Jesus Came Into the World to Save Sinners Like Me

Scripture: 1 Timothy 1: 12-15

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Scripture Commentary: We are all sinners saved by grace

Paul wrote this letter to Timothy saying that he was a sinner, a blasphemer, a hunter of God’s people, and a murderer. We are all sinners.

When you look at Paul’s past and see how God forgave and used him, think of yourself -and ask God to forgive you, and to use you for His kingdom.

No matter how shameful your past, God can and will use you if you ask for his forgiveness. Do not feel that your faith in Christ is inadequate. Once you place yourself in His hands, He will help your faith and love grow.

Jesus’s purpose for coming into the world was to save sinners like us. No sinner is beyond His saving power.

Paul never forgot what he was before Christ saved him. Do you remember what you were like? Humility and gratitutde should mark your life as a christian. Never forget that you are a sinner saved by grace.

Read the Entire Chapter:
1 Timothy Chapter 1

Seek Christ Above All Things

Scripture: Colossians 3: 1-5

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Scripture Commentary: What will you say when you stand before Christ?

We are a very weak group of people because we have so many things to distract us. Satan is a powerful foe. He puts distractions in our path so we go astray. The lottery, casinos, money – all of the things that if you have Christ in your life, you do not need.

If you think about it, the Lord Jesus Christ has given you a roof over your head, food on the table and clothes on your back. Anything else is greed, not need. Forget about the temporary things of this world and focus on the permanent life with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Consider the pharaohs who buried their treasure to take with them to the afterlife. It is still here.

The question is what are you taking to God? Are you studying His Word, spreading His Word, living His Word?

The things that you have – home, car, clothes, and money are not needed in God’s house. What are you going to say when you stand before Our Lord Jesus Christ? Hopefully you’ll say, “I served you!”

Read the Entire Chapter:
Colossians Chapter 3

Be Strengthened in the Faith as You Were Taught

Scripture: Colossians 2: 6-8 (NIV)

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.

Scripture Commentary: Be strengthened by your faith in Christ

Receiving Christ as Lord of your life is the beginning of life with Christ; however, you must follow his leadership by being rooted, built up, and strengthened in the faith.

Christ wants to guide and help you with your daily problems. You can live for Christ by: (1) committing your life and submitting your will to him; (2) seeking to learn from him, his life, and his teachings; and (3) recognizing the Holy Spirit’s power in you.

Just as plants draw nourishment from the soil through the roots, so we draw our life-giving strength from Christ. The more we draw our strength from him, the less we will be fooled by those who falsely claim to have life’s answers.

Many man-made approaches to life’s problems totally disregard God. To resist heresy, you must use your mind, keep your eyes on Christ, and study God’s Word.

If Christ is your strength, you will be free from human regulations. He will always bring you through any situation, good or bad.

His love makes the bad good. That is how you learn.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Colossians Chapter 2

It Is by Grace That You Are Saved

Scripture: Ephesians 2: 1, 3, 8-9

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;(1) Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.(3) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:(8) Not of works, lest any man should boast.(9)

Scripture Commentary: By grace you are saved – it is a gift of God

Be thankful to God for having mercy on you and for saving you from the life you were living before. Be thankful that by grace you are saved through faith in Jesus Christ.

Did you, or do you thank Him?

We go about our everyday lives, sometimes not realizing where we have come from. Some of us were in Satan’s hands, living his lifestyle, and then Jesus Christ rescued us. Have you ever thought why?

If you have, then the question is, what are you doing with this new life that Christ has given you? God gave His son for you and I. What are you giving?

We go about our daily lives – we go to work, church, grocery shopping, and visiting with friends, etc. Are we helping others to come to Him when we do these things?

Christ destroyed the barriers that people build between themselves, and now we can have real unity with people who do not know the Lord. Tell your story to others about how Jesus Christ has change your life, about the light that shines in you. Because of His love we are saved, but now we must serve in His name.

When He saved you, your spirit became lighter, happier. When you serve Him, you will be complete.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Ephesians Chapter 2

Depend on God in Your Weakness

Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12: 7-9

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Scripture Commentary: God’s strength is made perfect in my weakness when I depend on him

Do you let your thorns, your weakness, rest with the Lord? Or do you try to remove them yourself?

Paul tells us he asked our Lord to remove his, but God did not. God gave him the strength to do His works. God was showing Paul that with God by his side he could do all things.

We need this weakness in ourselves in order to feel the power of Christ at work inside of us. When we are strong in abilities and resources, we are tempted to do God’s work on our own. This leads to pride.

When we are weak we allow God to fill us with His power. We become stronger than we could ever be on our own. God doesn’t intend for us to seek weakness and ineffectiveness. Life provides enough obstacles without us creating them. He expects us to depend on him when those obstacles come into play.

Dependence on God lets us know He is the powerful one, not us.

Read the Entire Chapter:
2 Corinthians Chapter 12

The Promise of His Coming

Scripture: 2 Peter 3: 3-4, 8

Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, And saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the father fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” (3, 4) But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is a thousand years, and a thousand years is one day.(8)

Scripture Commentary: We have the promise of His coming

What are you afraid of? If this world was to end today, this second, why would you be afraid? Only those who do not know our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will have fear. Be assured of his coming. Those who have Christ in their life, who live for Him, have no fear.

Neither Man nor woman know God’s timetable, only He knows. We are to live for God everyday of our lives, and do His work everyday while we are here on earth.

When the day comes that you are not here, or can not do the work of our Lord, that can be your last day. What will you say when He asks, “What have you done in my name?”

Do not fall asleep without working to spread his Word to others. These are our last days, and this is the time between Christ’s first and second coming. Thus we, like Peter, are living in the last days. Be ready to meet our Lord Jesus Christ anytime, even today. If you serve Him, you will meet Him.

Read the Entire Chapter:
2 Peter Chapter 3

Live By the Faith of the God Who Loves You

Scripture: Galatians 2: 19-21

For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Scripture Commentary: Live by the faith of the Son of God, not by your own efforts

Obedience to God’s laws alone cannot save you. Sin is an everlasting epidemic. It plagues us all and prevents anyone from keeping God’s laws perfectly. You must “live by the faith of the Son of God,” as it says in Galatians 2: 20.

God has provided a way of salvation that depends on Jesus Christ, not on your own efforts. Accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior brings salvation in his crucifixion. In such salvation you will rise from the dead and be freed from sin.

This new life gives you the power to fight sin. You must guard against the temptation of using service, good deeds, charitable giving, and any other earthly effort as a substitute for faith. You cannot earn God’s favor. Believing in your own ability means you don’t fully trust in what Christ did on the cross.

By struggling to appropriate God’s power to change you (sanctification), you are not resting in God’s power to save you (justification). If deeds were the key to salvation, Jesus’ crucifixion would not have been unnecessary. He died on the cross to save you from yourself and gift to you salvation.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Galatians Chapter 2

Worship the Creator, The One True God

Scripture: Romans 1: 21-22,25

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him, not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.(21-22) Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.(25)

Scripture Commentary: Creator vs. Creature: Who are you worshipping?

Are you worshipping God, our creator, or idols of your own making? Do you make up your own ideas of what your god should be and do; so your greed, hatred, envy, gossip and strife can manifest in your mind? This manifestation will grow to a point where you hate God and encourage others to follow your example.

God does not cause this steady decline toward evil. He gives you a choice. God permits you to experience the natural consequences of your sin. In worshipping the god you make, you are misrepresenting the One True God.

The True God is the first in your life. He will not lie or mislead you. We sinners must trust Christ alone to put us on the right path. When we worship the creature instead of the creator, we lose sight of our identity as followers of Jesus Christ, Our Creator.

Does life without God look like freedom to you? Freedom is having our Lord Jesus Christ in your life every step of the way.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Romans Chapter 1

God is the Foundation

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 3: 1, 9, 11, 16

And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.(1) For we are labourers together with God: ye are God’s husbandry, ye are God’s building.(9) For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.(11) Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?(16)

Scripture Commentary: The Gospel of Christ is the foundation leading to the promise of eternal life

The beginning of our Christian life was infantile. We quarreled like children and acted immature. We are still that immature child. If you have not accepted God fully in your life, to the point that Jesus is your way of living, then you are a child in God’s eye.

Jesus is the foundation. Accept his watering Spirit and you will feel your spirit grow in His love for you. Everything we are and do must fit into the pattern provided by God. The Gospel is the foundation. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the promise of eternal life.

We are not victims of nonbelievers who fear death. We hold no terrors because Christ has conquered all fears. We must do what God tells us to do in the Bible and through his Holy Spirit each and every day. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior then you have no fear in your life.

Read the Entire Chapter:
1 Corinthians Chapter 3

You Cannot Please God Without Faith

Scripture: Hebrews 11: 1, 6

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.(1) But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.(6)

Hebrews 11: 1,6

Commentary: Faith means trusting God for what he will do for you … without faith it is impossible to please him

Faith, belief; trust; confidence; and conviction are words, that are meaningless if what you say and do are not in God’s way of living. Believing in the existence of God is only the beginning.

Noah and Abraham’s life were filled with faith in God. At God’s command they obeyed what he told them to do without any questions. Do you listen when God tells you to do something?

God wants a personal, dynamic, responsive, relationship with you that will transform your life. Faith means resting in what Christ has done for you in the past. It also means trusting him for what he will do for you in both the present and future.

Acts 17:29 says, “Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.”

Remember God is the creator of all of us, not the creation. God is sovereign and in control, and having faith in him is trusting in him.

God has faith in you. Accept his salvation. Have faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Read the Entire Chapter:
Hebrews Chapter 11
Acts Chapter 17