Salvation, 18

~ Bad News…  Good News! ~

Salvation is not a Reward for the Righteous.

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

Bad News:  You Have Sinned  ~  “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6a).

Good News:  God Loves You  ~  “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Good News:  You May Be Saved  ~  “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief.  However, for this reason I obtained mercy” (1 Timothy 1:15-16a).  Even the “Chief of Sinners” was saved!

Good News:  You Can Settle It Forever Right Now  ~  “For He says: ‘In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.’  Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Good News:  Believe And Live Forever  ~  “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36).  

Bad News:  Reject And Perish  ~  “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36).  “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). 

Logical Conclusion  ~  “Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.  For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?” (Hebrews 2:1-4).

~ 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/ .

Fear God, 104

~ Those Who Fear God Praise Him ~

God does not want His children living in fear.  “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:2-3).  However, God does want His children to have a proper respect and reverence for Him.  We are told in many places in Scripture to “fear God.”  

This Week’s Passage  ~  “Bless the Lord, O house of Israel!  Bless the Lord, O house of Aaron!  Bless the Lord, O house of Levi!  You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord!  Blessed be the Lord out of Zion, Who dwells in Jerusalem!  Praise the Lord!” (Psalm 135:19-21).

Comment  ~  That natural response of one who understands who God is and the nature of His character is praise.

Fearing God Results in Salvation  ~  “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).  “A wise person fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self-confident” (Proverbs 14:16).  This does not mean the Christian is to live a fearful life—but a life which reverences God and seeks to do His will. 

Fearing God Results in Fearlessness  ~  “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).  The answer is: only God.  With the gift of salvation comes responsibility.

Fearing God Results in Witnessing  ~  “Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul” (Psalm 66:16). 

~ 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/ .

Bible Answer, 56

~ Did You Get It Right? ~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~ bible answer ~~~~

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question:  What was the national musical instrument of the Hebrews in the Old Testament?

answer:  The harp was a well-known musical instrument throughout Asia and it was the national instrument of the Old Testament Hebrews.  According to Moses it appears to have been developed in the antediluvian period.

“Then Lamech took for himself two wives: the name of one was Adah, and the name of the second was Zillah.  And Adah bore Jabal. He was the father of those who dwell in tents and have livestock.  His brother’s name was Jubal.  He was the father of all those who play the harp and flute.  And as for Zillah, she also bore Tubal-Cain, an instructor of every craftsman in bronze and iron.  And the sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah” (Genesis 4:19-22). 

~ 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/ .