05-08-2026 Loved First 1 John 4:9–10 (AMP) "By this the love of God was displayed in us, in that God has sent His one and only begotten Son... In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (that is, the atoning sacrifice) for our sins." Love did not begin with us—it began with God. Before we ever sought Him, He was already pursuing us. Before we ever whispered a prayer, He had already made a way through Jesus Christ. God's love is not based on our performance, our worthiness, or our ability to earn it. His love is a gift, freely given through the sacrifice of His Son. The cross is the greatest demonstration of love the world has ever seen. Jesus willingly took our place, bearing the punishment for our sin so that we could be forgiven, restored, and welcomed into God's family. This is the kind of love that changes hearts, heals wounds, and gives hope. When we truly understand that we are deeply loved by God, we stop striving to earn His approval. Instead, we begin to live from His love rather than for His love. His perfect love becomes the source of our strength, our identity, and the way we love others. Today, rest in the truth that you are loved first, loved completely, and loved forever through Christ. Prayer: Father, thank You for loving me before I ever loved You. Thank You for sending Jesus to be the perfect sacrifice for my sins. Help me to live each day rooted in Your amazing love and to reflect that same love to everyone I meet. May my life point others to the incredible grace You have shown me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Good morning, brethren. 1. Morning devotion for today. MD.i. 😀🎀💝🎁🌺🌹MORNING TEA THE WORD FOR TODAY WEDNESDAY AUGUST 5, 2O26. "YOU CAN CARRY GOD’S PRESENCE WITH YOU (1)" ‘The poles…are not to be removed.’ Exodus 25:15 NIV THE ARK of the Covenant represented the presence of God in the midst of His people. When the Philistines captured it, they were smitten with tumours. When they placed it in their temple, their god Dagon fell to the ground (1 Samuel 5). The moral of this story is—don’t mess around with the things of God! Even if you are not prepared to serve God; at least be wise and revere Him. When Israel conquered the Philistines, David decided to bring the Ark, the symbol of God’s presence, back home to Jerusalem. Now, when God designed the Ark, He put rings on the side of it, and poles through those rings, saying it must only be carried on the shoulders of special priests. But somebody thought of ‘a better way,’ so they put it on a new cart pulled by an ox. And that’s when everything went wrong. When the Ark started to slip off the cart, a well-meaning bystander decided to steady it. And he died for it! You say, ‘That’s pretty extreme.’ There’s a lesson here for those who want to package God’s presence, market it, and ‘take it on the road.’ Who is qualified to carry God’s presence? Only believer-priests who have been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb, are washed by the Word at the laver, who fellowship with God at His table, who worship Him at the altar of incense, and who walk in the light of truth represented by the seven-branched lampstand. Away with newfangled carts! ‘…the Lord added to the church…’ (Acts 2:47 NKJV). If we are going to carry God’s presence and build His church, we’ve got to do it His way. Bible In A Year: Deut 32:29-34:12; Matt 14:13-21; Ps 119:17-24; Pro 27:7-10. Courtesy: Grace So Amazing Foundation 🌹🎀 *To partner with us, kindly refer to page 9 of the hard copy edition or simply send us a WhatsApp message/call on +2348128000068.*🌷🎀💝🌹. MD.ii. [04/08, 9:31 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DAILY Ⓜ️ANNA - (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR ADULTS) WEDNESDAY 5TH AUGUST, 2026``` *DEFILEMENT DETESTED* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️🖤❌🩸🤍🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:LEVITICUS 11:13-28```📜📜 🔑📖```KEY VERSE:``` _*"And he that beareth the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean unto you" (LEVITICUS 11:28).*_ *Leonard Syme, a professor of epidemiology at the University of California at Berkeley, indicates the importance of social ties and social support systems in relationship to mortality and disease rates. He simply underscores the saying that attack is the best defence. Defiant posture to defilements regardless the form or the size is the panacea for living holy.* *This is the gem in the seemingly extensive and meticulous dietary regulation outlined in our passage, which serves a crucial purpose beyond maintaining physical health. To the Israelites, it was a constant reminder to their distinct identity and calling on one hand and a perpetual prompt to seek holiness and live in constant obedience to God in all aspects of life on the other hand. In the same way, believers today are called to maintain a distinct identity in the world. Our lives must be marked by holiness, obedience, and respect for God's commandments.* *Our text, on the surface, sets forth the dietary restrictions on fowls or birds (Leviticus 11:13b-19) and flying insects (Leviticus 11:19-23), but at a deeper level they are part of a larger tapestry of holiness and obedience to God's laws.* *The hallmark of this dietary law is the indelible imprint of God's work in them and the call to live lives directed by God. The regulation constantly reminds the Israelites that they are a different and separate people who should by no means live the same way or share common values with the surrounding nations. As the distinction exists between clean and unclean animals, birds or creeping creatures so is there an uncompromisable difference between the Israel of God and other nations. Their food choices reflect this consecrated, holy identity.* *How this speaks to you, the "ecclesia", called out one today. If you are saved, your only option is to be separated to live holily before the Lord Who saved you: "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy" (1 Peter 1:15, 16). These detailed and seemingly complicated instructions underscore the place of God's amazing grace and the unmerited favour He shows to us by His covenant loving-kindness.* ✍🏽```THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:``` _*Passion for heaven necessitates strict separation and unqualified obedience to the word.*_ 📜📜```THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:``` *JOHN 10-12*📜📜 Defilement Detested https://dailymanna.app// *RECOMMENDED GOSPEL HYMNS AND SONGS - GHS 190: "CALLED UNTO HOLINESS"; GHS 219: MORE HOLINESS GIVE ME, MORE STRIVING WITHIN; AND GHS 188: TAKE TIME TO BE HOLY* *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#DailyManna5thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [04/08, 9:31 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*HIGHER EVERYD🅰️Y: (A DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE FOR YOUTHS)*_ ✍🏽👩🏻‍💼🌻 🍇🙏🏽🛰🚀🔬📚 ```WEDNESDAY 5TH AUGUST, 2026``` *LIFT UP JESUS* 🎚️📓📖🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️✝️🆙🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🗣️📢📣🙏🏽 📜📜```TEXT:JOHN 12:30-36```📜📜 📖``` MEMORY VERSE:``` _*"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me" (JOHN 12:32).*_ *Jesus is the Saviour of the world. Life here and in eternity will be worthless without Him. Thus, everything concerning the redemption and restoration of man after his unfortunate fall in the Garden of Eden revolves around His ultimate price for the propitiation of our sins.* *Since Christ is the cornerstone of our existence, we must lift Him up for the world to see and be saved because without salvation through His blood, a soul will be damned in hell forever.* *Modern technology has made it easy to lift up Jesus for the world to see. The social media platforms have made it very easy to preach to thousands of people without stress. Serve the Lord in the days of your youth; lift up the flag of Jesus with all your strength and vigour to draw all men to Him for their salvation.* *God has rewards for those who faithfully carry out the work of evangelism. However, for you to lift up Christ for those to see, you must allow Christ to lift you out of your sinful lifestyle first.* 💬 ```QUOTE:``` _*Lift up Christ for others to see.*_ 🏆 ```CHALLENGE:``` _*Serve the Lord.*_ 🙏🏽🙏🏽 ```PRAYER:``` _*Lord, help me to lift up Christ every day.*_ Lift Up Jesus https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#HigherEveryday5thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [04/08, 9:31 pm] Pastor Attah: ```DEEPER CHRISTIAN LIFE MINISTRY``` _*(SINCERE MILK: Children Daily Devotional Guide 2⃣0⃣2⃣6️⃣)*_ 🙇🏼🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼🙇‍♀️🙇🏼‍♂️ ```WEDNESDAY 5TH AUGUST, 2026``` *A HELPER TO OTHERS* 📓📖🎚️🫵🏽🙋🏽‍♂️🙋🏽‍♀️👥🤝🧎🏽🧎🏽‍♀️🙏🏽 📜📜```GALATIANS 6:1-3```📜📜 🕔📚🖋️🚻😁🎼🏆🍉🪴🌈💻 🔑📖 ```Key Verse:``` _*"Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ" (Galatians 6:2).*_ 📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖📖 Helping others is an important aspect of Christian fellowship. Jesus set the perfect example by healing the sick, comforting the brokenhearted and providing for those who were in need. Christ's life was dedicated to serving others, showing us that true love is found in selfless acts of kindness and compassion. When we help others, we are following Christ's command to love our neighbours as ourselves. Serving others does not always require big gestures. Sometimes, it is the small things that matter most; like a kind word, a listening ear, or sharing what we have. These simple acts can make a big difference in someone's life and show Christ's love in powerful ways. *By helping others, we not only fulfill God's command, but we also make the world a better place. Our service becomes a living example of God's love, drawing others closer to Jesus. Through these actions, we share the hope and grace that He offers, and in doing so, we become vessels of His love in the world.* 🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥🍥 ```🅿️rayer:``` _*Lord, guide me to help others, showing Your love through my actions and words.*_ 🙏🏽 ```📖 Further Reading:``` *Matthew 25:35-40* A Helper To Others https://dailymanna.app// *TXD [THEXDEVOTIONALS] on Twitter* *#SincereMilk5thAugust2026* *#GCK* *#WorshipNuggets* *#BibleNuggets* *#LeadershipNuggets* *#RevivalNuggets* *#CrusadeNuggets* https://www.youtube.com/[THEXDEVOTIONALS] [04/08, 9:32 pm] Pastor Attah: *MEDITATIONS ON DAILY ⓂANNA* WEDNESDAY, 5TH AUGUST, 2026. *BEYOND GOOD AND BALANCED DIET* *TEXT:* LEVITICUS 11:13-28. 13 And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls; they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination: the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, 14 And the vulture, and the kite after his kind; 15 Every raven after his kind; 16 And the owl, and the night hawk, and the cuckow, and the hawk after his kind, 17 And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl, 18 And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier eagle, 19 And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. 20 All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you. 21 Yet these may ye eat of every flying creeping thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth; 22 Even these of them ye may eat; the locust after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind. 23 But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you. 24 And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even. 25 And whosoever beareth ought of the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even. 26 The carcases of every beast which divideth the hoof, and is not clovenfooted, nor cheweth the cud, are unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean. 27 And whatsoever goeth upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean unto you: whoso toucheth their carcase shall be unclean until the even. 28 And he that beareth the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: they are unclean unto you. *Timeless Truth:*_"Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ"_ (Colossians 2:16,17). *INTRODUCTION* It is doubtful if there is any generation different from ours who is better exposed to the principle of healthy living through a good and appropriate diet. This is possible through newest and advanced, though progressive, scientific discoveries especially, from nutritional scientists. Ignoring their advise and instructions is suicidal against healthy living and longevity. A healthy spirit in an unhealthy and weak body cannot be at its best spiritually. Does God care about what we eat? God is the greatest nutritional scientist since He created those animals and knows them more than anybody else. The dietary laws in the text were primarily directed to Israel as part of the Mosaic law which are not binding for those in the new covenant. However, beyond dietary rules, these rules are meant to pass across deeper truths as they are shadows of things to come in the New Testament (Colossians 2:16,17). *1. Dietary Laws* a. In order to get honey from the rock, there must be willingness and determination to pay the price of diligently digging hard. The same with the old covenant which is a shadow of the new. Due diligence must be given so as to eat and digest the meat of the Word which is beyond the milk of the Word. b. The chapter can be categorized for better understanding. i.Land-living mammals that can be eaten and those that cannot be eaten are given in Leviticus 11:1-8. God gave these laws to the children of Israel. Did God create any animal to be unclean? The New Testament says NO. *"I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean."* God just decided to make that temporary classification to teach some lessons as divine revelations were evolving. When God created animals, *"God saw that it was good"* (Genesis 1:25). Would something unclean be good to God? The classification was revealed in the days of Noah when there was a distinction between clean and unclean animals (Genesis 7:2, 8:20) for the purpose of sacrifice. The first law God gave to humanity had to do with what could and could not be eaten. Was the fruit that was not to be eaten unclean. NO. It was a good fruit from a good tree, but God classified it as forbidden to test their obedience. So these laws were given to Israel as a test of their obedience and separation to God. ii.Water creatures that cannot be eaten and those that cannot be eaten are listed in Leviticus 11:9-12. Under these dietary laws given to Israel, the unclean water creatures were to be regarded as an abomination and could not be eaten. iii.Birds and other flying things that can and cannot be eaten are listed in Leviticus 11:13-19. There was no rule given to determine if a bird was clean or unclean. Instead, specific birds (twenty in all) are mentioned as being unclean and therefore forbidden for eating.The common thread through most of these birds is that they are either predators or scavengers which, apart from killing fellow creatures, have the tendency to drink their blood. iii. Insects that can and cannot be eaten are listed in Leviticus 11:20-23. Good examples of clean insects include the locust, the cricket and the grasshopper. All these unclean creatures can be touched when they are alive except that they must not be eaten. We can relate with sinners without getting polluted with their sins. If the carcass of any of the unclean is touched either deliberately or accidentally, the person and their clothes become unclean and must perform some ceremonially purifying rituals. *"And for these ye shall be unclean: whosoever toucheth the carcase of them shall be unclean until the even"*. The evening was referring to the time of their evening sacrifice. *"And whosoever beareth ought of the carcase of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even"*. *Question* Check the list for those animals and birds that were unclean then, but are freely eaten now by believers and man in general. *2. Definite Lessons* a.It has been established that no creature of God is created unclean. The classification was temporary to pass across some eternal messages. Eternal divine messages are difficult to comprehend by the natural man. The concept of the innocent coming to die for the wicked is not natural. It is the other way around. A kind of mercy that will declare the guilty not just forgiven and stands before God as though he had never sinned and a saint is beyond human comprehension. This is called justification. How do you reconcile justice and mercy? What about the concept of grace that will make God forget committed sins to the point that He would not be able to remember again? God in His wisdom decided to use natural and visible things in the Old Testament to shadow reality in the New Testament so that those concepts will be readily understood by mankind. And it worked. b. The emphasis in the text is more of moral uncleanness rather than medical uncleanness. It teaches that there is moral cleanness and moral uncleanness and they cannot mix. Moral uncleanness is not just divine hatred, it is an abomination to God of which the judgment is capital or eternal damnation. The fact that unclean animals cannot be sacrificed is indicative of the fact that God only accepts the sacrifices and the services of those that are holy and clean. *"Be ye holy for I am holy"*. This is reasonable. If you have a delicious meal, but notice a small and an "insignificant" quantity of human excreta in the food, will you eat it? If you are very hungry and you see an exposed loaf of bread in a dustbin of all kinds of rotten things, will you pick the bread and eat? If you are interviewing a person for a good job and you notice the person tells "small, small lies", will you employ the person? At times man pushes to God what he himself cannot accept or tolerate. Will you blame God if He is angry at your unholy sacrifice, service and actions? There is also the law of "don't touch" a dead animal or you become unclean. This is the law of total separation from uncleanness and peddlers of uncleanness. *"Come out from among them and be ye separate"*. Jesus Christ, in mind, motive and every area, was separate from sinners. Even when He physically interacted, it was to shine the light to them and minister the truth to them. *"Abstain from all appearance of evil"*. The defiled shall be unclean till the even or evening sacrifice.It was time an innocent animal was slain for the sin of the whole nation on a daily basis. It shows that forgiveness comes through atonement by the blood. The fact that he must also wash himself with water is an indication that there must be personal responsibility in addition to the atonement. The sinner must apply the washing of water by the Word of God to wash his mindset, heart, attitude and actions and be presentable to God as a holy vessel. The fact that some food is forbidden is a test of our obedience and self control. It is not everybody we befriend or relate with. There must be self discipline. *Question* What other lessons can you learn? Do you depart from uncleanness and all unclean people? In addition to the atonement, do you do your part by opening up your heart and mind for the Word of God to clean on a daily basis? *Prayer Points* 1.Praise God for His wisdom in making spiritual truths to be comprehensive to all seekers 🙏. 2.Ask God for more understanding of deep mysteries of the Word of God and the gospel 🙏. 3.Offer your heart and life to God afresh and ask for total cleansing from all defilements 🙏. 4.Pray that the messages of holiness will go beyond our heads, but permeate through our hearts to true holiness 🙏. *HYMN:* Wash Me O Lamb of God. *BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:* JOHN 10-12. 2. Morning prayer for today. MD.ii. Morning Prayer To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth. God [is] our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. ⏤ Psalm 46:1 God does nothing but by prayer, and everything with it. ⏤ John Wesley Gracious Father, we come to You at the start of this new day, seeking Your blessing. We thank You for the rest we’ve had through the night. We laid down, slept, and woke up again because You sustained us. We will not fear any opposition because You are our refuge and strength, a very present help in times of trouble. Now, our Father, send us out into the new day on new missions. We want to take our directions from You. Help us to keep Your commandments. Cleanse us from hidden faults and sins; keep us from falling into willful sin. You are able to keep us from falling—we commit our souls to Your holy care. Deliver us from the Evil One. We have no power to stand against his cunning attacks, so we trust our souls to You, our faithful Creator and Friend. Save us from the Tempter. We ask that You make us strong for our duties today. We have many things to do that will require wisdom and perseverance. Give us the strength that comes from victory in struggle. Equip us to do good at home—showing love and care for one another. May our home be filled with Your rich blessings. Let nothing disrupt our love for each other or harm our fellowship. Help us to grow in love that is sincere, patient, thoughtful, and kind. May we continue to learn the lessons of love better and better. May the light from our home shine out, showing others how to live more sweetly. May Your grace be upon us in proportion to our need, filling our hearts and lives, and preparing us for every experience we may face today. We ask all this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. https://www.youdevotion.com/daily-prayer/miller/31/morning #taptapstudio #youdevotion.

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Hello, I would like to share with you the message from 11 juillet 2026 from “The Good Seed” daily calendar. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10) Jesus loves you! A little girl stood on the platform with her father while a criminal in handcuffs was being taken away. He was resisting and had such a terrifying expression on his face that no one dared to approach him. The child observed the scene for a moment, then quietly approached the criminal and spoke to him: “I feel terribly sorry for you!” In response, the little girl was showered with a torrent of curses, so she ran away frightened. But shortly afterward, the girl returned courageously: “Dear Sir, Jesus loves you!”  The arrested man was so stunned that he found no reply. Then the train arrived, and their paths diverged. The man went to prison where he had to serve his sentence. The child returned home.  Years later, the former prisoner recounted how the words of the little girl had touched his heart. They had not left him in peace until he eventually turned to Christ. After rejecting the love of the child, he was overcome by the love of the Son of God.  May all of us who have accepted the Saviour bear witness to His saving love to our fellow human beings. How many people long to be truly loved by someone! Let us fulfil this beautiful command of our Lord, not only with words but also with practical love. Today’s reading: Leviticus 23:23-44 – Psalms 69:1-12

WHAT IF GOD WAS NEVER ANGRY WITH YOU? What If God Was Never Angry With You? Pause for a moment. What if one of the biggest assumptions you've ever made about God isn't true? What if the cross was never about changing God's mind about you? What if Jesus did not come to convince an angry Father to become loving? Read to the end before you disagree. For many people, the story goes something like this: God was furious with humanity, but Jesus stepped in, absorbed God's anger, and finally persuaded the Father to love us again. But is that really what the cross reveals? I believe the answer is no. What Jesus did on the cross did not change God from an angry God into a loving God. No! The cross did not change the heart of God; it revealed it. The sacrifice of Jesus was not the reason God began to love humanity. Rather, it was the greatest revelation of the love that had always existed in the heart of the Father. Think about it. Before there was a cross, there was already love. Before there was Calvary, there was already compassion. Before there was the shedding of blood, there was already a Father's heart reaching toward humanity. The cross is not the beginning of God's love. It is the unveiling of God's love. That is exactly why the 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."— John 3:16 Notice the order. God loved first. Then He gave. The gift of Christ was the evidence of His love—not the reason for it. God did not begin to love because Jesus died. Jesus died because God loved. Paul says the same thing: "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."— Romans 5:8 Read that again. While we were still sinners... Not after we repented. Not after we became holy. Not after we deserved it. While we were still sinners. The cross demonstrated God's love. It did not produce God's love. John echoes the same truth: "In this was manifested the love of God toward us... not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."— 1 John 4:9–10 Love came first. The sending of the Son came because love already existed. This is why God has never been angry with man. He is never angry with you, and He will never be angry with you. His anger has always been against sin, because sin destroys the very people He loves. Sin is the thief. Sin is the destroyer. Sin is what corrupts, enslaves, separates, and kills. God's opposition has always been directed against sin because sin is the enemy of the people He loves. That is picture: "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them."— 2 Corinthians 5:19 Look carefully at those words. God was in Christ. The Father was not standing at a distance with folded arms while Jesus begged Him to forgive us. The Father Himself was present in the work of reconciliation. The cross was never Jesus trying to change the Father's heart. The cross was the Father revealing His heart. Jesus Himself said: "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself."— John 10:17–18 The Father and the Son were never working against each other. They were working together. One purpose. One mission. One love. One redemption. And this was never an afterthought. Before Adam fell... "The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world."— Revelation 13:8 That tells me the cross did not reveal a God who finally decided to love. It revealed the God who had always loved. So when I stand before Calvary, I do not see an angry God becoming merciful. I see eternal Love putting Himself on display. I see the heart of the Father unveiled. I see the greatest declaration ever made—not of God's anger, but of His immeasurable love. That is why Paul could confidently conclude: "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come... shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."— Romans 8:38–39 The cross did not make God love you. The cross showed you just how. #theCross #Christ #HolySpirit

The First 15. “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” John 8:7 ESV The story of the woman caught in adultery is one the most powerful depictions of God’s heart to meet man in the midst of sin and show grace. Scripture says, Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” John 8:2-11 When I find myself in the midst of sin, my first instinct is to run away from God. For some reason we seem to hold this belief that God is like us: that he loves us like we love ourselves. I assume he’s even more ashamed of me than I am of myself. I assume he’s distanced himself from me in my sin. I assume that he can’t be near to me or that his grace surely isn’t strong enough for my sin this time. But Jesus’ actions when presented with the woman caught in adultery completely obliterate my worldly perceptions of his grace. Imagine the fear this woman feels. Imagine the horrific embarrassment and shame she feels being caught in the act of terrible sin and dragged before Jesus, God incarnate. Put yourself in her position. Feel the piercing glares of onlookers. Try and hear the terrible judgements being hurled your way by these religious leaders. Now imagine Jesus standing before you, drawing in the sand as he did that day. Imagine what he would say to you in your sin. He doesn’t seem surprised. He doesn’t seem worried. He doesn’t even cast judgment on you. Instead, he shows you the fullness of grace for your sin. God longs to cast away all the lies the accuser would speak to you. He longs to cause all the judgments you speak over yourself and that others have spoken over you to flee in light of his powerful grace. Jesus stands before you today with nail-pierced hands having fully paid the price for each one of your sins. He’s ready to empower you to “Go, and from now on sin no more” by his love and grace. Receive his love today. Allow him to meet you in the midst of your sin. Run into his arms instead of away from him. And live empowered to experience the fullness of his presence and total freedom from sin. 1. Meditate on God’s heart to meet us in our sin as displayed through the woman caught in adultery. "Has no one condemned you?’ She said, ‘No one, Lord.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.'” John 8:11 2. Where are you closing off your heart to God as the result of your sin? In what ways do you feel unlovable? Where have lies and accusations caused you to withdraw yourself from God rather than run to him? “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1 3. Take time to receive the grace, forgiveness, and love of your heavenly Father. Confess your sin to him and rest in his loving presence. Be filled with the power of his grace that you might walk in freedom today. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 May 1 John 2:1-2 fill you with faith to run to Jesus with your sin rather than away from him in shame or judgment: My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. Extended Reading: Romans 8

Christ Our Propitiation Key Scripture (NKJV) 1 John 2:2 "And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world." One of the richest words in the Bible is propitiation. It means that Jesus Christ, through His sacrifice on the cross, fully satisfied the righteous justice and holy wrath of God against sin. God is perfectly holy and cannot overlook sin (Habakkuk 1:13). Because of our sin, we stood guilty before Him and deserved judgment (Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23). Yet God, in His great love, provided the sacrifice we could never provide. Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God, took our place. When He died on the cross, He bore the punishment we deserved. God's justice was satisfied, and His wrath against sin was poured out upon His Son instead of all who trust in Him. Romans 3:25 (NKJV) says, "Whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith..." His blood accomplished what no amount of good works, religion, or personal effort could ever do. This truth reaches back to the Old Testament. On the Day of Atonement, the high priest sprinkled blood on the mercy seat of the ark, symbolizing that sin was covered (Leviticus 16). Those sacrifices pointed forward to Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice would not merely cover sin for a time but take it away forever (Hebrews 10:10-14). Because Christ is our propitiation: We are forgiven. We are reconciled to God. We have peace with God. We no longer stand condemned if we are in Christ (Romans 8:1). This also reminds us that salvation is entirely by God's grace. We cannot earn His favor. Jesus has already paid the full price. The question is not whether Christ's sacrifice is sufficient—it is whether we have placed our faith in Him. If you have never trusted Christ, today is the day. Turn from your sin and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. His sacrifice is enough. His grace is sufficient. His invitation is still open. Prayer Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son to be the propitiation for my sins. Thank You that Jesus fully satisfied Your righteous justice through His death on the cross. I place my trust in Him alone for salvation. Help me to live each day in gratitude, holiness, and love for the One who gave Himself for me. If there is anyone reading this who has never received Christ, may they come to Him today in repentance and faith. In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen. May the Lord bless you as you meditate on this wonderful truth: because of Christ's finished work, all who believe in Him can stand before a holy God forgiven, accepted, and at peace.

Romans 3:21-26 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, [22] even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; [23] for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, [24] being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, [25] whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, [26] to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Holy Wit – Bible Study #3 Christ Our Advocate (Walking in the Light: Studies Through 1 John – 1 John 2:1–6) Scripture Reading (NKJV) 1 John 2:1–6 1 John 2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 1 John 2:2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. 1 John 2:3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 1 John 2:4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1 John 2:5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 1 John 2:6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. 1 John 2:1–6 (NKJV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+2%3A1-6&version=NKJV 1. Grace Is Not Permission to Sin John begins with a statement that immediately corrects a common misunderstanding of grace. “These things I write to you, so that you may not sin.” The purpose of the gospel is not merely forgiveness; it is holiness. God does not save people in order to leave them unchanged. The grace that pardons also transforms. Throughout church history, some have treated grace as a safety net beneath a life of careless disobedience. John rejects that idea at the outset. Notice the order. John has just taught that believers must confess their sins and that God forgives and cleanses (1 John 1:9). Yet he does not conclude, “Therefore sin is no great concern.” Instead, he concludes, “Therefore do not sin.” Biblical grace never lowers God's standard. It provides the means by which sinners may be reconciled to God and progressively conformed to Christ. 1 John 2:1 (NKJV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+2%3A1&version=NKJV Titus 2:11–12 (NKJV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Titus+2%3A11-12&version=NKJV 2. Christ Our Advocate Before the Father John immediately balances the call to holiness with assurance. “And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father.” The word Advocate carries the idea of one who comes alongside to represent another. John does not say believers might have an advocate if they have performed adequately. He says we have an Advocate. The significance is profound. The believer's standing before God ultimately rests not upon his own righteousness but upon Christ's righteousness. Our acceptance before God is grounded in the finished work of Christ and His continuing intercession. John specifically calls Him “Jesus Christ the righteous.” This title is central to the argument. A sinful advocate could not help guilty sinners. But Christ is uniquely qualified because He alone possesses perfect righteousness. The believer's assurance is therefore Christ-centered, not self-centered. 1 John 2:1 (NKJV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+2%3A1&version=NKJV Hebrews 7:25 (NKJV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+7%3A25&version=NKJV 3. The Meaning of Propitiation John next explains why Christ can function as our Advocate. “He Himself is the propitiation for our sins.” This is one of the most important doctrines in Scripture. Propitiation means that Christ's sacrificial death satisfied the righteous wrath and justice of God against sin. Modern people often prefer to think only about God's love, but Scripture refuses to separate His love from His holiness. God is perfectly loving, but He is also perfectly just. Sin creates a real moral debt before a holy God. That debt cannot simply be ignored. At the cross, Christ bore the judgment deserved by His people. Divine justice was not set aside; it was fulfilled. Because the penalty has been borne, God remains both “just and the justifier” of those who trust in Christ. The cross is therefore not merely an example of love. It is an accomplishment. Something objective occurred there. Christ actually dealt with sin. 1 John 2:2 (NKJV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+2%3A2&version=NKJV Romans 3:25–26 (NKJV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+3%3A25-26&version=NKJV 4. Knowing God Produces Obedience Beginning in verse 3, John shifts from Christ's work to the evidence that His work has taken root in a person's life. “By this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.” John is addressing a recurring problem. Some claimed special knowledge of God while living lives marked by disobedience. John refuses to separate theology from conduct. Notice that obedience is not presented as the basis of salvation but as evidence of salvation. John is not teaching salvation by works. He is teaching that genuine faith produces visible fruit. A transformed heart produces a transformed life. This becomes one of the major themes of the entire letter. Profession alone is insufficient. Claims must be tested. 1 John 2:3–4 (NKJV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+2%3A3-4&version=NKJV John 14:21 (NKJV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14%3A21&version=NKJV 5. Assurance Through Transformation John's concern is not to create uncertainty among believers but to provide legitimate assurance. “By this we know that we are in Him.” Throughout this epistle, John repeatedly provides tests of authentic faith. These tests are not intended to encourage endless introspection. They are intended to distinguish genuine Christianity from mere religious profession. One of those tests is obedience. The believer may stumble, fail, and require repeated repentance. Yet there remains a fundamental orientation toward God and His commands. Where the Holy Spirit is present, transformation follows. The perfection John describes is not sinless performance but the maturing work of God's love in the believer's life. 1 John 2:5 (NKJV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+2%3A5&version=NKJV Philippians 1:6 (NKJV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Philippians+1%3A6&version=NKJV 6. Walking as Christ Walked John concludes with one of the strongest statements in the letter. “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” Christianity is not merely agreement with a set of doctrines, although doctrine matters profoundly. Nor is it merely participation in religious activity. It is union with Christ. Those united to Christ increasingly reflect Christ. The pattern of His life becomes the pattern toward which believers are being shaped. His humility, obedience, truthfulness, love, and submission to the Father become the model for Christian living. John's argument is straightforward: Christ died for sinners. Christ advocates for sinners. Christ transforms sinners. Therefore those who claim to belong to Christ should increasingly resemble Christ. The gospel not only rescues; it renews. 1 John 2:6 (NKJV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+2%3A6&version=NKJV Romans 8:29 (NKJV): https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A29&version=NKJV Reflection Questions 1. Why does John begin with the command not to sin before discussing Christ as Advocate? 2. How does the doctrine of propitiation deepen your understanding of the cross? 3. Why is Christ's righteousness essential to His role as Advocate? 4. How does John distinguish between the basis of salvation and the evidence of salvation? 5. What practical areas of your life most need to be brought into conformity with Christ? Prayer Points 1. Thank God for the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ. 2. Praise Christ for His continuing advocacy before the Father. 3. Thank God that the penalty for sin was fully satisfied at the cross. 4. Ask the Holy Spirit to produce increasing obedience in your life. 5. Pray for wisdom to walk more faithfully in the footsteps of Christ. For Further Study (NKJV) Romans 8:33–34 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+8%3A33-34&version=NKJV Hebrews 9:24–28 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Hebrews+9%3A24-28&version=NKJV James 2:17–18 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+2%3A17-18&version=NKJV #HolyWitBibleStudy #GordonMcGinnis #WalkingInTheLight #1John2

The First 15. “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” Romans 12:9-10 ESV Paul begins his description of what it looks like to be a true disciple of Christ in Romans 12 with a foundational phrase for this passage: “Let love be genuine.” Genuine love is one of the most powerful forces in all of creation. Genuine love drove Jesus through his life, death, and resurrection. Genuine love started the advance of the gospel, leading to the salvation of billions. The world tirelessly searches for genuine love. And it is genuine love that is meant to set you and me apart as disciples of Jesus. Scripture says in 1 John 4:7-11: Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. Paul sums up his beautiful description of love in 1 Corinthians 13:13 this way: “So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” And Jesus, when asked what the greatest commandment is, said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40). You were created to give and receive love. Love is your highest calling. God has set you apart to minister to others, sharing the genuine love you’ve been shown. It’s only in living for love that you will truly find peace and purpose. It’s only in the giving and receiving of genuine love that you will feel whole and satisfied. The Bible is clear about God’s plan for you. God intends to pour his love out over you to the level of overflowing, enabling others to get a glimpse of his vast love for them through your life. So, how can you be a person who shows genuine love to those around you? What does a life lived for love look like? It starts with spending time daily encountering the vast ocean of God’s love for you. In John 13:34, Jesus says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” The disciples could only love each other because they had experienced firsthand the incredible love of Jesus. You will not be able to love genuinely if you aren’t receiving God’s love for yourself. You must take time every day to simply encounter the love of your heavenly Father. His love is designed to lay the foundation for the good works you do. He never intends for you to give what you haven’t received. Romans 12:9-10 proves to be great instruction for living a life of genuine love. Paul writes, “Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” Choose to engage in good over evil. Fill your life with all that is good. Show grace and respect to others because that is what your heavenly Father has done for you. Live a life of outdoing those around you in showing love and honor. God has chosen to reveal his love to the world through your life. He’s committed to using you to bring others to himself. And he has a perfect plan to mold and shape you through his love into a person who naturally shows genuine love to others out of the overflow of God’s love in your own life. You don’t need to place the weight of others’ salvation on your shoulders. Instead, encounter the love God has for you today. Let his perspective of you change the way you see yourself and others. And simply love those around you with the love you’ve been shown. Choose to live a life of genuine love today and find out just how broad, long, high, and deep is the love of Christ for both you and others around you (Ephesians 3:18-19). 1. Spend time receiving God’s love for you. Ask him to make his nearness known to you. Let his presence fill up the places of your heart that need a fresh encounter with him. “That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:16-19 2. Ask God to give you a fresh revelation of how he sees you. Ask him to mold and shape you into the person he would have you be. Allow his grace and love to transform your heart. 3. Now ask the Spirit to help you show genuine love to others. Who around you needs to be genuinely loved by you today? Who needs to be shown honor and respect? Let the love that you’ve received fill you with the desire and power to love others well. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” John 13:34 😎God has chosen to reveal his love to the world through your life. He’s committed to using you to bring others to himself. And he has a perfect plan to mold and shape you through his love into a person who naturally shows genuine love to others out of the overflow of God’s love in your own life. You don’t need to place the weight of others’ salvation on your shoulders. Instead, encounter the love God has for you today. Let his perspective of you change the way you see yourself and others. And simply love those around you with the love you’ve been shown. Choose to live a life of genuine love today and find out just how broad, long, high, and deep is the love of Christ for both you and others around you (Ephesians 3:18-19).