Death, Guilt, Sin & The Saviour's Grace - A Dose of Encouragement

EASTER is just one of the items on the Church Calendar each year.

Or is it?

When we are young Easter may centre around those chocolate eggs and everything that seems to depict cuddly little yellow chicks.

When we are young Easter may centre around a family roast and little egg hunts.

When we are young Easter may centre around one of those twice a year visits to church.

When we are young and actively involved in church Easter may centre around pictures of an empty cross and tomb.

But what about now that we are older?

Are the chocolate eggs and yellow chicks forgotten?

Do we still get together as a family for that big meal?

Do we still go to church on Easter Sunday?

To some of those the answer may well be - YES?

but

Do we still focus our thoughts on the cross & the tomb?

Most of us will not have been able to grow up without hearing about the cross and the tomb but did we really pay attention to the  WHY?

The first "Why" I want to look at is the DEATH.

We know he died and his body was put into the tomb and then we know that the tomb was found empty but often our thoughts of Easter stop right there at the empty tomb and we forget to go on and see what it means for us.  What it has meant right from that resurrection day until now and will continue to mean for all of us for the rest of our lives and for eternity.

Jesus through His DEATH and RESURRECTION defeated DEATH forevermore.

He defeated DEATH for us the ones who deserved death as the punishment for our sins.

He defeated DEATH so that the fear of it would not have to hover over us and taint our lives.

He defeated DEATH so that the devil would not have that to use to control us.

The second "Why" I want to look at is the GUILT.

We know Christ died because people hated Him and would rather He be killed than someone who had already been found guilty of terrible crimes.  Jesus was the one who took Barabbas' guilt there and then that day as the people watched the truly guilty person walk away.  

Jesus through His death and resurrection also took our GUILT that day and we need to remember this.  We the guilty were replaced by the true innocent one, Jesus was and is the true, perfect sacrifice once and for ever for our sins. 

Jesus stepped into our place for us the GUILTY ones who deserve death as the punishment for our sins.

He wiped away our GUILT so that it would not have power over our minds. 

He took our GUILT on himself so that anguish, worry and stress would not destroy us.

The third "Why" I want to look at is the SIN.

We know Jesus was "without sin" from the following verses  

"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."

2 Corinthians 5:21

"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."

Hebrews 4:15

"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."

Hebrews 9:28

"Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:"

1 Peter 2:22 

"And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin."

1 John 3:5

 

 

But 

Do we really believe that we are sinners?

Do we really believe that Jesus died for us?

Do we really believe that Jesus was a willing sacrifice?

Do we really believe that Jesus took on our sin?

 

AND

If we really understand & believe that we are sinners.

If we really understand & believe that Jesus died for us.

If we really understand & believe that Jesus was a willing sacrifice.

If we really understand & believe that Jesus took on our sin.

THEN    

We can trust that Jesus did this all to bring us into God's family.

We can trust that Jesus is the only Saviour of the world.

THEN    

We can trust that the Saviour's grace to us is real.

So what is the grace of God?

people often say it is "undeserved favour" from God

but I would like to add a quote from John Piper here 

“Well, it appears that the word grace in Paul’s use not only refers to God’s character trait or disposition or inclination to treat people better than we deserve, but the word grace also refers to the action or the power or the influence or the force of this disposition, which produces real, practical outcomes in people’s lives, like being sufficient for good deeds or enduring the thorn in the flesh or working harder than everybody else, which Paul says about his own apostolic work.”

which directs us to the fact that the Grace of God is an active effect on our lives to change us.

NOW    

We can understand the reason for cross, the punishment, and the Grace.

 

Remember the Death

Remember the Guilt

Remember the Sin

Then 

Remember the 

What a wonderful time is the celebration of Easter regardless of who we are, where we are, who we can see and what we can do.

To dwell in the knowledge that Jesus was the sacrifice for us and had the power to overcome death so that we do not have to carry the sin and guilt but instead we have experienced our Saviour’s Grace when we trusted in Him.

10 Bible Verses of Encouragement about Thanksgiving

We all need encouragement and the best place to go is to the Bible.

In this blog Post I have tried to gather some Bible passages or Bible verses which will encourage about Thanksgiving

I do believe that we should not just grab a verse and read it on its own but we should always lift our bibles and read a passage of scripture to make sure that we know the real meaning and context of each of the verses we are putting our trust in. 

I pray that you will do the same and only use this list to guide you as to where you may find help.

So here are 10 Bible verses or short passages for us to read and consider about Thanksgiving

1.   Colossians 3 v 16 - 17    

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

And whatever you do in word or deed do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through Him”

Such a great 2 verses that cover thankfulness within us and then that thankfulness flowing out to God. 

2.   1 Thessalonians 5 v 16 - 18

 

“Rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, 

in everything give thanks; 

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

This passage is brief and to the point with 3 exhortations to us about things we should do and look it has always been God's will for us to be thankful in everything!

3.   Ephesians 5 v 20 

 “giving thanks always and for everything to God”

 

Just in case we didn't get the full message in the previous verse this one points out the always as well as in everything - no excuses!

4.   Colossians 2 v 6 - 7

“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.”

 

When we are following Jesus thanksgiving is very important because it part of the process of walking with Him and in faith.

5.   Jonah 2 v 9   

“But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving;

  I will pay what I have vowed.   

Salvation is of the Lord.”

Sacrifice may be hard for us but we are still instructed to remain thankful in this act of obedience.

6.   1 Chronicles 16 v 34

“Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; 

for His steadfast love endures forever!”

His goodness to us and His love for us should always be on our minds and we must be forever thankful to God for these great attributes.

7.   Philippians 1 v 3 - 4

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,  always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy.”

We don't just have to thank God for all His attributes but we must remember to thank Him for the others we have along side us in our Christian Walk?

8.   Philippians 4 v 6 - 7

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." 

 

So often we can get caught up with the needs of ourselves, family, friends, church and others that we forget to thank God in our prayers but they must not centre around petitions all the time but rather on God and how He is faithful to answer our prayers.

9.   Colossians 3 v 15

"Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful." 

 

Allowing God to give us His peace and rest should bring thankful expressions from us.

10.   2 Corinthians 9 v 15

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!"

We have so many things to be thankful to God for but we must never forget that the greatest of these is the Gift of His Son the Lord Jesus Christ to die in our place.

10 Bible Verses of Encouragement about God's Blessings

We all need encouragement and the best place to go is to the Bible.

In this blog Post I have tried to gather some Bible passages or Bible verses which will encourage us all around the topic of God's Blessings.

I do believe that we should not just grab a verse and read it on its own but we should always lift our bibles and read a passage of scripture to make sure that we know the real meaning and context of each of the verses we are putting our trust in. 

I pray that you will do the same and only use this list to guide you as to where you may find help.

So here are 10 Bible verses or short passages for us to turn to in times when we need to be encouraged to think about  

Blessings

 

1.   Numbers 6 v 24-26     

When I think of a Godly blessing this is the one that comes to mind as I have great memories of singing this in the church I grew up in each time a child was baptized.

"The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.  

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace."

 

2.   Psalm 1 v 1

Blessing comes when we are upright in heart, mind and action.

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,

nor standeth in the way of sinners, 

nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord; 

and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, 

that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; 

his leaf also shall not wither; 

and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

3.   Ephesians 1 v 3

What more could we want but to be blessed by God and be able to praise and honour Him.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ."

4.   Psalm 34 v 8

    Trusting in God leads to blessing.

“Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;                       Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!”

5.   John 20 v 29

   We have not seen Jesus in person but we must remember that we are not any less blessed because of this.

"Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."

6.   1 Peter 3 v 9 

Receiving blessing and blessing others goes hand in hand.

"Finally all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing."

7.   2 Corinthians 9 v 8

We are not just blessed to receive something for ourselves but to know the blessing of being in the position to bless others as well.

"And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

8.   Psalm 29 v 11

        Who is greater than the Lord to bless us 

                  "The Lord sat enthroned at the flood,                                                            and the Lord sits as King forever.                                                              The Lord will give strength to His people;                                         the Lord will bless His people with peace."

9.   Isaiah 30 v 18

 The Lord is the one who determines when and how He blesses us

 

"And therefore will the Lord wait, that He may be gracious to you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you: for the Lord is a God of judgement: blessed are all they that wait for Him."

10.   Psalm 32 v 1

   On a final note the greatest blessing of all that is freely given 

   to us - sins forgiven

 "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,

whose sin is covered."

 

You can download this Free Printable of the graphics of these verses HERE

And other posts like this on various topics can be found on our Bible Verses of Encouragement Page