"But to us there is but ONE GOD THE FATHER, of whom are all things, and we in Him; and ONE LORD JESUS CHRIST, by whom are all things, and we by Him." (1 Corinthians 8:6)
God the Father reconciled all things to Himself by the man Christ Jesus -- in the body that He had prepared for Himself. How? To wit, God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. (II Corinthians 5:19; Acts 20:28) And as we now know from the day of Pentecost, when Peter stood with the eleven, this risen Jesus is both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36-41; Revelation 1:8)
The same Word which was with God in the beginning, and was God, is the same God who dwelt among us so that we -- His beloved creation -- could behold His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. As John the baptizer declared, "He that comes after me is preferred before me; for He was before me. And of His fullness have we received, and grace for grace, for the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1:1-18)
"He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11; I Timothy 3:16; Titus 3:4-7; Isaiah 9:6)
But knowing about Jesus, and knowing Jesus personally as our Lord God and Saviour is not one and the same. It is for this reason that we who believe in Jesus by faith seek His instruction and guidance within our very being (as did the disciples to find the Messiah, which is, being interpreted the Christ) so that we too could respond to His open invitation to come unto Him -- and believe on Him -- the call of Jesus in our own heart. (John 1:41)
For this same God "who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ!" (II Corinthians 4:5) But there is more -- so much more to desire in seeking and preaching the glorious gospel of Christ. That is knowing the Christ who became the perfect sacrifice for you and I -- the Christ who is the image of God. (II Corinthians 4:4; Hebrews 1:1-13)
And it is herein that we begin to understand this same Spirit of faith, according as it is written, "I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; knowing that He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present [us] with you ... for all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God!" (II Corinthians 4:13-15; Psalm 116:10)
The same Word which was with God in the beginning, and was God, is the same God who dwelt among us so that we -- His beloved creation -- could behold His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. As John the baptizer declared, "He that comes after me is preferred before me; for He was before me. And of His fullness have we received, and grace for grace, for the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1:1-18)
"He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11; I Timothy 3:16; Titus 3:4-7; Isaiah 9:6)
But knowing about Jesus, and knowing Jesus personally as our Lord God and Saviour is not one and the same. It is for this reason that we who believe in Jesus by faith seek His instruction and guidance within our very being (as did the disciples to find the Messiah, which is, being interpreted the Christ) so that we too could respond to His open invitation to come unto Him -- and believe on Him -- the call of Jesus in our own heart. (John 1:41)
For this same God "who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ!" (II Corinthians 4:5) But there is more -- so much more to desire in seeking and preaching the glorious gospel of Christ. That is knowing the Christ who became the perfect sacrifice for you and I -- the Christ who is the image of God. (II Corinthians 4:4; Hebrews 1:1-13)
And it is herein that we begin to understand this same Spirit of faith, according as it is written, "I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; knowing that He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present [us] with you ... for all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God!" (II Corinthians 4:13-15; Psalm 116:10)
Meditate upon His Word this day. Stand in the offering plate.
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