The wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ

Dutch version / Nederlands > Het loon der zonde is de dood; maar de genadegave van God is het eeuwige leven in Christus Jesus

“They have all gone astray, they are all alike corrupt; there is none that does good, no, not one.” (Ps 14:3 RSV)
“Just as it has been written: “There is none righteous, not one! None understand! None search for The God! All have turned away! They are all together useless! None are kind! Not so much as one!” (Ro 3:10-12 MHM)
“If we should ever state: “I have never sinned, ”we cause ourselves to err and the truth is not in us. Every time we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous so that He might release us from our sins, cleansing us from unrighteousness. Every time we state: “I have never sinned, ”we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.” (1Jo 1:8-10 MHM)
“However, while we were still sinners The God demonstrated His own compassionate affection for us [in that] Christ died in our behalf.” (Ro 5:8 MHM)
“He bore our sins in his body upon the Tree, so that we might discontinue sin and live in righteousness. “By his wounds you were healed.”” (1Pe 2:24 MHM)
“He entered the world of humankind, and the Cosmos came into existence by his agency, but the world of humankind did not recognize him. He came to his own, but his own did not accept him.” (Joh 1:10-11 MHM)
“But, to everyone who did accept him he authorized to become children of God, because they believed in his name. These were born, not from blood–that is, from a fleshly desire, or a male desire–but from God.” (Joh 1:12-13 MHM)
“But, we are aware that the synergy of The God is for the good of those loving The God, to those who have been invited according to His purpose.” (Ro 8:28 MHM)
“For the payment for sin is death; but, the gracious gift of The God [is] everlasting life incorporate in Christ Jesus our Master.” (Ro 6:23 MHM)

God's Special Gift

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in his blood,
to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past,
through the forbearance of God;
To declare, [I say], at this time his righteousness:
that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” (Ro 3:23-26 AV)

“For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.” (Ro 7:14 AV)

BIBLE STUDY
Title: God's Special Gift

Topic(s): Salvation, God's Love
Scripture: Romans 3:23-26

What do you associate with Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries and lots of other special occasions? If you said "gifts," 99 percent of the rest of our society would probably agree with you. Gifts are one of the ways most of us show we care about someone.

But no one has ever given a gift that is as special as the one God gave. This gift came through His Son, Jesus Christ. Let's take a closer look at what God's Word says about this gift.

What Does God Say?

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus (Romans 3:23-26).

* Who needs God's gift?
* What does this gift prove about God?
* How would you explain to someone the way to receive this gift?

My Thoughts

God's gift is free, but it's not cheap. It cost the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. It was Christ's blood that redeemed us. The word redeemed means "to buy back." It's used to describe paying a ransom for someone's release. Sin had held us captive. It held us under its control (Romans 7:14). But Jesus paid the ransom price and set us free.

This allowed God to be both "just and the justifier." For God to have ignored our sins would make Him unjust. He would be violating His own laws. But Jesus became a propitiation through His blood. The word propitiation means "to satisfy." To maintain God's justice, the Law had to be met. Jesus satisfied that Law through His death.

My Part

Take a piece of paper and divide it in half. On one half, label it "Mankind" and list all the ways people try to pay for their sins. On the other half, list The way God has paid for our sins. Which way have you chosen?

All rights reserved http://www.bibleminute.org/

The giving and protecting God

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

Psalm 84:11, New International Version

Dutch version / Nederlands > De gevende en beschermende God

---

    God doesn't hold back on his goodness! In fact, the Father loves to give his children gifts. These gifts are all encompassing. These gifts are gladly given. How do I know? Three ways: 1) I've been repeatedly blessed; 2) I've seen what God has done to bless his people through the centuries; and 3) his Word promises this to be so.

    Father, I want to thank you for the many blessings you have poured into my life. I want to list several of them by name today. (Make your own list of things for which you are thankful.) Thank you most of all Father, for the gift of your Son and my Savior, Jesus. In his name I pray. Amen.

Rejoicing in the day

—This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. (v. 24)

Believers should live in a state of rejoicing because believers have a unique comfort. Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ know that there is a purpose and meaning to life. We didn't crawl out of the primordial slime and are simply trying to be among the fittest that survive. We also know that our future is solidly in the hands of our Creator. We also know that our past misdeeds are forgiven. We can move forward by living in today because both the past and the future are taken care of.

The Lord made this day. Perhaps the meaning of this is simply that God caused the sun to rise and shine. Let me suggest another possible meaning too. Maybe the "day" the Lord has made is the circumstances in our lives. Maybe what we are being told that this day with all of its joy and all of its challenges is a gift from God to be enjoyed.

How sad is it for those who cannot rejoice in today because they want yesterday to be different than it was or are worried about tomorrow. Don't you know people like that? They are miserable today because of something someone did or said to them in the past. They are miserable today because they think something bad could happen in the future. Both past and future are God's business, not ours. God has given us today and today only to rejoice and be glad in. We should never let the past or future interfere with our present rejoicing. We can only do one thing at a time in the moment we are in. Whatever moment God has given us—whatever task God has given us—let us do it unto the Lord and savor it.

I sometimes ask worrywarts why they are giving up today for something that MIGHT happen in the future. Isn't the real enemy our diabolos or lack of faith? If we can change our thinking, wouldn't we be much better off? We can rejoice here and now.

So do not worry; do not say, `What are we to eat? What are we to drink? What are we to wear?' It is the gentiles who set their hearts on all these things. Your heavenly Father knows you need them all. Set your hearts on his kingdom first, and on God's saving justice, and all these other things will be given you as well. So do not worry about tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt. 6:31-34 NJB)

Have a great week,
Tucker


+++
2016 update

Related articles

• Your Word for This Day: Unity for Progress!
• Jesus Comforts Troubled Hearts, Part 2 (Just Jesus Evangelistic Campaign, Day 215)
• Emptying Yourself of Self & Hearing The Voice of God
• LISTEN: Jesus Comforts Troubled Hearts, Part 3 (Just Jesus Evangelistic Campaign, Day 216 with Daniel Whyte III)
• Would Jesus refer to certain people on Trump's Christian Advisory Committee as serpents and hypocrites?
• Made Holy!
• Which is worse - works without faith, or faith without works?
• Helping each other with prayer to start the new academic year
• “I Die Daily”
• How to Find the Meaning of Life and Reach a State of Peace