DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 4.1.23

The Cross Wasn't a Mistake - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. �Luke 9:51 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-cross-wasnt-a-mistake/- Listen At Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked His disciples a question: �Who do people say that the Son of Man is?� (Matthew 16:13 NLT). Different individuals came up with different answers. But then Peter, under the inspiration of God Himself said, �You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God� (verse 16NLT). Jesus commended Peter for his answer, and everything was going wonderfully. But then Matthew tells us, �From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terriblethings at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead� (verse 21 NLT). Peter, probably thinking he was on a roll at that point, privately took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him for making such statements. But Jesus replied, �Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God�s� (verse 23 NLT). Why so harsh? Jesus was speaking to the spirit that motivated Peter to say what he did. It was the devil who was saying to Jesus, �Don�t go to the cross. Think about Yourself.What about You?� Yet nothing would deter Jesus from His course. That is why Jesus responded to Peter so strongly. In fact, Luke�s Gospel tells us that �as the time drew near for him to ascendto heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem� (9:51 NLT). Jesus Christ came to this earth to buy back that which was forfeited in the Garden of Eden. The cross wasn�t a mistake. Jesus knew it was coming and spoke of it often. He had to go to the cross because there was no other way to bridge the gap between a holy God andsinful humanity. The cross was Jesus� goal and destination from the beginning. ------------------------------------ Crucifiedand Alive �I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life whichI now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God.� (Galatians 2:20) This verse gives us two principles concerning the fleshly nature and our new life in Christ. First, we are admonished to consider ourselves �crucified with Christ.� The verb crucified (synestauromai) is in the perfect tense, indicating a past eventwith an ongoing action. In other words, we were crucified with Christ at the new birth and, as one theologian said, are �in the state of being crucified with Christ.� Thus, we are to consider our fleshly nature as in a position of being put to death. Romans6:6 says, �Our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.� But the miracle of new birth and ongoing sanctification involve much more than the death of our sinful nature. Paul noted previously in Romans 6:5, �For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.� Indeed, believers are new creations in Christ Jesus. �Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new� (2Corinthians 5:17). In regard to this new creation, Paul admonishes us to �put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness� (Ephesians4:24). These gospel mysteries and empowering truths should be at the core of our theological convictions. Our spiritual state is our identification with Christ in the redemptive truths of His crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. JPT ------------------- BornAgain by the Word of God “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abidethfor ever.” (1Peter 1:23) Our rebirth into the family of God is quite unlike our natural birth. All human birth and, indeed, due to the universal curse placed on all creation (Romans8:20-22) at the time of Adam’s rebellion (Genesis3), all plant (1Peter 1:24) and animal reproduction as well is “of corruptible seed,” withering and dying. Our spirits, however, if we have availed ourselves of God’s free offer of eternal life through the death of His dear Son, have been reborn of “incorruptible” seed, not subject to decay or death. The agent that brought about this transformation is the incorruptible “word of the Lord [which] endureth for ever” (v. 25). This “word” is modified by two descriptors, both of which are emphatic in the Greek. First, it liveth; i.e., it actually possesses life. His sacrificial death yields our eternal life. Note the precious truth: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live;yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians2:20). Secondly, the Word of God “abideth” (same word as “endureth” in verse 25) forever. There are two emphases here. One is on the quality of the Word; i.e., it will never change or lose its relevance. The other is on the self-perpetuating nature ofthe Word. It so consists of life that it is able to give life. “This is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you” (1Peter 1:25), by which we are born again to incorruptibility and immortality. “That by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2Peter 1:4). JDM ----------------------- ICome Quickly “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation22:20) This is the next-to-the-last verse in the Bible, and it contains the last promise in the Bible. The final promise of the Lord is that He would come back to Earth again “quickly,” but it has been almost 2,000 years since He made the promise, and He hasn’t comeyet. Evidently, the word “quickly,” as He used it, did not mean “immediately.” As a matter of fact, this promise appears no less than six times here in Revelation (Revelation2:5, 16; 3:11; 22:7, 12, 20). The first three are in Christ’s messages to the churches at Ephesus, Pergamos, and Philadelphia, respectively. The last three are in His final message to all churches (Revelation22:16). The Lord Jesus has not forgotten His promise, for “all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us” (2Corinthians 1:20). Furthermore, many spiritual believers in every previous generation have been looking for His coming “quickly,” as He promised, yet they all have died before its fulfillment. It seems evident that “quickly” must be understood in the sense of “suddenly.” It may well be “in such an hour as ye think not” (Matthew24:44), and it will occur “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (1Corinthians 15:52) when it happens. It does seem that all the signs of the nearness of His sudden coming are being fulfilled today, except perhaps one. “And the gospel must first be published among all nations” (Mark13:10) “for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew24:14). Even this is now being done, it seems. In any case, it is vitally important that we “abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we...not be ashamed before him at his coming” (1John 2:28). “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” HMM ----------------------- HeCame to Free Us - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see,that the oppressed will be set free. �Luke 4:18 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/he-came-to-free-us/- Listen No doctor can heal a broken heart. He or she may be able to do other things for your heart, but a doctor can�t get to the source of your emotional problem. Only Jesus canheal a heart that has been broken. Jesus said, �The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that theblind will see, that the oppressed will be set free� (Luke 4:18 NLT). Here are Jesus� words in Luke 4:18 in the New King James Version: �He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted.� Jesus came to heal brokenhearted people. Maybe your heart breaksfrom the loss of a loved one, the loss of a relationship, or perhaps constant failures. Maybe your family has let you down and it seems like no one cares. Let Jesus Christ heal your broken heart. He came to �proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free.� Are you crushed by life? Jesus can bring deliverance, butyou need to want it. He came to free us�if we will go to Him, ask Him to forgive our sin, turn from it, and begin to follow Him. If you have never done that, then why don�t you do it today? The same Jesus who walked this earth and experienced the limitations of humanity loves you. The same Jesus who died on the cross, took the sin of the world upon Himself, androse from the dead wants to forgive your sin. Now is the time to take God�s lifeline. The Bible tells us, �There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved� (Acts 4:12NLT). Now is the time to find God�s forgiveness and His plan for your life. --------------------------------- TheTeacher and His Words “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” (Matthew12:37) In many churches, teachers are in short supply. Evidently many who have the Spirit-given gift of teaching are not using it as they should. On the other hand, a Christian must never assume the role of teacher without clear leading from above. As the teacherof the early Jerusalem church wrote, “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation” (James3:1). Christ taught in our text that by our words we shall be judged and either justified or condemned. Since for “every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment” (Matthew12:36), how much more so will the words of a teacher be scrutinized, especially a teacher of the Word of God. Another reason one should be slow to don the cloak of a teacher is that even a teacher finds it hard to live up to his own teachings. “For in many things we offend all [better, ‘we all stumble’]. If any man [stumble] not in word, the same is a perfect man” (James3:2). Speaking of the Jewish teachers, Jesus instructed His listeners to do what their teachers said, not what they did (Matthew23:3), and then He condemned hypocritical teachers with seven stinging “woes” (vv. 13-33). The proper use of the teaching gift perhaps yields greater honor than most but also greater condemnation if error or hurt creeps in. The church does need all the gifts and should not neglect any genuinely Spirit-given gifts of its members. Nevertheless, one might contemplate the aggressive, anti-creationist stance taken by many professors at evangelical churches, colleges, and seminaries today, teaching theistic evolution, the day-age theory, framework hypothesis, etc., and wonder if Christ’sreference to the “millstone” around the neck might apply (Luke17:2). JDM ---------------------- AnEternal Holy Calling “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to hisown purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” (2Timothy 1:9) There appears to be an apparent conflict between God’s salvation, which was determined “before the world began,” and our present need to persuade men to believe the gospel (2Corinthians 5:11). Jesus urged whoever was burdened to “come unto me” (Matthew11:28), while insisting He had chosen His disciples rather than the other way around (John15:16). Scripture often expresses this paradox. Ephesians 2:8-9 states that our salvation is “not of works” but comes to us by the grace of God through faith—and even that faith is God’s gift. Few would argue that salvation is some sort of cooperative work between God and man, since there is no questionthat our salvation is not due to our efforts. Many passages verify that teaching. Today’s text insists that our salvation was “according to his own purpose and grace.” Our salvation must meet the requirements set by God’s standards. Just what does that demand? God must be holy and just while justifying the ungodly (Romans3:26). His holiness cannot be compromised. Thus, the incarnate and sinless Redeemer had to be sacrificed in order to reconcile sinful man with a holy God (2Corinthians 5:21 and Revelation 13:8b). Then, the absolute sequence of redemption through grace had to be determined for those “who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans8:28 and 1 Peter 1:2). The result of the sacrifice and the sequence had to be fixed so that the redeemed would be “conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans8:29). Praise God for His “unspeakable gift” (2Corinthians 9:15). HMM III -----------TheOnly Path to Lasting Change - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don�t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don�t understand thismessage about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. �2 Corinthians 4:4 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-only-path-to-lasting-change/- Listen Some people today believe in conspiracy theories. But I believe there�s a conspiracy that goes much deeper than any of their theories: the devil is at work, and he is behindso many of the systems surrounding us today. The Bible describes Satan as �the god of this world� (2 Corinthians 4:4 NLT). In fact, Ephesians 2, referring to Satan, says, �He is the spirit at work in the hearts of thosewho refuse to obey God� (verse 2 NLT). That�s why all attempts to reform this world, this culture, this country, or this society apart from a change of the human heart are basically futile. Education won�t do it.Politics won�t do it. The economy won�t do it. Even morality, in and of itself, won�t do it. We need a change of heart that only God can bring when we follow Jesus Christ. We need morality in our country, but how do we decide what is moral? How do we decide what is good? We need a greater foundation. The Bible teaches that God is truth. Althoughsome people claim that all truth is God�s truth, some �truth� is not truth at all. God�s truth is the only truth. And the only way to know whether what we are doing is true, moral, and good is to measure it by God�s standards. When we look at this world and ask why God allows this or why God allows that, we must recognize that Satan, �the god of this world,� is the one to blame. He is the one whois responsible for the injustice, violence, and rebellion against God and His laws. However, the Bible clearly says that �temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away� (James 1:14 NLT). The devil works with the combustible, sinfulnature within every person. But he cannot bring us down unless we cooperate. ----------------------------------- Understanding the Justice of God - by GregLaurie � www.harvest.org For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many. �Matthew 20:28 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/understanding-the-justice-of-god/- Listen Why the cross? Why didn�t God simply say, �Look, everyone, I know you have sinned against Me, but I am going to pardon you right now. It�s okay. I forgive all of you!� God didn�t do that because it doesn�t work with His nature and character. The justice of God requires obedience and sacrifice. He could not accept us into fellowship withHimself unless we paid the penalty�or someone paid it on our behalf. Romans 3:25 tells us, �For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past� (NLT). The cross demonstrates the justice of God. At the cross of Calvary, the love and justice of God met. Yes, God had to satisfy His justice. The Scriptures say, �The person whosins is the one who will die� (Ezekiel 18:20 NLT), �the wages of sin is death� (Romans 6:23 NLT), and �without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness� (Hebrews 9:22 NLT). God was saying, �My righteous requirements must be met. But I love humanity, and there is no way they can do it on their own. So, I must help them.� Therefore, He sent Jesusto bridge the gap. This is why Jesus Christ is the only way to God. People like to say that all roads lead to God. It really concerns me when I hear Christians parrot statements to that effect.There is only one path. There is only one way. If that were not true, then why did Jesus have to die? If all roads lead to God, then why did Jesus go through the anguish, torture, and pain of the cross? The primary reason Jesus came to this earth was to die for our sins. ------------------------- TheBlessed Man �And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season;his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.� (Psalm 1:3) The first Psalm constitutes a contrast between the godly individual who delights in God�s law and the ungodly person who is destined for destruction. �Blessed� literally means �happy,� and the habits of such a happy one are described as not only avoiding thethought patterns and lifestyle of the ungodly (v. 1), but also delighting in and obeying the Word of God (v. 2). Our text describes four results of being blessed or happy in the biblical sense. First, �he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,� with the implication being to dwell in a secure, bountiful state. The verb �plant� actually means �transplanted,� now firmly rooted and provided for, no longer vulnerable, tentative, and undernourished. Second, he �bringeth forth his fruit in his season.� One does not so nourish a tree without any purpose. Here, following the analogy, the godly individual, nourished and protected by his Maker, can likewise expect to accomplish a purpose�in this case to bearspiritual, eternal fruit. Third, �his leaf also shall not wither.� Eternal life is the present possession of all who have been �transplanted� by the Lord. Such a one can expect to faithfully bring forth precious fruit in each season of his life. Fourth, �whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.� Success in each endeavor undertaken by one whose delight is the Lord can be expected, such success defined by that which brings spiritual maturity, and eternal fruit, and prosperity, as He defines prosperity. �For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish� (v. 6). JDM -------------------------- Oncefor All �For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.� (Romans6:10) The Greek word ephapax translated �once� in this verse actually means �once for all.� Christ did not have to die again and again, a new death for every sinner. He died unto sin once for all, His death being sufficient to take away �the sin of the [whole]world� (John 1:29). The word ephapax occurs only five times in the Bible. Our text is the first, confirming that His once-for-all death for sin was sufficient forever; He now lives wholly �unto God.� The second confirms the reality of this permanent resurrection. In Jewishlaw, a factual claim was considered confirmed by the principle that �in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established� (Matthew 18:16).Paul recalls that the resurrected Christ �was seen of above five hundred brethren at once� (1 Corinthians 15:6). Two or three would have sufficed, but Hehad five hundred witnesses. These saw Him alive once for all, and their lives were forever changed. The other three references are in Hebrews. �[He] needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people�s: for this he did once [that is, �once for all�], when he offered up himself.� �Neither by theblood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once [�once for all�] into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.� �By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all� (Hebrews7:27; 9:12; 10:10). Once for all He died for sin, then with His own shed blood He entered into the presence of the Father, sanctified us forever, and was raised from the dead by impeccable testimony, once for all. HMM -------------------------------------------