ONLY IN CHRIST JESUS 
       - THE GIFT OF GOD -

Pastor Max Solbrekken, D.D.

    “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.” (2 Cor.8: 9); “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.” (2 Cor. 9: 15)

     JESUS CHRIST is the unspeakable Gift that God gave us when He sent His only begotten Son to this earth to Redeem fallen man. He came to liberate us from the world, the flesh and the devil. We were in His heart before the creation of the world!

      The Bible says: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Heavenly places in Christ: According as He hath chosen us in Him before the  foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:

     “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the Beloved.” (Eph.1: 3-7)

    The Redemption of the human race was His number one priority. The Holy Bible says: “For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world, through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16, 17)

            GOD KNOW US, LOVES US & WANTS US!

    The amazing thing is that He loves us and wants us even though we were sinful, arrogant, rebellious and proud. Jesus proved that by going to the Cross in our stead. While hanging on that cursed tree, He prayed: “Forgive them for they know not what they do...” (Luke 23: 34)

      The BIBLE states: “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2: 3, 4); “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness: but is long suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

     “But God has chosen the foolish things of the  world to confound the wise;  and God hath chosen the weak things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught  things that are.” (1 Cor. 1: 27-28).

     St. Paul wrote: “That no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, Who of God is made unto us Wisdom, and Righteousness, and Sanctification, and Redemption. That according as it is written, He that glorieth, Let him Glory in the Lord.” (1 Cor.1: 29-31)

     By the grace of God alone, we have been Chosen to become Partakers of  Christ's Nature, thereby making us Children of God, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. In His great Mercy, Kindness and Love, He has made us ACCEPTED in the Beloved.

    Not only has He saved us from Satan's evil power and our own carnal and sinful ways but through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, God has given us His Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption!

            WHO OF GOD IS MADE UNTO US!

    So great is the SALVATION of God for sinful mankind, that by His BLOOD that was shed for us on Golgotha and His resurrection from the dead, we have been lifted from our sins and the kingdom darkness into a sphere of true wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption!

    He has taken the foolish things of this world and made us His very own sons. His blood REDEEMED us from the curse of the law, when Jesus became a curse from us. (Gal.3: 13). The underlying PURPOSE was that no flesh should glory in His presence. It is all the WORK of Almighty God to make us New Creatures - Forgiven, Cleansed, Redeemed and Sanctified.

   Why did God, the Father do all this? What was the purpose of Christ's Incarnation, Miracle Ministry, vicarious Death on the Cross and His glorious Resurrection from the grave? It was the out-flowing of our Heavenly Father's great mercy, love, grace and GOODNESS toward the human race!

     His great heart planned and executed it all, before the worlds were created. He would have a Church, a People and a Family to bless, love and cherish and use as the expression of His mercy and grace for time and eternity!

          WHO CAN UNDERSTAND SUCH LOVE?

     No-one is able to comprehend His Goodness and the magnitude of His Grace. It is beyond our human ability to assimilate or even imagine!  He wanted us. He loved us, desired us and forgave us. He cleansed us. He saved us from our sins, our filthiness, pride and unrighteousness. He lifted us from the muck and mire, to sit with His Son Jesus Christ at His Heavenly Throne.

      No wonder St. Paul said, “...That no flesh should glory...” We have nothing to gloat about! It was all His Plan, His Work and His Goodness that gave us all this! Where would we be without His MERCY? Lost in our sins, bound by chains of hatred, fear, lust, greed and pride. Doomed forever in a Lost Eternity, filled with fear, agony, pain and torment!

    O' what a Saviour! O' what a Redeemer! O' what Blessedness we have in Jesus Christ our Lord! To Him be glory, honour and praise forever and ever. World without end. Amen.
                  NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY 
                        MAN SHOULD BOAST!

    St. Paul admonished: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of Works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Eph. 2: 8-10).

    JESUS stated: “I am the Vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in Him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.” (John 15: 5). Some Greeks came looking for Jesus, saying: “We would see Jesus.” (John 12:21). What an honourable and intelligent desire.

     Why is Jesus so important? What can He do for us that no-one can? Jesus said: “All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in earth.” (Matt. 28:18); “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No man cometh unto the Father but by Me.” (John 14:6)

     Our Saviour stated: “Come unto Me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and earn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your soul. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matt. 11: 28, 29)

     We must approach our Heavenly Father with deep reverence, humility and devotion in the Name of Jesus Christ.  Since only faith pleases God, we must come before His throne of mercy in full faith of Calvary's victory. Knowing that He delights in hearing our requests, let us pour out our hearts before Him in fervent prayer asking for His blessing, forgiveness and healing.

     He has promised to hear and answer our prayers: “All that the Father giveth unto Me shall come unto Me; and him that cometh unto Me, I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6: 37); “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me; or else believe Me for the very work's sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that believeth on Me, the works that I do shall ye do also and greater works than these shall ye do because I go unto My Father.

     “And whatsoever ye shall ask in My Name, that will I do that the Father may be glorified in the Son, If ye shall ask anything in My name, I will do it.” (John 14:11-14); “If ye abide in Me and My words abide, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” (John 15: 7)

            O' COME LET US ADORE HIM!

    We are SAVED by grace alone, through faith alone, and in Christ alone! St. Paul writes: “For of Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things: to Whom be glory forever. Amen.” (Rom. 11: 36). Expounding on salvation through faith, the great Apostle declares:

     “BUT FOR US ALSO, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead: Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. Therefore being justified by FAITH, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by Whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”  (Rom. 4: 24; 5: 1, 2)

      Let us WORSHIP Jesus Christ like the women on the first resurrection morning: “And as they went to tell His disciples Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held Him by the feet, and worshipped Him.” (Matt. 28: 9).

     The Heavenly Father instructed the angels to worship Him: “And again, when He bringeth in the first begotten into the world, He saith, And let Angels of God worship Him.” (Heb. 1: 5, 6). The Book of Revelation states: “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the Book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by Thy BLOOD out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

      “And every creature which is in Heaven and on the earth and such as are in the sea and all that are in them heard I saying, Blessing and honour, and glory and power, be unto Him  that sitteth upon the Throne and unto the LAMB forever and ever.” (Rev. 5: 9, 13).

      Dear friends, O' Come Let us Adore Him, Christ the Lord! Amen.