The Greatest Gift Ever Given To Man – Salvation…Through the Shed Blood Of Jesus Christ!

23 Feb 2025 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

1 Corinthians 5:21.       For he (God) hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

It’s Sunday once again friends, and I don’t believe we’ll have to cancel the sanctuary visits and in person fellowship this weekend because the snow is all on the banks now, the roads are clean and the temperature has finally dropped a couple of degrees. The good news is that in the early part of next week we’re supposed to be getting temps above freezing for the first time in ages. And who says our God is not a good God eh? Let’s hope that it will be warm enough and long enough to melt away all the mountains of snow by which we’re now surrounded. 

And since we can now get to church without too many impediments, I think our song of worship for today is rather appropriate. It’s that 1967 gospel music arrangement of an 18th-century hymn by clergyman Philip Doddridge, recorded by the Edwin Hawkins Singers, which became a big hit in the last years of the 70’s decade, and has now become a gospel music standard. We’re talking about “Oh Happy Day.” So, let’s put our hands, voices, and souls together as we offer up sacrifices of praise for being able to see another day, to join in fellowship in God’s sanctuary, and to be thankful for it. And please don’t forget the marvellous calls and responses: (smile)  

Singing: ‘Oh, happy day (Oh, happy day) Oh, happy day (Oh, happy day) When Jesus washed (When Jesus washed) Oh, when He washed (When Jesus washed) When Jesus washed (When Jesus washed) He washed my sins away (Oh, happy day) Oh, happy day (Oh, happy day) (Repeat) He taught me how (He taught me how) To watch and fight and pray Watch and pray And live rejoicing every day Every day Oh, happy day (Oh, happy day) Oh, happy day (Oh, happy day) 

When Jesus washed (When Jesus washed) Oh, when He washed (When Jesus washed) When Jesus washed (When Jesus washed) He washed my sins away (Oh, happy day) Oh, happy day (Oh, happy day) He taught me how (He taught me how) To watch and fight and pray Watch and pray And live rejoicing every day (Good God) Every day Oh, happy day (Oh, happy day) Oh, it’s a happy day (Oh, happy day) Oh, Lord (Oh, happy day) Mmm, good God (Oh, happy day) Oh yeah (Oh, happy day) Mmm, oh (Oh, happy day).’ 

Oh yes friends, it’s certainly a happy day, because even though we might not be kicking too strong, we’re alive and imbued by the Holy Spirit of our Triune God. And there’s been no happier day in this universe than when our Lord and Saviour Jesus washed all our sins away. Wow! What a momentous day that was! And there are so many scriptures that refer to that tremendous day, that we can never cover them all, but will look at a few. 

And I believe we can begin with this one that’s filled with the promise of redemption from the prophet Isaiah, when he promised on the Lord’s behalf: ‘Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.’ (Is. 1:17-18) And that promise was faithfully kept when the Lord Jesus Christ offered his sinless self on the cross of Calvary as a sacrifice for all mankind, once and for all time. 

Yes, when He cried out, ‘It is finished, and he bowed his head and gave up the ghost.’ (John 19:30) That meant the work of bringing salvation to mankind had been successfully implemented for then and forevermore. No more sacrifices of animals and blood that could not erase, but only cover sin for a while. It took Jesus’ shed blood to lift the sins of all mankind. It was an awesome price that the Father desired, but Jesus willingly paid it for our benefit.  As Bruh Paul writes in 2 Corinthians: ‘For he (God) hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.’ (1 Cor. 5:21) 

Oh my people, the Lord placed all of our sins on Jesus’ sinless shoulders and made Him bear them so that we could be set free, be reconciled back to our Creator, which was His heart’s greatest desire. The point is that Jesus was the only one capable of doing that because He was sinless. That’s why on the famous day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit began indwelling believers, and Peter and the apostles addressed a large crowd who after hearing about Jesus and His crucifixion asked them what to do. 

‘Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission (forgiveness) of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord shall call.’ (Acts 2:38-39) Ah my fellow believers, that’s why the gift of salvation is so important; it’s for anyone who desires it, for now and all time. 

Wherefore the author of Hebrews could write thus: ‘And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes (repeatedly) the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man (Jesus), after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting (waiting) till his enemies be made his footstool. For by the one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 

Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he hath said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities (lawless deeds) will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.’ (Heb. 10:11-18) 

The author of Hebrews is there quoting Jeremiah 31: 33-34.  And all of God’s people gave a loud and grateful shout of ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace and goodwill to men!’ because that is exactly what Jesus came to earth to bring. So, my fellow saints, with the many promises of the Old Testament fulfilled by Jesus in the New Testament, believers ought to be the most joyful people on God’s great earth! And if you’re not joyful, then something is seriously wrong with your faith, so please take a moment today and turn to God and ask Him to help you become as joyful as you ought to be! Much LOVE!

…if Christians were as joyful as they ought to be…then this world would be such a wonderful place…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

Today’s Scrip-Bit 18 May 2016 Joel 2:28.‏‏

18 May 2016 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Joel 2:28.   And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.

Oh my, my, friends, another glorious day is in the offing, and we’re alive to tell the tale! Mama Mia! 

How blessed we are, that our great God chose us to see another day of earthly pilgrimage! Give Him plenty thanks and praise for His goodness and LOVING-kindness to us nuh, for He certainly deserves it. 

I don’t know about you all, but I certainly look forward to each new day, that I know will be brim full of wonderful mercies, blessings and oodles of unimaginable opportunities to LOVE others, to do good, and to be obedient to His holy will. Glory to God! 

Ohhh, what a magnificent God we serve and worship my people! 

And since today is Wednesday, let’s wail our grateful and sincere Wednesday Wail. As one wailer now (smile): ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! 

I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ 

And as fine, upstanding Christians, that is exactly what we are expected to do my brethren; be glad to be alive, have our hands strong and steadfast on the plough, looking straight ahead to the glorious future that’s promised with Christ! 

And what a future that is going to be my fellow believers! I don’t think we can really imagine or contemplate it nuh with our small, finite minds. But believe me, it’s going to be extraordinary, just like everything with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is extraordinary! 

All praise and glory be to our wonderful Redeemer! 

Now let’s continue with our Bit, which was prophesied by the prophet Joel long before that momentous day of Pentecost. ‘And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.’ 

And with the universal launching of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Day, that aspect of Joel’s prophecy was fulfilled. And we’ll also continue looking at Simon Peter’s great sermon on that fateful day of Pentecost. We stopped yesterday where he had explained to his listeners about the crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. 

And after that, the Good Book declares thus: ‘Now when they had heard this, they were pricked in (cut to) their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren what shall we do? 

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission (forgiveness) of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord shall call. 

And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward (crooked) generation.’ (Acts 2:37-40) 

Wow mih people! Peter certainly had the Holy Spirit moving and a grooving in him that day! 

And oh so many of us today deserve to hear that sermon, because too many of us have been separated from God, and will be left on the outside looking in when the day of judgement is fulfilled, unless we repent and accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. 

And as I keep reminding us, the worse thing that can ever happen to a human being is to be eternally separated from Almighty God when the roll is called up yonder! 

Now some of us might wonder what happened on that Day of Pentecost after Peter gave his great speech. Listen to the Good Book tell it: ‘Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added about three thousand souls. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.’ (Acts 2:41-42) 

Ah friends, what a feast of souls was laid out before God that day! 

Hn! Just wish nowadays that we can get three hundred, or even thirty, or some days even three. But getting people to turn to God in these sad times, when they truly need Hi most, is becoming more difficult every day because of the enemy’s stranglehold on the world, and our less than satisfactory behaviour as true Christians. 

Now here is some info from the scholars re the Apostles’ doctrine. ‘2:42. The word doctrine derives from the Latin term for teaching and refers to the content that was taught in the New Testament. The proper teaching of Scripture was called “the apostles’ doctrine,” meaning that which the apostles’ taught. 

This contrasted with erroneous teaching called “doctrines of devils” (1 Tim.4:1), meaning that teaching whose source is not God but the messengers of Satan, whose desire is to substitute false religion for Christianity (2 Cor.11:13-15). 

Illustration: The apostles’ doctrine was true, not because an apostle taught it, but because it was consistent with the Scriptures. The Bereans examined the teaching of Paul in light of the Scriptures before accepting it (17:11). Also, the church at Ephesus examined some who called themselves apostles and found them liars (Rev.2:2). 

Application: A Christian should attempt to understand and believe true doctrine, while rejecting all that disagrees with the Word of God (1 John 4:1). (First Ref. Acts 2:42: cf. Titus 3:10).’ 

Now friends, those are very important distinctions, that’s why I am always admonishing us to read the scriptures for ourselves, because that’s the only way we can know if what is being preached or taught to us is truly God’s Word. 

So please, please try and read even a little of the Word each and every day, so that your knowledge of it can be steadily improved and you will better know how to pick sense from nonsense. (smile) 

So until tomorrow, God in favour, let’s get with the Word nuh friends. And may the Good Lord bless and keep us and help us to walk safely and kindly on this our earthly pilgrimage! Much LOVE!

…if you’re not aware of what the Word says…then you’ll fall for any and every thing…