Why do we not trust God?

"For now [in this time of imperfection] we see in a mirror dimly [a blurred reflection, a riddle, an enigma], but then [when the time of perfection comes we will see reality] face to face. Now I know in part [just in fragments], but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known [by God]." (1 Corinthians 12:13 Amplified Bible)

I am amused at Christians who act like they know clearly the truth of God's Word. I suppose they feel it necessary to draw a crowd around them which form the many church sects among humanity. I have my views of what the word of God teaches, and I share them, but I also realize that for now I only "see in a mirror dimly", and must wait for that face to face encounter with God after my resurrection to know HIM as He now knows me. I trust God, but to be perfectly honest, God sometimes feels to me like a stranger.

"Why do we not trust God? For the very same reason, I answer, that we do not trust strangers, because we are not acquainted with Him. The great prerequisite to a perfect trust is a perfect acquaintance – a thorough knowledge of the person to be trusted. Everyone will see this truth at once. And furthermore, we must become acquainted with Him for ourselves; no second-hand knowledge will do, however exact and truthful it may be; no mere introduction, or verbal description of His excellences will satisfy us. We must know Him for ourselves." Arthur P. Adams (1847-1925) 

The Unpardonable Sin - What is it?

"Therefore I am saying to you, 'Every sin and blasphemy shall be pardoned men, yet the blasphemy of the spirit shall not be pardoned. And whosoever may be saying a word against the Son of Mankind, it will be pardoned him, yet whoever may be saying aught against the holy spirit, it shall not be pardoned him, neither in this eon nor in that which is impending." (Matthew 12:31-32)

This verse scares the crap out of some folks. They are not sure what it means but have been told by Christianity that it is unpardonable SIN, and anyone who commits it can’t be saved and will be tortured in hell forever.

But here is what the above verse means to me in a nutshell:

1. The "Holy Spirit" is the "spirit of truth" (John 16:3)

2. “No one can say, 'Jesus is Lord', except by the Holy Spirit “
(1 Corinthians 12:3)

3. Christ Jesus is "the Savior of the world” (John 4:42).

4. "...when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth..." (John 16:3)

Failing to believe the "truth" about Christ Jesus as revealed by the "Holy Spirit" is never forgiven anyone (Jew, Gentile or Christians) in this age or the next - it is blasphemy of spirit!  However, in the next age ALL HUMANS will know the truth and confess Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God.

"Wherefore, also, God highly exalts Him, and graces Him with the name that is above every name, that in the name of Jesus every knee should be bowing, celestial and terrestrial and subterranean, and every tongue should be acclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God, the Father." (Philippians 2:10-11)

I Am Not Ashamed

“…I AM NOT ASHAMED of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation…” (Romans 1:16)

Will preaching about Jesus, teaching about Jesus, or writing a commentary on the Bible change what God has determined to do for humanity? Of course not.

And what about preaching, teaching, or the commentaries on the Bible that turn out to be wrong? Will that change anything God has determined to do? No

Then why preach, teach or write our thoughts down at all?

Good question but for me the answer is simple. I share my views simply to let others know what I believe. I do not want people to think I believe something about Scripture because I was raised in a Baptist church and therefore believe what Baptists believe. 

Most people go to the Church in which they were raised. I attended a Southern Baptist church because my Mom and Dad took me to one, and I continued to go for years because I liked the people who attended with me. I was not there to learn what the Bible says because I own a Bible and can read it for myself.  I would respectfully listen and if I agreed with them fine, and if not, well that was fine also. I know what I believe and in whom I believe from a personal study of the Bible.

Many of my thoughts on the Scripture are different than Baptist doctrine, however, I remain confident in what I believe about the God of the bible, such as…

“…God has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel...I AM NOT ASHAMED; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” (2 Timothy 1:9-14)

God is With Us

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

God's plans for humanity will happen whether anyone hears about it and believes it or not. It does not happen because we allow it to happen, it will happen because it is God's plans and He has the power to make HIs plans happen.

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone. It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age, as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. He gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. Speak these things as you encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you." (Titus 2:11-15)

When the plan of God is finished all humanity will have been saved. When we believe this we are instructed to live sensibly on this planet while we wait for the return of Jesus, the Son of God who is the means by which the plan of God is accomplished - the saving of humanity from and out of death.

“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus,d because He will save His people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son,and they will call Him Immanuel which means, God with us." (Matthew 1:22-23)

Gun to My Head Prediction

" I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be." (John 14:3)

"This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)

I am not a "date setter" for the return of Jesus to Earth. However, I read the Bible for clues which reveal the era in which He will return - that era seems to me to be unfolding before my watchful eyes.

If someone held a gun at my head and told me I had to give an exact month, day and year for His return to Earth to set up the Millennial kingdom. I would calmly say Saturday, October 4, 2035 AD.

Why? Follow this link for why I would give 2035 AD as the year.

https://2035thereturn.blogspot.com/

As for the month and day - Saturday, October 4 - it is because that will be the first day of the new year (Rosh Hashanah) in the year 2035 AD.

Again, not setting the date, just making an educated guess! 😇

What is your image of God?

"Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, ALL the earth. Sing to the LORD, praise His name; proclaim His salvation day after day. Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among ALL peoples...Let ALL creation REJOICE before the LORD, for He comes, He comes to judge the earth....." (Psalm 96:1-3, 10)

Notice that judgment is presented as a time of REJOICING for ALL creation. Unfortunately, religion has made Judgment day a time of horror and dread, at least for those who disagree with them. The Psalmist introduced the 96th Psalm with the reason for the rejoicing - "His salvation". The word translated "judge" simply means making a decision in a critical time - and the LORD's decision is to save all mankind.

"Faithful is the saying and worthy of all welcome (for it is for this we are toiling and being reproached), that we rely on the living God, Who is the Saviour of all mankind, especially of believers. These things be charging and teaching." (1 Timothy 4:10-11)

Eyes Up! And rejoice in your salvation!

He is your Savior whether you believe it or not!

"...we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe." (1 Timothy 4:10)

GOD is not your Savior because you believe He is your Savior. He is your Savior because He is your Savior. Believing He is simply gives us hope and peace in this world filled with religious doctrine telling us otherwise.

"This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst. But for this very reason I was shown mercy, so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His perfect patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life." (1 Timothy 1:15-16)

Tetragrammaton - Who is He?

"In a beginning Elohim created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1)

"The LORD (YHWH) God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." (Genesis 2:7)

When the Hebrew Bible was translated into Greek at least two centuries before Jesus was born, the Greek word Kurios was used for the divine tetragrammaton YHWH (Yahweh). When Kurious was translated to English the word Lord was used.

I have been pondering on the following New Testament scripture in light of the above:

1 Corin. 12:3	"No one can say Jesus is Lord (YHWH) except by the Holy Spirit."
Romans 10:9-13	"If with your mouth you confess Jesus is Lord (YHWH) and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. . . . For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord (YHWH) shall be saved."
Philippians 2:11	"and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (YHWH), to the glory of God the Father."
1 Corin. 15:3-7	"For I passed on to you in the first place what I had myself received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve, then to more than five hundred brothers at once ... then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles ..."
Romans 1:3-4	"Concerning His Son, Who was born of David's seed by natural descent, Who was declared Son of God with power by the Spirit of Holiness when he was raised from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord (YHWH), through whom we have received grace."

My conclusion is that the “Elohim” (plural word meaning mighty ones) of Genesis 1:1 consists of God the Father and His Son, YHWH (Yahweh - LORD God). I am NOT saying Jesus is God the Father, but that the tetragrammaton YHWH  is Jesus, the SON OF GOD.

"...for us there is one God, the Father, out of Whom all is, and we for Him, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom all is, and we through Him." But not in all is there this knowledge." (1 Corinthians 8:5-7)

What Happens When We Die?

"Lazarus, our friend, has found REPOSE, but I am going that I should be awakening him out of SLEEP." The disciples, then, said to Him, "Lord, if he has repose, he shall be saved." Now Jesus had made a declaration concerning his DEATH, yet they suppose that He is saying it concerning the REPOSE OF SLEEP." Jesus, then, said to them with boldness then, "Lazarus DIED." (John 11:11-14)

When Lazarus died, he is said by Jesus to have gone to sleep - not to heaven.

"Now Jesus, again crying with a loud voice, lets out the spirit." And lo! the curtain of the temple is rent in two from above to the bottom, and the earth quaked, and the rocks are rent, and the tombs were opened. And many bodies of the REPOSING SAINTS were ROUSED, and, coming out of the tombs AFTER HIS ROUSING, they entered into the holy city and are disclosed to many." (Matthew 27:50-53)

Jesus died and was put to repose in the tomb - asleep as was Lazarus. After His body was awakened, MANY BODIES of those who had died and were reposing (sleeping) came out of the tombs.

"And, answering, Jesus said to them, "The sons of this eon are marrying and are taking out in marriage." Yet those deemed worthy to happen upon that eon and the resurrection from among the dead are neither marrying nor taking out in marriage. For neither can they still be dying, for they are equal to messengers, and are the sons of God, being sons of the resurrection." Now that the DEAD ARE ROUSING, even Moses divulges at the thorn bush, as he is terming the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob." Now God is He, not of the dead, but of the living, for ALL, TO HIM, ARE LIVING." (Luke 20:34-38)

Although everyone who has died are asleep, resting in peace, to God they are living while sleeping because He intends to rouse them from their sleep sometime in the future.

Trust and Faith

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." 

(Proverbs 3:5-6)

"Have faith in God" ... "Now faith is an assumption of what is being expected, a conviction concerning matters which are not being observed..." (Mark 11:22...Hebrews 1:1)

We are to TRUST in the Lord and have FAITH in what He SAYS.

It is sad to see our world filled with those who are trusting in politicians and having faith in what they say - whether liberal or conservatives. NONE OF THEM have the power to do what they say. So, I simply TRUST in the one being who can be trusted, and I have FAITH that He will do what He says.

“Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”  (Matthew 1:20-22)

Scriptures About Hell - Not What You Think

The Hebrew word Sheol, and the Greek words Hades, Gehenna and Tartarus (each translated “hell” or “hades” in most English versions of the Bible) do not refer to a place of eternal conscious torment called hell.

What about Luke 16:19-31 - the rich man and Lazarus? 

That is a parable spoken by Jesus in a series of parables beginning in Luke 14:7. Jesus was addressing the Sopherim (Scribes), Pharisees and Sadducees - religious leaders of the Jewish people similar to modern day Christian pastors, evangelists, and teachers. Jesus told His disciples that He spoke to them in parables because these religious leaders had not been “granted to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven”. 

The “Kingdom” He was referring to is the Kingdom of Israel that God has promised to reestablished by the Messiah on the earth. These religious leaders rejected Jesus as the Messiah of Israel. So, Jesus spoke to them in parables about what would happen to Israel because of their rejection. 

The rich man represents the apostate religious leaders of Israel, as did the prodigal son in Chapter 15. Because of their apostasy the nation of Israel would be scattered among the nations and suffer much torment.  Historical examples include the Christian and Muslim Crusades, the Pogroms of Russia and the Holocaust of Germany.  And the worst suffering is still future, the suffering under the final world leader - referred to as a wild beast (the Antichrist) in Revelation. Jesus told the apostate leaders that they would not understand even if one came back from the dead to tell them, which Jesus did, and was again rejected as shown in the book of Acts. 

Attributing this parable to a literal hell where unsaved people are tormented forever and ever is blasphemy against the holy spirit of truth and it will not be pardoned in this age or in the Kingdom age. 

What about Revelation 14:11 - the fate of those who worship the wild beast? 

Revelation is wholly concerned with the final seven years of this age. During the last 3 ½ years the world will embrace a world leader who will be a false Messiah - the wild beast (Antichrist). During that time the world will undergo the most severe tribulation ever to come upon the earth, so much so that Jesus said “except those days were discounted, no flesh at all would be saved.” (Matthew 24:22)

All those who follow the false Messiah will be tormented during this period and be killed either during their torment, or at the return of Jesus. The “smoke” (remembrance) of this torment will not be forgotten in the ages to follow. 

Again, to say this is describing a literal hell where individuals are supernaturally kept alive by God to be tormented forever and ever is blasphemy against the holy spirit of truth and will not be forgiven in this age or in the ages to come.

What about Matthew 25:46 - the fate of the goat nations after Jesus returns? 

When Jesus returns to establish the kingdom of Israel on the earth He will divide the nations of that era into two groups, one group are those nations who helped the faithful people of Israel during the Tribulation and the other group are those nations who did not. The nations who helped would continue as a nation during the kingdom Age, but those nations who did not would experience “chastening” during that age. The relevant Greek phrase properly translated into English is “chastening eonian”, not “eternal punishment”. 

Again, attributing the chastening of those goat nations to a teaching of a literal hell where individuals are tormented forever and ever is blasphemy against the holy spirit, and will not be pardoned in the age or in the ages to come. 

What about 2 Peter 3:7-9 - the day of destruction of irreverent men? 

Peter is reminding his Jewish readers that this earth and the heavens above are to be destroyed by fire, which will finally put an end to all “irreverent men”. Almost six-thousand years of these irreverent men have passed without that fiery destruction. Yet God is not procrastinating, for "one day is with the Lord as a thousand years". 

He tells them that God is "patient" with “irreverent men”, and He is “not intending any to perish, but all to make room for repentance”. 

To “perish” means to die and stay dead. Even “irreverent humans” will be made alive after the earth and heavens are destroyed at the end of the one thousand-year age (the Millennium) which follows the present age. God will raise the dead (there will not perish/stay dead), judge them and create a new place for them to live - “a new heaven and a new earth" where all will be righteous, none will be "irreverent".  

Again, attributing a literal hell where individuals are tormented forever and ever to the word “perish” is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, and will not be pardoned in the age or in the ages to come. 

Building upon the sure "foundation" of Christ Jesus with the false teaching is blasphemy against the holy spirit inspired truth. Such blasphemy will not be forgiven me or anyone else - it will be burnt up. Yet in the grace of God, even those who blaspheme will still be saved, only the teaching of these irreverent humans will NOT be forgiven in this age or the next - its will be reduced to ash in the fire.

"For other foundation can no one lay beside that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone is building on this foundation gold and silver, precious stones, wood, grass, straw, each one's work will become apparent, for the day will make it evident, for it is being revealed by fire. And the fire, it will be testing each one's work -- what kind it is. If anyone's work will be remaining which he builds on it, he will get wages. If anyone's work shall be burned up, he will forfeit it, yet he shall be saved, yet thus, as through fire." (1 Corinthians 3:11-15)

"Every sin and blasphemy shall be pardoned men, yet the blasphemy of the holy spirit shall not be pardoned. And whosoever may be saying a word against the Son of Humanity, it will be pardoned him, yet whoever may be saying aught against the holy spirit, it shall NOT be pardoned him, neither in this age nor in that which is impending." (Matthew 12:32) 

Inescapable Truths About Blasphemy and Adding to Scripture

Two Inescapable Truths about Blasphemy and Adding to Scripture 

Truth #1. Blasphemy of the holy spirit will not be pardoned in this age or the next. 

Truth #2. If you add to what God has said in the book of Revelation, God will add to you the plagues found in therein. 

"Every sin and blasphemy shall be pardoned men, yet the blasphemy of the holy spirit shall not be pardoned. And whosoever may be saying a word against the Son of Humanity, it will be pardoned him, yet whoever may be saying aught against the holy spirit, it shall NOT be pardoned him, neither in this age nor in that which is impending." (Matthew 12:32) 

"I am testifying to everyone who is hearing the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If ever anyone may be appending to them, God shall be appending to him the calamities written in this scroll." And if ever anyone should be eliminating from the words of the scroll of this prophecy, God shall be eliminating his part from the log of life, and out of the holy city, that is written in this scroll." He Who is testifying these things is saying, 'Yea, I am coming swiftly.'"Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!" The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints! Amen!" (Revelation 22:18-21) 

As bad as that sounds, this blasphemy and adding or subtracting from Scripture does NOT result in eternal conscious torment in hell as many would have you believe. 

As for Truth #1: It is the Holy Spirit within us that enlightens us as to the truth found in scripture. When that truth is denied, it is blasphemy and shall not be pardoned in this present evil age, or in the thousand year age that follows this one. Here are three of those truths that is denied by many:

"...there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist." (1 Corinthians 8:6)

"...there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and humans, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all—the testimony that was given at just the right time." (1 Timothy 2:5-6)

"This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance. To this end we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, and especially of those who believe." (1 Timothy 4:10-11)

As for Truth #2: Revelation is a prophecy about the events in this world that will leading up to the physical return of the Lord Jesus Christ to this earth. If a person is alive during that time, adding to what is written will result in the calamities therein coming up them, and eliminating from the words found therein will result in that person not having access to the log of life and the holy city talked about in the book of Revelation. They will remain in the second death until death is abolished.

"And I perceived a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth pass away, and the sea is no more. I perceived the holy city, new Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I hear a loud voice out of the throne saying, "Lo! the tabernacle of God is with mankind, and He will be tabernacling with them, and they will be His peoples, and God Himself will be with them." And He will be brushing away every tear from their eyes. And death will be no more, nor mourning, nor clamor, nor misery; they will be no more, for the former things passed away." And He Who is sitting on the throne said, "Lo! New am I making all!And He is saying, "Write, for these sayings are faithful and true." And He said to me, "I have become the Alpha and the Omega, the Origin and the Consummation. To him who is thirsting I shall be giving of the spring of the water of life gratuitously." He who is conquering shall be enjoying this allotment, and I shall be a God to him and he shall be a son to Me." Yet the timid, and unbelievers, and the abominable, and murderers, and paramours, and enchanters, and idolaters, and all the false-their part is in the lake burning with fire and sulphur, which is the second death...And he shows me a river of water of life, resplendent as crystal, issuing out of the throne of God and the Lambkin." In the center of its square, and on either side of the river, is the log of life, producing twelve fruits, rendering its fruit in accord with each month. And the leaves of the log are for the cure of the nations." And there shall be no more any doom, and the throne of God and of the Lambkin shall be in it. And His slaves shall be offering divine service to Him." And they shall be seeing His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads."And night shall be no more, and they have no need of lamplight and sunlight, for the Lord God shall be illuminating them. And they shall be reigning for the eons of the eons." (Revelation 21:1-8; 22:1-5)

No Human is Truly Lost!

“The Earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it” (Psalm 24:1).

This verse declares that all the people who have ever lived on this planet are the LORDS!

We should not fall into the trap of thinking that Christians are the only ones who are HIS.

Consider the term “lost" - it is a declaration of ownership. When “Christians” refer to the lost, they should realize that they are acknowledging God’s ownership!

Humans may be made to feel lost - but none of us are ever truly lost. For now we are sinners, all of us, and fall short of the glory of God - but the free gift of God is eternal life.

"All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God...the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD...And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those He has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day." (Romans 3:23, 6:23; John 6:39)

Open Your Mind

 "Then He opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:45-47)

The only way to "understand the Scriptures" is for Jesus to open your mind.

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." (Romans 12:2)

When Jesus opens your mind you will see the plan of God for humanity was for the Messiah to "suffer and rise from the the dead".

And you will see the Devine result of His suffering, death, and His resurrection - to provide the way for humanity to "inherit the kingdom of God":

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation." (Colossians 1:15)

"Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall 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 shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

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 15:49-57)

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another." (2 Corinthians 3:18)

The word "forgiveness" means complete forgiveness, a release from the consequences of sin - humanity will be released from death, the penalty for sin, and transformed from death into the immortal image of Christ. The word "repentance" means change and reformation - your mind will be changed to understand that the reformation of humanity into the immortal and sinless image of Christ is what is to be "preached in His name to all nations".

Some Things People Do Are Incomprehensible To Me

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

"Trustworthy is the saying, and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost." (1 Timothy 1:15)

Why good people do some evil things is sometimes so incomprehensible to me that I find myself in need of some explanation from God - I find it only in the Bible, His word.

Following is the confession of the Apostle Paul, who considered himself the "foremost" sinner, yet God used him to pen thirteen of the New Testament books of the Bible.

"For I know that there dwells in me nothing good, that is, in my flesh. For to will is present with me, but not to do good. For the good that I desire, I do not do; but the evil that I do not want, this I practice. Now if what I do not want, I do this, it is no longer I who do it, but sin dwelling in me. So, I find the principle in my desiring to do good, that evil is present with me. For I delight in the Law of God according to the inward man; but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and making me captive to the law of sin being in my members. O wretched man I am! Who will deliver me out of this body of death? Grace! Thanks be then to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! Nothing, consequently, is now condemnation to those in Christ Jesus." (Romans 7:18-8:1)

When I see an incomprehensible evil thing happen, I just give it to God and entrust those involved to His grace and mercy.

"God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant." (Romans 5:20)

"For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so he could have mercy on everyone. Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!" (Romans 11:32-33)

Revival - Do we Need to Pray for One?

 

I hear people say that the world needs a great “revival” and believers should pray for one. However, I find NO evidence in the Bible that believers are to unite to pray for revival.

What believers ARE to do is to pray in “private” and “by yourself”  for the soon coming of the kingdom of God .

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly…when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private…like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven...” (Matthew 6:7-13)

After praying that prayer, believers are simply to wait for King Jesus to come knowing that Jesus is the Savior of the world and trusting Him to do so. While waiting we are to mind our own business and treat others as we would like for them to treat us.

“For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with the expectation of that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave His life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us His very own people, doing good deeds. These things share with others.” (Titus 2:11-15)

“God Himself has taught you to love one another…Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands…Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live... the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So, encourage each other with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:9-18)

Only when King Jesus comes will there be a “spiritual awakening/revival.” Sometime after He comes, all humanity will be transformed from life in a perishable, mortal body into new, nonperishable, immortal, spiritual body. When finished, ALL humanity will have entered and seen the kingdom now in the heavens – the glorious kingdom of God.

“…our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our lowly condition into conformity with His glorious body, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21)

Christianity long ago abandoned their commission as ambassadors of Christ on this Earth in favor of a self proclaimed commission to divide humanity into two groups – a few who join their churches group and go to heaven, and the multitude who will be eternally separated from God and tortured in hell.

In my experience church “revivals” promote that division, ignoring the unity of the true good news (gospel) that all of us, the just and the unjust, the good and the evil, are destined to become one new humanity born again into the image of Christ Jesus. This unified humanity is the guaranteed result of the blood Jesus shed on the cross to atone for, and take away the sin of the world. Paul tells us that…

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation…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 the blood of His cross…the secret that was hidden for ages and generations but is now revealed to His saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the nations the glorious riches of this secret, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ.” (Colossians 1:15-28)

Again, institutional Christianity does not need “revival,” it needs to repent and believe the good news that Jesus has saved the world and will transform us into His image - and tell people about this good news. The teaching of the salvation of all will set people free from religious division. Jesus told the Jews…

““If you cling to my teaching, you are really learners. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

Paul told all nations that..

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” (Galatians 5:1)

It is also my experience that presenting the truth to the institutional churches brings reproach, just as it did for Paul. He taught it anyway!

“This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance. To this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, and especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things.” (1 Timothy 4:9-11)

Grow in Grace

"...grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18)

When I look around I do not see many growing toward those with which we disagree - whether in the political or religious arena. And I rarely encounter any growth in the "knowledge" of our Lord.  

When is the last time you learned something new about God's plan and purpose as revealed in the Scripture?

I attended a denominational church for more than 60 years and cannot remember anything new in its teaching during that time - just the same old traditions passed down in its statement of faith. Much of which I consider to be what Jesus said about traditions of men...

“You neatly set aside the command of God to maintain your own tradition...you nullify the word of God by the tradition you have handed down. And you do so in many such matters.” Mark 7:9-13)

At the end of each year I ask myself whether I have grown in grace and in knowledge of our Lord.  Those areas in which I have grown always show God to be more loving, merciful and gracious than I originally thought and I try not to forget that...

"My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:1-6)

My New Year's resolution is to grow in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, and not forget what I learn.

The Final Solutions

"And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned to fables.” (II Timothy 4:4)

The Final Solutions of Sinful Humanity:

One: Hitler’s final solution was to eliminate the Jewish people who he believed were corrupting the world. 

Two: The final solution of institutional Christianity and Islam is to offer salvation from hell for sinners if they repent of their sin and join their religion. If anyone refuses they will die, and then be tortured in a lake of fire they call hell - forever in the Christian religion and until their sins are paid for in the religion of Islam.

The Final Solution of the God of the Bible:

God’s final solution is to ransom, save, redeem, and reconcile all sinners to Himself through the incarnation, death, entombment, and resurrection of His Son, the LORD Jesus Christ.

My anger towards institutional religion's final solution seems well founded to me. HOWEVER, I think that most members of those religions who are involved in spreading the final solution of of hell for unrepentant sinners are just doing what they have been taught by those they consider “wise men”. 

Therefore, I do not blame them although the Bible teaches they will be ashamed at the the Great White Throne when they learn they were deceived. 

"They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye [are] our gods." (Isaiah 42:17) 

"For God will bring every deed into judgment, along with every hidden thing, whether good or evil." (Ecclesiastes:12:14)

"Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth." (2 Timothy  2:1)

Each human who has ever lived will stand on the Dias before the Great White Throne of God to give account for the things done in our mortal bodies. During the account all humans will rejoice when mistaken beliefs are burnt up as wood, hay and straw. 

At the conclusion of the accounting, all humanity will joyfully bow and acclaim that Christ Jesus is LORD (Yahweh), which will give glory to God the Father. 

Those who were not part of the “former resurrection” will die the second death in the lake of fire which will be an instantaneous, painless second death. They will die having faith, as I do now, that they will be made alive and transformed into a spiritual body that is immortal and capable of entering and seeing the Kingdom of God (The New Heaven and New Earth). That second death will seem to them to occur instantaneously, just as the “former resurrection will seem to those believers  now sleeping in death to have happened instantaneously.

The Bible makes it clear to me that God is in the process of making a new immortal humanity in the image of Christ Jesus. Their eternal citizenship will be in the New Heaven and New Earth, also known as the Kingdom of God.

The Law and the Prophets Ended With John the Baptist

 "Do not for a moment suppose that I have come to abrogate the Law or the Prophets: I have not come to abrogate them but to give them their completion.” (Matthew 5:17)

The Old Testament contains the Law and the Prophets. Whatever the Law and the Prophets said was completed when Jesus came to Earth.

“The Law and the Prophets continued until John came; from that time the Good News of the Kingdom of God has been spreading, and all classes have been forcing their way into it.” (Luke 16:16)

John the Baptist was the final Prophet to Israel. The message found in the Law and the Prophets ended with John the Baptist. Jesus presented the good news message of the Kingdom of God – and all humanity started forcing their way into it. By force is meant they were opposed by the Jewish leaders who refused to believe that their God was also the God of all other nations (gentiles). The last Prophet was Paul, who was given the secrets of the Kingdom of God, one of which is that the God of the Jews in also the God of the Gentiles.

“Is God simply the God of the Jews, and not of the Gentiles also? He is certainly the God of the Gentiles also, unless you can deny that it is one and the same God who will pronounce the circumcised to be acquitted on the ground of faith, and the uncircumcised to be acquitted through the same faith. Do we then by means of this faith abolish the Law? No, indeed; we give the Law a firmer footing.” (Romans3:29-31)

Another secret revealed to Paul was that both the Jews and the Gentiles will be acquitted (pardoned), not by obedience to the Law and the Prophets, but based on their “faith” that the requirements of the Law were completed by Christ Jesus, and therefore ALL humanity will bow before Him, and affirm He is Lord, and enter and see the Kingdom of God.

“He stripped Himself of His glory, and took on Himself the nature of a bondservant by becoming a man like other men. And being recognized as truly human, He humbled Himself and even stooped to die; yes, to die on a cross. It is in consequence of this that God has also so highly exalted Him, and has conferred on Him the Name which is supreme above every other,  in order that in the Name of JESUS every knee shall bow, of beings in Heaven, of those on the earth, and of those in the underworld, and that every tongue shall confess that JESUS CHRIST is LORD, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:7-11)

If you want to know what God is doing today, better read the Scripture written through the Apostle Paul. The era of the Law and Prophets is completed, and now we need to start focusing on the Kingdom of God. When that good news is presented everyone will force themselves through the doctrines of religious men and into the Kingdom of God.

What are we to Pursue?

 "...pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace, with all who are calling upon the Lord from a clean heart." (2 Timothy 2:22-23)

Righteousness: Pursue things that are right for yourself and those around you.

Faith: Expect things God has promised to come to pass even if you cannot see how they could happen.

Love: Do for others what they cannot do for themselves, and do it without requiring anything in return.

Peace: Attempt to get along with others, and get away from those you cannot.