Mended Institute

Morning Bliss: Eternal Life--a Quality Of Life_ Focal Scripture : John 3:16, 'For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.'                                       Read: John 3:1-21 Most people focus on the part of this verse that promises us we won't perish. Although it's certainly a wonderful promise, it is not the focus of this verse.  The primary purpose of Jesus' coming to this earth was not forgiveness of sins, but to give us eternal life. Sin separated us from God so Jesus dealt with sin.  However, His payment for sin was just a step toward His ultiimate purpose of reconciling man to God.  If someone believes that Jesus died for their sins but doesn't go on to enter into the close fellowship with God that Jesus made available, then they are missing eternal life. Eterna...

Morning Bliss: Freed From The Law_ Focal Scripture : Luke 16:16 'The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.'                                       Read: Luke 16:16-17 The Bible teaches that there are different dispensations or divinely ordered ways of God dealing with mankind throughout the  ages.  A dispensation is simply a period of time in which God deals with mankind in a certain way. The Old Testament law was only a temporary dispensation and ruled from the giving of the law (Ex. 20) until the ministry of John the Baptist.  When Christ came, He put an end to the law for righteousness (Rom. 10:4).   Anyone who advocates the keeping of the law for the purpose of right standing with God is going back to an Old Testament system of law that has been abolished and is making the work ...

Morning Bliss: The Weapon Of The Word_ Focal Scripture : Luke 4:4, 'And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.'                                      Read: MT. 4:1-11; MK. 1:12-13; LK. 4:1-13 Jesus answered every temptation with, 'It is written.' The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit (Eph. 6:17).  It is the only offensive spiritual weapon that we have. Since Jesus was the Word of God (Jn. 1:1), anything he would have spoken would have been the Word.  He could have said 'scat' and the devil would have had to go, yet He quoted the written Word of God three times. This gives us great assurance that the written Word of God is sufficient for us.  Jesus, in the face of the greatest temptations that Satan had to offer, did not need to say anything that was not already recorded in scripture. It is lik...