Often you hear from writers and motivational speakers, that you get back what you put in. They say there are no free rides. You must work smarter be an innovator. Push for the sale, your idea, and close the deal whatever the cost or sacrifice. So to them, success is numbers, accomplishments, recognition, and financial gain. All that is true if that is all there is to life. But you get an entirely different picture about life when you read the Beatitudes, Matthew 5ff.
The political world, The President, Congress, and legislators wheel a lot of power. They are at the helm and we wonder did they sell their soul for fame and financial gain? The same is true of the judicial world as those in control - did they steer the situation to alter the facts to bring their justice? Let us never be so naive to think this could never happen. It happened to Jesus, the Christ and it happens in America. And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter, Isaiah 59:14 [[1]The language here is all taken from courts of justice, and the idea is, that there was no justice in their decisions, but that their courts were unprincipled and corrupt.] “equity” that which is right cannot penetrate the mass of corruption.
Regardless of our vocation, the business world, the political world, the judicial world or the world of the blue-collar worker, there is a higher calling. And that is to be born again and to take up our cross and follow Christ and minister to others. 1Pe 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
You see you do not get back what you put in. I put in sin, failure, bad decisions, selfishness, broken promises and so much more that is hidden from view, but what I got back was grace. You expect condemnation but you get Grace: He saved me and you at the Cross more than two thousand years ago and He is asking you and me to believe in Him for the Gift of Eternal Life, Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We are justified by Faith [Faith alone in Christ alone], Roman 5:1. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Being Justified by Faith is synonymous with being justified by Grace, Titus 3:4-7, i.e. V7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood,
Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace;…Romans 4:16
Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
A Past tense love, Unto him that loved us, And His love is pictured here as continuing unto the present And that One Who loves even today has loosed us from our sins by His own blood. Heb 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;
This Jesus made the promise of life to you, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. “
“Belief is persuasion:” If you are persuaded that something is true, you believe it. Meaning you have confidence in whom you have believed, Paul said, “…for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him
Are you persuaded that Jesus is able to keep that which He promised? If you believe in Him for His promise of everlasting life, then you should know you have what He promised you [John 3:16, 6:47, 1 John 5:10-13].
[1] Barnes from e sword software
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