Understanding who Christ is as the Only Begotten Son of God helps us to know more about who we are in relationship to God the Father as well as to Jesus the Son of God. In one of the most quoted passages of the Bible, John 3:16, we find Jesus named as God's only begotten Son, but what does this mean and what does it have to do with us?
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God. Jesus Christ is the only one conceived of a human woman and God's Holy Spirit. God sent His Son in His own likeness to dwell on earth being fully God and fully man and to live a sinless human life in order to fulfill His plan for the redemption of mankind. Jesus was the spotless Lamb offered as a perfect sacrifice for the salvation of those who believe in Him as the Only Begotten Son of God.
4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born[a] of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.
The same Jesus who the world was created through, by, and for is the same Jesus who came down to live with us and save all who would believe in Him in faith. God sent Jesus to be both human and divine all at once, and to be the Way of salvation for all people. As the Only Begotten Son of God He is the only one qualified to accomplish the works necessary for the redemption of sinners.
9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
As the only Son born of God by His Spirit, Jesus is the heir of everything. Jesus Christ will reign over and judge the earth (Revelation 20:4-6), will open the scroll (Revelation 5:2-5), and everyone will one day bow to Him and confess He is Lord (Philippians 2:8-11). Those who believe in Him as the only Begotten Son of God will be with Him into eternity, and we will worship and serve Him gratefully.
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.
4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open [a]and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and [b]to loose its seven seals.”
8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
He is the firstborn, yet He is not a created being. He is one with God, is the image of God, and came down in the flesh so that mankind would dwell with God in the flesh for a little while, but He has always been and will always remain fully God. He experienced temptation, pain, and suffering as a man, but in His holiness and divinity He resisted all temptation, never once sinned, and obediently submitted to being the perfect sacrifice for all past, present, and future sins of the human race.
12 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God,
18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.
29 For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Those who believe in Jesus as the only Begotten Son of God through faith are adopted and grafted into the family of God and become brothers and sisters of Christ and to one another. We become children of God, and with this, we become coheirs with Christ, and will one day share in the promised inheritance of eternal life. We will be participants during judgment and will reign alongside Jesus, then be taken to dwell with God for eternity.
11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who[a] is the [b]guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world,[a] when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made [a]us kings[b] and priests to our God; And [c]we shall reign on the earth.”
Those who trust in Jesus Christ are in fellowship with God through and because of the blood of Jesus's sacrifice. His blood washes our sin away when we repent and believe in Christ by faith. Our names will be written in the book of life and we will be forgiven and blessed.
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of [a]God! Therefore the world does not know [b]us, because it did not know Him.
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, [a]“Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir [b]of God [c]through Christ.
6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.
Jesus became the sacrifice for all the sins of the world because the love of God for His people is so great and He knew we would never be able to redeem ourselves, but we must be made holy in order to be with God. When we believe in faith that Jesus is the only Begotten Son of God, Christ makes us holy by the washing of His blood and allows us to come into a personal relationship with God as sons and daughters. God's love for and desire to be with His creation is so great that He sent His Only Begotten Son to die in our place so that we may have eternal life with God if we believe in His Son.
18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He [a]made us accepted in the Beloved.
By becoming children of God and coheirs with Christ we are given the gift of God's Holy Spirit to be a guide and a comfort on our way to our eternal inheritance. He will teach, correct, convict, guide and remind us as we seek to live a life that pleases God in faith and obedient love. We will bear the fruits of the Spirit as evidence of true faith in Christ, and we will be blessed by the measure of our faith and fruits.
14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons[a] of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 [a]gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
15 “Be on your guard against false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. 16 You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.
As children of God saved by His grace through faith in the name of the Only Begotten Son of God, we are called to follow Christ, live a life worthy of the gospel, repent and turn from sin, strive toward holy living, and bring God glory in the ways we live. This should be done in gratitude, love, and faith. It should come naturally as the Holy Spirit works to transform us to become more like Jesus and less like our old sinful selves. None of this is done by us or in our own wisdom or strength, but only by the grace and power of God. God saves us, redeems us, and transforms us for His good pleasure and glory, out of love for His creation, when we choose to accept Christ as our personal Savior in faith.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
If you have trusted in Jesus as your Savior, lean into the Lord and seek a close and personal relationship with Him. Spend time with Him daily, make God a priority, and Christ-like living through faith and a desire to glorify God alone your heart's desire.
If you have never trusted in Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, I encourage you to invite Jesus into your life, repent of your sins, seek forgivenes from God, and accept Jesus as your Savior. It is a tough journey, but you are not alone!
If you once professed faith in Jesus and have strayed from His path, I encourage you to come to Him and repent, seek His forgiveness, and trust Him in faith again. Come back and continue to run the race with Jesus.
Those who earnestly seek His face and turn from their sin with a repentant heart will be forgiven. We would love for you to join us in the community for fellowship and encouragement. This life is meant to be lived alongside God as well as fellow believers. We are here for you! Join the community on Discord.
14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 [a]Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, [b]fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
If you have not accepted the grace of God and chosen to believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I encourage you to pray to God now and invite Him in, accept Jesus as the sacrifice for your sins, and repent of your sins. Submit it all to God, lay it at His feet, seek the forgiveness of God, welcome Him into your life, and believe that Jesus died and rose again to save you from your sins.
If you would like to learn more about salvation, you can find a couple of studies that may help here:
As we explore and study the names of Jesus throughout the Bible, we get to become more intimately familiar with His character, nature, power, and sovereignty. This is such a beautiful blessing for those who truly desire to know Christ and to know Him better over time and throughout life. The Lord of All reveals Himself to us through His Word and wants us to spend time growing in our knowledge of and relationship with Him.
36 He sent the message to the Israelites, proclaiming the good news of peace through Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all.
Acts 10 tells us about a Centurion named Cornelius who was a God-fearing man. God gave Cornelius a vision and told him to send for Peter, which he did. Peter also had a vision, then men came to invite him to the home of Cornelius, and he went. There was a law that Jewish people were not allowed to visit or associate with foreigners, but Peter obeyed the Lord in visiting Cornelius.
While Peter was staying with Cornelius he declared a very important lesson - that God shows no favoritism, but as Christ is Lord of All He is Lord not only of the Jews but of the gentiles. To us, this means that He is truly Lord of all, no matter where you come from, who your parents or ancestors are, who or what you know, what you have done - He is Lord over all of creation.
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The Lord of All died to save all
Because He is Lord of All, He also came and died to save all. In Philippians 2 we are encouraged by the Apostle Paul to adopt the same attitude as that of Jesus (Phil 2:5), and to be selfless and count others more important than ourselves. As Christ emptied and humbled Himself for the salvation of all, we must remember the conviction of Peter in Acts 10:42 that we are commanded to preach the gospel to all people. We are all His creation whom He sacrificed Himself on the cross to save us from the penalty for our sins. There is to be no favoritism, but we are to obey God and share His Good News with all of His creation.
8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross. 9 For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow— in heaven and on earth and under the earth— 11 and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Jesus Christ is Lord of All, on earth (those who live on this earth, G1919), in Heaven (those who dwell in the heavenly realms, G2032), and even under the earth (departed souls in the underworld, G2709). Eventually, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. This means that all of creation, in the physical and spiritual realms, will bow in honor and worship (G2578), and every tongue will confess, or acknowledge openly and joyfully (G1843), that Jesus Christ is truly Lord of All.
The Lord of All created all
Christ is Lord of All, and Creator of All. All things were created by, through, and for Him. He then came to dwell with His creation, and then die for the salvation of His creation. In Colossians 1 we learn that everything, seen and unseen, spiritual and physical, all was created by and through Him, and it was also created for Him. All of creation is under His authority and dominion.
16 For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him.
Faith in Jesus Christ as Lord of All is the only way to be saved from the penalty for our sins and be welcomed into the family of God, with the promise of eternal life with our Heavenly Father. In order to receive salvation, each person must in faith believe in Jesus and His saving works.
6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Again, there is no favoritism. Christ came and died for the sins of all of creation because He loves and wants a personal relationship with all of creation. All are given opportunities to know and believe in Jesus as their Savior, but only those who come to Him in faith will be saved. No matter who you are, where you come from, what you've done... Christ died to save you. He wants each of us to come to Him in faith and believe that He died to pay the debt for all of our sins.
10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
God has revealed Himself to all of creation. Christ died for the sins of all of creation to draw us all to the Father through Him, and all of creation are responsible for their responses to His revelations and promptings. He is Lord of All and wants to be in a relationship with us all.
20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,[a] in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
28 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
If you have not accepted the grace of God and chosen to believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I encourage you to pray to God now and invite Him in, accept Jesus as the sacrifice for your sins, and repent of your sins. Submit it all to God, lay it at His feet, seek the forgiveness of God, welcome Him into your life, and believe that Jesus died and rose again to save you from your sins.
If you would like to learn more about salvation, you can find a couple of studies that may help here:
The book of Luke opens up in a beautiful way, telling of Gabriel predicting the births of John the Baptist and of Jesus, the Son of God. We see beautiful examples of faithful people believing the message sent from God, and willingly accepting God's plan for the coming of His Son into the world. In the midst of this incredible story, we find another name of Jesus - the Son of the Most High.
32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”
Gabriel, an angel of the Lord, was sent to both Mary and Zechariah separately to tell them they would be parents by the grace and power of God. One child, Jesus, would be the Son of the Most High, and the other, John, would prepare the way for the Son of the Most High. While Zechariah, father of John the Baptist, doubted and was mute until John's birth, Mary believed and was blessed.
34 Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” [a]
35 The angel replied to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.
This is an extraordinary and vital part of God's story. The coming of the Son of the Most High into the world was carefully planned by the Most High Himself. He knew every detail, every step, every person involved, and knew exactly the responses, reactions, beliefs, and doubts of every one of them every step of the way.
Mary believed the message sent to her from the Lord by His messenger the angel Gabriel, and she gave great praise to the Lord. She counted this a blessing to be grateful for. She, in faith, accepted the will of God that she would bear the Son of the Most High, and bring the Messiah into the world.
Elizabeth and Zechariah both showed their faithfulness in naming John as Gabriel had told them, and Elizabeth's proclamations of her son even in the womb. Scripture indicates that they raised John as the Lord had called them to, and John eventually did what he was born to do - he prepared the way for the coming of the Son of the Most High God.
Power of the Son of the Most High
In the book of Mark we see this name of Jesus come up again, but from a very different source. Jesus was traveling to Garasenes and was approached by a demon-possessed man who the people of that town had not been able to subdue. As Jesus got out of the boat the possessed man ran and fell at Jesus' feet.
6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and knelt down before him. 7 And he cried out with a loud voice, “What do you have to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you before God, don’t torment me!” 8 For he had told him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”
9 “What is your name?” he asked him.
“My name is Legion,” he answered him, “because we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the region.
11 A large herd of pigs was there, feeding on the hillside. 12 The demons[a] begged him, “Send us to the pigs, so that we may enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs. The herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned there.
We see again another extraordinary example of the knowledge and belief in Jesus as the Son of the Most High, yet here we see that even the demons know and believe this of Jesus and fell at His feet terrified and begging. Jesus' mere presence provoked the demons and they begged to be cast into a herd of pigs rather than be cast away. The unclean spirits had to obey the Son of God, for the power of God dwelt in Him.
Importance of the Son of the Most High
We are called to have faith and believe in the Son of the Most High God. Believing the true identity of Jesus Christ is vital. When you believe that Jesus is, in fact, the Son of the Most High God who came to dwell on the earth, die as a sacrifice for our sins, and rise again to defeat death, and you accept Him as your Savior in faith, you are saved from the penalty of your sins and enter into the family of God. By faith, we are saved, and we are blessed children of the Most High God.
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons[a] of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Mary, who believed the news not only that the Son of God was coming but that she would give birth to Him, was an extraordinary act of faith. Elizabeth bore a son late in her life by the grace of God and obediently raised him as the Lord instructed. Even the demons believed Jesus to be the Son of the Most High God and obeyed Him. Each of us is called to have faith and believe that Jesus is in fact the Son of the Most High God so that by faith we may be saved by the grace of God.
15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God—God remains in him and he in God.
16 “For God so loved the world,[a] that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
If you have not accepted the grace of God and chosen to believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I encourage you to pray to God now and invite Him in, accept Jesus as the sacrifice for your sins, and repent of your sins. Submit it all to God, lay it at His feet, seek the forgiveness of God, welcome Him into your life, and believe that Jesus died and rose again to save you from your sins.
If you would like to learn more about salvation, you can find a couple of studies that may help here:
As the new year approached, I prayed over how to dive into our studies this year. I looked back at how we spent 2021 and where I see God leading this ministry. Last year we explored a different theme in scripture each month and it was an incredible year of studying God's Word. This year I am so excited to see how God will grow each of us as we explore a different name of Jesus every week. This week it is only fitting that we begin with His identity as the Beloved Son of God.
For the next couple of months, we are going to explore Jesus's identity as the Son of God before embarking on a journey through even more of Christ's identity and character. Each week we will learn more about another of His names that will help us come to know Jesus deeper. My goal for 2022 is to get to know Jesus Christ on a deeper and more personal level, making sure He is the focus and cornerstone. In order to do this, we will begin by learning about Jesus as God's Beloved Son, with whom He is well pleased.
17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased.”
As Jesus was getting baptized by John the Baptist, God declared His love for Jesus and the pleasure that Jesus brings Him. In getting baptized by John, Jesus was setting an example for all of us, and God declaring His love and pleasure for His Son shows us an example of how to also please God. We must follow the example of Jesus Christ in faith, and we therefore will please and glorify God.
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Being a Christian means you are a follower of Jesus Christ. Being a follower of Jesus means you have faith in Him and His works and you live by His example. Faith in Jesus is based on the belief that He is in fact the Son of God and that God sent Jesus, His Beloved Son, to be the Savior of mankind and pay the debt for our sins.
3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
By Christ, through Christ, and for Christ, all things were made. He has dominion over all of creation and, being fully God and fully man, was sent to reconcile mankind to God through His sinless life, willing death, and divine resurrection. God is well pleased with Christ who poured out His life to reconcile mankind to God and bring God glory. Faith in God's Beloved Son is the only way for mankind to be redeemed and enter a relationship with God. God wants a relationship with His creation, and our faith in Christ makes that possible because through our faith the blood of Jesus washes us clean.
16 For by[a] him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4 For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
Jesus willingly died for us because the debt of sin that all mankind owes is a debt none of us can pay. God sent Jesus Christ to pay the debt on our behalf, knowing we could never pay it ourselves, and also knowing it is only by His grace we could be redeemed to Him. He made a Way where there was no other Way, and that Way is through His Beloved Son.
20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.
God loved us so much that He sent His Son to die in our place so that we too may be sons and daughters of God, our Father in Heaven, and be in a personal relationship with Him through Christ our Savior. Through our relationship with God, we have access to Him and are given understanding so that we may come to know Him more and more, become more like Him, and eventually spend our eternity with Him.
16 For God loved the world in this way:[a] He gave[b] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
If we love God, we will also love Jesus, God's Beloved Son. If we have faith and believe in Jesus as the Son of God and sacrifice for our sins and repent we will be saved from the penalty of our sins. Through our faith in the Son of God, we enter into a personal relationship with the Father and become His children also, born of God. Everyone born of God can overcome the world by their faith in Jesus Christ because our faith is in Christ, who overcame the world.
As we learn and grow within our personal relationship with God through our true faith in Jesus Christ, we will be transformed, become more like Christ, grow in our understanding of the Lord and His Word, be equipped for the works which God has prepared for us to do, and be able to resist the temptations of this world through His power that now dwells in us.
Keep your eyes, mind, and heart centered on your Savior, and allow Him to fill you up and give you the strength to overcome this world and become more like Him every day. By this, we can learn how to please and glorify God through our faith in the Beloved Son of God, with whom God is well pleased.
Have you accepted the grace of God?
If you have not accepted the grace of God and chosen to believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I encourage you to pray to God now and invite Him in, accept Jesus as the sacrifice for your sins, and repent of your sins. Submit it all to God, lay it at His feet, seek the forgiveness of God, welcome Him into your life, and believe that Jesus died and rose again to save you from your sins.
If you would like to learn more about salvation, you can find a couple of studies that may help here:
I used to hear the word "justified" and think I didn't really need to understand what it meant. I felt like it was one of those big fancy words that only theologians with years of Biblical study behind them understood. I was content for a while with the milk stage of understanding, but over time God has worked on my heart and taught me how important it is for all of God's children to understand what it means to be justified by grace. The deeper concepts, truths, and theological topics found in scripture are not only for scholars but are for all of God's people to know and understand.
12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.
We have studied what the grace of God is and why we need it, and to understand grace deeper we should also strive to understand justification. Justification is hard for us to grasp on our own, but with God's help, we can soak in the glory that is God's wisdom given graciously to us.
Grace is a free and beautiful gift from God for all mankind. Through God's grace, we are offered salvation through Jesus Christ. By this salvation, we are made right with God. By our faith in Jesus, believing in His great works for the redemption of mankind, God "passes over" our sins, demonstrating His righteousness by forgiving us our sins.
23 For all have sinned and fall short of the[a] glory of God; 24 they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him as the mercy seat[b] by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed.
The original Greek word for justified in Romans 3:24 is dikaioō(G1344). This word is found all over the New Testament and means to declare or regard as righteous or guiltless, to be acquitted of charges, freed, and absolved. Justified means to be judged acceptable by God.
Why do we need to be justified?
Sinners cannot be in the presence of God, but through justification, our sins are forgiven and we are deemed acceptable to God and able to enter into a relationship with Him through faith. This redemption is a display of God's grace and mercy. Once justified, God sends us His Holy Spirit, who will then work in us, transforming us by His grace for His glory, sanctifying us for the works God has prepared in advance for us to do.
26 But the [a]Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
14 “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him may[a] have eternal life. 16 For God loved the world in this way:[b] He gave[c] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Through our justification, we can enter a relationship with God and receive His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit then works to sanctify us, transforming us to become more like God and less like our old selves. Justification adopts us into the family of God, making us co-heirs with Christ, and gives us the promise of eternal life with God. All of this is only by the grace of God, not by our own doing.
17 and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”
Being justified by grace we are forgiven of our sins, made right with God, enter into a relationship with Him, and receive the Holy Spirit who begins the work of sanctification, making us new creations for, by, and through the glory of God.
Have you accepted the grace of God?
If you have not accepted the grace of God and chosen to believe in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I encourage you to pray to God now and invite Him in, accept Jesus as the sacrifice for your sins, and repent of your sins. Submit it all to God, lay it at His feet, seek the forgiveness of God, welcome Him into your life, and believe that Jesus died and rose again to save you from your sins.
If you would like to learn more about salvation, you can find a couple of studies that may help here:
Pride is a dangerous thing, and certainly something no one wants to admit to. Knowing that pride began with Satan and influenced people all the wayback in the Garden of Eden tells us that pride is a tactic Satan is going to keep planting and using for his purposes. Humility is the opposite of pride. It is important to understand and know where it comes from as well in order to better identify pride, defeat it, warn against it and keep your heart clean of it. So, what is the source of humility and how can we identify it against the sin of pride?
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
God opposes pride. Scripture tells us that pride will bring destruction and will be broken down. If we choose to let pride grow in our hearts, fail to repent of it, and humble ourselves, we see examples from cover to cover that God will humble us Himself. How do we know, though, when we are in need of humbling? How do we know when God is warning us against pride?
5 In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”[a]
A great example in scripture can be found in Daniel. God had given Judah over to King Nebuchadnezzar, who took some young men captive to serve in his household. Among them were Daniel (renamed Belteshazzar), Mishael (renamed Meshach), Hananiah (renamed Shadrach), and Azariah (renamed Abed-Nego). They were sent into the care of the eunuchs. From there, they were in the epicenter of the gluttonous court of King Nebuchadnezzar.
In his humility and trust in the Lord, Daniel stood up boldly in the promises of God and watched as God fulfilled His promises. King Nebuchadnezzar continued in his self-serving pride and God constantly used Daniel to warn the king and encourage him. Again in pride, the king kept on in his sin. Just as God fulfilled His promises to save the humble again and again, He also fulfilled His promise that pride leads to destruction.
The sin of pride is a powerful tool the enemy uses and tricks us into believing we are greater than, know better than, can do better than God. Pride says "my way is best", and humility says "God's way is best".
When we remain in our pride, God will humble us. When we fail to heed God's warnings, He will humble us. When we fail to warn one another of the dangers of pride, we too are responsible because we choose to disobey God and not lead someone in the ways and promises of the Most High. He will humble us when we fail to place Him as the ultimate authority in every area of our lives, and the One who is worthy of all glory, honor, and praise.
7 “So you, son of man: I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; therefore you shall hear a word from My mouth and warn them for Me. 8 When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you shall surely die!’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood I will require at your hand. 9 Nevertheless if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have [a]delivered your soul.
Humility comes from God, and to humble ourselves is to be in submission to our Holy God, recognizing His power and authority. The point is to bring us to repentance.
Even at the threat of death, while the king was murdering those who didn't do as he commanded, Daniel stood up, stood out, and set himself apart for the Lord in faithful humility. He warned the king, the king made his choices, but Daniel was blameless and God protected him. The king was prideful and God cast him out in order to bring him to repentance. God absolutely expects the same of us, and will fulfill His promises in our lives as well.
Who are you most resembling in your life right now?
Take a look at this story of Daniel and King Nebuchadnezzar again and ask yourself the following questions:
Do you stand firm in the promises of God, even at great threat of danger, or do you seek to please the appeals and demands of people to avoid conflict or discomfort?
But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men.
Do you praise God in all circumstances, giving Him the glory, credit and honor, or do you take the credit for yourself, and praise yourself and things of the world instead?
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;[a]
Do you trust that God knows best even when we only see a piece of the situation, disagree or don't understand, or do you seek to control situations and rest on your own understandings instead?
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;
Trust God, humble yourself before Him, accept His correction, and obey His instruction. Pride comes before destruction, but God will bless the humble. Set the example for others around you, and encourage others in humility. Don't fall into the trap of pride and remain there, but if you fall in know that you can trust God to also fulfill His promise to forgive, redeem, and restore you.
Is pride a habit you need to kick?
I encourage you to pray wholeheartedly for God to reveal any unchecked pride in you, to clean your heart, restore you, and redirect your eyes in humility to God Almighty, our Mighty Promise Keeper.
Pride is an uncomfortable topic. It is something we can usually identify in others pretty easily, but we typically fail to see it in ourselves. Pride makes it easy to point fingers, to pass judgment, and frequently leads to unkindness and even slander. Pride ultimately leads to destruction if not checked and corrected. What are the signs of pride? How can we identify pride in ourselves, and why should we?
18 Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before [a]a fall.
Ever since mankind has been betrayed by the lies of Satan. In his pride, he desires to be like God, to be placed above God, and we are God's image-bearers whom God loves. We are who God sent His Son as a sacrifice for. Satan will do anything he can to lead us further and further away from God, and pride is his fuel and one of his weapons against us.
He also gives some statistics I was honestly sad to discover, that as of 2009 only 35% of American Christians believe Satan is real. The same enemy who brought division and lies between God and Adam and Eve does the same to you and me. In his pride Satan wants to steer us away from God, convince us that God is not real or at least that He is not good, all while hiding that he, too, is a very real enemy.
He knows that if we believe he is our real enemy then we will also learn the truth, that he has no power over us unless we let him because Jesus has already defeated him and will one day defeat him once and for all. His days are certainly numbered (Revelation 12; Revelation 19). In the meantime, he is working hard to separate as many people as he can from the Love and Truth of God, all fueled by his pride.
Satan is the source of pride in this world. In his pride, he plants seeds of prideful ideas and desires in our hearts that when allowed to grow give birth to sin and leads to division, death and destruction throughout our lives and our relationship with God.
15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
Satan is a very real enemy whose methods stem from his own pride and lead to our own sin from pride. His desires are to steal, kill and destroy all righteousness and godliness.
8 Be [a]sober, be [b]vigilant; [c]because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
Knowing that Satan is a real enemy and the source of pride means that we know what we are fighting against. Our enemy is not the guy who cut us off on the freeway, the neighbor who blocked your car in the driveway, the spilled coffee in your lap... the enemy, though, certainly wants you to think that it is God's fellow creations, image-bearers, and blessings that are to blame. He wants you to take on his own pride and point anywhere but him as the source of ill and evil around you. He wants to create division and destruction and lead you away from holiness and a right relationship with God.
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the [a]wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of [b]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
In Isaiah, we see a pattern that gives us a clear indication of pride. The "5 I will statements" refers to claims from Satan who wanted to be above God and like God. Satan wants to have God's power. In his pride, he thinks he could overthrow God and take His place, but fortunately for all of creation, God is God no matter what Satan thinks or does.
12 “How you are fallen from heaven, O [a]Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations! 13 For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north; 14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’ 15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the [b]lowest depths of the Pit.
Ask yourself these questions, and reference them back to those "5 I will statements".
Do you tend to think you know best, or that you should always handle things yourself?
Do you lean on your own council, ideas and desires?
Do you tend to put yourself before others?
Do you tend to follow your own path and plans?
Do you tend to trust yourself most and place your own desires as the most important?
How do you hold up? Are you lining up more with Satan's pride, or with faithful obedience to God?
It is not too late to turn from pride and seek to live as God has called us all to. It is not too late to give your pride to God, repent, and let Him clean your heart and renew your spirit.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
We are each responsible for our choices and responses to Satan's lies, and we are responsible for what happens with the seeds of pride he wants to plant in our hearts. We can choose to pretend this enemy does not exist, and to allow his influence over us, make excuses, point the finger, or even beat ourselves up - or we can take it all to God with a repentant heart, willing to surrender to His will and power in our lives, and accept His invitation into a relationship with Him through faith in Christ as your Savior. Once accepted, we must live in it. Let God in, and let His Spirit work in you to fight this sin and pride at its source and start.
Choose righteousness, repentance, and surrender every day. Choose to acknowledge this very real enemy, and also recognize our very real God who has power over all things, has defeated him already, and is our righteous Protector, Provider, and Promise Keeper. Choose to use the tools God has given us to fight against selfish pride and sin.
I encourage you to pray for God to reveal any pride in you that needs to be cleaned up. It hides in nooks, crannies, and crevices we don't think to look, but God sees it all and wants us to be His holy and blameless people. We will never be perfect, but we should be seeking to be more like Christ every day and less like our old selves. Shed the pride and let God truly be sovereign in your life.
Choose God today, and every day, and cast pride out at its source.
How can I pray for you?
How can we as a community pray for you, encourage you, and help you on this journey? Let us know in the comments or feel free to request a private prayer. I love to pray over my brothers and sisters in Christ!
Have you ever tried to run from God? Ever ignored what you knew God was calling on you to do, to go, to say? Ever disobeyed God outright and knowingly? In our culture, it's easy to make excuses to disobey God when He comes knocking. We want to remain in our comfort zone away from unwanted attention, conflict, conversations, or sacrifices. It feels easier to pretend it wasn't really God telling us to do what we really don't want to do.
1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it because their evil has come up before me.” 3 Jonah got up to flee to Tarshish from the Lord’s presence. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. He paid the fare and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the Lord’s presence.
When God told Jonah to do what he didn't want to do, Jonah ran away. Jonah 1:3 says he "got up to flee". Jonah's first reaction was one none of us want to admit is familiar.
When was the last time you fled from God?
What is it that God has called you to do that you are currently running from?
Jonah goes to great lengths and expenses boarding a ship going a totally different direction than where God told him to go. This is exactly what we do when we flee from God's instruction. When we go the other way and excuse our disobedience we board a ship sailing away from the safety of God's presence. We are fleeing from Him and the path He has been preparing us for.
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4 But the Lord threw a great wind onto the sea, and such a great storm arose on the sea that the ship threatened to break apart.
When Jonah boarded the ship, God hit it with a storm that almost destroyed the ship. When Jonah fled from God's plan, God came knocking again - the first time with His instruction, and this time it was with a warning. God could have destroyed the ship, but v. 4 says the ship "threatened" to break apart. God was getting Jonah's attention - but where was Jonah? Asleep in the bottom of the ship. The others on the ship found him and woke him up - much as we need at times.
How do you respond when God calls on you?
Sometimes we're so busy ignoring God's instructions that we miss the warnings and we need people to come and wake us up and call us out. We need God's warnings to remind us of what He has called us to do. Sometimes we need to be shaken awake by the reality of our disobedience.
14 So they called out to the Lord, “Please, Lord, don’t let us perish because of this man’s life, and don’t charge us with innocent blood! For you, Lord, have done just as you pleased.” 15 Then they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging. 16 The men were seized by great fear of the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. 17 The Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
One truly interesting thing is that God uses even our blatant disobedience for His glory. Here's Jonah, running from God's commands, and these pagan people wake him up, call him out, and you'd think that would be humiliating enough. Jonah then tells them to throw him into the sea to save them and owns up to his defiance against God. What's astounding is what happens as a result - we probably all know what happens to Jonah - he spent 3 days in the belly of a fish, but don't miss what happens to the others on the ship.
Verse 16 says "they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows." Because of Jonah's disobedience, he was in the right place, at the right time, which led to the right circumstances for these men to pledge themselves to the Lord recognizing Him as God. It certainly doesn't excuse Jonah, but this speaks to God's power and plans. God knows what we are going to choose, what we will and will not do, and He plans accordingly so that all things will truly work together for good.
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[a] for those who are called according to his purpose.
God knows when we are going to run from Him and His instruction
He knows when we will disobey His command, knows when He will need to give us warnings, wake us up and shake us out of our disobedience, and He also knows how to use all circumstances for His glory.
Jonah ended up spending a temporary period of 3 days in the belly of a fish, which reminds me of the temporary period of time I have come out of my own stupor brought on by defiance - you know, that phase where your heart is broken over the realization that you've defied God. In that period of time, just like Jonah, we are brought back to our knees and realize how great our God is, how good His commands are, and how much He cares and provides for us. God uses this not just for our own good, but we can't even fathom the ways He is using these times of discomfort for the salvation of others as well.
14 I perceived that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. God has done it, so that people fear before him.15 That which is, already has been; that which is to be, already has been; and God seeks what has been driven away.
Nothing we do can add to or take away from Him and His works. He knows what is ahead and what is behind. He knows what you are struggling with today, and knows the troubles behind and ahead of you. Whatever it is you are struggling with right now my prayer is that you surrender it to Him and trust Him to restore you and work out all that has been affected by your wandering away from Him. We try to make our plans but rest in the wisdom that God will establish every step according to His will. Let God it, and release your plans to His will for your life, no matter how uncomfortable it may be. His plans are always greater than anything we could even dream of or plan for.
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
Have you ever had a fight with your family? Ever had a friend walk away or betray you? These kinds of hurts are a different level of discomfort, yet everyone at some point in their life goes through pain like this.
Growing up I had an extremely rocky relationship with my family and had friends who beat me up on the playground at school. I moved between parents, eventually getting kicked out, then tossed to live with someone I’d once called a friend where I was betrayed in a way that will impact me for the rest of my life. I know the sting of unfathomable family feuds and betrayals from loved ones and friends, the people you trust most.
But would you change any of it if you could? Looking back, do you see nothing but the pain and discomfort, or is there something else there that makes you think twice about changing it all if you could? I asked myself over and over for years. No matter the incredible pain I’d endured for so many years, though, I look back now and don’t long to change it anymore. I did for a long time, not understanding, just hurting and wanting comfort, wanting relief. Sound familiar?
Joseph knew the pain of utter betrayal.
23 When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped off Joseph’s robe, the robe of many colors that he had on. 24 Then they took him and threw him into the pit. The pit was empty, without water. 25 They sat down to eat a meal, and when they looked up, there was a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were carrying aromatic gum, balsam, and resin, going down to Egypt. 26 Judah said to his brothers, “What do we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27 Come on, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay a hand on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh,” and his brothers agreed. 28 When Midianite traders passed by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for twenty pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took Joseph to Egypt. Genesis 37:23-28 CSB
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How could his family do this to him? His own brothers? His own blood? How could they have such hateful hearts? Such evil intentions? Against their brother? How could family treat family this way?
When we are in these moments where the agonizing questions flood our minds and no comforting answers come after them it is certainly an opportunity. In these moments we have a choice. I know, it sure doesn’t feel like it, but we always have a choice.
Choice #1: Let Satan in
In these moments we can let the darkness and the pain consume us. We can let it in, let it take hold, let Satan taunt us with his lies. Satan whispers to us “you’re not good enough”, “you’re unlovable”. He deceives us into believing that we deserve this pain, and he will tell us we’ll never feel anything but pain so we may as well give into it, may as well get used to it, may as well accept it and not fight it.
You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
Our most tempting choice is to give in, let Satan in, believe his lies, and this is a temptation all of us are familiar with to some degree. After telling the Corinthians of the need for self-discipline in a city wrought with sin and idolatry, flooded with temptations of various kinds, Paul encourages the Corinthians, as well as future generations of Christians, that God will always provide a way out of temptation.
Every temptation we face has an exit ramp.
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
The exit ramp for every temptation is to let God in, to choose God, to trust God’s truth. We cannot fight temptation by our own strength. We cannot fight Satan alone. This is spiritual warfare that requires the spiritual weapons, armor and presence of our Holy God.
11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
In letting God in we let Him take control, let His Spirit indwell, and let His Word speak truth to our soul. Letting God in lets Him refresh, restore and refill us. He is the solution to temptation. It is by His strength, truth and grace we are healed, comforted and saved. He gives us all that we need, which includes His own armor to fight off the schemes of the devil and resist the temptation of sin and the lies Satan wants us to believe; to resist letting Satan in.
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
When we are faced with pain, discomfort, and uncertainty in life, we have a choice. We can choose to believe the lies and let Satan in, let him destroy us from the inside out, or we can choose faith - even faith the size of a mustard seed - fight through each test and trial, resist the schemes and temptations of the devil, and grow through our circumstances like we see Joseph do.
Throughout Genesis 37-50 we see Joseph suffer greatly, but through it all he trusted God. He knew God would provide, and even if he doubted every once in a while as people do he remained diligent in his faith and we later see him rise to a position in which God used him in unimaginable ways.
Joseph went through heartbreaking betrayals and painful circumstances that seemed to make no sense at the time and later in his story we get to look back and see how each step was an opportunity for Joseph to make a choice. God gives us opportunities to trust him, to keep faith in His plan even when we can’t see past our pain, to grow through the discomfort.
You have to get uncomfortable so that you can grow.
No matter the pain you are going through God is not far from you. He sees you, He hears you, He is still providing for you, protecting you, and loving you.God is still good even when our circumstances don’t feel good. Trust in Him to carry you through this and stop trying to do it in your own power, with your own ideas, in your own time. Lift up your worries to the one who will never leave you nor forsake you.
6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
10 fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
What can the Apostle Paul teach me about persecution?
The Apostle Paul is such an interesting historical figure. He became one of the primary people led by the Holy Spirit to write so much of the New Testament. Before this, he was a deadly prosecutor of followers of Jesus. In Acts 9 we read about Jesus blinding Paul and told him to stop persecuting Him. Jesus then sent him on a mission. He had an extremely dramatic conversion to following Jesus and his life certainly never ceased being dramatic.
17 Now from Miletus, he sent to Ephesus and summoned the elders of the church. 18 When they came to him, he said to them, “You know, from the first day I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time, 19 serving the Lord with all humility, with tears, and during the trials that came to me through the plots of the Jews. 20 You know that I did not avoid proclaiming to you anything that was profitable or from teaching you publicly and from house to house. 21 I testified to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.
22 “And now I am on my way to Jerusalem, compelled by the Spirit, not knowing what I will encounter there, 23 except that in every town the Holy Spirit warns me that chains and afflictions are waiting for me. 24 But I consider my life of no value to myself; my purpose is to finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.
22 I remained personally unknown to the Judean churches that are in Christ. 23 They simply kept hearing, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith he once tried to destroy.”
Paul is one of my favorite people in scripture. He went boldly wherever the Lord called. The Apostle said what he needed to say, and did the work God led him to do. He was a bit harsh when it was necessary, and gentle in the right moments as well. He learned, by the Holy Spirit, to minister to different people groups in different circumstances. There is so much to learn about how to live as Christ and minister to the world around us. We should never have shame about our faith or the mission we have been given.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek.
One of my favorite things is that he led such a life of turmoil but understood that there was a purpose for all of it. Paul understood that his reward was not here, but was awaiting him in Heaven. He understood what it meant to be truly persecuted for the sake of Jesus. Even still, he kept sharing the Gospel and didn’t run from it. He embraced discomfort, pain, imprisonment. Paul kept on in his God-given mission. He kept trusting in the Lord to use his painful circumstances for His glory.
How did Paul respond when life was difficult?
Paul is an incredible example of growing through discomfort. He teaches us so much about placing Jesus as our reason, priority, and mission. He shows us the depths we should be willing to go through, the lengths we should be willing to travel. He exemplifies the pain we should be willing to endure to further the mission and truth of the Gospel. We are called to get uncomfortable so we can grow. That can’t be done if we stay in our little bubble of protection. We cannot grow in faith if we never act in faith, or only leap when it is convenient.
19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.
Paul says in Acts 20:24“I consider my life as no value to myself;” - he understands his life belongs to the Lord. He goes on to say “my purpose is to finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.” Friends, fam in Christ, we all share this exact mission. God has given you a mission to testify to the gospel. Our shared mission is to share His Word. We should plant seeds of faith into as many hearts as He gives you the opportunity to. Our lives are not our own.
How can I grow spiritually when life is hard?
My life is the Lord's. I give myself over to Him every day, moment by moment. It's a choice to seek His guidance in whatever pains and joys He brings me through. I strive to serve, honor, glorify and testify every chance I get. I don’t always get it right, I never will, but I surrender again and again to His plan. He reminds me that His plans are bigger than me and I am blessed to be a part of them.
14 Do everything without grumbling and arguing, 15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world, 16 by holding firm to the word of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing.
Next time you read Paul’s letters take a look at how he gives his life over to be used for the Lord. Don't let pain, persecution, difficulty, or discomfort stop you. Don't put His plans on pause, or make excuses to avoid what God has called him to do.
7 Don’t be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a person sows he will also reap, 8 because the one who sows to his flesh will reap destruction from the flesh, but the one who sows to the Spirit will reap eternal life from the Spirit. 9 Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.
Check out our reading plan that walks you through all of the Epistles of Paul. Be encouraged by the lessons we can derive from this collection of letters.
I don't know about you, but one common misconception I hear about Christianity is that becoming a Christian means life is automatically easier. People seem to believe that it's like a switch that you flip and the troubles turn off. People often believe that you don't struggle anymore once you become a Christian. This common worldview is held by so many, but is not Biblical and therefore not true. The story of Ruth tackles this beautifully.
Christians still suffer. We still struggle. We still go through uncomfortable and even painful circumstances. Christianity is a way of life. It's a belief. Its faith in our Maker and Savior. What we experience is not about us. Our lives are about Jesus. We are called to follow, imitate, grow in relationship with, and likeness of Christ.
For you were called to this, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
Christ suffered, therefore you can count on suffering as well. Suffering and discomfort are not things to avoid, though. Trials can teach us, grow our faith and reliance on Him, and lead us to become more like Christ all the time. Discomfort and even pain should draw us closer to the throne of God and the way He wants us to live and away from sin and selfish ambition.
The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, strengthen, and support you after you have suffered a little while.
3 And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, 4 endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. 5 This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Scripture is filled with examples of people, just like you and me, who were plopped right smack into uncomfortable and even painful situations. Two such people were Naomi and Ruth. Naomi had lost her husband then her sons. She was left to fend for herself which was an incredible challenge and danger.
2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
Naomi instructed Orpah and Ruth, her daughters-in-law, to go back home to their families. Ruth and Orpah would be taken care of if they went home to their families. This would leave Naomi completely on her own. Naomi, knowing this, willingly told these women to leave her behind to deal with the struggles of being a woman alone in Biblical times, thinking the Lord had turned against her.
11 But Naomi replied, “Return home, my daughters. Why do you want to go with me? Am I able to have any more sons who could become your husbands? 12 Return home, my daughters. Go on, for I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me to have a husband tonight and to bear sons, 13 would you be willing to wait for them to grow up? Would you restrain yourselves from remarrying? No, my daughters, my life is much too bitter for you to share, because the Lord’s hand has turned against me.” Ruth 1:11-13 CSB
Doesn’t that sound so familiar?
How does Ruth encourage us in times of suffering?
It's easy to feel like God has turned on us when we’re faced with difficult and painful circumstances. This woman had already lost her husband, and now both of her sons are dead as well, and she thinks God has turned on her and becomes bitter. I can think of plenty of times in my life my mind went down this train of thought during a time of despair. It’s easy to be blinded by grief, pain, and discomfort and fall into bitterness.
The beautiful thing, though, is that no matter how we feel or what we think, God’s promises never change, never fail, and God is always faithful. We can rest in God’s truth. God reminds us that we are never alone and that painful circumstances are opportunities.
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How is Ruth an example to us?
Naomi tells Ruth to leave her behind, but Ruth “clung to her” (v. 14). Again, Naomi feels so much like how I would likely respond - she tells her to go again, urging her to go make a better life for herself, but Ruth… Ruth stays. Not only does Ruth stay but she declares something incredible to her mother-in-law.
14 Again they wept loudly, and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her. 15 Naomi said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods. Follow your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth replied: Don’t plead with me to abandon you or to return and not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live; your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17 Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me, and do so severely, if anything but death separates you and me. Ruth 1:14-17 CSB
Ruth chooses a life of discomfort. She chooses to declare herself to Naomi, no matter the cost, even until death. Even more incredible, she leaves her people’s religion behind and chooses God, Yahweh, Naomi’s God, our God, the God of Israel. Ruth chose to change her entire life not knowing what may be ahead, but knowing it would be filled with hardship.
Ruth tackles her circumstances head on choosing the more difficult path because she knows it is right. She clearly understands what we miss so often - sometimes the hard thing and the right thing are the same thing. She doesn’t shy away, she heads toward it faithfully, boldly.
What should I do when life hurts?
May we have that kind of faith, that kind of boldness, that kind of dedication to God. May we be so committed to the way of the Lord that we are unafraid, unflinching, and choose to go full steam ahead wherever the Lord is leading. Trust Him to guide, carry, strengthen, provide and grow you through any circumstance. Trust in the Lord to keep His promises and to be with you always.
Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For the Lord your God is the one who will go with you; he will not leave you or abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:6 CSB
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 CSB
Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff—they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 CSB
Our world has many ideas and opinions about angels. According to CBS News in 2011, 8 in 10 American adults believe in angels, including non-religious people. According to ABC News in 2008, more than half of adults believe in some sort of guardian angel. Typically angels are described as the little cartoon depictions with wings and harps, and are believed to give some kind of divine message or protection to people on earth. Just like anything else, we should filter our understanding of angels through the Word of God to seek His truth on the matter.
Based on the Word of God we know that angels are created beings (Psalms 148:2-5) and are sent by God as messengers. We see many occasions in which God sent angels to earth to deliver messages to people or perform a specific task, such as when Gabriel came to Mary, the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:26-38), and also when angels came to deal with the corruption of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 18-19). The general purpose is always to declare and promote God’s will. Angels also interact with both man and beast, as we see in the case of Balaam’s donkey in Numbers 22.
Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts! Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the LORD! For he commanded and they were created.
Angels are supernatural creations that dwell in the spiritual realms, praising and serving Jesus, whom they were created for and by. Because they dwell among the spiritual realms they are typically unseen by humans, but when they do show themselves by God's divine instruction their identity is often hidden from our understanding at the time so that we do not know when we "are entertaining angels." They obey the Lord and do the work He calls of them, and live to serve and worship God.
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea,
Scripture explains how God used Jesus in the creation process, and Colossians 1 explains that all things were created by, through, and for Jesus, on earth and in heaven, which would include the angels. By nature angels are typically holy, but there are also “fallen” angels such as Lucifer.
In scripture we see some named angels, Michael and Gabriel, and we see other potential angels such as various heavenly creatures, cherubim, and Nephilim, as well as a special kind of angel, the Angel of the Lord. Angels, unlike God, are not omnipotent, omnipresent, or omniscient. They only possess the abilities that God permits, and different types of angels seem to have different functions and purposes.
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He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—
Angels are supernatural, heavenly, created beings that were created by and for Christ before the creation of mankind, do not marry, and have greater power than humans, as we see throughout scripture. We also know that one day Christians will participate with Christ in the judgement of the angels on the Day of the Lord. We don't know what the means or looks like, but by this we can perceive that angels are held accountable to God as well as mankind as fellow creations of our Creator.
Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
There is much to behold about angels throughout Scripture, such as the different types and functions of angels, the specifically named angels, and even the Angel of the Lord. Knowing the basics is vital before diving into deeper knowledge about angels in order to grasp a better understanding of what God has revealed to us about these fellow creations.
There are many callings a follower of Christ may have in their life, but one, in particular, is shared between us all. This shared calling is so important, so special that we should all long to band together to tackle it with the utmost importance in our lives, and the utmost care to do it properly. We should have a true desire to grow in our wisdom and faith in order to ensure we're doing the best job we can and utilizing every bit of resource and knowledge available to us. We should be so filled with gratitude, awe, and unexplainable love that we can't help but press forward in this calling no matter what. This is the way each follower of Christ should approach obedience to the will of God.
“But if you carefully obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.
The unfortunate truth is that we live in a fallen, broken, sinful world that is filled with temptation at every turn. This sinful lawlessness is deceptive yet alluring to our humanness. This sin separates us from God, but because of sin God sent Jesus Christ to be the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of all mankind allowing those who choose to accept Him as their sacrifice to come into a relationship with God and no longer be separated from Him.
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
And said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
God calls on us to come to Him with a repentant heart and to atone, or be reconciled to God, through the forgiveness of our sins. This forgiveness is made available through accepting salvation offered by the blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ. When we come to God in love, obediently bringing our sins to Him for forgiveness with a truly repentant heart, desiring to be in a right relationship with Him, and accept Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins, we are then justified by faith, which comes from a heart of submissive obedience to the Lord.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
It is through Christ Jesus that we have salvation, and through the grace found in Christ Jesus that we are saved. There is only one mediator between us and God, only one way to heaven. His grace is not something that we can earn and can only be obtained through faith in Christ Jesus.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Obedience to God also includes the constant and mindful study of His Word. It is through His Word that we find help in times of trouble and encouragement when we are feeling low. His Word is alive and active, teaching, correcting, and speaking to us.
The Holy Spirit promises to bring to memory the lessons and messages we are taught and to guide our lives to be in obedience to God but we must learn to listen to Him. Learning to turn aside from our own understanding and lean into God to provide for all our needs is an act of obedience and one that strengthens our relationship with Him as well as causing our faith to grow exponentially.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”
But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’
How does my relationship with God grow with my obedience?
Our relationship with God grows as we learn to come to Him in all things, through prayer, and work to align our hearts with His will. Scripture promises us that when we are aligned to the will of God that He will provide for the desires of our hearts. God is not a genie that we can simply ask for wishes and He will grant them. God does what He knows is best for us. While we can ask for all things, we need to understand that if God is saying no, or wait, it is because He knows what is best for us.
Learning to submit to God’s will is another form of obedience as we learn to cast aside the desires of our flesh and place God on the throne of our hearts, His rightful place. The peace that we receive is beyond human understanding, is not related to our circumstances, and can be obtained as we live in obedient faith.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
Faith, hope, and love are at the heart of Christian values. We receive them from God and are called to continue to live in obedient faith by sharing God’s truth and blessings with the world.
Our relationship with God begins with faith, which helps us to recognize that we are freed from the sins of our past by Christ’s death and resurrection. Hope grows as we learn more about God’s love for us, that He has promised to be with us in all things, and that this life is not all there is.
We can rejoice in the fact that no matter the trials that come, nothing can separate us from the love of God when we place our faith and hope in Him. Jesus provided us with the greatest commandments of all time; the first is to love God with all our hearts, minds, and strength. The second is to love others as Christ has loved us.
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Developing and growing our faith is an exercise of obedience that God calls for from all those who are known by His name. We must learn to listen to the Holy Spirit and to respond to the promptings that He provides which requires effort and intent. A personal relationship with God, through Christ our Savior, facilitated through the Holy Spirit is the only way in which we grow in obedience as faith is obtained through willful submission to God’s will.
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Obedience is a personal choice
We cannot find obedience through the faith of our parents, our friends, or our church leaders. Faithful obedience is developed only through a willing heart and spirit to do as God commands. Faithful obedience is like a child submitting to the discipline of his father, not the actions of a slave submitting to his master. A slave does not know the coming and goings of his master nor does he understand the methods by which his master conducts his business.
When we submit to Christ, we are adopted into the family of God and become His children. God disciplines those He loves and when we accept that discipline with a willing heart we learn to be obedient in conforming to His will and are blessed. We will be disciplined in order to help us conform to the will of God and obtain His blessings, and we also will undergo trials and suffering that can test and grow our faith and obedience to His will.
Rejoicing in our sufferings does not mean that we celebrate the trials but rather that we can place our faith and hope in a saving God, one who promises to never leave or forsake us when we follow His commandments with obedience and trust. We can find hope in that God works all things to His glory and for those who love Him.
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Endurance, or “perseverance”, is the ability to continue on without giving up, remaining obedient to the call and command of our loving Heavenly Father. It does not mean that life will be trouble-free, but that through our obedient faith in God, He will continue to strengthen us for the trials we will face.
God is using the trials and attacks that we face in this life to create a stronger faith within us which deepens our relationship with Him and instills an even greater sense of hope for the future. The more we submit to Him and His will in faith and love, the deeper He can work within us.
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Character, also translated as “proof”, is used in the concept of the purification of metal. As the metal is heated, the impurities found within are brought to the surface and cast off causing the metal to become stronger. Self-discipline is necessary for perseverance, which leads to a change in habits, a transformation of character, and becoming more Christ-like.
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Through the Holy Spirit, we are intimately connected with God at all times, we can receive revelation and guidance directly from Him through prayer and the reading of His Word. Prayer is our personal communication with God and through the Holy Spirit, we can receive revelation and understanding of God’s desires and will for our lives.
When we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Redeemer, the Holy Spirit comes upon us to dwell in us, guiding and helping us throughout our life. When we don’t know what to pray for, or we lack the words to express ourselves, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with wordless groanings. Through the Holy Spirit, we are convicted of our sins, allowing for us to humble ourselves before Him and seek forgiveness.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
According to God’s plan, in His scheduled time Christ came, died, and was resurrected so that all people may be saved and reconciled to Him. Christ died for all people, but in order to receive that salvation, we must faithfully accept His sacrifice for our sins out of love and obedience to Him, fully intent on turning from our life of sin into the new life He gives us in Him.
Through faith in Christ, being justified before God, we are saved from the wrath of God. Jesus stepped in and took the punishment that we should have received. Through accepting the resurrection of Christ, we are also raised again - saved from the eternal separation from God that sin requires. Just as surely as Christ took our punishment, He has secured our future in heaven with God if we choose to accept Him in faith, love, and obedience to Him.
Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Jesus taught us through a parable just how our obedient faith works. In this parable, Jesus is the Vine and God the Father is the gardener. We become the branches that the gardener prunes in and out of season, preparing us to bear more fruit in abundance. We cannot bear fruit if we are not connected to the vine and branches, and those that do not produce good fruit are cut off and cast into the fire. Jesus concludes that when we keep His commandments the fruits of the Spirit will become evident in our lives. We are not saved because of our works, but our works are evidence of our saving faith and obedience to Him.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
What is redemption? This is easily one of the most challenging questions to answer, but the answer is also so incredibly simple. The entirety of scripture is God’s glorious story of the redemption of His people. When He created mankind, they quickly fell into temptation, became corrupted in sin, and God placed a curse on mankind as the consequences for their folly. Fortunately, He also has a plan to redeem His people and bring them back to Him.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
If God knew what was and is going to happen, why would He carry out His incredible plan? A simple answer is that while we have limited understanding He has infinite understanding and knows how to work all things together for the good of those who love Him. God knows the beginning and the end, He knows all of eternity, and wrote the whole thing - but there is one more very important detail: He gives us the free will to choose Him or not choose Him, and also provides that Way to that freedom.
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:1-6 ESV
We have to choose the redemption and salvation He offers. He does not force it on anyone, but because He knows all of eternity, He also knows what we are going to choose and has planned ahead, knowing the choices we will make along the way. While He does not force us He does work in our lives to draw us into Him, revealing Himself to us in different ways, so that we may know Him and choose Him. Whatever we do choose, He works into His plan and nothing we could ever do could thwart His plans. He works all things out for the good of those who have been “called according to His purpose,” even the broken, sinful choices that mankind makes in their lives.
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 ESV
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 ESV
So, if our choices don’t negate God’s plans, why should we care about His redemption? We are designed by Him, for Him, to be in relationship with Him, and before we are redeemed by the salvation of Jesus, we are separated from Him and enslaved by our sin. Through redemption we are set free from our sins and can be in a relationship with Him, reaping the benefits of being called by His name. Through this redemption, He offers we can enter into our rightful place as His children.
Who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Titus 2:14 ESV
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 ESV
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, Ephesians 1:7 ESV
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 ESV
I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you. Isaiah 44:22 ESV
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 ESV
So, what is redemption and how are we redeemed? Redemption is God choosing to deliver mankind from bondage to sin. God offers us the free gift of forgiveness when we come to Him with a pure heart of repentance, willful seeking to atone for the sins we have committed against Him, and accept the salvation He provided through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through repentance, we completely change our minds and turn away from our sinful way of life and seek atonement, or reconciliation, with our Heavenly Father. To break it down, repentance and willful atonement are required to receive God’s gift of forgiveness, and restoration and redemption are the results of God’s gift of forgiveness. Through all of this, we can come into a relationship with our Heavenly Father, who then gives us the gift of His Holy Spirit to teach and guide us in His will, and begin to reap the blessings of being in a right relationship with Him. We are freed from the guilt and power of sin in this life, allowing us to freely love and serve God, but we will not know the full power of His redemption until the resurrection of the dead.
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. John 8:31-34 ESV
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 ESV
And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21:27-28 ESV
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What should we do once we have accepted salvation and been redeemed by God? Once saved, we are called to live as Christ, to live a life of service to Him who has redeemed us, and to glorify and honor God in all our ways. God is the Creator of all living things, from the very beginning all the way through eternity. He created the human race, forming us as the potter forms the clay and when we are redeemed we are made new in Christ and completely transformed. We are called to always be learning and developing faith and trust in Him through fervent prayer, time in His Word, and fellowship with His people to grow in our knowledge of Him and the life He calls us to, and to grow and strengthen the Body of Christ.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 ESV
then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature. Genesis 2:7 ESV
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 ESV
Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it: Isaiah 42:5 ESV
God created and formed us to worship Him out of love for Him. He desires to draw us into a relationship with Him, meeting us where we are, sin, brokenness, and all. God provided the way to return to Him through His Son, Jesus Christ, and it is out of His love for each of us, even while knowing all of our sins and transgressions, that we are called back to Him to be redeemed and restored to our right place in relationship with our Heavenly Father. Once redeemed we are called by His name, being reborn as Children of God. Through His salvation we are made free, receive His Spirit, and can live as Christ in the new life and identity He has given us.
If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV
Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 ESV
Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you, And people for your life. Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, And gather you from the west; I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’ Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth— Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.” Isaiah 43:4-7 NKJV
But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. 1 Peter 3:4 ESV
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12-13 ESV
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. Ephesians 2:19 ESV
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 1 John 3:1 ESV
Doubt is a dangerous thing. Doubt is not only doubting the existence of God, but also doubting His power, promises or presence. Doubt can creep in out of nowhere when we least expect it, and in ways we don’t recognize as doubt. I sometimes find myself stressing out, anxious, panicked, and crumbling and in these times I have realized I was not putting my shield of faith up to combat those pesky flaming arrows the enemy was launching my way and so many of them stuck, setting my doubts ablaze.
In preparing ourselves for the fight against doubt we must remember that we are all in the midst of spiritual warfare. Once you see this you begin to identify the flaming arrows of lies, folly and deception. The enemy and his tactics are very real; he is the king of lies and once you see that he is attempting to use your weaknesses to trap you it takes away his power and makes it easier to focus on God to help you fight back. It opens your eyes to see that you have a defense given to you by the King of Glory to combat these attacks and the doubt that it brings.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:10-13 ESV
In scripture, we are described as “double-minded” when we face doubts, which we see James explain as someone who doubts and is “unstable in all his ways”. James not only bluntly explains doubt but also that drawing near to God is how we combat doubt. Through seeking God and rededicating our whole self to Him we equip ourselves against this doubt and make our way back to Him and His truth.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. James 1:5-8 ESV
There are several key ways to draw near to God and commit ourselves to him again and again. Through prayer we have a direct line of communication with Him, and through His Word we get to learn more about Him and His will, and He equips us with the wisdom and strength we need.
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4 ESV
What the enemy also wants us to miss is the importance of edification, fellowship and discipleship. Through these tools that God provides for us we can stand against doubt, shoulder to shoulder with fellow believers as we work together to combat the attacks of the Adversary.
Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. Ephesians 6:14-20 ESV
Prayer
Prayer is personal, heartfelt communication with God. It is not getting God to do whatever we want Him to do, but asking Him to do whatever He has planned, to help us through all trials and tribulations in this fallen world, and praise Him for all that He does and will do for us. Praise is prayers of gratitude to Him and can remind us of all that He has already done for us, reminding us there is no reason to doubt Him and His faithfulness. Praying to God in times of suffering is vital to keep the communication and connection going with God. When you are not praying, you are not connecting with God. When you are not connecting with God, you create room for doubt to come in.
There are two different types of God’s will. The unconditional will of God is when God will do what He knows is right no matter what. The conditional will of God is when God waits for human involvement, cooperation or response toward His desires and design. We never know if we are facing a conditional or unconditional will of God, and we must pray at all times so that we may communicate with God about things we want Him to change on earth if it is His will. Being in constant communication with Him through prayer helps us align with and accept whatever His will is for us, conditional or unconditional.
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 ESV
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 ESV
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 ESV
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33 ESV
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. James 5:13-16
Answers to prayers don’t often come in the ways we anticipate, and we must remember that God is in control even when we don’t understand the circumstances, answers to our prayers, or what seems like a lack of answers to our prayers. We should remember to pray for God to help us align with His will and plans, and to help us accept and obey whatever His will is for us even if it doesn’t make sense.
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. James 1:6 ESV
And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. Matthew 14:28-32 ESV
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Romans 8:26 ESV
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41 ESV
Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Hebrews 13:15 ESV
With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord; I will praise him in the midst of the throng. Psalm 109:30 ESV
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Fellowship & Discipleship
Fellowship and discipleship both play pivotal roles in the lives of all Christians. God created us for relationships, and being in relationship with fellow believers helps us to build a stronger defense against the tactics of the enemy. Fellowship is essentially to be in relationship with fellow believers, doing life and growing in faith with one another, while discipleship is often more of a mentorship relationship between those who are newer in faith and those who are more mature in their faith in order to help one another grow on a deeper level. Both are designed to help all Christians grow in faith, edify one another, encourage one another in faith, life and prayer, and should help bring us closer in relationship to the Father through our relationships with His people, rightly prioritizing God in all aspects of our lives.
In English we may say fellowship or friendship but in the original Greek, koinōnia refers to the concept of communion or fellowship. This is an active, ongoing relationship between those who share similar beliefs.
Fellowship can happen in lots of ways and is not limited to the corporate gathering of believers within a church building. While the purpose for gathering together to worship is to unite followers of Jesus in Biblical beliefs we should fellowship within our church, but should also have fellowship in our day-to-day lives where we spend most of our time as well. Some examples being with close friends, family, and within our hobbies and gaming communities. Surrounding ourselves with others that believe and affirm Biblical teachings allows for a defense to be raised around those who are in an earlier stage of faith by providing strong relationships with those who are more grounded in their faith. As fellowship grows, the stage is set for discipleship to begin.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV
Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17 ESV
Discipling is when someone with a more mature faith personally comes alongside someone who has less experience or understanding in their faith. Discipleship can also happen in a lot of ways, but is certainly a different kind of relationship than fellowship. Discipleship should definitely stem from some kind of a fellowship relationship and blossom into a God-guided mentor style relationship in order to further edify people in God’s truth and love. The purpose for discipleship is for members of the Body of Christ to be trained up in the Word of God so that we are better prepared for going out and making more disciples. The more personally invested we are in a discipleship relationship, the better equipped new disciples are likely to be when going out to add to the Body of Christ themselves. If we do not personally invest in disciple relationships we are at risk of sending people out ill equipped for the spiritual battlefield that awaits us all.
In English we may use the word mentor but in the Greek, mathētēs is used over 200 times to describe a disciple. A disciple isn’t just one that follows another, but rather one that is in a perpetual state of learning from another. Disciple is the only name for Christ's followers in the Gospels. In Acts, after the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, disciples are those who confess Him as the Messiah. It was in Antioch that the phrase “Christian” or “little Christ” came about.
Strong's G3101 - mathētēs - a learner, pupil, disciple
And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. Acts 11:26b ESV
To be a Christian means that you are a disciple of Christ Jesus, dedicated to learning about and following His teachings and ways. It is the responsibility of all members of the Body of Christ to be constantly learning about and to teach others about the Gospel of Jesus. We do this first through fellowship, and then more personally through discipleship. Discipleship within the Church includes fellowshipping with other believers, but fellowshipping does not foster discipleship without intent and effort. Relationships must be developed and nurtured in a discipleship role as personally invested relationships are needed in order to fulfill the calling of discipleship.
If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. John 12:26 ESV
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV
Age is not always applicable in discipling. While we can generalize that older generations are life mentors to the younger generations the same cannot always be said about faith mentoring. Maturity of faith is the requirement and age does not dictate that. Christian tenure does not automatically make someone qualified for the teaching position of Discipler. A discipler must possess a solid understanding of Biblical teachings and what the Gospel is as well as what it is not in order to combat false teachings and doubt, and to more effectively edify and encourage those they are discipling to.
Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray. Proverbs 10:17 ESV
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47 ESV
As the Body of Christ we all have a responsibility to come up alongside others to lift up and exhort fellow Christians. We are all at various stages of our faith journey and should recognize when God calls on us to fellowship or to discipleship with those in our lives, allowing God to guide us every step of the way in these relationships. We should constantly seek to be edified in our faith and wisdom of the Word so that we can share what we learn with those God calls us to disciple to.
Edification
All members of the Church are commanded to speak the Good News of the Gospel to all people, but not all members are at a level of knowledge and understanding in the faith to teach someone. That is why we should seek constant edification by being constantly in the Word and working on our own faith.
We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.” For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:1-6 NKJV
Strong’s G3619 - oikodomē - (the act of) building, building up
metaph. edifying, edification
the act of one who promotes another's growth in Christian wisdom, piety, happiness, holiness
a building (i.e. the thing built, edifice)
Through avenues of fellowship and discipleship, God develops faith and endurance while providing edification and support. Edification, while it is done in our personal relationship with Christ Jesus, is a tool that God uses in order to build up all members of the Body in order to endure and persevere through all seasons of life according to the will of God.
For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. Hebrews 10:36 ESV
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4 ESV
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Romans 15:4 ESV
Edification is to help us grow in Biblical wisdom and learn to test and filter all things through the Word of God in order to rightly handle Scripture and apply it to our lives and share it with others. By failing to test and filter all things through God’s Word, and falling into false teachings, we risk falling away from Truth itself and therefore away from God and the life He calls us to live. (Read more) If we are not in a constant state of personal edification with a heart open to God’s will, guidance and correction we are in danger of not rightly handling or sharing the Word of God, failing in discipling, and not only falling into but leading others into doubt.
For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Matthew 24:24 KJV
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 ESV
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 1 John 4:1 ESV
Prior to taking on a discipling role, someone must first ensure that it is God’s calling for them and not a self-centered desire. Through discipling, the relationship between mentor and mentee becomes stronger, and tougher questions can be brought to the surface, studied and answered. Always filter teachings through the Bible, being able to cite and quote scripture that establishes Biblical teaching versus teaching based on personal opinions or convictions. Discipling starts with the basics and as faith grows, so too do the studies and discussions. A solid foundation of what the Gospel is and is not is fundamental in a new Christian’s development but should not stop there.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8 ESV
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 ESV
You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, John 5:39 ESV
But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4 ESV
Conclusion
In developing a strong, personal prayer life, study habits and fellowship we can prepare ourselves for effective discipleship. Through all of these callings we share we can be edified in the Word of God and in relationship with fellow Christians, better equipping us all to combat doubt that springs up throughout our lives. We were designed for relationship, both with our Heavenly Father and also with His people, and there is immense importance in all of it. We are stronger when we lean on Him and the people He brings into our lives for these necessary relationships.
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 ESV
That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3 ESV
But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. Psalm 1:2 ESV
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Galatians 6:2 ESV
Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 1 Peter 3:8 ESV
Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 ESV
I am a wife, mom, writer, crafter, and above all, a Child of God. I love to study the Bible, fellowship with other Christians, and serve God. I am thrilled to invite you to join me in seeking to satisfy our thirsty souls with the Living Water of Christ, which is what Water On Thirsty Land is here to do.
