datethewordtest

Tag: Galatians

  • Verse to DATE the Word on June 14 (6/14) is Galatians 6:14

    “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
    by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” – Galatians 6:14
    Keep First Things FIRST

    In keeping first things firsts and the main thing the main thing, the Apostle Paul reminds us that our focus is Jesus Christ and the work He did at the cross. We are to focus on the message of the cross because it is the only message that doubly changes lives!  It changes a person’s eternal destination, and it changes a person’s earthly desires.  No other message can do that. No wonder the Apostle Paul said he would only boast in the cross of Christ!

    When the gospel is accepted it changes a person’s eternal destination, and it changes a person’s earthly desires.

    To go along with Galatians 6:14 the Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians that he had “determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”  (1 Corinthians 2:2)  Earlier he had written, “But we preach Christ crucified, .. (1 Cor. 1:23)  As he moves toward a conclusion with the Corinthians he writes,  Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2  by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you — unless you believed in vain. 3  For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,  4  and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,”  

    When the gospel is accepted it changes a person’s eternal destination, and it changes a person’s earthly desires.

    Note: Just a reminder that as we desire to see other people live and think differently it begins with regeneration and justification and adoption into the family of God. In other words, change happens when one gets saved!  One only changes when one accepts the gospel.  For that to happen there needs to be evangelization.  For us to see our neighbors, friends, relatives, and associates, as well as our neighborhoods, cities, country, and yes world changed, they need to hear the message of the CROSS – the GOSPEL!    Evangelization, sharing the GOSPEL – introducing people to Jesus – is the start.  Are you sharing the gospel?

    Verse to DATE the Word on June 14 (6/14) is Galatians 6:14.  It says, “But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

    As you boast let your boast be about JESUS and knowing Him and making Him known!
    “But let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises loving devotion, justice, and righteousness on the earth–for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD”  (Jeremiah 9:24)

    Continue Strong with first things always being first
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Verse to DATE the Word on June 9 (6/9) is Galatians 6:9

    “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall
    reap if we do not lose heart.” – Galatians 6:9
    ENCOURAGEMENT FOR DISCOURAGEMENT

    Galatians 6:9 is one of the top ENCOURAGEMENT verses in the Bible.  It addresses the real issue of growing weary (DISCOURAGED) while doing good.  Do you ever get weary? Tired?  WORN PLUMB OUT?  Exhausted?  Drained? I am sure you do!! I know I do.  And because we do become weary in doing good, we need the Apostle Paul’s encouragement to not quit!!

    Ponder for a second the phrase “While doing GOOD!”  Here you are doing good for God, and it is tiring – difficult – discouraging – draining (google synonyms for weary).  You become exhausted, worn out, spent, dog-tired, and/or sapped. Shall I go on? One would think that doing GOOD for God would always be refreshing and rewarding yet, at times, it is so hard we wonder if we should continue.  Have you been there?  Maybe you are there now.

    Now I want to quickly point out that this verse is for all Christians, not just those who we may identify as in full-time service to the Lord.  As each of us seeks to DO GOOD and be a blessing to others we can quickly and unfortunately begin to lose heart. We hate to admit it but being a blessing sometimes brings a burden.  You may be seeking to help a hurting person and end up getting hurt.  Whether it is preparing a Bible study lesson or preparing a meal for a grieving family doing good is draining.  As we give of ourselves we find that we want to give up.  

    Yet Galatian 6:9 tells us to not lose heart.  As one does good one needs to have an eye to a future time where there is a harvest.  The hard work will pay off.  Like planting a crop and doing the hard work of nurturing it and cultivating it there will be a time when the plant will produce!  The challenge is being patient for the plant to produce!  Paul says don’t lose hope! Don’t give up! DON’T QUIT!!!!!

    May I add that there is a prayer for the tired, weary heart/hands.  It is found in another 6/9.  I speak of Nehemiah 6:9. As Nehemiah faced obstacles and opposition to the GOOD he was doing for God he prayed, “O God, strengthen my hands.”  As you become weary in the work call on God to STRENGTHEN your hands!

    Verse to DATE the Word on June 9 (6/9) is Galatians 6:9. It says, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” 

    Today I pray for you that God would strengthen your weary heart and hands!  I pray that you will be intentional to recharge.  May you find a chair to sit in and read God’s Word and be refreshed to keep doing good.  May you cast your cares upon Him as He does care for you!  Cry out to Him for His sustaining strength! 

    Continue Strong,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Verse to DATE the Word on June 7 (6/7) is Galatians 6:7

    “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows,
    that he will also reap.” – Galatians 6:7
    There is the LAW OF SOWING AND REAPING! 

    I am not sure how you just read Galatians 6:7 but I would hope that the opening words GRABBED YOUR ATTENTION. I see Galatian 6:7 as one of those IN YOUR FACE verses and the opening words of “Do not be deceived” are written to get your full attention as something life-changing is getting ready to be revealed.   Are you AWAKE?  Are you paying attention?  The fact that you are being challenged to NOT BE DECEIVED should be telling you that you are entering a battle for your mind as Satan is ready to whisper that you are not going to be hearing the truth.  

    Does God have your attention?  Just in case He does not Paul gives ANOTHER in your face statement with GOD IS NOT MOCKED.  Now with two in your face statements “Do not be deceived,” and “God is not mocked,” to grab your attention the Apostle Paul gives what I consider to be one of the most important life principles a person can learn as he states, “whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”

    “Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap!!!”

    Friends, you better learn the laws of sowing and reaping. ACTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES!!  Don’t be deceived! Choices have consequences. God is not mocked!  Just as one would plant seeds and after a time receive a harvest the actions you take bring forth a harvest.  If you sow good actions, there will be good and positive consequences but if you sow bad actions tough and hard consequences will soon come your way. 

    You are what you sow!  Not sure who wrote this but you should learn it:
    Sow a thought – reap an action;
    Sow an action – reap a habit:
    Sow a habit – reap a character
    Sow a character – reap a destiny.
    A mark of maturity is when a person realizes the truth of Galatians 6:7 that whatsoever you sow you also will reap!

    Verse to DATE the Word on June 7 (6/7) is Galatians 6:7. It says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”

    Continue Strong sowing carefully,
    And remember to DATE the Word

    Bonus – laws of sowing and reaping include: 
    You reap ONLY after you sow; 
    WHATEVER you sow that will you also REAP;
    AND you will also reap MORE than you sow! 

    Other verses to consider on June 7 (6/7) are 
    Deuteronomy 6:7 “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
    1 Timothy 6:7 “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”
  • Verse to DATE the Word on June 1 (6/1) is Galatians 6:1

    Verse to DATE the Word on June 1 (6/1) is Galatians 6:1

    “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.” – Galatians 6:1
    Restoration is part of God’s Plan with a Sinning Saint

    How do we minister to the sinning saint? The verse implies that the person who has been overtaken is a fellow believer. The call to action is clearly directed to a believer as Paul speaks to brethren.  Please note he did not say Pastor or Elder here as this call is for each and every believer.  Now he does give a qualifying statement in saying, “those who are spiritual” for it will take spiritual maturity to do the ministry that is needed with the sinning saint.

    Back to the question of how do we minister to the sinning saint.   The sinning saint is to be, first, REBUKED.  I Thessalonians 5:14 speaks of warning the unruly.  1 Timothy 5:20 says, “Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.”

    Then what?  Hopefully and prayerfully the sinning saint REPENTS.   There is a change of heart that is going to lead to a change in action.  

    What happens when the sinning saint repents? May I preach for a moment?  Are we to now REJECT the repentant sinning saint?  Are we to shoot our wounded?  The Apostle Paul would shout NO! 

    The Apostle Paul wants to see the repentant person RESTORED. The Greek means to “MEND for future use.” Like a fisherman would MEND a net or a doctor mend a broken bone. The mindset is to handle the fallen with care (gentleness), and with humility.  

    Now Paul issues a major WARNING to those who are helping in the restoration and that warning needs to be heard and heeded.  The warning is that as one helps another who has fallen you must never think you would never do the same thing.   

    With this humble mindset the spiritually mature steps into the life of a sinning saint and begins to mend. The mending calls for establishing accountability. It calls for memorization of Scriptures connected to temptation. It calls for writing out resolutions (Daniel 1:8) It calls for praying that one would be submissive to the leading of the Holy Spirit as He will not lead one into temptation. In other words, restoration is going to take WORK and discipline!!! 

    Just as one may fall and break a bone the broken bone with the right help can be mended and brought back to usefulness so too can one who has fallen spiritually be mended and be brought back to usefulness. 

    Verse to DATE the Word on June 1 (6/1) is Galatians 6:1. It says, “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.”

    Restoration is part of God’s plan and it will take work by both the one being restored and the one(s) restoring!

    Continue Strong Restoring the repentant saint,
    And remember to DATE the Word

  • Verse to DATE the Word on May 26 (5/26) is Galatians 5:26

    “Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, 
    envying one another.”  – Galatians 5:26
    These are THINGS NOT TO DO

    In working through the New Testament, a believer is going to learn numerous actions to DO for and with other believers. I have identified at least 56 actions to do for and with one another. 
    See https://datetheword.com/56-christ-like-actions-to-do-4-others/.   While there are not as many a believer does need to know there are some things WE ARE NOT TO DO as we seek to relate and have community with one another.  Galatians 5:26 will list 3 of those things we ARE NOT TO DO.

    The Apostle Paul first commands the believer not to become conceited.  To be conceited is to be arrogant and boastful.  It makes more of oneself while making little of others. Maybe we should read that again.  Being conceited makes more of oneself while making little of others. WOW! One loves to tell about HOW GREAT THEY ARE and they do so in a way that makes others feel inferior, feel smaller.  The Bible (1 Thess. 5:11) teaches that we are to be building each other up yet this person is building themselves up.  Do not be conceited!

    A second thing we are not to be doing is provoking one another.  The Bible does call on us to challenge one another to do good works and to demonstrate love for one another (Hebrews 10:24) however, the idea of “provoking” in this context is to challenge to combat.  It deals with comparison as one wants to prove they are better and more superior.  Another way of describing this word is that a person doing this is picking on another person.  Galatians 526 says, “Don’t PICK ON one another.”

    Paul does not want the believer building themselves up while pushing others down and he does not want believers to be picking on one another, and thirdly, he does not want believers ENVYING one another.  The ultimate cause of the conceit and the provoking is coming from envy.  Rather than discovering and developing what God has brought into a person’s life, this person looks out with longing eyes to have what others have.  There is a lack of satisfaction that can become so bad that one not only wants what someone else has but can move to NOT WANTING SOMEONE TO HAVE WHAT THEY HAVE.  This is when things become dangerous.  

    As you consider what you are not to be and not to be doing with Gal 5:26 what areas do you need to be putting a stop to?  Read again Galatians 5:26 as it says, “Let us not become conceited (proud, building oneself up, more about self and less about others), provoking (challenging, picking on) one another, envying (not satisfied, desiring to have what others have while desiring others not have it) one another.”  

    Verse to DATE the Word on May 26 (5/26) is Galatians 5:26. It says, “Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”  

    How will you implement, and apply NOT DOING THESE THINGS in your daily living?

    Continue Strong NOT DOING SOME THINGS
    And remember to DATE the Word
  • Verse to DATE the Word on May 16 (5/16) is Galatians 5:16

    Verse to DATE the Word on May 16 (5/16) is Galatians 5:16

    “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” – Galatians 5:16
    YOU HAVE THE POWER to say NO!!  YES, YOU DO!

    How does one resist and refuse temptations? I am sure you have asked this very real question before and probably asked it many times.   As believers, we still FACE temptations and unfortunately, we FAIL at times to resist. In the battle to do what is right and refuse to do wrong, we have Scripture that tells us to FLEE youthful lust. (2 Timothy 2:22) To flee youthful lust is to RUN AWAY, to become like a fugitive.  Yet temptations we face are strong and it is difficult to RUN AWAY.   We find ourselves needing help and from Galatians 5:16 we find the very help we need!

    The Apostle Paul says here in Galatians 5:16 to WALK IN the Spirit.  To WALK in the SPIRIT is to allow the Spirit of God to guide us.  When we YIELD to His power, He will give us the power to WALK AWAY!  

    If we WALK IN THE SPIRIT, we will be able to WALK AWAY from any and all temptations.

    While it might seem hard to believe that you can resist any and all temptations notice carefully the tremendous statement that follows as he writes, “You shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”  Within this statement, Paul will use a double negative.  It is written in English as “shall not” but in Greek is a double negative to emphasize that by ABSOLUTELY NO MEANS is there a way to yield to the temptation. When you yield to the guidance of the Holy Spirit (walking in the Spirit) you have all the power you need to walk away from any and all temptations!!  

    TO WALK AWAY FROM DOING WRONG WALK IN THE SPIRIT!

    Friends, being saved has one saved from the penalty of sin, AND being saved means the power of sin is broken. Walking in the Spirit allows Him to have control and as He guides you, He gives you the full power to resist and refuse any temptation! We have no excuses for sinning as we have the power to say no!   The key to victory is walking in the Spirit as He will lead us through the escape hatch (1 Cor. 10:13)!   

    Walk away from the temptations you face by walking in the power of the Holy Spirit! 

    Our verse to DATE on May 16 (5/16) is Galatians 5:16. It says, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”

    YOU HAVE THE POWER, HOLY SPIRIT POWER TO BE VICTORIOUS!

    Continue Strong in His POWER,
    And remember to DATE The WORD
    Personal note – this is one of the most important verses about living the victorious Christian life I have ever learned!
  • Verse to DATE the Word on May 13 (5/13) is Galatians 5:13

    Verse to DATE the Word on May 13 (5/13) is Galatians 5:13

    “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity
    for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” – Galatians 5:13
    It is not about TITLES!  IT IS ABOUT TOWELS!  

    One of the great responsibilities we have with each other is to SERVE one another.  As we love one another we will want to know what we can do for others and then take action to meet the need.

    When we think about serving others we have as a role model our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His life was marked with serving.  He even stated that His purpose for coming was to serve, not be served. (See Matt. 20:28 and Mark 10:45)

    In one of the most moving of moments, we find Jesus during His last Passover meal picking up a towel and washing the feet of His disciples.  His disciples had been in an argument over who was the greatest.  To teach them about true greatness Jesus (John 13:4-5) “rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. 5  After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.”  He then told them to “wash” one another’s feet.  John 13:14-15 says, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15  “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.”

    From what Jesus did I see a life principle that goes IT IS NOT ABOUT TITLES! IT IS ABOUT TOWELS!

    The apostle Paul instructs us to demonstrate LOVE by SERVING one another.  We are to lay aside any titles and PICK UP a TOWEL and SERVE!!  LOVE SERVES OTHERS!

    Verse to DATE on May 13 (5/13) is Galatians 5:13. It says, “For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

    IT IS NOT ABOUT TITLES! IT IS ABOUT TOWELS!

    Continue Strong SERVING OTHERS
    And Remember to DATE the Word

    BTW – May 13 (5/13) has a few other really great verses to DATE.
    1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
    Matthew 5:13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
    Revelations 5:13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
     
  • Verse to DATE the Word on March 24 (3/24) is Galatian 3:24

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 24 (3/24) is Galatian 3:24

     Our verse to DATE the Word on March 24 (3/24) is Galatians 3:24
    Galatians 3:24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
     JUSTIFIED BY FAITH

    How is a person saved?  This is one question we absolutely do not want to get wrong.  When the Roman jailor in Acts 16:30 asked the Apostle Paul what he must do to be saved Paul answered, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.”  

    As one looks at the answer one should also “see” what is not in the answer.  He did not say believe and be baptized, though shortly afterward the soldier along with members of his household were baptized.  He did not say to start doing good works and when your good works outweigh your bad works you will be saved.  He did not say to pay a certain amount of money.  He did not say pray a certain number of prayers.  He did not say to start keeping the Old Testament law.  What he did say was BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST and you will be saved.

    My spiritual upbringing did not answer the question of what must I do to be saved the way the Apostle Paul and Barnabas answered the Roman soldier.  I heard mixed messages about doing good works and keeping the LAW.  It really was not until I was in Bible College that I began to understand WHAT COMES FIRST.  One of the verses that helped me CLEAR up the answer of what must I do to be saved is our verse to date, Galatians 3:24.

    As one looks to study the book of Galatians one needs to know the theme is law versus grace.  Our verse to date tells the role of the LAW and how it is used so that we might be saved. Paul does not dismiss the law but rather shows how the law was a tutor to BRING US TO CHRIST.  

    The law is our TUTOR.  If you are like me, you are probably asking what is a TUTOR.  A tutor is like a guardian or a like trainer. They watch over and prepare the child for the one that will be the teacher or the coach.  The law, as a tutor, shows us our need of a SAVIOR.  It points us to the SAVIOR.  The law does not save.  

    As Paul explains the role of the law, he once again gives the true answer to how a person is saved and that is by faith.  He states as he did in Romans and as he did earlier in Galatians that a person is JUSTIFIED by FAITH.  

    You may ask what makes justification by faith so important?  I wish I could have one of my professors, Dr. Paul Fink, give the answer.  He explained it so very well.  He explained to us that in order to go to heaven we had to be as righteous as God and since none of us are righteous as God we all will die and go to hell.  However, Jesus Christ came and lived and was righteous. Justification then comes into play when a person believes by FATIH in Christ alone for salvation. Being justified we are DECLARED righteous by God as there is an exchange.  Christ takes our sins and gives us His righteousness. (2 Cor. 5:21) God now sees us “clothed in CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS.”  We are now as righteous as God because we have CHRIST’S RIGHTEOUSNESS.”   Having Christ’s righteous means above all that we have PEACE WITH GOD!  (Romans 5:1).  We can now spend all eternity in heaven!

    As you ponder on Galatians 3:24 know that you are looking at one of the most important verses for how a person is saved.  Believing or calling on the Lord by faith is first.  After being saved comes keeping His commandments and doing good works.  We don’t do those things to be saved but we do them because we are saved!

    Verse to DATE the Word on March 24 (3/24) is Galatians 3:24.  It says, “Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”

    May I ask, have you believed, called on, or trusted Jesus Christ by faith and faith alone for salvation?   Works don’t work. Keeping the law does not work. Only by believing in Jesus works! 

    Continue Strong knowing how a person is saved,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on February 20 (2/20) is Galatians 2:20

    Verse to DATE the Word on February 20 (2/20) is Galatians 2:20

    Our verse to DATE the Word on February 20 (2/20) is Galatians 2:20
    Galatians 2:20  says, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
    NOT I, BUT CHRIST!!!!

    Galatians 2:20 is a tremendous summation verse of who we are as Christians! We are to view ourselves as having been CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST! Thus, the old life we had is to be viewed as dead! We now have a new life and that life is CHRIST (who rose from the dead!)  Jesus Christ LIVES IN THE BELIEVER!!

    Read this and let it settle in your heart: 

    Jesus Christ LIVES IN THE BELIEVER. 

    If you are a believer CHRIST LIVES IN YOU! 

    The believer lives IN CHRIST and CHRIST LIVES IN THE BELIEVER.

    Now we live life like Christ because it is CHRIST who lives IN US!! We live by faith, trusting His guidance in our lives.  His guidance is best as He loves us the most!! He loved us so much that He gave Himself.  He gave His life – for us, for you!! What a Savior!!! What a salvation!

    Verse to DATE the Word on February 20 (2/20) is Galatians 2:20.  It says, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

    Christ lives in you!

    Continue Strong,
    And remember to DATE The WORD
  • Verse to DATE the Word on February 16 (2/16) is Galatians 2:16

    Verse to DATE the Word on February 16 (2/16) is Galatians 2:16

    Our verse to DATE the Word on February 16 (2/16) is Galatians 2:16
    Galatians 2:16 says, “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”
    FAITH ALONE IN JESUS BRINGS JUSTIFICATION

    Job asked in Job 9:2 “how can a man be righteous before God?”  As we search the Scriptures the ANSWERS are clear for the Bible teaches how a person is made right with God and how a man is NOT made right with God.  Over and over Scripture conveys the truth that a person IS NOT – listen- IS NOT made right with God, is not saved by works!! A man is made right only by FAITH ALONE in Jesus Christ. These two answers are clearly conveyed in Galatians 2:16.

    From Galatians 2:16 we read first “that a man is not justified by the works of the law.” 
    WORKS DO NOT WORK!     Your works, no matter how good they are, no matter how many they are, will not save you.  You can never do enough for the scales to balance much less favor you as your weight of sin is too heavy.   While it might seem a worthy effort to KEEP THE LAW James tells us in James 2:10 that “whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumbles in one point, he is guilty of all.”  If you tell the smallest of a lie, you are guilty of all.  If you have that one lustful thought, you are guilty of all.  If you have that one hateful thought, you are guilty of all.  In other words, at some point, you will miss the mark set by God.

    The question of how can a man be righteous before God remains.

    Galatians 2:16 has the answer.  A person is saved, made right with God, “by FAITH in JESUS CHRIST!”  A person is made right with God by FAITH ALONE in Jesus Christ as He justifies you and declares you righteous. In what is the greatest exchange Jesus takes your sins and gives to you who have by faith trusted in His atoning work that He did at the cross His righteousness. (2 Cor. 5:21) You, by faith in Jesus are righteous before God! 

    Making this practical: If I were sitting at a table having a cup of coffee with you and I asked you if you were going to go to heaven when you die – if asked if you are saved – and you answered that you hope so I would ask you why are you hoping? Is it because you are concerned you have not done enough good works, good deeds, to outweigh your bad works, bad deeds? Is it that you are concerned you are not good enough?  

    If I heard you say that you “hoped to go to heaven” I would politely tell you that I do not have a “hope so” salvation. I have a “know so” salvation because on the late evening of February 15, 1983, I stopped trusting my works and trusted in the work that Jesus Christ did!!   Galatians 2:16 became real for me as I quit trusting in my works and my effort to do as many good deeds as possible to offset my bad deeds.   I realized once and for all that my only hope of ever being right with God was to trust Jesus and trust Him alone by faith for my salvation.  And based on His Word, His promise, I now know that when I die, I will be in Heaven with Him.  He is presently preparing me a place!  

    The sad truth is there are going to be good people in hell because they believed a false message that good works work.  They don’t.  Please put your trust in Jesus! Your works don’t work! Only His work does work!! What a Savior and what a salvation HE HAS PROVIDED!

    Verse to DATE the Word on February 16 (2/16) is Galatians 2:16. It says, “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”

    Continue Strong knowing by faith you are saved,
    And remember to DATE THE WORD

    PS – You might share this e-mail with a person who is believing the false narrative that good works work.  Have a cup of coffee with them and share with them how to have a KNOW SO salvation.