Verse of the Day 3/25

Through the Bible - Joshua 15-17, Luke 5:27-39

 

Good morning,

The song "Never Let Go" has been on my mind all week.  I read Luke chapter 1 earlier where Zacharias prophesied about his son John who was to point the way to the coming Messiah, doing so by speaking of repentance, turning back to God.  He was looking for "a light that was coming"  his was a "heart that holds on".

 

Luke 1:76 "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;
For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
77 To give knowledge of salvation to His people
By the remission of their sins,     NKJV

John MacArthur writes, "Forgiveness of sins is the heart of salvation.  God saves sinners from separation from Him and from eternal hell only by atoning for and forgiving their sins."

 

Without Christ, without repentance or turning there is separation from God, which is spiritual death.

 

" The word remission means pardon or forgiveness. It implies that God will treat the sinner AS IF he had not committed the sin. The idea here is, that the "salvation" about to be offered was that which was connected with the pardon of sin. There can be no other. God cannot treat people as his friends unless they come to him by repentance and obtain forgiveness. When that is obtained, which he is always disposed to grant, they can be treated with kindness and mercy." (from Barnes' Notes)

This was the message that John the baptist would bring in preparing the way of the Lord God Most High.  It would be the message of Jesus, the disciples, and the apostle Paul to the early church, the Acts chapter 2 church.  It is the same message that needs to go out today, "giving light to those who sit in darkness" which will "guide us to the path of peace". (v.79)

 

Matt 4:17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."   NIV

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV
Luke 1:76-2:1

 

76 "And you, my little son,
will be called the prophet of the Most High,
because you will prepare the way for the Lord.
77 You will tell his people how to find salvation
through forgiveness of their sins.
78 Because of God's tender mercy,
the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,
79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
and to guide us to the path of peace."

 

80 John grew up and became strong in spirit. And he lived in the wilderness until he began his public ministry to Israel.   NLT