A message from Wisdom for Living:
Good morning church family! Today's message is about God's view of you. I want to begin with a reminder:
Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. (1 John 4:17 NKJV)
As people with natural eyes, we see ourselves through the lens of our actions, deeds, experiences, successes, and failures. we often believe that God looks at us through those same lenses...but He doesn't!
Here is the really good part: God sees us in Christ!
Because we are in Christ, God is not judging us based upon our past, our present, our weaknesses or our strengths. God judges us based on the life and completed work of Jesus Christ only. When He sees you, He sees the life of Christ in you, period!
The Message translation says it this way:
...our standing in the world is identical with Christ's. (1 John 4:17 MSG)
Our relationship with God through Christ Jesus is based solely on the finished work of Christ Jesus:
And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. (Hebrews 9:15 NKJV)
Thus God declares this about us:
- heirs in Christ Romans 8:14-17
- children of God: Romans 8:14-17
- God is pleased with us (just as God was pleased in Jesus) Matthew 3:17
- predestined us to be in Christ: Romans 8:29-30
- if God is for us, who could be against us: Romans 8:31
- justified by God: Romans 8:32
- Christ makes intercession for us
- nothing, literally nothing past, present or to come (natural or spiritual) can separate us from His love
As Christ is, so are we in this world. See yourself as He does!
Walk in your position in Christ,
Pastor Art
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Stop remembering...He doesn't!
This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord : I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them, then He adds, Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more. Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin. (Hebrews 10:16-18 NKJV)
God says there is absolute forgiveness of our sins, and absolute cancellation of the penalty of sin for those who receive Christ. Your slate has been forever wiped clean...past, present, and future! There is no penalty to pay ever again for your sins or mine once we have been washed in the Blood. We can live free of the fear of judgement!
He goes on to say this to us:
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22 NKJV)
To get more clarity, the Message Bible says it this way:
So let's do it-full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. (Hebrews 10:22 MSG)
Did you hear that? Through His body and His blood, HE has made us presentable to Himself, both inside and out, through and through. That is such good stuff! So many times, people think they have to clean up to get into His presence. But who is the only one who can clean us up, inside and out? Christ Jesus is that One. So, because you have asked Him into your heart, you have already been made presentable to the Father, and you can come boldly, without hesitation, into His most Holy presence. What a mighty God we serve!
Today, you can stop living through the lens of what you used to be before you met Him, or through the sins that you have committed. Get up, go into His presence like you belong there (as His child, you do!), ask for His forgiveness, and ask for His help. Walk out, confident that He remembers your sins and iniquities NO MORE...praise Him!
Walk in newness of life!
Love you all,
Copastor Dee
God says there is absolute forgiveness of our sins, and absolute cancellation of the penalty of sin for those who receive Christ. Your slate has been forever wiped clean...past, present, and future! There is no penalty to pay ever again for your sins or mine once we have been washed in the Blood. We can live free of the fear of judgement!
He goes on to say this to us:
let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:22 NKJV)
To get more clarity, the Message Bible says it this way:
So let's do it-full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. (Hebrews 10:22 MSG)
Did you hear that? Through His body and His blood, HE has made us presentable to Himself, both inside and out, through and through. That is such good stuff! So many times, people think they have to clean up to get into His presence. But who is the only one who can clean us up, inside and out? Christ Jesus is that One. So, because you have asked Him into your heart, you have already been made presentable to the Father, and you can come boldly, without hesitation, into His most Holy presence. What a mighty God we serve!
Today, you can stop living through the lens of what you used to be before you met Him, or through the sins that you have committed. Get up, go into His presence like you belong there (as His child, you do!), ask for His forgiveness, and ask for His help. Walk out, confident that He remembers your sins and iniquities NO MORE...praise Him!
Walk in newness of life!
Love you all,
Copastor Dee
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