Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 202

July 21, 2017;   Titus 2:14;   202/260(I);   ‘Zealous for Good’

Titus 2:14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

The Lord Jesus gave Himself for us.  The Bible teaches that no man could take the Lord Jesus’ life, the Lord gave His life freely for us.  The Lord Jesus redeemed us from lawless rebellion.  We have legally been redeemed and made righteous by the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus.  Our past sins are cleansed and forgotten.  By Jesus’ redemption, the substitutionary death of the Lord Jesus on our behalf we have been legally purified.  Once we become Born Again, our prideful spirit, which manifested the lawlessness inspired by satan, through our flesh is gone.  Our reborn spirit is alive unto the Lord, filled with His love and the fruit of the Spirit.  As we purpose in our spirit to pursue the things of the Lord and learn His Word, our desires completely change, for the better.  Now, not only are we purified legally, but our new spiritual nature can control our thoughts and actions.  Now our zeal, which once was for sin, is determined to manifest good works.  It will take a little time to renew our mind with the Word of God and give our body new direction, but the more determined we are to exemplify the nature of Jesus, the quicker it will happen.  What we used to think was ‘fun,’ we now cringe at.  Sharing Jesus with those who are unsaved and helping, being a blessing to everyone you can be, wherever you go, opens the door to the abundant life the Lord Jesus gives and you now want more than anything.  What a change He has made in my life.