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We are justified by our works! That’s right. Despite what many in the religious world might profess, the Bible clearly states that men are justified, “by their works.” This has even led some to question the authenticity of the book of James. However, the overarching message of the New Testament supports this idea. The difficulty often lies in the misunderstanding between works of “merit” and works of “faith” or “righteousness.

No one who knows the Scripture will ever say that one merits or earns salvation by their works. But likewise no sound teacher would say that works of faith are non-essential. James says one must: Be “swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”.

“Lay aside all filthiness and overflowing of naughtiness.” – A work of faith.

Receive the word. – A work of faith. 

“Be doers of the word.”- Works of faith. 

Continue in works of faith.

Care for the needy. – Works of faith.

Keep yourself unspotted. – Works of faith.

Faith without works is dead and cannot save. Show me your faith without works. I’ll show you my faith by my works. How does your

faith shine by what you are doing? Remember, the goal is to hear the Lord say, “Well DONE!” Be obedient, and be faithful.

One of the great lessons of the Mosaic Law is that a holy God cannot dwell among an unholy people. Yet God desires to dwell with His people, and the people with God. How? 

God must make provisions to remove their iniquity, the cause of their unholiness In Israel’s day, God did this through the tabernacle and the priesthood. Notice God’s statement to Aaron in Numbers 18:1. “So the Lord said to Aaron, You and your sons and your father’s house with you shall bear iniquity connected with the sanctuary, and you and your sons with you shall bear iniquity connected with your priesthood.”

Iniquity here is basic moral failure and the punishment associated with it. The priesthood and the tabernacle were to assume the punishment for moral failure for the nation of Israel. But who lived in the tabernacle? God did! The whole setup was designed to show that ultimately God desired to take the punishment for our sins, and then one day, He actually did it in the person of Christ Jesus. Hebrews 10:12-14 Sstates this truth: “But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”

The priesthood and the tabernacle lead us to Jesus! In fact, everything in the Old Testament points us to Jesus. Paul taught us, “Therefore the law uwas our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith” (Galatians 3:24).

For all the things that the Lord did for the Israelites, they rejected Him again and again. Consider Nunmbers 14:11: “Then the Lord said to Moses: How long will these people reject Me? And how long will they not believe Me, with all the signs which I have performed among them?”

Sometimes we hear people say, “If I had lived during the time of Christ, I would have believed!” Would we have? Listen to the words of Jesus to those who saw all the miracles He did: “If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead”(Luke 16:31).

There is never enough evidence for the person who believes in self instead of Jesus. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Jeremiah 10:23 declares, “O Lord, I know the way ofman is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.”

The problem is that we trust self instead of Christ. Self-trust is behind all our discontents, and it is why the Bible repeatedly tells us to put our faith and trust in Jesus-so that He can help us! Overcoming self means letting go of self and believing in Jesus alone.

“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:Fear God and keep His commandments,For this is man’s all.For God will bring every work into judgment,Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

Sin takes a toll on our thinking, and we must pay the price of ignorance by confessing that we don’t understand many things. It is fortunate for us that God, in His mercy and love, understands this, and gives us clear commandments to follow in His word. There are some things that I simply do not need to understand to obey God’s commandments. The only question that I need to answer is whether I am going to obey. This is the greatest struggle that we face as God’s people; will it be our own will or God’s will that we follow? We must obey God’s commandments. If we love God, we will obey (1 John 5:2-3). Failure to obey is simply a lack of love for God in our life

Love God enough to study His word, learn His commands, and obey them, and be free of self. God bless you, and I love you.

Amid the high symbolism of the book of Revelation we have some “not so subtle” hints to basic divine truth. By the grace of God, we have been offered salvation, strength, a kingdom, and power to all who overcome “by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word” (12:10-11).

While we are guaranteed to be persecuted, the everlasting Good News of God is intended to bring all men everywhere to salvation through the fear of God in light of judgment (14:6-7). Listen to some of the most beautiful words ever written about the patience of the saints who keep the commands of God and walk in the faith of Jesus Christ…

“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them” (Revelation 14:13).

Salvation has come, and Judgment is coming…are you in Christ? Are you patiently and faithfully awaiting that day? Be ready, be faithful

A brand new candle, barely lit, that will burn itself out in twelve fleeting months, another volume in our own book of life, full of blank pages upon which we shall write with our words and deeds, a fresh garment without wrinkle, soil, or tear, an open door, behind which many paths will beckon before the door is closed, a new plant freshly pushing through the earth’s crust, destined to bear fruit, either good or evil, a piece of soft clay over which each one of us exercises the power of a potter, to mold it into a shape of one’s own choosing, and a race to be run that many will fail to finish to its end.

Worldlings will live out this new year in a Monday to Saturday context. The Lord’s people will live ours from Lord’s day to LordP’s day, looking forward to each appointed time when we can assemble with our brethren to worship God and study His Word. While those outside try to fight the battles and face the trials of life on their owvn, we can draw from the inexhaustible source of spiritual strength, found only by those who submit to mankind’s only rightful Ruler.

Now, let us look at this new year again. Only you and I can determine what sort of flame its candle will burn. Only you and I can decide what sort of lines will be writen upon its blank pages. You and I alone are responsible for how free of soil and damage our garments of life will remain. The choice is ours as to how we will walk the paths – yea which paths -that open before us. The fruit we produce and the vessel we mold are largely in our control. May we determine to make this the best year of our lives in God’s service here, pressing on to that realm where time no longer exists (Phi. 3:14; Rev. 22:5). 

Through the years, this writer has discovered that people only do what they really “want” to do (from their heart) – no more and no less. We can motivate and encourage Christians all day long to do the work of the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58), but in the end, they will only do what they really “want” to do.

For example, we can motivate and encourage Christians to attend every church service, but only those members who really “want” to attend every church service, will be in attendance, and those who really “want” to stay home, will stay home (or engage in some secular activity).

Christians who really “want” to faithfully obey and serve the Lord, will do so “from the heart’ (Romans 6:17). Note the same phrase in Ephesians 6:6, and the contrast using the same phrase in Matthew 15:17-18 regarding what comes out of the mouth.

Serving God “from the heart’ (those who really”want” to serve God) is the kind of service God eagerly wants from His people (note the words “whole heart’ in Psalm 111:1; Psalm 119:2).

Beloved, let’s seriously “think'” about the above thoughts and then go serve the Lord with our “whole heart’!

As human beings, we get very excited about a New Year, because we look forward to making resolutions for the purpose of “turning over a new leaf” as it were. We make lists of changes in our lives, goals, and projects to accomplish. Many believe that happiness will be found in material wealth, worldly power, or fame and glory. Some folks will simply eat black-eyed peas for good luck.

However, true happiness can never be known without allowing our wills to be in alignment and compliance with our Creator’s will (cf. Isaiah 1:18-19; Matthew 7:21). After the wise man Solomon had recorded the futility of his search for purpose and happiness in this world, he wrote: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is the whole duty of man” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).

It’s only when we find and fulfill God’s purpose for our lives that we can achieve the true happiness God intended for us (cf. Jeremiah 1:5; Gal. 1:15-16). We can’t ignore this purpose and Imagine this upcoming New Year as a blank sheet of paper for us to write another chapter of our short and fleeting life (James 4:14; cf. Psalm 78:39; Job 7:6-7). Will we have the courage and commitment to look within the pages of the inspired Scriptures in determining our moral values and standards? (Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 3:16).

Or will we allow worldly influences to set them for us? (1 John 2:16; cf. 2 Timothy 4:10). If we will choose the former, we will find true happiness in the upcoming New Year.

There’s a time to just say NO! to the world’s negative influences and say YES! to God’s priorities and will (Matthew 6:33; 1 Thessalonians 4:3; 5:18).

The following are eight of those times:

1) Just Say NO! to worldly peer pressure— Never follow a crowd to do evil (Exodus 23:2).

2) Just Say NO! to worldly mediocrity— God expects excellence from His followers.

3) Just Say NO! to trying to do too many things at once — Rather, strive to live a balanced life.

4) Just Say NO! to being unproductive – Don’t allow unproductive people to waste your time or God’s time.

5) Just Say NO! to shortcuts— Remember the old maxim,”Haste makes waste?” Well, it still does.

6) Just Say NO! to ungratefulness — Let’s be thankful to the good Lord for the things He has provided us, rather than being obsessed with always wanting “more.”

7) Just Say NO! to folks who have negative attitudes – – This is why we need to carefully choose the people with whom we associate. Remember, attitude is everything!

8) Just Say NO! to anyone who wants to compromise our integrity – – Allow the Lord to guide us in this regard (Proverbs 3:5-6).

After Paul was seized by the mob in Jerusalem, he was taken into Roman custody. And because a Jewish plot to take his life was discovered, the Romans transferred him to Caesarea. While there, Paul had the opportunity to defend himself before governors Felix and Festus. And it was before Festus that Paul made his famous appeal to be taken before Caesar saying: “1 stand at Caesars judgment seat, where I ought to be judged. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you very well know. For ifl am an offender, or have committed anything deserving of death, I do not object to dying; but if there is nothing in these things of which these men accuse me, no one can deliver me to them. I appeal to Caesar (Acts 25:10-11).

After assuring Paul that his request would be granted, Festus made provisions for him to be taken by ship to Rome. But that voyage, like most of Paul’s other experiences, was not to be without incident. In the midst of the long journey, a storm, so severe that “sailors were seeking to escape from the ship” (Acts 27:30), encompassed the vessel. Nevertheless, an angel assured Paul that he and all those present on the voyage would survive the impending wreck. Thus, Paul spoke: “Therefore take heart, men, for believe God that it will be just as it was told me” (Acts 27:25).

Paul’s words reflect the confidence that all Christians should have in God’s Word. He knew that if God had promised his safety, he would be safe indeed. No wonder Paul later wrote: “…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).