Keeping the Faith!

“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, His one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again.” John 3:16-18

Before God sent his Son to the world, the Jews were vainly conceited that the Messiah should be sent only in love to their nation. But Christ tells them that he came in love to the whole world....Gentiles as well as Jews. God gave his son out of love to suffer and die for us as well as our our sins.....making us his blood bought children. Jesus came to: Bring salvation not only to Jews but to the ends of the earth, to share the great gospel duty to believe in Jesus Christ and to make known the great gospel benefit that is whoever believes in Christ shall not perish and shall have everlasting life in heaven! Through Jesus Christ the world might be saved. He came NOT to condemn the world, but to bring salvation.

Something I feel that most people don't realize is that God sent Jesus with the full range of human abilities including the capacity to judge, condemn, and carry the burden of all sin. Although Jesus came with these very real capabilities, he chose not to condemn or judge.... but to save. Instead.... He carried our cross and burdens, and then was judged and condemned by the world for doing so. During his time on earth, He was tested in every way possible. He was put through trials and persecution beyond human understanding and experience, met with utter disbelief , he even questioned his own father’s intentions (God) and yet still laid his own life down to pay the ultimate price for you and me! It brings new meaning to the phrase “ the end will justify the means.” Christ endured all that because....HE LOVES US! Amazing!

More importantly this sacrificial act (if you will) was an example for all Christians. It outlines an important principle of being saved by grace through faith.You must allow your earthly self and intentions to die, you must “lay your own life and will down” in order to sit at God’s Throne of Mercy. You must have faith like a child, as Jesus had faith that his father would see him through.

" Walk by FAITH, Not by SIGHT." 2 Corinthians 5:7

Once you have the faith to believe, God will give you his grace to endure the trials and persecutions of this earthy life in order to sit at his mighty throne.It was the ultimate example and fulfillment of prophecy for those that did not and still do not believe, and an even better example of how we as Christians must die to ourselves daily and give our life to God. By faith we can do it (and must do it) in order to walk with him daily.

God knew his son would prevail because He was The Truth, The Light and The Way. He knew that He would endure and then sit at his right hand, and he also saved a place at His right hand for us too!

"I am standing at the door knocking. If one of you hears My calling and opens the door, I will come in...Those who prove victorious I will allow to share My Throne, just as I was victorious Myself and took My place next to My Father on His Throne." Revelations 3:20-21

By faith, I choose to believe and God gives me the grace when I stumble. I was born into this dark world and it is a struggle EVERY day. However, God shows me his Mercy because I am a believing Child of his. I am beaten up, persecuted and tempted often beyond belief…….yet I know who my loving Father is and where my salvation comes from! God’s Word is the key to success. The more you pour in, the more he manages to pour out. He has placed me here on earth temporarily, just as he did his Son….and it is up to me how I chose to honor his name while I am on borrowed time. Don't let the doubts of your life separate you from the love of Christ....he came to carry your burdens!

" It stands to reason, doesn't it, that if the alive-and-present God who raised Jesus from the dead moves into your life, he'll do the same thing in you that he did in Jesus, bringing you alive to himself? When God lives and breathes in you (and he does, as surely as he did in Jesus), you are delivered from that dead life. With his Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ's!" Romans 8:10-11 (The Message)

"So don't you see that we don't owe this old do-it-yourself life one red cent. There's nothing in it for us, nothing at all. The best thing to do is give it a decent burial and get on with your new life. God's Spirit beckons. There are things to do and places to go! " Romans 8:12-14 (the Message)

In Him,

kristen