WHAT'S SO SPECIAL ABOUT SALVATION? (God is Love)

Here is an excerpt from the June 2011 issue of my newsletter. Feel free to send me an email if you want to be added to the mailing list to receive it monthly.

This study is in three (3) parts and this is an excerpt from part 1.

GOD’S LOVE
It is a fact that God loves all of mankind including non-believers and sinners. The scripture says God loved the ‘world’ or the KOSMOS. This refers to the earth and its inhabitants but encompasses the universe as well.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

It also says God gave us His only begotten Son Jesus the Christ and He chose to die for us all. Can you imagine giving up your only totally innocent child to die for the vilest, wickedest and most undeserving people that ever existed? I can’t! In fact I know I would not be able to do that. But God’s love for us was and is so unconditional that He did in fact do that.

Christ gave up Heaven, took on flesh and blood or bones, was crucified, died and was buried in a tomb but did not stay dead. God raised Him from the dead. Christ’s resurrection means that all people have the opportunity to be raised from the dead as well. This was God’s plan for mankind so that ALL may be reconnected to HIM. Christ was the first of many.

“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-21)

All died because of Adam. All have the opportunity to live through Christ. In Paul’s epistle to the Romans we are told that believers are more than conquerors through Christ Jesus. There is nothing that is able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Not death nor life, not angels, principalities nor powers, not things present nor things to come, not height nor depth nor any other created thing.

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39)

God’s Love for us is permanent. Believers cannot be separated from God’s love by these things listed above. But can we be separated from God? God loves people and hates sin. Iniquity or depraved action (sin) separates people from God. Sin causes God to hide His face from people and to not hear them.

“But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.” (Isaiah 59:2)

This means that where sin exists, God hides His face. It does not mean that He withdraws His love. He loves unconditionally and cannot withdraw His love, not even from the separated. That is why he loves the sinner; God cannot stop loving people because He IS LOVE.

“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:16)

You may freely download all my studies, which are listed on the right under: MY STUDIES. God bless you. Please look forward to next month's newsletter.

THE VICTORY SERIES - The Whole Armour Of God, Vol. 2 - Issue 2, February, 2011

Here is an excerpt from the February 2011 newsletter.

THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD
Be careful, be warned: it is not wise for babes to go to war against seasoned warriors, one must be mature. It is when you are mature that you can ‘put on’ the ‘whole armour’ of God and stand against the tricks of the devil.
“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”(Ephesians 6:11)

These ‘wiles’ of the devil are the main reason we need the whole armour of God, which consists of these components: one (1) neutral, two (2) defensive, one (1) offensive, one (1) defensive/offensive and one (1) offensive/defensive. The Apostle Paul utilised the Roman Centurion’s physical armour to describe how the believer should be armoured spiritually. The scripture says:
“Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:” (Ephesians 6:14-17)

The Shoes (an offensive component): are called the PREPARATION—HETOIMASIA, pronounced he-toi-mä-sē'-ä, the condition of readiness or preparedness to bring something … of the GOSPEL—EUAGGELION, pronounced yü-än-ge'-lē-on, the good tidings of salvation through Christ … of PEACE—EIRENE, pronounced ā-rā'-nā, the tranquil state of a soul that is assured of salvation through Christ.

Physically, the shoes (Latin, Caligae) were leather sandals with thick soles. Hobnails were hammered through the soles and the points protruded from underneath. The nails served several purposes: they reinforced the caligae, they provided better traction on varying terrain and they were used as a weapon. The caligae were laced from the centre of the top of the sandals starting from the toe up to and above the ankle. It is also a common practice of soccer players to bind under the laces of their cleats (modern caligae of sorts), wrapping them several times around the foot to secure the cleats properly.

Spiritually, we are to have our feet ‘shod’ with the Caligae that is the readiness or preparedness to bring the good news of Christ’s redemptive work, which produces tranquillity in the soul. Readiness is fourfold. It is not only being in a state of conscious readiness but possessing the capability to properly execute that readiness as well as executing it and producing tranquil souls. Winning souls must be the ultimate offensive objective of every believer.

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