April 5th - Listen!

“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ ALL will be made alive…" (1 Corinthians 15:22)

I learned to listen to my wife following a low point in our wonderful 46 years of marriage.

Sue Ann and I were driving back home from Oklahoma City, which is about a two hour drive. Weatherford is about half way, so when we got to Weatherford I heard Sue Ann say, “Earth to Robert…Earth to Robert…come in Robert.” I looked over at her and said, “What?” She said, “Robert, you haven’t heard a word I’ve been saying, have you? I’ve been telling you about this for an hour." All I could say in response was, “Sorry sweetheart but I’m paying attention now." Needless to say, I still do not know what she said but I did notice the utter silence for the next several days.

“Listen, I tell you a mystery: …we will ALL be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable…Death has been swallowed up in victory.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-54)

It is amazing what we can learn from God if we will just listen!

April 4th - Heap Coals of Fire On Their Heads

"If thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink. For in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.” (Romans 12:20)

What in the world does that mean?

"For love is strong as death, its jealousy hard as the unseen, its burning coals as burning coals of fire, the blaze of Yah. Many waters cannot quench love, nor can streams overwhelm it." (Song of Solomon 8:6-7 CV)

I think to "heap coals of fire on his head" means to show the love of God to your enemies. That is the way God deals with His enemies, and believers should try to do so - although it is extremely hard and seems foolish to us! I try and usually fail.

"God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

April 3rd - All Will See and Confess Him as Lord

"He is saying to Thomas, "Bring your finger here and perceive My hands, and bring your hand and thrust it into My side, and do not become unbelieving, but believing."And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" Now Jesus is saying to him, "Seeing that you have seen Me, you have believed. Happy are those who are not SEEING and believe." (John 20:27-29)

Before His death Jesus told His disciples what would happen to Him, but they did not believe Him until AFTER they saw Him resurrected. They were UNBELIEVERS until they saw Jesus with their own eyes after His resurrection. 

Also, the Apostle Paul had to encounter the RISEN Lord before he became a believer.

"Now in his going he came to be nearing Damascus. Suddenly a light out of heaven flashes about him. And falling on the earth, he hears a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? Yet he said, "Who art Thou , Lord?" Yet He said "I am Jesus..." (Acts9:3-5)

AFTER the resurrection of Jesus Paul tells us that...

"He was SEEN by Cephas, thereupon the twelve. Thereupon He was SEEN by over five hundred brethren at once...Yet, last of all...He was SEEN by me also." (1 Corinthians 15:5-9)

Not one person living today on planet earth has SEEN Jesus! The fact that there have been a few in the world since Jesus returned to heaven who BELIEVE is a miracle. Only by the grace of God and the miraculous gift of FAITH can anyone believe in Jesus BEFORE they actually SEE Jesus!

"Jesus said to Thomas, “Because you have seen Me, do you now believe? Blessed [happy] are they who DO NOT SEE Me and yet believe in Me.” (John 20:29)

Perceiving that Jesus is our Savior before we SEE Him is God's gift of FAITH to humans. Only by His grace do we come to a knowledge of our salvation BEFORE we SEE Him at our resurrection.

"For in grace, through faith, are you saved, and this is not out of you; it is God's gift..."

(Galatians 2:8-9)

So, what happens to those who have not been GIVEN the FAITH to believe before they die? They will be resurrected and SEE Jesus, just like His disciples and Paul had to wait? And then, ALL humanity will be BELIEVERS. All will SEE and know Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. And all of them will THEN confess Him as Lord. 

 
"For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and EVERY TONGUE WILL CONFESS that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-11) 

"Faithful is the saying and worthy of all welcome (for for this are we toiling and being reproached), that we rely on the living God, Who is the Savior of all humanity, especially of believers. These things be charging and teaching." (1 Timothy 4:9-11)

It is unfortunate that so few Christians understand that Jesus intends to save the whole world even though He has told us in His Word. I suppose they will have to wait until they SEE Jesus to believe all that is written in the Scripture about Him.

"Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but Him they did not see.” Then He appeared to them and said, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into His glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself." (Luke 24:24-27)

April 2nd - It took 72 hours to Save Humanity

It took God 72 hours to save humanity. Following is the way it happened as recorded in the Bible...

"He begins to teach them that the Son of Mankind must be suffering and be rejected by the elders, and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed and after AFTER THREE DAYS days rise." (Mark 8:31)

“For even as Jonah was in the bowel of the sea monster three days and three nights; thus will the Son of Mankind be in the heart of the earth THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS.” (Matthew 12:40)

"Now, crucifying Him, they divide His garments, casting the lot... And they place above His head His charge written: "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews." About the ninth hour Jesus exclaims with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi! Lema sabachthani?"...with a loud voice, lets out the spirit." (Matthew27:36-37, 46-50)

"The Jews, then, since it was the preparation, lest the bodies should be remaining on the cross on the sabbath (for it was the HIGH DAY, that sabbath), ask Pilate that they might fracture their legs, and they may be taken away." (John 19:31)

"And lo! a man named Joseph...approaching Pilate, requests the body of Jesus. And taking it down, he folds it up in a linen wrapper, and he places Him in a rock-hewn tomb, where no one was lying as yet. And it was the DAY OF PREPARATION. Now following after, the women who were come together out of Galilee with Him, gaze at the tomb, and how His body was placed." (Luke 23:50, 52,54-56)

The "high day" or high sabbath was a name for those sabbath days which occur once a year during the Jewish festivals. During the festival periods there are "high" sabbaths as well as the weekly sabbath. Passover is the first "high day" of the seven days of the festival of Unleavened Bread. The day before Passover is called the "day of preparation". Jesus was crucified on the preparation day before the "high day" of Passover. It is the first day of the seven day festival of Unleavened Bread and the day after the weekly sabbath is another "high day" called Firstfruits. 

It was three nights and three days after Jesus was crucified on the preparation day for the "high day" of Passover. The women came to the tomb at sunrise on the second "high day", Firstfruits, and were told He had been resurrected...

"Now it is the evening of the sabbaths. At the lighting up into one of the sabbaths came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to behold the sepulcher...the messenger said to the women, "Fear you not! For I am aware that you are seeking Jesus, the Crucified." He is not here, for He was roused, according as He said. Hither! Perceive the place where the Lord lay." (Matthew 28:1-6)

Summary of the events of the death and resurrection of Jesus:

A Jewish day begins at sunset and ends the next day at sunset. The preparation day had began at sundown on a Tuesday evening and Jesus ate the Passover meal with His disciples. Later that night Jesus was arrested and brought before the Jewish high priest and tried. It was Wednesday morning when He was delivered over to Pilot. After Pilot had talked with Jesus he ordered Him to be flogged and crucified which occurred on Wednesday around noon. Jesus died at three o'clock on Wednesday. Just before sundown Jesus is placed in a tomb owned by a man named Joseph.

Wednesday night passes...Thursday passes...Thursday night passes...Friday passes...Friday night passes...Saturday passes - three full nights and three full days.

Then on Saturday evening, at the end of the third full day, just after sundown, Jesus comes back to life, the Firstfruit of all who will be resurrected from death to life. It was the third day after Wednesday, the day he was killed.

So, 72 hours from His entombment the salvation of humanity is secured when He rose from death!

The death, entombment and resurrection of Jesus is the good news (gospel/evangel). The details of those events which provided for the salvation of humanity is important to me, and is part of what Paul instructed Timothy to "Prescribe and teach".

"Now I am making known to you, brethren, the evangel which I bring to you, which also you accepted, in which also you stand, through which also you are saved...that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was entombed, and that He has been roused the third day according to the Scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

“Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all welcome, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, foremost of whom I am.” (1 Timothy 1:15)

"Faithful is the saying and worthy of all welcome (for for this we are toiling and being reproached), that we rely on the living God, Who is the Savior of ALL mankind, especially of believers. These things be CHARGING AND TEACHING.” (1 Timothy 4:9-11)

April 1st - What happens when we die?

"Behold, I am against those who have prophesied false dreams, declares the LORD, and related them and led My people astray by their falsehoods and reckless boasting; yet I did not send them or command them, nor do they furnish this people the slightest benefit, declares the LORD.” (Jeremiah 23:32)

It is hard to distinguish between what God has actually said from what men say that God says. Following is an example of what sincere men say God says...

“Adam sinned and immediately died spiritually. Eventually, he died physically” Bob Hoekstra – Day by Day Grace

Let’s look at the verse of Scripture Mr. Hoekatra was commenting on…

“For the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23)

Do you see the word “spiritual” in that verse? No, there is no spiritual death taught in the Bible. You are either dead or you are alive. At death the body of flesh and blood returns to the soil. The spirit returns to God who gave it, and the soul rests/sleeps until the resurrection.

“Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David…Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.” (1 Kings 2:10; Acts 2:29)

No one is made alive again until Jesus returns to resurrect the dead.

“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:3)

"What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever. But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies." (1 Corinthians 15:50-53)

March 31st - Behold, the Lamb of God

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29)

In the Law given to Israel a perfect “lamb” was required to be sacrificed once a year to atone for the sins of Israel. This annual sacrifice provided a temporary shelter for the sins of Israel, however, it could not “take away sins”committed in the following year.

Two thousand years after the giving of the law of Moses, God Himself offered the final sacrifice on behalf of Israel and all other nations. That sacrifice was His Son Jesus, the LAMB of God. It has taken away the sins of the world - all of them - for all time!

“He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2) 

“…we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ ONCE FOR ALL. Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins FOR ALL TIME, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet. For by one offering He has perfected FOR ALL TIME those who are sanctified." (Hebrews 10)

What a glorious demonstration of love and grace!

“God is commending this love of His to us, seeing that, while we are still sinners, Christ died for our sakes...being now justified in His blood, we shall be saved from indignation, through Him....that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the approach present (gift) of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Romans 5:6-10; Ephesians 2:7-9)

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15)

March 30th - The Faith that Saves

Speaking to Israel God said:

“‘For I will take you out of the nations; I WILL gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I WILL sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I WILL cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I WILL give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you...I WILL save you from all your uncleanness...THEN you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices..." (Ezekiel 36:24-31)

Note that it is AFTER God changes their hearts and puts His Spirit within them that they will "loathe yourselves for your sins". In other words, true repentance occurs AFTER God saves. 

...I want you to know that I am NOT doing this for your sake, declares the Sovereign LORD. Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, people of Israel!.. I the LORD have spoken, and I WILL DO IT." (Ezekiel 36:32)

Religious Jews think they are saved by following the law of Moses, repenting, and offering acceptable sacrifices for disobedience. I was brought up in a church teaching essentially the same thing. That I would be saved only if I repented of my sin, accepted Jesus, and was baptized. 

I have since learned that true repentance for my sin came AFTER I learned that my salvation was not a result of some decision I made, but by the GRACE of God and the faith of Christ Jesus. Redemption is a gift to humanity that flows to all out of the death, entombment, and resurrection of Christ Jesus.

"...the righteousness of God is through the faith of Jesus Christ to all, and upon all those believing, for there is no difference, for all did sin, and come short of the glory of God, being declared righteous freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:22-24)

Such knowledge has liberated me from religious bondage. I now realize that I am righteous in Jesus Christ whose faith saved me!

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not be encumbered once more by a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1)

"If you continue in MY WORD, you are truly My followers. THEN you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:32)