Press On

Posted on March 22, 2013 by KD Manes under Salvation

I wonder when Jesus first realized He was God’s Son, and His purpose for living on earth. Growing up under the care of a carpenter, he likely hammered hundreds of nails. Did He ever cringe―knowing His earthly fate would end with sharp spikes piercing His own hands and feet?

Luke 2:40-52 gives an account of Jesus at the age of twelve. Jesus―strong and full of God’s wisdom and grace―remained behind in Jerusalem when his parents began journeying home from their yearly Passover Festival. Mary and Joseph were concerned. Where is Jesus?

After three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard Him was amazed at His understanding and His answers.” – (vs. 46-47)

Joseph and Mary: Relief … astonishment … parental anger

Jesus: “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” (vs. 49) “Or be about my Father’s business,” (NIV Bible’s footnote)

Joseph and Mary: Fear … misunderstanding

Was this Jesus’ first experience of His identity and mission being misunderstood? It wouldn’t be His last. The gospels―Matthew, Mark, Luke and John―detail Jesus’ suffering. His blood brothers ridiculed Him. Many disciples turned away. Even those in His inner circle misunderstood many of His teachings, and then scattered upon Jesus’ arrest. His home town shunned Him. The Pharisees bombarded Him with false accusations…

But Jesus pressed on.

In ministry, Jesus didn’t have home comforts, but instead dwelt among throngs of people―many pursuing Him with selfish motives.

But He persevered.

Satan―knowing Jesus’ true identity and mission from the get-go―assaulted Him with temptations, seeking to steal Jesus’ worship, kingdom and glory.

But Jesus overcame (Matthew 4).

So what prompted Jesus’ strong resolve amid such opposition? He prayed often, plugging into His Father’s power source. Also, Jesus declared:

My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work.” – John 4:34

God’s grace to us led Christ to His death. Jesus―fully God and fully man―did not come to gain political power or status, but to suffer and die so we could have eternal life (Hebrews 2:9-10).

Our sinless Christ sympathizes with our weaknesses (Hebrews 2:18). He is the answer to all our dilemmas and temptations. Through Christ, we too can press on (Philippians 4:13).

Don’t Forget Your Helmet

Posted on January 21, 2013 by KD Manes under Salvation

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“Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” Ephesians 6:17.

Satan wants us to doubt God, Jesus, and our salvation. The helmet protects our minds from doubting God’s saving work for us through His Son, Jesus.

My boys often think they are invincible. With only a skiff of snow and being near their school, they think gym shorts are suitable for watching basketball games. “All the kids do it, Mom. Besides, the gym’s hot.”

“It’s below freezing. And if you get stuck outside you’re asking for frostbite!” My reasoning settles in their minds like snow flurries in the wind. Time to switch tactics. This time I put on my Commander hat.

“You will wear your jeans and your coat. NO shorts.” My battle ready stance tells them I’m not backing down. After a few grunts and rolling eyes, they comply.

God often uses my children to drive home a point. How many times do I react like my kids to God’s instruction? How often do I skim over a Bible passage while my mind is distracted with daily tasks? Or I’ll read, ponder it, but then fail to apply it throughout the day. Like my boys, do I wave it off by reasoning: I’ll be fine … everyone else does it (or isn’t doing it)?

Ephesians 6:10-18 commands us to put on God’s armor. Like a parent who knows what’s best, Paul illustrates how we can be strong in the Lord so we won’t get knocked over by the devil’s schemes. Four times, he writes “stand firm.” Why? God shows us our struggle is not against people, but against the spiritual forces of evil, (vs. 12).

Don’t neglect wearing your helmet of belief, for “whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son,” John 3:18b.

Do you have any additional thoughts about God’s armor, (Ephesians 6:13-17)?

Bad News, Good News

Posted on January 14, 2013 by KD Manes under Salvation

Care to join me for a steaming latte? It’s 12 degrees fahrenheit in my neck of the woods. Brrr. Reason enough to enjoy the crackling fire with a hot drink within reach.

As I mentioned in my earlier post, God’s first call in our lives deals with salvation. In fact, most of the Bible centers around John 3:16 (NIV), “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

The word salvation appears 164 times in the Bible. According to Strong’s Concordance, salvation is “mattâth” in Hebrew and Aramaic, which means “a present: ― gift; reward.” The Greek translation “soteria” means “rescue or safety.”

Salvation can be summarized as follows: deliverance from the power or penalty of sin.

Whose sin? Both yours and mine. We’ve all done wrong things and failed to obey God’s laws (Romans 3:23; 5:12).

The result? Separation from holy God, our Creator. This separation―the penalty of our sin―is eternal death (Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:10-15). Our best efforts–moralism–fall short in our attempts to unite with God (Isaiah 64:6). That’s the bad news.

The good news: Jesus–God’s unique Son–never sinned (Hebrews 5:9). He alone bridged the gap between sinless God and sinful mankind when He freely died on the cross (1 Timothy 2:5-6; 1 John 5:9-12). He took our place in order to save us from sin’s consequences―including God’s judgment and death (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24; Romans 5:8-11).

The result? We can have new life because Jesus took our past, present, and future sins upon Himself, forgiving all our wrongdoing (Hebrews 10:5-18). Thus, He reconciles us to God (1 Peter 3:18; Hebrews 10:19-22). Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is the proof that His substitutionary sacrifice on the cross was acceptable to God. His resurrection has become the source of new life for whoever believes Jesus is the Son of God (John 11:25; Romans 10:9). He grants eternal life, giving union with God to those who believe and receive Him (Ephesians 2:4-7; John 1:12).

Do you believe Jesus is God’s Son? If so, have you confessed your sins to Him and asked Him for the gift of eternal life and forgiveness?

*This article is also posted in the Gospel Blog by FEBC at http://bit.ly/17RG5UK.