3/26/2018

Salvation is the gift of God to man, made possible through the meritorious work of Jesus Christ on the cross and through Holy Ghost conviction. It is separate from the Law and of works, and is effected by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing works that are acceptable to God. Godly sorrow works repentance and makes possible the experience of the new birth, and Christ formed within us is the Gift of eternal life.

Titus 2:11 (KJV) - For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

Romans 10:13-15(KJV) -¹³For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. ¹⁴ How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵ And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

Luke 24:47 (KJV) - And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Titus 3:4-7 (KJV) - ⁴ But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, ⁵ Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; ⁶ Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; ⁷ That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8 (KJV) - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

3/25/2018

Man is a created being, made in the likeness and the image of God, but through Adam’s transgression and fall, sin came into the world. Jesus Christ, the Son of God was manifested to undo the work of the devil, and gave His life and shed His blood to redeem and restore man back to God.  

Genesis 1:26-27 (KJV) - ²⁶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. ²⁷ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Romans 3:10, 23 (KJV) – ¹⁰ As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: ²³For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

1 John 3:8 (KJV) - He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Salvation is the gift of God to man, separate from works and the Law, and is made operative by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, producing works acceptable to God.

Ephesians 2:28 (KJV) - For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Romans 5:20 (KJV) - Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

Romans 5:1-2 (KJV) - ¹ Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: ² By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

3/24/2018

John 5:39 (KJV)
³⁹  Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

While reading my Bible today I came upon this verse. It matters not how many times you hear people say to read your Bible. It does not matter how many times preachers tell you to study your Bible and your Sunday school lessons. If you never do read, study or search the Bible.

In this verse we are told to “search the scriptures” not by an apostle or prophet, but by Jesus himself.

If we were to treat the Bible as if it were a diamond mine, where the more we dug around and turned the dirt the richer we would be. The more prepared we would be for what we have to face on a daily basis.

Let us make this year the year that we become “richer” in our Bible knowledge.

C.I. Wilson

3/23/2018

            The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired Word of God presenting to us the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of men, and constituting the Divine and only rule of Christian faith and practice.

2 Timothy 3:15-17 (KJV)
¹⁵  And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
¹⁶  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
¹⁷  That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

2 Peter 1:21 (KJV) For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 (KJV)
 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

We know that Jesus accepted the Old Testament as the infallible Word of God because of his statement found in Matthew 5:18; “one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. We know that Daniel prophesied about the “Catching away” of the Bride of Christ and the times that led up to it. Therefore we can all know and rest assured that both the Old and the New Testaments are the inspired Word of God.

Matthew 5:17-19 (KJV)
¹⁷  Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
¹⁸  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
¹⁹  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

3/22/2018

1 Peter 4:1-2

1. Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

2. That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.

Peter begins by reminding these Christians that Christ had suffered for them. So that, they could come into the fellowship of those who have a personal experience with the Lord. Further Peter stresses the fact that their Savior suffered in the flesh like as others. That he was not merrily a far off God, but a God who took on the nature of man that he might be the example for those who would follow him. He went through suffering, torment, pain and finally death. Why death, because without the shedding of blood there could be no remission of sin.

               Hebrews 9:22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

We know as we look at this again, that the blood of animals such as lambs (sheep), cattle, goats, doves could not be the supreme sacrifice that was needed. Their sacrifice was not special enough to pay the price that was needed for all mankind. The world had to have a savior of high enough degree to be able to cover or wash away the sins of the world. This does not mean as so many believe that when Christ died upon the cross, the sins of the world were forgiven. It means that when man, will come to Christ in humbleness, and repent and ask for the forgiveness of their sin that Christ can and will wash away their sin by his blood. Peter was there at the crucifixion. It was at the trial of Jesus that Peter denied the Lord three times. Whereupon Peter went out and wept bitterly, asking God to forgive him, of his sin, his spiritual weakness. As Peter is here trying to prepare these Christians for the future, what may lie ahead? I am firmly convinced that he was also thinking of the time when he also would go to the cross.

Used by permission of the Author: David Wilson