Tag Archive for SALVATION

Open Heavens Devotional: LIKE JESUS – Saturday, September 1, 2012

September 1, 2012 Open Heavens, RCCG 2 comments

By Pastor E.A. Adeboye

Memorise: Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 1 John 3:7

Read: 1 John 3:1-10

The call to salvation is a call to holiness. After you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Saviour, it does not end there; the journey to Heaven has only just begun. Before you were saved, you manifested the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). But now that you have encountered Jesus Christ at salvation, the fruit of the Spirit is expected from you (Galatians 5:22-23). Every attempt at righteousness before your salvation was equal to self-righteousness which is as filthy rags to God (Isaiah 64:6); hence, Paul says his self-righteousness no longer counts but the righteousness by faith in Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:9). God has not only saved us and given us the gift of righteousness, He also expects us to live a life in agreement with His standard. Today, some people think that it is just enough to be born again and that nothing else is required. No! It is not enough! The truth is your new birth gives you the platform on which to build on, having secured God’s righteousness through your faith in Christ Jesus.

We are called to be like our Saviour Jesus Christ. In 1 John 2:1, Jesus is called the righteous, and verse 29 says:

If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

This means that the fruit of righteousness that you bear will be used to determine whether you are born of God or not. 1 John 3:7 says:

Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

God is not saying you should be holier than Jesus. Even Jesus says it is enough for a servant to be like his master (Luke 6:40). If God expected works of righteousness from Jesus, He expects the same from you. If you look at the letters the Lord wrote to the churches in Revelation 2 and 3, you will notice that He kept repeating that those who will qualify for those wonderful rewards are only the believers who overcome as He also overcame. In every point Jesus overcame, you too should, because He is our standard. Every act of righteousness He manifested, you too should. You must live a life that manifests the victory Christ has given you over the flesh, Satan and the world. You must allow Him to live His righteous life through you. Are you daily living a life of righteousness?

KEY POINT:

Jesus is God’s unchangeable standard for man. Be like Him in everything including righteous living.

 

Bible in one year: Esther 1-3

Open Heavens Devotional: SALVATION FROM SIN – Wednesday, January 4, 2012

January 4, 2012 Open Heavens, RCCG One comment

By Pastor E.A. Adeboye

Memorise: And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21

READ: John 1:11-12

A common mistake made by many, is to blame others for their misfortune in life. Some blame the devil, their father-in-law or mother-in-law, etc, but do you know that you can be your own worst enemy? Way back in Genesis, everything was in order until Adam and Eve sinned. When God visited and began to ask questions, they laid a bad precedent, which many still follow today – blaming somebody else for their wrong-doing. Sin scatters: it disorganises God’s great plan for a person and plunges the fellow into a life out of order. Romans 6:23 says:

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Although God created man to live forever, he began to die because of sin. So if you can take away sin from your life, you would have won the greatest victory because all other battles are secondary. Jesus is called Saviour because of your sin. No man can deal with the problem of sin except through the power of the blood of Jesus. That is why there is no true salvation without Jesus. Sin is so strong that it can stop your prayers from being heard (Isaiah 59:1-2). Are you saved? Have you been washed in the blood of the Lamb of God?

And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1:21

No matter how enslaved you are to that sinful habit, there is deliverance for you. 1 John 1:7 says as powerful as sin is, the blood of Jesus is much more empowered to wash away all sins. Until a man is born again, his life, though precious before God, is not better than a dog’s and God says He cannot give the children’s bread to dogs (Philippians 3:2, Revelation 22:15, Matthew 15:26). But when the sinner is saved, then he becomes a son according to John 1:11-12. Are you seen as a dog or a son? As long as you take pleasure in taking your alcoholic drinks, smoking, engaging in sexual sins, stealing, lying and defrauding others, you are seen as a dog, but God loves you so much, He wants to turn you into a son. Go to Him now with a heart of repentance, truly sorry for your sinful lifestyle. Confess your sins to Him and ask for forgiveness, promising not to return to your evil deeds. Then, invite Jesus into your heart asking Him to come and live His life through you.

PRAYER POINT:

Ask God to completely destroy the stronghold of sin over your life.

 
Bible in one year: Gen 10-11

Open Heavens Devotional: ROCK OF SALVATION – Thursday, October 20, 2011

October 20, 2011 Open Heavens, RCCG No comments

By Pastor E.A. Adeboye

MEMORIZE: “He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved” (Ps 62:2).

READ: Psalm 62:2-7

Jesus Christ is not only the Rock of our strength, but also the Rock of our salvation. One person who experienced Him in this capacity was David. In Psalm 62:2, He says, “He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.” One implication of being the Rock of our salvation is that there is no way any man or woman on earth can be saved from the problem of sin, except he or she receives Jesus Christ as Savior (Ac 4:12). If you want to be spiritually salvaged but you are yet to receive Christ, you are still miles away from your source of salvation. The answer is either Christ or nothing! Similarly, His scope of salvation goes beyond the spiritual plane. There is no type of danger you may find yourself that the Rock of salvation cannot rescue you from as a child of God. No wonder Hebrews 7:25 says, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.” What is that situation that you need to be delivered from? Call upon the Rock of our Salvation and He will deliver you even from unseen and hidden forces.

Jesus as Rock of our salvation is the One who can assure you of salvation. When He saves you, you can go to sleep. You are saved. If the Lord has saved you but the devil brings doubt, ignore the fears and doubts and hold on to the Word of the Rock of our salvation. He is the only One who can tell who is saved and who is not. Are you a religionist or churchgoer whose leader has assured will get into Heaven by merely doing good, alms-giving and being kind? Well, you have been deceived! Without accepting Jesus Christ, you will end up in the very same hell that leader is headed. Run to Jesus today, confess your sins, forsake them and invite Jesus into your heart. Do not return to your evil ways. Join a Gospel or Bible-believing church and start attending the young converts class there and it shall be well with you. In any way you need the touch of the Rock of salvation, He will visit you today.

PRAYER POINT:
Pray for members of your extended family that the Rock of salvation should totally deliver them from sin, satan, self and every evil.

Bible in A Year: Jeremiah 21-23

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