Kingmaker

“…the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whoever He will.” (Daniel 4:17, 25)

When I was younger I was passionate about a lot of things that seemed of great importance to me at the time. As I have grown older I have become less so, and have reached the conclusion that passion may be good at times, but in most cases it is a fleeting zeal that soon becomes a thing of the past. It has been kind of fun to feel passion for a political candidate again but….

I just reviewed some of my posts with regard to Donald Trump and Ted Cruz. Those posts were written with passion and I honestly feel that, from my perspective, what I wrote was correct. And I would like to see if either of them, if elected, could turn the tide of our drift toward Socialism. However, when measured by the above passage of Scripture I must admit that the winner of the next election is not is the hands of passionate people, but in the hands of a sovereign God. And assuming the bible is true…

"…the LORD Most High is awesome, He is the Great King over all the earth” (Psalm 47:2)

So, assuming Donald Tump and/or Ted Cruz self-destruct because of their silly feud, or they just lose fair and square, I am going to be OK with it as long as I can believe that God “rules” as the “Great King over all the earth” and “gives it to whomever He will”…and I do.

Our Destiny

The books of the New Testament written by the Apostle Paul are a complete Bible in themselves. In his earlier writings he gives us God’s solution for the destiny of the human race, and in his later writings (Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians) we have the destiny of the entire universe.

The destiny of the human race according to Paul…

“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive…that God may be All in all…We once were foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another. But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy statement...” (1 Corinthians 15:20-22; Titus 3:3-8)

To get all of the details you should read all of Paul's letters, but especially 1 Corinthians Chapter 15, verses 22-28 which is a summary of what God is doing and going to do with mankind.

As for the destiny of the universe…

“With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ…For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross."(Ephesians 1:8-10;Colossians 1:19-20)

In summary, God has determined to become All in all mankind, and God will reconcile all of his created beings (human and celestial) to Himself. 

What happens after that we are not told in the Scripture but John saw the following in a vision…

“…a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away….the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” (Revelation 1:1-4)

Change Your Mind

“Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like… an image formed by the art and thought of man…God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should REPENT, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” (Acts 17:22-31)

Paul is speaking to the educated Greeks in Athens and tells them plainly that ALL of them and everyone else are children of the one true God unknown to them.
The Greek word translated "repent" is "metanoeo" and means to change your mind.  All Greeks worshiped a god of some sort at the time. These false gods had images made up by men and were depicted as needing to be appeased with gifts in order to avoid their wrath.

Paul says it was time for mankind to change their minds with regard to the idea of a god we must appease or suffer his wrath. He does NOT tell them to repent of their sin and offer gifts to God, but to change their mind about the nature of the one true God.

Jesus gave Paul new information about our Father God that had previously been hidden from man. These revelations came AFTER Jesus’ resurrection and ascension. It revealed that salvation is for all and by the GRACE God, not by works. As our Father, God chastens all of his sinful children out of Love in order to mold them into His image, a process to be completed in their resurrection to immortal life.

“He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation…and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead…For it was the Father’s good pleasure…through Him to reconcile all things to Himself… the mystery which has been HIDDEN from the past ages and generations…which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present EVERY man complete in Christ.” (Colossians 1)

Just before his death Paul admonished Timothy to teach this new information of the salvation of all by the Grace of God:

“it is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope of the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.  Prescribe and teach these things...therefore, my son, be strong in the GRACE that is in Christ Jesus. The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” (1 Timothy 4:9-11; 2 Timothy 2:1-2)

He Is Risen...We Will Rise Also!

“He is not here: for he is risen, as he said” (Matthew 28:16)

Jesus died about 3:00 in the afternoon (Matthew 27:46-50)

He was raised AFTER 3 days from the time he was KILLED. (Mark 8:31)

He was to rise from the dead IN three days from his BURIAL. (John 2:19)

The bible says in several places that visits were made to the tomb on various occasions on the FIRST day of the week (Sunday morning) and the tomb was ALREADY empty. (Matthew 28:16)

Jesus said he would spend three days and three nights in the earth…72 hours. (Matthew 12:38-40)

Therefore, contrary to popular opinion, Jesus died on a Wednesday at 3:00 p.m., was buried three hours later just before sundown - about 6:00 p.m.. He was raised exactly three nights and three days later just before sundown on Saturday. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday were three nights. Thursday, Friday and Saturday were three days.

This is not rocket science, just reading and believing the Bible rather than the traditions of men. There was not a “good Friday” but there sure was a good Saturday!

The good news for us is that HE IS RISEN, and the date really isn’t that important. But the really, really  good news is that he has promised to return and raise us also!

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:1-3)

If A Man Dies, Will He Live Again?

The question of all questions...asked by Job

"If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my struggle I will wait Until my change comes." (Job 14:14)

Jesus gives the simple answer...“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” (John 11:25-26)

The simplicity of those words are overwhelming to me. And the fact that almost all Christians fail to see the simple truth is equally overwhelming. But they read into those simple words the idea that one must believe in Jesus before the resurrection in order to be among those who never die after the resurrection. The Bible says no such thing.

“I am the resurrection and the life”

Jesus says that the life mankind receives after resurrection is from him.

“He who believes in me, though he may die”

Jesus says that those who believe in him now will die.

“And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die”

All that believed in him at that time are now dead, so he was talking about "whoever lives and believes" after they die.  All of us believers today will also die for "it is appointed unto men once to die” (Hebrews 9:27).

So, how many people will be resurrected to life after they die? ALL if the Bible is true.

“As in Adam all die, even so in Christ, shall all be made alive…that God may be All in all.” (1 Corinthians 15:22-28)

Since everyone is to be resurrected, how many of them will believe in Jesus at that time?ALL if the Bible is true.

“Look to me and be saved, ALL the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by myself, the word has gone forth from my mouth in righteousness and will not turn back, that to me EVERY knee will bow, EVERY tongue will swear allegiance.” (Isaiah 4522-23)

“…as I live, says the Lord, EVERY knee shall bow to me, and EVERY tongue shall give praise to God." (Romans 14:11)

“For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that EVERY tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)

“Come, let US bow down in worship, let US kneel before the Lord our maker” (Psalm 95:6)

“Then I heard EVERY creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and ALL that is in them, saying: To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" (Revelation 5:13)

Do not allow the teachings of men to rob you of the simple truth that Jesus is "the resurrection and the life" and he has promised that "death shall be swallowed up in Victory"...for Jesus is the Savior of the World that God loves.

Victory For All

“The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:56-57)

What does that mean?

“The sting of death” simply means that the cause of death is sin. Paul puts it this way in his letter to Rome…

“For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23a)

“…the strength of sin is the law” simply means that the law of God is the reason we all sin.

If God had not given any laws to obey, there would be no sin. And if no sin, there would not have been any death. Paul is saying that the responsibility for sin lies squarely on God. For he created us the way we are and He created the law which we could not keep. Paul puts it this way in his letter to Rome…

“I would not have come to know sin except through the Law…for apart from the Law sin is dead. I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me; for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me… Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? THANKS be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:7-24)

The word “THANKS” above is the Greek word “charis” which is usually translated GRACE!

So what Paul is saying is that we are all sinners and we cannot help it. God made us this way.  However, God has a remedy for sin and death.  We are to be delivered from sin and death, in His GRACE, by our resurrection to eternal life. 

That is what we are to have faith in, what we are to believe. God has promised to deliver sinners from this fleshly sinful dying mortal body and make us alive again, a new creation, finished in an immortal, spiritual, glorious body liken unto that glorious resurrected body of Jesus.

“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive…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, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself...the free gift of God is eternal life...” (1 Corinthians 15:22; Philippians 3:20-21; Romans 6:23b)

I Will Not Believe...Until

“But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples were saying to him, We have seen the Lord! But he said to them, Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe." (John 20:24-25)

Such is the condition of most of humanity, maybe all, including those of us who call ourselves Christians and piously claim salvation as our exclusive possession, condemning everyone else. If we are honest, we would admit that not until we see the resurrected Jesus will our hope become sight, and only then will we, like Thomas, without any doubt whatsoever….believe!

“After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, Peace be with you. Then he said to Thomas, Reach here with your finger, and see my hands; and reach here your hand and put it into my side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing. Thomas answered and said to Him, My Lord and my God! Jesus said to him, Because you have seen me, have you believed.” (John 20:26-29)

The truth is, that none of the disciples of Jesus believed in him before they saw that Jesus had been resurrected. They had all abandoned him when he was arrested...

“Then all the disciples left Him and fled.” (Matthew 26:56)

Later, Peter, the leader of the disciples…

“…began to curse and swear, I do not know the man” (Matthew 26:74)

So what is my point? 

Well simply that Christianity is in great error when they assume that God will not save all mankind due to unbelief.  All mankind, just like Thomas, Peter and the other disciples, will encounter the risen Christ Jesus face to face, and will bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord…

“For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:9-11)

That is the gospel, that is what we are to share, and any institution that does not teach that does not comprehend the love of God and is simply following the tradition of men and are wrong...

"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)

One can join every church in town, be baptized in the Jordan River, tithe, witness, teach, preach, and visit every orphan in the world...but all will have some doubt...until they see Jesus in person, risen from the dead, just like the Jewish desciples and our apostle Paul...

"For I delivered to you, as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve....and last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared to me also..." (1 Corinthians 15:3-8)

Reconciled To God

"Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

Paul tells mankind that they have been reconciled to God through Christ. Not that they can be, but the whole world has been reconciled. Those of us who hear and believe this good news are the share it with others as ambassadors.

"Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:20-21)

God is reconciled to the world. But most of the world doesn't realize it yet because few are telling them about it. The church doesn't do it. It focuses on what the world must do, not on what God has done in Christ Jesus. We are told in Scripture that we are saved by grace and are the work of God...

"For in Grace, through faith, are you saved...for his achievement are we..." (Ephesians 2:8-10).

He has the ages in which to complete His work of making us in his image. This will occur even for those who seem too evil to change, or too stubborn. In time He will successfully complete his plan of becoming All in All.

"He who undertakes a good work among you will be performing it...that God may be All in All" (Philippians 1:6; 1 Corinthians 15:29).

God has entrusted judgment to His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ (John 5:22; Acts 10:42; 17:31; II Corinthians 5:10; II Timothy 4:1; Romans 2:16). He died at the hand of both secular and religious men and yet prayed for them to be forgiven...

"Father forgive them, they do not understand what they are doing." (Luke 23:34)

God resurrected Jesus to life and Jesus promised he would return to resurrect mankind to newness of life. SINNERS ARE FORGIVEN, and from God's point of view are reconciled. In studying the Scripture we should interpret passages which are hard to harmonize with that in mind. Those passages which we do not now understand fully we should just wait for an explanation until the Lord comes...

"...wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men's hearts; and then each man's praise will come to him from God." (I Corinthians 4:4-5).

You Do Not Love Like That

"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:-12-13)

The Greek word for love in the above passage is "agape". There are two other Greek words in the New Testament translated love which are "phileo" and "storge".

Just to be clear, in this post I am talking about "agape" (unconditional gratuitous love - like God loves).

It is indeed rare, if ever, that a human being loves that way…I have never met one yet, although some come closer than others.

We see glimpses of it from time to time, but eventually, given enough time, all who appear or give the impression that they possess this  unconditional “agape” prove it is merely an illusion. You hardly ever see the Greek word "agape" used in Greek literature outside of the Bible. The highest love that people have toward one another is expressed in the Greek by the words “phileo” or “storge”. Peter expressed that to Jesus...

“Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love (agapas) me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love (philo) you.” (John 21:15)

At least Peter was honest. He loved Jesus as much as any human could, but not unconditionally.

All of us are flawed this way in this present evil age because we are sinners. Most ordinary people realize it deep down and are honest about the way they feel. They know intuitively that they do not love “unconditionally”.

Unfortunately, many Christians live in the illusion that a real honest to goodness spirit filled holy person can love unconditionally. Some will tell you they love you that way or know of someone that does. They do not, but don’t judge them.  Let them live in that illusion.  They want to love like Jesus, at least some of them, and especially pastors or other leaders. They think it necessary to portray that toward their flock or friends.

It is just that a flawed sinner (no matter how pious he may seem) cannot be what they are not. Paul was honest and expressed this problem as follows...

"For it is not the good that I will that I am doing, but the evil that I am not willing, this I am putting into practice. Now if what I am not willing, this I am doing, it is no longer I who am effecting it, but Sin which is making its home in me....A wretched man am I! What will rescue me out of this body of death? Grace! I thank God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Consequently, then, I myself, with the mind, indeed, am slaving for God's law, yet with the flesh for Sin's law." (Romans 7:19-25)

The good news, however, is that after this age is done, and we have been resurrected by Jesus to an immortal spirit dominated life only by the "Grace" of God, we will all love unconditionally, like God and His Son Jesus.

But for now, we only have "faith" and "hope" that one day we will "love" just as God loves....unconditionally.

Rest For Your Souls

“There will come one day a personal and direct touch from God when every tear and perplexity, every oppression and distress, every suffering and pain, and wrong and injustice will have a complete and ample and overwhelming explanation.” Oswald Chambers

That day is known as the resurrection when we all stand before the throne of the Savior of the World and hear him say...

"Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest...you will find rest for your souls". (Matthew 11:28-29)