Have you ever wondered why you are living in this world and what the
purpose of your life is? There are six keys that unlock this mystery.
1. God's Plan:
God desires to express Himself through man (Rom. 8:29). For this
purpose, He created man in His own image (Gen. 1:26). Just as a glove is
made in the image of a hand to contain a hand, so also man is made in
the image of God to contain God. By receiving God as his content, man
can express God (2 Cor. 4:7).
2. Man: To
fulfill His plan, God made man as a vessel (Rom. 9:21-24). This vessel
has three parts: body, soul, and spirit (1 Thes. 5:23). The body
contacts and receives the things of the physical realm. The soul, the
mental faculty, contacts and receives the things of the psychological
realm. And the human spirit, the innermost part of man, was made to
contact and receive God Himself (John 4:24). Man was created not merely
to contain food in his stomach, or to contain knowledge in his mind, but
to contain God in his spirit (Eph. 5:18).
3. Man's Fall: But
before man could receive God as life into his spirit, sin entered into
him (Rom. 5:12). Sin deadened his spirit (Eph. 2:1), made him an enemy
of God in his mind (Col. 1:21), and transmuted his body into sinful
flesh (Gen. 6:3; Rom. 6:12). Thus, sin damaged all three parts of man,
alienating him from God. In this condition, man could not receive God.
4. Christ's Redemption for God's Dispensing:
Nevertheless, man's fall did not deter God from fulfilling His original
plan. In order to accomplish His plan, God gave His son Jesus Christ to
us, to die for our sins. Christ died on the cross to redeem man. (Eph.
1:7), thus taking away his sin (John 1:29) and bringing him back to God
(Eph. 2:13). Finally, in resurrection, Christ became the life-giving
Spirit (1 Cor. 15:45b) so that he could dispense his unsearchably rich
life into man's spirit (John 20:22; 3:6).
5. Man's Regeneration: Since
Christ has become the life-giving Spirit, man can now receive God's
life into his spirit. The Bible calls this regeneration (1Pet. 1:3; John
3:3). To receive this life, man needs to repent to God and believe in
the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21; 16:31).
6. God's Full Salvation: After
regeneration, a believer needs to be baptized (Mark 16:16). Then God
begins the lifelong process of gradually spreading Himself as life from
the believer's spirit into his soul (Eph. 3:17). This process called
transformation (Rom. 12:2), requires human cooperation (Phil. 2:12). The
believer cooperates by allowing the Lord to spread into his soul until
all desires, thoughts, and decisions become one with those of Christ.
Finally, at Christ's return, God will fully saturate the believer's body
with his life. This is called glorification (Phil. 3:21). Thus, instead
of being empty and damaged in each part, this man is filled and
saturated with the life of God. This is God's full salvation! Such a man
now expresses God, fulfilling God's plan! After receiving this life a
believer needs to attend Christian meetings in order to be nourished and
supplied by the life of God that he may grow and mature in this life.
In fellowship with other believers in the Body of Christ a believer can
enjoy the riches of the presence of Christ.
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Day 12 Too Good to Be True
Have you ever wondered...
Some things just seem too good to be true. For you, heaven might be one of those things--unattainable and out of reach. Maybe you feel like you could never be good enough to deserve going there. The Bible, however, tries to erase that insecurity from your mind. These two verses shout, "Don't worry everybody, God has got you!" Once we yield our lives to him, God holds us with his strong arm. He never lets go of us, no matter what. It's not our job to keep our souls from slipping outside of heaven's bounds--it's God's! He is the ultimate protector who grips our souls for eternity.
Having surrendered yourself to God, your salvation is a done deal. Your prayer is signed, sealed, and delivered straight to God. First John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins, because we can trust God to do what is right. He will cleanse us from all the wrongs we have done." The Bible reassures you that at the moment of your repentance, you became God's child. Nothing you can do will change God's mind.
And this is the boldness we have in God's presence: that if we ask God for anything that agrees with what he wants, he hears us. If we know he hears us every time we ask him, we know we have what we ask from him (1 John 5:14-15)
For a more in-depth study, read: 1 John 1:5-2:5
- If you can lose your salvation?
- If you have to repent over and over again?
Some things just seem too good to be true. For you, heaven might be one of those things--unattainable and out of reach. Maybe you feel like you could never be good enough to deserve going there. The Bible, however, tries to erase that insecurity from your mind. These two verses shout, "Don't worry everybody, God has got you!" Once we yield our lives to him, God holds us with his strong arm. He never lets go of us, no matter what. It's not our job to keep our souls from slipping outside of heaven's bounds--it's God's! He is the ultimate protector who grips our souls for eternity.
Having surrendered yourself to God, your salvation is a done deal. Your prayer is signed, sealed, and delivered straight to God. First John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins, because we can trust God to do what is right. He will cleanse us from all the wrongs we have done." The Bible reassures you that at the moment of your repentance, you became God's child. Nothing you can do will change God's mind.
And this is the boldness we have in God's presence: that if we ask God for anything that agrees with what he wants, he hears us. If we know he hears us every time we ask him, we know we have what we ask from him (1 John 5:14-15)
For a more in-depth study, read: 1 John 1:5-2:5
Day 11 No More Than We Can Bear
(1 Corinthians 10:13; Matthew 4:1-11)
Have you ever wondered...
*How to respond when you're tempted?
*What God expects of you?
The question isn't if you'll be tempted to sin. It's just a matter of when, what, and how creative Satan will be. First Corinthians describes temptation as something everybody faces. We're vulnerable, and Satan knows it.
Jesus is our lifeline out of temptation. He sees the storm coming. He watches us struggling to stay afloat as wave after wave crashes over us. Just when we are about to drown, Jesus reaches in and offers his hand to pull us to safety. It is our choice to either take his strong hand or to sink.
God's Word is our harbor from the storm. When we recognize temptation approaching, then we can gear up for it by asking for God's help. He knows our weaknesses. He understands our pressures and temptations. Jesus himself was tempted, and he is strong enough to overcome it all.
And now he can help those who are tempted, because he himself suffered and was tempted... Let us, then, feel very sure that we can come before God's throne where there is grace. There we can receive mercy and grace to help us when we need it
(Hebrews 2:18; 4:16)
Have you ever wondered...
*How to respond when you're tempted?
*What God expects of you?
The question isn't if you'll be tempted to sin. It's just a matter of when, what, and how creative Satan will be. First Corinthians describes temptation as something everybody faces. We're vulnerable, and Satan knows it.
Jesus is our lifeline out of temptation. He sees the storm coming. He watches us struggling to stay afloat as wave after wave crashes over us. Just when we are about to drown, Jesus reaches in and offers his hand to pull us to safety. It is our choice to either take his strong hand or to sink.
God's Word is our harbor from the storm. When we recognize temptation approaching, then we can gear up for it by asking for God's help. He knows our weaknesses. He understands our pressures and temptations. Jesus himself was tempted, and he is strong enough to overcome it all.
And now he can help those who are tempted, because he himself suffered and was tempted... Let us, then, feel very sure that we can come before God's throne where there is grace. There we can receive mercy and grace to help us when we need it
(Hebrews 2:18; 4:16)
Day 10 Confession: A Sure Win
(Psalm 32:5; James 5:16)
Have you ever wondered...
*If God could ever forgive your sin?
*Why you should confess?
Thirty thousand runners. Twenty-six miles. Thirteen water stations. Two tired feet. The olympic marathon--a colossal challenge that dares runners to attempt its course.
The Christian life is like a marathon. It's a lifelong, often grueling race for which we train, sweat, and persevere. We condition ourselves to prepare for the race. We find ourselves running among countless other runners with the same goal in mind: complete the race.
But not everyone makes it to the finish line. Some runners allow sin to begin piling up on their backs, slowing their strides until they eventually collapse on the curb. The course is difficult enough without having to carry around the heavy burden of unconfessed sin.
Confession is the only way to unload it from your back. God is watching and waiting for you at the finish line. He wants to see you run across it free of injury. There is no sin that he won't forgive. Can you hear him calling your name?
If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins, because we can trust God to do what is right. He will cleanse us from all the wrongs we have done
(1 John 1:8-9)
Have you ever wondered...
*If God could ever forgive your sin?
*Why you should confess?
Thirty thousand runners. Twenty-six miles. Thirteen water stations. Two tired feet. The olympic marathon--a colossal challenge that dares runners to attempt its course.
The Christian life is like a marathon. It's a lifelong, often grueling race for which we train, sweat, and persevere. We condition ourselves to prepare for the race. We find ourselves running among countless other runners with the same goal in mind: complete the race.
But not everyone makes it to the finish line. Some runners allow sin to begin piling up on their backs, slowing their strides until they eventually collapse on the curb. The course is difficult enough without having to carry around the heavy burden of unconfessed sin.
Confession is the only way to unload it from your back. God is watching and waiting for you at the finish line. He wants to see you run across it free of injury. There is no sin that he won't forgive. Can you hear him calling your name?
If we say we have no sin, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, he will forgive our sins, because we can trust God to do what is right. He will cleanse us from all the wrongs we have done
(1 John 1:8-9)
Day 9 Forgiveness
(Genesis 45: 4-15; Matthew 18:21-35)
*Have you ever wondered how you could forgive an enemy?
*What sins are unforgivable?
It goes beyond our human nature to forgive the unforgivable. We hold grudges and harbor resentment. We battle and bicker among ourselves. It is God's nature, however, to forgive anything and everything. The worst crime ever committed? God can forgive that. Your worst mistakes and harshest moments? God can forgive those, too. Even when you feel that God would never accept you as you are, he invites you to come just as you are, and he forgives you completely.
Joseph's brothers did the unforgivable--they sold their little brother into slavery. What an awful thing to do! They did not deserve to be forgiven. As readers, we long for a moment of vengeance, when Joseph can get back at them for the years of pain and rejection they caused him. But Joseph held off. He could have gloated, mocked, yelled, or punished. Instead, he embraced them. Tears spilled down his cheeks as he forgave them. As Jesus taught in Matthew 18:35, Joseph managed to forgive his brothers from his heart.
Perhaps you can empathize with Joseph's situation. Maybe you're face-to-face with someone who doesn't deserve to be forgiven. Through Jesus' grace, you can forgive. Only when you are bathed in God's forgiveness can you extend that same, rich, ungrudging forgiveness to others.
But God shows his great love for us in this way: Christ died for us while we still sinners
(Romans 5:8)
FOR A MORE IN-DEPTH STUDY, READ: GENESIS 37 AND 42
*Have you ever wondered how you could forgive an enemy?
*What sins are unforgivable?
It goes beyond our human nature to forgive the unforgivable. We hold grudges and harbor resentment. We battle and bicker among ourselves. It is God's nature, however, to forgive anything and everything. The worst crime ever committed? God can forgive that. Your worst mistakes and harshest moments? God can forgive those, too. Even when you feel that God would never accept you as you are, he invites you to come just as you are, and he forgives you completely.
Joseph's brothers did the unforgivable--they sold their little brother into slavery. What an awful thing to do! They did not deserve to be forgiven. As readers, we long for a moment of vengeance, when Joseph can get back at them for the years of pain and rejection they caused him. But Joseph held off. He could have gloated, mocked, yelled, or punished. Instead, he embraced them. Tears spilled down his cheeks as he forgave them. As Jesus taught in Matthew 18:35, Joseph managed to forgive his brothers from his heart.
Perhaps you can empathize with Joseph's situation. Maybe you're face-to-face with someone who doesn't deserve to be forgiven. Through Jesus' grace, you can forgive. Only when you are bathed in God's forgiveness can you extend that same, rich, ungrudging forgiveness to others.
But God shows his great love for us in this way: Christ died for us while we still sinners
(Romans 5:8)
FOR A MORE IN-DEPTH STUDY, READ: GENESIS 37 AND 42
Lord,
You are the wind in my sails
You guide me as I steer and find direction.
You give me the strength to keep on going.
You watch over me as I navigate stormy seas.
You are the harbor where I stop for rest.
You are my encourager when I lose hope.
You are the lighthouse that keeps my path safe.
You are with me always.
Thank you.
Amen.
You are the wind in my sails
You guide me as I steer and find direction.
You give me the strength to keep on going.
You watch over me as I navigate stormy seas.
You are the harbor where I stop for rest.
You are my encourager when I lose hope.
You are the lighthouse that keeps my path safe.
You are with me always.
Thank you.
Amen.
Day 8 On Your Feet in Praise
Read: ( Psalm 150; Luke 19:36-40)
*Have you ever wondered why worship is so important?
*How to praise the Creator of the universe?
We shouldn't hesitate to give God a standing ovation. We should always be on our feet, lifting our hearts and our voices to him in praise. Psalm 150 clearly tells us that he deserves all the credit. Creation cannot help praising the Creator. Jesus said that if people did not praise God, then the stones would cry out a hearty "Bravo!" to their God.
We can spend hours in worship of our Lord, but if our praise comes from an insincere heart, our efforts are wasted. God listens attentively, his head resting in his hand, peering into our hearts. He isn't impressed if our lips move without our hearts moving as well. Worship isn't a duty. It's a privilege, an act of obedience, an urge to satisfy a heart that longs to praise God.
God is the focus, the reason, and the joy of our worship. No matter what problems you're facing, don't let them distract you from your focus. Because of his work on the cross--for that reason alone--he deserves an unending stream of praise from our lips forever.
The time is coming when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, and that time is here already. You see, the Father too is actively seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth
(John 4:23-24)
FOR A MORE IN-DEPTH STUDY, READ PSALM 36:1-7; 40:3; 104:33-34
*Have you ever wondered why worship is so important?
*How to praise the Creator of the universe?
We shouldn't hesitate to give God a standing ovation. We should always be on our feet, lifting our hearts and our voices to him in praise. Psalm 150 clearly tells us that he deserves all the credit. Creation cannot help praising the Creator. Jesus said that if people did not praise God, then the stones would cry out a hearty "Bravo!" to their God.
We can spend hours in worship of our Lord, but if our praise comes from an insincere heart, our efforts are wasted. God listens attentively, his head resting in his hand, peering into our hearts. He isn't impressed if our lips move without our hearts moving as well. Worship isn't a duty. It's a privilege, an act of obedience, an urge to satisfy a heart that longs to praise God.
God is the focus, the reason, and the joy of our worship. No matter what problems you're facing, don't let them distract you from your focus. Because of his work on the cross--for that reason alone--he deserves an unending stream of praise from our lips forever.
The time is coming when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, and that time is here already. You see, the Father too is actively seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth
(John 4:23-24)
FOR A MORE IN-DEPTH STUDY, READ PSALM 36:1-7; 40:3; 104:33-34
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