Daily Bible Verses for 7/6/2016
Bible Verse
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
Reading Notes
It’s important as followers of Christ that we understand that salvation is by faith alone, in Christ alone and not by any type of works or self-merit. In addition, it’s important that we read, study and understand God’s word! Because it’s through God’s word that we test the spirits. No spirit of God will ever deny Jesus Christ is Lord. Moreover, no spirit sent from God will claim that any type of works other than faith in Christ is needed for salvation. These two principles are the measuring stick by which we measure all things, and all religions. All religions are not equal and all roads do not lead to God! If they do not claim Jesus is fully God and fully man. If they do not claim Jesus is the only way to heaven by faith alone, then they are not from God. Instead, they are part of the spirit of the antichrist, which is the spirit of Satan at work in the world today.
Dear child of God, these truths are so very important, because they make up the bedrock of our faith. Jesus needed both His divinity and His humanity in order to be our propitiation or perfect sacrifice for sin. Propitiation means Jesus perfectly fulfilled and paid the requirements of God’s Law, to save us once for all times from our sins. He did so by paying the price of sin for us on the Cross of Calvary. Moreover, Jesus proved the this was true, and that He was indeed God in the flesh with His resurrection three days later. Remember, every sin no matter how small carries with it the penalty of death and eternal separation from God. In addition, good deeds, which are God’s standard for our day to day behavior, actions and treatment of others, do not erase the guilt of past sins. That being the case how many times can a person die to pay for their sins? That’s why Jesus is so important and that’s why Jesus the living God of Heaven, stepped out of eternity and took on humanity. He did so, in order that He could take upon Himself the price for our redemption, because He loves us that much! Jesus died for us, that we may live for Him, through the power of the Holy Spirit who indwells all followers of Christ.