“Now the serpent was craftier than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, did God really say, you must not eat from any tree in the garden? The woman said to the serpent, we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, you must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die. You will not certainly die, the serpent said to the woman. For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:1-5)
Of course Eve was not talking to a snake, but Satan himself. The term “serpent” is a figure of speech. And here we see how Satan works and where he works. He puts doubt in the mind of those who claim to be familiar with the Word of God, like Eve and Adam (or Christians). He does not spend much, if any, time with so called wicked folks. His business is to deceive godly folks. Note his question of Eve with regard to what God told her…
“Did God really say, you must not eat from any tree in the garden?”
How she responded is key to understanding how Satan works today and how Christian men and women get deceived. Eve responded and ADDED to what God had said…
“…and you must not touch it, or you will die…”
God never told them that death would come if they “touched” the tree. She ADDED to what God had said with her own interpretation. Then Satan said to Eve…
“You will not certainly die”.
And of course she did not die immediately when she “touched it”, so she ate from it and gave some to Adam and he ate. The rest is history. They were banned from the Garden where the “tree of life” resided, and not being able to eat from the “tree of life” they, and all their descendants (us), die. But here will be a resurrection and access once again "the tree life"..this time life will include "immortality".
"He who who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God…and when corruption has put on incorruption and mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass that which is written – DEATH is swallowed up in VICTORY” (Revelation 2:7; 1 Corinthians 15:53-55)
For my wife, children and grandchildren..and anyone else who may be interested!
We Will All Be Blessed
“I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you." (Genesis 12:3)
God was talking to Abraham. Few Christians seem to realize that Abraham was NOT a Jew nor was he a citizen of ISRAEL. He was from a region in modern day Southern Iraq known as Sumer and he was the Grandfather of Jacob who would become ISRAEL. God did not make the conditional covenant with Israel until they came out of Egypt in the time of Moses, more than 400 years after God pronounced the above curse on those who would curse Abraham. God’s promised to bless Abraham and His promise was unconditional.
“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” (Genesis 12:2)
Abraham was also the father of Ismael as well as six sons by his wife Keturah. All of them are descendants of Abraham.
There is a place in Scripture where God says He will curse those who curse ISRAEL. It is found in Numbers as follows when the Moabite King Balak tried to hire the prophet Balaam to curse Israel but instead God told Balaam to say this about Israel…
“May those who bless you be blessed and those who curse you be cursed!” (Numbers 24:9)
But note the warning is to those who CURSE Abraham or Israel. There is no place in Scripture where God places a curse on any nation who does not support or come to the aid of ISRAEL. It is GOD who SUPPORTS ISRAEL…they do not need the help of any Nation. Those who try to CURSE Israel will themselves be cursed, however, even they will eventually "be blessed" through the finished work of the greatest Jew, Jesus, the Son of God and Savior of the world.
God was talking to Abraham. Few Christians seem to realize that Abraham was NOT a Jew nor was he a citizen of ISRAEL. He was from a region in modern day Southern Iraq known as Sumer and he was the Grandfather of Jacob who would become ISRAEL. God did not make the conditional covenant with Israel until they came out of Egypt in the time of Moses, more than 400 years after God pronounced the above curse on those who would curse Abraham. God’s promised to bless Abraham and His promise was unconditional.
“I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.” (Genesis 12:2)
Abraham was also the father of Ismael as well as six sons by his wife Keturah. All of them are descendants of Abraham.
There is a place in Scripture where God says He will curse those who curse ISRAEL. It is found in Numbers as follows when the Moabite King Balak tried to hire the prophet Balaam to curse Israel but instead God told Balaam to say this about Israel…
“May those who bless you be blessed and those who curse you be cursed!” (Numbers 24:9)
But note the warning is to those who CURSE Abraham or Israel. There is no place in Scripture where God places a curse on any nation who does not support or come to the aid of ISRAEL. It is GOD who SUPPORTS ISRAEL…they do not need the help of any Nation. Those who try to CURSE Israel will themselves be cursed, however, even they will eventually "be blessed" through the finished work of the greatest Jew, Jesus, the Son of God and Savior of the world.
Who Is Jesus?
FOLLOWING is a brief summary of my thoughts about what the Bible teaches with regard to Jesus and the Scripture to back it up…
1. Who he is: Jesus was the Son of God, the first born of all creation. He is the image of God and God created all things through him. At just the right time God sent his Son to be born of a Jewish virgin and he would live a life without sin.
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel which means God with us… the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world…the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature…” (Matthew 1:23; John 11:27; Colossians 1:15)
2. What he came to do: He would take away the sin of the world; demonstrate the love of God for sinners; become the propitiation for the sin of the whole world; ransom all mankind; judge the world in righteousness, not condemn it; reconcile all creation to God; and abolish death. All done as part of God’s plan to save all mankind and become All in All.
“The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world…This man was handed over by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and put to death by nailing him to the cross…God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us…He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world…There is one God and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all…He has granted Him the right to pass judgment…God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved... 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… The first man, Adam, became a living soul. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality…then will come about the saying that is written, DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ…As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive…that God may be All in All… 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. Prescribe and teach these things!” (Matthew 1:23; John 11:27; Colossians1:15; John 1:29; John 18:18; 1 John 2:2; 1Timothy 2:5-6; John 5:27; John 3:17; Colossians 1:20; 1 Corinthians 15:45-57; 1 Corinthians 15:22-28; 1 Timothy 4:9-11)
So there it is summarized in the Words of God Himself…and He should know!
WE ARE TO TEACH THESE THINGS!
1. Who he is: Jesus was the Son of God, the first born of all creation. He is the image of God and God created all things through him. At just the right time God sent his Son to be born of a Jewish virgin and he would live a life without sin.
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel which means God with us… the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world…the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature…” (Matthew 1:23; John 11:27; Colossians 1:15)
2. What he came to do: He would take away the sin of the world; demonstrate the love of God for sinners; become the propitiation for the sin of the whole world; ransom all mankind; judge the world in righteousness, not condemn it; reconcile all creation to God; and abolish death. All done as part of God’s plan to save all mankind and become All in All.
“The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world…This man was handed over by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and put to death by nailing him to the cross…God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us…He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world…There is one God and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all…He has granted Him the right to pass judgment…God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved... 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… The first man, Adam, became a living soul. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality…then will come about the saying that is written, DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ…As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive…that God may be All in All… 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. Prescribe and teach these things!” (Matthew 1:23; John 11:27; Colossians1:15; John 1:29; John 18:18; 1 John 2:2; 1Timothy 2:5-6; John 5:27; John 3:17; Colossians 1:20; 1 Corinthians 15:45-57; 1 Corinthians 15:22-28; 1 Timothy 4:9-11)
So there it is summarized in the Words of God Himself…and He should know!
WE ARE TO TEACH THESE THINGS!
We Have Gone Astray
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (1 Peter 1:3)
Mercy and Grace are essentially the same characteristic of our God. Mercy is withholding from us what we deserve – to die and stay dead. Grace is getting what we do not deserve – eternal life after we die. God gives us "a living hope" (assurance) that because Jesus died and was resurrected, so shall we be resurrected also.
In commenting on this verse a pastor once said…
“He sent His Son to pay for our debt of sin…The Lord’s Mercy has provided a plan whereby He can righteously hold back the awful judgment that we rightly deserve.” Bob Hoekstra – Day by Day Grace.
Did Jesus, the Son of God, PAY God for our sins? Does God hold back His judgment because he was paid? The answer is NO to both questions.
The biblical language would have used the word PAID if that was what happened. But it doesn’t. It uses the phrase “died for our sins” or “bore our sins”. Jesus had no sin so obviously he did not die “for” his own sin, nor did he “bear” his own sin. But he was a Son of Man and referred to himself as such over and over. As a MAN he must die like the rest of us, because of Adam’s sin…
“As in Adam all die…it is appointed unto men once to die” (1 Corinthians 15:22; Hebrews 9:27)
Jesus was sent to die “for” and he “bore” our sin in the sense that he died just like all people die. And in doing so HE IDENTIFIED HIMSELF COMPLETELY WITH MANKIND in his death and showed us that just as he became sin on our behalf and died as a descendant of Adam, THEN was raised, even so ALL in Adam will be given eternal life after they have died and been resurrected. He said that he had come that we may have “abundant “ life. Not materially speaking, but in terms of immortality…
"I am the door; if anyone enters through me (die as he died and raised to immortal life as he was would be raised), he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief (death) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it ABUNDANTLY. I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” (John 10:9-11)
"All we like sheep have gone astray...As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive…we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand…God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us… we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him… while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life… just as sin entered the world through one man (Adam), and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people… many died by the trespass of the one man…just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act (of Jesus) resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one (Adam) man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man (Jesus) the many will be made righteous…where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Isaiah 53:6; 1 Corinthians 15:22-28; Romans 5:1-20)
Mercy and Grace are essentially the same characteristic of our God. Mercy is withholding from us what we deserve – to die and stay dead. Grace is getting what we do not deserve – eternal life after we die. God gives us "a living hope" (assurance) that because Jesus died and was resurrected, so shall we be resurrected also.
In commenting on this verse a pastor once said…
“He sent His Son to pay for our debt of sin…The Lord’s Mercy has provided a plan whereby He can righteously hold back the awful judgment that we rightly deserve.” Bob Hoekstra – Day by Day Grace.
Did Jesus, the Son of God, PAY God for our sins? Does God hold back His judgment because he was paid? The answer is NO to both questions.
The biblical language would have used the word PAID if that was what happened. But it doesn’t. It uses the phrase “died for our sins” or “bore our sins”. Jesus had no sin so obviously he did not die “for” his own sin, nor did he “bear” his own sin. But he was a Son of Man and referred to himself as such over and over. As a MAN he must die like the rest of us, because of Adam’s sin…
“As in Adam all die…it is appointed unto men once to die” (1 Corinthians 15:22; Hebrews 9:27)
Jesus was sent to die “for” and he “bore” our sin in the sense that he died just like all people die. And in doing so HE IDENTIFIED HIMSELF COMPLETELY WITH MANKIND in his death and showed us that just as he became sin on our behalf and died as a descendant of Adam, THEN was raised, even so ALL in Adam will be given eternal life after they have died and been resurrected. He said that he had come that we may have “abundant “ life. Not materially speaking, but in terms of immortality…
"I am the door; if anyone enters through me (die as he died and raised to immortal life as he was would be raised), he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief (death) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it ABUNDANTLY. I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” (John 10:9-11)
"All we like sheep have gone astray...As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive…we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand…God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us… we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him… while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life… just as sin entered the world through one man (Adam), and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people… many died by the trespass of the one man…just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act (of Jesus) resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one (Adam) man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man (Jesus) the many will be made righteous…where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Isaiah 53:6; 1 Corinthians 15:22-28; Romans 5:1-20)
Our Advocate
“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.” (1 John 2:1-2)
The death of Jesus was the “propitiation” for all of the sins of the world. Propitiation has the idea of a place where MERCY begins. It is the place where the mercy of God in resurrecting the dead is manifested – starting with Christ Jesus who promised to return and resurrect "all people" from death.
The Bible says Jeus “gave himself as a ransom for all people” (1 Timothy 2:6).
Ransom is payment to the captor for releasing the hostages. It is NOT the payment for the SINS of the hostages! Otherwise none of us would die. Mankind is held hostage by our captor, death. The cost to release the hostages was Christ Jesus identifying himself with us in death so that he could then lead those captive by death into abundant, everlasting life by means of resurrection. It is the gracious "gift" of our "Advocate" to us, not a payment for works that we may do….
“But to each one of us GRACE was GIVEN according to the measure of Christ’s GIFT. Therefore it says, WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN…He who descended is himself also he who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might COMPLETE ALL…until WE ALL attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God.” (Ephesians 4:7-13)
The death of Jesus was the “propitiation” for all of the sins of the world. Propitiation has the idea of a place where MERCY begins. It is the place where the mercy of God in resurrecting the dead is manifested – starting with Christ Jesus who promised to return and resurrect "all people" from death.
The Bible says Jeus “gave himself as a ransom for all people” (1 Timothy 2:6).
Ransom is payment to the captor for releasing the hostages. It is NOT the payment for the SINS of the hostages! Otherwise none of us would die. Mankind is held hostage by our captor, death. The cost to release the hostages was Christ Jesus identifying himself with us in death so that he could then lead those captive by death into abundant, everlasting life by means of resurrection. It is the gracious "gift" of our "Advocate" to us, not a payment for works that we may do….
“But to each one of us GRACE was GIVEN according to the measure of Christ’s GIFT. Therefore it says, WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN…He who descended is himself also he who ascended far above all the heavens, so that he might COMPLETE ALL…until WE ALL attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God.” (Ephesians 4:7-13)
The Destiny of Mankind
“He who OVERCOMES will thus be clothed in white garments; and I WILL NOT erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.” (Revelation 3:5)
It seems to me that everyone must initially be listed in the “book of life” or they could not be “erased”. So who and how many are the OVERCOMERS who will not be erased?
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” (1 John 5:4-5)
Those born of God and everyone who has faith are overcomers. Paul tells the Athenians that we are ALL the children of God…
“...hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation…we are the offspring of God…” (Acts 17:26-29)
So how many of mankind have faith…
“…God has allotted to each a measure of faith…” (Romans 12:13)
All have faith. So the question seems to be WHEN all will exercise this allotted faith to believe that Jesus is the Son of God?
“…at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11)
The only time this could happen is before the Great White Throne of Revelation 20 where the book of life is seen opened...
“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life.” (Revelation 20:11-12)
And I cannot imagine anything more glorious than every knee bowing, and every tongue confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord at that time. So I do not believe anyone is erased from the book of life. For salvation, not condemnation, is the destiny of mankind…which will bring Glory to God our Father!
It seems to me that everyone must initially be listed in the “book of life” or they could not be “erased”. So who and how many are the OVERCOMERS who will not be erased?
“For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.” (1 John 5:4-5)
Those born of God and everyone who has faith are overcomers. Paul tells the Athenians that we are ALL the children of God…
“...hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation…we are the offspring of God…” (Acts 17:26-29)
So how many of mankind have faith…
“…God has allotted to each a measure of faith…” (Romans 12:13)
All have faith. So the question seems to be WHEN all will exercise this allotted faith to believe that Jesus is the Son of God?
“…at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11)
The only time this could happen is before the Great White Throne of Revelation 20 where the book of life is seen opened...
“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life.” (Revelation 20:11-12)
And I cannot imagine anything more glorious than every knee bowing, and every tongue confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord at that time. So I do not believe anyone is erased from the book of life. For salvation, not condemnation, is the destiny of mankind…which will bring Glory to God our Father!
It Is Finished
“But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 15:57-58)
It appears to me that the percentage of people in the world who profess Christ as the savior is no more, and maybe less, then the percentages at the close of the third century AD. We have more buildings, organizations, missionaries, ministries and raise more money than at any time in history yet very little impact on the percentage of people who follow Christ.
So why? Well my opinion is simply that we have misunderstood passages like the above. We interpret the above passage as teaching that Christians are to DO the work of the Lord. But that is NOT what it says. The work of the Lord was done BY THE LORD and it was to “seek and to save those which are lost”. The LORD was Victorious. He SAVED the world. The work “is finished”. There is no WORK left to do for evangelicals or anyone else.
So what is OUR “labor” which is said not to be "in vain” mentioned above?
Our "labor" is to tell people, starting with our children and grandchildren, that they have been RECONCILED to God by the blood of Christ and will be SAVED from death when Jesus returns to RESURRECT the dead. Then there will be no more tears, sorrow, pain, suffering, sin or evil. Then there will be no more liars, thieves, murders, child molesters, politicians, theologians, republicans or democrats. As for NOW they should do the best they can to live life in appreciation for what God has and will do for them in Christ and do the best we can to convince others to do the same.
“…since we know what it is to be in awe of the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God….Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again… All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ…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…God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:11-21)
Evangelicals hear sermons on grace, salvation and discipleship every week, but do not distinguish between Law and Grace or Salvation and Discipleship. Salvation is a done deal. Discipleship is a matter of living life like we appreciate such great Grace that saved us.
“When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him…Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing…the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One…He said, IT IS FINISHED! And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit." (Luke 23:33-35; John 19:30)
It appears to me that the percentage of people in the world who profess Christ as the savior is no more, and maybe less, then the percentages at the close of the third century AD. We have more buildings, organizations, missionaries, ministries and raise more money than at any time in history yet very little impact on the percentage of people who follow Christ.
So why? Well my opinion is simply that we have misunderstood passages like the above. We interpret the above passage as teaching that Christians are to DO the work of the Lord. But that is NOT what it says. The work of the Lord was done BY THE LORD and it was to “seek and to save those which are lost”. The LORD was Victorious. He SAVED the world. The work “is finished”. There is no WORK left to do for evangelicals or anyone else.
So what is OUR “labor” which is said not to be "in vain” mentioned above?
Our "labor" is to tell people, starting with our children and grandchildren, that they have been RECONCILED to God by the blood of Christ and will be SAVED from death when Jesus returns to RESURRECT the dead. Then there will be no more tears, sorrow, pain, suffering, sin or evil. Then there will be no more liars, thieves, murders, child molesters, politicians, theologians, republicans or democrats. As for NOW they should do the best they can to live life in appreciation for what God has and will do for them in Christ and do the best we can to convince others to do the same.
“…since we know what it is to be in awe of the Lord, we try to persuade others. What we are is plain to God….Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again… All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ…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…God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:11-21)
Evangelicals hear sermons on grace, salvation and discipleship every week, but do not distinguish between Law and Grace or Salvation and Discipleship. Salvation is a done deal. Discipleship is a matter of living life like we appreciate such great Grace that saved us.
“When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him…Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing…the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One…He said, IT IS FINISHED! And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit." (Luke 23:33-35; John 19:30)
Teach These Things
While teaching in Ephesus Paul said this about his ministry to Asia…
“…all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:10)
But years later, at the end of his life, he wrote his final letter to Timothy concerning the condition of those who had heard in Asia…
“This thou know, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me” (II Timothy 1:15).
What had they turned away from, and to what? Paul tells those in Galatia plainly…
“I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.” (Galatians 1:6-7)
The message being DISTORTED was the good news of the free gift of salvation to ALL MANKIND by the GRACE of God, without the need for any works of the Law whatsoever. And in his final letter to Timothy Paul warned of his fear for the future condition of the church…
“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (II Timothy 3:13).
Here is a summary of what Paul was teaching….
“For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ the Lord…For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast….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. Prescribe and teach these things.” (Romans 6:2; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Timothy 4:9-11)
“…all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 19:10)
But years later, at the end of his life, he wrote his final letter to Timothy concerning the condition of those who had heard in Asia…
“This thou know, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me” (II Timothy 1:15).
What had they turned away from, and to what? Paul tells those in Galatia plainly…
“I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.” (Galatians 1:6-7)
The message being DISTORTED was the good news of the free gift of salvation to ALL MANKIND by the GRACE of God, without the need for any works of the Law whatsoever. And in his final letter to Timothy Paul warned of his fear for the future condition of the church…
“But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (II Timothy 3:13).
Here is a summary of what Paul was teaching….
“For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ the Lord…For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast….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. Prescribe and teach these things.” (Romans 6:2; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Timothy 4:9-11)
Is There Faith On The Earth?
From God’s perspective we were saved before the foundation of the world…
“…He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.” (Ephesians 1:3-5)
From the perspective of Christ Jesus we were saved when he died on the cross to ransom all…
“For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all…” (1 Timothy 2:5-6)
From a believer’s perspective, we are saved when we are given faith to believe what God did through Christ Jesus…
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:-8)
From the institutional church’s perspective, however, none are saved until they believe the requirements of that particular institution which include, at a minimum, one or more of the following requirements: 1) Believe in God; 2) accept the offer from God to save them; 3) repent of sin; 4) get baptized in water and/or the Holy Spirit; 5) join and tithe to their particular church…and 6) really, really mean it!
But do not let religion rob you of the good news…ALL are saved and All will believe and we are to labor for and teach this.
“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. Prescribe and teach these things.” (1 Timothy 4:9-11)
Many turned from the good news, following the teaching of men, and it amazed Paul…
“I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.” (Galatians 1:6-7)
No wonder Jesus lamented…
“...when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:7-8)
“…He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will.” (Ephesians 1:3-5)
From the perspective of Christ Jesus we were saved when he died on the cross to ransom all…
“For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all…” (1 Timothy 2:5-6)
From a believer’s perspective, we are saved when we are given faith to believe what God did through Christ Jesus…
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:-8)
From the institutional church’s perspective, however, none are saved until they believe the requirements of that particular institution which include, at a minimum, one or more of the following requirements: 1) Believe in God; 2) accept the offer from God to save them; 3) repent of sin; 4) get baptized in water and/or the Holy Spirit; 5) join and tithe to their particular church…and 6) really, really mean it!
But do not let religion rob you of the good news…ALL are saved and All will believe and we are to labor for and teach this.
“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. Prescribe and teach these things.” (1 Timothy 4:9-11)
Many turned from the good news, following the teaching of men, and it amazed Paul…
“I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.” (Galatians 1:6-7)
No wonder Jesus lamented…
“...when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18:7-8)
Some Evil Is Good For Us
"Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" (Job 2:10).
Job got a good portion of good and evil is his life. He understood both were from God. And in the end of his days he understood that all worked out for good.
"We know that God works all things together for good" (Romans 8:28).
We can only "know" it by experiencing it. Some evil is necessary to highlight and appreciate the good.
Job got a good portion of good and evil is his life. He understood both were from God. And in the end of his days he understood that all worked out for good.
"We know that God works all things together for good" (Romans 8:28).
We can only "know" it by experiencing it. Some evil is necessary to highlight and appreciate the good.
Preaching Is Useless - Unless
“And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith… if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost…But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:14-20)
The cross did not save us from death, it reconciled us to God and revealed the depth of what God would do to demonstrate His love for us. It is His resurrection to immortal LIFE that guarantees our salvation from death…
“Christ died for the ungodly… God demonstrates his own love for us in this - while we were still sinners, Christ died for us…For since, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be SAVED through HIS LIFE!” (Romans 5:6-10)
The resurrection of Jesus is the good news that the early followers of Christ shared…
“This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses…the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses…Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead…And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.” (Acts 2:32; 3:15; 4:10, 33)
The truth that humanity will also be raised from the dead is the GRACE which rests on those who believe that Jesus will soon return to resurrect our loved ones who have fallen asleep!
“For I show you a Mystery…in the twinkling of an eye…the dead will be raised incorruptible…” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)
The cross did not save us from death, it reconciled us to God and revealed the depth of what God would do to demonstrate His love for us. It is His resurrection to immortal LIFE that guarantees our salvation from death…
“Christ died for the ungodly… God demonstrates his own love for us in this - while we were still sinners, Christ died for us…For since, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be SAVED through HIS LIFE!” (Romans 5:6-10)
The resurrection of Jesus is the good news that the early followers of Christ shared…
“This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses…the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses…Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead…And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.” (Acts 2:32; 3:15; 4:10, 33)
The truth that humanity will also be raised from the dead is the GRACE which rests on those who believe that Jesus will soon return to resurrect our loved ones who have fallen asleep!
“For I show you a Mystery…in the twinkling of an eye…the dead will be raised incorruptible…” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)
Shall All Be Made Alive?
"You always resist the Holy Spirit…Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God…Do not quench the Spirit." (Acts 7:51; Ephesians 4:30; and 1 Thessalonians 5:19)
As I have said before, I look at the Holy Spirit as the POWER of God. It is the unseen means by which God’s plan is accomplished. It is like the wind which moves the tree branches but cannot be seen. It is futile to resist this unseen POWER of God. We often resist this unseen POWER which is working out God's plan. We quench the power of God only in the sense that we lose the joy and peace it can bring when we believe what God will accomplish through this power, the reconciliation and salvation of all at our resurrection.
“As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive…death is abolished…that God may be All in All” (1 Corinthians 5:22-28)
As I have said before, I look at the Holy Spirit as the POWER of God. It is the unseen means by which God’s plan is accomplished. It is like the wind which moves the tree branches but cannot be seen. It is futile to resist this unseen POWER of God. We often resist this unseen POWER which is working out God's plan. We quench the power of God only in the sense that we lose the joy and peace it can bring when we believe what God will accomplish through this power, the reconciliation and salvation of all at our resurrection.
“As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive…death is abolished…that God may be All in All” (1 Corinthians 5:22-28)
One God
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...the spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters....” (Genesis 1:1, 3)
“God is spirit…” (John 4:24)
I think of POWER when I read the word “Spirit” in the Bible. And when I read the words “Holy Spirit” I think of God's omnipotent POWER. Power flows from the generator of that power, it is NOT the generator itself. Think of an electric generator. You turn it on and power flows out of it to provide the energy to turn on the lights.
God is both the generator and the power flowing from it to create all things. In that sense only is the Holy Spirit God.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God...the Word became flesh...No one has seen God at any time; the ONLY BEGOTTEN GOD who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him...Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him...” (John 1:1-18; 1 John 4:15)
Jesus is the Word of God, the express image of God, the Son of God...Jesus is the one who explains to us what God is like...in that sense only is Jesus God. And after the resurrection all those who are reconciled, justified, saved and glorified will be GODlike...Jesus prayed for it to be so...
“The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as we are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.” (John 17:20-26)
The phrase “trinity” is not is the Bible. There is no such message in the Bible about three persons who are at the same time one person (which defies logic). There is only one God out of whom comes all things, beginning with the Son...
“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things....there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came...the Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation” (Romans 11:36; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:15)
This is not rocket science, just a matter of reading the Bible and believing what it says, and rejecting any teaching from men which contradicts what God says.
“God is spirit…” (John 4:24)
I think of POWER when I read the word “Spirit” in the Bible. And when I read the words “Holy Spirit” I think of God's omnipotent POWER. Power flows from the generator of that power, it is NOT the generator itself. Think of an electric generator. You turn it on and power flows out of it to provide the energy to turn on the lights.
God is both the generator and the power flowing from it to create all things. In that sense only is the Holy Spirit God.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God...the Word became flesh...No one has seen God at any time; the ONLY BEGOTTEN GOD who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him...Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him...” (John 1:1-18; 1 John 4:15)
Jesus is the Word of God, the express image of God, the Son of God...Jesus is the one who explains to us what God is like...in that sense only is Jesus God. And after the resurrection all those who are reconciled, justified, saved and glorified will be GODlike...Jesus prayed for it to be so...
“The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as we are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me.” (John 17:20-26)
The phrase “trinity” is not is the Bible. There is no such message in the Bible about three persons who are at the same time one person (which defies logic). There is only one God out of whom comes all things, beginning with the Son...
“For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things....there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came...the Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation” (Romans 11:36; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:15)
This is not rocket science, just a matter of reading the Bible and believing what it says, and rejecting any teaching from men which contradicts what God says.
Angel of Light...or Not
Satan’s sphere of activities is in the religious sphere, and not the spheres of crime or immorality… We are not to look for Satan’s activities today in the newspaper press, or the police courts; but in the pulpit, and in professors’ chairs. E.W. Bullinger (1837-1913) the Companion Bible, Appendix 19.
“Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness" (2 Corinthians 11:14-15)
It is from pulpits and seminaries that creeds, statements of faith, and church dogma flows…and that which flows from those places do not always line up with the Word of God.
We should reject them when they do not.
“Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness" (2 Corinthians 11:14-15)
It is from pulpits and seminaries that creeds, statements of faith, and church dogma flows…and that which flows from those places do not always line up with the Word of God.
We should reject them when they do not.
Priests of God
"And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication." (Zechariah 12:10)
Spirit is the POWER behind the action. Israel will see the power of GRACE and the power of SUPPLICATION in the future. Of that period of time Zechariah says…
“And I will bring the third part (of Israel) through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.” (Zechariah 13:9)
One in three Jews will “call on” Jesus during that period and experience the power and grace of God’s deliverance. They will rule and reign with Christ Jesus for a 1000 years.
“Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:6)
Spirit is the POWER behind the action. Israel will see the power of GRACE and the power of SUPPLICATION in the future. Of that period of time Zechariah says…
“And I will bring the third part (of Israel) through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.” (Zechariah 13:9)
One in three Jews will “call on” Jesus during that period and experience the power and grace of God’s deliverance. They will rule and reign with Christ Jesus for a 1000 years.
“Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:6)
His Job, Not Mine
“Trust unto Jehovah with all thy heart, and unto thine own understanding lean not. In all thy ways know thou Him, and He doth make straight thy paths.” (Proverbs 3:5 YLT)
God can be trusted regardless of whether we trust Him or not…let that sink in a minute. God WILL make our paths straight. That is His plan. The only thing we do is TRUST Him or not. This decision will not change the fact that He can be trusted but will give us Peace and Joy and Assurance that He is making mankind into the image of God!
“And God saith, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…I give thanks to my God…having been confident of this very thing, that He who did begin in you a good work, will perform until the day of Jesus Christ” (Genesis 1:26; Philippians 1:3-6)
It is not IF I do something THEN the Lord will make straight my paths. It will be finished when I am resurrected in newness of life.
”So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a SPIRITUAL body.” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44)
I am glad it is HIS job, not mine!
God can be trusted regardless of whether we trust Him or not…let that sink in a minute. God WILL make our paths straight. That is His plan. The only thing we do is TRUST Him or not. This decision will not change the fact that He can be trusted but will give us Peace and Joy and Assurance that He is making mankind into the image of God!
“And God saith, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…I give thanks to my God…having been confident of this very thing, that He who did begin in you a good work, will perform until the day of Jesus Christ” (Genesis 1:26; Philippians 1:3-6)
It is not IF I do something THEN the Lord will make straight my paths. It will be finished when I am resurrected in newness of life.
”So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a SPIRITUAL body.” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44)
I am glad it is HIS job, not mine!
Help For Our Weakness
"I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that it may be with you for the age; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see it or know it, but you know it because it abides with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17)
Jesus asked the Father to give the Holy Spirit to those Jews who believed that Jesus is the Messiah. It would abide in them, and on Pentecost, 50 days after the resurrection, the gift of this power came and settled on those early Jewish believers…
“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place…and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit (the power of God) and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.” (Acts 2:1-4)
Those Jews then begin to speak to other Jews who had come from all over the world to celebrate the Jewish Festival of Weeks. By this POWER they spoke in the various languages and told them about Messiah Jesus, his resurrection and ascension, and his promised return. The gift of other "tongues" (languages) was withdrawn when the Jewish Nation once again rejected Jesus at the close of Acts. Paul then went exclusively to the "Gentiles" with the Gospel of Grace, God’s good news of the salvation of all mankind through Christ Jesus…
“After three days Paul called together those who were the leading men of the Jews…and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening…and when they did not agree with one another, they began leaving after Paul had spoken one parting word, The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, saying…YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; AND YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE …therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles…” (Acts 28:17-28)
Jesus is now interceding on our behalf through the power of God (the Holy Spirit) according to the will of God.
“…the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit…intercedes for the saints according to THE WILL OF GOD….Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? …neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:26-38)
Jesus asked the Father to give the Holy Spirit to those Jews who believed that Jesus is the Messiah. It would abide in them, and on Pentecost, 50 days after the resurrection, the gift of this power came and settled on those early Jewish believers…
“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place…and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit (the power of God) and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.” (Acts 2:1-4)
Those Jews then begin to speak to other Jews who had come from all over the world to celebrate the Jewish Festival of Weeks. By this POWER they spoke in the various languages and told them about Messiah Jesus, his resurrection and ascension, and his promised return. The gift of other "tongues" (languages) was withdrawn when the Jewish Nation once again rejected Jesus at the close of Acts. Paul then went exclusively to the "Gentiles" with the Gospel of Grace, God’s good news of the salvation of all mankind through Christ Jesus…
“After three days Paul called together those who were the leading men of the Jews…and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening…and when they did not agree with one another, they began leaving after Paul had spoken one parting word, The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, saying…YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; AND YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE …therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles…” (Acts 28:17-28)
Jesus is now interceding on our behalf through the power of God (the Holy Spirit) according to the will of God.
“…the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit…intercedes for the saints according to THE WILL OF GOD….Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? …neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:26-38)
The Church Is Not A Building
“Jesus said to them, who do you say that I am? Simon Peter answered; you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus said to him…I will build my church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:15-18)
Christ is the rock and the church is his body. Hades is where the body and soul dwell when members of the church die (which is the grave).
Christ is the rock and the church is his body. Hades is where the body and soul dwell when members of the church die (which is the grave).
The church is not a building to attend or an organization to join. God Himself defined the Church as the “body" of Christ…
“…gave him as head over all things to the church, which is His body...” (Ephesians 1:22-23)
You do not join or go to church. If you are a part of it, it is only because God has placed you into it…
“God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.” (1 Corinthians 12:18)
Modern church buildings were built and organized by men, God is not the contractor of such buildings.
“…gave him as head over all things to the church, which is His body...” (Ephesians 1:22-23)
You do not join or go to church. If you are a part of it, it is only because God has placed you into it…
“God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.” (1 Corinthians 12:18)
Modern church buildings were built and organized by men, God is not the contractor of such buildings.
Members of the body of Christ (the church) are present anywhere that there are humans who have faith that 1) Jesus died for their sins, 2) was entombed, and that 3) God raised from the dead. When the New Testament was being written there were some throughout Galatia, some in Jerusalem, some in Ephesus, some in Corinth, some in Thessalonica, some in Colossi, some in Philippi, some in Rome, some at the lake, and some down by the river.
Today there are some in Sayre, some in Elk City, and some in other cities throughout globe. Some prefer to go to a church building on Sunday to be with friends, and others prefer to fish or play golf on Sunday with friends - and there is nothing wrong with any of that.
Todays tax exempt church organizations were built by humans, not God, and you find them in almost all cities in the US and around the world. They have staff and agendas, and an implied rule that if you are an obedient follower of Jesus you will join the local fellowship, go regularly to its place of worship, and support its programs and creeds. Think about it, that is how the Jewish religious leaders felt about their Synagogues. What did God think about the religious gatherings?
How will Jesus view our "solemn assemblies" when he returns.
"When you give to someone in need, don’t do as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever get." (Matthew 6:2)
Todays tax exempt church organizations were built by humans, not God, and you find them in almost all cities in the US and around the world. They have staff and agendas, and an implied rule that if you are an obedient follower of Jesus you will join the local fellowship, go regularly to its place of worship, and support its programs and creeds. Think about it, that is how the Jewish religious leaders felt about their Synagogues. What did God think about the religious gatherings?
“I hate, I reject your festivals, nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies…what do I care about incense from Sheba or sweet calamus from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please me.” (Amos 5:21; Jeremiah 6:20)
How will Jesus view our "solemn assemblies" when he returns.
Church buildings may serve a purpose for those people who need the fellowship of other humans for moral and spiritual support; and, I suppose it is not a sin to go there to meet that need. But IT IS SINFUL to suggest that members of the body of Christ who do not attend a local church building and support its programs are disobedient to God.
Members of the body of Christ, the Church, are to work hard to "correctly explain the word of truth".
"Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15)
And they are to help those in need without telling everyone about it...
What we do and what we teach will be "manifested in front of the Dais of Christ", the raised platform before the "Great White Throne". There each of us will be judged according to our acts,
"For all of us must be manifested in front of the Dais of Christ, that each should be requited for that which he puts into practice through the body, whether good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:10 CLV)
"And I perceived a Great White Throne, and Him Who is sitting upon it, from Whose face earth and heaven fled, and no place was found for them." And I perceived the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne. And the scrolls were opened. And another scroll was opened which is the scroll of life. And the dead were judged by that which is written in the scrolls in accord with their acts." (Revelation 20:11-12 CLV)
"For all of us must be manifested in front of the Dais of Christ, that each should be requited for that which he puts into practice through the body, whether good or bad." (2 Corinthians 5:10 CLV)
"And I perceived a Great White Throne, and Him Who is sitting upon it, from Whose face earth and heaven fled, and no place was found for them." And I perceived the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne. And the scrolls were opened. And another scroll was opened which is the scroll of life. And the dead were judged by that which is written in the scrolls in accord with their acts." (Revelation 20:11-12 CLV)
Those acts include what is taught in the local solemn assemblies! The bad stuff will be burnt up - I am glad.
"For other foundation can no one lay beside that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." Now if anyone is building on this foundation gold and silver, precious stones, wood, grass, straw, each one's work will become apparent, for the day will make it evident, for it is being revealed by fire. And the fire, it will be testing each one's work - what kind it is." If anyone's work will be remaining which he builds on it, he will get wages. If anyone's work shall be burned up, he will forfeit it, yet he shall be saved, yet thus, as through fire." Are you not aware that you are a temple of God and the spirit of God is making its home in you? If anyone is corrupting the temple of God, God will be corrupting him, for the temple of God is holy, which you are." Let no one be deluding himself. If anyone among you is presuming to be wise in this eon, let him become stupid, that he may be becoming wise, for the wisdom of this world is stupidity with God." (1 Corinthians 3:11-19)
The "temple of God" is not a building project - it is inside the members of the body of Christ, wherever you may find one.
Something Worth Believing
“Where sin abounds, grace much more abounds”
(Romans 5:20)
Before I became aware that the Bible taught
the ultimate redemption, reconciliation and salvation of all mankind I spent
many hours considering what I was being taught by the Church. It forced me to turn to the Bible and study for myself the destiny of mankind. The truth I would find is summarized by the Apostle Paul in his letter to Timothy…
“This is a faithful saying
and worthy of all acceptance. For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach
because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of
those who believe. These things command and teach.” (1 Timothy 4:9-11)
Good Comes From Bad
"God is working all things together for good"
(Romans 8:28).
M. R. DeHaan (1891-1965)
once wrote about this verse as follows…
“Before a thing can be
made useful, something must be broken...the
history of the world is but the breaking of governments, systems, ideals and
programs. The history of every human life, too, is the history of breaking...every broken thing is but the assurance that God is making something
useful."
“Come now,
let us reason together,
says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as
snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)
Spin Doctors
At the end of the ages
I find that the Bible teaches that ALL are saved and justified...
“So then as through one transgression
there resulted condemnation to ALL MEN, even so through one act of
righteousness there resulted justification of life to ALL MEN.” (Romans 5:18)
And I find that
ALL are alive and reconciled to God...
“For as in Adam ALL DIE, so also in
Christ ALL WILL BE MADE ALIVE...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.” (1 Corinthians 15:22;
Colossians 1:20)
And I find that
there is no more death or sin when ALL are immortal and God is ALL in ALL.
“...our Savior Christ Jesus, who
abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the
gospel...at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away
sin...the last enemy that will be abolished is death. For He has put ALL in
subjection under His feet...then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the
One who subjected ALL to Him, so that God may be ALL IN ALL.” (2 Timothy 1:10;
Hebrews 9:26; 1Corinthians15:26-28)
We are not told in the
Bible what God has done prior to creating the ages nor what will happen after
the ages come to an end. We are simply told that these are...
“...things which eye hath not seen and
ear has not heard, and which HAVE NOT entered the heart of man...” (1 Corinthians 2:8-9)
Religious spin doctors
of Christian institutions over the past 1700 years have managed to hide most of
the glorious truth about the ages by adding their own doctrinal “spin”. Their
commentaries will be burned up with this present world but the Word of God will
endure for the "olam va'ed” (as far as we can see...and BEYOND).
“But the day of the Lord will come
like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly
bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are
done on it will be exposed… but the word of the Lord remains forever. And this
word is the good news that was preached to you.” (2 Peter 3:10; 1:25)
So just read the Bible and trust in its good
news. You do not need help from me or the spin doctors...you are the
object of this glorious good news - the salvation and redemption of sinners -
REJOICE!
End Of The Ages
God is the King of "the ages" and He made the ages through Christ Jesus His Son...
“Now to the King of the ages, the incorruptible,
invisible, only, and wise God...in these last days did speak to us in a Son,
whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He did make the ages” (1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews
1:1-2)
And AGE is a long period
of time with a beginning and an end. In Hebrew the word is “olam” and refers to
a period of time so long that one cannot see beyond it. The phrase "olam
va'ed” is usually translated in English Bibles as “forever and ever” but
that is NOT what was meant. It means “as far as one can see and beyond”. The
Greek word for Age is “aion” and clearly refers to a definite period of time
with a beginning and an end even though it is translated “forever” into English
sometimes in our Bible...in error. It seems to me that 5 ages are reflected in the Bible with
a beginning and an end of which two of them are past...
Age 1 - the original age
when all things were created and ended in the earth becoming without form and
void. (Genesis 1:1)
Age 2 - the regeneration
of the earth after it became without form and void and ended with the flood of
Noah. (Genesis 1:2).
Age 3 – This is present
age which began after the FLOOD and Paul calls “the present wicked age”...it will
end with the return of Jesus to establish the Messianic Kingdom on the earth.
“Who gives Himself for
our sins, so that He might extricate us out of the present wicked age,
according to the will of our God and Father” (Galatians 1:4)
There are two ages which
are future in which the riches of His grace and kindness (saving of sinners)
will be displayed...
“...in the
ONCOMING AGES, He should be displaying the transcendent riches of His GRACE in
His KINDNESS to us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:7)
Age 4 - The 1000 year
Kingdom Age promised to Israel (Acts 1:6; Revelation 20:6)
Age 5 - The final Age of
a New Heaven and New Earth at the end of which God will be "All in All". (Revelation 21:1; 1 Corinthians 15:28)
“…THEN COMES THE END, when He hands over the
kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority
and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.
The last enemy that will be abolished is death....then the Son Himself also
will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may
be ALL IN ALL.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-28)
Predestined
“...but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory.” (1 Corinthians 2:7)
God had a wise predestined plan BEFORE the ages began and it is good news...
“...the good news according to the power of God, who did save us, and did call with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and GRACE, that was GIVEN to us in Christ Jesus, BEFORE the times of the ages.” (1 Timothy 1:8-9 YLT)
The purpose of this good news plan was to save sinners, not by works or wise decisions they make, but by His "GRACE that was GIVEN to us"...
“...EXPECTATION of eternal life, which God, Who does not lie, promises BEFORE time began.” (Titus 1:2)
Therefore we can EXPECT (be assured) that God will complete the plan as He promised "BEFORE time began". The religious views of men will not change the predetermined plan of God.
God had a wise predestined plan BEFORE the ages began and it is good news...
“...the good news according to the power of God, who did save us, and did call with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and GRACE, that was GIVEN to us in Christ Jesus, BEFORE the times of the ages.” (1 Timothy 1:8-9 YLT)
The purpose of this good news plan was to save sinners, not by works or wise decisions they make, but by His "GRACE that was GIVEN to us"...
“...EXPECTATION of eternal life, which God, Who does not lie, promises BEFORE time began.” (Titus 1:2)
Therefore we can EXPECT (be assured) that God will complete the plan as He promised "BEFORE time began". The religious views of men will not change the predetermined plan of God.
"I am the LORD, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known Me; That men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun that there is no one besides Me.” (Isaiah 45:5-6)
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