Random Thoughts on the Really Good News

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future…It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance...we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things.”  (Jeremiah 29:11; 1 Timothy 4:9-11) God's ultimate plan for mankind is to prosper us and not harm us. He will save all mankind.   We have been studying the book of Revelation in Sunday School and this past Sunday we ended that study with the following promise from God... "...and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away...Behold, I am making all things new." (Revelation 21:4-6) There is to be a consummation of God's purpose for those ages. At that point in time both friends and enemies, believers and unbelievers

“The Most High dwells not in Temples made with hands. Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me says the Lord? Or where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things? You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised” (Acts 7:48-51) Think about that for a minute…now consider what we generally refer to as “the house of God”. God does not DWELL there! Godless men have attempted to banish him to those buildings, and those who attend rarely object.  Many of them simply view church buildings as a place they can go occasionally, sing a few hymns, get their sins forgiven, and thus feel better about themselves for an hour or two. I think God prefers to be worshiped and honored in homes, businesses and places of entertainment where people live, work and play. By worship I am not talking about inviting people to church, or piously praying out loud, or trying to get people saved while in those places. I

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law…so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:13-14) What is the curse of the Law? “…sin is the transgression of the law...the wages of sin is death” (1 John 3:4: Romans 6:23) The curse of the law is DEATH and we all will eventually face and experience that curse. But Christ Jesus came and has "redeemed us from the curse" .  Therefore we will not stay dead but will "receive the promise of the Spirit" .  So what is the promise of the Spirit?     LIFE...Abundant, Everlasting LIFE. "The Spirit gives LIFE; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you--they are full of the Spirit and LIFE....the letter kills, but the Spirit gives LIFE..The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have LIFE, and have it abundantly."  ( John 6:63; John 10:10; 2 Corinthians 3:6) It really is that simple. Mankind are sinners and the wages of that sin

"For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God." (Romans 5:10-11 NLT) I was a City Councilman at one time when a disgruntled man came to a meeting and expressed his displeasure by telling us that he hoped “we would all burn in hell”. At least he was honest in expressing his feelings.  Mankind does not have the capacity to love those we deem our enemies, in spite of the pious, self-righteous rhetoric of some folks. We generally prefer to “nuke” our enemies. There is nothing wrong with expressing our feelings. I like an honest view. The problem is assuming that God feels the same way about His enemies. However, unlike us, God actually LOVES His "enemies"  , SAVES them, and calls them FRIENDS. Religion makes friendship with God

“For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice. Pilate said to Him, What is truth?” (John 18:37-38) Error does not become the truth just because it is taught by a Rabbi, Pastor, or Ulama. It is simply educated error. Nor does error become truth because it is the traditional teaching in the Synagogue, Church or Mosque. Many times truth becomes much more difficult to find because of the respect the common man gives to the doctrinal errors of educated religious teachers. So what is the truth as I understand it? "Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD, Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool…The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!…Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life…” (Isaiah 1:18; John 1:29; John 14:6

"So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 13:49-50) I find it hard to believe that bible teachers cannot seem to understand the context of the above passage. If they would just read and study the above along with Mark 13, Luke 21, Matthew 24 and 25 and the books of Daniel and Revelation they would not apply the above verses to their horrible views about a mythological “hell” being the "furnace of fire" and a place of eternal torment for all mankind except Christians. The above passage and those related to it deal with Israel as a Nation, the chosen people of God among all the people of the earth, most of whom rejected Jesus as their Messiah at his first coming.  And at "the end of the age" (this age in which we are still living) most in Israel will still be rejecting Jesus as they are today.  Al

“Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His REST, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have BELIEVED do enter that REST.” (Hebrews 4:1-3) God has made a promise that when the gospel is “BELIEVED” the believer can have “rest” . This belief has nothing to do with obtaining salvation, that is a "free gift" from God. Believing gives us “REST” and peace. Some, however, “come short of” believing the good news of their salvation and therefore do not experience “His rest” in this life. He is talking about "rest" and peace that we can have NOW, in this present world, while we wait for the gospel (good news) of our salvation to be manifested when Christ Jesus returns to resurrect the dead. It is now our "blessed hope” ... "looking for the blessed hope and

“The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes...” (Daniel 4:17) Donald Trump for President! At first I did not know what to think about the guy. I could not see him clearly because his ego kept getting in the way.  But now I am interested and warming up to him, ego notwithstanding. His slogan is “Make America Great Again”. Can’t argue with that for sure. And the only way I see it happening is to get a successful business person in the white house, get rid of professional Political "lifers" in Congress, and for the American people to start trusting their own opinions rather than those of the professional network and cable news Journalists and their regular pundits. Politicians and network Journalists are the most despised folks in all the country…with Lawyers coming in a close third. Donald Trump is not one of those and h

“…the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” (Galatians 3:14) What is the  “blessing of Abraham” ? It was the promise to him that “...all peoples on earth will be blessed" (Genesis 12:3) And what is the “promise of the spirit” that "all peoples"   "might receive" and "be blessed" ? “…the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit...There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 3:28) When people hear and believe they “receive" and are “sealed” with the "Holy Spirit" . And as I said yesterday, the Bible teaches me that ALL peoples of the earth will eventually hear and believe… “For it is written, as I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow t

"...the Scripture has confined ALL under sin, that the promise by the faith OF Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe." (Galatians 3:19-22) Some poorer translations of the bible say faith "in" Jesus Christ but a look at the Greek shows it literally means out of " the faith OF Jesus Christ" , not our faith. Because of the faith "OF JESUS" , not yours or mine, the promise will come to ALL men as they "believe".   ALL of us have... "...sinned and fallen short of the glory of God" and "the wages of sin is death" and "it is appointed unto man once to die" (Romans 3:23; 6:23a; Hebrews 9:27) So if we all die, what is the promise?  "...the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord"  (Romans 6:23b)  And when will ALL believe the promise?  Only a few of us believe in this life but the bible says that... "...at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those w