Who Gave Himself a Ransom For All, To Be Testified In Due Time - Part 1279

"But after the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared ... not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life." (Titus 3:4-7)

"For the grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared to all men ..." (Titus 2:11)

"For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who [desires to] have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth -- for there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time." (I Timothy 2:3-5)

"And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus ... " who came into the world to save sinners. (I Timothy 1:14-15)

The power of God who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began -- but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. (II Timothy 1:8-10)

While there are those who want to bring us under the law, elevating obedience to the ten commandments as critical to salvation. These do not understand that the law was never given to the Gentiles -- those of us who are not Jews. Am I advocating sin? No, but let's at least be honest.

" For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of Him which believeth in Jesus." (Romans 3:23-26)

There is absolutely nothing we could do to be saved. Our salvation comes from the power and grace of God who loved us enough to take on a sin-prone flesh (like us, and yet without sin) so that He might extend to us the gift of eternal life. His peace and joy and mercy and love within our hearts, not only in this life but in the next life as well. 

This is why apostle Paul is so adamant that we not get entangled again in the bondage that cannot save us. To prove his point, he rightly asks, "Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" (Galatians 3:1-3)

This is why it is so critical that we understand not to frustrate the grace of God ... "for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." (Galatians 2:21)

The grace of God that makes us His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 1:20) The same Him in whom dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. (Colossians 2:9) He is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36) 

And because of His love for us, His beloved creation, we can be complete in Him, which is the Head of all principality and power. (Colossians 2:10)

Therefore, then, as ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him, rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. (Colossians 2:6-7)

Not after the traditions of men, after the rudiments of the world, through philosophy and vain deceit, but after the Christ who Himself was the mystery held in the bosom of the Father until the appointed time. Only He can save us from our sins. 

"And ye shall call His name Jesus ... God with us." (Matthew 1:21-23)

God manifest in the flesh. (I Timothy 3:16; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-18)

Thus, if ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God until all His enemies are defeated. "Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth, for ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God -- when Christ, who is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory." (Colossians 3:1-4) 

But for now, know this. 

"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." (Galatians 2:16)

In summary, be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, "that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God, strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and long suffering with joyfulness, giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light, who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of His dear Son -- in whom we have redemption through His blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins -- who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature. 

For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers. All things were created by Him and for Him, and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist." (Colossians 1:9-18)

Stand in the offering plate.