June 30th - Elementary Teaching About Christ

 “Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.” (Hebrews 6:1-3)

Of all of the mistranslations of Scripture into English, Satan’s crown jewel in my opinion is the translation of the Greek words "krimatos aioniou" as “eternal judgment”. Fortunately, there are a few Bible translations that Satan has not been able to influence. Here are two of the three I am familiar with…

“…of the teaching of baptisms, of laying on also of hands, of rising again also of the dead, and of judgment age-during” (Young’s Literal Translation), and

“…of the teaching of baptizings, besides the imposition of hands, and the resurrection of the dead, and of judgment eonian.” (Concordant Literal Translation)

What the writer of Hebrews is talking about is moving on from basic teaching that all Christians should be aware of to the maturity of knowing all of what God has planned for humanity. The elementary teachings I find are…

1. Jesus is the Savior of the world
2. The grace of God saves humanity, not good works

3. All creation will be reconciled to God

4. God the Father will be All in all

4. Our faith is to be in that plan of God the Father, and His Son, Christ Jesus

Paul summarizes this for me as follows:

“But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death. For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, All things are put in subjection, it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be ALL in ALL.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-28)

"...the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may be giving you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the realization of Him, the eyes of your heart having been enlightened, for you to perceive what is the expectation of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of the enjoyment of His allotment among the saints, and what the transcendent greatness of His power for us who are believing, in accord with the operation of the might of His strength, which is operative in the Christ, rousing Him from among the dead and seating Him at His right hand among the celestials, up over every sovereignty and authority and power and lordship, and every name that is named, not only in this eon, but also in that which is impending: and subjects all under His feet, and gives Him, as Head over all, to the ecclesia which is His body, the complement of the One completing the ALL in ALL." (Ephesians 1:17-23)

June 29th - Did Christ Die in Vain?

"I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain." (Galatians 2:21).

The Bible teaches me that salvation is a free gift to humanity from God.

“…for the free gift of God is eternal life…For by grace are you saved…for the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all humanity….” (Romans 6:23b; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11-13)

My conclusion after reading the Bible from cover to cover is that God is going to save everyone as Paul says...

“...we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all humanity, especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things.” (1 Timothy 4:9-11)

"...there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and humanity, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all..." (1 Timothy 2:5-6)

Christ did not die in vain!

June 28th - God Loves Sinners

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:43-44)

“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you.” (Colossians 3:16)

How does your religious doctrine measure up to these words of Jesus and Paul?

What about God the Father, how is His attitude toward His enemies?

“God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (Romans 5:8-11)

The governments and religions of humanity are not in love with you - but God proved that He is by making His Son the ransom for our sin!

 "I exhort, then, first of all, there be made supplications, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings, for all men: for kings, and all who are in authority, that a quiet and peaceable life we may lead in all piety and gravity, for this [is] right and acceptable before God our Saviour, who doth will all men to be saved, and to come to the full knowledge of the truth; for one [is] God, one also [is] mediator of God and of men, the man Christ Jesus, who did give himself a ransom for all." (1 Timothy 2:1-6 YLT) 

June 27th - What Does God See When He Looks at Humanity

“But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for humanity appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy…” (Titus 3:4-5)

God does not try to save us or offer to save us….He SAVED us!

"God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them...He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:19-21)

What does God see when He looks at humanity?

I think He sees humanity when He is finished with us. He sees us as the result of "Christ reconciling the world”. He sees "every knee" bowing and "every tongue" confessing "Jesus Christ is Lord".

"And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will 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 2:8-11)

June 26th - Delivered from this Present Evil Age

"Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age" (Galatians 1:3-4).

God's plan is pretty simple and it is good news for everyone.There are two things that had to be done to deliver humanity from the evil of this present age - 

1. Christ Jesus gave Himself for the sins of humanity.

“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (1 John 2:2)

2. Christ Jesus will raise humanity from.

"Behold, I tell you a mystery… 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…the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory." (1 Corinthians 15:51-54)

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

June 25th - What Does God Think Humanity Needs?

“…when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” (Matthew 6:5-8)

The simple prayers of those who pray “in secret” are rewarded in accordance with what God the Father knows we need. One thing that all of us need is to be reconciled with God, and He is in the process of doing so.

“…God is reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation…God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:19-21)

So, what does this reconciliation accomplish for humanity?

“...the free gift of God is eternal life…" (Romans 6:23b)

June 24th - Vanishing Away - Then What?

“For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” (James 4:14)

The older I get the more this hits home. Good thing I also have read the following...

“But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep (vanished away) so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope…For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead (those who vanished away) in Christ will rise…comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

June 23rd - Grace and Judgment

Before the great worldwide flood described in Genesis, God made this statement concerning humanity…

"Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (Genesis 6:5)

He then made a decision...

"So the LORD said, I will destroy humanity whom I have created from the face of the earth." (Genesis 6:7)

God had told Adam and Eve what the judgment for their sin would be…

“…you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die." (Genesis 2:17)

Prior to sending the flood, God introduced humanity to His grace in the way He dealt with Noah...

"But Noah found GRACE in the eyes of the LORD" (Genesis 6:8)

Humanity has not changed and evil is still a part of our nature. The judgment of God on sin is still death yet His GRACE will save all humanity.

“…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life…for the GRACE of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all humanity.” (Romans 3:23; 6:23; Titus 2:11)

Jesus came to save humanity and show us how it will be done. Just as Jesus died and was raised to life, He will return and save the rest of us from death. That is the promise of the Bible.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly…it is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…God our Savior…desires ALL humanity to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and humanity, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for ALL…we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of ALL humanity, especially of believers.” (John 10:10; 1 Timothy 1:15, 2:3-6; 4:9-10)

June 22nd - Better To Be Drowned In The Depths Of The Sea

The disciples of Jesus asked who would be greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. He told them that "unless they change" they would not enter.

"The disciples came to Jesus and asked who would be the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me..." (Matthew 18:1-5)

Have you ever noticed how a little child reacts to being told about God loving them and Jesus dying for them? It makes them happy and they believe without question - UNTIL - they get into some church that tells them God will eternally punish them in hell unless they are really saved. It is the disciples in these churches that will need to be changed before they enter the Kingdom.

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven." (Matthew 18:10)

The church who scares "little ones", or anyone, and causes them "to stumble" from their love for God and Jesus into a phobia of fear will not be a part of the Kingdom of Heaven until its members become like little children themselves. In fact, it would be better for those leaders "to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea"...

"If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!" (Matthew 18:6-7)

On another occasion the people of a Samaritan village did not welcome Jesus. The "disciples" asked Jesus if he wanted them to call down fire from heaven to burn them up. Jesus "rebuked" them...

"But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, "Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?" (Luke 9:54-55)

I cannot think of anything worse than scaring a child with the heresy of eternal conscious torment in hell. I would rather be "drowned in the depths of the sea". Unfortunately such teaching continues in some form in most churches. Thankfully, Jesus will burn up such false teaching in "the day" humans give account to God.

"By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames." (1 Corinthians 3:10-15)

All humans, including those who now cause people to stumble, are destined to "become like little children" when God conforms them into the image of His Son Jesus.

"...behold I make all things new..." (Revelation 21:5)

...I will turn their mourning into joy, and give them comfort and joy for their sorrow" (Jeremiah 31:13)

"For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son..." (Romans 8:29)

June 21st - All in All.

"God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19).

The secret to worthwhile faith is figuring out what God has actually said. That is not always easy. Who among us today has actually had a two way conversation with God? What I do is assume that God spoke to men of old and they wrote down what God told them into a book we call the Bible - the Scripture.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness…for everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we might have hope.” (2 Timothy 3:16; Romans 15:4)

I hope for humanity is found in the Bible. Paul sums up this “hope” as follows...

“But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive… so that God may be All in all.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-28)

God “All in all”.  That is the hope for humanity that is a treasure worth guarding!

"I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him for that day...with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. Guard the good treasure entrusted to you." (2 Timothy 1:12-14)

June 20th - Better Promises

Concerning the history of the unfaithfulness of Israel Paul writes...

“Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” (1 Corinthians 10:11)

The promises to ISRAEL that were dependent on their faithfulness needed to be exchanged for a covenant based on the faithfulness of sinless Jesus, rather than sinful humans.

"Now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.” (Hebrews 8:6)

The basic promises of the old covenant Law of Moses can be summarized as "do this, and you will live." The promises under the law were not realized because humanity does not obey the Law of God.

"Notwithstanding, the children rebelled against me; they did not walk in my statutes, and were not careful to observe my judgments, which, if a human does, he shall live by them" (Ezekiel 20:21).

God has promised a new covenant which is immeasurably better than the old one, because it DOES NOT depend upon human performance, but on the GRACE of God. 

"I will make a new covenant… I will put my law in their minds…I will be their God…I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

What God has promised to forgive the iniquity of humanity and remember our sins no more! Paul was given this good news to tell everyone.

“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who will have ALL humanity to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one MEDIATOR between God and humans, 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)

June 19th - Myths and Strange Doctrines

“To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord...instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths… It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme.” (1 Timothy 1:1-20)

You can search all you want but you will not find a single verse in the Bible that says the penalty for sin is Christianity’s morbid concept of eternal conscious torment. It is a myth. the Bible clearly says that the result of sin is DEATH.

"...but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:17)

"The wages of sin is death..."  (Romans 6:23)

Salvation is what happens AFTER death. The Bible tells us that Jesus will resurrect sinners OUT OF DEATH - not save them from it. But for more than 1900 years there have been leaders in the church like “Hymenaeus and Alexander”, who have been shipwrecked in regard to their faith by the strange doctrine and myth of eternal conscious torment for those who do not join a Christian church.

All of God’s dealings with humanity is with a view to the eventual reconciliation of ALL humans, even Hymenaeus, Alexander, and their modern day counterparts.

“…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...God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself not counting their sins against them and has given us the ministry of reconciliation...” (Colossians 1:20; 2 Corinthians 5)

There is absolutely no thought in the minds of the writers of Scripture with regard to eternal conscious torment. Such punitive retribution was introduced centuries ago by corrupt theology and is being passed on as truth today in most churches. How incredibly sad! Paul addressed the source of the myths and strange doctrines.

"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. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness..." (2 Corinthians 11:13-14)

June 18th - Religious, Political and Journalistic Fabricators

“For us, who love God, who are the called according to His purpose, there is an awareness that He is working all together for good.” (Romans 8:28).

God is working everything for the good of humanity. This truth is refreshing to me in a world of religious, political and journalistic fabricators. Truth has become what these institutions perceive it to be, or would like it to be. 

All who have lived on this planet - even the religious, political and journalistic fabricators among us - will discover that humanity will be saved out of death by the grace of God.

“It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all humans to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and humans, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all…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 1:15, 18-19; 2:3-8; 4:9-11)

This truth continues to brighten even my most difficult days in this present evil age. It gives me peace and enhances my love for God. Not a fabricated love, but a genuine love flowing from the knowledge of God's grace, love, and goodness.

Religious, political, and journalistic fabricators are obsessed with the idea that those who agree with them are the only ones who will have things work out for good - however, I am confident that they are wrong!

June 17th - Don't Be Judged By Religious Ritual

“For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect…” (Hebrews 10:1)

The above was written to Jews who had believed and followed Jesus as their Messiah. They were considering returning to the Law and its rituals as the way to righteousness. The writer was reminding them that the Law nor the rituals surrounding the obedience to it could make them perfect.

Gentiles who had believed in Jesus were being told by some of the Jewish followers of Jesus that they too had to observe the rituals of the Law of Moses. Paul tells them that they should not allow these Jews to judge them by religious rituals...

“Therefore let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.” (Colossians 2:16-17)

Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that we will not be judged, nor rewarded, concerning our attendance at Church nor its associated rituals. We will be judged by whether we believe "the word" of Christ Jesus that He is the SAVIOR of the world. Jesus said…

“If anyone hears my sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects me and does not receive my sayings, has one who judges him; THE WORD I spoke is what will judge him at the last day.…” (John 12:47-48)

And what is “the word” which Jesus spoke which will “judge him” who rejects it? His word that He came “to save the world”. 

Jesus will SAVE the world and all those who have been part of it because that is what he came to do. He did not come to condemn the world.

“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” (John 3:17)

Those who do not believe that Jesus is the Savior of the world will be “judged” WRONG and be ashamed when in fact Jesus returns and saves everyone from death. At that time all will give account of their life to God including what they believed about God our Savior. ALL humanity will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord bringing "glory to God"…

“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 every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11)

"For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.” (Romans 14:8-12)

June 16th - Try to Keep Calm in the Storms of this Life

There is a saying that a person can be so heavenly minded that he is of no earthly good. But that is not what the Bible says.

“If, then, you were roused together with Christ, be seeking that which is above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 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 3:1-4)

Christ is “that which is above”. While He was down here He did what was necessary to save sinners who are condemned to death. One day He will return to resurrect us, change us, and share His glory with us. The older I get the more I find myself “seeking that which is above” and looking forward to my arrival. It gives me peace to know what awaits me and my family in the next life. For now, I try to enjoy this life the best I can trying to keep clam in the storms.

“So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 8:15)

June 15th - The Faith of Jesus Christ

"Being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who is of the faith of Jesus.” (Romans 3:24-26)

Our righteousness is not based on OUR faith, but the faith OF Jesus. And the only way to be “justified” (declared righteous) is to be a recipient of the “faith OF Jesus”.

“...the righteousness of God is through the faith of Jesus Christ to all. and on all who believe." (Romans 3:22)

If your version of the Bible says "faith IN Jesus", it is wrong. Any honest translator with a Greek Interlinear will clearly see the proper translation is "faith OF Jesus". Nothing wrong with having faith IN Jesus, but that is not the context in the above verses which are talking about the faith that Jesus had, not our faith.

For it is by Grace you have been saved, through FAITH - and that NOT OF YOURSELVES, it is the GIFT OF GOD...we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all humanity...Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of FAITH, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Ephesians 2:8; 1 Timothy 4:10; Hebrews 12:2-3)

Jesus had faith that His suffering and death on the Cross was the RIGHT thing for God to do in order to save humanity. The sacrifice of His body was necessary to do so, and therefore Jesus "endured the cross" because He knew that...

"Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll - I have come to do your will, my God....and by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once FOR ALL...when this priest had offered FOR ALL TIME one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time He waits for His enemies to be made His footstool. For by one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy..." and God says that "their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." (Hebrews 10:5-17)

What is the will of God for humanity that Jesus was sent to do?

"This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who WILLS all humanity to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and humans, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom FOR ALL..." (1 Timothy 2:3-7)

"Therefore when Christ came into the world He said 'Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sin offerings You took no delight. Then I said, ‘Here I am, it is written about Me in the scroll: I have come to do YOUR WILL, O God.’ ” (Hebrews 10:5-7)

June 14th - The Savior of the World

The Apostle Paul wrote...

"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 ... This mystery is that through the gospel the nations (gentiles) are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 3:2-6)

And Paul told humanity what Jesus came into the world to do.

"Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—" (1 Timothy 1:15)

Did Jesus, the Son of God, get the job done?

"Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! ...And we have seen and we testify that the Father has sent His Son as the world's Savior." (John 1:29; 1 John 4:14)

"All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:18-19)

"...we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, especially of those who believe." (1 Timothy 4:10)

I am confident Jesus was successful!

From the cross Jesus said...

"It is finished!" Then bowing His head, He gave up His spirit." (John 19:30)

June 13th - Stop Bragging

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

After studying the Greek I think the Aramaic Bible in Plain English captures the truth better than some of the other English translations…

“For it is by His grace that we have been saved through faith, and this faith was not from you, but it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8 Aramaic Bible in Plain English)

So from where does this saving faith come if this faith “was not from you”?

“Because we know that a man is not justified by works of The Written Law, but by the faith of Yeshua The Messiah, we also believe in Yeshua (Jesus) the Messiah, that we should be made right by the faith of The Messiah, and not by the works of The Written Law, because no one is made right by the works of The Written Law.” (Galatians 2:16 Aramaic Bible in Plain English)

Did you catch that – it is not YOUR faith, but the faith “of Yeshua The Messiah”. 

We are not saved by our faith IN Christ, but we are both saved and justified by the Grace of God as a result of “the faith of Yeshua the Messiah”.

Claiming to be saved as a result of a decision we make, or our baptism, or our repentance of sin, or our profession of faith, or our good works, or our membership in a church, yada yada yada….is to “boast”. We had nothing to do with our salvation.

“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God...the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 3:23;6:23)

One of the reasons that Salvation is by the Grace of God bestowed freely on sinners is to prevent us from bragging about it...or working for it.  We should rejoice and brag on God for His free gift.

"Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I will say, rejoice!" (Philipians 4:4)

June 12th - The Ransom of All Humanity

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all people.” (1 Timothy 2:5-6)

Ransom is defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary as “a consideration paid or demanded for the release of someone from captivity”. A ransom is not a debt that is paid, it is a payment required for release of a captive. So what was “demanded” of Christ Jesus? Not money or any material thing. The demand for the release of "all people" was His LIFE.  

But who did He pay? Who or what was holding humanity captive?

The ransom was paid to the greatest enemy of humanity - DEATH. God had declared to Adam and Eve that the penalty for sin was DEATH. DEATH holds all humanity captive.  

God gave His Son to "ransom" humanity from its captor, death so that it can be abolished...

“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus replied, Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that...on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades [the grave] will not overcome it...As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive...the last enemy that will be abolished is death.” (Matthew 16:16-18; 1 Corinthians 15:22-26)

Again, the LIFE of Jesus was the ransom paid to DEATH to free its “captives”.  God assures us that death’s “prisoners” will have “freedom” from death when they are "made alive". 

Jesus began His public ministry by reading from the prophet Isaiah to proclaim freedom for the captives with the following words…

“The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners” (Isaiah 61:1)

Paul was probably thinking of "freedom" from the "captivity" of death when he wrote…

“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called…there is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of ALL who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, when he ascended on high he led captivity (death) captive and He gave gifts to humanity (eternal life).” (Ephesians 4:1-8)