Do You See The Grace of God?

“When he (Barnabas) came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad.” (Acts 11:21-23)

Few Christians see the grace of God at work in people who have not joined their group. I think it is because they are looking for works. They look for obedience to some creed or law rather than looking for the unmerited favor (grace) of God for all people. Their religious upbringing blinds them to the truth of the good news of grace.

They look for repentance, decisions, baptism, attendance, tithing, evangelism, etc. when they look at others. None of those works are the “truth of the gospel” which has come to mankind. None of that matters to God as far as His grace is concerned. His gift to mankind is salvation from death into a new, immortal, spiritual life. And Jesus has shown us "the way, the truth, and the life"...

"I am the way, the truth, and the life...the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life..." (John 14:6; Romans 6:23)

When Barnabas came to Antioch what he observed was a bunch of sinners who had been made aware that God would save them from death by the resurrection, not as a result of religious works that the law had demanded, but purely by the unmerited favor of God. They believed it and it had changed them…and the fruit of that grace he saw in them was the love, joy and appreciation that Paul later called the "fruit of the Spirit".  The “truth of the gospel” is for “all the world”.

"...the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth……the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control...we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe." (Colossians 1:5-6; Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Timothy 4:9-11)

Religious doctrine has prevented most of its members from grasping the “truth of the gospel” and they just do not SEE the unmerited “grace of God” as applying to all people.

But when I look at mankind, the whole sorry lot of us, and remember the truth of the living God, the good news that "all people" will be saved in the grace of God…it makes me glad too!

Happy Thanksgiving!

"Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge." (2 Corinthians 2:14)

Thanksgiving is here again, and I was reminded of the above verse. Paul was giving thanks to God for the “fragrance of His knowledge”. A fragrance that can flow from one person to another regardless of culture or background. And I am NOT talking about Christians going to church and singing “cume by ya my Lord”. I am referring to those few in this life who actually believe that good will eventually triumph over evil, if not in this life, then in the next.

That “knowledge” and faith in a future triumph manifests itself in the form of love, joy, patience, kindness, etc. and that lifestyle “diffuses” the “fragrance” of hope to all around them. 

Just as there are pleasing physical fragrances that can be noticed by our physical senses, there are also pleasing spiritual fragrances. Most people attempt to put on this fragrance like cologne when they put on their religious clothes, but a person cannot put on this "fragrance". You either have it or you do not, and those who do diffuse this fragrance to others only by the grace of God. Those who have this spiritual fragrance are rare and generally do not even realize they are projecting this wonderful aroma to those with whom they come in contact.

Each of us will meet only a hand full of these people in this present evil age. Nevertheless, all mankind are destined to diffuse this fragrance when we have been resurrected and are transformed into the image of God.

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory… So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; 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…just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.” (Philippians 3:20-21; 1 Corinthians 15:42-49)

I am thankful for those whom God allows to diffuse the fragrance of hope in this life, but I am even more thankful that it is the destiny of all to have this "fragrance" and "triumph in Christ"…as a gift to mankind flowing from His Grace.

“…because of the surpassing grace of God...Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:14-15)

Will God Pick Trump?

“We are tempted to think that this world would be much better if the saints could only get control of the political power, or if the highest offices were filled only with men of God. But the Scriptures do not contemplate any such condition, and give no instructions for ruling, only for obeying. …The governments today have many honest, capable men, but they find themselves thwarted by the unseen spiritual powers which are leading mankind in opposition to God and His Christ.”

A. E. Knoch (1874-1965) Unsearchable Riches, Volume 41.

"Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever, for wisdom and power belong to Him. It is He who changes the times and the epochs; He removes kings and establishes kings; He gives wisdom to wise men and knowledge to men of understanding. It is He who reveals the profound and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him…” (Daniel 2:20-22)

Don’t look for a religious man as a political savior. Just vote for the man you decide can best solve the problems which are ever present in the nations of mankind…lack of jobs, criminal behavior of evil people, and failed diplomacy between competing cultures and nations.

I personally think Trump has those skills we need now, and for now anyway continue to support him. God alone will decide who is put in office but he has not made that information available to me…or you…we must wait and see. And I will try to support his choice, even if he is not my choice…

“…the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.” (Daniel 4:17)

If you don’t like who wins the elections, well take it up with God. I am sure he will apologize to you for not assigning the “kingdoms on earth” according to your wise counsel.

Syrian Refugees - My Random Thoughts

First of all the idea that we should take them in because we are a Christian nation is absurd. My observation of Christians or Muslims is they will rarely help the poor in their own town. They will go all over the world to tell them what they think they have to do to be saved, and kill them if they refuse, or threaten them with eternal torture, but most likely will help them with little, if any, physical needs whether they join them or not. And even if they do help, it is temporary...a bandaid on the problem...not a long term solution like a job. That is up to the entrepreneurs of the world who start businesses which create jobs for those who want to work so they and their families can eat.

Jesus had the power to heal everyone, but he refused. He had the power to meet the financial needs of all the poor, but he refused. He had the power to create enough jobs for all, but he refused. He didn't come to feed the poor, take in refugees, form a church or start a business. He came to demonstrate that however bad it gets in this life, even dying, it is not the end for anyone. God will resurrect the dead, all of them, and change them to immortals. No poor, no dying, no refugees with terrorists hiding among them, no Muslims or Christians...just immortals with abundant eternal life.

So the Syrian refugees are God's problem, not ours, and He will give them eternal life so they can't complain. But they could be a threat to our families now, in this present evil age, so I don't want them here. I am all for aiding the poor in our country, and I am for helping to set up safe zones for the refugees in areas close to where they are from, and I am for individuals adopting orphaned poor children if they have a heart to do so....and I am for telling the whole world the gospel as I set it out above (which is not being done by religious institutions) so they can have hope...but we have no business assuming the financial liability of bringing 10,000 Syrian refugees to the USA when we Christians have managed to be a part of accumulating a 19 Trillion dollar debt to saddle our children's future with.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world... My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going (death).”(John 16:23; John 14:2-4)

Live Worthy of Your Calling

“Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12)

As I said yesterday, the calling of God is that sinful mankind is to be given the “free gift of eternal life”.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life…” (Romans 6:23)

Not just a few folks who make a wise choice, but all who die as a result of sin. The unmerited favor (grace) of God in doing so was such wonderful good news that Paul prayed that those who he told about it, and had believed it, would live in such a way that they would be "worthy" of such a free gift. They get it anyway, because it is "free" and based on the "grace" of God (unmerited favor). But Paul wanted people to show their appreciation to God by living a good life.

The problem now, after 2000 years, is that the calling of God has been changed by the institutional churches into a calling only for the few who bow down to the requirements of the institution. It is no longer the “free gift” to all sinners, but a mere offer that must be accepted together with the various creeds and covenants of those institutions. It is not the gospel of the grace of God, but a mixture of grace and works of men, which is NO GOSPEL AT ALL and is “accursed” (devoted to destruction).

“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. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!” “... you distort the words of the living God, the LORD Almighty, our God..” (Galations 1:6-8; Jeremiah 23:36)

Your Free Gift From God

“…live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called…” (Ephesians 4:1)

Our "calling" is to be a recipient of eternal life as a "free gift of God".  Just for a minute or two try to forget all you have been taught in the church or at home. Assume for a moment that all you know about God and Jesus is what Paul tells you below…

“The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life….As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive…I tell you a mystery…we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: Death has been swallowed up in victory.” (Romans 6:23; 1 Corinthians 15:22, 51-54)

Paul has just explained the "mystery" that death is the penalty for sin, but that death is not our final outcome. There will be "victory" over death for ALL mankind who are descended from Adam. And he says we should live life now in appreciation for that future victory. I like the Amplified Version of Ephesians 4:1...

“...live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation]” (Ephesians 4:1 AMP)

Got it? Salvation is a free gift to all – so try to live your life in such a way that it expresses gratitude to God for your salvation (eternal life after death).  That is all that is required of you...

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you? to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God…For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.” (Micah 6:8; Titus 2:11-13)

So forget, or ignore, the dogma and platitudes of religious institutions, and simply believe the good news expressed by our Apostle Paul in the Bible.

Death Is A Thief

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)

Death is a thief that robs mankind of life and joy. It is the result of sin and all of us sin. Jesus did not come into the world to start a religion. He came to reveal God’s plan to give abundant life, after death, to mankind.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23)