Dear Abundant Life Family:
Colossians 2:13-14:
"And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross."
What a mistake it is to think that our good deeds may one day outweigh our bad deeds. This is a mistake for two simple reasons. First, it is just not true. Even our good deeds are defective, scripture teaches, because we don't honor God in the way we do them. Do we fulfill the command to serve people "by the strength that God supplies - in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 4:11)? It is huge mistake to think that our good deeds will outweigh our bad deeds before God. Without Christ-exalting faith, our deeds signify nothing but rebellion.
Second, and the most important reason, it is folly to hope in good deeds because this is not the way God saves. If we are saved from the consequences of our bad deeds, it will not be because they weighed less than our good deeds. It will be because the "record of [our] debt" has been nailed to the cross of Christ. God has a totally different way of saving sinners than by weighing their deeds. There is no hope in our deeds. There is only hope in the suffering and death of Christ.
There is no salvation by balancing the records. There is only salvation by canceling records. The record of our bad deeds (including our defective good deeds), along with the just penalties that each deserves, must be blotted out, not balanced. This is what Christ suffered and died to accomplish. The cancellation happened when the record of our deeds was "nailed to the cross" (Colossians 2:13). How was this record nailed to the cross? Parchment was not nailed to the cross. Christ was. So Christ became my damning record of bad (and good) deeds. He endured my damnation. He put my salvation on a totally different footing. He is my only hope. And faith in him is my only way to God.
Today, take the time to reflect on this truth. Give the Lord thanks for this great work! Pray that others in this community, and the people who visit our church will come to this understanding that we "were dead in our trespasses and the uncircumcision of our flesh, but God made us alive together with him, having forgiven all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross."
In today's prayer time, we are asking that you specifically pray for our Church Board and their families: David Brauchler, Guy Church, Doyce Clark, Jimmy Eskew, Gary Kasprzak and Brian Rosamond.
TESTIMONY
Dear ALL,
Get off your knees, stretch you hands to the Heavenlies and say "Thank you…Thank you…Thank you!!!!" We are sooo blessed and we KNOW it is a direct result of the consecrated, fervent prayers (or even the thought or intention to pray) of so many. Brad had 2 interviews last week both with great feedback…by Monday he was offered a position within the SAME industry for a company that is a competitor, it is in Grand Prairie (much closer to home). How BIG is Our God!!!...the One who is the SAME…"yesterday, today and forever"…Hebrews 13:8)
We thank you ALL for standing with us in this time of testing…To God be the Glory…forever!
Philippians 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Double Blessings to each of you,
Teresa Davidson (and Brad)
0 comments:
Post a Comment