How We See God

Jesus said, "God is Spirit ..." (John 4:24). That means we cannot see God with our eyes, because he is invisible to us. However, we can see God and walk with him by faith. 

Moses was an example of faith that sees God who is invisible. "By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing him who is invisible" (Hebrews 11:27). He fulfilled his destiny, because of faith that endured, seeing him who is invisible. 

We see the invisible God like we see the wind move. We see what the wind is doing and where it is moving. So faith is able to see what God is doing and where he is moving. Faith sees "that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men" (Daniel 4:17). Faith sees the Most High God ruling and reigning in life. Faith enables us to see what God is doing in our lives.

Faith sees not by natural vision through our eyes, but with understanding from the word of God (Romans 10:17). We walk with God daily by faith. We remember that faith is "the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). We are walking by faith, "as seeing him who is invisible."

Those who have faith in God see him ruling over all. "For of him and through him and to him are all things, to whom be glory forever" (Romans 11:36). Faith sees God according to the truth of the word of God. Believers see God at work in all things to his glory forever.

Predestined In Christ

The word "predestination" is a controversial term. However, the important point is that all in Christ are predestined to an inheritance as adopted children of God. Most people probably think it means predestined to heaven or hell. The Bible does not teach that. However, Scripture does teach that God "in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ." 

"He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will" (Ephesians 1:4-5). 

We are predestined in Christ, and in Christ alone. The word predestined means to foreordain or mark off before hand. Christ was chosen by God the Father to be our Savior "before the foundation of the world." God has "predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ."

We are predestined in Christ to be adopted children in God's eternal family. God chose us in union with Christ as His adopted children. Jesus is God the Father's only begotten Son (John 3:16). Through God's Son, we are predestined "to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will." 

Doubts of Salvation

From time to time genuine believers may have disturbing doubts about their salvation. Such doubts are most often because we focus upon ourselves and not on Christ. Trusting in ourselves leaves room for all manner of doubt. Our assurance of salvation is in Christ alone. It's knowing who saved you. 

Faith in Jesus Christ is our assurance, testifying, "I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep what I have committed to him until that Day" (2 Timothy 1:12). It's faith in Christ alone. He alone has the authority and power sure to save and keep us. 

Do not focus on your work for Christ, but his work for you and in you. The grace of Christ initiates your salvation. What he begins, Christ is more than able to finish. "Being confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you will complete it unto the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6). Your salvation is sure by faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. What he began in you continues even to the final day. That is the day of Christ, when he returns.

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to be saved and sure (Acts 16:31). You are saved by what Christ has done for you at the cross and through his resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). You are saved by what Christ is doing in you and through you (Colossians 1:27; Hebrews 13:20-21). Christ alone saved you and not yourself. Assurance of salvation is by faith in Christ alone.

How to Love God

Love God in a personal relationship. It's all about love. Remember the greatest commandment of all. Jesus tells us, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength" (Mark 12:30). 

Love God by responding to His great love for us. God gave His only begotten Son as eternal proof of His love for us. We can testify with the apostle Paul in these words, "I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). That's our relationship with God. It's all about love so amazing, so divine.

At conversion, the love of God fills your heart through the Holy Spirit. We experience the love of God through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit works in our hearts, that we may know the love of God in a personal way. "For we know how God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love" (Romans 5:5).

Love God through worship. We adore and praise Him for His great love. We surrender to His good will. We desire to please Him in the way you live. More than that, we love others because His love is in us. Jesus said, "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:31). God loves them through us. We love God by loving others.

Knowing God Today

There is a difference in knowing God and knowing about God. Most people know about God from things they have observed or heard. Your parents may have talked to you about God. You may attend church and hear a sermon about God. However, knowing about God is not knowing God today.

Know God by faith. He who comes to God must believe (Hebrews 11:6). We cannot come to God any other way. Because God is Spirit, you cannot see Him (John 4:24). Only faith can usher us into the presence of God.

Know God through your heart. The heart is your mind, will, and emotions. God changes our hearts through the gospel of Jesus Christ, enabling our faith to know God the Father through the Son (John 14:6). We know God by looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

Know God in a personal relationship. We walk with God by faith. For we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Faith assures us that God is with us, and all the time. Faith is the assurance that God hears our prayers. Faith is the evidence. When we know God, faith is the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1).

How to Rest In Christ

Works may boast and say to us, I can get you to heaven, if you try hard and labor to do your best. Salvation is the gift of God to be received. We don't work to earn a gift, we simply receive it. "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9). It's not by your works, but by resting in the finished work of Christ alone. Rest in Christ through faith alone.

Rest in Christ by God's grace alone. It's about what God has done for us in Christ. It's what God is doing in us and through us. That's called grace, and its fulness is found in Jesus Christ our Lord (John 1:16). 

Jesus says to you,"Come unto Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest"(Matthew 11:28). Jesus invites all who are weary to come to Him and find rest. The word rest refers to our relationship with God in Christ. Faith in Christ means we are completely depending upon Him to do in us what we cannot do for ourselves.

Rest in Christ through faith alone. That means your confidence, trust, and reliance is in Christ alone, to do in your life what you are unable to do by yourself. Only Jesus Christ can save you. That means you rest in Christ. Rest in God's love, mercy, and grace, believing on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:30-31).

Grace Must Save Us

Charles H. Spurgeon said, "Men need to be told that, unless divine grace brings them out of their enmity to God, they will eternally perish." He went on to say "that if they are to be saved, it must be by grace, and by grace alone."

Spurgeon recognized that we are not saved by our works. If salvation is by works, we could boast of what we have done. However, salvation is by grace alone, which means it is the gift of God. Salvation is the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ, in Christ alone. If you are saved, it's by grace alone to the glory of God alone!

Spurgeon knew that grace alone must save us, not by grace plus our works. Many teach that salvation is initiated by God's grace and must be completed by our works. Not so. If you are saved, it must be by grace alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). God's grace begins and completes our salvation in Christ (Philippians 1:6). 

Grace must save us in Christ as the gift of God. Faith receives the gift of God in Christ. The gift of grace is found in Christ alone. He alone died for our sins. He alone is risen from the dead as our living Lord. Grace is trusting the finished work of Christ for us, and the work of Christ in us. If we are saved, "it must be by grace, and by grace alone."