Jesus is the light of the world. Whoever follows him will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life. If we know Jesus we know the father also. We will die in our sins unless we believe that Jesus is the Messiah and our Messiah.

Because Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead we can know that he is God’s Christ. Jesus tells us that he does nothing on his own authority, but he speaks just as the father has taught him. Our Lord tells us that the father is with him; that he does not leave him alone and that Jesus is always doing the things that are pleasing to the father.

If we abide in Jesus’s word then we are truly his disciples and we will know the truth and the truth will set us free. Everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. If the son sets you free, you will be free in deed.

This is the judgment, “The light has come into the world and is here! Men loved rather the darkness than the light, because their works were pernicious. Everyone who practices evil hates the light and does not come and face up to the light lest his works be reproved and rebuked.

But he who desires, by god’s grace, to live in the truth comes and faces up to the light in order that his works might be clearly shown to have been produced by God. God, the father, loves His son, and has given all things into his hands. The one who places his trust in the son has eternal life.  But he who refuses to place his trust in the son, being of such a nature that he refuses to be persuaded, shall not see life, but the wrath of God is abiding on him.  Everyone who drinks of the water Jesus the Christ gives them will never thirst again. The water he gives will become in us a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

Just as Moses elevated the snake in the wilderness, in like manner, it is necessary for the Son of Man to be lifted up, in order that everyone who places his/her trust in him may have eternal life.  Everyone, by god’s grace and because of his great love, who places their trust in Christ will not perish but will have eternal life. God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world but that the world would be saved through faith in Jesus as the Messiah.

Everyone who places their trust in Jesus is not being judged. He who does not believe is judged already, and under judgment because they have not put their trust in the name of the only begotten son of God, the one sent by God to save his people from their sins, to redeem god’s people from bondage to sin, the one who sustains us and reconciles us back to God, our father.

The Lord Jesus, God’s Christ, was with God, our father, in the beginning.  In him is life and that life is the light for people in the world. That light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot defeat it. He came into a world that was his own, some did not accept him, but by the father’s grace some people did accept him and believe on his name. To those people he gave the right to become children of God, as if we were born of God, himself.

The Lord Jesus is the word of God and the Word took on flesh that he could live among us; thus those who are god’s could see and hear and touch God’s glory.  The word is full of grace and truth; from him we receive one blessing after another. He is himself God and is with the father. He is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

Ed’s thoughts

The word of God is not meant to be used to manipulate God to do or to fulfill whatever our human understanding perceives as needed or important or “right”.  Instead of the word of God is life and light. It is real spiritual food; meant to be seriously and regularly consumed by each of us! It is meant to renew our mind; destroying old arguments that speak contrary to God, and capturing new thoughts to make them agree with Jesus, the Christ.

The word of God properly “done” by each individual will change our character by conforming us to the image of the Lord Jesus. The word is truth and will sanctify us.  We are born again by the incorruptible seed, which is the word of God. We live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

God is for me so who can prevail against me? He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for my salvation, how will he not then, with him, graciously give me all things (needed for life and godliness).  Who shall bring a charge against me since I am God’s elect (by His mercy and choice not of any “specialness” of me).

It is God who justifies. Who then can condemn me? Christ Jesus is the one who died and more than that, who was raised and who is at the right hand of God and who is, indeed, interceding for me.  So nothing shall separate me from the love of Christ. No, I belong to God because he chose me and called me and redeemed me. Now by his word and the fullness of his spirit he is transforming me day by day.  I am led by his spirit and no longer led by my flesh.

What can I say except: if God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?  Who should bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who then is to condemn? Jesus, the Christ, is the one who died and who is raised and who is at the right hand of God and who is interceding for us.

What shall separate us from the love of Christ? Nothing! In all these worldly things we are more than conquerors through him who loves us. I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Today I am yielded to God as one who is alive from the dead and my members are yielded unto God as instruments of righteousness.  Sin does not have dominion over me for I am not under the law but under grace.

I know that I am the servant of whom I yield myself to serve, whether sin unto death or obedience to God unto righteousness.  I was a servant to sin, but now, thank you Lord, I obey you, my heavenly father, and keep your word.  I obey from my converted heart and I am made free from sin and have become a servant of righteousness.

I can remember serving sin and what a nasty, shameful life that was, but now, being made free from sin, I serve God and have the peace and joy of holiness and everlasting life with God.  The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ, my Lord.

If God is for me, who can be against me? He who did not spare his own son but gave him up for us all; how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who should bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who then is to condemn? Jesus, the Christ, is the one who died and who is raised.

He is the one at  the right hand of God who is interceding for me. What shall separate me from the love of Christ?  Nothing!  In all these worldly things I am more than a conqueror through him who loves me.  I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate me from the love of God in Christ Jesus, my Lord.

Ed’s thoughts

In the past I was a sinner led by my lusts. I disobeyed and ignored the word of my Lord, and the vows I had made. I was lost in my selfishness. But God never left me. He worked in the circumstances of my life to bring me to my senses. I clearly saw what a selfish bore I was and what a nasty mess my life had become. I took responsibility with God for my sin. I confessed, repented, and began to return to God through his word and his people.

I had acted like a bum, but God moved in my heart. I received his grace and mercy, and saw my complete need for him. I did not deserve forgiveness but God the father ordained the way, the Lord Jesus provided the way, and the Holy Spirit applied the way. I became broken, and wisely returned to the shepherd and Bishop of my soul. Jesus is my Lord and I follow him.  What can I say now except, “If God is for me who can be against me? “