January 31st - Hucksters Who Peddle the Word of God

“For we are not as the majority, who are peddling the word of God...”
(2 Corinthians 2:17)

Here is Strong’s definition of the word "peddling" used above:

2585 kapēleúō – properly, to act as an unscrupulous merchant, i.e. "a huckster" who profits by "peddling the Word of God" for personal gain. 2585 /kapēleúō ("peddler") is only used in 2 Cor 2:17 – of people "marketing the ministry" (the Word of God) for fast gain.

"There are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain" (Titus 1:10-11)

We should help those who have no family that can help them, only IF we have excess over what is needed to take care of our own family and those dependent on us, like employees!

"Now if anyone is not providing for his own, and especially for his family, he has disowned the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever."  (1 Timothy 5:8)

"For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you may be wanting, you can always do well to them..." (Mark 14:7)

Hucksters want you to think that giving to their various ministries is giving to God, and promise gifts to them will come back to you "squeezed down and shaken together, and running over". However, it is my observation that giving to them simply makes them rich, and those who depend on you poorer. 

The Bible tells me that if you give to hucksters when your family has unmet needs, you have "disowned the faith".

January 30th - Religion, what is it?

"...they had certain questions concerning their own RELIGION..." (Acts 25:19)

"Now Paul, standing in the center of the Areopagus, averred, Men, Athenians! On all sides am I beholding how unusually RELIGIOUS you are. For passing through and contemplating the objects of your veneration, I found a pedestal also, on which had been inscribed, To an Unknowable God. To Whom you are ignorantly devout, This One am I announcing to you." (Acts 17:22-23)

The Greek word for "religion" is the noun "deisidaimonias" and means "superstition". The Greek word for its adjective, "religious", is "deisidaimonesterous" which means "very fearful of god". The word is actually two words together meaning "dread" and "teach".  The Greek noun and its adjective are used only two times in Scripture. 

Religion is superstition and fear of a god or gods and these gods become "objects" of  "veneration".

Paul, at the Areopagus in Athens some 1,950 years ago, told religious people about the true God of Scripture to whom they were "ignorantly devout". Such is needed among religious institutions today.

"The God Who makes the world and all that is in it, He, the Lord inherent of heaven and earth, is not dwelling in temples made by hands, neither is He attended by human hands, as if requiring anything, since He Himself gives to all life and breath and all. Besides, He makes every nation of humanity dwelling on all the surface of the earth, specifying the setting of the seasons and the bounds of their dwelling, for them to be seeking God, if, consequently, they may surely grope for Him and may be finding Him, though to be sure, not far from each one of us is He inherent, for in Him we are living and moving and are, as some poets of yours also have declared, 'For of that race also are we." (Acts 17:24-28)

God the Father is spirit and is all around us. It is He who gives life and breath. The nations of humanity are part of one single "race" and "inherently of God".

"The race, then, is inherently of God; we ought not to be inferring that the Divine is like gold, or silver, or stone, a sculpture of art and human sentiment. Indeed, then, condoning the times of ignorance, God is now charging humanity that all everywhere are to repent, forasmuch as He assigns a day in which He is about to be judging the inhabited earth in righteousness by the Man Whom He specifies, tendering faith to all, raising Him from among the dead." (Acts 17:29-31)

Paul told the Athenians that the real God is not like the gods of religion who are the "objects of your veneration". The real God judges "humanity" "in righteousness" by the "Man" whom he raised "from among the dead". And on that judgment day God will be "tendering faith to all".

Those who follow the God of Scripture know that the true God does NOT give us a "spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and a sound mind".

“God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) 

Christ Jesus pronounced His "righteous" judgment on sinful humanity from the cross as He was dying for their sakes...

"...Father, forgive them, for they are not aware what they are doing." (Luke 23:34)

"...Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture..." (1 Corinthians 15:3)

Humanity should "repent" from the "veneration" of the false gods of religion and turn to the real God. 

So, if you fear a god who might eternally torment you in hell, repent and turn to the true God.

January 29th - Those Who Seek God will Find Him - and be Rewarded

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

"For in GRACE, through faith, are you SAVED, and this is not out of you; it is God's approach present, nor of works, lest anyone should be boasting." (Ephesians 2:8)

Being "SAVED" refers to what happens to people after they die. Jesus, the Son of God, became a mortal man to SAVE the world. So Jesus died as the "wages" for our sins (since he had none of his own) and was buried. Yet three days and nights later God raised him to life. This salvation from death was a "gift from God" His Father. That life was His Father's righteous reward for one sinless life sacrificed to save "all" humanity, not just a few.

"Yet now, apart from law, a righteousness of God is manifest...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 3:21-25)

The Greek word for "JUSTIFIED" is "dikaioo" and means "I regard as righteous". By the Grace of God, sinners are regarded as righteous by God as a result of "the deliverance which is in Christ Jesus". 

Salvation from death is freely granted to sinners as a "gratuitous gift". It is by the "GRACE" of God and "Jesus Christ's faith". We all deserve to perish (stay dead), but God is going to save us anyway. This is the gospel, the good news we are to trust.

"Christ has been roused from among the dead, the Firstfruit of those who are reposing.  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 vivified...that God may be All in all." (1 Corinthians 15:20-22, 28)

The cross of Christ is sufficient. Those who require sinners to become righteous in order to be saved are "enemies of the cross".

"...for many are walking, of whom I often told you, yet now am lamenting also as I tell it, who are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose consummation is destruction, whose god is their bowels, and who glory is in their shame, who to the terrestrial are disposed." (Philippians 3:18-19)

Those "enemies" think the cross was insufficient, teaching that sinners must DO something themselves to become righteous, therefor denying the sufficiency of the cross.

“Yet take heed not to be doing your righteousness in front of men, in order to be gazed at by them, otherwise surely you have no wages with your Father Who is in the heavens...And whenever you may be praying, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they are fond of standing in the synagogues and at the corners of the squares to be praying, so that they may appear to men.  Verily, I am saying to you, they are collecting their wages! Now you, whenever you be praying, enter into your storeroom, and, locking your door, pray to your Father." (Matthew 6:1-6)

In seeking God with all our heart we find "the righteousness of God" in "Jesus Christ's faith".  We find what the sinless Jesus did for sinners according to the will of God - He made peace with God for them.

"...God was in Christ, conciliating the world to Himself, not reckoning their offenses to them...For the One not knowing sin, He makes to be a sin offering for our sakes that we may be becoming God's righteousness in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:19-21)

God has a plan for sinful humans, all of us. Our only "hope" is in His plan, not the plans conceived by political or religious institutions.

"For I know the plans that I have for you declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart..." (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

A will one day joyfully confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory to God our Father.

"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).

January 28th - Kindness Leads to Repentance

"Yet are you reckoning on this, O man, everyone who is judging those committing such things, and art doing the same, that you will be escaping the judgment of God?” (Romans 2:3)

Paul is talking to everyone, both believers and unbelievers. So, what judgment is he talking about that they will not escape? The answer is death because the scripture says that the judgment of God on sinners is death. 

"For the wages of Sin is death..." (Romans 6:23a NASB)

The only reason we are not dead yet is His kindness and tolerance.

"Or are you despising the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, being ignorant that the kindness of God is leading you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4)

It is the "kindness of God" that leads us to repentance rather than the fear of what God might do to us. 

"Repentance" is a word that means to stop and think about what you believe and where you are heading, and then turn around IF you find you are heading in the wrong direction. 

"Repent, then and turn about for the erasure of your sins, so that seasons of refreshing should be coming from the face of the Lord..." (Acts 3:19)

We all need to think about what we believe about God from time to time - and be willing to turn around and head back toward the truth that God sacrificed His Son as the final sacrifice for the salvation of all humanity.

"...these things am I writing to you that you may not be sinning.  And if anyone should be sinning, we have an Entreater with the Father, Jesus Christ the Just. And He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, yet not only ours, but the sins of the whole world also." (1 John 2:1-2)

In Old Testament times, God laid all the sin of Israel upon a sacrificial animal once a year on the day of atonement, which cleansed the peoole of their sins from year to year. But that is no longer necessary because the blood of Jesus has "taken away the sin of the world". And His blood has redeemed and washed every sinner clean, both Jew and Gentile, believer and unbeliever, "for all time". 

"Lo!, the lamb of God Which is taking away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)

"…not through the blood of he-goats and of calves, but through His own blood, He entered once for all time into the holy places, finding eonian redemption." (John 1:29; Hebrews 9:12-26)

God is not the god of man made religions. Rather, He is a loving Father whose "kindness and tolerance and patience...leads you to repentance". 

"Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting." (Psalm 136:1)

It is the realization of "the kindness of God" that leads religious folks to repent from worshiping a false god and embrace the gift of God.

"...the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:26)

January 27th - Grace is Greater than Sin

"For by GRACE are you saved..." (Ephesians 2:8)

“Consequently, then, as it was through one offense for all humanity for condemnation, thus also it is through one just award for all humanity for life's justifying. For even as, through the disobedience of the one human, the many were constituted sinners, thus also, through the obedience of the One, the many shall be constituted just." (Romans 5:18-19)

Are the sins of humanity greater than the "GRACE" of God? No, of course not.

Institutional Christianity seems to think so. It agrees that the one sin of Adam put all humanity under "condemnation", yet denies that the "one just award" by Jesus resulted in "life's justifying" for all humanity. Teaching such has denied the true gospel to those who join its assemblies.

Again, wh ! at does the Bible say above? 

It says that "all humanity" who received "condemnation" for Adam's sin are the same all humanity who received "life's justifying" by the one act of righteousness of Jesus. When you read all of Romans Chapter 5 this truth becomes abundantly clear. 

I suppose the confusion occurs because of the word "many". But it clearly says that the same "many" who "were constituted sinners" are the same "many" who are "constituted just".

"...yet where sin increases, GRACE superexceeds, that, even as Sin reigns in death, thus GRACE also should be reigning through righteousness, for life eonian, through Jesus Christ, our Lord." (Romans 5:20-21)

The grace of God is greater than the sins of humanity and that is very good news

January 26th - Hope for Humanity

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God…." (Romans 8:18-19)

There are more schools of higher education, government bureaucracies, and religious institutions on this planet today than at any other time in the history of humanity; and yet they have failed to bring salvation, peace and unity to creation. 

Does the Bible give a reason why? yes

"…for the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it..." (Romans 8:20)

It was God who "subjected" the creation to futility. The educators, governments, and religions of humanity will continue to try to repair the world but will fail. Creation can be "set free from its bondage to corruption" only by the God who "subjected" it in the first place - humanity can only "wait for it with patience".

"...the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God...in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience..."  (Romans 8:21-25)

Only those who love God know that He is working it all for "good"...

"...we know that for those who love God all things work together for good..." (Romans 8:28)

The final good from God is that ALL creation will be "set free from its bondage to corruption" and "obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God" when they are "conformed to the image of His Son". Humanity is predestined to enjoy this "good".

"...For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified." (Romans 8:29-30)

As opposed to the gods of religion, the real God will save humanity because Jesus Christ, the Lord of all, has ransomed "ALL".

"There is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for ALL...by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous...at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the gloy of God the Father." (1 Timothy 2:5-6...Romans 5:21...Philippians 2:10-11) 

There is hope for humanity in spite of the chaos caused by political, educational, and religious leaders in the world today fighting for dominion over the Earth - they are to often the worst of us, not the best.

January 25th - Eat, Drink and be Merry, Life is no longer Meaningless

"Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom."  (Ecclesiastes 9:10)

The author of Ecclesiastes was the master of common sense. He spent his life seeking common sense answers to all of life's experiences. If the author was King Solomon...

"He composed some 3,000 proverbs and wrote 1,005 songs. He could speak with authority...And kings from every nation sent their ambassadors to listen to the wisdom of Solomon." (1 Kings 4:32-34)

All that wisdom told him "everything is meaningless". 

"I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless--like chasing the wind...There is nothing ahead but death anyway. There is hope only for the living...the dead know nothing." (Ecclesiastes 1:14;9:3-4)

He knew about God and and His commandments so Solomon's final advice as to what we should do in this life was to...

"Fear God and obey His commandments, for this is everyone's duty. God will judge us for everything we do..." (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)

This fear and judging was not a fear of judgment AFTER death for he had concluded that "the dead know nothing". He was referring to the consequences for bad behavior in this life.

He told us  what God "approves" in this life...

"Eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this! Wear fine clothes, with a splash of cologne! Live happily with the woman you love through all the meaningless days of life that God has given you under the sun." (Ecclesiastes 9: 8-9)

Again, the wisest man of the time had no hope in life after death and that made him "most miserable". The apostle Paul said people without hope of the resurrection continue to be miserable as they approach death.

"If in this life only we have hope...we are of all men most miserable." (1 Corinthians 15:9)

The good news! After the birth, death and resurrection of Christ Jesus, God gave us much information about what happens after death, and now we have a "blessed hope" of life after death.

"For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people...look forward with hope to 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..." (Titus 2:13-14)

"...I tell you a secret, when the last trumpet sounds, we shall all be changed in an instant, as quickly as the blinking of an eye. For when the trumpet sounds, the dead will be raised, never to die again, and we shall all be changed. For what is mortal must be changed into what is immortal; what will die must be changed into what cannot die. So when this takes place, and the mortal has been changed into the immortal, then the scripture will come true: “Death is destroyed; victory is complete!” ...thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!" (1 Corinthians 15:51-57)

It still makes common sense to fear God and obey His commandments but unlike Solomon, we know life is not "meaningless".  

Believers have three things to carry into the next life - faith, hope and love.

"Three things will last forever - faith, hope, and love - the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13)

So eat, drink and be merry today, enjoy your family - and fear God in this sinful life - but know that the best life is yet to come!

January 24th - Power to the Weak!

" He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall." (Isaiah 40:29-30)

At my age I am beginning to relate to the words of Isaiah. But there is "hope"according to God that our strength will be renewed. When it happens, we will never get old and tired again!  

"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength, they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:31)

Yea! - but when? 

Obviously not in this life. Our "hope" in this life is in the "mystery" of the next.

"Listen, I am telling you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed...then shall be brought to pass the saying - death has been swallowed up in victory." (1 Corinthians 15:51-54)

For now we must "hope in the LORD" that our failing strength will one day be renewed. When we trust God with our death we can enjoy the life we have left. King Solomon said this about life and death in this age...

"The living at least know they will die, but the dead know nothing. They have no further reward, nor are they remembered. Whatever they did in their lifetime—loving, hating, envying—is all long gone. They no longer play a part in anything here on earth. So go ahead. Eat your food with joy, and drink your wine with a happy heart, for God approves of this! Wear fine clothes, with a splash of cologne! Live happily with the woman you love through all the meaningless days of life that God has given you under the sun. The wife God gives you is your reward for all your earthly toil. Whatever you do, do well. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom." (Ecclesiastes 9:7-10)

I no longer allow religious traditions to rob me of the joy of life. My hope for life after death is in the hands of a gracious God and His Son Jesus Christ.  They will change me from a corruptible pile of dust into an incorruptible spiritual being at the last Trump!  The "mystery" of our victory over death will have become reality.

"For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people." (Titus 2:11)

God gets mad at us sometimes, as all good Father's do, but on the "morning" of our resurrection we shall be "changed" and become like Him. Then we will "soar on wings like eagles".

"Power" is the destiny of the weak - all because of the unmerited favor of our Father God and His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ!

"For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning." (Psalm 30:5)

January 23rd - The Faith of Jesus

“Behold, as for the proud one, his soul is not right within him; but the just one by faith shall be living." (Habakkuk 2:4)

"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…” (Hebrews 12:2)

Pride comes in many flavors but the worst is religious pride. Quite frankly, Jesus was not the "author" of my personal faith for most of my life. My faith was authored by the doctrine of the institutional Church I had grown up in. It was a faith in their teaching.

I, nor anyone else, will be "justified" by having faith in what religious leaders do and teach. To do so calls for pride in the wisdom of humanity. Our only hope for salvation is "Jesus Christ's faith", and in the "grace"of God.

"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)

Over 15 years ago, I exchanged my faith in church doctrine for "Jesus Christ's faith". My faith in religious teachers had only identified me with the Pharisee who prayed...

“God, I am thanking you that I am not like the rest of these people; cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I'm certainly not like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and give you a tenth of my income." (Luke 18:11-12 NLT)

I now realize that it is the tax collector who had it right when...

"...standing afar off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his chest, saying, God, have mercy on me, the sinner!" (Luke 18:13)

The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross revealed God's mercy toward the humbled sinner. God accepted the shame of the tax collector and rejected the pride of the Pharisee...

"I am saying to you, this man descended to his home justified, rather than that one, for everyone who is exalting himself shall be humbled, yet he who is humbling himself shall be exalted.” (Luke 18:11-14)

It was a humbling experience when I learned that tax collectors and prostitutes will enter the Kingdom of God before me, a self-righteous Pharisee who would be the last to enter the Kingdom of God.

"Verily, I am saying to you that the tribute collectors and the prostitutes are preceding you into the kingdom of God." (Matthew 21:32)

“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” Now Jesus was going up to Jerusalem. On the way, he took the Twelve aside and said to them, “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn Him to death and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day He will be raised to life!” (Matthew 20:16-19)

Again, humanity is made righteous (justified) by "Jesus Christ's faith". Jesus had faith that His Father would raise Him from the dead after He, the sinless sacrificial lamb, atoned for the sins of the world.

"Being justified gratuitously in His grace, through the deliverance which is in Christ Jesus...a justifier of the one who is of the faith of Jesus." (Romans 3:24, 27)

By the grace of God, all humanity will eventually be raised from the dead to enter and see the Kingdom of God. The order of entrance is those who rely on "Jesus Christ's faith", then last of all, those who place their faith in good deeds, obedience to the law, and membership in a synagogue, church, or mosque.

"...having perceived that a man is not being justified by works of law, except alone through the faith of Christ Jesus, we also believe in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by the faith of Christ." (Galatians 2:16-17)

So, I no longer brag about my faith, or beat myself up because I have so little. I simply trust in "Jesus Christ's faith", the faith that makes this sinner righteous and saved me and everyone else from our sins.

"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 1:21)

"For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, 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)

"...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 4:10-11) 

January 22nd - What is Faith?

"Now faith is an assumption of what is being expected, a conviction concerning matters which are not being observed; for in this the elders were testified to. By faith we are apprehending the eons to adjust to a declaration of God, so that what is being observed has not come out of what is appearing." (Hebrews 11:1-3 CLNT)

Above is the Biblical definition of "faith".  It is having a "conviction" that what God promises will happen even though it seems impossible.  When you have this faith you know God will "adjust" things eventually so that what He has promised will happen.

Having faith in what you want, or what men say, or what you think should be done is not worth much. But having "faith" in what God has promised is of great value, and having that faith is considered "righteous" by God. An example is Abraham who believed God when He told him he would have a son in his old age and he would have many descendants.

"Then He brought him forth outside and said: Now look up toward the heavens and count off the stars if you can number them. And He promised him: Thus shall become your seed. Now Abram believed Elohim, and it was reckoned to him for righteousness." (Genesis 15:4-6)

Believing God is a righteous thing to do. Yet, Abraham died long before his "seed" became as numerous as the stars he saw that night. And he is not alone, many others named in the Bible died without seeing the promises God made to them fulfilled.

"And these all, being testified to through faith, are not requited with the promise of God..." (Hebrews 11:39)

Satan is a liar and his job has always been to convince people not to believe what God says. The Apostle Paul warned of this deception...

"Now the spirit is saying explicitly, that in subsequent eras some will be withdrawing from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and the teachings of demons..." (1 Timothy 4:1-20

The apostle Paul tells us what not to believe...

"Now profane and old womenish myths refuse..." (1 Timothy 4:7)

Paul then tells us a promise from God that we are to have faith in, and teach to others...

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 humanity, especially of believers. These things be charging and teaching." (1 Timothy 4:9-11)

Any teaching which limits salvation to less than "all humanity" is not having faith in what God says, it is simply unbelief. Those few who now have faith in the salvation of all recognize this salvation is solely by the grace of God, apart from our own good works.  

"For in grace, through faith, are you saved, and this is not out of you; it is God's present, not of works, lest anyone should be boasting..." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Jesus Christ had biblical faith and "Jesus Christ's faith" was for all humanity and will eventually be possessed by all humanity.

"…a righteousness of God through Jesus Christ's faith, for all, and on all who are believing...”. (Romans 3:21-22 CLNT)

Some versions change the phrase "Jesus Christ's faith" to read “through faith in Christ Jesus” thus robbing humanity of the truth. That is how subtle Satan is, but such change is among the many "teachings of demons" found in institutional religion.

"For the One not knowing sin, He makes to be a sin offering for our sakes that we may be becoming God's righteousness in Him.  Now, working together, we are also entreating you not to receive the grace of God for naught. For He is saying, In a season acceptable I reply to you, and in a day of salvation I help you. Lo! Now is a most acceptable era! Lo! Now is a day of salvation!" (2 Corinthians 5:20-6:2) 

Only a few are given the faith of Jesus Christ in this present age, but we should rest assured that ALL will have this faith after the resurrection of the dead. Then all will affirm that Jesus Christ is Lord which will bring glory to God.

“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 ...For the ration of Sin is death, yet the gracious gift of God is life eonian, in Christ Jesus, our LORD.” (Romans 3:23-24; 6:23)

"I, the LORD, speak the truth; I say what is right. Come, gather together, and draw near, you fugitives from the nations...There is no other El but Me, a righteous El and Savior; there is none but Me. Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am El, and there is no other. By Myself I have sworn; truth has gone out from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will swear allegiance. Surely they will say of Me, In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.’ ” (Isaiah 45:19-24)

"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, existing in the form of God the Father, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross. Therefore God the Father exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:5-11)

Many say that when all "confess" Jesus as Lord it will be too late to be saved - such teachers in my opinion are simply unbelievers who are "giving heed to deceiving spirits and the teachings of demons."

January 21st - Deliverance of Humanity

The word translated "sin" in the Bible means to miss the mark. The mark for humans was to be the "image of God", but all humanity falls short of that mark. They are estranged from God as the result, and stand in need of salvation, reconciliation, and transformation.. 

"...for all sinned and are wanting of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)

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

God's plan for saving humanity from death involves "bloodshedding" to cleanse - but the blood must come from an innocent source.  

"And almost all is being cleansed in blood according to the law, and apart from bloodshedding is coming no pardon." (Hebrews 9:22)

The blood of ordinary human beings or animals could not atone for sin. This was clearly shown in the history of Israel. The bloody sacrifices of animals was only a "shadow" of the permanent cleansing that God the Father would provide by the "gracious gift" of His Son.

"For the law, having a shadow of the impending good things...with their same sacrifices which they are offering year by year, are never able to perfect to a finality...in them there is a recollection of sins year by year; for it is impossible for the blood of bulls and of he-goats to be eliminating sins." (Hebrews 10:1-4)

The blood of Jesus, an innocent human was sacrificed once and for all humanity. It took "away the sin of the world". Jesus, the original Son of God, saved humanity from perishing in death, and reconciled the world to God the Father.

"On the morrow he is observing Jesus coming toward him, and is saying, Lo! the Lamb of God which is taking away the sin of the world." (John 1:29)

"...yet now, once, at the conclusion of the eons, for the repudiation of sins through His sacrifice, He is manifest." (Hebrews 9:26)

Jesus always did the will of His Father, and it was the Father's will for Him to shed His "blood" to take away the sins of the world and bring reconciliation to the entire creation. 

"My little children, these things I am writing to you that you may not be sinning. And if anyone should be sinning, we have an Entreater with the Father, Jesus Christ, the Just. And He is the propitiatory shelter concerned with our sins, yet not concerned with ours only, but concerned with the whole world also." (1 John 2:1-2)

"God is commending this love of His to us, seeing that, while we are still sinners, Christ died for our sakes." (Romans 5:8)

"God was in Christ, conciliating the world to Himself, not reckoning their offenses to them...For the One not knowing sin, He makes to be a sin offering for our sakes that we may becoming God's righteousness in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:18-21)

God the Father sacrificed His one and only begotten Son for our sake.

"This one, given up in the specific counsel and foreknowledge of God, you, gibbeting by the hand of the lawless, assassinate...Yet what God announces before through the mouth of all the prophets - the suffering of His Christ - He thus fulfills." (Acts 2:23; 4:18-19)

The "love" of God did this for all "irreverent" sinners, not just a few.

"For Christ, while we are still infirm, still in accord with the era, for the sake of the irreverent, died" (Romans 5:6-7)

"Yet now, in Christ Jesus, you, who were once far off, are become near by the blood of Christ." (Ephesians 2:13)

God is "for us" sinners, not against us as some suggest, so we need not worry about the future of humanity.

If God is for us, who is against us?  Surely He who spares not His own Son, but gives Him up for us all, how shall He not, together with Him, also, be graciously granting us all?"  (Romans 8:31-32)

Do not let the religious doctrines of men rob you of the truth of God's great love for all humanity, and rob you of the knowledge that His plan is to save and reconcile humanity to Himself in His "grace" through the "blood" of our Lord Jesus Christ.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who blesses us with every spiritual blessing among the celestials, in Christ, according as He chooses us in Him before the disruption of the world, we to be holy and flawless in His sight, in love, designating us beforehand for the place of a son for Him through Christ Jesus; in accord with the delight of His will, for the laud of the glory of His grace, which graces us in the Beloved." 
(Ephesians 1:3-6)

Yes, that is the glorious plan of God the Father!

"...in Whom we are having the deliverance through His blood, the forgiveness of offenses in accord with the riches of his grace, which He lavishes on us.; in all wisdom and prudence making known to us the secret of His will." (Ephesians 1:7)

The salvation of humanity is no longer a secret to those who believe the Bible.

"And the Word became flesh and tabernacles among us, and we gaze at His glory as of an only-begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John is testifying concerning Him and has cried, saying, 'this was He of Whom I said, He Who is coming after me, has come to be in front of me, for He was first before me, for of that which fills Him we all obtained, and grace for grace. For the law through Moses was given; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. God no one has ever seen. The only-begotten God, Who is in the bosom of the Father, He unfolds Him." (John 1:14-18)

Finally, our Lord Jesus will transform all of us out of our mortal sinful bodies into an immoral spiritual body and we will become eternal citizens of the Kingdom of God.

"But 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)

"Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is." (1 John 3:2)

January 20th - Why Death?

"And Yahweh Elohim instructed the human, saying: From every tree of the garden you may eat, yea eat, but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you must not eat from it; for on the day you eat from it, to die you shall be dying." (Genesis 2:16-17)

The first human beings lived in a garden paradise on Earth, prepared specifically for them.  Elohim gave them only one commandment to obey - don't eat the fruit from the tree of the "knowledge of good and evil". 

They did not have a "knowledge" of good and evil so they did not know the difference. Elohim had a plan to give them the knowledge of good and evil. That plan would involve a choice to disobey God's commandment. The serpent who we later learn was Satan tempted them, and they disobeyed.

"Now the serpent, it became more crafty than any other animals of the field that Yahweh Elohim had made. The serpent said to the women: Indeed did Elohim say, you shall not eat from every tree of the garden." (Genesis 3:1)

"...the ancient serpent called Adversary and Satan, who is deceiving the whole inhabited earth." (Revelation 12:9)

Satan, the "man-killer", indwelling the serpent, did what he was created Him to do - deceive and kill humanity.

"He is a man-killer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth." (John 8:44) 

"Yahweh has made every thing for its own outcome, Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil." (Proverbs 16:4)

I am Yahweh, and there is no other. Former of light and Creator of darkness, Maker of good and creator of evil." (Isaiah 45:7)

"And I Myself created the ruiner to harm." (Isaiah 54:16)

God created and planned for evil to come into the world. However, He works ALL THINGS for good. 

"Now we are aware that God is working all together for the good..." (Romans 8:28)

God will eventually save humanity from the evil He created and reconcile them to Himself.  When finished, His love will have been demonstrated, along with His grace and mercy. That is His promise to humanity, and our only hope of survival.

"For the saving grace of God made its advent to ALL humanity, training us that, disowning irreverence and worldly desires, we should be living sanely and justly and devoutly in the current eon, anticipating that happy expectation, even the advent of the glory of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ, Who gives Himself for us, that He should be redeeming us from all lawlessness and be cleansing for Himself a people to be about Him, zealous for ideal acts." (Titus 2:11-15)

"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 passes 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." (Revelation 21:4-5)  

Every human is destined to love God, and will live happily ever after we all come to the "knowledge of good and evil".  Death and suffering for sin will have served its purpose.

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

January 19th - The Humble Beginning and Glorious End of Humanity

"As for the earth, it came to be a chaos and vacant, and darkness was over the surface of the abyss." (Genesis 1:1-2 CLNT)

After the Earth became dark and vacant, God recreated it.

"And the spirit of Elohim was vibrating over the surface of the waters. And Elohim said: Let light come to be! And light came to be." (Genesis 1:2-3)

Then came six days of recreation....

"On the sixth day Elohim finished His work that He had made; and He ceased on the seventh day from all His work that He had made." (Genesis 2:2)

It was on the sixth day of His work that God made humanity.

"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)

"And Yahweh Elohim said: It is not good for the human to be alone by himself. I shall make for him a helper as his complement...He took one of his angular organs and closed up the flesh over its place. Yahweh Elohim built the angular organ that He had taken from the human into a woman and brought her to the human." (Genesis 7:18-22)

We call the first human Adam and his spouse Eve. All humanity springs from this first couple.

"And Elohim said: Let Us make humanity in Our image and according to Our likeness...So Elohim created humanity in His image; in the image of Elohim He created it: male and female He created them. Elohim blessed them, and Elohim said to them: Be fruitful and increase; fill the earth and subdue it. Hold sway over the fish of the sea and over the flyer of the heavens, over every domestic beast, over all the earth and over every animal that is moving on the earth." (Genesis 2:26-28)

No missing links, just the Elohim beginning the process of creating humanity in their image. One man and one woman, the first family - BUT they were soon tarnished by sin and evil. Why? 

God gave King Solomon the wisdom to know why...

"...wisdom and knowledge are being granted to you, and also riches, substance and honor I shall give to you, such as none of the kings before you has come to have, nor shall there be any after you." (2 Chronicles 1:8-11)

And with wisdom King Solomon tells us why God allows sin and evil to ruin humanity...

“I applied my heart to inquiring and exploring by wisdom concerning all that is done under the heavens: it is an experience of EVIL Elohim has given to the sons of humanity TO HUMBLE THEM by it.  I saw all the deeds that are done under the sun, and behold, the whole is vanity and a grazing on wind. What is distorted cannot be set in order, and what is lacking cannot be counted. I spoke with my heart, saying, behold, I have grown great and have added in wisdom over all who were over Jerusalem before me; my heart has seen much of wisdom and knowledge. Then I applied my heart to know wisdom, as well as to know about raving and frivolity; I realize that even this, it is a grazing on wind. For in much wisdom is much vexation, And he who adds knowledge adds pain." (Ecclesiastes 1:13-18)

That is the bad news - but the good news tells us that after humans have been suitably HUMBLED, they are to be recreated into the image of Christ Jesus - the immortal and sinless Son of God!

"Thus it is written also, The first man, Adam, "became a living soul:" the last Adam a vivifying Spirit. But not first the spiritual, but the soulish, thereupon the spiritual. The first human was out of the earth, soilish; the second Adam is the Lord out of heaven. Such as the soilish one is, such are those also who are soilish, and such as the Celestial One, such are those also who are celestials. And according as we wear the image of the soilish, we should be wearing the image also of the Celestial. 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. Lo! a secret to you am I telling! We all, indeed, shall not be put to repose, yet we all shall be changed, in an instant, in the twinkle of an eye, at the last trump. For He will be trumpeting, and the dead will be roused incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal put on immortality.  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 15:46-54)

God has a plan for the good of all humanity.

"Now we are aware that God is working all together for the good of those who are loving God, who are called according to the purpose that, whom He foreknew, He designates beforehand, also, to be conformed to the image of His Son, for Him to be Firstborn among many brethren." (Romans 8:28-29)

And then what?

"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. And 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." (Revelation 21:1-5)