We trample the blood of the Son of God underfoot if we think we are forgiven because we are sorry for our sins. The only reason for the forgiveness of our sins by God, and the infinite depth of His promise to forget them, is the death of Jesus Christ. Our repentance is merely the result of our personal realization of the atonement by the Cross of Christ, which He has provided for us. “…Christ Jesus…became for us wisdom from God— and righteousness and sanctification and redemption…” (1 Corinthians 1:30). Once we realize that Christ has become all this for us, the limitless joy of God begins in us. And wherever the joy of God is not present, the death sentence is still in effect. No matter who or what we are, God restores us to right standing with Himself only by means of the death of Jesus Christ. God does this, not because Jesus pleads with Him to do so but because He died. It cannot be earned, just accepted.

All the pleading for salvation which deliberately ignores the Cross of Christ is useless. It is knocking at a door other than the one which Jesus has already opened. We protest by saying, “But I don’t want to come that way. It is too humiliating to be received as a sinner.” God’s response, through Peter, is, “… there is no other name…by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). What at first appears to be heartlessness on God’s part is actually the true expression of His heart. There is unlimited entrance His way. “In Him we have redemption through His blood…” (Ephesians 1:7). To identify with the death of Jesus Christ means that we must die to everything that was never a part of Him.God is just in saving bad people only as He makes them good. Our Lord does not pretend we are all right when we are all wrong. The atonement by the Cross of Christ is the propitiation God uses to make unholy people holy.________________________________________________________________

 

December 8 2014

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Good morning Lord and thank you for this devotional. It is a reminder for me that Jesus is all we need….  He became our wisdom from God— and righteousness and sanctification and redemption…” (1 Corinthians 1:30). Once we realize that Christ has become all this for us, the limitless joy of God begins in us. This devotional is a reminder that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and that whatever we need in every area of our lives comes from our connection to Jesus.

And God says…”Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, which is Jesus, and everything else you need will be provided. Acknowledge Me in all your ways, and do not depend on your own senses or understanding and I will make your paths straight. When you depend on Jesus for your daily walk for all things: spiritual, material and physical, you will notice how your life is transformed. I will give you peace and answers to your questions and concerns about how you are to live. Just wait on Me, and you will rise up with wings of eagles. You will know when you are connected to Me , not by the circumstances of your life, but by the joy and peace that are a part of your living, regardless of the circumstances.”