Romans 11:6 "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." In the midst of a world filled with religious confusion and varied opinions on what it takes to be right with God, we need to return to the source—God's Word. There, we are given clear direction: the only way to stand justified before a holy God is through the righteousness that the LORD Jesus Christ earned and established in His Righteous life and then laid down His life, that God the Father might be just to justify those given to the LORD Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). And this by the grace of God alone in Christ. This powerful verse reminds us that salvation is solely by grace, not by human effort or religious works. The righteousness that saves us is not our own, but the perfect, finished work of Christ on Calvary. This is the gospel—the good news that Christ’s obedience and sacrifice are imputed to us by grace alone, received through faith alone, which is itself a gift from God. In Philippians 3:9 , the apostle Paul expresses his deepest desire: to be found in Christ, not trusting in his righteousness, but in the righteousness that comes through the faithfulness of the LORD Jesus Christ alone. What joy it is to know that our standing before God is not dependent on our imperfect attempts, but on the completed work of Jesus Christ, whose blood that was shed unto death has obtained eternal redemption for His people. As Hebrews 9:12 affirms, "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us."  This is the Hope and assurance we have—the Gospel of Christ, the power of God unto Salvation, bringing us Righteousness through Faith. Let us then rejoice, knowing that our righteousness is not of ourselves, but is imputed to us freely by God's grace. This is our unshakable foundation, and it is what we, as the redeemed, stand upon now and forever. With all the religiosity in the world, and differences in opinions as to what to do, or NOT do, to be right with God, how important it is to go back to the source, God's Word, and read what HE has to say. How am I to be right with God? The Gospel of Christ answers: In the righteousness of Christ alone! His perfect, complete, finished work upon Calvary’s cross, accredited to me by the grace of God alone and embraced by faith (the gift of God). This is all of my hope and my standing before God. In Revelation 19:8, we have this picture of those who are bowed before God in glory: "And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints." The cry and earnest desire of the apostle Paul in Philippians 3:9 was that he be found in Christ, "And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." We read in Romans 3:24, "Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." The redeemed and justified sinner, having been chosen of God the Father from eternity, and in time called by the Spirit of God, is righteous in God’s eyes exclusively by the work of Another, solely upon completion of the work of Christ at the cross, as we see in Romans 5:9-11: "Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the reconciliation." In the death of Christ on the cross, the debt of sin for all those whom He represented is paid. He earned for them eternal righteousness, as seen in Hebrews 9:12: "Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us." This is the gospel, the good news--the only good news. And it is certain! Romans 1:16-17: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, 'The just shall live by faith.'"

Acts 3:26 "Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities." This verse highlights the gracious, sovereign, eternal purpose of God in sending His Son, the LORD Jesus Christ, into the world to save wretched, iniquitous sinners. It emphasizes that God, in His sovereign will, exalted the LORD Jesus, not only as the promised Savior of Israel but also as the One Who blesses by turning sinners from their sins. The idea of "turning away" suggests the active work of God first in the putting away of their sins at the cross, but also in granting them repentance toward God, even faith in the LORD Jesus (Acts 20:21). Salvation is the work of righteousness initiated by God the Father before the foundation of the world and carried out by Christ alone to satisfy His law and justice— for God to be just and justify each of His elected ones. The doctrine of God's sovereign grace in Christ teaches us that salvation is entirely the work of God—from His choosing to His redeeming and justifying to calling and transforming them as objects of His grace—and not based on human effort or merit in any way (Titus 3:3). Who are those God sent His Son to bless? It is those for whom He paid the debt at Calvary, shedding His precious blood, and because of the perfection of His work, raising Him from the dead and receiving Him back into glory, where He ever lives to intercede for those for whom He paid the debt. "Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them." (Hebrews 7:25) . “To you first...” Those of Jewish descent who were the chosen seed in Christ, not all, but the remnant according to the grace of God, elect in Christ before the foundation of the world , and for whom Christ came, lived, died, and rose again, Romans 1:16, 9:6, 11:5 . "To you FIRST” signifies others who would follow. Just as those that God called out first, who were chosen by God in His grace, so others would follow, not just of the Jewish fold, but of the Gentiles, sinners from every tribe nation, and tongue for whom Christ paid their sin debt. "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd" (John 10:16). How has He blessed those for whom He came and paid the debt? The answer is clear! In turning away every one of them from their iniquities. Blessed Redeemer! There is, therefore, NOW, no more condemnation for sin. So complete was the work of the LORD Jesus, that upon completion of His death, and God raising Him from the dead, His people were once for all and forever redeemed, justified, and sanctified (1 Corinthians 1:30,31). So complete was His work in turning away their sin from them, and laying it upon His Son, that there remained nothing but righteousness to impute to their account. Titus 2:14 "Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works"

Jude 1:24 "For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ." As we read different portions of Scripture, we know that where there is wheat, there are also tares. Jude spoke of his desire to write them about the common salvation he shared with them, the oneness in the Gospel of Christ. Yet, he said in Jude 3, “It was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” Word had come that there was an erosion of the message, much as Paul had faced after preaching through the region of Galatia. He wrote in Galatians 1:6-7, “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.” Here, we have a very precise picture of those who were among the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ—men who, as it says , “crept in unawares.” The call here is to beware and to know that no congregation is safe. Even though a congregation may be founded upon the truth of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, there are those in every congregation who can expect men to creep in unawares—of whom it is said here, “...were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men.” The only ones that God approves as godly are those He has chosen, those Christ has redeemed, and those the Spirit has called. All others are ungodly, no matter how moral they appear, no matter how nice and kind they may seem outwardly to men. If they are not Christ’s, they are ungodly. We see here a call to beware of compromise, to beware of that which would pervert the true Gospel of redeeming grace, as it has been purchased by the Lord Jesus Christ and revealed through the Spirit of God. There is always going to be a mixed congregation. Even Christ, with His disciples, had a mixed congregation because He told them, “I have chosen you, but one of you is the son of perdition" (John 6:70). Judas was purposed to be a tare among the wheat to the honor and glory of Christ. Since it was so even among those whom the LORD called to Himself and sent forth, can we expect it to be any different in our day? We often look outside the congregation, but the most treacherous and subtle enemy is within the Church. In 2 Peter 2:1, Peter said, “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.” Paul, in writing to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:1, says, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith.” The FaitH is that body of truth in connection with the Lord Jesus Christ and His death.T his is not talking about someone who once believed and then became lost. Departing from the Faith means to renounce it, to turn from it, even “Giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils.” In Scripture, whenever doctrine is described with the truth, it is always singular. There is that singular, exclusive doctrine concerning Christ, God’s Son, called the doctrine of Christ, concerning His death—unto which those that are taught of the Spirit are attached. They are given to that doctrine. They know no other, as opposed to those who give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. We need, by God’s grace, to keep the doctrine of Christ—the testimony concerning His Son and His death. Therein lies our safety. “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump” (Galatians 5:9). In Matthew 7:15 , our Lord said, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” Now, how does someone come in sheep’s clothing? They talk about grace. They talk about redemption. Likewise, they talk about Christ. That is where many are misled. These crept in unsuspecting and under false profession. These are our Lord’s words, and so we take heed. Paul says of these, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore, it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end will be according to their works” (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). Those who are truly called of God and sent forth by Him to exhort and to feed the Lord’s sheep speak of One Righteousness—that of the Lord Jesus Christ and what He accomplished. That is the only foundation of true fellowship. The Lord tries His Church for many reasons. Since it causes those who are truly the Lord’s to seek Him more fervently, blessed be the name of the Lord. Since it causes any of those that are the Lord’s to see the reality of enemies within the Church and to examine themselves—whether they be of the faith—that is a good thing. We should never become lethargic in this matter of Christ, His death, and what He accomplished for sinners. Every time we come together for worship, it is an opportunity for us to weigh our motives and hearts in light of this Word. We should never open God's Word and have it be just a mechanical reading. Sadly, many do not value the importance of Christ's blood that He shed unto death. Their eyes have never been opened. These are unconverted men whom Jude is writing about, who come among those that are the Lord’s, and of whom the Scriptures say were long ago ordained to this judgment. They infiltrate the Church, they corrupt the truth, and it serves the purpose of God in marking them out, revealing them for what they are. This portion of Scripture is designed to warn and to awaken us to the realities of the leaven and the tares. The characteristic of these is described as being ungodly men in verse 4, “who turn the grace of God into lasciviousness.” What the grace of God does is make us more aware of our sinfulness. It causes us to be broken before a holy God and to look again to the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. The grace of God causes us to look at the most grievous of our sins and say, "Even that was paid by the death of the LORD Jesus." It is not a prideful way of looking at it—it is humbling. Should the Lord take His hand off of us even for an instant, we fall. It is a reminder of just how much we need the Lord Jesus Christ. We are not going about flaunting the sin; we are exalting the Savior. Any time a person puts a condition on man for God to be gracious, they have turned the grace of God into lasciviousness. So, we are warned not to heed such and to be wary of any who enter in with strange doctrines. Strange doctrine is any persuasion or teaching that does not give God ALL the glory in Jesus Christ. To preach the grace of God is to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ alone in His work and what He has accomplished—that righteousness imputed upon the completion of His death. This gives Him all the glory alone.

1 Peter 2:9 "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:" There are various illustrations that the Scriptures use to describe the Lord’s people. They have been redeemed and justified by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and, in time, called out by the Holy Spirit. We see them described in 1 Peter 2:9 as a nation. First, the Lord's people are a nation chosen out of every country and land in this world by His Sovereign will and pleasure. It is not because of any perceived faith in them or any perceived holiness. They have none. All of our righteousnesses are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). It is not because of any works of these hands that any may have done, but it is wholly attributed to God’s grace and to what He purposed to do before the foundation of the world. Did you have a choice in where you were born? Did you have a choice in the color of your skin? God determined it all. He has determined your very path to this point. You didn’t decide. Everything that we are and have, as you look back, you can say, “God has traced it. God has done it. God has given it.” In Ephesians 1:3-5, this very truth is not a subject of stumbling for the Lord’s people but a blessing. It says: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will…” Second, He describes those who are members of this nation of elected sinners as a royal priesthood. Where does that term originate? What does it mean? In Revelation 5 , Christ, by His work accomplished for the salvation of sinners, has made a nation that is a kingdom of priests. It says in Revelation 5:9, “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.”  There is one nation in Christ. It is made up of every possible race that you can think of. The Lord has chosen them, and Christ has redeemed them. Revelation 5:10 says: “And hast made us unto our God kings and priests.”  How so? All that Christ is, we are. So, as He reigns, we reign. As He is the High Priest, by whom the sacrifices were offered for the people under the Levitical law, so the Lord Jesus has made redeemed sinners a priesthood unto God through Him. We, who are His redeemed ones, come unto God through Him. In addition, we read, “…we shall reign on the earth.”   We reign now as the subjects of Christ's kingdom that He established in His coming, doing, dying, and rising again (Acts 2:23-28) . We are never to be encumbered with the cares of this world and feel that we are somehow subject to its devices. We are not subject to the world. We reign. God has His hand on you if you are one of His chosen ones for whom Christ died, rose again, and ascended on high. Therefore, we rest and look to Him in times of trouble. It doesn't mean that we won’t face difficulties like the rest of the world, but our mind is different, being redeemed and drawn to Christ by His Spirit. This is why it is described here as "a royal priesthood." We are kings to wear royal apparel. You say, “Well, what is our royal apparel?” It is the robe of righteousness that God the Father imputed to the spiritual account of each of His elected ones. This righteousness the Lord Jesus earned and established, and upon completion of His death on the cross, God the Father justified each one then and there (Romans 5:9-11) . To reign with Christ forever, as priests unto God, we are anointed by the Holy Spirit to serve God through the Lord Jesus, and thereby we draw nigh to God. We wouldn’t know where to go. We wouldn’t know how to approach a holy God in worship were it not for the Spirit of God opening our hearts to the Lord Jesus and drawing us to Him. But we come through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus, God’s Lamb, and by Him, offer spiritual sacrifices of prayer and praise (Hebrews 13:15). Third, this nation is described as "a holy nation." Israel of old as a type was sanctified and set apart, separated from other nations and called the people of God. Even so the elect are the true Israel, being in the Lord Jesus, Who is God's True Israel. There is no going back to national or natural Israel. This redeemed and justified body of sinners is the nation. This is the people of God. It is done. To think of it ever going back to something else is a delusion. Some speak of a time when God will supposedly rapture out the church and go back to working with national Israel again, as if the physical Jew is still the people of God. That goes against the whole direction of Scripture. This is a holy nation, made so by the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is why Paul's natural Jewish brethren got upset, but he did not hold back in declaring, as he did in Philippians 3:3: “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”  We are the circumcision, those chosen in Christ and redeemed and justified by His shed blood. This is His true Israel. What had been a term reserved for the Jew only, he now applies to those that Christ has redeemed out of every tribe, nation, and tongue. In Romans 2:28-29, it can't be stated any plainer: “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” One final characteristic is that they are peculiar people. If you look it up in Strong’s Concordance, it means "a purchased people." That is why they are special. It is because they have been bought with the blood. It is not because they are any better, but because they are special to God. They bear the special love and favor of God, with all the spiritual blessings that come with that favor because they have been purchased. It shows us just how definitive the death of the Lord Jesus Christ is in the eyes of God. Before Christ died, their sin was covered. But when He died, that sin was put away. They, by the Spirit of God, looked forward to that day when Christ would come and put away that sin. We, by the same Spirit of God, look back to what was accomplished. And what is the result? It says: “…that ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”   The Lord is going to have everyone that He has chosen, everyone that He has redeemed, called out. And it will be in His time. We are saved and delivered to the praise of His glory. It is not ours. It is His. And that will be forever, being trophies of His grace, just as we read in Revelation. We will never stop singing: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain” (Revelation 5:12) . The question is: Have you been called out of darkness? Because anybody who is the special object of God’s favor in Christ, for whom He died, is, in time, brought to see that they were in darkness, that they were lost. Worthy is the Lamb  is the testimony that we show forth, that we declare when He called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. Who makes us to differ? The only thing we can say is it was God’s grace and favor toward poor, wretched sinners such as we are. We have nothing for which to boast. We give all the glory to God through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Galatians 6:10 "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith." Doing good may sound a bit strange to some who are accustomed to hearing, as the Scripture says, "There is none righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10) , and that in this flesh, there is no good thing, as Paul said in Romans 7:18 . Yet, in this particular portion of Scripture, we are told, "As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all" (Galatians 6:10). The idea here is that we should not judge whether a person is worthy of the help we may offer. When we consider God, we understand that the word "good" is a reflection of His nature. God does good to sinners not because of anything in them but according to His purpose, will, and grace. We are to reflect God's goodness, and when it says, "Let us do good unto all," it means all kinds of people, especially those who are of the household of faith. This is one of the themes Paul addresses in his letter to the Galatians, where he urges the new believers, who come from different backgrounds, not to form cliques or reject anyone based on their race or cultural background. Instead, as the Scripture says, we are to do good to everyone, particularly to those who belong to the household of faith. There is a difference between being a "do-gooder" and doing good. A "do-gooder" is often seen as someone who is overly righteous—someone whose efforts to help others are driven by self-righteousness. On the other hand, doing good means taking actions that genuinely benefit others and contribute to their well-being. When we bring it back to who God is and what He has done for sinners through the Lord Jesus Christ, we see that God's goodness was demonstrated first in choosing to save sinners and then in sending His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to pay their sin debt. There is no greater goodness than that. If we are among those for whom Christ has paid the debt and whom the Father has chosen, we have experienced the greatest act of goodness. Doing good isn't just about simple acts like buying groceries for someone, filling up someone's gas tank, or doing what people often call a "good deed." If someone says, "I did my good deed for the day," you might respond, "Does that mean you're going to be mean-spirited for the rest of the day?" The concept of doing good isn't about checking something off a list. It's about doing good, especially to those who may not seem to deserve it. Again, we must look to God's goodness toward His people in Christ. It’s not that they deserve it. There’s nothing in us that could ever have attracted God’s attention, making Him do good to us or show us grace. The number one way to do good is by restoring the weak—helping those who have fallen, recognizing that we might need that same restoration next. When you are burdened, isn't it wonderful when the Lord brings someone alongside you to share your burden? They express kindness and understanding and assure you of their prayers. This is what we see in Galatians 6:2-4: "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another." In other words, we don't do good to be seen or applauded. We should be thankful that the Lord caused our paths to cross with someone we could help. As verse 5 says, "For every man shall bear his own burden." This is the second way of doing good—bearing others’ burdens as if they were our own. When Paul speaks of bearing one another’s burdens, he is referring to a person overtaken by a trespass, weighed down by a heavy load. We've all seen someone overloaded, and our first instinct is to ask, "Can I help carry some of that for you?" Let us do good to all, as the Lord gives opportunity. You can’t sit back and say, "I don’t know if they’re elected by God or not." It doesn’t matter. Even if they aren’t, you will have done good to someone, and that may be the only good they ever experience. But if they are one of the Lord’s sheep, perhaps the Lord will use that act of goodness to continue drawing them to Christ in His perfect time. That is what it means when the Scripture says, "especially unto them who are of the household of faith." This principle is like that of a farmer who reaps what he sows. We aren’t even the sower—Christ is the sower. The sower scatters the seed, and in its time and season, it will bring forth fruit. Whatever we sow, we will reap. We can't sow a false message and expect good to come of it. But as the farmer waits for the early and latter rains, Christ has set forth His death and what He accomplished, and He will cause the seed to bear fruit in His time. That is why the Scripture says, "As we have opportunity, let us do good." The opportunity is always there. We should seek to bring joy to those who belong to the Lord, knowing that we all are blessed by the goodness of God in Christ.

Ephesians 6:11 "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." The life of a child of God is one of spiritual warfare. The Apostle Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:12: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." While God has no rivals in the forces of evil, He uses them to fulfill His purpose in His children's lives, displaying the glory of Christ as the conquering Savior and King. Satan, though a created being, will ultimately be destroyed, just as God raised Pharaoh to manifest His wrath and destruction (Romans 9:17, Revelation 20:10). We are engaged in an unseen but very real battle, yet the Lord Jesus has already defeated Satan through His work on the cross. As Hebrews 2:14-15 declares: "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil." Satan can do nothing to the redeemed without God's authority, just as He gave Satan the right to test Job. Nothing can touch any of God's children other than through the hand of the LORD Jesus as He assured Peter before his denial, "Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not" (Luke 22:31-32). So why does Paul warn us to take on the whole armor of God if Christ has already won the victory? The answer lies in recognizing that, though we are victorious in Christ, we must still engage in spiritual warfare against Satan’s relentless attacks. As believers, we must be vigilant, for Satan, the adversary, seeks to deceive, distract, and destroy. However, God does not leave us defenseless. He equips us with armor to stand firm and resist the enemy’s schemes. The Whole Armor of God Paul emphasizes the need for the whole  armor of God (Ephesians 6:11), which is God’s armor worn by Christ during His earthly ministry and death on the cross. This armor symbolizes Christ's finished work, which has been attributed to us, His redeemed people. The armor includes: The loins girt about with Truth   (Ephesians 6:14): Truth (Christ) is the foundation of our protection. Satan, the father of lies (John 8:44), would deceive us were we not grounded in Christ. The truth revealed in Christ holds together, like a belt, all the other pieces of the armor. The Breastplate of Righteousness   (Ephesians 6:14): This represents the Righteousness of God that Christ earned through His perfect life and sacrifice. Though Satan may accuse us, God has imputed His righteousness to us, which the LORD Jesus earned on behalf of the elect. Condemnation, therefore, is impossible for them (Romans 8:1) , ensuring that we stand justified before Him. The Shoes of the Gospel of Peace   (Ephesians 6:15) : Just as Roman soldiers’ sandals gave them firm footing, the Gospel of peace with God through Jesus Christ provides us with stability to stand firm in the FAITH (Romans 5:1). This Peace, that passes all understanding, earned by Christ for us (Philippians 4:7) enables us to walk in the confidence of Christ's completed work. The Shield of Faith  (Ephesians 6:16): Faith in Christ (Christ the object of Faith) shields us from the enemy’s fiery darts—doubt, fear, and temptation. It is the revelation of Christ's work in us that protects us, causing us to trust in His victory and rely on His promises. The Helmet of Salvation   (Ephesians 6:17): The salvation of God in Christ guards our minds, focusing our thoughts on the completed work of Christ and the assurance of our salvation in Him alone. It reminds us that because Christ is our Head, nothing can harm us without His consent, keeping our Hope secure. The Sword of the Spirit   (Ephesians 6:17): The Word of God is our offensive weapon. The LORD Jesus Himself used Scripture to counter Satan’s temptations. The Holy Spirit uses the Word to strengthen us, causing us to rest in the truth and promises of God in Christ and His accomplished salvation for HIs people at the cross, against the enemy's lies. God's Sovereign Grace in Our Battle The armor is not something we earn, but a gift from God’s sovereign grace. It is through Christ’s finished work that we are victorious, and it is by His grace that we can fight the battle. Our strength does not come from ourselves but from the Holy Spirit of Christ working within us. We are assured that, as we put on the armor of God daily, by Faith (Christ) we fight from a place of victory, not for it. Jesus Christ has already won the ultimate victory on the cross. As Romans 8:37 reminds us, "We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us." A wise saying reminds us, "You are not fighting for victory, but from victory, for Jesus Christ has already defeated Satan." Outside of Christ, we are sinners, empty and lost, but in Christ, we are saved, full, and secure. We fight not in our strength, but in the strength of the One Who has already conquered all.

Zechariah 9:11,12 "As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water. Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee:" In these verses, Zechariah proclaims a message of hope and restoration for the people of God. When he uttered these words from the LORD, he foretold the future fulfillment of God's covenant promise, which the LORD Jesus would bring to pass through His shed blood unto death—the blood of the covenant. These two verses may seem simple at first glance, but they are full of profound truth about God's sovereign grace in bringing about the redemption and justification of sinners whom God the Father has ordained to salvation. Some interpret these verses solely in light of national Israel's deliverance, but God's history of redemption is not Israel-centric, but Christ-centric. The covenant promises made to Israel were temporary, promising the preservation of a seed through Judah, until the LORD Jesus came and permanently sealed the covenant for God's true Israel—the elect of God from every tribe, nation, and tongue (Revelation 5:9). "Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed" (Romans 9:7-8). Verse 11: “By the blood of thy covenant…” The first phrase in Zechariah 9:11 points to a key aspect of the sovereignty of God's grace: the blood of the covenant. This refers to the blood that seals a covenant between God and His people, typified by the sacrifices in the Old Testament. Yet, in the ultimate sense, it directs us to the blood of the New Covenant—the blood of Jesus Christ, shed on the cross for the forgiveness of the sins of God's covenant people, according to His election of grace. God declares that it is by the blood of His covenant that He has set free their prisoners out of the pit, wherein is no water. This refers to a state of captivity and hopelessness, a dry and desolate condition. Historically, it speaks to the return of a remnant of national Israel from Babylonian captivity. Spiritually, it symbolizes prisoners bound by sin, despair, and separation from God, whom He has purposed to deliver through the blood of the New Covenant—the shed blood unto death of the LORD Jesus (Matthew 26:28). This is a vivid picture of how Christ’s sacrificial death sets free all of God’s elect from every tribe, nation, and tongue, from the pit of sin, death, and condemnation. Before Christ came and paid their sin debt, they were prisoners to the law and justice of God because of their sin, living without hope in a dry and barren place, unable to save themselves. But God, in His sovereign grace, sent forth His Son in the fullness of the time (Galatians 4:4) to rescue them through the blood of the New Covenant. In Christ, we who are His elect children have redemption, the forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7). Verse 12a: “Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope…” Here, Zechariah calls the "prisoners of hope" to turn to the stronghold. The imagery is that of a fortified city or strong tower, a place of safety and refuge. Notice that God refers to these prisoners not merely as "prisoners," but as "prisoners of hope." Though in captivity, they are not without hope. This speaks of the gracious hope rooted in God’s promise of salvation through the LORD Jesus—a hope unshakable, for it is founded on the covenant God has made with His Son, for the people He chose before time and gave to His Son to save (John 17:2). The "strong hold" refers to the LORD Jesus Christ Himself, and specifically to salvation being found in Him. He is the Strong Tower into which sinners made alive by His Spirit flee for refuge (Proverbs 18:10) . In Christ, we who are God’s elect are called to turn to Him, trusting in His wisdom, strength, and power to save and keep those who come to God by Him, drawn by the sovereign work of the Spirit (Hebrews 7:25). We are called to look to Him as the Place of Refuge, knowing that in Him, we find not just freedom from sin and condemnation, but everlasting Hope—Hope that can never be taken away, hope certain because it is founded on the promise of God's covenant in His Son (Hebrews 6:18). Left to ourselves, we can only turn to false refuges, seeking peace and rest for our souls. But the LORD Jesus is the only Stronghold of God, where there is eternal rest and salvation for the soul (Matthew 11:28). As "prisoners of hope," set free by the righteous life and shed blood unto death of the LORD Jesus, we rest in His promise and have a good Hope of Eternal Salvation in Him, knowing that God is faithful to His word. Verse 12b: “Even today do I declare that I will render double unto thee.” This declaration, “I will render double unto thee,” is a promise of blessing and restoration from sin and captivity. In the original context, it reassured Israel that God would restore them to a place of abundance and joy back in their land, and He did after their 70 years of captivity. What was lost would be fully recovered and more. This is the case for the true people of God in Christ. This is a beautiful reminder of God’s sovereign grace in saving sinners. Even when we experience hardship or feel the weight of our sin, God’s grace is sufficient to give us salvation in Him. In Christ, we receive this "double" portion of grace. We are not only forgiven but also declared righteous and justified before God, resulting in us being adopted as sons and daughters, co-heirs with Christ, and recipients of eternal blessings. The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 8:17, “If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.” We are promised that God will not only restore what was lost but will lavish upon us His grace, more than we could ever ask or think (Ephesians 1:3-14).

Luke 8:35 "Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid." This passage of Scripture stands as a testimony of God's work in the life of a sinner who was truly delivered by the LORD Jesus Christ. But what is true deliverance? Today, many speak of being delivered from poverty, sickness, or life's challenges. The message often is: "Whatever your struggles, just come believing, and you will be delivered." This message promises temporal relief, but how many realize that our greatest need is not physical, mental, or material, but spiritual? (Isaiah 1:2-9). The problem in this passage is possession by Satan, a condition all of fallen humanity faces until or unless God reveals Christ in them. When Christ is revealed, a sinner sees their lost state, cries out for mercy, and acknowledges their desperate need for salvation. In this narrative, Christ does not wait for the sinner to come to Him; He seeks the sinner out. The demoniac was desperate, bound by evil, unable to free himself, and could not be tamed by anyone around him. But when the LORD Jesus passed by, He delivered the man. By the end of the passage, we find the demoniac “sitting fully clothed and in his right mind” (Luke 8:35). This is the deliverance of Christ. First, we see the man sitting. This is a picture of rest. Matthew 1:21 tells us that the LORD Jesus came to "save His people from their sins." Before Christ met him, the man was tormented and restless, living in bondage. But after Christ's intervention, he rests. This resting symbolizes the peace and rest found in Christ's salvation. The sinner, drawn by the Spirit, comes to the LORD Jesus, sits at His feet, and rests in His grace. True submission to Christ is not a negotiation but a surrender, saying, "If I perish, I will perish here at Your feet." Christ’s work is complete—He lived in obedience to the Father, died sacrificially, and paid the sin debt, giving rest to all that He draws to Him by His Spirit of Grace. Second, the man is fully clothed. This is a picture of righteousness. Before, he was naked, symbolizing his sin and inability to stand before God. But when Christ finished His work, the man was clothed. This righteousness is not our own; it is given by Christ. Outside of Christ, we have no righteousness. But through His life, death, and resurrection, Christ’s perfect righteousness is imputed to us. Here was a demoniac for whom the LORD would lay down His life. As Paul writes in Philippians 3:9, “Not having mine own righteousness, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” The man’s clothing symbolizes the robe of righteousness that all believers received from God in Christ at the cross. As Isaiah 61:10 says, “He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness.” Third, the man was in his right mind. This shows the renewing work of Christ. When the prodigal son “came to himself,” it was the Spirit working in him to bring him back to the father (Luke 15:17). Likewise, the demoniac was made sensible of his sin and desperate need where no man could restrain him or change him (Mark 5:4). When he cried out to Jesus, it was the LORD Jesus drawing him and causing him to see that this was the Christ who had the power to either save or destroy him. He ran to the LORD Jesus and bowed and worshipped Him,  "But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit" (Mark 5:6-8). A renewed mind by the Spirit of God will always acknowledge Christ's authority and the necessity of repentance. The man’s restoration was a spiritual awakening. He recognized his lost state and his need for Christ. Titus 3:5-6 explains, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” This renewal is the work of Christ, bringing the sinner to Christ in repentance because of the salvation that He came to accomplish on behalf of His people. True deliverance is spiritual—being saved from sin, clothed in righteousness, and given a renewed mind through Christ. It is Christ’s work, not ours, and it results in rest, righteousness, and renewal (the 3 R's of salvation). The demoniac’s deliverance is a picture of what Christ does for all that He came to save, and that He draws to Himself in repentance and faith. The LORD Jesus said, "" All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37).

John 4:29 "Come, see a Man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?" What a beautiful testimony of God's sovereign will and grace in the LORD Jesus calling this Samaritan woman to Himself, even before she realized that He was drawing her. The narrative begins with our LORD purposefully passing through Samaria on His way north to Galilee. Typically, the Jews would cross over the Jordan and follow the river north on the east side, avoiding any contact with the Samaritans, whom they considered “half-breeds.” Yet, in John 4:4, it is written that He "must needs go through Samaria." This could only have been for one purpose: to draw the Samaritan woman to the well and speak with her of Himself as the True Water of Life, which He did in John 4:7-26. Her name is not revealed, but she is described as a woman who lived in shame, with a past marked by brokenness and sin. She had been married five times, and the man she was living with at the time of their meeting was not her husband, suggesting a very sinful lifestyle (John 4:7,18). Yet, suddenly, because of the LORD Jesus meeting her and revealing Himself in her as the promised Messiah (John 4:20-26) , her heart was opened, and she was awakened to Christ in grace and truth. She, who had once lived in the darkness of her sin, was now awakened by the LORD Jesus and testified of Him who sought her, even though, at first, she did not seek Him. For the awakened sinner, like this Samaritan woman, salvation is not something earned, merited, or achieved, nor is it fully understood in the moment of awakening. Rather, it is the gracious work of God, made effective by His sovereign will and power alone, through His Spirit. This divine awakening is not a self-generated response but a work of God's grace—His will calling the sinner from death into life, for whom the LORD Jesus came to pay their sin debt. As the LORD told Nicodemus: "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit" (John 3:8). The Samaritan woman did not seek the LORD Jesus—He sought her. She was simply going about her daily task, drawing water at the well, when the LORD engaged her in a conversation that would change her life forever. Likewise, God, in His sovereign purpose, does not wait for sinners to come to Him but instead acts by coming to those sinners He has chosen. The Gospel is not about the sinner choosing God, but about God choosing those sinners He purposed to save, even before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4-5). This is the heart of salvation: God initiates. He chooses. He calls. Furthermore, He awakens. The power to save resides in God's hands, not in any ability of our own to respond. When any of God's elected sinners, like the Samaritan woman, are brought to Christ, they will learn that there is nothing hidden from Him and that He already knows them fully—their hidden evil thoughts, their sin, and their shame. But it is to such as these that He reveals Himself as the Living Water, awakening them from their spiritually dead state to find in Him all they need—the Water of Life and the Giver of Life. The woman's testimony in John 4:29 is powerful because it reflects the revelation of Christ within her. The LORD Jesus had not only known her before she knew Him; He knew her life of sin, and yet He did not condemn her. He came to save her and would soon pay her sin debt on the cross. Rather than condemning her, He revealed in her the Gift of Living Water, symbolizing Salvation and Eternal Life. This was not something she could have obtained by her own efforts. Her past was filled with sin and failure, yet the LORD Jesus came to save her—not because of her worthiness, but because of His Sovereign Grace. When we are awakened from our sin, it is never because we have somehow earned God’s favor. We are awakened because God, in His mercy, chose to reveal Himself to us. This act of grace shifts the focus away from ourselves and places it on the unmerited love of God the Savior, Who is mighty to save. It is God's will and power, not ours, that brings about salvation. The awakened sinner is not just saved but transformed in their mind and heart. The Savior, having come to the Samaritan woman and revealed Himself to her, made her a new creation in Christ. She went from being a woman hiding her shame to a bold witness of Christ's redeeming work. She didn’t have all the answers, but she simply knew that she had met the Savior, Who had changed her heart and direction by His grace. When God awakens the chosen sinner, He not only brings them from death to life, from darkness to light, but He changes their direction. Where once they were born with their backs to God, headed toward condemnation, they are now converted, given repentance and faith, and called to follow Christ for the rest of their lives. Those who are saved by God’s grace are no longer defined by their sins and failures. They are defined by the grace of God and salvation in Christ alone, Who bore their sin debt away. As a result, the Samaritan woman could not keep silent but was compelled by that same grace to tell others of the Christ Who knew her so completely and yet loved her fully with an everlasting love (John 4:29). So it is with all those whom God has chosen, Christ has redeemed, and the Spirit has called. "O give thanks unto the Lord, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;" Psalm 107:1, 2

Revelation 12:10 "And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night." This passage describes a moment of triumph and declares the ultimate victory of God’s kingdom through Christ over Satan, the accuser of the brethren. It affirms that the forces of evil, personified by Satan, have been decisively defeated. While Satan continues to roam, seeking to devour those under his influence, his final condemnation is already sealed. His power is now limited to those who remain in his kingdom, not to those who belong to the Lord Jesus. Although those redeemed by Christ still await the final day when the full manifestation of Satan's defeat at the cross will be revealed, this message offers comfort, especially to the believers of the first century who faced persecution from the beast (Rome) and the false prophet (organized religion) (Revelation 13:1-18). For all the redeemed, this is a message of assurance: the accuser has no lasting power, and God's salvation, which He secured through the death of His Son on the cross, is certain. Before His death, the Lord Jesus declared, "Now is the judgment of this world; now shall the prince of this world be cast out" (John 12:31) . The reason the accuser can no longer find fault with any elect sinner is because Christ has paid their entire sin debt. As a result, "There is therefore now no condemnation" (Romans 8:1). The phrase "Now is the judgment of this world" (Greek: crisis ) refers to the approaching death of the LORD Jesus. Whatever judgment is being referred to here is directly related to what His death would accomplish. It cannot mean that the world’s final judgment was happening at that moment because Jesus had already stated that He did not come to judge the world at that time (John 12:47; John 8:15). Since the fall of man (Genesis 3:15) , there has been a long struggle between God and the devil. God placed enmity between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman. Satan has had significant influence over the fallen world, even being called the "prince of this world." The Lord Jesus is the true God of this world. He has been given all authority by the Father (John 5:22). Because of this, Jesus could declare victory over Satan through His impending death, which would ultimately destroy Satan's kingdom. The death of Jesus was the pivotal moment, the turning point, in God's purpose to defeat Satan's rule and establish His reign over the fallen world. In this way, the prophecy from Genesis 3:15 was fulfilled: "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” "The prince of this world" refers to Satan, as He is also called in John 14:30 and John 16:11 . Some attribute to Satan the title "the god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4), but in truth, GOD is the GOD of this world. Satan is merely an instrument in God's hand to bring judgment on the world, but not before first saving those whom He has chosen, delivering them from Satan’s grasp and the depths of depravity. These people are saved from the bondage and fear of Satan's power, which he wields through his fallen angels, "the rulers of the darkness of this world" (Ephesians 6:12), and "the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience" (Ephesians 2:2). These titles describe Satan's influence over people in this world who are reprobates. When the Bible says Satan will be " cast out," it means his kingdom will be destroyed. His reign will not end immediately, but this moment marks the beginning of his defeat. From that point on, his power will gradually decline until it is completely eradicated. This eventual defeat of Satan is referenced in several places, including Luke 10:18, Colossians 1:18-20, Acts 26:18, 1 Corinthians 15:25-26, and Revelation 20:14. God’s purpose to save is as eternal and immutable as God Himself. However, His purpose to save did not mean salvation itself would come immediately. For those God purposed to save, salvation required that the Lord Jesus come in time, in the flesh, to accomplish everything the Father had purposed The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy about this in 2 Timothy 1:9: "Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began." The grace was given in Christ Jesus before the world began, in God's eternal purpose, but it was only accomplished when Jesus came and fulfilled it through His righteous life and obedience unto death. In Romans 5:9 , the apostle Paul declared, "Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him." The use of "now" indicates that since the cross, what God purposed for the salvation of His chosen people has now come to pass. How? In the strength and kingdom of God, and through the power of His Christ. And what was the cause for rejoicing? The fact that Satan, the accuser of the brethren, has been cast down. When did this happen? Revelation 12 is a song of victory, reflecting the work that the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished, first by satisfying the law on behalf of His people, and then by God the Father justifying them at one time and in one place upon the completion of Christ’s finished, effectual death.

Colossians 1:15 "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:" What a mystery to contemplate—God in the flesh! Paul describes it this way in 1 Timothy 3:16: “And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” Colossians 1:15 declares not only the supremacy and divinity of the LORD Jesus as God, but also His condescension (Divine stoop) in taking on flesh and becoming a man—the God/Man. The necessity of God taking on flesh is fundamental to God's need to satisfy His law and justice for those He purposed to save. God cannot die, and a mere man could not save, but as a Man, taking on human flesh He laid down His life for the sins of His people. As God, He then pronounced satisfaction on the offering of the body of the LORD Jesus once and for all, at once forever justified the entire body of His elect from the beginning of time to the end (Hebrews 10:10,14). This truth is the very foundation and cornerstone of THE FAITH, once revealed unto all the saints (Jude 1:3) —sanctified sinners, set apart by God’s electing grace and the redeeming blood that the LORD Jesus shed unto death for them. God manifest in the flesh, and the LORD Jesus being the express image of God the Father, is the Word of Faith revealed in the Scriptures and in the hearts of those that He justified through Christ's death on the cross. This verse affirms that Christ is “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” In this single line, the Apostle Paul encapsulates the truth from various angles, much like a prism that reflects light from different directions when shined through. The nature of Christ His preeminence in creation. His unique, eternal relationship with God the Father. The phrase “image of the invisible God” speaks to the incarnation and the visible revelation of God’s nature through Christ, while “the firstborn over all creation” underscores His preeminence as God’s Son over ALL creation, exercising the rights of a firstborn child, who, in Middle Eastern culture, is the heir. In that society, the will is not divided among siblings. Rather, the firstborn is the executor, and through him, all the named beneficiaries receive their inheritance. Fundamental to understanding and believing in the God of the Bible is the truth that He is a Triune God: three Persons, but one God. God is one in essence but exists in three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ), and God the Holy Spirit. While each Person is fully God, they are not the same Person; rather, they are unique and relational, yet united in purpose and essence. God the Father  is the Creator and sustainer of all things. God the Son (Jesus Christ)  became incarnate, lived among us, died for the sins of those the Father gave Him from eternity, rose again victorious over sin, death, the law, and hell, and ascended on high, where He now reigns until the last of the redeemed and justified sinners is brought to Him in faith by the Spirit of God. God the Holy Spirit  dwells within those the Father has chosen and Christ has redeemed—guiding, comforting, and empowering them to live their lives in obedient submission to Christ according to the will of the Father. The Holy Spirit is the great illuminator in revealing Christ in the hearts of those that God the Father determined to save before time, in Whom, in time, came in the flesh to redeem them from the curse of sin and the bondage of the law. In essence, the Trinity means that there is one God who reveals Himself in three Persons, each of whom is fully and equally God. And yet, the only visible image is in the Son, Who came in the flesh. Though the term “Trinity” is not explicitly used in the Bible, it is based on passages that reveal the distinct roles and unity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit ( e.g., Matthew 28:19, John 14:16-17, 2 Corinthians 13:14). God declared in the first commandment to Israel through Moses in Exodus 20:4: “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” The reason for this was that the only visible image of Himself would be in His Son taking on human flesh, and He would then be the visible image of God the Spirit. As the writer to the Hebrews declares: “Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:3) Despite God's hatred of sin, it pleased Him to reconcile fallen sinners of His choosing to Himself. When our eyes are opened by the Spirit of God, we acknowledge willingly that apart from Christ, although once enemies of God in our thoughts and actions, now we are reconciled through Christ's sacrifice unto death in our place. The wonder of wonders is that we, as sinners should be saved by none other than God's blood, shed unto death out of the veins of a body that He took on. We should not attempt to explain away any part of this mystery, nor foolishly presume to fully comprehend these mysteries. Instead, we marvel at the glory of God's redemption and rejoice in the hope He gives to those for whom the Son took on flesh.

1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. " There are three parts to this important declaration of faith that the Spirit of God causes the child of God to acknowledge, before both God and men. "If we confess our sins." The "if" here may better be translated as "when" or "as." It is certain that the child of God does, and will continue to confess their sinfulness before the LORD. This is the ongoing work of the Spirit in their heart, from the moment of their first cry at their new birth to their last breath as they depart from this world in death, by God's appointment. Confession of sin is not just about us admitting wrongs but coming before God with a humble heart, recognizing the sinfulness of our sin before a Holy God and our need for His continual grace in Christ Jesus, the only Advocate for sin between God and the child of God (1 John 2:1,2). The writer to the Hebrews wrote: "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:14-16). To confess means "to say the same thing as." Therefore, to confess one's sinfulness before God is to see our sinfulness as God sees it and not to hide any of it before Him. Whether we confess the sin or not, the LORD knows what we are already, and its just a matter of Him bringing us to confess it before Him. When the Spirit of God declares us to be what we are, our only response can be, "Yes, LORD!" When shown the truth of Christ by the Spirit of God, the child of God will despise and abhor their flesh. The apostle Paul declared, late in his converted life, "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwelleth no good thing" (Romans 7:18). Job was caused to confess, "Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes" (Job 42:6). When God grants repentance to the sinner, it is never a one-time act, and it has nothing to do with a supposed free will, which is not free but completely bound by sin. Only God, by His Holy Spirit, can and does give true repentance. And when true repentance is given, it is by the revelation of Jesus Christ in the soul first, from which repentance is the fruit. "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6). "He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins." Since forgiveness of sins is the effect of Christ having died and paid the sin debt, it is not the act of confessing sin that brings forgiveness. Rather, confessing sin is the result of having had our sins already forgiven in the death of the LORD Jesus at the cross. As the redeemed sinner is continually made to see and acknowledge the sinfulness of their sin, God is faithful to His Son and His accomplished work at the cross to continue forgiving (present tense). Because Christ has paid the sin debt, there can never be any sin for which God the Father cannot forgive. "And to cleanse from all unrighteousness." Here again, it is the blood that the LORD Jesus shed unto death at the cross that has cleansed and continues to cleanse from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7) . So complete was the work of the LORD Jesus at the cross that there remained nothing but for God the Father to impute righteousness once and forever to the spiritual account of every one of God's children. He elected them from eternity and sent the LORD Jesus to die in their stead. Their sins, past, present, and future, were all put away at the cross. Every elect child since the cross has already had their sins put away, so all of their sins would still be future, yet to be committed, and yet already forgiven ( Colossians 2:13). No one can ever call themselves just or justified before God outside the Person of Christ and His finished work at the cross. Praise God for His gracious, justifying work of His elect, purposed from eternity, accomplished at the cross, and revealed in time in the hearts of each of them. "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37).