Justified

"[B]eing justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;" (Rom 3:24 NAS95)

God has made us right not be cause we have earned the right to be right. No. God has justified us by his grace which is a gift. A gift is freely giving and is not earned. God freely gave his only son to die for our sins to redeem us from the penalty of sin which is death.

Being justified is to be made right or to be vindicated of all wrong. The problem is that all have sinned and fallen short of God's glory (Romans 3:23). However God has saw fit to place his Son righteousness on us and placed our sin on him. The gift of justification is a gift that is continuously being unfolded in every day walk of faith. This gift delivers peace, joy, love and favor in areas of your life because of Jesus being with you every day of your life. 

Therefore being justified one should now live as on is set free. No longer living in the life of pain, sin and death that one was delivered from. This awesome gift is giving to give you a life that is full of God's great blessings for now and forever more. You did not earn it but it is given. The least one can do is show appreciation by living in obedience to the giver's commands and will. Because the plans for you life is according to his will and will work out in your favor because of his great love for you. Live free and die free because you are justified and now are guilt free because of the Son you have been redeemed. You are free.

More Valuable

Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows (Luke 12:7 NAS95).

You are more valuable than many sparrows. The Lord knows when a sparrow falls. He knows when you fall and are in need of trouble. “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble” (Ps 46:1 NAS95). The Lord sees your troubles your issues and your sickness. He wants to help you and deliver you.

You can take comfort in that the Lord sees your needs and is willing to speak to them and bless you. While we were still weak Christ died for our sins (see Rom 5:6). Jesus invites us to know him and to know peace through the father. Jesus knows how special you are and invest his life into your life by giving up his life. Jesus came to serve and provide life and life more abundantly though him.

See your value increase as you invest your time, money and soul in Christ and see how your life will increase. Jesus declares, “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 NAS95). See your value in Christ and know apart from him you are nothing. Do you not know your value? God has set your value in His only begotten Son’s life to show your life to be eternal life all through Christ Jesus.

Have Mercy

"Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?" (Rom 7:24 NAS95)

 

The holiness of God longs for his children to be holy. When we call on that great name of Jesus he starts working a good work in us to bring us to glory. This work in us fights the against the flesh. The flesh can not please God.

 

Knowing the flesh is unable to honor God causes the conflict that has saints trying to please God and not giving in to the sinful man. When this becomes so overwhelming when we try to do this on our own, that is when we cry for help. The cry is who will set me free from this body of death?

 

Feeling this desperate need for God's mercy puts you in the place God wants you to be. When you know you need God and God alone then you are open to receive his grace and mercy that saves you from death. Turn your life over to God and see Jesus as the only one who can set you free from the slave of sin and the death it brings.

 

 

By: Samuel Duren

 

God May Turn

""Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish."" (Jonah 3:9 NAS95)

When faced with our own wickedness, we have two choices. Turn from this and to God or continue down this path and perish. Jonah knows this and therefore said, "You are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, and one who relents concerning calamity" (Jonah 4:2).

Knowing a compassionate God means that he is slow to anger with the rebellion in our life and the wickedness in our heart. God loves showing his mercy to those who seek his face. Repenting from sin leads to understanding God's good and perfect will for all who call on his name. "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom 6:23). 

God's gift is free to those who desire to receive this great gift of eternal life in Christ Jesus. Turn from the sin in your life and to the God of righteousness who knows the plans he has for you. God knows what is best for you and will work his will out in your favor for his Glory in Christ Jesus.

God desires that man not perish but repent and have life. God is able to withdraw your just punishment and show mercy and his awesome grace so you will not perish but have everlasting life.

All Scripture from New American Standard Bible 1995 Update Version.

Faint Not

"While I was fainting away, I remembered the LORD, And my prayer came to You, Into Your holy temple" (Jonah 2:7 NAS95).

In times of strength it is good to know the Lord. When things are well it is good practice to know how to go to the Lord in prayer and seek his will. The saying you play how you practice is good to apply here. Everyday practice of a Christian's life should involve crying out to the Lord and praying. 

Jonah rejected the Lord and went after his own way. Isaiah says, "All of us like sheep have gone astray" (Isa. 53:6). The grace and the mercy of God moves on his children's behalf. God sees the darkness of our sin and the lost state we are in and he still desires to hear our cry. These desperate cries make into his holy temple into his presence. Jesus as out mediator presents our plea before the Lord and the Lord hears our cry.

The Lord is mighty to save. While we are weak and faint and all one has is a desperate cry. This cry does not fall on deaf ears or someone unable to respond to the call. God is able to respond and save all who call on the name of the Lord(Romans 10:13). 

Therefore remember how the Lord delivered you from your sin sickness and repent. Do not go back to that position of weakness you once were. Now walk in the newness and the strength that God gives you through Jesus Christ. All because of the Great love of Jesus Christ the Lord.

Turn To Me...

Turn To Me...

""Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other." (Isa 45:22 NAS95)

God will save all who call on His name. Turn to Me and be saved God tells Israel. Many problems in our life are from us turning away from God and seeking other things to make our life better. God alone is who brings true joy, peace and love. God has promised his people a land filled with milk and honey and free from trouble. God told them they would be the head and not the tail (Deut. 28:13).""The LORD will make you the head and not the tail, and you only will be above, and you will not be underneath, if you listen to the commandments of the LORD your God, which I charge you today, to observe them carefully, (Deut 28:13 NAS95)."

They only needed to listen to the commandments of the Lord their God. They were to observe them carefully. God simply asked them to follow his instructions for their life. God created them to inhabit the earth (see Isa. 45:18) and he was willing to show them how to live in the land he has promised them. God's promise is true and he will hold to his word. 

The issue is for us to hold on to his word as the Israelites were to hold on to his word. God's word calls us to obedience and to serve a Holy God. He is Holy and desires for his people to be Holy as he is Holy. To be holy is to be in his presence and serving him with a sincere heart. We can only serve the Lord with pure hearts. A pure heart is a heart turned to God with repentance and humility.

Turn now and face the Lord and let him lift you up from your broken part of your life. He is able to make you whole and you are only whole in him. Come who are troubled in life and find your rest in Him. In the Lord you can find your rest. Turn to the Lord and be saved. There is no other who can save you but the Lord."[F]or "WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED"" (Rom 10:13 NAS95). 

Zion Baptist

zionbaptist@zionbcpeoria.com

"Building a Better Community"

Zion Baptist Church

323 Mlk Jr. Dr 

Peoria, IL 61605

wk (309) 676-4828

www.zionbcpeoria.com