At the creation of man, the single thing that made him a living being and not a pile of earth-dust was the breath of God (Genesis 2:7).
To be born again, or a newly-created human being, we must receive the God-breath in His Word:
* “All Scripture is inspired [breathed] by God” (2 Timothy 3:16).
* “...in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:20).
* “...you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God” (1 Peter 1:23).
In reading from Psalm 119 today, the life of Genesis 2:7 is variously translated “revive” and “live.” The Source of this life and reviving is the Word breathed by God Himself. May we meditate on this Source today and seek the Holy Spirit’s help in breathing deeply.
“Deal bountifully with Your servant, that I may live and keep Your word” (Psalm 119:17).
“My soul cleaves to the dust; revive me according to Your word” (119:25).
“Turn away my eyes from looking at vanity, and revive me in Your ways” (119:37).
“Behold, I long for Your precepts; revive me through Your righteousness” (119:40).
“This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your word has revived me” (119:50).
“Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, so that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth” (119:88).
“I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have revived me” (119:93).
“I am exceedingly afflicted; revive me, O LORD, according to Your word” (119:107).
“Sustain me according to Your word, that I may live; and do not let me be ashamed of my hope” (119:116).
“Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live” (119:144).
“Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness; revive me, O LORD, according to Your ordinances” (119:149).
“Plead my cause and redeem me; revive me according to Your word” (119:154).
“Great are Your mercies, O LORD; revive me according to Your ordinances” (119:156).
“Consider how I love Your precepts; revive me, O LORD, according to Your lovingkindness” (119:159).
“Let my soul live that it may praise You, and let Your ordinances help me” (119:175).
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Grace to You and Peace from God Our Father
Reading John Owen's "Of Communion with God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost" last year and simply growing older as a teaching elder in Christ's Church is building within me a desirous drive to emphasize the Trinity in my speaking, writing, praying, etc. While dedicating myself this year to knowing more about God the Holy Spirit, I do not want to neglect a specific and worshipful consideration of God the Father. So, below, meditations from Romans on 1:7, where the Person of the Godhead Who is Source of "grace...and peace" is called "our Father."
* * * * * * *
"Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which He promised...concerning His Son...through Whom we have received grace & apostleship" (Romans 1:1-3,5). Give thanks & be joyfully amazed, for the God of this grace-empowered commission is called "our Father"!
"Grace to you...from God our Father" (1:7).
"But now...the righteousness of God has been manifested...the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe...for all have sinned & fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:21-24). Give thanks & be joyfully amazed, for the God of this grace is called "our Father"!
"Grace to you...from God our Father" (1:7).
"...having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand, & we exult in the hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:1,2). Give thanks & be joyfully amazed, for the God of this grace & peace through "our Lord Jesus Christ" is called "our Father"!
"Grace to you...from God our Father" (1:7).
“But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one [Adam, the first human] the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many” (Romans 5:15). Give thanks & be joyfully amazed, for the God Who gives us grace through Jesus His Son is called “our Father”!
"Grace to you...from God our Father" (1:7).
“For if by the transgression of the one [Adam, the first human], death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:17). Give thanks & be joyfully amazed, for the God of super-abounding grace is called “our Father”!
"Grace to you...from God our Father" (1:7).
“The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:20,21). Give thanks & be joyfully amazed, for the God Whose super-abundant grace expresses His absolute & eternal reign is called “our Father”!
"Grace to you...from God our Father" (1:7).
“In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace” (Romans 11:5,6). Give thanks & be joyfully amazed, for the God Who gracefully (& not meritoriously) chooses the remnant who are faithful only to Him is called “our Father”!
“Grace to you...from God our Father” (1:7).
“For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly...” (Romans 12:3-6). Give thanks & be joyfully amazed, for the God Who graces us so that we may contribute to the Body of Christ is called “our Father”!
“Grace to you...from God our Father” (1:7).
“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you...the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” (Romans 16:20,24). Give thanks & be joyfully amazed, for “God of peace” Who crushes our enemy & pours out grace through the Lord Jesus is called “our Father”!
“Grace to you...from God our Father” (1:7).
* * * * * * *
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1,2). Give thanks & rest in Him complete, for the God with Whom we have peace through “our Lord Jesus Christ” is called “our Father”!
“...peace [to you] from God our Father” (1:7).
“....the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). Give thanks & rest in Him complete, for the God Whose kingdom is “peace...in the Holy Spirit” is called “our Father”!
“...peace [to you] from God our Father” (1:7).
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13). Give thanks & rest in Him complete, for the “God of hope” Who fills you with “all...peace in believing” in His Son Jesus Christ is called “our Father”!
“...peace [to you] from God our Father” (1:7).
“Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen” (Romans 15:33). Give thanks & rest in Him complete, for this “God of peace” Who is present with His Church now & forever & ever & ever is called “our Father”!
“...peace [to you] from God our Father” (1:7).
* * * * * *
"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 1:7).
* * * * * * *
"Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which He promised...concerning His Son...through Whom we have received grace & apostleship" (Romans 1:1-3,5). Give thanks & be joyfully amazed, for the God of this grace-empowered commission is called "our Father"!
"Grace to you...from God our Father" (1:7).
"But now...the righteousness of God has been manifested...the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe...for all have sinned & fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:21-24). Give thanks & be joyfully amazed, for the God of this grace is called "our Father"!
"Grace to you...from God our Father" (1:7).
"...having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand, & we exult in the hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:1,2). Give thanks & be joyfully amazed, for the God of this grace & peace through "our Lord Jesus Christ" is called "our Father"!
"Grace to you...from God our Father" (1:7).
“But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one [Adam, the first human] the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many” (Romans 5:15). Give thanks & be joyfully amazed, for the God Who gives us grace through Jesus His Son is called “our Father”!
"Grace to you...from God our Father" (1:7).
“For if by the transgression of the one [Adam, the first human], death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:17). Give thanks & be joyfully amazed, for the God of super-abounding grace is called “our Father”!
"Grace to you...from God our Father" (1:7).
“The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:20,21). Give thanks & be joyfully amazed, for the God Whose super-abundant grace expresses His absolute & eternal reign is called “our Father”!
"Grace to you...from God our Father" (1:7).
“In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace” (Romans 11:5,6). Give thanks & be joyfully amazed, for the God Who gracefully (& not meritoriously) chooses the remnant who are faithful only to Him is called “our Father”!
“Grace to you...from God our Father” (1:7).
“For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. For just as we have many members in one body and all the members do not have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly...” (Romans 12:3-6). Give thanks & be joyfully amazed, for the God Who graces us so that we may contribute to the Body of Christ is called “our Father”!
“Grace to you...from God our Father” (1:7).
“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you...the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” (Romans 16:20,24). Give thanks & be joyfully amazed, for “God of peace” Who crushes our enemy & pours out grace through the Lord Jesus is called “our Father”!
“Grace to you...from God our Father” (1:7).
* * * * * * *
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1,2). Give thanks & rest in Him complete, for the God with Whom we have peace through “our Lord Jesus Christ” is called “our Father”!
“...peace [to you] from God our Father” (1:7).
“....the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17). Give thanks & rest in Him complete, for the God Whose kingdom is “peace...in the Holy Spirit” is called “our Father”!
“...peace [to you] from God our Father” (1:7).
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13). Give thanks & rest in Him complete, for the “God of hope” Who fills you with “all...peace in believing” in His Son Jesus Christ is called “our Father”!
“...peace [to you] from God our Father” (1:7).
“Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen” (Romans 15:33). Give thanks & rest in Him complete, for this “God of peace” Who is present with His Church now & forever & ever & ever is called “our Father”!
“...peace [to you] from God our Father” (1:7).
* * * * * *
"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 1:7).
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