Do Not Depart

Encouragement and Tools to Abide in God's Word

You are here: Home / Archives for Salvation

Counting for Eternity

by 4 Comments

All this week, the Scripture Dig team – minus Teri Lynne – will be sharing our favorite “Teri Lynne” blogs from her personal site with you.

Last Saturday I spoke at a women’s conference on the importance of leaving a legacy that will impact eternity. So when I read Teri Lynne’s blog “Counting for Eternity,” I felt like we were on the same wave length. Read on to discover what truly does “count for eternity!”

“When life comes down to the bottom line, I want mine to have counted for all eternity.”
unknown

How does this happen?  What steps do we take to make our lives count for eternity?

I know this … it’s not by chance or happenstance.  It’s a purposeful decision, a dedicated choice made consistently out of obedience.  What counts for eternity?

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heave, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.   Matthew 6:19-21, NIV

So what counts for eternity? Not things like gold (which is just heavenly asphalt) nor mansions (which will be the homes for all), not the clothes (for we will all be clad in white linen, brides dressed for our Bridegroom) nor jewelry (which will be the stones of which the gates are made) … nothing like food or furniture which can easily be destroyed nor electronics which thieves can steal … no the treasure in heaven is US. People … the precious commodity of heaven … lives, broken and wounded, but restored and healed by the blood of Christ.

If we truly desire to make our lives count for eternity then our lives must be marked by bringing along others … purposeful, intentional sharing of the Gospel. Following the example of Christ and going where the need is greatest. If our only mission field is our home and our church, we have failed! We must leave the safety of Jerusalem, the comfort of Judea … moving into the hostility of Samaria … and even into the darkness that is the rest of the world.

And so I wonder, when was the last time YOU shared the gospel truth? When was the last time you left the safety of the familiar and ventured out into the darkness of those in desperate need?  For I am convinced that our love for Christ, our passion for Him, is never a safe thing … and our following of Him was never intended to be only shown in our homes. We are called to GO … and as we GO, to SHARE.  We teach our children best what the disciple’s life is when we take them with us to the poor and oppressed, when we show them compassion for those who are dirty and sick, when we visit the lonely and jailed.

Then the King will say to those on his rights, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the Kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.  For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”

Then the righteous will answer Him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  when did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?”

Then the King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did to the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:34-40, NIV

Powerful statements … what are you doing to store up treasure in heaven? Is your life marked by sacrificial giving of your time, your energy, your resources … beyond your home?  When was the last time you purposefully shared the life-giving, life-changing truth of the Gospel of Christ with someone?  Is that a priority in your life?  

We are called to live beyond ourselves, beyond our family … teaching our children as we go, not as we stay locked away in the safety of our homes, but as we go into a world that is truly dark and dying.  If we believe that hell is real and that Christ is the only answer, the only way … why are we not doing everything we can?

How are you reaching out and purposing your life to count for eternity?

Grace in the past-tense

by 8 Comments

There are some things I’d prefer to not have in past-tense…

such as, “when I didn’t have gray hair and stretch marks.”

But in Jesus Christ, past-tense is a profound treasure. Past-tense is our hope.

And you weredead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, followingthe prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work inthe sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the bodyand the mind, andwere by naturechildren of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

ButGod, beingrich in mercy,because of the great love with which he loved us,evenwhen we were dead in our trespasses,made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved…

Ephesians 2:1-5 (ESV)

On our own, we were absolutely without hope.

We were dead in our sin – because of that fateful day in the Garden, we were born dead in our sins. And we chose to continue walking in our sin, day by day living in blind rebellion against God. We aligned ourselves with His enemy, we lived to gratify our desires. We were children of wrath, deserving His judgment and facing God’s certain wrath against each and every one of our many sins.

But God.

But God chose to extend His mercy to us. We could not earn it – He offered it to us when we were dead and rebellious.

But God loved us with a great and inexplicable love. We could not earn it – He lavished it upon us when we were far from loving Him.

But God took us out of our chosen darkness and brought us into His glorious light. We could not earn it – we were actively following the evil one.

But God took us when we were dead and brought us to life. We could not earn it – we were spiritually dead and could do nothing good in and of ourselves.

But God turned us from children of wrath to His own chosen heirs. We could not earn it – He simply chose to us as His own.

When we accept what is offered to us in Christ, our dark, ugly, painful, rebellious past is… past-tense.

This is grace, dear friends. We bring nothing to the table. Nothing that would make us acceptable, lovable, worthy of His affection. He chose to lavish us with His mercy and grace and love – and puts our past in the past-tense.

Praise Him for turning your life upside down! [If you’re reading via email or a reader and the video below does not appear, please click through! It’s two minutes well spent!]

More than a still life

by 4 Comments

A “still life” is an artist’s rendering of inanimate objects, such as a painting of a bowl of fruit. These inactive, dormant objects do nothing but sit still. They are not active in the painting. The objects are not even active in real life.

In the book of Ephesians, Paul describes our salvation as a masterpiece of God. Forwe are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Eph 2:10, ESV).

From beginning to end, our salvation is a work of God. Solely God’s creation. The Greek word translated as “created” in Ephesians 2:10 is only used in Scripture to refer to an act of God. Our salvation is something only God can accomplish. We cannot save ourselves. From beginning to end our salvation is a gift from God. We don’t even seek after God (Romans 3:11). He must draw us to Himself (John 6:44). He alone takes the initiative in our salvation. (For more on this see Sandra’s post “Chosen by God.”)

Paul calls us God’s “workmanship.”

The Greek word translated as “workmanship” is poiema. The English word “poem” is derived from this word. We are God’s “poem,” His work of art, His masterpiece. But we were not created as a “still life.” God’s purpose for us is far greater than to be hung on a wall so the Artist’s work can be admired. We were created in Christ Jesus “to do good works.” Works that God determined and planned long before we were even born.

Good works testify to the reality of our salvation. James said that “faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17, ESV). True salvation will result in good works. Outward acts of obedience to God reveal our salvation. Obedience to God demonstrates we have been saved.

Even the good works we accomplish after salvation have their beginning in God. He has prepared them, ordained them. And we can’t carry them out without the indwelling presence of His Spirit. Our task is simply obedience, to walk the path He has laid out for us. Although God’s specific purpose looks different for each Christian, there are general “good works” God intends for every believer. Here are a few we see over and over in Scripture:

  • We will obey God’s commands (1 John 5:3).
  • We will love our Christian brothers and sisters (1 John 5:1).
  • We will share the truth of Jesus with those who don’t know Him (Matt 28:19-20).
  • We will give generously to those in need (Matt 25:34-36).
  • We will serve the church (1 Cor 12:7).
  • Our lives will progressively display the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23).
  • We will work to live holy lives (1 John 3:3).

Both our salvation and the good works God calls us to are accomplished by Him and His power. We have no cause to boast. No reason to pat ourselves on the back. Only reason to praise Him. To give Him glory.

What works has God called you to? How are you doing with following the path He has ordained for you?

Man’s Sin Nature

by 9 Comments

Our passage today is Ephesians 2:1-3. In these verses, Paul paints a serious picture of our relationship with a Holy God before we are saved. None of us can say like Switzerland in World War II, “I’m neutral.” We are sinners. As sinners, we have been drafted into the battle. And before you met Christ, you were on the wrong side.

Here is how Paul describes you before conversion: You were dead in trespasses and sins, following the course of the world, following the prince of the power of the air. You were a son of disobedience who lived in the passions of the flesh. You were “by nature, children of wrath.”

The Bible is clear about our standing before our conversion. It’s hard to swallow though. Because of God’s holiness and our sin, it’s definitely a “if you’re not for me, you’re against me” scenario. In order to go from children of wrath to children of God’s, we must waive the white flag and surrender.
You probably have coworkers, friends, and family members who are still on the wrong side. I know the pain this causes. We must remember they are held captive by the prince of the power of the air! As we will study later in Ephesians, our battle is “against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness” (Eph. 6:12), not against coworkers, friends or family members! Continue to pray for them. When they do something or sinful, remember they are being deceived. Focus your anger not on them, but against the enemy who holds them captive. My husband often reminds me, “You can’t expect lost people to act like saved people.”

Praise God He doesn’t leave us in our sin, as children of wrath! Come back tomorrow as Kristi picks up with verse four which starts, “But God….”

Signed, sealed, and safely delivered

by 2 Comments

My daughter, Sarah, and her fiancé, Justin, are getting married June 18th. We’ve been busy with a variety of exciting wedding tasks. For instance, I’ve helped make program fans, address invitations, and create darling “ribbon wands” for the guests to wave during the send off.

Justin presented Sarah with the ring during a sweet proposal in the park last July. Beautiful, old-fashioned filigree work surrounds the diamond. It suits her perfectly. The ring constantly reminds Sarah that the wedding is coming, that Justin has promised to marry her.

In Ephesians 1:14, Paul uses the Greek word arrhabon to describe the Holy Spirit. Arrhabon, which can be translated as “earnest” or “deposit,” also refers to an engagement ring in modern Greek. Like an engagement ring, the Holy Spirit is a constant reminder of God’s promises to us.

Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance… Ephesians 1:13-14

As Sandra shared with us yesterday, from beginning to end, our salvation is a work of God. God “regenerates” us or gives us new spiritual life through His Spirit (John 3:3-6). Once “dead” in our transgressions and sins, God made us alive through the “regenerating” presence of His Spirit (Eph 2:1,5). (Kristi will dig into this a little more next week.)

In addition to regeneration, the Holy Spirit does some very specific work in a new Christian. Ephesians 1:13-14 uses two phrases/terms to describe what the Holy Spirit does in our life the moment we are saved.

  • We are “marked in Him with a seal.”
  • He is our “deposit guaranteeing our inheritance.”

The Holy Spirit “marks” or “seals” believers. In the ancient world, a wax seal was often used on letters, documents, or containers as a mark of ownership, identification, or authenticity. When God saves us, He marks us with His Spirit, to prove we belong to Him. The Holy Spirit gives us emotional and spiritual assurance of our salvation. Also, like a seal, the Spirit’s presence protects us from Satan and his activity.

God also gives us His Spirit as a deposit to guarantee the fulfillment of His promises. The Spirit is a “down payment,” giving us a taste of what we will fully experience with God when we get to heaven. Like an engagement ring on a young woman’s hand, the Holy Spirit constantly reminds us of God’s eternal intentions. He is God’s gift of peace and security for every believer.

In what ways does the Holy Spirit remind you that you belong to God?

Chosen by God

by 13 Comments

My family and I are in the process of adopting a child from Ethiopia. There’s a little boy right now halfway across the world who doesn’t even know that America exists. Much less, that there’s a daddy, mommy, and two big brothers waiting for him here. But we have been working to get him for almost a year now. Essentially, we are drawing him to ourselves. There’s nothing special about him.  We can’t see his future potential. No reason to pick him over the other five million orphans in Ethiopia. The only thing we know about him is that he needs a family. He’s in a desperate situation and we want to give him a family.

Our focus passages today are Ephesians 1:3-12 and Ephesians 2:4-10. The first word that stands out to me as I read this  passage is adoption. Our spiritual adoption process starts with God, just as our son’s adoption doesn’t start with him, but with us as his parents. God chose us before we even knew we needed a Savior. Dead in our sins, we were blind to the Truth. Ephesians  2:4 & 5 says, “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,  even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). And 1: 7 says, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”

We did not orchestrate our own salvation.  You didn’t go to God on terms you came up with. God set the standard of holiness and made a way for your sins to be forgiven. Not only did you not orchestrate your salvation, you did not earn your salvation. Verses eight through nine say, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” By grace through faith, not by works! You don’t have to worry about the good outweighing the bad in your life. You don’t have to keep a list of what you’ve done that makes you “good enough.” Even your goodness isn’t perfection, so a Perfect Sacrifice had to be made.

So, the idea of salvation didn’t originate with you. It wasn’t on the basis of your works. God chose, adopted, and predestined. Our passage in Ephesians also says God has a plan for you life. 2:10 says “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” His life-long plan is that you would grow in Christlikeness, or be sanctified. His plan includes events that will draw you closer to Him. I’m so thankful He not only saved us, but wants a relationship with us! His activity in our lives never stops!

God chooses us and redeems us, for His glory, for the purpose of sanctification. Praise God today for His grace, His plan of redemption, and for drawing you to Himself!

———————————————————————

The Scripture Dig team will be speaking on the beautiful theme of adoption at a retreat this weekend. Please pray for us as we prepare, travel, and minister!

Welcome to Ephesus

by 13 Comments

“You have been saved.”

So what? What does God’s salvation have to do with our everyday lives? And just how are we supposed to live out God’s truth in the midst of today’s culture?

Paul’s letter to the Christians in Ephesus helps us answer these questions. In Ephesians, Paul not only beautifully expounds on God’s glorious gift of salvation, he also shows us how to live it.

The Scripture Dig team is excited about exploring the book of Ephesians with you during the month of April. This letter is so practical! We will begin by looking at how and for what purpose God saves us. Then we will see how His salvation should affect our character, our church life, our family relationships, and more.

Do you long to grow in your knowledge of God and deepen your intimacy with Christ? Then join the Scripture Dig team on our journey to Ephesus!

Understanding Ephesians

Although Ephesians has some aspects of a written sermon or devotional, it is basically a letter or epistle. Like all letters in the New Testament, Ephesians was written for a specific purpose, to a specific group of people, in a specific cultural situation, in a specific time period, to deal with specific issues.

Understanding the historical context in which this letter was written will help us separate universal truths and applications from instruction and applications that were specifically tied to the original audience and their historical situation. For instance, we cannot directly apply the facts found in Philemon. I don’t think many of us have had runaway slaves! However, there are foundational truths and principles – like forgiveness and restoration – we must accept and apply.

Unlike most New Testament letters, Ephesians does not address any specific, looming problems. This seems to indicate that the church was fairly solid – unlike the Corinthian church, which dealt with multiple problems like sexual sin and division. Based on the letter itself and Paul’s history with the church, his purpose in writing seems to be to encourage them to further spiritual growth and to keep them on a solid doctrinal footing.

Background & History

Paul made his first visit to the city of Ephesus around 50 AD during his second missionary journey (See Acts 18:18-22). Ephesus, an important trade center, was well-known for its worship of Artemis (also know as “Diana,” the goddess of fertility). This first visit was brief, but the message was well received. When Paul left, his coworkers, Priscilla and Aquilla, remained behind to carry on the work he started.

Paul returned to Ephesus about four years later during his third missionary journey and stayed for 3 years. This time, he faced opposition from some of the Jewish leaders at the synagogue. So, Paul and the believers moved to a rented lecture hall. God greatly blessed the message: “All the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord” (Acts 19:10).

As hearts turned to Christ, opposition increased. Some local business men, who did not like the effect the Gospel had on their idol-making business, incited a riot and Paul had to leave Ephesus. But God’s truth was firmly planted in the entire region. The Gospel “spread widely and grew in power” (Acts 19:20).

At the end of his third missionary journey, on his way to Jerusalem, Paul sent for the Ephesian elders to meet him in Miletus. During this final goodbye, he warned them of trouble ahead. He charged these leaders to carefully watch themselves and their flock because “savage wolves” would infiltrate the church to distort the church. They must diligently guard the church! (See Acts 20:17-37.)

Date and Purpose

It is generally accepted by scholars that Paul wrote this letter to the Christians in the broader area of Ephesus from prison in Rome between 60 and 62 AD. As we saw above, Paul was concerned that false teachers would try to sway them from the truth he had taught them. They needed a firm grasp of the Gospel. Because the pagan worship of Artemis was so ingrained in the culture, the church also faced a lot of opposition from the people around them. They needed to be armed with practical ways to live out their faith.

We may not have to deal with Artemis worship today, but our culture certainly opposes God’s truth. We too, need a solid foundation and practical ways to stand firm in the midst of temptation and false teaching. Are you ready to dig in?

What do you hope to gain from this study of Ephesians?

Empty into full

by 9 Comments

She arrived empty handed, shuffling into Bethlehem, far from her homeland, away from her relatives, without possessions, bringing only memories of the pain that sent her there and the hope that got her there. Naomi made it clear the likelihood of rescue was nil. All knew she was a foreigner from the land of idol worshipers. Who could redeem the widowed, barren, pagan Ruth? And if one could, would he?


Boaz was able to change Ruth’s empty to full. The humble kinsman became obedient  and willingly acted on his love for the unprotected outcast stooping in his field. Knowing her journey was a choice to embrace His God, Boaz knew she was taking shelter under the refuge of Jehovah’s wings. Boaz was able and willing to give her refuge under the shelter of his “wings,” (2:12,3:9) purchasing her as his own through marriage and redemption. Drawing Ruth into his world, he protected her purity, restored more than she lost, and insured her future reward. Boaz willingly changed her empty to full.


As a kinsman, Boaz was able to provide rescue to the helpless woman, but he was also willing to do his duty of redemption as “Kinsman-Redeemer.” He took an empty foreigner with no hope, calling her “accepted,” and lifting her to be his bride with secure blessings and a glorious future.

In the same way, Christ was able and willing to act on behalf of the lost in need of redemption. “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those where under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Gal. 4:4-5).  Our rescue required His humanity, and he “humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross!” (Phil. 2:8) The Son of God, our Kinsman, acted to rescue us from our desperate condition, making us pure, restoring more than what was lost, insuring future reward.


In his book Twelve Extraordinary Women, John MacArthur says, “Ruth is a fitting symbol of every believer, and even of the church itself – redeemed, brought into a position of great favor, endowed with riches and privilege, exalted to be the Redeemer’s own bride, and loved by Him with the profoundest affection” (p. 85).

Our pain sends us searching for Jesus, and hope gets us to Him. When the helpless stoop before Him, we cannot fathom the love extending His wings of refuge, joyfully taking us from wretch to bride. In heaven a song is sung to the Lamb of God, Jesus, because “with <his> blood <he> purchased for God  persons from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Rev. 5:9b). Our Redeemer changes our empty to full.


We thought we faced a future of scraping for refuse in the fields, but our loving Lord has given us the inheritance reserved for His beloved. Just like Boaz purchased the unclaimed and destitute woman of Moab as his bride, so Christ purchased us to make us His own and restore to us a glorious future.


Without the love of our able and willing Redeemer, we would still be suffering in the field. Gwen Smith shares the story of Christ’s rescue in her song Broken into Beautiful. Reflect on what Boaz did for Ruth and rejoice in what Christ does for the broken as you listen to Gwen’s testimony in song. When Jesus takes us from empty to full, we must never cease to be gratefully amazed.

Attending your own funeral

by 24 Comments

An evangelical Protestant Baptism by submersio...
Image via Wikipedia

We don’t like to talk about death.

Even as Christians, even when we know where we will go, where our loved ones are… the sight of the cold casket leaves us uncomfortable. Death is the enemy. It has been stealing away our days since the Garden of Eden.

And so, Jesus came that we might have life! That life, however, comes through death.

Jesus took those nails in His hands, hung suffering on the cross, gave up His life and died… so that we could live. When the tomb cracked open early on Resurrection Sunday morning, life – real life – had triumphed. Death, where is your victory? He is risen – alive! And He offers real life to us.

This life is a free gift that requires only one thing in return – we must die.

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

We must repent and believe, understanding that all of our sin makes us worthy of judgment, and absolutely nothing we do can be good enough to save us. Our sinful nature, our self-righteous attempts to justify ourselves, everything we cling to must be nailed to that cross as we grasp that it is only the death of Jesus that can save us. To cling to His life, we must die with Him.

Baptism is really a funeral service – a funeral service that celebrates real life! The baptism itself isn’t what brings you this life-through-death; no one is killed by their own funeral. Baptism is a loud and vivid proclamation that we have already repented of our sin, turned to Jesus Christ in belief, and have been made new.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

2 Corinthians 5:17

In baptism we are symbolically “buried” and “raised to new life” to publicly state that our old self has been buried – and we have received real life through placing our trust in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

Romans 6:4

John Piper says it this way:

Baptism portrays what happened to us when we became Christians. This is what happened to us: we were united to Christ. His death became our death. We died with him. And in the same instant, his life became our life. We are now living out the life of Christ in us. And all this is experienced through faith.

This is what it means to be a Christian – to live in the reality of what our baptism portrays: day by day we look away from ourselves to God and say, “Because of Christ, your Son, I come to you. In him I belong to you. I am at home with you. He is my only hope of acceptance with you. I receive that acceptance anew every day. My hope is based on his death for me and my death in him. My life in him is a life of faith in you, Father. Because of him I trust your working in me and for me. The same power and glory that you used to raise him from the dead you will use to help me. In that promise of future grace I believe, and in that I hope. That is what makes my life new. O Christ, how I glory in what my baptism portrays! Thank you for dying my death for me and giving new life to me. Amen.”

This is what it means to be a Christian – to live in the reality of what our baptism portrays. If you haven’t attended your own funeral yet, I pray you will be making arrangements soon!

This post from Ann Voskamp is probably one of the most beautiful descriptions of baptism I have ever read. It is definitely worth your time.

The right to become

by 9 Comments

She appeared out of her poverty at my window, smiling, filthy, fingers outstretched. She acted like our moments were stolen, while we talked and delivered precious gifts of food, a t-shirt, crayons, a book about a Heavenly Father. As a street child, she was not welcome in the restaurant, and the guard chased her away each time. Before she could answer my questions or sit down, she was signaled away to her hidden master whose cruelty kept Rona enslaved. My little friend with only a piece of a name, no family, no hope. One single declaration could’ve changed her future, a declaration of adoption.

When God responds to our faith by justifying us , He declares us acceptable. Our old identity of condemnation is cast off, while, “to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God … born of God” (John 1:12).  Instead of oppression, “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father” (Rom. 8:15).  From spiritual poverty we’re invited out of sin’s slavery by God’s grace and legally adopted as children who cry “Daddy” to our Heavenly Father.

Life changes when we’re adopted. We join the family of the adopted, with brothers and sisters in Christ who aren’t separated by race or language or earthly distinction (Gal. 3:25-28).  As part of this family, our Father wants to bless those He’s redeemed, so He makes us heirs of His abundance (Rom. 8:17).  We become co-heirs with Jesus Christ, meaning our current life receives new blessings and provisions, but the fullness of our adoption has yet to be realized.

“Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). Our full inheritance as adopted sons is yet to be completed. Adoption is legally declared and grants us many benefits in this life, but so much more awaits (Rom. 8:23).

From out of the impoverished darkness of spiritual captivity, adoption grants us new identity as a child of God, a new place in the family of God, a new reality for life here on earth, and a new future with a full inheritance awaiting us. For the desperate, it’s a dream come true.

Several years after I  last saw Rona, I met a little girl with similar dark eyes and tiny fingers, while helping in a classroom. But she had colorful clothes and clean hair, matching shoes and a bow. She spontaneously danced around the room, taking every opportunity to hold hands and sit close; she was used to love and trusted easily. The little girl had been found as an infant, abandoned in a field, broken and disfigured, unwanted, but she had been scooped up and rescued. She received a new identity, a new family, a new life, and a new future. After school, she was welcomed with affection by her family. She had been adopted.

Physical adoption is an earthly glimpse of a divine rescue. There’s no need to stay in spiritual rags, beg for crumbs, and scurry back to a hateful master in darkness. Once “adopted,” we should never crawl back to our desperation again. Imagine the scope of affection, inheritance, and future hope we receive once rescued out of our spiritual poverty, embraced by the One who wants us to call Him “Abba,” and welcomed safely home!

 

Have you seen or experienced a glimpse of earthly adoption that whispers to you of the divine?

The just One who justifies

by 15 Comments

Courtroom One Gavel
Image by Joe Gratz via Flickr

What do you think of when you picture standing before God’s throne for the first time?

Perhaps you tremble at the thought. You picture your knees knocking together, your hands shaking, waiting for the deepest, darkest parts of your heart, the most shameful moments of your life to be displayed on a giant screen for all to see. You picture God as judge, glaring down at you, gavel in hand. You are unworthy. You shudder as you await the verdict.

  • God is holy. He cannot allow sin in His presence.
  • God is just. He must punish sin.
  • God is also love. He desires all men to be saved.

Truly, we have all missed the mark. We are woefully far from God’s holy standards. But because of God’s glorious grace, if we repent and believe, the scene in  heaven will look very different. God is still judge, but we have miraculously been changed. For although we were once sinners, at the moment of our salvation we were justified.

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

Romans 3:21-26

We had no righteousness of our own. Our righteousness is like filthy rags (Isa 64:6). Since the justice of God demands punishment of sin, since the holiness of God cannot allow unrighteousness in His presence, He offers to us the righteousness of Jesus Christ. The spotless, holy Lamb of God sacrificed Himself in our place. When we place our trust in Jesus Christ and receive His sacrifice on our behalf, everything changes. The courtroom of heaven no longer looms threateningly.

When the individual receives Christ he is placed in Christ. This is what makes him righteous. We are made the righteousness of God in Him. This righteousness overcomes our desperate, sinful condition, and measures up to all the demands of God’s holiness. – Charles C. Ryrie, Basic Theology

Standing before the throne of God in our desperate, sinful condition we are certainly deserving of His wrath and judgment. But when I stand before Him dressed in the righteousness of Christ, I have nothing to fear. My sin has been atoned for. No shameful scenes will be replayed for all eternity – they are washed away, forgotten; I stand before the throne declared righteous. I could never measure up to the demands of God’s holiness – but Jesus did so on my behalf.

I have been justified. It is just-as-if-I’d never sinned.

What wondrous love is this, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss to bear the dreadful curse for my soul?

When I was sinking down, sinking down;

When I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown, Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.

To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing;

To God and to the Lamb who is the great “I Am,” while millions join the theme I will sing.

Grace in the Sky Box

by 13 Comments

The Scripture Dig team appreciates your prayers as we prepare to serve the Lord together at a retreat, April 8&9 in Pigeon Forge, TN. We will be teaching about our adoption by our Heavenly Father and what it means to be “in the Family.” If you would like information, just leave a comment, and we’ll be glad to email you details.

In my long braid days we were given tickets to the Sky Box for the Ice Capades. I remember wide chairs high above the crowds, enjoying the view. It was a view we couldn’t afforded for ourselves. We sampled sodas with round cubes in wide glasses, served with triangle roast beef sandwiches with enough meat on them to make mom frown.  The riches were unlike any we enjoyed in the “cheap seats.” Though they had no obligation, the company invited us to enjoy benefits we hadn’t earned and didn’t deserve. Our only distinction was being declared “welcome” by the owner who freely provided the riches of life in the Sky Box.


God is known for His joy in showering grace on His loved ones. He is known as “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness” (Exodus 34:6). Unlike privileges earned from hard work, the blessings bestowed out of grace are purely out of the loving desire of the Giver.

Salvation is that out of reach blessing we could never earn. It is only bestowed on us by the gracious Giver’s “unmerited favor.” Sin stands in the way of our access to the Sky Box of life, since “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”  but “all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:23-24).  By God’s undeserved kindness to us we’re accepted where we could not go alone, given access and blessing only possible with a Redeemer.


The Redeemer’s payment on our behalf was not deserved, yet “it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). None of us can say we enjoy the distinction of salvation because of anything we have done. God knows we could not resist the urge to boast, so we know it’s all because of grace.

A simple acronym reminds us grace is God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.

Too simple?

We enjoy the blessings of Heaven only because of the sacrifice of Heaven’s Son.

I was nervous when we were invited up to the Sky Box, expecting that no one like me would be there.  Somehow I expected they would all “belong” there, look different than I did, and act like “Sky Box People.”  But in reality it was filled with other people like me. People who had done nothing to deserve the privileges and gifts, people who had just received unmerited favor.  That’s the beauty of grace. Where sin is great, grace is greater (Rom. 5:20).  It’s when we’re sure we don’t deserve the riches that we’re ready for the grace.


Have you ever been to a Sky Box? There are thick triangle sandwiches with ruffled toothpicks, sodas with round cubes, wide seats with a great view, and servers to make sure you enjoy the benefits. And how about grace?  Have you enjoyed God’s grace?  You’ve been invited!!!!  And it’s better than the Sky Box.

What should I do with Jesus?

by 6 Comments

Today I packed the nativity set in its boxes. The baby Jesus will spend the next eleven months safely tucked between chunks of Styrofoam. This polyresin infant has its place. I know just what to do with it and where to keep it.

But what should I do with the real baby Jesus?

Christmas is the time we celebrate His birth. The arrival of Immanuel. God with us. We celebrate the birth of Jesus during the Christmas season, but what are we to do with Jesus on December 26th?

Jesus was born in a stable more than 2,000 years ago for a specific purpose. (Check out my earlier post that details Jesus’ “I came…” statements.) In fact, Jesus’ name reveals His purpose. The name “Jesus” means “the Lord helps” or “the Lord saves.” Every person that has ever lived is in need of spiritual rescue.

The Bible says that each of us has sinned or chosen our own way over God’s perfect way. (See Romans 3:23.) The penalty for our sin is spiritual death or eternal separation from God. (See Romans 6:23.) But God loves us to too much to leave us with no hope, so He sent Jesus to provide a way of salvation. Jesus’ death on the cross provided payment for our sins. (See John 3:16.) If you’ve never received Jesus’ free gift of salvation then you’ve missed out on the real significance of Christmas.

At Christmas we celebrate the birth of a baby King. But let’s not leave Him in the manger. Let’s acknowledge His right to reign and rule in our lives every day of the year.

If you have never acknowledged your need for a Savior and given your life to Christ, do it now.

If you’ve received the eternal salvation that only Christ can give then bow your heart and knee to Him now. Thank Him for His coming. Thank Him for His death that provided payment for your sins.

Shepherds, Kings, and the Gifts They Bring

by 3 Comments

I love to wrap gifts … finding coordinating papers and ribbons, looking for the perfect embellishments and gift tags.  I love the way my tree looks with all the presents tumbling from it and the joy of handing someone a present chosen especially for them and wrapped beautifully.

But I’ve noticed something – it doesn’t matter how lovely the paper and bows are if the gift inside isn’t meaningful.

Likewise, a thoughtful, perfect gift handed to someone in a WalMart sack can be the favorite present of the year.

We are constantly trying to impart this simple truth to our daughter:  It’s what is on the inside that matters.  In gifts and in people.

I suppose that’s why I find such grace in the gifts  brought to the Christ Child.   The first gift laid before Him was simple, wrapped in shepherd’s garb … presence.  These men, who had heard the angels sing, were there, in the stable.  That’s all … they simply came to the Babe bringing themselves.

Isn’t that the first step for all of us?  We have nothing to offer, nothing of value in ourselves.  We bring what we have – our filthy rags of righteousness – and when we lay them down wholly before Him who is Holy, we find ourselves changed, made new.

For if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come.                     1 Corinthians 5:17

But there are other gifts we find laid before the Christ Child … the presents of the Magi.   I’ve heard many explanations for why these gifts were given and what they represented.   I love that each word in Scripture is rich with meaning and detail.

However, for this day, may we consider that these gifts may also reflect the presents we bring to our Redeemer?

  • The Magi brought gold to the King of Kings, the Son whose Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills.  May we offer back to the Comforter of widows and orphans from our abundance that He will multiply in His economy the present we offer?
  • The Magi brought frankincense to the One who intercedes on our behalf, the Risen Son who sits beside His Father.  May our present be the fragrant aroma of our prayers, rising with the sacred incense as an offering to the Most High God?
  • The Magi brought myrrh to Him who was pierced for our transgressions, wore our stripes on His back.  May our present be the gifting of healing grace and words to those who are weary, weak, and burdened around us, that they might encounter the Great Physician through our faithfulness?

While our wrappings are all different, we can be assured that our Father, who has lovingly created each of us in His own image, desires what is inside each of us. When we begin by giving Him our presence, the overflow of the gifts He bestows on us will be reflected in the multitude of presents we give back to Him and to those with whom we interact.

Our Father, the Giver of every good and perfect gift, on this day we thank You for the most good and most perfect Gift of Your Son … born, crucified, raised, and reigning on high.  We lay before You what we have … our presence, our hearts to change and conform as You desire.  We offer to You the presents of our abundance – graciously given to us by You, of our prayers – continual connection of our hearts to Yours, and of our words and deeds – humbly used to point in all ways, at all times, to You alone.  In the name of Jesus, our Savior, Redeemer, and King.  Amen.

Salvation Theme Review

by 10 Comments

Are you sure of your eternal salvation? Do you know that when your life on this earth is finished you will be with Jesus? You don’t have to wonder or “hope so.” The Bible says you can know with confidence that you have eternal life.

I write this to you who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) the name of the Son of God, so that you may know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that you [already] have life, yes, eternal life. 1 John 5:13, Amplified Bible

We can be certain because our salvation does not depend on us! In fact, we have no power to save ourselves. Only God can save. He has the desire to save, the power to save, and the plan to save.

During the month of September, our Scripture Dig team focused on salvation. What it is, why we need it, how we receive it, and more. If you’ve never been “born again” by the Spirit of God, don’t let September come to an end without receiving God’s great salvation. (Click here to see how you can know Jesus as Savior.)

For those who’ve been Christians for years – or even decades – this month’s theme serves to vitally ground us in the truths of our faith. Knowing these truths equips us to share Christ boldly with others and helps us recognize false teaching. If you missed any of September’s posts, now is a good time to catch up:

  • We were created by God and for God – Stephanie reminded us God made us for His pleasure and glory.
  • No one is good but God alone – Kristi explored the holiness of God so we could better understand the seriousness of our sin.
  • Oh the consequences! – Teri Lynne delved into the nature of sin and its results, now and eternally.
  • The Reality of Hell – Sandra showed us the sober reality of hell as found in Scripture.
  • The Rescuer’s love – Julie presented God’s overwhelming love for us in sending His Son to save us from sin.
  • Our Rescue – Teri Lynne proclaimed the result of Jesus’ rescue mission – our salvation!
  • Like trying to cure cancer with a light bulb – Kristi explored some of the ways we humans try to get to God on our own and why none of them are sufficient.
  • Only One Way? – Julie showed from Scripture why Jesus Christ is the only way to know God.
  • Why the Cross? – Over two posts, Stephanie thoroughly showed why Jesus’ death was necessary for our salvation. Part One; Part Two
  • The Cross is not enough – Kathy presented from Scripture the vital importance of the resurrection of Jesus, for our life today and for eternity.
  • Run with Endurance – Sandra explored how Christians should live out their lives. Now we’re saved. So what?

Each team member also shared their unique salvation story. If you missed one you can read them now.

God works uniquely and personally in each person’s life. What’s your salvation story? How is God working in your life right now? We would love to hear.


Great Resource for you to check out:

God’s Truth Revealed is a 12-session Bible study for spiritual seekers, new Christians, or anyone who wants to get a solid foundation in the basic tenets of our faith. I developed this material while teaching and ministering to seekers and new Christians and it was published by New Hope Publishers in 2008.

During the month of October the Scripture Dig team will be exploring the purpose and nature of the Church. Stop by Monday for the introduction.

Just Let Go!

by 8 Comments

Photo from 1freechurch.org

I was a “church baby.” From infancy my parents faithfully took me to Sunday School, worship service, Vacation Bible School, Wednesday nights, and whatever else happened to be going on. I memorized Bible verses, earned high attendance pins, and wore wire hanger angel wings covered with gold garland in the Christmas pageant. I went to church camp and sang in the youth choir.

When I was eight years old I accepted Jesus as my Savior. I clearly remember the day when I realized I was a sinner in need of forgiveness. I understood what Jesus accomplished for me on the cross. I can still see myself sitting across the desk from our pastor, talking through these things. He wanted to make sure I “got it.” I did. And so, I became a child of God.

Yet for the next eighteen years I struggled to find my own faith. I remained active and involved in church. I claimed Christ as my Savior. I followed all the rules. But I experienced little to no spiritual growth and rarely shared my faith. I wanted a rich relationship with Christ, but it remained elusive. Something was missing. I could see the kind of faith I longed to have in others’ lives. God seemed so personal to them, but I felt disconnected. Can you relate?

Then at the age of 26, as a young wife and mother, I joined my first ladies’ Bible study. Fed up with my dull, lifeless faith, I was open to whatever God wanted to do in my life. With that attitude I jumped into our study of the book of Romans. I heard God speak to me through His Word like I never had before. For the first time in all my church-going years I finally understood that my salvation and my faith have nothing to do with me and everything to do with Christ. His life paid the price my sin deserved. He bought me with His precious blood. My life belongs to Jesus, not me. God opened my eyes to the glorious truth that as long as I kept trying to hang on to my life and run things myself, I would never experience the intimacy with Him I had been searching for.

Galatians 2:20 beautifully depicts this Lordship aspect of our relationship with Christ.

My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20, NLT

There are moments – and days – that I live like I have forgotten this. I take back what rightfully belongs to God and try to do things my own way. But God faithfully and lovingly reminds me Who is Lord. More than two decades have passed since God gave me understanding of the Lordship of Christ. Over that time, God has grown me and shaped me and made me more like Jesus. He continues to teach me more about Himself and gives me occasional glimpses of His glory. I am not where I need to be, but I am also not where I once was. I continue to “press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (Philippians 3:12).

If you’d like to read a little more about following Christ, check out these blog posts:

“Kill the Oxen”

“Dependence Day”

Find Us on Facebook


Recent Posts

Archives