Random Thoughts on the Really Good News

"And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” (Acts 20:32) What does “the word of His grace” mean and what is this word? The Greek for “word” is “logo” and simply means that which is communicated to mankind by God. And what is that? His GRACE…unmerited favor among those who are sanctified.  Mankind is sanctified (deemed Holy by God) through the truth of His Word (what He has communicated to us)… “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.” (John 17:17-18) Christ Jesus came to save the world. He consecrated himself for that purpose and through his shed blood he succeeded. “…all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness… But he has appeared once FOR ...

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:1-2) There is a great difference between “renewing” our minds based on the Mercy of God and having our minds “brainwashed” by the opinions of a religious system. Most all of what Christians and Muslims are taught is the opinion of their respective leaders. Paul above urges us to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice in view of God’s MERCY (as opposed to some religious idea of JUSTICE), and to not be "conformed" (brainwashed) to the pattern of the world which in his day was dominated by the views of Jewish religious leaders and Greek Philosophers. When we focus on God’s MERCY, we can clearly see and ...