Matthew 10:38 says, “Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.”  The taking up of the cross expresses a willingness to endure hard times which may come. It also teaches us that we should conform to Christ’s example of living and if needed be willing to suffer or perhaps die for Him. When we do neither of those things Jesus says we are not worthy of Him. These verses teach us that Christ is the perfect example and we can rest assured that when we follow Christ, He will give strength to endure challenges. Praise God for His Grace and perfect example. Amen

The Bible teaches that when we sin we have Jesus acting on our behalf before God. Through Jesus we are forgiven. 1 John 2:1 says, “…And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:”. It’s Good News to know that Jesus is standing before God as perfect and made atonement on our behalf. God loves us and the world so much He died to save all those that come to Him in faith. God will never leave us in our time of need or abandon us as His children. When we trust in God we walk with Him and know that He works things out for good. There may be times and things we don’t understand but God is in control. I’m thankful for God’s abundant grace and mercy. Amen

Jude 1:4 tells us that it is the wicked people in the church who say God’s grace allows us to live a life that does not submit to God, and lives free of any moral compass. That is God is calling us according to Jude to not live immoral lives, we should not be filled with evil or overcome by it, but do that which is good (Romans 12:21). We know from James 1:17 that all good things come from God, who is the Creator of Our Faith (Hebrews 12:2), who in great joy laid His life down for us. So the answer is should we continue to sin willingly and rely on God’s grace? God does not like this behavior (Romans 6:1). God warns the church against being lukewarm, we can’t be both good and evil at the same time (Revelation 3:16), Jesus also warns us in Luke 16:13 that we can’t serve both God and our evil desires, we must choose God and live (John 14:6). The question here is not whether we are Saved and the fact God will separate the sheep from the goats (Matthew 25:32), giving eternal life to some and punishment to the other. The actual question is here, will I choose God or will I choose sin? We must let “…the blood of Christ purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. (Hebrews 9:14).” The blood of Christ was spilled on the cross to forgive every mistake we have made and will ever make. However, when we sin knowingly it is not a mistake but a choice to turn from obedience to God and choose our own way. Sin is both a nature and a choice, Paul tells us in Romans 7:18-20, that he desires to do what is right but does what is the very thing wrong that he doesn’t intend to do. However, further verses such as the Romans 6:1, and Revelation 3:16 make it clear to do good and not take God’s grace for granted. So what type of people should we be? We acknowledge Him as the perfect example, and desire to be as much like Him as possible (1 John 3:2 tells us this!). There is a fine balance between “earning salvation” and “learning salvation”, Salvation is a free gift and does not require perfection (Romans 11:29). However, we should note in Heaven everything is perfect so we should strive to live our lives on earth as we would in Heaven, and no we will not be free of all evil, live a perfect life, and have all the blessings in this life. God does calls us regardless, to walk with Him as we are not of this world but are citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20). So, the bottom line is and point of this article I have written is live the best Christian life possible, (Matthew 5:14), we are children of light and are to shine in the midst of this dark world. When we do sin we have Jesus (interceding on our behalf and when we don’t sin (do the right thing) we show Jesus in us! We are God’s people (1 Peter 2:5). In conclusion, I am thankful for God’s abundant grace, and mercy and know that as we strive to live for Him we can and will show Christ in us and be a light to this dark and sinful world. I ask my readers to do this, In Jesus Name, Amen.

Jude 1:4, ” I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives.”

Romans 12:21, “Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.”

James 1:17, ” Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.”

Hebrews 12:2, “We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.”

Romans 6:1, “Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace?”

Revelation 3:16, “But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!”

Luke 16:13, “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

John 14:6, “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

1 John 3:2, “Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.

Jesus is the Son of God and gave His life so that we could be forgiven and right before God. Hebrews 9:22 says, “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”. So it was completely necessary that we have a perfect sacrifice for our sins which is why Jesus died (and rose from the dead), for our sins. If you believe in Christ and accept Him as Savior you will be saved. When speaking of Jesus Romans 10:9 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”. Matthew 7:14 says, “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”. When we find Jesus and accept Him we find eternal life as Jesus is the only way to Heaven. Praise God for His grace and mercy. Amen

God deserves glory in all things. James 1:17 tells us, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” Since, every good thing is from God we should be thankful for the good things. God is perfect “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28”. We should, “Pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17” Praise God that He is good and that we can talk to Him in prayer and ask for good things. Amen

When we preach the Gospel we should preach it with grace and love. Jesus died on the cross to offer everyone a chance to be saved. 1 Corinthians 1:18 says, “The message about the cross doesn’t make any sense to lost people. But for those of us who are being saved, it is God’s power at work.” Since the Gospel is nearly impossible to understand for the unsaved we should pray for God to open their hearts to the Gospel because without faith it is impossible to please God (see Hebrews 11:6). Acts 4:12 says, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”. Since Jesus is the only way to be saved it is great to get the message of salvation out to as many people as possible. God wants everyone to be saved and come to understand the love and grace of the Gospel. Amen

Jesus is God. When He was on Earth He was 100% man & 100% God. Jesus was a man in that His body was possible to die. Jesus is God in that He has power to raise up Himself from the dead. John 14:9 Jesus says, “…he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?” Jesus said, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. John 17:3” Romans teaches us that “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Romans 3:23” Jesus came to earth, lived, died and rose from the dead Jesus said “…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. – John 10:10”. May we all know God and Jesus whom He sent. Amen.

The Bible teaches us that we have all sinned yet through Jesus we can be forgiven (see John 3:16), because God loved us enough to die in our place on the cross. Romans 3:23 says, “23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:10-11 says, “10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.” Since no one is righteous that means we are not either. The only righteous person ever was and is Jesus Christ. Christ was the only one pure who could die on the cross so that we could believe in Him, accept Him and be saved. God’s grace covers all our sins we have done and our future sins. We should try our best to live a Christian life. When we make mistakes God’s grace kicks in so that we are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. Praise Jesus for His grace and mercy. Amen

When Jesus cleared the temple of the moneychangers and animal-sellers, He showed great emotion and anger (Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-18; John 2:13-22). This was a righteous anger and sign of Jesus’ devotion to God. What the moneychangers were doing in the temple was wrong. The temple is God’s house and Jesus is God therefore it makes sense for Him to flip-over the tables of animal-sellers in the temple. It is possible to have a righteous anger and not sin. God loves the sinner but hates the sin. Ephesians 4:26 says, “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:” Praise God. Amen

The principles of the Protestant Reformation known as 5 solas teach that we should have scripture, faith, grace and Christ alone.

Five Solas:

1. Sola scriptura: “Scripture alone” 

2. Sola fide: “faith alone” 

3. Sola gratia: “grace alone” 

4. Solo Christo: “Christ alone” 5. Soli Deo gloria: “to the glory of God alone”

We should use the Bible alone, grace through faith and Christ alone for our salvation. Jesus is the only way to be forgiven and accepted before God. When we repent and believe we are saved and have the Holy Spirit as our guide to all truth. Praise God, Amen!