From Conception to death your life is important to your eternal significant. I am not sure how you view your life and how you connect to the purpose of God for your existences. But I want you to know of your importance to the LORD.
He was at your First Birth
Life begins at conception and The Living God gave you life, Psa 139:13 For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. Psa 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. Psa 139:15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Psa 139:16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. Psa 139:17 How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
Every Birth is a Divine Creation
"……. when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth." When you were formed in your mother's womb away from human eye and touch. It is God who gave you life. Jer 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.
For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. You have been made to differ from another and differ from any other of His creation. "Reins" is your mind and your heart. He did write the knowledge of Him in our being by which we know of Him today, Psalm 16:7 I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.
Before you could know Him, He cared for you and stamped His image of ownership on you, He is not an observer of your life He is your life.
His care for you before you could know Him shows you are a treasure unto Him.
Psa 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
He was at your Second Birth,
1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
There is a difference between temptations and trials. A trial is a test we face or a difficulty. It is something that causes us to suffer for Christ, such as religious persecution, Matthew 5:10-11, Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. And trials can take many different forms.
[1] A trial is allowed by God and many times ordained of God (ct. Job 1&2). ………. Trials originate outside us; temptation originate in us. The LORD does not send temptations. We are to flee temptations, Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
How are we to handle temptation? James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. The process: There is the thought of sin that lodges in your mind, you entertain the thought and then the act, then death v14,15) But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. There are different kinds of death and in this context, death is in the works of a Christian who has sinned. Such a one has dead works.
- We are tempted through our sinful nature, when he is drawn away of his own lust. You cannot blame your sin on others or the devil.
- Choose your circle of associations carefully. The devil cannot read your mind; only the LORD knows the thoughts and intent of the heart but satan does understand human nature. And will use people who know not the LORD to lead astray. The world the flesh and the devil do not tempt anyone but they provide the environment for the temptation,
- Let the LORD deliver you, 1Co_10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
- Do not tear down the barriers of God's protection: Church, The study of God's word, prayer, the family of God, your family, godly people.
I want to speak to the Christian who is caught in sin. One who is already living a defeated life. Whose question is simple: What about my sin?
Remember the Life God gave you, v 17-18 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
Sin gives birth to death, Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
But the LORD gives birth to us, Of his own will begat he us. "begat' He brought us forth. Of His own will – not your will – not by the will of man, if so, it would be flawed. [2] the new birth finds its source in God's will (of his own will) and its effected by the word of truth." 1 Peter 1:23
The New birth is the gift of God, Eternal life is the gift of God. You cannot separate eternal life from God and Christ John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. It is amazing that Eternal life consist in knowledge. And it is an ever present knowing, a continue knowing. He is always present with us.
I John 5:20, And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. This Christ Jesus is truly God
"And we know " = aware of - and hath given us an understanding, that we may know (so you can know Him personally) him that is true, 2 Cor. 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
We are reconciled by God: 2Co 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
Eternal Life came to us in His incarnation, 1 John 1:1-2. That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
God, in Christ reconciled you to Himself, 2Co 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 2Co 5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
You must believe for your self
It is necessary that you believe that God reconciled you to Himself. Jas 1:18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, …." (you are reconciled when you believe you are reconciled) If reconciliation has already taken place then why not count it true for you.
The message of life is the Promise He made to you, 1Jn 2:25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, eternal life. You receive life when you believe the promised of life. (i.e. 1 John 2:25)
Being fully persuaded that God will keep His promise, (to believe the promise and to believe in Christ are the same) your faith is counted for righteousness, (Romans 4: 22-24). You are justified by faith, Romans 5:1, Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (read Romans 4:18 – 5:2 without a chapter divide – Chapters are not the inspired word -)
To believe is simply this: to be convinced that He alone as the Saviour can give you eternal life. The LORD is not asking you to do anything but to believe His promise. He took your sin more than two thousand years ago on the cross, "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." As the Son of God, that did come into the World and finished the course set before Him, by the Father, He alone has the authority to give unto you Eternal Life and that is why He promised it to you. "And this is the promise that he hath promised us, eternal life" 1Jn2:25. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. John 6:47.
As a Christian you can and do sin.
So, in temptation I sinned: I failed God, myself, and others; now, what do I do?
- Remember you were saved unto good works and to live in good works, Eph. 2:10. Even as a believer you reap what you sow, Col. 3:23-25.
- Your life, after receiving eternal life from Christ, is how you are to show your love for Him. Rom. 12:1-2.
- Your life is your asset for which you are accountable, 2 Cor. 5:10, As one who is saved you will not stand in the congregation of the lost at the GWTJ. But will have your works evaluated by Christ 1 Cor. 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
- You are to confess the sin/sins (that is not just asking for forgiveness). Forgiveness is tied to the confession of our sins. 1 John 1:9" If we confess our sins….,"
- Receive the forgiveness promised you. "…. he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
- Be aware of the environment that led to your sin. Flee temptation! Avoid the environment that caused the temptation.
- Get involved in the discipline of reading and studying your Bible. It is the Word of God that renews our mind. Eph 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; Spirit of your mind is more than a change of opinion, not a superficial change, it changes the thought process. It changes how you see things. (4:17-24). You put on the new man by the renewing of the spirit of your mind.
- Be faithful to Church in worship the LORD. Remember it is His command. Your Church family is important to your life.
- Be involved in a class of Bible Study.
- Daily cleansing of our life by the word, by confession of and forsaking sinful practices will keep you in fellowship and a spirit of worship will stay in your minds.
- The Word will remind you that the hope set before you is the Crown of Life, Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Today is an Eternal moment in our life: we have met in worship of our Great God and Saviour and He has met with us. He has examined our hearts and pointed to the issues in our life; you can respond as Pilate and wash your hands of Him or you can humble yourself before Him.
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