Random Thoughts on the Really Good News

"I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain" (Galatians 2:21). Those who grew up in church should ponder the above. Every church I know of, including the one I grew up in, teaches that salvation is being offered men, but that the offer must be accepted and received by faith in this life. The minimum requirement in my church is to “believe and accept” the gospel. The most legalistic of the churches teach one must repent, be baptized in water and join the church. Some even go so far as teaching that you can lose this salvation if you fall into sin later. But however minimal the requirement...such teaching implies that Christ died in vain. Salvation is a free gift by the Grace of God, not by works. “…for the free gift of God is eternal life…For by grace are you saved…for the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men….” (Romans 6:23b; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11-13) God has guaranteed...

"Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom." (Ecclesiastes 9:10) King Solomon, the most likely writer of Ecclesiastes, was the master of common sense. He set his mind and spent his life seeking common sense answers to all of life's experiences and every nation came to listen to his wisdom. "He composed some 3,000 proverbs and wrote 1,005 songs. He could speak with authority...And kings from every nation sent their ambassadors to listen to the wisdom of Solomon." (1 Kings 4:32-34) With all that wisdom, He had no knowledge that there was anything for mankind after death. So, common sense told him "everything is meaningless" .  "I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless--like chasing the wind...There is nothing ahead but death anyway. There is hope only for the living...t he dead know nothing... Everything is meaningless, says the teacher...