Give Thanks for Spiritual Blessings!

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time for reflection. It should be a time to remember the many blessings we have. In the midst of current difficulties, we have plenty for which we can give thanks to God.

Paul was overwhelmed by what God had done for him. He proclaimed in 2 Corinthians 9:15, Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! At this time of year, it is worth our time to consider the gift of which Paul was speaking. According to verse 14, the gift is the grace of God in you. How can such a gift be described? From the divine side, Paul gives a beautiful description in chapter 8, verse 9, For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. The indescribable gift is God’s gift of His Son which is received by grace through faith alone.

On the human side, how can we attempt to describe this indescribable gift? I would encourage you to meditate on the following words: foreknowledge, adoption, justification, sanctification, and glorification. These are theological terms that help us grasp, to a small degree, the indescribable gift of God’s grace.

• Foreknowledge is tied to election. Augustine clearly stated, God elected believers in order that they might believe, not because they already believed....It is only by an act of great compassion that He saves anyone. The condemned receive just what they deserve. The elect receive more than they deserve. What a gift of grace!

• Adoption is the act of God which places believers in His family. We who were separated from God because of sin and enslaved to sin, are now part of His family. What a gift of grace!

• Justification is the act of God whereby we who were dead in sins are declared righteous. Jesus Christ became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. What a gift of grace!

• Sanctification is the work of God whereby we who are justified are being conformed to the image of Christ. What we believe becomes more and more what we do. What a gift of grace!

• Glorification is the work of God whereby we who are justified and being sanctified will be fully conformed to the image of Christ. Oh, to be like Him. What a gift of grace!

Paul rightly calls God’s gift of grace indescribable. Yet, I encourage each of us to think biblically and thank God for His grace: He called us; He places us in His family; He gives us right standing; He enables us to live for Him; He is sufficient to bring us blameless into His presence. What a gift of grace!

For Christians, Thanksgiving is every day!

A short history of Thanksgiving tied to communion as an act of thanksgiving

may be found under the Topical/Seasonal tab.

Love is a many splendored thing!

Many think love is an emotion. The Bible emphasizes love is action. The best example of love in action is Jesus heading to the cross. Jesus said He must go. It wasn’t compulsion or obligation as much as it was love for you and for me.

Love is powerful and much can be learned about it in Romans 12:9-21. It should be listed with 1 Corinthians 12 as a love chapter. I entitled this section, Exhibiting Love to Everyone in Every Situation. The first section describes love with 11 action words. The second section gives 4 proper responses by Christians to the unloving.

I was touched by the words of Booker T. Washington (former slave, educator, author, advisor to U. S. presidents), I will not allow any man to make me lower myself by hating him. The only real way to destroy an enemy is to make that person a friend. To make an enemy into a friend will not happen with feelings alone but with actions directed by the Spirit of God. May we be people of the Book who love others not with talk but with deeds.

I hope you will find the 11 actions words and 4 proper responses of love in Romans 12:9-21, at www.crimsonministries.org under the Books of the Bible tab. More than just knowing those facts, I pray each of us will apply those truths to our lives and relationships with others.

Gary Wiley

Whatever happened to sanctification?

I am a strong supporter of knowing the truth of God and believing it. Evangelical churches encourage members to know what they believe. That Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose from the grave is foundational. I believe it but does it make a difference in my life?

It seems that we have reached a point where having the right doctrinal position is all there is to the Christian faith. Justification is a wonderful doctrine which requires understanding the Gospel. God justifies me based on Jesus’ payment for my sins. God sees me as if He is looking at His Son. That truth is hard to grasp but I am thankful for it.

That is good news but that is only the beginning. Justification is the beginning of a life in Christ. Sanctification must follow. Romans 12:1 declares that I am to present my body as a living sacrifice which is my spiritual worship. God not only wants me to place my faith in the truth, He wants me to live what I believe. The older I get the more I want that for myself and for every believer.

I fear too many churches regularly proclaim the Gospel of justification but not sanctification. Justification without sanctification is life insurance, covering oneself against going to hell. Justification with sanctification is experiencing heaven on earth. According to Warren Wiersbe, In the Christian life, doctrine and duty always go together. What we believe helps to determine how we behave. It is not enough for us to understand Paul’s doctrinal explanations. We must translate our learning into living and show by our daily lives that we trust God’s Word.

I want to know as much theology as I can. I want to know about God. But, most importantly, I want to know God. I want not only a relationship as His child but to be in fellowship with Him as my loving Father. Hear the words of Jesus, John 14:21, Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.

A Christian is called not only to know the truth but to live it empowered by the Holy Spirit. Romans 12:1-8 is the beginning of a powerful section on sanctification. I encourage you to take time to study the lesson at www.crimsonministries.org under the Books of the Bible tab. Salvation is composed not only of justification but sanctification followed by glorification. Even so Lord, come quickly.