GOD’S WORD FOR AUGUST 5

We are reading from a daily devotional  called “Running To Win” written by Erwin Lutzer  and the late, great D.L. Moody.   Erwin Lutzer is a light in our day as D.L. Moody was in his.  Besides his many ministries, and many books, Pastor Lutzer was Senior Pastor at Moody Church in Chicago for 36 years and now serves as Pastor Emeritus there.  He is  Chancelor and a former professor at Moody Bible Institute, where he taught Theology and Ministry, and now has numerous radio teachings.

WORKING TOGETHER FOR YOU

1 John 5:7-8

“For there are three that testify; the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.”

D.L. MOODY

I find clearly presented in my Bible, that the one God who demands my love, service, and worship, has there revealed Himself, and that each of those three  names of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit has personality attached to them.  It has been remarked that the Father plans, the Son executes, and the Holy Spirit applies.  But I also believe they plan and work together.

ERWIN LUTZER

Moody’s comments are drawn from the larger teaching of Scripture.  The Father, Son and Holy Spirit work in harmony with one another, with divine work ascribed to each member of the Trinity, but they have distinct roles (see John 14 and 17).  Jesus stated that when the Holy Spirit would come, that He would testify of Jesus (John 15:26).

In the context of 1 John 5, John is focused on the testimony about the Son.  We read, “The Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is truth.”  (5:6).

 Then in verse 8, it says the Spirit, water and blood agree.  What does that mean?  The Holy Spirit of God testifies to the truth of Jesus who came by water (He was baptized) and by blood (He shed His blood for us).  These represent the beginning and end of His earthly ministry.  The Spirit, who is truth, testifies to both events, confirming Jesus’ identity at His baptism and His completed work at the cross.

Bottom line: The Father sent the Son out of love, the Son paid the price for sin out of obedience, and the Spirit seals us for the day of salvation to bring glory to the Father and Son.

May I leave you today with a deep gratitude for our salvation wrought by the triune God.

PRAYER

Father, thank You for loving me and sending Christ to pay for my sin.  Thank You for Jesus’ obedience, and thank You for the ministry and fellowship of the Spirit.

*** ***

John 17:21

    “That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”

** *

Ephesians 4:4-6

    “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

** *

John 16:13

    “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”

** *

1 Corinthians 12:13

    “For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”

** *

Acts 2:36

    “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.”

** *

John 14:26

    “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you.

** *

Romans 8:26

    “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.”

** *

John 14:6

    “Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’

** *

John 14:10

    “Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.”

** *

John 1:1

    “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

** *

Colossians 2:9

    “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form.”

** *

Published by liveinthelightofourlord

View all posts by liveinthelightofourlord