The All-Sufficiency of God
“Nevertheless I am continually with You; You have taken hold of my right hand. With Your counsel You will guide me, and afterward receive me to glory”                                             (Psalm 73:23-24)

Entering the sanctuary allowed Asaph to recapture a high view of God, and gratefulness and confidence overflowed from his heart. With bolstered enthusiasm he declared that God is with us continually. As Asaph reflected on his dark days, he saw that he was never alone. With the knowledge that God would never leave nor forsake him, Asaph emerged from the sanctuary with renewed courage. This is the same assurance that Christ later gave His disciples when He said, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
Asaph could depend on God’s presence, and he could also rest in the confidence that the Lord would strengthen him — a comforting truth when life feels overwhelming. This is the same confidence the apostle Paul later expressed when he wrote, “Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God” (2 Corinthians 3:5).
Not only did Asaph have the assurance of God’s presence and strength, he could also count on the Spirit of God and the Word of God to lead him all the way home. “With Your counsel You will guide me, and afterward receive me to glory” (Psalm 73:24). Perhaps Asaph’s most wonderful discovery was that God’s presence, strength, and wisdom would never end. He knew that when life had run its course, God would fulfill His promise of a home with Him forever.
Does that sound like a God who has forgotten and abandoned us? Absolutely not! That is a God who will never leave us nor forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6, 8; Hebrews 13:5).
In the closing verse of Psalm 73, Asaph recounted what he learned from his struggle:

1.)     God Is More Important Than Anything Else In Life.
“Who have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.”
(vs. 25)
God was ultimately all Asaph had and all he needed. He could rest in God’s care and have the confidence that nothing else compared to his Lord.

2.)     God Is All the Strength We Need.
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”                                     (vs. 26)
In those moments when Asaph would be tempted to rely on his own strength, he had discovered that only in God could he find the unending strength he needed. The apostle Paul knew what it was like to be in difficult circumstances. But he also knew that it was God who gave him strength to endure. From prison he wrote: “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).

3.)     God Will Be as Fair as He Is Merciful.

“For, behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful to You.”     (vs. 27)

Asaph had found himself envying the godless and their prosperity (vs.3). He struggled with the apparent inequities of life (vs. 4-12). He even came to the point of feeling that he had lived for God in vain (vs. 13). But in the end, Asaph acknowledged that those matters must be entrusted to God. As Abraham said, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?” (Genesis 18:25). Yes, and Asaph had learned to trust that the Lord, in His own timing and wisdom, would deal mercifully but justly with all the wrongs of life.

4.)     God Draws Near to Those Who Draw Near to Him.

“But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, that I may tell of all Your works (vs. 28).

Asaph’s responsibility was not to pass judgment on the world or try to bring about justice on his own. This does not mean that followers of God should ignore suffering and injustice. The Bible is full of exhortations to put the needs of others ahead of our own. Micah 6:8 tells us to “do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” And James 1:27 reminds us that “pure and undefiled religion . . .is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstaffed by the world.”
Asaph’s ultimate conclusion was that God, in His infinite goodness and wisdom, is in control even when we suffer and don’t know why. Although life in this fallen world is hard, God will always be just. By faith, Asaph arrived at a deep, personal conviction of the confession he alluded to as he began his story: “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart!” (Psalm 73:1)

Overwhelming stresses in life can sometimes lead you to the point of walking away from your faith, especially when it seems as though those who don’t trust God are prospering. But when life doesn’t make sense; when it just doesn’t seem fair, TRUST GOD, by focusing on His goodness rather than your circumstances.

The Beginning of Wisdom

“When my heart was embittered and I was pierced within, then I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before You” (Psalm 73:21-22)

In the place of worship, Asaph discovered that his real complaint was not with the rebels, or even with God. He had been focusing on the unfairness of life rather than on the One who would one day make all things right. By allowing such a conflict of faith to overwhelm him, Asaph had been forfeiting the comfort and peace that faith is intended to bring. In verses 21-22, the psalmist’s spiritual return is complete. Notice the progression: Asaph saw what he almost did to himself and he was concerned (vs.2). He realized what he almost did to his fellow believers, and he was silenced (vs. 15). Finally, Asaph clearly saw his attitude and actions as an offense to the God who is perfectly just (vs. 21-22).

Asaph no longer saw himself as justifiably angry or expressing a measure of righteous indignation. He said, “My heart was embittered.” Asaph’s bitterness was directed against God. He said, “I was pierced within.” Asaph now endured the kind of pain that comes from self-inflicted wounds. Sometimes what we do to ourselves is far worse that anything someone else could ever do to us. We do this by questioning the goodness, character, and faithfulness of God. Then he said, “I was senseless and ignorant.” Much like Job, when Asaph’s perspective was changed, he realized that his wisdom paled in comparison to God’s. Job’s words could have been his own:

“I have declared that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct me. I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; but now my eye sees You; therefor I retract, and I repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42: 3-6).

For us to question or criticize God’s wisdom, or attempt to judge God’s performance, is to attempt a task for which we are totally unequipped. His wisdom is both perfect and eternal, and He makes no mistakes. God says, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways” (Isaiah 55:8). When we are tempted to question god’s handling of a situation, it’s helpful to remind ourselves that God’s work in the present can be trusted because He is the only One who has perfect knowledge of the future.

In vs. 22, when Asaph said, “I was like a beast before You,” he used the word “beast” in a metaphorical sense, but his words reflect what the prophet Daniel wrote about Nebuchadnezzar, the great king of Babylon. When Nebuchadnezzar proudly celebrated his own wisdom and glory, God gave the king the mind and behavior of a wild animal. Driven outdoors, he grazed on grass for 7 years. When God graciously restored the king to his right mind, Nebuchadnezzar made this profound declaration:

“At the end of that period, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High and praised and honored Him who lives forever; for His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, but He does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of earth; and no one can ward off His hand or say to Him, ‘What have You done?’” (Daniel 4:34-35).

We can’t understand all the ways of God. Like Babylon’s king, Asaph had learned to see himself as unqualified to judge god for being unfair because as Exodus 15:11 says, “Who is like You among the gods, O Lord? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders.”

Tomorrow, we conclude by looking at the all-sufficiency of God…

Big Answers
“Until I came into the sanctuary of God; then I perceived their end. Surely You set them in slippery places; You cast them down to destruction. How they are destroyed in a moment! They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors! Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when aroused, You will despise their form.”
(Psalm 73:17-20)

In the first of several significant lessons, Asaph’s attention was directed to those he had envied. He saw their prosperity and became so envious that he almost changed teams, abandoning God and joining company with the wicked (vs. 2-3). But that was when he held a horizontal perspective. In the sanctuary, Asaph’s perspective turned vertical. He could finally appreciate what God sees and understand what was in store for those he envied — those who prospered while ignoring God. What was in store?

Absence of Security – (vs. 18)
From the world’s viewpoint, and in their own eyes, these individuals seemed out of the reach of trouble. But from God’s perspective, they were in “slippery places” and headed for destruction. When Asaph saw them as they would be on judgment day, he stopped envying them.

Absence of Anticipation – (vs. 19)
Not only were these  prosperous but wicked people heading for judgment, they also didn’t see it coming. Like the people of Noah’s day who resisted God despite years of warning, when judgment did arrive, it would be too late for them to do anything about it.

Absence of Hope – (vs. 20)
When God moves against them, His judgment will be without appeal. In God’s time and wisdom, the principle of retribution that Asaph believed in will prevail. But God will set the time and place.

Along with the rest of Israel, Asaph understood the principle of fair returns. His confusion came from trying to distinguish God’s justice in a period of time marked by His patience and mercy. Only in the sanctuary did Asaph see clearly that the day of reckoning is as inevitable as the fulfillment of God;s promises to those who trust Him. But the timing will be God’s; He sets the clock and calendar of accountability.
Asaph’s new perspective changed his attitude. But the judgment that came into focus for him was certainly no cause for celebration. The coming judgment was a wake-up call. His anger softened and he came to a critical turning point. Now, instead of pointing his finger at those who seemed to be escaping the justice of God, he began to look at himself.
Tomorrow, we’ll see what he found…

Asaph’s Sense of Responsibility
Asaph wanted to vent his anger and frustration at the injustice and unfairness of life — to shout at the God who permitted it. But he resisted acting on all that was in his heart because he sensed the disillusionment and damage it could cause in the people of God who looked to his example. This is what he meant by the phrase “betrayed the generation of Your children” in vs.15. He knew that his questions, and especially his reaction to them, could and would have far-reaching consequences.
This was a critical point in Asaph’s journey. Here, wisdom & faith supported his agonizing questions, giving him perspective. Even in the middle of his struggle, Asaph tempered his reaction by reflecting on the effect his simmering anger, envy, and doubt could have on the lives of others.

Asaph’s Silent Suffering
Asaph couldn’t reconcile his doubts with his faith, but he was unwilling to endanger others by declaring what was in his heart. So he chose another path: “When I pondered to understand this, it was troublesome in my sight” (vs. 16). Asaph chose to suffer in silence. He saw the unfairness of life that caused him to struggle with his own fragile faith and must have wondered: Are there answers for my questions? Is there relief for my suffering? Will justice reign in the world? Will it ever all make sense?
There are questions that we simply can’t answer. Sometimes we don’t find the solutions we need until we find ourselves in the presence of God Himself. Asaph continued to struggle; “Until I came into the sanctuary of God; then I perceived their end” (vs. 17).

Sanctuary
Sanctuary is a place set apart for spiritual protection, rest, and renewal. We all need such a place — a hiding place where our hearts and minds are restored and strengthened for the struggles of today and the challenges of tomorrow. In the Old Testament the word sanctuary refers more to an idea than a place — the idea of the presence of God (see Isaiah 8:14). It is what David longed for in Psalm 23 when he anticipated “quiet waters” (vs. 2) where the Lord his Shepherd would restore his soul. It’s what Christ Himself sought when He moved away from the crowds, the work, and the disciples and went to a mountain alone to spend time with His Father. Asaph discovered sanctuary was the place where he would find answers and restoration.
Asaph went into the sanctuary of God and found new perspective and understanding. Until he entered the sanctuary, Asaph had been overwhelmed by the unfairness of present circumstances. But in the presence of God, everything changed. With his focus on God and not on his own circumstances and perceptions, things came into clearer focus. In the sanctuary, Asaph saw the inequities of life from a different point of view — the day when justice will prevail.
The resolution began when Asaph turned to God not as an object of speculation, but of worship. Worship puts God at the center of our vision. It is vitally important because it is only when God is at the center of our vision that we see things as they really are.
Tomorrow, some answers…

A Troubled Response
Have you ever wondered if the prize is worth the pain? Asaph expressed a similar concern in his song, Psalm 73: Is life worth it? Does it really matter that I have tried to live for God? That anguished question is clearly seen in vs. 13: “Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure and washed my hands in innocence.” Asaph’s despair is clear. His anguish captures the essence of Solomon’s despair in the book of Ecclesiastes. Solomon describes the futility of his efforts to find meaning; he considered life from an earthly perspective. When he cried, “All is vanity,” he was reflecting on the value of life (1:2).
Asaph strived for personal integrity and faithfulness. But now, in his despair, he wondered if his efforts had been pointless. The tremendous weight of resentful anger lies behind those words in vs. 13. When it seems as if God is not in control, our doubts can make us want to give up. Asaph became so disillusioned that he felt integrity and morality just weren’t worth it.

Asaph’s Fear
The Four Feathers tells the story of Harry Faversham, a young man in the British army in the late 1800s. During that time, when the British empire touched every continent, a man could bring no greater honor to his family than to serve in the military. Harry answered this calling and earned respect in his regiment. Then came the day his unit received word that they were being deployed to put down an uprising in the Sudan. Harry was terrified. The thought of combat and the horrors of war paralyzed him with fear.
So Harry resigned his commission. The impact on his life was incredible. Rejected by his 3 fellow officers, they each sent him a white feather — their symbol for cowardice. His fiancée, who longed for him to be a hero, broke up with him and also sent him a feather. And he was estranged from his father, a military man, who declared that he didn’t even know Harry. One single, fear-filled choice had a powerful, destructive impact on all the relationships in Harry’s life.
Asaph was David’s chief musician, a man of spiritual influence, a songwriter, and a prophet (1 Chronicles 16:5; 25:2; 2 Chronicles 29:30). Such a position entailed both privilege and influence. He was a spiritual leader in Israel and felt the weight of that responsibility. Yet, he found himself doubting the goodness of God.
Notice Asaph’s reaction to his revelation in vs. 15: “If I had said, ‘I will speak thus,’ Behold, I would have betrayed the generation of Your children.” He wanted to shout his disapproval of God’s handling of life, but he stopped short. Poised at the edge of a canyon of disbelief and hopelessness, something slowly began to pull him back from the edge. But what was it?
We’ll find out tomorrow…

The Rearview Mirror
One of my favorite quotes is, “Life must be lived forward — unfortunately it can only be understood backward.” In other words, our clearest understanding of life’s events comes only when we see those events through the rear view mirror. There is something about the “rearview” perspective that gives more meaningful and accurate context to what we have experienced. Reflection, examination, and evaluation often clarify what at the time was difficult to understand. It was the backward look that helped Asaph understand his circumstances. Eventually he arrived at a time when he could look back on the doubts, pain, and despair, the times when he had wondered about the goodness and fairness of God. Finally, in retrospect, the picture becomes clearer and more understandable.
Notice the opening words of Psalm 73: “Surely God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart!” Asaph’s struggle is that the “pure in heart” do not seem to be blessed. Some see this verse as his declaration of faith despite an internal conflict over his beliefs. The realities of life had declared war on his deepest convictions. Others view this verse as the beginning of several of Asaph’s reversals of thought. They see him starting with faith, then lapsing into a time of deep despair and near-desertion of that faith. But Asaph described his experience as he saw it in the rearview mirror — a vantage point that allowed him to see his emotions and responses more clearly.
Asaph’s heart had been a battleground. War over the trustworthiness of God raged in his heart. As he recounted his experience, he revealed his despair in vs. 2: “But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, my steps had almost slipped.” In the crucible of suffering his complaints had seemed appropriate, even justified. But now, he could see them for what they really were — a dangerous temptation to reject God. He honestly remembered the thoughts assaulting his mind in vs. 3: “For I was envious of the arrogant as I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”
Asaph confessed emotions we might feel but rarely acknowledge; his blunt words capture all too familiar thoughts. His self-disclosure encourages us to be honest with ourselves and with God. We too envy and resent prosperity, especially when it seems to come to those who do evil. Describing those who seemed to have the upper hand for all the wrong reasons, he wrote: “For there are no pains in their death, and their body is fat. They are not in trouble as other men, nor are they plagued like mankind. Therefore, pride is their necklace; the garment of violence covers them. Their eyes bulges from fatness; the imaginations of their heart run riot. They mock and wickedly speak of oppression; they speak from on high. They have set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue parades through the earth. They say, ‘How does God know? And is there knowledge with the Most High?’” (Vs. 4-9, 11). Phrase by phrase, frustration by frustration, Asaph reflects on the luxury that seems to characterize the lives of those around him:

They seem to live such painless lives – (vs. 4). They die full and satisfied, enjoying life to the hilt every step of the way. “Their body is fat,” indicates great prosperity in an age when most people struggled just to survive. Indulgence in every delicacy was theirs on a daily basis, and their lifestyles reflected the means and opportunity to relax and enjoy the finer things of life.
They aren’t plagued like others – (vs. 5). They seem free from the difficulties, toils, and struggles of life. They seem immune to sickness and disease. Money and safety are the least of their concerns. Trouble doesn’t seem to touch those who prosper despite their wrongdoing.

Their pride and violence seem rewarded – (vs. 6). Asaph’s faith had taught him to believe that people who reject God will suffer. But as he observed life, it looked to him as if those who dared to be proud and oppressive were honored and rewarded. They seem to have all the things that those who spent their lives in devotion to God wanted, wished for, and thought they were due.

Their abundance is unimaginable – (vs. 7). Asaph saw the outward display of their wealth. “Their eyes bulges from fatness.” All the luxuries of life seemed to be theirs: comfort, safety, convenience, people and things to meet their every wish and want.

Their speech is filled with mockery, pride, and arrogance – (vs. 8-9). The targets of their mocking were those who valued character. But what troubled Asaph the most about these prosperous people was their attitude toward God. they mocked Him in all they did. Their prosperity led them to mockingly ask in vs. 11: “How does God know? And is there knowledge with the Most High?” They seemed carefree and unconcerned about tomorrow. For them, life is now, and now seems to be forever. They felt protected from the normal pains of life (vs. 4-6), so they assumed they were also invulnerable to any divine response.

As Asaph looked at the wealth and happiness of ungodly, self-centered people, he came to a discouraging conclusion: In spite of all their wrongdoing, those who live for only themselves still prosper! No wonder Asaph was frustrated! Bad people thrived, apparently immune to the problems of life. They mocked god and seemed to get away with it.
Inequity and injustice motivated Asaph’s confession in vs. 3: “I was envious of the arrogant as I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” Faced with similar circumstances, we too want to scream, “It just isn’t fair!”
But that was only the beginning. Though venting his frustration seemed natural and even helpful, doing so led him down a dark and troubling path.
Tomorrow, we will look at his response…

It’s Not Fair – Trusting God When Life Doesn’t Make Sense

We are often tempted by our circumstances to agree with the cynic who says: “No good deed goes unpunished.” In reflective moments we may find ourselves becoming bitter by the unfairness, inequality, and injustice that show up in every day of our existence. Where is justice? How can we have confidence in God when life seems to favor those who have no regard for Him?
In this study over the next week, we will look at the struggles of a man in the Old Testament who, when looking unfairness in the eye, almost walked away from his faith.
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Hard Questions
The young boy wailed, “It’s not fair!” As mommy and daddy told him he couldn’t have the same toy his friend had. Daddy said, “Sometimes life isn’t fair, buddy.” We tell our kids that life isn’t fair because we know that’s true. But even though we understand it, and despite the fact that we accept life’s little inequities, do we really believe that unfairness is okay? What about the drunk driver who walks away with only minor scratches while the man whose car his car crashed into lives in a coma for a few days before he dies? Or when a mother and father cry outside the courtroom as their child’s murderer is released — an oversight in the investigation led to a legal technicality and the man walked free. Or a man find his widowed mother’s bank account is empty — she has been duped by a “charity” and now has no money left to live on.
Tragedies raise angry questions sometimes: Why do people who do such bad things seem to succeed and even prosper? Where is God? How and where can we find answers? One place to look for answers is in the book of Psalms. They capture the depth of human emotions and captivate us because they put words to anger, fear, and frustration we all experience in life.
One of the Psalm writers was a man named Asaph. He wrote Psalm 73 after life had forced him to ask deep and painful questions. Although the details that led to his crisis are unknown, Asaph did capture his reaction to what he witnessed and what he learned. Feeling betrayed by life and even by God, Asaph expresses a depth of despair and disillusionment that many experience but few admit. “Why is this happening to me? I’ve trusted God. I’ve tried to remain faithful and to make good choices. Yet I’m overwhelmed with trouble while evil people prosper. IT’S NOT FAIR!”

Read Psalm 73

Why Doesn’t God Enforce His Own Rules?
In ancient Israel, people believed and lived by the law of fair returns. They expected justice and balance. Those who did good would be rewarded proportionately, while the unjust and immoral would be punished. This wasn’t simply a clever philosophy or wishful thinking; it was based on the law given by God.

Read Leviticus 25:3-5, 18-20; Deuteronomy 28
The New Testament has a counterpart to this Old Testament principle — the “law of sowing and reaping”: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap” (Galatians 6:7-8).
These words offer truth and hope to the disheartened and suffering as in Psalms 34 and 37. Wherever we find it, this principle was part of the framework through which an Israelite viewed life. The belief that good is rewarded and bad is punished exposes the problem that forms the backdrop of Psalm 73: Why do bad people seem to benefit while good people seem to struggle and encounter difficulty?
This psalm is not a theological analysis of a hypothetical problem. Asaph was wrestling with a personal crisis, one that threatened his faith in God. His words revealed the intensity of the emotions stirred by the questions deep in his heart. In his struggle, Asaph can speak for us. Our lives may mirror his. He believed in God’s goodness and the principle of justice, but his experience didn’t match what he thought he knew.
Answers. If he was to continue believing in God, Asaph had to find answers. We’ll begin looking for them tomorrow…

The Test of Our Religion

Imagine that you are making application for heaven. What would you list as your qualifications?

* I have always believed in God.
* I’m though of as a religious person.
* I have tries to live a good life.
* I have been baptized.
* I go to church.
* I haven’t done anything really bad.
* I have friends who will vouch for me.

I hope by now you realize that if you were to list any of those qualifications on an application for heaven, it would indicate that you don’t yet understand the worthlessness of religion. The only application that would be accepted by heaven would be one on which you listed your qualifications as follows:

* I can cite no merit of my own.
* I have been a sinner from birth.
* I am coming not in my name but in Christ’s.
* I believe He is the Son of God and my Savior.
* I have accepted His sacrifice for my sins.
* I believe He rose from the dead.
* I have put my trust in Him to save me.

This is the same confidence of the apostle Paul who, to distinguish between religion and Christ, wrote: “By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works [pure religion], which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8-10).

A Study In Contrasts

There are two sides to many issues in Scripture. This is true of the subject of religion. To keep a balanced view, it’s important for us to live with the tension of two seemingly contradictory ideas.

Religion Is Important
The Bible is full of religious practices that either (1) point us to God or (2) provide a channel for expressing our relationship to God. Both Old and New Testaments are full of religious law, principle, belief, and ritual. If we think of religion as action or conduct indicating belief in, reverence for, and a desire to please God, then it is clear that this religion provides:

* a pattern of doctrine and belief (Titus 2:1)
* shared experience (Acts 2:37-47; Hebrews 10:25)
* outward show of inner faith (1 John 3:17-18)

Religion Is Worthless
It is worthless if we depend on any external actions to make us right with God. Whether before salvation or after, no amount of religious knowledge or action can save us. Knowledge or action can only give us a way of expressing our personal faith in Christ. In that sense we must avoid:

* attempts to earn salvation (Ephesians 2:8-10)
* any thought of perfecting ourselves (Galatians 3:1-3)
* anything that displaces Christ (Colossians 2:6-8)

Religion is dangerous, not because it is bad but because it is often good enough to turn our trust away from Christ. Our tendency is to reject confidence in what Christ can do and replace it with something that we can do for ourselves.

We conclude our study tomorrow with the test of our religion…

Why It Makes Sense to Keep Our Focus on Christ

In exchange for our trust in Him, Christ does many things for us that religion cannot do. For example:

* He loves us (John 15:13; Romans 8:35).
* He bring us to God (1 Timothy 2:5).
* He brings God to us (Colossians 1:15).
* He bought us for God (Ephesians 1:7).
* He defends us before God (1 John 2:1).
* He declares us “not guilty” (Romans 3:24; 5:1)
* He reconciles us to God (2 Corinthians 5:19).
* He sets us apart for God (1 Corinthians 1:30).
* He gives us peace with God (Romans 5:1).
* He makes us acceptable to God (Ephesians 1:6).
* He forgives us (Ephesians 1:7).
* He frees us from bondage (Romans 8:2).
* He qualifies us for adoption (Ephesians 1:5).
* He makes us heirs of God (Ephesians 1:11)
* He gives us His Spirit (John 14:16-17).
* He gives us a new focus (Colossians 1:27).
* He lives within us (Colossians 1:27).
* He brings us into God’s family (John 1:12).
* He intercedes for us (Romans 8:34).
* He rescues us from Satan’s power (Colossians 1:13).
* He places us into God’s kingdom (Colossians 1:13).
* He gives us eternal life (Romans 6:23).
* He shows us how to live (1 John 2:6).

Tomorrow, the contrasts of religion…