Peace By Jesus' Blood Alone

 

"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement." 

                                                                              (Rom 5:1, 8-11 KJV)

We who were not God's children are now God's children. We who were the enemies of God now live in peace with Him by merit of Jesus' blood alone. 

There was and is nothing we can do to atone for our own sins. For in the process of attempting to we will continue to sin. But, faith alone in the atoning sacrifice of  Christ alone will reconciled us to God our Father.

The knowledge that Jesus did for us by his suffering and death what we cannot do for ourselves brings us great peace and joy. For now we can live in the presence of God reconciled with Him with the confidence that He will guide us through any dark times that we may encounter. In that we can rejoice. In that we can find peace. 

"And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled."

                                                                                  (Col 1:20-21)

Thanks be to God for our Lord Jesus Christ who died that we might be reconciled to God our Father and abide in His presence.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

Listen to the Storm Warnings!

Much time had been lost, and sailing had already become dangerous because by now it was after the Day of Atonement. So Paul warned them, “Men, I can see that our voyage is going to be disastrous and bring great loss to ship and cargo, and to our own lives also.” But the centurion, instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship.  Acts 27:9-11 NIV

The sailors did not listen to Paul when he warned them that it was to dangerous to set sail. They set sail anyway and found themselves in the midst of the raging storm that Paul had warned them about. For days they were battered about. They threw their cargo overboard to keep from sinking. Finally, they are ready to listen to Paul. But, is it too late? They ran their ship aground, as he advised, and ultimately their lives are spared. God is with them. He has plans for Paul. He wants Paul to stand trial before Caesar in order for him to testify about Jesus to Caesar and the court..

When we find ourselves in the midst of storms because we failed to heed the warnings about the direction we were heading in, it is not too late. Listen to God. Listen to where He would have you go and what He would have do. God has plans for you! He will do all to ensure that His plans are carried out. But, you must listen to Him!

God's Peace - Pr. J

How Great Is His Love!

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life." John 3:16 NRSV

It is difficult to comprehend a love as great as the love God has for the people of planet Earth. Yet, it is there. His desire is not that anyone should die; but, that all should live. It is evidenced by the willingness of Jesus to die on the cross, carrying our sins in his body. It is evidenced by the sacrifice that our Lord, Jesus, made for us. Paul wrote to the Romans (Rom 3:21-25) "But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction,  since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith."

How great is the love of the one who was willing to die so that all who believe could live in God's presence for all eternity! Thanks be to God for this gift of life!

God's Peace - Pr. J