The Transition From Law to Grace

“Now it occurred three days after, that he (Paul) calls together those who are foremost of the Jews. Now, at their coming together, he said to them "I, men, brethren, doing nothing contrary to the people or to the hereditary customs, was given up a prisoner out of Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans…For this cause, then, I call for you (the Jews), to see and speak to you…Now setting a day for him, more came to him in the lodging, to whom he expounded, certifying to the kingdom of God, besides persuading them concerning Jesus, both from the law of Moses and the prophets, from morning till dusk…Now there being disagreements one with another, they were dismissed, Paul making one declaration, that, "Ideally the holy spirit speaks through Isaiah the prophet, to your fathers, saying, 'Go to this people and say, "In hearing, you will be hearing, and may by no means be understanding, And observing, you will be observing, and may by no means be perceiving,"…Let it be known to you, then, that to the nations (Gentiles) is dispatched this salvation of God, and they will hear." Now he remains two whole years in his own hired house, and he welcomed all those going in to him…heralding the kingdom of God, and teaching that which concerns the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, unforbidden.” (Acts 28:17-31)

The book of Acts records the transition of God dealing exclusively with Israel under the Law of Moses to the current era in which God is dealing with the whole world of mankind (Jew and Gentile) under GRACE apart from the Law given to Moses for Israel. Looking back on that transition period Paul later writes to the Gentiles…

“You were, in that era, apart from Christ, being alienated from the citizenship of Israel, and guests of the promise covenants, having no expectation, and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:12, CLNT).

In regard to the era of God’s dealing with Israel under His covenants with them, the Gentiles were “alienated from the citizenship of Israel”. They were “guests and sojourners…having no expectation, and without God in the world”.

During the transition period Paul wrote Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, and 1 Timothy. During Paul’s imprisonment in Rome, the transition to pure GRACE was complete.  God’s dealing with Israel under the covenants was set aside, and the era of GRACE apart from the LAW began where there is no longer a distinction between Jew and Gentile that had existed during the transition. Paul wrote Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon after the transition was complete and wrote…

“Consequently, then, no longer are you (Gentiles) guests and sojourners, but are fellow-citizens of the saints and belong to God’s family.” (Ephesians 2:19 CLNT)

Failure to distinguish and rightly divide what went on during the transition period where Gentiles continued to be merely “guests and sojourners” from what we all have now is the source of all the divisions within the religion of Christianity. The mixture of law and grace is so engrained in the religion that it is now impossible to correct the errors.

Paul’s message of the grace of God in saving all mankind apart from the Law was being rejected toward the end of his life by the church. So he wrote to the few who remained faithful to the message, and encouraged them to keep reminding people to rightly divide the word of truth...

“Of these things be reminding them, conjuring them in the Lord's sight not to engage in controversy for nothing useful, to the upsetting of those who are hearing. Endeavor to present yourself to God qualified, an unashamed worker, correctly cutting the word of truth. Yet from profane prattlings stand aloof, for they will be progressing to more irreverence, and their word will spread as gangrene…” (2 Timothy 2:14-17 CLNT)

So I use Facebook and my BlogSpot to occasionally “remind” people who will listen of the GRACE of God and encourage them to “rightly divide the word of truth”.

Dear God: It Is Me Again

Dear God:

It’s me again, the old guy from Oklahoma who asked you to help him be a better person each day. It's too early to tell for sure but I think its working so thanks for all your help. 

I hope you don't mind but there is one other thing I would like to ask for. I started reading the bible and it says Jesus is your son and you and he will save the world. Jesus said in the bible that he was coming back again, I assume to save the world..it sure needs it.  And not only that, he was going to bring back to life all those who have died and make them new and good like your son Jesus. 

Well as you know it has been a couple thousand years since he went to where you live and of course he has not come back. Since you are God you probably know that it is hard sometimes for me to believe he is really coming again. Resurrecting all the dead, making all of us immortal and allowing us to live forever is pretty hard for a guy like me to believe. Sounds like a fairy tale.

BUT again, there is this “something” inside me that is hoping it is true, and this hope sure gives me peace and makes me happy when I imagine it to be true. It also makes my grandkids excited and happy when I tell them about it!

So I want to ask you once again to strengthen that "something" inside me and don’t let me ever stop hoping it is true.  And please put that same hope in my wife, kids and grandkids…and all my other family and friends so they can have the same peace and happiness it brings me.

Thanks again!

P.S.: The bible says you love everyone in the world...as you know I don't so you may have to work on that.

Dear God:

Dear God

I sure am glad you wrote the Bible for us to read so we can know how to act. As you probably know, I really like the President you gave us four years ago. Thanks! He's doing a great job and I hope you let him keep doing it for four more years.

Anyway, what I really want to say is there are a lot of people who hate him for no reason and the other day I had had all I could stand and was about to write and ask you to rain down fire from heaven and destroy them all. Then, just before I did, I read this in the book you wrote for me to read.

"Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them and said, 'the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." (Luke 9:53-54)

Whew! Thanks God, I was about to blow it big time just like James and John and get rebuked.  I guess you love them too, but I sure do look forward to when you save those SOBs - it sure will help my disposition.

Your friend,

Robert

Is Your Faith Pleasing God?

“…Now apart from faith it is impossible to be well pleasing (to God)” (Hebrews 11:6)

That sounds great and Christian’s quote it a lot. Next time you hear someone quote that ask the question…Faith in what?

The writer of Hebrews had just defined faith in verse 1 as follows…

“Now faith is an assumption of what is being expected, a conviction concerning matters which are not being observed”

In order to "expect" something, promises must have been made, in this case promises from God. And when we know what God has promised we are to assume that those promises will come to pass if we are to please God. 

We are not to get concerned if we are not now observing what God has promised but are to have the assurance they will come to pass later in this age, or in the ages to come, because God made the promises.

And remember, failure to have faith does not prevent the promises from happening...they will happen because God has promised.  Having faith does not make the promises happen, it simply pleases God when we believe what He says.

Religion makes a lot of promises, but faith in the promises contained in the creeds and church covenants of religious men do not please God.

So, what are the promises of God? Here is the most important to me...

"Yet now Christ has been roused from among the dead, the Firstfruit of those who are reposing. For since, in fact, through a man came death, through a Man, also, comes the resurrection of the dead. For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be vivified...we all shall be changed,in an instant, in the twinkle of an eye, at the last trump. For He will be trumpeting, and the dead will be roused incorruptible and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal put on immortality. Now, whenever this corruptible should be putting on incorruption and this mortal should be putting on immortality, then shall come to pass the word which is written, Swallowed up was Death by Victory." (1 Corinthians 15:20-54)

So...is your faith pleasing to God?

Labor is Good - Enjoy the Fruits

“Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.” (Psalm 37:3-5)

The Psalmist of course was addressing Israel. However, it is most likely one of those Scriptures which apply to all. If so we should…

“Trust in the LORD, and do good. Dwell in the land and feed on HIS faithfulness”

Not simply trust in the LORD, but also DO GOOD.  In other words WORK in the land God places you in and enjoy the fruits of your labor - instead of bitching about it.

“There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God.” (Ecclesiates 2:24)

“Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in HIM, and HE shall bring it to pass”

We should desire what the LORD desires and trust HIM. When our desires are the same as HIS then of course we have the desires of tour heart. And God's desire for us is pretty simple it seems to me...to work, appreciate it, and enjoy the fruits of it as best we can afford.

“This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them--for this is their lot.” (Ecclesiastes 5:18)

God approves the work He has given us to do, and encourages us to enjoy the fruits of our "toilsome labor"...

"Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do." (Ecclesiastes 9:7)

Labor Is Good For America

“Those who work their land will have abundant food, but those who chase fantasies have no sense… make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you.” (Proverbs 12:11)

What made America great is pretty simple it seems to me...people willing to WORK!

America was founded and became great because of hard working men and women. They were thankful to God for a country in which they could WORK and provide for their families. Most followed the advise of the Bible when it said...

“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life. You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you... If anyone is not willing to work, then he is not to eat, either. For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all, but acting like busybodies…” (1 Thessalonians 4:11; 2 Thessalonians 3:10-11)

The problem in America is that our entitlement programs have created a large group of dead beat, picketing, whiners (or their bleeding heart socialist groupies) that do not respect the rights of those who actually "mind their own business" and "WORK with their hands" to support themselves and their families.

People who WORK have a sense of self-worth, and are generally thankful for the Country which made it possible for them to work. When our ancestors were without work, they planted gardens or hunted to feed their families, they did not steel from others and destroy their property. And when they had plenty, they were inclined to share with others who were less fortunate but willing to work.

Sooooo….Identify and vote for those who honor hard work, and would associate government entitlement programs to mandatory work programs. It may be too late because we have so many voters who are addicted to government handouts and seem to think it is their constitutional right to be taken care of by taxes levied on the hard working Americans.

Have a great Labor Day as we remember it is the Labor of hard working men and women who created this great country in which we live. And it will be Labor which will fix the problems that government entitlement programs have created.