Pastor Stephen Dedman

Category: Salvation

Make This Christmas Be All About Jesus

Salvation

“And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus , for He will save His people from their sins.”
Matthew 1:21

Right now, millions of people across the world are preparing for Christmas Day. People are shopping for the perfect gifts. And with 10 days remaining until Christmas, some people are fearing the fact that some gifts may not arrive on time.

I love this time of year. I love seeing the generosity of people’s hearts, the excitement, and the anticipation. Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year!

That first Christmas wasn’t about exchanging presents, hanging lights, or attending ugly sweater parties. It was about the greatest event in human history. God, Himself, left His throne in heaven and came forth as a Son to save people from their sins.

Christmas should be so miraculous and life-changing that people come to know Jesus as Savior. Christmas is a time of hope and joy for all people. It’s a time of reflecting on the wonder of it all.

We can rejoice because Jesus saves us from the penalty of sin. He saves us from the power of sin. And He saves us from the presence of sin.

Make this Christmas Season be all about Jesus. Share the good news with someone who needs to be encouraged. Let Jesus be the source of all your joy and hope.

Pray

Lord Father, thank You for the gift of Jesus. Your perfect plan of salvation is a blessing to the world. May the name of Jesus be lifted high today.

Received Up In Glory, Part 6

Salvation

‘And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.’
I Timothy 3:16

Does your life prove the transforming work of Jesus Christ?

With nail prints in His hands and feet, the wound in His side, and the totality of suffering on our behalf, Jesus ascended into heaven in a resurrected body. All of heaven praises Jesus as the Lamb of God and He is seated at the right hand throne of God.

We rejoice in our salvation because Jesus finished the work that He was sent from the Father to accomplish. Jesus is the perfect fulfillment of Old Covenant and God is well pleased.

Now we live in the New Covenant relationship of Jesus. It’s not our works but His grace. His good work makes us completely justified in the sight of God.

The great mystery of godliness is displayed in our character of who we are in Christ. As Christians we are being transformed into the righteous person God desires us to be. Paul says in Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Pray

Lord, transform me into the person You want me to be and let my life be acceptable to You. Help me to live by grace alone because of Your completed works. Thank You for Your grace and mercy that You have freely given to me.

Justified In The Spirit, Part 3

Faith, Salvation

‘And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.’
I Timothy 3:16

Did you ever think that 1 Timothy 3:16 could be so deep? Great is the mystery of godliness. These truths unpack such a powerful meaning into our lives.

Just as God was manifested in the flesh through the person of Jesus Christ, He was also justified in the Spirit. Not because He was sinful and then made righteous, but that He was declared to be justified by the Holy Spirit. There are two passages of Scripture that shed light upon this truth.

At Jesus’ baptism, Matthew tells us, ‘When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”’ Matthew 3:16-17

At the resurrection of Jesus, Luke records, ‘This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.’ Acts 2:32-33

Jesus was declared to be righteous and holy by the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity. He always was justified before the Father. He didn’t have to prove Himself righteous; He always was righteous. Therefore He rightly took our place on the cross and provided salvation to all who believe.

Pray

Lord, thank You for revealing the truth of the gospel to me and opening my eyes to Your great salvation plan. You alone are God and able to save. I pray that I may show the love of Christ in all that I say and do.