A policy is a plan or course of action established by an authority to determine decisions, actions and other matters.
Since the disobedience of our original father, Adam, the human race has been contaminated by a corrupt genetic structure. Romans 5:12:
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
There is nothing we humans can do to become sinless, making us acceptable to our Holy God. Since we cannot do anything about our condemnation, who can? Only one person is able to change our status from condemned sinner to child of God. That would be the Sovereign One, Himself. He devised a policy; a plan whereby we could be made sinless and fellowship with Him, our creator, forever. That policy is called grace.
Here’s how it works: God Himself became a human, born without sin through the virgin birth (there was no sin nature inherited from Adam through a human father). He lived 33 sinless years and died on a cross, bearing in His perfect human body your sins, my sins, all the sins of the human race, and was judged in our place for those sins. 2 Corinthians 5:21 explains that He took our sins and gave us His righteousness:
He ( God the Father) made Him who knew no sin (God the Son) to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
When He said from the cross, “it is finished” (while still physically alive), the judgment for sin was over. Once, for all time. Nothing can be added. Having died spiritually, being separated from the Father and the Spirit while under judgment, He dismissed His Spirit (John 19:30). The work was done. He had accomplished what He came to do. That’s why you and I cannot do anything to earn our salvation. It’s God’s work. All the good deeds of a sinner add up to one big, fat zero. The only work that counts was done for us sinners on Calvary’s cross.
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one should boast.”
And what is faith? Faith is knowing the person and work of Jesus Christ, and receiving that work on our behalf.
“And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.” I John 5:11-12
Once we are IN CHRIST, by having believed in His finished work, then we are children of God and can begin to grow up by studying His Word and applying it to our daily experience. The resulting production will be the fruit of the Spirit, against which there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
Then we become like Jesus.
Showing posts with label Ephesians 2:8-9. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ephesians 2:8-9. Show all posts
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Monday, January 30, 2012
God's Policy
A policy is a plan or course of action established by an authority to determine decisions, actions and other matters.
Since the disobedience of our original father, Adam, the human race has been contaminated by a corrupt genetic structure (Romans 5:12). There is nothing we humans can do to become sinless, making us acceptable to our Holy God. If we can’t do anything about our condemnation, who can? Only one person is able to change our status from condemned sinner to child of God. That would be the Sovereign One, Himself. He devised a policy; a plan whereby we could be made sinless and fellowship with Him, our creator, forever. That policy is called grace.
Here’s how it works: God Himself became a human, born without sin through the virgin birth (no sin nature inherited through human father). He lived 33 sinless years and died on a cross, bearing in His perfect human body your sins, my sins, all the sins of the human race, and was judged in our place for those sins. 2 Corinthians 5:21 explains that He took our sins and gave us His righteousness:
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
When He said from the cross, “it is finished” (still physically alive), the judgment was over. Once, for all time. Nothing can be added. Having died spiritually, being separated from the Father and the Spirit while under judgment, He dismissed His Spirit (John 19:30). The work was done. He had accomplished what He came to do. That’s why you and I cannot do anything to earn our salvation. It’s God’s work. All the good deeds of a sinner add up to one big, fat zero. The only work that counts was done for us sinners on Calvary’s cross.
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one should boast.”
And what is faith? Faith is knowing the person and work of Jesus Christ, and receiving that work on our behalf.
“And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.” I John 5:11-12
Once we are in Christ, by having believed in His finished work, then we are children of God and can begin to grow up by studying His Word and applying it to our daily experiences. The resulting produce will be the fruit of the Spirit, against which there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
Then we become like Jesus.
Since the disobedience of our original father, Adam, the human race has been contaminated by a corrupt genetic structure (Romans 5:12). There is nothing we humans can do to become sinless, making us acceptable to our Holy God. If we can’t do anything about our condemnation, who can? Only one person is able to change our status from condemned sinner to child of God. That would be the Sovereign One, Himself. He devised a policy; a plan whereby we could be made sinless and fellowship with Him, our creator, forever. That policy is called grace.
Here’s how it works: God Himself became a human, born without sin through the virgin birth (no sin nature inherited through human father). He lived 33 sinless years and died on a cross, bearing in His perfect human body your sins, my sins, all the sins of the human race, and was judged in our place for those sins. 2 Corinthians 5:21 explains that He took our sins and gave us His righteousness:
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
When He said from the cross, “it is finished” (still physically alive), the judgment was over. Once, for all time. Nothing can be added. Having died spiritually, being separated from the Father and the Spirit while under judgment, He dismissed His Spirit (John 19:30). The work was done. He had accomplished what He came to do. That’s why you and I cannot do anything to earn our salvation. It’s God’s work. All the good deeds of a sinner add up to one big, fat zero. The only work that counts was done for us sinners on Calvary’s cross.
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one should boast.”
And what is faith? Faith is knowing the person and work of Jesus Christ, and receiving that work on our behalf.
“And the witness is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.” I John 5:11-12
Once we are in Christ, by having believed in His finished work, then we are children of God and can begin to grow up by studying His Word and applying it to our daily experiences. The resulting produce will be the fruit of the Spirit, against which there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
Then we become like Jesus.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Have Been Saved
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
Faith alone in Christ alone. That is God's policy for our salvation.
Salvation is free to us because Jesus paid. That simple. That profound. We have nothing to brag about. Just gratitude for the grace of our God.
Since Jesus paid the penalty for all sins of the human race, there is nothing you have done or can ever do that hasn't been atoned for. He had to do it, because we can't. He is qualified by the virgin birth, which brought Him into the human race sinless. He lived a sinless life and died as the spotless lamb of God, portrayed in the Old Testament Atonement ritual. When the individual human believes in Jesus' finished Work, he is born again, with a human spirit that can comprehend God. You can never be unborn. You grow in grace, or you stagnate as an unproductive believer, but you will always be His child. Here's the issue: Jesus did all the work. All we can do is recieve, and there is no merit in receiving. When you begin to doubt your security as a child of God, ask yourself: "what have I done; what can I ever do to circumvent God's perfect plan?" Our sins are not bigger than God's plan and our good deeds don't add anything to our salvation. I had a wonderful Bible teacher who called it arrogance to believe we could in any way alter what God has accomplished for us. I agree completely. After we believe, we are IN CHRIST, a technical term identifying our eternal position as part of His body, forever. You can be in or out of fellowship with God, but never again unborn.
Faith alone in Christ alone. That is God's policy for our salvation.
Salvation is free to us because Jesus paid. That simple. That profound. We have nothing to brag about. Just gratitude for the grace of our God.
Since Jesus paid the penalty for all sins of the human race, there is nothing you have done or can ever do that hasn't been atoned for. He had to do it, because we can't. He is qualified by the virgin birth, which brought Him into the human race sinless. He lived a sinless life and died as the spotless lamb of God, portrayed in the Old Testament Atonement ritual. When the individual human believes in Jesus' finished Work, he is born again, with a human spirit that can comprehend God. You can never be unborn. You grow in grace, or you stagnate as an unproductive believer, but you will always be His child. Here's the issue: Jesus did all the work. All we can do is recieve, and there is no merit in receiving. When you begin to doubt your security as a child of God, ask yourself: "what have I done; what can I ever do to circumvent God's perfect plan?" Our sins are not bigger than God's plan and our good deeds don't add anything to our salvation. I had a wonderful Bible teacher who called it arrogance to believe we could in any way alter what God has accomplished for us. I agree completely. After we believe, we are IN CHRIST, a technical term identifying our eternal position as part of His body, forever. You can be in or out of fellowship with God, but never again unborn.
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