Random Thoughts on the Really Good News

“In accord with the purpose of the ages, which He makes in Christ Jesus, our Lord" (Ephesians 3:11). “Purpose” means that God has a plan concerning the outcome of creation. The ages were made by and for Christ, and they are unfolding according to the plan of God. Mankind's so called “freewill” will not deter the purpose of God. God is the God of certainty and not of chance, and He made up His mind what He wanted to do and then created the ages to work out His plan. At the close of the ages God will be "All in all" of His creation. "For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive...When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all." (1 Corinthians 15:22-28) In our troubled world I am glad God has a plan to save His creation.  Faith in that plan gives me "peace" . "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  I do not give to you as the w

God is a strong advocate of capital punishment. "The wages of sin is death... But let's be clear. Death by capital punishment comes to a swift end. God is not an advocate of cruel and unusual punishment like the doctrine of eternal conscious torment. God loves His enemies and after the death penalty is administered, He intends to give them eternal life. ...but the free gift of God is eternal life..." (Romans 6:23) This "free gift" was one of the mysteries revealed by God to the Apostle Paul. "When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations..." (Ephesians 3:5) Down through the years only a few people have tortured others. Much of the torturing was done by political or religious leaders in their wrath against "infidels." But that behavior is how wicked men treat their enemies, not God. When God's wrath is poured out on wicked men it is swift an

"I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery..that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; and so all Israel will be saved...God has shut up ALL in disobedience so that He may show mercy to ALL." (Romans 11:25-32) The mystery was that ALL Israel would be saved, but not until the FULLNESS of the Gentiles has come into a knowledge of their Salvation. It was God who made ALL mankind disobedient so that He can show his MERCY to all. "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!...For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory...Therefore... do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, so that you may PROVE WHAT THE WILL OF GOD IS, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 11:33-12:2) It is God's will to  "show mercy to all"  .  How?  By saving "all mankind" . "...trust

“Now Thomas, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, we have seen the Lord. So he said to them…I will not believe." (John 20:24-25) Thomas is called "doubting Thomas" because he refused to believe until he saw Jesus himself. Actually, that was true of all of the disciples. None of them believed until they saw him after his resurrection. Such is the case for the majority of people who live in this world. They will not believe until they see him. "And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came… and said be not be unbelieving, but believing. And Thomas answered…My Lord and my God!" (John 20:26-28) When Jesus returns to raise the dead, all will see him and all will confess him as Lord, just as Thomas did... "...every knee shall bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ i

"What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me...You then, my son, be strong in the GRACE that is in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 1:13-2:1) Just because a church is mainstream, fills pews, has clergy, stained glass windows, baptisms, and worship teams doesn't mean it proclaims Paul's message. Paul was shocked that some of his converts were departing from his message of the all inclusive "grace of Christ" . We should remember that grace means unmerited favor, and be "astonished"  that most churches preach a "different gospel" - at best a gospel of grace mixed with free will and works - which is "really no gospel at all" . "I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in

All Scripture quoted today will be from the Concordant Literal New Testament and Old Testament Versions, the most accurate version I know of and can be read in its entirety by clicking on the right side of this post entitled Best Bible Translation. I use other translations most of the time because they are more familiar to you – but they always should be compared to the Concordant Version for accuracy. “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.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-22 CLNT) ADAM WAS THE PROTOTYPE of our bodies in its present condition. It is “out of soil from the ground” . When God joined His “breath of life” with this “soilish” body, Adam became the first human “living soul” of “flesh and blood” . However, this prototype “is not able to enjoy

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation."  (2 Corinthians 5:17-21) When does a sinner become  “in Christ" ? The above Scripture implies that i t is when he becomes  "a new creation" . And when will sinners become  "a new creation" ?  The above Scripture implies that it is after  "old things have passed away". Old things have NOT passed away in this  "present evil age" . In this age, Jesus came to  "save sinners"  and he has done so, all of us.  We have now been RANSOMED, and God is at peace us so He no longer counts our  "trespasses"  against us.