Weekly Devotional 10-14-13 Held By The Hand Of God
“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. “3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1st Peter 1:1-5).
Peter, in an encouragement to Christian Jews who had been scattered throughout Asia Minor because of heavy persecution, reminded them that they had been elected to an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled that would not fade away, but was reserved in heaven for them. What an encouragement! Just consider the meaning of the adjectives Peter employed in describing the Christian’s security:
1) Incorruptible, could not be corrupted by sin.
2) Undefiled, could not be defiled by sin.
3) Could not fade away, could not disappear.
4) Kept, held by the power of God.
Salvation is by grace through faith and not by works. We are not saved because we are good, nor lost because we are bad, but because of God’s mercy and grace. A man who is truly born again is safe forever and can be as sure of heaven as if he has already been there ten thousand years.
The apostle Paul in his letter to the Christian’s of Rome asked this question, “What shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” and then answered, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, not things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord (Romans 8:35-39 KJV).
A Christian certainly may (will) fall into sin since his (or her) old nature has not been changed. It is still corrupt, but they have been sealed by the Holy Spirit unto the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30 KJV). The Holy Spirit Himself being the seal. He is God, and cannot be over powered by anything, even the sin of the Christian. The Christian therefore is secured in the hands of God.
Such security, however, is not a license to sin. Sin always has its consequence as did David’s sin. He lost his beloved child (2nd Samuel 11-12:25) and was pursued by his enemies until He died. The prodigal son of Luke chapter 15:11-32 is another testimony of this truth. David returned to God after being confronted with his sin and the prodigal returned to his father’s household after suffering many hardships and realizing what he had given up. Both were restored to the position that by right was theirs, the position that neither of them truly lost. We may be foolish and fall into sin, but we can never be separated from God. We have an advocate with God the Father who constantly advocates as the propitiation, the atoning sacrifice, for our sins (1st John 2:1-2)
Thank you Father God, that we who are your children are held by your mighty hand, and thank You for appointing Jesus as our advocate and propitiation.
stevelampman@comcast.net stevelampman.com
Transforming Power; The Work of God on Behalf of Man