Christ Is Lifted Up

"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.  This he said, signifying what death he should die."  John 12:32-33.  Jesus spoke often about His death.  He tells us that He will be lifted up in death.  Jesus died the death of the cross.  On that cross, He was lifted up.  This death by crucifixion would have an attraction upon the hearts of all humanity.  The cross was the means by which God chose to draw us to Jesus.  The cross shows God's love and grace for us.  The cross became God's atoning power for sin.  The message of the cross, the gospel, pricks our heart.  The message of the cross brings us to saving faith in Christ.  Jesus willingly submitted to being lifted up for all so that all could know God and salvation.  Sinners lifted up Christ on the cross.  Sinners in their envy watched Jesus die.  Amazing pity flowed from the cross and the lifting up of Jesus.  Jesus offers to all of us the opportunity to be saved from our sin.  His death was for us.  Allow Him to be lifted up in your heart.

Sin No More

"Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more lest a worse thing befall thee."  John 5:14.  Jesus has healed a man of an infirmity that he had for thirty-eight years.  During the ministry of Jesus, He healed many of various infirmities.  But, Jesus came to heal an infirmity that was far worse than any body ailment.  That ailment was sin.  After the healing, Jesus encounters this man once more.  Jesus tells him to "sin no more."  The healing of sin means that we are to cease from sin.  The scriptures refer to this as "dying to sin."  This was the mission of Jesus.  He came to heal and forgive sin.  But, Jesus warns the man of something worse that might befall him if he does not cease from sin.  That which is worse than any bodily infirmity is eternal death.  This is the final outcome of sin.  Unless we cease from sin, we will be lost eternally.  This happens when the soul is cast into the lake of fire at the final judgment.  This is far worse than any disease or infirmity.  The infirmity of the body can only harm the body.  Sin harms the soul.  Let us go forth, and "sin no more."

Salvation In Christ

"Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory."  II Timothy 2:10.  Salvation must be obtained.  Jesus Christ is the Savior and salvation is in Him.  Those who are outside of Jesus Christ are not saved.  What must be done to obtain this salvation?  There is an action that must take place by the one who desires the salvation that Christ offers.  Faith in Christ as the Son of God is the first step toward salvation.  One must believe in Christ.  The believer must repent of sins.  All have committed sins.  We must repent with Godly sorrow, and change the manner of life.  The believer must confess Jesus as the Son of God.  This confession is made by mouth, and then, lived in the life.  The believer must be immersed in water.  This act is called baptism.  Baptism is a burial, not sprinkling or pouring.  In baptism, one puts on Christ as the Savior, and dies to sin.  With these acts, salvation is obtained.  And, for salvation to be unto eternal glory, the believer must be faithful to Jesus Christ until death.

Stand In Christ

"Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved."  Philippians 4:1.  No Christian should want anyone to be lost, especially those who are already saved.  Paul wishes for the continual commitment of these brethren whom he loves.  The urging of Paul is for these Philippians to stand fast in Christ.  One who is in Christ can fall out of Christ.  One who is saved can become unsaved.  Such a condition can take place in an instant.  The devil seeks those who are in Christ that he might lure them away from Christ.  The devil is one of many snares.  Different temptations are used on different individuals.  Not all of us are tempted in the same manner.  We must seek to stand fast in the Lord and not be moved away from our salvation that Christ has brought to us.  We must continually guard ourselves against the devil and his devices.  We must continue to love God and to honor the Lord.  By our obedience to the gospel we have put on Christ.  We must keep Him near to us.  We must be found in Christ when He comes again. 

Hear The Word Of God

"And it came to pass, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret."  Luke 5:1.  Jesus constantly was teaching.  There was no particular place or occasion that He chose to teach the word of God.  Jesus taught the word.  Today, we are to teach the word of God.  Some teach custom.  Some teach tradition.  Some teach opinion.  The true teacher of God teaches the word of God.  Nothing else matters.  Only the word of God can save the soul.  Only the word of God can enlighten the soul.  Not all want to hear the word of God.  Some want to hear what will sooth the conscience.  Some want to hear what makes one feel good.  The word of God will prick the conscience.  The word of God will not always make one feel good because the word will cut the heart.  Even though the people pressed upon Him to hear the word of God, not all obeyed what Jesus taught.  Why would someone want to hear that which will not benefit them in a spiritual way?  Why would someone want to hear that which will not save the soul?  The word of God is the most powerful instruction in the world to make people right with God.  The word of God is the only instruction that will direct someone to heaven.  Hear the word of God!

Hard To Be Understood

"And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction."  II Peter 3:15-16.  Peter acknowledges that Paul is also an author of the scriptures.  Peter considered Paul to be a beloved brother.  Those in Christ are brethren, and all should be beloved.  The apostle Paul had written some things concerning the salvation that is offered by the longsuffering of our Lord to be hard to understand.  Some truths of the Bible require more deliberate concentration than do other truths.  But, there is no truth that cannot be understood.  We must be students of God's truth.  We must read and meditate longer upon some truths.  God has given us a book that can be understood and known.  By this truth, we come to know the salvation that is in Christ.  Truth that is not learned will be to our own destruction.  Some choose to twist or change the scriptures.  This also will be to their own destruction.  May we study, learn, and practice the scriptures so that we might be saved.

Be Not Partakers

"Be not ye therefore partakers with them."  Ephesians 5:7.  Our walk in Christ avoids all sinful activities.  The writer of this verse has described sins that characterized his time, and our time as well.  Those who walk in Christ are not to partake with those who engage in these sins.  We are to avoid them.  Those who walk in Christ are to separate themselves from the sinful of the land. Evil has a powerful influence, and we must flee from that which might entangle us.  The followers of Christ are to exert an influence of good and right.  We seek to alter the lifestyle of the sinful.  We shun any engagement of sin.  If we partake, our life will be tainted.  Our walk with Christ will be harmed.  We no longer drink from the fountain of evil, but perfect that life that is light rather than darkness.  The words of the evil must not entice us.  We must not share in their folly.  We have removed ourselves from the wrath of God.  Let us remain in that safe haven.