S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge – Day #8 February 8, 2024 “Faith In Jesus Christ Plus Nothing”

S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge – Day #8 February 8, 2024 “Faith In Jesus Christ Plus Nothing”

 S. Acts 15:11 (NIV) “No! we believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.”

 O. Jewish believers were trying to compel Gentile converts to the Christian faith to be observe the Jewish ritual of circumcision. They were telling them that unless they were circumcised, they would not be saved. 

The disciples had a meeting with the apostles on this matter. They determined that it is clear, salvation is by faith in Jesus alone (through or by the grace of God – Eph. 2;8-9). Circumcision does not save people. Water baptism does not save. Speaking in tongues does not save – nor can any of these be evidence of God’s internal work to determine if a person is truly saved.

 Only faith in Jesus by God’s grace. A lot of people continue to distort the gospel of Jesus with extra stuff. They did in Paul’s day and continue to do so.

 A. I am thankful for the completed work of salvation on the cross by Jesus. There is nothing that can be added to further that completed work. I will continue to preach, teach, and disciple people in this Truth.

 P. Thank you Lord Jesus for such a complete salvation. Holy Spirit fill me and guide me to continue to teach others this simple yet essential truth – that salvation = faith in Jesus + 0 (nothing). I praise you! In Jesus’ name.

S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge – Day #7 February 7, 2024 “The Sin of Ignorance and God’s Grace.”

S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge – Day #7 February 7, 2024 “The Sin of Ignorance and God’s Grace.”

S. Leviticus 5:14-16 (NIV) 14 The Lord said to Moses: 15 “When anyone is unfaithful to the Lord by sinning unintentionally in regard to any of the Lord’s holy things, they are to bring to the Lord as a penalty a ram from the flock, one without defect and of the proper value in silver, according to the sanctuary shekel.[a] It is a guilt offering. 16 They must make restitution for what they have failed to do in regard to the holy things, pay an additional penalty of a fifth of its value and give it all to the priest. The priest will make atonement for them with the ram as a guilt offering, and they will be forgiven.

 O. It is possible to sin and to be unaware of it (sinning unintentionally). Perhaps this could be called “The Sin of Ignorance” – being uninformed, not knowing God’s expectations.  When this happened in the OT, God provided a system (of sacrifices) for people to restore their relationship with Him.

 These O.T. sacrifices were pictures of how God would provide the ultimate NT sacrifice through Jesus and his death, burial and resurrection (Hebrews 10).  Because of the salvation God has provided for us in Jesus, when we do sin, we simply need to acknowledge it and based on the finished work of Jesus, our relationship with the Lord is renewed. (1 John 1:9).

 Further, God want us to know what His will is for our lives. He does not want us to continue to be uninformed. This is one reason why Paul teaches that we are to understand what the will of the Lord is (Ephesians 5:15-17).

 A.  It’s so great to know that the Lord provides for all of our blunders. Thank you, Lord, for your Grace, over our ignorance. I will continue to acknowledge my sins and failures to you and enjoy renewed fellowship with you. I will also continue to read, study, and teach your word so that I and others will understand your will for our lives.

 P. Thank your Lord for your love, Grace and provision for our sin of ignorance. Thank you, Jesus, for the great salvation you have secured for us. Holy Spirit fill me and guide me to greater growth, knowledge and understanding of God’s will for my life. I love you, Lord. In Jesus’ name...

S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge – Day #6 February 6, 2024 “Let the Light of Jesus Shine Through You”

S.O.A.P. 30 Day Challenge – Day #6 February 6, 2024 “Let the Light of Jesus Shine Through You”

S. Acts 13:9-11 (NIV) 9 Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, 10 “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? 11 Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind for a time, not even able to see the light of the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

 O. This Jewish sorcerer was leading people away from the good news of Jesus. Perhaps he is symbolic of the nation Israel – who should have been serving as God’s people in leading the world to Him – yet they refused to do so and rejected the Messiah. In doing so, God has temporarily blinded the people of Israel.

 A. God will use and bless those willing to share the good news of Jesus. That is my desire – to let others see the light of Jesus through me.

P. Lord, thank you for your word today. Holy Spirit, fill me and guide me to continue to share Jesus both in my private life and in the public ministry that you’ve called me to. May people see the light of Jesus shine through me. In Jesus’ name.