February 23rd - Try to Be Perfect but Rely on God's Grace!

“Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees you cannot enter the Kingdom of heaven…anyone who says, you fool! will be in danger of the fire of hell…If your right hand offend you, cut it off, it is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell…love your enemies…be ye PERFECT even as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:20,22,30,44,48)

There you have it out of the mouth of Jesus himself. In order to avoid the fire of hell all you have to do is to love your enemies, avoid calling anyone a fool, cut off any limb that is offensive, and be PERFECTLY righteous like our heavenly Father. Oh, and the apostle Paul added some more bad news...

"There is none righteous, no not one...all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:10, 23)

If it is up to us, none of us will avoid hell (hades: death in the unseen realm).

There is some very good news however. All will be SAVED out of death by the GRACE of our loving God - as a FREE gift - through the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ.

"Yet now, apart from law, a righteousness of God is manifest (being attested by the law and the prophets), yet a righteousness of God through Jesus Christ's faith, for all, and on all who are believing, for there is no distinction, for all sinned and are wanting of the glory of God. Being justified gratuitously in His grace, through the deliverance which is in Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:21-24)

"For the wages of sin is DEATH, but the FREE GIFT of God is eternal life..." (Romans 6:23)

"By GRACE you have been SAVED through FAITH...it is a the GIFT of God not a result of works." (Ephesians 2:8-9) 

“...as in Adam all DIE, even so in Christ shall all be MADE ALIVE...Listen, I tell you a mystery…the DEAD will be raised imperishable…DEATH...swallowed up in victory…through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  (1 Corinthians 15:22,51-57)

SALVATION of unrighteous sinners is a GIFT from God by His GRACE. A person of FAITH believes that Jesus is the WAY to eternal LIFE in the Kingdom of God. 

"I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

"For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was entombed, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures...For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone." (1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Titus 2:11)

We should try to be perfect like Jesus while placing our faith in God's grace, not our own righteousness.

February 22nd - What is the Soul?

"For the word of God is living and operative, and keen above any two-edged sword, and penetrating up to the parting of SOUL and SPIRIT...." (Hebrews 4:12)

Soul and Spirit are not the same thing. When God joined His Spirit with the body made of soil He had formed for Adam, the first human became a "living SOUL".

"Yahweh Elohim formed the human out of soil from the ground, and He blew into his nostrils the breath of life; and the human became a living SOUL." (Genesis 2:7)

Animals of the field and birds are also called living souls.

"Yahweh Elohim had formed from the ground every animal of the field and every fowl of the heavens; and brought each one to the human to see what he would call it. And whatever the human would call it, each living SOUL, that was its name.." (Genesis 2:19)

Many do not see a difference between soul and spirit, yet the Bible teaches that the "soul" is what appears when a body made by God is infused with His Spirit (power). The body is then alive and capable of walking or flying around aware of its surroundings (it has feelings) - it is a "living soul".  

When a "living soul" with a body of soil dies, it returns to the soil and the power that kept it alive (Spirit of God) returns to God. The Bible refers to this death as sleeping, or at rest - why? Because God is not through with us yet! It is not His will that any should perish (stay dead/asleep).

 "...the Lord is not slow in regard to the promise, as certain count slowness, but is long-suffering to us, not counselling (intending) any to be lost but all to pass on to reformation." (2 Peter 3:9 YLT))

"...You gather away their spirit; they breath their last and return to their soil." (Psalm 104:29)

"His spirit shall go forth, and he shall return to the ground; in that day his reflections perish." (Psalm 146:4)

.."And the soul returns to the earth just as it was, and the spirit, it returns to the One, Elohim, Who gave it." (Ecclesiastes 12:7)

"From those sleeping in the soil of the ground, many shall awake..." (Daniel 12:2)

"Lazarus our friend is sleeping, but I am going that I should be awakening out of sleep." (John 11:11)

"...we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed..." (1 Corinthians 15:51)

The Bible teaches me that a "spiritual body" is needed for mortal animals, including humans, to become immortal - the image of the now risen Christ Jesus. And, the Bible says  all humans will be given this new body in the future so we can finally ENTER and SEE the "Kingdom of God".

"Now this I am averring, brethren, that flesh and blood is not able to enjoy an allotment in the Kingdom of God, neither is corruption enjoying the allotment of incorruption...

This gift from God of a new spiritual and incorruptible body was a mystery until revealed to the Apostle Paul.

Lo! a secret to you am I telling!...the dead will be roused incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal put on immortality." (1 Corinthians 15:51-53)

When God is finished with humanity, we will all be immortal because our soul will dwell in a "spiritual body" rather than a body made of soil. That spiritual body will not consist of flesh or blood (made of soil).

"Thus also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown (buried) in corruption; it is roused (made alive) in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor; it is roused in glory. It is sown in infirmity; it is roused in power. It is sown in a soulish body (mortal body); it is roused a SPIRITUAL BODY (immortal body)...The first man was out of the earth, MADE OF SOIL; the second man is the Lord out of heaven...And according as we wear the image of the one MADE OUT OF THE SOIL, we shall also be wearing the image of the Celestial." (1 Corinthians 15:42-49)

Our present "soul" is not immortal, it dies with the body made of soil. However, the Bible says God is preparing for each human a new spiritual immortal and totally different body. That spiritual body will be be made alive by the power of God (Holy Spirit), a new "living soul" that will enter and see the Kingdom of God with Whom we will joyfully dwell forever!

"Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time to be born?”Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit. " (John 3:3-6)

February 21st - Unbelievers are Destined to Believe

“For what if some disbelieve? Will their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God? Of course not! Now let God be true, yet every man a liar..." (Romans 3:3)

Human unbelief does not prevent God from being faithful to humanity. That would make God a human. He uses human unbelief as a CONTRAST to His faithfulness.

He also uses the choices humans make that result in evil as a contrast to His goodness. He uses the mortality of humans to contrast with His immortality. He uses our failures to contrast with His success. He uses our hate to contrast with His love. He uses our sickness to contrast with His perfect health. 

I could go on and on.

THE REASON FOR SIN AND EVIL IN THIS LIFE IS TO ALLOW HUMANITY TO APPRECIATE ITS ABSENCE IN THE NEXT!

However, instead of seeing that contrast and thus glorifying God, many people just do not get it. Why? 

They are taught that their “free will” decision determines their eternal destiny. Nevertheless, God alone makes the decision with regard to the final destiny of a person.. And He has chosen to save all of us - to demonstration His LOVE and GRACE. All people are destined to know, love, and trust God.

“...No longer shall they teach, each man his associate, and each man his brother, saying: Know Yahweh! For they all shall know me, from the smallest of them to the greatest of them, averring is Yahweh. For I shall pardon their depravity, and shall not remember their sin any longer." (Jeremiah 31:34)

"For in grace, through faith, are you saved, and this is not out of you; it is God's gift." (Ephesians 2:8)

Mortal humanity will become immortal spiritual beings - that is our destiny. Sin, death, hate, sickness, tears, sorrow, and failure will one day be swallowed up in the victory of a successful immortal life. 

"Thus also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is roused in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor; it is roused in glory. It is sown in infirmity; it is roused in power. It is sown a soulish body; it is roused a spiritual body." (1 Corinthians 15:42-44)

"Now, whenever this corruptible should be putting on incorruption and this mortal should be putting on immortality, then shall come to pass the word which is written, Swallowed up was Death by Victory." (1 Corinthians 15:54)

“…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." (Revelation 21:4)

Humanity will become a new creation in Christ. Then God will be "All in all" people.

"Now, whenever all may be subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also shall be subjected to God Who subjected all to His Son, that God may be All in all." (1 Corinthians 15:28)

"...So that, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: the primitive passed by. Lo! there has come new!" (2 Corinthians 5:17).

"For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers." (Romans 8:29)

February 20th - Love that does not fail

"God is love…Love never fails" (1 John 4:8; I Corinthians 13:8).

Because the God of the Bible is Love; and He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent, what is there for humanity to worry about?

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8 38-39)

He is either the God the Bible says He is, or he is the god of religious myth created by man. Since He is the God of the Bible then NOTHING, even humanity's poor decisions, will separate us from the love of God. He will not, nor can He fail in His plan to reconcile and save all humans through Christ Jesus our Lord…

“For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile ALL things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach.” (Colossians 1:19-22)

We should fix our hope on the God of the Bible - not the gods created by humans.

"...we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things." (1 Timothy 4:10-11)

February 19th - Wrong Question, Right Answer

"They said, then, to Him, "What may we be doing that we may be working the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you may be believing in that One Whom He commissions." (John 6:28-29)

They asked the wrong question, but Jesus gave the right answer. It is not about what we do but what God has done. The “work of God” is to bring humanity to faith in His Son Jesus, the Savior of the world. God’s work will not be complete until “every knee” bows and “every tongue” joyfully agrees that Jesus is Lord.

Will God fail in His work? - NOT A CHANCE!

"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)

When humans without faith now are resurrected, they will all become believers. Paul told humanity that Jesus would return to resurrect all humans, good and bad.

"...there shall be a resurrection which is impending for both the just and the unjust...I stand attesting both to small and to great, saying nothing outside of what both the prophets and Moses speak of impending occurrences - the suffering Christ - He, the first out of a resurrection of the dead, is about to be announcing light both to the people (of Israel) and to the nations." (Acts 25:15; 26:22-23)

The work of God is to save humanity out of death, the wages of our sin.

"For, if the dead are not being roused, neither has Christ been roused. Now, if Christ has not been roused, vain is your faith -- you are still in your sins! Consequently, those also who sleep in Christ perished. If we are having an expectation in Christ in this life only, more forlorn than all humans are we. Yet now Christ has been roused from among the dead, the Firstfruit of those who are sleeping. For since, in fact, through a man came death, through a Man, also, comes the resurrection of the dead. For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:20-22)

February 18th - Gehenna

The Greek words "Gehenna", "Hades", and "Tartarus" are translated into most English versions of the Bible as "hell". An example of the use of "Gehenna" in a properly translated version is as follows:

"And do not fear those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.” (Matthew 10:28 CLNT)

"Gehenna" was a valley outside of Jerusalem where trash and dead bodies of animals and criminals were burned in the time of Jesus. In Gehenna, the worm did not stop feeding and "the fire" did not go out until they accomplishes the job of consuming the trash or carcass.

"And if your hand should ever be snaring you, strike it off. It is ideal for you to be entering into life maimed, rather than, having two hands, to come away into Gehenna, into the unextinguished fire where their worm is not deceasing and the fire is not going out." (Mark 9:43-44)

Jesus preached to ISRAEL about the restoration of their Kingdom in the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He told them that their kingdom would not be restored until they repented of their sins.

"Thenceforth begins Jesus to be heralding and saying, Repent! for near is the kingdom of the heavens!...teaching in their synagogues and heralding the evangel of the kingdom." (Matthew 4:17,23)

Jesus presented Himself to Israel as the Messiah who would restore the kingdom of Israel. Jesus said they need not fear the Romans who might kill the body but had no control over the soul. God is able to make alive again souls cast into "Gehenna" and allow them to reign with Him in the kingdom for a thousand years.

"And the souls of those executed because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who do not worship the wild beast or its image, and did not get the emblem on their forehead and on their hand- they also live and reign with Christ a thousand years. The rest of the dead do not live until the thousand years should be finished." (Revelation 20:4-5)

Those who teach eternal conscious torment in the hell of Greek mythology will one day be "ashamed" to have done so. Believers should not fear death at the hands of the governments of men, they should entrust both body and soul to God the Father and His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

February 17th - The Eons Reveal the Wisdom of God

The Son of God made the eons (ages) to reveal the wisdom of God to His creation. 

"By many portions and many modes, of old, God, speaking to the fathers in the prophets, in the last of these days speaks to us in a Son, Whom He appoints enjoyer of the allotment of all, through Whom He also makes the eons..." (Hebrews 1:1)

The Apostle Paul, a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin, was selected to reveal to humanity the purpose of the ages made by the Son of God, Christ Jesus our Lord.

"To me, less than the least of all saints, was granted this grace: to bring the good news of the untraceable riches of Christ to the nations, and to enlighten all as to what is the administration of the secret, which has been concealed from the ages in God, Who creates all, that now may be made known to the sovereignties and the authorities among the celestials, through the church, the multifarious wisdom of God, in accord with the purpose of the ages, which He makes in Christ Jesus, our Lord." (Ephesians 3:11)