justified

Not Only Forgiven, We Are Also Justified

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.  Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.  And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.  But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.  Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.  For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, ‘I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.’ ”  And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.
Acts 13:42-48

On the Acts 13 and verses 38 through 52 “Through the Bible Day by Day,” by F. B. Meyer, Meyer has written…

The doctrine of justification by faith, so closely associated with the work of Paul, is here stated for the first time. In Jesus there is forgiveness. For those who trust in Him past sins are absolutely put away, never to be named again, never to be brought up at any future judgment day. Our record is as clear as the sand which has been swept smooth by the ocean waves. We are not only forgiven, but justified. We are treated as though we had never sinned, and are justified from all things. It is a present fact. You may not feel justified or forgiven, but if you are trusting in Jesus, you are at this moment as certainly and as fully justified as have been the saints in heaven.
Pride, as well as jealousy of the Gentiles who were crowding into the fold, stirred the Jews to antagonism, but they could not eradicate the seed which had been so profusely scattered. Large numbers believed, and as they experienced salvation in Christ, they discovered that they were in line with an eternal purpose. This is the meaning of ordained in Act_13:48. If with such slight opportunities, the disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit, Act_13:52, should we not possess the same experience?

The Gospel of Jesus Christ was first to be taken to the Jewish people, but we can see that many rejected. Then the Gospel was given to the Gentiles. All people in any nation on earth can call on the name of Jesus Christ and be forgiven and Justified.

Not only is there forgiveness of sin through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, those who believe are Justified, declared righteous by God Himself.

A Change Is Coming

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.  And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married.  For as a young man marrieth a virgin, so shall thy sons marry thee: and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.
Isaiah 62:1-5

A change is coming for God’s people of Zion. I do not believe in “Replacement Theology” which is the replacing Israel [Zion] with the Church, and making all the promises of Israel now being promises to the Church. Those of you who believe that; do you also accept the curses God warns Israel about? (Leviticus 26:14-26).

These verses from Isaiah 62 are promise to Israel of a change that is coming. It has not occurred yet; but that change is coming.

The LORD God loves the people of Israel, and one day they will become, not Forsaken, but Hephzibah or “My Delight”. God’s Delight will be Israel, and their land called, “My Bride.” Yes Israel shall have a remnant return unto the LORD, and He will make them His wife forever more

How will this take place? Only God knows for sure. It seems to me He gives us clues to how it will happen though. Israel will go through a time that the prophet Jeremiah calls the time of Jacob’s trouble,

Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

Jeremiah 30:7

It will be a period of time when the Church (all those who are born again) will no longer be on earth, but will be with the LORD. Near the end of that time of their trouble, a remnant will have their hearts changed, “They will look on the One whom they pierced,” and they too will be saved, go into a new age of one thousand years, and receive all the promises that have not yet been fulfilled.

The born again are those who have been changed from a sinner (which includes all of us), into a saint (called so by God Himself, not by some man, or religious institution). To be born again is to realize and receive the marvelous grace of God He displayed on the cross through the death of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. He was buried, and He rose again.  He said, “I will come again.” Are you ready? All you need is to call on the name of Jesus, He will hear you and give you eternal life. For God’s sake, and your own call on Him now.

To Be Alive

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you; then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell. Moreover it shall come to pass, that I shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them.
Numbers 33:55-56

As I was thinking about these verses I was reminded of Colossians 3:5, where the Apostle said, “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry…”  The word “Mortify” means “to put to death,” and that is what a Christian is to do. Put the evil desires of the flesh to death.

In our text for today we have a warning from the LORD God through Moses, His faithful servant to drive out the inhabitants of the land. Now, remember God had promised this land, the land of Canaan to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For four hundred plus years the children of Israel who is Jacob, were held captive as slaves to the Egyptians. Mean while the Canaanites were growing more and more vile and wicked refusing the love, mercy, and grace of the one true  God who created the heavens and the earth, and everything therein.

The children of Israel are nearing the time of going into this land that flowed with milk and honey.  I can understand why some people think God is cruel, mean, and offensive. He is not though. He tells  His people to cleanse the land. God is holy, and cannot look upon iniquity, and He was going to bless Israel for their obedience in purifying His land.

Now the comparison of Colossians 3:5; as Christians we are to die daily to self, and selfish interest. The Apostle even said, “I am crucified with Christ… “Galatians 2:20), and for the Christian that means we were as well if we are in Christ Jesus. Though we are Christians we still must fight the enemy. Our enemy is not people. Our enemy is the devil, and our own sin within. So the Christian life is a battle.

We are to drive out these lustful, selfish, covetous, rowdy desires, so that we might be better witnesses of Christ Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Even though we are saved from the penalty of sin, in our continued fighting against sin and evil within – which is our sanctification – we are being saved from the power of sin; and one day, when Jesus comes again we will be saved from the presence of sin – which is our glorification with Christ.

As long as we are living in this world, let us ever be faithful to drive out the enemy, and not let any of it remain within us.