Christian Living on Cleansing

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The Deepwater Horizon Crisis and Our Need for a Savior

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Scripture

Romans 3:21-31, 1 John 1:7, Philippians 1:6, Ephesians 2:8-9, Colossians 2:13-14

In 2010, an oil rig named “Deepwater Horizon” suffered a catastrophic failure. Due to improper installation of the cement seal, a malfunctioning blowout preventer, and cost-cutting decisions by corpor...

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Adapted from Romans 3:10-18 (1)

Author

Scott B. Bullock

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Scripture

Romans 3:null, Romans 3:10-18

Father, we speak the truth about who we are apart from you. Paul summarizes our condition in Romans 3 using the truth found in the sacred writings of the Psalter and Prophets, There is no one righteo...

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If we say we have no sin, we deceive

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Scripture

1 John 1:8-9, Hebrews 10:22, Romans 3:23-24, Isaiah 1:18, Psalm 51:1-2

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." In ...

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Dear Lord, we come before You now as

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Scripture

Ephesians 2:10, Philippians 2:13, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 John 1:9, Psalm 51:1-2, Romans 3:23-24

Dear Lord, we come before You now as Your children who need You. God, You are the Creator of all things, the Giver of life itself. You have made us in Your image and invited us to be Your children and...

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We Are Dust

Author

Luke A. Powery

Keywords

Scripture

Genesis 3:19, Psalm 103:14, Job 42:5-6, Joel 2:12-13, Hebrews 12:1-3, Romans 3:20-26, Ecclesiastes 3:20

At the beginning of this season of Lent, on this Ash Wednesday, we are reminded that we are dust and to dust we will return. We are reminded of human fragility and failure. We are reminded that we are...

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The Roots of Ash Wednesday

Author

Beth Bevis

Keywords

Scripture

Joel 2:12-13, Romans 3:20-26, Job 42:5-6, Ezekiel 9:4, Genesis 2:7, Ecclesiastes 3:20

Since the seventh century, the Western church has observed the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday—the fortieth day before Easter, not counting Sundays. In addition to providing ample time for self-examina...

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Author

Emil Brunner

Keywords

Scripture

Romans 3:23-25, 2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:24, Ephesians 2:13-14, Colossians 1:19-20

Only at the cross of Christ does man see fully what it is that separates him from God; yet it is here alone that he perceives that he is no longer separated from God. Nowhere else does the inviolable ...

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The Origin of the Imposition of Ashes

Author

Beth Bevis

Keywords

Scripture

Joel 2:12-13, Romans 3:20-26, Job 42:5-6, Ezekiel 9:4, Genesis 2:7, Ecclesiastes 3:20

The imposition of ashes, now a familiar Ash Wednesday tradition in Catholic, Anglican, and many Protestant churches, has its roots in an early church penitential practice. For people who had been excl...

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In Christ we have redemption through

Author

C. Hassell Bullock

Keywords

Scripture

Ephesians 1:7-8, Revelation 5:9, Acts 20:28, Titus 2:13-14, 1 Peter 1:18-19, Hebrews 9:12, Romans 3:23-24

In Christ we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight. Together we affirm that b...

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Our Need for Forgiveness: Our Search for Wholeness

Author

Annemarie S. Kidder

Keywords

Scripture

Romans 3:23, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Hebrews 10:22, Romans 3:23-24, Psalm 32:5, Acts 3:19, Proverbs 28:13

The practice of confession in the context of a liturgy or in a private ecclesiastical setting has declined drastically over the past fifty years, and in particular since the Protestant Reformation in ...

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Forgive us for our many sins. Like Eve,

Author

Barbara Duguid

Keywords

Scripture

Romans 3:23-24, Hebrews 4:15=-16, Psalm 51:10-12, Philippians 3:13-14

Forgive us for our many sins. Like Eve, we are easily captivated by the objects that our eyes desire. We fall so often, and when we do, we run and hide in shame instead of running to you to confess ou...

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Author

Charles Haddon Spurgeon

Keywords

Atonement

Scripture

Romans 3:23-26, Ephesians 5:2, 1 Corinthians 5:7, 1 John 2:2, Hebrews 10:5-18, Hebrews 9:12, Hebrews 9:14-15, Hebrews 9:28, 1 John 4:10

Throughout the Old Testament this was always the idea of a sin-offering - that of a perfect victim; without offense on its own account, taking the place of the offender; the transference of the offend...

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Each of us, Lord, has failed to fully

Author

Charles Teixeira

Keywords

Scripture

Ephesians 4:32, Luke 19:1-10, Matthew 22:37-39, Philippians 2:3-4, 1 John 1:9, Romans 3:23

Each of us, Lord, has failed to fully observe your beauty. We fall in love with our own image and are left disappointed and alone. Please be faithful to us, Jesus, even when we turn from You. We...

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Almighty and most merciful Father, we

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Scripture

Psalm 51:1-2, Isaiah 53:6, 1 John 1:9, James 5:16, Romans 3:23-24, Ephesians 1:7

Almighty and most merciful Father, we have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against thy holy laws....

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Inspired by Romans 3:23

Author

Austin D. Hill

Keywords

Scripture

Romans 3:23

Holy God, we need you. Through our sins, we regularly fall short of your glory. We separate ourselves from you. We are powerless to save ourselves. You alone can save us through the grace offered to u...

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Repentance for the Religious

Author

John W. Rilling

Keywords

Scripture

Romans 3:25, Hebrews 9:28, Matthew 4:1-2, 1 Peter 2:24, Psalm 51:1-2, 2 Corinthians 5:21

Written almost a hundred years ago, this excerpt from the Reverend John W. Rilling points out one of the main reasons we continue to observe Lent, a period of repentance and discipline for many who ca...

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What does Propitiation mean?

Author

Jerry Bridges

Keywords

Scripture

1 John 2:2, 1 John 4:10, Romans 3:25, Hebrews 2:17, Hebrews 9:26

What does propitiation mean? A modern dictionary will say that to propitiate means “to appease” or “to placate.” I find both of these words unsatisfactory because they suggest a mere soothing or softe...

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Prayer of Adoration We praise you, Lord

Author

Richard Herman

Keywords

Scripture

Luke 15:11-24, 1 John 1:9, Luke 22:54-62, Romans 3:23, Luke 19:1-10, Psalm 139:1-4, Job 38:1-4

Prayer of Adoration We praise you, Lord for you are all-wise and all-powerful, faithful, loving and gracious, holy, just, merciful, constant and pure, omnipresent, intimate and immortal. You are big...

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Let us love the Lord God with all our

Author

Francis and Clare of Assisi

Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Psalm 34:1, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Lamentations 3:11-23, Romans 3:23-24

Let us love the Lord God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength. Let us love Him with all our understanding, powers, and fortitude. Let us offer to Him our every effort, ...

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Jesus … Immanuel – our God come in the flesh

Author

Richard Herman

Keywords

Scripture

Matthew 1:23, John 1:14, Psalm 34:8, Isaiah 30:21, Micah 6:8, Romans 3:23-24, Proverbs 3:5-6

Prayer of Adoration Jesus—Immanuel—our God come in the flesh so that we might know You and that You might save us: Thankfully, You watch out for us—help us to watch for You. Give us eyes to see You ...

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Author

Phillip Yancey

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 34:17-18, Luke 10:25-37, Luke 23:39-43, Luke 18:13-14, Titus 3:5, Romans 3:23-24, Ephesians 2:8-9

Ask people what they must do to get to heaven and most reply, “Be good.” Jesus’ stories contradict that answer. All we must do is cry, “Help!”

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We confess, loving God, that we are not

Author

Chip Hardwick

Keywords

Scripture

Romans 3:23-24, 1 John 1:9, Ephesians 1:7, Philippians 2:3-4, James 4:6, Romans 12:2

We confess, loving God, that we are not a society of saints, but a fellowship of sinners. We are the forgiven, who still need forgiveness. We are the redeemed, who are still being redeemed. We do not ...

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Almighty and most merciful God, we have

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 51:1-2, Isaiah 53:6, 1 John 1:9, James 5:16, Romans 3:23-24

Almighty and most merciful God, we have erred and strayed from your ways like lost sheep. We have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts. We have offended against your holy laws. ...

liturgy

Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus

Keywords

Scripture

Psalm 51:1-2, Isaiah 1:18, Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9, Romans 3:23-24, Ephesians 1:7, Micah 7:18-19

Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men: We acknowledge and bewail our manifold sins and wickedness, which we, from time to time, most grievously have comm...

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A Wretch Like Me

Author

Randy Alcorn

Keywords

Scripture

Ephesians 2:1, Romans 3:23, Luke 15:11-32, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Luke 18:9-14

Before I spoke at a conference, a soloist sang one of my favorite songs, “Amazing Grace.” It was beautiful. Until she got to the tenth word. “Amazing grace! How sweet the sound that saved a soul like ...

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Author

P. T. Forsyth

Keywords

Scripture

Isaiah 44:22, Romans 3:23-24, John 19:30, Ephesians 1:7-8, Colossians 1:13-14

The feeble gospel preaches, “God is ready to forgive”; the mighty gospel preaches, “God has redeemed.”

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The Curse of Living Under the Law

Author

Timothy Keller

Keywords

Scripture

Romans 4:4-5, Ephesians 2:8-9, Galatians 2:16, Romans 3:20, Galatians 3:9-10

To have Abraham-like faith brings blessing (v 9). The result of living by the law is that we are “under a curse” (v 10). This “curse” has two aspects. Theologically, anyone who says-. I can be saved b...

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Lord, you tell us in your word that

Author

Austin D. Hill

Keywords

Scripture

Hebrews 4:16, Isaiah 1:18, Romans 3:23-24, Psalm 51:1-2, Psalm 32:5

Lord, you tell us in your word that when we know the good we ought to do and fail to do it, we are in sin. Can we truly know the extent of our need for your grace? Are we conscious of the multitude of...

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Apologetics as Defense of God's Honor

Author

Os Guinness

Keywords

Scripture

Romans 3:4, Isaiah 5:16, 1 Peter 3:15, Isaiah 42:8

Apologetics (from apologia in Greek) is a “word back,” a reasoned defense mounted on behalf of the one we love who is innocent but has been falsely and unfairly accused. Faith desires to let God be Go...

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Author

Hans Urs von Balthasar

Keywords

Salvation

Scripture

Romans 5:18-19, Exodus 1:14, Luke 15:11-32, John 3:16-17, 1 Corinthians 15:22, Romans 3:23-24, Genesis 3:1-7

The first attempt at a response: there must have been a fall, a decline, and the road to salvation can only be the return of the sensible finite into the intelligible infinite.

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