Nuggets
- A benefit is eternal life.
- When we admit our sins, believe on Jesus as Redeemer, and confess God as Sovereign Lord, we are forgiven of our sins.
- Some probably wouldn’t see being held accountable and experiencing correction as being a benefit; but isn’t it?
- God developed the plan of salvation because of His grace.
Being obedient to God’s Will brings us many benefits. One of them is we are called His people. This devotion looks at what some of those benefits are.
Let's Put It into Context #1
“I will confirm my covenant that is between me and you and your future offspring throughout their generations. It is a permanent covenant to be your God and the God of your offspring after you” (Gen. 17: 7 CSB)
Genesis 17: 7 was the second time that God said “I have a covenant with you” to Abraham. Strong called this instance a renewal.
Why were they renewing? Why wouldn’t it be an unending covenant?
Well, Adam had chosen to break the first covenant. We choose daily if we are going to follow God. We can break it, also. Even if we don’t flat out break it, our sins tarnish it.
We break our covenant with God by disobeying Him. When we do, we need to ask forgiveness and repent.
Let's Put It into Context #2
“In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you’” (Lk. 22: 20 NIV).
Jesus established a new covenant when He died to pay the penalty for our sins. Sin is when we disobey God and break one of His laws and commandments.
Salvation is the deliverance from the consequences of sin. We are offered this salvation by God’s grace.
Grace is a free and unmerited gift from Heavenly Father given through His Son, Jesus Christ that enables salvation and spiritual healing to believers. Because of God’s infinite grace, He devised the plan of salvation that made Jesus our Redeemer in order to forgive us of our sins.
Redemption is where something is used in exchange for something else to gain or regain something. Jesus is our Redeemer because He was born of a virgin, making Him 100% God and 100% man; gave His life on the cross for us so that His blood could pay the price for our sins; and because of God’s great might and power, rose from the grave, conquering death and paying the price for our sins. Redemption allows us to receive forgiveness for our sins.
We talked, in Is the Old or New Covenant Better?, how God promised Abraham that all the world would be blessed through him. “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Gen. 12: 3 NIV). The world was blessed through the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus, a descendant of Abraham.
We enter into Christ’s covenant by accepting Him as our Savior and Redeemer. That makes us one of God’s people.
So, how do we benefit from being God’s people?
We Gain the Benefit of Eternal Life
“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them” (Jn. 3: 36 NIV)
When we ABCD, we enter into a covenant agreement with God. A benefit is eternal life.
The ABCDs of Salvation
If you have not become a believer in Christ, please read through the
Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.A – admit our sins
B – believe His Son Jesus is our Redeemer
C – confess God as Sovereign Lord
If you have not become a believer in Christ, please read through the Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
D – demonstrate that commitment by making any changes needed in our lives to
live the way in which God has called us
The Disciple’s Job Description
Eternal life is “the quality of life including the promise of resurrection which God gives to those who believe in Christ.” Aspects of quality of life includes the following:
- “life imparted by God
- “transformation and renewal of life
- “life fully opened to God and centered in Him
- “a constant overcoming of sin and moral evil
- “the complete removal of moral evil from the person and from the environment of that person” (Holman Bible Dictionary).
John told us how we should know that we have eternal life. “And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth” (Jn. 17: 3 NLT).
We Gain the Benefit of Salvation from our Sins
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (I Jn. 1: 9 NIV)
When we admit our sins, believe on Jesus as Redeemer, and confess God as Sovereign Lord, we are forgiven of our sins.
We don’t have to clean up our acts before God forgives us. That comes after when we are working out our salvation.
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We didn’t do anything to earn this covenant. We did not become perfect, so God would say, “Ooo. Tom, Sally, and Elaine look good, so I am going to let them into the covenant.”
God looked at us and saw we would be open to Him making us holy — eventually.
Unfortunately, we sometimes don’t forgive ourselves. Many times, we don’t forget. That is one reason we need ongoing purification.
We Gain the Benefit of Being Held Accountable
“For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child” (Heb. 12: 6 NLT)
Some probably wouldn’t see being held accountable and experiencing correction as being a benefit. But isn’t it?
If we are doing something the wrong way, shouldn’t we be grateful that Someone points it out? Don’t we — shouldn’t we — want to do things right?
God loves us enough to get us on the right track. “For the LORD disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child” (Heb. 12: 6 NLT).
Okay, it may mean punishment. That all falls under being accountable.
We Gain the Benefit of Grace
“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jer. 29: 11 NLT)
God developed the plan of salvation because of His grace. Grace is a free and unmerited gift from Heavenly Father given through His Son, Jesus Christ that enables salvation and spiritual healing to believers.
Grace gave us access to salvation. Salvation purified us.
It not only gave us unlimited opportunity to be in God’s presence, it also gives us hope in this life.
No, that doesn’t mean that it will be smooth sailing. It means that it will be worth it because it makes us better — more holy.
Making the Connections
Usually, when we hear the term His people, we think that the Wilderness Wanderers are the ones being referenced. They are, generally, the ones to whom are being referred.
While the New Testament disciples were generally called children of God, they — and we — are still God’s people. We are still covenant people.
How Do We Apply This?
First off, we have to make sure we are God’s people. If we have not already ABCDed, we need to be searching for Him.
Searching for and Seeking God
Hearing His Word (Rom. 10: 17 NLT).
Reading His Word (Rev. 1: 3 ESV).
Praying to Him (Heb. 4: 16 ESV).
Studying His Word (Ac. 17: 11 NLT).
Meditating on His Word (Ps. 1: 1-2).
Memorizing His Word (Ps. 119: 11 NLT).
To read Has God Provided Everything We Need?, click the button below.
Even after conversion, we will not always be obedient to God’s laws and commandments. When we have sinned, we need to confess our sins and repent.
We need to take Strong’s advice. We need to frequently recommit and reconfirm our covenant with God.
Then, we have to make sure we continue to grow in knowledge of God and in His grace.
Father. We are humbled that You love us enough to call us Your people. You even go so far to call us Your children. Lord, we thank You f0r the blessings that brings us. Amen.
What do you think?
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