Jesus Came To…, 2

~ Jesus Christ Came To Show The Way To God ~

Passage  ~  “Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?’  Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14:5-6).

Significance  ~  There is only one way to heaven. 

Comment  ~  All religions include the aspect of the religious person earning their way—all based on some form of DO.  On the other hand, Christianity, rather than a religion is a relationship with Jesus Christ Himself—by confessing our unworthiness and accepting His finished work on the Cross on our behalf.  In other words Christianity is based on what was DONE when Christ paid the penalty of our sins.  The new relationship that a believer gains with the Son of God also includes an intimate relationship with the other two members of the Trinity: God the Father, and the Spirit 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/ .

Is That In The Bible? 19

~ God Helps Those Who Help Themselves ~

Many concepts are in the Bible—even though the exact wording is not.  The root idea here is individual responsibility.  This is found from the early pages of Scripture and throughout.  For example, consider the statement: “Now the Lord had said to Abram: ‘Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you.  I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed’” (Genesis 12:1-3).  Yes, this concept is in the Bible! 

Scripture  ~  “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14-15). 

Comment  ~  Popular saying, “Pull yourselves up by your bootstraps.”  Have you ever tried (physically) to do that?  You would look silly trying to do that!  What is required is to recognize two sides of the same coin: you have absolute dependence upon God and at the same time you have an absolute responsibility before God.

Quote  ~  “With a proper understanding of our dependence upon God, we will realize that we are dependent for everything including our next breath.  We are dependent upon the Spirit of God for absolutely everything in life.  At the same time, responsibility before God is also critical.  The concept of responsibility allows no room for excuses or justification.  Even in the secular world where one can delegate activities, you maintain full responsibility for the results.  We may ignore what we are responsible for, but that does not change our accountability.”  ~ “Thy Will Be Done On Earth: Understanding God’s Will For You”; Robert Lloyd Russell, pages 20-21.

~ 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, 128

~ The Fear of God Brings Riches ~

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  ~  “A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished.  By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life.  Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; he who guards his soul will be far from them” (Proverbs 22:3-5). 

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/ .