Do Not Be Afraid

“Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies; do not be afraid…for the LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.” (Deuteronomy 20:3-4)

Before they entered the promised land Israel was told they would do battle with their flesh and blood enemies, but not to fear for the LORD would “save” them…and He did.

Today we are told that the struggle of mankind is with another kind of enemy…

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Again, however, mankind is not to fear the "forces of darkness" for the LORD has promised to save...and He will.

“In the world you have tribulation, fear not for I have overcome the world… put on the full armor of God…take up the shield of faith…take up the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. …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…” (John 163; Ephesians 6:11-17; 1 Timothy 4:9-10)

Mankind can only "take up" the shield of faith and the helmet of salvation because it is our free gift from God.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Live Worthy of Your Calling

“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 people to show their appreciation to God by living a good life.

The problem now, after 2000 years, is that the calling of God has been changed by the institutional churches into a calling only for the few who bow down to the requirements of the institution. It is no longer the “free gift” to all sinners, but a mere offer that must be accepted together with the various creeds and covenants of those institutions. It is not the gospel of the grace of God, but a mixture of grace and works of men, which is NO GOSPEL AT ALL and is “accursed” (devoted to destruction).

“I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!” “... you distort the words of the living God, the LORD Almighty, our God..” (Galations 1:6-8; Jeremiah 23:36)

Your Free Gift From God

“…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, 51-54)

Paul has just explained the "mystery" that death is the penalty for sin, but that death is not our final outcome. There will be "victory" over death for ALL mankind who are descended from Adam. And he says we should live life now in appreciation for that future victory. I like the Amplified Version of Ephesians 4:1...

“...live a life worthy of the calling to which you have been called [that is, to live a life that exhibits godly character, moral courage, personal integrity, and mature behavior—a life that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation]” (Ephesians 4:1 AMP)

Got it? Salvation is a free gift to all – so try to live your life in such a way that it expresses gratitude to God for your salvation (eternal life after death).  That is all that is required of you...

“He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you? to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God…For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.” (Micah 6:8; Titus 2:11-13)

So forget, or ignore, the dogma and platitudes of religious institutions, and simply believe the good news expressed by our Apostle Paul in the Bible.

The Gospel Is Not An Advertising Gimmick

“The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23)

“Being justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).

I know you have seen advertisements which claim they will give you a product for FREE. Then, when you responded, you found out in order to get the so called free gift you had to sign up to pay for more of the product in order to get what they claimed was free.

The modern day Protestant evangelical movement began in the early 18th Century. It continues to this day. I was a part of it for many years. I dropped out when I discovered that this movement had an eerie similarity to the offer of a free product from advertisers.

Think about it for a minute. How was the gospel of salvation presented to you? Was it presented as a free gift IF you believed, repented, invited, accepted, and received it? And were you told you were doing the right thing (justified) before God IF you joined the church by being baptized, regularly participated in the “Lord’s Supper” (communion) and supported the church by “tithing”, “praying”, “witnessing”, etc. etc.?

The GOSPEL is not an advertising gimmick to get you to join an institution of men. The Gospel is a declaration of the SALVATION of sinful mankind by the GRACE OF GOD. It is proclaimed to us in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ Jesus, the Son of God.

“Now I make known to you, brethren, THE GOSPEL which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also  YOU ARE SAVED, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 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” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

Paul says it is “THE GOSPEL” by which “YOU ARE SAVED” and in which “YOU STAND”. It is true that he also emphasizes the gospel is what he and they “received”, but receiving it did not SAVE them, it simply allowed them and us to enjoy in this life the joy and peace "THE GOSPEL" gives.

Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with people believing, repenting, inviting, accepting and receiving the Gospel, UNLESS they are doing so in order to get saved.

The Salvation of the sinner is FREE, and so is JUSTIFICATION. One does not acquire them by responding to an “offer”. They are given "freely by His grace" to mankind as a result of the “redemption that is in Christ Jesus”.

They are yours as a free gift through the LOVE and GRACE of God so believe and ENJOY the gospel... 

"...because of the hope laid up for you in heaven, of which you previously heard in the word of truth, the gospel which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the GRACE of God in truth." (Colossians 1:5-6)

Law or Grace

“Abraham had two sons…which…are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from Mount Sinai which gives birth to bondage (Law of God)…and corresponds to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children—but the Jerusalem above is free (Grace of God), which is the mother of US ALL…So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free. Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free (Grace), and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage (Law).” (Galatians 4:22-5:1)

We sometimes get all theological when we talk about “covenants” and covenant living. But Paul is using the term “covenants” in reference to those God made with Israel (Both the Old and New Covenants are with Israel alone). They are used by Paul as an example of the simple truth that the GRACE of God has set ALL mankind free from the punishment demanded by the LAW of God in the Old Covenant with Israel. We do not avoid the punishment for the sin of Adam, which is “death”, but we will be freed from this death by our resurrection.

When the Law of God is the standard by which we are judged by God, what is the conclusion of the matter?

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…the wages of sin is death” (Romans 3:23; 6:23)

When the GRACE of God is the standard by which we are judged by God, what is the conclusion of the matter?

“For the grace of God hath appeared bringing salvation to all men…for by Grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God…for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord… the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory…” (Titus 2:11; Ephesians 2:11; Romans 6:23; Colossians 1:26)

So which applies today for mankind?  – Law which condemns the sinner, or Grace which saves the sinner?

“For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under LAW but under GRACE.” (Romans 6:14)

I want to pause in my assault on false teachers and teaching for one day at least…..in order to assault the rest of us Christians...just kidding...I think.

My oldest brother recently posted this comment on his Facebook page:

What does "following Christ" really mean? Just an idea. Jesus was certainly not religious in any sense of the word.

It started me thinking, as usual, so blame him for what follows ...although I thank him for making me think and “reason” about my view of Scripture.

My mind went immediately to the words of Jesus quoted by Luke...

“Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple (follower). Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it…So then, none of you can be my disciple who does not give up all his own possessions?” (Luke 14:25-28)

Pretty harsh words, who was he talking to? The large crowds FOLLOWING him hoping to get something from him (food, healing,etc). The same crowd who not long after would be screaming “crucify him”. But he loved them and had compassion for them, and would in fact die for them and all other sinners. But for now he told them what it takes to really follow him.

First: hate your father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters and your own life.

Second: take up your cross (and die on it)

Third: consider the cost

OK, forget the commentaries and alterations to the above made over the past 2000 years by the pious super duper high IQ holy men. Their opinions don't count. Believe Jesus...think about what he said above...and then form the logical conclusion with respect to what he was saying in light of all else we know in the Bible about Jesus and what he has done for mankind. I have thought about it and here is my conclusion...Jesus is saying...

“You sinners are not me, I am a unique, one of a kind, never to be cloned man WHO HAS NEVER SINNED. So where I am going you are not qualified to come. And what I am going to do you are not qualified to do. I am going to abandon Mom and everybody else I love together with all my possessions and die on a cross...for you sinners. And in doing so I am going to save your miserable selfish asses...why?  Because our Father God is gracious and merciful. Believe it or not my heavenly Father and I created you and we love you, and so saving you is the right thing to do. As for you and those who come after you...well count the cost of what I alone can and will do...and just bow your head and simply say...THANK YOU JESUS!” (The Bible - Robert's paraphrased version)

We Christians, especially the elite do gooder types, need to stop putting ourselves on a pedestal, self-righteously claiming to be “followers of Christ” with a 20 year perfect attendance pin to prove it....for even if we “surrender our life to Christ” or join a monastery and eventually attain the official designation of “Saint so and so” or even if we would die on behalf of all mankind...all of them would stay dead anyway.

So I choose to place my faith and hope in what the Bible says God and Christ Jesus have done for sinners...

“God demonstrated his love for us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us....for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 5:8-10; 6:23)

“For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost… All have sinned…the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord…For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us…was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes. For all the promises of God in Him are YES, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God...” (Luke 19:10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; 2 Corinthians 1:19-20)

My understanding of the Scripture is that God will save sinners as a "free gift" through Christ Jesus from the penalty of sin, which is death. It is not a Yes I believe or No I don’t believe question as to salvation. God reserved for Himself the eventual eternal destiny of all mankind. He did not make it a matter of choice. God has chosen to freely give mankind “eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. 

The choice God has left for mankind during this age is to believe this, not in order to be saved, but in order to enjoy the peace and hope it gives. When people do not believe this, they worry all the time about whether God will save them or condemn them. Or they decide there is no God at all for various reasons. But the PROMISES of God are always YES in regard to the eventual salvation of mankind…as I have come to understand the Scripture.

When God speaks, it comes to pass…whether religious doctrine agrees with Him or not!

"For I am the LORD. I speak, and the word which I speak will come to pass…the word which I speak will be done." (Ezekiel 12:25, 28).

“…when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:5-8)

The simple prayers of those Israelites who prayed “in secret” were rewarded in accordance with what their Father God knew they needed. All other prayers were just “babbling” like pagans. It seems to me this is good advice for us as well.

“…if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (Matthew 6:14-15)

Those Israelites that Jesus was speaking to who did "not forgive others their sins" were not forgiven by their Father God for their own sins.

Let me ask you, does the above apply to Christians?

Well in my opinion it applies to everyone…even now!  And what is the result of sin?

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

But the cross changed everything and God added the promise of "not counting people's sins against them", and the "the free gift of eternal life" to his plan for sinners. After the cross Paul tells "the world" of sinners...

“…God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation…God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:19-21)

AND THE RESULT…

“the free gift of God is eternal life…" (Romans 6:23b)

“For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.” (2 Corinthians 4:11)

I have read thousands of words of men trying to explain this in commentaries on the bible…unnecessary in my opinion. They make everything complicated – I suppose so that their explanations make them sound smart.

What Paul is saying is simple if we remember that although the bad news is “the wages of sin is death”… the good news (gospel) is “the free gift of God is ETERNAL LIFE” (Romans 6:26). So Paul is simply saying that just as Jesus died, so we ALL must die, and just as Jesus was RAISED to immortal “life”, so shall we be raised to eternal, immortal life.

“For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died” (2 Corinthians 5:14)

“He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” (Romans 4:24)

“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned…Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the FREE gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life…where sin abounded, GRACE abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to ETERNAL LIFE through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:12-21)

"For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds" (2 Corinthians 11:13-14)

OK, I am mad now so I better hurry up and write this post because my mad only lasts about 20 minutes. I really try to hold back my anger....but when I read one of these "angels of light" lecture on how God must eternally torment people in hell because God is "absolute moral perfection"... well my blood boils because I know they are deceiving people I love and care about. 

Joe Blow from down under is one of those (name changed so not to offend some friends). He says that Hell is the just result of God's "absolute moral perfection"... REALLY? To be "Just" and absolutely “morally perfect" is to torture your enemies forever with unquenchable fire. Something far worse than Hitler ever did, and he was one of the worst mass murderer of all time. 

Sending anyone to such a place would be the equivalent of "absolute moral evil". Joe Blow, or Satan, whatever your name is, God "loves His enemies"... you included...and everyone else in the world...because God IS love.

These folks claim to be "called" to ministry and are assumed to be the messengers of God when they actually work for Satan posing themselves as messengers of God. They demand the keeping of the 10 Commandments while themselves violating the first 2 commandments by creating a god of their own making.

Think people....Joe Blow's "absolutely moral god" would eternally separate from himself a 12 year old who died in a car wreck before "being saved" if he had reached the unbiblical so called "age of accountability". And then this god would supernaturally keep that 12 year old kid alive to torture him or her for all eternity, just as they say he will do to Hitler. 

Come on man...that is sick! And few seem to call them out on it and expose them as Satan's "angels of light".

The true God, as revealed in the bible, says clearly what happens to sinners - we die.  You, me, the 12 year old, Hitler, and those messengers of Satan all will DIE as the result of sin. And God tells us what happens next..."the free gift of eternal life".

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

NO, NO, NO they say, "that makes salvation cheap". Excuse me, did you think I said "cheap"? NO, NO, NO, it is FREE!

That is MERCY....that is GRACE...that is LOVE...that is the Devine character of the one and only true GOD of the Bible!

God loves the world...and He does graciously chastens and eventually puts sinners to death for their sin...but He also sent Jesus to die for sinners, even those who teach the perverted doctrinal sin of Hell - which proves He loves even self-righteous Pharisees.

Jesus, "who knew no sin became sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." ..."and Jesus prayed "Father forgive them"...which He has!

Millions are led away from the very God they gather to profess and worship by those who run the churches, synagogues and mosques of the world, many of whom are Satan's "angels of light".  All of those places of worship have those who teach the eternal conscious torment for infidels/unbelievers. They are ALL "deceitful workers".

It is truly AMAZING GRACE for God to love them anyway..and He wants me to love them too. 

I really try because Jesus loves them and died for them but it is difficult. It is not hard, however, for me to love the people who go to church, synagogue or mosque for worship and are the ones deceived. They need truth and deliverance which the Bible has provided for me....so I keep posting my random thoughts.