Friday, December 29, 2023

December 29th - All Justified by Faith

"Being, then, justified by faith, we may be having peace toward God..." (Romans 5:1)

Faith means we assume and are convicted that we will become justified (righteous) even though we are not currently seeing that in ourselves. But God sees us that way so we can have peace toward Him.

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

We do nothing to gain that faith, it is a gift to us by God that comes when we hear the message of truth, the good news of our salvation - no bragging allowed. It is not the unbelievers fault they have not received this faith as religion would have us believe. 

"...we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we who are the first to put our hope in Christ...when you heard the message of truth, the good news of your salvation...it is by grace you are saved, through faith, and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works..." (Ephesians 1:11-2:10)

Even those of us who have faith in this age still die, but we die at peace with God and with hope of the resurrection into an immortal life. Most humans since Adam was created almost 6,000 years ago never heard the good news, and some hear but do not believe like the disciple we call "doubting Thomas" who said... 

"...unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I WILL NOT believe...Eight days later...Jesus came and stood among them...Jesus said to Thomas...stop doubting and believe. Thomas replied, My Lord and my God." (John 20:25-28)

The majority of people must SEE to believe. It is not their fault, that is just God's plan for them. After their resurrection must they die a second death, but unlike the first time they died, the second time they die at "peace" with God and, like believers in this age, they die the second time with the assurance that they will be made alive when the second death is abolished.

"...in Christ all will be made alive...the last enemy to be abolished is death...so that God may be All in all." (1 Corinthians 15:20-28)

All humanity is destined by to become just and immortal. That hope (expectation) will become a reality if the Bible is the word of God.

December 23rd - Merry Christmas Israel!

"For a Boy, He is born to us; a Son, He is given to us, and the Chieftainship shall come to be on His shoulder, and one shall call His ...