Read God’s Word Often

Only 16% of church-goers read the Bible every day.

Only 32% read the Bible at least once a week.

Only 37% say that reading and studying the Bible

has made a significant difference in the way they live their lives*.

 

Why read the Bible? How about…

to learn about God’s special revelation of truth He wants us to know

to learn about God the Father, God the Son Jesus Christ, and God the Spirit

to learn about creation and humanity

to learn about our purpose, why we exist

to learn about our sin separation from our Holy Creator God

to learn about God’s plan of redemption to solve our sin problem

to help you communicate the great news of Jesus Christ to others

to draw closer to God

to help you worship God

to help you live according to God’s will

to help you memorize portions of the Bible which will minister to you and others later

to remember & reinforce what you have already learned

for encouragement

for exhortation, to challenge yourself

to learn about God’s Heaven

to learn about God’s future plans for this earth

to learn about the spiritual enemies of God and how to have victory over them

to help renew your mind with what is God-honoring and praise-worthy

to help your thoughts be captive to obeying Christ

because Jesus said, “if you continue in my Word you are truly My disciples” (John 8:31)

to know the truth and the truth will set you free

to help you become who God created you to be

to help prepare you for God’s plans for your life

to help equip you for Christian ministry

to help you be a God-honoring steward with your life and the resources God has allowed you to manage

to help you develop a deeper hunger for God

to nourish your soul

to feed on the very words of God

to give you hope

to show you what is right and what is wrong

to receive spiritual conviction

to help you develop God-honoring wisdom and discernment

because the Word of God is life-transforming

because the Word of God is living and active

to help us identify false teaching

to reap blessings of joy

 

and on and on are the many good reasons to read the Word of God. And don’t just read it often and regularly; study it and apply it to your life regularly as well.

 

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. 2 Tim. 3:16-17 ESV

This time of year is as good as any time of the year to make a commitment to spend time in God’s Word on a regular basis, like 5-7 days a week or even more. Don’t deceive yourself into thinking you don’t have time to read God’s Word or you can’t understand it or it is not relevant. If you don’t read well, then listen to the Bible on audio. If you have questions, then ask God in prayer and ask someone familiar with God’s Word and do some research. It can be done and it should be done. Read God’s Word!

 

The Word of God; Learn It, Live It, Pray It, Proclaim It!

If you are looking for different Bible reading plans and schedules to follow then I recommend www.youversion.com (which I personally use and have their APP downloaded to my phone) which offers free online Bible access with several translations and they have a lot of reading plans.

 

What other God-honoring reasons are there to read God’s Word; other than what I have listed above?

 

Mike

 

*These statistics came from readthebibleforlife.com; Dec. 2011

 

Ten Key Events Related to the Birth of Christ

 

1) The Angel Gabriel tells Zacharias that his barren wife, Elizabeth, will give birth to the Forerunner to Christ; Luke 1:5-22

Zacharias was a Jewish priest and he and wife were both righteous before God. She was barren and quite old so this will be a miracle conception and birth. The baby’s name will be John. Zacharias doubted the Angel’s words and was made mute because of his doubt until the baby’s birth. This child will later point people to the coming of Christ and the need for Christ.

 

2) The coming Virgin Birth of Christ is announced, to Mary first and later to Joseph, by the Angel Gabriel; Luke 1:26-38, Matt. 1:18-25

Mary and Joseph were in Nazareth legally pledged to marry each other. The Angel told Mary, “O favored one. The Lord is with you.” The Holy Spirit will cause this pregnancy. Jesus will be the baby’s name. When Joseph, a just man, learned of her pregnancy he wanted out of their ‘betrothed’ relationship but Gabriel appeared and spoke to him confirming what’s happening to and through Mary. Jesus will save people from their sins! Joseph took Mary as his wife but did not know her intimately until the birth of Jesus.

 

3) Pregnant Mary visits pregnant Elizabeth who is filled with the Holy Spirit; Luke 1:39-56

Elizabeth’s baby leaped for joy in her womb when Mary greeted her. Mary’s “Magnificat”, vss.1:46-55 (“it magnifies” is her prayer song of praise to God referring to several covenant promises of God to His people from the Old Testament)

 

4) Elizabeth gives birth to baby John; Luke 1:57-80

Zacharias could now speak again. John later becomes known as John the Baptist. Zacharias’ “Benedictus” (this is a benediction type of prayer/blessing referring to truths from the Old Testament). And John grew and became strong in spirit and was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

 

5) Baby Jesus is born in Bethlehem and laid in a manger; Luke 2:1-7

A Roman Census directed Joseph to their tribal home, Bethlehem (City of David). Mary laid baby Jesus in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. The manger was possibly in a stable or cave setting for farm animals. Old Testament verses connected with the Messiah’s birth: Gen. 3:15, Isa. 7:14, 9:6; Mic. 5:2.

 

6) An Angel directs some shepherds to the baby Savior (the Lamb of God); Luke 2:8-20

Some nearby shepherds see & hear an angel tell them about good news of great joy:

Vs11 ESV For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. A sign was given them for how to find baby Jesus then they see and hear a multitude of angels praising God. After the shepherds visited the baby they too glorify and praise God.

 

7) Baby Jesus is dedicated to the Lord in Jerusalem; Luke 2:21-39

A. Simeon, a righteous man with the Holy Spirit upon him, held baby Jesus and blessed God and blessed Joseph and Mary about Jesus.

B. Anna, a teacher/prophetess who worshipped at the temple and fasted and prayed daily, gives thanks to God about Jesus

8) Wise men (Magi) search for King Jesus to worship Him; Matt. 2:1-12
 

Some wise men from the east follow an unusual star they believe points to the Messiah King. The word ‘Magi’ comes from the Greek word here translated wise men. They are magician or astrologer types who were also familiar with Hebrew Scripture. When they find the king, baby Jesus, they worship Him and give Him three gifts. The quantity of wise men is not stated but because of three stated gifts, some believe there were three wise men.

9) An Angel warns Joseph to take his family to Egypt, away from King Herod’s danger; Matt. 2:13-18

Herod had his soldiers look for and kill all the male children in the region under two years of age because he was seeking to get rid of this baby king of Israel he felt threatened by. But Joseph was warned by an angel to relocate his family.

 

10) An Angel tells Joseph to leave Egypt and they eventually settle in Nazareth; Matt. 2:19-23

After Herod’s death, an Angel tells Joseph it’s okay to return to Israel and he was later directed more specifically to north of Jerusalem in the region of Galilee where Jesus grew up in a town called Nazareth.

 

And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. Luke 2:40

 

Key Characters involved:

- God, the Father (i.e. praised and blessed by people and angels; favored Mary)

- God, the Holy Spirit (very active in these events related to Christ’s birth)

- God, the Son, Jesus (God became flesh in the form of a baby, born of a human mother; He is the Son of God, Messiah/Christ/Savior, Holy One, Immanuel: “God is with us”)

- Angels: Gabriel; the angel of the Lord; and a multitude of the heavenly host (very involved in these events)

- Mary (mother to Jesus)

- Joseph (engaged to Mary when she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit; married her soon after)

- Zacharias (Jewish Priest; husband to Elizabeth; father to John the Baptist)

- Elizabeth (wife to Zacharias, mother to John the Baptist; relative/cousin to Mary)

- John the Baptist (son to Zacharias/Elizabeth; anointed forerunner to Christ)

- Wise Men/Magi (searched for baby Jesus to worship Him and give Him gifts)

- Shepherds (whom angels told about baby Jesus so they went to see Him)

- Simeon (righteous man at temple)

- Anna (temple prophetess)

- King Herod (unrighteous Jewish king who sought to kill baby Jesus)

- Caesar Augustus (Roman Emperor who ordered a census of everyone in the region)

- Archelaus (Herod’s son; Joseph was afraid to return to Judea with this man in charge)

 

Note: Most of the Bible details of the events related to the birth of Christ are found in the first two chapters of the Gospels according to Matthew and Luke. The Gospels of Mark and John do not record details of the events surrounding the birth of Christ.

Read the above Bible passages and you will have read the true Christmas story; that God came in the flesh to save His people from their sins. His name is Jesus Christ!

What are your thoughts about these ten key events related to the birth of Christ? What do they mean to you? Who is Jesus Christ to you?

 

Merry Christmas!

 

Mike

Jesus is Greater than our Storms

There is a brief familiar Bible event that has really stood out to me a lot this past year, personally and in ministry. It has to do with storms.

When I was a young adult in Florida we had a hurricane stirring things up in the Gulf of Mexico. The waters rose and there was flooding. The winds were high and things were breaking. Schools and businesses closed. I remember driving to the department store, where I worked in those days, to tape the front windows.  On the way there my car was lifted up some by high winds. It was scary. There were times growing up in Florida that I saw tornados and water spouts in the region as well as lightning striking very close by. I also remember one day when my dad and a few of us boy scouts were out in our 15 foot boat a few miles off shore and the engine failed and the waves began to come overboard. I was scared.

Mark 4 records a moment in Bible history when the closest disciples of Christ were scared for their lives in a storm that created large waves that came into their boats. Here’s the passage:

Mark 4:35-41 (ESV) ³⁵ On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” ³⁶ And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. ³⁷ And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. ³⁸ But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” ³⁹ And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” ⁴¹And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

There are five principles from this passage I think we should apply to our stormy lives.

First, Jesus is compassionate about the needs of people.

The Sea of Galilee is a few miles wide and 700ft below sea level and surrounded by mountains that rise 3000+ft above sea level on multiple sides. Warmer conditions prevail around the lake’s surface while the higher elevations can produce cold night air. The rising of warmer air during the day allows the cooler air from the mountains to rush down the ravines onto the lake with major whirlwind action that churns up the waters.

This particular storm in Mark 4 was a great windstorm that caused much water to come into the boats to the point that even Christ-following experienced fishermen aboard were scared. The frightened disciples awoke Jesus asking, “Don’t you care that we are perishing?” How many times have we thought and said the same thing? “Don’t You care, Lord, that this is happening to me? Don’t You love me enough, Lord, to do something about this hardship I am experiencing?”

In this particular storm Jesus showed His closest followers that He cares by calming the storm. Jesus is compassionate about the needs of people (i.e. Mt. 9:35-38, 14:14; John 11).

Second, Jesus is greater than our storms!

The storm in your life doesn’t have to be weather related. For example, I was admitted once to the hospital with severe unknown internal pain. I’ve had spots and bumps tested for cancer. Our family spun around in the van at high speed on black ice. Some of you have been close to death, had close loved ones die, and have been or are going through all sorts of suffering. Everyone experiences storms and trials in life.

In Mark 4, Jesus rebuked this storm and the wind went away and the sea calmed immediately. Wow, what a moment! Storms normally subside gradually, but when Jesus gave the order this storm ceased right away. Why? Because Jesus is God who is in control of all things including the natural systems of this world in which He created, He sustains, and He is sovereign over. 

Jesus has more power than we can imagine. He is greater, more powerful, stronger than the storms that rock us and our boats. He is almighty and His works are awesome (i.e. Heb. 1:1-4, Col. 1:15-19). Jesus doesn’t always immediately calm our storms. Sometimes God’s response to our prayer for help is ‘My grace is sufficient (i.e. 2 Cor. 12:1-10).’ And in this grace is God’s help to endure storms which is not an issue of diminished or limited divine power but instead this is a matter of the will of God and our proper response to God. Jesus is compassionate toward His people and awesome in power and has all authority. Trust Him. He is greater than our storms.

Third, Jesus is with His disciples/followers.

Of course, in this historical event Jesus was literally there with His closest disciples. They focused more on the storm and its effects instead of the presence of Jesus Christ. They were not feeling secure and safe and assured even though Jesus was there in one of the boats, albeit, sleeping.

My father is a big tall man who was an excellent athlete and tough. I remember when I was a kid and teenager how secure I felt at night with my dad was home. I thought if anyone breaks in and messes with us, they picked the wrong house because my dad is here and he will protect us. And those nights when dad was somewhere else like work or traveling, I was much more nervous overnight in the house. I always felt more secure and protected in my dad’s presence. Shouldn’t we believe this even more so toward God when we acknowledge His presence in our lives?

Today, we look back at this Mark 4 event and at the New Testament of God’s Word knowing that God is with His people. In fact, all three divine persons of the Triune God are present with born again Christ-followers (i.e. Heb. 13:5b, Mt. 28:20b, 2 Cor. 1:21-22). This is great news and assuring news. We are not alone in crisis, in storms, in troubles, in suffering, in difficulties. God is with His people! Amen!

Fourth, Jesus expects His followers to have trusting faith in Him regardless of our circumstances.

How do we get through the storms of life? When they come our way, do we respond, “God, I trust You through this experience”? or do we tend to say, “I’m doomed, and there’s nothing anybody can do”?

Going back to Mark 4, after Jesus calmed the storm He gently rebuked the storm-tossed disciples. The Lord addressed their heart issue of the moment, “Why are you so afraid?” His second question must have pierced them to the core, “Have you still no faith?” Ouch! There is a direct correlation here between fear (the afraid kind) and faith (the God-pleasing kind). More fear contrasts with less faith. More faith contrasts with less fear.

Adversity and hardship can reveal our level of faith in God. Storm experiences become our teachable moments. They test and measure our faith.

Did Jesus know the storm was coming? Of course He did. He had been teaching kingdom principles earlier and now He gave them a practical test to see how much they really learned. Faith must be tested. Enduring a faith test is one reason God permits storms and trails to come our way. The storm was part of the day’s curriculum for these disciples. God brought this storm upon their lives not because of a consequence for their sins but because God desired for them to grow in their faith. God tests Christians today in similar ways.

3 reasons these disciples shouldn’t have been afraid:

1) Jesus told them they were going to the other side; vs35; This is like a promise when it comes from Jesus Christ.

2) The Son of God Himself was with them. They had already seen several miracles from Jesus even if they had not yet understood that Jesus was Master over all situations and circumstances.

3) They could see that Jesus was perfectly calm even in the midst of the storm. Of course, Jesus was not afraid. He who is the living eternal Word, by which all things were made, has no reason to fear a storm or anything for that matter.

Jesus pointed out their lack of faith. They had shown faith in Jesus before, but they still have much to learn about Jesus and their own faith journey in Christ just as we all do. Warren Wiersbe wrote about the faith problem of the disciples: “The greatest danger was not the winds or the waves but the unbelief in the hearts of the followers of Christ. Our greatest problems are within us not around us. This is why Jesus gently rebuked their weak faith. It was their unbelief that caused them to fear and that led to asking; don’t you care? They already knew He had miraculous power to heal people, drive out demons, and authority to forgive sins. Now they discovered that He even had authority over the wind and the sea. This meant they had no reason to ever again be afraid, for their Lord was in constant control of every situation. (The Bible Exposition Commentary; Volume 1; pg125)”

Learning to trust Christ, instead of trembling at our circumstances, grows as our vision and acceptance of Jesus’ compassion, power, and presence grows.

Lastly, we are to be in awe of the awesome One, Jesus Christ.

In vs41, notice their response to Jesus calming the storm the way He did. They were filled with great fear. This is a different Greek word for fear than used to describe their fear of the storm conditions. This word in this context means reverent, respectful, or awe.

What they saw Jesus do in that moment shook them up like nothing else they had witnessed before. They glimpsed His sovereignty over a powerful natural disastrous event. When everything seemed out of control to the disciples, Jesus was absolutely and supremely in control. The disciples in the boat asked the right question, “Who is this? Even the wind and waves obey him?” They must have pondered; who can stop a mighty storm like this, except God Himself.  They were in awe of Jesus Christ as they should have been. When was the last time that you and I marveled at the awesomeness of Christ?

Jesus can be trusted in the storms of life because He is compassionate about our needs, more powerful than any of our storms, and He promises to be with His people. He is awesome! And when we learn to trust Jesus in the storms of life our faith increases and fear fades away. Amen. Fear is quieted by faith when we gain a bigger truthful vision of Jesus, trust Him fully, and acknowledge that He is truly awesome!

Are you in the boat with Jesus? And do you see Jesus standing in the middle of your fears?

Jesus is calling you to come to Him and follow Him, to truly and fully commit your life to Him. Trust Him, place your faith in Him as your personal Savior and the Lord of your life.

If you know Christ in this way then ask God to increase your faith in Him, to strengthen you now and for when you face and need to endure storms. If you don’t know Christ as your Savior and Lord then check out my blog entry about God’s plan for true life/eternal life:

http://mikesmorals.blogspot.com/2013/09/great-news-gods-plan-for-true-life.html

What do you think about this Mark 4 passage and these principles I’ve presented here?

Mike

The Best Forgiveness of All

Recently, I came across a Christian author’s description of forgiveness in Christ as being ‘one and done,’ historical, completed to the extent that a Christ follower today doesn’t need to ask for forgiveness any more but instead just accept that Jesus has already forgiven your sin on the cross. There is some biblical truth found in his position but there is more to it than this.

Here’s my take on what God’s Word teaches about divine forgiveness in Christ.

I believe there are two aspects of divine forgiveness in Christ. The first aspect is a one-time divine positional type of forgiveness that happens at your spiritual conversion moment when you receive Christ as your Savior by His grace through faith. When this happens you are redeemed by Christ. All your sins have been atoned for by Christ. You are declared righteous in the eyes of God so that you now have an eternal relationship with God and a position with God in His Heaven (see the doctrine of justification). In this divine positional/judicial sense, in Christ, all of our sins, past, present, and future have been forgiven by Christ. Here are a couple verses related to this aspect of divine forgiveness:

Colossians 2:13-14 (ESV) And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

1 John 2:12 (ESV) I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake.

Paul and John, led by the Holy Spirit, were writing to Christians here and they used the past tense about our sins being forgiven because judicially in the eyes of God it is settled and Christ followers can be assured of this. What Christ did on the cross for us atones for all of our sin including our future sins. So, in a divine positional/judicial sense all of our sins are forgiven in Christ. This is great gracious truth. Praise God!

The other aspect of divine forgiveness is an ongoing divine parental type of forgiveness. When we sin our Heavenly Father is grieved. When we sin it has a negative effect on our fellowship with God and our witness for Christ. Sinning as a Believer, a Christian, doesn’t remove our eternal life but it does need to be addressed spiritually by our proper response to God and His Word for His people today. For example, 1 John 1:9 refers to this ongoing divine parental type of forgiveness.

1 John 1:9 (ESV) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The verb tense for ‘confess’ in this verse is continual. We are to confess our sins continually as we sin. The forgiveness referred to here is not the initial divine positional/judicial forgiveness when we first become born again in Christ. This is divine parental forgiveness for specific sins in our Christian lives. When I sin today and tomorrow and the next day I need to apply and cling to the promise of 1 John 1:9.

This cleansing referred to in 1 John 1:9 is not the initial regeneration cleansing of the Holy Spirit when we first become born again (Titus 3:4-7). This is a spiritual cleansing to restore us to a righteous fellowship with God. A Bible illustration of these two types of cleansings is found in the John 13 passage about foot washing. Jesus told Peter that Peter’s whole body was clean but that only his feet needed to be washed. The phrase ‘whole body clean’ here refers to Peter being justified in Christ by faith. The foot washing referred to his ongoing need to confess his sin and be forgiven for specific sins. Yes, even Peter, a leading disciple of Christ. Even you. Even me.

It’s biblical for a Believer to ask God for forgiveness. Jesus taught us, through a regular occurring prayer model to follow, to ask God the Father for forgiveness regularly. Matthew 6:12 (ESV) and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

Note, that in addition to confessing our sin, we are to repent from that sinful behavior. Repent means to change and Believers’ repentance means to turn away from sin and turn to the way of righteousness in Christ. 2 Corinthians 12:20-21 is an example of the importance of Believers’ repentance.

My own parental love and forgiveness toward my kids (our three boys have received Christ as their personal Savior and Lord) is based on this biblical model of divine forgiveness; positional and parental. When my children were conceived and born, I chose and continue to choose to love them unconditionally because they are a blessing from God who created them through my wife and me. They are our biological children and we love them and care about them. They are imperfect and so are we. They obviously sin against us like disobeying and lying to us. These sins don’t remove our love for them or their status of being our children just like the sins of Christ-followers don’t remove God’s love for us or our status of being born again in Christ. The sins of our boys do however grieve God and us. Kym and I believe that these sins need to be confessed to God and repented from for spiritual cleansing and righting their fellowship with God and confessed to us (the sins that are against us) and repented from to restore a right fellowship with us.

Now, let’s say you are a Christ-follower and one night you engage in sinful activity and then die in an automobile crash without having confessed the sin you were engaged in that evening. Because of divine positional/judicial forgiveness you are forgiven by God for that night’s sin. You are eternally secure based on God’s faithfulness and promises in Scripture to His people. If you don’t die that night, God’s Word teaches us that we are to continually confess our sins to Him.

Be careful about pride and spiritual blindness when it comes to your sin. Ask God to reveal to you any unconfessed sin in your life and then agree with God about those sins, repent from that sinful behavior and accept His forgiveness.

God’s forgiveness of our sins is amazing grace. Thank you God! There is human to human forgiveness, which is important in healthy people relationships, but divine forgiveness is the best forgiveness of all. If you have never received this divine forgiveness/eternal life in Christ, check out my blog entry on God’s Plan for True Life (http://mikesmorals.blogspot.com/2013/09/great-news-gods-plan-for-true-life.html).

What do you think about divine forgiveness as revealed in God’s Word?

 

Mike

Thank God!

What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of the Thanksgiving holiday? Turkey, football, day off from job or school, family get-together, hunting, over-eating, parades, day before the biggest shopping day of year, orange/brown/yellow fall colors, pilgrims, cranberry, pies (Mmmm!)? Wait a minute!  What about being thankful?  Where does that fit in?  Many of those elements I just mentioned are part of my Thanksgiving history, but the Thanksgiving holiday is supposed to include thanksgiving, isn’t it?  Do you ever stop and think, “What do I do to emphasize thanksgiving on Thanksgiving?” How important is the thanksgiving element to your Thanksgiving, to you life?

God’s Word teaches us that we are to be thankful, and not just one day a year.  The Thanksgiving holiday time of the year, above all things, should remind us of the importance of giving thanks and to whom we are most grateful to; God!

In studying the character and life of the Apostle Paul as recorded in the Bible, I am amazed at how God-centered his thanksgiving was.  I looked at every verse Paul wrote and any verse about Paul in relation to the subject of giving thanks.  He wrote a few exhorting statements to different audiences that they are to be thankful, but most of the verses I found related to Paul and the subject of thanksgiving, were about Paul himself giving thanks.  And who was he giving thanks to almost every time?  God!

Paul thanked God for acts of God.  For example, 2 Cor. 9:15 NKJV Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! Paul also thanked God for people of God.  First, for individuals (for example, Paul thanked God for Timothy in 2 Tim. 1:3).  Secondly, Paul thanked God for groups of people (Rom. 1:8a ESV First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you..). Sometimes Paul did not just show “his” gratitude but also the gratitude of his ministry partners as well, such as Timothy and Silvanus (Col. 1:3 ESV We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you).  In this verse, Paul was speaking on behalf of himself & Timothy who both thanked God for the believers of Colosse for their faith, love, and spiritual fruit.

Paul is someone who got thanksgiving right because he knew how to thank God first and foremost even when he let people know he was thankful for them.  If Paul was thankful for someone or something, Paul thanked God and gave the glory to God. Paul knew of the goodness of God and His sovereignty and that God should be our true object of thanksgiving.  

Our highest goal in every thought, feeling, and act of thanksgiving is to thank God and oh, is there much to be thankful for.  Try writing down things that come to mind that you are thankful for.  For example, be thankful for God Himself (this is a form of praise, focusing on who God is) and about what God has done in the past, is doing in the present, and will do in the future (as revealed in Scripture).  Think about the people you are thankful for.  Turn your list into a prayer and pray thanks to God.  Tell God what and who you are thankful for and thank Him for this.  God loves to hear thanksgiving from His children.

Perhaps one of my prayers of thanksgiving would begin like this; God, I praise You for who You are and what You do.  Help me to know You better and learn more about You and Your works so I can praise You more thoroughly.  Thank You for life and eternal life. Thank You for Kym, the wife You have graciously given me.  Thank You for our three boys, Luke, Josh, and Zach and our new baby girl, Elle.  Thank You for provision and protection.  Thank You for Your mercy and help in my life. Thank You for the challenges You place in my life to grow me in my dependence on You.  Thank You for teachable moments.  Thank You for affirmation, assurance, and encouragement.  Thank You for people who love and pray for me and my family.  Thank You for what you are doing in and through the people and ministries of Thomas Road Baptist Church and Liberty University.  Thank You for Your calling and equipping in my life.  And on and on I go as I become more specific and intimate with God, giving Him thanks.

God is so worthy and deserving of our praise and thanksgiving toward Him.  Let this time of the year be a reminder to us that we are to thank and praise God, not just one day a year, but on a continual basis.  

Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations (Psalm 100 NIV).

Thank you God!  I love you God!  Teach us and help us to be thankful to You always, in everything, for we have much to be thankful for, more than we know.

Give thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

(Eph. 5:20 NKJV).

What are your thoughts about God-centered thanksgiving?

 

Mike

Judas; Close but No Redemption

A Christian college student was asking me recently about Judas Iscariot (the disciple who betrayed Christ) from the Holy Bible. He asked questions like; Was Judas ever saved by Christ? Did Judas lose his salvation? Why did Jesus choose Judas if Christ knew Judas would betray Him? Did Judas repent or not after he betrayed Jesus? Did Judas go to hell or heaven? What am I to learn from Judas?

 

These are good questions to ask and ponder and I believe God’s Word gives some answers. Here’s what I believe about Judas Iscariot from God’s Word (here on identified just as Judas).

Judas was chosen by Jesus to be one of His closest twelve followers (John 6:70). The word ‘Iscariot’ helps us distinguish this Judas from the other disciple named Judas (Luke 6:16). Iscariot is not this man’s last name but a reference to where he was from. In the Hebrew language this word means “man of Kerioth” which was an actual place in the southern kingdom, south of Hebron (Josh. 15:25). He was Judean, from the land of Judah, west of the Dead Sea. This is interesting to note because he is the only one of the twelve closest disciples to Christ to have not been Galilean (from the region of Galilee, part of the northern kingdom of Israel).

Regarding his introduction in the Gospels, it’s also interesting that even though his betrayal of Christ came later in the accounts, the authors, looking back in time when they wrote about these things, labeled him right away as the betrayer of Christ (Luke 6:16, John 6:71). The other eleven disciples were likely fooled by Judas’ Christ following pretense for a few years but we as the readers are told right away that he is the betrayer. That’s what he will always be known for. Hence the name Judas has the unfortunate connotation of betrayer even a couple thousand years later, so I imagine this name is never near the top of the list of most popular baby names.

Even though Judas was one of the main twelve followers of Christ, Judas was a follower like many referred to in John 6:60-71 who didn’t really commit to Christ as their personal Savior and Lord. Judas was a superficial follower on the outside and on the inside he was still spiritually lost in his sins. Being known as a follower of Jesus, even being a close follower to Jesus (i.e. he sat near Jesus at the upper room meal; was their treasurer), and doing works in His name are not synonymous with committing your life to Him by faith as your Savior and Lord (Mt. 7:21-23).

Jesus’ choosing of Judas as one of His main twelve followers was not a divine choosing unto salvation (i.e. elect, predestined). I believe Jesus wanted Judas to give his heart and faith over to Jesus as his personal Savior (1 Tim. 2:3-4) but Judas never did. I believe this is an example of a person who was about as close as you can get to Christ but didn’t actually surrender his life to Christ as his personal Savior.  This is sad because Judas, for 3+ years, was getting to know the awesome person and work of Jesus Christ more than most people have the opportunity to. There are still people today who go to church, give money, read the Bible, pray in the name of Jesus, do God-honoring works, etc.. but they have not surrendered and committed their lives to Christ as their Savior and Lord. On the outside there is an appearance of God-honoring religion but on the inside they are still lost in their sins (i.e. Mt. 15:7-9, 23:27). This is very unfortunate because Christ died and rose again so that we can be redeemed by Him, freed from our sins to live in divine joy and peace with eternal life in Christ.

Jesus knew in advance that Judas would betray Him and that divine prophecy would be fulfilled (John 6:64, 70-71). Jesus connected Ps. 41:9 to Judas the betrayer; prophecy fulfilled (John 13:18). God did not tempt Judas to sin (betray Christ) or make Judas sin (James 1:13). It was Judas’ personal decision to sin. Judas was responsible for his own thoughts and actions just as any of us are. And his decision to betray Christ became a fulfillment of biblical prophecy.

In John 6:69 Peter spoke on behalf of the twelve disciples about Jesus, “We have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” Peter believed, more like presumed, that Judas believed upon Christ as his spiritual Savior but Peter did not know Judas’ true heart faith and belief. Judas’ closeness to Jesus and works were deceiving. Until Christ identified the betrayer in the Upper Room the other eleven disciples did not know who the betrayer was and they evidently presumed Judas was like them, a devoted follower of Christ (John 13:21-30). So, Judas was good at masking what was true in his heart that he had no faith in Christ as his spiritual Savior. He was faking the Christian life. He was deceiving others into thinking he was a true devoted follower of Christ. In a paradoxical sense Christ probably protected Judas’ true identity because if the other eleven found out any earlier they would have rose up against him (i.e. Peter cut off a man’s ear who tried to arrest Jesus).

Judas was not described in a good light. Jesus called Judas ‘a devil’ (John 6:70). Judas was known as a thief of the disciples’ treasury (John 12:6). Jesus called Judas ‘lost’ and ‘the son of perdition/destruction’ (John 17:12). This Greek word, apoleia, ‘perdition’ can refer to eternal misery in Hell. Judas had never been regenerated by the Spirit of God, spiritually cleansed of his sins, whereas the other eleven of the closest followers/disciples of Christ were spiritually washed/cleansed of their sin by the time they were in the Upper Room the night before Christ died (John 13:10-11, Titus 3:4-7). At the time of the betrayal, Satan entered (possessed) Judas (John 13:27). Woe is Judas for there is extra wrath of God on him for his betrayal of Christ (Mark 14:21, Heb. 10:29). This is not a person who has been redeemed by the Redeemer. It is amazing at just how close one can be to Christ but be spiritually lost in sin and an instrument and friend of the number one enemy to Christ.

After Judas betrayed Christ (Mt. 26:14-16, 46-50) Judas probably felt remorse, guilt, and shame for his betrayal. Then he committed suicide (Mt. 27:3-5, Acts 1:18). Based on the whole of scripture about Judas, I believe he experienced worldly/flesh guilt not godly sorrow that leads to God-honoring repentance (2 Cor. 7:9-11).

I don’t believe the spiritual ‘lostness’ of Judas is a failure on the part of Jesus (John 17:12). I believe Judas was always lost spiritually. There is no clear biblical evidence that he was ever saved or redeemed by Christ. In fact, the biblical evidence is more supportive that Judas was never saved and is now eternally separated from God. I believe that before Judas’ death, he could have placed his trusting faith in Christ as His Savior and Lord and repented/turned to Christ and the way of righteousness but I don’t believe Judas ever did this. I believe the opportunity to turn rightly to Christ was available to him and is available to all to some degree.

Why did Judas betray Jesus? He did receive some pieces of silver for it but there was probably more to his motivation than that. Perhaps Judas grew impatient wanting Jesus to rise up as the Jewish political kingdom ruler to oppose the Romans who were oppressing the Jews. Perhaps Judas felt Jesus was a false prophet/messiah. We can’t be too sure of his motivations to betray Christ but we can be sure of the Gospel of Christ and His call to become a true committed follower of Christ.

If you would like to know more about the great news of Jesus Christ and giving your life over to Him as your personal Savior and Lord then check out my blog entry about this at

http://mikesmorals.blogspot.com/2013/09/great-news-gods-plan-for-true-life.html

What are your thoughts about Judas Iscariot?

 

Mike

 

Register to Vote and Vote

The 2013 Virginia General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 5. I live in Virginia so this is relevant to where I live. I’ve been a registered voter for years in the various places I lived. This past year, I relocated from PA to VA and I filled out a new Voter Registration form which is conveniently available through the DMV. This is how I received the form; when I had to get a new driver’s license, vehicle registration, etc.. Then six months later I relocated to another county and I filled out a new Voter Registration form to accurately identify my residential address and allow me to vote closer to where I currently live.

If you are a US Citizen and 18 years old or older I encourage you to be a registered voter and to vote in US elections. I believe citizens should vote. I believe Christians should vote. Being a voter is one way to allow your voice to be heard about issues in your community and beyond. Your vote can make a difference.

Here are the local and state positions for election in the upcoming VA General Election:

- Governor

- Lieutenant Governor

- Attorney General

- House of Delegates (22nd & 23rd Districts that cover the Lynchburg area)

- local offices:

- Commissioner of Revenue

- Commonwealth Attorney

- Sheriff

- Treasurer

 

You can research over the internet, look at some newspapers, make some phone calls to learn more about these positions and who is running for them. And if you look hard enough you can learn about where many of the candidates stand on big issues and moral issues which can factor into who you vote for.

God’s Word doesn’t give us any commands or qualifications regarding who to vote for in human government but there are lots of commands and principles for various moral issues that overlap with elected officials’ influence and decision making which is why I lean towards candidates that most align with my biblical values on those issues.

If you don’t like any of the candidates, they are not likely totally equal across the board. So, if you don’t vote, then your non-action favors the candidate you think lesser of. In other words, if you don’t vote then you are okay with the lesser candidate in your eyes.

God’s Word teaches us that God establishes governments, is sovereign over them, and uses them for His divine purposes and we are to pray for such leaders whether they are Christians or not. The US government is not a Christian government. It’s a reflection of our country, a mixed bag of beliefs. There are not always mature Christian political candidates to choose from but God is still sovereign and still works His purposes. Consider what it must have been like for the early Christians living under Rome’s rule, or to be a Christian in Nazi Germany or in some closed-to-Christianity nation today. Christians are biblically called by God to submit to our governing authorities (e.g. Rom. 13) except when there is contradiction to God’s Word for His people today.

Another thing to consider is if you are temporarily living away from where you are registered to vote. For example, I work with a lot of young adult college students whose permanent (parent’s) residences are out of state or across state. If you are in a similar situation in the US you can often vote with an absentee ballot form for where your permanent residence is but is this relevant to where you currently live when it comes to voting? You have the option to fill out the section of the Voter Registration form that switches your voter registration location to where you live most of this year. You decide.

I am thankful that US citizens have the freedom and right to vote in this nation and I plan to exercise that right on Tuesday, 11/5. I don’t tell anyone who to vote for. I am prayerfully asking God to give me relevant knowledge, discernment, wisdom, and faith about who to vote for. And I’m trusting God through the outcome of the election and how it impacts the future of the community I live in, as well as the state, and beyond. I ask you to pray something similar regarding your own voting decisions.

The deadline to register to vote for this November election is 10/15. Are you registered to vote, prepared to vote, and are you planning to vote in the next election?

Mike

Living in Grace not Guilt

Let’s say that one day my wife asked me what I am thinking about. I’m tempted to lie to her because I’m embarrassed about what is in my mind at that moment. However, I am reminded by the Holy Spirit that God’s Word teaches that it is wrong to lie and I believe it is wrong to lie. This is spiritual conviction in my heart, the Holy Spirit speaking to and shaping my moral conscience. This is one of the ministries of the Holy Spirit; to convict, convince, or reprove (see John 16:8-14, 14:26).

Even though I am convicted spiritually that lying is wrong, let’s say I lie to my wife. Then, I feel bad about it. I feel guilty. In an objective sense, there is guilt in the eyes of God toward me because according to God’s Word I am guilty of sinning, disobeying God (i.e. thou shall not lie). But I also have feelings/emotions/thoughts of guilt after I lied to my wife. I feel bad that I sinned against God and her. This is subjective or psychological guilt. This type of guilt is different for everyone and it may be beneficial to a degree but it can also be destructive.

There is a time for appropriate guilt feelings that lead to good, to help, to constructive thinking, behavior and reconciliation. For example, during an actual sin and soon afterwards you have feelings of remorseful awareness of having done something wrong (or you omitted something right) and you seek to make things right, to honor God in moving forward. You learn to accept that you fail and make mistakes, grow from it, get right with God and others you sin against, and you live in God’s grace.

There are also inappropriate guilt feelings that some people experience which include uncomfortable feelings and thoughts of guilt that linger on when they are not supposed to linger on; or they are way out of proportion compared to the act. This is destructive to our minds and emotions and attitudes and actions. If we allow this kind of guilt to linger and continue it can become a breeding ground for the work of the spiritual enemies of God and our thoughts and feelings will remain in the flesh instead of in the Spirit of God.

Here’s an example of inappropriate guilt feelings in my lying scenario. Man, I have been a Christian for a long time and I’m even a pastor so, I can’t believe I lied to my wife. I’m such a loser, a failure. What if I do it again and keep doing it? I’m uncomfortable around her now. I feel so lousy about lying. This stinks. I’m never good enough. And I’m supposed to be the spiritual leader in our relationship and set an example to others. Ha! And on and on I over-analyze that I lied and I feel like garbage emotionally. This is self-condemnation, self-loathing. This type of guilt we choose to wallow in is not good, not healthy, not God-honoring, and not of God. It’s focusing on ourselves and our failures.

There’s a better way to process our sin guilt, the right way, God’s way. First, I must genuinely confess (agree with God) the sin to God (and my wife since I sinned against her as well; see James 5:16). Here is God’s promise to Christ-followers; 1 John 1:9 ESV If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. When we confess our sin it must be genuine not saying “I’m sorry” with some sort of disingenuous attitude to avoid punishment or negative consequences.

We must learn to acknowledge that we will fail and make mistakes. We are sinners. We sin. We will sin. 1 John 1:8 ESV If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. So, we must confess our sins.

Confession and forgiveness are tied together in 1 John 1:9. When we genuinely confess our sin to God He forgives us. When we genuinely confess our sin to another person we are not given such a promise that they will forgive us but we should ask for their forgiveness in a loving and respectful way. When my wife forgives me she is not wiping my sin and objective guilt away spiritually like only God can do but her forgiveness does help the relationship I have with my wife to be healthier.

Secondly, when we have godly sorrow, a godly confession, we need to repent of this sinful behavior. Godly sorrow leads to repentance (see 2 Cor. 7:8-10). If our sorrow is not God-honoring then it is of the flesh, it is worldly and this kind of sorrow leads to death. Repent at its core means to turn and to change. Believers’ repentance means to turn away from sin and turn to the way of righteousness in Christ. I believe when a Christ-follower sins after conversion he or she should consciously repent of that sin behavior. 2 Corinthians 12:20-21 is an example of the importance of Believers’ repentance.

Our hope and joy in life is not found in self-inflicted worldly guilt. It’s found in Christ through our proper response to Him with faith and obedience like when we confess our sins to Him and repent of them in a God-honoring way.

Praise God that Jesus died for all of our sin (1 Peter 3:18). For true Christ followers Jesus’s atoning death on the cross satisfied God’s wrath upon our sin (1 John 2:2). We are no longer condemned by God’s wrath because we are in Christ. If I lie to my wife, Jesus paid the penalty for that lie with what He did on the cross. And when I confess my sin and repent from it God removes that sin from being an issue with my fellowship with God. He removes that sin from being a hindrance to my spiritual growth and ministry in God’s name.

Praise God for forgiveness and restoration. This Gospel work of Christ is great news! This is grace. We do not deserve God’s forgiveness and the clearing of our objective guilt and restoration to a right fellowship with Him. His grace is amazing. Christ followers are to live in His grace not in feelings of self-inflicted worldly guilt.

Let’s accept God’s truth about divine forgiveness and move forward with God in His peace and joy and grace. There is no reason to have lingering emotional guilt when we follow God’s plan for getting right with Him. Don’t let the flesh and enemies of God rob you of God-given joy, peace, grace, and freedom in Christ.

I don’t mean to make light of your sin and guilt struggles. I realize that a one-time lie to my wife scenario may seem like small potatoes to the person who continues to struggle with lust and porn, or self-centeredness, or pride, or with a drug addiction, etc... But God’s truth is God’s truth regardless of your guilt struggle. Apply God’s Word to your struggles, failures, guilt, sin problems. Confess your sin in faith with godly sorrow and repent to the way of Christ, depending on Him and His power for real eternally significant deliverance and victory (Gal. 1:3-5, 1 Cor. 15:57).

 “The purpose of being guilty is to bring us to Jesus. Once we are there, then its purpose is finished. If we continue to make ourselves guilty—to blame ourselves—then that is sin in itself.” Corrie ten Boom

 “The ultimate solution to guilt and guilt feelings is to admit our pain, suffering, failures, and guilt; to confess sin to Christ and at times to other human beings; to pray for forgiveness and a sincere desire to repent and change behavior; and then to believe with divine help that we are forgiven and accepted by the God of the universe.” (Christian Counseling, Gary Collins, pg144)

 

It is a personal choice to live in grace or live in guilt. Which are you choosing?

  

Mike

Great News; God’s Plan for True Life

The Lord God Almighty created us to be in relationship with Him forever, but sin entered the human race and sin separates us from our Holy Creator and deserves God’s judgment. Fortunately, through God’s grace He sent Christ to die for our sins, to pay the penalty of God’s wrath upon our sin, to bring us to God, to give you and I true life now and for eternity (1 Pet. 3:18, 1 John 2:2, John 3:16, 10:10). How do we receive this true/eternal life from God? We must respond rightly to God and His plan for true life. Here’s how; think of it as the ABC’s for True Life:

 

Admit that you have sinned.  Ask Jesus to forgive you. "...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..." Rom. 3:23, Eph. 1:7, 1 John 1:9

 

Believe with trusting faith upon Jesus that He died on the cross for your sins and rose in victory. “..Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, .. he was buried, .. he was raised on the third day ..” 1 Cor. 15:3-7, 57; "That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Rom. 10:9

 

Commit (surrender) your life to Jesus as your Savior and the Lord of your life; “and He (Jesus) died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” 2 Cor. 5:15; Luke 9:23-24

 

God may be prompting you right now to begin a true/eternal life relationship with Him. If so, respond to Christ in faith by giving your life to Him as your Savior and Lord. Rest assured, you can know that you have eternal life (1 John 5:13).

Tell some Christ-honoring people that you have given your life over to Christ. If you just read through this and just now gave your life over to Christ, let me know. Amen! Praise God! There is a celebration in Heaven every time someone gives their life to Christ (Luke 15:10).

Once you have committed to trusting Christ as your Savior and Lord, then how do you live the ‘true life’ in Christ? Worship God, develop the habits of prayer and Bible learning/living, commit to a bible-believing Christ-centered church family, be baptized in water, grow in God’s Word with other believers, serve and help people, communicate this great news of Jesus to nonbelievers, become more like Christ in character and mission, and glorify God in all that you are and do! 

If you have questions about giving your life over to Jesus Christ please ask a Christ-honoring person for guidance, pray to God for help, study God’s Word and apply His Word to your life as the Lord leads. God bless you in your true life in Christ!              

 

Mike Mullins

Identity in Christ

Christian, do you know who you are? What does God’s Word say about you, the facts, the promises? A Christian’s biblical identity comes up a lot in my ministry to Christians because we get so bogged down with our emotions, circumstances, and spiritual blindness from the enemies of God. I just updated my list of many affirming biblical statements about identity in Christ. Here they are:

 

1) I am saved by grace through faith in Christ, Eph. 2:8-9

2) I am born again/of God, John 3:3

3) I am a new creation in Christ, 2 Cor. 5:17

4) I am a spiritual child of God, John 1:12

5) I am adopted as God’s son/daughter in Christ, Eph. 1:5, Gal. 4:6-7

6) I am predestined to be conformed to the likeness of the Son of God, Rom. 8:29

7) I am chosen/elect by God; Eph. 1:5, Col. 3:12

8) I am forgiven; Col. 1:14

9) I am a friend of Christ, John 15:15

10) I am spiritually circumcised by Christ who cuts away my sinful nature, Col. 2:11

11) I am no longer condemned (to God’s eternal wrath; eternal separation from God), Rom. 8:1

12) I am free from any condemning charges against me, Rom. 8:31-34

13) I am God’s purchased possession, redeemed, bought with a price by the blood of the Lamb; 1 Cor. 6:19-20

14) I am protected from the evil one, and rescued from the power of darkness; 1 John 5:18, col. 1:13

15) I am justified through faith in Christ, by His blood; Rom. 5:1, 9

16) I am reconciled with God, 2 Cor. 5:18

17) I am regenerated and renewed by the Holy Spirit, Titus 3:5

18) I am baptized by the Holy Spirit, 1 Cor. 12:13

19) I am indwelt with the Holy Spirit, John 14:16-17

20) I am sealed by the Holy Spirit, for the day of redemption, Eph. 1:13, 4:30, 2 Cor. 1:22

21) I am a temple of the living God, 1 Cor. 3:16, 2 Cor. 6:19

22) I am free in Christ from the bondage of sin, Gal. 5:1, 1 Cor. 7:22

23) I am alive in Christ & the Holy Spirit, Eph. 2:5, 1 Pet. 3:18

24) I am a member of the Body of Christ, belonging to Christ and one another, Rom. 12:5, 7:4, 1:6, 14:8; 1 Cor. 12:27

25) I am a member of God’s family, the household of God, Eph. 2:19

26) I am being transformed into the image of the glory of the Lord, into Christ-likeness, 2 Cor. 3:18

27) I am blessed, Gal. 3:9, Eph. 1:3

28) I am God’s field, God’s building, 1 Cor. 3:9

29) I am a citizen of heaven, Phili. 3:20

30) I am an heir of God, Gal. 4:7, 3:29; Rom. 8:17

31) I am gifted by the Holy Spirit; 1 Pet. 4:10, Rom. 12:6

32) I am in Christ Jesus, 1 Cor. 1:30

33) I am in possession of spiritual understanding from the mind of Christ, 1 Cor. 2:16

34) I am eternal with eternal life from God, John 6:47

35) I am guaranteed an eternal inheritance through the Holy Spirit, Eph. 1:14

36) I am a believer upon Jesus Christ and His Gospel; John 3:16, 6:47

37) I am loved by God, God’s beloved, 1 Thess. 1:4

38) I am healed by the wounds of Jesus, 1 Pet. 2:24

39) I am complete in Christ, Col. 2:10

40) I am becoming the righteousness of God in Christ, 2 Cor. 5:21

41) I am dead to sin, Rom. 6:2, 11

42) I am more than a conqueror through Christ who loves me, Rom. 8:37

43) I am a victorious overcomer, Rev. 21:7

44) I am a saint, one of God’s own holy people, 1 Cor. 14:33, 1 Cor. 1:2

45) I am joined to the Lord spiritually, 1 Cor. 6:17

46) I am able to access God the Father through God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, Eph. 2:18

47) I am assured that because I love God and am called according to His purpose, all things work together for good, Rom. 8:28

48) I am helped by the Holy Spirit when I pray to God, Rom. 8:28

49) I am inseparable from the Christ’s love, Rom. 8:38-39

50) I am established in Christ, placed on a firm foundation in Him, 2 Cor. 1:21

51) I am hidden with Christ in God (an unseen spiritual reality of eternal life with God), Col. 3:3

52) I am expecting God who began a good work in me to bring it to completion at the day of Christ, Phili. 1:6

53) I am indwelt with a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control, 2 Tim. 1:7

54) I am able to find God’s grace and mercy to help in time of need, Heb. 4:15-16

55) I am able to approach Christ with boldness and confidence through faith in Him, Eph. 3:12

56) I am a branch of the true vine, Jesus Christ, John 5:1

57) I am raised up with Christ and seated with Him in the heavenly places, Eph. 2:6

58) I am called by Christ, with a holy calling; Rom. 1:6, 2 Tim. 1:9, 1 Cor. 1:9, 1 Pet. 5:9

59) I am God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, Eph. 2:10

60) I am sanctified (set apart from sin to be holy as God is holy), Acts 26:18, 1 Cor. 1:2, 6:11

61) I am a bond-servant/slave to Christ, Rom. 6:22, 1 Cor. 7:22

62) I am God’s fellow worker, a ministry partner with God, 1 Cor. 3:9, 2 Cor. 6:1

63) I am salt and light in Christ in this world, Mt. 5:13-16

64) I am a disciple/student/follower of Christ, Acts 11:26

65) I am an alien, sojourner, foreigner, stranger, pilgrim in this world, 1 Pet. 2:11

66) I am a minister of the new covenant, of the Gospel; 2 Cor. 3:6, 1 Pet. 4:10

67) I am a steward, 1 Pet. 4:10

68) I am able to do all things through Christ who strengthens me, like be content in whatever the circumstances, Phili. 3:14

69) I am an ambassador for Christ, 2 Cor. 5:20

70) I am in the world but not of the world, John 17:14-18

71) I am anointed by the Holy Spirit for ministry, 2 Cor. 1:21, 1 John 2:20, 27

72) I am appointed to bear spiritual fruit, John 15:16

73) I am a minister of reconciliation for God, 2 Cor. 5:18-20

Christian, this is not an exhaustive biblical description of who you are in Christ, but it sure is a great start, isn’t it? Wow! Over 70 biblical statements about your identity in Christ. You are this and more. Regardless of your circumstances and emotions in life these verses point to your identity in Christ. By faith, trust God and His truth about who you are. Don’t allow emotions, circumstances, and the enemies of God to distract you from who you are in Christ.

If you are not sure what some of these words and phrases mean, then look up the verses and study the contexts of the respective chapters and/or paragraphs, use bible study tools, ask maturing Christians for help and ask God for understanding.  Learn from God’s Word about who you are in Christ, and keep this in your heart and mind throughout life as a promise, assurance and affirmation from God to you. Christian, be encouraged about who you are in Christ, who you are becoming in Christ, and what’s ahead for you in Christ!

And if you are not a Christian and you don’t know how to become a Christian and yet you would like to know more about Christ and what it means to be committed follower of Christ, please check out my blog entry about the great news of Christ: http://mikesmorals.blogspot.com/2013/09/great-news-gods-plan-for-true-life.html 

Mike Mullins