Bible League: Living His Word So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe.— Hebrews 4:14 NLT True Christians believe that the Bible is the Word of God and that all its teachings are true. We believe that God is the creator of all things. We believe that human beings were made in His image and should have dominion over the rest of the creation. We believe that human beings have fallen into disobedience before God. We believe that faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to get right with God again, the only way to get saved. We believe that at some point in the future Jesus will return to earth and finish this work of salvation. Further, we believe that God is concerned with, and takes care of, everyone who believes these things. There is temptation to stop believing these things or to stop emphasizing certain teachings in order to placate worldly people. Satan and his henchmen are enemies of God, since they are in total rebellion against Him. They do everything they can to subvert His plans and purposes for creation and for human beings in particular. Above all, they do not want anyone to believe what the Bible teaches, and they do not want anyone to get saved and receive all the benefits and blessings salvation entails. So, they create controversy to keep people from believing, and they try to steal away the belief of those who are already converted. Despite this opposition and temptation, Christians that believe these things should hold on to their beliefs. When Satan tries to put thoughts in our minds that are at odds with the Bible, when he tries to put words in our mouths that are wrong, we must stand firm in our faith. Why? It's because we have Jesus, our great High Priest, who has entered heaven and represents us before our Father in heaven. He won't abandon us or fail to represent us vigorously. He knows the temptations that we face, and He knows what to do to help us. Given His representation, we may boldly come before the Father with our requests for help in our times of need. We should stand firm because we don't stand alone. We have the help we need to make it. Therefore, hold onto what you believe. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingPsalm 73, 74 Psalm 73 -- BOOK 3: Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 74 -- God, why have you rejected us forever? NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Romans 5 Romans 5 -- Peace with God; Joy in Our Hope; Through Christ Many Will Live NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.Insight All who welcome Jesus Christ as Lord of their lives are reborn spiritually, receiving new life from God. Through faith in Christ, this new birth changes us from the inside out—rearranging our attitudes, desires, and motives. Being born makes you physically alive and places you in your parents' family. Being born of God makes you spiritually alive and puts you in God's family. Challenge Have you asked Christ to make you a new person? This fresh start in life is available to all who believe in Christ. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Daniel 11:32 The people that do know their God shall be strong.Every believer understands that to know God is the highest and best form of knowledge; and this spiritual knowledge is a source of strength to the Christian. It strengthens his faith. Believers are constantly spoken of in the Scriptures as being persons who are enlightened and taught of the Lord; they are said to "have an unction from the Holy One," and it is the Spirit's peculiar office to lead them into all truth, and all this for the increase and the fostering of their faith. Knowledge strengthens love, as well as faith. Knowledge opens the door, and then through that door we see our Saviour. Or, to use another similitude, knowledge paints the portrait of Jesus, and when we see that portrait then we love him, we cannot love a Christ whom we do not know, at least, in some degree. If we know but little of the excellences of Jesus, what he has done for us, and what he is doing now, we cannot love him much; but the more we know him, the more we shall love him. Knowledge also strengthens hope. How can we hope for a thing if we do not know of its existence? Hope may be the telescope, but till we receive instruction, our ignorance stands in the front of the glass, and we can see nothing whatever; knowledge removes the interposing object, and when we look through the bright optic glass we discern the glory to be revealed, and anticipate it with joyous confidence. Knowledge supplies us reasons for patience. How shall we have patience unless we know something of the sympathy of Christ, and understand the good which is to come out of the correction which our heavenly Father sends us? Nor is there one single grace of the Christian which, under God, will not be fostered and brought to perfection by holy knowledge. How important, then, is it that we should grow not only in grace, but in the "knowledge" of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Daily Light on the Daily Path John 19:30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.Hebrews 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. John 17:4 "I glorified You on the earth, having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. Hebrews 10:10-14 By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. • Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; • but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, • waiting from that time onward UNTIL HIS ENEMIES BE MADE A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. • For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. Colossians 2:14 having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. John 10:17,18 "For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. • "No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father." John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. 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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