What do you see when you look at your selfie?

Is your true identity being revealed?

More importantly, what does God see when He looks at you?  What does God see when He looks at any Christian?

What is the true identity of all Christians?  Part two.

A Christian is:

Called by God.

A Christian is a person called by God.

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9  NLT)

Given faith to believe.

A Christian is a person who has received the gift of faith from God.

Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.  (Romans 12:3 NLT)

So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.  (Romans 10:17 NLT)

For the word of God is alive and powerful. (Hebrews 4:12 NLT)

⁸ God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. ⁹ Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. (Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT)

Favored by God.

A Christian is a person who is favored by God.

Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan. (Ephesians 1:11NLT)

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (Romans 8:28 NLT)

 And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.  (Hebrews 11:6 NLT)

Eternally saved.

A Christian is a person who will never lose his/her salvation.

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, (John 10:28 NLT)

 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.  (Philippians 1:6 NLT)

No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:39 NLT)

A Christian is a person who is: (from previous post)

Loved by God.

Chosen by God.

Adopted into God’s family.

Filled with the Holy Spirit.

A Christian is a person who is: (from today’s post)

Called by God.

Given faith to believe.

Favored by God.

Eternally saved.

Is this what you see when you look at your “selfie”? 

^…. anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person.
The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
(2 Corinthians 5:17NLT)

“Have You Taken Any Selfies Lately?” will be continued in future posts.

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What do you see when you look at your selfie?

Is your true identity being revealed?

More importantly, what does God see when He looks at you?  What does God see when He looks at any Christian?

What is the true identity of all Christians?  (Part one)

A Christian is:

Loved by God.

      A Christian is a person who is loved by God.

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.  This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. (1 John 4:9-10 NLT)

 Chosen by God.

A Christian is a person chosen by God to be holy and without fault in the eyes of God.

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.  (Ephesians 1:4 NLT)

 Adopted into God’s family.

      A Christian is a person who is a child of God and is an heir of God.

⁵ God sent him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.  ⁷ Now you are no longer a slave but God’s own child. And since you are his child, God has made you his heir. (Galatians 4:5&7 NLT)

 Filled with the Holy Spirit.

A Christian is a person who is filled with the Holy Spirit.

And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, “Abba, Father.”       (Galatians 4:6 NLT)

^…. when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.  (Ephesians 1:13NLT)

A Christian is a person who is:

• Loved by God.
• Chosen by God.
• Adopted into God’s family.
• Filled with the Holy Spirit.

^…. anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person.
The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
(2 Corinthians 5:17NLT)

“Have You Taken Any Selfies Lately?” will be continued in future posts.

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Remember

Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for everyone who has died serving in the American armed forces.

There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  (John 15:13 NLT)

Today and throughout the year we ought to remember those who placed themselves in harm’s way to protect our freedom.

Remember

Today and throughout the year we should also remember someone else who willingly died for us.

Jesus Christ died for us so that we could have a rich and satisfying life.

The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.  (John 10:10 NLT)

Jesus Christ died for us to free us from the grasp of sin and allow us to live for what is right.

He personally carried our sins in his body on the cross so that we can be dead to sin and live for what is right.  By his wounds you are healed. (1 Peter 2:24 NLT)

Jesus Christ died for us so that we can spend eternity with Him in heaven.

Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever.  (1 Thessalonians 5:10 NLT)

So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.  (John 8:36 NLT)

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…. the Lord has told you what is good,
and this is what he requires of you:
to do what is right, to love mercy,
and to walk humbly with your God.  (Micah 6:8 NLT)

• Do what is right

 Do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight, so all will go well with you. … (Deuteronomy 6:18 NLT)

 ⁹ How can a young person stay pure?
By obeying your word.
¹¹ I have hidden your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.  (Psalm 119:9 & 11 NLT)

 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. (Galatians 6:9 NLT)

 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. (James 4:17 NLT)

•  Love mercy

 “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. (Matthew 6:14 NLT)

•  Walk humbly with God

 “But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else.  For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:43-45 NLT)

As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6 NLT)

Do what is right

Love mercy

Walk humbly with God

  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor. (James 4:10 NLT)

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“Why do you seek the living among the dead?  He is not here, but has risen.”

(If you have not read the Good Friday post I suggest that you read it now.)

The Resurrection

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.  And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.  While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.  And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?  He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” (Luke 24:1-7 ESV)

 More than 500 people saw the resurrected Christ.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,  that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,  and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.  Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.  Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.  Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. (1 Corinthians 15:3-8 ESV)

40 days after Easter Christ was taken up into Heaven and is now seated at the right hand of God.

So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. (Mark 16:19 ESV)

Christ is now preparing a place for all Christians in Heaven and will come again to take all believers to be with him.

 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.  In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. (John 14:1-3 ESV)

Do you believe this?

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26 ESV)

… because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (Romans 10:9-10 ESV)

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Romans 10:13 ESV)

You may also want to read “Whoever  Believes”

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Good Friday is the Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. Jesus died on a cross a little more than 2000 years ago.  Jesus suffered the slow, public, painful, humiliating death that was generally reserved for those who had committed heinous crimes.

• Scripture tells us that Jesus is the Son of God.

And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;  and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I (God the Father) am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:16-17 ESV)

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them …  And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” (Mark 9:2-7 ESV)

• Scripture tells us that Jesus created the world.

He (Jesus Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. (Colossians 1:15-16 ESV)

All things were made through him (Jesus), and without him (Jesus) was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:3 ESV)

• Scripture tells us that Jesus is God.

In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word (Jesus) was with God, and the Word (Jesus) was God. (John 1:1 ESV)

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). (Matthew 1:23 ESV)

I (Jesus) and the Father are one.” (John 10:30 ESV)

• Jesus Christ, God the Son, out of obedience to God the Father, died on the cross.

… but (Jesus) emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.  And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:6-8 ESV)

For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” (John 10:17-18 ESV)

• Jesus died on the cross for our sins.

He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. (Romans 4:25 NIV)

… but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  (Romans 5:8 ESV)

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the creator of the universe, God the Son, willingly came to earth in human form to die on a cross so that our broken relationship with God could be restored. When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.  Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good.  But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.  (Romans 5:6-8 NLT)

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Maundy Thursday is the name given to the day on which Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples. Many people refer to this event as the Last Supper.

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Important dates to remember.  Holy Week is almost here.

Sunday, April 9, 2017
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday commemorates the Messiah’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem to complete the work God the Father sent his Son to accomplish on earth.

The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors  took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted,
“Praise God!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hail to the King of Israel!”  (John 12:12-13 NLT)

Thursday, April 13, 2017
Maundy Thursday
Maundy Thursday is the name given to the day on which Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples, known as the Last Supper.

Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread arrived, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed.  Jesus sent Peter and John ahead and said, “Go and prepare the Passover meal, so we can eat it together.”
When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table.  Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins.  (Luke 22:7, 8, 14, & 15 NLT)

Friday, April 14, 2017
Good Friday
Good Friday is the day of the crucifixion and death of our Lord.

^… He (Jesus) said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but three days later he will rise from the dead.”  (Mark 9:31 NLT)

When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.  Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good.  But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.  (Romans 5:6-8 NLT)

Sunday, April 16, 2017
Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday is day we celebrate Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the grave.

But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.  They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.  So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus.  As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.
 The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive?  He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”  (Luke 24:1-7 NLT)

Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in me will live, even after dying.  Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this…?” (John 11:25-26 NLT)

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What does it take to make America great again?

Consider the following.

Some basic principles that are necessary to be a successful nation are found in the Scriptures.

Turn back to God.

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT)

America needs to turn back to God.

Know and practice Biblical principles.

²¹ This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: … ²³ This is what I told them:
‘Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!’ (Jeremiah 7:21& 23 NLT)

“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.  Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock.  (Matthew 7:24-25 NLT)

Americans,
from President Trump on down,
need to know and practice Biblical principles.

Pray for your leaders.

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.  Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.  This is good and pleases God our Savior, … (1 Timothy 2:1-3 NLT)

We all need to pray for our leaders.

What are the alternatives?

The Lord says,
“I was ready to respond, but no one asked for help.
I was ready to be found, but no one was looking for me.
I said, ‘Here I am, here I am!’
to a nation that did not call on my name. (Isaiah 65:1 NLT)

“But my people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward. (Jeremiah 7:24 NLT)

 What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord.

 What joy for the nation whose God is the Lord,
whose people he has chosen as his inheritance.
(Psalm 33:12 NLT)

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Epiphany: A moment in which you suddenly see or understand something in a new or very clear way (merriam-webster.com)

Epiphany: A manifestation of a divine or supernatural being. (google.com)

Do you truly understand who Jesus is?  Have you experienced the ultimate epiphany?

If Jesus is your Lord and Savior you have a great deal to be thankful for. Christians around the world celebrate Epiphany (sometimes called The Twelfth Day of Christmas) on January 6. This celebration commemorates the first two occasions on which Jesus’ divinity was manifested.

The first event was when the three wise men visited the baby Jesus.

Visitors from the East

2 Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, ² “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.”   …. the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! ¹¹ They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  Matthew 2:1-11 (NLT)

 The second event was the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan.

The Baptism of Jesus

13 Then Jesus went from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John….. 16 After his baptism, as Jesus came up out of the water, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and settling on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy.”  Matthew 3:13-17 (NLT)

The deity of Jesus has been revealed.  You can experience and celebrate a personal relationship with Jesus that will last through all of eternity.

This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed to God’s people.  (Colossians 1:26 NLT)

If you have never experienced Jesus in a real, life changing way ask for an epiphany.  Ask God to reveal Himself to you in a very clear way.

For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me…  (John 6:44 NLT)

Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness.
    Let the whole world know what he has done. 
(Psalm 105:1 NLT)

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