Sweden Church
  • Home
  • Listen
    • Sunday Services
    • Real Time >
      • But God...
      • Incompatible With Life
      • Heroes of Faith
      • Matthew 9 Series
      • Where We Find Jesus Series
      • Temptations of Christ Series
      • Sermon on the Mount Series
      • Prodigal Son Series
    • Revival 2022
    • Sweden Celebration 2020
    • Revival 2019
  • Sermon Series
    • Revelation Series
    • One Thing Series
    • Deuteronomy Series
    • 1 & 2 Kings Series
    • Titus Series
    • Jonah Series
    • What Kind of Man Series
    • Advent 2019
    • Ten Commandments Series
    • "No More" Sermon Series
  • Pictures
  • Our Blogs
    • The Pastor's Pen
    • The Layman's Pen
  • Upcoming Events
  • Contact Us

Continue in My Word

8/6/2018

0 Comments

 
​    According to some sources, there are 5,467 promises God has made.  Others don't give a number as exact as this but just say that there are thousands of promises that God has made.  The point here is that God has made a lot of promises.  And, He goes even further.  He states in Hebrews 10:23 that he is faithful to carry out what he has promised.
     Now many would have you believe that these promises are free gifts from God.  A look at John 8:36 (speaking of the Son making you free) might tempt one to think this.  It's pretty common to hear someone say that salvation is a free gift from God.  But a closer look might lead one to think otherwise.  
     For instance, take a look at John 3:16.  This is the salvation verse of the Bible:   "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have everlasting life."  The gift has a condition, it says whoever believes in him.  Mistakes are made that have eternal consequences.  Being saved is not free.  There are conditions to be met.  Believing is the first of them.
     Jesus says in John 8:31, "...If you continue in my word, then you're my disciples."  The gift is in the next verse but you have to continue in the word to receive it.  Move down to verse 51 in the same chapter, "...If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death."  Something has to be accomplished first before the gift is obtained.
     Some might suppose that these conditions don't seem fair.  Satan probably feels this way.  He most certainly doesn't want to or even plans to live up to any conditions no matter what the gift is.  He's like the petulant child who wants it and wants it right now.  No strings attached.  
     Our God gave everyone the ability to choose what he wants to believe.  It's the right He, our God, gave to us.  Study well the Bible.  Weigh it for yourself.  The promises given by the most powerful force in the universe; God, our Creator, are the greatest that can be given to anyone.  Eternal life, joy, peace, blessings beyond measure, it's all there.  Find it, study it, consider it.  Meet his conditions.  Matthew 11:29 and 30 assures us that the yoke of Jesus is easy and that you'll find rest.
     "Ifs" in the Bible?  It says that there are 1,595 ifs in 1,420 verses in the Bible.  Yes, it's filled with conditions.  But, oh, what a wonderful God we have.  Read Psalm 124.

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Linda Johnson

    Linda Johnson moved to Douglas County with her husband Tom 12 years ago after retiring from teaching. Following Tom's death in 2016, Linda began facilitating a grief support group called GriefShare through Sweden Church.​ She serves as the Sunday School teacher for our High School class. Her "Layman's Pen" articles are also published in the local paper, The Douglas County Herald. 

    Andrea Strong

    Andrea is Pastor Joshua Strong's wife. She also serves Sweden Church as Church Secretary, website administrator, and Sunday School teacher to the Intermediate Class.

    Archives

    October 2022
    September 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    February 2015
    November 2013
    October 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012