Jesus Came To…, 9

~ Jesus Christ Came To Testify To The Truth  ~

Passage  ~  “Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, ‘Are You the King of the Jews?’  Jesus answered him, ‘Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?’  Pilate answered, ‘Am I a Jew?  Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me.  What have You done?’  Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world.  If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.’  Pilate therefore said to Him, ‘Are You a king then?’  Jesus answered, ‘You say rightly that I am a king.  For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.  Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.’  Pilate said to Him, ‘What is truth?’  And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, ‘I find no fault in Him at all’” (John 18:33-38).

Significance  ~  Jesus not only came to present truth He is the truth!  “Jesus said to him [Thomas], ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me’ (John 14:6).

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/ .

Myth, 10

~ You Are Experiencing Problems Because of Your Sin ~

Introduction  ~  Many Christians believe and some leaders teach that Christian life is just one happy paradise on earth.  The Bible clearly teaches something else.  Others believe and some leaders teach that troubles in the Christian life are the direct result of sin in that person’s life.  Again the Bible does not teach that. 

Key Passages  ~  “You may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45).  This verse alone clearly refutes both those beliefs outlined in our Introduction! 

But wait, there’s more!  Jesus told His followers:  “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33b).  We can see that life’s problems come to both the believer and the unbeliever.  In fact, Christ assures His followers that they will have problems—but because of their faith they can be calm! 

Consider the Book of Job in the Old Testament which makes it clear that the tremendous suffering that Job experienced was not due to his sin. 

Consider also the New Testament account of the storm rising on the Sea of Galilee and the perplexed disciples—the presence of Christ did not keep the storm away (Matthew 8:23-27).

The Reality  ~  Storms will arise in the life of the Christian even if they are doing exactly what God wants them to do!

Application  ~  Learn to trust your Lord so strongly that when you are perplexed by the difficulties of life you run to His arms instead of away from Him.  “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.  Trust in the Lord forever, for in the Lord, is everlasting strength” (Isaiah 26:3-4).  Where are you today? Are you fully prepared for the difficulties of life?  When difficulties arrive will you maintain the perfect peace which only comes from God?  Is your trust so strong that when you are scared you have peace because you know your heavenly Father will take care of you? 

~ 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, 135

~ King Solomon Tells Us To Fear God ~

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  ~  “Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error.  Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands?  For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity.  But fear God” (Ecclesiastes 5:6-7). 

Comment  ~  King Solomon, widely regarded as the wisest man to ever live, is telling us that to fear God is the smart thing to do.

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/ .