Posts Tagged ‘salvation’
Tuesday, May 8th, 2012
Salvation, June 8
… We who first trusted in Christ…
In Him you also trusted after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you 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 1:12-14, www.solascriptura.com
Father, Paul was a Jew speaking to Jews and here in his letter to the Ephesians, a Gentile area, Paul teaches us that those who love You and obey You are “sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise”. Father, for this degree of certainty, we are grateful.
We are Your “purchased possession”. Father, we sometimes forget to focus on what You paid for our salvation. Jesus suffered immeasurably, not just at the Cross, but in his descent into the bowels of hades, which removed him temporarily from Your presence. We know You will not allow sin or sinners into Your presence, but that is exactly why Jesus came…to comingle with us and to save sinners and that includes every human being in history. He paid a great price for our personal salvation.
Father, Chuck Smith, one of Your more effective servants offers the following clarification about this complex thought of Jesus being separated from You. “Through the eternity past, He has always been one with the father, never separated. But when God laid on Him the iniquities of us all, because God can not look in agreement upon sin, there came that separation, as He tasted for a moment that separation from God, in order that you would not have to be separated from God eternally. God laid on Him the iniquities of us all. And when the sin’s of the world were laid on Jesus, He was forsaken of God. And thus that cry, that rang out; my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me.”
We are Your purchased possession, cleansed by Jesus. You, Father, are the guarantor of our salvation. Perfect! Amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
Email This Post
Tags: believed, Christ, Ephesians 1:12-14, glory, Gospel, Holy Spirit, inheritance, possession, promise, purchased, redemption, salvation, sealed, trusted, truth, word
Posted in Christianity, Forgiven, Holy Spirit, Religion, salvation | 11 Comments »
Saturday, April 28th, 2012
Salvation, April 28
… work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;
for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Philippians 2:12-13, www.solascriptura.com
Father, You continually teach us that we each bear our own responsibilities in relation to You. Our relationship is personal. It is not a relationship we are able to inherit or claim as a member of an organization or as a member of a Christian family. We come to You as individuals, seeking to do Your will, knowing that it pleases You immensely when we do so.
What things would you have us do to “work out” our salvation? We know the answer. We only are able to develop that which You have given us, the potential you intended when You extended Your grace to us. It is Jesus who is now our Master Teacher, who by the power of the Holy Spirit, illuminates our path.
We must look to Your words, Your heartfelt guidance and Your unending spiritual resources, which are readily available to us. Help us today to be part of the solution in bringing words of reassurance to those we meet.
Bless us this day as we draw near to You. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O.Box 302 Franklin, TN 37064
Email This Post
Tags: fear, God, salvation, trembling, will, works
Posted in Christianity | 4 Comments »
Monday, April 23rd, 2012
Humility, April 23
We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed.
But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses,
in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings;
by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love,
by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,
by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true;
as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed;
as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open.
2 Corinthians 6:1-11, www.solascriptura.com
Father, Paul is an example to us of one who has been severely tested, yet faithful in every way. Father, we also know that he persecuted Christians before his life-changing encounter with Jesus. Now here he tells us that “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”
Father, the contrast between pride and humility is always before us. We have such an inclination to allow our ego to overcome us. Help us, today, to know that it is You we seek to please and that even when we do please You, it is due to the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, not our fleshly spirit. We pray that we can turn our pride into joy as we acknowlege your gifts.
O’ God, we know that serving You requires the death of our “old nature”. Help us be what You desire us to be, this day. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
Email This Post
Tags: dishonor, dying, fasting, God, grace, Holy Spirit, honor, Humility, killed, kindness, live, love, ministers, ministry, offense, patience, purity, salvation, sleeplessness, stripes, tribulations, truth, tumults, vain, workers
Posted in Christianity, Courage, Fidelity, Humility, Perseverance, faith | 20 Comments »
Thursday, April 5th, 2012
Salvation, April 5
“Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah–
“not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the LORD.
“But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
Jeremiah 31:31-33, www.solascriptura.com
Father, this Old Testament prophecy signaled the coming of the Messiah, the One who would cause the relationship of every human being to change as it pertains to You. The Old Covenant was a promise to Israel, Your chosen people. It did not surprise You that they would fail to comply with Your commandments, but You, in Your mercy and grace, provided a solution, a Savior, Your only begotten Son, the Messiah, Jesus.
Father, Your prophet tells us that a New Covenant was coming, wherein all mankind would have Your laws written on their hearts and minds. Father, each of us are recipients of the New Covenant and we praise You for not requiring us to be redeemed by our adherence to the Law, something Israel could not do and something we are unable to do. The straight edge of the Law simply clarifies the extent of our sins.
Yes, we are still to obey the Law, but there is a new Law in place, wherein Your grace, and our faith in Jesus, leads us to want to obey You and this is the best part Father; Jesus not only paid for our sins but He said the Holy Spirit would come to comfort us, teach us and give us counsel after He was resurrected and taken to Your side. We do not depend upon our will and our strength nor are we asked to do so.
We are Your people Father and You are our God. Thank You just doesn’t quite cover the gratitude we feel. How can we adequately respond to the promise of eternal life? We know the answer, because Jesus told us: Love You with all of our heart, mind and soul and love our neighbor as ourselves. Help us do so, today. Amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project P.O.Box 302 Franklin TN 37064
Email This Post
Tags: behold, Egypt, God, hearts, husband, Israel, Judah, law, Lord, minds, New Covenant, salvation
Posted in Christianity, Forgiven, God's Children, Law of God, Mind of Christ, Providence of God | 241 Comments »
Monday, April 2nd, 2012
Providence of God, April 2
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.
Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you…
Peter 1:3-10, www.solascriptura.com
Father, You have told us that you have reserved a place for us in heaven. We do not know a lot about heaven, but this we know. It will be a place of perfection, in You, reserved for us because of Your grace and mercy and the enabling atonement of Jesus.
You called us and we responded. We choose righteousness over evil, joy over depression and love over hate. Following You is so obviously right. You have taught us that we have a physical self that will perish and a spiritual self that will live forever.
Help us not to get too caught up in nurturing the physical while casually or seldom seeking Your Spirit to witness afresh, every day, to our spirit. In Jesus Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project P.O.Box 302 Franklin TN 37064
Email This Post
Tags: blessed, Christ, dead, faith, Father, God, grieved, Heaven, honor, Hope, incorruptible, inheritance, Jesus, Lord, love, mercy, perishes, praise, prophets, Providence, resurrection, salvation, tested, undefiled
Posted in Christianity, God's Children, God's Gift, Perseverance, Providence of God, Religion, faith | 39 Comments »
Sunday, March 18th, 2012
The Narrow Gate, March 18
In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you 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 1:11-14, www.solascriptura.com
Jesus, again we hear the word “predestined” to describe what is the reality of a born-again believer, One that You knew in the beginning would turn to You, trusting You, depending upon You in even the smallest things.
You teach us here that the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts is Your seal upon our souls, our guarantee of an inheritance so indescribably perfect that we can not even visualize it.
How are we to know that the seal of the Holy Spirit is upon us? Your word answers that question in so many ways but it seems to always come back to this verse: “You shall know them by their fruits.” If we say we love You, let our thoughts, choices and actions confirm that truth. Help us, this day, to seek You, to learn from You and to experience Your presence and friendship, all day. We are Your “purchased possession”. Is there anyone else we would like to commit our future to besides You?
We pray these things in Jesus’ name, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
Email This Post
Tags: Christ, counsel, Ephesians 1:11-14, gate, glory, Holy, inheritance, Narrow, praise, predestined, promise, purchased, purpose, salvation, Spirit, trusted
Posted in Christianity, Courage, Law of God, Perseverance, faith | 14 Comments »
Wednesday, March 14th, 2012
Temple of God, March 14
…God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, www.solascriptura.com
Father, indeed, we who love You with all our heart, mind and soul and love our neighbor as ourselves, are not appointed to Your wrath. We know that does not mean that we are protected from the wrath of mankind, where people are capable of heinous crime.
We are protected from Your wrath and most theologians take that to mean we will not endure Armageddon, because we will have been caught up in the clouds, either before the 7 years of tribulation, in the middle of the 7 years or at the end of the 7 years. You have chosen to not make it perfectly clear whether we should hold a pre-trib, mid-trib or post-trib view but You have made it clear we should be “ready.” If we are ready we will be taken to Your side and we will not endure the final trials that will occur.
You have appointed us to salvation. Your grace called us and Your Son took away our sin. Help us, today, to respond to Your love and mercy. Being protected by You, for eternity, is Your promise.
When we do experience the wrath of man, help us know that the suffering of this present time is not worthy to be compared to what You have prepared for us. We are Yours, forever, not just for this extremely brief moment of time (a finite number is incomparable to an infinite number) but for eternity. If we live less than three score and ten, we graduate early (to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord) and if we live longer we get to serve longer. Bless us this day, we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
Email This Post
Tags: Christ, died, God, Jesus, Lord, salvation, sleep, Temple, wrath
Posted in Christianity, God's Children, Temple of God, faith, salvation | 18 Comments »
Sunday, March 11th, 2012
Salvation, March 11
… Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.
Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.
So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
Hebrews 9:11-15; 28, www.solascriptura.com
You, Jesus, are the Mediator of the New Covenant, redeeming the souls of all who accept You as the Son of God. The sacrifice of animals to cover sin is finished. You, Jesus covered all sin for all time with Your act of atonement.
You have taught us that the New Covenant is not “in addition” to the Old Covenant, but that it replaces the Old Covenant, yet, we who love You will naturally obey the commandments of our Lord. We do not obey in order to be saved, we obey because we love You and we are saved.
Eternal life is ours, thanks be to the Father for Your grace and mercy and the enabling act of sacrifice by You, Jesus. We await Your glorious, triumphant return! Come quickly Lord Jesus. Amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
Email This Post
Tags: blood, Christ, goats, Hebrews 9:11-15; 28, High Priest, perfect, redemption, salvation, tabernacle
Posted in Christianity, God's Gift, Hope, salvation | 137 Comments »
Saturday, March 10th, 2012
Joy, March 10
Wait on the Lord;be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!
But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.
Wait on the LORD, and keep His way, and He shall exalt you to inherit the land…
… the salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; he is their strength in the time of trouble.
Psalm 27:14, Isaiah 40:31, Psalm 37:34;39, www.solascriptura.com
Father, we are very impatient, by nature. Not only do we fail to wait upon Your leading but we naturally want to know what tomorrow will bring. You teach us to say “Lord willing” when we announce a goal or a plan of action. That helps remind us that we may make plans but we need to pause and to ask ourselves if we are truly consulting with You, praying for Your will to be done.
We see that in learning to wait upon You, our strength is renewed. Does that also mean that when we plunge ahead without You, we do so in weakness? Father, if You are to be our strength in times of trouble, surely we must take steps to make that be true.
We also see that in waiting upon You, we are strenghened, able to soar, as it were, as an eagle. Father, we want to access Your strength to run and not be weary, when all the evidence points towards our collapse. It is in Your strength and wisdom that we move forward, against all odds. How else could it be? What we begin in our own strength is a weak starting point. Help us today to make ambitious plans to serve You and our fellow man, relying upon You as our companion and tutor.
Father, may we exhort one another to love and obey Your Holy word and to keep Your way. Teach us new truths, afresh every day, so that the life You have given us might bring glory to you.
Help us Father not to be overwhelmed with the cares of this world, so preoccupied that we leave You out of the issues we face and the decisions we must make. Joy does not come easy to a burdened heart. Help us look past the moment and to focus on the perfection that awaits us. Our faith in Your love can and will sustain us.
We pray this day for your Spirit and our spirit to be as one. That is a huge hope, Father, but we know it is Your will for each of us. In Jesus’ Holy name, we pray, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project P.O.Box 302 Franklin TN 37064
Email This Post
Tags: exalt, inherit, joy, Lord, Psalm 37:34;39, righteous, salvation, strength, trouble
Posted in Christianity, Hope, Industriousness, Perseverance, faith | 2 Comments »
Friday, March 9th, 2012
Hope, March 9
… Beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner.
For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end,
that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
Hebrews 6:9-12, www.solascriptura.com
Father, You expect more from those that love You because You empower them. You remind us that You will not forget our work of love that we have advanced in Your name.
Father, You have also taught us that the works that we do in Your name must spring from our faith, not our sense of duty. Thank You for teaching us that our works are in response to Your love. O’ God, is there any option for Your children but to respond to Your love?
We do pray for the strength and the endurance to persist in faithful endeavor even when we are tired and frustrated. Father, when we hang our head, we are looking the wrong way. Help us look up, seeking Your guidance in all things. We pray these things in the name of Jesus, amen.
Bruce Caldwell
The Sola Scriptura Project, P.O. Box 302, Franklin TN 37064
Email This Post
Tags: beloved, better, faith, God, Hope, labor, love, ministered, patience, saints, salvation, things
Posted in Christianity, Hope, Perseverance, faith | 38 Comments »