David and others who are promised eternal life elsewhere in the Scriptures received salvation the same way we do—through faith in Jesus Christ, through faith and belief in a promised Messiah who would redeem them from their sins. 

The Messiah Himself said, “‘How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!  Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter His glory?’  And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself” (Luke 24:25-27).

New Testament  ~   The New Testament is a historical account of the life of the Son of God while He was on earth and of the activities (including) problems, of the early church.  The grand subject is Jesus Christ—God manifested in the flesh walking among mankind on the earth.  Like the prior Scriptures it is about how man can be in a right relationship with his/her Creator. 

Jesus said, “It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’  Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me.  Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He who is from God; He has seen the Father.  Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.  I am the bread of life.  Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead.  This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die.  I am the living bread which came down from heaven.  If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world” (John 6:45-51). 

Conclusion  ~  The entire Bible is all about Jesus Christ—The Messiah. 

Summary  ~  All things come together in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  Those who accept His free gift of salvation (based on His finished work—realizing there is nothing they can do to add to His work) will be with Him forever and ever!

The Bottom Line  ~  Christ Jesus—the only One who ever lived a perfect sinless life—is the only possible provision for paying the price of our sins.  Jesus Christ, the Son of God, became the Son of Man so that the sons of men could become sons of God.

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, 67

~ Education Is The Solution ~

People Think  ~  “Education will solve the problem.”  This is the philosophy of many political leaders.  They believe that more money and more education will solve the ills that dominate much of our society. 

The Bible Says  ~  There is no denying that education can, and should be, good.  But there is a big difference between knowledge and wisdom (applied knowledge).  “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?  Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness.  If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?’” (John 3:10-13).  General knowledge is one kind of learning and spiritual insight is an entirely different matter.

“Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God, and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law.  You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself?  You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal?  You who say, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ do you commit adultery?  You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?  You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law?  For ‘the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,’ as it is written” (Romans 2:17-24).

The Significance  ~  We have a clear example of education not leading to morality—let alone salvation—in the life of the Apostle Paul.  He was one of the most highly educated persons of his day as he went around persecuting the followers of Jesus Christ.  It was only later that he gained salvation and spiritual sight enabling him to be mightily used by God for His kingdom.  

Comment  ~  The most civilized of societies—those with the most affluence and education—often have the biggest problems.  Problems such as crime and domestic violence and the breakdown of social norms. 

It is interesting to note that generally the higher the density of the population the worse the problems.  For example in rural America the farm communities have low crime, lower domestic problems than in the more affluent and educated big cities.

~ 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/ .