Welcome!
Today: A new nature!
Passage: Eph 2, Prov 6
3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. (Eph 2, NIV 84)-emphasis added
In his letter to the Ephesians in Asia Minor who were mostly from a gentile background, Paul says, “all of us….” meaning, there are no exemptions!
22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Rom 3, NIV 84)
Being born as a Jew, Paul was goes on to say, “Like the rest, we were by nature, objects of wrath…”
The wrath of God is real; but it is not like the anger of man and is not against the sinner; the wrath of God is against sin, and the situation of being in sin
When man has anger, it is mostly against the individual(s), which is a sin
The only enemy for the child of God, is the devil, who is God’s enemy as well
The Bible makes it clear: “naturally, we are in sin”
A person is a citizen of the nation they are born in. If they get the privilege to become the citizen of another nation, they have to make a confession/oath
We become the citizens of Heaven by making a confession with our mouth that we accept Jesus Christ as the Lord and savior of our lives, and by believing that God raised the body of Jesus from death (Rom 10:9, 10; John 1:12)
We renounce our “natural” citizenship of this (satanic) world, to become citizens of God’s kingdom. It is done voluntarily, not by anyone’s pressure
Jesus never forced anyone to accept Jesus as savior. He gave the message and those who wanted to accept the message voluntarily did it
In Christ, we received a “new nature”, not a “modified” one; we became a new creation. You can’t modify that which is dead! (2 Cor 5:17)
Now, even that we wanted to change, and if God said “No” to us, we wouldn’t get the salvation. Salvation is possible only by God’s acceptance of our decision
A judge in the court has the right to accept or deny a plea
God showered His grace and mercy lavishly upon us. His wrath was against sin, but His grace and mercy, for the sinner
We were “dead, enslaved and condemned”. Jesus quickened us from our death, delivered us from our slavery to sin and the devil, and saved us from condemnation by forgiving our sins
May God help us continually to walk in His grace, by the faith He gave us
Blessed day, as you continue to pray for the nation
BG
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for your atoning work on the cross, without which my salvation would have been a nightmare, impossible. Thank you Jesus. Help me to grow up to the stature you want me to be. Amen
Proverbs: Proverbs 6 (verses from NIV 84)
16 There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.