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What is saving grace…or perhaps if I ask a question to reflect my understanding of saving grace…How does a Son sin when he will be corrected in truth and righteousness?

What is saving grace…or perhaps if I ask a question to reflect my understanding of saving grace…How does a Son sin when he will be corrected in truth and righteousness?

 

After all when our name is added to the Lamb’s book of life after surrendering all in the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ…through baptism…when then are no longer enemies of God but rather Sons adopted into the Citizenship of the Kingdom of Heaven…how then can we now offend our Dad…if we are willing to accept correction in truth and righteousness…our hearts do not rebel against dad but rather say please teach me better…Sonship with the King of Kings…Having the rights of the Heavenly Citizenship…the rights of a Christian Son or Daughter…

 

I picture Jesus having a finished plan and purpose for me…a final He made it moment of he made it into adulthood…but I also picture me on Judgement Day going I do not deserve to be here…moment…then I picture Jesus looking up to the Father…and asking Him please see him as Me…then I see all the negative on my scales of Justice…be balanced out with the Love of Jesus…until the Day of my Judgement in the Scales of Justice…I will be here grateful for a breath in my lungs…prayer in my heart…a song on my lips…and an opportunity to learn and grow to fulfill my plan and purpose in Jesus Christ Kingdom…to do better than yesterday…to follow Jesus and learn what would Jesus do…to love my neighbor as myself and to do as much good as I can thank of here in the land of the free and the home of the brave…what are we not free to do here in America…we can do as much good as we can think of as long as we harm no other soul…so I am thankful for the freedom to hear the saving grace of Jesus Christ…His love and adoption of a sinner and changing him into a Son…and His protection and teaching surrounding me as learn the truth and do what is right by Him and His Father…

 

Grace defined is an undeserved favor…do you deserve Jesus becoming a human and dying on the cross…Is it a favor that God became a man and died for you…so you could learn to practice the truth in righteousness and forsake evil…yes or no? God did not have to do this…we did not deserve this…we did not earn this…favor…God’s only human fathered Son dying and being raised from the dead…so He could teach us the truth and we can learn how to never rebel against God…we learn how to know the right thing to do…to be pleasing not rebellious…

 

Jesus said…

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled…Jesus therefore said to those Jews that had believed him, If ye abide in my word, then are ye truly my disciples; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free…All things have been delivered unto me of my Father: and no one knows the Son, save the Father; neither doth any know the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son wills to reveal him. Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light…Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall not hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst…But if God doth so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and to-morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Be not therefore anxious, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles seek; for your heavenly Father knows that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Be not therefore anxious for the morrow: for the morrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof…(Mat 5:6 John 8:31-32 Matt 11:27-30 John 6:35 Matt 6:30-34)

 

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born anew. The wind blows where it will, and thou hear the voice thereof, but knowest not whence it cometh, and whither it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. Every one therefore who shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father who is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven. And he answered and said unto them, Think ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans, because they have suffered these things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all in like manner perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them, think ye that they were offenders above all the men that dwell in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish…And afterward he was manifested unto the eleven themselves as they sat at meat; and he upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them that had seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieves shall be condemned…(Joh 3:5-8 Mat 10:32-33 Luk 13:2-5 Mar 16:14-16)

 

Father please cover the faithful and not rebellious with grace mercy peace joy and love and truth so we may they prosper and be in health as our souls prospers…in Jesus of Nazareth’s name amen


Try…A…Pause for Prayer and Devotional a Wellsaid Christian Devotional about the teachings of Jesus… https://www.anopenbiblestudy.com/blog-by-ben-the-friend

Have you heard the good news about Jesus this Easter…short Easter message of good news…

Have you heard the good news about Jesus this Easter…short message of good news…

 

Have you heard the good news of Jesus Christ, becoming born of a virgin living under the law the good and evil taught to us by the Jewish people…the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?

 

Jesus Christ, being born into the tribe of Judah had only never break one of the 10 Commandments to remain sinless and Holy. Jesus, being the only Fathered human of our Creator was made perfect and never chose to do the wrong thing. He never broke one of the 10 Commandments and he offered his own life as a sacrifice to be punished as if he had broken commandments so he could forgive you and me for having done the wrong thing…having broken one of the commandments.

 

Jesus will teach us the truth and all we have to do is what is right by our creator. This sound like good news that a man died and was raised from the dead for you so that you could choose to never do a wrong thing again…yes or no?

So you never do again so you would never sin again, so that you would never offend God again… Jesus already paid the penalty for your sin, but you have to trust Him to reveal the truth to you so that you can do what is right by your Creator. Is this sound like good news?

 

Jesus said, unless you’re born on the water in the spirit, you cannot enter the kingdom of Heaven. Jesus said he believes in his baptized will be saved... He who doesn’t believe he died so you never have to choose wrong again will be damned. Have you been baptized in Christ yes or no? Will you be baptized in the Christ yes or no?

This is Easter and Jesus died and was raised from the dead on the first day of the week as proof He can save you from your sins…He’ll teach you the truth show you right and all you have to do is right by God and creation Sound like good news…then please render obedience to the Author of salvation…

 

Joh 3:16-17 ASV  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.  17  For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him…though he was a Son, yet learned obedience by the things which he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became unto all them that obey him the author of eternal salvation; Heb 5:8-9 ASV

 

Will you obey Jesus and be saved by surrendering all to Jesus in baptism…yes or no?

 

Father please remove anything hindering us from obeying the truth so we can be right with fellow man and You our Creator in Jesus of Nazareth’s name (Acts 22:8) Amen.

 

Try…A…Pause for Prayer and Devotional a Wellsaid Christian Devotional about the teachings of Jesus… https://www.anopenbiblestudy.com/blog-by-ben-the-friend




Three Crosses of Calvary

Three Crosses of Calvary

 

Introduction:

1.       Luke 23:32-43 KJV, [32] And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. [33] And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. [34] Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. [35] And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. [36] And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, [37] And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. [38] And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. [39] And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. [40] But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? [41] And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. [42] And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. [43] And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

2.       You are on one of these three crosses. You are the first thief and condemned when death crosses your door, knowing you will face hell fire and judgement for your crimes against God and mankind, regretting that he got caught not that he sinned. OR you are the second thief on the cross, You crimes have found you out and you wishing you listened to Jesus and done what He said, you knowing you facing death and judgement in the electric chair, but you decide to reconcile with God in your remaining seconds of life. OR you are on the cross with Jesus already, baptized into Christ, knowing that Jesus took care of your burdens needed to reconcile you to God, so that in the judgement when you die God sees you clothed in the likeness of His sinless son, Jesus of Nazareth.

3.       Which are you? If you were to die today, then would you rejoice in Heaven knowing you have done all to obey Jesus, or would you die never knowing the forgiveness of God, or would you die reconciling your ways to Christ for salvation?

I.                     Jesus View of the three Crosses

A.      Jesus realizes there is a chance for salvation with the second thief

1.       Jesus is the Author of salvation; He saved the thief (Heb 5:9)

a.       Jesus had power to forgive sins (Matt 9:6)

b.       Jesus preached message: repent for the kingdom of God is near. (Matt 4:17)

c.       Jesus taught obedience is better than sacrifice (Matt 12:29-34)

2.       Jesus is looking for those that are obeying God and reconciling their ways

a.       Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost (Luke 19:8-10)

b.       Jesus did not come to seek the righteous (Matt 9:12-13)

c.       Jesus looks for those seeking God in Spirit and Truth (John 4:23-24)

3.       Jesus message he preached before the cross

a.       Luke 7:22, when reminding John the Baptist, Jesus answering, “Go your way and tell John what things you have seen and heard, how that the blond see, the lame walk, the lepers cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.”

b.       Matthew 4:17, “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say: Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand”.

c.       Matthew 13:15, “for this people’s heart have waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest at any time they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and should understand with their heart and should be converted and I should heal them”.

B.      Jesus suffocating because of sin gives opportunity to a sinner

1.       Jesus knowing, he must die and be raised, is bearing His cross

a.       Foretold: Matthew 20:18-19, Jesus said…, “behold, we go up to Jerusalem and the son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes and they shall condemn him to death and shall deliver him to the gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him and the third day he shall rise again”

b.       Jesus as a Jewish man sought God and asked if there was another way.

c.       Matthew 26:42, “he went away again the second time, and prayed, saying O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me except, I drink it, thy will be done.”

2.       Jesus had never chosen evil and lived under the law of the knowledge of good and evil

a.       Hebrews 5:8-9, “though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered and being made perfect, He became the Author of Salvation to all them that obey Him”.

b.       Matthew 5:17-18, “think not that I come to destroy the Law and the prophets, I am not come to destroy but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or tittle shall in no way pass from the law until all be fulfilled”

c.       1 Timothy 2:5-6, “for there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ, who gave himself a ransom for all to be testified in due time”

3.       Jesus greatest deliverance prayer ever was forgive them they know not

a.       Jesus being crushed by satan and suffocated for our sins, prayed forgive them

b.       Jesus taught us to bless our enemies

c.       Jesus said do good to those that do you wrong. Do you obey Him?

C.      Jesus suffers the railing and snatches a thief out of hell fire

1.       Jesus hears the railing against Him

a.       Jesus responded last time the same action from satan, with a it is written, you shall not put your God to the test, but remains silent before this railed sinner.

b.       When you pray, do you give God instructions or report for duty? This thief wanted God to exercise a powerful miracle for his own desires. The thief expected God to obey him rather than trusting in Jesus to do what is best.

c.       Jesus knows this thief needs forgiveness, but he asks for extended life without reconciling with God, no remorse for his crimes.

2.       Jesus sees the second thief’s actions

a.       Jesus, I imagine, is hearing the second thief’s heart as it says, I wish I had listened to you before I got judged and nailed to the cross.

b.       Jesus sees the second thief speak up and defend Him when He is literally without help.

c.       Jesus recognizes that the repenting thief obeyed His message.

3.       Jesus pronounced judgment on the obedient repenting thief

a.       Luke 23:40-43, [40] But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? [41] And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. [42] And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. [43] And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.

b.       Jesus savior looking at the wise actions of the thief, says that’s what I am looking for and blesses him.

c.       None to comfort Jesus, forsaken, yet He manages to work salvation hung to a tree.

II.                   The first thief

A.      He is convicted and tried according to man law and has death sentence

1.       When your deeds have brought you to death sentence (hopeless)

a.       “for godly sorrow works repentance to salvation not to be repented of but the sorrow of the world works death.” 2 Cor 7:10.

b.       Worldly sorrow is sorry I got caught and will have to face punishment

c.       Godly sorrow causes self-reflection saying sorry God I will not do it again because you say it is wrong.

2.       The world is saying: “the world is better with you not in it”.

a.       1 Cor 15:32, “if after the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? if the dead be not raised, let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die”

b.       Have you ever faced the electric chair?

3.       He is filled with indignation that he got caught and must own up to his deeds.

a.       Ephesians 4:18, “…having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the Life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart”

B.      He realizes judgement, but instead schemes a way to live his previous life

1.       Facing death, a grave, hell and judgement, he schemes a way of living

a.       He is facing his electric chair and there is no escape

b.       He is worrying about how to avoid death and judgement

2.       He realizes Jesus has done great things and dares him to prove his Godship

a.       He committed crimes in or around Jerusalem, and wanted free to live again

b.       Being from around here, he heard about Jesus and instead of obeying Him…

c.       He rails or testing God

3.       He does not believe and trust in Christ words, but rails against him

a.       Jesus being tempted by the devil, when faced with same temptation, said, it is written, you shall not put the Lord your God to the test (Matt 4:7).

b.       He is not looking for a chance to never sin again, instead he is looking for a longer life of days.

c.       Do you want to be free from sin? Yes or No?

C.      He tests God as if daring Him to prove His existence

1.       His heart is so wrong he thinks God will obey his wish to save him

a.       Who tells God what to do?

b.       Either Jesus knows He is God and is willingly in this circumstance or Jesus is insane.

2.       He asked for freedom to live longer, to believe

a.       He did not ask for forgiveness but for another day free of condemnation.

b.       Another day, to do as he pleased

3.       He failed to realize we must come to Jesus of Nazareth on His terms not our own

a.       Jesus of Nazareth is the author of salvation to all those that obey Him Heb 5:9

b.       The thief failed to see Jesus Greatness or see His purpose

c.       Jesus was fulfilling the righteous demands of the law having never sinned and offering His life in place of our own, purchased a new agreement between God and mankind called the New Testament of Jesus Christ.

III.                 The second thief

A.      He too Convicted and tried and found worthy of death sentence

1.       He is facing a hopeless situation too, facing death and judgement

a.       His crimes had landed him in the electric chair, and he was about to die and face God in judgement.

b.       He knew his crimes deserving of death was being administered.

c.       He feared God and repented.

2.       He, however, is fearing God judgement and wanting a chance at salvation

a.       He facing judgement has a moment of clarity and remembers the message that Jesus preached, what was his message? Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

b.       This thief is thinking how I can repent because I am facing judgement and death.

c.       He is looking for a way to reconcile with God…

3.       He decided to trust in God to provide a way if possible (1 Cor 10:13)

a.       About to die he thinks: if I could, get right with God I would.

b.       About to die, he thinks: If I could obey what Jesus preached, I would…

c.       About to die, thinking if I would die repenting, then I would…

B.      He is remembering the messages he heard from Jesus (godly sorrow)

1.       He is nailed to a cross dying next to Jesus and remembers what Jesus preached

a.       Repent for the kingdom of heaven is very near…

b.       He about to die saying yes very near for me…

c.       Wonders how to repent nailed to a cross…

2.       He is looking to reconcile and has godly sorrow in his heart

a.       An opportunity presents itself and the repenting thief capitalizes. He defends Jesus and His righteous cause and then says remember me when you come into your kingdom, remembering what Jesus had preached earlier...

b.       His faith rewarded, repentance and reconciliation were His last dying act that resulted in heavenly treasure.

c.       Jesus the Author of salvation and remission of sins made a way through the repenting thief’s obedience to the word of God, for salvation.

3.       He has a hope of redemption and mercy, trusting God

a.       The thief nailed to the cross, does not doubt the Lord’s words, but was like be it so…

b.       Today you shall be with me in paradise,

c.       Jesus rewarded the thief’s actions of faith and obedience to his preached word.

C.      He is given an opportunity to repent and in one deed of repentance obeys God

1.       He is hoping withing himself, hoping a chance to obey Jesus

a.       Are you filled with godly sorrow for your sinful conditions?

b.       Are you wanting to be spared like the first thief?

c.       Are you wanting to be reconciled to God and taken to heaven today?

2.       Seeing the door of opportunity as a sinful man rails against God

a.       If God asked you today, then would you go?

b.       When the railed charged “prove yourself as God, save yourself and us”…

c.       Are you going to repent and obey or rebel?

3.       He repents like a champ in full obedience to Jesus

a.       The second thief repents like a champ. He is granted an opportunity for salvation and defends Jesus and His cause.

b.       He is also rewarded and accepted his reward by faith… today you will be with me in paradise…

c.       It is never to late to repent and reconcile with God.

Conclusion:

1.       Jesus is the Author of salvation to all those that obey Him (Heb 5:9)

a.       Have you heard the good news that Jesus became a man and was born of a virgin and lived under the law of good and evil and never once choose to do evil? He then laid down his life as a perfect sinless sacrifice in our place and purchased a new agreement between God and mankind called the New Testament of Christ.

b.       Matt 11:28-30

c.       Mark 16:16

2.       There were two thieves only one obeyed Jesus while the other railed Him

a.       Which cross are you on? Jesus cross? 1st thief cross? Or the second thief cross?

b.       Either you already crucified with Jesus and are sanctified through the redeeming work of Jesus cross, or you are on one of the other crosses.

c.       Which thief are you? The one that is bitter and rails against God? Or the one that trusts even in certain death there is a way of salvation if man could only obey?

3.       If Jesus came back right now where would you spend eternity?

a.       DO you believe yes or no?

b.       Are you right with God? Yes or No?

c.       If God came back right now. Then would you Go? Or run away?

 

Father please meet our souls’ deepest needs…heal us and make us whole…so we may prosper and be in health as our soul prospers…in Jesus of Nazareth’s name amen.

 

Try…A…Pause for Prayer and Devotional a Wellsaid Christian Devotional about the teachings of Jesus… https://www.anopenbiblestudy.com/blog-by-ben-the-friend




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