tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4094248114996261058.post5577604919699354234..comments2023-08-27T06:33:12.637-05:00Comments on The Bible in a Year - and Beyond!: Friday, 5 April 2013 ~ RoxieTammyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12045517118866436340noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4094248114996261058.post-37618149593757662222013-04-08T17:19:05.997-05:002013-04-08T17:19:05.997-05:00I absolutely loved MacArthur's sermon on this ...I absolutely loved MacArthur's sermon on this passage - possibly one of my all time favourites. <br /><br />He made the excellent point that a truly genuine faith has to come with a guarantee that God is able to keep us. Jesus asks us to give up everything in order to follow Him. Who would make that commitment without a guarantee? <br /><br />After all, our salvation does not depend on us - if it did, we would have no hope. We were dead in our transgressions. Jesus was born, He died, He rose, He offered us forgiveness, He chose us to receive it through the power of the Holy Spirit, He justified us, He regenerated us, He put the Holy Spirit within us. And He will keep us until the end. If it was up to us, no one would ever make it. But thanks be to God, it is not up to us. And He is both willing and able to keep us from falling. <br /><br />Jude's just told us to go out and reach the misguided, the false teachers and rescue them. If we were not secure in our salvation - who would want to risk that? <br /><br />Another point he makes that I thought was fantastic was that about presenting us to Him with joy. When you think about it, every single occurrence in the Bible when people come into the presence of God it is an absolutely terrifying experience. Because of our sin and His holiness. It is terrifying. But because of the blood of Jesus, we will go into His presence WITH JOY! Not terror. Joy! <br /><br />It was such a great sermon, I highly recommend taking the time to listen to it.Tammyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12045517118866436340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4094248114996261058.post-40092370121906743762013-04-05T09:14:30.980-05:002013-04-05T09:14:30.980-05:00AMEN, indeed!!!! My favourite part is the "h...AMEN, indeed!!!! My favourite part is the <i>"him who is able... to present you before his glorious presence without fault"</i> phrase. Because of Christ, I am perfect and may enter the presence of God. ONLY He is able to make me "good enough" to be there.<br /><br />It completely blows my mind that though God sees me screw up, sees me sin time and time again, and though my sin grieves Him each and every time, He can still see me as faultless, grants me audience with Him, and WANTS me in His family. I know, I know ~ that's what families are supposed to mirror, but that parallel breaks down when you consider His ABSOLUTE <b>INABILITY</b> to tolerate sin. That's where it all goes so far beyond what our minds can comprehend!tammihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03803890115567631062noreply@blogger.com