DAILY DISCIPLINE #10
By Colleen Donahue
"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes... "
Romans 1:16a.
I was raised in a Catholic, middle-class, American family. I had parents that loved me, three great brothers, many friends, and a home that was comfortable and inviting. But at age 15 I was already leading a double life. I was "happy go lucky", carefree, and capable on the outside, but serious, worried, and fearful on the inside. The conflict seemed unbearable at times and no one had a clue as to the serious nature of my thoughts because I had a tremendous capacity to hold everything inside.
On my bookcase sat a little copy of the New Testament that my father had given me. It was his in the Navy. At night I found myself pulling this off the shelf and reading one or two verses at random. "Come unto me all you that are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest." The words seemed to tear at my heart and I found a strange comfort in thinking about them, but little realized the power they could have in my life.
Now, all of us are like me -- a mixed bag of good and bad, fears and faith, generosity and selfishness. God knew that once the very first people --Adam and Eve --- chose sin, it would produce a ripple effect in every generation. We were meant to walk in partnership with God throughout life, but instead, sin separates us from Him. Hence we are each on our own to find our way through life.
God, knowing the consequences of sin knew that we would need to be "saved". We would need to be saved from the guilt and shame of sin that can eat us alive. And we'd need to be saved from the power within that keeps us sinning. That's the subject of this study and the next......
Salvation - Part I
Day 1-Why did God create man?
Genesis 1:26-31 /Jeremiah 31:3
Day 2-What was to be the downfall of man?
Genesis 3:1-13 / 1 Timothy 2:14
Day 3-What was the penalty for the earth and mankind as a result of disobedience and rebellion towards God?
Genesis 3:14-24
Day 4-Over time, what became of man's behavior?
Genesis 6:5
Day 5-How did God respond?
Genesis 6:6-7 / Genesis 7:17-24
Day 6-God then started over. How?
Genesis 6: 8-22 / Genesis 8:15-22
Day 7-Is man basically good?
Psalm 53:3 / Proverbs 20:9 / Isaiah 53:6 / lsaiah 64:6
Day 8-What is our position today?
Jeremiah 17:9 / Romans 3:23
Day 9-Did God create man with an evil heart?
Genesis 1:27,31 / Genesis 9:6B / Jeremiah 2:17,21
Day 10- Is there any hope for us to be able to reestablish a relationship with God by ourselves?
Romans 3:28 / Ephesians 2:8
Day 11-What is God's solution to man's sinfulness?
John 3:16 / Romans 5:18 / Romans 6:23
Day 12-What do we need to be saved from?
Isaiah 59:2 / Romans 5:12 / Luke 9:25
Day 13-
Can our salvation from sin, sickness or death be achieved through any other means?
John 14:6 / Acts 4:11-12
Day 14-If Jesus died centuries ago, how does that help me today?
Titus 2:11-14
Day 15-Is there anything that you or I need to do to accept the salvation that God has worked through Jesus?
John 1:12 / John 8:10-11 / Acts 2:21 / Acts 16:30-31 / Romans 10:9-13
Day 16-By allowing Jesus to be Lord of my life how will my behavior change?
Titus 3:3-8 / James 1:21
Day 17- What if I choose to ignore all that God has done for me in Jesus?
Ezekiel 33:9 / John 3:18 / Hebrews 2:3
Day 18- Is salvation through Jesus for everyone in the world?
Acts 2:2 / Romans 10:13 / I Timothy 2:4 / 2 Peter 3:9
Day 19- When we receive Jesus Christ we experience a "New Birth." What will be the consequences of not being born again? (Especially vs. 5)
John 3:1-8
Day 20-How can you know for sure that you no longer will face eternal death for your sins?
1 John 5:11-13
Day 21-What will be the consequences in this life of not letting Jesus be "Lord of your life?"
Romans 1:18-32
Day 22- How can I know without a doubt that God loves even me?
Romans 5:8
Day 23- Can salvation be a "group event?"
Revelation 3:20
Day 24-Is there anything I need to "do" to learn and grow in Jesus?
John 14:21 / John 15:7 / Acts 17:11
Day 25- How can I grow in Jesus?
Matthew 4:19 / Galatians 5:16 / I Peter 5:7
Day 26-Is there a danger of "doing" all the right things and missing what is really important? Here are Christ's own words:
John 5:39-40
Day 27- What are some of the benefits in this life, of the work Christ did on Calvary through His death?
Romans 5:10-11
Day 28- What are some more of these benefits?
1 Peter 2:24 / Romans 6:6,7,18,22
Day 29- What are some more of these benefits?
Romans 6: 4, 8-9
Day 30- What are some more of these benefits?
Romans 8:10
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