God's Pathway #2

Our Condition

God created us to be in communion with Him.  He had a design for our lives that will bless us and bless those around us.  When we follow His path, we experience peace, joy, and fullness of life.  When we choose our own way rather than God's pathway, this is called sin.  This leads to frustration, guilt, unhappiness, and defeat.  In addition, the Bible is very clear about the long-term result of sin.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We all have physical bodies that will die some day (unless Christ returns first and takes us straight to Heaven), but the death that this verse speaks of is spiritual death.  Spiritual death is eternal separation from God.  There is no suffering worse than this.  Christ experienced separation from the Father when he died on the Cross for us.  He said, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"  (Matthew 27:36)  Then, Praise the Lord, He rose from death to prepare a place for his children in Heaven. (John 14:1-4)

Any goodness that is found in us is a sign that God exists in this world.  By nature, we are sinful creatures with selfish desires.

Romans 7:18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.  For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.

So what do we do about it?  Nothing....there is nothing we can do to earn salvation.  But we can trust in what Christ did for us on the cross.  He paid our price.  He suffered in our place.  So, let's look at God's provision.......

God's Provision: Forgiveness & Restoration

Step 1: In order to experience forgiveness and be restored to His path, we must first admit to our problem, our sinful nature.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Step 2: We must confess, then renounce.  Renouncing is turning away from our sinful ways and following God's ways.  By doing so, we are blessed with God's mercy.  Mercy is avoiding the consequences that we deserve.

Proverbs 28:13 He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and drenounces them finds mercy.


Step 3:  Accept God's gift as complete, perfect and forever.  Stop trying to save yourself.  It is futile.  Trust in Christ's finished work on the cross as our only way to the Father.

Psalm 32:5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.  I said, 'I will confess my transgressions to the Lord-and you forgave the guilt of my sin.'

John 14:6 Jesus said, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.'

Confess your problem, renounce your selfish desires, and accept the gift of forgiveness and salvation through Christ.

Next time, Our Daily Walk....

God's Pathway

VICTORY THROUGH CHRIST
Adversity Builds Character

"(Everyone) will suffer adversity..., (even Christians).  Paul had physical infirmity, suffered beatings and imprisonment, shipwreck, robbers, and other dangers.  Job lost is family, all his possessions and was afflicted with terible sores from head to foot.  Stephen gave his life for the faith....Adversity builds character and Christlikeness." (CLWC - Billy Graham)

James 1:2-4 Consider if pure joy my brothers, whenever youf ace trials.
Romans 5:3-5 We also rejoice in our sufferings.
Romans 8:28-29 God works for the good of those who live him.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Give thanks in all circumstances.

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God's Promises (on His Pathway)

When we receive Christ, we also receive all of his promises....

#1  Fulfillment & Joy

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all you heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Walking in God's way means walking in the Spirit, walking in the light, and walking in truth.  This leads to fulfillment, satisfaction, and peace.

Psalm 16:11 You have made known to me the path of life, you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal plesures at you right hand.
Psalm 107:9 For he stisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.
Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace him whose maind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
Galatians 5:16, 22-23 So I say, walk by the Spirit....  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

1 John 1:7-9 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.  If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

John 14:21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.

More promises to come....

Also in the next blog, "Our Condition" 

First thoughts

Welcome to my journey of faith!

Confidence in God's Sovereignty
We need not fear.  We don't depend on our own strength, but on God's.  He empowers us to do his good purpose.  We need only be confident in his ability.
Jeremiah 1:6&9 "'Ah, Sovereign Lord,' I said, 'I do not know how to speak....' But the Lord said to me...Now, I have put my words in your mouth.'"
In the case of Moses, the issue wasn't what the burning bush was like; the issue was that God was in the bush. 
"Confidence" comes from two words, "with faith".

Faith
It is by faith in Christ's finished work on the cross that we find salvation.  It is by faith that we please God.  It is by faith that we walk the Christian life.  It is through faith that God empowers his children.
Hebrews 11:1&6 "Now faith isbeing sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."  Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."

More to come...
In the mean time, check out Rock the River at http://www.billygraham.ca/ministries/youth-ministry/rock-the-river/what's-happening.aspx