March 24, 2019 - CHRIST REMAINS FAITHFUL

Day 83 - (Today’s Bible readings:  2 Samuel 13:23-39; Psalm 78:36-79:2; 2Timothy 2:1-13)

“If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
for he cannot deny himself.” (2 Timothy 2:11-13 ESV) 

Each phrase in these verses begins with “if.” It sounds like salvation is up to us.
“If we...,” then good things will follow. If we die with Jesus (that is, die to sin), we will live with Him. If we “hang in there” when life gets rough, we will rule with Jesus. 

However, if we deny Jesus, He will deny us. But look at how Jesus responds to the times we are faithless. “He remains faithful.”

The conclusion is that our salvation depends on Jesus and not on us! What comforting news this is. There are no conditions! Our faithful Savior promises to always be with us, even to the end of time.

Salvation unto us has come
By God’s free grace and favor;
Good works cannot avert our doom,
They help and save us never.
Faith looks to Jesus Christ alone,
Who did for all the world atone;
He is our one Redeemer.
“Salvation unto Us Has Come,” Lutheran Service Book, Concordia Publishing House, 2006, #555 (1)

Thank You, Lord Jesus, for being faithful to me, especially because my sins make me unfaithful to You. May I continue to look to You alone for the redemption of my soul. Amen.

“See” you at the Communion rail this morning!

Pastor David Paape 

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings  
Then scroll down to 2019 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!