sin

23
Apr
2024
Grace Abounds All the More

Grace Abounds All the More

Romans 5:20

“The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more.”

Challenge of Sin

Sin profoundly impacts everyone. It represents rebellion against God’s will, the violation of His holy law, and the corruption of His good creation.

Sin severs our connection with God’s love, exposing us to His wrath and judgment. It also damages our relationships with others and ourselves, leading to misery and death. Ultimately, sin lies at the root of all evil and suffering in the world.

Our own efforts and merits cannot free us from sin. We cannot flawlessly adhere to God’s law, nor can we erase our past transgressions.

Our sinful nature remains unchanged, and the power of sin overwhelms us. In our helpless state, we deserve God’s condemnation and punishment.

Precious Gift of Grace

Yet, in His boundless love and mercy, God provides an escape from sin and its consequences. He bestows upon us the gift of grace—an undeserved favor and kindness.

Grace is not something we earn; it is freely and generously given by God. It serves as the wellspring of our salvation, sanctification, forgiveness, transformation, peace, and joy.

The pinnacle of God’s grace is found in Jesus Christ, His Son and our Savior. Jesus entered our world as a human, lived a sinless life, and willingly died on the cross for our sins.

His resurrection conquered sin and death, offering us eternal life and reconciliation with God. Through Jesus, we can receive the Holy Spirit and His life-transforming Word, guiding and empowering us.

His unconditional love intercedes for us.

Response of Faith

  • How can we access this abundant grace?
  • How do we experience it?

The answer lies in faith. Faith involves trusting God’s promises, surrendering to His will, and obeying His commands. It justifies and sanctifies us, declaring us righteous and holy through God’s grace.

Faith is not a self-generated work; it is a divine gift. We humbly receive it, recognizing that boasting has no place.

Faith is our lifeline to God and His grace—a channel through which His abundant blessings flow into our lives.

Fruit of Joy

What happens when we embrace God’s grace through faith? Joy blossoms. This deep and lasting delight transcends circumstances, rooted in God’s goodness.

Joy evidences the work of the Holy Spirit, the reward of faith, and the ultimate goal of salvation. It fuels our service and witness, comforts us during trials, and directs praise and glory to our God and Savior.

Joy isn’t a mere feeling we manufacture; it’s a reality we discover. We don’t chase after it; we possess it. Joy overflows from God’s grace within us, radiating outward to bless others.

Remember this kids song . . . it’s not just for kids!

I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart
Where?
Down in my heart!
Where?
Down in my heart!
I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart
Down in my heart to stay

Chorus

And I’m so happy, so very happy
I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart
Down in my heart.
And I’m so happy, so very happy
I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart.

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“One Minute with God”

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration
09
Mar
2024
Clean Heart – Confident Faith

Clean Heart – Confident Faith

Invitation

“Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” – Hebrews 10:22 (NIV)

We receive a beautiful invitation to approach God with confidence, knowing that our hearts have been cleansed and purified by His grace.

Cleansing

The imagery used here is striking – our hearts are “sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience,” and our bodies are “washed with pure water.”

This speaks to the transformative power of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, which cleanses us from sin and guilt.

Assurance

But it’s not just about being cleansed – it’s also about having “the full assurance that faith brings.”

We can come before God with a sincere heart, confident in the knowledge that our faith has been made complete through Christ’s work on our behalf.

Nearness

And because of this cleansing and assurance, we are invited to “draw near to God.”

No longer do we have to stand at a distance, separated by our sin and guilt. Through Christ, we can approach the very throne of grace with boldness, knowing that we are accepted and welcomed by our Heavenly Father.

This is the beauty of the gospel – that we can have a clean heart, a confident faith, and a close relationship with the One who created us.

So draw near, with sincere heart and full assurance, to the God who loves you and has made a way for you to be reconciled to Him.

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“One Minute with God”

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Faith, Forgiveness, Holiness, Humility
08
Mar
2024
The Moment It All Changed

The Moment It All Changed

“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.” – Genesis 3:7 (NIV)

As we look into this verse, we see a pivotal moment in human history – the moment when sin entered the world.

Adam and Eve, who had once enjoyed perfect intimacy with God, now felt the weight of shame and guilt for the first time.

Consequence

Their eyes were opened, not to a deeper understanding of God’s love, but to their own nakedness and vulnerability.

Suddenly, they were aware of their flaws and shortcomings, and they tried to cover themselves with makeshift garments made from fig leaves.

The Separation

This act was a symbol of the separation that had occurred between them and their Creator. No longer could they walk in perfect harmony with God, as they had in the Garden.

A rift had been created, and they found themselves hiding from the very One who had breathed life into them.

The Hope

But even in this darkest of moments, God’s love shone through. He sought them out, not to condemn, but to offer a way back.

He promised that one day, a Savior would come and crush the head of the serpent – the one who had tempted them into sin.

Although the consequences of their sin were severe, God’s grace was greater still. He provided a way for them to be forgiven and reconciled to Him. And this same grace is available to us today, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

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“One Minute with God”

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Forgiveness
07
Mar
2024
Embracing Freedom: Living Under Grace

Embracing Freedom: Living Under Grace

“Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.” – Galatians 3:23 (NIV)

Imprisoned by the Law

Before the coming of Christ, we were held captive by the law – a system of rules and regulations that, while intended to guide us, ultimately became a prison of sorts.

The law exposed our inability to live up to its demands and left us feeling condemned, trapped in a cycle of sin and guilt.

Revelation of Faith

But then, something remarkable happened: the faith that was to come was revealed. Jesus, the Son of God, broke into our captivity and opened the way to freedom.

Through His life, death, and resurrection, He fulfilled the law and offered us a new way to live – a way of grace and faith.

Stepping into Freedom

Embracing this freedom is not a license to sin or to disregard God’s standards. Rather, it’s an invitation to step out of the prison of the law and into the wide-open spaces of God’s grace.

In Christ, we are no longer bound by the constant demand to measure up, but are empowered to live according to a new principle – the principle of love.

Living Under Grace

Living under grace means allowing the love of God to transform us from the inside out. It means resting in the security of our salvation, not by our own efforts but by the finished work of Christ.

As we lean into this grace, we find that our hearts are changed, and obedience becomes a natural expression of our love for God, not a burdensome duty.

Through Christ, we have been set free from the bondage of the law and invited into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

Embrace this freedom and live as those who are truly free, empowered by grace to love God and others with all your heart.

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“One Minute with God”

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration, Humility, Trust
03
Mar
2024
Putting Away All Malice

Putting Away All Malice

“But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.” (Colossians 3:8)

Examining Our Hearts

In his letter to the Colossians, Paul instructs believers to meticulously examine their hearts and cast off any sins that have taken root. Although we have been made new in Christ, vestiges of our old nature still rear their ugly heads.

As redeemed saints, we must be brutal in ripping out these sins from our lives. Paul lists several specific ones – unchecked anger, raging fury, spiteful malice, abusive speech.

Like persistent weeds, they can quickly overrun our souls if not eliminated.

Malice in Our Midst

Malice is an especially dangerous weed – its roots dig down deep into the soil of our inner being. It springs up slowly, often unnoticed, but silently chokes out the fruit God desires.

This bitter root produces resentment, jealousy, distrust, and hatred towards others.

Even fellow believers can become targets of our malice. We begin viewing them through suspicious eyes, questioning their motives.

We withdraw, murmur, divide. Unchecked, malice metastasizes, poisoning our fellowship. As God’s chosen ones, we must purge this evil from our midst.

Cultivating Clean Hearts

Eradicating malice requires brutal honesty and courage. We must allow the light of Christ to shine into the hidden crevices of our hearts, exposing malicious motives.

Repentance and forgiveness will wash away past offenses.

Moving forward, we must nurture hearts soft to the leading of the Spirit, quick to extend grace. As malice withers in fertile soil of love, joy and peace will blossom, enriching all our relationships.

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“One Minute with God”

Posted by onthesolidrock in Daily Inspiration