Bible Minute

[nChrist]

___________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
Did you enjoy this devotional?
Send it on for a friend to enjoy.
Free Email Subscription
___________________________________

Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 7, 2013
Topic: Evil

Godly Hate

As a child of God, your aim for this life, as well as for the life hereafter, is to be like Christ. The apostle John wrote, "Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he has appears we will be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure" (1 John 3:2-3, ESV).

This means that your Christian hope should involve seeking to be like Christ right here and now. It means that you ought to be demonstrating a godly life in your actions, purposes, words and thoughts.

But how can you know what Christ is like? Well, He didn't leave you to guess about what He's like. In the Bible, you have a clear revelation of Christ. You can go to God's Word and see the very character and personality of the Creator, whom you will someday meet face to face as John pointed out.

Being like God may involve some attitudes and actions that will surprise you. Let's look at one of those surprises today.

Receive

Is it right for a Christian to hate anything? Doesn't our society tell us all hate is wrong?

Being like Christ means not only exercising love like He does, but also hating the things He hates. If you do not hate what God hates, then you are not like Him and you can end up hating God instead. So, what does God hate?

God hates evil and despises all that is related to it. First, look at some Scripture passages that speak of things that He hates. Find the verses and write down what He says He hates:

    Proverbs 6:16-19
    Isaiah 61:8
    Zechariah 8:17

Second, find these Scriptures and list what God's people have said they hate:

    Proverbs 13:5
    Psalm 139:21-22
    Psalm 119:104, 128
    Psalm 26:5

Third, look at some passages where God tells His people of certain things they should hate:

    Psalm 97:10
    Amos 5:15

Finally, read Jesus' commendation of the church at Ephesus in Revelation 2:6. Notice what He praises them for.

Reflect

There are several verses in Proverbs that speak of the fear or reverence of the Lord. It is called "the beginning of wisdom," "the beginning of knowledge," "a fountain of life," and Proverbs 16:6 says, "By the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil."

But in Proverbs 8:13, we learn that the fear of the Lord also includes hatred of evil. If you love Him, you hate evil, just as He hates it. Read that verse in your Bible.

Christ's love for sinners is so great that He went to the cross to provide forgiveness for our sins, but His hatred of evil and its consequences is also seen at the cross where He defeated Satan, the author of sin and evil.

Respond

Take some time today to write down any specific areas of failure or weakness you see in your life that are due to tolerating actions or attitudes that God hates. Ask God to give you the spiritual backbone to resist the temptations of the world, the flesh and the devil. Ask Him to help you see as He sees, love as He loves and, yes, hate what He hates.

"When good people in any country cease their vigilance and struggle, then evil men prevail."-- Pearl S. Buck

[nChrist]

___________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
Did you enjoy this devotional?
Send it on for a friend to enjoy.
Free Email Subscription
___________________________________

Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 8, 2013
Topic: Holiness, Christian Living/Situational

Love Holiness

You may be familiar with an old hymn that declares, "Take time to be holy." That's wise advice because one of the secrets to wisdom is holiness. Wisdom begins with our "fear of the Lord" but it also includes loving what He loves and hating what He hates--the essence of holiness.

Receive

Proverbs 9:10 tells us,

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight" (ESV).

To fear the Lord means you have the proper sense of reverence and respect for God, His power, wisdom and character. It's the foundation for wisdom; it's what we build on to become wise.

But "the knowledge of the Holy One" takes us a little further along. It means we not only revere and respect God, but we recognize that He is the Holy One. Because of God's holiness, He cannot put up with evil; and, in fact, hating evil is also linked with the fear of the Lord (see Proverbs 8:13).

If you want to build godly wisdom into your life, you'll demonstrate your fear of the Lord through your reverence for Him. That means you'll take Him and His Word seriously. And you'll take His holiness seriously. You'll love what He loves; you'll embrace what He embraces. Holiness is only perfected in God, but you can do your part to reflect Him to others.

Reflect

Holiness means to be set apart. God is holy because His greatness, power and perfection set Him apart from anything and everything else. He wants us to be "set apart" as well for Him. What do you learn about your holiness from these verses?

    1 Peter 1:14-16
    1 Peter 2:9
    Ephesians 1:3-4
    1 Thessalonians 4:3-8

Respond

In Hebrews 12:14, we're told to "Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord" (ESV). How do you reflect the holiness that helps others see the Lord?

We've already mentioned that we're to love what the Lord loves. What are those things? Make a list from Psalm 146:8; Psalm 33:4-5; Colossians 3:12-14. Are these things you love? How would someone know that you embrace holiness? What do you need to do to live out the fear of the Lord in this way?

[nChrist]

___________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
Did you enjoy this devotional?
Send it on for a friend to enjoy.
Free Email Subscription
___________________________________

Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 9, 2013
Topic: Love

Nothing Stops His Love

God's love: None of us deserve it; none of us can earn it. But He freely gives it to all of us.

When you read the Bible, you'll read about people who tested the limits of God's love--David, Abraham, Isaac, Paul and others--but learned that a limit to His love doesn't exist. Let's take a look.

Receive

King David is a classic example. As King of Israel, David used his power to seduce a married woman and then killed her husband to cover up the resulting pregnancy. (2 Samuel 11).

Abraham lied (Genesis 20:2); Isaac lied (Genesis 26:9); Noah got drunk (Genesis 9:20-28 ); Moses had an anger problem (Exodus 32:19). In the New Testament Peter denied Jesus (John 18:25); Paul killed Christians (Acts 8:1-3). Yet God never said to any of them, "That's too much; I can't love you anymore." Again and again the Bible shows us that God's love isn't based on what we do. It's based on who He is.

John wrote, "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 4:9-10, ESV).

Because of Jesus' sacrifice, all our sins are forgiven. John uses the word "propitiation" which means "to appease." We deserve to experience the wrath of God for our sins (Ephesians 5:6), but Jesus satisfied (appeased) that just requirement through His death on the cross. God's love is that big. Even though we don't deserve it; and we can never earn it, yet we all have it. But we do have to accept it.

Reflect

As you read 1 John 4:7-12, think about the following questions:

    How did God show His love?
    What effects does John expect God's love to have in our lives?
    Why is it important that we share God's love with others?

Respond

God's example shows us that love needs to be demonstrated (see Romans 5:8 ). Think about those you love and plan some way to show them your love in the next few days. Write down at least seven ways you can demonstrate to God that you love Him. Then act on one daily for the next week. Offer your demonstration to God as a gift of love and praise for His love to you.

[nChrist]

___________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
Did you enjoy this devotional?
Send it on for a friend to enjoy.
Free Email Subscription
___________________________________

Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 10, 2013
Topic: Love

Deep Love

Love is an easy word to say, but a difficult word to define. According to my dictionary, love can mean many things including, "strong affection for another," "an informal term of address in Britain" and "a score of zero (as in tennis)."

When we talk about God's love, we can discard the last two definitions. But does the first definition describe God's love adequately?

Receive

One of the best-known passages of Scripture about God's love is John 3:16. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (ESV).

    Whom does God love?
    How does John describe God's gift?
    What does it mean to "believe in Him"?

Reflect

When Nicodemus heard Jesus say the words, "gave his only Son," he probably didn't understand what those words meant for Jesus or for mankind. We know now that Jesus was referring to His own death on the cross, His sacrificial death that would atone for all of our sins. Think about the agonizing moments just before Jesus' life was over. Does "strong affection" seem a sufficient definition of the love that drove Him to die for us.

In his first epistle, John has a lot to say about God's love. Here are a couple examples. "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God" (1 John 3:1, ESV). "In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 4:10, ESV).

Add to this other attributes of His love such as eternality (Psalm 102:27) and faithfulness (Psalm 119:90), and you can begin to see how inadequate this definition is. When you put everything together, "strong affection" only scratches the surface of what God's love is really like.

As you study this lesson, think about the following questions:

1. In what ways does God's love differ from examples of love you see in the world?

2. What are some practical ways you can demonstrate this kind of love?

Respond

Grab a concordance or head to your favorite online Bible and look at what other New Testament writers had to say about God's love. Using these descriptions, write your own definition of love.

[nChrist]

___________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
Did you enjoy this devotional?
Send it on for a friend to enjoy.
Free Email Subscription
___________________________________

Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 11, 2013
Topic: God's Love

John 3:16

Today is a good time for you to check a few statistics!

    According to the U.S. Census bureau, about 6.7 billion people are living in the world (projected to reach 7 billion by 2012).
    According to the Nations Online Project, these people live in 249 sovereign nations, from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.
    According to the National Virtual Translation Center, Earth's people speak a total of about 6,900 languages.
    According to Romans 3:23, all of these 6. 7 billion people are sinners who have come short of the glory of God.
    According to Romans 6:23, there is bad news and good news for all the world's people:

        The bad news is that the wages of sin is death (eternal separation from God).
        The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life through the Lord Jesus Christ.

And one last critical fact:

    According to John 3:16 (ESV) "God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

Receive

Look up 1 John 4:14: What great fact does the apostle John testify to?

In 1 Timothy 1:15: What does the apostle Paul say was the reason for Jesus' coming to earth?

Reflect

Many Christians agree that John 3:16 is the greatest verse in the entire Bible. It summarizes what God has planned and done in love for all mankind. It spans the history of salvation from eternity past to eternity future. "God loved" and "God sent" are actions that tell you clearly how God views you as a person and how important your salvation from eternal death is to Him who created you.

John 3:16 provides the key to understanding why God created mankind, His solution for saving you from sin, His eternal purpose to prepare a dwelling-place for Himself and His redeemed children. It also gives us the heart of our missionary message to the world. What should you do with this message? Find the following verses in your Bible and jot down your answers to the related questions.

    John 17:23. What two things does Christ desire that the world should know?
    John 17:18. In Jesus' prayer for believers, what does He say your mission is as His follower?
    2 Corinthians 5:19. What is the message that God has entrusted to all believers?

Respond

What personal promises do you find in John 3:16? Have you claimed them by responding to the love of God and trusting Jesus Christ as your Savior?

Memorize 1 John 4:9 (ESV): "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him."

"When God takes the world out of your heart, He puts the world on your heart." --John Wesley

If you want to know more, visit the "Meet Jesus" page.

[nChrist]

___________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
Did you enjoy this devotional?
Send it on for a friend to enjoy.
Free Email Subscription
___________________________________

Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 14, 2013
Topic: Jesus, God's Love, Faith/Trust

Active Love

Love is more than words; it involves action. Love is visible. If someone says, "I love you," but doesn't seem interested in you or affectionate toward you, you'd question that love. Well, you never have to worry about that with God. His love is active. He offers more than words; He backs them up with His actions.

Receive

The most obvious example is found in John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (ESV).

God loved...so He gave. Not just a few flowers or a card but He gave His Son. God the Father loved us (the world) so much that He sent God the Son, not just for a visit but for a particular purpose. The Son came to die so that we could have eternal life and loving fellowship with God the Father.

Now, that's a pretty amazing gift. Look at Ephesians 2:4-7: "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus" (ESV).

Once again, God loved and He acted. He sent Christ to make us alive, to raise us up, so we might share in the riches of His grace for all eternity. You can tell it's real love because it's active.

Reflect

In 1 John 4:7-21, we learn more about God's love and how to follow His example.

    Where does true love come from (4:7-8 )?
    How is God's love for us made visible (4:9-10; 14-16)?
    What are we to do with that gift of love (4:11-12; 19-21)?
    What do we gain from this love (4:12-17)?
    What about the problem of fear (4:16-18 )?
    How will others know that God's love lives in us (4:19-21)?

Respond

Real love, rooted in God, takes action. It serves others and sacrifices for them. It means we put them ahead of ourselves and give up that "me-first" thinking in order to care for them.

That's what Jesus did for us; just look at John 3:16; 15:13, Galatians 2:20 and Ephesians 5:2. It should also activate us to love others. Jesus puts it pretty clearly in John 13:34, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another" (ESV).

So, how are you doing in this area? Do you rely on your words to let others know you love them? Or can they tell by your actions? Are you willing to set aside your own agenda in order to serve in love? Are you following Jesus' command to love sacrificially, just as He did? What can you do today to make sure your love is active?

[nChrist]

___________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
Did you enjoy this devotional?
Send it on for a friend to enjoy.
Free Email Subscription
___________________________________

Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 15, 2013
Topic: Faith/Trust

True Saving Faith

An old friend used to tell me, "You know, if you just have faith, that's all that matters."

It was one of the most misleading tidbits of spiritual advice anyone could ever dish out. Sadly, it's a false hope millions of people cling to.

Why is it false?

It is not true because faith has no meaning unless it rests upon something or someone. Faith requires an object. You cannot simply "believe." You must believe something. You cannot merely trust. You must trust some object, some philosophy, some fact, yourself or some other person.

It follows, then, that the "something" you believe or the "someone" you trust is of supreme importance. If you have faith in a fraud, a religion, material wealth or an untrustworthy person, you'll suffer the consequences of your badly placed faith. My friend was naively saying, "Just have faith in your faith." What a costly illusion!

Receive

Let's look at John 3:16 because it states exactly where you must place your faith if you are to be eternally saved: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (ESV).

    Who is this verse written to?
    What does the verse say must be the object of your belief if you are not to perish?
    What does the verse say God's gift is?

Read also John 1:11-13.

    According to verse 12, who are those who receive Christ?

In addition, read 1 John 5:11-12.

    Where do you find eternal life (v. 11)?
    Who has eternal life? Who does not (v. 12)?

Reflect

If you looked carefully at the above verses, you saw that the object of saving faith is God's gift--His Son. Salvation from sin comes "packaged" in the person of Christ Jesus, and in no other way. You may ask, "But then why doesn't God save people whether they believe or not?" The answer: Because faith (belief, trust) is the only way through which you can obtain God's gift of His Son. God gave His Son, but you must receive Him. If you don't receive the gift of His Son, you won't have eternal life and salvation because that comes only in Him.

Christ's victorious bodily Resurrection from the dead proved His authority and power to be the sole object of effective faith. First Corinthians 15:14 (ESV) says, " And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain." Faith placed in any other person, system, ideal or power is totally unacceptable to God, the One to whom we must answer to. He has excluded all other faith-objects and persons when it comes to the business of salvation.

Respond

Don't tinker with your eternal destiny! Examine your faith. Ask yourself what you are really trusting. Make sure it is God's Gift, the Lord Jesus Christ!

Here is a verse worth memorizing: Acts 4: 12 (ESV) "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

[nChrist]

___________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
Did you enjoy this devotional?
Send it on for a friend to enjoy.
Free Email Subscription
___________________________________

Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 16, 2013
Topic: Jesus, Salvation, Faith/Trust

Live Free

Growing up, I loved the story of Elsa in "Born Free." She was a lioness born in the wild, but her survival depended on conservationist Joy Adamson. Elsa could be released to "live free" only after a long process of compassion and training for both lion and human.

There's a similar story in our spiritual lives...except that we weren't "born free." We came into this world as slaves to sin. And it's only through the compassionate rescue of Jesus Christ that we can truly "live free."

Receive

In John 8:34, Jesus says, "'Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin" (ESV). Ephesians 2:1-2 lays it out like this: "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience" (ESV).

That's where we started. However, Jesus came so that we didn't have to stay there. He is our rescuer, the One who transforms and rehabilitates us so that we can live in freedom.

Go back to John 8:31-36. "So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, 'If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' They answered him, 'We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, "You will become free"?'

"Jesus answered them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed'" (ESV).

The keys to freedom come from Jesus, in knowing Him, abiding in His Word and living by the truth.

Reflect

Freedom and truth go together. Where will you find the truth? Read John 14:6 and 17:17 for the answer.

John 17 is Jesus' prayer for His followers (including you and me). As you read the chapter, jot down what you find about Jesus, the truth and everything that impacts your spiritual freedom.

Romans 6:1-14 also addresses our sin and how we're set free to live by grace. Read the passage and record the changes or transformation that takes place, and what Jesus does for us. What's the conclusion of how you are to "live free"?

Respond

Once we understand that Jesus sets us free, what are we supposed to do with our freedom? Well, it's really about change or transformation in two key areas:

    Read 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 and describe the transformation going on here. How do you see that in your own life?
    Look at Galatians 5:13 and 1 Peter 2:16. What's the common thread? How does this adjust the focus of your freedom? There's also a warning; what is it?

Take a moment today to thank Jesus for the freedom He gives you. Ask for His help in using that freedom to become more like Him and to serve others for His sake. Then jot down a few ways you can "live free" today and make them happen.

[nChrist]

___________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
Did you enjoy this devotional?
Send it on for a friend to enjoy.
Free Email Subscription
___________________________________

Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 17, 2013
Topic: Prayer

The Will to Prepare

In 1976, Indiana University's basketball team was undefeated throughout the regular season and captured the NCAA National Championship. The controversial and colorful coach, Bobby Knight, led them to that championship. Shortly afterwards, Coach Knight was interviewed on the television show 60 Minutes. The commentator asked him, "Why is it, Bobby, that your basketball teams at Indiana are always so successful? Is it the will to succeed?"

"The will to succeed is important," replied Bobby Knight, "but I'll tell you what's more important--it's the will to prepare."

The same is true for prayer. It's important to pray, but it's equally important to prepare for prayer. Let's see what the Bible says.

Receive

Read Daniel 9:1-19 and answer the following questions:

    What is the occasion for Daniel's prayer (vv. 1-2)?
    What does Daniel do in v. 3 to get ready for prayer?
    What is the first thing that Daniel does as he begins to pray (v. 4)?
    Before making his request, Daniel spends the majority of his time doing what (vv. 4-15)?
    It is also obvious that Daniel had prepared himself for prayer by getting to know God's nature. What does he know about God that causes him to bring this request before the Lord (v. 18 )?

Reflect

Sackcloth was often made out of camel or goats hair which made it rough and uncomfortable to wear. It was worn as a sign of mourning and repentance. Ashes also were sometimes tossed into the air and allowed to settle on the person's head and clothing as another sign of mourning and humility. The whole picture of sackcloth and ashes was one of total personal devastation. It reflected an attitude of sorrow and humility.

While these actions were not taken every time Daniel prayed, the attitudes they represent were. Coming before the Lord with true sorrow for sin (2 Corinthians 7:10) and a humble spirit (Psalm 10:17) is good preparation for any prayer.

Respond

If you have a major prayer concern in your life, try Daniel's approach. Prepare yourself with a fast (perhaps skipping breakfast and lunch while drinking only water to keep hydrated). Break your fast with a small evening meal. *Most importantly, prepare your heart. Ask God to give you a true sorrow for your sin and seek to humble yourself before Him. While sackcloth and ashes probably would not be appropriate in our culture, perhaps you can think of another way to show an attitude of humility and repentance (some have chosen to not wear makeup or have tied a black band around their arms).

Keep in mind that these are not ways to manipulate God to answer your prayers. These are reminders of how dependent you are upon God's mercy and goodness.

*To find out more about fasting, read God's Chosen Fast by A. Wallis or a similar book.

[nChrist]

___________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
Did you enjoy this devotional?
Send it on for a friend to enjoy.
Free Email Subscription
___________________________________

Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 18, 2013
Topic: Prayer

Meism

A few years ago a research team studying American lifestyles met a young nurse named Sheila. She told them, "I believe in God although I'm not a religious fanatic. I can't remember the last time I went to my church. My faith has carried me a long way. It's Sheilaism. Just my own little voice. It's just trying to love yourself and be gentle with yourself."

This has become such a prevalent attitude that researchers have even coined a new word for it: meism. The Urban Dictionary defines meism as "Self-importance without any evidence that we (or our world view) actually matter."

And the saddest part of this scenario is that "meism" has invaded the Church. If we were able to listen to many of the prayers of professing Christians, we'd find that they were focused on me. "Lord, help me; Lord bless me; Lord, . . ." It's me, me, me, me---I'm the center of my prayers.

It's not that me should never enter the picture. God wants us to bring our needs to Him, but that's not the place to start. Let's look at a better way.

Receive

I prayed to the Lord my God and made confession, saying, "O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments (Daniel 9:4, ESV).

    How does Daniel begin his prayer?
    What makes God worthy of this response?
    God shows these traits toward whom?

Reflect

Many people confuse adoration and praise. There is a significant difference between the two. Praise expresses thanksgiving for what God has done. Adoration revels in who God is. Praise focuses on deeds; adoration focuses on character. Thus a prayer of adoration prays back to God who He is. God, of course, doesn't need to be reminded of who He is, but we do. It's for our benefit, not His. If we are ever to break the stranglehold of "meism," we need to remember that we have a great and awesome God who is faithful and merciful toward those who love Him.

Respond

This week try to pray at least once for five minutes without referring to yourself. Focus instead on God's character such as His holiness, His faithfulness, His compassion, etc. Use these words (holy, faithful, compassionate and others) to find verses in the Psalms that talk about God's characteristics. (The Book of Psalms is filled with adoration. The verses under Scripture will get you started.) Take these verses and pray them back to God.

[nChrist]

___________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
Did you enjoy this devotional?
Send it on for a friend to enjoy.
Free Email Subscription
___________________________________

Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 21, 2013
Topic: Salvation

Salvation Is a Gift

The Bible has a lot to say about salvation and rewards, and it clearly speaks of a day when all believers will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ and receive eternal rewards from the hand of God.

But let's make one thing clear here at the beginning: Salvation is not one of those rewards. Salvation is the free gift of God. It can be accepted or rejected, but it can never be earned. And it can never be lost once it is obtained.

Let's look at what the Bible says.

Receive

There are few verses in the Bible that put it more clearly than this: "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23, ESV).

Salvation is a gift because sin is too big a problem for you or me to handle. Sin, left to run its course, would separate us from God forever. But God's plan is to save mankind, and He provided that salvation through His Son, Jesus. Jesus shed His blood and died specifically to bring about the salvation of mankind.

God knows that we can do nothing to earn our salvation, so He offers it as a gift. "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" (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV).

If you haven't accepted the gift of salvation yet, why not do it today? You will never be more ready than you are right now.

Reflect

As you read Romans 6:23 and Ephesians 2:8-9, think about the following questions:

1. Why do some people hesitate to accept God's gift?

2. How would you respond to someone who says, "I'm not good enough to be saved"?

Respond

This has been only a brief explanation of salvation. But we've prepared the online guide "Jesus Who?" to help answer any other questions you may have. The page also includes a section that enables you to contact us, so you can send any comments or tell us about your decision to receive God's free gift of salvation. We'd love to hear from you.

[nChrist]

___________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
Did you enjoy this devotional?
Send it on for a friend to enjoy.
Free Email Subscription
___________________________________

Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 22, 2013
Topic: Salvation

Salvation Depends on Christ

What do you need to do to obtain eternal salvation? How can you be certain that you are pleasing God, or pleasing Him enough that He will be happy with you and let you into heaven?

If being sincere about your religion will save you, how can you know that you are sincere enough? How many times do you need to repent and ask God's forgiveness in order to be sure of eternal life? Will God give you a second chance if you blow it here?

What religion pleases God the most, or is He pleased with them all? If you attend church regularly, what other special things do you have to do in order to keep your salvation?

Many people voice concerns and questions that stem from the same mistaken idea: The belief that their salvation somehow depends on human effort and that God is looking at their performance in order to determine whether He will let them into heaven or not. They simply cannot fathom that God has a totally different way and is not impressed at all with human performance when it comes to the matter of salvation.

Let's look at what God has to say about it.

Receive

God's heavenly home is for people of all ages, from all nations, languages and races. People from earth who may have been healthy or sick, rich or deprived, educated or illiterate--those from every walk of life will be there.

But trusting in one's own good works will get no one there!

Read Hebrews 11:6.

What is essential in order to please God?

Read Acts 13:37-39, where the apostle Paul speaks of Jesus' Resurrection.

    What did Paul proclaim?
    What does he say a person must do to be set free?
    What will not free a person from sin?

Read Ephesians 2:8-9.

    What is the source of salvation?
    How is it received?
    What is not the way to get salvation?

Now, read the next verse, Ephesians 2:10.

    Whose workmanship is the Christian?
    What does God expect from Christians?
    What difference do you see in the "works" of Ephesians 2:9 and the "good works" of verse 10?

Salvation and ultimately a home in heaven totally rests on the saving work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. The difference between Christianity and every religious scheme in the world is that man-made religions teach works to obtain salvation, but God freely offers salvation by faith in the person of Christ, which, when received, results in useful service for God. Eternal life depends on the work of Christ alone; the believer's eternal rewards, however, depend on his or her faithfulness to Christ.

Reflect

Titus 3:4-7 (ESV) declares, "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

    How does God not save us?
    How does He save us? (Note: "the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit" is not "water baptism" plus the work of the Holy Spirit. It means the one act of the Holy Spirit using the cleansing Word of God to give you a new birth when you receive Christ as your Savior).

Respond

Read Romans 3:19-31 and note Paul's argument for salvation by faith in Christ versus man's attempts to be saved by legalistic works.

Memorize Ephesians 2:8-9 from your own Bible.

[nChrist]

___________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
Did you enjoy this devotional?
Send it on for a friend to enjoy.
Free Email Subscription
___________________________________

Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 23, 2013
Topic: Salvation, Evangelism

The Best Gift

If you could give one gift to the whole world, what would it be? Peace? Liberty? Health? Food? Wealth? Happiness? Education? Wisdom?

The Bible says there is a gift greater than any of those. And it tells you what that gift is, how valuable that gift is, what motivated God to give it to you and how you can receive it.

Receive

First let's see what the gift is: God's salvation through Jesus.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8, ESV).

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:23-24, ESV).

    The scripture from Ephesians tells us that we are "saved through faith."
    How do we receive this salvation? How are we "justified by His [God's] grace"?

Second, let's see how valuable this gift of salvation is:

"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?" (Mark 8:36, NKJV).

"And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27, NKJV).

    Rate the importance God's Word places on this gift? Compare it to peace, liberty, wealth, happiness. How enduring are those gifts compared to salvation?
    What does the coming judgment have to do with the gift of salvation?
    What importance do you place on your soul's eternal destination? How often do you think about it?
    How can you lose your own soul?
    How are you preparing for the coming judgment?

Third, the Bible tells us what motivated God to give such a gift: His love for you and me.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16, ESV).

"This is real love--not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins" (1 John 4:10, NLT).

Read Genesis 3:7-21 and answer these questions:

    How soon after Adam and Eve sinned did God come up with a plan to send the Promised Seed (His Son) to redeem them?
    When they realized they were naked, Adam and Eve made loincloths for themselves. But who does Genesis 3:21 tell us made clothes for them?

Reflect

If you haven't received God's great gift, here's how to do it:

"If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. As the Scripture tells us, 'Anyone who believes in Him will not be disgraced.' Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on Him. For "Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved" (Romans 10:9-13, NLT).

Respond

How does this great gift from God and knowing how much He loves you make you feel?

Want more information or have any questions? Visit the "Jesus Who?" page or email us at info@backtothebible.org.

[nChrist]

___________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
Did you enjoy this devotional?
Send it on for a friend to enjoy.
Free Email Subscription
___________________________________

Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 24, 2013
Topic: Jesus, Salvation, God's Love

Always a Gift

Is it hard for you to believe a gift is a gift? That a "free gift" doesn't always have strings attached? Thanks to marketing gimmicks, you and I are accustomed to clever strategies that promise a "gift" if we try a product, listen to a sales pitch or spend our money first.

God doesn't use those marketing strategies. When He offers you a gift, namely the gift of salvation, there's no hidden agenda. You don't have to rack up bonus points, buy something else first or do anything to work your way into the gift.

Receive

If you're not sure about that, look at Ephesians 2:8-9, "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" (ESV). Salvation comes by grace--God's grace--and it's a gift--from God. You didn't do it; you didn't work for it or earn it; in fact, it's impossible for you to earn it.

Titus 3:5-6 adds, "He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior" (ESV). That "He" is God. And this gift comes to you by His mercy through Jesus Christ the Savior.

Both passages not only point out that salvation is a gift, but they also underscore that we do nothing to earn it. That's what makes it a gift.

Reflect

The gift of salvation comes through Jesus Christ. It's always through Jesus, no one and nothing else. Look up these passages to see some of His reasons.

Romans 5:8-9; 1 John 4:9-10
Ephesians 2:4-8; Titus 2:11
Titus 3:4-6; 1 Peter 1:3

    What motivated God to give us this gift?
    What else comes with it?
    What is your part in the process?
    What are some other things you learn about God's gift of salvation from these verses?

Respond

So, how do you get this gift of salvation? You have to do something to open a gift, right? It's much the same with salvation. The gift is there. You decide whether to unwrap or accept it. You accept the gift when you "believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31, ESV).

The only one who did any "work" for your salvation was Jesus Christ. He died on the cross and then was raised from the dead, taking care of your sin and conquering the stranglehold of death. When you believe in Him as your Savior and the only One who can make things right between you and God, then you've accepted this amazing gift. That's it. All you have to do today is ask.

If you'd like to know more, please visit our "Jesus Who?" page.

[nChrist]

___________________________________
Bible Minute by Woodrow Kroll

Distributed Freely by Back To The Bible
Did you enjoy this devotional?
Send it on for a friend to enjoy.
Free Email Subscription
___________________________________

Daily Bible Study

Date: Jan 25, 2013
Topic: Salvation

Covering All the Bases

Ever heard the expression "cover all the bases"? It originated in the game of baseball. It meant that no matter which base an opposing team member was speeding toward, a member of the opposite team would be there to tag him out.

While that's still true in baseball, it has also come to mean that every part of a job, project or event has been handled, that every possibility has been considered and planned for.

That's true of our salvation. The Bible says that our salvation encompasses the past, the present and the future. God the Father through Jesus Christ, His Son, has all the bases covered. Let's see how that works.

Receive

The Past:

    According to Ephesians 2:1-3, what was our past like?
    Read 1 Peter 2:24. What did Christ do about this?

The Present:

    Read Romans 6:14. What is Christ doing for you today?
    Describe how this came about according to Romans 6:5-7.

The Future:

    According to Romans 8:23-25, what is one thing that the future holds?
    What else does the future hold? (Read 1 Corinthians 15:52-54.)

Reflect

You may wonder, Why do I need to be concerned about my sin, anyway? Here is what someone said in answer to that question:

Because any sin torments (Isaiah 48:22)
Because any sin separates you from God (Isaiah 59:2)
Because any sin enslaves you (John 8:34)
Because any sin ends in death (Romans 6:23)
And because all have sinned (Romans 3:23)

Respond

It's evident that God has "all the bases covered" when it comes to your salvation. But what can you do? What's your part? The key is to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior. The apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 6:2, "Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation."

You'll discover more about God's way of salvation by visiting the "Jesus Who?" page.