It's A Gift 11.20.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today we are continuing our studies on the book of Romans, please read Chapters 4-7 in your Bible or you can Click Here to read them online. If the link does not work you can copy and paste this link into your browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%204-7&version=9

Today we are reading about Salvation; righteousness through Jesus Christ; sin through Adam; Christian's saved by grace and not the Law; an explaination on baptism. Today's message focuses on the importance of Salvation. Salvation is a gift from God and no matter who tries to tell you otherwise we can not work our way to heaven nor can that gift be taken away from us.

The more we learn about the horrible suffering and death of Jesus the more we understand the glory and power of His resurrection. Some believers are conscious of Christ's death on the cross for their sins and even have accepted Him, but truly do not know what it means to be free forever or that we do not have to work in order to keep our salvation.

Paul explains that we are saved, not by what we do for the church or others, but through the gift of grace by Jesus. And no matter what we have done or will do nothing can take that gift from us. "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification." (Romans 5:12-16). Sadly, we are born into sin, this is the gift handed down to us from Adam when he sinned by eating the forbidden fruit. We actually recieve sins that were passed over to us from years ago by ancestors we never knew. What is even more sadder is that we actually pay dearly for that gift, the payment is death. Imagine carrying the burden of sins from others on top of the ones we do all on our own and it is no wonder why we recieve such a penalty. However, God has given us a gift and whoever accepts His gift does not have to pay the penalty and it's a gift that you do not have to pay back. That gift, Jesus Christ.

The more we understand about Jesus' death and resurrection the more we desire to walk in the newness of life with Christ. Paul explains what happens when we are baptised into Christ. "Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." (6:3-11).

The new life of the believer is triumphant over death, when we accept Jesus into our lives and are baptised our sins are washed away and no more. We are dead to sin and a new life begins, one that lives with Jesus every step of the way.

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
I am strengthened and encouraged today as I realize that my old life is dead to You and that I have a new life, one that is filled with hope and freedom as You abide in me every second of the day. I am triumphant through You and no matter what I face I am safe and protected by You. In Jesus' name.......Amen.

Have a wonderful day!
God Bless,
Christina

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