Great Things He Has Done For Us

                                                   "But be sure to fear the LORD
                                                    and serve him faithfully with
                                                    all your heart; consider what
                                                    great things he has done for you."
                                                                             1 Samuel 12:24



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          When we think of all the great things God has done to save his people,
     we should be overwhelmed with gratitude.  Even though we deserve his
     wrath and condemnation for our sins and transgressions against him, God
     demonstrated his love for us by sending his Son to die in our place, paying
     our penalty, and saving us from eternity in hell.

          God does not have to save anyone, and would still be just if he left
     everyone in their sin and far from him, but from the foundation of the world,
     God set his mark on his people and set us apart for salvation; not because
     of anything good in us, but because of his purpose and will.

          When we were spiritually dead, the Holy Spirit regenerated us, replacing
     our unresponsive heart of stone with a responsive heart of flesh, granting us
     faith and repentance, forgiving us, and enabling us to come to the Father for
     salvation.



                                          Look at all that he has done to save us!

          * He "predestined us to be conformed to the likeness of his Son ..." (Romans 8:29a).

          * He elected and chose his people for salvation.

                                                 " ...  But for the sake of the elect,
                                                   whom he has chosen ..."
                                                                         Mark 13:20b

                                                " ... brothers loved by the Lord,
                                                  ... from the beginning God chose you
                                                  to be saved through the sanctifying
                                                  work of the Spirit and through belief
                                                  in the truth."
                                                                         2 Thessalonians 2:13


           * He "called you to this (salvation) through our gospel, that you might
     share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ"   (2 Thessalonians 2:14).

                                                " ... God, who has saved us and called us
                                                  to a holy life -- not because of anything we
                                                  have done but because of his own purpose
                                                  and grace. 
                                                                         2 Timothy 1:9a
                                                 
                                                                         

            * He regenerated us (gave us new birth).

                                                "I will give you a new heart and put
                                                 my spirit in you.
                                                 I will save you from all your uncleanness."
                                                                              Ezekiel 36:26a,29a


           * He granted us grace and faith.

                                               "This grace was given us in Christ Jesus
                                                 before the beginning of time ...."
                                                                              2 Timothy 1:9b


                                               "For it has been granted to you on behalf
                                                of Christ not only to believe on him, but
                                                also to suffer for him ..."
                                                                               Philippians 1:29


           * He gave us repentance, leading to salvation.

                                                "Godly sorrow brings repentance that
                                                 leads to salvation and leaves no regret ..."
                                                                               2 Corinthians 7:10a


           * He redeemed us (paid our ransom) and forgave our sins.

                                                "For he has rescued us from the dominion
                                                 of darkness and brought us into the kingdom
                                                 of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption,
                                                 the forgiveness of sins."
                                                                                Colossians 1:13-14


          * He atoned for our sins by giving his Son as a sacrifice.

                                                 "God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement,
                                                  through faith in his blood."
                                                                                Romans 3:25


          * Jesus reconciled us with the Father through his death.

                                                "For if, when we were God's enemies,
                                                 we were reconciled to him through
                                                 the death of his Son ..."
                                                                                Romans 5:10


          * God also justified us through the blood of Jesus.

                                               "Since we have now been justified by
                                                his blood ..."
                                                                                Romans 5:9


          * The Holy Spirit sanctified us (set us apart to be holy).

                                                "To God's elect, ... who have been chosen
                                                 according to the foreknowledge of God
                                                 the Father, through the sanctifying work
                                                 of the Spirit ..."
                                                                                 1 Peter 1:1-2


          * God adopted us as his children, according to his pleasure and will.

                                                "In love he predestined us to be adopted
                                                 as his sons through Jesus Christ, in
                                                 accordance with his pleasure and will ..."
                                                                                 Ephesians 1:4b-5


    
          * God preserved us in Christ Jesus forever.  Our salvation is complete in him.

                                                " ... he who began a good work in you will
                                                  carry it on to completion until the day of
                                                  Christ Jesus."
                                                                                Philippians 1:6


          * God bought the church with the blood of Jesus.

                                                " ... the church of God,
                                                  which he bought with his own blood."
                                                                                Acts 20:28b


          * Jesus paid our ransom to free us from slavery to sin.

                                               " ... just as the Son of Man did not come
                                                 to be served, but serve, and to give his
                                                 life as a ransom for many."
                                                                                Matthew 20:28


         * God loved us and sent his Son to propitiate (satisfy the Father's wrath)
     for our sins.

                                               " ... he loved us and sent his Son to
                                                 be the propitiation for our sins."
                                                                                 1 John 4:10b


         * Jesus perfects his children for eternity, through his sacrifice of himself.

                                                "For by a single offering he has
                                                 perfected for all time those who
                                                 are being sanctified."
                                                                                 Hebrews 10:14



          * Jesus saves his people completely and intercedes for them with the Father.

                                                 " ... he is able to save to the uttermost
                                                   those who draw near to God through him,
                                                   since he always lives to make intercession
                                                   for them."
                                                                                   Hebrews 7:25