This verse is the greatest example of the true essence of the message of a disciple of Jesus Christ in all of the New Testament.

God’s first sovereign work of grace is summed up in the words, “. . . that they may receive forgiveness of sins . . . .” When a person fails in his personal Christian life, it is usually because he has never received anything. The only sign that a person is saved is that he has received something from Jesus Christ. Our job as workers for God is to open people’s eyes so that they may turn themselves from darkness to light. But that is not salvation; it is conversion-only the effort of an awakened human being. I do not think it is too broad a statement to say that the majority of so-called Christians are like this. Their eyes are open, but they have received nothing. Conversion is not regeneration. This is a neglected fact in our preaching today. When a person is born again, he knows that it is because he has received something as a gift from Almighty God and not because of his own decision. People may make vows and promises, and may be determined to follow through, but none of this is salvation. Salvation means that we are brought to the place where we are able to receive something from God on the authority of Jesus Christ, namely, forgiveness of sins.

This is followed by God’s second mighty work of grace: “. . . an inheritance among those who are sanctified . . . .” In sanctification, the one who has been born again deliberately gives up his right to himself to Jesus Christ, and identifies himself entirely with God’s ministry to others.

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January 10, 2010

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, a brother and I agreed on one New Year’s Resolution; to experience life and life more abundantly…… as you promised and provided. Not necessarily life with more material possessions or more financial ballast, although we both agreed that if it is your will that we experience  blessings in those areas, we would not complain or object. However, it was not our intent to begin our year by praying for  material gain. It is our intention to take hold of your promise of life and life more abundantly, and we asked if you would remove the scales from our eyes and hearts so we can understand more about this promise and all that it entails. You promised it, we want to understand and receive it.

And God says…” Ask and you shall receive, knock and the door will be opened. You do not receive because you do not ask and often you do not ask with the right motives. When you come to me with an open heart and mind, trusting and believing in my omnipotence, I can answer your request and begin to show you portions of life and life more abundantly that you can grasp and experience.  And be assured that your life is lived in abundance as you extend your life to others. Your intimacy with Me and abundant life are very closely linked.  You grasp life and life more abundantly through the discernment of the Holy Spirit that lives within you, and the Spirit of God within you testifies to the abundant life that you seek.”

1 Corinthians 2:12-14 (The Message)

 ^10-13The Spirit, not content to flit around on the surface, dives into the depths of God, and brings out what God planned all along. Who ever knows what you’re thinking and planning except you yourself? The same with God—except that he not only knows what he’s thinking, but he lets us in on it. God offers a full report on the gifts of life and salvation that he is giving us. We don’t have to rely on the world’s guesses and opinions. We didn’t learn this by reading books or going to school; we learned it from God, who taught us person-to-person through Jesus, and we’re passing it on to you in the same firsthand, personal way.

 ^14-16The nonspiritual self, just as it is by nature, can’t receive the gifts of God’s Spirit. There’s no capacity for them. They seem like so much silliness. Spirit can be known only by spirit—God’s Spirit and our spirits in open communion. Spiritually alive, we have access to everything God’s Spirit is doing, and can’t be judged by nonspiritual critics. Isaiah’s question, “Is there anyone around who knows God’s Spirit, anyone who knows what he is doing?” has been answered: Christ knows, and we have Christ’s Spirit