John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Oh my Friends, another bright, sun shiny day (though cold and windy here) has been born out of the darkness, and the servants of the Most High God Jehovah need to be up and about their Master’s business. Give Him thanks and praise for all that He’s done for you, and pray for continued safe and steadfast guidance as you trod this weary earth, seeking to do His will. Yesterday, we saw how the basic law of God was given to Moses, but with Jesus’ coming, His death and resurrection brought other things into play, into greater focus. Things like grace, truth, salvation and eternal life took on a new meaning, a new vitality. Jesus offered us a New Covenant, underwritten by His cleansing blood and sacrificial death. We also noted that grace was the undeserved favour of God by which we are able to receive salvation. The people of Jesus’ time had problems juxtaposing the Law of Moses and Jesus’ covenant. We have no such conflict, for though the basic law still stands, as what we should and should not do, everything else is new, based on Jesus. He is the focus for all believers, our raison d’être, our sole reason to be. Whenever we talk about God, we automatically include Jesus, cause as He explicitly says: ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’ (John 14:6) So we can never enter the Father’s presence without first going through His Son, our Lord and Saviour, our Advocate and Spiritual Advisor. Oh Friends, the great thing about Jesus’ coming is that the law, read works, no longer mattered where salvation was concerned. Before Him it was considered that things like good works and piety were needed for salvation. But our Saviour’s death changed all that, because it meant He paid for our sins, and all we now needed for salvation was to believe in Him, be born again, have a spiritual rebirth, and receive God’s free gift of grace. Sin would no longer hold us in bondage because Jesus’ death had washed away the sins of all believers. Wow! What a blessed day! As Bruh Paul so eloquently puts it: ‘For as by one man (Adam’s) disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one (Jesus) shall many be made righteous.’ (Rom.5:19) Oh Friends, it all boils down to God’s free gift of unmerited grace and favour. Hear Bruh Paul again: ‘Moreover the law entered that the offense (sin) might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign, through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.’ (Rom.5: 20-21) Yes my people, the law that encouraged and fomented sin, that led to death, was being replaced by an abundance of grace through Jesus that would lead to salvation and eternal life. Christians are able to break out of sin’s stranglehold because we live under the law of the Spirit, grace, not that of the flesh and the world. And as Jesus said to His disciples, re the hatred of the world and their persecution. ‘If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not sin: but now they have no cloak (excuse) for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.’ (John 15:22-24) My brethren, that says a whole lot. If Jesus had not come and done all he did, we’d be none the wiser. However, once He came and made everything known, accomplished His purpose, our eyes are supposed to be wide open, and we see everything clearly. There are now no excuses for our ungodly behaviour and actions. Sin has been brought out in the open for all and sundry to see, and grace has been offered for all and sundry to accept. Let’s not be foolish and continue revelling in sin, but come to the wise conclusion that the grace of our God, through Jesus Christ, is more important than anything this fleshly, lustful world has to offer. And how do we know all of that is true? Why simple! Jesus said it. And do we take His word for it? Sure! Why? Because as we already noted, He’s the way, the truth and the life. Everything moves around Him. He also told those Jews that believed on Him: ‘If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.’ (John 8:31-32) Glory Hallelujah Friends! What else do we need eh? And for all of us who truly LOVE, revere and follow Jesus, the truth is made known to us through the working of His Holy Spirit in us. ‘But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.’ (John 15:26) Glory be, mih people! Those were Jesus’ words to His disciples, and we know what happened on that first day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit inflamed them with tongues. So how can we doubt His word eh? But just in case your heart’s still hard with unbelief and doubt, then Listen to His answer when Pilate asked Him: ‘Art thou a king? Jesus answered, Thou sayest (rightly) that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice.’ (John 18:37) Matter fix mih Friends! If in your hearts, minds and souls you either know the truth or seek it, then you’ll hear the Saviour’s voice calling softly, LOVINGLY and reassuringly, ‘poor sinner come home.’ If you don’t believe, are not tuned in to the truth, then I’m sorry to hear that, and sincerely hope that something happens to change your mind and heart before it’s too late. For when the last whistle, of that last train blows, and it slowly chugs out of the station, headed for glory, those not aboard will be cast into dark exile for ever. Please don’t allow this to happen to you and yours. Make the right decision NOW; be wise and accept Christ as the way, the truth and the life, so you can receive His free gift of abundant grace that leads to salvation and eternal life. Oh Friends, it’s the ONLY WAY! Much LOVE!…it’s the only sure bet…so my money, my life, and all that I am, are on Jesus…TO WIN…!
Oh my Friends, another bright, sun shiny day (though cold and windy here) has been born out of the darkness, and the servants of the Most High God Jehovah need to be up and about their Master’s business. Give Him thanks and praise for all that He’s done for you, and pray for continued safe and steadfast guidance as you trod this weary earth, seeking to do His will. Yesterday, we saw how the basic law of God was given to Moses, but with Jesus’ coming, His death and resurrection brought other things into play, into greater focus. Things like grace, truth, salvation and eternal life took on a new meaning, a new vitality. Jesus offered us a New Covenant, underwritten by His cleansing blood and sacrificial death. We also noted that grace was the undeserved favour of God by which we are able to receive salvation. The people of Jesus’ time had problems juxtaposing the Law of Moses and Jesus’ covenant. We have no such conflict, for though the basic law still stands, as what we should and should not do, everything else is new, based on Jesus. He is the focus for all believers, our raison d’être, our sole reason to be. Whenever we talk about God, we automatically include Jesus, cause as He explicitly says: ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.’ (John 14:6) So we can never enter the Father’s presence without first going through His Son, our Lord and Saviour, our Advocate and Spiritual Advisor. Oh Friends, the great thing about Jesus’ coming is that the law, read works, no longer mattered where salvation was concerned. Before Him it was considered that things like good works and piety were needed for salvation. But our Saviour’s death changed all that, because it meant He paid for our sins, and all we now needed for salvation was to believe in Him, be born again, have a spiritual rebirth, and receive God’s free gift of grace. Sin would no longer hold us in bondage because Jesus’ death had washed away the sins of all believers. Wow! What a blessed day! As Bruh Paul so eloquently puts it: ‘For as by one man (Adam’s) disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one (Jesus) shall many be made righteous.’ (Rom.5:19) Oh Friends, it all boils down to God’s free gift of unmerited grace and favour. Hear Bruh Paul again: ‘Moreover the law entered that the offense (sin) might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign, through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.’ (Rom.5: 20-21) Yes my people, the law that encouraged and fomented sin, that led to death, was being replaced by an abundance of grace through Jesus that would lead to salvation and eternal life. Christians are able to break out of sin’s stranglehold because we live under the law of the Spirit, grace, not that of the flesh and the world. And as Jesus said to His disciples, re the hatred of the world and their persecution. ‘If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not sin: but now they have no cloak (excuse) for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.’ (John 15:22-24) My brethren, that says a whole lot. If Jesus had not come and done all he did, we’d be none the wiser. However, once He came and made everything known, accomplished His purpose, our eyes are supposed to be wide open, and we see everything clearly. There are now no excuses for our ungodly behaviour and actions. Sin has been brought out in the open for all and sundry to see, and grace has been offered for all and sundry to accept. Let’s not be foolish and continue revelling in sin, but come to the wise conclusion that the grace of our God, through Jesus Christ, is more important than anything this fleshly, lustful world has to offer. And how do we know all of that is true? Why simple! Jesus said it. And do we take His word for it? Sure! Why? Because as we already noted, He’s the way, the truth and the life. Everything moves around Him. He also told those Jews that believed on Him: ‘If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.’ (John 8:31-32) Glory Hallelujah Friends! What else do we need eh? And for all of us who truly LOVE, revere and follow Jesus, the truth is made known to us through the working of His Holy Spirit in us. ‘But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.’ (John 15:26) Glory be, mih people! Those were Jesus’ words to His disciples, and we know what happened on that first day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit inflamed them with tongues. So how can we doubt His word eh? But just in case your heart’s still hard with unbelief and doubt, then Listen to His answer when Pilate asked Him: ‘Art thou a king? Jesus answered, Thou sayest (rightly) that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice.’ (John 18:37) Matter fix mih Friends! If in your hearts, minds and souls you either know the truth or seek it, then you’ll hear the Saviour’s voice calling softly, LOVINGLY and reassuringly, ‘poor sinner come home.’ If you don’t believe, are not tuned in to the truth, then I’m sorry to hear that, and sincerely hope that something happens to change your mind and heart before it’s too late. For when the last whistle, of that last train blows, and it slowly chugs out of the station, headed for glory, those not aboard will be cast into dark exile for ever. Please don’t allow this to happen to you and yours. Make the right decision NOW; be wise and accept Christ as the way, the truth and the life, so you can receive His free gift of abundant grace that leads to salvation and eternal life. Oh Friends, it’s the ONLY WAY! Much LOVE!…it’s the only sure bet…so my money, my life, and all that I am, are on Jesus…TO WIN…!
SCRIP-BITS 