Experiencing the Grace of Jesus--The Israelites

The Israelites--it seems like they just couldn't keep their proverbial feet out of their mouths.  You'd think they'd have been THE ones to appreciate most the miracles that God provided them--they are also the only people who got to have the "angels' food", or manna, brought down from heaven just for them!  Instead, they murmured, chased after their lusts, and basically disobeyed God. 

Sounds like us doesn't it?  We have a tendency to chase after our desires and in turn disobey God.

The Isrealite's actions caused God's wrath.  In Psalms 78:24-32, the Bible says, "And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given the of the corn of heaven. (25) Man did eat angels' food: he sent them meat to the full. (26)  He caused an east wind to blow in the heaven, and by his power he brought in the south wind. (27) And he let it fall in the midst of their camp, round about their habitations. (29) So the did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire; (30) They were not estranged from their lust: but while their meat was yet in their mouths, (31) The wrath of God came down upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Isreal.  (32) For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works."

If you stop and look, the Israelites' hearts were much the same then as that of folks now who refuse to come to Jesus.  Their hearts are hardened, they choose to enjoy the gifts of God, but murmer and lust after worldly ways, rather than give themselves to the Lord and Savior and be accountable to Him. They wanted the good things but didn't want to obey the ONE who gave them those goodies. It is this hardness that led the Israelites to face the wrath of God, and also will lead the person who rejects Christ to the same wrath.

What is the heart attitude of someone who will eventually have to face the wrath of God?  See above.  Also see Romans 2:5--"But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgement of God."  Sounds like Israelites doesn't it?  And honestly, it sounds like many of us before we softened and let the Gospel penetrate our hearts.  And it sounds like many in the world who refuse to hear His offer of grace!

What kinds of actions will bring down the wrath of God according to Colossians 3:5-6? "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: (6) For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:"

• Fornication--to act the harlot
• Uncleanness--a covering from a distance (or how we look to the world)
• Inordinate affection--inappropriate passion or lust
• Evil concupiscense--criminal evil doer
• Covetousness--greedy, avarice, lust for gain

God can't let any of those things into His heaven!  He doesn't want to tolerate them on earth either!  The Israelites displayed those actions mentioned above regularly, then turned back to God, then went back to their old ways.  We who are saved in Christ used to be this way as well, whether we want to admit it or not.  Ok, so you may or may not have been a physical harlot like Rahab, but did you have a lustful thought?  Have you ever wanted to get more and more of the things of this world?  Did you commit a crime (even if you didn't get caught)?  If you have said yes to any of those, then you've deserved God's wrath--it's right there in Colossians! 

Aren't you glad Jesus came and spread His grace to those who'd accept it?  Why would anyone voluntarily WANT  to face God's wrath? 

While we ponder these verses and questions, we'll slow down and pause in our study.  Until next time!

Experiencing the Grace of Jesus--Romans 5:19-21

This is a new study we've started at Independent Bible Baptist Church!  Pastor Fryer has written an indepth study on the Grace of Jesus, which we will go through in slow motion.  I do have some extra notes as well to share!

Let's begin!

Romans 5:19-21 :: "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous."

A prayer that you can pray would be something like this:  Dear Father, forgive me for trying to impress you with the garments of  my own making.  You have shown me grace, and clothed me with Christ instead.  I know that it is only through your grace that I have been saved.  Guide me, teach me more about you.  Show me how amazing grace really is, and help me to experience the grace of Jesus.

We must understand that once we are saved God clothes us.

Galatians 3:27--"For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ."

To 'put on someone' is an ancient idiom for assuming the standing or position of another person.  To 'put on Christ therefore means to assume (adopt) His standing before God.  Since Jesus is God's son, the Galatians are God's sons, thus confirming verse 26 ("For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.")  (Thomas Nelson KJV Study Bible, p. 1817)

In Romans 13:44, "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof."

Isaiah 61:10 says, "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels."

Let's stop there for right now.  Look back through the scriptures given, and read them again. 

When we are saved in Jesus, we have THE best garments one could have to wear!  We get to wear the garments of THE Bride!  We are the Bride, He is the Groom--do we want to wear old filthy rags and continue in the things we used to do before we got saved, or wear the beautiful flowing bridal gown and jewels?  By His Grace we are given the beautiful wedding gown and jewels, for this is something we could not earn on our own. 

As we are beginning 2012, we have the opportunity to display that beautiful wedding gown to everyone--we can show the grace given to us by Jesus our Lord and Savior.  If we hold on to those old filthy rags we wore before Jesus cleaned us up and forgave our sins, what will we show to those who need Jesus?  Will we show the beauty of grace?  Or will we show the filth of a sinful past and nothing else? 

Let's show our finest--let's put on Jesus and show Him!!

We're going to pause here and begin again next time with more on Experiencing the Grace of Jesus!

Welcome to Proverbs 3:5-6!

Welcome!  I'm soooo excited to see you!  (Ok, so you can't see me, but just picture a big happy sloppy grin.)

Proverbs 3:5-6 blog is a bible study type blog, to help us folks who really enjoy the meat of Bible study tear into some nice steaks.  (I'm drooling......mmmmmmmmm..........steaks...........)  I'd love to see ya'll join in and comment and follow along!

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