I will share about Christian books I have read or listened to.
I will be sharing about my life before and after Christ. I will include stories about my pet and other pets I have encountered.
An Eternal Status Change
Have you ever had a major status change? Maybe you graduated from school, became a parent, or got a promotion at work. It can be disorienting waking up the next morning and everything has changed.
We all go through an instant status change when we become Christians. God has the power to transform us into things that we could never be on our own. Scripture says that while we were once considered enemies with God, we are now considered children of God.
"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."
John 1:12-13 NIV
In 1 Peter 2:9-10, we see a list of additional status changes. Peter says that we are a chosen people–that means that God specifically sought us out, even while we were still stuck in our own way.
Peter continues, saying that we are are a royal priesthood and a holy people. We have been transformed by God’s Spirit, and we are now part of God’s royal family. Instead of being held captive by our past, we are blameless and free in Him.
While we have to work hard to achieve a promotion or graduate from school, belonging to God’s family is free and available to anyone.
Our status before God is completely changed simply through faith and grace.
You can probably remember what your life was like before you received the mercy of God. What other benefits have you experienced by being in God’s family?
Spend some time thanking God for His incredible gift to you. Think of a few ways that you can show your gratitude to God this week.
Justified by Faith
Paul, the writer of the letter to the church in Rome, covers the details of what is known as “the Gospel message”—a message that was handed down to them. It's packed with deep theological truths that are meant to shape the way Christians live.
One of the central components to the Gospel is that salvation comes through faith alone. That means we are saved by the power of God through believing and trusting in Jesus. Every Christian comes to God through faith—not through good deeds or by trying to earn salvation.
Paul says that we have peace with God by our faith in Jesus. Prior to that, we were considered ungodly and unrighteous—because we would live our lives in our own power, doing our own things. This led to separation from God.
However, by faith in Jesus, we are justified before Him. This means that through Jesus’ own right-living, we are made right before Him. Even though we still make mistakes, we can stand innocent before God because of Jesus.
It’s ...
