Tag: Salvation

create a highly detailed and sharp focus image depicting a 1

Understanding God’s Grace in Our Calling- 1 Corinthians 1:1-2

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

“Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God… Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints” (1 Corinthians 1:1-2)

Explain: 

Paul begins by emphasizing that both his apostleship and the Corinthians’ calling came through God’s calling by grace alone. Paul was called to be an apostle – literally a “sent one” – not by his own merit but through God’s will. The Corinthians were similarly called “to be saints,” meaning they were sanctified (set apart and made holy) in Christ Jesus. This calling extends to all believers everywhere who call upon the name of Jesus Christ. Paul didn’t deserve God’s conversion, calling, or commission, yet God gave them nonetheless by His grace.

Apply: 

Just as Paul and the Corinthians received their calling by grace, we too are called not because we deserve it, but because of God’s unmerited favor. We should recognize that God has been gracious – we do not deserve salvation or to be used for His purposes. The opposite attitude is selfishness, thinking too highly of ourselves or putting other people in the place of God. Grace means “unmerited favor” – we did nothing to deserve God’s goodness in making us saints.

Respond: 

  • How has God’s unmerited favor been evident in your life?
  • In what ways might you be thinking too highly of yourself or putting others in God’s place?
  • What is one specific way you can acknowledge God’s grace in your calling today?
jacek dylag pmxt0xtq a unsplash

Jesus is more than a prophet. John 9:17

On By Ben JenningsIn DevotionalLeave a comment

H- Highlight

17 They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.

John 9:17

E- Explain

Once they were convinced that the man who was born blind was actually this man that stood before him healed, they heard his explanation about Jesus.  This didn’t end the questions, though.  More questions came.

12 Then said they unto him, Where is he? He said, I know not.

John 9:12-17

Notice then, they bring in the experts.  There needs to be an explanation.

13 They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.14 And it was the sabbath day when Jesus made the clay, and opened his eyes.

John 9:13-14

Here come the pharisees to question the man.  We are told that the healing was on the sabbath day.  To be clear, it was not a violation of actual scripture, or an actual command of God, to heal on the sabbath day.  It was a violation of the rules that the pharisees had laid upon God’s actual commands.  Jesus did not sin by healing this man on the sabbath.  Yet, look at how the pharisees dealt with this man.

15 Then again the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. He said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and do see. 16 Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them.

John 9:15-16

It seems that there is a division among the pharisees.  You have those, like Nicodemus that we studied last week, who know that there is a possibility that the one doing miracles is come from God.

There are many people who think that “I’ll believe it when I see it” would actually happen.  There are people who say, “If I saw God do this miracle, or do that thing, or appear to me, then I would believe.”  We have evidence throughout the Bible of God showing up and doing the miraculous, and people hardening their own heart to what he was doing.

Think about how messed up your system of theology is that you are more concerned that someone had healed a blind man on the day that went against your rules, than you were EXCITED THAT THE MAN BORN BLIND CAN SEE!

You would think that the questions would be, “What do you think about being blind and then seeing?” or “Isn’t this seeing thing incredible?”, or “Wait until you see the sunset, or a rainbow!  Tell me what you think then.”

Nope.  The question instantly goes to the issue.

For these religious leaders, this man was an issue to be debated over and questioned, rather than a person to be loved.  The person who healed him was a person to take a position against, rather than a person to be thanked.  

So their question inevitably came, and the man’s answer shows the progression in his thought.

17 They say unto the blind man again, What sayest thou of him, that he hath opened thine eyes? He said, He is a prophet.

John 9:17

Here is the second statement the man has made about the identity of Jesus.  “He is a prophet”.

It is not an inaccurate statement, it is just incomplete.  Jesus is a prophet in that prophets speak on God’s behalf.  They say what God wants them to say.

But Jesus, we know, is more than a prophet.  He doesn’t just speak on behalf of God.  He speaks as God.

Jesus told us, “If you’ve seen me, then you’ve seen the Father.”

This man’s physical blindness has been healed, and we see is ability to see spiritually progressively getting better.  He’s gone from “a man called Jesus” to “a prophet”.

Conversely, you see the spiritual blindness of the pharisees.  They are obsessed with people knowing their “spiritual” insight, yet they are so spiritually blind that they refuse to see God when God shows up.

A- Apply

While it is important to take biblically accurate positions on issues, we must “speak the truth in love”.  People are not fundamentally issues to be debated, but people to be loved.  We must speak clearly about abortion, homosexuality, unjust laws, and so many other issues, and at the same time love people whose lives are dealing with all of those things.  We love people.  Christ died for those people.  We must share with them that God loves them, but wants them to repent and turn from those things that will harm them.

People matter to God, and they should matter to us.

We must know the Word and must not add to the Word.

John says that when Jesus came that he was full of grace and truth.  May we follow Him in the same way.

Jesus is a prophet.  He does say what God wanted Him to say, but don’t stop there.  He’s more than a prophet.  The world must acknowledge that reality.

R- Respond

Heavenly Father, help me to be gracious and truthful.  Help me to be loving and convictional.  Help me to lead our church to follow you in holiness and mercy.  Help me to share Christ with someone today.  Amen

nathan dumlao mrtzhlp4zvm unsplash

Jesus is the cure for blindness. John 9:11

On By Ben JenningsIn Devotional1 Comment

H- Highlight

11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.

John 9:11

E- Explain

In this text we are introduced to a man with a condition of blindness. 

1 And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.

2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?

John 9:1-2

What an incredible question! It sets up Jesus telling us the point of the whole narrative we’re about to study. The disciples reflected what was the sentiment of the time. If something so bad happened to you, it must have been a result of his parents or him.

Certainly, our sin can effect our kids. There is no doubt about it.

Certainly, our sin can effect us personally. There are times where people get mad at God for something they think He did or did not do, but the fault for their situation is there own. We live with the natural consequences of our actions. 

But the sentiment of the day is that if something really bad happened to you it must be the judgement of God. For the disciples there was only two options- this man or his parents.

Think about this. We are told that he was blind from birth. So, either the disciples didn’t know that when they asked the question, or they believed that God pre-judged him for what he was going to do.

This kind of thinking still happens today. When something bad happens, some people think it must be God’s judgement.

But Jesus gives the disciples another way to think about it.

3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

John 9:3

God has allowed this situation in His life so that God could be “made manifest in him”. Manifest means displayed. It means shown. Shown to who? Well, we shall see that the works of God would be shown to the disciples, to the religious leaders, to the man’s neighbors, to this man’s parents, but especially to the blind man. 

Think about it. Jesus wants to show God’s working through this blind man, and to this blind man.

Only Jesus would have a plan to show something to a blind man. 🙂 

Look at his reasoning in verses 4-5, and think about the theme of this passage being blindness and sight. Darkness and light.

4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.

5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.

John 9:4-5

Jesus is about to display that He is the one who can cure spiritual blindness, and bring light to the darkness. This was his stated purpose. He even claimed that there was a time to do it, because there will be a time where it would not happen.

As a matter of application, we must realize that when there is an opportunity to bring light in the darkness, we should take that opportunity. Jesus told us, “Ye are the light of the world.” There is coming a time for you personally, and for all of us collectively that know Christ where we will not have the opportunity to speak up for Jesus to those in Spiritual darkness…Spiritual blindness.

So this Jesus’ stated motivation. But Jesus doesn’t just talk. Jesus works. Look at what happens.

6 When he had thus spoken, he spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay,

7 And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.

John 9:6-7

What this sets in motion is so interesting that in telling it I can move quickly past it. Let’s not move too quickly past it. This man who had never seen could now see because Jesus put mud on his eyes and told him to go wash.

Imagine the scene of a blind man with mud on his eyes being sent across town to wash. It’s not told to us in the passage, but certainly someone had to help him get to the pool. 

Imagine also, if you were born blind, and then in an instant you were able to see. What an incredible experience. We know it means to see. Maybe this man didn’t even understand what seeing felt like or looked like. What an incredible experience.

It caused a stir. Look at what happened and the questions that came.

8 The neighbours therefore, and they which before had seen him that he was blind, said, Is not this he that sat and begged?

9 Some said, This is he: others said, He is like him: but he said, I am he.

John 9:8-9

His identity was questioned. Why? What characterized him before was his blindness. This is exactly where so many that are blind spiritually are. Paul said it this way in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

“And such were some of you.” There is a change, and it changes your identity. Once your identity changes then your actions begin to change and people begin to notice and ask questions.

In a spiritual way I have seen this happen a lot. People become believers in Christ and their behavior starts to change. Their language starts to change. Their values and priorities shift. People start to ask questions. “What’s going on with bubba? When did he become so religious?”

When they figured out that this was really him, then they asked an amazing next question.

10 Therefore said they unto him, How were thine eyes opened?

11 He answered and said, A man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed mine eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.

John 9:10-11

Notice this first stage of understanding that the blind man had. He made this first statement about Jesus’ identity that shows him moving from spiritual blindness to spiritual sight. He refers to Jesus as “A man that is called Jesus…”. 

Is it true that Jesus is a man? Yes.

Is it true that he was called Jesus? Yes.

Is that all that the man needed to know about Christ? No. He’s on his way to learning a lot more about Him. Certainly there needed to be more understanding about a man that could heal like this.

A- Apply

Here are just a few points of application to some up this passage:

  • Jesus Christ is the light of the world that brings vision and truth to those in spiritual blindness and darkness. We are called to reflect his light to those in darkness.
  • Jesus Christ is prioritizing this work while this work can happen and so should we.
  • Jesus Christ wants to transform us so that we are not identified by our sin and blindness. He wants to give us a new identity.
  • Every single person is born blind spiritually. We need Jesus to change us.

R- Respond

Heavenly Father, Who do you want me to share Your Son with today? I pray for them, and I pray that you’d help me to be faithful and fruitful in doing that today. Thank you for the light, and for how you have changed me. Help me to follow you today! Amen

janko ferlic t5q78o0xtdw unsplash

You must be born again. John 3:4-7

On By Ben JenningsIn Devotional4 Comments

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

John 3:4-7

Explanation

There are several times in the Gospels where Jesus gives a teaching, makes a statement, or acts in a certain way and there are people in the narrative that ask the question that we as the readers are thinking.  Jesus made the statement in verse three that almost begs the question that Nicodemus asked.

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

I’m really glad that Nicodemus responds with the most obvious and plane question.  The idea that physical birth has to happen more than once seems ludicrous.  He seems to be attempting to be respectful towards Jesus and so he asks the question.  

4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?

The answer Jesus gives brings more clarity.  There are two kinds of births.  There is physical birth, signified by water.  We all know the expression that pregnant women say when the baby is coming, and labor is happening.  “My water broke”.  This is physical birth.

There is spiritual birth.  Someone must be born of the Spirit.  It’s the new birth.  Jesus calls it being born again.  This is his answer to Nicodemus.

5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Without both births no one can enter the kingdom of God.  No one gets to God who is not born again.  Water and Spirit.  Physical and Spiritual.  You must be born again.  Salvation through the new birth is necessary.  It is required to get to God.

Application

The thing about birth is this.  There was a time where you were born physically, and there must be a time where you are born spiritually.  As we shall see, the new birth comes by faith.  You go from not trusting in Christ, to trusting in Christ, believing in Him.  You must be born again.  It is essential.  It is necessary.

Response

Heavenly Father, thank you for saving me by Your Spirit.  Thank you for the new birth.  If there is someone that is hearing this today that doesn’t know if they have been born again, would you allow me or someone else in there lives to point them to You.  Help me to point someone to you today.  Amen.