Pastor Gary's OYB Devotion Archive for August 23

THE NECESSITY OF THE RESURRECTION

From: August 23, 2024

“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22 ESV).

The apostle Paul explained the critical importance of the resurrection of Jesus to the gospel message, saying “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins” (1 Cor. 15:17). He then explained how Christ’s resurrection fits into the overall story of the Bible. For he connected the gospel story back to the Genesis story and the origin of humanity’s sin problem and therefore our death problem.

For we are all children of Adam and as such, subject to the wages of sin, which is death. Yet, God has sent Christ Jesus, who is like a “second Adam” (1 Cor. 15:45-49). Through faith in Christ we are born again, becoming the righteous children of God and receiving eternal life. Christ is the new Adam, the prototype, the “firstborn among many brothers” (Rom. 8:29).

We were born into the human family of Adam and we have inherited the things of Adam. But being born again into the family of God through faith in Christ, we have become inheritors of the things of Christ. Since Christ is raised, so we who believe will also be raised. Just as Christ’s death on the cross was necessary to pay sin’s wages, so Christ’s resurrection was necessary to make us alive in Him for eternity.

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for Jesus. For we who were dead in our sins have been made alive through faith in Jesus. Strengthen us to tell the world of Your great love for us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

JESUS CHRIST, OUR MEDIATOR

From: August 23, 2023

“If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together” (Job 9:33 NLT).

Job viewed God as so great and transcendent as to be unapproachable by man. For God worked in the realm of the heavens and the stormy seas, while man was limited to dry ground. He reasoned that if only there were a mediator that could stretch out his hands between he and God, then he would be able to make a case for himself. But Job knew of no such one.

Yet the One Job hoped for has come. His name is Jesus Christ. He calmed the stormy heavens saying, “Peace, be still” (Mark 4:39). He tread upon the waves of the Sea of Galilee, telling His disciples not to be afraid (Matt. 14:25-27). And He stretched out His hands between God and man and died on a cruel cross for our sins and was raised on the third day for our justification (Rom.4:25). He is the Mediator that Job and all mankind had longed and hoped for.

As the apostle Paul proclaimed, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all” (1 Tim. 2:5-6).

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are able to call You “Father” because of Jesus. He is our Mediator, the One who saved us and paid for our adoption as Your children. We are able to boldly approach Your throne because of Him. Thank You Lord for such amazing access. Strengthen us to live for You today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day…” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4 NLT).

From: August 23, 2022

PASSING ON THE GOOD NEWS

Paul made it clear to the Corinthians that the gospel he passed on to them was the same one that had also been passed on to him. This is the gospel by which he was saved and by which they too would be saved, if only they would believe.

This gospel is good news. It has certain particular facts that are well documented with a list of eye-witnesses. Paul described himself as both a witness and also like a newspaper boy. He didn’t write the news, nor make the news, but he had been called to deliver it. And he delivered it whole and unchanged just as he received it.

This is our task today. First, to receive the gospel ourselves and then, to pass it on to others, just as Paul did.

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are thankful that the Good News has been passed on through the generations to us today. You have protected Your Word and made sure that we heard it. Now strengthen us to pass it on to others just as it was given to us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea” (Job 9:8 HCSB).

From: August 23, 2021

JESUS CHRIST, OUR ONLY MEDIATOR

Job viewed God as so great and transcendent as to be unapproachable by man. For God worked in the realm of the heavens and the stormy seas, while man was limited to dry ground. He reasoned that if only there were a mediator that could stretch out his hands between he and God, then he would be able to make a case for himself. But Job knew of no such one.

Yet the One Job hoped for has come. His name is Jesus Christ. He calmed the stormy heavens saying, “Peace, be still” (Mark 4:39). He tread upon the waves of the Sea of Galilee, telling His disciples not to be afraid (Matt. 14:25-27). And He stretched out His hands between God and man and died on a cruel cross for our sins and was raised on the third day for our justification (Rom.4:25). He is the Mediator that Job and all mankind had longed and hoped for.

As the apostle Paul proclaimed, “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all” (1 Tim. 2:5-6).

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are able to call You “Father” because of Jesus. He is our Mediator, the One who saved us and paid for our adoption as Your children. We are able to boldly approach Your throne because of Him. Thank You Lord for such amazing access. Strengthen us to live for You today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“He alone spreads out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea” (Job 9:8 NKJV).

From: August 23, 2020

JESUS, THE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MAN

Job viewed God as so great and transcendent as to be unapproachable by man. For God worked in the realm of the heavens and the stormy seas, while man was limited to dry ground. He reasoned that if only there were a “mediator” (9:33) that could stretch out his hands between he and God, then he would be able to make a case for himself. But Job knew of no such one.

Yet the One Job hoped for has come. His name is Jesus Christ. He calmed the stormy heavens saying, “Peace, be still” (Mark 4:39). He tread upon the waves of the Sea of Galilee, telling His disciples not to be afraid (Matt. 14:25-27). And He stretched out His hands between God and man and died on a cruel cross for our sins and was raised on the third day for our justification (Rom.4:25). He is the Mediator that Job and all mankind had longed and hoped for.

“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all” (1 Tim. 2:5-6).

PRAYER: Dear Father, we are able to call You “Father” because of Jesus. He is our Mediator, the One who saved us and paid for our adoption as Your children. We are able to boldly approach Your throne because of Him. Thank You Lord for such amazing access. Strengthen us to live for You today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together” (Job 9:33 NLT).

From: August 23, 2019

OUR MEDIATOR JESUS CHRIST

Job cried out for a mediator between him and God. He knew that the span between them was too great. He desired one who might shield him from punishment and make it possible for him to speak to the Lord without fear. Job’s prayer has been heard. Jesus is our Mediator. The Bible declares, “There is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).

PRAYER: Dear Father, thank You for sending Your Son to be our Mediator. Now we may boldly come before You as sons through faith in Christ Jesus. Give us strength and opportunity this day to share the Good News of reconciliation with someone else. In Jesus’ name, amen.

“For I will declare my iniquity; I will be in anguish over my sin” (Psalm 38:18 NKJV).

From: August 23, 2017

When God declared David a “man after my own heart” (Acts 13:22), it wasn’t because David was sinless. David had many shortcomings just as we all do. But David was quick to confess his sins. He shed real tears of repentance when he did wrong. He had an abiding desire to please God and do His will. It truly grieved David to sin against God. David’s heart was “loyal” (1 Kings 11:4) to the Lord.

Through Christ we can have our sins forgiven and our hearts made new. Yet, we still sometimes stumble into sin while living in this world. David’s habit of confession and repentance is still needed in our lives. As the apostle John wrote, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:22 ESV)

From: August 23, 2016

We are all children of Adam and as such, subject to the wages of sin, which is death. Yet, God has sent Christ, who is like a second Adam, that we might be born again becoming the righteous children of God and receiving eternal life. Just as Adam’s death pointed to our own, so Christ’s resurrection points to our own future resurrection. Christ is the prototype, the “firstborn among many brothers” (Rom. 8:29). Since Christ is raised, so we who believe will be raised.

“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day…” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4 NKJV)

From: August 23, 2015

Paul made it clear to the Corinthians that the gospel he “delivered” to them was the same one that he had “received.” This is the gospel by which he was saved and by which they too would be saved, if only they would believe. This gospel is good news. It has certain particular facts that are well documented with a list of eye-witnesses. Paul is like a newspaper boy, he didn’t write the news, nor make the news, he is just the one who delivers it. And he delivers it whole and unchanged just as he received it. This is our task today. First, to receive the gospel ourselves and then, to deliver it to others, just as Paul did.

“If only there were a mediator between us, someone who could bring us together” (Job 9:33 NLT)

From: August 23, 2014

Job cried out for a mediator between him and God. He knew that the span between them was too great. He desired one who might shield him from punishment and make it possible for him to speak to the Lord without fear. Job’s prayer has been heard. Jesus is our Mediator. The Bible declares, “There is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).