From Sin To Salvation

An enemy is one who dislikes or hates another and seeks to harm, contradict, and fight the one he is set against. Thus, an enemy of God is one who opposes the presence and purposes of God in this world.

The Bible identifies Satan, the devil, as the specific enemy of God (1 Timothy 5:14–15). Throughout history, as God’s enemy, Satan has sought to thwart God’s plan, harm humans, and lead them away from God.

Besides Satan, Scripture names many other enemies of God and His people. Other words used for an enemy of God in the Bible are adversary and foe. Any person who disobeys the Lord’s commands is declared to be God’s enemy. Sin sets us against God: “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior” (Colossians 1:21). The apostle Paul referred to unsaved sinners as enemies of God: “For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son” (Romans 5:10, NLT).

The Bible instructs believers to be cautious yet courageous when dealing with the enemies of God: “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8, ESV).

The enemies of God are fighting a losing battle: “Surely your enemies, Lord, surely your enemies will perish; all evildoers will be scattered” (Psalm 92:9). The final enemy of God to be eradicated is death: “For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:25–26; see also 2 Timothy 1:10; Revelation 21:4).

Here’s the bottom line question: Would you rather love the things of this world and be an enemy of God or give up your life and all your possessions in order to spend eternity in heaven with our Lord? To my way of thinking, there really is only one correct answer.

For additional encouragement please visit my other blog at https://byhistouch.com

Do you ever wonder how much God cares about you? If you’re like most, this thought has crossed your mind at one time or another. God does care, a lot, in spite of all the negative things you hear from believers and non-believers alike.

Think back to a time when you found yourself in a real pickle. Your back was against the wall or you heart was broken by someone you love. In spite of man’s failings, God is always there for us and caring for us.

The following verses from the Old Testament describe just how much and to what lengths God will go to take care of you and provide for you. Read them. Study them. Memorize them. And, then when you begin to have doubts you can call upon these verses for comfort in your time of need.

Isaiah 46:4  Even to your old age I will be the same, And even to your graying years I will bear you! I have done it, and I will carry you; And I will bear you and I will deliver you.

Isaiah 58:11  “And the LORD will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.

Psalm 48:14  For such is God, Our God forever and ever; He will guide us until death.

Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. • The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. • Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. • But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.—Romans 13:11-14

In yesterday’s post I talked about making new years resolutions and the importance of following through on them. If you thought about making some resolutions for the new year but were unable to come up with any that were important to your life, then the verse above from Romans should help you.

To help you break them down into understandable, bite size chunks, here they are from the verse above.

1. Lay aside the deeds of darkness.
2. Put on the armor of light which is God’s word.
3. Behave properly with no carousing or being drunk.
4. Do not involve yourself with sexual promiscuity and sensuality.
5. Do not behave with strife or jealousy.
6. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ by becoming a Christian.
7. Make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.

I am certain that if you follow through on keeping these resolutions you will find yourself blessed beyond measure and having a peace that passes all understanding. Remember, God is there to guide you and bless you if you will let Him.

Happy New Year to all my readers and followers. I hope everyone had a safe celebration ringing in the new year.

If you’re like most you will probably make some new years resolutions today on things like losing weight, stopping smoking, being kinder to people and anything else you might think as important.

Making a new year resolution can be good but from God’s perspective it’s important how, when and if you stick with your promise. Especially if your promise is to God. God’s word is very clear on what He expects from us when we make a promise to Him.

“When a man makes a vow to the Lord or swears an oath to put himself under an obligation, he must not break his word; he must do whatever he has promised.”—Numbers 30:2

As you go about making your new year resolutions, remember, if you make a promise to God it’s important that you keep it. When you do, you will be blessed.

Paul’s second letter to Timothy was written from prison. This time the apostle felt certain that the emperor would have him executed. But God’s faithful servant was ready to take the next step of faith.

We shouldn’t be surprised that Paul met death with calm acceptance. He lived every day—from his conversion on the road to Damascus to his final moments—in service to God, which meant consenting to whatever hardship he was asked to bear in Jesus’ name. “I have fought the good fight,” he wrote to Timothy (2 Timothy 4:7). From Paul’s many letters, we know that he battled the same enemies we face—the flesh (Rom. 7:14-15), the world (1 Corinthians 4:11-13), and Satan (Eph. 6:12). These passages are a reminder that Paul wasn’t more holy than us; he had to persevere by faith. And the same is true for us today.

Even with his profound wisdom and skill as an apostle and missionary, Paul wasn’t so different from ordinary you and me. He was not perfect and he had spiritual defeats. But Paul didn’t stay down. He got back into the fight. For this and for the life he lived, he anticipated rich rewards in eternity. And he pointed out that heaven’s treasures were “not only to me but also to all who have longed for [Jesus’] appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).

Paul struggled and agonized, as believers today often do. But he kept the faith, and you can as well. Fight the good fight, friend. Battle your enemies by choosing to trust, obey, and rely upon the Lord. You will bring honor to Him and store up treasures in heaven for yourself.

For more encouragement, visit my other blog at https://byhistouch.com

Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding—Isaiah 40:28-31

As human beings, we often have a difficult time perceiving what the Lord is doing in our life. We are limited by the passage of time, the confusion of present circumstances, and a lack of understanding regarding God’s goals and His means of accomplishing them.

Studying the lives of men and women in the Bible helps us see how the Lord worked in previous generations. God’s relationships with the faithful in earlier times are helpful examples for us today.

If God calls us to endure pain, hardship, or uncertainty, we can find encouragement in knowing we’re never alone. Part of “seeing Him who is unseen” is realizing that God’s grace and comfort carry us through every situation. The Lord doesn’t want us to simply grit our teeth and bear hardship; He desires that we trust Him and bring glory to His name through our dependence.

“Come now, let us reason together,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”—Isaiah 1:18

Our sins and imperfections, sinful thoughts, shameful motivations, and being unfaithful are covered by the blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are made white as snow. Pure, clean and freshly renewed. In Christ we can be made to “measure up”. Not by our own work but instead by His sacrifice on the cross.

We might stumble and fall over and over again but what matters is that our Lord has taken care of our sins and shortcomings. So it is in God’s eyes, by His great love and mercy which endures forever, we are made whole again through Jesus Christ.

“And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.”— 2 Peter 3:14

We should not become lazy and complacent because Christ has not yet returned. Instead, we should live in eager expectation of his coming.

What would you like to be doing when Christ returns? That is how you should be living each day.

The Lord Jesus Christ through His mercy and death on the cross, provides everyone an opportunity to leave a life of sin and be born into salvation. Your life will be forever changed by your decision and one that effects your eternal home.

I pray you will be blessed and encouraged by what you read here. It is my hope I will be able to give you articles that give you direction and hope in this destructive world.

God loves you more than you could ever imagine. His love for you is endless and stretches out through eternity. He is calling so He can love you and to receive His son, Jesus, as your Lord and Savior.

Living a life filled with sin and worldly desires is not what God wants for you. He is seeking your soul and is knocking at the door of your heart to come in and be an everlasting part of your life. Why not open the door today and receive Him.