“From childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:15
Why do we hear and read the Bible? The Holy Scriptures reveal our utter sinfulness and point us to God’s Son, Jesus Christ, and His holy life in our place and His atoning sacrifice on the cross for the sins of the world. The Bible tells us how to be saved — through faith in Jesus Christ and His cross.
Grant, O LORD, that I hear, read, and meditate in Your Word that I might trust in Jesus and His cross for my salvation. In His name, I pray. Amen.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
God’s love for the world, His love for each and every one of us, is demonstrated in this: He sent His only-begotten Son into the world to die on the cross and bear the full punishment for our sins, with the desire and intent that we would repent of our sinful ways and place our faith in Christ Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross and not be condemned to the eternal fires of hell but receive God’s mercy, forgiveness and life everlasting!
O gracious and loving God, grant me faith to trust in Christ Jesus for pardon, forgiveness, and eternal life. Amen.
“For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. …” 1 Corinthians 15:3-6
Not only is Jesus’ crucifixion a well-documented historical fact, but His resurrection appearances were witnessed by many. If anyone in the first century questioned the fact of Jesus’ bodily resurrection, many living eyewitnesses to His resurrection appearances could testify to the fact that Jesus did rise from the dead on the third day, as He said. And, because He did die for our sins and then rise again, we can be assured of forgiveness for our sins and a resurrection to life everlasting through faith in His name.
O crucified and risen Savior, grant me faith to trust that You died for my sins and rose again on the third day that I might be pardoned, forgiven, and have the eternal joys of heaven through faith in Your name. Amen.
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14
God the Son, the creator of all, took on human flesh and blood and was born into this world of the Virgin Mary to be our Savior. The Apostle John and his fellow disciples saw the glory of Christ Jesus — the same glory possessed by God the Father — in Jesus’ mighty works and in His transfiguration, resurrection, and ascension. Jesus brings us God’s undeserved love and mercy, and He brings God’s truth, which reveals our sins but also forgiveness and life through faith alone in Christ Jesus.
Grant, dear Jesus, that we recognize You as the only-begotten Son of the Father come into this world a true man that You might atone for our sins and grant to all who trust in You eternal salvation. Amen.
“While he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.’” Matthew 1:20-21
As the angel of the Lord told Joseph, Jesus was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. Jesus is the promised Messiah and Savior, true God, the only-begotten Son of the Father, and true man, born of Mary. This occurred because Mary, Joseph’s betrothed wife but yet a virgin, conceived by the miraculous working of the Holy Spirit and gave birth to a Son who would save His people from their sins by making atonement for the sins of all when He died on the cross.
O Holy Spirit, grant that I understand Your Word and trust that Jesus is the Son of God and the Son of man, who came into this world to redeem me from sin and death and to give me eternal life in His kingdom. Amen.
