Jesus Is…, 55

~ Jesus Christ Is A Member of The Triune God ~

Introduction  ~  God is unique in that He is simultaneously One God yet three distinct persons—each with a distinct personality.  Some say the word Trinity is not in the Bible.  They are right!  But the concept of the Trinity is clearly throughout the Scriptures and interestingly there are three passages where all three are mentioned.

Passages  ~  “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 [The Father] came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased’” (Matthew 3:16-17).

“And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen” (Matthew 28:18-20).

“Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God [Father] will call’” (Acts 2:38-39).

Significance  ~  Each member of the Trinity has a unique personality.  While all three are fully God they each have a different role.  All three had a role in creation—see a previous “Abundant Life Now” post entitled “Creation—Trinity” published on January 9, 2018.  All the members of the Trinity are also involved in the salvation of an individual—see a previous ALN post entitled “Triune Redemption” published on March 31, 2016. 

Comment  ~  The Christian has the great privilege of fellowshipping with all three members of the Trinity.  See a previous ALN post entitled “Christ—Fellowship” published on May 31, 2015.

additional remark:  For a different look and fuller understanding of the Trinity see chapter 18, entitled “Three Parameters” in the international award-winning book GOD LIGHT: Sunlight Sonlight (find details by clicking on the God Light tab above).

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/ .

Learn From Gideon, 44

~ Commemorate Spiritual Victories ~

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  ~  “Then Gideon said to them, ‘I would like to make a request of you, that each of you would give me the earrings from his plunder.’  For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.  So they answered, ‘We will gladly give them.’  And they spread out a garment, and each man threw into it the earrings from his plunder.  Now the weight of the gold earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels of gold, besides the crescent ornaments, pendants, and purple robes which were on the kings of Midian, and besides the chains that were around their camels’ necks.  Then Gideon made it into an ephod and set it up in his city, Ophrah.  And all Israel played the harlot with it there.  It became a snare to Gideon and to his house” (Judges 8:24-27).

Learn From Gideon  ~  Rejoice when God gives you a victory. 

1. Leaders are responsible for the spiritual welfare of their people.
2. Gideon collected part of the resources from all his men and then he made an ephod—a sacred vestment to commemorate the victory (ephods are also mentioned in Judges 17:5 and 18:14).
3. Note also, that following a spiritual victory they were vulnerable to Satan:  “And all Israel played the harlot with it there.  It became a snare to Gideon and to his house.”  (We will see some of the consequences of this later.)

Challenge For Us  ~  Are you acting responsibly as God’s child in the place He has put you? 

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/ .

Water In John’s Gospel, 3of11

~ John 3 – Nicodemus and “Born Again” ~

Introduction  ~  The Gospel of John contains numerous references to water.  In fact over half (11 of 21) the chapters reference water.  We are looking at these passages in this series.  

Scripture  ~  “There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.  This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, ‘Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.’  Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.’ 

Nicodemus said to Him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old?  Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?’ 

Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Do not marvel that I said to you, “You must be born again.”  The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes.  So is everyone who is born of the Spirit”’” (John 3:1-8).

Notes  ~  1. From John’s point of view, and the context of the Gospel of John, born of water is most likely referring to the act of obedience of baptism.

2. Born of the Spirit in this passage relates to the indwelling Spirit of God in one who has been born again. 

3. Today, in this passage we see both physical birth and spiritual birth. 

Comment  ~  A previous “Abundant Life Now” post  compared “3 Kinds of Sinners” found in John chapters 3, 4, and 5. 

The Key Question  ~  Do you possess the abundance of “living water” which is only available through Jesus Christ. 

~ 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/ .