King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Because He First Loved Us
Date: Wednesday December 21, 2011
Chapters: I John 4-5
All Scripture quoted comes from the King James Version, words in red are quoted by Jesus.

Hello My Friend,

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” - Romans 5:8-10.

Every saved, born again, believer of Christ who lives in the Word of God has some verse that they hold on to that reminds them of their salvation. Mine is Romans 5:8 - “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” God loves us so much that He gave His own life, through His Son, to save us from wrath, which is eternal death, hell, and the lake of fire. Christ came here on a mission, to save sinners. You can say that you are not a sinner, but until you realize that you have done wrong in your lifetime Christ cannot save you from wrath. Christ saves sinners. “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” -Luke 5:32.

The Bible says, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.” - Psalm 51:10. When we call on Jesus Christ to save us the Spirit of God moves in us and gives us a clean heart, He is our mediator that gives life to our body and soul and lets us know that He is always with us. When the cares and hustle and bustle of life get us down it can be easy to start doubting God, even His existence. The truth is, if we are saved, God is always with us, but in order to find Him sometimes we need to check our spirit, are we living in the Spirit of God, our own, or the devils. Yes, there other spirits that linger about, which are what gives us doubts in the first place and they all lead to the devil. John reminds us that not every spirit we hear is God's.

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” - I John 4:1-6.

God is much stronger and greater in power than the devil ever will be, in fact, even the devil has to answer to God, and he knows that, that is why he tries to put so much doubt in our heads. “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” -James 2:19. When you have the Spirit of God in you He will remind you of just how much God does exist, how much He loves you, and how He shows His love for you. John reminds us that His love is shown through Christ and not only that through every believe that loves Him.

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us...Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us.” - I John 4:9-12,17-19.

God loves us so much that He came down here as a man, through Christ, dwelt among us, sinless and perfect, yet took every persons sin to the cross when He became the ultimate sacrifice that would save all who believe in Him. If that is not love, we truly have no idea what love is and will never overcome the devils control. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” - John 3:16.

Jesus in His death had a double purpose, not only to save us, but to cleanse us, we were once defiled by the pollutants of sin until we asked the Savior to come in. He cleanses us, reconciles us with God, and renews our spirit to love God with all our heart, mind, and soul. John reminds us that keeping God's commands is what renews our heart and shows our love of God in return.

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.” -I John 5:3-8.

A lot of people believe that Christ existed, but when you tell them that He is God in the flesh, they cannot believe it. Let me tell you,Christ didn't just exist then, He existed before He came here in the flesh, and exists now in the form of the Holy Spirit. I tell my kids in my Sunday school class that since God is omnipresent, meaning He can be everywhere at the same time, He can be God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit at the same time. Then I ask them this question, “If God came up to you in a ghost form and told you to believe in Him what would you do? Most of them said they would scream and run. That is what most of us would do as well and why it was important for Him to come to earth as a man would. Had He come any other way and not been our perfect sacrifice, our spotless lamb, then we would still be placing animals upon an altar, hoping that God is still with us. “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:” - I Peter 1:18,19.

While God would love to save everyone, He will not save anyone who does not want to be saved. There is only one way to be saved and that is by personally receiving Christ as you Savior. Only those who have asked Him to save them will be saved, receive heaven, and eternal life. “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.” - I John 5:11-15.

We ask Him to save us and He does it instantly, likewise, He will give us everything we ask Him for, in His time. I always say to my kids if they asked God for a car to drive would He give it to them now or wait until they are older and can drive. “These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season.” - Psalm 104:27.

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
Lord, it is just amazing and so incredible to think that You loved me so much that You willingly came here through Your Son Jesus to die for me. Not only am I forgiven, I am cleansed, reconciled with You, and am even one of Your very own children. Thank You, for saving this sinner and making me a part of Your family. As a child of God never let me lose sight of You, when things seem to be falling apart, keep my eyes, ears, and heart on You, who enables me to endure all things. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Merry Christmas!
Christina

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