Demons

When Jesus was on earth He frequently encountered people who were demon possessed. Sometimes their presence revealed itself in physical ways, such as inflicting blindness, prohibiting speech, or inciting erratic behaviour. For example, Luke 9.38-39 tells us, “A man in the crowd called out, ‘Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams, it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth.’” Jesus healed many people of such demonic influence. 

So, what are demons and are they real? The Bible presents demons as real spirit beings, not simply superstitious explanations for certain physical ailments. When God created the universe He created a class of spirit beings called angels. Some of those angels, under the leadership of Satan, rebelled against God and became the demons we read about in the Gospels. Revelation 12.7 tells us, “And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back.” God’s holy angels stand in opposition to Satan and the fallen angels, or demons. 

Because demons are spirit beings they have unusual powers. They can inflict diseases, reveal hidden secrets, and even possess individuals who open themselves to demonic activity. On one of his missionary journeys Paul encountered a girl who was possessed by a demon. Acts 16.16 says, “Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit by which she predicted the future.” Paul cast the demon out of the girl in the name of Jesus. Because demons have such unusual powers, people are sometimes attracted to demonic influences. But the Bible forbids involving ourselves in such practices. Deuteronomy 18.10-11 says, “Let no one be found among you who  . . . practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead.” Demons are real and they’re powerful. Christians should avoid any connection with demonic activity. 

Although demons are powerful enemies of God’s people, they’re limited in what they can do and they face a certain doom. Jesus demonstrated His authority by casting out demons by His spoken word. In the future God will judge Satan and the demons, sending them to hell. Jesus, in Matthew 25.41, warned about future judgment, saying, “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’” When we receive Jesus as our Saviour we enter into His protective power. Christians need never fear demonic powers because Jesus’ power is greater. Doesn’t it make sense to follow Jesus?

Satan's defeat

Everyone wants to be on a winning team. As sports fans, we cheer for our team to win the league or the cup final. In business, we want our work teams to succeed and excel in the marketplace. In the bigger issues of life and eternity it’s reassuring to Christians to know that we’re on the winning side. We’re part of an age-long spiritual conflict. Satan is waging war against God. Sin stands in opposition to holiness. The spiritual battlefield includes our hearts. But when we give our hearts to Jesus, we share in His victory over evil.

Jesus’ victory means that Satan is a defeated foe. The Bible tells us that Satan was once one of the holy angels, but he became proud and rebelled against God. His fall ushered sin into the universe, and each of us has participated in sinning against God. We'd be hopelessly and eternally lost except for the saving grace of God.

First John 3.8 tells us, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” By His grace, God the Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, into this world to undo the evil that Satan has inflicted. This was God’s plan all along.  Immediately after Adam and Eve followed Satan’s temptation and disobeyed God, God declared His plan to counteract Satan’s destructive acts. God told the serpent that the seed of the woman, a descendant of Eve, would destroy him. In Genesis 3.15 God said, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers, he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” At the cross it appeared that Satan had won a great victory by striking the heel of the Son of God. But in that sacrificial death Jesus instead crushed Satan’s head. He defeated Satan on our behalf. All who put their faith in Jesus Christ share in His victory both now and forever.

Satan’s defeat, however, doesn’t mean that he’s incapacitated. In fact, Satan is still all too active in this world. He’s constantly scheming to distract us from our commitment to Christ. In Ephesians 6.11 Paul challenges us to, “Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” God has given us, through Jesus Christ, everything we need to resist temptation and have victory over Satan day by day.

Satan was defeated at the cross. In a future day he’ll be forever put out of reach of God’s people and will suffer eternal judgment in hell. Revelation 20.10, looking into the future, says, “And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulphur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Satan’s defeat is sealed. Jesus Christ has won the victory. Isn’t it great to know that we’re on the winning team!

Satan

Sometimes we hear people excuse their bad behaviour by saying, “The devil made me do it.” While there’s no justification for blaming Satan for our personal sins, Satan is a real being who does entice us to reject God’s holy standard for our lives.

But where did Satan come from? Satan is a created spirit being, and since everything in God’s original creation was “good,” Satan at one time was one of the holy angels. Ezekiel 28.12-13 says of Satan, “You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. You were in Eden, the garden of God.” Verse 15 goes on to say, “You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you.” Known as “Lucifer,” or the “Morning Star,” Satan became proud of his beauty, his position, and his power. Isaiah 14.12-14 describes his fall, saying, “How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! . . . You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to heaven, I will raise my throne above the stars of God, . . . I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.’”

When Satan fell, he enticed other angelic beings to follow him in his rebellion against God. He also attacked the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, by tempting Eve to disobey God’s command in the Garden of Eden. Ever since his fall, Satan has been the archenemy of God and God’s people.

Jesus described Satan as the “enemy” in Matthew 13.39, and in John 8.44 Jesus calls Satan “the devil,” a “murderer,” and a “liar.” Satan wants to deceive us into thinking that we don’t need God, thereby tripping us up and destroying our lives. Satan attacks God’s people by deceiving us, distorting the truth, and distracting us from pure devotion to God. Satan is a cunning enemy who often makes his temptations appear to be good and beneficial. Second Corinthians 11.14 says that “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” We need to be constantly on guard against the devil. First Peter 5.8-9 warns, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

While Satan is a formidable enemy, he’s also a defeated foe. First John 3.8 states, “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” Jesus defeated Satan by dying on the cross and rising from the dead. When we put our faith in Jesus Christ we enter into Jesus’ victory over Satan. James 4.7 tells us, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” When Satan tempts us to sin, we can resist him in the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, and gain victory over temptation. However, we can’t expect to have victory by our own power. We need Jesus. Why not invite Jesus into your heart and ask Him to give you victory today?

The Ministry of Angels

 An unhappy husband once said, “My wife’s a real angel, she’s always harping about something!” Obviously this husband needs a course in building a happy marriage. He also needs a course about angels. If we think that angels are simply sitting around heaven playing harps, we’ve clearly not read the Bible. The Bible, our only really reliable source about angels, paints a completely different picture. Angels are specially created spirit beings who play a significant role in God’s plan. In basic terms, angels are both messengers and ministers. 

First, we discover from the Bible that angels are messengers. In fact, the term “angel” comes from the Greek word for messenger. One specific messenger angel named Gabriel appears in both the Old and New Testaments. In Daniel 9.22 Gabriel said to the prophet, “Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding.” God used Gabriel to deliver His special revelation to Daniel. This same angelic messenger delivered the news of the coming birth of John the Baptist, telling his father Zechariah “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news” (Luke 1.19). Soon afterward, Gabriel spoke to Mary and announced the coming of Jesus. In Luke 1.35 Gabriel said to Mary, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” An unnamed angel announced the birth of Jesus to shepherds in the field around Bethlehem. Luke 2.10-11 quotes this angel’s message, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” After Jesus’ resurrection an angel announced to the women at the empty tomb, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said” (Matthew 28.5-6). Angels have indeed been entrusted with some of the most amazing messages from heaven. 

Second, the Bible tells us that angels are ministers. They serve God and God’s people. Hebrews 1.14 says, “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” God employs angels to offer praise, to mete out punishment, and to protect His people. In Luke 22.43 we read that while Jesus poured out His soul in the Garden of Gethsemane, “An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.” Psalm 91.11 assures us, “He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” Angels minister to both God and God’s people. 

It’s comforting to know that God cares for us in so many ways. We can trust Him with our whole hearts. Have you trusted Jesus Christ? Why not put your faith in Him today! 

The Nature of Angels

 When you think of angels what image comes to your mind? Chubby little babies with wings? White-robed beings from another dimension? Imaginary beings from the pages of mythology? The Bible is our only reliable source for understanding the nature of angels. 

The Bible, in fact, describes angels as real, supernatural beings that were created by God. Psalm 148, verses 2 and 5 say, “Praise him, all his angels, praise him, all his heavenly host  . . .. Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created.” Colossians 1.16 attributes the creation of angelic beings specifically to God the Son, saying, “For by him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.” Angels, therefore, are real spirit beings that are distinct from human beings. People don’t become angels when they die. Angels are a unique part of God’s creation. 

Angels are spirit beings. They don’t possess physical bodies. Hebrews 1.14 says, “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” In Ephesians 6.12 Paul, speaking of fallen angels, says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” 

Although angels don’t possess physical bodies, they can appear in physical form. The prophet Isaiah saw certain angels called Seraphim surrounding the throne of God. In Isaiah 6.2 he wrote, “Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.” Another prophet, Ezekiel, saw a different class of angels called Cherubim. Ezekiel 1.5-6 says, “In appearance their form was that of a man, but each of them had four faces and four wings.” In the New Testament angels appeared at the time of Jesus’ birth and at the empty tomb after His resurrection. Matthew 28.3 describes one of these angels, saying, “His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.” When angels appear in physical form, their appearance seems to vary depending on the circumstances. 

As impressive as an angelic appearance would be, the Bible warns us not to worship angels. Angels are created beings. Only God, the Creator, deserves worship. We should never worship angels, but we can learn from angels how to worship God. Like the angelic beings in Revelation 5.12 we should cry out, “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain.” Why not open your heart to worship the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ today. 

The Empowering Work of the Holy Spirit

 Whenever there’s a power outage we instantly become aware of how much we depend on electricity. No lights, no heat, no refrigeration, no television, a lack of power can cripple whole communities. Even more important than electrical power is spiritual power. Without the power of God at work in our lives we'd come apart at the seams in no time. Aren’t you glad that Jesus Christ promised to provide us with power for living the Christian life.

In Acts 1.8 Jesus told His followers, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” God gives spiritual power to His people, and He does so through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit’s power should be evident in the way we share our faith. In 1 Corinthians 2.4-5 the apostle Paul said, “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God’s power.” We dare not rely on clever gospel presentations to convince people of God’s truth. Instead, we should rely on the Holy Spirit to take even our weakest words and use them powerfully in people’s hearts.

Another way in which the Holy Spirit’s power can be evident in our lives is through a personal sense of peace and hope that we receive from God. Romans 15.13 says, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” The power of the Holy Spirit gives us inner peace even when the rest of life is in turmoil.

Still another way in which the Holy Spirit displays His power in our lives is through spiritual gifts. According to 1 Corinthians 12.7, every Christian has received at least one spiritual gift, an ability to serve others supernaturally. This verse says, “Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” These spiritual gifts are distributed by the Holy Spirit to produce unity and maturity within the body of Christ. Ephesians 4.12-13 says that the Holy Spirit has given spiritual gifts “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Whether we have the spiritual gift of teaching, serving, encouraging, giving, leading or any of the other gifts described in the New Testament, we have been given divine power to glorify God and build up Christ’s church.

How are you using your spiritual gifts? How are you seeing the power of the Holy Spirit flow through you? By the power of the Holy Spirit who lives in us we can all share our faith effectively, experience inner peace, and contribute to the health of the church.

The Filling Work of the Holy Spirit

Most people would say that they want to be in charge of their lives, to be in control, to sit in the driver’s seat. But the fact is that self-control spills over into a total loss of control. For example, anger may control some people. We might say that such an individual is full of rage, meaning that anger controls his or her life. On the positive side, we all know some people that are full of love. Love seems to be the controlling factor in their words and actions. That which fills us controls us.

Ephesians 5.18 tells us, “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” As followers of Jesus Christ, we’re to be filled, or controlled, by the Holy Spirit. At the moment we put our faith in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit of God came to live within us. He established a permanent, indwelling relationship. His indwelling presence never changes. However, even though the Holy Spirit in us, He isn’t always in control of our lives. We must cooperate with the Spirit when it comes to His filling work. Our goal is to be constantly controlled by the Spirit.

So how can we cooperate with the Holy Spirit inside us so that He’s in control? First of all, Ephesians 4.30 warns us, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.” We certainly grieve the Spirit when we engage wilfully in sin. Sinful habits will prevent us from experiencing the filling of the Holy Spirit.  Then we read in 1 Thessalonians 5.19, “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire.” We douse the Spirit’s work in our lives when we resist His leading. When we determine to be in charge of our own decisions we fail to follow the Spirit’s gentle guidance.  Finally, Galatians 5.16 says, “Walk in the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” These verses point us toward the basic concepts of obeying and yielding. If we remain obedient to God’s commands, not engaging in sinful practices, and if we yield ourselves to the Spirit’s leading,  the Holy Spirit will fill us, bless us, and use us.

So, then, what would a Spirit filled life look like? The book of Acts frequently refers to believers who were filled with the Holy Spirit. For example, Acts 4.31 says, “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” Acts 11.24 describes Barnabas as ‘a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith.’ Through whom ‘a great number of people were brought to the Lord.’ When we’re filled with the Spirit of God we’ll be bold in sharing our faith with others. Ephesians 5.18-21 tells us that when we’re filled with the Spirit we’ll also ‘sing and make music’ in our hearts and we’ll ‘submit to one another out of reverence for Christ’. Sharing, singing, submitting, those and other characteristics reveal the fullness of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Why not turn your life over to God today? Yield to Him and allow His Holy Spirit to take control of your life.

The Baptising Work of the Holy Spirit

 When Jesus was about to begin His public ministry, John the Baptist burst on the scene calling people to repentance. His mission was to point people to the long anticipated Messiah. In Matthew 3.11 John the Baptist said, “I baptise you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” Spirit baptism is a precious truth in the life of God’s people.

The baptising work of the Holy Spirit didn’t take place during Jesus' earthly ministry. In fact, after His crucifixion and resurrection Jesus still spoke about Spirit baptism as a future event. In Acts 1.5 Jesus told His disciples, “John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.” That baptising work of the Holy Spirit took place on the Day of Pentecost as described in the second chapter of Acts. At that moment the Holy Spirit took up permanent residence in the lives of each of Jesus' followers and empowered them for service. Later in the book of Acts a similar event took place. When Gentiles first received the gospel, they too were baptised by the Holy Spirit. The apostle Peter described this event in Acts 11.15-16, saying, “As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on them as he had come on us at the beginning. Then I remembered what the Lord had said, ‘John baptised with water, but you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.’”

Ever since these initial experiences of Spirit baptism, every believer has been baptised by the Holy Spirit of God. An important verse that helps us understand the nature of Spirit baptism is found in 1 Corinthians 12.13, which says, “For we were all baptised by one Spirit into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.” According to this verse, all of us who are believers in Jesus Christ have been baptised by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, Spirit baptism must take place at the moment we receive Jesus as our Saviour. We need look for no second encounter with Spirit baptism, but can accept by faith that we have already been baptised by the Spirit. This baptising work of the Holy Spirit includes His personal and powerful work inside us. It also includes the Spirit’s work of uniting us to Jesus Christ and His church. Through Spirit baptism we have been placed into the body of Christ. This means that we are spiritually connected with every other believer. We have something, someone, in common. We have a common Lord, a common mission, a common love. We have fellowship with one another and with our Lord Jesus Christ.

Have you received Jesus as your Saviour? If so, you can be encouraged to know that the Holy Spirit is working inside you. Through Spirit baptism you’ve been forever connected to Jesus Christ and His body, the church.

The Indwelling Work of the Holy Spirit

Outward appearances can be deceiving. It’s what’s inside that counts. When we look at some of the plain, ordinary people around us we may fail to perceive the presence of Almighty God. But God the Holy Spirit lives inside every true Christian. We call this special presence the indwelling work of the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit’s indwelling is a personal connection, an intimate relationship that He establishes with those who’ve placed their faith in Jesus Christ. In Romans 8.9 the apostle Paul wrote, “You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.” In other words, the Holy Spirit lives in every true believer. He has a personal, indwelling relationship with us.

God’s people haven’t always enjoyed the privilege of the Holy Spirit’s indwelling work. In John 14.17 Jesus told His disciples about their relationship with the Holy Spirit, saying,  “You know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” Prior to Jesus’ death the Holy Spirit lived with God’s people. After Jesus returned to heaven the Holy Spirit came to actually live inside God’s people in a permanent, intimate relationship. Jesus, in John 14.16-17, also told His disciples,  “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you forever, the Spirit of truth.” At the moment of salvation the Holy Spirit enters our lives in a permanent union. He lives in us right here, right now, and forever!

Because the Holy Spirit of God lives inside us as Christians, we have access to His divine power. For example, the Holy Spirit enables us to understand spiritual truth. First Corinthians 2.12 tells us, “We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.” The Holy Spirit living in us helps us know truth from error, right from wrong. He also assures us of our right standing in God’s sight. Second Corinthians 5.5 says, “Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”

Since the Holy Spirit lives inside us, we’ll want to live pure and holy lives. First Corinthians 6.19-20 states, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your body.” Because the Holy Spirit lives inside us, God is present no matter what we do or think. Shouldn’t God’s personal presence motivate us to live pure lives for Him?

Only the blood of Jesus Christ can purify us from sin. Receive Jesus as your Saviour today. Accept His forgiveness and you too will benefit from the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit of God.

Jesus' return

To a small child, a father’s words can be very comforting. As Dad is heading out the door for another business trip, he says, “Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon.” The son or daughter looks forward to Dad’s return, and the possibility of a small gift that Dad may have purchased along the way.

We’re like children in many ways. Jesus said that we have to become like little children in order to enter into His kingdom. Childlike faith is essential. Jesus also offered words of comfort for His children when He went back to heaven. In essence, He said, “Don’t worry, I’ll be back soon.” More specifically, in John 14.2-3 He told His disciples, “In my Father’s house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” Jesus is coming back!

The return of Jesus Christ could take place at place at any moment. We say that His is “imminent”. Titus 2.13 instructs us to live godly lives “while we wait for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.” Jesus Christ will appear at a time unknown to us but known in heaven, and when He comes He will come quickly. For example, in Revelation 22.12 Jesus said, “Behold, I am coming soon. My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.” Jesus is coming at any time, and like a father who brings his child a gift after a long business trip, He even promised to bring us rewards. Jesus is coming again. He could come today.

Because Jesus could come at any moment, we want to be ready at every moment. This means that we should live our lives with vigilance. In Matthew 24.42 Jesus said, “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will appear.” Keeping watch means to keep looking up in anticipation of Jesus’ return. It also means to keep looking inward to make sure that our lives are consistently conformed to God’s will. You may want to ask yourself, “Where will Jesus find me when He returns? What will Jesus find me doing when He comes back?” First John 3.2-3 tells us, “We know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.” Since we look forward to Jesus’ return, we’ll want to live pure lives day in and day out. We want Jesus to find us living in obedient devotion when He comes to take us home to heaven.

Are you looking forward to Jesus’ return? Are you ready?  The best step you can take to prepare for Jesus’ second coming is to ask Jesus into your heart today. He died to take away your sins and give you eternal life. Why not accept Him today? Then, begin to live a life of practical purity as you look forward to Jesus’ return.

Jesus' resurrection

 Did you know that the apostle Paul gave away the secret to destroying the Christian faith? In 1 Corinthians 15.14 he wrote, “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the linchpin of the Christian faith. Without the resurrection, Christianity crumbles like a house of cards. 

So why would Paul give away this secret? Won’t sceptics attack Christianity at this most critical point? The fact is, sceptics have indeed attempted to discredit Christianity by denying the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But the evidence for Jesus’ resurrection is so compelling that it’s withstood centuries of attack. No one has been able to disprove the resurrection. Furthermore, many who have attempted to do so have ended up turning to Jesus Christ, convinced that He’s alive. As Christians, we need never fear the most intense scrutiny of our faith. Jesus is alive, and because He rose from the dead the Christian faith is more than secure. It’s advancing around the world. 

Now, we must be careful to understand what the Bible means when it says that Jesus is alive. We’ve all lost loved ones through death. Sometimes at a funeral I’ll hear someone say that their loved one will always be alive in their memories and in their hearts. This is a real and comforting sentiment. But when we say that Jesus is alive, we mean much more than that He’s alive in our sentiments. He is actually alive physically. He rose physically from the grave. When Jesus’ followers went to His tomb three days after the crucifixion, the grave was empty. 

Furthermore, Jesus met physically with His followers after the resurrection. He spoke with them, ate with them, taught them, and comforted them. These appearances of Jesus took place on several occasions over several weeks before Jesus ascended into heaven. As a result, these men and women were transformed. Cowards became courageous preachers of the truth. Doubters became martyrs because Jesus is alive. 

So what does the resurrection of Jesus Christ mean to us today? Romans 4.25 says, “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” Our eternal salvation depends on Jesus’ resurrection. If you’ve received Jesus by faith, your sins are forgiven and you have resurrection life. In fact, through faith in Jesus you have resurrection power available to help you live for God today. Ephesians 1.18-20 encourages us to know God’s “incomparably great power” that’s at work in our lives and to recognise that this power for living is identical to “the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead.” Jesus’ resurrection is the basis of our faith and the basis of our victory over sin day by day. Have you received the risen Christ into your life?

Jesus' crucifixion

 It was certainly a dark day in the history of humankind. Jesus, God in the flesh, hung nailed to a wooden cross.

How did this come about? After all, Jesus proclaimed a message of God’s love. He healed sick people. He delivered those who were controlled by demons. He fed the multitudes. He taught truth and offered hope. Why would anyone want to kill a man like this?

To be sure, Jesus didn’t die because of His own sins. He was sinless. Instead, Jesus died to take our sins away. While we might want to blame Jesus' enemies or the Roman soldiers who actually carried out the act of crucifixion, we know that ultimately we are each responsible for Jesus' death. Our sins, coupled with His love for us, compelled Jesus to die on the cross.

John 10.17-18 reveals an interesting perspective on Jesus' crucifixion. Jesus said, “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life, only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.” While the crucifixion was a tragic day in history, it was also the fulfilment of a plan that began way back in eternity.

So, what did Jesus' crucifixion accomplish? Jesus' death paved the way for us to establish a personal relationship with God. First Peter 3.18 tells us, “Christ died for sins, once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” Our sins have separated us from God. While we’d like to think that God could simply overlook our sins, God’s attribute of justice demands a payment, a punishment for sin. He can’t simply wink at our sins and walk away. However, God loves us too much to leave us stranded in our sins. That’s why He sent His Son, Jesus. Jesus died for our sins to bring us back into fellowship with God.

The crucifixion doesn’t make sense to the unbelieving mind. In 1 Corinthians 1.23-24, Paul described the cross of Jesus Christ as a “stumbling block” and “foolishness” to unbelievers, but to those who believe in Jesus the cross is “the power of God.”

Is it any wonder, then, that the Bible describes our faith with Jesus Christ as crucifixion? Galatians 2.20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Jesus died on a cross to pay for my sins. When I receive Jesus as my Saviour, I accept His crucifixion. In essence, I'm saying that my old life of sin was nailed to Jesus' cross. Now I can live a new life of faith and obedience to Jesus. Is the cross foolishness to you, or have you staked your life to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ? Why not turn to Him today?

Jesus' impeccability

Nobody’s perfect! Sometimes those two words are the only excuse we can offer when we let someone down. We say it at work. We say it to our spouses. We might even be tempted to say it to a judge when we get a speeding fine. After all, nobody’s perfect. Well, not exactly. There is one man who is perfectly perfect. That man is the God-man, Jesus Christ.

The sinlessness of Jesus is an essential doctrine of the Christian faith. After all, we couldn’t rely on another sinner to take our sins away. Only a sinless Saviour could pay the penalty for our sins.

The New Testament is adamant about the sinless perfection of Jesus Christ. In spite of intense temptation, Jesus never sinned. Satan did his best to lure Jesus into sin. For forty days Jesus endured Satan’s attacks in the wilderness, culminating in three powerful temptations. Satan tempted Jesus to depend on His own power instead of the Father’s provision by making bread out of stones. Satan tempted Jesus to test the Father’s protecting power by casting Himself off a high point of the Temple. Satan also tempted Jesus to forsake the Father’s plan by receiving all the kingdoms of the world without going to the cross. But in each and every temptation, Jesus responded in obedience to the Word of God, even quoting it in the face of Satan’s onslaught. Matthew 4.10 tells us that, at the end of this intense period of temptation, Jesus dismissed the devil, saying, “Away from me, Satan!” Jesus was tempted more intensely than any man in history, yet He never succumbed. He is sinless. He’s perfect.

When Jesus’ opponents sought to find fault in Him they were sorely disappointed. Jesus even asked them, in John 8.46, “Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?” His critics could find nothing wrong in Jesus. They even had to trump up false charges at Jesus’ trial in order to send Him to the cross.

Hebrews 4.15 states that Jesus was “tempted in every way, just as we are, yet was without sin.” While we know that Jesus didn’t sin, it also makes sense to conclude that Jesus couldn’t sin. After all, Jesus is God in the flesh, and God cannot sin. The idea that Jesus couldn’t have sinned is called the ‘impeccability’ of Christ. Theologians debate this point, but there is no debate about Jesus’ holy character and sinless life.

Aren’t you glad that Jesus never sinned? In 2 Corinthians 5.21 Paul wrote, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” Because Jesus was sinless, He could take our sins on Himself on the cross. Would you like to have your sins completely forgiven? Turn to Jesus Christ by faith. He alone is our sinless Saviour.

Jesus' incarnation

 One of the greatest truths of the Bible and one of the greatest mysteries of the Christian faith is the fact that God became a man. The second member of the triune Godhead, Jesus, took on for all time and eternity a sinless human nature. This act of God becoming a man is called the incarnation, a word that means “in the flesh.” God came to live among us in the flesh. 

Most often our minds turn to Bethlehem’s manger when we think about the incarnation. But the incarnation began in eternity past in the counsel of Almighty God. Nine months before His birth, Jesus was conceived in the womb of Mary. The conception of Jesus’ human body and the union of the human and divine natures was truly a miracle. 

The apostle John referred to Jesus as the “Word,” a term that implies the wisdom and oneness of Jesus within the triune Godhead. John 1.1 says that “the Word was God.” Jesus is God. But then in John 1.14 the apostle states, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, full of grace and truth.” The Word was God, and the Word became flesh. God and man were forever joined in the person of Jesus Christ. 

The incarnation is a great mystery. How could the infinite become finite? How could the Creator become a part of His creation? How could our all-powerful God grow weary, thirsty, and hungry? How could the eternal God die on a cross? We’ll probably never understand the incarnation fully. Even the writers of the New Testament had to search for words to describe this unique work of God. Paul, in Philippians 2.6-7, said that Jesus Christ existed “in very nature” as God, but “made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant and being made in human likeness.” In Colossians 2.9 he wrote, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.” 

In his fascination with the incarnation, the apostle John in 1 John 1.1 described Jesus as “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched.” The incarnation is truly a mystery, but one with practical value. 

We might ask, “Why would the God of heavenly splendour humbly enter into our human existence?” The answer lies in His love for us. Because of our sins, we are separated eternally from God. But because of His love, He came into our world, He became a man, and He died in our place. Only a human being could die for human sins. Only an eternal being could die for a whole world’s sins. Jesus is the eternal Son of God who became a man so that He could die for our sins. Since Jesus did this for you, why wouldn’t you invite Him into your life to be your Saviour and your Lord?

Jesus' deity

   Jesus is God. This statement is the necessary beginning point in our understanding of the identity and power of Jesus Christ. Jesus is God.

People around us describe Jesus in many ways. Some say that He was a great teacher, a great caregiver, a great man, or even a great revolutionary. Recently I saw a book that described Jesus as a great therapist! While Jesus was a great teacher, caregiver, man, revolutionary, and even the greatest therapist, if we stop with these descriptions we fail to understand who Jesus really is. Jesus was great in many ways, but greatest of all is the fact that Jesus is God.

In John 10.30, Jesus told His critics, “I and the Father are one.” He was claiming to be uniquely related to God the Father, equal to God in every way. We know that this was what Jesus was saying, because His critics attempted to stone Him to death for claiming to be God. This wasn’t the only time that Jesus claimed to be equal with God the Father. He said that to honour Him is to honour the Father (John 5.23), to believe in Him is to believe in the Father (John 12.45), to know Him is to know the Father (John 14.7), to hate Him is to hate the Father (John 15.23), and to receive Him is to receive the Father (Mark 9.37). Clearly, Jesus believed that He was God and made this claim over and over again.

It’s one thing to claim that you’re God. It’s quite another to actually be God, but He backed His claim with His miraculous power. He healed the sick, walked on water, fed the multitudes, and even raised the dead. God the Father would never give such amazing power to someone who falsely claimed to be God. Jesus claimed Himself to be divine, and His miraculous power verified His claim.

Furthermore, because Jesus is God, He rightly accepted expressions of worship. For example, the disciple Thomas fell on his knees before the resurrected Jesus and, according to John 20.28, declared, “My Lord and my God.” Jesus affirmed this declaration of worship, and His resurrection powerfully proved His deity.

In Colossians 1.15-16, the apostle Paul described Jesus as “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation,” and states that Jesus made all created things. Therefore, Jesus could not have been created. He is eternal. He is God.

Because Jesus is God, He is well capable of tackling our greatest needs. Of course, our greatest need is for salvation, the eternal forgiveness of our sins. Jesus met that need by dying on the cross. You can turn to Jesus today for salvation, and you can trust Him with your life. After all, Jesus Christ is God.

God is love

 One of the most cherished attributes of God is His love. God is love. But what does that mean? The Bible describes love as an unconditional commitment and unending compass. We’re to love our spouse unconditionally. We’re to keep on loving one another in spite of our faults. We’re to love God with our whole heart, mind, and strength.

God displayed His love long before He created us. Love existed within the triune godhead from eternity past. In Matthew 3.17, God the Father declared, “This is my Son, whom I love, with him I am well pleased.” Jesus, in John 14.31, said, “The world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.” This mutual love within the trinity shows us that love is an inherent attribute of God.

While it’s understandable that there would be love between God the Father and God the Son, it’s absolutely amazing that God would love us. When Jesus prayed to God the Father, He described the Father’s love for us. John 17.23 says, “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them as you have loved me.” God the Father loves us just like He loves His own Son! He loves us in spite of our sin. John 3.16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” God loves us so much that He sent His beloved Son, Jesus, to die in our place.

Likewise, Jesus Christ Himself loves us. He willingly gave His life for us. First John 3.16 tells us, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” Have you invited Jesus into your heart? Thank Him for His love, His sacrificial death, and His eternal forgiveness. He loves you so much that He wants to spend forever with you.

Because God has shown His unconditional commitment and compassion for us, we should respond by loving God in return. In Mark 12.30 Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” And if we truly love God, we’ll love others as well. Jesus, in Mark 12.31, went on to say, “Love your neighbour as yourself.” Because God loves us, we should love Him and we should love others. While this is easy to say, it’s not always easy to do. Will you spend time with God, enjoying His presence and honouring His Word? Will you treat others with respect, care, and compassion no matter how they respond? Will you and I be loving disciples of Jesus Christ? Remember, in John 13.35 Jesus said, “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Ask Jesus to be your Saviour, and then ask Him to make you a lover.

God is faithful

I’ve never been to Yellowstone National Park, let alone anywhere aboard, but I’m sure it is a wonderful slice of God’s creation. One attraction to Yellowstone would certainly be Old Faithful. This amazing geyser spouts steaming hot water over a hundred feet in the air about every ninety minutes. It received its name because of the consistency of its eruption.

Isn’t it comforting to know that God is faithful? He consistently and constantly cares for us. We can depend on Him to fulfill His purposes in this world and in our lives. In the middle of a book that describes human sadness, Lamentations 3.22-23 reminds us, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning, great is your faithfulness.”

Faithfulness is an attribute of God’s perfect character. In fact, the Bible often links God’s faithfulness with some of His other attributes. For example, Psalm 36.5 says “Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.” Hosea 11.12 refers to God as the “faithful Holy One.” Hebrews 2.17 describes Jesus as our “merciful and faithful high priest.” First John 1.9 tells us that God is “faithful and just and will forgive us our sins.” Revelation 19.11 attributes the name “Faithful and True” to Jesus Christ. God’s faithfulness is intertwined with His love, holiness, mercy, justice, truth, and every other aspect of His divine character. He is inherently faithful.

To say that God is faithful means that He always keeps His promises. According to Hebrews 11.11, Abraham “considered him faithful who had made the promise” and God did keep His promise by blessing Abraham and his descendants. Hebrews 10.23 assures us, “He who promised is faithful.” God has given us countless promises in His Word, and because He is faithful we can be confident that He will keep every promise.

What are some of your favourite Bible promises? I like Joshua 1.9, where God promised, “The Lord your God will be with you wherever go,” and Hebrews 13.5, where God said, “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” I know that God is constantly present in my life because He promised to always be at my side and He is faithful to His promises. Another wonderful promise that God made to us is to hear us when we pray and to save us when we trust in His Son, Jesus Christ. Romans 10.13 promises, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Have you called out to God for His saving work in your life? If so, He has already kept His promise and saved you from eternal death. You now have eternal life in Christ because God is faithful.

God is gracious

 One of the great defining attributes of God is His grace. God blesses us even though we in no way deserve His blessings and could in no way earn them. Grace is God’s unmerited favour.

We see God’s grace at work in many ways. He’s gracious not only to those who honour Him, but to all humankind. Titus 2.11 says, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.” We see God’s grace in every good gift around us, the sunshine and rain, food and friendships, comforts, joys, and countless blessings every day. But not everyone responds to God’s grace. In fact, Isaiah 26.10 tells us, “Though grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness, even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil.” God’s grace isn’t based on our response but on His changeless character. He is constantly and consistently gracious.

Think about it for a moment. If it weren’t for God’s grace, none of us would be granted even a nanosecond to turn from our sins. Our sins deserve God’s immediate wrath. But because God is a God of grace, He provides us with the opportunity to repent and be restored to full fellowship with Him.

God’s grace also provides the means of forgiveness, the death of His own Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus paid the price for our sins, that is, He redeemed us. According to Ephesians 1.7, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” Because God is gracious to us, He redeemed us through Jesus' death on the cross. Our salvation is purely an act of God’s grace. As Ephesians 2.8 tells us, “It is by grace you have been saved through faith.” Romans 3.23-24 puts it this way, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Because God is a God of grace, we can be saved forever from our sins and their consequences.

But God’s grace doesn’t end with our salvation. John 1.16 says, “From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.” We are the blessed recipients of God’s endless grace.

Because God is a God of grace, we can receive His gracious gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Have you received God’s Son into your heart? Why not accept the grace He offers you today? Then, when you’ve received God’s grace, learn to be gracious to those around you. Let grace characterise your hearts, actions, and words. As Colossians 4.6 reminds us, “Let your conversation be always full of grace.” God is gracious. Let’s follow His example in the way we treat others.

God is good

 God is good. It’s so easy to say that phrase. It rolls off the tongue. God is good. But when it comes to life in the real world, we often wonder about the goodness of God. After all, there are plenty of not-so-good things in this world. Every time someone is diagnosed with cancer we wonder about God’s goodness. If God is good, why does He let bad things happen?

To answer this question we must recognise that God’s goodness doesn’t hinge on circumstances. His goodness is an aspect of His unchanging character. When we say that God is good, we mean that He is inherently kind and benevolent to all of His creatures. He desires our happiness and well being. But in order to provide for our happiness, He knew that it was necessary to create us in such a way that we could freely make choices. It’s our sinful choices, not God’s character, that account for the bad things that happen around us.

When sin entered the human race, disease, accidents, and hardships followed. These are the consequences of our rebellion against God. Granted, you may have experienced tragic events that were the results of someone else’s sinful choices. There are victims, victims of drunk drivers, murder victims, victims of abuse. Still, these evils are the result of human sin, not a mark against God’s goodness.

It might be that, for you, believing in the goodness of God is a real step of faith. Remember, the Bible clearly presents God as inherently good. For example, Psalm 119.68 says of God, “You are good, and what you do is good.” God is good to His people, as Psalm 73.1 says, “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.” But God is also good even to those who reject Him. In Luke 6.35 Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to them  . . . and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.” Psalm 145.9 simply declares, “The Lord is good to all, he has compassion on all he has made.”

Acknowledging the goodness of God is a step of faith, but it’s a step that’s supported with evidence. God has demonstrated His goodness to us in countless ways. Acts 14.17 says, “He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons, he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” James 1.17 reminds us, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” Anything good in life is a gift from God. We don’t deserve His blessings, but because God is good He provides them for our pleasure. 

The greatest proof of God’s goodness is found in Jesus Christ. God sent Jesus, His Son, to die on the cross for our sins. Have you received Jesus into your heart? If so, thank Him for His goodness today.

God is just

If you’ve ever served on jury duty you know how difficult it can be to determine guilt or innocence. The prosecuting lawyer paints a convicting picture. You’re convinced the accused is guilty. Then the defence lawyer presents the evidence from a different angle, and you’re equally confident that the accused is innocent. Sometimes justice isn’t easy to determine in the courtroom. An unfair verdict is, of course, a tragedy. Don’t you wish everything could be perfectly fair? Don’t you wish that someone who knew all the facts could judge impartially and render true justice?

While life isn’t always fair, there is a source of true justice. God is always fair. He is a just God. Justice is one of His defining attributes. Justice is one of His defining attributes. Justice, or righteousness, refers to the concept that God is always consistent with His perfect standard of right and wrong. Psalm 89.14 says of God, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.” According to Revelation 15.3 the inhabitants of heaven call out, “Great and marvellous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty. Just and true are your ways, King of the ages.”

Even though life may not seem fair, God will ultimately uphold justice. Jesus, in Luke 18.7-8, said, “Will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly.” God honours justice in this world, and even when things aren’t fair here and now we know that in heaven God will eventually settle any injustices we experience in this world. Second Thessalonians 1.6-7 assures us, “God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.” As God’s people, we look forward to that day in which God restores justice on earth.

However, God’s justice can be a double edged sword. We want God to treat us justly. But because He is just, He must judge our sins. We deserve to die forever because of our rebellious hearts and actions. But Jesus died in our place. Romans 3.25-26 tells us, “God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice . . . so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”

Because God is just, He cannot simply overlook our sins. Instead, He transferred our sins to His Son. When we put our faith in Jesus, we are justly forgiven. First John 1.9 tells us, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Why not put your faith in Jesus right now, thank Him for His justice, and receive His forgiveness?

God is holy

Anyone who has travelled overseas knows the value of pure drinking water. I’ve known missionaries who run their water through a highly sophisticated filter system in order to separate out the impurities. Once that water has been filtered, it’s safe for consumption. It’s been purified. In biblical terms, we might say that the water has been made “holy.”

Holiness means that something or someone is separated from impurities, separated from sin. The Old Testament talks about holy objects or holy places, like the Temple, that were set apart from normal use for a distinct purpose.

The Bible also describes God as holy. Holiness is one aspect of His perfect character. However, in God’s case there was nothing impure that had to be filtered out of His heart. He is inherently holy, completely set apart from evil. First John 1.5 says, “God is light, in him there is no darkness at all.” Psalm 111.9 states, “Holy and awesome is his name.” In those majestic words of Isaiah 6.3 the angels of heaven declare, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty, the whole earth is full of his glory.”

God is absolutely holy, completely pure in His character and untainted by sin. He has done no wrong. He can do no wrong. Therefore, He alone sets the standard of right and wrong. He is holy.

Unfortunately, because God is absolutely holy He cannot allow anything sinful to dwell in His presence. Habakkuk 1.13 describes God by saying, “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong.” This means that we, because of our sins whether great or small, are separated from God. Isaiah 59.2 warns, “Your iniquities have separated you from your God, your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.” We face an insurmountable dilemma.

Thankfully, God is able to remove the barrier of sin between us. In fact, He did so by sending Jesus to take our sins on Himself on the cross. Now, through faith in Jesus Christ alone, we can be completely purified. He makes us holy so that we can live with Him in heaven forever. Hebrews 10.10 says, “We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

Have you invited Jesus into your life to make you holy, acceptable to God for all eternity? Why not do that right now? Then, begin to grow to be more and more like Jesus Christ. Let your lifestyle match your new position in God’s family. After all, God instructs us in 1 Peter 1.16, “Be holy, because I am holy.”

God is omnipresent

 God is everywhere. As Christians, we realise that we can see God at work in our daily lives. We can sense the presence of God when we’re going through difficult days. We’re impressed with the reality of God in our world when we look at His handiwork in creation. God is everywhere around us, and He, through His Holy Spirit, even lives in us by faith. 

However, to say that God is everywhere, or omnipresent, isn’t the same as pantheism. Pantheism says that God actually is everything. He’s in the rocks, the trees, the soil, the animals around us, God’s existence is inseparably linked with the physical creation. But the Christian concept of God’s omnipresence says that His existence is independent of His creation.

King Solomon, in 1 Kings 8.27, declared, “But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you.” God isn’t limited by space. In fact, the entire universe couldn’t possibly contain God. Although creation can’t contain God, God is present throughout His creation. David wrote in Psalm 139.7-10, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there, if I make my bed in the depths you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.” David acknowledged the omnipresence of God and took great comfort in knowing that God was present in his life.

While God is equally present everywhere, He hasn’t chosen to reveal His presence equally in all places at all times. Instead, God manifests His presence in special ways. For example, God made His presence known in a special, powerful way in ancient Israel when He filled the Tabernacle, that focal point of worship. Exodus 40.34 tells us, “Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.” The early church experienced a similar manifestation of the powerful presence of God. Acts 4.31 says, “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” Christians today can also experience the presence of God in their lives. Paul instructs us to “be filled with the Spirit” in Ephesians 5.18. But in 2 Thessalonians 1.9, Paul also warns that those who fail to put their faith in Jesus Christ will be “shut out from the presence of the Lord.” They will suffer eternal separation from God.

Invite Jesus to come into your heart today. He wants to be present in an unending relationship with you. The omnipresent God of the universe wants to be powerfully present in your life today and forever.

God is omnipotent

The most powerful energy source in our solar system is, of course, the sun. Scientists tell us that the sun generates energy every second to meet our energy demands on earth for a whole year. That’s power! However, even the sun’s energy is limited. By contrast, the God who made the sun is unlimited in power. He is omnipotent.

To describe God as omnipotent, or all powerful, is to remember that God is over this universe and still in control of His creation. He isn’t weakened by time, and His energy is never depleted. In addition, God has authority over our lives.

Frequently the Bible refers to God as “The Almighty.” For example, Revelation 4.8 describes the angels around the throne of God crying out, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty.” Because God is omnipotent, nothing is too difficult for Him. Jeremiah 32.17 declares, “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” Jesus expressed this same idea in Matthew 19.26, saying, “With God all things are possible.”

Do you realise that your most difficult problem is no problem for God? He’s all powerful. He can meet your greatest need. He has already extended His mighty hand of grace and mercy to provide forgiveness for our sins. He did this through His Son, Jesus Christ, who died on the cross to pay our eternal penalty for sin. God is powerful enough to save us, and He’s powerful enough to help us overcome life’s most demanding difficulties. But we must put our faith in Him. Jesus reminded us in John 15.5, “Apart from me you can do nothing.” Are you ready to give up trying to solve your own problems and turn to Jesus Christ?

God’s all powerful nature is evident all around us. Creation itself testifies to His power, as Romans 1.20 tells us. “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” We have no reason for doubting God’s omnipotence. We can simply look around us and we’ll see the evidence of His unlimited power. We can also look at Jesus to see the power of God. It was by God’s unlimited power that He raised Jesus from the dead. First Corinthians 6.14 says, “By his power God raised the Lord from the 3,and he will raise us also.” God has power to create, to save, and to give life. No problem you face will ever tax His power.  Nothing is too difficult for Him.

Why not renew your confidence in the unlimited power of God? Thank Him for being all powerful, and invite Him to work powerfully in your life today.

God is omniscient

 Nobody likes a know-it-all. You know the kind of person I mean. It’s the inexperienced worker who tells you how to do your job better. It’s the mum who constantly gives you advice on parenting even though her son is living a worldly lifestyle. It’s the man looking over your shoulder telling you how he’d cook the steaks on the grill. People like that are simply annoying. They infer by their comments that they know everything about everything, when in reality they know very little about anything meaningful or important.

When we say that God knows everything, we certainly don’t think of Him as a know-it-all. That’s because He really does know everything about everything. He is omniscient. By His very nature He possesses unlimited knowledge and wisdom. Psalm 147.5 tells us, “Great is our Lord and mighty in power, his understanding has no limit.” Job 37.16 says that God is “perfect in knowledge.” Hebrews 4.13 reminds us, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

The omniscient nature of God is both a source of comfort and challenge to us. It’s comforting to realise that God knows everything about my circumstances. He knows my fears, my hurts, my longings, and my hopes. But God also knows the darkness of my heart. He knows my impure thoughts. He knows my misplaced motives. He sees every act of indiscretion I make. I am accountable to God for everything I do, everything I say, and even everything I think. He knows it all.

Because God’s knowledge is unlimited, He even knows the potential outcome of circumstances that never came to be. For example, Jesus, in Matthew 11.21, announced judgment on the cities of Korazin and Bethsaida, saying, “If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago.” Jesus, in His omniscience, knew how these ancient cities would have responded had they witnessed His mighty miracles. Not only does God know all things potential, but He knows all things past, present, and future. God, in Isaiah 46.10, declared, “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.”

Because God knows everything, He knows your needs today. He knows that our greatest need is for our sins to be forgiven. That’s why God, before time began, prepared a plan for our salvation. He planned for His Son, Jesus, to die for us. Ephesians 1.4 tells us, “He chose us in him before the creation of the world.” Why not put your life in the hands of the God who knows you inside and out? Ask Jesus into your life today.

God is infinite

 I once had a primary school teacher who would often say, “All good things must come to an end.” He offered this bit of proverbial wisdom at the end of break time or a birthday celebration in class. What this teacher was actually saying is that we are limited in what we can do. We have speed limits because driving recklessly would endanger our lives. Our patience is limited, and we sometimes blow up at the people around us. Time is limited. We can only accomplish so much in a day or in a lifetime. I’ll admit that many times I wish I had just one more hour in the day, or one more day in the week, especially during a week of a holiday. But all good things must come to an end, or so I’ve heard. 

Even though, we’re limited in time, energy, and even patience, we know that God is not limited. He’s infinite. When we say that God is infinite we simply mean that He’s unlimited in His character and His attributes. In fact, while we sometimes list ten or twenty attributes of God, such as His holiness, goodness, and love, we would gain a better appreciation for God if we consider the number of His attributes to be limitless. We’ll have all eternity to learn more and more about God, and even eternity will not be long enough to exhaust our understanding of the richness of His being. God is infinite.

Furthermore, when it comes to the other attributes of God we find that even these are unlimited. God is unlimited when it comes to time. He is eternal, He had no beginning, He will have no end, and He is outside time itself. Psalm 90.2 declares, “From everlasting to everlasting you are God.” Since God is eternal, He has time for you. God is also infinite in wisdom. In Romans 11.33, Paul exclaimed, “Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” God knows what’s best in every situation because His wisdom is infinite. God is also infinite in His love for us. Psalm 36.5 expresses it like this, “Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.” Because God’s love for us is unlimited, He never stops loving us. No matter how far from God you may have wandered, He is still ready to welcome you back with open arms. In addition, God is unlimited in power. Jeremiah 32.17 says, “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” Is there something in your life today that needs God’s unlimited power? Are you facing problems that are way too big for you? They’re not too big for God. Nothing is too hard for Him. 

Since God is infinite, unlimited in the number and quality of His attributes, don’t you think it makes sense to put your trust in Him? Why not ask Jesus, God’s Son, to come into your heart today and help you experience the infinite power of God.

God is immutable

Someone said that the only thing in life that’s consistent is change. How true! Our children change, growing up and going out faster than we can imagine. Our bodies change with age. Styles change. Technology changes constantly. The computer you buy today is obsolete tomorrow. Whole nations change. While change is often beneficial, sometimes change is destructive. The rust on your car or the broken pipe in your basement is a testimony to destructive change. Our society’s slide into immorality is a change that’s troubling to many Christians and non-Christians alike.

With change everywhere around us, we need something, someone on whom we can depend. That someone is God. While God’s creation is changing, God Himself never changes. He is immutable.

Think about it for a moment. If God were to change, He’d either have to become better or worse. Since God is perfect, He cannot change for the worse, nor can He change for the better. He’s already perfect. Therefore, God by His very nature cannot change.

The immutability of God is a source of comfort to us in our changing world. Just try to imagine what life would be like if God were fickle, constantly changing in nature. One day He might be loving and the next day He could be cruel. He might honour honesty today and lying tomorrow. Who could depend on a God whose nature is constantly in flux? But the God of the Bible is unchanging.

In contrast to this changing world, Psalm 102.27 says of God, “But you remain the same, and your years will never end.” In Malachi 3.6, God declared, “I the Lord do not change.” According to James 1.17, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

Aren’t you glad that God doesn’t change? He always loves us, even when we fail to see His love in the middle of our difficult circumstances. He’s faithful even when we’re unfaithful. He keeps His promises, including His promise to save all who call on the name of His Son, Jesus Christ. In fact, Jesus Christ, because He's God, is immutable. Hebrews 13.8 states, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” He never changes. He always accepts those who accept Him by faith. He always forgives our sins when we confess them to Him.

In the middle of an unpredictable, changing world, why not put your faith in the unchanging, immutable, faithful God of the Bible? Invite Jesus Christ into your heart today, and keep trusting Him. He will never let you down.

God is self-existent

 Where did God come from? This was a question I remember asking as a child. Although this is an innocent and childlike question, the nature of the existence of God puzzles even the greatest minds. After all, everything we see around us had a beginning. We celebrate a birthday because that’s the day we entered into this world. We mark buildings with a date chiselled into the cornerstone to remember when that building was erected. Even the universe had a beginning, though people debate how long ago that took place. But what about God? Where did He come from? 

The Bible describes God as self-existent. He didn’t have a beginning. No one created Him. God is without origin, the uncaused cause. He exists all on His own. We could say that God not only gives life, but that He is life itself.

When God revealed Himself to Moses at the burning bush, He declared His special, personal name. According to Exodus 3.14, God said, “I AM who I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” God describes Himself as “I AM,” implying that God is living and exists in and of Himself. The name “I AM” has come down to us from Hebrew roughly as the “Jehovah” or “Yahweh.” Moses didn’t need to fear God’s will because God is a living, self-existing being. Since no one else can make such a claim, we know that no one else is more powerful than God. We can trust Him because He exists independently from His creation. He doesn’t depend on us, but we must depend on Him.

It’s interesting to discover that, in the New Testament, Jesus underscored the self-existence of God the Father and claimed equality with God’s self-existent nature. In John 5.26 Jesus said, “For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself.” God the Father is self-existent, and God the Son shares in that divine, self-existent nature. Jesus frequently used the personal name of God to describe Himself. He claimed to be the”I AM” of the burning bush. Jesus described Himself by saying “I am the bread of life, ””I am the light of the world, ””I am the good shepherd,” and “I am the resurrection and the life.” These and similar claims identify Jesus as God in the flesh, the self-existent God.

Since God exists all on His own, doesn’t it make sense that we can trust Him to take care of us? Although God doesn’t depend on us for His existence, we depend on Him. Furthermore, since Jesus is the self-existent God in the flesh, what better step could we take than to entrust our lives to Him? He wants to change our lives and He offers us eternal life. Why not turn to Jesus for life today?

God the Holy Spirit

God is one. Yet God exists in trinity, a tri-unity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Of the three persons in the godhead, the Holy Spirit is perhaps the most mysterious to our minds. We can conceptualize God the Father to some degree. God the Son, because of the incarnation, is much more understandable to us. But God the Holy Spirit? By nature a spirit being is intangible, elusive, and mysterious. However, the Bible reveals that God the Holy Spirit is real, personal, and powerful. He’s active in the world today and personally active in our lives.

In order to understand how the Holy Spirit works among us, we must first recognise that He possesses personality. That is to say, the Holy Spirit exhibits intellect, emotion, and will. First Corinthians 2.10 says, “The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” The Holy Spirit has intellect.  In fact, He’s all-knowing. The Holy Spirit also possesses emotion. He can be grieved, according to Ephesians 4.30. Romans 15.30 refers to the “love of the Spirit.” The Holy Spirit both thinks and feels. He also acts, He has a will. He “determines”, according to 1 Corinthians 12.11, how He will distribute spiritual gifts within the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit, therefore, isn’t some impersonal force. He possesses personality. He thinks, feels, and acts.

We must also realise that the Holy Spirit is a superior person, one with the Father and the Son, sharing equally the attributes of deity within the triune godhead. For example, the Holy Spirit is omnipresent. Psalm 139.7-8 says, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there, if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.” The Holy Spirit is also omnipotent. He can create life. Job 33.4 reminds us, “The Spirit of God has made me,” and Romans 8.11 says that the Spirit “raised Jesus from the dead.” The Holy Spirit is God.

The Holy Spirit is active in our world today. John 16.8 says that the Holy Spirit convicts the world of guilt in regard to sin. Titus 3.5 tells us, “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal through the Holy Spirit.”

Conviction, regeneration, and empowering for service are all works of the Holy Spirit of God. One important part of the Holy Spirit’s work is revealed in John 16.14. Jesus said, “He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.” In many ways the Holy Spirit is the behind the scenes member of the trinity. He delights in pointing people to Jesus Christ. Have you received Jesus Christ as your Saviour? Why not follow the Spirit’s prompting and give yourself to Christ today?

God the Son

 People flock to celebrities. They admire those who are constantly in the spotlight, actors, entertainers and athletes. Some celebrities prove to be men and women of character, but far too many let fame go to their heads. Their lifestyles don’t deserve to be celebrated. However, one man stands head and shoulders above all the famous people throughout all human history. This man, Jesus, is far more than a celebrity. In fact, He’s far more than a mere man. He’s God in the flesh, our Saviour and our Lord.

In order to understand who Jesus really is, we must begin with His deity. Jesus is eternal God, one with the Father and the Holy Spirit. In John 10.30 Jesus said, “I and the Father are one.” Jesus claimed to be God. The apostle Paul confirmed this claim in Titus 2.13 where he wrote that we are waiting for “the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.” Jesus is God. He’s existed from eternity past. He created the universe. Colossians 1.16 says, “For by him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.” Jesus was no ordinary man. He is God.

In addition to his deity, Jesus' unique humanity sets Him apart from all others. Jesus became a human being in a miraculous and mysterious act called the Incarnation. John 1.14 tells us, “The Word,” that is, the divine Son of God, “became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” Jesus became a man in time and space. He lived among us. He worked and ate and slept. He experienced the fullness of human existence. During His earthly life Jesus healed the sick and helped the needy. He taught hungry hearts and pointed us to real, eternal life.

Jesus is God who became a man. But as a man Jesus never sinned, not once. He was the perfect human and therefore became the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Hebrews 4.15 reminds us, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet was without sin.” Jesus is the sinless Saviour, God in the flesh.

As our sinless Saviour, Jesus took our sins on Himself when He died on the cross. “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins,” as 1 John 2.2 says. Jesus died for our sins on the cross, but He rose from the dead to give us life. Those who trust in Jesus receive His free gift of eternal life. That’s why Jesus stands out in our world. That’s why Jesus stands out in our hearts. Why not commit your heart to Jesus today? He’s eager to share His life with you.

God the Father

 To say that relationships are important is a gross understatement. God created us to live in relationship with each other and with Him. We value our families. We honour our godly mothers and fathers. We cherish our spouses. We love our children. We’re wired for relationships.

God created us to be relationship oriented because He, too, is a relational God. He has existed in relationship forever, the relationship that exists within His triune nature, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. These three persons are co-equal, co-eternal, and one in essence, yet distinct.

The Bible describes God the Father as having a functional headship within the Trinity. First Corinthians 11.3 says, “Now I want you to realise that the head of every man is Christ. . . and the head of Christ is God.” Jesus Christ is designated the Son of God, not in the sense that Jesus came into existence at some point in time but in the sense that He shares the same nature as God the Father.

This relationship is sometimes called eternal generation. John 3.16 describes Jesus as God’s “only begotten Son.” Likewise, the Holy Spirit exists in a functional relationship with God the Father. That relationship is called eternal procession. In John 15.26 Jesus said, “When the Counsellor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me.” The Holy Spirit goes out from the Father or proceeds from the Father. God the Father possesses functional headship with the Trinity. According to 1 John 4.14, “the Father has sent his Son,” and John 14.16 says that the Father would “give” us the Holy Spirit. The Father directs the activities within the triune godhead. 

As the Father within the Trinity, God the Father also has a relational role in our lives. Over and over again the Bible describes God in relational terms, referring to Him as our heavenly Father and to us as His children. God loves us dearly. He cherished us as His own sons and daughters. Of course, our relationship with God the Father is different from that of the Father’s relationship with God the Son. But our relationship with God the Father is possible only through God the Son. Jesus came into this world to reveal the Father to us. In John 14.9 Jesus told His disciples, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” Jesus also came to restore us to a right relationship with the Father. First John 2.23 tells us, “Whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.”

When we receive Jesus into our hearts by faith we have the privilege, according to Romans 8.15, to call on God as “Abba, Father.” Take time today to thank God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for this relationship.

Trinity

 There’s something appealing about the mysterious. The mystery of life fascinates our minds. The mysteries related to the universe around us, such as black holes or the forces of gravity, magnetism, and light stretch our imaginations. The greatest mystery of all involves the nature of God. God exists in trinity. The Bible reveals this mystery of the triune nature of God.

The word “trinity” means tri-unity, that is, three in one. There is only one true and living God. Deuteronomy 6.4 settles the question. “Hear, I Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” Jesus affirmed this truth by quoting this verse in Mark 12.29. Likewise, the New Testament clearly supports the fact that God is one. Romans 3.30 states, “There is only one God,” and 1 Timothy 1.17 says, “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory for ever and ever.”

While we know that there is only one true God, the Bible also refers to three distinct persons as God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. First Corinthians 8.6 identifies the Father as God, saying, “For us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things come and for whom we live.” We also learn that the Son, Jesus Christ, is God as stated in Titus 2.13, “We wait for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ.” Acts 5.3-4 indicates that the Holy Spirit is God, saying first that Ananias had “lied to the Holy Spirit” and then saying that he had lied to God. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are each declared to be God. Yet these three persons are distinct from one another. In Matthew 28.19 Jesus instructed His followers to baptize new believers in the one, unified name of the triune God. He commanded, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Because God is one and because three distinct persons are called God, we can only conclude that God exists in tri-unity. The doctrine of the trinity is admittedly beyond our comprehension. It’s a mystery of the faith. Furthermore, there’s nothing like it in the observable universe, so all illustrations of the trinity fail at some level. However, we can conceive of unity in plurality. Light possesses properties of both particles and energy wave. In marriage, two become one.

Ultimately, we should be pleased to realise that our God is so great that He defies our comprehension. Wouldn’t it be disappointing to worship a God who can fit within our limited categories and concepts? Instead, we worship an awesome God who exists as three in one.