by Ray Viola | Jun 14, 2023 | Devotionals
John sees Jesus in glory as a Lamb that had been slain from the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8). This tells us that man’s fall and subsequent redemption was not a surprise to the Almighty, but His preordained plan (Acts 2:23). It is by virtue of the Lamb’s...
by Ray Viola | Mar 23, 2023 | Devotionals
Biblical salvation is God’s work from start to finish. It is a gift from God, not of works lest any man should boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). Our reading from Corinthians this morning shatters any works-based or ritual-based redemption (1 Corinthians 1:29-31). If...
by Ray Viola | Sep 23, 2022 | Devotionals
Something in our self-righteous flesh convinces us that salvation is earned by good conduct, or by observing religious practices like keeping ‘holy days’ or other rituals. Grace and human effort do not provide forgiveness of sin. Salvation is not the result of the law...
by Ray Viola | Jul 20, 2022 | Devotionals
Exodus 15:1-21 is a beautiful Old Testament picture of the glorious gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. Israel was delivered from Egypt, a type of the world, by the powerful blood of the Passover Lamb. That deliverance was the glorious victory of Jehovah for His...
by Ray Viola | May 3, 2022 | Devotionals, Titles of God
The first Biblical reference to the title of Savior comes from the lips of none other than David (2 Sam 22:3), the man after God’s own heart. The Hebrew word for savior is the verb “yasha”, which means: “avenging, defend, deliver, help, preserve, rescue, save, get...