Friday, April 19, 2013

Philippians 3:8-9


8 Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. For His sake I have lost everything and consider it all to be mere rubbish (refuse, dregs), in order that I may win (gain) Christ (the Anointed One),

9 And that I may [actually] be found and known as in Him, not having any [self-achieved] righteousness that can be called my own, based on my obedience to the Law’s demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired), but possessing that [genuine righteousness] which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One), the [truly] right standing with God, which comes from God by [saving] faith.

Through Christ all of the burden of having to do anything on our own to find favor with our Father is gone. He loves us irregardless of our shortcomings. 

Grace and spiritual blessing be to you and [soul] peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah), Who gave (yielded) Himself up [to atone] for our sins [and to save and sanctify us], in order to rescue and deliver us from this present wicked age and world order, in accordance with the will and purpose and plan of our God and Father—Galatians 1:3-4

And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). Faithful is He Who is calling you [to Himself] and utterly trustworthy, and He will also do it [fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you]. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

The glorious Truth is that our Father Himself keeps us in His favor and through Christ we are always counted righteous. All of our education, money, and works mean nothing, they count for nothing. The only thing that counts is Jesus and He is greater in us then anything that is in this world. The peace with this truth is awesome! There is so much freedom and joy in it. Our Father is responsible to make us right and He is faithful to do it. The burden is His and the victory is ours. We never removed from His mercy!

For God has consigned (penned up) all men to disobedience, only that He may have mercy on them all [alike]. Romans 11:32

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