A Crucified Life - - Answers The Call To Be Born Again

 

    John 3:14,15

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up; that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. 

    Here in this passage of Scripture in John 3:1-21 we have the remembrance of Jesus' private visit with Nicodemus, a respected religious leader of that time. Every interaction with Christ is private, intimate, requiring only the individual and Jesus for the revelation of Truth to be imparted to the heart. 

And what is this Truth which only comes from Jesus Christ? Truth IS Jesus Christ. He is The Word of God come in the flesh (John 1:14 "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of Grace and Truth.").

He is The Truth (John 14:6 "Jesus said to him, "I am The Way, The Truth and The Life: no man comes to The Father, but by Me."").

    The Truth of Jesus Christ is the key to eternal life that unlocks the prison doors of our heart (John 8:32 "You shall know The Truth and The Truth shall set you free."). This Truth frees us from sin and death (Romans 8:2 "For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set you free from the law of sin and death."). 

    Romans 5:6-11

 (6)For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. (7) For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. (8) But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (9) Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. (10) For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. (11) And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

    So say I now: Look to the cross of Christ and believe that Jesus Christ is God's only begotten Son, Who suffered and died for us that we might be saved from death, hell, the grave and the second death. Repent and be baptized and receive The Holy Spirit according to the promise of The Word of God. 

CALLED TO SALVATION 

When I Survey The Wondrous Cross - Keith & Kristyn Getty

The Way, The Truth, The Life - Celebration Music

Create In Me A Clean Heart - Keith Green 

You Saved Me - UPPERROOM

When I Lock Eyes With You - Maverick City Music

Abide In Me - Andrew Marcus

A Crucified Life - - Is Extremely Thankful For the Gift of Christ

 

    2 Corinthians 9:15

Thanks be to God for His Indescribable Gift!

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 411 & 1431

    Indescribable: inexpressible, that which cannot be thoroughly related

From the Greek word 'anekdiégétos' (pronounced an-ek-dee-ay'-gay-tos). Beyond words; impossible to estimate; unspeakable.

    Though it has a few definitions, this word 'indescribable' occurs only once in the New Testament Scriptures. 

    Gift: free, without repayment, freely given and not acquired by merit; expresses a brand of giving that highlights the beneficent desire of the giver. 

    A crucified life is worth living. For the life that is lived without Christ does not know its full worth or value until it comes to salvation through Christ. The veil of sin covers the heart of the unredeemed, blinding that soul to the Truth of God's Word. But when a sinner repents (acknowledges their sins against God and turns away from that sin), then that soul is redeemed by Christ. This is why we Rejoice! 

    The Gift we receive from God is both a What (redemption through repentance) and a Who (the Redeemer of our Souls Jesus Christ) which is given to the believer (the one who believes that Jesus Christ is Lord and follows Him {lives by faith}). 

    Romans 5:15

But the Gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's Grace and the Gift that came by the Grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many!

THANKS BE TO GOD

    1 Chronicles 16:8

Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon His Name, make known His deeds among the people.

    2 Corinthians 2:14

But thanks be to God, Who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.

    1 Corinthians 15:57

But thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

INEXPRESSIBLE JOY

    1 Peter 1:3-9, specifically v.8

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy.

THE GIFT OF GOD

    John 1:14

And The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of The Only Begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

FAITHWALKERS

    1 Corinthians 5:6,7

Therefore we are always confident, although we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight.

REJOICING

    Romans 12:12

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

 

    1996 Winds of Worship album

Spirit of The Sovereign God by Lindell Cooley

    

    

A Crucified Life - - Knows Surpassing Grace

 

    2 Corinthians 9:14

And their prayers for you will express their affection for you because of the Surpassing Grace God has given you.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No.

Surpassing: beyond, exceed 

From the Greek word ' huperballó' (pronounced hoop-er-bal'-lo): excel.

Grace: gift or blessing brought to man by Jesus Christ; kindness, the Lord's favor

From the Greek word 'charis' (pronounced khar'-ece). "The merciful kindness by which God, exerting His holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues" (quoted from Strong's)

    One of the exercises of Christian virtue is our willingness to share with others what we ourselves have received from God. Namely, His Son Jesus Christ, Who is Himself our Surpassing Grace. 

    It takes Holy Spirit boldness and a brave spirit to reach out to someone you've known your whole life (usually family) and say, "I've just met Jesus!" It takes Holy Spirit power to reach across the expanse of this globe to reach someone you've never met with the Love of God expressed through Christ. 

    That is just what these young churches were doing. Exerting, exercising, their increase in faith to help spread the gospel through the work of Paul and his companions. Their cup was overflowing and the overflow went to Paul.

     Is our cup of grace overflowing? where is the excess going to?

    

Surpassing Grace

There Is One Gospel - CityAlight

Greater Is The Blood - Mark & Sarah Tillman

Grace Like Rain - Todd Agnew

This Is Amazing Grace - Phil Wickham

Until Grace - Tauren Wells, Gary LeVox

Walking Free - Micah Tyler

Fill My Cup - Andrew Ripp

I Need A Ghost - Brandon Lake

Hands & Feet - Audio Adrenaline

I Will Serve Thee

I Speak Jesus - Here Be Lions

I See Grace - Micah Tyler

    

A Crucified Life - - Is Through Christ

 

2 Corinthians 5:18

All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 1223

Through: by the instrumentality of, by way of, for the sake of

From the Greek word 'dia' (pronounced dee-ah'): properly, across (to the other side), to go all the way through, "successfully across". 

THE BLOOD OF CHRIST SAVES, CLEANSES US    Romans 5:10

For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!

    Romans 5:15

But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by the one man’s trespass (Adam's sin) the many died, how much more have the grace of God and the gift which comes through the grace of the one Man Jesus Christ overflowed to the many.

    Ephesians 1:7

In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.

    Ephesians 2:13

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.

    Acts 15:11

But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. 

    1 Peter 1:1, 2

This letter is from Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to God’s chosen people who are living as foreigners in the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and His Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed Him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. May God give you more and more grace and peace. (NLT Bible)

    Though we cannot literally apply this blood to ourselves, for we have not in and of ourselves the power to do so, nevertheless it is applied by God Himself when we believe on the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation. Do you believe? 

    It is our Faith in Christ Jesus that gets the spiritual gears and cogs shifting and aligning. First, we believe that God is God and that His Word is Truth. Secondly, in our recognition of this fact, we realize we are sinners and have trespassed against God's Word. And thirdly, realizing now that we have nowhere else to go but God, we humble ourselves, kneeling at the altar and repenting of our sinful words and our sinful actions. We ask for His forgiveness and we receive it. 

GRACE THROUGH CHRIST

Washed By The Blood - CityAlight

Grace That Is Greater Than All Our Sin - Sovereign Grace Music

Softly And Tenderly - Kristyn Getty, Vince Gill, Ellie Holcomb, Sierra Hull

When I Survey The Wondrous Cross - Fernando Ortega

Sinner Saved By Grace - Gaither Vocal Band

Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) - Chris Tomlin

    

Thanks Be To God - - For The Extension of Grace

 

2 Corinthians 4:15

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is extending to more and more people may overflow in thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 5485

Grace: kindness

God freely extending Himself, His favor, His lovingkindess, to the people He wants to bless with His presence;

a gift or blessing brought to man by Jesus Christ

From the Greek word 'charis' (pronounced khar'-ece)

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 4121

Extending: Existing in Abundance, Multiplication, Causing to Increase

From the Greek word 'pleonazó' (pronounced pleh-on-ad'-zo), used on a personal level: I have more than enough; I abound, increase

FAVOR OF GOD

Genesis 6:8

Noah, however, found favor in the eyes of the LORD.

Luke 1:30

And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for you have found favor with God.

GRACE INCREASED

Romans 5:19-21

(19) For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

(20) The law came in so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more,

(21) so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Timothy 1:13-14

(13) I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and a violent man; yet because I had acted in ignorance and unbelief, I was shown mercy. 

(14) And the grace of our Lord overflowed to me, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Grace still overflows to us all. For Christ has only walked this earth once, on His arrival in the flesh and during His ministry; also, after His resurrection. Then He ascended into heaven to be with His Father until such time as *God sends His Son back to earth, *in the twinkling of an eye, *to gather up the faithful and bring them back to His heavenly home. 

*God will send Jesus back briefly: Matthew 24:36 "But concerning that day and hour, no one knows, not even the angels of the heavens, nor the Son, except the Father only."

*In the twinkling of an eye: 1 Corinthians 15:52 "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed."

*Gathering the faithful: 1 Thessalonians 4:15 "By the Word of the Lord, we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep."

 What Is Grace To Us?

Grace is unmerited favor. We have done nothing to deserve God's grace. No matter how good we think we are, regardless of our church attendance, the number of times we are kind to one another, nor when retreated from the noise of the world to a contemplative lifestyle, we will not enter God's grace. 

For His Grace is an extension of Himself to a people He calls to His side. If the people He calls to be near Him, don't want to be near Him, then they will not receive His Grace. And without His Grace it will be impossible to be in His eternal presence for any length of time. 

God's Grace is Jesus Christ. It is the power of God flowing through the faith of we who believe in the Name of Jesus Christ for our salvation. 

GRACE IS THE GIFT OF GOD

Ephesians 2:8-10

(8) For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 

(9) not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

(10) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

GRACE IS UNDESERVED FAVOR

Romans 5:6, 8

(6) For at just the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

(8) But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

GRACE IS SALVATION APPLIED

Psalm 85:9

Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that His glory may dwell in our land.

John 3:17, 18

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

GRACE ALLOWS US TO LOVE THE UNLOVABLE

Luke 6:31-35

(31) Do to others as you would have them do to you.

(32) If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.

(33) If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same.

(34) And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.

(35) But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

Luke 6:36

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Dear God, my heavenly Father,

Thank You for showing me Your Grace. Cleanse me from all unrighteousness that I may be found worthy in Your sight. Fill me with more of Your Holy Spirit that there may be room for no one and nothing else but You. 

Continue to fill me with Your Love & Mercy that I may be filled to overflowing and bless those around me wherever I may be or however far my feet may take me. May I forgive as freely as You forgive. Shine Your Light through me so that all who look towards me see only You. 

I pray, Lord, that Your Grace may abound within me, pouring out from heart, through my mouth and into the hearing and sight of anyone I may come into contact with. 

Be glorified, Lord, by my doings and my words. 

In Jesus' Beautiful Name, I pray,

Amen

Thanks Be To God - -For Giving Us His Grace

 

1 Corinthians 1:4

I always thank my God for you because of the grace He has given you in Christ Jesus.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 5485

GRACE: is preeminently used of the Lord's favor – freely extended to give Himself away to people (because He is "always leaning toward them"). Favor, kindness, a gift or blessing brought to man by Jesus Christ.

I have heard that the word 'grace' can be seen as an anagram, making it easy to remember: 

God's

Riches

At

Christ's 

Expense

THE GIFT OF GRACE 

Grace comes from God by way of God's only begotten Son Jesus Christ. 

John 3:16

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Acts 4:11, 12

(11) This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. (12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. 

Ephesians 2:4-11

(4) But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, (5)made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved! 

(6) And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, (7) in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 

(8) For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, (9) not by works, so that no one can boast.

(10) For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life. 

THE WRAPPED GIFT

Acts 2:23, 24

(23) He was delivered up by God’s set plan and foreknowledge, and you, by the hands of the lawless, put Him to death by nailing Him to the cross. (24) But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for Him to be held in its clutches.

Isaiah 53 describes the suffering that God's Gift had to go through. God's Gift was not a pretty sight. It was wrapped in blood, covered with bruises and nailed to the cross: for us.

Hebrews 2:17

For this reason He had to be made like His brothers in every way, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, in order to make atonement for the sins of the people.

Isaiah 53

Who has believed our message?

And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

He grew up before Him like a tender shoot,

and like a root out of dry ground.

He had no stately form or majesty to attract us,

no beauty that we should desire Him.

He was despised and rejected by men,

a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief.

Like one from whom men hide their faces,

He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.

Surely He took on our infirmities

and carried our sorrows;

yet we considered Him stricken by God,

struck down and afflicted.

But He was pierced for our transgressions,

He was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him,

and by His stripes we are healed.

We all like sheep have gone astray,

each one has turned to his own way;

and the LORD has laid upon Him

the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and afflicted,

yet He did not open His mouth.

He was led like a lamb to the slaughter,

and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,

so He did not open His mouth.

By oppression and judgment He was taken away,

and who can recount His descendants?

For He was cut off from the land of the living;

He was stricken for the transgression of My people.

He was assigned a grave with the wicked,

and with a rich man in His death,

although He had done no violence,

nor was any deceit in His mouth.

Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him

and to cause Him to suffer;

and when His soul is made a guilt offering,

He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days,

and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand.

After the anguish of His soul,

He will see the light of life and be satisfied.

By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many,

and He will bear their iniquities.

Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great,

and He will divide the spoils with the strong,

because He has poured out His life unto death,

and He was numbered with the transgressors.

Yet He bore the sin of many

and made intercession for the transgressors.

That's God's Gift of Grace to us who believe and receive this Word, this Bread, sent down from heaven. 

RECEIVING THE GIFT OF GRACE

Romans 10:9, 10

(9) That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved. (10) For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 4:23, 24

(23) Now the words “it was credited to him” were written not only for Abraham, (24) but also for us, to whom righteousness will be credited—for us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

Grace is God's gift to us in Jesus Christ. We just have to accept it (believe) and open it (receive). When we get a wrapped birthday or Christmas present, we must receive the gift from the giver. If the package just sits there and we never open it, then we have never received it: we have rejected it. 

REJECTING THE GIFT OF GRACE
But what if we open the gift from the giver and we don't like it, or it's not exactly what we had in mind when we accepted the gift? Is it still ours? No. For when we have rejected what has been given us, we are still rejecting the gift, even after receiving it. 

This gift of grace from God is for everyone who receives it. Though given to the whole world, the whole world will not receive it: this gift will be rejected by many. The Gift will be rejected because of their unwillingness to believe that not only is the Gift theirs, but that the Gift-giver is loving and generous. 

Romans 2:4

Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

John 3:18

Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 

John 3:36

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.

Mark 16:16

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

King of Glory (His Name Is Jesus) by Third Day

This Is Amazing Grace by Phil Wickham