Verse of the Day
Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of .
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Grace and Reward
Because of sin (Rom. 3:23), God has confined all of mankind under the penalty of death (Rom. 6:23). Under this penalty, one lives apart from a relationship with God and is a child of wrath (Eph. 2:1-3). At the judgment, God will execute the penalty of death on all who have not had it removed (2 Th. 1:6-9). Apart from paying it oneself (not advisable), this penalty may be removed through a substitute, one who has never sinned and is not under the penalty of death. Jesus Christ was without sin (2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 4:15; 1 Jn. 3:5) and willingly died to pay the penalty for the sins of all mankind (1 Cor. 15:3; 1 Pt. 2:24). Jesus then was raised from the dead demonstrating that His payment had satisfied the wrath of God (1 Cor. 15:4; Acts 2:24). For those who receive Jesus as their substitute, God will view them as having already died (2 Cor. 5:14; Col. 3:3). They are free from the penalty of eternal death, and God instead gives them eternal life. Eternal life is a gift that cannot be earned by being good; God graciously gives it to all who believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior (Eph. 2:8-9; Jn. 3:16). All who receive this gift enter into a new life (John 10:10). They are new creations (2 Cor. 5:17) who have become children of God, have been joined to His family the church (Jn. 1:12; Eph. 2:19) and have been forgiven of all their sins (Acts 10:42-43). As God's children, they are qualified to receive an inheritance from Him (Col. 1:12; 1 Pet. 1:3-5) and reign with His Son Jesus Christ (2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 5:10) in the kingdom which He will establish when He returns to judge the world (Dan. 7:13-14; Mt. 16:27). His kingdom will bring world-wide peace and prosperity as well as an end to disease, disasters, and confusion about God (Is. 2:1-4; 11:1-9, 35:1-10). In light of this awesome privilege, God calls His children to live no longer for themselves (2 Cor. 5:15; Rom. 14:7-9). Just as they received Christ by faith, they are to continue hearing and believing the word of God (Luke 8:8), the Bible, so that they might live in the way of God (Rom. 12:2; Eph. 5:10). And even though they might stumble and sin, Jesus Himself is presently in the heavens interceding on their behalf to provide on-going cleansing and forgiveness of sins (1 Jn. 1:9). Until He returns, the church is to continue His work of bringing people into the family of God (Mt. 28:18-20; 2 Cor. 5:18-20) and teaching them to walk in His ways. To accomplish this task, Jesus empowers His followers through the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:4; Acts 2:1-4) to obey God's will and manifest the kingdom of heaven by casting out demons and healing the sick (Mk. 16:16-18). Those who walk worthy of this calling shall receive an inheritance (1 Pet. 1:4-7) in the kingdom. Unfortunately, not all of God's children will receive an inheritance, for the inheritance is a reward (Col. 3:23) for those who persevere in the faith and live their whole lives for God (2 Tm. 4:6-8). The Bible describes the condition for receiving the inheritance as having faith and patience (Heb. 6:11-12), enduring to the end (Mt. 10:22), overcoming (Rev. 2:26), and continuing in the faith (Col. 1:21-23). Those who fall away from the faith, who stop hearing and obeying God's word (Jam. 1:22), shall be disqualified for the inheritance (1 Cor. 9:24-27; Gal. 5:19-21). All of God's children shall appear before the judgment seat of Christ and give an account of their lives (2 Cor. 5:9-10). Those who live by faith shall receive their reward. Those who walk away from God and return to their old lifestyle, fulfilling their own desires and ignoring God's, shall forfeit their inheritance (1 Cor. 3:14-15; 2 Jn. 1:8).
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C.H. Spurgeon's Morning Devotional "Sanctify them through Thy truth."-John 17:17
Sanctification begins in regeneration. The Spirit of God infuses into man that new living principle by which he becomes "a new creature" in Christ Jesus. This work, which begins in the new birth, is carried on in two ways-mortification, whereby the lusts of the flesh are subdued and kept under; and vivification, by which the life which God has put within us is made to be a well of water springing up unto everlasting life. This is carried on every day in what is called "perseverance," by which the Christian is preserved and continued in a gracious state, and is made to abound in good works unto the praise and glory of God; and it culminates or comes to perfection, in "glory," when the soul, being thoroughly purged, is caught up to dwell with holy beings at the right hand of the Majesty on high. But while the Spirit of God is thus the author of sanctification, yet there is a visible agency employed which must not be forgotten. "Sanctify them," said Jesus, "through thy truth: thy word is truth." The passages of Scripture which prove that the instrument of our sanctification is the Word of God are very many. The Spirit of God brings to our minds the precepts and doctrines of truth, and applies them with power. These are heard in the ear, and being received in the heart, they work in us to will and to do of God's good pleasure. The truth is the sanctifier, and if we do not hear or read the truth, we shall not grow in sanctification. We only progress in sound living as we progress in sound understanding. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Do not say of any error, "It is a mere matter of opinion." No man indulges an error of judgment, without sooner or later tolerating an error in practice. Hold fast the truth, for by so holding the truth shall you be sanctified by the Spirit of God.
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