All to God's Glory

The reason for all things is God's glory. For of him and through him and to him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen (Romans 11:36). We are to do all things to God's glory. Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). 

Creation is to God's glory. All things were created to the praise of God's glory. You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for you created all things, and by your will they exist and were created (Revelation 4:11). We were created to the glory of God. The Bible defines sin as falling short of God's glory (Romans 3:23).

Our salvation is to God's glory. We who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of his glory (Ephesians 1:12). Believers give all the glory to God for our salvation. God is working in you what is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory, forever and ever. Amen (Hebrews 13:21).

Prayer is to God's glory. We pray, For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen (Matthew 6:13). Prayer should always be focused upon God's glory in all things. God's kingdom and power work to the praise of his glory. We pray in Jesus name to the glory of God in all things.

God's Wrath Satisfied

And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world (1 John 2:2). Two words describe the propitiation of Christ for believers at the cross. Those words are substitution and satisfaction. Christ died as our substitute for our sins. Also, the sacrifice of Christ satisfied the wrath of God against our sins.

Propitiation is God's wrath against our sins satisfied at the cross of Jesus. Propitiation (Greek: hilasmos) is a New Testament word which means satisfaction. Christ crucified satisfied the holiness and justice of God to save guilty sinners. 

Propitiation is God's wrath satisfied at the cross, through the love of God in Christ. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Christ crucified is love's crowning deed, satisfying God's justice. 

Propitiation is God's wrath satisfied on our behalf as believers in Christ. Justice paid the price for believers in the sacrifice of Christ at the cross. Therefore, God is both just and the justifier of all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 3:26).

Believers in Christ our Lord receive God's love revealed at the cross. We are justified by faith in Christ alone. Those who reject the propitiation of Christ at the cross face God's justice and wrath abiding upon them (John 3: 36).

Christ with You Always

A new Christian said to a friend, "When I received Christ, I felt the love and joy of His presence, but I don't have that feeling now. It bothers me. Have I done something wrong?" His friend said, "He's still with you always. Feelings come and go, but He has promised never to leave you. Simply take Him at His word."

You may get excited through special times with the Lord, when you know He is moving in your life. However, remember the Lord is with you today and always. Jesus promised to be with you always. Feelings say, "Sometime I know He is with me. Other times, I'm not sure." Faith says, "He is with me always, whether I feel His presence or not." Faith is not a feeling, and feeling is not faith. Only faith can know the Lord is with you today and always.

As a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, remember that He is with you today and always. He will never leave you, because He loves you. That's a good reminder to all believers everywhere. Take the Lord at His word. Jesus said, I am with you always, even to the end of the world (Matthew 28:20).

Every believer is indwelt by the Spirit of the living Christ (Romans 8:9). He comes to live in you. The Spirit of Christ is your constant companion. As an expectant mother may feel the unborn baby move within her from time to time, nevertheless, most of the time she does not feel the baby move. So it is with the Spirit of Christ within you as a believer. He can move within ways you recognize. However, He lives in you today and always.

Predestined In Christ

The word predestination (proorizo) means to mark off beforehand. The death of Christ was predestined by God (Acts 4:28). Believers are predestined in Christ to adoption (Ephesians 1:5), to an inheritance (v. 11), and to be conformed to the likeness of Christ (Rom. 8:28-29).

The root word for predestination pictures the horizon of the sky and earth. At a distance, you may see where the landscape of the earth ends and the sky begins. That's a line drawn by God Himself. Your destiny in Christ draws the line between those who are saved and those who are not. God has "marked off beforehand" to save all who believe in Christ (Acts 16:31). Believers are predestined in Christ to an eternal inheritance, which is to be conformed to the likeness of Christ.

Predestination in Christ means all believers shall be glorified into His likeness (Romans 8:29-30). We shall be glorified in a body like unto that of our risen Lord. "We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is" (1 John 3:2). That's your destiny foreordained, as a believer in Christ.

As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we have a destiny foreordained by God. That is our security as believers. Yes, we are predestined in Christ. God's plan for us is certain. We are predestined as God's adopted children, by faith in Christ, unto an eternal inheritance to be glorified in Christ. We are predestined in Christ to an inheritance.

God's Effectual Call

F. F. Bruce wrote that the "effectual calling which is the work of God's Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel."

God's effectual call is to Christ by the Holy Spirit through the gospel. It is the Holy Spirit's work to convince us to believe and receive Christ. Jesus said, "And when he has come, he will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment; of sin because they do not believe in me" (John 16:8-9).

Bruce noted from Scripture that the called of God belong to Jesus Christ (Romans 1:6); called to be saints (Romans 1:7), because of his call (Romans 9:11). The Holy Spirit calls us to Christ through the gospel.

Dr. Bruce recognized that the call to Christ is offered freely to all. However, he focused upon those who respond to the gospel of Christ in the effectual call. The convincing work of the Holy Spirit makes the difference in those who come to Jesus Christ our Lord by faith.

God's call to Christ is not received by those who refuse in unbelief. Therefore, they must be responsible for their own just condemnation. Dr. Bruce explained "that the gates of God's mercy stand wide open for their entrance, that his free pardon is assured in Christ to all who claim it by faith."

Christ Revealed to You

Christ is revealed to you through the Bible. All Scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16). He reveals Christ in Messianic prophecies and promises of the Old Testament, as well as the fulfillment and assurance of those promises in the New Testament. 

Christ is revealed to you by the Holy Spirit. He opens your eyes of understanding to see the light of Christ (John 1:9). Without the Holy Spirit, the purpose and point of God's truth is not seen (John 16:13). The hymn Amazing Grace includes these words, "I once was blind, but now I see." That's spiritual blindness, but the Holy Spirit opens your eyes of understanding to see the truth of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Christ is revealed to you in the Old Testament, with foreknowledge and vision given to the prophets. The Holy Spirit revealed Christ in prophecy. Today, the same Holy Spirit reveals Christ to you. Scripture is the revelation of the Holy Spirit, given through the prophets and apostles (Ephesians 2:20). Christ is the Revelation (Revelation 1:1).

Christ is revealed to you through the gospel (1 Thessalonians 1:5). He is revealed to you in salvation, by the Spirit of grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9, 18). The Lord Jesus saves to the uttermost all who come to him by faith. Through the Holy Spirit, Christ saves and keeps you (John 3:8, 16). What he begins in you, he is more than able to complete (Philippians 1:6).

Believing Is Receiving

Charles H. Spurgeon defined faith as an "immediate relation to Christ, accepting, receiving, and resting upon him alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace." 

Believing is receiving Christ (John 1:11-12). We come to Christ by faith, through the Spirit of grace working in your heart. The Spirit of God leads us to receive the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 12:3).

Believing Christ is receiving eternal life as the gift of God (Romans 6:23). Eternal life is a personal relationship with the eternal God, as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (John 17:3). It is fellowship or communion with God (1 John 1:7). Believing in Christ is receiving from God through a covenant relationship (Hebrews 13:20-21).

Believing Christ is receiving God's grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). Christ works in us and through us, to the praise of His glorious grace (Ephesians 1:6). It is not what we do for Christ, but what He has done for us, and continues to do in us (Philippians 1:6; 2:13). Believing Christ is receiving grace to do in us what we could never do by ourself. 

Believing in Christ is receiving the gospel, according to the Scripture (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Believing is receiving Christ by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). We are believing Christ died for our sins and he is risen from the dead.