Random Thoughts on the Really Good News

“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 Ba

"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 lik

“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 d

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 dem

“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 peopl

“…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

“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)