Securing an eternal redemption

“Remember his covenant forever, the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,”

Psalms 111:9  He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name!

 Psalms 130:7-8    O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption.

 Exodus 15:13    “You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.

 Isaiah 44:6    Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: “I am the first and I am the last; besides me there is no god.

 Isaiah 63:9    In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

 Matthew 1:21    She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

 Luke 1:68     “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people

 Ephesians 1:7    In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

 Ephesians 1:14    who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

 Titus 2:14    who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

 Hebrews 9:12     he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

 1 Peter 1:18-20     knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold,  but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.  He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you

 Exodus 15:11     “Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?

Our redemption came at a cost, in an act of love, full of grace and mercy.  What action would you associate in the form of thankfulness for this great gift of remotion? Would it come in the form of trust, hope, patience, love, faith, and peace?  Would it inspire actions of good works.  Would it come out in the from of praise?  Would it sing songs of praise?  Would it speak kindly? Would it seek to be nearer and nearer to God’s presence?  Would it promote forgiveness?  It does us good to consider all that is found in Christ and live so that His light is seen.

The way of his own heart

“Why should a living man complain, a man, about the punishment of his sins?”

Psalms 107:17  Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;  they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death.  Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.  He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.  Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!  And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!

 Psalms 14:1   The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good

Psalms 92:6  The stupid man cannot know; the fool cannot understand this: that though the wicked sprout like grass and all evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever;

 Proverbs 1:22   “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?  

 Proverbs 7:7    and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense,

 Psalms 38:1-8    O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath!  For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me.  There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin.  For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.  My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness,  I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning.  For my sides are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh.  I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart.

 Isaiah 57:17-18    Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry, I struck him; I hid my face and was angry, but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart.  I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, 

 Jeremiah 2:19     Your evil will chastise you, and your apostasy will reprove you. Know and see that it is evil and bitter for you to forsake the LORD your God; the fear of me is not in you, declares the Lord GOD of hosts.

Foolish, simple, backsliding, lacking sense, hating knowledge, and no fear of God all speak of the condition of man and the potential to forsake God.  I sometimes wonder if much has changed in mankind.  Our sinful nature is always sticking its ugly head up into our lives.  Some of these verses were written over 2500 years ago and yet they seem to apply as written for today. Think of the technology today that draws us away from seeking, speaking, following, praising, and listening to Him.  iPad, iPhone, computer, smart TV, and easy transportation all are used to fill our lives.  It does not take long for them to erode our walk with God.  Busyness and technology quickly lead us down a path of complacent neglect and is no excuse.  It takes a fully committed heart, mind and soul to seek, follow, honor, listen to, and obey God.  Do you want to hear His whispers of guidance? – Read His word.  Do you want to find purpose and satisfaction? – Read His word.   Are you tired of seeing everyday as just another self centered meaningless non-fulfilling day?  Read His word.  In His word we find promises of hope, joy, grace, mercy, eternal life, forgiveness, peace, rest, power, strength, and His steadfast love.

Light of the world

“The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.”

“ As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

“I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.”

“for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light”

Psalms 107:10  Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons,  for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High.  So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help.  Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.  He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart.  Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!   For he shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron.

 Luke 1:79     to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

 Isaiah 42:7     to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.

 Isaiah 60:1-3    Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.  For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.  And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.

Exodus 2:23-24     During those many days the king of Egypt died, and the people of Israel groaned because of their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry for rescue from slavery came up to God.  And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.

 Job 36:8-9     And if they are bound in chains and caught in the cords of affliction,  then he declares to them their work and their transgressions, that they are behaving arrogantly.

 Romans 6:20-21     For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.  But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.

 Acts 26:18  to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

 1 Thessalonians 5:4-5     But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.  For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.

I wonder if we get confused with what is light and what is darkness.  For sure we know the physical difference between night and day, light and dark. However when it comes to sin darkness, do we see it? do we own it? do we understand it? do we know the author of darkness?  When it comes to sin darkness, sometimes, it binds us in chains, blinds our eyes, and makes our senses unable to see or feel the love and light of Christ.  We grope around trying to find a path forward.  Sometimes we end up in darkness be cause we neglect the light.  Other times we just plan fail to run to the light, choosing rather to remain in the darkness.  What are we to do when we see someone in darkness?  Show them the light.  Encourage them with the light.  Proclaim the light.  And at other times allow the light of Christ flow through you.  We all have found ourselves in darkness.  Allow God to use you as a light to others and always pointing to Him alone.

Give Thanks for He is good

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”

“I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you.”

Psalms 107:1  Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.

 1 Chronicles 16:34    Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

 Psalms 119:68   You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.

Psalms 136:1-9    Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His loving-kindness lasts forever.  Give thanks to Him Who alone does great works, for His loving-kindness lasts forever.  Give thanks to Him Who by wisdom made the heavens, for His loving-kindness lasts forever.  Give thanks to Him Who spread out the earth upon the waters, for His loving-kindness lasts forever.  Give thanks to Him Who made the great lights, for His loving-kindness lasts forever.  He made the sun to rule during the day, for His loving-kindness lasts forever.  He made the moon and stars to rule during the night, for His loving-kindness lasts forever.

 Psalms 103:17    But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children,

 Deuteronomy 7:8    but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

 Jeremiah 15:21    I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.”

 Isaiah 43:5-6   Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you.

God does not change and His love is steadfast even though we walk paths apart and away from Him.  This call to give thanks includes creation, mighty awesome deeds of protection, and redemption.  We deserve none of it.  We all like sheep have gone astray seeking satisfaction and purpose apart from God.  Giving thanks should call to remembrance all that we know about God and what He has done, is doing, and will do.  Give thanks at all times and in all situations for He is worthy.

A new heaven and earth

The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”

Psalms 104:30  When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.

Job 12:6-10    The tents of robbers are at peace, and those who provoke God are secure, who bring their god in their hand.  “But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you,  or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; and the fish of the sea will declare to you.  Who among all these does not know that the hand of the LORD has done this?  In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.

Ephesians 2:1     And you were dead in the trespasses and sins

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,  even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved

Titus 3:5     he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit

Isaiah 65:17     “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.

Isaiah 66:22     “For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me, says the LORD, so shall your offspring and your name remain.

Revelation 21:5     And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

We are created and given life by God.  We are both flesh and spirit. Though the flesh may return to dust the spirit lives on forever.  Eternity is timeless.  We fill and track our days – time.  Some days seem to drag on and others seem to fly by.  But a time is coming when there will be no more time, no more death.  God, our Creator, has promised a new heavens and new earth.  This promise from Isaiah is to everyone as recorded in

John 3:16  📝  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Joh 3:17  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Joh 3:18  Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

However there are those who choose to reject God’s grace through Christ. Those who reject Christ are doomed to God’s wrath and will forever live in torment.  They will not see this new heaven and new earth.  They are forever cast into the lake of fire where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Trying to understand this forever torment is hard for us this side of eternity to comprehend.  Though not having this understanding does not leave those guiltless.  God’s grace and mercy through Christ, to those who believe, is a eternal life decision and life forever in His presence.  Do not reject His grace and mercy.  Do not neglect His calling.  Do not listen to the lies of satan that this world is all there is to your life.  The consequences of this decision is for eternity.

He hears us

“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,  he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,  whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,  so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Job 6:2    “Oh that my vexation were weighed, and all my calamity laid in the balances!  For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea; therefore my words have been rash.  For the arrows of the Almighty are in me; my spirit drinks their poison; the terrors of God are arrayed against me.

Psalms 88:1   O LORD, God of my salvation, I cry out day and night before you. Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry! For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to Sheol.

Psalms 27:9     Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation!

Psalms 27:1    The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Isaiah 12:2     “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”

Nehemiah 1:6    let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned.

Even in our darkest moments God is there.  When all around us seems to be in turmoil and chaotic God is there.  When we turn to Him we find rest for our soul.  When we turn to Him we find light in the darkness.  When we turn to Him we find peace in the chaos.  Our troubles are known by our Heavenly Father.  He cares for us and has promised to be our strength, our shield, our hope, our place of refuge.

Empty Tomb

“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,”

John 20:1  Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.  So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”  So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb.  Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.  And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.  Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there,  and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.  Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.

Psalms 16:10     For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.

Isaiah 25:8     He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.

Isaiah 26:19    Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead.

Isaiah 53:10     Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.  Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities.  Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

Hosea 13:14     I shall ransom them from the power of Sheol; I shall redeem them from Death.

Acts 2:25     For David says concerning him, “‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;  therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope.  For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption.  You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’  “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.  Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne,  he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.  This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.

Acts 13:29     And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.  But God raised him from the dead,  and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.  And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers,

Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day.  He was witnessed by hundred’s of people during the forty days after His resurrection and prior to His ascension. He came to redeem the lost and give hope of eternal life. The need for redemption is real.  The promise of redemption is real.  The penalty of rejection is real.

 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

Do not fall into the trap of neglect or complacency or rejection of this great price paid for redemption.

 

Tell you plainly

John 16:25  “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father.  In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf;  for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.  I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

Acts 1:9     And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.  And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,  and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Luke 24:51     While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.

Hebrews 1:1  Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,  but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Zephaniah 3:17    The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.

Can you imagine what it would have been like to have been there with Christ at the time of His ascension .  Many scriptures come to my mind when I think about His last minutes on earth; “I have come to give you life more abundantly,  I have come to set the captive free,  I have come to give sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf, I have come to give light unto the world, I am the way the truth and the life, I do what the Father tells me, I free the demon possessed, I love you, I give my life freely, I forgive you, I am the spring of living water,  I go prepare a place for you so that where I am there you will be also, I am coming again, You have believed in the Father believe also in me, Father forgive them they know not what they do,  I will send a helper to you…..  Being mindful of His death, and resurrection for salvation to all who trust in this redemptive sacrifice but, there is more to life than salvation.  Salvation is the corner stone of our faith and from this we grow (or at least we should.  Our purpose on earth is to humbly serve, honor, follow, and obey Him.  Growing needs the flow of living water found in His word.  Apart from it we are prone to wonder and follow diluted truth.  Our culture tries to pull and direct our efforts towards things of this world that certainly do not last.  The only thing that lasts is that which is given and done in honor and glory of Him alone.  There is not room for complacency and neglect in our walk with God.  His word is a light to our soul and a beacon to lead our way through this life.  Leave no room for Satans lies to filter in and essentially make your life meaningless in God’s work this side of eternity.  There is not much spoken of anymore about sin and a Holy God.  God’s word is able to divide our thoughts and intents.  It convicts us of sin and leads us into His arms.  It gives us peace, strength, power, courage, hope, joy, and assurance of eternal life.  Commit to spending time in His word and growing in understanding and knowledge of Him and His plan and purposes.  He speaks whispers of guidance through it.  Give time each day into His word and speak of His work in your life.  Bring Hope to the lost and dark world.  Be a light shinning in the darkness.  He is coming again.

Chosen

John 15:16  You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

Acts 9:15     But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.

1 John 4:10     In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Galatians 1:15   (  But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace,

Ephesians 2:10    For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

John 15:8     By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples

Isaiah 55:10     “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,  so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.  “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

1 Corinthians 3:6     I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.  So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.

John 15:7     If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

John 14:13     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 16:23     In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.  Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Matthew 21:22     And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.”

Chosen by God, beforehand, for His purpose.  His purpose is to bear fruit, abide, glorify, ask, pray, plant, grow, and be joyful doing it.  Staying in His word is the foundation on which we understand, hear, obey, and accomplish His purpose.  Apart from it we are only serving self interests and guessing at what His purpose is for our life.  Our understanding and knowledge of Him comes from and through His word.  Application into our daily lives happens when we seek and desire for His purpose each moment of every day.  Neglecting this and becoming complacent to this will not accomplish His purpose.  Being to busy to spend time in His word is the same as saying He is not worthy of our time.  Take time, make time, set aside time to feed and be filled with His word.  It will not return void.  It will set seed into your heart and mind.  He will whisper life into application for you.  Call upon Him.  Cast your cares at His feet.  Believe in His promises and humbly serve, honor, follow and obey Him as His word comes alive into your soul.

Walk Properly

”And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

John 12:35  So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.

Psalms 22:16   For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet—  I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me;  they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.

1 Peter 2:24     He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

1 Peter 3:18    For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

Galatians 3:13     Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—

Romans 5:17     For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.  Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.  For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

Revelation 5:9     And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,

Isaiah 2:5     O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD.

Isaiah 42:6    “I am the LORD; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations,  to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.

Romans 13:12     The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.  Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.  But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Psalms 69:22    Let their own table before them become a snare; and when they are at peace, let it become a trap.  Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see, and make their loins tremble continually.  Pour out your indignation upon them, and let your burning anger overtake them.  May their camp be a desolation; let no one dwell in their tents.  For they persecute him whom you have struck down, and they recount the pain of those you have wounded.  Add to them punishment upon punishment; may they have no acquittal from you.  Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; let them not be enrolled among the righteous.

Jesus Christ went to the cross to redeem all who would believe – to draw them unto Himself- to take us by the hand – to heal us – to make us righteous – to give us light – to give us armor to fight against darkness  – to keep us – ransom us from separation from God due to our sin – to make us alive in the spirit – to make us a new creation for humbly serving, following, honoring, obeying God.  Think on this today and what kind of life you are living in light of this glorious gift.  Read His word and pray asking Him to fill you with knowledge and understanding beyond human wisdom.  Praise His name for He is worthy.