The Body of Christ is composed of believers and Jesus is the head. In Him and through Him we have access to all that God has given to Him.
Romans 3:22–24 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…
Our Savior Jesus Christ brought eternal life to those who believe in Him. Resurrection power and the teaching of it was given to Paul to make known to the Gentiles. Paul was not ashamed for he knew who he believed and that He was able keep him. We must hold fast to the sound words that Paul has written in the faith and love which is in Christ Jesus and kept by Holy Spirit who dwells in us. Many in his time turned back to legalism and did not stay with the Gospel of Grace which he preached.
John 3:16 whoever believes in Me will not perish but have everlasting life.
Christ overcame death and sin by His death and resurrection and we in Him have overcame the same. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. We need to study Scripture and through the comprehension given to us by Holy Spirit we will understand the promise that is in Christ Jesus to all who believe.
Ephesians 2:5–8 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…
We must be faithful to the Gospel of Grace and faith in Christ alone.
Galatians 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
Keeping God's compassion at the forefront of our hearts shifts our perspective toward confident hope even in our lament. We rest in His promise "that for those who love God all things work together for good" (Romans 8:28). We trust He knows our every need (Matthew 6:8). Psalm 10 assures us God "hear[s] the desire of the afflicted" and "will strengthen their heart" and "do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed" (Psalm 10:17-18).
Prayer is our starting point. Matthew Henry explains, "Prayer is a salve for every sore, even the sorest; a remedy for every malady, even the most grievous. Our business in prayer is to refer our case to the Lord, and leave it with him." Partnered with God in prayer, we can make a difference in the lives of those facing hurt and oppression.
Sometimes the Lord also asks us to give our time, energy or resources to help others. Other times He directs us to speak encouragement or show kindness. God may use your smile, listening ear, or ability to emotionally support others to make an impact that leads hurting hearts to Him. You can have confidence that God will use your willing spirit. First 5
In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus tells the disciples, “You are the light of the world.”
And then adds, “Let your light shine.”
Let. As is, allow. As in, the light is already there.
Jesus never said, “Create the light.” He never said, “Make the light.” He never even said, “Be good at light shining.”
He simply told us to get out of the way, and let the light that is already there, spill.
So. Instead of light shining classes, let us give ourselves the gift of embracing the light that is alive and well inside... the light of compassion, kindness, empathy, inclusion and hope.
Yes. The freedom to choose and care is grounded in the light that is already within. Sabbath Moments
I believe God loves his children. He monitors your life. He doesn’t need to check the doors; he is the door. Nothing will come your way apart from his permission. Listen carefully and you will hear him say, “Everything is secure. You can rest now.” By his power you will “be anxious for nothing…” and discover the “peace…which passes all understanding” (Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV). Max Lucado
Acts 15:6–11
6 Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. 7 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. 8 So God, who knows the heart, acknowledged them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He did to us, 9 and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. 10 Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? 11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.” The New King James Version
Luke (the narrator) stresses that the ruling of the Jerusalem Council will represent the Church’s official verdict on the matter. Peter cites his own experience with the Gentile Cornelius and his vision about clean and pure food, which he has already explained to the church leadership in Jerusalem (Acts 10:1–11:18). Peter reasons that since God is working among both Jews and Gentiles that to demand that the Gentiles become Jews is to doubt what God has declared. This point seems to be based on Peter’s vision about clean and pure food. Peter reminds the audience that no Jew was able to satisfy the law. Faithlife Study Bible
It was from the mouth of Peter that Cornelius and his Gentile friends heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. Yoke here refers to the law (Galatian 5:1). We shall be saved in the same manner as they, these are the last words of Peter in the Book of Acts. He leaves us with the eternal truth that we are saved through faith by grace alone. The emphasis in the Book of Acts now moves from Peter to Paul, from the presentation of the gospel message among the Jews to its presentation to the Gentiles. The NKJV Study Bible
Acts 10:1–48 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always…
Matthew 23:4 For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
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