Bible League: Living His Word We told you about the power of our Lord Jesus Christ. We told you about his coming. The things we told you were not just clever stories that people invented. No, we saw the greatness of Jesus with our own eyes.When it comes to scientifically discovering the nature of the fundamental existential situation we find ourselves in as human beings we are in a decidedly unfavorable position. The universe we live within is like a box that contains us and that prevents us from directly experiencing who or what set up the box in the first place. In order to directly experience that, it would be necessary for us to exit the box in some way in order to discover what lies behind it all. This, of course, is not possible. Given the inability of science to answer our most fundamental questions, religion and faith must step in to do the job. Even philosophical apologetics cannot help us, because all it can do is make arguments in defense of religious positions that have already been accepted by faith. We are dependent, then, upon religion and faith whether we want to be or not. In this regard, there are two basic religious options that people can choose from. We can accept divine revelation or we can accept human religious speculation – pagan, pantheistic, or secular speculation. The Apostle Peter rejected the second of these options. From his point of view, they are nothing more than "clever stories that people invented." The Apostle Paul goes even farther and bluntly identifies the spiritual motivation behind these stories. He says they are the "teaching of demons" (I Timothy 4:1). After all, if divine revelation from outside the universe is rejected there is no other alternative other than human speculation from inside the universe that is inspired by deceiving demons who know better. Peter accepted the first option. He rejected the clever stories and accepted Jesus Christ as a true revelation of God, the source and origin of the universe. He saw the power and greatness of Jesus and he accepted him in faith as the son of God. Indeed, he even heard the very voice of God Himself come down from the beyond and proclaim that Jesus was His son (II Peter 1:17-18). There are a lot of clever stories out there about the source of the universe. Jesus, however, actually revealed Him to us. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingProverbs 13, 14 Proverbs 13 -- A wise son listens to his father's instruction, but a scoffer doesn't listen NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Proverbs 14 -- Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading 1 Corinthians 16 1 Corinthians 16 -- Gifts, Requests and Greetings NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion Brothers, listen! We are here to proclaim that through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. Everyone who believes in him is declared right with God—something the law of Moses could never do.Insight This is the Good News of the gospel: that forgiveness of sins and freedom from guilt are available through faith in Christ to all people—including you. Challenge Have you received this forgiveness? Are you refreshed by it each day? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Ephesians 1:19, 20 The exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead.In the resurrection of Christ, as in our salvation, there was put forth nothing short of a divine power. What shall we say of those who think that conversion is wrought by the free will of man, and is due to his own betterness of disposition? When we shall see the dead rise from the grave by their own power, then may we expect to see ungodly sinners of their own free will turning to Christ. It is not the word preached, nor the word read in itself; all quickening power proceeds from the Holy Ghost. This power was irresistible. All the soldiers and the high priests could not keep the body of Christ in the tomb; Death himself could not hold Jesus in his bonds: even thus irresistible is the power put forth in the believer when he is raised to newness of life. No sin, no corruption, no devils in hell nor sinners upon earth, can stay the hand of God's grace when it intends to convert a man. If God omnipotently says, "Thou shalt," man shall not say, "I will not." Observe that the power which raised Christ from the dead was glorious. It reflected honor upon God and wrought dismay in the hosts of evil. So there is great glory to God in the conversion of every sinner. It was everlasting power. "Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him." So we, being raised from the dead, go not back to our dead works nor to our old corruptions, but we live unto God. "Because he lives we live also." "For we are dead, and our life is hid with Christ in God." "Like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." Lastly, in the text mark the union of the new life to Jesus. The same power which raised the Head works life in the members. What a blessing to be quickened together with Christ! Daily Light on the Daily Path 1 Corinthians 15:23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming,John 12:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Romans 11:16 If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too. 1 Corinthians 15:20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. Romans 6:5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, Philippians 3:20,21 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; • who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself. Colossians 1:18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. John 11:25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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