Tag: Salvation

Devotionals

The Lord said to my Lord

Loring Schultz

“David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.”’ Mark 12:36 ESV

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“The Lord said to my Lord.” Does this statement sound confusing to you, perhaps even contradictory? Confusing to most of us without explanation, but it is certainly not contradictory. During Jesus’s final week before His crucifixion, known as Passion Week, He was in constant battles with the Jewish scribes and the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the day. Jesus taught in the temple every day before those who came to hear Him. Most were astonished at His teaching hanging on to every word He spoke. This obviously angered the religious leaders as they saw their power and influence eroding away from someone who claimed to be the Son of God, the Messiah. If these leaders had carefully studied the Old Testament, they would have known that Jesus was right, He was the Son of God, the Messiah. 

They were constantly trying to trip up Jesus with their questions. Jesus turns the tables on them and asks them a question. He asks a question from a familiar passage in Psalms explaining that Jesus existed before David, proving His deity, proving He is eternal, and proving He is the Son of God. Jewish teaching was and is correct that the Messiah will be the son of David, yet David refers to Him as his Lord. Jesus asks them, ‘“What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?’ They said to him, ‘The son of David.’ He said to them, ‘How it then that David, in the Spirit, is calls him Lord, saying, The Lord said to my Lord………If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?”’ (Mt. 22:42-45 esv) The point being that the Messiah is both divine and human. He is David’s son and He is David’s Lord.

An ordinary man, no matter how good he was, or how well he taught, or how well he lived as an example to others with love and compassion could ever be an adequate substitute for our sin. It had to be a perfect man, without sin. Jesus Christ who died on Calvary’s cross was indeed the divine Son of God in human flesh. The deity of Christ is vital to our understanding His purpose for coming, understanding our sin nature, and understanding God’s plan of Salvation for those who trust in Christ. As John the Baptist proclaimed, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (Jn 1:29b)

Read: Psalm 110 ESV – Sit at My Right Hand – A Psalm of – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

Compassion of Christ

Loring Schultz

“Jesus wept.” John 11:35 NIV

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The shortest verse in the Bible speaks volumes of the compassion of Jesus. At the gravesite of His beloved friend Lazarus, scripture records that “Jesus wept.” The Greek word that is used here indicates a quiet weeping, the shedding of tears, a solemn approach to the grief He felt. Grief is undeniable to those who lost loved ones and friends in death. Individuals grieve in different ways, cope with it in different ways, and each one is on their own timetable in the various stages of grieving. But there is one commonality with them all, Jesus grieves with each one of them.

Jesus’s compassion for the grieving is rooted in the realization that death occurs to each of us due to our sin nature. We are born with a sinful nature.  David writes in Psalm 51:5, “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.” (niv) The separation and sorrow cause by death is the direct result of sin in our lives; for this Jesus wept. There is no escaping physical death in this world, but the good news is that we can escape the judgement of the spiritual second death. Hebrews 9:27 says, “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” (niv) Jesus’s compassion for each of us is such that He willingly laid down His life to redeem us from the eternal judgment of the second death, eternal separation from Him and the heavenly Father.

As Easter, Resurrection Sunday, is fast approaching, we are reminded of Jesus’s words to Martha, Lazarus’s sister, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (Jn. 11:25-26 niv) If we believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, we will never face the second death, but will live eternally with Him.

What compassion Jesus has for us in our grief. What compassion He has for our eternal souls in sacrificing His life to save us who trust in Him for eternal life. Jesus absolutely rose from the grave that first Easter morning and is alive today to bring us continuing comfort and peace in our season of grieving.

 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (Jn.14:27 niv)

FYI, Jesus did raise Lazarus from the dead.

Read the story: John 11:17-44 NIV – Jesus Comforts the Sisters of Lazarus – Bible Gateway

Bible Studies

Jesus’ Seven Cries from the Cross                 

Loring Schultz

Our Lord Jesus suffered on the cross six hours that first Good Friday. He willingly laid down His life by way of crucifixion to pay the penalty for our sin. He made seven statements or ‘cries’ amid the pain and suffering for us to remember the importance of each one.

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“And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ And they cast lots to divide his garments.” (Lk. 23:34esv) Jesus is not only asking forgiveness for the Roman soldiers, but all who had a part in His crucifixion. His compassion and grace are on full display even as the soldiers are dividing up His garments among themselves. John MacArthur commenting on this cry states, “Some of the fruit of this prayer can be in the salvation of thousands of people in Jerusalem at Pentecost.”  

 “And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.’” (Lk. 23:43esv) Jesus assures the thief on the cross that he will be with Him in Paradise as he believed Jesus is the Christ and trusted Him for salvation. This is a precious promise that no one is beyond salvation and unredeemable even up to the eleventh hour. It also illustrates there are those who continue to reject Christ in our current day as represented by other thief.  

 “When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’” (Jn. 19:26esv) For although He was suffering and in anguish, Jesus was not going to leave any unfinished business. As the first born according to the Law, Jesus was responsible for the care of His mother. He entrusted her to the care of His beloved disciple John. Jesus was not only obeying the Law, but He was also fulfilling it. “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Mt. 5:17esv)

 “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying…. ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” (Mt. 27:46esv) This fourth cry from Jesus through His physical pain is now matched with the emotional the pain of abandonment. Jesus who only knew constant fellowship with His Father was now feeling the divine wrath of God on Him. Jesus experienced this spiritual death of the rejection of His Father in our stead as our sin was upon Him. “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor. 5:21esv)

 “After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said, ‘I thirst.’” (Jn. 19:28esv) Here the humanity of Jesus is seen as He states a matter of fact ‘I thirst.’ This was not an appeal to satisfy His thirst but demonstrates His suffering to the end for our sin.

 “When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, ‘It is finished,’” (Jn. 19:30esv) Our redemption for sin was marked ‘paid in full’ by Christ’s completed work on the cross.

“Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!’” (Lk. 23:46esv) Jesus willingly laid down His life for your sin and mine. “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.” (Jn. 10:18esv)

Devotionals

There is a Light at the End of the Tunnel

Loring Schultz

“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.” 1 Peter 1:6 NLT

Photo by Tim Foster on Unsplash

Life has its many trials. There are many dark roads we travel on and not by choice. It is often said and is true that the longer you live the more dark roads you will travel, the more trials will come upon you, but you will have many opportunities to test your faith in the Lord, and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The apostle Peter tells us, “These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold.” (1 Pt. 1:7a nlt)

The Christian’s faith in Jesus leads to salvation. “The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.” (1 Pt. 1:9nlt) But we live in this interim period after our acceptance of Christ for salvation and the full fulfillment of that decision where we are still in a fallen world filled with trials and temptations. Jesus Himself says to us, “…. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (Jn. 16:33b nlt) Jesus is assuring us that our faith in Him is not in vain. Although we have trials and sorrows in this world, Jesus our savior has overcome the world. We can trust Him to see us through the trials and come out with our faith strong in the Lord Jesus bringing much praise to the glory of God.

“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.” (1 Pt. 1:6nlt) The Lord comforts us during our dark days here on earth by reminding us of His power of overcoming the darkness. Jesus is the light of the world. And for those who have accepted Him as their savior, He is the light at the end of the tunnel.

Read: 1 Peter 1:3-9 NLT – The Hope of Eternal Life – All praise – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

A Cry of Rejected Love

Loring Schultz

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.” Matthew 23:37 NLT

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I am sure many of us have felt the rejection of love, either by a romantic relationship, by a parent or sibling, by our closest friends, or a group of people you had a close bond with. There is a deep hole in your heart that takes time to fill if at all. Our Lord Jesus, being fully man and fully God, also felt the rejection of love from those He came to save, His own chosen people of Israel.

In the final week of Jesus’ life on earth, known as Passion Week, before His crucifixion Jesus cried out His heart-felt rejection from the people of the nation and the city of Jerusalem which he loved. Despite His rebuke of them in rejecting and killing the prophets throughout their history, Jesus loved His people and wanted to protect them from harm by coming to save them. But they refused and rejected His love for them.

We are amid the Lenten season with Passion Week just around the corner. As we observed the events of Jesus’ last week may we remember the reason for each one. Jesus came to us in our sinful world for just that reason, to die redeeming us from eternal wrath away from God for those who trust in Him for salvation. He rose again on Easter Sunday to assure of everlasting life. This Easter season do not reject the love Jesus has shown towards you. Jesus wants to gather you and protect you under His wings of salvation, please let Him do it. Accept His gift of salvation.

Devotionals

Lasting Joy and Peace is found only in the God of Hope

Loring Schultz

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 NIV

Photo by Quang Nguyen Vinh on Pexels.com

Every human being needs a little joy and peace from time to time. But what happens when the ‘little’ doesn’t last and fades away? There are many things that we escape to in search of joy and peace. Entertainment by way of musical artists, major sporting events, and the theatre provide moments of joy, peace, and relaxation for a few hours if your team wins, or you hear your favorite song. Travelling on vacation to an exotic resort and taking in all the sights of your surroundings may give a sense of awe and pleasure during your stay. And then there is the inexpensive way to find joy and peace in settling down with a good book, or taking a nature walk in God’s creation. All of these will satisfy your desire for joy and peace for a period, but did you know there is a way to experience joy and peace that never fades away.

Paul writing to the church in Rome encouraged them by saying, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Ro. 15:13 NIV) Paul was convinced his readers would be filled with lasting joy and peace as they trusted in God. Paul also knew the Holy Spirit would instill hope in each believer in Christ; hope being the assurance of salvation and not wishful thinking. The assurance of salvation is guaranteed to bring lasting joy and peace in this life for those who accept Christ.

Be careful of the distinction between ‘joy’ and ‘happiness’, and ‘peace’ and ‘inner peace.’ Joy is real contentment that comes through the Holy Spirit in midst of trials and sorrows. Happiness is a joyful pleasure for a moment in masking our sorrow. Inner peace is the true peace we enjoy every day from the Holy Spirit’s presence, and not only for a quiet moment. The Christian’s joy and peace is rooted in the God of hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Have you experienced true lasting joy and inner peace, or are you still in the momentary state of peace and happiness? “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him.”

Devotionals

Your own light will not dispel your darkness

Loring Schultz

“Who among you fears the LORD and obeys his servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the LORD and rely on your God. But watch out, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves by your own fires. This is the reward you will receive from me: You will soon fall down in great torment.” Isaiah 50:10-11 NLT

Photo by Cherry Laithang on Unsplash

Most people have a favorable opinion of themselves. We tend to see ourselves as basically good with only a few flaws which all of us have. There aren’t too many who would say they are walking in darkness. But if you are a true Christian, you know that you have walked in darkness. Ephesians 5:8 says, “For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!” (NLT) Those who have accepted Christ as savior walked in darkness of unforgiven sin and separation from God until they saw the light of Christ dispel their darkness. Paul confirms this in Colossians 1:13 when he says, “For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.” (NLT)

The temptation to create your own light, either by acts of self-righteousness denying God, or observing laws of man-made religions, may make you feel good and secure, but it leads to great torment. The prophet Isaiah writing what God revealed to him wrote, “But watch out, you who live in your own light and warm yourselves by your own fires. This is the reward you will receive from me: You will soon fall down in great torment.” (Is. 50:11 NLT) The Lord God graciously gives us an invitation for salvation by trusting in Him and warning us that any effort to create our own light and fires to illuminate the way to God will end in eternal torment. There is only one way to dispel your darkness, “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.” (Eph. 2:8-9 NLT)

It’s time to dispel your favorable opinion of yourself because your own light will not dispel your darkness. But the true light has come as John proclaimed, “The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” (Jn. 1:9, 12 NLT)

Devotionals

This is the message we preach

Loring Schultz

“And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:8b-9 NLT

Photo by Rod Long on Unsplash

The message of salvation we preach today is the same one as Paul instructed us to preach two thousand years ago. It has not changed. In fact, Paul said in his day writing to the churches of Galatia, “Let God’s curse fall on anyone, including us or even an angel from heaven, who preaches a different kind of Good News than the one we preached to you.” (Gal. 1:8 NLT) The message is simple, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Ro. 10:9 NLT)

In Romans 10, Paul was writing in his deep concern for his Jewish brethren to be saved. Paul himself was a former Jewish scholar and teacher who knew all the traditions and Laws of the Jewish people. He also knew practicing those laws will not get you into heaven outside of Jesus Christ. The first thing Paul needed to establish is the deity of Christ. In using the Greek word, kyrios, for Lord, which is found over 6,000 times in the Septuagint, (the Greek translation of the Old Testament) Paul was affirming Jesus’ deity. Believing in your heart is not just an emotional state of response, but of your intellect and will. Your entire being recognizing Jesus is the Lord God who came down from heaven, died on the cross for sins, was raised from the dead, and is alive today is true belief and you will be saved.

This is the message we preach in 2024. In will be the message preached in 2034, and the one preached 1,000 years from now should the Lord Jesus not return by then. It is the only true message of salvation from the Lord Himself explained in detail with clarity in His Word. “There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12 NLT) This is the message we preach!

Read: Romans 10:8-17 NLT – In fact, it says, “The message is – Bible Gateway

Devotionals

A Place of Undeserved Privilege

Loring Schultz

“Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.” Romans 5:2 NLT

Photo by Thirdman on Pexels.com

The most coveted championship ring in all sports is the NFL Super Bowl Ring. Depending on the design and the materials used to produce them, they range from $30,000 to $50,000. The winning team orders the standard 150 rings. There are many who are not in uniform and on the field but are on the sidelines and within the organization in various support positions. The distribution of the Super Bowl rings is at the discretion of ownership. Obviously, every player and the coaching staff receives a ring, along with those deemed vital to the team’s success on the field. But there are others receiving a ring who may have a sense of an undeserved privilege in receiving one due to their limited role. Clubs have been known to give rings to the members of the practice squad and even the cheerleaders among others.

 Have you ever felt you have been put in a place of undeserved privilege? Perhaps you received an award with your corporate team members for outstanding accomplishments knowing your input was of a limited nature. Awkwardness surrounds you as you share in the glory with your teammates. No matter how hard you try you cannot shake the undeserved feeling until your team leader says you were brought on to share in this joy. You may have felt undeserved, but your team leader wanted you on the team.

God wants us on His team. He has made it possible by sending Christ to provide the way for us through His death and resurrection. Romans 5:2 says, “Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.” (NLT) It is by our faith in what Jesus Christ has done for us that we are brought into this place of undeserved privilege. An important note to remember is that everyone God’s team is an undeserved member. God chose us for His team, not for our abilities, but because of His love for us. We now have the undeserved privilege with our teammates to share God’s glory confidently and joyfully with others in need of a ring.  

Devotionals

What have you done to be accepted by God?

Loring Schultz

“Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.” Romans 3:27-28 NLT

Photo by Jasper Garratt on Unsplash

Paul, writing to the church in Rome, says, “Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law.” (Ro. 3:27 NLT) There are many churches today, denominational, and autonomous, that have incorporated sets of rules or by laws to be agreed to and followed by members of the church. But in no way by obeying them along with your good deeds of kindness do they guarantee you or help you get a seat in heaven. Paul further goes on to say, “It is based on faith. So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law.” (Ro. 3:27b-28 NLT) Paul was referring to the Old Testament law of Moses, but it can be easily applied here in our day. The people in Paul’s day, both Jews and Gentiles, were saved by faith in Christ and not by keeping the law.

There has been a false narrative passed down from generation to generation that says, if my good deeds of kindness outweigh my bad deeds, God will accept me into heaven. No one can take issue with ‘good deeds being good.’ Yes, they are, and we should do as many of them as possible. But where do we find reasonable evidence that God accepts these as good enough for entrance into heaven except in our mind.  The only rock-solid evidence we have for entrance into heaven and eternal life is found in the pages of scripture, the Holy Bible.

Being accepted by God is not about doing good works or obeying the rules for church membership as important they may be. Acceptance by God for salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Eph. 2:8-9 ESV)

If you feel you have fallen short with all you’re trying to do for God’s acceptance, you’re right! If you feel you are doing enough or the best you can to be accepted by God, I’m sorry but you are wrong. Salvation and acceptance by God into heaven is through simple faith as recorded for us in God’s Word. So, what have you done to be accepted by God? All you need to do is have faith!

Read: Romans 3:21-31 NLT – Christ Took Our Punishment – But now – Bible Gateway