Tag Archives: spiritual death

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – The Need for Salvation

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Ephesians 2:1-3

Followers of Christ know the importance of being saved, but the world sees no need for rescue. Let’s think about some key truths regarding man’s need for salvation.

Those who don’t have a personal relationship with God through His Son Jesus are:

Spiritually dead.Many people don’t realize that there are three kinds of death—physical, eternal, and spiritual. Eternal death comes at the end of the age, when all those who have refused Jesus as Savior are cast away from God permanently (Matt. 25:41). Spiritual death occurred in the Garden of Eden. Disobedience severed Adam and Eve’s intimate connection to God and caused all of their descendants to be spiritually detached from Him (Rom. 5:12). We’re born as “dead” people in need of new life.

Living a life of sin. Our nature is to rebel against God, and that’s called sin. Over and over, we choose what pleases us, not Him. We’re enslaved to sin (John 8:34), and any effort to free ourselves from its power is in vain. We need someone to rescue us.

Under divine wrath. Because of our disobedience, we are under God’s judgment, awaiting punishment. All efforts to earn His approval and escape our sentence are insufficient. Sinful man has nothing acceptable to offer holy God. Our only hope of escape is for someone else to take our penalty.

The good news is that the Lord has provided a way for all to pass from spiritual death to life, from the bondage of sin into freedom, and from condemnation to intimacy with Him. Jesus Christ alone is the way (14:6), and He meets our every need.

Bible in One Year: Psalms 145-150

Joyce Meyer

Joyce Meyer – Do You Love Him?

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Joyce meyer

“Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to Him, “Tend My sheep.” —John 21:16

In the story that contains today’s scripture, Jesus asked Simon Peter three times if he loved Him and all three times, when Simon Peter said, “Yes,” Jesus answered with, “Then feed my sheep,” “Tend My sheep” or “Feed my lambs” (see John 21:15-17). On several occasions He referred to Himself as a Shepherd and to His people as sheep, so Peter knew He was telling Him to love and help His people.

I believe Jesus was saying in these verses that if we love Him we should be helping other people, not simply gathering in buildings on Sunday morning to follow rules and rituals. If a church is not involved in reaching the lost and helping oppressed people then they are not functioning as God fully intends.

The Apostle John said that we know we have passed over out of death into life by the fact that we love the brethren and He who does not love is held and kept continually in spiritual death (see I John 3:14). If a church is not overflowing with the genuine love of God, how can it be filled with life?

The early church, which we read about in the book of Acts, was very powerful. It literally shook the known world of its time and its influence is still being felt across the globe today. It was unified and all the people who were part of it were busy helping the people they knew to be in need. They helped those they knew personally and those they heard about in other towns and cities through the apostles who came to visit and teach them.

Love God Today: Do you love God? Then feed His sheep by helping others.