The Payment of Christ

Romans 3:24-26 (NKJV)
²⁴ being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵ whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, ²⁶ to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

        Redemption, propitiation and righteousness are very amazing subjects in scripture. Now that I’ve put to sleep 75% of all readers and made the other 25% to lose interest, I just want to attempt to make these subjects more real. In verse 24, Paul says that we are justified by grace through redemption. To be justified is to be declared completely righteous and holy by Christ. This allows us to be “just as if I’d never sinned” before God.

        Here’s the condition, we come into this world completely sold out to sin. We deserve punishment and judgment for out acts and should justly send us to hell. But instead of judgment, Christ came along and gave us grace. He gave to us a gift that we did not deserve. In fact, when we deserved judgment, He gave us a reward. He brought us out of sin by paying our debt with His own life. Upon trusting in Him, we have the authority to share the joy and rewards of heaven. God has allowed this for all who believe.

        The word propitiation means payment or satisfaction of payment. Jesus paid our debt with His own life, taking upon Himself the wrath of God, when we were sold out to sin. All we have to do is receive this through faith. By faith he passes over our sins and sees them no more. The word for propitiation is also used for the word “mercy seat”. This again, shows us that God turned a place of judgment into a place of mercy. A place, previously off limits to all except the high priest (once a year) can now be visited freely and boldly by His children. Coming boldly into His presence is an extreme privilege.  So, why do we not spend more time in His presence?

        In verse 25, Paul states that God wanted to be just and the justifier of those who believe. The law was designed to point out sin. It was a harsh tattle tale of wrongs that were violated. God is totally just and deserving to send judgment to man. But, in grace He now wants to reveal and lavish upon us the righteousness that is in Christ. This is done completely in love. The law showed us our sin and the wrath of God. But God did not want to display harshness any more. He, through Christ, wants us to see His loving nature. His gift of grace and His immeasurable mercy is through salvation in Christ.

        Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.

Daniel A. Smith

The Light of the Word

Psalm 119:105 (NKJV)
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

The presence of light is absolutely essential to most aspects of life. The presence of light illuminates exposes and guides. Today’s verse shows us that the word of God is the light we need to use for each step of each day. Without this light we walk in complete darkness, so it is essential that we are daily exposed to the light of the word of God. As we actively seek the light of God’s word, ingesting it regularly, we gain understanding. “The entrance of Your words gives light, It gives understanding to the simple” (Ps. 119:130, NKJV).

The light of the word is essential to fellowship with God and others. It also keeps us from sin. John says, “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (I John 1:7, NKJV).

The light exposes all things, including sin. If we confess our sin, God forgives us and we no longer have to be ashamed or fearful. Thus, the light of God’s word delivers us from fear. ”The LORD is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?” (Ps. 27:1, NKJV).

As God’s children, we are His representatives and we need to be an example of this light. Personal holiness and routine cleansing of the word need to be a daily practice in order to display this light. “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light”, (Ephesians 5:8, NKJV).

Any form of light is of no use unless it is on display. We need to shine God’s light in order that a dark world may see it. Matthew says, “¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lamp stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”, (Matt. 5:14-16, NKJV).

God’s glory is the light. John tells us that it is the glory of God which will be the light in heaven. “The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light”, (Revelation 21:23, NKJV.) The lamb of God, His death and resurrection is the glory that can enlighten all men, if we trust Him.

Thought, comments, objections, prayer requests.

Daniel A. Smith

God’s Goodness

 

Psalm 31:19-24 (NKJV)
¹⁹ Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men! ²⁰ You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence, from the plots of man. You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.

God’s goodness is an inexhaustible subject. God is good in so many ways that we could discuss this for the rest of eternity. God’s goodness is also something that we need to dwell upon a whole lot more than we do. God is good because He gave us life this day. He’s good because He forgives us every time we ask Him. He’s good because He provides for all our needs. He’s good because He has allowed salvation for sinful man. There is not enough paper in the world to write the number of ways that God is good.

God’s goodness is amazing and His goodness is very unique and personal for all of us. God is good to all men but He will favorably treat those who walk in His ways. In verse 19 David tells us that He lays up goodness for those who fear Him. If we fear the Lord, walk in His ways, in faith and love He not only will bless us on this side of heaven, but He has a special blessing in store at heaven’s gates.

His goodness is displayed in a special way when we walk with Him. When we trust and fear God He protects us and hides us from trouble. Does this mean that the child of God will never have trouble in life? Not at all, God still tests us to strengthen our faith and get our attention. He also needs to remind us of the state of the world that we live in.

David says that God hides us in His secret place. Just think of that, God preserves, protects and helps us in a very personal and special ways. He does this in ways that mean so much to us because He wants to have the greatest relationship with us possible. This happens when we walk in His word and in His ways.

The plots of men and the strife of tongues do not have to get us disappointed. God will help us through these things as we trust Him. We can and will know of His goodness – even in the difficult times if we trust and fear Him. Those who know Him as savior will dwell in His presence forever. If we start now by walking in His presence, we can then begin experiencing Him and His goodness right now.

Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.

Daniel A. Smith

Why Praise the Lord?

Psalm 30:4 (NKJV)
Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.

        Praise and thankfulness is a necessary element for the child of God. Not only is praise an expression of who God is and what He deserves, but it also lifts our attitude and cheers our heart. As we see in Ps. 30, one of the reason’s to praise God is the fact that He is holy. God alone is holy and He deserves honor and praise for this alone.

        There are many other reasons to praise the Lord. Most of these reasons are found in the Psalms. Here is a limited list of reasons why we should praise God. Meditate on these and seek other reasons to praise Him in your heart each day.

·        He is worthy – ‘I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, so shall I be saved from my enemies.” (Ps 18:3, NKJV).

·        He is great – ‘Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised In the city of our God, In His holy mountain.’ (Ps 48:1, NKJV).

·        He is infinite – ‘Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable.’ (Ps 145:1, NKJV).

·        He is to be honored – “Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praiseglorious.” (Ps 66:2, NKJV).

·        He is marvelous – “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well” (Ps 139:14, NKJV).

·        Praise is beautiful – “Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous! For praisefrom the upright is beautiful.” (Ps 33:1, NKJV).

·        Praise is evangelical – “He has put a new song in my mouth—Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD.” (Ps 40:3, NKJV).

·        Praise glorifies God – “Whoever offerspraise glorifies Me; And to him who orders his conduct aright I will show the salvation of God.” (Ps 50:23, NKJV).

·        Praise should be continual – “From the rising of the sun to its going down The LORD’s name is to be praised.” (Ps 113:3, NKJV).

Begin each day with praise. Praise the Lord throughout the day. Begin praising now, because praise will be continual in eternity. Live each moment with the attitude of David, “Let my mouth be filled with Yourpraise and with Your glory all the day.” (Ps 71:8, NKJV).

Thoughts, comments, objections, prayer requests.

Not Perfect Yet

Philippians 3:12-14 (NKJV)
¹² Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. ¹³ Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, ¹⁴ I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

        This side of heaven, we will never be perfect. Even though the child of God stands perfected in Christ’s righteousness at salvation, we still live in a sin stained world. Paul realized that also. But this did not stop him from pursuing perfection. Comparing ourselves to others or measuring our successes to the success of others is not wise. The only standard is Jesus Christ. If we compare ourselves to Jesus, we will not get confused by defining success as anything but righteousness.

        Perfection is not doing everything right or making no mistakes at all. But perfection is maturity in Christ. As we depend on Him and walk in the fullness of the Spirit of God, we then can allow Christ’s purifying work in our life. We cannot do this in and of ourselves. We need to walk by faith, humbly, willingly, submitting ourselves to the will of God. We then can allow Christ to mold us into His image. Faithfully reading His word and daily prayer are some of the most key elements to this process.

        Paul reminds us in vs. 13 that a key element in this striving process is forgetting the past. That which we dwell on is that which we will become. Solomon says, “For as he thinks inhis heart, so is he”, (Prov. 23:7a). We need to focus on Christ moment by moment and not get distracted with the daily affairs of life. As we focus on Christ, our mind needs to be enveloped with pleasing God and not others. Each decision in life must be for the sake of Christ and His plan and purpose for our life.

        Our ultimate goal is heaven, which is secure at the moment of salvation. But there is a striving in this current world. The word for “press toward” has the idea of pursuing after something in a hostile manner. We are in a hostile world. The choices we make are continual and sometimes very difficult. We must set our goal on being like Christ and compromising for nothing less than Christ likeness. Walking in maturity, being faithful and loving everyone unconditionally are life time challenges. This requires focus on Christ and uncompromising desire in order to accomplish it. This is our part. We then must be arrested to ourselves and to our own power. We then need to completely rely on the strength of Christ to accomplish this.

        Thoughts, comments, objects, prayer requests.

Daniel A. Smith

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