In Jesus We Have… , 68

~ In Jesus We Have Holiness, 3 ~

 

Introduction ~ In this series we look at a few of the verses which state what we have when we are “in Christ.”  Consider our series theme verse: 

 

“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).

 

If you are a Christian, God views you as covered with the righteousness of His Son Jesus Christ. Our responsibility is become increasingly like our Savior in our daily life – living an increasingly holy life!

 

Scripture ~ “And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight” (Colossians 1:21-22).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Promise of God, 22

~ God Is Good ~

 

This Series ~ God has made many promises to His people. This series of posts looks at some (100) of the many attributes of God.  It is not an exhaustive list.

 

Key Factor ~ God not only makes promises to His people but He also keeps all of His promises.

 

Scripture ~ “The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy. The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works” (Psalm 145:8-9).

 

“For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, and His truth endures to all generations” (Psalm 100:5).

 

“And now, O Lord God, You are God, and Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant” (2 Samuel 7:28).

 

Comment ~ God is good in His very nature and character – this is essentially a promise that He will be good to you.

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Fool Characteristics, 61

~ Fools Are Headed For Punishment   ~

 

Series Note  ~  In the first 47 posts in this series we looked at some passages in the Book of Proverbs – wise sayings that are generally true – that describe a “fool” (singular) from God’s perspective.  Now we continue by looking at verses Proverbs which talk about ”fools” (plural).  Some may surprise you. 

 

Scripture  ~  “Judgments are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools” (Proverbs 19:29).

 

Important Truth  ~  “The fool has said in his heart, ‘there is no God’” (Psalm 53:1a).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Bible Answer, 120

~ Did You Get It Right? ~

 

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~~~~ bible answer ~~~~

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question:  What was the height and thickness of walls surrounding Babylon?

 

answer:  The walls surrounding Babylon were 387 feet high and 87 feet thick.

 

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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God Attribute, 123

~ Incarnate ~

 

This series of posts looks at some of the many attributes of God.  Generally, we move in alphabetical order.

 

Introduction  ~  The incarnation of Christ is a central Christian doctrine that assures us that God became flesh — God assumed a human nature and became a man in the form of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Jesus Christ was truly God and truly man.

 

Scripture  ~  “The Word [Jesus Christ] became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). 

 

“Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father?’  Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves” (John 14:9-11).

 

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:14-16).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Bible Question, 120

~ Test Your Bible Knowledge ~

 

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~~~~ bible question ~~~~ 

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question:  What was the height and thickness of walls surrounding Babylon?

 

Please provide your answer in the comments below!

 

The answer will be provided in a future blog.

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Apostles Martyrdom, 6of6

~ Early Christians Martyred: 6th Step ~

 

Introduction ~ In the early chapters of the Book of Acts we see a typical pattern leading to martyrdom of an Apostle: 1-Jailed, 2-Commanded, 3-Threatened, 4-Imprisioned, 5-Beatings, and finally 6-Death – promoted to paradise!

 

Jailed (Step 1) ~ First they were seized followed by jailing.

 

Commanded (Step 2) ~ Secondly, they were commanded to stop telling people about Jesus.

 

Threatened (Step 3) ~ They were threatened, but let go.

 

Imprisoned (Step 4) ~ They were manhandled and put in prison.

 

Beatings (Step 5) ~ Next, they experienced physical beatings.

 

Death (Step 6) ~ The final step was being murdered for their beliefs – no freedom of speech: martyred for Christ.

 

“When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, ‘Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!’

 

“Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.’ Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not charge them with this sin.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep” (Acts 7:54-60).

 

Comments ~ (1) Christians are to become increasingly Christ-like as they live their lives on earth. Compare Stephen’s last words on earth with Christ’s last words on the Cross.

(a)    Stephen: “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ~ Jesus Christ: “Father, 'Into Your hands I commit My spirit” (Luke 23:44).

 

(b)   Stephen: “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” ~ Jesus Christ: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34).

 

(2) “Indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.” Ultimately truth cannot be denied. That is why atheists and agnostics exist—they fight against Truth. Are their groups fighting against the tooth fairy? Of course not, you don’t fight against something which is not real!

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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In Jesus We Have… , 67

~ In Jesus We Have Holiness, 2 ~

 

Introduction ~ In this series we look at a few of the verses which state what we have when we are “in Christ.”  Consider our series theme verse: 

 

“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).

 

If you are a Christian, God views you as covered with the righteousness of His Son Jesus Christ. Our responsibility is become increasingly like our Savior in our daily life – living an increasingly holy life!

 

Scripture ~ “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-28).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Promise of God, 21

~ God Will Give You a New Heart ~

 

This Series ~ God has made many promises to His people. This series of posts looks at some (100) of the many attributes of God.  It is not an exhaustive list.

 

Key Factor ~ God not only makes promises to His people but He also keeps all of His promises.

 

Scripture ~ “For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them” (Ezekiel 36:24-27).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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Fool Characteristics, 60

~ Fools Don’t Accept Correction ~

 

Series Note  ~  In the first 47 posts in this series we looked at some passages in the Book of Proverbs – wise sayings that are generally true – that describe a “fool” (singular) from God’s perspective.  Now we continue by looking at verses Proverbs which talk about ”fools” (plural).  Some may surprise you. 

 

Scripture  ~  “The wise in heart will be called prudent, and sweetness of the lips increases learning.  Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it.  But the correction of fools is folly” (Proverbs 16:21-22).

 

Important Truth  ~  “The fool has said in his heart, ‘there is no God’” (Psalm 53:1a).

 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

 

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