Category Archives: Salvation

Bible, Redemption, Salvation, Scripture, Witnessing

SEIZE THE DAY

EPHESIANS 5:16

“making the most of your time, because the days are evil.”

Just look at the news today! Evil is abounding across our globe. Terrorists are trying to kill innocent people. Human trafficking is a global business. There is still slavery in parts of the world. What are we to do? How do Christians live in such demeaning environments?

Paul tells us in today’s verse. We are to make “the most of your time.” The Greek word he uses for “making the most” is exagorazó. It means “seizing a buying-opportunity, i.e. making the most of the present opportunity (recognizing its future gain).” (HELPS Word Studies). In other words, we don’t have a minute to spare. Every hour is precious eternally. We can’t, as my grandma used to say, lollygag.

APPLICATION

This word exagorazóis only used four times in the New Testament. Paul uses it here and in Galatians 3:13; 4:5 and Colossians 4:5. Let’s take a look at these other passages today. In Galatians 3:13, Paul writes, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written: ‘CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE’”. Using the definition above, Christ didn’t waste any time saving us from the Law.

We see in Galatians 4:4-5 “4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons and daughters.” God knew the exact time to redeem us. He sent His Son, Jesus, because He saw the future gain – our salvation and eternity with our Creator.

And finally, in Colossians 4:5 we see it used similarly as today’s verse. “Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.” In this verse, we are told how to behave, how to live toward outsiders or unbelievers. Listen, the world has been evil since the fall of man in the garden. We shouldn’t expect anything different. But we can live differently. To borrow an old Latin term Carpe Diem, seize the day. Make the most of your time for the sake of Christ.

Lord, help me make the most of my days so that I can be a light in a dark world.

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Bible, Clothing, New, Regeneration, Salvation, Scripture

THE TAILOR

EPHESIANS 4:24

“and to put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”

A couple of years ago, while I was in Kenya teaching at a Pastors’ conference, I was given the opportunity to go to a local clothes manufacturer and have a tailored African suit made for me. We went into the office where a tailor took my measurements. He measured my chest, waist (which was and still is too big, lol), arms and inseam. Within a few days, I was presented with a beautiful African suit which I wear proudly.

Paul describes God’s tailoring efforts on us in today’s verse. He says our “new self” has been tailored “in the likeness of God.” Actually, the Greek just reads “according to God.” The idea Paul is trying to get across is it is God who has given us this new self which “has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.” This new self is given to us by God so that we can walk righteously and holy, just like He is.

APPLICATION

2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” The same Greek word for “new” is used here as in today’s verse. It means to be qualitatively new, to be fresh. I have to tell you – the African suit I have is definitely fresh, lol. I did not have another suit like that.

The same word is used to describe the new wineskins in Mark 2:22. Listen, it’s this simple. Jesus makes all things new when He comes into your life. In referring to this “new self,” Albert Barnes says this, “The change is so great, that there is no impropriety in speaking of one who has experienced it as ‘a new man.’ He has new feelings, principles, and desires. He has laid aside his old principles and practices, and, in everything that pertains to moral character, he is new.”

Is that you? Can others describe you as “new.” If you have ever seen someone who has been truly renewed spiritually, you know exactly what I am talking about. They are the same outwardly, but inwardly they are a new person. Only Christ can do that. He will continually renew us day by day until that glorious day when we see Him face to face and are changed into a perfect, glorified spirit to live with Him forever. Halleljuah!

Thank You for my renewal. Thank You for making me brand new.

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Ascension, Bible, Heaven, Promises, Redemption, Salvation, Scripture

WHERE DID HE GO?

EPHESIANS 4:9

“(Now this expression, ‘He ascended,’ what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth?”

There is a town in Tennessee called Mountain City. It is appropriately named and is in a beautiful area of the state. The Great Smokey Mountains are breathtaking. This town is most easily accessed by going up from Tennessee into North Carolina and then back to Tennessee. So, you have to go up in order to go down.

Today’s verse has been interpreted in a number of ways. I am not going to go into all those ideas. I agree with those who say Paul was simply saying Jesus went back to heaven after having come down to earth. He ascended and had previously descended. Those two words, “ascended” an “descended,” simply mean what they say.

APPLICATION

But what does that mean for us today? Simply put – Jesus humbled Himself and came to earth for our salvation and once that was done, He returned to prepare a place for us. Go back to Luke 2. What’s that about? It’s about the birth of Lord. He was born in a stable, a very humble place. His birth was first proclaimed to shepherds, a very lowly occupation. Jesus came down in the form of a baby to reach everyone, even the lowest of the low.

And praise God – He accomplished His mission and ascended on high. Acts 1:9-11 give us a picture of this ascension. “9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were watching, and a cloud took Him up, out of their sight. 10 And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, then behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them, 11 and they said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.’”

Are you star gazing waiting on Jesus to return or are you serving Him faithfully as you wait? These angels told us that He is coming back. We don’t know when, but He is coming. How will He find you walking with Him? Jesus came down with purpose and returned with purpose. We need to live our lives every day with the same kind of divine purpose.

O Lord, thank You for sending Jesus down to us to rescue and for returning to prepare our heavenly home.

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Abiding, Answers, Bible, Calling, Chosen, Following, Holy Spirit, Ministry, Salvation, Scripture

YOU HAVE BEEN CALLED

EPHESIANS 4:1

“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,”

I was saved at the age of 16 on July 31, 1977. I will never forget that day and where I was when I gave my life to Christ. But I also remember the vocational calling He put on my life during my senior year in high school. I do not have a specific date for that. I just know He called me to a lifetime of service in the ministry of the Gospel. My calling has been a little different than many. Called to work with children and youth for 38 years and now ministering to men around the world. But my calling to salvation was sure as is my calling to serve.

Paul transitions from his prayer in 3:14-21 with this opening statement in chapter 4. Don’t just read “Therefore I” and move on. Those two words are powerful. I love what Albert Barnes said about it. “The sense of the word ‘therefore’ – οὖν oun – in this place, is, ‘Such being your exalted privileges; since God has done so much for you; since he has revealed for you such a glorious system; since he has bestowed on you the honor of calling you into his kingdom, and making you partakers of his mercy,’” And by Paul saying “I,” he was drawing the Ephesians’ attention back to recognize his authority as their teacher and shepherd.

APPLICATION

But back to this calling! If you are a believer in Christ, you have been called to Him. That may have occurred through a song, a passage of Scripture you read, the preaching of the Word or through the still, small voice of God whispering and wooing you. In order to be saved, you must be called. No one comes to Christ unless they are called. Romans 11:29 tells us this calling, once accepted is unchangeabl, “for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”

I really love how Paul uses this word for “calling” in Philippians 3:14. “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” And how about this use of the word in Hebrews 3:1. “Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession: Jesus;”

I could keep going about this calling all day. Do a word search on that word. The Greek word is klésis. As you study that word, thank God for your calling. Thank Him for opening your ears to hear His voice. Thank Him for not stopping His call to you, even when you resisted. His calling is sure. His calling is permanent. His calling is for you.

Thank You, O Father, for calling my name so many years ago.

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Access, Bible, Blood, Cross, Eternal Life, Salvation, Scripture

THROUGH THE CROSS

EPHESIANS 2:16

“and that He might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the hostility.”

Sometimes the only way to get to something is to go through something. I had to go through four years of college and three years of seminary to get to my Master’s Degree. It was a lot of work, a lot of blood, sweat and tears. It also took a lot of prayer. But at the end of those seven years, I held that diploma proudly.

Paul, however, explains that my reconciliation to God had nothing to do with my human effort. It was solely through the cross of Christ. It was His sacrifice that brought me to God. The Greek word for “through” used here is dia which can mean “by the instrumentality of. The cross of Christ was the only instrument needed to rescue me.

APPLICATION

Have you ever seen the Bridge Illustration? It is a simple way to share your faith with someone. Below is the full diagram showing the gap that separated you from God and how the cross bridges that gap.

I normally use Romans 6:23 to lead someone through this illustration. On the left side of the gap below “us” I would write “wages” an “sin.” Then I write “death” at the bottom. On the right side under “God” I would write “free gift” and “eternal life.” I use a cool app called “Share Your Faith” which walks right through it.

Why am I sharing all this with you? 1. So you can see that it is only through the cross that we can cross that great divide between us and God. 2. So you can have a tool to use to share your faith with someone else.

Don’t take your salvation for granted. Christ’s cross wasn’t some shiny, golden cross. It was a rugged piece of wood covered in blood. He shed His blood, sweat and tears for you. Never forget that. Give Him praise today!

I am so thankful today, Lord, for the sacrifice of the cross.

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Abundance, Bible, Blessing, Filled, Grace, Redemption, Salvation, Scripture

ACCORDING TO

EPHESIANS 1:7

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the riches of His grace”

Let me just say to begin with that time and space do not allow me to dissect and teach the depth of this verse. We could literally spend weeks discussing each phrase of this verse and not finish. So, I want to zero in on two words, “according to.” They may seem superfluous or unimportant but oh the depth of their meaning.

Paul knew the riches of Christ came to him according to the wealth of God’s love towards him. Can you imagine how Paul felt after all the hurt he had imposed on the early church? All that was forgiven “according to” God’s salvation, “according to the riches of His grace.” I read recently “Grace is Paul entering heaven to the cheers of those whom he martyred.” I can’t even begin to imagine how grateful Paul was.

APPLICATION

But wait just a second – shouldn’t we be just as grateful? Our sins are just as heinous as Paul’s. We may not have killed someone, but our sins stink in the nostrils of God. “According to” is a simple little Greek word, kata. It can mean according to, by way of or against. Let me explain this word another way.

Suppose you had a very wealthy friend who had promised you a monetary gift. Now, if they give to you “out of” their wealth, it could be a small or large gift. It is simple out of it. But if they give to you “according to” their wealth, then that gift is measured up against the entirety. It would be given in proportion to their wealth.

God has given us grace “according to” the deep wealth of His grace. In other words, He has flooded us with grace. His grace is everlasting. His grace is above and beyond anything we could imagine. You can never deserve it. You just have to accept. It is free grace but not cheap grace. It cost God His only begotten Son. As Paul says in the verse, our redemption is through His blood. Amen? Amen!

Lord, I praise You for the riches of Your grace and that You have given to me according to and not out of.

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Adoption, Bible, Blessing, Chosen, God's Will, Pleasure, Salvation, Scripture

HIS GOOD PLEASURE

EPHESIANS 1:5

“He predestined us to adoption as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,”

Most children, contrary to popular belief, want to please their parents. They want to be told they have done well by their father or mother. When a child presents his mom with a piece of art they have completed in class, they love to hear how wonderful it is. They love to hear words of affirmation after cleaning their bedroom (can I get an Amen?).

God does things just to please Himself, like adopting us as His sons and daughters. That is what Paul says in today’s verse. I am not going to get into the topic of predestination for obvious reasons. Let’s concentrate on what God has predestined us to (whenever you think that happens). The Pulpit Commentary says, “but the point here is simply that it pleased God to choose and ordain the Ephesian believers to the privilege of adoption through Jesus Christ. This is presented as a ground of praise, a reason for their blessing God.”

APPLICATION

In John 1:12 we read, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name,” He gave the right! It was pleasing to Him. It was according to His good pleasure. And when we are made His children, we inherit all He has for us, as we are told in Romans 8:17, “and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”

The President of the United States typically issues numerous pardons to individuals who are in prison during his last few days in office. He has the sole power to do that. No one tells him he can. He just can. And why? Because he wants to. For some reason, which he may or may not divulge, he has decided to set these people free.

God, in a much bigger way, has decided to pardon us. He has chosen us as His child. He has given us a pass on our certain damnation. But He tells us why. It’s because He loves us. It’s because He had planned before the foundation of the earth (verse 4 from yesterday’s blog) to do this. His plan all along, since He formed us in our mother’s womb, was to save us, to redeem us. For that reason, we praise Him. We bless His name forever.

Thank You, Lord, for saving my soul. Thank You, Lord, for making me whole.  Thank You, Lord, for giving to me Thy great salvation rich and free.

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Age, Belief, Bible, Blessing, Chosen, Devil, Eternal Life, Eternity, Foundation, God's Will, Redemption, Salvation, Satan, Scripture

BEFORE ANYTHING

EPHESIANS 1:4

“just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love…”

Can you remember your life before it began? Of course, you can’t. No one can. Our finite minds are limited to our degree of consciousness. We cannot comprehend a time before we could think or act. What is your first memory as a child? I remember growing up in Southwest Georgia and playing with my siblings in the yard. I remember this red, metal tractor that we used to pedal around the yard. My life before that is only remembered through photographs.

Paul refers to a time in today’s verse that existed before anything, “the foundation of the world.” When was that? Well, it was literally before anything. Why would Paul bring this up? To show us that God’s eternal plan of choosing us has always existed. There has never been a time when we weren’t on His mind. Can you imagine? Our life has had a purpose that long. So, how can we ever doubt His love for us.

APPLICATION

In John 17:24, Jesus refers to this time before time. “‘Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.’” God loved His Son before the foundation of the world. He loved us before the foundation of the world. He has loved us as long as He has loved His own Son. Wow! How can we doubt His love?

1 Peter 1:20 tells us, “For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you.” Jesus, who the Father loved before the foundation of the world and was known before the foundation of the world, had an eternal purpose before the foundation of the world. What was that? To come and die for us, to redeem us back to His Father.

Our salvation has always been the Father’s plan. There was never a Plan A and Plan B. There was only ONE plan – Jesus. Before you ever came into existence, God had you on His mind. Again, I ask you, how could we ever doubt His love for us. We only doubt because we listen to the evil one’s lies. Read this verse several times today. Better yet, memorize it and repeat it over and over. Never doubt His love. He loved us before anything!

Father, although I cannot imagine a time before anything, I believe You loved me that long.

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Bible, Boasting, Cross, Glorify, Glory, Mediator, Payment, Redemption, Sacrifice, Salvation, Scripture

GLORY IN THE CROSS

GALATIANS 6:14

“But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

The title for today’s blog confuses the lost world. How can we glory in such a cruel death? The following link gives you a pretty good description of the Roman cross. It was an awful way to die.

https://www.britannica.com/topic/crucifixion-capital-punishment

But we believers understand it is more than just the way Jesus died. It was that He died for us.

Paul had plenty to boast about. In fact, he lists those things in Philippians 3:4-6. “4 If anyone else thinks he is confident in the flesh, I have more reason: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the Law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.” But he knew the only thing worthy of boasting about was the Lord Jesus.

APPLICATION

I was thinking what to write here today, but I can’t say it any better than Albert Barnes. Read what he said about this boasting in the cross.

“But to the Christian, that cross is the subject of glorying. It is so because:

  1. Of the love of Him who suffered there;
  2. Of the purity and holiness of His character, for the innocent died there for the guilty;
  3. Of the honor there put on the Law of God by His dying to maintain it unsullied;
  4. Of the reconciliation there made for sin, accomplishing what could be done by no other oblation, and by no power of man;
  5. Of the pardon there procured for the guilty;
  6. Of the fact that through it we become dead to the world, and are made alive to God;
  7. Of the support and consolation which goes from that cross to sustain us in trial; and,
  8. Of the fact that it procured for us admission into heaven, a title to the world of glory. All is glory around the cross.”

What else can you say? That pretty much sums it up. So today, glory in the cross of your Lord. Praise Him for what He did and continues to do for you. Give Him the honor and glory He is due.

O God, my Father, I give You praise and thank You for the cross. That sounds strange, but I know Jesus died on that cross for me and for everyone else in the world.

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Appeasement, Belief, Bible, Eternity, Grace, Justified, Protection, Righteousness, Salvation, Scripture

IF ONE, THEN THE OTHER

GALATIANS 5:4

“You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by the Law; you have fallen from grace.”

If I had a billion dollars, I would give most it away. But since I don’t have a billion dollars, I can’t do that. No one is going to benefit from my imaginary wealth. One can’t happen because the other is not reality. That’s the best I can do to draw a comparison to today’s verse (which could be a confusing one). Let’s look at what Paul is really saying.

Today’s verse is a prime example of why you can’t just read a verse out of context. Taken by itself, you may presume that someone could lose their salvation (fallen from grace). Not so fast. Look at the second phrase (you who…by the Law). Is it possible to be justified by the Law? Of course not. Paul has been preaching that this whole letter. If that is not true, then the last phrase (fallen from grace) is not true either. Paul has never taught that this was possible. We’ll see another passage below that backs that up.

APPLICATION

Look at Romans 3:20. “because by the works of the Law none of mankind will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes knowledge of sin.” Ever since the Mosaic Law was handed down, man has been trying to keep it. Remember, if they failed in one aspect of the Law, they were considered failed to the whole Law. No one could achieve that – at least no one until Jesus.

A little further down in Romans 3, we read this, “27 Where then is boasting? It has been excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.” You can’t get much clearer than that. Don’t you wish the Galatians had had the letter to the Romans to read? (Romans wasn’t written until several years later.) Aren’t you glad you do?

Bottom line from Paul: You can’t do anything to justify yourself. You can’t keep enough laws. You can’t do enough good. It is only through Jesus that you can be justified. It is His righteousness which gives you access to your salvation and your eternal home. Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!

Only through Your Son, Jesus Christ, am I able to be called righteous in Your eyes.

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