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DOING THINGS GOD'S WAY
DOING THINGS GOD'S WAY! We know Him by studying and learning of His Word, the Bible. I suppose three of the greatest qualities about God might be His love, mercy, and his power. As you read about the Creation in Genesis one, you readily see a great example of the limitless power of God.
"And God SAID , "Let there be light'; and there was light. " (Genesis 1:3) Just by His Word, the creation was put in place.
"And God saw all that He HAD MADE, and behold , it was VERY GOOD. And there was evening and there was morning the sixth day." (Genesis 1:31)
When God finished the work of Creation, all He had made was "GOOD:", OR PERFECT." All creation was in perfect harmony, in exact unison with God and His ways. But when sin entered the picture, by way of Satan deceiving Eve, all things changed. Man was no longer in fellowship with God anymore. Sin separated between God and man, thus causing disruption to the perfect creation He had made. Man would now depend on God to use His mercy and love to save him from sin and eternal damnation.
We find God's plan to save man by way of His Son, Jesus, and the Gospel (good news) beginning in Genesis and following on through the entire Book of God to Revelation. His plan unfolded. little by little, as we travel from the time of the patriarchs to Jesus' birth and life and on in time to the beginning of Gospel preaching by the Apostles in Acts. His (Jesus")church was prophesied by His Prophets, written about in the Gospels, became a reality in Acts 2 and beyond, and is the same for us even today. Because of God's love of man and His mercy and patience, we have the promise of ETERNAL LIFE. That is possible for us, same as it was in the first Century, by obedience to that wonderful plan God put into place by Jesus' death, burial, and HIS RESURRECTION.
"For God so LOVED THE WORLD (MAN), that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. " "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be save d through Him (John 3:16, 17))
"For this is the will of My Father, that every one who beholds the Son, and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I Myself will raise him up on the last day. " (John 6:40)
God's perfect plan to save man is made up of God's part (grace, provided by His Son), and man's part (obedient faith to that plan). Notice with me exactly how God explains this by way of the Apostle in the Ephesian letter:
"But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him and seated with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." For by GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH; AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES, IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD;" (Ephesians 2:4-6,8)
We never need doubt God and His love for us by learning about Him and His Will in the Scriptures. What an effort for Him to reveal and promise to us all He has in mind for those who will follow His Will. Jesus is our perfect example (1 Peter 2:21), always following and submitting to His Father's will. We can do the same, by learning and obeying, just as Jesus did. (John 6:38) Even when knowing the terrible death that was almost on Him, He prayed to His Father that not His will but His Father's be done. What a demonstration of faith and obedience!!
The question remains for each of us: WHERE ARE YOU AND I IN RELATIONSHIP TO GOD AND HIS WILL? None of us has any excuse. We all can learn and obey the plan He has provided for our SALVATION!! He is in control, Jesus WILL COME AGAIN!!!
Ross
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