Called by God, 1

 ~ The Universal Call To Salvation ~

 

Series Note  ~  In this set of postings we will look at the calling of God from three aspects.  First there is the Universal Call to all mankind for salvation.  Second there is the call that all Christians receive—the Obedience Call.  Finally, there is a call which all Christians receive, but sadly few accept, the Career Call. 

 

Scripture  ~  “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?  Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness.  If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?  No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  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.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.  But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God’” (John 3:10-21). 

 

Comment  ~  God offers the free gift of eternal life in heaven with Him.  However, like any other gift it must be presented, recognized, and accepted.  Do you understand the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ?  Have you recognized Jesus Christ for who He is?  Finally, and most importantly have you accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior? 

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Black Friday

 ~ A Pivot Point In Human History ~

 

Scripture  ~  “Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.  But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4-5.

 

In The Dark  ~  There was darkness in the natural sense as well as spiritually. 

 

Natural Darkness  ~  “Now when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.  And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?’ which is translated, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’” (Mark 15:33-34).

 

Spiritual Darkness  ~  The disciples had put their faith in Jesus.  Now everything had ended in a way that seemed to destroy their faith.  What was Saturday like for them? 

 

They did not have the hindsight that we have! 

 

Comment  ~  The disciples did not understand on that black Friday what we now know.  It was yet to be realized that dark Friday’s tragedy would be overruled by the dazzling brilliance of Sunday’s triumph.  We now know that this Saturday is the only day since the crucifixion during which no one believed Jesus to be alive. 

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Binary, 15

 ~ Binary Ancestry: First Adam or Second Adam ~

 

Series Comment  ~  When it comes to spiritual paths it is strictly a binary choice. 

(1)   It is a choice between the True or False.  “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).  [See Post #1 in this series.]

(2)   It is a choice between Do or Done.  Jesus said, “It [the work of salvation] is finished!” (John 19:30).  Your Doing can add nothing to what Christ has Done for you.  [See Post #2 in this series.]

(3)   It is your choice between Religion or Relationship.  Religions are geared toward self-effort whereas Christianity is an intimacy with the only One who can save.  Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20).  [See Post #3 in this series.}

 

Scripture  ~  “Therefore, just as through one man [the first Adam] sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned — (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.  Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him [The Messiah, Jesus Christ] who was to come.  But the free gift is not like the offense.  For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many [not everyone].  And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned.  For the judgment which came from one offense [The First Adam] resulted in condemnation, but the free gift [from The Second Adam] which came from many offenses resulted in justification.   For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)  Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.  For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many [not all] will be made righteous.   Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound . But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:12-21).

 

Comment  ~  Your physical birth was into the family of the First Adam.  When you are born spiritually – “born again” – you are born into the Second Adam.

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW  

 

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