Month: September 2024

GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD /JOHN 3:16

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD /JOHN 3:16

This verse reveals the heart and purpose of God – the great truth that motivated His plan of salvation for humankind.

God’s love is deep and wide enough to embrace all persons, “the world” (1 Timothy 2:4).
God “gave” His Son (who also gave Himself willingly, John 10:17-18) as an offering to pay the price for the sin (offenses and rebellion against God) of all humanity. This act was on of complete, undeserved love. God did not have to provide this sacrifice for us; it was not something forced upon Him (Romans 8:32; 1 John 4:10).
To believe (Greek pisteuo) includes three main elements: (a) a faith and confidence that Jesus Christ is God’s San and the only Savior for spiritually lost humanity; (b) an act of surrender that turns over to Christ the leadership of one’s life and a attitude of submission that continues to obey Christ (John 15:1-10; 14:21; 15:4); (c) the trust and assurance that Christ is both able and willing to complete a person’s salvation by bringing him or her to live with Him forever in heaven. Keep in mind that to “believe” in the true Biblical sense is not just a mental exercise; it is an active trust that surrenders the leadership on one’s life to Christ (John 1:12). Real faith continues to show trust through selfless action, obedience and service (James 2:14-16).
“Perish” is a term in John 3:16 that can be easily overlooked in the context of the wonderful gift of grace God offers. It is the tragic consequence of rejecting God (not believing in Him, not surrendering our lives to His leadership, not accepting His gifts of forgiveness and eternal life). To parish does not point to physical death but to the dreadful reality of spiritual death (permanent separation from God) and eternal punishment (Matthew 10:28).
“Eternal life” is God’s gift to those who accept Christ’s sacrifice and forgiveness for sins and become “born again” spiritually. It is not something that can be earned by good works or personal effort; it is a gift that must be received. “Eternal” is more than simply living forever; it is a quality of existence that begins even in this life – it is the opportunity to know God now (John 17:3). It is a life that frees us from the power of sin and Satan and allows us to live spiritually beyond earthly things in order to develop and eternal relationship with God (John 8:34-36; 17:3).

Bible Study Tools I Use

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College Ruled Spiral Notebook
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Blessings,
Margarita & Stace

HELPER SUITABLE FOR HIM / GENESIS 2:18

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Genesis 2:18

And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

HELPER SUITABLE FOR HIM / GENESIS 2:18

Woman was created to be a loving companion for man and a helper for him. She was to share his responsibility and cooperate with him in fulfilling God’s purposes (Ephesians 5:22; Psalms 33:20; 70:5; 115:9, where the term “help” is also used to describe God).

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
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www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
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Blessings,
Margarita & Stace

THE LORD GOD COMMANDED THE MAN / GENESIS 2:16

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Genesis 2:16-17

And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

¹⁷But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

THE LORD GOD COMMANDED THE MAN / GENESIS 2:16

From the beginning of the history of the human race, God has expected obedience and acceptance of His Word as absolute truth.

Faith and obedience were the principles that would govern Adam’s relationship to God in Eden. God warned Adam that he would die if he rebelled against the will of God. God spoke specifically about not eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17). Adam had to trust God’s commands because he did not yet know the reality of human death.
God gave the command (Genesis 2:16-17) as a moral test. It gave Adam a definite and intentional choice to believe and obey, or to doubt and defy his Creator’s will.
As long as Adam believed God and obeyed, he would enjoy eternal life and fellowship with God. But if he sinned by disobeying, he would experience moral disaster and suffer the tragic consequences of death (Genesis 2:17).

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
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www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

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Blessings,
Margarita & Stace

NOT TO RECEIVE GOD’S GRACE IN VAIN / 2 CORINTHIANS 6:1

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) 2 Corinthians 6:1

We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.

NOT TO RECEIVE GOD’S GRACE IN VAIN / 2 CORINTHIANS 6:1

Paul believed without question that a person could receive forgiveness and experience a personal relationship with God (2 Corinthians 6:2) and then later, through carelessness or rebellion against God, abandon the faith and again become spiritually lost and separated from God. Living for ourselves is one way that this can happen (2 Corinthians 5:15). All people must be urged to receive God’s grace (His unearned favor and mercy) and be reconciled to God through faith in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). In addition, those who have been reunited with God must be urged to remain faithful to Him and submitted to His purposes (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
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Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

Thank you for taking the time to read my Daily Devotion
Blessings,
Margarita & Stace

MADE HIM WHO HAD NO SIN TO BE SIN – WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD / 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) 2 Corinthians 5:21

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

MADE HIM WHO HAD NO SIN TO BE SIN – WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD / 2 CORINTHIANS 5:21

MADE HIM WHO HAD NO SIN TO BE SIN

God’s Word nowhere states that Christ actually became a “sinner,” for He remained the perfect and spotless Lamb of God (the only complete sacrifice for sins; 1 Peter 1:19; 1 Corinthians 5:7; Revelation 5:6, 12). But Jesus did take all our sin upon Himself and God the Father made Him the object of His judgment when Jesus paid our death penalty on the cross (Isaiah 53:10). By willingly giving His perfect life as a substitute for our sinful lives, Jesus endured the full grief and punishment for all sin of all time and paid our debt to God in full. Jesus satisfied God’s perfect justice and made it possible for us to receive His forgiveness if we willingly accept His sacrifice for ourselves and surrender our old lives to Him in exchange for His new and eternal life (Isaiah 53:5; Romans 3:24-25).

WE MIGHT BECOME THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD

Righteousness refers to being in a right relationship with God and having the ability – through faith in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit – to live in a way that is right by God’s standard.

Righteousness here does not refer to a person’s own ability to keep God’s law. No one can get right with God through good works, and no one can keep God’s law in their own ability. The only way we can become righteous is by accepting the sacrifice Jesus made for our sins and by surrendering our own sinful lives to Christ in return for the new life that comes through faith and devotion to Him (Philippians 3:9; Romans 3:21, 4:5, 22).
Believers experience and reflect God’s righteousness to others by growing in their relationship with Christ and by continually surrendering their lives to His purposes. The whole context of the passage (2 Corinthians 5:14-21; 2 Corinthians 5:18-19; 2 Corinthians 5:20) is concerned with believers living for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:15), being controlled by “Christ’s love” (2 Corinthians 5:14), becoming a “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17), being Christ’s representatives in this world and leading others into a relationship with Him (2 Corinthians 5:18-20; 1 Corinthians 1:30). Only to the extent that we are united with Christ in a close relationship do we become the righteousness of God (John 15:4-5; Galatians 2:20, 1 John 1:9).

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

Thank you for taking the time to read my Daily Devotion
Blessings,
Margarita & Stace

Guided By Grace

CHRIST’S AMBASSADORS / 2 CORINTHIANS 5:20

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) 2 Corinthians 5:20

Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.

CHRIST’S AMBASSADORS / 2 CORINTHIANS 5:20

An ambassador (Greek presbeuomen – “Ambassadors”) is an officially authorized representative of one country (and its government) to another. Paul was serving Jesus Christ as an ambassador (Ephesians 6:20) in that he was speaking with Christ’s authority in every effort to restore individuals to a right relationship with God. In this same effort, all Christ’s followers are to serve as His ambassadors, bringing His message, doing His work and representing His kingdom to those who do not yet have a personal relationship with God. Christ has not left us His Spirit to guide and empower us for service (Acts 1:8).

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

Thank you for taking the time to read my Daily Devotion
Blessings,
Margarita & Stace

RECONCILED US TO HIMSELF / 2 CORINTHIANS 5:18-19

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) 2 Corinthians 5:18-19

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

¹⁹To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

RECONCILED US TO HIMSELF / 2 CORINTHIANS 5:18-19

Reconciliation (Greek katallage) is one part of Christ’s work of redemption (spiritual salvation, restoration, and renewal). To be reconciled to God means to be restored to a right relationship with Him.

The sin and rebellion of the human race have resulted in hostility toward God and separation from Him (Ephesians 2:3; Colossians 1:21). This rebellion brings God’s wrath – His justified anger – and judgment (Romans 1:18, 24-32; 1Corinthians 15:25-26; Ephesians 5:6). Our sin is so completely opposed to God’s perfect character that it required the most extreme penalty: death and eternal separation from God (Romans 5:12; 6:2).
Since we cannot earn or make our way to God through our own imperfect efforts (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5), God Himself chose to lovingly provide the perfect payment for our offenses against Him. He did so by sending His Son, Jesus (John 3:16), to pay our penalty and die in our place, bridging the gap between God and people (1 Peter 3:18). Through Christ’s atoning (sin-coving, forgiveness-providing) death, God has removed the barrier of sin and opened a way for the sinner to return to God (2 Corinthians 5:19; Romans 3:25; 5:10; Ephesians 2:15-16).
Reconciliation becomes effective for each person only through personal repentance (admitting and turning from sin, accepting God’s forgiveness, yielding one’s life to Christ, and surrendering to His purposes, Matthew 3:2). This is a step that must be taken by faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:22).
The church (all of Christ’s true followers) has been given the ministry of reconciliation – the opportunity and responsibility to spread Christ’s message and to help others be reconciled and restored to a right relationship with God (2 Corinthians 5:2; Romans 3:25).

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

Thank you for taking the time to read my Daily Devotion
Blessings,
Margarita & Stace

Guide By Grace Home

PUT HIM IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN / GENESIS 2:15

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) Genesis 2:15

And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.

PUT HIM IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN / GENESIS 2:15

God created the first man holy. He was pure and reserved for God’s purposes. He was free from sin and in perfect relationship with God. Adam was the peak of God’s creation and was given the responsibility of working under God’s direction. His work was to care for creation. This perfect relationship was lost when Adam and Eve disobeyed (Genesis 3:6, Genesis 3:14-19).

Bible Study Tools I Use

NIV Bible
King James Bible
www. biblegateway.com
www.biblestudytools.com
Map Pencils
College Ruled Spiral Notebook
Ballpoint Pens
Some links may be affiliated. By purchasing an item from an affiliate link, I receive a small commission – but you are not charged more or less by clicking or purchasing through the link. Thank you for supporting me!

Some of our Post That Might Interest You, All Out of the Current Book / Chapter

Thank you for taking the time to read my Daily Devotion
Blessings,
Margarita & Stace