Salvation, 16

~ Interesting Aspects Of The Blessings Of Salvation ~

Salvation is not a Reward for the Righteous.

It is an available Gift for those who understand their Guilt!

The Promise Of The Blessing (is in Scripture)  ~  “For when God made a promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, ‘Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you’” (Hebrews 6:13-14).   

The Reception Of Blessing (is by faith)  ~  “Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.  And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, ‘In you all the nations shall be blessed.’  So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham” (Galatians 3:7-9).  

The Path Of Blessing (is obedience)  ~  Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).  Jesus also said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.  Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.  Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake” (Matthew 5:3-11).  

The Character Of Blessing (is spiritual)  ~  “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).  

The Outcome Of Blessing (is sanctification)  ~  “To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities” (Acts 3:26). 

The Consummation Of Blessing (is at Christ’s return)  ~  “Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13-14).  Jesus said, ‘And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work’” (Revelation 22:12).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

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

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Learn From Gideon, 52of52

~ Cause And Effect ~

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 have discovered practical lessons for living the Christian life today.  

Summary  ~  God rewards our behavior—good and bad.  From an eternal perspective we are all headed to judgement and hell.  But the Beloved Son of God gave His life as payment for our sins—but forgiveness of an individual’s sins only comes when they accept by faith the reality of Scripture.

“God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:4-10). 

Learn From Gideon  ~  Nations and individuals eventually reap what they sow.

1. There is a general principle which stands out in the life of Gideon: God wants obedience and God is faithful to those who are obedient.
2. We trust God by faith—and in so doing receive salvation by God’s grace.
3. Having trusted God He works in and through us.
4. As God works in us we do good works (not to earn salvation but as a result of salvation). 
5. We reap what we sow.  “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6).  “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.  For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life” (Galatians 6:7-8). 
6. Gideon started out as a spiritual coward but God used him as a mighty warrior.
7. Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote, “He who believes is obedient, and only he who is obedient believes.” 

Challenge For Us  ~  What are you sowing for eternity?  There are no U-Hauls in heaven.  What eternal treasure are you laying up in heaven?

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

NOTE:  We now resume our “Fear God” series after skipping 2018 with a “Learn from Gideon” 52-week series.

~ 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/ .

Two Events

~ Two Critically Significant Times ~

The Fullness of Time (the incarnation)  ~  “Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.  But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.  And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba, Father!’  Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ” (Galatians 4:1-7). 

The Fullness of Times (the millennium)  ~  “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: that in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: in whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his own will: that we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:7-14). 

Comment  ~  The first—the incarnation—is directly connected with Christ’s humiliation.  “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross…” (Philippians 2:5-8).  

The second—the millennium—is directly related to Christ’s glorification.  “…Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11). 

~ 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/ .