What are the Benefits? Part Four

Paid vacation, paid sick leave, 401K, and stock options are all benefits that you might have in certain jobs.  Then there are other benefits that might not be mentioned when you first decide to take the job or join the group.  Wellness program, education program, discount program.

Maybe being part of this organization has the potential to bring other things that you may have never thought possible. 

This is lesson four of a Four Part Series exploring the benefits of justification in the believer’s life.

Romans 8:35-39 NASB  Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  (36)  Just as it is written, "FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED."  (37)  But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.  (38)  For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,  (39)  nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Many organizations, give bonuses or extra benefits.  Paul asks the question who will separate us from the love of Christ?

Well, who will?  Paul goes on to list all the things that cannot separate us from the love of Christ.

What a bonus!  It is simple God longed to restore the separation created between Him and man.  Remember this happened as a result of Adam and Eve sinning in the Garden.  However, God loved of so much that He sent Jesus as the sacrifice to reconcile us back to Him.

I used to work for a company that gave me a $4000 Christmas Bonus and I felt like they really cared.  When you compare that amount to what Jesus did there is no comparison.

The Love of Christ with us always!!!!!  Now that’s a bonus

What are the Benefits? Part Three

Paid vacation, paid sick leave, 401K, and stock options are all benefits that you might have in certain jobs.  Then there are other benefits that might not be mentioned when you first decide to take the job or join the group.  Wellness program, education program, discount program.

Maybe being part of this organization has the potential to bring other things that you may have never thought possible. 

This is lesson three of a Four Part Series exploring the benefits of justification in the believer’s life.

Rom 5:6-11 NASB  For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  (7)  For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.  (8)  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  (9)  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.  (10)  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.  (11)  And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Many organizations, especially within the Academic World have what is known as “Continuing Status”.  It is the expectation of continued employment at the position you have achieved.   Let’s look at the definitions of these two words separately.

Continuing -  to maintain without interruption

Status -  position or rank

We are all worthless.  The Bible teaches that our righteousness is as filthy rags.  So from this we can see that our status within ourselves is nothing.  However, Paul tells us in verse 8 that God has shown us his love by allowing His son, Jesus to die for us on Calvary.  Paul says while we were yet sinners.  Even in our worthless state, God loved us. 

Paul says, Christ’s death has power through his blood to justify us.  Through His resurrection we have life.  When we ask Jesus to save us we are promoted to a child of God.  Our status changes, not from anything that we do but from what Christ did.  Now that we have been saved, Paul says that Christ’s life has power to keep us. 

The part of continuing status in this organization is …………………..

We can now rejoice because we have the atonement through Jesus Christ and have been reconciled to God.

Next week we will look at Bonuses.

What are the Benefits? Part Two

Paid vacation, paid sick leave, 401K, and stock options are all benefits that you might have in certain jobs.  Then there are other benefits that might not be mentioned when you first decide to take the job or join the group.  Wellness program, education program, discount program.

Maybe being part of this organization has the potential to bring other things that you may have never thought possible. 

This is lesson two of a Four Part Series exploring the benefits of justification in the believer’s life.

Rom 5:3-5 KJVR  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;  (4)  And patience, experience; and experience, hope:  (5)  And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

In today’s world everyone wants a position with an organization where the boss takes notice of you and invests in your development and growth.  So let’s look at God’s professional development program.  Paul tells us in verse three that we should glory in our trying experiences.  We don’t glory in the present discomfort but in the eventual results.  Only God’s professional development plan can have Joy coexist with affliction.

Tribulation works patience and patience experience.  This is another way of saying we are to persevere.  Do seals of approval mean anything to you?  You might see UL listed on items you buy.  This means Under Writers has approved these items.  What about USDA on meats you purchase or the Good housekeeping seal.  When we are in the mist of our trials and we look to Him to work out his purpose he is pleased. You might say, He gives us His Good Endurance Seal of Approval.  

It doesn’t stop there, God approval gives us hope and confidence that he will continue to work in our lives.  Our Hope will never be disappointed.  We know this because the Love of God is in our hearts. We have been given the Holy Spirit. 

Who else but God could work out such a growth and development plan?

Next week we will look at Continuing Status.

 

What are the Benefits? Part ONE

Paid vacation, paid sick leave, 401K, and stock options are all benefits that you might have in certain jobs.  Then there are other benefits that might not be mentioned when you first decide to take the job or join the group.  Wellness program, education program, discount program.

Maybe being part of this organization has the potential to bring other things that you may have never thought possible. 

Today we begin a Four Part Series exploring the benefits of justification in the believer’s life.

Romans 5:1-2 NASB  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,  (2)  through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

One benefit which is sometimes overlooked is proper work environment.  We like to have policy that guarantees no strive between the employee and the boss.  Paul tells us that we have this.  He plainly states in verse one that we have peace with God through Jesus Christ.

When we are saved, the war is over and all enmity between our soul and God has been removed.  We have been changed from foes to friends.  How much easier is it to work for someone when there is no friction between you and the boss.

The next benefit is an open door policy.  We have access to God.  When we believe in Jesus we are brought in as sons and daughters.  We rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  We know without a doubt that one day we will see the fullness of God.  We cannot comprehend this here on earth and we won’t get over the wonder of it through all eternity.

Next week we will look at the Professional Development Program.