“He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God… because for this purpose I have been sent.”
~ Luke 4:43
“The whole of the preaching of Jesus Christ and His apostles is concerned with the kingdom of God.”
~ Herman Ridderbos
Tag: Jesus Christ
A Second Adam
“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.”
~ 1 Corinthians 15:22
“The Christ of God was not then first crucified when the Jews brought Him to the Cross; but Adam and Eve were His first real murderers; for the death which happened to them in the day when they did eat of the earthly tree was the death of the Christ of God or the divine life in their souls. For Christ had never come into the world as a second Adam to redeem it, had He not been originally the life and perfection and glory of the first Adam.”
~ William Law
Holy Power
“You shall receive power…”
~ Acts 1:8 (NKJV)
The Christian life is lived out in the power ‘δύναμις‘ of God. Namely, this power is the inner presence of the Holy Spirit. The believer who seeks to live a spiritual life by natural means will find himself weak and ill-equipped for such an undertaking. Therefore, through the enabling gift, strength and ability of the Spirit, we can live unto the Lord by the power He grants. This is power to endure trials, power over sin, power for ministry, power to worship, power to bear forth fruits of the Spirit, power to boldly witness for Christ and His Church. Let us then live by faith in a strong Savior that has sent His people such wonderful, gracious and holy power.
~ apl
A Word of Thanks
Speaking of expecting great things (see my previous post), I have reached over 200 followers here on my site. I want to thank everyone who reads my posts for taking time to consider what is offered here, and I sincerely pray you find what you read to richly bless your spirit and bring you nearer in faith to our merciful God. I am humbled and praise God for the privilege of reaching others with His Word and the grace and hope of our Lord Jesus Christ.
~ apl
Christ, Our Door
“I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture”
~ John 10:9
Jesus Christ is the door, the only door by which we will ever see God. I am the door, Jesus declares, if anyone enter by Me, he will be saved. Jesus Christ is truly the exclusive way, the only way, into God’s presence. Christ is the Door. “I am the door.” Consider this with me, there was only one door into the ark in which Noah and his family found shelter from the flood. There was only one door into the Tabernacle, which was Yahweh’s dwelling-place.
So today there is only one “door” into the presence of the Father – “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven, given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). And again, “I am the way,” said Christ. “No man cometh unto the Father but by me” (John 14:6). The Lord Jesus is the true door that allows sinners entrance into the presence and grace of God the Father and find His pasture (Ps. 23:2).
~ apl
Saved By Works
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”
~ Matthew 5:17
I wonder if my title grabbed your attention? Bible-believing Christians know that we are saved by grace through faith, not by our works. Yet, the catch is, I’m not talking about our works – I’m speaking to the perfect work of the Lord Jesus Christ. That’s right. It is by believing in His works we are saved. I hope you understand beloved how important, how imperative, how essential it is we affirm, as followers of Christ, salvation by works. Again, not by our own worthless works, but by the perfect work of Jesus Christ in fulfilling the Law of God. That Christ did what we cannot do. He kept the high standard of God’s holy law, something Adam nor any of his descendants did or can do in our own strength. Jesus did not run from the Law of God. He did not try to minimize the Law. He did not try to plead ignorance to the Law. No. Jesus boldly embraced, obeyed and perfectly fulfilled the Law of God on the behalf of His people. Praise His name!
~ apl
Don’t Settle In Egypt!
“Now the Israelites settled in Egypt…”
~ Genesis 47:27
If Israel is representative of God’s people, certainly Egypt represents bondage, suffering and sin. For 400 years God’s people languished in Egypt under the heavy hand of Pharaoh’s rule. It was there God’s people began to worship evil idols and false gods. And it wasn’t until God sent His deliverer that His people were set free. May Christians today never settle in their sins. May we never grow comfortable in the chains of iniquity. But may we always look in faith to our freedom from sin in Jesus Christ, our hope and Deliverer.
~ apl
The Bible, The Believer’s Ship
The Bible could be likened to the Believer’s ship:
It’s cover is like the hull which contains the whole.
It’s binder then is like the mast which holds it upright and together.
It’s pages are like the sails which catch the Spirit’s blowing.
It’s words are like our rudder which guide us to peaceful seas.
It’s Author, our Compass who shows us the way.
It’s Christ, our Captain who steers us to glory.
~ apl
All or None!
“It is either all of Christ or none of Christ! I believe we need to preach again a whole Christ to the world – a Christ who does not need our apologies, a Christ who will not be divided, a Christ who will either be Lord of all or will not be Lord at all!”
~ A.W. Tozer
“For I am determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”
~ 1 Corinthians 2:2
Prayer Life Pause: Heavenly Father, help make Your Son, my Savior, my all in all. May nothing hinder my love, gratitude and devotion to Christ! In Jesus. name, amen.
Inasmuch As You Do
“Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me”
~ Matthew 25:40b
Jesus teaches His followers a very valuable lesson in these few words taken from Matthew’s Gospel. His lesson is this: The love, mercy and compassion we show to the least of those in this world who belong to Him, His brethren, is as if we are doing it unto Jesus Himself. Our Lord so identifies with us, that we when we serve one another, it is as if we are personally serving Him. Do we look at our charity, compassion and care for our fellow saints in this light? Does the knowledge that loving and serving the Body of Christ is as if we are loving and serving Him increase your motivation to labor in His kingdom? My prayer is the least of these know Christ’s love because it is seen and felt through you. Amen.
~ apl
A Prayer Life 