'salvation' Tagged Posts
Daily Devotions
For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.” vs. 28 Romans 3:19-23 Paul believed that all people had sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. But he also held that they had all been justified by God’s grace as a gift, through the redemption that had occurred in Christ Jesus. He further adds that the benefits of this great gift are made effective in faith. Paul’s add-on has frequently…
Daily Devotions
It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” vs. 10 Hebrews 2:5-12 The many references to suffering in our scriptures reflects its universal presence in the human community. Every generation has struggled with both personal and communal encounters with violence, injustice, oppression, and torture, and those concerns are lifted up in all parts of the bible. The writers were…
Daily Devotions
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out from their distress; he made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed.” vss. 28-29 Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32 The seas have always held a fascination for those who lived along their shores. Thousands of years ago we discovered that the oceans held a great storehouse of food, fish of every kind, and we built boats and used nets to harvest their riches.…
Daily Devotions
Thus says the Lord God: I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of a cedar; I will set it out. I will break off a tender one from the topmost of its young twigs; I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.” vs. 22 Ezekiel 17:22-24 Ezekiel knew the sorry saga of Babylon’s siege of Jerusalem. He was familiar with the king’s futile attempt to make a treaty with Egypt. He’d likely been part…
Daily Devotions
for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.” vs. 8 John 17:6-10 The gospel of John does a masterful job of connecting the Creator of the Universe directly to Jesus of Nazareth. In his familiar prologue, the gospel writer makes the claim that the Word through whom all things came into being is…
Daily Devotions
There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.” vs. 12 Acts 4:5-12 According to Luke, all the leaders of the Jerusalem hierarchy were present at the trial of Peter and John. And when Peter is questioned about his authority, unlike Jesus, he does not remain silent before his accusers. Instead, he doubles down and makes an assertion so audacious that many contemporary followers of…
Daily Devotions
Some were sick through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities endured affliction; Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress;” vss. 17, 19 Psalm 107:17-22 The psalmist knew that sometimes people didn’t get what they deserved, that even though their lives had been marked by rebellion and complaining, the Lord’s healing love was unconditional. Thousands of years later folks continue to find consolation in that surprising good news, especially those…
Daily Devotions
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” vs. 20 1 Corinthians 1:18-21 Each day we see reports about the heart-breaking loss of innocent lives in a seemingly endless cycle of wars and revolutions. There seems to be no end to our capacity to inflict suffering on one another, and most distressingly, there seems to be no end in sight.…
Daily Devotions
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” vs. 10 Isaiah 61:8-11 The prophet’s testimony is exactly what we need to hear as we move through this second week of Advent Toward Pink Candle Sunday. He used…
Daily Devotions
For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.” vs. 28 Romans 3:25-28 Paul is clear that all are made righteous by grace, the free gift of God in Christ Jesus, but he also wrote that each person is made righteous by faith, and sometimes this confuses us. We’re forever trying to remember if justification is by grace through faith or by faith through grace. It’s hard to keep it straight, and…
Daily Devotions
Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.” vs. 7 Psalm 80:3-7 When things were going bad for the people of Israel, something that happened with some frequency, it was not unusual for their prophets and psalmists to yearn for restoration. In recent years we’ve even seen that theme used as a political slogan as some have lifted up their voices to urge that America be made great again. Such persons remember a…
Daily Devotions
Therefore, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed me, not only in my presence, but much more now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” vss. 12-13 Philippians 2:5-13 Paul is not telling the Philippians to forget about the grace of God with these profound and insightful words. Not at all! All…