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Smile! God Loves You!

noreply • July 27, 2011

Because of Christ and His redemption I am completely forgiven and fully pleasing to God. I am totally accepted by God

If you grew up like I did, the above statement probably seems foreign to you. My church background and training taught me pretty much the opposite. I believed that I was never 'fully pleasing to God' and that my acceptance was conditional upon my behavior. Because of this, many people live in fear rather than joy and peace.

JUSTIFICATION

Romans 5:1 says - Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. This means we should be 'at peace', not in turmoil, not living in fear of rejection. When we don't believe we are fully pleasing and totally accepted by God, we will value the opinions of others far too much. We will seek the approval of others because we think it is 'attainable' whereas God's approval is 'unattainable'. But according to scripture we have been 'justified'.

RECONCILIATION

Colossians 1:21-22 says "And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him." Notice that God has declared you "holy and blameless and above reproach". My theological understanding of this verse has been that this was speaking of "after death". That somehow, after I die, when I stand before God, I will be holy, blameless and above reproach, but while I'm living, I'm not any of these things. But scripture says I've been "reconciled to God" and therefore am fully accepted. That means I don't have to fear rejection.

PROPITIATION

The bible also declares that Christ is the "propitiation" for our sin. The word "Propitiation" means The removal of God's punishment for sin through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. In 1 John the bible says:

1 John 2:1-2 (ESV)
^{1} My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. ^{2} He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

So, according to scripture, Jesus death removed the rightful punishment for our sins - all of them. This isn't a "get out of jail free" card where it makes no difference what I do. I don't want to trample under foot the sacrifice of Christ, but scripturally Christ has removed the punishment for sin. I do not have to suffer wrath of God for sin. Jesus paid it all. All to Him I owe.

My Armenian background has left me confused on this issue, and perhaps you as well. My understanding didn't include this idea of propitiation. In my understanding, Jesus died for my sin, and when I got saved they were all forgiven. But what about my sinful thoughts, words and actions since then? My Armenian understanding made me feel that these weren't covered until I asked, meaning that I was seemingly always in a state of unacceptability before God. Understand this, Jesus died to forgive all our sin. Past, present and future. Accepting this fact doesn't make us arrogant or proud. It makes us appreciative that our right standing with God is totally dependent upon Christ and not ourselves.

REGENERATION

A wrong understanding of my Armenian background has always caused me to stop short of one other very important biblical truth: that of regeneration. We speak of being "new in Christ", but the longer I live with myself, the more I realize that there are many things about me that are still 'the same'. My conclusion, although never spoken, is that this 'new creature' is a euphamism, a metaphor, and not truly a reality. The definition of regeneration includes this statement: "As to the nature of the change, it consists in the implanting of a new principle or disposition in the soul; the impartation of spiritual life to those who are by nature "dead in trespasses and sins."

Illustrated Bible Dictionary: And Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature.

The regeneration happened in my soul and spirit, not my flesh. My flesh wars against the regenerated man inside. Nonetheless, according to scripture, as a child of God, I have been 'regenerated'.

Titus 3:4-7 (ESV)
^{4} But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, ^{5} 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, ^{6} whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ^{7} so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

This regeneration came totally and completely from God. It has nothing to do with me. As believers, you and I have been made complete in Christ. We no longer need to experience the pain of shame. Again, it's not a free pass for bad behavior. It is to free us from the guilt and pain of shame.

Colossians 2:10 (NKJV)
^{10} and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Because of justification , you are completely forgiven and fully pleasing to God. You no longer have to fear failure.
Because of reconciliation you are totally accepted by God. You no longer have to fear rejection.
Because of propitiation , you are deeply loved by God. You no longer have to fear punishment, nor do you have to punish others.
Becuase of regeneration , you have been made brand new, complete in Christ. you no longer need to experience the pain of shame.

For many, we have lived in constant "unworthiness", continual shame, unending guilt and a feeling of failure. All these are lies from Satan designed to rob you and I of our joy and cause us to have a wrong opinion of who we are, who God is, and what we should value. Remember, Satan's Lie is Self-Worth = my performance + other's opinions of me. God's truth is, as His child, because of Christ and His redemption, you and I are completely forgiven and fully pleasing to God. You and I are totally accepted by God.

I hope this helps someone today.

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The Source of True Knowledge

By Scott Williamson • May 13, 2024

The Source of True Knowledge Proverbs 1:1–7 (NLT) The Purpose of Proverbs These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel. 2 Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. 3 Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair. 4 These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. 5 Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance 6 by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables, the words of the wise and their riddles. 7 Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. King Solomon is accredited with being the wisest man who ever lived. Jesus even acknowledges the credentials of Solomon when he proclaimed, “Matthew 12:42 (ESV) 42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.” Solomon wrote most of the proverbs found in the book by that name and he clearly states the purpose: “to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise,, to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just and fair.” So, if these things appeal to you, then Proverbs should be a daily read in your life. Proverbs are observations and conclusions drawn from observing and listening to the wisest of his time. They are not predictions or promises, but rather, sound advice for a disciplined and successful life. Solomon ends the opening paragraph with this observation: “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Fearing God is understanding the total awesomeness of who he is, that he is all powerful, all-knowing, all-seeing. That He IS wisdom and knows everything and views then end of a thing from before its beginning. The good news is, not only is God all these things, but He loves you more than you love yourself and he desires good things for His children. Therefore, He can be trusted to guide my life and my decisions. He can be trusted to discipline me, to correct my harmful behavior. If I met you on the highway in the dead of night and flagged ou down and told you not to proceed because the bridge has been torn in two and if you continue on this road you will plummet to your death, you would be a fool to ignore my warning. God through the book of Proverbs, is flagging you down in the middle of the night. He’s not trying to ruin your trip or delay your passage. He is saving your life! Don’t be a fool! Heed His Words!

Jesus Next Door

By Scott Williamson • January 5, 2022

When asked to pinpoint what mattered most to God, Jesus did not beat around the bush or speak in code. He said (to paraphrase), “This is what matters most to God: Love the Lord your God with the entirety of who you are and love your neighbors as much as you love yourself” (Matt. 22:37–39). Even though Jesus’ words in Matthew 22 are crystal clear, most followers of Jesus will be quick to admit that they struggle to live them out. I am convinced the journey to becoming a person shaped by the two greatest commandments—to love God and love people—often begins in the place of prayer. God is love and loves all people. I have found that if I consistently come into his presence through prayer, it is impossible to not begin loving God and those around me more fully. This is the simple focus of this thirty-day prayer journey. It is designed to help you practically grow in love for God and the people he has already put around you in the places where you live, work, and play. As we get started, here are a few practical suggestions to help you get the most from this prayer journey: # 1 CHOOSE PEOPLE TO PRAY FOR Since this guide is designed to help you pray for the people God has already put around you , it is important that you begin this journey by identifying a few people for whom you plan to pray each day. You can pray for your next-door neighbors, your coworkers, friends from school, the barista at your favorite coffee shop, or someone in your own family. You get to choose. But before you go any further, take a moment to write down the names of the people for whom you will commit to pray each day over the course of the next month. # 2 CHOOSE YOUR PEOPLE TO PRAY WITH Once you have determined whom you will pray for, take a minute to identify who you will pray with during this season of prayer. Learning to pray not only for others but also with others will revolutionize your life with Jesus. We are made for community, and, like nearly everything else in life, prayer is better when experienced with other followers of Jesus. Make it a priority to pray together throughout the month, whether in person or through a virtual platform like phone calls, text messaging, or video chats. Get creative, but stay connected to others! # 3 ESTABLISH A DAILY ROUTINE It amazes me how God can use a series of seemingly small but intentional choices to bring about monumental change in our lives. Don’t underestimate the power of establishing a daily prayer routine as you begin this journey of praying for and with other people. What follows is a list of simple ideas to help you establish a daily prayer routine: Find a Quiet Spot It doesn’t matter if it is a comfortable chair in your home, a park bench along the trail you enjoy walking, or your favorite table at a local coffee shop. Simply find a spot each day where you can give God your undivided attention. Clear Your Mind Jot down any overwhelming thoughts or nagging items that might keep you from enjoying God in prayer on your mental to-do list. Some of these items will be things you might need to discuss with God in prayer, while others will be distractions that you can address later in your day. Take it a step further by turning off your phone to free yourself from unwanted distraction. Finally, set aside two minutes to simply sit in silence with God. Before you ask him for anything, enjoy the gift of his presence. Read, Reflect, and Pray Each daily meditation contains a short devotional thought, a passage of Scripture to read, a few questions for reflection, and daily prayer points to guide you as you pray for yourself and those around you. Like a spiritual appetizer, this guide is here simply to help get your conversations with God started each day, but my hope is that this will be a springboard into deeper places with God each day. Take Action Finally, I believe God will give you ample opportunities each day to actively participate in the ways of Jesus as you pray for those God has placed around you. Jesus says we are blessed when we put his words into practice, so proactively look for opportunities and take a step of faith as God prompts you each day. Dave Clayton. Jesus Next Door (Kindle Locations 225-235).

A New Creation

By Pastor Scott Williamson • February 25, 2021

Hasbro toys today announced the brilliant idea to change the iconic childhood toy "Mr. Potatoe Head" to a gender neutral toy called Potato Head. I presume they will then give our kids all the appropriate parts to either make our toy male or female depending on how they 'feel' that day. This is seriously getting beyond insulting. In Christ, and in God's design for humanity, their is no "gender confusion", no "gender fluidity". We were created according to Genesis in God's image. He made them "male" and "female". He gave Eve to Adam to be HIS WIFE and the two became one flesh. God made us in every way distinctly male or distinctly female. It is only when people pitch God to the curb and "everyone does what is right in their own eyes" that we get this kind of chaos, confusion and moral perversion. I'm not being cruel or insensitive. It was never God's design or intent for any of us to be confused over something so basic and so obvious as gender. He didn't design us to be confused over sexuality either. When we defy God's design and choose our own path, the end result is always chaos, depravity and every kind of sinful behavior. Trust God with all your heart. Dont lean on your own understanding. (In other words, dont just do what seems 'right' or 'logical' in your own eyes) In all you do let God guide. Let God decide. And He will take you on a journey that is His perfect design for you life. No confusion. No depravity. No sin. And then you will be free to enjoy Mr. Potato Head without feeling like your'e doing something wrong, offending someone else, or just generally confused over whether "Mr" P is a boy or a girl. Quite frankly, I've never seen a kid who cared.

My True Worth

By noreply • July 26, 2011

Are you "an approval addict"? Are you controlled by the fear of others' opinions of you? Welcome to my world. There are a number of reasons people become "approval addicts". It can be that your parents disciplined by withdrawing their affection when you misbehave. But that certainly isn't the only reason. If you get sucked in to this trap, however, it will completely control your life, just like any other addiction. Some are completely controlled by how others view their appearance. They seek surgical options or workout and diet options in order to become "good enough".