Come…

Come…

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (Matthew 11:28-29)

Never have there been any kinder, more gentle words than this invitation of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is a deep longing within each of us to hear His voice … calling us to draw close to Him and to surrender every wearisome burden of life. His appeal, “Come to me”, is the heart of the Gospel! Jesus assures us: “Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” And, “All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of Him who sent me.” (John 6:35; 37-38)

Jesus taught, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ (Quoting Isaiah 54:13) Therefore, everyone who has heard the Father and learned from Him comes to me.” (John 6:44-45) And Jesus declared, “As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.” (Luke 6:47-48)

My friends, there is an abundance of grace to be received in His offer to Come! There are benefits to be enjoyed. When we come to Jesus and place our faith in Him, we receive His gifts of salvation and eternal life. Whoever comes to Jesus will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life! (John 8:12) Indeed, Jesus pleads: “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:37-38) Jesus is the Way and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Him!

So, I urge everyone to come to Jesus! He is waiting with open arms to embrace and betroth you! Yes, come to Jesus, and joyfully serve Him in love! One day, Jesus is going to come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what they have done. Indeed, we will hear that precious word again: “Come!” For the King will say, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the Kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.” (Matthew 25:34)

Have a Blessed Day!

Redeemed…

Redeemed…

Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. (1 Peter 1:17-19)

Is there anything better for believers than the knowledge they have been redeemed? Do we truly understand redemption – the redeeming love of God in Christ? We have been redeemed from the wages of sin and death! We have been redeemed from the power of sin and its empty life! We have been released from the shackles of guilt and the chains of darkness! Indeed, we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that we may proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)

Let us understand the significance of the redemption He accomplished! “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” (Cf. Deuteronomy 21:22-23)He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promised Holy Spirit.” (Galatians 3:13-14) Yes, we who trusted in Jesus, after we heard the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation; in Him, having believed, we were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory! (Ephesians 1:13-14)

Let us understand the necessity of the redemption He accomplished! In Jesus we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of God’s grace! (Ephesians 1:7) For God rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the Kingdom of His Beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:13-14) Indeed, we have been freely justified by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. So, let us not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom we have been sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30) Rather, let us praise the One who paid our debt and raised us from the dead!

My friends, do you understand what it means to be redeemed? If so, then by faith, wrap yourself in the white linen that is to be our everlasting garment and give Him all the glory! Yes! Let us worship Christ Jesus, who entered the Most Holy Place with His own blood, and obtained for us eternal redemption! (Hebrews 9:12)

Have a Blessed Day!

Abundant…

Abundant…

How abundant are the good things that You have stored up for those who fear You, that You bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in You. (Psalm 31:19)

Abundant is a pleasant word…. It conveys thoughts of plentiful; great quantity; more than adequate; over-sufficient; lavish; well supplied. Indeed, God provides us with inexhaustible mercy … exceeding grace … infinite peace … lavish love … great hope … overwhelming joy! Yes, He abundantly supplies for every need according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus! (Philippians 4:19) And we have this assurance from our Lord Jesus who declared: “I have come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Abundant is an encouraging word…. It resonates the gracious fullness with which our God delights to bless us in His Son. His plan … His purpose … His pleasure for us was predestined before the creation of the world:

Ephesians 1:3-8 (NIV)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For He chose us in Him (Jesus) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love, He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will— to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. In Him (Jesus) we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us.

Abundant is a responsive word…. There is no end to what we should do in response to the incomparable riches of His grace expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:7) We shall thank God continually. We shall pray without ceasing. Yes, through Jesus, let us offer to God an endless sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that openly profess His Name. (Hebrews 13:15) Our God and Father is worthy of the highest and unending worship! Hallelujah! How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise Him! (Psalm 147:1) Now unto the King Eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17)

Have a Blessed Day!

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. All who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure. ~ 1 John 3:1-3

He Will Appear a Second Time…

Hebrews 9:27-28 (NIV)

Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.

Our Verse of the Day has been studied before, but I always like to take a closer look at it for both the message and the hope that it brings to light for us. The writer of the Book of Hebrews (some scholars think it was Paul, others believe it might have been either Apollos or Luke) broadly discusses the Old Testament scriptural support and theological implications for the NEW COVENANT which is fulfilled in Christ Jesus. The entire book is a fascinating composition that helped Jewish believers (and us today) better comprehend the mission for which Father God sent His One and Only Son, Jesus, into this world. The ultimate purpose is found in one word: SALVATION. And understanding how Jesus secured our salvation through His life, His death, and His resurrection, should encourage us to keep the New Covenant which God has ordained for those who love Him. I strongly encourage you to read the entire book when you have the opportunity….

Although, there is a great deal of commentary that can arise from a study of the Book of Hebrews, I promise to keep it narrow and focused on the verse at hand. As usual, I reprinted our verse in the surrounding context for emphasis:

Hebrews 9:11-15; 23-28 (NIV)

But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He entered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts (useless rituals) that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!For this reason Christ is the mediator of a New Covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance—now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.

It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; He entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. Nor did He enter heaven to offer Himself again and again; the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise, Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But He has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself. Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.

What I want to emphasize for us is the declaration of writer regarding the Second Coming of Jesus. Jesus’ first Advent was to fulfill, once-and-for-all time, the sacrificial atonement God has required for the forgiveness of our sin … to blot out our transgressions … to establish the justification for His mercy and grace. Then what does the text say? “He will appear a SECOND time, NOT TO BEAR SIN, but the bring salvation to THOSE WHO ARE WAITING FOR HIM.” My question is this: Are YOU one of those who are waiting for the return of our Lord Jesus? The implication here is there are people who are NOT waiting for Him? What does “waiting for Him” mean? Is it not a perpetual state of anticipation … that joyful angst of personal longing to see a loved one who has been gone? An active yearning for Jesus appears to be a natural manifestation of faith because the text indicates that Jesus will bring salvation to those who are awaiting His return. So, I want us to get laser-locked on the meaning of what has been written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

I believe Verse 27 sets up the context in which Verse 28 should be interpreted. “JUST AS people are destined to die once….” By means of comparison, what is getting ready to be said will be “very similar to,” or perhaps, even “exactly like” what has been stated. We could possibly apply the following interpretation: “Just as people are destined to die once, so Christ was destined to be sacrificed once (i.e., to die once) to take away the sins of many….” Now, let’s look at the remainder of Verse 27, which asserts: “And after their death, all people will face their final judgement….” This assertion is supported by other Scripture in that all will be resurrected and stand before the judgment seat of Christ. (Cf. Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10; Hebrews 6:2; Revelation 20:12-13) Now, should the remainder of Verse 28, also follow the “JUST AS” pattern established in Verse 27? If so,we could possibly render the following interpretation: “And after His death, Christ was resurrected, and He will appear a second time for the judgment to come … and bring the reward of eternal life to those who are waiting for Him”. Again, my intent is not to over amplify what is written. I simply want us to see the pattern as it is written, and to consider theological conclusions regarding its application to the practice of our faith.

The application that I see is another affirmation of the certitude that our Lord Jesus Christ will return. I believe it indicates the purpose of His Second Advent to the earth will be different than the purpose of His First Advent. His first coming was to redeem us from judgment … to obtain our justification … and to bright us the light of God. His second coming is to bring salvation … to bring the reward of eternal life to those who have believed in Him … to those who are looking for His coming … who are waiting for Him … to those who love Him … to those who are living in obedience … to those who are not in fear (dread) of His return but who are in fear (reverence) of Him. These are the ones who will receive the reward of salvation (eternal life) Jesus is bringing with Him. But again, the reward is for “those who are waiting for Him.” I believe the question is whether we are living in anticipation of His return out of love for Him or living with indifference:

2 Peter 3:1-12a (NIV)

Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ He promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives ¹²as you wait eagerly for the day of God to come….

I will conclude with this reminder:

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (NIV)

Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

So Now You Know…

Have a Blessed Day!

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! ~ Revelation 22:20