Fighter Verse Songs

===

Romans 3:23,24

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus

===

On Wednesday nights I work with Kindergarteners and First Graders and when I bring up Bible verses I like to point out that many passages of scripture have bad news in them.

Romans 3:23 is a verse often used in description of the gospel – and it’s used as the bad news.

And this is really, really bad news. It’s actually the worst news anyone could get: Even if you’re a pretty good person, you aren’t good enough. You fall short. For any unsaved person, your path is heading to Hell and away from God.

But happily, the good news follows in the very next verse: You don’t have to do anything except accept a gift – Grace, Justification, Redemption.

And all through Jesus.

This is really, really good news.

===
[Just a reminder – many or most of the songs posted on this site or at our channel at Youtube.com are demo or scratch versions (not finalized) of what will be available on the CD or iTunes.]

===

Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

===
How is it true to say, assuming you are a Christian, that you have been crucified with Christ?

You’re still walking around on the earth. You’re not in heaven, yet. You’re still you, right?

Yes and No. You are a different person. The part of you that was held down by Satan, that was dragging you down to death, is gone. Now you are being drawn up to Christ.

Christ lives in you. Christ loves you and died for you.

So live by faith in that Savior.

===
[Just a reminder – many or most of the songs posted on this site or at our channel at Youtube.com are demo or scratch versions (not finalized) of what will be available on the CD or iTunes.]

===

2 Corinthians 4:17-18

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

===

I imagine that some people hear this verse and say, “My afflictions are not ‘Light’ and ‘Momentary'”. They feel heavy and long and impossibly difficult. Some trials and times of suffering are extremely painful and rough.

But there is two sources of good news. The first is – the bad that you are experiencing, and it may be very bad, is nothing compared to the glory you’re headed for. The second is this – the bad that you are experiencing is actually making you ready for this glory.

How can this be? Well for one thing, the trial will make the glory feel more glorious.

So what should we do? Look to the eternal, the unseen, the glorious. Pay attention to those things.

===
[Just a reminder – many or most of the songs posted on this site or at our channel at Youtube.com are demo or scratch versions (not finalized) of what will be available on the CD or iTunes.]

===

1 Peter 2:24

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

===
This verse of course quotes the Fighter verse from two weeks ago: By his wounds we have been healed.

But this one was written with so much more information. Peter had been around to see some of these wounds as they were being created, and the scars afterword. He was able to personally speak with the man who was crushed for our iniquities. So in Peter we have a reliable source.

And Peter tells us one reason that Jesus died on the cross: to make it possible and to enable us to die to sin and live to righteousness.

Have you died to sin this week? Have you prayed that God would deliver you from the sin that entangles you?

Are you living to His righteousness?

===
[Just a reminder – many or most of the songs posted on this site or at our channel at Youtube.com are demo or scratch versions (not finalized) of what will be available on the CD or iTunes.]

===

Isaiah 53:4-5

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

===

Every one. Your hero, your pastor, your child. You. All of us have wandered away from God. We have said to God the worst thing you could say to a perfect holy creating being: You are not important. I don’t need you. I don’t want to follow you. This is a very great sin.

That’s the bad news.

The good news is that great sin has been laid on Jesus’ back. He suffered and died because of that sin. So we can be healed.

===
[Just a reminder – many or most of the songs posted on this site or at our channel at Youtube.com are demo or scratch versions (not finalized) of what will be available on the CD or iTunes.]

===

Isaiah 53:4-5

Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.

===

Here is the Gospel, and it is very understandable on this side of history. We can thank God for this, because I can’t imagine how confusing it must have been for the Jews before Jesus to read this passage. How could these things be, they must have thought.

Who was this person who would bear our griefs and carry our sorrows?
How would God smite him?
What does my transgressions or iniquities have to do with him?
And then how would the violence done to him be made to give us peace?
And how is he going to heal us?

But now we know: Jesus did all of this for us. All of it. Thank God. Thank and Glorify and Worship and Obey God.

===
[Just a reminder – many or most of the songs posted on this site or at our channel at Youtube.com are demo or scratch versions (not finalized) of what will be available on the CD or iTunes.]

===

1 Corinthians 10:13

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

===

I have a friend at work who once told me that he believes that there are rare situations when whatever choice you make, you’ll have to sin; Both choices will be a sinful choice, you’ll just have to choose the least sinful way.

Thankfully, this is not true, and we know that because of this verse (among others). This verse says you will be provided with a way of escape from sinning.

But this verse promises more. To the person who asks, “What if I get into a situation where I won’t be able to not sin?”, this verse gives reassurance. God will not let that happen. You will never have to sin.

The bad news, then, is that you will never have an excuse looking back at a sin you’ve committed. “It was my nature”,”Of course I did it, what did God expect?”, “There was nothing I could do.”

No, God will provide you a way out. Take it.

===
[Just a reminder – many or most of the songs posted on this site or at our channel at Youtube.com are demo or scratch versions (not finalized) of what will be available on the CD or iTunes.]

===

Philipians 4:19

And my God will supply every need of your according to his riches in glory, in Christ Jesus.

===

Not just some needs, not just your important needs, but every need. And how does Paul know this? Because he has so much to give and is powerful and wise enough to do it.

And what is our primary need? Permanent, Real, Unending, Joyful Life. And we get that through the saving work of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Do you live like you believe this? Are you complaining? Are your needs being met? Thank Him. Tell other about how your needs are being met.

===
[Just a reminder – many or most of the songs posted on this site or at our channel at Youtube.com are demo or scratch versions (not finalized) of what will be available on the CD or iTunes.]

===

Proverbs 29:1,11

He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck,
will suddenly be broken beyond healing.

A fool gives full vent to his spirit,
But a wise man quietly holds it back.

===

Two wise statement – they are good to read, because they are immediately seen as true, but might not come up with them on our own, but even if we might, we need be reminded of them.

Are your own sinful acts or foolish actions pointed out to you (by other people or even by yourself)? Then listen. Broken beyond healing. That is bad.

Does it feel good let out all your negative and positive emotions? It doesn’t feel good enough. Be wise. Keep yourself reined in.

Do neither of these things apply to you right now. Then consider these words again in year, or a month, or a day. Perhaps they will then.

===
[Just a reminder – many or most of the songs posted on this site or at our channel at Youtube.com are demo or scratch versions (not finalized) of what will be available on the CD or iTunes.]

===

Acts 4:11-12

This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.

===

No other name. No one else. He is the cornerstone. You need salvation and he is the only way to get it. It would be foolish to reject him.

But my guess is that most reading this post have chosen Jesus to be their personal cornerstone. If so, are you remembering that everyone you know who hasn’t chosen him must do so, or they won’t be among the saved?

Are you telling people this name – the only name?

===
[Just a reminder – many or most of the songs posted on this site or at our channel at Youtube.com are demo or scratch versions (not finalized) of what will be available on the CD or iTunes.]