Archive for the ‘1 John 5: 14-15’ Tag
“A Rich Welcome Into The Eternal Kingdom!”
Study by Sherwin Scott
“And you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:11 (NIVUK)
Would you like to receive a rich welcome into God’s eternal kingdom? That is what has been promised to all believers. The welcoming party will be the Father, the Son, the Spirit, and the holy angels. The life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ guarantees a rich welcome to all who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. It requires the gift of faith to believe that Jesus is the Christ, God’s own Son. The same faith that the apostle Peter demonstrated. (Matthew 16:16–17). Once we know that we have received the gift of faith, we are then instructed to make every effort to confirm our calling and election. “Add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.” (2 Peter 1:5-7). For if we do these things, we will never stumble. All these attributes are also gifts from God our Father. “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17).
It is clearly God’s will that we exercise these gifts, adding them to the faith that we have already received. If we think that we lack any of these precious gifts, we must then ask in believing prayer. “This is the confidence which we have before him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from him.” (1 John 5:14-15). A rich welcome into God’s eternal kingdom awaits all who believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. And who put their trust in him to answer the above prayer for these additional gifts which are synonymous with the fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5: 22-23. These gifts, including faith, are more precious than gold or silver which perishes over time and more valuable than money which can lose its value at any time! It is God’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom. Can you just imagine what a rich welcome into that kingdom will be like: the fanfare; the music; the glory; the joy.
Prayer
Father in heaven, I thank you for the amazing future that you have prepared for those who have received the gift of faith. Please add to my faith the fruit of the Spirit. In Jesus’ s name I pray.
Amen
Photo Compliments:
1.) Torahfamily.org
“The Gift of Repentance!”
Study by Sherwin Scott
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
James 1:17 (ESV)
According to Wikipedia, repentance is reviewing one’s actions and feeling contrition or regret for past wrongs, which is accompanied by a commitment to and actual actions that show and prove a change for the better. For a Christian, it is when the believer acknowledges and puts their trust in Jesus Christ, turning away from sin.
In Luke 13:3-5 Jesus warns that “…unless you repent, you will all likewise perish…” It is repeated for emphasis (v.5). But in reality, God is not willing that anyone should perish: ‘The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.’ (2 Peter 3:9 emphasis mine).
We cannot make ourselves repent by being sorry for the wrong things that we have done because true repentance is a gift from God: ‘…do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? (Romans 2:4 NKJV).
It is clearly God’s will that we receive, or we are granted, the gift of repentance, and we can go to God in believing prayer and request this gift. And because it is God’s will for us to repent of sins, the prayer will be answered, the request will be granted: ‘And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.’ (1 John 5:14-15 ESV).
In addition, we pray in Jesus’s name because fundamentally, He is the human who has repented on our behalf and in our place. Our repentance is only a share in Jesus’ repentance by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 19:4, Matthew 3:13-17) And Jesus tells us: “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.“(John 14:13-14).
So we can pray with confidence for the gift of repentance, and it will be granted, BECAUSE, IN THE HUMANITY OF JESUS IT HAS ALREADY BEEN GRANTED TO US AS A GRACIOUS GIFT! Will you receive it and participate with Jesus?
Prayer
Eternal Father, thank you that I can come into your presence and let all of my requests be made known to you. Please grant me the gift of repentance. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
Photo Compliments:
1.) got questions.org
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