WHICH COMES FIRST?

What we once believed

we no longer believe.

Subsequently we begin to change --

sinful behavior, 

self-righteous behavior,

dead works behavior -- 

from the moment of salvation

to the day we enter into glory.

This is the transforming power of God

in believing the Gospel.

Romans 1:16

STOP TRYING TO CHANGE

The power to change 
(permanently and from the inside-out)

 comes from believing the Gospel,

trusting in what Jesus has done on our behalf.

We may know many truths, yet not believe them.

Ask for greater revelation of Christ and His work.

As you embrace what the Spirit shows you,

watch the Lord do IN you what only HE can.

This is the work of God -- that you believe. John 6:29

BEST THING WE CAN DO FOR CHRIST

There is so much more to our salvation than most of us realize.

Oh the enemy works relentlessly to blind our eyes

to this great Gospel truth.

But for those given eyes to see,

this is the realm of glory,

and is the greatest honor to Christ.

THE BEST PLACE TO BE

Christ's work is finished. Sin has been put away.

Stand on this holy ground of the Gospel, 

for Christ has conquered all sin.

We are MORE THAN conquerors.





PLASTIC JESUS

It is the good things,

our spiritual disciplines,

that carry a most subtle and deceptive temptation,

for if we are CENTERED and FOCUSED on them,

we might think we are walking with Christ

but end up with a plastic Jesus.

Everything else serves this one purpose --

to know Christ.

 

 

 



POWER OF HIS LOVE

 

We let the power of the love of Christ save us

when we first come to Him.

Why don't we let Him continue being a loving Savior to us?

We can never overestimate the power of His love.

WONDERING ...

 

The love of Christ surpasses all human comprehension.

But our Father desires to reveal it to us by His Spirit (Eph 3:16-19).

Oh what an adventure life becomes,

what transformation takes place,

and what joy it brings to our Father's heart

to KNOW we are loved absolutely by Him.

HE IS SO MUCH MORE

 

 



GET OFF THE WHEEL

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me.

Get away with Me and you'll recover your life.

I'll show you how to take a real rest. 

Walk with Me and work with Me -- watch how I do it.

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.

I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. 

Keep company with Me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." 

Matthew 11:28-30, THE MESSAGE 

www.escapetoreallity.org

 

 

COME HOME TO GRACE

 

This is not about Santa-bashing, but let's face it,

he's a good example of the Law we were under as sinners.

As Christians it's easy to slip back under the Law

(evidenced by a cycle of trying and failing, trying and failing,

resulting in a loss of joy and peace). 

The pure unadulterated Gospel is radical good news

EVERY DAY of our lives. 

We can rest in the depths of God's love

where we find our hearts transformed

as we trust in Christ and His finished work.

YOU ARE MORE TO HIM...

 

If we think of ourselves only as "sinners saved by grace",

that's only half the Gospel.

We are called saints, a holy people, recreated in Christ for His glory.

Yes...even bone of His bone, and flesh of His flesh.

We are God's beloved, accepted in the Beloved Christ Jesus.

BELOVED, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD

How often we hear these days "it's not about us", it's about Jesus.

Continual "navel gazing" shuts down our growth because our  focus is on 

our performance rather than Christ's finished work.

Beloved, LET'S LIFT UP OUR HEADS.

 

GOOD NEWS FOR EVERY BELIEVER

The Gospel is the power of God unto "salvation" -- deliverance, freedom, rescue! Is there ever a time when we as believers DON'T need to be kept safe, delivered from destruction (including self-destruction) and rescued from evil? Re-visit the Gospel; take a FRESH LOOK today. One of the best websites I've found for believers is www.escapetoreality.org.

Come back to the Gospel. Come back to grace.

A VOICE IN THE STORM

Remember Peter in the storm?

How precious is the love of Christ.

Reach out to Him, beloved; He's reaching out to you.

THE SIN UNDERNEATH ALL SINS

Only UNBELIEF is called "sin" by Christ (John 16:8-9), the sin that the Holy Spirit convicts the world of. Luther called it "the sin underneath all sins."

Thank God for the cleansing blood of Christ for the believer.

O FOR GRACE TO TRUST HIM MORE.

LIFE-TRANSFORMING, SPIRIT-BREATHED PRAYERS FROM THE HEART OF GOD

These prayers were given to the Apostle Paul for the Church.

They represent the very heart and will of God for each of His children in all ages.

The Lord ALWAYS answers these prayers.

He does so by releasing more of His Spirit's work in our hearts,

causing us to see Christ like we've never seen Him before,

and become filled with His fullness.

IF YOU'VE NEVER PRAYED THESE PRAYERS BEFORE,

THEY ARE SO LIFE-TRANSFORMING, YOU WILL WONDER

WHAT IN THE WORLD YOU EVER PRAYED BEFORE.

Once you get familiar with them, these requests will flow from your heart in your own words.

Never stop making these requests, as they are lifelong heart cries.

HOPE FOR THE BROKEN

A.W. Tozer wisely stated, "God cannot use mightily the man whom He has not wounded deeply."

FREEDOM TO KNOW AND LOVE GOD

 

Loving God is trusting God, and from that love trust flows obedience.

This is true freedom, from the inside out.

JUST SAYIN'...

WE HAVE A BRAND NEW IDENTITY, AND IT'S FOUND IN CHRIST

Oh what simplicity and yet so profound!

When we become a believer in Christ we take on HIS IDENTITY and HIS PURPOSE.

RADICAL AND LIBERATING GOSPEL TRUTH

THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST COMES BY REVELATION FROM GOD. EVEN FOR BELIEVERS.

Without revelation knowledge from God of the finished work of Christ, we can never get past "head knowledge" to experiential knowledge. This is something many believers miss, and (sadly) they do not experience the saving and delivering power of the Gospel.

EVIL SETS THE STAGE FOR GLORY

 

Many thanks to my son-in-law Marcus for this clear and courageous insight.

I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE TRUE

 

JUST GET TO KNOW HIM

Any person or church that teaches moralism

(whether for justification or sanctification) is preaching a false gospel.

Jesus alone makes us righteous and transforms us from within

by His Spirit as we get to know and trust Him day to day.

PURE AND UNDENIABLE EVIDENCE

OH THE FREEDOM WE HAVE IN CHRIST!

OUR GOD REIGNS

GOOD REMINDER

THIS IS THE KEY TO TRANSFORMATION

 

2 CORINTHIANS 3:18 and EPHESIANS 3:14-19

HIS LOVE IS SO GREAT WE NEED EYES TO SEE

OUR OWN FAITH...OR HIS?

OH HIS WONDROUS LOVE

THIS JESUS IS TRULY ONE WHO IS WORTHY TO FOLLOW

GOTTA LOVE SPURGEON

BELIEVER...GOT LIFE?

THE TRUE PROMISE KEEPER

RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH

The Bible never contradicts itself,

so why are there so many interpretations of truth among believers?

Confusion comes when we fail to read every scripture

through the "lens" of THE FINISHED WORK OF CHRIST.

Through this lens, ALL SCRIPTURE

comes into perfect harmony.

IS OBEDIENCE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR A BELIEVER?

Obedience to Christ is important, but it doesn't come

by making it our priority.

We will end up artificial and sick of jumping through hoops.

But when we seek Christ (intimacy with Him) 

we will find ourselves transformed from within.

Best Description of the Gospel Ever, by Tim Keller