I AM

Thesis: As Gods creation all of mankind are debtors, for the life given by God. We are all debtors for the innocent blood of Jesus Christ, given for our salvation (that undeserved blessing of God’s Grace). As God’s children (Christians) we must always be ready for Jesus’ return because only God Himself knows of that day and hour when Jesus will come for His children. We also need to be ready to give a defense for the hope that is in us expressed with meekness and fear, unashamed of the gospel which has the power to save your souls.

A. Ephesians 1:3-14. 3) “Blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4) just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5) having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6) to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. 7) In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8) which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9) having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10) that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth--in Him. 11) In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12) that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13) In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14) who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.”

Notice that there spiritual blessings for those that are in Christ. If we are outside of Christ, then we need to find a way to be in Christ to obtain these blessings from God. The scriptures tell us the only way to receive these spiritual blessings is to be in Christ, that is where we receive His blessings (God’s grace ).

Notice that those who have become Christians are predestined to adoption as sons (and of course daughters) and obtained an inheritance. God is telling us () those that are obedient to Jesus His Son () are His sons also; and we will have a place with Him in heaven, our inheritance. That is our hope.

The best day in my life was November 10^th 1998, the day I was baptized, placing me in Christ and having so many grievous sins washed away. I was so filled with joy () that I could hardly contain myself. A few months later I wrote a poem to express this joy because I realized just how much of a debtor I was, and still am, to Him who took the cross in my stead.

I’m sure that everyone knows what debt is () but have we ever experienced an instance where that debt is forgiven? If I received a notice in the mail from, lets say, MasterCard, and it said, BALANCE PAID IN FULL. Someone would have to perform C.P.R. on me, and it would probably have to be my wife Linda. I think I’d better be a little nicer to her () or I’m a goner! If this (forgiven credit debt) should ever happen () I think I would be very grateful () but as we all know this is just a () what if, the reality is () I’m going to pay two to three times the amount of the loan or more () unless I pay well over the minimum amount due. Our debts to God are our sins. Isn’t it nice to know that our balance sheet can read, PAID IN FULL if we come to Him through His Son? We are forgiven and our sins washed away by the blood of His Son through baptism. After we are in Christ we will continue to receive His blessings as we express our love to each other. Jesus teaches a lesson of a debt or (debt of sins) being forgiven because of the amount of love a person shows toward others. Turn your bibles to Luke 7: 41-48 where Jesus is speaking to Simon Peter.

B. Luke 7:41-48. 41)“There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii’s, and the other fifty. 42) And when they had nothing with which repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?” 43) Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have rightly judged.” 44) Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for my feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. 45) You gave me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. 46) You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. 47) Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” 48) And He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

It seems clear that the more we do in loving-kindness, the more we are forgiven in kind by God. When we show our love to others, we are showing our love for God. It is Also true, that the less we show our love () the less we are forgiven, () the fewer our spiritual blessings will be and the harder our struggles will be. It is clear to me, through His word, that we show our love for God by fulfilling His commandments. Love God… Love your neighbor… Forgive those that trespass against you… and so many more. As a debtor to Christ the first is easy (loving God) because He has given us so much, but the next has a degree of difficulty, loving your neighbor. After all, some people are difficult to get along with. The next seems a little more difficult, forgiving people. I think we all struggle with this one from time to time, yet if we fill ourselves with His word () these things become easier and easier. Maybe your kindness won’t always be accepted by some people, but your heart should always be in the right place.

Lets continue to examine why we are debtors. God put a lot of work and effort into preparing a way for His children. For thousands of years He taught the Hebrews what sin was through the scriptures of the Old Testament. Through those same scriptures He taught us that we couldn’t possibly be sinless on our own. We need God’s help to be saved! So He sent His Son to fulfill His plan of reconciliation.

C. Lets read Ephesians 2:14-18. 14)“For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of division between us, 15) having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances (the old Testament), so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16) and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17) And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18) For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.”

All we have to do is believe, and put ourselves in Christ to break the bonds of sin. Only in Him can our sins be forgiven. Do we remember (or know) what the acronym of GRACE stands for?

God’s Redemption At Christ’s Expense. When He was nailed to the cross () He took the old Testament away and became the propitiation (property owner) for our sins so that all of God’s creation could live. A debt no one can repay.

By the grace of God all can become one through the cross that Jesus bore for us by learning and following His commandments in the New Testament. Through baptism (full emersion ) we are cleansed of our sins by the blood of our savior Jesus Christ. This is how we are placed IN CHRIST. Please folks, don’t let these words go in one ear and out the other, consider your debt and do something about it.

A. Mathew 24:36-44. 36) “But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not even the angles of heaven, But My Father only. 37) But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38) For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39) and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40) Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41) Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42) Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your lord is coming. 43) But know this, that if the master of the house has known what hour the thief would come, he would not have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44) Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an Hour when you do not expect Him.”

We need to be steadfast in God’s word and make sure that His word () remains His. We need to mold ourselves to it and never try to mold it to our desires. If God’s word is twisted to satisfy our life styles () then it is no longer () His word. If it is no longer His word then we have moved ourselves outside of His saving grace () because grace is only in Him (His word). It scares me to death to think that most people in this world today believe that His word is out-dated or old fashioned. There is no way on earth people like this can be ready, because they are only seeking to satisfying themselves. Take a hard look at yourselves when you study the scriptures. Are you looking for the truth or for an excuse ? And when you realize the truth, do you say to God, Oh Father, I’ve been wrong! And pray to Him for forgiveness and strength to do His will? Be wise and let His word move you to action so you can be ready when He comes.

C. Mathew 25:1-13. 1) “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2) “Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. 3) Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, 4) but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 5) But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 6) And at midnight a cry was heard: Behold, the bridegroom is coming, go out to meet him! 7) Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. 8) And the foolish said to the wise, ‘give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9) But the wise answered, saying, ‘No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 10) And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. 11) Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ 12) But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13) Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

Gods word can’t nourish our hearts if it is planted in contaminated soil. We need to clean up the contamination (our sins) or die. We make ourselves ready through repentance, cleaning up the contamination of our lives, turning away from the sinful ways of our old selves and embracing our spiritual life in Gods word.

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