God s o, The Sinless Jesus shed His blood, suffering the penalty of death for all our sin. Jesus was buried and rose in victory over sin and death. By believing in Jesus the hell bound sinner receives forgiveness, everlasting life and is indwelt by God the Holy Spirit; sealed as God s hild a d st e gthe ed to lo e God a d others like Jesus. ead God s o d, o fess a d tu f o ou sin, {use the keys of heaven to enter} put your faith in and give your life to Jesus. Gary. Our Refuge God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. (Psalm 46:1-2) The LO D also ill e a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of t ou le (Psalm 9:9). What a comfort it is, in these days of turmoil and opposition, to know that ou Lo d is a st e gth to the poo, a st e gth to the eed i his dist ess, a refuge f o the sto, a shado f o the heat (Isaiah 25:4). Our refuge is st o g a d se u e. The psal ist testifies: I ill sa of the LO D, He is my refuge a d fo t ess: God; i Hi ill I t ust (Psalm 91:2). Then God a s e s: Be ause thou hast ade the LO D, hi h is refuge, even the most High, th ha itatio ; The e shall o e il efall thee (Ps 91:9-10 and see also vv. 10-13). Not only does our refuge provide us safety and protection, but no other refuge ill do. Afte ide tif i g ou efuge the o ds, Behold, I la in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste o e ala ed (Isaiah 28:16), God warns that those who refuse His true refuge ill re ei e instead His judgment, for He shall s eep away the refuge of lies (Isaiah 28:17). The apostle Peter, fresh from his personal encounters with his risen Lord, confronted the Jewish leaders with thei se ious e o of eje tio. This is the sto e hi h as set at ought of ou (Acts 4:11). In his charge, however, he i luded the p e ious t uth: Neithe is the e sal atio i a othe : fo the e is o e othe a e u de hea e gi e a o g e, he e e ust e sa ed (v. 12). Our refuge, our sure foundation, is none other than our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to ho e ha e fled fo refuge to lay hold upon the hope set efo e us (Hebrews 6:18). JDM http://www.icr.org/article/7323/
ICR Days of Praise: by: John D. & Henry Morris Ph.D s Gospel (Explanations) Devotionals: 21-36 I assembled these ICR devotionals to clearly and simply share the love, sacrifice/payment, forgiveness & victory available to all mankind as provided by God: The Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Please also checkout website for more info: Google: www.thekeysofheaven.com Thank you Gary Westgerdes. For God so lo ed the orld, that He ga e His only egotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned. (John 3:16-18) http://www.icr.org/article/ / 21. Very Good 7272 22. From Darkness to Light 7207 23. Living Truths 7273 24. Thanks for the Greatest Gift 7137 25. The Divine/Human Word 7129 26. God Is Faithful 7126 27. In the Spirit 7229 28. True Worship 7222 29. The Finished Work 6853 30. The Gardens of the Lord 6790 31. Without the Shedding of Blood 6710 32. The Faithful Lord 6704 33. Our Hope 7041 34. No More Tears 7228 35. The Father Testifies of the Son 6956 36. Made In Christ 7284 Institute for Creation Research: www.org/articles/type/6
#21. Very Good And God saw everything that He had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. (Gen. 1:31) On several occasions during the Creation Week, God had declared aspe ts of His eatio as good (vv. 10, 12, 18, 21, 25). But once His crown of creation was in place, the very image of Himself (vv. 26-27), He p o ou ed it all e good a d eased His creative activity (2:1-3). Just hat does it ea to e e good i God s e es? This te is used elsewhere in the Old Testament by men and regarding men, but here God Himself, the sinless, ever-living One, declares creation to be just what He wanted able to accomplish and fulfill each of His plans and desires for it. Whatever else may be said about this creation, at the very least it must have been without death, being a phenomenon anathema to Him. Death is ide tified as The last e e that shall e dest o ed (1 Corinthians 15:26). Death eig ed f o Ada to Moses (Romans 5:14), a d it is appoi ted u to e o e to die (Hebrews 9:27). I deed, the hole eatio g oa eth a d t a aileth i pai togethe u til o (Romans 8:22). The source of this condition is known as the curse p o ou ed o all of eatio due to a s e ellio agai st God (Genesis 3) as had been promised (2:17). E e toda the ages of si is death (Romans 6:23), and since all sin, all must die. Truly, sin has ruined God s o igi al si less, deathless, e good eatio. But the story does not end there. The very Creator who pronounced the awful curse of death as the penalty for sin has Himself died to pay that penalty and one day will repeal the curse (Revelation 22:3) and abolish death (21:4). The creation will be returned to its original created i te t, a d all ill o e agai e e good. JDM
#22. From Darkness to Light And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. (Genesis 1:3-4) The i itial aspe t of God s e l eated o ld as o e of da k ess in the presence of the all-pe adi g ate s. i e God is light, a d i Hi is o da k ess at all (1 John 1:5), the darkness had to be specially created (Isaiah 45:7) before God could then call for the light to appear in the darkness. This would later serve as a striking picture of the entrance of light i to the da k ess of a soul o i si. Fo God, ho o a ded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the k o ledge of the glo of God i the fa e of Jesus Ch ist (2 Corinthians 4:6). The light e te s ou soul His Wo d. The e t a e of th o ds gi eth light (Psalm 119:130). This great theme, contrasting the darkness of the soul without Christ to the glorious light He brings when that soul receives Him by faith, is fou d ofte i iptu e. [Ch ist] hath alled ou out of da k ess i to His a elous light (1 Peter 2:9). The da k ess is past, and the true light o shi eth (1 John 2:8). Jesus even called Himself that t ue light hi h di ided the light f o the da k ess. I a the light of the o ld, He lai ed, He that follo eth Me shall ot alk i da k ess, ut shall ha e the light of life (John 8:12). And because we have received the true light, we should henceforth li e i the light of His t uth. Fo e e e so eti es da k ess, ut o a e e light i the Lo d: alk as hild e of light (Ephesians 5:8). Let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light (Romans 13:12). God s light is good. I the Hol Cit the e shall e o ight the e (Revelation 22:5). HMM
#23. Living Truths He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err. (Mark 12:27) Sin and death are grim realities in the world, but these are only temporary intruders, as it were. The God of creation is the living God; a d Ch ist, the o of the li i g God (Matthew 16:16) is our living Savior, alive forevermore. It is appropriate, therefore, that the term li i g is applied o e a d o e agai to g eat t uths of the Ch istia faith. Fo e a ple, the Hol iptu es a e alled the li el o a les (Acts 7:38). Li el a d li i g ep ese t the sa e G eek o d zao; thus the Bi le is God s li i g o d. Jesus Ch ist alled Hi self the li i g ead hi h a e do f o hea e, se t do the li i g Fathe (John 6:51, 57). He also promised that all who believe on Him ould fi d li i g ate flo i g th ough thei li es (John 7:38). He has opened for us through His substitutionary death and justif i g esu e tio a e a d li i g a, hi h He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to sa, His flesh (Hebrews 10:20). Fu the o e, He has the e egotte us agai u to a li el hope the esu e tio of Jesus Ch ist f o the dead (1 Peter 1:3). The Lord Jesus is the foundation of the great house of the Lord into hi h e o e th ough Hi. To ho o i g, as u to a li i g sto e, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spi itual sa ifi es, a epta le to God Jesus Ch ist (1 Peter 2:4-5). I this hol te ple e a e the efo e u ged to p ese t our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is our reasonable se i e (Romans 12:1). Our God is, indeed the God of the living! HMM
#24. Thanks for the Greatest Gift Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift. (2 Corinthians 9:15) We who have known and sought to follow the Lord for many years ha e e ei ed a, a lessi gs fo hi h to tha k Hi. Blessed e the Lo d, ho dail loadeth us ith e efits (Psalm 68:19), we can pray again and again. But there is one blessing which is so great that it cannot even be put into words it is unspeakable! That gift is so great that when we try to comprehend it, the sense of awe and gratitude becomes so overwhelming (or at least should become so overwhelming) that our joy is also unspeakable indescribable! That gift, of course, is the gift of the Lo d Jesus Ch ist as ou edee e a d a io, Who ha i g ot see, e lo e; i ho, though o e see Hi ot, e ejoi e ith jo u speaka le a d full of glo (1 Peter 1:8). It is sig ifi a t that the G eek o d t a slated u speaka le o u s o l these t o ti es i the e ti e Ne Testa e t. God s u speaka le gift to us produces unspeakable joy in us. We who deserve nothing but eternal separation from God in hell, instead will enjoy eternal life with God in heaven, and all because of that amazing and truly inexpressible gift! To think that the mighty Creator, God the Son, would not only humble Himself to become His own creature, man, but then also suffer the unimaginable agony of the cross and separation from God the Father in order to deliver us from the just penalty of sin! This act speaks of su h lo e a d g a e that all e a do is hispe softl, Tha k ou, Lo d, fo this u speaka le gift, a d the shout it o e a d over again in our hearts wherever we go, and share its unspeakable joy and blessing ith ho e e ill liste to its essage. The Lo d hath do e g eat thi gs fo us; he eof e a e glad (Psalm 126:3). Thank you, Lord! HMM
#25. The Divine/Human Word God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son. (Hebrews 1:1-2) The title of the Word of God is given both to Jesus Christ as the Living Word (John 1:1-3; Revelation 19:13), and to the Holy Scriptures as the written Word (Ephesians 6:17; Hebrews 4:12; etc.). They are so perfectly synchronous that what is said of one can usually be applied also to the other. Both are human, yet without error; both are divine, yet can be o p ehe ded a. God as a ifest i the flesh (1 Timothy 3:16). Hol e of God spake as the e e o ed the Hol Ghost (2 Peter 1:21). I Hi is o si (1 John 3:5), The iptu es a ot e oke, a d all iptu e is p ofita le (John 10:35; 2 Timothy 3:16). Fu the o e, ea h is ete al: Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and fore e (Hebrews 13:8). Fo ever, O LORD, thy word is settled i hea e (Psalm 119:89). Each brings regeneration and everlasting life to all those who elie e. He sa ed us, the ashi g of ege e atio th ough Jesus Ch ist ou a iou (Titus 3:5-6). God hath gi e to us eternal life, and this life is i His o (1 John 5:11). Bei g o agai the o d of God, which liveth and abideth fore e (1 Peter 1:23). ea h the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they hi h testif of Me (John 5:39). Finally, judgment comes by both Christ and the Scriptures. The Fathe hath o itted all judg e t u to the o (John 5:22). The dead e e judged out of those thi gs hi h e e itte i the ooks (Revelation 20:12). Both Christ and the Bible are vitally important to each Christian and must be studied, understood, known, loved, trusted, and relied upon in every human endeavor. HMM
#26. God Is Faithful God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:9) When we place our trust in Jesus Christ as omnipotent {def.-all powerful} Creator and gracious Redeemer, He then faithfully undertakes to provide everything we need to live an effective, fruitful, victorious Christian life. For example, when we are tempted to sin or are tested in any other a, God is faithful, ho ill ot suffe ou to e te pted a o e that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that e a e a le to ea it (1 Corinthians 10:13). In this connection, He undertakes to ground us firmly in His truth and to keep us from o al a d spi itual ha. The Lo d is faithful, ho shall sta lish ou, a d keep ou f o e il (2 Thessalonians 3:3). Whe e do si, ho e e, He assu es us that if e o fess ou sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all u ighteous ess (1 John 1:9). With all our failings, He has undertaken to eventually perfect us in Christ, and He faithfully will continue this u til it is do e. A d the e God of pea e sa tif ou holl, Faithful is He that alleth ou, ho also ill do it (1 Thess. 5:23-24). All that He has promised, He will do. Even when we are unfaithful to Him, He e ai s faithful to us. If e elie e ot [that is, a e u faithful ], et He a ideth faithful: He a ot de Hi self (2 Ti. 2:13). Toda s e se a o e, assu i g us of God s faithful ess, follo s the p o ise that He ill o fi ou u to the e d, that ye may be la eless i the da of ou Lo d Jesus Ch ist (1 Corinthians 1:8). The efo e, e seek also to e faithful. Let us hold fast the p ofessio of ou faith ithout a e i g; fo He is faithful that p o ised; (Hebrews 10:23). HMM
#27. In the Spirit If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25) When a person accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, believing on Him as the Son of God and personal Redeemer, the One who saves him from his sins, a wonderful event takes place. The Spirit of God enters his very body, there to reside and to guide his new life in Christ. He efo th he is, hethe he se ses it o ot, i the pi it. Ye a e not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in ou. No if a a ha e ot the pi it of Ch ist, he is o e of His (Romans 8:9). The elie e s od e e e o es a te ple i hi h the pi it a eig o e his life. What? K o e ot that ou ody is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God s (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). In addition to leading us (through the Scriptures which He inspired a d th ough the i u sta es hi h He o dai s, The pi it Himself ea eth it ess ith ou spi it, that e a e the hild e of God (Romans 8:16). He e k o e that e d ell i Hi, a d He i us, because He hath gi e us of His pi it (1 John 4:13). The indwelling, comforting, leading, witnessing Spirit is not alone, fo Jesus p o ised that, he the Co fo te o es to e i ou, the th ough the pi it, I a i M Fathe, a d e i Me, a d I i ou (John 14:17, 20). Thus e a e filled ith all the full ess of God (Ephesians 3:19). Such a marvelous relationship will surely transform our lives. As toda s e se e ho ts us: If e li e i the pi it e should e tai l alk i the pi it. The p a ti al esult is the o ious. Walk i the pi it, a d e shall ot fulfill the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). HMM
#28. True Worship God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24) The o d o ship is used f e ue tl toda i Ch istia i les in addition to worship services, we now have worship choruses, worship teams, worship manuals, worship seminars, etc. Often, however, the basic meaning of worship is misunderstood. In the original Hebrew and Greek, the respective words translated o ship ea si pl to o do! The He e is so t a slated the first time it is used. When Abraham saw God and two angels app oa hi g, he a to eet the f o the te t doo, a d owed hi self to a d the g ou d (Genesis 18:2). That is, he e og ized God s o thy-ship a d as su itti g hi self to do His ill. The last ti e o ship is used is he Joh fell do to o ship efo e the feet of the a gel. He as o e ted the angel with these o ds: ee thou do it ot: o ship God (Revelation 22:8-9). Only God, our Creator and Savior, is worthy of true worship, and that worship involves simply bowing down in submission to do His will. That is h it ust e i spi it a d i t uth. Ou spi it ust su it to God who is Spirit, and this can only be in truth. Remember the words of the Lord Jesus concerning the Spirit whom He would send to indwell His follo e s: Whe He, the pi it of t uth, is o e, He ill guide ou i to all t uth: He shall glo if Me (John 16:13-14). He ould do this e eali g God s Wo d to the ite s of the Ne Testament, just as He had for the Old (2 Peter 1:21). In His prayer to the Fathe, e o ded Joh, Ch ist p a ed fo us, sa i g, a tif the th ough th t uth: th o d is t uth (John 17:17). True worship is simply su itti g to a d doi g God s ill as ade k o His itte Wo d and the guidance of His Holy Spirit, thereby glorifying Christ. HMM
#29. The Finished Work They shall come, and shall declare His righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that He hath done this. (Psalm 22:31) This is the last verse of Psalm 22, the marvelous prophecy that describes so graphically the sufferings of Christ on the cross, a thousand years before the fulfillment. The preceding verse promises that this great event ill, lite all, e told a out the Lo d i e e ge e atio. Fathers would tell it to their children, teachers to their students, ge e atio afte ge e atio de la i g His ighteous ess. O e generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy ight a ts (Psalm 145:4). This prophecy has been wonderfully fulfilled for almost 2000 years as each generation of Christians tells the next generation the old, old sto of the suffe i gs of Ch ist, a d the glo that should follo (1 Pe 1:11), both of which are graphically foretold here in the 22 nd psalm. But this final verse especially stresses the fact that the work has ee o pleted. Its last o d, this, is ot i the o igi al He e, so the fi al state e t a tuall should ead He hath fi ished! The ost glorious aspect of the gospel message is that He has accomplished all that was needed to assure eternal salvation to everyone who would e e e a d tu u to the Lo d (Psalm 22:27). This last great prophecy was fulfilled when He cried out as He was d i g o the oss, It is fi ished! (John 19:30). Just as He had, long ago, p o ou ed that the hea e s a d the ea th e e fi ished (Genesis 2:1), completing His great work of creation, so on the cross He had finished the still greater work of redemption. What is left for us to do? Nothing, for He has finished it all! There is nothing we can do, either to create the world or to save our souls. We can only receive, in thanksgiving, what He has done. HMM
#30. The Gardens of the Lord When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which He entered, and His disciples. (John 18:1). As Jesus, after the last supper with His disciples, walked out with them, they soon crossed over a small brook and entered the little garden called Gethsemane. Eventually, He left the disciples and went farther into the garden alone for a time of solitary prayer. Perhaps He remembered how, long ago, He had walked in His first garden with Adam and Eve in beautiful fellowship. But then they had rebelled against His Word, and had to be expelled from the Garden of Eden, leaving Him alone there also (Genesis 3:8). As He prayed in Gethsemane, He knew that it would be only a few hou s efo e He ould e u ied i still a othe ga de, o e he ei as e e a et laid (John 19:41). He would be carried to a new tomb prepared in a newly planted garden by the loving hands of Joseph and Nicodemus, but then He would be alone once again. He had walked alone in the first garden, seeking His own; then had knelt alone in the second garden, praying for His own; and finally, was buried alone in the third garden after dying for His own. But e ause He a e to seek a d to sa e that hi h is lost (Luke 19:10), a d e ause He o e e li eth to ake i te essio fo the (Hebrews 7:25), afte pa i g the a ful p i e of ede ptio th ough His lood (Ephesians 1:7), all those who believe and trust Him will spend eternity in fellowship with Him in a beautiful garden city. He e flo s a pu e i e of ate of life su ou ded o oth sides the t ee of life, hi h a e t el e a e of f uits, a d ielded he fruit e e o th (Revelation 22:1-2), a d all ill e e good fo e e. HMM
#31. Without the Shedding of Blood And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. (Hebrews 9:22) It is strange that so many people object to the biblical doctrine of salvation through the shed blood of Christ. Even some evangelicals will argue that the blood is merely a chemical mixture, and that it was the death of Christ that was the price of our redemption. Che ist aside, the Bi le does i deed st ess that e ha e ede ptio th ough His lood, e e the fo gi e ess of si s (Colossians 1:14), that He has ade pea e th ough the lood of His oss (Colossians 1:20), a d that e a e o justified His lood (Romans 5:9). We receive His great work of propitiation that is His sacrificial death for our sins th ough faith i His lood (Romans 3:25). Why this emphasis on the shedding of His blood, which seems offensive to so many people? Could He not have been put to death in other ways drowning, stoning, asphyxiation, etc. ways not involving the ugliness of bloodshed? O e a spe ulate ith a hat if? uestio s, ut e ust go by the Word of God. It remains true, theologically as well as iologi all, that the life of the flesh is i the lood (Leviticus 17:11, also Genesis 9:4). The basic rationale of sacrifice the death of an innocent substitute to provide life for the guilty has centered from the beginning (when God provided coats of skin for the nakedness of Adam and Eve) on the spilled blood of sacrificial animals to atone for (that is to o e the si s of the o e i gi g the offe i g, u til fi all the La of God could be offered by God as o e sa ifi e fo si s fo e e (Hebrews 10:12). When the blood gushed from His pierced side, His spotless life was poured out at the foot of the cross, and the price of our redemption was fully paid. HMM
#32. The Faithful Lord But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. (2 Thessalonians 3:3) The Lord Jesus Christ has many wonderful attributes, not the least of which is His faithfulness. That is, He is believable and trustworthy, sure to do all He promises. He will keep us from the evil one and from ei g o e o e e il i ou li es, as p o ised i ou te t. Also, God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted that is, tested a o e that e a e a le (1 Corinthians 10:13). Why does He care for us so? In the first place, He is our Creator, and has a distinct purpose and ill fo ou li es. The efo e all ho a e His a safel o it the keepi g of thei souls to Hi i ell doi g, as u to a faithful C eato (1 Peter 4:19). He ill keep us to the e d; Paul said, I p a God ou whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of ou Lo d Jesus Ch ist. The follo s his o fide t assu a e: Faithful is He that alleth ou, ho also ill do it (1 Thess. 5:23-24). Even when we yield to the temptations along the way, and fall into si, He p o ises: If e o fess ou si s, He is faithful a d just to fo gi e us ou si s, a d to lea se us f o all u ighteous ess (1 John 1:9), because He has paid the penalty for all our sins, and He is a e iful a d faithful high p iest i thi gs pe tai i g to God, to ake e o iliatio fo the si s of the people (Hebrews 2:17). With such a faithful Savior and Lord, we surely ought to trust Him fully. In spite of this, we often doubt Him and His Word, but even this does ot ha ge His lo e to a d us. If e elie e ot, et He a ideth faithful: He a ot de Hi self (2 Timothy 2:13). I deed, God is faithful, ho e e e alled (1 Corinthians 1:9), for His very name is alled Faithful a d T ue (Revelation 19:11). HMM
#33. Our Hope Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope. (1Timothy 1:1) Paul, in his opening salutation to Timothy, makes it clear that the Ch istia s hope is ot just i Ch ist, ut is Ch ist! I the Ne Testa e t, the te hope does ot efe to so e ague ish, ut to a confident expectation of something (or someone) sure to come. It focuses especially on the promised return of Christ to complete His great work of redemption. It is spe ifi all alled the lessed hope: Looki g fo that lessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Ch ist (Titus 2:13). It is also a li i g hope, fo God the Fathe hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ f o the dead (1 Peter 1:3). Furthermore, since Christ is our hope, it is a saving hope. Fo e a e sa ed hope (Romans 8:24). It is a glorious and joyful hope. It e og izes the p ese t t uth of Ch ist i ou, the hope of glo (Colossians 1:27), so that e ejoi e i hope of the glo of God (Ro 5:2). It is not a blind hope but a reasonable hope, one founded on solid e ide e, a d e e elie e ust e ead al a s to gi e a a s e to e e a that asketh ou a easo of the hope that is i ou (Peter 3:15). Finally, this hope of the imminent coming of Christ, when at last e shall e like Hi, is a pu if i g hope, fo e e a that hath this hope i Hi pu ifieth hi self, e e as He is pu e (1 John 3:2-3). It also is a sta ilizi g hope, Whi h hope e ha e as a a ho of the soul, oth su e a d stedfast (Hebrews 6:19). I e e a, God hath lo ed us, a d hath gi e us e e lasti g o solatio a d good hope th ough g a e (2 Thessalonians 2:16). HMM
#34. No More Tears And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (Revelation 21:4) Surely this is one of the most glorious promises in the Bible! No more suffering, no more sorrow, no more death! In this present life, in this present world, every one of us must endure suffering and sorrow in various degrees, and eventually death. But our g a ious a io hath o e ou g iefs, a d a ied ou so o s a d e ause the LO D hath laid o Hi the i i uit of us all. He as ut off out of the la d of the li i g (Isaiah 53:4, 6, 8), and He endured for us the awful suffering of death on the cross. In dying, however, He defeated death, rose from the grave, and is o ali e fo e e o e (Revelation 1:18). Thus He can promise immortal physical bodies that will never die again to all who trust Him. How can He do such a thing? He shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according to the working he e He is a le e e to su due all thi gs u to Hi self (Philippians 3:21). The dead shall e aised i o upti le, a d e shall e ha ged (1 Corinthians 15:52). The believers of pre-christian days will also share in these blessings. The prophet Isaiah recorded a beautiful promise to them, as well as us, hu d eds of ea s efo e Ch ist a e to ake it possi le. He ill swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and rebuke of His people shall He take away from off all the ea th: A d it shall e said i that da, Lo, this is ou God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the LORD; we ha e aited fo Hi e ill e glad a d ejoi e i His sal atio (Isaiah 25:8-9). HMM
#35. The Father Testifies of the Son Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again. (John 12:28) This is the last of three remarkable occasions during the earthly ministry of Christ when God the Father spoke directly from heaven o e i g His o l egotte o. The fi st as at His aptis. A d lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased (Matthew 3:17; also, Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22). This thrice-recorded testimony was given primarily to the forerunner, John the Baptist, who said, A d I k e Hi ot: ut He that se t e to aptize ith ate, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptizeth ith the Hol Ghost (John 1:33). The second was to three chosen disciples at the transfiguration. Behold a oi e out of the loud, hi h said, This is elo ed o, i ho I a ell pleased; hea e Hi (Matthew 17:5). Years later Peter e alled, This oi e hi h a e f o hea e e hea d, he e e e ith Hi i the hol ou t (2 Peter 1:18). Finally, the Father spoke in the words of our text for the day, in direct response to the prayer of His Son, at the beginning of the final week before his crucifixion. The message was to His Son, but for the people. Jesus said, This oi e a e ot e ause of Me ut fo ou sakes (John 12:30), as He spoke of His imminent death on the cross. When God spoke from heaven, the message was to assure and encourage His own dear ones: John, the disciples, and Jesus Himself. But it has also become an exhortation to all people for all time. Jesus Ch ist is God s o, a d God is glo ified i Hi. Hea Hi! HMM
#36. Made In Christ But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. (1 Cor. 1:30) The G eek o d gi o ai, t a slated is ade i this verse, is most fascinating. It is rendered many different ways e o e, et., as ell as e ade. Most ofte it is si pl t a slated e. It asi all ea s egi to e, o e aused to e. It is e e applied to the o d of Christ in calling the u i e se i to ei g. All thi gs e e ade Him; and without Him was not anything ade that as ade (John 1:3). Thi gs hi h a e see e e ot ade of thi gs hi h do appea (Hebrews 11:3). It is frequently used also to denote the marvelous work of Christ in and on the believing Christian. As our text says, He becomes wisdom to us who lack wisdom; He is made our righteousness, although we were sinners; we who are unholy receive our sanctification in Him; and when we were lost, He became our rede ptio. But as a as e ei ed Him, to them gave He power to become same word, ginomai the so s of God (John 1:12). All that Christ is, we are made through His great sacrifice for us. Note some of the other things we are made in Christ, by His grace. We a e ade igh the lood of Ch ist (Ephesians 2:13). We are ade hei s a o di g to the hope of ete al life (Titus 3:7). We a e ade pa take s of Ch ist a d also ade pa take s of the Hol Ghost (Hebrews 3:14; 6:4). In fact, he e e ei e Ch ist, old thi gs pass a a a d all thi gs are become same word e (2 Corinthians 5:17). These wonderful attributes are given to us and appropriated right now by faith and will be accomplished in full perfection when Christ returns and e shall see Hi as He is (1 John 3:2). HMM