How Can You Afford Not to Be

How can you afford not to be in God’s Word? Howard Hendricks

Christ Our Refuge

The Bible is very clear in its declaration that individuals who are not “in Christ” are lost and under condemnation. If you are not “in Christ Jesus” you have not escaped the condemnation and the wrath of God.

The apostle John wrote, “He who believes in Him [Jesus] is not judged” (John 3:18a). Paul wrote “there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). John goes on to say, “he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (v. 18b). The person who does not believe is already condemned and that condemnation of unbelievers is now in the present time.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24). “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36).

The sole basis of this justification and declaration of “no condemnation” is the assurance found in the words “in Christ Jesus.” We were all condemned in Adam, but in the second Adam there is no condemnation.

Christians do sin and fail to bring glory to God, and we do suffer the natural consequences of our sins. However, we do not suffer condemnation because Christ was condemned in our stead.

The legalist tries desperately to please God by obeying the law in his own strength, however it is impossible. On the other hand, the Christian who is under the control of the Holy Spirit experiences the sanctifying work of the Spirit in his daily life.

By an act of simple dependence upon Jesus Christ the believer realizes his position in Christ. “By nature I am in myself, and in sin and I am, therefore, condemned; but when the grace of God awakens me up to know my ruined state, then I fly to Christ. I trust alone in His blood and righteousness, and He becomes to me the cleft of the rock, whereas I hide myself from the storm of vengeance justly due to me for my many offences. The Lord Jesus is typified by the city of refuge,” writes C. H. Spurgeon.

Is your righteousness one which you have worked out yourself, or is the righteousness of Christ imputed to you? Do you look for salvation by self, or for salvation by Christ? “If you can truly say, ‘I hide in Christ,’ then this text warbles sweeter music than ever fell from angel’s lips.” “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Spurgeon added, “Inasmuch as you have believed in Him, you are in Him.”

The promise holds true because the believer is “in Him who can never be condemned. . . If you are in Christ, there is for that very reason no condemnation to you.”

Christ fulfilled the law for you, and since you believed on Him you are justified in Him. “By Christ’s righteous life and substitutionary death, justification has come upon all who are in Him.”

“We are accepted in the beloved,” says the apostle Paul. “By the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.”

“Will the Lord condemn those whom He has made righteous?” Will He condemn those for whom He has covered with His own perfect righteousness?”

God has placed the believer in a living vital union in Christ. We have been made one with Christ through a living relationship.

Since we died in Christ and rose with Him, how then shall we be put to death again for the sin for which we have already died in Him? We who are in Christ are justified because Christ is justified by His rising from the dead, and by His taking the position of honor and glory at the right hand of God. “He is our representative and we are one with Him, and what He is that we are. Our union is inseparable, and therefore our condemnation is impossible.”

Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006 Anyone is free to use this material and distribute it, but it may not be sold under any circumstances whatsoever without the author’s written consent.

In My Darkest Moments That

It was in my darkest moments that Gods love shone the brightest in my heart. Joseph- Anthony a son of Jehovah

A Life Transformed By

Faith in Jesus leads to a life transformed by Jesus. Melissa Kruger

Is Very Scary at First

Faith is very scary at first and is still challenging all of our lives. Joseph- Anthony a son of Jehovah

Shone the Brightest In

It was in my darkest moments that Gods love shone the brightest in my heart. Joseph- Anthony a son of Jehovah

Has All He Needs.

He who has the Holy Spirit in his heart and the Scriptures in his hands has all he needs. Alexander Maclaren

Will Come Close to You.

“Be still, and know that I am God! Psalm 46:10 The Holy Bible, The New Living Translation

Come close to God, and God will come close to you. James 4:8 The Holy Bible, The New Living Translation

“If God doesn’t want something for me, I shouldn’t want it either. Spending time in meditative prayer, getting to know God, helps align my desires with God’s.” Phillips Brooks

“We can be tired, weary and emotionally distraught, but after spending time alone with God, we find that He injects into our bodies energy, power and strength.” Charles Stanley

“We are too busy to pray, and so we are too busy to have power. We have a great deal of activity, but we accomplish little; many services but few conversions; much machinery but few results.” R.A. Torrey

“Spending time with God puts everything else in perspective. “If a man wants to be used by God, he cannot spend all of his time with people.” – A. W. Tozer

Prayer: Poppa, please slow me down so that I may hear your Holy Spirit speak to me and discover my heart’s true longings and therefore recover my energy and my purpose for living according to Your will.

Poppa, thank You for caring about me and all things that come into my life.

Thank You for helping me trust in Your sovereignty and enabling me to be content in whatever state I am in.

I humbly ask these blessings and give thanks for these blessings in the name of the greatest blessing You have given me, Jesus Christ. Amen

May you have a grateful heart towards He who has given so much to you. indeovi vas ( may you live with Jesus in Latin ) Seleh- stop and think about it.

This photo and article @ Joseph- Anthony a son of Jehovah 2023 Anyone is free to use this material and distribute it but it may not be sold without authors consent

I Have Found That

I have found that those with a grateful heart life a much better quality of life. Joseph- Anthony a son of Jehovah

Like a Banquet Feast

For me, opening up God’s Word [is] like a banquet feast…. Nourishment for my soul.
Charles Swindoll