FAITH in the salvation gift of Jesus Christ plus nothing pleases God. Faith in His salvation that placed me in right standing with my Father. He had to watch Jesus suffer crucifixion for our sins how unbearably painful it must have been for Him. No greater love exists.
Luke 7:49–50
49 And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” The New King James Version
1 John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.
These Jewish epistles were written to Jewish Kingdom believers. Jesus was their awaited King and Messiah. From the beginning was the Word and the Word was God. He spoke creation into existence. John spent 3 years living with Jesus and had seen His miracles and witnessed His crucifixion and His resurrection. He knew that Jesus was the only begotten Son of God. He returned as their King as was promised in the Old Testament.
Luke 24:36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.” But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”
After the Resurrection Jesus appeared to them and they were terrified. He was in a physical body after being crucified. He ate before them to prove his resurrected body lived on after death. He reminded them that He had foretold them of His resurrection.
Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
That same Jesus would change our earthly bodies into the likeness of His glorious body. He is able to save us for all eternity.
Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
This is the Gospel of the Kingdom. The King returned to His Kingdom and His subjects did not recognize Him.
There exists the Gospel of the Kingdom and the Gospel of Grace both are under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. A small percentage of the Jews believe in His Kingship. They are under the Law and the Body of Christ, because they rejected Him, is under God’s gift of grace for the world that He had created. John 3:16. Carla
Forgiveness of sins could be granted by God alone. Jesus often recognizes faith as the catalyst for healing and salvation. Faithlife Study Bible
The grumbling over Jesus’ declaration concerning forgiveness indicates that at least some people in the audience rejected His authority. Faith is the human channel for receiving God’s gifts. The NKJV Study Bible
Some sinners are greater debtors; but whether our debt be more or less, it is more than we are able to pay. God is ready to forgive; and his Son having purchased pardon for those who believe in him, his gospel promises it to them, and his Spirit seals it to repenting sinners, and gives them the comfort. Let us keep far from the proud spirit of the Pharisee, simply depending upon and rejoicing in Christ alone, and so be prepared to obey him more zealously, and more strongly to recommend him unto all around us. The more we express our sorrow for sin, and our love to Christ, the clearer evidence we have of the forgiveness of our sins. What a wonderful change does grace make upon a sinner’s heart and life, as well as upon his state before God, by the full remission of all his sins through faith in the Lord Jesus! Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary
Matthew 9:22 But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.
Luke 8:48 And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”
Mark 5:34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
Luke 5:21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Luke 18:42 Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.”
Care of any kind—compassion, generosity, forgiveness, reconciliation, peacemaking, service, ministry, teaching, giving, healing—begins with and is nourished by self-care. By self-compassion.
So. Our invitation this week; let us be gentle with ourselves. A restorative mainlined straight to the heart.
Although, my confession is that self-care isn’t always my strong suit. Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis’ affirmation, “By self-love I mean a healthy delight in your true, imperfect, uniquely wonderful, particular self. I mean an unconditional appreciation for who you are, head to toe, inside and out: quirks, foibles, beauty, and blemishes—all of it. I mean seeing yourself truthfully, and loving what you see. Life has ways of turning upside down and sometimes the upside down fuels the inner voice of doubt or shame blame self-loathing we don’t deserve.”
I was taught—in church—as a boy, that we should love one another. You know, practice kindness and compassion.
But here's the deal: love can only spill from a heart that has been softened and in most cases broken. A heart where self-care—yes, self-compassion—is blossoming, replenishing and healing.
In these encounters—if I do give or offer my heart—it does come back to me in better shape. Because it comes back to me, softer.
There is no doubt that when faced with tragedy or chaos or uncertainty or misfortune, we want to have a "handle" on it, or fix it, or make it go away.
But this is not about a way to figure life out. Nor is it about determining whether we have intentionally or unintentionally invited chaos or sickness into our world. Sabbath Moments
Why read about corrupted kings, fallen armies and marriage alliances?
Through all the ups and downs, notice an important theme: God knew. Hundreds of years into the future … even thousands and millions of years … He knows what to expect. Nothing is a surprise to Him. We serve an all-knowing, all-powerful God.
Certainly, faith means believing and embracing what we can't see (Hebrews 11:1), and God doesn't owe us proof of His existence. Yet He graciously offers historical, archaeological and other evidence that, for fragile humans like us, provides confidence in His character and power. It's a privilege to see in Scripture and in history how things always work out exactly as God says they will.
And even when we don't know the ending, we do know we serve the Creator of the universe. As we seek Him, He will love and protect His children through all our earthly ups and downs. He knows our trials, our triumphs and everything in between (Isaiah 40:28; 1 Peter 4:19; Psalm 139). First5
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