A New Beginning with Greg Laurie for The Week of Monday, 28 October 2013 ~Upcoming Programs

A New Beginning with Greg Laurie for The Week of Monday, 28 October 2013 ~Upcoming Programs

HEAVEN ON EARTH

Revelation 20:1 I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 He seized the dragon, the old serpent, which is the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole inhabited earth, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and cast him into the abyss, and shut it, and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years were finished. After this, he must be freed for a short time. 4 I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Yeshua, and for the word of God, and such as didn’t worship the beast nor his image, and didn’t receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived and reigned with Messiah for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead didn’t live until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over these, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Messiah, and will reign with him one thousand years.

7 And after the thousand years, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and he will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to the war; the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up over the width of the earth, and surrounded the camp of the holy ones, and the beloved city. Fire came down out of heaven from God, and devoured them. 10 The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are also. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

11 I saw a great white throne, and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. There was found no place for them. 12 I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and Sheol* gave up the dead who were in them. They were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Death and Sheol† were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.(Messianic WEB)

Have you ever had a day when everything seemed to be perfect? The weather was perfect, everything went smoothly, and the fellowship was great. Perhaps you ever said yourself, “This is like heaven on Earth.”

In a sense, that is exactly what the future holds. God will bring heaven to Earth, as He restores this world to what He intended way back in the Garden of Eden. That is God’s perfect plan (Ephesians 1:10), fulfilled in the millennial reign.

This 1,000-year period is the next step after Christ’s second coming in Revelation 19. Let’s look at what will happen during Christ’s millennial reign, and how we should live in anticipation of it.

PRACTICAL PRINCIPLES

1. There will finally be world peace (Isaiah 2:4). This won’t be the fragile kind of peace where everyone is still armed to the teeth, but agree not to fight for now. This world peace will result in the destruction of weapons and the end of military training. In short, it will be true world peace with no conflicts.

2. There will be joy, happiness, and no more disabilities (Isaiah 35:5-6). All of the body’s imperfections will be corrected: sight and hearing restored, bodily functions restored, and sicknesses healed. That’s reason enough for joy, but this happiness will extend to all people everywhere.

3. The animal kingdom will be subdued (Isaiah 11 6-9). Just as there will be no more wars and fighting among mankind, the animal kingdom will also be at peace. Predators and prey will co-exist with each other.

4. The curse that came upon the world because of sin will be lifted (Romans 8:19-21). When Adam and Eve sinned, it resulted in God’s curse being placed on all mankind (Genesis 3:16-19)—from the pain of childbirth to the struggle to work the land. Christ’s millennial reign will remove that curse, restoring life to the way God intended it to be.

5. There will be universal justice and righteousness (Psalm 72:2-8). With Christ on the throne, there will be no more injustice or unfairness as He judges righteously. He will defend the oppressed, and bring down the oppressor. In a world that often seems so unfair, Christ will come and bring ultimate fairness.

6. We will rule and reign with Jesus Christ (Revelation 20:4). We as believers will govern those who remain on the earth, the survivors of the tribulation period and their descendants. And the good news is that everyone will know of Christ (Isaiah 11:9).

RELEVANT REMINDERS

At the conclusion of the millennial reign, Satan will be released for a short period of time and lead one final rebellion against God before being thrown into the lake of fire for all eternity. At that point, the great white throne judgment will take place in which everyone will be examined and those whose names do not appear in the Book of Life will join Satan in the lake of fire.

Finally, the new heaven and the new earth will appear, replacing the heaven and earth that we know. Time will pass into eternity as heaven and Earth become one.

Given all this, how should we live? Jesus gives a parable in Luke 19 that provides some crucial insight into the correct mindset of Christians as they contemplate eternity.

• We have all been given the same thing. Just as all the servants were given the same amount of money to work with, we all have a period of time here on Earth in which to live and work. Scripture tells us that we exist to know God, glorify Him, and to bring forth spiritual fruit, so that’s what we need to be doing.

• We have been given the sacred trust of delivering the gospel message. As Christians, we have been entrusted with the Good News of Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 2:4). Our job is to do God’s work until He returns—to declare the gospel and make disciples.

APPLICABLE ACTIONS

Why is it important for us to make the most of our time here on Earth? Because all believers will appear at the judgment seat of Christ, a sort of award ceremony for Christians. At that time, we will be evaluated for what we did with the gifts that God gave us during our time on Earth. Did you live for God, doing His work? Or did you live for yourself, wasting your life?

Let’s make sure that we are living in a way that brings glory to God, doing His work until He returns. May we be able to come to the judgment seat of Christ and hear those wonderful words, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord.”

~~~

MONDAY, 28 October 2013

Heaven on Earth — II

Revelation 20:1 I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 He seized the dragon, the old serpent, which is the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole inhabited earth, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and cast him into the abyss, and shut it, and sealed it over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years were finished. After this, he must be freed for a short time. 4 I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Yeshua, and for the word of God, and such as didn’t worship the beast nor his image, and didn’t receive the mark on their forehead and on their hand. They lived and reigned with Messiah for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead didn’t live until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over these, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Messiah, and will reign with him one thousand years.

7 And after the thousand years, Satan will be released from his prison, 8 and he will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to the war; the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9 They went up over the width of the earth, and surrounded the camp of the holy ones, and the beloved city. Fire came down out of heaven from God, and devoured them. 10 The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet are also. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

11 I saw a great white throne, and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. There was found no place for them. 12 I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and they opened books. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and Sheol* gave up the dead who were in them. They were judged, each one according to his works. 14 Death and Sheol† were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 If anyone was not found written in the book of life, he was cast into the lake of fire.(Messianic WEB)

Someday, God will restore the earth back to the way He intended. Pastor Greg Laurie gives us some insight on this ultimate Extreme Home Improvement.

~~~

GOOD NEWS IN A BAD WORLD

2 Kings 7:1 Elisha said, “Hear the LORD’s word. the LORD says, ‘Tomorrow about this time a seah* of fine flour will be sold for a shekel,† and two seahs of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.’”

2 Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, “Behold, if the LORD made windows in heaven, could this thing be?”

He said, “Behold, you will see it with your eyes, but will not eat of it.”

3 Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate. They said to one another, “Why do we sit here until we die? 4 If we say, ‘We will enter into the city,’ then the famine is in the city, and we will die there. If we sit still here, we also die. Now therefore come, and let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they save us alive, we will live; and if they kill us, we will only die.”

5 They rose up in the twilight, to go to the camp of the Syrians. When they had come to the outermost part of the camp of the Syrians, behold, no man was there. 6 For the Lord‡ had made the army of the Syrians to hear the sound of chariots, and the sound of horses, even the noise of a great army; and they said to one another, “Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us.” 7 Therefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their donkeys, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life. 8 When these lepers came to the outermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and ate and drink, and carried away silver, gold, and clothing, and went and hid it. Then they came back, and entered into another tent, and carried things from there also, and went and hid them. 9 Then they said to one another, “We aren’t doing right. Today is a day of good news, and we keep silent. If we wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come, let’s go and tell the king’s household.”

10 So they came and called to the city gatekeepers; and they told them, “We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, not even a man’s voice, but the horses tied, and the donkeys tied, and the tents as they were.”

11 He called the gatekeepers; and they told it to the king’s household within. 12 The king arose in the night, and said to his servants, “I will now show you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are hungry. Therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, ‘When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive, and get into the city.’”

13 One of his servants answered, “Please let some people take five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city. Behold, they are like all the multitude of Israel who are left in it. Behold, they are like all the multitude of Israel who are consumed. Let us send and see.”

14 Therefore they took two chariots with horses; and the king them sent out to the Syrian army, saying, “Go and see.”

15 They went after them to the Jordan; and behold, all the path was full of garments and equipment which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. The messengers returned, and told the king. 16 The people went out and plundered the camp of the Syrians. So a seah§ of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel,** according to the LORD’s word. 17 The king appointed the captain on whose hand he leaned to be in charge of the gate; and the people trampled over him in the gate, and he died as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him. 18 It happened as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, “Two seahs†† of barley for a shekel,‡‡ and a seah of fine flour for a shekel, shall be tomorrow about this time in the gate of Samaria”; 19 and that captain answered the man of God, and said, “Now, behold, if the LORD made windows in heaven, might such a thing be?” and he said, “Behold, you will see it with your eyes, but will not eat of it.” 20 It happened like that to him; for the people trampled over him in the gate, and he died.(Messianic WEB)

We are continually inundated with bad news, aren’t we? Whether it is the slow economy, new acts of terrorism, or international conflicts, we are constantly reminded that our dark world is getting darker.

And yet, despite this bad world, there is good news—the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Our situation today is much like the situation in 2 Kings 7, when calamity beset Israel on every side. Let’s look at a few principles we can glean from that biblical account.

PRACTICAL PRINCIPLES

1. Most of life’s problems stem from our own disobedience. The famine and besiegement that Israel faced were direct repercussions of their choice to follow idols. In the same way, when we as a society or as individuals remove God from His proper place, there are consequences.

2. God has a solution. God promised the king of Israel that things would change for the better, but the king’s aide would not believe. God offers spiritual solutions to life’s problems to us today, but we often refuse to believe that they will work.

3. God uses ordinary people to share the good news. God used four lepers to herald the news of the fortune awaiting those who were hungry. Today, God is still using the lowly and despised to proclaim His good news—that Jesus offers abundance to those who are spiritually starving.

4. Withholding the good news is wrong. The lepers quickly realized that keeping the discovery of wealth to themselves, while others nearby were dying of hunger, was wrong. In the same way, quietly standing by while others are spiritually perishing is nothing less than sin.

RELEVANT REMINDERS

The solutions to life’s problems are not political, economic, military, or physical. They are spiritual. Only faith in Jesus Christ can bring about substantial change. God can use both natural and supernatural means to accomplish his purposes. Just as he used the supernatural sounds of an attacking army to cause the defeat of the Syrian army, he also used the everyday hunger of four despairing lepers to drive them to its discovery.

APPLICABLE ACTIONS

Are you looking to God for solutions to your problems? Follow His Word, pray for His direction, and apply His principles. Let Him use you to proclaim His good news in a bad world.

~~~~

TUESDAY, 29 October 2013

Good News in a Bad World — I

2 Kings 7:1 Elisha said, “Hear the LORD’s word. the LORD says, ‘Tomorrow about this time a seah* of fine flour will be sold for a shekel,† and two seahs of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.’”

2 Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, “Behold, if the LORD made windows in heaven, could this thing be?”

He said, “Behold, you will see it with your eyes, but will not eat of it.”

3 Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate. They said to one another, “Why do we sit here until we die? 4 If we say, ‘We will enter into the city,’ then the famine is in the city, and we will die there. If we sit still here, we also die. Now therefore come, and let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they save us alive, we will live; and if they kill us, we will only die.”

5 They rose up in the twilight, to go to the camp of the Syrians. When they had come to the outermost part of the camp of the Syrians, behold, no man was there. 6 For the Lord‡ had made the army of the Syrians to hear the sound of chariots, and the sound of horses, even the noise of a great army; and they said to one another, “Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us.” 7 Therefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their donkeys, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life. 8 When these lepers came to the outermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and ate and drink, and carried away silver, gold, and clothing, and went and hid it. Then they came back, and entered into another tent, and carried things from there also, and went and hid them. 9 Then they said to one another, “We aren’t doing right. Today is a day of good news, and we keep silent. If we wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come, let’s go and tell the king’s household.”

10 So they came and called to the city gatekeepers; and they told them, “We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, not even a man’s voice, but the horses tied, and the donkeys tied, and the tents as they were.”

11 He called the gatekeepers; and they told it to the king’s household within. 12 The king arose in the night, and said to his servants, “I will now show you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are hungry. Therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, ‘When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive, and get into the city.’”

13 One of his servants answered, “Please let some people take five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city. Behold, they are like all the multitude of Israel who are left in it. Behold, they are like all the multitude of Israel who are consumed. Let us send and see.”

14 Therefore they took two chariots with horses; and the king them sent out to the Syrian army, saying, “Go and see.”

15 They went after them to the Jordan; and behold, all the path was full of garments and equipment which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. The messengers returned, and told the king. 16 The people went out and plundered the camp of the Syrians. So a seah§ of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel,** according to the LORD’s word. 17 The king appointed the captain on whose hand he leaned to be in charge of the gate; and the people trampled over him in the gate, and he died as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him. 18 It happened as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, “Two seahs†† of barley for a shekel,‡‡ and a seah of fine flour for a shekel, shall be tomorrow about this time in the gate of Samaria”; 19 and that captain answered the man of God, and said, “Now, behold, if the LORD made windows in heaven, might such a thing be?” and he said, “Behold, you will see it with your eyes, but will not eat of it.” 20 It happened like that to him; for the people trampled over him in the gate, and he died.(Messianic WEB)

Idolatry was only a sin of ancient times; certainly modern culture is beyond that, right? Pastor Greg Laurie says, "wrong!" We'll see just how easy it is to let someone or something distract us from our worship of God.

WEDNESDAY, 30 October 2013

Good News in a Bad World — II

2 Kings 7:1 Elisha said, “Hear the LORD’s word. the LORD says, ‘Tomorrow about this time a seah* of fine flour will be sold for a shekel,† and two seahs of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.’”

2 Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, “Behold, if the LORD made windows in heaven, could this thing be?”

He said, “Behold, you will see it with your eyes, but will not eat of it.”

3 Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate. They said to one another, “Why do we sit here until we die? 4 If we say, ‘We will enter into the city,’ then the famine is in the city, and we will die there. If we sit still here, we also die. Now therefore come, and let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they save us alive, we will live; and if they kill us, we will only die.”

5 They rose up in the twilight, to go to the camp of the Syrians. When they had come to the outermost part of the camp of the Syrians, behold, no man was there. 6 For the Lord‡ had made the army of the Syrians to hear the sound of chariots, and the sound of horses, even the noise of a great army; and they said to one another, “Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us.” 7 Therefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their donkeys, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life. 8 When these lepers came to the outermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and ate and drink, and carried away silver, gold, and clothing, and went and hid it. Then they came back, and entered into another tent, and carried things from there also, and went and hid them. 9 Then they said to one another, “We aren’t doing right. Today is a day of good news, and we keep silent. If we wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come, let’s go and tell the king’s household.”

10 So they came and called to the city gatekeepers; and they told them, “We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, not even a man’s voice, but the horses tied, and the donkeys tied, and the tents as they were.”

11 He called the gatekeepers; and they told it to the king’s household within. 12 The king arose in the night, and said to his servants, “I will now show you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are hungry. Therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, ‘When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive, and get into the city.’”

13 One of his servants answered, “Please let some people take five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city. Behold, they are like all the multitude of Israel who are left in it. Behold, they are like all the multitude of Israel who are consumed. Let us send and see.”

14 Therefore they took two chariots with horses; and the king them sent out to the Syrian army, saying, “Go and see.”

15 They went after them to the Jordan; and behold, all the path was full of garments and equipment which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. The messengers returned, and told the king. 16 The people went out and plundered the camp of the Syrians. So a seah§ of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel,** according to the LORD’s word. 17 The king appointed the captain on whose hand he leaned to be in charge of the gate; and the people trampled over him in the gate, and he died as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him. 18 It happened as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, “Two seahs†† of barley for a shekel,‡‡ and a seah of fine flour for a shekel, shall be tomorrow about this time in the gate of Samaria”; 19 and that captain answered the man of God, and said, “Now, behold, if the LORD made windows in heaven, might such a thing be?” and he said, “Behold, you will see it with your eyes, but will not eat of it.” 20 It happened like that to him; for the people trampled over him in the gate, and he died.(Messianic WEB)

Everywhere you turn, there's bad news. But Pastor Greg Laurie says believers have good news in a bad world. Learn how to share the hope we have in Jesus Christ.

~~~

WHAT IS SALVATION?

Romans 5:1 Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah; 2 through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope: 5 and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For while we were yet weak, at the right time Messiah died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps for a righteous person someone would even dare to die. 8 But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us.

9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we will be saved from God’s wrath through him. 10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by his life.

11 Not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. 12 Therefore as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin; and so death passed to all men, because all sinned. 13 For until the law, sin was in the world; but sin is not charged when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those whose sins weren’t like Adam’s disobedience, who is a foreshadowing of him who was to come. 15 But the free gift isn’t like the trespass. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Yeshua the Messiah, abound to the many. 16 The gift is not as through one who sinned: for the judgment came by one to condemnation, but the free gift came of many trespasses to justification. 17 For if by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; so much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Yeshua the Messiah. 18 So then as through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of righteousness, all men were justified to life. 19 For as through the one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one, many will be made righteous. 20 The law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly; 21 that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Yeshua the Messiah our Lord.(Messianic WEB)

God offers us something that is of greater value than millions of dollars. It is called salvation. For some it is unclaimed. For others it is unused. And for many of us it is unappreciated. Do we really grasp—really understand—what salvation is?

PRACTICAL PRINCIPLES

1. Salvation is regeneration. When you put your faith in Christ he makes you a new creation. You have passed from darkness to light.

2. Salvation is justification. Justification means that your sins are forgiven and forgotten. But in addition, justification means that Christ’s righteousness has been put into your account.

3. Salvation is reconciliation. Peace with God. Salvation restores close communion and open access to God.

4. Salvation is adoption. When you accept God’s salvation you become His child through adoption. God understands his children, takes care of his children, and loves to bless his children.

RELEVANT REMINDERS

Here are six self-examination tests concerning the fruit of your salvation. If you are a Christian:

• You should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (1 John 4:15). 
• You obey the commands of Christ (1 John 5:3). 

• You love and obey God’s Word (1 John 2:5). 

• You will be miserable when you sin (1 John 3:9).

• You keep yourself from the devil (1 John 5:18). 

• You love other Christians (1 John 5:1).

Salvation covers your past, present, and future. If you have accepted His salvation, He has saved you from spiritual death, is saving you from the power of sin, and will save you from future judgment.

APPLICABLE ACTIONS

The Bible tells us to work out our salvation. Not work for our salvation, but work it out. It is like working in a mine—discovering its treasures and bringing them out. Are you letting God’s salvation affect the way you live and think?

~~~

THURSDAY, 31 October 2013

What is Salvation? — I

Romans 5:1 Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah; 2 through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope: 5 and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For while we were yet weak, at the right time Messiah died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps for a righteous person someone would even dare to die. 8 But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us.

9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we will be saved from God’s wrath through him. 10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by his life.

11 Not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. 12 Therefore as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin; and so death passed to all men, because all sinned. 13 For until the law, sin was in the world; but sin is not charged when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those whose sins weren’t like Adam’s disobedience, who is a foreshadowing of him who was to come. 15 But the free gift isn’t like the trespass. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Yeshua the Messiah, abound to the many. 16 The gift is not as through one who sinned: for the judgment came by one to condemnation, but the free gift came of many trespasses to justification. 17 For if by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; so much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Yeshua the Messiah. 18 So then as through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of righteousness, all men were justified to life. 19 For as through the one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one, many will be made righteous. 20 The law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly; 21 that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Yeshua the Messiah our Lord.(Messianic WEB)

There are two roads in life - one that leads to heaven, and the other that leads to judgment. Pastor Greg Laurie helps us understand this critical dynamic, and how to share the truth with others. Listen for life and death insight.

FRIDAY, 1 November 2013

What is Salvation? — II

Romans 5:1 Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah; 2 through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only this, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope: 5 and hope doesn’t disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For while we were yet weak, at the right time Messiah died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man. Yet perhaps for a righteous person someone would even dare to die. 8 But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us.

9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we will be saved from God’s wrath through him. 10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by his life.

11 Not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. 12 Therefore as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin; and so death passed to all men, because all sinned. 13 For until the law, sin was in the world; but sin is not charged when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those whose sins weren’t like Adam’s disobedience, who is a foreshadowing of him who was to come. 15 But the free gift isn’t like the trespass. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Yeshua the Messiah, abound to the many. 16 The gift is not as through one who sinned: for the judgment came by one to condemnation, but the free gift came of many trespasses to justification. 17 For if by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; so much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Yeshua the Messiah. 18 So then as through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of righteousness, all men were justified to life. 19 For as through the one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one, many will be made righteous. 20 The law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace abounded more exceedingly; 21 that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Yeshua the Messiah our Lord.(Messianic WEB)

We can work OUT our salvation, but we can't work FOR our salvation. What's the difference? Is it just semantics? Pastor Greg Laurie points out how we're saved by grace, but after we're saved, we've got some work to do!

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Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie

P.O. Box 4000

Riverside, CA 92514-4000 United States

Phone: 1-800-821-3300

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