You Can’t Buy Salvation – It’s a Gift of God

Scripture: Acts: 8: 17-20

Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the Apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Scripture Commentary: Jesus Christ is the gift of God; he paid the price for our salvation

Do you think that you, like Simon, can buy your way to heaven and God’s heart? Jesus Christ paid for the way to His Father. He paid the price to save us. Jesus died on the cross. He rose in three days with all the glory and ascended to heaven.

Do not think because everything on earth has a price that God also has a price that you can pay. You cannot pay the price to be with God by working hard and doing good things. Accepting Jesus Christ as your savior is the only way, and by doing this you will live the life God has prepared for you.

Do not think like Simon that you can buy the power of the Holy Ghost. No amount of money can buy salvation, forgiveness of sin, or God’s power.

Learn from Simon and his reaction (in verse 24) to what Peter told him. He said, “Pray to the Lord for me…”

Read the Entire Chapter:
Acts Chapter 8

I Can Do All Things Through Christ

Scripture: Philippians 4:19-20, 23

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. A-men!(19-20) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.(20)

(To thePhilippians written from Rome, by Epaphroditus.)

Scripture Commentary: You have everything you need – you can do anything through Christ

You can do anything Christ-like through God. However, this doesn’t mean superhuman ability to accomplish anything we can imagine without regard for our fellow man.

The power God has given you is sufficient to do his will and to face the challenges that will arise in doing his work. Be like Paul and be content and God will show you the way. Be focused on what you are supposed to do, not what you feel you should do.

Paul had his priorities straight, and he was grateful, because he followed God’s teachings. Detach yourself from worldly things, so you can concentrate on God as he directs your path. We can trust that God will always meet our needs.

Whatever we need on earth he will always supply, even if it is the courage to face death. By trusting in Christ our attitudes and appetites can change from wanting everything to accepting his provisions and power to live for him. We can live confidently for him because we have “the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ” with us.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Philippians Chapter 4

The Productive Branch Bears Fruit

Scripture: John 15: 1-4

I AM the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

Scripture Commentary: God prunes the branch so that it bears great fruit

Are we carrying old, ungodly material with us (i.e., things that we know we should have put out of our lives a long time ago)? Be honest with yourself and let Jesus purge those things so that you can be fruitful for God. When you let go, you will become a fruitful, and not an unproductive, branch.

Jesus will cut away the unproductive parts so the productive parts can carry his Word. Do not be the part that has to be cut off and burned in the fire.

We are not perfect. God sometimes disciplines us to strengthen our character and faith, so the part of us that is infected would not infect the whole body. We will come across blockers In our walk who will try to stop us from living out God’s Word.

Remember Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to comfort us, to teach us and to show us the way.

Read the Entire Chapter:
John Chapter 15

Do Not Continue in Sin – You Have Been Set Free

Scripture: Romans 6: 1, 12, 14, 18, 22

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?(1) Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye shall obey it in the lusts thereof.(12) For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.(14) Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.(18) But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.(22)

Scripture Commentary: Do not continue in sin; put your life in the Lord’s hands

Now that our Lord Jesus Christ has removed the shackles of death and sin from you, how does it feel? If you do not know, then you are still living your old sinful life. Do not continue in sin.

If you think because you were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ that you are one of his, but you still live your old life, you are wrong. The body we inherited from Adam is the rebellious, sin-loving body. Let that sin-loving body go.

Set yourself free to do God’s work by letting your old sinful nature die once and for all. Let the Spirit of God grow in you and let the weak flesh melt away.

Through faith in Jesus Christ, you are acquitted. Put your life in His Hands and you will no longer be a slave to sin. If you truly do this you are now resurrected into a new life with Christ and have an unbroken fellowship with God, and freedom from sin’s hold on you.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Romans Chapter 6

God Has Prepared Great Things For You

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 2: 9-12

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

Scripture Commentary: God has prepared a wonderful and eternal future for his children

We cannot imagine all that God has in store for us, both in this life and for eternity. God’s “secret wisdom, that has been hidden” was his offer of salvation to all people when Jesus rose from the dead.

His resurrection proved that he had power over sin and death. He will create a new heaven and a new earth and we will live with him forever. Until then, his Holy Spirit comforts and guides us.

Knowing the wonderful and eternal future that awaits us gives us hope and courage to press on in this life, to endure hardship, and to avoid giving in to Satan’s temptations. Those who believe in Christ’s death and resurrection and put their faith in him will know all they need to know to be saved. This knowledge, however, can’t be grasped by even the wisest people unless they accept God’s message.

This world is not all there is. All who reject God’s message are foolish, no matter how wise the world thinks they are.

The best is yet to come.

Read the Entire Chapter:
1 Corinthians Chapter 2

The Righteous Will Live by Faith

Scripture: Galatians 3: 10-14

All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.” The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.

Scripture Commentary: Live by faith

Paul quoted Deuteronomy 27:26 to prove that contrary to what the Judaizers claimed, the law cannot justify and save, it can only condemn. Breaking even one commandment brings a person under condemnation. And because everyone has broken commandments, everyone stands condemned. We are to live by faith in Christ to be saved.

The law can do nothing to reverse the condemnation. But Christ took the curse of the law upon himself when he hung on the cross. He did this so we wouldn’t have to bear our own punishment. The only condition is that we accept Christ’s death on our behalf as the means to be saved.

Trying to be right with God by our own effort doesn’t work. Good intentions such as “I’ll do better next time” or “I’ll never do that again” usually end in failure.

God has kept his promise, he has not revoked it, though thousands of years have passed. Circumstances may change, but God remains constant and does not break his promises.

He has promised to forgive our sins through Jesus Christ, and He has done so.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Galatians Chapter 3

Also Referenced:
Deuteronomy Chapter 27

Christ is the True Vine

Scripture: John 15: 1-5

I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, and ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Scripture Commentary: Be close to Jesus like a branch to a vine

Is God pruning you? What kind of fruit are you producing? Many people try to be good honest people who do what is right. You live a truly good life by staying close to Jesus Christ, like a branch attached to the vine. Jesus Christ is the vine, and God is the gardener who cares for the branches to make them fruitful.

We are the branches. The fruitful branches are true believers who, by their living union with Jesus Christ, produce much fruit. The unproductive branches are people who turn back from following Jesus after making a superficial commitment. God will separate them from himself. The unproductive followers are as good as dead because they follow themselves. God cuts them off and tosses them aside.

Jesus Christ makes a distinction between two kinds of pruning, separating and cutting back branches. God cuts back our fruitful branches to promote growth; discipline strengthens our faith. God cuts off others because they are worthless and they infect the rest of the vine.

Are you pruned? Or are you being cut off?

Read the Entire Chapter:
John Chapter 15