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One Word Changes Everything

~ Often only one little word or phrase can change our whole paradigm

One Word Changes Everything

Tag Archives: Cup of Salvation

whosoever

10 Monday Sep 2012

Posted by Paul Joseph in Bible study

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Cup of Salvation, Receive Christ, Salvation

Because the last two months have been so demanding and hectic, I was not able to post anything for July and August. But a 21-hour transit back to Texas from South Africa provided opportunity to consider a series of posts inspired by a recent reading through the Gospel of John.

Crowd in IcelandJohn chapter 1 is the introduction to the biography of Christ that shows Him to be the very God Himself incarnate. Our human, religious concept concerning approaching the Almighty God of the universe and being accepted by Him may be one fraught with trepidation or anxious hesitation. Thus, when our eyes come to verse 12 and read the word “as many as received Him,” we may be taken aback with bewilderment. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the authority to become children of God, to those who believe into His name” (John 1:12). “As many as received Him” means “anyone who received Him” or “whosoever received Him.” This is absolutely astounding! One need not climb the highest mountain, or accomplish some nearly impossible feat, or be better than all the rest. One need only receive Him! It is as though He has done everything and is simply waiting for us to receive. And the rest of the Scriptures do unveil that, indeed, Christ has done everything, and He is, in fact, waiting for us and even prompting us to turn and take Him as the cup prepared for our salvation (Psa. 116:12-13).

gift

04 Wednesday Apr 2012

Posted by Paul Joseph in Bible study

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Calling upon the Name of the Lord, Cup of Salvation, Eternal Life, Jehovah the Savior, King David, University of Texas at Austin

When my kids were younger and I returned home from my many travels abroad, they would always run to the door to greet me, and their first question was, “Did you bring home anything for us?” They were looking for a gift from their daddy. Gifts are very important in a host of circumstances, as you all are well aware. It is big business to sell gifts, and wrap gifts, and deliver gifts. One gift can change a whole atmosphere or relationship by 180 degrees. There’s a proverb that says, “A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before great men” (Proverbs 18:16). Speaking of being brought before great men, when you tour the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum on the campus of The University of Texas at Austin, something you’ll see there are all the interesting and costly gifts given to President Johnson by foreign dignitaries. No doubt, their gifts made the way pleasant for them to come before the President of the United States.

Well, the God of the universe who wants to have a relationship with us humans is also well acquainted with giving gifts to the creatures who were made in His image and likeness. He wants to gain our hearts and fill us with Himself. By becoming a man in His incarnation and shedding His own blood to pay the price for our sins, God “gave His only begotten Son, that everyone who believes into Him would not perish, but would have eternal life” (John 3:16). In His resurrection He became the life-giving Spirit (1 Corinthians 15:45) as a drink for us (John 7:37-39; 1 Corinthians 12:13)—the very cup of salvation that King David made reference to in the Psalms. As King David considered all that the Lord had given to him, he asked, “What shall I return to Jehovah for all His benefits toward me?” (Psalms 116:12). He recognized that the most profitable thing he could do for God was to continue to receive what the Lord would give to him: “I will take up the cup of salvation and call upon the name of Jehovah” (Psalms 116:13).

Today, Jesus Christ is this very Jehovah God. The name Jesus literally means Jehovah the Savior, or, the salvation of Jehovah. May we all take God’s gift to us by calling upon His name, because the Lord is rich to all who call upon Him, and, whoever calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Romans 10:12-13). “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). And don’t forget Romans 11:29—“For the gracious gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”

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