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? “

I have enjoyed that victory and I have felt that amazement of being called and chosen to be one with God. Thank you, Lord, for your grace to me. I bow before you. You are great and glorious and I get to dwell in that glory.

Beyond and surrounding the glory is your love. I am buoyed up by your love for me;  the free gift of your love even for me a sinner who tried to walk away but found you patient, persistent, and almighty in your claim to my life. Thank you for your faithfulness.  I belong to you. I have been bought with a price and I am no longer my own. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set me free from the law of sin and death. By god’s grace and Jesus’s sacrifice I am set free from condemnation.  There is therefore now no condemnation for me because I am in Jesus, the Christ.

The work of God is to believe in him whom he sent; to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ.  I am diligent at this; following my shepherd and seeking to know him so that I am found in him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

My Lord has drawn me to him and has given me faith that by his divine power I have all things pertaining to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that has called me to glory and virtue.  He has given me a divine promises, exceeding great and precious promises whereby I am a partaker of the divine nature and have escaped the corruption that is in this world through lust.  So I give diligence to his word, and to his spirit who dwells in me, and my calling and election become sure and obvious.