Bible League: Living His Word For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes...— Romans 1:16 NKJV God is the Creator of all things. In the natural realm, He created the physical universe, plants, and animals. In the supernatural or spiritual realm, He created the various kinds of angels. Human beings were created to participate in both the spiritual realm and the natural realm (Genesis 2:7). We have a supernatural soul that makes us images of God, and we have a body that makes us natural creatures like every other natural creature God made. Given our special nature, God gave us dominion over the natural realm in order to enhance it and develop it (Genesis 1:28). As bearers of God's image, we were supposed to represent His will and ways in the natural realm. We were supposed to rule over it for Him and develop it the way He wanted. Our sin, however, disrupted our relationship to God. Instead of being obedient to Him and following His will and ways, we followed the will of Satan. We became captives of Satan (2 Timothy 2:26) and doomed to eternal destruction. The natural realm has been suffering from our disobedience ever since (Romans 8:22). Despite our betrayal, God was gracious to us. He provided a way of salvation. He did this by sending Jesus Christ, who is one with Him, into the world. Jesus was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, paid the penalty for our sin on the cross despite His innocence, was resurrected from the dead, and ascended into heaven where He is now seated at the right hand of God. This is the "gospel of Christ" mentioned in our verse for today. It is the good news story of what Jesus has done for us. The Gospel is a powerful thing. It is much more than a good story. It is the means to salvation. If you believe it, you will be saved by God. You will be liberated from Satan's grasp and saved from eternal destruction. That's why the Apostle Paul is not ashamed of the Gospel. It makes no sense to be ashamed of the very thing that can lead to your salvation from Satan's grasp and from eternal destruction. Share it boldly! Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingGenesis 29, 30 Genesis 29 -- Jacob Meets Rachel, Serves Laban, Marries Rachel and Leah NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Genesis 30 -- Jacob and His Sons Prosper NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Matthew 10:1-23 Matthew 10 -- Christ Sends out His Twelve Apostles, enabling them with power to do miracles NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected— even children in the third and fourth generations. Insight Why would sins affect children and grandchildren? This is no arbitrary punishment. Children still suffer for the sins of their parents. Consider child abuse or alcoholism, for example. While these sins are obvious, sins like selfishness and greed can be passed along as well. Challenge Be careful not to treat sin casually, but repent and turn from it. The sin may cause you little pain now, but it could later sting in a most tender area of your life—your children and grandchildren. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon 1 Corinthians 3:23 Ye are Christ's."Ye are Christ's." You are his by donation, for the Father gave you to the Son; his by his bloody purchase, for he counted down the price for your redemption; his by dedication, for you have consecrated yourself to him; his by relation, for you are named by his name, and made one of his brethren and joint-heirs. Labour practically to show the world that you are the servant, the friend, the bride of Jesus. When tempted to sin, reply, "I cannot do this great wickedness, for I am Christ's." Immortal principles forbid the friend of Christ to sin. When wealth is before you to be won by sin, say that you are Christ's, and touch it not. Are you exposed to difficulties and dangers? Stand fast in the evil day, remembering that you are Christ's. Are you placed where others are sitting down idly, doing nothing? Rise to the work with all your powers; and when the sweat stands upon your brow, and you are tempted to loiter, cry, "No, I cannot stop, for I am Christ's. If I were not purchased by blood, I might be like Issachar, crouching between two burdens; but I am Christ's, and cannot loiter." When the siren song of pleasure would tempt you from the path of right, reply, "Thy music cannot charm me; I am Christ's." When the cause of God invites thee, give thy goods and thyself away, for thou art Christ's. Never belie thy profession. Be thou ever one of those whose manners are Christian, whose speech is like the Nazarene, whose conduct and conversation are so redolent of heaven, that all who see you may know that you are the Saviour's, recognizing in you his features of love and his countenance of holiness. "I am a Roman!" was of old a reason for integrity; far more, then, let it be your argument for holiness, "I am Christ's!" Daily Light on the Daily Path Jude 1:25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.1 Corinthians 1:30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, Job 11:7,8 "Can you discover the depths of God? Can you discover the limits of the Almighty? • "They are high as the heavens, what can you do? Deeper than Sheol, what can you know? 1 Corinthians 2:7 but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; Ephesians 3:9,10 and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; • so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. James 1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. 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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