JAMES 1:13,16,17 WEYMOUTH
13 Let no one say when passing through trial, "My temptation is from God;" for God is incapable of being tempted to do evil, and He Himself tempts no one.
16 Do not be deceived, my dearly-loved brethren.
17 Every gift which is good, and every perfect boon, is from above, and comes down from the Father, who is the source of all Light. In Him there is no variation nor the slightest suggestion of change.
God is not doing evil that good may come from it. "Do not be deceived," the Bible tells us in verse 16 above. Obviously then, brethren CAN be deceived -- and many ARE.
God is NOT the one behind the bad things happening. Deadly storms such as tornados and earthquakes are not acts of my God. Only good comes down from my Father God -- and He does not change or vary from day to day.
John 10:10 LB
10 The thief's purpose is to steal, kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness.
John 10:10 is the dividing line in the Bible. The purpose of the devil is made clear: to harm you. The purpose of the Lord is also clear: life in all its fullness -- life as God intended.
Jesus is for you. The devil is against you. It's as simple as that.
ROMANS 8:32 NKJ
32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?
Most people approach prayer as an exercise in convincing God to help. They think they must twist God's arm, or promise to do something, in order to get God to give them anything.
The New Testament paints a different picture. God not only is a willing giver, but has already given! He is not holding back on us!
When He gave us Jesus, along with Him He gave us everything we could ever need.
"Why then," you may ask, "do I not have what I need?"
Friend, there is a great difference between something being given and something being received.
Many people have been unaware recipients of great good, but until they became aware of it and took the necessary steps to properly receive their bounty, it did them no good.
You can be entitled to some inheritance, or other windfall, without knowing it. You can even know it, but without following the proper procedure, not possess and enjoy it.
So it is with the things of God. Proper procedure must be followed. There are instructions on how to receive. But the instructions are clear and easy to follow. You will find them in the New Testament.
1 TIMOTHY 6:17 NKJ
17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
God gives us richly all things to enjoy!
Don't judge God's generosity by what you have, or have not, received. Find out the instructions from the Bible, and receive all that God has provided for you.
ROMANS 5:17 NIV
17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
The New Testament reveals the good news that God offers righteousness as a free gift to everyone who receives the Lord Jesus Christ.
Righteousness means right-wise-ness, or being right. So righteousness is right standing, or good standing with God.
Righteousness is a GIFT from God -- not something you can earn or achieve. God simply declares that you are innocent, as far as He is concerned, because you believe in Jesus.
You are righteous if Jesus is your Lord. In fact, Jesus is your righteousness. So, you are really as righteous as God is -- because He IS your righteousness. As a believer in Jesus, you will never be more righteous -- no matter what you do.
1 CORINTHIANS 1:30 NIV
30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God -- that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
ROMANS 6:23 NLT
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Salvation is a word we use for being set free from the effects and the penalty of sin. It includes being delivered from the dominion of the devil. It was purchased for us by Jesus Christ through giving His own life at Calvary, as our substitute.
Salvation is not something you earn, but a free gift from God totally by His grace.
Humans have invented many religions with all kinds of rules, trying to make themselves acceptable to God. But being right with God is not something we can achieve by our own efforts. God loved us so much that He accomplished it for us, and provides it as a free gift available to all who receive Jesus.
The Bible tells us we will be rewarded for the good we do. But it is not by doing good deeds, performing certain rituals, or by keeping a list of rules, that we are saved from sin and its effects. Salvation and having a home in Heaven are not rewards -- they are gifts.
ROMANS 3:21-24 NLT
21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago.
22 We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
23 For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard.
24 Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.
You cannot earn salvation and being right with God. You can only receive it as a gift of love from God. It comes in the form of a Divine Person, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Outside of union with Jesus Christ, there is no salvation.
ACTS 4:12 NLT
12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved."
