God
originally created human beings for fellowship with Himself. (Genesis 2:7). In God's unique plan for us in
Paradise, we enjoyed a body, soul and spirit which were alive and sin-free.
However, when Adam sinned, his spirit died in that sin.
Therefore,
all of us are born with a dead spirit (John 8:44), and a decaying body. The
devil has free reign in our life (2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 2:3). We are
descendants of a disobedient father.
As
children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3), we cannot save our self (Galatians 5:16;
Ephesians 2:8-9). Our human understanding is faulty at best, and subject to
influences by the Father of Lies (John 8:44). Our heart is deceitfully wicked
and cannot be trusted (Jeremiah 17:9).
That
is why our Emmanuel came to save us from our self (Acts 26:18). As authentic
Believers, we are now a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), and children of God
(John 1:12; 1 John 3:1-2). Our spirit is alive and we are one spirit with
Christ (1 Corinthians 6:17).
When
we choose God's free gift of salvation, we no longer condemn our self to the
eternal torment of hell (Romans 3:23, 6:23; John 3:18; Ephesians 2:2; 1 John
3:8-10). Once we repent of our sins, we accept Christ's blood sacrifice on our
behalf.
We
are no longer sons of Satan, but children of God with Christ's divine nature.
We are destined to live with Jesus in an immortal body for an eternity in the
presence of God (2 Peter 1:4; John 11:25, 14:6; 1 John 2:1; 1 Timothy 6:1 6).
We
are acceptable to God through Christ's sacrifice, which paid our sin debt (1
Peter 2:5; Romans 15:7). His love covers the multitude of our failings, and He
gives us a fulfilling existence in this life and for eternity (1 Peter 4:8;
Romans 12:2; Galatians 5:1-26; Ephesians 5:18).
Prayer:
Father
God, we can do nothing lasting in our human capacity, apart from You;
therefore, thank You that Jesus lives in us by Your Spirt (Galatians 2:20;
Colossians 1:27; 2 Corinthians 13:5). We are so grateful that our identity
comes from Christ in us now, rather than from the results of our meager human
capabilities (Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 4:24).
Our
heart is broken and our eyes flood with tears as we intercede for those who
will perish in their unbelief if they do not turn their heart to You now (John
3:16-18). You give so many signs and fulfilled prophecy to warn people to turn
back to You and Your mercy and grace. Strengthen everyone in their inner being
to notice that You are calling them to come home to Your love.
Thought
for the Day:
As
humans, we can do our best to develop our potential, to deal with our problems,
to enrich our life, to behave decently without expecting accolades or judgment,
to influence the world around us, to find love in this sea of humanity, etc.;
however, if we refuse to believe in Jesus' atonement and regeneration, we
condemn our self; God calls us to accept His justification in the name of Jesus
by the Spirit of God. - John 3:18; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
