rachel
11-14-2007, 07:07 PM
We have seen that being discipled is a life-long process which begins
prior
to Salvation with a clear presentation of the gospel and continues all
the
rest of our days. As Jesus was talking with Nicodemus, He began the
process
of discipleship by giving clear instruction on belief and eternal life.
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that
whoever
believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."
The moment we truly believe, our heart is transformed and we are given
the
gift of eternal life; "It is by grace you have been saved, through
faith"
(Ephesians 2:8). However, we need to consider what Jesus meant when He
said, "whoever believes in Him." The prior verses help yield a better
understanding; "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the
Son
of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have
eternal life" (John 3:14-15).
When Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt, they soon began to
complain: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the
desert?
There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable
food!"
(Numbers 21:5). God punished the people for this sin by sending
poisonous
snakes. Many began to die from snake bites, so they went to Moses and
said: "We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray
that
the Lord will take the snakes away from us" (Numbers 21:7).
Moses prayed and God replied: "Make a snake and put it up on a pole;
anyone
who is bitten can look at it and live" (Numbers 21:8). To be saved
from
the snakes, the people had to recognize their sin, repent of their sin,
and
understand death was certain without God's intervention. They then had
to
believe God's Word and act in faith; "Look at the snake and you will
live."
Our Salvation "process" is the same today. We have all been snake-bit
by
sin! We must recognize our sin (Romans 3:23), desire to turn away from
our
sin (repentance), and understand eternal death is certain without God's
intervention (Romans 6:23). We must then believe God's Word: "God
presented Him {Jesus} as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His
blood" (Romans 3:25). His sacrifice paid the penalty for our
sins! "Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins"
(Acts
10:43). We must believe the sacrifice of Jesus is sufficient for
complete
forgiveness and then act on that belief by submitting our life into His
hands, trusting in Him and Him alone!
God gave us His Son, that whoever, by faith, enters through the gate of
forgiveness - whoever "believes in Him" - will not perish but receive
the
gift of eternal life.
Have a Christ Centered Day!
Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries
************************************************** ***
Archive of previous devotions : http://www.gdwm.org/archive07.htm
Subscribe/Unsubscribe by email to closerwalk@gdwm.org
Subscribe via web: http://www.gdwm.org/subscribe.htm
prior
to Salvation with a clear presentation of the gospel and continues all
the
rest of our days. As Jesus was talking with Nicodemus, He began the
process
of discipleship by giving clear instruction on belief and eternal life.
John 3:16
"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that
whoever
believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."
The moment we truly believe, our heart is transformed and we are given
the
gift of eternal life; "It is by grace you have been saved, through
faith"
(Ephesians 2:8). However, we need to consider what Jesus meant when He
said, "whoever believes in Him." The prior verses help yield a better
understanding; "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the
Son
of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have
eternal life" (John 3:14-15).
When Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt, they soon began to
complain: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the
desert?
There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable
food!"
(Numbers 21:5). God punished the people for this sin by sending
poisonous
snakes. Many began to die from snake bites, so they went to Moses and
said: "We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray
that
the Lord will take the snakes away from us" (Numbers 21:7).
Moses prayed and God replied: "Make a snake and put it up on a pole;
anyone
who is bitten can look at it and live" (Numbers 21:8). To be saved
from
the snakes, the people had to recognize their sin, repent of their sin,
and
understand death was certain without God's intervention. They then had
to
believe God's Word and act in faith; "Look at the snake and you will
live."
Our Salvation "process" is the same today. We have all been snake-bit
by
sin! We must recognize our sin (Romans 3:23), desire to turn away from
our
sin (repentance), and understand eternal death is certain without God's
intervention (Romans 6:23). We must then believe God's Word: "God
presented Him {Jesus} as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His
blood" (Romans 3:25). His sacrifice paid the penalty for our
sins! "Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins"
(Acts
10:43). We must believe the sacrifice of Jesus is sufficient for
complete
forgiveness and then act on that belief by submitting our life into His
hands, trusting in Him and Him alone!
God gave us His Son, that whoever, by faith, enters through the gate of
forgiveness - whoever "believes in Him" - will not perish but receive
the
gift of eternal life.
Have a Christ Centered Day!
Steve Troxel
God's Daily Word Ministries
************************************************** ***
Archive of previous devotions : http://www.gdwm.org/archive07.htm
Subscribe/Unsubscribe by email to closerwalk@gdwm.org
Subscribe via web: http://www.gdwm.org/subscribe.htm