Random Thoughts on the Really Good News

"The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust…Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.” (1 Corinthians 15:37-49) I love the Bible and what it says seems perfectly rational and reasonable to me. God created mankind and set in motion the plan for mankind to be made into the image of God and have dominion over the Universe. The "first man" was Adam - he failed.  Jesus is the "second man" and succeeded.  He is the prototype, and the Bible reveals to me that all mankind are to be made like Jesus…the "hope of glory" for all mankind… "… Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27) Satan would rob mankind of its greatest man...Christ Jesus…by making him God. Or worse…by making man himself God. Mankind is God's work in progress and Christ Jesus has triumphed to reveal God to the rest...

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future…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.” (Jeremiah 29:11; 1 Timothy 4:9-11) Today is my 64th birthday and I asked myself what I have learned after 64 years of life, 40 of which was spent reading and studying the Bible? I am not talking about going to Sunday school and church but actually making a conscious effort to read and study the bible, every word of it, over and over for 40 years...here is part of what I have learned: God has spoken to mankind in various ways, but especially through His only Son, Christ Jesus. Mankind responds to God in only one of two ways...they either believe Him or they do not believe Him. God through Christ Jesus is the Creator and...

Man cannot save himself…he must first be humbled…then saved by the one who can. “For without shedding of blood is no remission” (Hebrews 9:22) Before God allowed evil and sin into the world, He had a plan for its removal. It is the shedding of the blood. Sin demands a harsh judgment - the shedding of blood…death! The innocent sacrificial lamb has died, extending the life of the sinner, but the sinner eventually dies...death is necessary for remission. The plan of salvation is simple, the execution of that plan is harsh, but the final result is the salvation of both the sinner and the sinless lamb…the deliverance from death…first for the innocent lamb (Jesus), then for all sinners. Is it that simple? It is for me….it is finished. “The next day John sees Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world. . .” (John 1:29)  “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in hi...