Abundant Grace

 1 Tim 12:14
And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
Paul claimed to be the worst of all sinners. His life before coming to Christ was filled with unbelief and evil intent to hurt those who were followers of Jesus. There are many who have given testimony to a life that is wicked and evil, and how God’s grace through faith and love in Christ lifted them out of the pit of sin and gave them a new beginning. But the truth of the matter is that we ALL are sinners. We may have been brought up in a home that taught and trained us to be good and decent people. To be kind and considerate to others. The rich young ruler was such a person. Jesus told him to keep the commandment he said,  “All these things have I kept from my youth up.” Being a good person was not enough. Jesus did come to teach us how to be good people, but His main purpose for His coming was to save sinners. No matter the depth of our sinfulness, His exceedingly abundant grace reaches each one of us with His love. “In that we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Whether you are the chief of sinners or raised to be a good person, we all need His grace. We all have sinned and come short of God’s glory. Believe in Him and His abundant grace will save you!

A New Heart

 Ezekiel 36:26-27

 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh…And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

There is something about things that are new. It implies a fresh start. As we begin a new year, we look forward to maybe doing things differently to improve our lives. When God gives us a fresh start, it is more than turning over a new leaf. It is more like letting the old leaf die and letting a new leaf grow. God wants to take the old heart of stone, hardened by sin. The callous heart of unbelief removed and replaced by a heart of flesh, full of faith compassion. The new heart has new desires and affections. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” The Spirit of Christ now dwells in the new heart of flesh, a heart ready to receive instructions, wanting to keep his commandments. Yes, the law is now written in our hearts, and our conscience bears witness that hearts belong to Him.

A New Heart

Ezek.36:26  A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.

The promise of God is to restore man. He takes a heart that is callous and cold, a heart that is void of spiritual life, dead in trespasses and sin, and breathes in new life. The old heart’s affections were set on thing of this earth, its focus was on pleasing the carnal nature. The new heart given to the one who turns their heart over to the Creator is made alive. God, through Christ fills the heart with His Spirit and a new life in Christ has begun. The blood of Christ now flows through. cleansing the heart of all impurities. We are no longer harden by sin and enslaved to the world. His Spirit has given new life. “All things have passed away, behold all things are become new.” (2 Cornith 5:17)

Heart of Flesh

Ezekiel 36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

From the heart comes the issues of life. The things that really matter to us are born from a heart that is stony or a heart that is made of flesh. A heart of flesh is tender and pliable. A heart that desires to reach out to others and manifest the love of God regardless of color or social economic statues. A heart of flesh understands mercy and knows how to administer grace. It is not jaded by the injustice of life, but seeks to comfort and reach out to those that are hurting. The heart of flesh does not stand in judgement, but stands in place to give a helping hand to those who cry out. God is able to take a harsh and uncaring person with a heart of stone and transform it into a heart of flesh. His grace can change anyone who will humble themselves at the foot of the cross and asked for forgiveness. God wants to change our hearts. 

A New Name

Rev. 2:17 “...To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it.”

A new name written down in heaven. A white stone signifying purity without spot or blemish of sin. Our nature has been changed, we are no longer the same person. Our lives reflect a new life that is separated from the world. We have left the world of sin behind us and no longer fulfill the lust of the flesh. Our deeds are unto holiness and righteousness. The doctrine of Nicolaitans, a comprise spirit with the world is gone. Our new name means that we now bare the name of Christ. Like Paul who was Saul, our new name will bring honor to Christ and glorify His Name. Christ puts within our heart a new spirit that will sanctify our personality and temper it to be used of God. Who we are does not change, but what we are does. Our new name will reflect a life that desires to please Him and we will seek to do that which is good and holy.

A New Heart

Ezek 36:26 “A new heart also will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh.”-

It is hard to imagine that a heart of a baby is desperately wicked. The innocents of a child is refreshing to see as they grow and experience new things. To think, that within that child resides a stony heart, a heart that “...is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.” Born after the similitude of Adam’s transgressions, in the heart of every human born into the human race is a heart that needs to be made new. When we confess our sins, Jesus Christ forgives us and cleans our heart from all that is not holy. All things are past away and behold all things are new. A transformation takes place in our lives and we no longer live in sin. The new heart now desires to know Him and draw closer to God. He puts a desire in our heart to seek Him and His fulness. The Holy Spirit is given to us and will come in to abide with us as we walk this earthly journey. A new heart is promised by God to all who will believe that He died, and rose again to save us from being lost for eternity. Thank God for His love and mercy that is offers a new heart to all who will trust Him and live to please Him.