“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord . . . . .” (Genesis 6:8)

Why did Noah find GRACE in the eyes of the Lord? Because it is the nature of God to be gracious and merciful.

Noah and his family were saved from the flood by the grace of God…but that salvation was temporary…he and his family eventually died. That is God’s will for this present evil age. But it is also God’s WILL and plan that ALL mankind be saved from STAYING dead…again by the loving GRACE of God…it is called the RESURRECTION. It is our blessed hope, and it will be glorious!

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men…” (Titus 2:11)

“For by grace are you saved through faith…it is the gift of God…” (Ephesians 2:8)

“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who WILL HAVE ALL MEN TO BE SAVED, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a RANSOM FOR ALL, to be testified in due time. Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.” (1 Timothy 2:3-7)

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus, through the will of God, and brother Timothy, to the saints and believing brethren in Christ…Grace to you and peace from God, our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Colossians 1:1-2 CLNT).

I once heard a Preacher say that “every believer is a saint”. That is not necessarily true.

He would be more accurate if he had stated that “a saint is one who believes WHAT GOD SAYS". You may believe what your pastor, priest, rabbi, sheikh, mom or dad says, but that does not make you a “saint”. We have many who are “believing” what their various religious doctrines say…but that does not make them one of God’s saints if what they are believing does not line up with what God actually says.

Sooo it is REAL important that we know what GOD says and not just what men say God says…read it for yourself…follow the example of the Berean Jews. Do not learn what God has said from men, but from reading it or having it read to you.

“Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true (or your pastor, priest, rabbi, sheikh, mom, dad or me)” (Acts 17:11).

All will know and believe what it says eventually and become the "saints" that God has determined mankind will be.

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." (2 Corinthians 4:17)

Now consider what Paul considered "light"...

“…five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep…many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.” (2 Corinthians 4:24-27)

They were light when compared to the weight of the glory that awaits us at the close of this life and our resurrection to immortality.

"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.” (Isaiah 65:17)

”However, as it is written: What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived -- the things God has prepared for those who love him”. (1 Corinthians 2:9)

And all will eventually love Him…their sins are forgiven and forgotten…and God will be All in All. At least that is how I interpret the plan God has revealed it in His Word.

"God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:19)

“…avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.” (2 Timothy 2:23-26)

It will be found that the teachings presented in the four gospels (especially the Sermon on the Mount), but also in Acts, Hebrews, James, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John, Jude and Revelation, are in exact accord with the Old Testament predictions regarding that restored Kingdom promised to ISRAEL. They are almost wholly in disagreement with the teachings of grace for ALL as presented by Paul in his letters.

Failure to keep these teaching separate when studying the Scripture is the basis, in my opinion, for all of the theological differences found among the various sects of Christianity and Messianic Judaism.

A prime example is that almost every Christian teacher I know and commentary I have read equates the “Body of Christ” and “the Bride of Christ”. Actually, there is no phrase “Bride of Christ” found in Scripture, just “the Bride, the Lamb’s wife”. The “Bride” is never spoken of by Paul, the bearer of the gospel of grace for ALL. Nor is the “Body” ever spoken of by the Peter, John and the apostles to Israel and bearers of the gospel of the KINGDOM. Traditional theology with its careless instruction has united the purpose and program of God for “the church which is His Body” with “the Bride, the Lamb’s wife”.

Few seem to care and I suppose knowing the difference will not change God’s plan. However, if any of you teachers of the Bible care about being accurate let me suggest to you the following division of the 66 books of the Bible:

Scripture for ISRAEL and their Gentile proselytes: All of the Old Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Hebrews, James, 1-3 John, 1-2 Peter, Jude and Revelation...

THESE BOOKS WILL TELL YOU ALL ABOUT THE GOSPEL OF THE KINGDOM, THE OLD AND NEW COVENANTS GOD HAS MADE WITH ISRAEL, AND WHAT HAPPENS TO THE “BRIDE, THE LAMB’S WIFE” ON THIS EARTH DURING THE KINGDOM AGE AND THE FINAL AGE OF THE NEW HEAVEN AND EARTH.

Scripture for Gentiles and those Israelites who embrace the gospel of grace: 

Paul’s letters…Romans thru Philemon...

THESE LETTERS WILL TELL YOU ALL ABOUT THE GOSPEL OF GRACE, THE DESTINY OF THE "CHURCH which is His BODY", and THE EVENTUAL SALVATION OF ALL AND THE FINAL RECONCILIATION OF ALL CREATION TO GOD AT THE CLOSE OF THE AGES.

It seems to me that if you see this basic division, and refuse to mix them up, you stay away from the chaotic mess and arguments we see among Christianity and Messianic Judaism who seem to be…

”always learning but never coming to a knowledge of the truth”. (2 Timothy 3:7)

“For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.” (2 Corinthians 4:11)

I have read thousands of words of men trying to explain this in commentaries on the bible…unnecessary in my opinion. They make everything complicated – I suppose so that their explanations make them sound smart.

What Paul is saying is simple if we remember that although the bad news is “the wages of sin is death”… the good news (gospel) is “the free gift of God is ETERNAL LIFE” (Romans 6:26). So Paul is simply saying that just as Jesus died, so we ALL must die, and just as Jesus was RAISED to immortal “life”, so shall we be raised to eternal, immortal life.

“For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died” (2 Corinthians 5:14)

“He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” (Romans 4:24)

“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned…Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the FREE gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life…where sin abounded, GRACE abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to ETERNAL LIFE through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:12-21)

In Luke Chapter 18 Jesus told the sinners and publicans whom the religious crowd despised that they “ought always to pray, and not to faint…” and that God would “avenge them speedily”. But then lamented with regard to the religious folks “Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?”

Then Jesus spoke a parable to the religious leaders who thought that “they were righteous, and despised others” as follows:

“Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess…And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner…”

Jesus declared “I tell you, this man (the sinner) went down to his house justified rather than the other (the religious guy)…”

Jesus was disgusted with the lack of understanding and faith that he found among the Jewish religious teachers. They had developed their own religious doctrine and Jesus said about that doctrine...

“IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN” (Matthew 15:9). 

They just refused to believe God, preferring their own teachings.

2000 years later I wonder if Jesus finds “faith on the earth”, or are sinners and publicans still being excluded from the good news of their salvation by Christian institutions who are again trusting “themselves that they were righteous, and despised others” who have not joined the club, or who do not follow their particular “creed” or “statement of faith”.

Is God really Omniscient, Omnipresent and Omnipotent? Is God’s love and mercy infinite? Is God sovereign over ALL?

Both Muslims and Christians express that He is but their “theology” does not always fit their expressed faith.

From my vantage point it is because most Christians and Muslims depend solely on their religious leaders to tell them what the Bible or Koran says.

Tell me honestly, is your doctrinal views based on your personal reading and meditating on the Bible…or on what someone has told you about the Bible. Depending on how you answer that you will know whether you are trusting in the “word of men” or in “the Word of God”.

Don’t misunderstand me, it is OK and common to trust the opinions of those whom you respect and trust. The problem is that sometimes even those good, sincere, well-meaning people…are wrong! When they are, how are they going to know? They themselves might not even know because they are just passing down what someone they trusted told them...for centuries.

When you can't find Scripture to back up what they say, they should be told by someone who cares about them...but do not expect a big "Thanks".

Jesus told the Jewish religious leaders - "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.” (John 9:41)

“For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” (2 Corinthians 5:1)

All sane people understand the simple truth that if they live, they will also one day die. That is also biblical truth and is verified by experience so every sane person believes it whether they believe in God or not. But those who believe God also believe that after a man or woman dies there is another life “eternal in the heavens”. This helps us live righteously.

”For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad…he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” (2 Corinthians 5:10, 15)

Even though all mankind has this eternal house in the heavens guaranteed to them, there is also going to be a day of reckoning when we receive that new “house”. All will give an account to Christ for the things done in this life and be shown whether it is good or bad. 

If people were aware and believed that fact, then it would take care of our daily walk and relationships in this life. But most just do not believe they will have to give an account…even Christians have this insane idea that because they have made some “wise decision” to “accept” Christ they will be exempt from this examination.

“…all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Chris…God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the ministry of reconciliation…For he hath made him to be sin for us…” (2 Corinthians 5:18-21)

The good news is that although ALL will give account, God was in Christ at the cross reconciling the whole world to himself and is not imputing the bad things we do against us in terms of punishment beyond death.  He wants us to tell people this...that is a believer’s "ministry". Christianity and all other religions fail miserably in this regard because they simply do not believe God. Sin will not prevent us from being "saved" and receiving our “house…eternal in the heavens”, but we may gain or lose “reward” based on our actions.

”Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:13-15)

The good works mankind does will be rewarded. As for the bad works, they will not be rewarded and we will be "ashamed" of them, even though the person “shall be saved”.

“And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” (1 John 2:28)

I have skimmed over several books over the last 5-10 years written by those who purportedly went to heaven and were told to go back and tell people about it. There are numerous other people who claim to have had a “near death experience” in heaven or hell. I was recently asked what I thought about one of those books and the subsequent movie. Here goes…

There are the only three places in the New Testament where I find that men were allowed to see the future. Peter, James and John were with Jesus on what we call “the mount of transfiguration”; Paul as he related in his second letter to Corinth; and John as recorded in the Revelation. The Bible tells their stories as follows:

“After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves…then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus… As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, ‘Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.’" (Matthew 17:1-9)

“Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ (Paul) who fourteen years ago-- whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows-- such a man was caught up to the third heaven…into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.… " (2 Corinthians 12:1-2)

“I (John) was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, saying, "Write in a book what you see…” (Revelation 1:10-11)

These men were transported (not literally but in a trance, dream or vision) into the future and shown what is to come at that time. Peter, James and John were told not to tell what happened until after Jesus was raised from the dead. What Paul “heard” he was not “permitted to speak”. And what John saw he was to write down in a book…which he did – in the book of Revelation.

Here is what I think about modern day accounts...

Unless you are willing to elevate those recent accounts to the level of Scripture (God’s Word) then they are false in the sense they claim to have actually been in heaven. Why? 

Because no one in the entire Scripture has ever literally died, went to heaven and returned to earth to tell about it. Jesus will be the FIRST when he returns to resurrect the dead for we are told

“…He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything” (Colossians 1:18).

Personally I believe these folks probably believe what they say but in my mind they have simply hallucinated or dreamed they were in heaven. I have had some pretty vivid dreams myself which seemed real after I woke up. And Jesus has told us we will arrive in heaven only when he returns to get us…

“Do not let your heart be troubled…In My Father’s house are many dwelling places…I go to prepare a place for you…I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also…I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:1-6)

“I exhort, then, first of all, there be made supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, for all MEN: for kings, and all who are in AUTHORITY…for this is right and acceptable before God our Savior, who doth will all MEN to be SAVED, and to come to the full knowledge of the TRUTH; for there is one God, and one mediator of God and of men, the MAN Christ Jesus, who did give himself a ransom for ALL -- the testimony in its own times...in regard to which I was set a preacher and apostle...I do  not lie...a TEACHER of nations, in faith and TRUTH…Let a WOMAN in quietness learn in all subjection, and a WOMAN I do not allow to TEACH…but to be in quietness, for Adam was first formed, then Eve, and Adam was NOT deceived, but the WOMEN, having been deceived, into transgression came...” (1 Timothy 2)

Why does Paul mot allow women to teach?

Paul apparently believed MEN are to have “authority” in the family, governments, and the Church which includes the role of teaching the TRUTH. That may be why Paul said he did not allow WOMEN to teach or have authority over men and that women were to learn from the husband in quietness and subjection. And Paul said the reason was because it was the woman who was “deceived” in Eden…a sin that resulted in the death sentence for mankind.

I wonder if Paul would be welcome in most Churches and encouraged to instruct that women are not to teach? It is not politically correct…but it is what Paul says and most of you reading this call the Bible the Word of God.

Many men and women are being taught from the Bible by women in Churches and various television and internet ministries. Their listeners seem to enjoy the teaching and have good things to say about them. But is it ideal…or even OK with God?

In my over 63 years in the Baptist church I have seen changes in its stand on women taking the role of a teacher in the Church. And I personally know of some women who are now teaching who at one time would have never taken on the role because of what Paul said to Timothy above. What changed? It wasn't the Bible.

I cannot help but wonder about a women who takes on the role of “bible teacher” - the authority Paul believed God had given to men.  Should they expect God to bless that ministry and keep it free from deception…wouldn’t that be sinning and expecting God to bless the sin?

Just some random thoughts.

“The earth is the LORD'S, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1)

“…every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:11)

These verses clearly say that ALL that dwell in the world belong to the LORD and that Jesus Christ is LORD. So listen as the Lord Jesus talks about all who belong to him.

“And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of ALL which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.” (John 6:39)

“Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you… that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

“…while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God…” (Romans 5:8-9)

I sometimes wonder if the reason prayers are not answered is simply because Christianity does not believe God…or have forgotten the gospel….or do not know or believe what it means. 

Christ the LORD died for sinners…ALL of them. 

Sinners will be saved…ALL of them. 

This is the good news (gospel) that we are to proclaim…but it is NOT being proclaimed in any institutional Church that I am aware of.

What Happened At The Cross?

Was Jesus Christ our “substitute”. Theologians believe so and sometimes refer to it as “vicarious atonement”. The doctrine can be summarize as follows: Jesus “paid the price” for our sins by dying on the cross. 

Of course this is not true since both believers and unbelievers all suffer and die eventually. NOTE the catch phrases “paid the price”. You hear that all the time in church. Think about it.  If Jesus paid the price for our sin and the wages of sin is death, then we should not die.  Or if the horrible doctrine of eternal conscious punishment was the price for sin then Jesus would have to be eternally punished to "pay the price".  Of course neither is true. Man dies and no one is eternally punished.

Romans 6:23 clearly says that...

"the wages of sin is death”

And 2 Timothy 2:11 clearly tells us that we must die in order to live...

“if we be dead with Him shall we live with Him.”

So what did Jesus actually DO at the cross? First what he did NOT do:

He did NOT take our place so that we should never have to take it.  It is still our place to suffer and die. 1 Peter 4:13 tells us to rejoice that we suffer as Christ suffered...

“rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed” 

And Hebrews 9:27 tells us that all die...

“it is appointed unto men once to die, and AFTER that the judgment”. 

The word “judgment” simply means the decision of what to do with us after we die. That decision has been reserved by God our Judge. And God’s judgment (decision) is to give the dead eternal life as a free gift...

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us…For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 5:8; 6:23)

Theologians have got the Church so screwed up in its man made doctrine that it is almost impossible for most people to learn and accept the TRUTH.

Christ Jesus became a man in the incarnation where he JOINED Himself to mankind, to bear the curse of suffering and death WITH us. Mankind is to be delivered OUT of death by the resurrection. Our death satisfies the penalty for sin.  

Again, God has promised SINNERS the "free gift" of eternal life. This promised new and abundant life is demonstrated for us in the resurrection of Christ Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, the first fruits, who has promised to return and resurrect all mankind.

The doctrine of “substitution” denies the union of Christ Jesus with mankind. He is not our “substitute”, he is the “SAVIOR” of all who die as the "wages of sin".

We should open our eyes that they might see and give God the glory for the wonderful promise of the reconciliation and salvation of ALL sinners. Then tell people about it because that is the gospel and it is our "ministry".

"God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself...and has given us the ministry of reconciliation...For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in him (Jesus), and through him to reconcile ALL things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of his cross; through him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet he has now reconciled you in his fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him (God) holy and blameless and beyond reproach.” (2 Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 1:19-22)

What about conflicting English translations of the Bible? Sincere teachers of the Bible should point out that there is a difference of opinion with regard to the translation of the oldest Greek manuscripts. Here is an example:

Matthew 25:46 King James Version

"And these will go away into everlasting (aionios) punishment (kolasis), but the righteous into eternal (aionios) life."

This verse is most frequently quoted to me to defend the false doctrine of eternal conscious torment in hell. The verse is translated by Young's Literal Translation as follows:

“And these shall go away to punishment (kolasis) age-during (aionios), but the righteous to life age-during.”

This reflects the true meaning of this verse, as originally inspired by the Holy Spirit, and it does not introduce any contradiction to Paul’s later revelation of the eventual Salvation and Reconciliation of ALL.

And when the context in which Jesus was speaking is examined it becomes clear that he is not referring to the eternal destiny of anyone…but is telling Jews where Jews would be during the Kingdom age that Messiah Jesus will establish on the present earth. An age with a definite beginning and end in which Israel would once again be the “head and not the tail” according to Moses (Deuteronomy 28:13). 

Jews who have believed God down through the centuries will be resurrected to live during that AGE and reign with Messiah, and those who do not believe will be punished by not being raised until AFTER that age is over. And by the way the Bible clearly tells us the length of the KINGDOM AGE…1000 years.

“…they did live and reign with Christ the thousand years…they shall be priests of God and of the Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." (Revelation 20:4-6)

Sometimes I wonder if some bible teachers have even read through the Bible.

“24Ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ὁ τὸν λόγον μου ἀκούων καὶ πιστεύων τῷ πέμψαντί με ἔχει ζωὴν αἰώνιον, καὶ εἰς κρίσιν οὐκ ἔρχεται ἀλλὰ μεταβέβηκεν ἐκ τοῦ θανάτου εἰς τὴν ζωήν. 25ἀμὴν ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι ἔρχεται ὥρα καὶ νῦν ἐστιν ὅτε οἱ νεκροὶ ἀκούσουσιν τῆς φωνῆς τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ οἱ ἀκούσαντες ζήσουσιν. 26ὥσπερ γὰρ ὁ πατὴρ ἔχει ζωὴν ἐν ἑαυτῷ, οὕτως καὶ τῷ υἱῷ ἔδωκεν ζωὴν ἔχειν ἐν ἑαυτῷ: 27καὶ ἐξουσίαν ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ κρίσιν ποιεῖν, ὅτι υἱὸς ἀνθρώπου ἐστίν. 28μὴ θαυμάζετε τοῦτο, ὅτι ἔρχεται ὥρα ἐν ἧ πάντες οἱ ἐν τοῖς μνημείοις ἀκούσουσιν τῆς φωνῆς αὐτοῦ 29καὶ ἐκπορεύσονται, οἱ τὰ ἀγαθὰ ποιήσαντες εἰς ἀνάστασιν ζωῆς, οἱ δὲ τὰ φαῦλα πράξαντες εἰς ἀνάστασιν κρίσεως. “(John 5:24-29)

This is the way the Greek reads which is the language spoken by  most when Jesus was born. What WE have is umpteen opinions of men as to how to translate those words into English. Here is what I believe to be the best unbiased translation of the above into English, the Concordant Literal New Testament.

24 "Verily, verily, I am saying to you that he who is hearing My word and believing Him Who sends Me, has life EONIAN and is not coming into judging, but has proceeded out of death into life.
25 Verily, verily, I am saying to you that coming is an hour, and now is, when the dead shall be hearing the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear shall be living.
26 For even as the Father has life in Himself, thus to the Son also He gives to have life in Himself.
27 "And He gives Him authority to do judging, seeing that He is a son of mankind.
28 Marvel not at this, for coming is the hour in which all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice,
29 and those who do good shall go out into a resurrection of life, yet those who commit bad things, into a resurrection of JUDGING. (John 5:24-29 CLNT)

First note the words I have capitalized. If your English version says something different I believe it is wrongly translated.

Second note that whatever you think about this passage only those who “do good” works shall be involved in the resurrection of life, and those who “commit bad things” get the resurrection of judging. No sound bible believing Christian who has read the letters of the Apostle Paul could possibly think this is referring to being eternally saved or condemned.

Third, and most important is the context of the passage. Jesus has been traveling around Israel addressing JEWS ONLY with the message “repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand”. What did he mean and how did the Jewish listeners understand what he was saying?  

They were Jews. The Jews had been promised in the Old Testament that a Messiah would come and reestablish ON THE PRESENT EARTH the Kingdom given to Israel.

Jesus was saying to these JEWS that those Jews who had believed God would be resurrected to life and reign with Messiah during the Kingdom Age (Revelation tells us it will last 1000 years). Those Jews who did NOT believe God and have died will not be raised to live during that period but would have to wait until the end of the 1000 years to be resurrected and be judged by Jesus at the Great White Throne. There he will determine which JEWS get to live and reign during the Age that follows the 1000 years, the Age of the New Heaven and New Earth. Some will get to live during that Age and some will be put to the second DEATH by means of the Lake of Fire…to await the abolishing of death by Jesus when all mankind will be “made alive” and God is then "ALL in all" of his creation (1 Corinthians 15:22-28).

This is NOT complicated, but it does require one to actually read, understand and harmonize ALL Scripture….and stop listening to those who do not.

Man cannot save himself…he must first be humbled…then saved by the one who can.

“For without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22)

Before God allowed evil and sin into the world, He had a plan for its removal. It is the shedding of the blood. Sin demands a harsh judgment - the shedding of blood…death! The innocent sacrificial lamb has died, extending the life of the sinner, but the sinner eventually dies...death is necessary for remission.

The plan of salvation is simple, the execution of that plan is harsh, but the final result is the salvation of both the sinner and the sinless lamb…the deliverance from death…first for the innocent lamb (Jesus), then for all sinners.

Is it that simple? It is for me….it is finished.

“The next day John sees Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world. . .” (John 1:29)

 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

“And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day...it is finished” (John 6:39; 19:30)

What Is Required Of You?

“And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8)

Humility is one of those things God likes. Most of us have a hard time being humble because the world teaches us to be proud. The world says that low self-esteem is a major problem. However, this is the person God "esteems"...

“. . . this is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit…” (Isaiah 66:2)

God likes simple, humble folks who trust Him….so do I.

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Jesus said this about how the Pharisees ministered to their flock:

"For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders" (Matthew 23:4).

Sound familiar? If the ministers who you are associated with do these things…exit the door and never go back if you enjoy liberty. These rules and regulations leave you frustrated, guilt ridden and depressed. Jesus came to set you free from rules and regulations of religious institutions, whether Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Hindu or any other religious system.

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed" (Luke 4:18).

Paul talks about our "reconciliation" and this "liberty"...

"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation...it is for freedom that Christ has set us free" (2 Corinthians 5:18-19; Galatians 5:1)

Those of us who know about it should "minister" this message to those who do not. They have had enough ministering from the modern day Pharisees.

"In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (Psalm 56:11).

"Without faith it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:6)

Faith does not save anyone from the wages of sin. The Grace of God took care of that at the cross of Christ Jesus. However, Faith that God loves and saves sinners does deliver us from the fear of death and enables us to have peace and joy in the midst of difficult circumstances. And of course, that kind of faith pleases God. 

Faith in what men say about God generally leads to doubt, guilt, and depression. If you get that from those you hang out with on Sunday, find some new friends.

"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

Again, the truth is the truth whether people (including Jews and Christians) believe it or not!

“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, CONDEMNED SIN in the flesh” (Romans 8:3)

What did Paul mean when he said Jesus “condemned sin”? In what respect is “sin” condemned by Christ?

The obvious truth is hidden from most Jews and Christians because they do not believe the truth that sin…all sin…everyone’s sin…was atoned for on the cross. They only apply it to those who join their various groups by doing those things their groups require. But that is not what God says.

Sin condemned mankind to its "wages"…which is "DEATH". (Romans 6:23)

Christ “condemned SIN” and "death" to be swallowed up in Victory at the resurrection. God in his Son “condemned sin” to being temporary…to bring death only in this life. Although every person will die because of sin, it has power over mankind only until the resurrection with the accompanying change from “flesh” to “spirit”… then sin no longer has any power over the resurrected this new creation. We are now this new creation only in the sense of the promise that Christ has condemned sin and death to being abolished by the resurrection. This Victory Christ obtained for ALL mankind.

”Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned…Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for ALL people…so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also GRACE might reign through righteousness to bring ETERNAL LIFE through Jesus Christ our Lord...for as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive...death is abolished ...God all in all” (Romans 5:12-21; 1 Corinthians 15:22-28)

The truth is the truth whether people (including Jews and Christians) believe it or not.

“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his MERCY endures forever” (Psalm 118:29 KJV)

“For by GRACE are you saved…” (Ephesians 2:8 KJV)

GRACE and MERCY…the flip sides of God’s coin of Love.

MERCY is God’s not giving to mankind the judgment they DO deserve….extermination in death.

GRACE is God’s giving mankind what they DO NOT deserve….the free gift of resurrection from death to immortal life.

This is the coin that God flips to determine our eternal destiny…either way it turns up WE WIN!

“So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” (1 Corinthians 15:54)

That is the TRUTH from the BIBLE and yet not one institutional Church or Synagogue that I am aware of will teach it.

Are ALL things really of God? Again… ALL… things, good and evil. Listen to the Apostle Paul.

“For of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are ALL things” (Romans 11:36).

“There is but one God, the Father, of whom are ALL things“ (I Corinthians 8:6).

“ALL things are of God” (I Corinthians 11:12).

“ALL things are of God” (II Corinthians 5:18).

“Him who works ALL things after the counsel of His Own will” (Ephesians 1:11).

“For whom are ALL things, and by whom are ALL things” (Hebrews 2:10).

Did God inspire Paul to say this?

Listen, you cannot just harmonize some of the Scripture. Either it all can be harmonized or none of it can be trusted.

It is absolutely necessary, in my view, for God to eventually reconcile and save all mankind if “All things are of God”…the evil as well as the good. Therefore eternal conscious torment in hell must be a false doctrine.

The bible clearly teaches that "ALL things are of God" but it also says WE can do ALL things through CHRIST.

”Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God…We have no confidence in the flesh…I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me” (2 Corinthians 3:5-6; Philippians 3:3; and 4:13)

The truth is the truth whether men believe it or not, and Jesus Christ IS the...

"Savior of the WORLD" (John 4:42)

Twenty six times in Psalm 136 God declares that "His mercy endures forever".

How many times does God have to repeat a phrase for us to believe it?

"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him." (Lamentations 3:21-24)

Unfortunately, most Christians will not believe his "mercy endures forever" even if it was declared one thousand and twenty six times.

"For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom EVERY family in heaven and ON EARTH derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in LOVE, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen." (Ephesians 3:14-21)

1. Pray to be strengthen by His Spirit

2. Pray that we grasp and come to know the depth of the love of Christ

This is the prayer we should be praying for ourselves....and those we care about...knowing that God is in control of the rest of the stuff we normally pray about. 

When we come to know the depth of the love of Christ for sinners we will no longer believe myths framed by religious men…like a loving God torturing people for all eternity.

"God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all. Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became his counselor? Or who has first given to him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen." (Romans 11:32-36)

"Opening his mouth, Peter said: I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality" (Acts 10:34)

There are some Christians who are obsessed with heaven and hell. It is all about "up or down" to them. I suppose they believe it is real...I am not sure, because they do not spend much time doing anything about it...except talk….especially the theologians. The theologians would rather spend time writing a book about it or putting stuff on their webpage...as if anyone they consider hell bound would actually read what they say. I really think they believe God likes them better than those hell bound folks.

But God does not "show partiality" and no one ends up in Hell...theologians just made that up to have something to write about. God loves sinners unconditionally...and we are all sinners. He chastens everyone as needed for remedial purposes. All will eventually be reconciled to God (Colossians 1:20). Only an unbelieving self-righteous person does not know this or refuses to believe it....I guess because that would mean God is not "partial" to them.....Well, He is not.

God is completely different than those Christians who think they are special because of some wise decision they made to walk the aisle and join a church. Some who call themselves Christian need to get acquainted with God and his Son Jesus from the Bible they talk about so much, but apparently never read.  We can dress up, go to church, sing, shout, raise your hands, pray in the spirit, post on Facebook and study the Scripture all we want...but we are still sinners who will be saved only by the GRACE of God in His mercy.

"...being justified gratuitously in His grace, through the deliverance which is in Christ Jesus...For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy..." (Romans 8:24; Titus 3:3-5)

“…it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” (Philippians 2:13)

It is interesting to me that some otherwise intelligent Christians actually think God gave humans “free will” in regard to their eternal destiny. And have the foolish idea that if He did not, then humans are merely automatons. They speak of “free will” as if it is a doctrine found in Scripture and yet cannot produce one verse which says so.

God is the only being with absolute free will. Those who believe God gave mankind “free will” or “free moral agency” in relation to eternal destiny do not believe God…they prefer to trust men.

Now let’s get something clear. By “free will” I am referring to “self-determination” which means being free to choose without regard to ANY outside influence.

Tell me, you who think you are saved as a result of your “free will”, did you get up one day, and apart from any influence whatsoever, just decide to ask God to save you. Of course not, you were influenced to become a believer by God’s Spirit….and to think it was your own self-determination or the influence of others would make you or someone else your savior…yet the Bible says that Jesus is the Savior of the world.

God “gives” the faith to believe that your ultimate salvation is a result of what God has done through the His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. It is God at work in mankind “both to will and to work for His good pleasure"….and His pleasure is to save mankind…all of them.

It does not matter what your so called “free will” decides about the matter, influenced as it is by the false teaching of men…He is going to save you anyway….might as well believe Him and rejoice!

“It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.” (1 Timothy 4:9-10)

NOTE: it says God “IS THE SAVIOR OF ALL MEN” ….not “offers” to save, or will save if we “choose” to allow Him to do so by our “free will”. Believing is important for when we believe God has and will save us, we have JOY and PEACE...which is special.

"Yet now, apart from law, a righteousness of God is manifest, being attested by the law and the prophets, yet a righteousness of God through Jesus Christ's faith, for all, and on all who are believing, for there is no distinction, for all sinned and are wanting of the glory of God. Being justified gratuitously in His grace, through the deliverance which is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:21-24 CLNT)

At this point in Paul's Roman letter he has clearly set forth that all mankind...the good, the bad and the religious... ALL are sinners. Mankind's only hope is the unmerited favor of God for sinners...His GRACE. Paul then relates the good news:

1. "A righteousness of God" has now been brought to light which is for all sinners.

2. This righteousness is through "Jesus Christ's faith"...as opposed to the sinner’s lack of faith.

3. Jesus Christ's righteousness is "for all" mankind.

4. "There is no distinction" made between the believer and the unbeliever.

5. It is "on all" when they believe God.

6. Both believers and unbelievers have "all sinned and are wanting of glory of God".

7. All are "justified gratuitously (freely) in His GRACE through the deliverance which is in Jesus Christ"

It is simple but few seem to believe God.

"Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." (Colossians 1:28)

What was Paul "warning every man" about? And what was he teaching "every man in all wisdom"?

In verses 19-21 Paul had said this about Jesus:

"For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him (Jesus), and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation"

Paul was teaching that God has reconciled "to himself all things". Paul was warning his listeners that it is immature (less than perfect) to teach or believe that Jesus would FAIL to reconcile to God "all things". Paul was still dealing with many Jews who thought God would only save Israel... so he was warning them that such an attitude is wrong and makes them immature. What Paul wanted to do was to "present every man PERFECT" in Christ Jesus...meaning "mature" in their understanding when they meet Jesus at the resurrection.

It appears to me that much of the present day doctrine of Christianity is less than perfect and those who teach and embrace it will stand before Jesus as children, and not mature Sons. I just keep learning and pressing on with the assurance that I will one day appear before him "perfect" (mature) because he has made me so.