King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: By Living For Christ
Date: Saturday December 03, 2011
Chapters: Ephesians 1-3
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://thesaviorjesuschrist.com/bible-reading-december-03
All Scripture quoted comes from the King James Version.

Hello My Friend,

Perhaps one of the most asked questions in the world is, “How can God send people to hell?” The truth is, God does not want to sent anyone in hell, people send themselves. Sin is what sends a person to hell. Why? Sin is rebellion to God. Since we are all sinners, meaning we have all done something wrong in our lifetime, that punishment is being cast into hell. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” - Romans 3:23. We may not see something we are doing as sin, but it's not up to us n to decide what is right from wrong, it's up to God.

We all have a choice, heaven or hell, and He leaves that choice up to each individual. Ignorance does not keep us out of hell, making up our own rules does not keep us out of hell, even acts of righteousness do not keep us out of hell. Why? It's the flesh, rather the weakness of the flesh. I often tell people that ask me why I do not trust myself, “i have flesh, it stinks, ever smell yourself after sweating all day?” The flesh longs for everything that God does not want us to have, I am talking about immorality, corruption, and greed, sinful actions to get what it wants. We all have a sin nature, we are born with it, and as long as we carry around this flesh we are going to sin, no matter how much we try not to. You ask, how are we born with a sin nature and why is all sin grounds for hell? It all begins with Adam and Eve.

“Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat...And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” - Genesis 3:1-6,13-15.

Adam and Eve died spiritually that day, that small sin cast a curse on all mankind, death, a sin nature, and much more than that, enmity (separation & hatred) between God and man. However, God did send someone who would bruise the head of Satan and reconcile God and man once more,and give life to all who believe, that someone is Jesus Christ. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” - II Corinthians 5:21.

The Book of Ephesians is the tenth book of the New Testament, the forty-ninth book of the Bible, and contains 6 chapters. This epistle was written by the apostle Paul to the church at Ephesus, in approximately 64AD. The purpose of the letter was to inform believers of their wealth in Christ and instruct them concerning their walk with Christ. What we are to learn from the book is that all Christ's believers are heirs to both the blessings (the wealth) and the responsibilities (the walk) of their calling created in them through Christ. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” - Ephesians 2:10.

The Book of Ephesians is probably the best book you can read to explain why we go through so much before we get saved. In fact, Paul is the greatest example and testimony of someone who was brought up to hate Christ and persecuted Christians turned his life around for Christ. In the beginning of his letter he reminds the Ephesians that while they are saved by grace, it would be wise to remain holy, meaning live a moral, uncorrupted, life.

“According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;..In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:.And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,” -Ephesians 1:4-7,11,19-22.

Jesus, who is the head of the church, already knew what you would be doing with your life before and after you chose to receive Him in you life. He even chose the exact time you would find out that He was what you needed all along. Why? It's all about timing, Jesus waits until you are ready to be committed to Him before He trusts you with His work. The truth is this, thousands of people get saved, but very few care less about living their lives for Christ. That is why He has to strengthen you, grow you, and wait until you are ready to serve Him with all your heart before He entrusted you to do the work He predestined for you. Jesus said, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled...Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” - Matthew 5:6,8.

Paul reminds the Ephesians of where they were before they knew Christ and why they are saved, “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” - Ephesians 2:2-6.

By grace we are saved, by living for Christ we overcome every foolish thing we ever did before we received Him and even the ones yet to come. By grace our spirit arose from the dead and resurrected our lifeless soul, by living for Christ we lose the desire to do what our flesh wants to do. Christ changes us for the better, he gets rid of all the things that cause unnecessary suffering, temptation, and shame, including people that keep us in that serpents clutches. However, He replaces them with a new outlook on life, blessings beyond measure, and give us hope, joy, and peace through every trial we face, as long as we go to Him. “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” - Ephesians 3:16-21.

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
Your mercy and grace for us is beyond measure, it's just amazing to think of what kind of life I lived before You were in it and how You have completely brought newness, hope, and even joy to this once idle spirit. Lord, I know I am going to mess up again no matter how much I try not to, but Your mercy endures forever. Lead me and guide me, search me and open my heart to discover anything that is hindering my relationship with You. Strengthen me and grow me as only You can to serve You with all my heart, mind, and soul so I can receive Your fulness of blessings. I ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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