Romans 8:1-11 (A New Gospel Start)

                 Do you need a new start in your Christian life? Are you looking back on 2016 and seeing a trail of failures, sins, and weakness? This is about the time the devil and your own sinful weakness tells you that you can not do it. Thankfully, the Lord has told us through the Apostle Paul that we do not have to do it. One of the great lies of Satan is that we have to do it ourselves. It is a lie that plays on our pride and desire to work our way to God.

               We desire to follow God, however, our strength and hope for the Christians life in this world and the next comes only in the power of Christ. If you are seeing a need for change, do not look to your own strength to make changes or overcome the needs in your life. You must look to Jesus. In Him and through Him there is now no condemnation. If you want to see a different life in 2017, look to Christ, seek Christ, commit to Christ, talk to Christ, listen to Christ in His Word. See if God will not bless you in Christ!

Consider: Titus 3:3-7

Matthew 22:34-40 (True Goals)

                Most of us try and think about what we want to do in the New Year. These can take a variety of directions. I want to challenge you to think about what lies behind your goals and plans for 2017. Jesus here turns aside a challenge from His opponents by declaring what are the two greatest commandments. It seems to me that if we are planning out our year, these two commandments should be before us as we make our plans.

               We are to Love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. All that we do, in every part of our life, should come back to our love for God . We should be Christ centered in every area of our life out of love for God.

               We are to Love others as ourselves. This follows the example of Christ’s love for us. He loved us like Himself and died on the cross for us.

               As you make plans and set goals for 2017, are these commandments at the heart of what you are planning to do? Should they not be, as these are the greatest things that God has told us to do?

Consider: Proverbs 16:3

Malachi 3:6-10 (Are you Stealing from God)

                This is a passage that requires you to be fully honest with yourself and God. Are you stealing from God what is rightly His. Are you being faithful to contribute to the church? Are you being faithful to support the needy? Are you being faithful to support good causes as you see them? Are you observant and open for God to lead you to help in situations?

               This it is not just about money. Are you stealing from God in your time? Are you doing your own thing on Sundays? Are you using your gifts that God has given you for the church and world?

              Examine your life moving into 2017. Is there an area where you need to be more faithful to God? God is not a task master. Look to this passage. God says He will open up heaven and pour out blessings on those who follow Him. You are to be a blessing to the church and world and that you might be blessed as well.

Consider: 2 Corinthians 9:7

1 Thessalonians 4:17 (Be in Prayer)

                Every year it seems if I want to do something I have to plan to do it. The casual time I once had is no longer available. Many of you will have read or heard the illustration from Steven Covey about Big Rocks in your schedule. Basically it means you put the important things in your schedule/life first. If you do not, the little things will leave little room for the Big things.

               Prayer needs to be a Big Rock in every Christians life, but it is one of the hardest to get in our schedule. The example of Jesus is an excellent one to follow. He arose early and went and prayed ( Mark 1:35). For some this will work and for others it will not. Some pray better at night and others during the day. It really does not matter when you pray, only that you are praying daily and growing in your prayers.

              We need God! We need Him everyday! We need Him every moment! We need to keep an open line of prayer. This is what Paul is getting at in this passage. If you need to work on your prayer life, then make it a priority in 2017.

Consider: Ephesians  6:18

Psalm 119:105 (Know the Word)

                 The Word of God should be the light that shows us the way to go in life. It is the Word of God that shows us salvation, shows us who we now are in Christ, shows us the power of God in us. The Christian must be serious about the Word of God. Many of you who grew up in the church will remember the older saints who were godly, and everyone of them knew their Bibles. Godliness and Bible knowledge cannot be separated.

               Have you ever read the entire Bible? If you have not, why not? This is God’s Word to you! It is important not just as a rote outward exercise. No, we are to be hiding the Word of God in our hearts. We are to be studying the Word to understand it and apply it. If you want to be strong in Christ, you need to be strong in His Word. In this week’s Pastors Corner there are several suggestions to help you read the Bible. Make sure you are growing in the Word this coming year.

Consider: Colossians 3:16-17

I Peter 1:3-10 (Examine your Life)

                This week our devotions will help us prepare to enter a new year. There is nothing special about a new year. It is marking time. It helps us keep straight the passing of time. It also gives us an opportunity to examine our life once a year. It seems the older we get the busier we get. It is hard for us to stop and consider what is going on in our lives. We can become numb to some issues, thoughts, and even behaviors that we need to address. The beginning of a new year is a good time to read through this passage. We are not working our way to salvation, but we should examine our lives to see if we have evidence that our election and calling are sure.

               Are we living for Christ? Are we growing closer to Christ, to His people, to His church? Do we see growth in virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love? Have you grown cold in your walk with Christ over the last year? Where do you need to take action in 2017?

Consider: Ephesians 4:1-7

I John 4:10

               Propitiation is a big word. Sometimes it just takes a big word to convey the meaning of a noun. Jesus came to be a propitiation for us. This is the central idea behind the advent of Christ. He came to save His people.

              It was not because we loved God and He was responding to our love. It was because He loved us in spite of who we were. It is because God has loved us enough to send Jesus to us. He loved us enough that Jesus might be the propitiation for our sins.

              He was sent at Christmas to die at Easter for His people, to cover the sins of His people with His own blood. He paid the price of their sin and gave them the righteousness that only He could give.

              If we want to see the Love of God for us, look to Christmas and Easter. Jesus the eternal Son of God came to be a real man. He came to die for man. He came to arise from the dead for man. He is our propitiation! He is our Redeemer.

Consider: Romans 5:8

Luke 2:15-20

              When God has opened your hearts to see and hear the good news of Jesus Christ then you run to Jesus. This is what the Shepherds did after the angles departed. They said, “Let us go to Bethlehem.” They wanted to see for themselves what the Lord had revealed to them.

              We can do this too by trusting in what the Lord has reveled in His Word to us. We are to live in the way of the Lord. We are to trust that Christ has saved our souls and is transforming us, even now, into a new creation by the power of the Gospel.

              Are you seeking the Lord? If not, is it because you do not know the Lord? Have you never understood the Gospel or trusted in Christ?

             Jesus came to save people like you. Have you accepted Christ? Are you one of His people?

Consider: Ephesians 2:14-18

Luke 2:11-14

              If you do not like to be scared, it would not have been a good night for you in Bethlehem. First the angel of the Lord appeared, and then came a multitude of heavenly host praising God. This was not what a group of simple shepherds might expect on a normal night with the flocks.

              Glory to God in the Highest. The angels sang out to God the glory worthy of His name. He had come to earth to save His enemy and those who had no hope except in His mercy. It is to God’s glory that He would love us enough to come to redeem us.

              Peace be among those with whom He is pleased. With whom is God pleased? He is pleased with those who believe in His son, who trust in Christ and follow Him. Are you among those with whom God is pleased? Do you have peace with God?

Consider: Romans 5:1

Micah 5:2

              Jesus was born in Bethlehem. It was not a place where you might expect to find a great king born, but it was called the City of David. King David was a foreshadowing of the coming Messiah and Jesus is descended from King David. Jesus was in fact coming to be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords because of His rightful position as the first born of all creation. It is from this small place that the one who is to rule Israel will be born.

             This was the eternal plan of God. Jesus’ coming is from ancient days. He is eternal God. It was God’s plan from the beginning to redeem His people from their sins through Jesus’ leaving heaven and becoming man. His glory is not in worldly splendor, but in the pure work of love that He does for us His people.

            Understand that at Christmas you celebrate the birth of your king! Are you worshiping and serving Him?

Consider: John 7:40-44

Luke 2:25-38

                Simeon and Anna are small characters in the story of Christ birth, yet they represent faithful Israel as they waited on the Messiah. The Lord had gone silent for 400 years. Israel was ruled by a foreign power. Had God forgotten? Was God True? Simeon and Anna are blessed by God to see their hope.

             Many people believe that Old Testament Saints were saved by their obedience and their works. This is simply not true. They were saved by their faith in the coming Messiah. They believed that they saw dimly in the shadows, but here is the hope of all Israel - Jesus Christ.

             Simeon’s words are clear as to who this new baby was going to be. “For my eyes have seen your salvation.” Remember the faithfulness of the Lord to His people. God keeps His Word and His promises.

            Know that the only hope anyone has ever had is in the grace and mercy of God! Do you know this hope? Do you know this grace and mercy? Do you know this child Jesus that is our savior and Lord?

Consider: 2 Corinthians 2:14-17

Isaiah 59:20

                Israel was waiting on her Redeemer and Lord to come save them as God’s people. The problem with those in the world is that they do not connect Jesus’ birth to Jesus’ death. They want the idea of a God that has come to bring peace, but they do not want the cross and death of Christ. Man is always trying to make God in his image or according to his design. The Redeemer of Israel did not come to overthrow the Roman Empire and He has not come to just bring a fuzzy peace and goodwill into the world. He came to save His people. He came to save them by taking their sins upon Himself. He came to make us a new people. He came to save us.

               What was Israel waiting for in their Redeemer? What are you now looking to Christ for as your Redeemer? He has come to take away our sins. He has come to restore us to God. Praise the Lord that our Redeemer has come!

Consider: Romans 11:25-32

John 14:7

 A mistake you could make is to think that everything Jesus gives us (or even most of it) is in the future. While it is true that we look forward to a better eternity, there is a great deal that we have even right now. We know God by faith in His son Jesus Christ.

     

To know Jesus is to know the Father. If you know Jesus then you know and have seen the Father. This shows the closeness of the relationship between Jesus and the Father, as well as the closeness between you and Jesus.

    

God is not a complete mystery to us now. You can truly know Him through Jesus. You can know Him right now. I do not mean you will know of Him or about Him, but really know Him so that your life is changed and you can glorify and enjoy Him even now.

    

Your understanding of worship should be changed by this truth. If you know God now then you can come into His presence now and worship Him now. Do you realize this when you come into worship? We do not worship a God who is far off from you. He is rather a God who is close to you through Jesus.

Consider: 2 Timothy 1:12

John 14:6

Let me be direct! There is one way and only one way to God, to heaven, and to salvation. It is only through Jesus Christ that anyone can be saved. Jesus makes this crystal clear in this verse.

                 

          He is the truth. All truth is found in Jesus alone. All that He teaches is true. If you want to know           truth then know Jesus.

          He is the way. He is the only way to God. If you want to go to heaven and if you want to know               God, then the only way is through Jesus Christ.

          He is the life. Man is dead outside of Jesus. Without Jesus’ work, a man is spiritually dead. To             become spiritually alive, a man must believe and know Jesus.

Jesus cannot be more clear that no man comes to the Father except through Him. He is the only way, without exception, that sinners can be saved. This is not a popular view, but the Bible clearly teaches that Jesus is the only way. Do you know Jesus? Are you on the only way to God, to heaven, and to salvation?

Consider: Ephesians 2:8

John 14:4-5

Jesus tells them that they know the way to all He is promising. He knows they know because He is the way and they know Him. It is not by a checklist of things we must do for God. We do not meet a list of qualifications. We do not have to acquire a certain amount of knowledge. We just have to believe in and follow Jesus. He will take us to heaven!

                 

Thomas probably speaks what is on all their minds. What is Jesus talking about here? Where is He going and how are we going to follow? They will get it. It would have to be understood after they see His death, resurrection, accession, and outpouring of the Holy Spirit. They did not understand here, but they would come to understand.

     

What do you have to do to be saved? This is an important question. The key is to follow Jesus.

Consider: Acts 16:31

John 14:3

Jesus came to take us to His home in the new heavens and the new earth. This is a place where God and man will be reunited in full fellowship. We have a taste of this now, but Jesus has prepared a place for you to know God and enjoy Him and worship Him forever.

                

Christ’s return will bring God’s people to this place prepared. Christ’s saving work was done on the cross and by His rising from the dead. His next great work will be His return to Judge and bring His people home. He will come to separate His people from the world and take them to the place He has prepared for us. Here we will be with Jesus! We will be together forever!

      

Do you have faith in Christ to do this for you? Do you believe the Gospel will bring you all the way home?

Consider 2 Peter 3:13

John 14:2

Do you ever wonder what heaven will be like? Too many have a view that it will be all they wanted in their earthly life, filled with worldly things. I think that many have this a wrong view because we are limited in our understanding and vision of all that heaven will be for us. We can only see dimly now what heaven will be like.

     

We do know it is a home. It is our Father’s home. It is our home too! We are now in this world and in these earthly tents as Paul calls them. Here we are subject to change, but in heaven we will have a permanent place in God’s house.

     

We know we have a place because Jesus came to give us one. Heaven is ours through Jesus. Do you believe in heaven? Is it your true and permanent home?

Consider: Philippians 3:20-21

John 14:1

These are familiar words of comfort. Throughout the time of the Christian church these verses have been read to comfort and encourage a dying saint. Why are these verses so helpful? It is because they point us to our hope!

                

Heart trouble is common to all people. No matter who you are in this life it can affect you. Heart trouble affects all people over every stage and level. What is the hope that cures this common problem? It is faith!

Jesus says to believe in God and in Him. Faith in God through Jesus Christ is the key to over coming the troubled heart. It will be key for Jesus’ disciples over the next few days as they see Him crucified. It is key to us as we face the trials of this life and even death itself.

Consider: Hebrews 11:1-2

John 13:38

     Jesus calls out Peter for his rashness. Peter had said that Jesus was wrong! That he would follow Him all the way to death itself. Jesus knows that this is not true. He knew what was about to take place. He knew how weak Peter would be and how he would fail. In fact, this is where He says the rooster will not crow before Peter denies Him three times. We see from the other gospel accounts that the others joined with Peter and said they would lay down their lives too, but in the end Jesus would go alone. This He knew He had to do alone.

     Know that we are weak. We need Jesus every step of the way. We need the power of God at every level and every moment of our lives when we do not listen to Jesus, when we think our way is better than God's, when we get into trouble.  Without His strength we have nothing.

     This is true with God's work in the church. You cannot save anyone. Only God can do that work. Only God can change the heart and give spiritual birth. It is for us to listen, to pray, and to tell the truth of God's glory, grace, and love. Let Him do His work. Let us listen and obey.

Consider: Mark 14:66-72

John 13:36-37

     Peter is foolish. He thinks he is doing the right thing, but he is not listening or understanding what Jesus is saying to them. Have you ever tried to talk with someone who will not listen; your doctor, a store clerk, a waiter, someone who doesn't hear what you are saying? It can be frustrating. Peter has already rushed to his conclusion. He doesn't understand what Jesus is going to do or what Jesus has for him in the future. He cannot go where Jesus is about to go.

     When Jesus says, “I am going and you cannot go with me”, Peter jumps in and says, “I will go and lay down my life.” Peter is rash. He does not listen to Jesus.

     Are you listening to Jesus? Are you listening to His Word? There is a danger in being rash, in thinking you already know. Are you praying through the Word? Are you seeking to understand it? Do not be rash or foolish! Listen to the Bible!

Consider: John 21:15-19

John 13:35

     Love is the uniform that each Christian should wear before the world. Why do we need a uniform? It shows the world who we are! How do you recognize a policeman, fireman, soldier, sailor, or marine? It is by the uniform. It sets them apart for who they are and what they are about in the world. For the Christian, it should be our love that is an outward sign. It is the outward reality of the new heart and creation we are on the inside.

     This love should be especially clear toward God and His people. As a group of people who love each other, we stand out from the world. Look at all the groups that fall apart after just a little time. Famous rock groups break up. Families split. Organizations crumble. It is a hard thing to keep a group of people together and moving in same direction. Love is the key to the church’s success and it should be a hallmark of who we are and example of Christ's power in us.

     Think about the two greatest commandments. Love of God and love of  man is at the very center of God's teaching to us. Are we a people that love each other? Are we showing our love to the World? Are they seeing something other than love at your church and in your life?

Consider: 1 John 3:14-17

John 13:34

     How is this a new command? Surely the idea of loving each other is something that the Old Testament teaches. In fact it does teach it clearly in Leviticus 19:18. So how is this a new command? In a sense it is not, but rather a renewed and re-emphasized command. Here we have a new illustration of what it means and a new example to follow.

    The illustration and example of love is seen in Jesus. God loved the World. What did this love motivate Him to do? It caused Him to leave heaven, become man, subject Himself to suffering and pain, and to die upon the cross, all for a hard hearted and sinful people. His love caused Him to do all He did. We are to love others like Jesus loves the church. Husbands are told that we are to love our wives like Jesus loves the church in Ephesians 5:25. In Philippians 2, Paul uses Christ as an example of self-sacrifice and love.

     We are called to love each other like Jesus has loved us. This is a common love that each believer has experienced and should seek to share. Are you loving each other like Jesus loves you?

Consider: James 2:8

John 13:33

     “Little children” is used by Jesus as a term of endearment. We may see this as belittling or insulting, but Jesus means this as a sign of how close the disciples are to Him. Jesus is going away. He is preparing the disciples for His death on the cross. It is important to note well the tone and concern that Jesus has for His disciples all the way through to His "High Priestly Prayer" in John 17.

     “Where I am going you cannot go.” Jesus is clear and correct. These men had followed Him for years. They had stayed with Him, eaten with Him, walked and talked with Him. Now He alone had to go. He is going to the cross where only He, the God-Man Jesus Christ, could go to accomplish the plan and will of God. Their deaths at this point would not accomplish the purposes of God. They could not join in the work that only Jesus could do. There is only one Savior and only one way to salvation and that is through the Son of God, Jesus Christ. It is through what He alone could do and did do on the cross.

     Do you understand this? It is vital that you see Christ is the only way to God!

Consider: Galatians 3:13-14

John 13:31-32

     Judas leaving the group brings a change in the way Jesus goes forward. He is now with just His true disciples and His care, openness, and love is evident over the next chapters.

     The cross is the big thing that is coming. It is in the cross that Jesus is saying He, and God with Him, will be glorified. The cross will come to symbolize the love and glory of the living God. This should at first strike us as odd. Could you imagine people wearing little electric chairs around the necks like we do crosses? That is what the cross was in that day; an instrument of death and shame. However, Jesus going to the cross for us is to His Glory and our eternal good. It is at the cross that Jesus defeats our enemies and meets our greatest needs. He pays the price for our sins and opens the way for us to know God; all this only by His Grace

     We are not to be embarrassed, as some are, by the cross. In the cross we see the love of God. In the cross, we see the hope of God. In the cross, we see the glory of God. How do you see the cross?

Consider: 1 Peter 4:10-11

John 13:30

              Judas was fully engaged in his plan to betray Jesus. He did not linger. The words of Jesus did not give him pause. He immediately went out to betray Jesus. John ends this section with, “ and it was night.” It is significant that Judas when out into the night to do his evil plans. This is the darkness of the night of betrayal. We see that Paul in giving us the words of institution of the Lord's supper wrote: "On the night when he was betrayed" (1 Corinthians 11:23). Jesus warned them about this approaching darkness in John 9:4, 11:10, 12:35). What we have here is a war between good and evil, darkness and light, God and the devil. We are coming to great day of Christ's victory when He will defeat sin and death.

             There is another day of victory coming when the darkness of this world will be defeated forever by the light of Christ. Then Jesus will come back and bring the fullness of His kingdom.

Consider: John 8:12

John 13:28-29

              Here we see the confusing part of the passage. We are left wondering on our first reading why no one understood that Judas was going to betray Jesus. Had God clouded their minds? It just seemed odd and confusing. However, when we see that Peter had made the motion to John to speak and that what we have seen was a private conversation between Jesus and John it makes sense.

             We also see how sneaky and sly the wicked can be. Jesus has known for some time that Judas was going to betray him. However, the disciples seem to be unaware of Judas’ treachery. When Jesus announced that one of them would betray Him they all looked around at each other. They did not all look at Judas. He seemed to be just as committed as the rest of the disciples, yet he had been a thief and a traitor all along.

              I think we must be careful to examine everyone. We must realize the power and depth of sin in people's lives. We must not be surprised when people show themselves to not be Christians even though they have been in the church.

Consider: 1 Peter 4:12-15

John 13:27

              J.C. Ryle draws a picture of the devil’s work in his commentary on John. He points out that in verse 2 of this chapter the devil had already put the idea of Christ’s betrayal into Judas’ heart. Now, the devil entered Judas and he goes out to work the evil plan.

              We are constantly bombarded by sin. John has shown that the three main assaults come from the devil, the world, and our own sinful desires. The devil knows our weaknesses and wants to destroy us. The world is full of sin and wants to pull us into it. We have our own sinful desires that our flesh desires to fulfill. We must fight each of these at the first point of contact. If we allow them a foothold then they can quickly take root and go to full bloom.

             The great news is that we are not alone. We have the Holy Spirit and the Word. We are told if we resist the devil he will flee from us. We are in the world but Jesus has overcome the world. We are set free from slavery from sin by Jesus. Are you fighting sin at the first point of contact? The Christian will not be lost, but the consequences of sin can be very high.

Consider: James 4:7