For my wife, children and grandchildren..and anyone else who may be interested!
Inauguration Day -Thank You God!
Thank you Lord God! I pray you will supernaturally fill President Trump and Vice President Pence with all it will take to undo what those have done who have ignored You and the working people of America these many years. Please remove those who oppose Your will from public office and replace them all with those who submit to Your will in all matters of life. And for those who continue to oppose Your will, well please bless them also, and in that blessing may they be humbled and become thankful to You for making America once again the “Shining City Upon a Hill” radiating the glory of your grace for all the world to see and follow. Do so I pray in the name of Your only begotten Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The Vanity of God's Creation
"For to vanity was the creation subjected, not voluntarily, but because of Him Who subjects it, in expectation that the creation itself, also, shall be freed from the slavery of corruption into the glorious freedom of the children of God."
How do sinful people become "children of God"? By being "freed from the slavery of corruption" at the "deliverance of our body".
"For we are aware that the entire creation is groaning and travailing together until now. Yet not only so, but we ourselves also, who have the first fruit of the spirit, we ourselves also, are groaning in ourselves, awaiting the sonship, the deliverance of our body. For to expectation were we saved..." (Romans 8:20-24)
People are slaves to corruption. By corruption I am not talking about the worldly idea of being corrupted by evil men. I am talking about the biblical idea of the dying process. We are all born of a women to die with all mankind, that is our lot. We are "groaning and travailing" over it, but we still die along with all others we love because for now we are sons of men. But one day this corruption will put on incorruption and this mortal shall put on immortality and death will have been swallowed up in Victory,,,
"...according to the purpose that, whom He foreknew, He designates beforehand, also, to be conformed to the image of His Son, for Him to be Firstborn among many brethren. Now whom He designates beforehand, these He calls also, and whom He calls, these He justifies also; now whom He justifies, these He glorifies also. What then, shall we declare to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?" (Romans 8:28-31)
Believers have a definite advantage over unbelievers in this evil age in which we live. For we are aware that we are "awaiting the sonship" and believe what God has planned, the deliverance of His creation from "vanity" into "the glorious freedom of the children of God".
It enables us to be content in this present evil age as we look forward to our blessed expectation, the return of Christ Jesus the Lord to resurrect the dead.
People are slaves to corruption. By corruption I am not talking about the worldly idea of being corrupted by evil men. I am talking about the biblical idea of the dying process. We are all born of a women to die with all mankind, that is our lot. We are "groaning and travailing" over it, but we still die along with all others we love because for now we are sons of men. But one day this corruption will put on incorruption and this mortal shall put on immortality and death will have been swallowed up in Victory,,,
"...according to the purpose that, whom He foreknew, He designates beforehand, also, to be conformed to the image of His Son, for Him to be Firstborn among many brethren. Now whom He designates beforehand, these He calls also, and whom He calls, these He justifies also; now whom He justifies, these He glorifies also. What then, shall we declare to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?" (Romans 8:28-31)
Believers have a definite advantage over unbelievers in this evil age in which we live. For we are aware that we are "awaiting the sonship" and believe what God has planned, the deliverance of His creation from "vanity" into "the glorious freedom of the children of God".
It enables us to be content in this present evil age as we look forward to our blessed expectation, the return of Christ Jesus the Lord to resurrect the dead.
Grace and Law...Reality or Illusion?
“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth (aletheia) came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17)
The New Testament was written in Greek. I have read that in ancient Greek culture the Greek word aletheia was synonymous for “reality” as the opposite of “illusion”.
So, Moses received the Law, which had the illusion of providing a way for men to become righteous before God. But of course, it was only an illusion for mankind is not able to keep it, because…
“…it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God…” (Romans 3:10-11)
Most of what is taught among Christianity and all that is taught in other religions of the world is the “illusion” that we can do stuff to please God and therefore become "righteous" by those good works. That broad and proverbial religious road leads to destruction for…
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” and “…the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 3:23; 6:23)
The Law of Moses brings death to all who try to keep it and religious people who claim to succeed live in the “illusion” of self-righteousness. The "truth" (aletheia-reality) is that only by the grace of God will anyone become righteous, and that will occur for all when changed from flesh to spirit at the resurrection. This “grace and truth came through Jesus Christ”.
This unmerited favor is freely given to sinners because the "truth" (reality) is that the written law kills people but the “Spirit gives life” to those same people at their resurrection by the "grace" of God. The Spirit will indeed grant life to dead sinners, abundant and everlasting. YEA Jesus! We are to proclaim that truth as our message…
“He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life…for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:6; Romans 6:23)
The New Testament was written in Greek. I have read that in ancient Greek culture the Greek word aletheia was synonymous for “reality” as the opposite of “illusion”.
So, Moses received the Law, which had the illusion of providing a way for men to become righteous before God. But of course, it was only an illusion for mankind is not able to keep it, because…
“…it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God…” (Romans 3:10-11)
Most of what is taught among Christianity and all that is taught in other religions of the world is the “illusion” that we can do stuff to please God and therefore become "righteous" by those good works. That broad and proverbial religious road leads to destruction for…
“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” and “…the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 3:23; 6:23)
The Law of Moses brings death to all who try to keep it and religious people who claim to succeed live in the “illusion” of self-righteousness. The "truth" (aletheia-reality) is that only by the grace of God will anyone become righteous, and that will occur for all when changed from flesh to spirit at the resurrection. This “grace and truth came through Jesus Christ”.
This unmerited favor is freely given to sinners because the "truth" (reality) is that the written law kills people but the “Spirit gives life” to those same people at their resurrection by the "grace" of God. The Spirit will indeed grant life to dead sinners, abundant and everlasting. YEA Jesus! We are to proclaim that truth as our message…
“He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life…for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:6; Romans 6:23)
To Hell With Them
“For sin shall not have power over you, for you are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:14)
What does Paul mean when he says sin shall not have power over us?
Well, the wages for sin is death, and all of us sin and die, so he means that death, the power sin has over us is temporary, for by the GRACE of God we sinners will be raised to eternal life. It really is that simple. ..
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life…” (Romans 6:23)
Christianity has managed to complicate the gospel of salvation, making it a matter of choice, not grace. I suppose we have done so because we have a hard time giving stuff to those we consider to be far worse sinners than ourselves. To hell with them.
What does Paul mean when he says sin shall not have power over us?
Well, the wages for sin is death, and all of us sin and die, so he means that death, the power sin has over us is temporary, for by the GRACE of God we sinners will be raised to eternal life. It really is that simple. ..
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life…” (Romans 6:23)
Christianity has managed to complicate the gospel of salvation, making it a matter of choice, not grace. I suppose we have done so because we have a hard time giving stuff to those we consider to be far worse sinners than ourselves. To hell with them.
But the biblical GRACE of God has to do with “unmerited favor”. The salvation of the most egregious sinner magnifies the grace of God, and distinguishes Him from us. Paul understood this and wanted us to understand…
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life...” (1 Timothy 1:15-17)
I admit, as a self-righteous human being, I do not like the idea of the worst sinners getting saved for free. But then I am not God…and neither are you. We may not like it, but it is what we are commanded to teach, not the hell of "godless myths" taught by "demons"....
“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons…Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales…we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things.” (1 Timothy 4:1, 7, 9-11)
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life...” (1 Timothy 1:15-17)
I admit, as a self-righteous human being, I do not like the idea of the worst sinners getting saved for free. But then I am not God…and neither are you. We may not like it, but it is what we are commanded to teach, not the hell of "godless myths" taught by "demons"....
“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons…Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales…we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things.” (1 Timothy 4:1, 7, 9-11)
Only a very few people believe the gospel of free salvation in this present age, and even we could not believe except for God giving us the faith to believe...
"For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift from God..." (Ephesians 2:8)
All will believe when they are resurrected to see the Lord who has raised them. Then...
"As surely as I live says the Lord, every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God" (Romans 14:11)
All will believe when they are resurrected to see the Lord who has raised them. Then...
"As surely as I live says the Lord, every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God" (Romans 14:11)
New Years Resolution
New Years Resolution:
We will stop trying to repent our way to heaven, witness our way to heaven, tithe our way to heaven, pray our way to heaven, or attend church to increase our odds of getting to heaven...
"...because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe." (1 Timothy 4:10)
We will stop trying to repent our way to heaven, witness our way to heaven, tithe our way to heaven, pray our way to heaven, or attend church to increase our odds of getting to heaven...
"...because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe." (1 Timothy 4:10)
Once and for All
"He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:2)
Think about that for a moment. "The whole world"
Before Christ Jesus, once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest of Israel would enter the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle to apply the blood of a bull calf sacrifice to the mercy seat to cleanse himself of sin. He would then leave to sacrifice a goat and return to apply the blood of the goat to the mercy seat for the sins of all other Israelites. As a result, the sins of all Israelites were atoned for that year. This occurred year after year, a never ending ritual of blood sacrifices, to atone for the sins of Israel. Then came Christ Jesus...
"But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption." (Hebrews 9:11-12)
"Once for all". So all your sins, and the sins of all others who have ever lived in this world, have been eternally atoned for, not by pastors, priests , monks, or 12 imams...not by baptisms, crusades, jihad or prayers towards Mecca...but by the blood of Christ Jesus, the "Savior of the world".
"...now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” (John 4:42)
Wow! Thank you Jesus.
Think about that for a moment. "The whole world"
Before Christ Jesus, once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the high priest of Israel would enter the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle to apply the blood of a bull calf sacrifice to the mercy seat to cleanse himself of sin. He would then leave to sacrifice a goat and return to apply the blood of the goat to the mercy seat for the sins of all other Israelites. As a result, the sins of all Israelites were atoned for that year. This occurred year after year, a never ending ritual of blood sacrifices, to atone for the sins of Israel. Then came Christ Jesus...
"But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that are now already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made with human hands, that is to say, is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption." (Hebrews 9:11-12)
"Once for all". So all your sins, and the sins of all others who have ever lived in this world, have been eternally atoned for, not by pastors, priests , monks, or 12 imams...not by baptisms, crusades, jihad or prayers towards Mecca...but by the blood of Christ Jesus, the "Savior of the world".
"...now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” (John 4:42)
Wow! Thank you Jesus.
Blind Guides of the Blind
"No man ever believes that the Bible means what it says: He is always convinced that it says what he means." --George Bernard Shaw
"I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel...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 anathema!...For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ."(Galatians 1:1-11)
George Bernhard Shaw was correct. I would put it this way...
"No religious institution of man believes what the Bible says, instead, they are convinced the Bible says what the religious leaders of that particular religious institution say it means."
Thus the Bible has become a commentary on the various doctrines of the men. Instead of the Bible being the infallible word of God, the doctrines of men are deemed infallible - "blind guides of the blind", all falling "into the pit" of unbelief...
"Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders?" Jesus responded..."You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: 'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN"...blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” (Matthew 15:1-2,7-9)
So, here are a few things the Bible actually says, it is good news, and to the extent the doctrines of men teach otherwise, let them become "anathema!".
1. GOD LOVES ALL OF US
“God commends His love for us in that while we were sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8)
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15)
“Christ died for our sins . . . was buried . . . and rose again. . .” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
2. GOD WILLS THAT ALL OF US BE SAVED
“God our Savior…will have ALL men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4)
“Trust in the living God, who is the Savior of ALL men” (1 Timothy 4:10)
3. ALL OF US ARE RECONCILED TO GOD
“When we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His son” (Romans 5:10)
“God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself not counting their sins against them” (2 Corinthians 5:19)
“And having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile ALL unto Himself” (Colossians 1:20)
4. ETERNAL LIFE IS A GRACIOUS GIFT FROM GOD TO ALL OF US
“For even as in Adam ALL are dying, thus also, in Christ shall ALL be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22)
“The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23)
5. WHAT ALL OF US SHOULD DO WITH THIS GOOD NEWS
"Prescribe and teach these things." (1 Timothy 4:11)
“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
"I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel...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 anathema!...For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ."(Galatians 1:1-11)
George Bernhard Shaw was correct. I would put it this way...
"No religious institution of man believes what the Bible says, instead, they are convinced the Bible says what the religious leaders of that particular religious institution say it means."
Thus the Bible has become a commentary on the various doctrines of the men. Instead of the Bible being the infallible word of God, the doctrines of men are deemed infallible - "blind guides of the blind", all falling "into the pit" of unbelief...
"Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders?" Jesus responded..."You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: 'THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN"...blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” (Matthew 15:1-2,7-9)
So, here are a few things the Bible actually says, it is good news, and to the extent the doctrines of men teach otherwise, let them become "anathema!".
1. GOD LOVES ALL OF US
“God commends His love for us in that while we were sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8)
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15)
“Christ died for our sins . . . was buried . . . and rose again. . .” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)
2. GOD WILLS THAT ALL OF US BE SAVED
“God our Savior…will have ALL men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4)
“Trust in the living God, who is the Savior of ALL men” (1 Timothy 4:10)
3. ALL OF US ARE RECONCILED TO GOD
“When we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His son” (Romans 5:10)
“God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself not counting their sins against them” (2 Corinthians 5:19)
“And having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile ALL unto Himself” (Colossians 1:20)
4. ETERNAL LIFE IS A GRACIOUS GIFT FROM GOD TO ALL OF US
“For even as in Adam ALL are dying, thus also, in Christ shall ALL be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22)
“The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23)
5. WHAT ALL OF US SHOULD DO WITH THIS GOOD NEWS
"Prescribe and teach these things." (1 Timothy 4:11)
“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Did the Rich Man Go To Hell?
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus…the time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.” (Luke 16:19-31)
So is this a historic account of two men, or a parable. A careful examination of the context beginning in Luke 14:7 shows me it is one in a series of parables, and therefore not a literal story. Everyone should be glad for it would teach that rich people who receive good things in this life go into hades, but the poor who receive bad things in this life go to heaven, regardless of the Cross, the Grace of God, or good works.
“So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony…”
Being a parable we can only grasp its meaning if “to us it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven”, according to Jesus...
“And the disciples came and said to Him, Why do you speak to them in parables? Jesus answered them, to you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted…" (Matthew 13:10-11)
So if you are a disciple you know what it means, if you are one of “them” however, you don’t and can't. One thing for sure, the context is the promises of God made to Israel…and nowhere in those promises within the word of God does he affirm Hades, the underworld of Greek mythology!
Do not fret too much if we don't understand all of the parables for at present we only see "dimly"...but one day we will know all...
“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:12-13)
For now we should concentrate on strengthening our faith, hope and love.
So is this a historic account of two men, or a parable. A careful examination of the context beginning in Luke 14:7 shows me it is one in a series of parables, and therefore not a literal story. Everyone should be glad for it would teach that rich people who receive good things in this life go into hades, but the poor who receive bad things in this life go to heaven, regardless of the Cross, the Grace of God, or good works.
“So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony…”
Being a parable we can only grasp its meaning if “to us it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven”, according to Jesus...
“And the disciples came and said to Him, Why do you speak to them in parables? Jesus answered them, to you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted…" (Matthew 13:10-11)
So if you are a disciple you know what it means, if you are one of “them” however, you don’t and can't. One thing for sure, the context is the promises of God made to Israel…and nowhere in those promises within the word of God does he affirm Hades, the underworld of Greek mythology!
Do not fret too much if we don't understand all of the parables for at present we only see "dimly"...but one day we will know all...
“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:12-13)
For now we should concentrate on strengthening our faith, hope and love.
The "So in So" in the House of the Pulled Off Sandal
"This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all—the testimony that was given at just the right time." (1 Timothy 2:4-6)
In ancient Israel there was the "kinsman redeemer", the firstborn male of the family who had the responsibility of saving the family from extinction. If he was asked to do so and refused he was required to pull off his sandal and give it to the relative who needed to be saved, and would forever after be known as the "so in so" of "the house of the house of the pulled-off sandal". At least that is how I interpret the story of Ruth and Boaz in the 3rd chapter of Ruth.
The bible calls Jesus Christ "the firstborn of all creation".
"We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ...The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." (Colossians 1:1,15)
As the "firstborn" it was his responsibility to redeem mankind from extinction. God the Father asked him to do so requiring his death as the "ransom". He obeyed. And instead of becoming another forgotten person, just a "so in so of the house of the pulled off sandal", he is our kinsmen redeemer, and at our resurrection, his name will be above all names, and all will bow and confess Jesus the King of Kings and Lord of Lords...
"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to cling to, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man he humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross. Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place, and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:8-11)
Now that is something to be thankful for!
In ancient Israel there was the "kinsman redeemer", the firstborn male of the family who had the responsibility of saving the family from extinction. If he was asked to do so and refused he was required to pull off his sandal and give it to the relative who needed to be saved, and would forever after be known as the "so in so" of "the house of the house of the pulled-off sandal". At least that is how I interpret the story of Ruth and Boaz in the 3rd chapter of Ruth.
The bible calls Jesus Christ "the firstborn of all creation".
"We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ...The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." (Colossians 1:1,15)
As the "firstborn" it was his responsibility to redeem mankind from extinction. God the Father asked him to do so requiring his death as the "ransom". He obeyed. And instead of becoming another forgotten person, just a "so in so of the house of the pulled off sandal", he is our kinsmen redeemer, and at our resurrection, his name will be above all names, and all will bow and confess Jesus the King of Kings and Lord of Lords...
"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to cling to, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man he humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross. Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place, and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:8-11)
Now that is something to be thankful for!
Grace Rules!
“The Law was given so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness, to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:20-21)
What value is there to the Ten Commandments, and the rest of the Law given Moses if its purpose was to increase trespasses?
Paul says it reveals just how sinful "all" people are...
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God …Is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too…" (Romans 3:23, 29)
What value is there to the Love and Grace of God?
"…at just the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly…God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Therefore, since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from wrath through him?...For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 5:6-8;6:23)
Paul says "grace" demonstrates that the love of God for sinners far exceeds the weight of their sin. The grace of God trumps the sinfulness of "ungodly" people...
All that we sinners can do about our sin is to have faith that God's "grace" is greater than our sin, and wait for the final proof of the His love and mercy when we sinners are resurrected to receive "the free gift of eternal life"…
“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive…The last enemy to be destroyed is death…so that God may be all in all…just as we have borne the likeness of the earthy man, so also shall we bear the likeness of the heavenly man…the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ?” (1 Corinthians 15:20-58)
Death, the wages of sin, is then swallowed up in the Victory.
Grace rules!
What value is there to the Ten Commandments, and the rest of the Law given Moses if its purpose was to increase trespasses?
Paul says it reveals just how sinful "all" people are...
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God …Is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too…" (Romans 3:23, 29)
What value is there to the Love and Grace of God?
"…at just the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly…God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Therefore, since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from wrath through him?...For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 5:6-8;6:23)
Paul says "grace" demonstrates that the love of God for sinners far exceeds the weight of their sin. The grace of God trumps the sinfulness of "ungodly" people...
All that we sinners can do about our sin is to have faith that God's "grace" is greater than our sin, and wait for the final proof of the His love and mercy when we sinners are resurrected to receive "the free gift of eternal life"…
“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive…The last enemy to be destroyed is death…so that God may be all in all…just as we have borne the likeness of the earthy man, so also shall we bear the likeness of the heavenly man…the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ?” (1 Corinthians 15:20-58)
Death, the wages of sin, is then swallowed up in the Victory.
Grace rules!
The Work Of Faith
“To this end, we always pray for you, that our God will count you worthy of His calling, and that He will powerfully fulfill your every good desire and work of faith…” (2 Thessalonians 1:11)
The church today is all about works. It is implied, if not taught directly, that the more work you do for God through the local church, the more righteous you become. But often those works become wearisome and take time away from what gives us joy and peace.
The only work that brings lasting peace and joy in this age is the “work of faith”.
The church today is all about works. It is implied, if not taught directly, that the more work you do for God through the local church, the more righteous you become. But often those works become wearisome and take time away from what gives us joy and peace.
The only work that brings lasting peace and joy in this age is the “work of faith”.
It is OK to do stuff in and through our churches if it is YOUR desire to do so. Paul says God will “powerfully fulfill YOUR every good desire".
Sooo, what is it YOU "desire" that is “good”? Once you figure that out, get after it so “that our God will count you worthy of His calling”.
As for me, well I “desire” to trust God, and to be a good husband, father, and grandfather. I am pretty sure those "desires" are among the "good" ones. Only time will tell if they will be fulfilled.
"Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you." (Psalm 37:3-5)
Sooo, what is it YOU "desire" that is “good”? Once you figure that out, get after it so “that our God will count you worthy of His calling”.
As for me, well I “desire” to trust God, and to be a good husband, father, and grandfather. I am pretty sure those "desires" are among the "good" ones. Only time will tell if they will be fulfilled.
"Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you." (Psalm 37:3-5)
Heaven Is Not On Earth
“…they saw that I had been entrusted to preach the gospel to the Gentiles, just as Peter had been to the Jews.” (Galatians 2:7)
When we get to the part of the New Testament that is authored by Paul we find no references to fig trees, beautiful cities, lambs, promised lands, or the garbage dump of Gehenna (hell). Those things are related to Israel and its Kingdom on earth. Those blessing for Israel are FROM heaven, not IN heaven.
We are told that the destiny of the “body of Christ” is “among the heavens”. This body is composed of both Gentiles and Jews. Our blessings are not FROM heaven but IN heaven, and Paul tells us to “set our minds on things above” and look forward to being “caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air”.
“Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it…so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another… And he is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead... Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things…our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to subject all things to himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like his glorious body…we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord...God raises us up with Christ and seats us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus." (1 Corinthians 12:27; Romans 12:5; Colossians 1:18; 3:2; 1 Thessalonians 4: 15-17; Ephesians 2:6)
To understand the Bible we should distinguish between what Israel has on the earth sent FROM heaven and what belongs to the "body of Christ" IN heaven.
God’s chosen people are destined to rule in a future earthly Kingdom. However, Heaven is for all people, both Gentile and Jew. We are God’s chosen people to dwell “in the heavenly realms”, after our resurrection, in the Empyrean of our great God.
When we get to the part of the New Testament that is authored by Paul we find no references to fig trees, beautiful cities, lambs, promised lands, or the garbage dump of Gehenna (hell). Those things are related to Israel and its Kingdom on earth. Those blessing for Israel are FROM heaven, not IN heaven.
We are told that the destiny of the “body of Christ” is “among the heavens”. This body is composed of both Gentiles and Jews. Our blessings are not FROM heaven but IN heaven, and Paul tells us to “set our minds on things above” and look forward to being “caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air”.
“Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it…so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another… And he is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead... Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things…our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to subject all things to himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like his glorious body…we declare to you that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will be the first to rise. After that, we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord...God raises us up with Christ and seats us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus." (1 Corinthians 12:27; Romans 12:5; Colossians 1:18; 3:2; 1 Thessalonians 4: 15-17; Ephesians 2:6)
To understand the Bible we should distinguish between what Israel has on the earth sent FROM heaven and what belongs to the "body of Christ" IN heaven.
God’s chosen people are destined to rule in a future earthly Kingdom. However, Heaven is for all people, both Gentile and Jew. We are God’s chosen people to dwell “in the heavenly realms”, after our resurrection, in the Empyrean of our great God.
Imperfect People Need Mercy, Grace And Prayer
There have now been 44 different men elected to be President, all of them imperfect. God intended that citizens pray for them and God demands that from us after this election. God does not sanction the protests and violence...those doing so are just immature, selfish, imperfect people out of control and their childish tantrums will not change anything. However, prayer might...
"First of all, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered on behalf of all men, for kings and all those in authority, so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all goodness and dignity. This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior..." (1 Timothy 2:1-3)
"First of all, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be offered on behalf of all men, for kings and all those in authority, so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all goodness and dignity. This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior..." (1 Timothy 2:1-3)
It is hard for me not to get mad at imperfect people out of control, however I have to remind myself that we are all imperfect. And being imperfect people, our views about life are imperfect. That is never more obvious than in politics and among religious people.
But God is in control if the Bible is true, and I am thankful He has not left our salvation up to the imperfect doctrines of imperfect people. He will deliver us all, eventually, by His grace and mercy...
"...it is through the grace of the Lord Jesus that we are saved...justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus...it does not depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy...for God has consigned all men to disobedience, so that He may have mercy on them all...it is by grace you have been saved" (Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24; 9:16; 11:33; Ephesians 2:5)
Faith in the Grace of God
The Bible says this about Jesus Christ…
“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.” (Colossians 1:19-23)
“Before the creation of the world” God chose to RECONCILE sinners to God “through the blood of his cross”, “if” we “continue in” our faith. NOTE: He is talking about the gospel (good news) of “reconciliation” (being at peace with God).
It is said in the Bible that mankind was predestined before creation to be adopted as sons of God..
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious GRACE, which He has freely given us in the one He loves.” (Ephesians 1:3-6)
Note that mankind was “predestined” to become Sons of God “in accordance with His pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace”. That too is the gospel (good news) which gives joy to those in this life if we have “faith”.
“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.” (Colossians 1:19-23)
“Before the creation of the world” God chose to RECONCILE sinners to God “through the blood of his cross”, “if” we “continue in” our faith. NOTE: He is talking about the gospel (good news) of “reconciliation” (being at peace with God).
It is said in the Bible that mankind was predestined before creation to be adopted as sons of God..
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious GRACE, which He has freely given us in the one He loves.” (Ephesians 1:3-6)
Note that mankind was “predestined” to become Sons of God “in accordance with His pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace”. That too is the gospel (good news) which gives joy to those in this life if we have “faith”.
But we do not choose God, or Christ, God chooses us. And God has “predestined” mankind to be “holy and blameless in his sight”. Obviously that has not happened yet, but awaits our resurrection from death, not some decision we make. The final salvation, reconciliation, and glorification of all mankind is a promise we have now to be finished in the future when all will be “blessed in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ”.
What we have available to us now is our “faith” that God will do what He says.
There is precious little of this faith in our world it seems to me, even among Christianity. Nevertheless, the eventual salvation, reconciliation and glorification of all is guaranteed by God’s “glorious GRACE”.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men...For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all...” (Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11; 1 Timothy 2:5-6)
There is precious little of this faith in our world it seems to me, even among Christianity. Nevertheless, the eventual salvation, reconciliation and glorification of all is guaranteed by God’s “glorious GRACE”.
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God…For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men...For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all...” (Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11; 1 Timothy 2:5-6)
Rahab's House Of Ill Repute
“Then Joshua secretly sent out two spies from the Israelite camp at Acacia Grove. He instructed them, Scout out the land on the other side of the Jordan River, especially around Jericho. So the two men set out and came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there that night.” (Joshua 2:1)
Ok, did you notice that the first place the two spies go to in Jericho is the local Brothel where they are introduced to Rahab the prostitute. I can hear the Church fathers weeping and gnashing their teeth – sorry, but that is what the Bible says.
Rahab had heard about the God of Israel, believed and feared what she heard, and so she helped the two Israelite spies get away from the King of Jericho. Nothing says she changed her profession and I doubt she did. And, as payment for her varied services, she is saved when Israel comes to destroy Jericho. And later she hooks up with a good old Jew named Salmon and they have a son named Boaz, the great, great grandfather of King David.
And one more thing, about a thousand years later, Rahab's and King David's great, great, great, great, great....grandson Jesus is born to save you, me and the whole world!
Three cheers for Rahab the Harlot!
You just can't make this stuff up...I just love God and His Bible!
You just can't make this stuff up...I just love God and His Bible!
Citizenship
When all the theologians and politicians have finished arguing about what man must do to be saved; When the Calvinists and Armenians have finished bludgeoning each other with lengthy and boring arguments about predestination and free will; When Christians and Muslims have finished threatening and killing one another with words and weapons; When all religious and governmental organizations have failed to save and deliver a better world - what do we have left to give us strength and hope?
What it comes down to is pretty simple for me. I either find peace in my faith in what God has promised in the bible, or I do not. And what God has promised is easy enough for a child to understand. God has promised to…
Save me, my family and friends, and the whole world,
“We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.” (1 John 4:14)
And He has promised to send Jesus back to earth to raise us all from the dead...
“Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written - death is swallowed up in victory.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-54)
For now my citizenship resides in the United States, and I am proud of that, and in this election year I will vote for the person who I think can make America the best she can be for my family and friends – Donald Trump - while I wait for that promised “mystery” to become a reality. Then my citizenship will be in that country in which the whole world is destined…
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21)
What it comes down to is pretty simple for me. I either find peace in my faith in what God has promised in the bible, or I do not. And what God has promised is easy enough for a child to understand. God has promised to…
Save me, my family and friends, and the whole world,
“We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.” (1 John 4:14)
And He has promised to send Jesus back to earth to raise us all from the dead...
“Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written - death is swallowed up in victory.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-54)
For now my citizenship resides in the United States, and I am proud of that, and in this election year I will vote for the person who I think can make America the best she can be for my family and friends – Donald Trump - while I wait for that promised “mystery” to become a reality. Then my citizenship will be in that country in which the whole world is destined…
“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21)
The Will Of God
“And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.” (Acts 3:16)
Here we see clearly that it is the faith OF JESUS, not our own faith, which makes us strong, or makes those we see strong. Faith that comes from our own heart or desires cannot and will not strengthen us. Most likely it will depress us for often our will does not coincide with His, therefore it does not come to pass...
“Jesus explained, my food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work…The One who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what pleases Him." (John 4:34; 8:29)
So what is the will of God that Jesus finished?
Here we see clearly that it is the faith OF JESUS, not our own faith, which makes us strong, or makes those we see strong. Faith that comes from our own heart or desires cannot and will not strengthen us. Most likely it will depress us for often our will does not coincide with His, therefore it does not come to pass...
“Jesus explained, my food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work…The One who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, because I always do what pleases Him." (John 4:34; 8:29)
So what is the will of God that Jesus finished?
The salvation of the world!
Don't fall into the trap of thinking our free will is stronger than God's will. It is not, nor can so called free will prevent Jesus from finishing that which he came to do - save the world.
Don't fall into the trap of thinking our free will is stronger than God's will. It is not, nor can so called free will prevent Jesus from finishing that which he came to do - save the world.
Jesus always does the will of our Father God. We do not, for we do not know the details of his will for day to day life. However, we know from the bible that "all things are working together for good" (Romans 8:28), and that "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners", and that God "is the Savior of all mankind" (1 Timothy 1:15; 4:9-10) – that is the "good" that all things are working toward.
God sent his one and only Son to save it, and as Jesus said after being lifted up on the cross - “it is finished” – having faith that after his death for our sins and burial in the earth, God would lift him “up from the earth” and "draw all men" to himself, not some, but the whole world drawn to him and saved. It will be completed when he returns to lift us all up out of death into immortal abundant life, both those who keep his word in this age, and those who do not…
“…I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent me. This is the will of Him who sent me, that of all that He has given me I lose nothing, but raise them up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father…I myself will raise them up on the last day. And when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself…as for anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world... So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). There they crucified him…Jesus said, It is finished. With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit...” (John 6:37-40, 12:32, 47; 19:16-17)
So just believe God and trust Jesus to always do the will of our Father, to save the world out of death, which is pleasing to God. Be comforted that a loved one whom you prayed for to get saved but died never having faith...well Jesus's faith trumps his...and he will rise to meet Jesus when he comes, and then, hand in hand with you, will bow with you and will confess Jesus as Lord, all to the glory of God's grace and mercy.
"And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross. Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place, and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:8-11)
God sent his one and only Son to save it, and as Jesus said after being lifted up on the cross - “it is finished” – having faith that after his death for our sins and burial in the earth, God would lift him “up from the earth” and "draw all men" to himself, not some, but the whole world drawn to him and saved. It will be completed when he returns to lift us all up out of death into immortal abundant life, both those who keep his word in this age, and those who do not…
“…I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him who sent me. This is the will of Him who sent me, that of all that He has given me I lose nothing, but raise them up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father…I myself will raise them up on the last day. And when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself…as for anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world... So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha). There they crucified him…Jesus said, It is finished. With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit...” (John 6:37-40, 12:32, 47; 19:16-17)
So just believe God and trust Jesus to always do the will of our Father, to save the world out of death, which is pleasing to God. Be comforted that a loved one whom you prayed for to get saved but died never having faith...well Jesus's faith trumps his...and he will rise to meet Jesus when he comes, and then, hand in hand with you, will bow with you and will confess Jesus as Lord, all to the glory of God's grace and mercy.
"And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross. Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place, and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:8-11)
Pride – The Measure of Faith
“Behold, as for the proud one, his soul is not right within him; but the just one by faith shall be living…Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” (Habakkuk 2:4; Hebrews 12:2)
Quite frankly, my personal faith for most of my life was not authored by Jesus, much less finished. My faith was authored by the denomination that I grew up in. It was a faith in a decision I had been encouraged to make.
“God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them…through him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.” (2 Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 1:20)
There seems to be little “peace” within evangelical Christianity, especially between those who differ on doctrine. They do not believe that the "blood of his cross" has reconciled the world to God. They are ever creating new programs and plans to get members on fire to go save the lost, and when they do not, guilt comes, peace is nowhere to be found, and after a while of resting, begin to create another program to save the lost – thus continuing the cycle of guilt.
This has been going on for hundreds of years. That is not all bad I suppose. God has clearly allowed it, and he gives a temporary gladness to those who participate from time to time and see some results of the effort. But that gladness resembles pride, not humility. At least that is what it did for me when I used to be involved – but it was a temporary gladness, and there was some pride for my effort.
But it is not faith in our programs to save sinners that will eventually save and justify us. We sinners are “proud” ones, often referring to one another as saints, and the more righteous we think we are, the prouder we become, proving our “soul is not right within".
Jesus is the “author and finisher” of the faith that will make us righteous - it is HIS faith, not ours, and he will freely give it to all eventually. And lest we cannot distinguish between the two, he gives proud self-righteous folks a “measure" to determine if our faith is in him, or the doctrines of the church…
“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure (measuring stick) of faith.” (Romans 12:3)
Quite frankly, my personal faith for most of my life was not authored by Jesus, much less finished. My faith was authored by the denomination that I grew up in. It was a faith in a decision I had been encouraged to make.
“God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them…through him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.” (2 Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 1:20)
There seems to be little “peace” within evangelical Christianity, especially between those who differ on doctrine. They do not believe that the "blood of his cross" has reconciled the world to God. They are ever creating new programs and plans to get members on fire to go save the lost, and when they do not, guilt comes, peace is nowhere to be found, and after a while of resting, begin to create another program to save the lost – thus continuing the cycle of guilt.
This has been going on for hundreds of years. That is not all bad I suppose. God has clearly allowed it, and he gives a temporary gladness to those who participate from time to time and see some results of the effort. But that gladness resembles pride, not humility. At least that is what it did for me when I used to be involved – but it was a temporary gladness, and there was some pride for my effort.
But it is not faith in our programs to save sinners that will eventually save and justify us. We sinners are “proud” ones, often referring to one another as saints, and the more righteous we think we are, the prouder we become, proving our “soul is not right within".
Jesus is the “author and finisher” of the faith that will make us righteous - it is HIS faith, not ours, and he will freely give it to all eventually. And lest we cannot distinguish between the two, he gives proud self-righteous folks a “measure" to determine if our faith is in him, or the doctrines of the church…
“For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure (measuring stick) of faith.” (Romans 12:3)
The Greek word for “measure” above refers to the measuring rod, like a tape measure. Pride is the measuring stick God gives to determine whether our faith is in our own acts, or in the faith OF our Savior Jesus.
So if you think you have great faith, and that faith has saved you, chances are you think of yourself “more highly” than you ought to…I know I once did, and sometimes still do. That measuring rod of pride will tell you about your faith – the more pride you have in the decisions you made and the works you do, the less you have of Jesus's faith.
Sinners have no hope but in the grace and mercy of God to justify them by the faith OF Jesus, not our own faith IN Jesus…
“The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:11-14)
Permit me to paraphrase this in my own words and experience…
The evangelist stood and prayed “Father, in Jesus name I come before you in this your house, thanking you for saving my soul when you led me to confess my sin, join the church, be baptized, participate in the Lord’s supper, bring my family to church every time the doors are open, teach Sunday School, preach the gospel, tithe of my income and more, and do my best to stay out of worldly places and live a good life. And now I pray for Robert that he would come back to Church, confess his sin, and become the righteous person he once was before he went back into the world”. Meanwhile Robert is at home getting ready to go to the golf course to enjoy some time with his son, and before he leaves, he kisses his wife, the love of his life, and says quietly to God, “thank you for my family and for being merciful to us, the sinners.”
My aversion to pride will not let me finish the paraphrase so I will leave it there.
So if you don’t think you have much faith, it is probably a good thing. But you will have the same faith Jesus has one day for he has promised to “author” and “finish” your faith, and like Jesus, you will then be just and live righteously for the ages of the ages. For most, if not all of us, that finishing will come after this age when we are resurrected in his image, immortal and full of abundant life…thanking God continuously “for his indescribable gift”.
Don’t be discouraged if you have no faith, or are considered to have none by those who think they do. It is just that Jesus has not authored it for you yet, but he will both author and finish it. It may or may not be authored by Jesus in this life, but it will be finished in the next. For now, if we come to have it in this present evil age, our efforts should be to enrich those around us, incompetent as we or they may now be…
“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:10-15)
Sinners have no hope but in the grace and mercy of God to justify them by the faith OF Jesus, not our own faith IN Jesus…
“The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:11-14)
Permit me to paraphrase this in my own words and experience…
The evangelist stood and prayed “Father, in Jesus name I come before you in this your house, thanking you for saving my soul when you led me to confess my sin, join the church, be baptized, participate in the Lord’s supper, bring my family to church every time the doors are open, teach Sunday School, preach the gospel, tithe of my income and more, and do my best to stay out of worldly places and live a good life. And now I pray for Robert that he would come back to Church, confess his sin, and become the righteous person he once was before he went back into the world”. Meanwhile Robert is at home getting ready to go to the golf course to enjoy some time with his son, and before he leaves, he kisses his wife, the love of his life, and says quietly to God, “thank you for my family and for being merciful to us, the sinners.”
My aversion to pride will not let me finish the paraphrase so I will leave it there.
So if you don’t think you have much faith, it is probably a good thing. But you will have the same faith Jesus has one day for he has promised to “author” and “finish” your faith, and like Jesus, you will then be just and live righteously for the ages of the ages. For most, if not all of us, that finishing will come after this age when we are resurrected in his image, immortal and full of abundant life…thanking God continuously “for his indescribable gift”.
Don’t be discouraged if you have no faith, or are considered to have none by those who think they do. It is just that Jesus has not authored it for you yet, but he will both author and finish it. It may or may not be authored by Jesus in this life, but it will be finished in the next. For now, if we come to have it in this present evil age, our efforts should be to enrich those around us, incompetent as we or they may now be…
“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:10-15)
Faith In God - Or Maybe Not
“We walk by faith, not by sight…” (2 Corinthians 5:7)
Biblical faith is a term which most people struggle with. Faith is not a blind leap into the dark, nor is it just saying we trust God or Jesus. Faith is believing something God or Jesus has SAID he has done or will do for us. Salvation by faith is not “inviting Jesus into your heart”, or joining the church, or confessing your sin, or “calling upon the name of the Lord”, or getting baptized. If those things are of any value at all, they are just a way to express that we believe what God says he will do. Those things are NOT a condition to God being faithful to save mankind, they are a response to the realization that they have been saved by the GRACE of God “not of works lest any man should boast”. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…” (1 Timothy 1:15)
All of our evangelistic efforts will not add to what Christ Jesus came into the world to do. Evangelism should be simply introducing the world to their Savior. Salvation is what God and Jesus will do for mankind…save them. Not try to save them or offer to save them, but actually save them. For Christianity to imply he will not do so without our help or acceptance of an invitation is evidence of a LACK OF FAITH it seems to me.
“This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things.” (1 Timothy 4:9-11)
Sometimes I wonder if institutional Christianity as a group are included in the “especially of those who believe”. When Christianity returns to faith in what God through Christ Jesus has DONE, and returns to teaching and preaching that gospel, our churches might again be filled with joyful men and women.
The Joel Osteen church has tapped into that joyous message, but he makes his money from promising his listeners that if they have faith in themselves, God will pour out His “abundant life” now in various forms of success. But that abundant life in the Kingdom that Jesus promised will not be ours until after Jesus returns and we have been resurrected and our natural bodies replaced with a new spiritual body...
“...it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body …flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 15:44, 50)
From about the 4th Century AD Christianity has made salvation a matter of man DOING SOMETHING for God to get saved and blessed. Not so, salvation is a DONE deal, and eternal blessing will follow our resurrection as the free gift of God's grace. God through Christ Jesus has reconciled mankind to Himself and Jesus will return someday to literally save us from death and give us a new spiritual body created to live an abundant eternal life.
FAITH that God is the savior of the world and has reconciled it too himself is what it means to “walk by faith, not by sight”. We just don't SEE it now, it is just a promise from God, and we have faith in what He says - or not.
Biblical faith is a term which most people struggle with. Faith is not a blind leap into the dark, nor is it just saying we trust God or Jesus. Faith is believing something God or Jesus has SAID he has done or will do for us. Salvation by faith is not “inviting Jesus into your heart”, or joining the church, or confessing your sin, or “calling upon the name of the Lord”, or getting baptized. If those things are of any value at all, they are just a way to express that we believe what God says he will do. Those things are NOT a condition to God being faithful to save mankind, they are a response to the realization that they have been saved by the GRACE of God “not of works lest any man should boast”. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…” (1 Timothy 1:15)
All of our evangelistic efforts will not add to what Christ Jesus came into the world to do. Evangelism should be simply introducing the world to their Savior. Salvation is what God and Jesus will do for mankind…save them. Not try to save them or offer to save them, but actually save them. For Christianity to imply he will not do so without our help or acceptance of an invitation is evidence of a LACK OF FAITH it seems to me.
“This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things.” (1 Timothy 4:9-11)
Sometimes I wonder if institutional Christianity as a group are included in the “especially of those who believe”. When Christianity returns to faith in what God through Christ Jesus has DONE, and returns to teaching and preaching that gospel, our churches might again be filled with joyful men and women.
The Joel Osteen church has tapped into that joyous message, but he makes his money from promising his listeners that if they have faith in themselves, God will pour out His “abundant life” now in various forms of success. But that abundant life in the Kingdom that Jesus promised will not be ours until after Jesus returns and we have been resurrected and our natural bodies replaced with a new spiritual body...
“...it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body …flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 15:44, 50)
From about the 4th Century AD Christianity has made salvation a matter of man DOING SOMETHING for God to get saved and blessed. Not so, salvation is a DONE deal, and eternal blessing will follow our resurrection as the free gift of God's grace. God through Christ Jesus has reconciled mankind to Himself and Jesus will return someday to literally save us from death and give us a new spiritual body created to live an abundant eternal life.
FAITH that God is the savior of the world and has reconciled it too himself is what it means to “walk by faith, not by sight”. We just don't SEE it now, it is just a promise from God, and we have faith in what He says - or not.
Grief Is Not Our Home
"Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning." (Psalm 30:5)
Grief is not our home. Joy is our home. Just like our memories, grief is just a place we visit from time to time. So remember, visit and grieve...then wipe away the tears and go home.
"...forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14)
Grief is not our home. Joy is our home. Just like our memories, grief is just a place we visit from time to time. So remember, visit and grieve...then wipe away the tears and go home.
"...forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14)
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Paul declared… “I am crucified with Christ…” (Galatians 2:20) “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those wh...
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"...there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the righteous and the unrighteous ." (Acts 24:15) So, who are these peop...
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God said... " By Myself I have sworn; Truth has gone from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow to Me, every t...