Just a Minute!

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

This is one of the great promises in the Bible.

But let me ask?

Do you believe that there is now no condemnation for you?

I sure hope so.

But if your are struggling to step onto that promise with both feet, let me point you to the word justification.

The moment you believed, you were justified, or declared righteous in God’s sight.

Which means your sins have been dealt with once and for all.

And that you are a forgiven person.

The blood of Jesus made it so.

Today, don’t let doubt and fear rob you of this great promise.

Take your stand on the promise that in Christ there is no more condemnation for you.

Categories: Salvation Righteousness/Justification

Back in the days of Jesus, it was against the law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile.

Now this wasn’t a burden to the Jews. They didn’t like the Gentiles and gladly kept their distance.

But this was Jewish law, not God’s.

He had something else in mind as Peter found out.

Three men came looking for him to take him to the home of Cornelius, a Roman centurion.

And without hesitating Peter went with them.

You see, God had made a choice to save the Gentile in the same way he saved the Jew.

And who was Peter to think that he could stand in God’s way.

So, moved by the love of God, he went along to tell a Gentile family about Jesus.

And to see first hand that God’s grace is for all people.

And that includes you.

Categories: New Covenant Grace

As hard as I try, I can’t figure out what my wife is thinking.

There is only one way to know what’s on her mind.

She has to tell me.

It’s like what Paul said to the Corinthians — No one knows what another person is thinking.

Which means, we are not mind readers.

And we are not mind readers when it comes to the thoughts of God either.

No one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

Now that’s a problem, until you realize that the Spirit who searches the deep things of God now lives in you.

God gave you his Spirit the moment you believed so that you could understand the things he has freely given you.

As Paul put it way, you have the mind of Christ.

Categories: Jesus Christ Identity/Self Image

For the Old Testament priests their work was never done.

“Day after day, the Bible says, They stood and performed their religious duties: again and again they offered the same sacrifices, which never took away sins” (Hebrews 10:11).

How would you like that job?

You stand all day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, but you never accomplish your purpose. 

Now Jesus was a different kind of priest. He finished his work.

The sacrifice he made took away the sins of the world once and for all.

And when it was done, the Bible says he sat down.

Which means, it’s time for you to sit down and rest in Christ’s finished work.

“For whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his” (Hebrews 4:10 ESV).

Categories: Jesus Christ Salvation New Covenant

You must be born again.

That’s the only way to enter the kingdom of God.

But how can we bring that about?

Well, we can’t.

We just don’t have what it takes.

But Jesus does.

“And to those who receive him, and believe in his name, he gives the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.”

Let me ask, have you believed in Jesus?

I mean, have you believed that he died to take away your sins once and for all?

Have believed in your heart that God raised him from the dead?

Have you received him as your Lord and Savior?

If so, you’ve been born of God and are now a child of God.

And that’s good news.

Categories: Salvation Jesus Christ

If you need help or answers these days, Google is the place to go.

You type in your question and almost instantly the answer appears on your screen.

Now most people ask how to questions.

And one of those questions on the minds of many is how to become a Christian.

The Bible answers this how to question with simple clarity.

You become a Christian by grace through faith in Jesus.

God saves by grace, but he does so through faith.

A faith that confesses with the mouth that Jesus is Lord and believes in the heart that God raised him from the dead.

How about you?

Have you confessed with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believed in your heart that God raised him from the dead.

If so, you’ve become a Christian.

Categories: Salvation Faith Hope Love

Colossians 2:13

“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins.”

I had been a Christian for eight years before I read this verse for the first time.

All those years, I lived without the full knowledge of what God had done for me.

I didn’t know that he had made me alive with Christ.

And I certainly didn’t know that he had forgiven all my sins.

But there it was in black and white

When I read those words, it struck me, “I Bob Christopher am fully alive in Christ and totally forgiven”.

Did you know the moment you believed the same happened to you?

God made you alive with Christ and forgave all of your sins.

And that’s good news.

Categories: Salvation Jesus Christ

Have you heard the term “adulting".

It is popular among the Millennials.

They are particularly fond of saying, I’m not adulting today.

Meaning they are tossing responsibility out the window.

Sometimes we Christians want to do that when it comes to maturing as believers.

When you consider the method, its no wonder.

To grow up means facing trials of many kinds.

Paul explained it this way…

“Suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.”

Now did you catch that last statement. Maturing in Christ means a heart that is full of the love of God.

It makes you look forward to whatever it takes to grow in Christ.

Categories: Christian Living Faith Hope Love

Fake news.

It’s everywhere.

So much so, its hard to figure out what is fact and what is fiction.

The groups who publish these lies and propaganda do so to intentionally mislead you.

But this isn’t anything new.

The father of lies has been behind this type of activity since the beginning, delivering fake news any way he can.

All for the purpose of keeping you from knowing and believing the truth.

His band of false prophets are out there, and they are persuasive and cunning.

But be not dismayed.

You have the Word of God, and the Spirit of God living in you.

He will guide you into all truth, truth that will set you free.

Categories: Jesus Christ Hope

As followers of Jesus, we love to affirm that we are saved by grace through faith.

But once we’ve confessed our faith in Christ, then what?

How do we know we’re forgiven when we mess up?

How do we enjoy a deep, personal connection with God?

The same way we got started—by God’s grace.

Paul put it this way — “just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him”.

God’s plan for you is a life fully lived by grace through faith in Jesus.

If you want to experience the full benefits of the Gospel, live just as you received Christ.

And enjoy everything Jesus came to give you.

Categories: Christian Living Faith Hope Love