September 13th - Christ Was Lifted Up Out of Death For Humanity

“I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me will not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.” (John 12:46-47)

There are multitudes of Christians and others who do not believe Jesus came to save the world. They believe he has commissioned the church to save the world. They spend countless hours and millions of dollars trying to do what Jesus has already promised to do -“save the world”- He does not need help. We will not be judged for not winning people to Jesus, we will be judged for not believing He would save humanity. His word will judge us for our unbelief.

“He who rejects me and does not receive my sayings, has one who judges him; the word I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.” (John 12:48)

The judgment He is talking about is the shame that will accompany those who do not believe Jesus will “save the world”. They do not believe his words ”I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world”. 

Another judgment from God is already on humanity. That judgment is death for sin, and “it is appointed unto the human once to die, and after that the judgment.” Death will come whether we believed the words of Jesus or not. However, death's rule over humanity is to be "cast out" and Jesus will "draw all humanity" to Himself because He Himself was lifted up out of death.  

“Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all humanity to Myself.” (John 12:31-32)

When Jesus returned to life after dying on the cross the deal was done. In being “lifted up” out of death, He was given all power power and authority to “draw all humanity” to Himself when he returns to lift us up out of death to immortal life when resurrected. 

I know, I know, your church taught you that he was referring to being lifted up on the cross. But being lifted up on the cross did not save Jesus or anyone else. If He had not been resurrected the cross would have no value at all. He was lifted down from the cross and put in a tomb, but it could not hold him. He was “lifted up” out of the tomb and waits at the Father’s right hand for the command to go “draw all humanity” to Himself when He returns to “save the world”.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” (John 3:16-17)

There is too much darkness in the churches of the world. Many profess themselves to be wise, yet deny the word of the very Savior they worship and adore. The "ministry of conciliation" is rarely taught in churches. So, following is "the message of conciliation" believers  have been commissioned as ambassadors of Christ to share...

“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who conciliated us to Himself through Christ and gave us the MINISTRY OF CONCILIATION: THAT GOD WAS CONCILIATING THE WORLD TO HIMSELF IN CHRIST, NOT COUNTING HUMANITY'S SINS AGAINST THEM. And He has committed to us the MESSAGE OF CONCILIATION. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be conciliated to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:14-21)

September 12th: Paul Chosen to Complete the Word of God

In a nutshell, here is what our Apostle Paul shared from house to house…

“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of ALL HUMANITY… This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who WILLS ALL HUMANITY to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and humanity, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom FOR ALL, the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle, I am telling the truth, I am not lying, a teacher of the nations in faith and truth….It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance, for it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of ALL humanity, especially of believers. PRESCRIBE AND TEACH THESE THINGS.” (1 Timothy 2:1-; 4:9-11)

 Paul taught about the...

"...administration of God, which is granted to me for you, TO COMPLETE THE WORD OF GOD -- the secret which has been concealed from the eons and from the generations, yet now was made manifest to His saints, to whom God wills to make known what are the glorious riches of this secret among the nations, which is: Christ among you, the expectation of glory -- Whom we are announcing, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we should be presenting every human mature in Christ Jesus" (Colossians 1:21-29)

I do not claim to be smart and I am sure not a theologian. But I have lived a few years and have studied the Bible most of my life. Here is a summary of my observations to date:

God chose the Apostle Paul to proclaim the truth about God's plan for humanity. That truth is the gospel, the good news that in the Grace and Love of God all humanity will be saved out of death by His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. This message was received with joy as Paul shared it from house to house.

After Paul died believers started institutional churches. Unfortunately, by the fourth century the truth that Paul had been given to share was no longer being taught in those institutional churches.

September 11th - Cremation

Is cremation OK?

I find no specific instruction in the bible on how to dispose of a dead body. However, a dead body is clearly something that was to be quickly dealt with. Even touching it made the Jew unclean, obviously for sanitary reasons. Jewish rabbis and Christian theologians have argued about cremation for centuries. But if one would just use common sense we may reach the conclusion that cremation is OK with God.

Early in Genesis, the dying process was pronounced upon humanity, God said…

“By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return." (Genesis 3:19)

What is a quick way to get a dead body back to dust (ashes)? Yep, cremation.

The eternally significant thing is that after the body is returned to dust, Jesus will return and give it a new body like His.

"...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." (Philippians 3:20-21

The Lord Jesus will...

"...bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor.” (Isaiah 61:3)

That being said, if cremation bothers you or any of your family members, don't do it. Burial the old fashion way is OK too.

September 10th - The Blessing of Faith is Peace

“For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest.” (Hebrews 4:1-3)

There is peace in this present evil age only to those who believe the good news. And I am talking about the good news that there is life AFTER death.

“All have sinned and come short of the glory of God."  (Romans 3:23)

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

Peace comes to me in this present world when I have faith that God will actually save me and those I care about. God raised Christ Jesus and Jesus promised to return and raise us just as God raised Him. 

"Behold,  He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him..." (Revelation 1:7)

"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. At the same time, 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." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)

Those who have faith (BELIEVE God) find the blessing of that faith - which is peace!

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

"Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house there are many dwelling places. And if not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will receive you to Myself, that where I am, you may be also." (John 14:1-3)

"...the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, it will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." (John 14:26-27)

September 9th - The Gospel

What is the Gospel Paul was told to preach?

The word “gospel” means “good news”

The good news was the salvation of humanity by the Son of God, Christ Jesus…

“It is the gospel of God…concerning His Son” (Romans 1:1,2)

The good news was made known to the Apostle Paul through a revelation of Jesus Christ…

“For I am making known to you, brethren, as to the gospel, which is being brought by me, that it is not in accord with man. For neither did I accept it from a man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:11-12)

The good news is powerful…

“…it is the power of God unto salvation…” (Romans 1:16)

The good news reveals the righteousness of God…

“For in it the righteousness of God is being revealed…” (Romans 1:17)

Is there a simple statement of the good news of salvation? – yes there is…

“For I give over to you among the first what also I accepted, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that He was entombed, and that He has been resurrected the third day according to the scriptures...” (1 Corinthians 15:3-5)

What happens when people believe the good news…we have peace!

“Being, then, justified by faith, we may be having peace toward God, through our Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom we have the access also, by faith, into this grace in which we stand, and we may be glorying in expectation of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:1-2)

I have peace because I have entrusted my salvation and that of my family to God. I have an expectation of our salvation at the return of Jesus Christ!

September 8th - Enjoy What You Earn

“Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.” (Psalm 37:3-5)

The Psalmist of course was addressing Israel. However, it is most likely one of those Scriptures which apply to all. If so, all of us should…

“Trust in the LORD, and do good. Dwell in the land and feed on HIS faithfulness”

Not just trust in the LORD, but also DO GOOD. Dwell in the land God places you in and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

“There is nothing better for a man than to eat and drink and tell himself that his labor is good. This also I have seen that it is from the hand of God.” (Ecclesiates 2:24)

God's desire for us is pretty simple it seems to me...to work, appreciate it, and enjoy the fruits of it as best we can afford.

“This is what I have observed to be good: that it is appropriate for a person to eat, to drink and to find satisfaction in their toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given them--for this is their lot.” (Ecclesiastes 5:18)

God encourages us to work and approves of our enjoying its fruits.

"Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do." (Ecclesiastes 9:7)

September 7th - You Need Not Fight Your Battles

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

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

All of us are told in the Bible that we have another kind of enemy with whom we struggle…

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

We are still not to fear the spiritual forces of darkness for the LORD has promised to save

us...and He will.

“In the world you have tribulation, fear not for I have overcome the world…" (John 16:33)

"...put on the full armor of God…take up the shield of faith…take up the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:11-17)

"It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all humanity.” (1 Timothy 4:9-10)

Humanity can "take up" the shield of faith and the helmet of salvation because they are our free gifts from God.

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