  
|
| About Us | Short Sermons About Him! | About His Word! |
| Topical Studies | Songs of the Church - MP3 | Bible Studies |
| Devotionals | Thoughts on The Life of Christ | Daily Humor |
In the first chapter of the gospel of John, John the Baptist testifies to the eternal Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was 6 months younger than his cousin John, yet He was older, much older, since coming from the bosom of the Father, He had no beginning. When questioned by the Pharisees, they rightly established that He was not yet 50 years old, and yet He declared, “Before Abraham was, I AM (Ex. 3:13-15; Isa. 41:4,6; Rev.1:11,17,2:8,22.13).” He is the only one who had ever seen the Father (Jn. 6:46). He is the brightness of the Father’s glory and the express image His person. This we saw demonstrated at the Mount of Transfiguration where He was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light (Mt 17:2). He upholds all things by the word of His power (Heb. 1:3,Lu. 4:32,36). After He purged our sins, He sat down on the right hand of the majesty of God which is the seat of power and authority. He told us in Matthew 28:19 that He had been given all power in heaven and in earth. This was reiterated by Paul in Colossians when he stated that that it pleased the Father for all the fullness of the godhead to dwell in Him (Jesus) bodily (Col. 1:19,2:9). Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; (Heb. 1:3). He said that He was in the Father and the Father was in Him (Jn. 14:10-11). He also said that, “I and my Father are one (Jn. 10:30), and He that has seen me has seen the Father (Jn. 14:9). No man had ever seen God therefore the Word stepped out of eternity into time to reveal the Father to us. The angels announced His pending birth to Mary by stating “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God (Lu 1:35). His name was to be called JESUS (Jehovah has become my salvation) because He would save His people from their sins (Mt. 1:21). John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. Continuing on with the testimony of John the Baptist: John announced the end of the Mosaic law and the beginning of the dispensation of grace. Being recipients of the Lord’s fullness we would no longer be bound by endless rules and regulation, but would be free to serve God freely as we are directed by His Spirit (Jn. 4:24). John the Baptist said that Not only did we receive the Lord’s fullness we also were given grace for grace, which speaks to me as unending unmerited favor and divine enablement. John 1:15 ¶ John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ. Grace found us in an undone condition and called us just as we were to the foot of the cross. We had no great works of righteousness with which to gain God’s favor. Our righteousness was as filthy rags. God saved us because of His mercy. Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Because of our freely given salvation we now have access into the vast reservoir of the grace of God. Because we have been regenerated by the Holy Ghost and have become new creatures in Him, we now rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Ephesians 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. Romans 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. Unfortunately, some treat the grace of God very causally. Grace is not a license to continue in sin. Jesus came to condemn sin in the flesh (Ro. 8:3). 2Corinthians 6:1 ¶ We then, [as] workers together [with him], beseech [you] also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. Grace is our teacher to teach us the ways of God. Titus 2:11 ¶ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Grace helps us to endure affliction and hardship. The apostle Paul sought the Lord 3 times concerning a thorn in his flesh. The anser to his prayer was, “My grace is sufficient (2Cor. 12:9)”. In other words, “Hang in there Paul and endure this affliction and I’ll help shine for me in your weakness.” Somebody stated that they didn’t know if they could endure a certain type of situation. Someone else said, Yes you can. God doesn’t waste grace on anyone, but you can be assured that He will take you through every difficulty”. The key to obtaining God’s grace to to walk uprightly before Him. Psalms 84:11 For the LORD God [is] a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good [thing] will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. At some future time the Spirit of grace and supplications will come upon the Jewish nation and they wiil look upon the One whom they has pierced and recognise Him as their eternal God. Zechariah 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn. Isaiah 25:9 ¶ And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this [is] our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this [is] the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. Zechariah 13:6 And [one] shall say unto him, What [are] these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, [Those] with which I was wounded [in] the house of my friends. I am thankful for the grace of God that sent Jesus to the cross to purchase my salvation and teaches me in the ways of God, that I might be ever pleasing to Him. Jesus brought not only grace, but also truth, which we trust to expound on next week. The book to read is not the one which thinks for you, but the one which makes you think. No book in the world equals the Bible for that. --Mccosh Free Ebooks That You Can Download. An Expository Study on the Book of Colossians The I AMs of Jesus Keep Looking Up! Don and Marie Spooner About Him! Ministries Your thoughts and Inquiries Contact@About-Him.Com Subscribe to this devotional? Subscribe@About-Him.Com
The purpose of About-Him.Com is to glorify the Lord Jesus
Christ whom we preach as the Almighty God manifest in the flesh.
It is our desire that everything presented on these pages increases your
faith in our God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
|