Power of the Cross

[solo66 man]

Power of the Cross

Devotionals by Charles Stanley

Your Salvation Can't Be Forfeited

Ephesians 1

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In
love

5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,

Salvation through faith alone cannot be reconciled with the belief that one can forfeit his or her salvation. If I must do or not do something to keep from losing my salvation, salvation would be by faith and works.

I specifically remember the day this particular truth dawned on me. It was as if a light came on. Suddenly, I saw it. I wanted to shout!

That morning introduced me to the true meaning of unconditional love. It was the beginning of my lifelong journey into the mystery of God's truly amazing grace.

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Thank You for Your amazing grace, dear Lord. I am no longer in bondage. My debt has been paid.

 

[solo66 man]

How to Change Your Focus

Hebrews 12

1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight,
and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Philippians 4

Meditate on These Things
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever
things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if
there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.

As long as you have an ongoing role in the salvation process, you natural tendency will be to focus on your behavior rather than on Christ. Certainly, there is a place for self-examination in the Christian life. But you are cerainly not to be the focus of your life.

My observation has been that the more a person focuses on himself, the less he is able to keep his life in order. On the other hand, the more an individual focuses on Christ, the easier it becomes to allow Him to control every area of life.
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Change my focus, Lord, from me to thee! Help me lay aside every weight and sin so that I can run the race before me. Let me fix my attention upon You. Settled. Secure.

 

[solo66 man]

Your Security is Eternal

John 1

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe
in His name:

John 6

40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day."

Romans 3

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 6

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The penalty of your sin was death, physically and spiritually. Faith is the means by which the saving work of Christ is applied to the individual. Salvation comes to you when you place your trust in Christ's death on the cross as the complete payment for sin.

If you have placed your trust in Christ's death on the cross as the payment for your sin, you are an eternal membr of the family of God. Acting like God's child didn't get you in. Not acting like God's child didn't get you tossed out. Salvation is forever.

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I am so glad that my acceptance is not based on performance, Lord. Thank You that salvation is forever. I am a permanent member of Your family.

 

[solo66 man]

God Chose You

Romans 8

15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."

16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with
our spirit that we are children of God,

Galatians 4

4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

The Holy Spirit directed the apostle Paul to use the term adoption to describe the process by which God establishes a relationship with a man or woman who trusts Christ as Savior. We are encouraged to think of our heavenly Father in the most intimate way as a daddy.

God's ultimate goal in salvation was the relationship made available through our adoption. God chose to adopt you as his child before the foundation of the world. Why? For one reason and one reason only. He wanted to.

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Thank You for adopting me, Lord. You have changed my nature. you have changed my destiny. I am family.

 

[solo66 man]

Your Free Gift

Ephesians 3

8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ;

Romans 5

12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned--

Romans 5

16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from
many offenses resulted in justification.

You and I are not saved because we have enduring faith. We are saved because at a moment in time we expressed faith in our enduring Lord. Faith is our way of accepting God's gift.

Has there been a time in your life when you accepted God's free gift of savation? If not, why not settle the issue once and for all right now? God is not looking for a series of promises. He does not want to hear all the things you intend to do for Him. He is more concerned about what you will let Him do for you.

If you are not sure you are saved, why not make sure now? Pray this prayer.
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God, I know I am a sinner, ai believe Christ died in my place at Calvary. I accept His death as the full payment for my sin. I accept Him as my savior. Amen

 

[solo66 man]

[GLOW=green]Your Works [/GLOW]

2 Corinthians 5

9 Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.


Revelation 20

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.

13 The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works.

Does our behavior matter once we are assured of our salvation? You bet it does. Are there any eternal consequences when a believer sins? Absolutely. Will eternity be the same for those who follow Christ faithfully and those who live for themselves? Not a chance.

Our God is a God of justice as well as grace. His grace moved him to sacrifice his only son to provide a way for our salvation. But His justice causes Him to take special note of believers who are willing to sacrifice for His Son.

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Father, someday I will stand before You and give account of my life. I want to hear the words, "Well done."

 

[solo66 man]

[SHADOW=silver]His Part, Your Part [/SHADOW]

Hebrews 10

22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil
conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without
wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

1 John 1

7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus
Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

I can remember a discussion with a missionary who did not believe in once saved always saved. When I posed the question to him, he said, "Yes, Charles, Christ's blood was adequate, but we have to do our part as well." For him, "our part" included a consistent walk with God -- which really boiled down to works.

Christ's blood was adequate to perfect for all time those whom God has sanctified. Your need add nothing to it. Your part is to respond to His unconditional love with reverence and obedience while resting in the assurance that your eternity is secure.
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You've done Your part, Lord. It is finished. It is eternal. Now let me do my part and respond to Your unconditional love with reverence and obedience.

 

[solo66 man]

[SHADOW=skyblue]God Remains Faithful to You [/SHADOW]

2 Timothy 2

11 This is a faithful saying:
For if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him.
12 If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him,
He also will deny us.
13 If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself.

Psalm 119

90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
You established the earth, and it abides.

Lamentations 3

22 Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23 They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.

Satan wants destroy your faith. Once that is weakened, or gone altogether, you are powerless against him. Your faith is constantly under attack. Some battles you will win; some you will lose. But regardless of the shape your faith is in, your salvation is always intact. For whereas your faith is often turned in to your changing circustances, yor salvation is anchored in the unchanging nature and grace of God.

God remains faithful, even to the faithless.
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Heavenly Father, thank you that in the battles of my life, You remain faithful even when I am faithless.
Great is Your faithfulness!

 

[tom]

i agreee with that i really enjoy chalres stanles things
pretty neat

 

[solo66 man]

I am glad you like him. I have not posted any devotionals lately. I have been very busy, but will again soon.