May 31st - Our Father in Heaven

"This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven..." (Matthew 6:9)

"Our Father in heaven" is the One who gives beauty to replace our ashes, joy to replace our mourning, and praise to replace our despair. He has sent His Son Jesus to see that this is done.

"He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to 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." (Isaiah 61:1-3)

Political and religious differences of opinion divide humanity, they will never bring humanity together. It is depressing to me so I go to the Bible for encouragement. Jesus came into the world to introduce humanity to “Our Father in heaven”. All the political evil going on around us is simply preparing us all for the good that our Father is preparing for His family following this present wicked age. 

"Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named...For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name." (Ephesians 3:1-6, 15).

"There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:6)

God knows exactly what He’s doing. And He says that the best is yet to come!

“Behold, I make all things new...He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen." (Revelation 21:5; 22:20-21 )

May 30th - Grace in the Eyes of the Lord

“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord . . . . .” (Genesis 6:8)

Noah and his family were saved from the flood by the grace of God, but that salvation was temporary because he and his family eventually died like everyone does. Death is God’s will for humanity in this present evil age. But it is also God’s WILL that humanity be saved out of death by the loving GRACE of God. That is our blessed expectation (hope), and it will be glorious!

"As in Adam all die, even so, in Christ, all shall be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:22)

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life..." (Romans 6:23)

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all humanity…” (Titus 2:11)

“For by grace are you saved through faith…it is the gift of God…” (Ephesians 2:8)

“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who will have ALL humanity be SAVED, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and humanity, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom FOR ALL, to be testified in due time. Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.” (1 Timothy 2:3-7)

May 29th - Our Light Affliction

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory." (2 Corinthians 4:17)

Now consider what Paul considered "light"...

“…five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep…many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.” (2 Corinthians 4:24-27)

As bad as it may seem from time to time, our problems are light when compared to the "weight of glory" that awaits us at the close of this life and our resurrection to immortality.

"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things will not be remembered or come to mind.” (Isaiah 65:17)

"...as it is written: What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived -- the things God has prepared for those who love him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9)

And all will eventually love Him when they realize their sins are forgiven and forgotten.

May 28th - What is the Holy Spirit?

This two-word phrase "Holy Spirit" is used over 90 times in the Greek New Testament and only three times in the Old Testament, once in Psalm 51 and twice in Isaiah 63.

 

As I understand Scripture, the Holy Spirit is not a person. It is the POWER coming out of God, the Father, and the Lord, Jesus Christ. Their power created all things. 

“There may be so-called gods both in heaven and on earth, and some people actually worship many gods and many lords. But for us, there is one God, the Father, by whom all things were created, and for whom we live. And there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things were created, and through whom we live. However, not all believers know this.” (1 Corinthians 8:5-7 NLT)

The Holy Spirit is the POWER of God that enables human beings to hear and believe the gospel of their salvation and tell others about it.

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

The power of God is what will be used to create a New Heaven and New Earth. 

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind." (Isaiah 65:17)

"But in keeping with God's promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells." (Peter 3:13)

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more." (Revelation 21:1)

 

Love is the most powerful attribute of our omnipotent God. The power of His love is seen at Calvary. Love flowed as a river of living water out of the heart of God, through his Son Christ Jesus the Lord, for humanity to see. 

 

"If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water. But this He spoke concerning the SPIRIT.”  (John 7:37-39)

 

"So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in POWER; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a SPIRITUAL body.” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44) 

 

“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 bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.” (Philippians 3:20-21)

 

When our bodies of flesh and blood are transformed into glorious new spiritual bodies, this same love will flow like rivers of living water from our new hearts for we will have become the image of Christ. The Holy Spirit, the power of God flowing through Christ Jesus into humanity will have won the Victory over death!

May 27th - God will Forgive their Wickedness

"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples indeed, then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)

You “WILL know” the truth He said. Jesus was talking to those who believed in him. Yet they were not free for they did not yet "know the truth". The truth would come through the Apostle Paul. 

Believing in Jesus does not set you free, only believing what Jesus has done for humanity sets us free.

So, what was the truth that would "set them free"? 

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

“…by His death He (Jesus) might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their FEAR of death." (Hebrews 2:14-16)

Humanity is “held in slavery by their fear of death”. We fear death because we do not believe that humanity is to be saved out of it. When we “hold to” the expectation of our resurrection we have the faith like Abraham, the father of all who have faith...

“…because the law brings wrath…the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring--not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed--the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.” (Romans 4:15-17)

After God gives "life to the dead" every human will know the truth and set free from the fear of death. For now, only those who have heard and believe in the resurrection enjoy the free gift of eternal life - we have been set free from the fear of death.

“Now the just shall live by faith..." (Hebrews 10:38) 

As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:22)

"No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest. For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Hebrews 8:11-12)

There is a lot of wickedness in this world. We should fight to eliminate that wickedness  - but after the wicked get the death coming to them, God intends to "forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more".  That is what a loving, merciful, and gracious God does for humanity through His Son Jesus.

May 26th - The Wisdom of the Religious World

To believe that anyone will be endlessly tortured by God robs people of joy in their own salvation. Even worse, there are those who are convinced that if they do not believe in hell, they might spend eternity in it. 

Humanity is being deluded by the wisdom of this world and here is what the Bible has to say about such wisdom…

“Let no one be deluding himself. If anyone among you is presuming to be wise in this eon, let him become stupid, that he may becoming wise, for the wisdom of this world is stupidity with God. For it is written, He is clutching the wise in their craftiness. The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are vain. So that, let no one be boasting in men.” (1 Corinthians 3:18-21)

If the Bible is true, and I believe it is, then Christ Jesus died for the sins of all humanity, and therefore all humans will be reconciled to God.

“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, if you are retaining what I said in bringing the evangel to you, outside and except you believe feignedly. 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 roused the third day according to the scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

“For if, being enemies, we were reconcilied to God through the death of His Son, much rather, being reconciled, we shall be saved in His life. Yet not only so, but we are glorying also in God, through our Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom we now obtained the reconciliation.” (Romans 5:10-11)

The Bible says all humanity dies "in Adam", all humanity will be made alive again "in Christ". 

"For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be made alive...The last enemy is being abolished: death....Now, whenever all may be subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also shall be subjected to Him Who subjects all to Him, that God may be All in all...For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal put on immortality...then shall come to pass the word which is written, Swallowed up was Death by Victory...Now thanks be to God, Who is giving us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:22, 26, 28, 53-54, 57)

Its is God's will to "head up all in the Christ".

“Grace to you and peace from God, our Father, and the 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: 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 (in accord with His delight, which He purposed in Him) to have an administration of the complement of the eras, TO HEAD UP ALL IN THE CHRIST -- both that in the heavens and that on the earth --in Him in Whom our lot was cast also, being designated beforehand according to the purpose of the One Who is operating all in accord with the counsel of His will.” (Ephesians 1:2-11)

I am certain that humanity is destined to appear with Christ in glory sometime after death is abolished.

“Be disposed to that which is above, not to that on the earth, for you died, and your life is hid together with Christ in God. Whenever Christ, our Life, should be manifested, then you also shall be manifested together with Him in glory.” (Colossians 3:2-4)

I used to get angry at those who condemn people not in their group to hell, but now I see that the grace of God is even greater than that sin.

“For even as, through the disobedience of the one man, the many were constituted sinners, thus also, through the obedience of the One, the many shall be constituted just. Yet law came in by the way, that the offense should be increasing. 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 5:19-21)

The wisdom of the religious world "is stupidity with God."

May 25th - My Straight Path

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and unto your own understanding lean not. In all your ways know Him, for He is making straight your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5)

God can be trusted regardless of whether we trust Him or not. God will make our paths straight REGARDLESS of whether we allow Him or not. That is His plan. By reading the Bible, we can know what He is doing and will accomplish. We cannot change anything by our own stubborn refusal to believe Him. The only thing we can do is to decide to TRUST Him...or not. My decision to trust Him gave me Peace and Joy and Assurance that what He has started He will finish, which is making humanity into His image!

“And God saith, let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…I give thanks to my God…having been confident of this very thing, that He who did begin in you a good work, will perform until the day of Jesus Christ” (Genesis 1:26; Philippians 1:3-6)

He is making my path straight! If not in this life, then when I am resurrected into an immortal new life.

"So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a SPIRITUAL body.” (1 Corinthians 15:42-44)

I am glad it is HIS work and not mine.

May 24th - Seek, Ask, Knock

"And I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened…your heavenly Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” (Luke 11:9-10, 13)

Before the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus it was necessary for the JEWSISH PEOPLE to seek, ask and knock to access the power of God (Holy Spirit) to meet their needs. After the resurrection of Jesus all power in heaven and earth was given Jesus and it is Jesus who now does the asking…

"I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that it may be with you for the age; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see it or know it, but you know it because it abides with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17)

Jesus asked the Father to give the Holy Spirit to the Jews who believed the truth that Jesus is the Messiah. The power of the Holy Spirit would abide in them, and on Pentecost, 50 days after His resurrection, the gift of this power came and settled on those early Jewish believers…

“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place…and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance.” (Acts 1:1-4)

Those Jews then begin to speak to Jews who had come from all over the world to celebrate the Jewish Festival of Weeks. By this POWER they spoke to them in the various languages (tongues) of these Jewish travelers. They told them about Messiah Jesus, His resurrection and ascension, and His promised return.  

The gift of that power was withdrawn from the Jewish Nation at the close of the book of Acts. The Apostle Paul then went to the other Nations with the Gospel of Grace, the good news of the "salvation" of all humanity through Christ Jesus…

“After three days Paul called together those who were the leading men of the Jews…trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening…and when they did not agree with one another, they began leaving after Paul had spoken one parting word, "The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, saying you will keep on hearing but will not understand and you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive...therefore let it be known to you that this SALVATION of God has been sent to the Gentiles…”

In this era, the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness and prayers, and, both the Spirit and Jesus Himself, intercedes on our behalf "according to the will of God".

“…the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit…intercedes for the saints according to THE WILL OF GOD….Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also INTERCEDES for us...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 8:26-38)

Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

May 23rd - Religion Frustrates

When religious doctrine frustrates me I return to the basics.

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

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

"As in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:22)

"Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. Now I say this, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I am telling you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written: “death has been swallowed up in victory." (1 Corinthians 15:49-54)

May 22nd - Hope for the Feeble and Flustered

"Be gracious to me, O Yahweh, for I am feeble; Heal me, O Yahweh, for my bones are flustered, And my soul, it is flustered exceedingly. But You, O Yahweh, how long? Do return, O Yahweh! Do extricate my soul! Save me on account of Your mercy. For in death there is no remembrance of You; In the unseen, who shall acclaim You?" (Psalm 6:2-5)

As I grow older I am understanding what King David was feeling. I get "flustered" from time to time and start wondering how long before Jesus ("Yahweh" in the flesh) returns to save and transform this "feeble" body. Then I remember the promise of God...

"Grace to you and peace from God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, Who gives Himself for our sins, so that He might extricate us out of the present wicked eon, according to the will of our God and Father, to Whom be glory for the eons of the eons. Amen!" (Galatians 1:3-5)

By the grace of God, believers will be extricated from this present wicked eon and changed into a new creation. Our new bodies will no longer be feeble and our souls no longer flustered - we will possess a spiritual body like that of our Lord Jesus.

"For our realm is inherent in the heavens, out of which we are awaiting a Saviour also, the Lord, Jesus Christ, Who will transfigure the body of our humilation, to conform it to the body of His glory, in accord with the operation which enables Him even to subject all to Himself." (Philippians 3:20-21)

Eventually, all humans will acclaim Jesus is Lord for the glory of God, the Father.

"For let this disposition be in you, which is in Christ Jesus also, Who, being inherently in the form of God, deems it not pillaging to be equal with God, nevertheless empties Himself, taking the form of a slave, coming to be in the likeness of humanity, and, being found in fashion as a human, He humbles Himself, becoming obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 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 2:5-11)

May 21st - Tetragrammaton - Who is He?

"In a beginning Elohim created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1)

"The LORD (YHWH) God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." (Genesis 2:7)

"For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many so-called gods and lords), yet for us there is but one God, the FATHER, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one LORD, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist. But not everyone has this knowledge." (1 Corinthians 8:5-6)

When the Hebrew Bible was translated into Greek at least two centuries before Jesus was born, the Greek word Kurios was used for the divine tetragrammaton YHWH (Yahweh). When the Greek word Kurious was translated into English the word "Lord" was chosen.

I have been pondering on the following New Testament scripture in light of the above:

"No one can say Jesus is Lord (YHWH) except by the Holy Spirit" (1 Corinthians 12:3)

"If with your mouth you confess Jesus is Lord (YHWH) and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. . . . For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord (YHWH) shall be saved." (Romans 10:9-13)

"...and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (YHWH), to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:11)

"For I passed on to you in the first place what I had myself received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve, then to more than five hundred brothers at once ... then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles ..." (1 Corinthians 15:3-7)

"Concerning His Son, Who was born of David's seed by natural descent, Who was declared Son of God with power by the Spirit of Holiness when he was raised from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord (YHWH), through whom we have received grace." (Romans 1:3-4)

My conclusion is that the “Elohim” (plural word meaning mighty ones) of Genesis 1:1 consists of God the Father and His Son, YHWH (Yahweh - LORD God). I am NOT saying Jesus is God the Father, but that the tetragrammaton - YHWH - is referring to Jesus, the SON OF GOD.

May 20th - The Good News

“The earth is the LORD'S, and the fullness thereof; the inhabitants who dwell therein” (Psalm 24:1)

“…every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:11)

Everyone belongs to the LORD and every one of them will confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, or the Bible is unreliable.  Further, the LORD Jesus Christ said this...

“And this is the Father's will which hath sent Me, that of ALL which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.” (John 6:39)

The Apostle Paul said this...

“Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you… that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

“…while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God…” (Romans 5:8-9)

"Trustworthy is the saying, and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1 Timothy 1:15)

"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 humans, especially of believers.  Prescribe and teach these things." (1 Timothy 4:9-11)

Humanity is the Lord's and therefore all will be saved. This is The Good News that the Bible teaches. If "all humans" do not end up saved, the Bible cannot be trusted as the word of God.

May 19th - What Happened at the Cross?

Romans 6:23 clearly says that...

"the wages of sin is death”

Was Jesus Christ our “substitute” at the cross? Some theologians believe so and refer to it as “vicarious atonement.” They say that Jesus paid the price for our sins by dying on the cross.

Of course this cannot be true for if Jesus "paid the price" for our sin, which is death, then believers would not die. Likewise, if the horrible doctrine of eternal conscious punishment was the price Jesus paid for sin, then Jesus would have to be eternally punished to pay that price. 

“Faithful is the saying: "For if we died together, we shall be living together also.”  (2 Timothy 2:11)

Again, all humans will die...

“...it is appointed unto men once to die, and AFTER that the judgment”. (Hebrews 9:27)

The word “judgment” means to make a decision. God has decided to restore us to life as a "free gift".

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us…For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 5:8; 6:23)

What happened at the cross? 

Jesus died for our sins because He had no sins of His own. He willingly accepted the death that all humans must experience. Then God demonstrated His love by raising Jesus OUT of death to life. He has promised to do so for all humanity.

"As in Adam all die, even so, in Christ, all shall be made alive." (1 Corinthians 15:22)

Our death satisfies God's penalty for sin. Jesus is not our substitute, He is our SAVIOR. He will save us out of death and give us eternal immortal life. 

"God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself...and has given us the ministry of reconciliation...For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him , and through Him to reconcile ALL 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.” (2 Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 1:19-22)

May 18th - Kill Him, He is Not Fit to Live!

Paul relates to us how and why he was nearly killed by the Jewish leaders…

“Then it happened that after my return to Jerusalem, while I was at prayer in the Temple, unconscious of everything else, I saw Him (Jesus), and He said to me. Make haste and leave Jerusalem at once, for they will not accept your testimony about Me. And I said, but, Lord, they know how I have been through all the synagogues imprisoning and beating all those who believe in You. They know also that when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed I stood by, giving my approval - why, I was even holding in my arms the outer garments of those who killed Him. But He said to me, Go, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles." They (the Jewish leaders) had listened to him until he said this, but now they raised a great shout, Kill him, and rid the earth of such a man! He is not fit to live!" (Acts 22:17-21)

All was well and good until Paul told the Jews that Jesus had sent him to the Gentiles with the good news of their salvation. The Jews wanted such a guy killed for thinking the wretched Gentiles would be saved.

Nothing much has changed over the past 2000 years. Those religions who think they have a monopoly on salvation get mad at anyone who reminds them that God has said He loves the whole world and intends to save everyone. They may not try to kill you, but they won't invite you to their Temples to teach this good news. Nevertheless, the salvation of all humans will happen.

“It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...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 1:15, 4:10-11)

May 17th - Deceitful Workers

“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light…" (2 Corinthians 11:13-14)

Jesus had this to say about such people 2000 years ago...

"You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)

These “deceitful workers” are found in all religious groups. Their methods are subtle, as Satan is subtle. All of these "false apostles" separate humanity into two groups - the saved and the lost.

Nevertheless, God will unify humanity. He will save them all out of death and change them into a united new creation in Christ - and, as I understand the Bible, even the "deceitful workers" will be transformed into the image of Christ.

“The wages of sin is DEATH but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord...who gave Himself a ransom for all...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...it is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all humanity, especially of believers. PRESCRIBE AND TEACH THESE THINGS..." (Romans 6:23; 1 Timothy 2:6; Colossians 1:19-23; 1 Timothy 4:10-11)

May 16th - Doing Good

"Verily, verily, I am saying to you that he who is hearing My word and believing Him Who sends Me, has everlasting life and is not coming into judging, but has proceeded out of death into life. Verily, verily, I am saying to you that coming is an hour, and now is, when the dead shall be hearing the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear shall be living. For even as the Father has life in Himself, thus to the Son also He gives to have life in Himself. And He gives Him authority to do judging, seeing that He is a son of humanity. Marvel not at this, for coming is the hour in which all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice, and those who do good shall go out into a resurrection of life, yet those who commit bad things, into a resurrection of judging" (John 5:24-29)

Note that in this passage only those who “do good” shall be involved in the resurrection of life, and those who “commit bad things” get the resurrection of "judging".   Paul is not saying this "judging" is referring to being eternally condemned. So what does he mean? 

Doing "good" is to hear and have faith in what God the Father says to humanity through His Son Jesus. Jesus is coming again to this Earth, soon it seems to me, to reign over this present Earth for one thousand years. When He comes those who have heard and believed what God says through His Son (do good) will be resurrected to reign with Him during that thousand year reign. Those who "commit bad things" (do not hear and have faith in what God the Father says to humanity through His Son Jesus) must wait to be resurrected one thousand years later. Then they will appear before the Great White Throne and be judged, die the second time, and be "vivified" (given immortality). Death is finally abolished for all humanity. At the Great White Throne, all will hear and have faith in what God says through His Son.

"...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.). This is the former resurrection. Happy and holy is he who is having part in the former resurrection! Over these the second death has no jurisdiction, but they will be reigning with Him the thousand years." (Revelation 20:5-6)

"And I perceived a great white throne, and Him Who is sitting upon it, from Whose face earth and heaven fled, and no place was found for them. And I perceived the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne. And scrolls were opened. And another scroll was opened which is the scroll of life. And the dead were judged by that which is written in the scrolls in accord with their acts. And the sea gives up the dead in it, and death and the unseen give up the dead in them. And they were condemned, each in accord with their acts. And death and the unseen were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death-the lake of fire. And if anyone was not found written in the scroll of life, he was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:11-15)

"For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be vivified" ... "He must be reigning until He should be placing all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy is being abolished: death. For He subjects all under His feet. Now whenever He may be saying that all is subject, it is evident that it is outside of Him Who subjects all to Him." Now, whenever all may be subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also shall be subjected to Him Who subjects all to Him, that God may be All in all." (1 Corinthians 15:22,25-28)

"...that in the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, celestial and terrestrial and subterranean, and every tongue shall be acclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God, the Father." So that, my beloved, according as you always obey, not as in my presence only, but now much rather in my absence, with fear and trembling, be carrying your own salvation into effect, for it is God Who is operating in you to will as well as to work for the sake of His delight." (Philippians 2: 10-13)

"...yet now is being manifested through the advent of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, Who, indeed, abolishes death, yet illuminates life and incorruption through the evangel of which I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher of the nations. " (2 Timothy 1:10-11)

This is not complicated, but it does require one to actually study and harmonize all of the scripture found in the Bible. This life sucks sometimes, but ruling and reigning with Christ on this Earth for a thousand years will be worth all the suffering we may experience for "doing good" - which is hearing and having faith in what God the Father says to humanity through His Son Jesus.

May 15th - Humanity Cannot Save Itself

“For without shedding of blood is no remission.” (Hebrews 9:22)

Before God allowed evil and sin into the world, He had a plan for its removal. It was the shedding of the blood of His Son Jesus. He was the sin offering for humanity - and God accepted it and will take away the sins of the world.

“The next day John sees Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world...” (John 1:29)

"He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sin, and not ours only, but for the sin of the whole world!" (1 John 2:2)

The plan of salvation is simple, the execution of that plan was harsh, yet God saved His Son out of death and will do the same for all humans at our resurrection.

“And this is the Father's will which hath sent Me, that of all which He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day...it is finished.” (John 6:39; 19:30)

“For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Those who hear and believe the truth of their salvation have peace in this life.

"Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful." (John 14:27)

All humanity will hear, believe, swear allegiance to God, and confess that Jesus is Lord following their resurrection.

"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 45:23)

"Christ Jesus, Who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of humans. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. 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 that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:5-11)

Again, humanity cannot save itself from death, but fortunately it does not have to - God will do that.

"...there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust." (Acts 24:15)

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

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

"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 as a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth." (1 Timothy 2:5-7)

"This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation. For this we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all humanity, especially of those that believe. These things command and teach." (1 Timothy 4:9-11)