Insight from Francis Chan:
HT: Dane Ortlund
If you’re despairing about your prayer life…
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Yearly Archives: 2011
Justification and Sanctification
(Repost from November 5, 2010)
We can make a distinction between the body and the head of a man and he suffers no loss, but if there is a separation, the man will be dead. The head and the body must stay together for life to continue. Similarly, though we can make a distinction between justification and sanctification, we must never separate the two.
JUSTIFICATION
Justification is a legal court room term defined as the act of God when He declares a person just or righteous in His sight. This takes place the moment a sinner places their trust in the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. For the sinner who has faith in Jesus, God pronounces the sentence “I find you not guilty! I reckon (I count, I declare) you righteous in My sight, and you and I are forever at peace with each other. All of your sins were transferred to your sin bearing Substitute, the Lord Jesus Christ, who took the full brunt of My holy wrath for you, and what has been transferred to your account is the righteousness of My Son, who lived not only a sinless life, but a life fully pleasing to Me. This very real righteousness is yours now and forever.” Continue reading
Which Horse Wins?
Before I ever learned John 3:16; the very first Bible verse I ever memorized as a new Christian was 1 John 2:17. Looking back, I can say that it was a great verse to recall to mind when faced with pressing temptations in my teenage years. It reads:
“And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
Its been said that a picture paints a thousand words; sometimes a song achieves the same purpose. Here are two songs that portray the absolute contrast between on one side, the world; and on the other side, the kingdom of God where closeness with the Master Himself is the ultimate prize, the most valued treasure.
The world has great drawing power. There is no doubt about that. The pull is so intriguing to us that ONLY a stronger desire can overcome it.
‘Bright Lights Bigger City’ by Cee Lo Green
I am not sure that there could be a more fitting music video than this one above to portray the attractions of this world, described as “the passing pleasures of sin” in the book of Hebrews. Yet hear the word of the Lord:
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” – 1 John 2:15-17
One man said he had two horses living inside him; one a beautiful white horse called holiness; the other a dark foreboding horse called covetousness.
When asked which horse wins, his answer was simple, plain and to the point:
“The horse that wins is the one I feed!”
Now in contrast, here is a song called “Holiness” by Micah Stampley
May I ask you a question?
Which horse will you feed today?