Thursday 15 August 2013
Views, Visions and Values.: Sticks & Stones, The power of Speech.
Views, Visions and Values.: Sticks & Stones, The power of Speech.: The power of Speech, Many of you, know that I work in a Contact Centre in Liverpool, I would have said Call Centre, but many of yo...
Yet for this reason I found mercy, and Blessed Assurance
1 Timothy 1:15-16
New American
Standard Bible (NASB)
15 It is a
trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into
the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. 16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so
that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience
as an example for those [a]who would believe in Him for eternal life.
The 19th
Century American Hymn Writer, Fanny J Crosby wrote these wonderful words
Blessed assurance,
Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste
of glory divine!
Heir of salvation,
purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit,
washed in His blood.
Refrain:
This is my story,
this is my song,
praising my Saviour
all the day long;
this is my story,
this is my song,
praising my Saviour
all the day long.
Perfect submission,
perfect delight!
Visions of rapture
now burst on my sight;
Angels descending
bring from above
Echoes of mercy,
whispers of love.
Perfect submission,
all is at rest!
I in my Saviour am
happy and blest,
Watching and waiting,
looking above,
Filled with his
goodness, lost in His love
Last week, we
looked at the phrase, in 1 Tim 1:16, For
this reason I found Mercy, today we will
start to look at the phrase The Justification and sanctification of believers
through the finished work of Christ and we will start to look at the doctrine of
Justification and then next week we will follow on by looking at the doctrine
of Sanctification. But what do we mean by Justification ?
Simply put, to
justify is to declare righteous, to make one right with God. Justification is
God’s declaring those who receive Christ to be righteous, based on Christ’s
righteousness being imputed to the accounts of those who receive Christ
We are justified,
declared righteous, at the moment of our salvation. Justification does not make
us righteous, but rather pronounces us righteous. Our righteousness comes from
placing our faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ. His sacrifice covers
our sin, allowing God to see us as perfect and unblemished. Because as believers
we are in Christ, God sees Christ's own righteousness when He looks at us. This
meets God's demands for perfection; thus, He declares us righteous—He justifies
us.
Justification is an
instantaneous legal act of God in which he a) thinks of our sins as forgiven
and Christ’s righteousness as belonging to us and b) declares us to be
righteous in his sight
Now let us examine
the Scriptures in regards to Justification
1.
Romans 3:21-26 21
But now apart [k]from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested,
being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God
through faith in Jesus Christ for all those [l]who believe; for there is no
distinction; 23 for all [m]have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24
being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in
Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a [n]propitiation [o]in His
blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, [p]because in
the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the
demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He
would be just and the justifier of the one who [q]has faith in Jesus.
2.
Romans 5:1-11 Therefore,
having been justified by faith, [a]we have peace with God through our Lord
Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith
into this grace in which we stand; and [b]we exult in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only this, but [c]we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that
tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character;
and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of
God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given
to us.
3.
6 For while we were
still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will
hardly die for a righteous man; [d]though perhaps for the good man someone
would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that
while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now
been justified [e]by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through
Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the
death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved [f]by
His life. 11 And not only this, [g]but we also exult in God through our Lord
Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
4.
Romans 5:12-21 12
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death
through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned— 13 for
[h]until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no
law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who
had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a [i]type of Him
who was to come15 But [j]the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by
the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and
the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many. 16 The
gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one
hand the judgment arose from one transgression [k]resulting in condemnation,
but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions [l]resulting
in justification. 17 For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned
through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the
gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.18 So
then as through one transgression [m]there resulted condemnation to all men,
even so through one act of righteousness [n]there resulted justification of
life to all men. 19 For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were
made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made
righteous. 20 [o]The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but
where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, 21 so that, as sin reigned in
death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord.
5.
Galatians
2:16-21”nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by
the works of [n]the Law but
through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that
we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of [o]the Law; since by the works of [p]the Law no [q]flesh will be
justified. 17 But if, while
seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be! 18 For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor.19 For
through [r]the Law I died to [s]the Law, so
that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer
I who live, but Christ lives in me; and [t]the life which I now live in the flesh I live by
faith in the Son of
God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through[u]the Law, then
Christ died needlessly
6.
Romans 8:29-35 29 For those whom He
foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so
that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He
predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and
these whom He justified, He also glorified.31 What then shall we say to these
things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own
Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely
give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the
one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died,
yes, rather who was [l]raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also
intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of [m]Christ? Will
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
sword?
Westminster
Confession of Faith, Chapter 11
Justification
I.
Those whom God effectually calls, He also freely justifies;[1] not by infusing
righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting and
accepting their persons as righteous; not for any thing wrought in them, or
done by them, but for Christ's sake alone; nor by imputing faith itself, the
act of believing, or any other evangelical obedience to them, as their
righteousness; but by imputing the obedience and satisfaction of Christ unto
them,[2] they receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith;
which faith they have not of themselves, it is the gift of God.[3]
II.
Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and His righteousness, is the alone
instrument of justification:[4] yet is it not alone in the person justified,
but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but
works by love.[5]
III.
Christ, by His obedience and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those
that are thus justified, and did make a proper, real and full satisfaction to His
Father's justice in their behalf.[6] Yet, in as much as He was given by the
Father for them;[7] and His obedience and satisfaction accepted in their
stead;[8] and both, freely, not for any thing in them; their justification is
only of free grace;[9] that both the exact justice, and rich grace of God might
be glorified in the justification of sinners.[10]
IV.
God did, from all eternity, decree to justify all the elect,[11] and Christ
did, in the fullness of time, die for their sins, and rise again for their
justification:[12] nevertheless, they are not justified, until the Holy Spirit
does, in due time, actually apply Christ unto them.[13]
V.
God does continue to forgive the sins of those that are justified;[14] and
although they can never fall from the state of justification,[15] yet they may,
by their sins, fall under God's fatherly displeasure, and not have the light of
His countenance restored unto them, until they humble themselves, confess their
sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance.[16]
VI.
The justification of believers under the Old Testament was, in all these
respects, one and the same with the justification of believers under the New
Testament.[17]
<
Wednesday 14 August 2013
Chosen in Christ
Ephesians
1:4-6
New
American Standard Bible (NASB)
4
just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be
holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons
through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6
to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the
Beloved.
Salvation
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” - Acts 4:12 http://bit.ly/TDYrr1
Tuesday 13 August 2013
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all./Amazing Grace
1 Tim 1:15-16
15 It is a trustworthy
statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ
Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am
foremost of all. 16 Yet
for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ
might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those [l]who would believe in
Him for eternal life.
Amazing
Grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me wrote the former slave
ship captain, a person we now recognise has the Anglican Vicar and Hymn Writer
John Newton.
Some
2,000 years ago, a man was lead to his death by an occupying army to die a
death that was both humiliating and agonising, both the political and religious
authorities had conspired to end the live of this one man because they felt
threated by his message and popularity his friends had run away from him and
where now in hiding, one of his friends had betrayed him and one of his closest
friends had denied him, he was beaten and bloodied, and was led to certain
death by public execution, of all the tens of thousands if not hundreds of
thousands who shared his fate or will share his fate including some of his
latter disciples, this one death out of thousands of similar deaths of those
who had been crucified on a cross of wood, this one death was and is of eternal
significance, this death bought God’s Gift of Salvation, the forgiveness of
sins, The Redemption of Mankind.
When
our Lord Jesus came, He had one mission in mind, he voluntary laid aside his
divine attributes and was born by a woman, he lived a normal life in seeming
obscurity, he launched his mission by these words The Spirit of the Lord is
upon me see Luke 4:18-19, he had been tempted to sin by the deceiver and
accuser Satan, yet had not sinned, indeed there was no sin found in Him, his
mission then and now is to save sinners. John the Baptist said these words when
Jesus came to him to be baptised in Water, Behold the Lamb of God, who takes
away the sin of the world, and see John 1:28-30
Westminster
Confession, Chapter 8
Christ the Mediator
I.
It pleased God, in His eternal purpose, to choose and ordain the Lord Jesus,
His only begotten Son, to be the Mediator between God and man,[1] the
Prophet,[2] Priest,[3] and King,[4] the Head and Savior of His Church,[5] the
Heir of all things,[6] and Judge of the world:[7] unto whom He did from all
eternity give a people, to be His seed,[8] and to be by Him in time redeemed,
called, justified, sanctified, and glorified.[9]
II.
The Son of God, the second person of the Trinity, being very and eternal God,
of one substance and equal with the Father, did, when the fullness of time was
come, take upon Him man's nature,[10] with all the essential properties, and
common infirmities thereof, yet without sin;[11] being conceived by the power
of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the virgin Mary, of her substance.[12] So
that two whole, perfect, and distinct natures, the Godhead and the manhood,
were inseparably joined together in one person, without conversion,
composition, or confusion.[13] Which person is very God, and very man, yet one
Christ, the only Mediator between God and man.[14]
III.
The Lord Jesus, in His human nature thus united to the divine, was sanctified,
and anointed with the Holy Spirit, above measure,[15] having in Him all the
treasures of wisdom and knowledge;[16] in whom it pleased the Father that all
fullness should dwell;[17] to the end that, being holy, harmless, undefiled,
and full of grace and truth,[18] He might be thoroughly furnished to execute
the office of a Mediator and Surety.[19] Which office He took not unto Himself,
but was thereunto called by His Father,[20] who put all power and judgment into
His hand, and gave Him commandment to execute the same.[21]
IV.
This office the Lord Jesus did most willingly undertake;[22] which that He might
discharge, He was made under the law,[23] and did perfectly fulfil it;[24]
endured most grievous torments immediately in His soul,[25] and most painful
sufferings in His body;[26] was crucified, and died,[27] was buried, and
remained under the power of death, yet saw no corruption.[28] On the third day
He arose from the dead,[29] with the same body in which He suffered,[30] with
which also he ascended into heaven, and there sits at the right hand of His
Father,[31] making intercession,[32] and shall return, to judge men and angels,
at the end of the world.[33]
V.
The Lord Jesus, by His perfect obedience, and sacrifice of Himself, which He
through the eternal Spirit, once offered up unto God, has fully satisfied the
justice of His Father;[34] and purchased, not only reconciliation, but an
everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for those whom the Father has
given unto Him.[35]
VI.
Although the work of redemption was not actually wrought by Christ till after
His incarnation, yet the virtue, efficacy, and benefits thereof were
communicated unto the elect, in all ages successively from the beginning of the
world, in and by those promises, types, and sacrifices, wherein He was
revealed, and signified to be the seed of the woman which should bruise the
serpent's head; and the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world; being
yesterday and today the same, and forever.[36]
VII.
Christ, in the work of mediation, acts according to both natures, by each
nature doing that which is proper to itself;[37] yet, by reason of the unity of
the person, that which is proper to one nature is sometimes in Scripture
attributed to the person denominated by the other nature.[38]
VIII.
To all those for whom Christ has purchased redemption, He does certainly and
effectually apply and communicate the same;[39] making intercession for
them,[40] and revealing unto them, in and by the word, the mysteries of
salvation;[41] effectually persuading them by His Spirit to believe and obey,
and governing their hearts by His word and Spirit;[42] overcoming all their
enemies by His almighty power and wisdom, in such manner, and ways, as are most
consonant to His wonderful and unsearchable dispensation.[43]
What
do we mean by the Word, sin?
Sin
means missing the mark, failure, offense, taking the wrong course, sin, guilt,
it’s also used in the New Testament in a generic sense of concrete wrongdoing,
a principle and quality of action, and as a sinful deed this includes
acts/desires/passions. Sin separates us from God the father because of sin we
are unable to have a relationship with Him, Man has tried to find a way to have
a relationship with God, and because of our sinful nature we have failed, yet
God has provided us the way to Him , see John 14:6.
Let
us look now, how Sin came into a perfect World, we all know that when Adam
& Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they were deceived by satan, see Romans
5:6-21 that because of the fall, sin entered a perfect world, we have inherited
sin because we come from Adam & Eve and because of this we have a sinful
nature and the desire and inclination to sin, see Romans 3:21-26.
Because no man is born without sin, and we have sinful desires and inclinations, it is
impossible for a man to die in our place for our sins, God sent his Son Jesus, who voluntary died in
our place for our sins, He died as our substitute he took the place we deserve,
paid the price that we should really pay, he surrendered his life that we may
live, he laid aside his relationship to his father, so that through him and his
sacrifice we can enter into a relationship with His Father, and our Father see
2 Cor 5:14-21
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
Next , for this reason I found Mercy
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