September 30th - The Transition from Law to Grace

“Now it occurred three days after, that he calls together those who are foremost of the Jews...Paul making one declaration, that, "Ideally the holy spirit speaks through Isaiah the prophet, to your fathers, saying, 'Go to this people and say, "In hearing, you will be hearing, and may by no means be understanding, And observing, you will be observing, and may by no means be perceiving,"…Let it be known to you, then, that to the nations is dispatched this salvation of God, and they will hear." Now he remains two whole years in his own hired house, and he welcomed all those going in to him…heralding the kingdom of God, and teaching that which concerns the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness, unforbidden.” (Acts 28:17-31)

The book of Acts records the transition of God speaking exclusively to Israel to the present era in which God is speaking to all nations. Looking back on when God was speaking only to Israel Paul wrote to the nations…

“You were, in that era, apart from Christ, being alienated from the citizenship of Israel, and guests of the promised covenants, having no expectation, and without God in the world.” (Ephesians 2:12).

After God began speaking to all nations through Paul, he wrote…

“Consequently, then, no longer are you (the other nations) guests and sojourners, but are fellow-citizens of the saints and belong to God’s family.” (Ephesians 2:19)

Paul’s message was the unification of Jews and Gentiles in Christ Jesus, and all people now belong in God's family.

“Of these things be reminding them, encouraging them in the Lord's sight not to engage in controversy that is not useful and just upsetts those who are hearing. Try to present yourself to God as a qualified, and unashamed worker, correctly understanding the word of truth...” 

September 29th - Tyrannies

“Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive….those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience.” C.S. Lewis (1898-1963) 

I rarely quote men, however this quote seems appropriate in our current political environment.  What politicians want is to get us to accept their particular form of "tyranny sincerely exercised for the good of its victims". And apparently they do so "with the approval of their own conscience". I find it "most oppressive" and it seems they will be "tormenting us without end".  

“Jesus wept…” (John 11:35)

The Son of God through whom all creation was made wept over the death of his friend Lazarus because He LOVED him….and then He raised him from the dead! 

Can anyone love humanity enough to raise them all from the dead? Yes!

“God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

"I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." (John 14:3)

"…see the Son coming in a cloud with power and great glory, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near…" (Luke 21:17)

"For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Than those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If our hope in Christ is for this life alone, we are to be pitied... But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.  Each in his own turn: Christ the firstfruits; then at His coming, those who belong to Him. Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power." (1 Corinthians 15:17-22, 54)

"This is a trustworthy saying, worthy of full acceptance. To this end we labor and strive, because 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 4:9-11)

Governments of men "torment us without end" but the final government of God for redeemed humanity will bless us without end.

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with humanity. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And He who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (Revelation 21:1-4)

Makes me weep also….for JOY!

September 28th - When Will the World Be Saved?

"God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:24)

Jesus said this to a Samaritan women at Jacob's well. From that conversation she came to believe that Jesus was the Messiah and went into town to tell her friends. Some of those friends came to the well to visit with Jesus and concluded:

"...we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.” (John 4:42)

Jesus is still the Savior of the world, but when will the world be saved? It has been 2,000 years and the world is no more saved today than it was at that time. 

Humans have one thing in common - they all die because the "wages" of sin is still "death".

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

No one has ever prevented their death by "repenting of their sins" or "confessing with their mouth that Jesus as Lord" or "believing in their heart that Jesus is Lord". These acts, if you really know who Jesus is, are simply expressions of one's faith that Jesus is in fact "the Savior of the World". 

So when will Jesus "save" the world?

The bible teaches that it is when humanity has been resurrected from the dead. And it is in that "truth" that we worship God. All other worship is just the vain babbling of religious men. Humanity can worship in this truth of our salvation now, but it cannot "worship in spirit" until after all the dead have been saved by being resurrected into an immortal "spiritual body".

"For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all humanity most to be pitied.... 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....But someone will say How are the dead raised? and with what kind of body do they come?....It is sown a natural body, it is raised a SPIRITUAL body....Just as we have borne the image of the earthly, we will also bear the image of the heavenly." (1 Corinthians 15:16-49)

Only after every human has died and every human has been resurrected from mortal into an immortal will humanity worship God both "in spirit and truth".

Then every knee will have bowed and every tongue will have confessed that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

“For it is written, as I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God….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. " (Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:10-11)

All humanity will then know that "this One is indeed the Savior of the world".

Then comes our eternal dwelling place!

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among His people! He will live with them, and they will be His people. God Himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” (Revelation 21:1-4)

September 27th - Call Upon Him

“In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.” (2 Chronicles 33:12-13)

The only way humanity can finally know that the Lord is God is when their situation is such that they realize they are in trouble and humble themselves before God. Not many do so in this life. But there is coming an event when ALL humanity will humble themselves before the Lord GOD and wonder…am I in trouble?

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it…And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne…the sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and the graves gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what they had done.” (Revelation 20:11-13)

Imagine if you can such an event. You have been raised from the dead and are standing before the Lord God to account for what you have done…whether good or bad. Can you imagine even one person NOT being humbled by such an event, and be distressed? 

By the way, there are no exceptions, even those who call themselves Christians are included.

So what happens next? 

“By Myself I have sworn, My mouth has uttered in all integrity, a word that will not be revoked: Before Me EVERY knee will bow; by Me EVERY tongue will swear. They will say of Me, in the Lord alone are deliverance and strength…” (Isaiah 45:23-24)

“Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even 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 2:8-11)

Every person will be humbled, every person will be bowing, and every person will be confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord.

“Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you…” (Psalm 50:15)

It is good to humble ourselves in this life and call upon Him. Nevertheless, before the great white throne all will be humbled and all will call upon Him and be delivered (saved).

September 26th - God Has No Employees

“I have also called you by your name; I have given you a title of honor though you have not known Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other; Besides Me there is no God. I will gird you, though you have not known Me; that men may know from the rising to the setting of the sun that there is no one besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other. The One forming light and creating darkness, causing well-being and creating evil; I am the LORD who does all these. Drip down, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds pour down righteousness; Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit, and righteousness spring up with it. I, the LORD, have created it.” (Isaiah 45:4-9)

Some Christian churches look like business enterprises similar to secular ones. They sell a product - salvation. Its member benefits are eternal bliss in heaven and escape from eternal torture in hell. 

However, salvation is not for sale! It is God's free gift to humans. Churches are to announce the good news that GOD has saved humanity, even the most wicked, through Jesus Christ His Son.

The Bible says this about King Manasseh of Israel, one of the most wicked men the world has ever seen and...

"...caused his sons to pass through the fire in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom; he practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft and sorcery, and consulted mediums and spiritists…Manasseh seduced Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do more evil than the nations whom the LORD had destroyed before the children of Israel" (2 Chronicles 33:6-9)

Surely this sorry excuse for a King, and other such wicked men, will not end up saved. Surely they will dwell eternally in the hell of Christianity…right? 

Well, no, actually Manasseh was saved when he "humbled himself" before God.

“In his distress he sought the favor of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. And when he prayed to him, the Lord was moved by his entreaty and listened to his plea; so he brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.” (2 Chronicles 33:12-13)

Like wicked King Manasseh, every knee will bow before God, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.

“For it is written, as I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God….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. " (Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:10-11)

September 25th - God is for you regardless of how you feel about Him!

God is for you regardless of how you feel about Him.

“...God is love. God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we have eternal life through Him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins…” (1 John 4:8-10)

“Love never fails. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged…. love will last forever!” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

No one is without God. You do not have to believe in God, trust in God, ask God for help, or anything else for Him to love you and be for you.

“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? Since he did not spare even His own Son but gave Him up for us all, won’t He also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for His own? No one—for God Himself has given us right standing with Himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and He is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us. Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean He no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? … No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:31-39)

Humanity tends to view God as human. God is not like humans who root for those who root for them, He is actually rooting for all of humanity. And He will save humanity from sin, and will not condemn anyone forever because of their sin. 

Humanity is not like God yet,  but we will be when humanity is transformed into the image of Christ Jesus our Lord.

"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord." (2 Corinthians 3:18)

"...who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself." (Philippians 3:21)

September 24th - Successful Men and Women

I have encountered two general types of individuals who are considered successful in this present age. One type is King Nebuchadnezzar and the other type is King David types.

The King Nebuchadnezzar types are proud men who exalt the magnificent accomplishments of humanity.

“All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar… The king spoke, saying, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?" (Daniel 4:28-31)

On the opposite side of the spectrum are the King David types who succeed and give God the glory for their success.

"Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power and the glory, the victory and the majesty; for all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; in Your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. Now therefore, our God, we thank You and praise Your glorious name." (1 Chronicles 29:11-13).

Both types are beneficiaries of the salvation of humanity. Even King Nebuchadnezzar eventually was humbled and gave glory to God. 

“King Nebuchadnezzar, to the nations and peoples of every language, who live in all the earth: May you prosper greatly! It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; His dominion endures from generation to generation...the Most High is ruler over the realm of humanity, and bestows it on whom He wishes and sets over it the lowliest of men." (Daniel 4:1-3, 17)

Everyone will humble themselves before God, and confess Jesus is Lord.

“For it is written, as I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God….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. " (Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:10-11)

If they do not believe in this life, then it will occur when all of the dead are gathered before  "the great white throne" after the resurrection...

“Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away….and I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne…" (Revelation 20:11-12)

When humbled before God, humanity will finally become successful!

September 23rd - Faith That Pleases God

“…Now apart from faith it is impossible to be well pleasing (to God).” (Hebrews 11:6)

Faith in what?

The writer of Hebrews had just defined faith…

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

In order for us to "expect" something, promises must have been made, in this case promises from God. Biblical faith is not some blind leap into the dark, it is believing the promises of God. For example, God has promised to resurrect the dead. By faith we assume and expect it to happen even though we have never observed anyone dying and coming back to life. 

"Yet now 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 made alive...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 15:20-54)

Failure to have faith does not prevent the promises from happening nor does it cause the promises to happen. They happen because God made the promises. Again, having faith does not make the promises happen but it is "pleasing" to God when we believe the promises.

Some say there is no God and when we die that is it. That is their faith. They have no hope beyond this world. Nevertheless, if the Bible is true they will be resurrected regardless of what they believe. 

As for me, I have chosen to believe as Paul did...

"...that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man." (Acts 24:14-16)

Choosing to have faith in the promises of God gives me peace and hope for this chaotic world. I agree with Paul when he said…

“If in this life only we have hope…we are of all men most miserable.” (1 Corinthians 15:19)

September 22nd - Out of the Ash Heap

"He raises the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the ash heap." (Psalm 113:7)

When are the poor lifted out of the ash heap? 

Jesus told his followers that “the poor you will always have with you”. Some people of the world never rise above poverty in this life.

But God has promised to “raise” the poor and “lift” the needy out of poverty. I do not believe He is referring to this life. He will raise the poor out of the dust and ash heap at the resurrection.

“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 someone will say, how are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?... it is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; 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…Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly” (1 Corinthians 15:22-49)

God will give all of us...

"...a crown of beauty instead of ashes, festive oil instead of mourning, and splendid clothes instead of despair. And they will be called righteous trees, planted by the Lord to glorify Him." (Isaiah 61:3)

September 21st - The Game of Life is Not to Win Souls

"Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all humanity. For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God... And now I commend you to God and to the word of His GRACE, which is able to build you up and to GIVE you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified." (Acts 20:26-32)

The revival was over. We had listened to a dynamic speaker for two weeks. During that time there were over 90 decisions for Christ and many other rededications. At the end of the last service, we had been challenged to "go win the world to Christ, one person at a time, because he who wins souls is wise". Everyone was saying Amen and left fully intending to be a part of a great renewal. The evangelist received a big love offering and off he went to his next scheduled revival.

Two weeks later no one was out "winning souls", and all was back to normal. This has been repeated over and over again in institutional protestant churches since the 1730's. Yet the percentage of the world's population that refer to themselves as "Christian" remains the same, maybe less. 

I asked myself why and here is my answer.

The gospel message being presented in our churches and on the mission fields is flawed. It has been changed from a glorious declaration of the Salvation of ALL humanity to a mere "offer” to save "if" people jump through certain hoops. After 40 years of study, I cannot find anywhere in the bible that says we should go "offer" salvation or "win the world to Christ". The GAME HAS ALREADY BEEN WON! 

Pastors, evangelists, you, or myself cannot save anyone but God will save them all "through Jesus Christ". God guaranteed the salvation of humanity "before the foundation of the world".  

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of His glorious GRACE, which He has FREELY GIVEN us in the Beloved One (Jesus)." (Epesians 1:3-6)

All we can do is tell people that their salvation is a done deal. It will be complete at the end of the ages when sinful humans have ALL been raised from the dead into a new creation in Christ Jesus, old things will have passed away - all things will have become new.

"So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer.  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away.  Behold, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:16-18)

Again, if believers have a commission at all, it is to TELL people about their salvation, not play a game to to win or lose their souls!  I know what some of you are thinking, the preacher told us  "he who wins souls is wise" and he read it right out of the Bible.  

Yep, and the last time I looked, Jesus is the ONLY wise man who has ever lived that had the power to win souls - and HE won them ALL at the cross. The first part of that verse says that the fruit of a righteous man is a tree of life. Jesus is the only righteous man who ever lived - and His fruit is the "tree of life" for ALL SOULS...

"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls." (Proverbs 11:30)

What we should be telling those who have never heard is "You have been saved by the Love and Grace of God through the sacrifice, wisdom and righteousness of His Son Jesus". 

So, I am telling you who are reading this - rejoice and go tell your family and friends the GOOD NEWS! 

Then live your life like you appreciate what God has done for you by doing what God requires, not what some church requires. Here it is...

"What can we bring to the LORD? Should we bring Him burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer Him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what He requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:6-8)

If you want to play games that is OK, but play cards or golf or some other game. Trust Jesus our Lord and Savior with your life.

"But the angel said to them, do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a SAVIOR has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord." (Luke 2:10)

September 20th - The Evangel from the Evangelist

The apostle Paul was an evangelist in the true meaning of the word - a bearer of the good news from God. Following is the "evangel" as Paul taught it...

"God commended His love for us in that while we were sinners Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

“When we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son.” (Romans 5:10)

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

“Even as in Adam ALL are dying, thus also, in Christ shall ALL be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:22)

“God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself not counting our sins against us.” (2 Corinthians 5:19)

“Having made peace through the blood of His cross, He reconciled ALL unto Himself.” (Colossians 1:20)

“God our Savior…will have ALL humanity to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2:4)

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

“Trust in the living God, who is the Savior of ALL humanity.” (1 Tim. 4:10)

What to do with Paul's evangel?

"Prescribe and teach these things." (1 Tim. 4:11)

“Give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

September 19th - The Lord's Prayer - God Bless the Queen!

The Lord's Prayer - God Bless the Queen!

"After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." (Matthew 6:9-13 KJV) 

I watched the funeral service of the Queen Elizabeth II the morning of September 19, 2022 and was surprisingly moved by the emphasis on her faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. The Queen planned her funeral to share her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It will be what I remember most about her. She knew her funeral would be viewed by billions of people on television - and she made sure it was a testimony to her faith in Jesus. I was especially moved by the whole congregation repeating the Lord’s prayer quoted above.

That same prayer was banned from our schools by the Supreme Court of the United States in 1962 - it will forever mark the beginning of the demise and fall of our Republic. How incredibly stupid! Before that ruling we could truthfully proclaim our country as one nation under God. To do so today is simply false.

So, for me, the final prayer in our Bible has become my hope...

“...come swiftly, Lord Jesus..." (Revelation 22:20-21)

September 18th - A New Covenant

"...For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes. In the same way, after the supper He took the cup, saying, this cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you." (Luke 22:17-20)

Covenants have to do with God's plan for humanity. God made a covenant with Israel which required obedience to the Law given them through Moses. They broke that covenant and it will be replaced with a new covenant where the Lord "will forgive their wickedness and remember their sins no more".

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new covenant with the PEOPLE OF ISRAEL and with the PEOPLE OF JUDAH. It will not be like the covenant I made with THEIR ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because THEY broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them” declares the Lord. “This is the covenant I will make with the PEOPLE OF ISRAEL after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on THEIR hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 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,” declares the Lord. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” (Jeremiah 31:31-34)

So, what about the rest of us - the Gentile nations?  Paul tells us that all humanity (Jew and Gentile) are recipients of the new covenant, and that he was made a minister of the new covenant with all humanity.

"...our competence comes from God. And He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." (2 Corinthians 3:6)

"Wherefore, remember that once you, the nations in flesh -- who are termed 'Uncircumcision' by those termed 'Circumcision,' in flesh, made by hands --that you were, in that era, apart from Christ, being alienated from the citizenship of Israel, and guests of the promise covenants, having no expectation, and without God in the world. Yet now, in Christ Jesus, you, who once are far off, are become near by the blood of Christ. For He is our Peace, Who makes both one, and razes the central wall of the barrier (the enmity in His flesh), nullifying the law of precepts in decrees, that He should be creating the two, in Himself, into one new humanity, making peace; and should be reconciling both in one body to God through the cross, killing the enmity in it." (Ephesians 2:11-16)

Under the new covenant, God promises to save humanity out of death, and raise us to immortal life as a demonstration of the grace and wisdom of God.

"...to me, less than the least of all saints, was granted this grace: to bring the evangel of the untraceable riches of Christ to the nations, and to enlighten all as to what is the administration of the secret, which has been concealed from the eons in God, Who creates all, that now may be made known to the sovereignties and the authorities AMONG THE CELESTIALS, through the ecclesia, the multifarious wisdom of God..." (Ephesians 3:3-10)

September 17th - Trust God, Not Humanity

"He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of His people shall He take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation." (Isaiah 25:8-9)

What or whom is your hope in? 

Humanity has generally depended on their own wisdom. Solomon was the wisest man who had ever lived in his day...yet he found that the wisdom and reason of men cannot change the fact that both good and wicked men have the same fate as animals, they die and return to dust. 

"Furthermore, I saw under the sun that in the place of judgment there is wickedness, and in the place of righteousness there is wickedness. I said in my heart, “God will judge the righteous and the wicked, since there is a time for every activity and every deed.” I said to myself, “As for the sons of men, God tests them so that they may see for themselves that they are but beasts.” For the fates of both men and beasts are the same: As one dies, so dies the other—they all have the same breath. Humanity has no advantage over the animals, since everything is futile. All go to one place; all come from dust, and all return to dust. Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and the spirit of the animal descends into the earth? I have seen that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will come after him?" (Ecclesiastes 3:16-21)

Humanity has attempted to bring about various utopian ideas to govern themselves, but they all fail. We are in the process of seeing the latest attempt as we watch the decline of the USA into a secular socialist mess. 

Humanity's wisdom, whether it is a democracy or autocracy, philosophy or theology, capitalism or statism - they all fail to bring unity and peace to the world. 

So what is the alternative to trusting in the reason and wisdom of humanity? Solomon gives us some of his wisdom on this as well.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and turn away from evil. This will bring healing to your body and refreshment to your bones. Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your harvest; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine. My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD, and do not loathe His rebuke; for the LORD disciplines the one He loves, as does a father the son in whom he delights." (Proverbs 3:5-12)

Trusting God works for me! Faith that there is a good God is a sure foundation for my hope. I find in the Bible that He loves me and all others, and because of His love and Grace, humanity cannot miss His goal of eventual perfection in an age to come, regardless of how much it fails in this present age. This faith in God sustains me in the midst of a world which seems has little faith in its Creator.

"And the One seated on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.” And He told me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life. The one who overcomes will inherit all things, and I will be his God, and he will be My son.” (Revelation 21:5-7)

And the one who "overcomes" - who is that?

"Who then overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God." (1 John 5:5)

"God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee shall 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 2:9-10)

September 16th - Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement

Yom Kippur - the day of Atonement - comes each year on the tenth day after the Jewish new year (Rosh Hashanah). On that day in the era of the Tabernacle and the Temple, the high priest of Israel would enter the most holy place and sprinkle the blood of a sacrificed bull and goat on the seat of the Ark of the Covenant which was covering the tablets of stone containing the Ten Commandments given to Moses on Mount Sinai. This would make atonement for their sins for the past year.

"This is to be a permanent statute for you, to make atonement once a year for the Israelites because of all their sins.” (Leviticus 16:34)

JUDGMENT is a scary word in the world of religious thought. So I decided to do some studying and thinking about what the Bible says about it. Here are my thoughts.

The Greek word for judgment is “krisis” from which we get our English word crisis. And a crisis is a critical time where something very important happens or is happening. In other words it is a turning point in time. The Hebrew word is “mishpat” and it means a just judgment. It is used in the following OT verses…

“…to keep the way of Yahweh to do justice and judgment (mishpat)." (Genesis 18:19)

“The judge of the entire earth, would He not do what is just (mishpat)?” (Genesis 18:25)

Scripture views the "judgment" of God as a crisis point when He will do what is "just" - right. In ancient Israel the people would wait nervously outside the Temple on Yom Kippur to see if God would accept the annual blood sacrifice made for their sins.

When Jesus shed His blood as our high priest, He went as our high priest and entered the Temple of heaven, the dwelling place of God the Father. His father accepted it as the final blood sacrifice that cleanses humanity of its sins for all time.

"But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come, He went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not made by hands and is not a part of this creation. He did not enter by the blood of goats and calves, but He entered the Most Holy Place once FOR ALL by His own blood, thus securing ETERNAL redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that their bodies are clean, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself unblemished to God, purify our consciences from works of death, so that we may serve the living God! Therefore Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, now that He has died to redeem them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant." (Hebrews 9:11-15)

Some say that His blood only atoned for the sins of Israel, No, it was for the sins of the whole world.

 "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)

God has determined to give the final judgment of humanity to His Son, Christ Jesus, whose blood was shed for the "eternal redemption" of humanity.

“For there is one God, and one Mediator of God and humanity, a man, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a correspondent Ransom for ALL, the testimony in its own eras…” (1 Timothy 2:5-7)

“For neither is the Father judging anyone, but has given all judging to the Son.” (John 5:22)

“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 17:31)

“Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:5)

Jesus will raise the dead, tender faith to all concerning their eternal redemption, expose the motives of each person's heart - and then, almost unbelievably, the Scripture says "each will receive praise from God".

How can that be? How can both good and bad people "receive their praise from God"? 

I think the answer lies in the following verses…meditate on them for a while as I have done….

“…it is I who have created the destroyer to destroy.” (Isaiah 54:16)

“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” (Isaiah 45:7)

“The LORD has made everything for its own purpose, even the wicked for the day of evil.” (Proverbs 16:4)

The LORD takes responsibility for creating evil, the destroyer, and the wicked. So I asked myself - don't you think He will do the just/right thing  - and save them? Are they not among the lost He came to "seek and to save"? Are they not included in the prayer of Jesus while hanging on the cross?

“Father forgive them, they know not what they do.” (Luke 19:23:34)

Yes, Jesus died for the sins of humanity, was entombed, and rose again for our justification. 

“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 resurrected the third day according to the scriptures...” (1 Corinthians 15:3-5) 

"He was delivered over to death for our trespasses and was raised to life for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

THEREFORE, His judgment before the Great White Throne will be - Not Guilty!

So, on the final day of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement at the close of the ages, God will save humanity out of death and they will be be made alive again into a new sinless creation, not because I say so, but because the Scripture could not be more clear...

“For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be made alive…that God may be All in all.” (1 Corinthians 15:22-28)

"Faithful is the saying and worthy of all welcome (for for this are we 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)

“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again...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 HUMANITY'S SINS AGAINST THEM. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, God is making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 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 5:14-21)

I think it is time for Christians to stop thinking too highly of themselves.

“Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don't think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.” (Romans 12:3)

When the final judgment of humanity is made, it will be based on the grace and love of God - and love "keeps no record of wrongs".

“God is love" … "Love is patient, love is kind...and it keeps no record of wrongs...Love never fails….” (1 John 4:8, 18; 1 Corinthians 13:5-13)

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

He will make all things new.

“And I perceived a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth pass away…God Himself will be with them. And He shall 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 is saying, write, for these things are faithful and true.” (Revelation 21:1-6)

There is coming for humanity a very Happy Yom Kippur!

September 15th - Power to the People

"He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall. But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:29-31)

At the age of 74 I relate to the weak and those who have no might.  In this mortal life we all eventually grow weak with age and go the way of all men....death.  But according to God, that is not the end, for we shall renew our strength and fly like eagles and never get old and tired again! It is the promise of God which was a "secret" until it was revealed to the Apostle Paul.

"Listen, I am telling you a secret...we will all be changed, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal put on immortality....death has been swallowed up in victory." (1 Corinthians 15:51-54)

I trust God with my death so I can enjoy what life I have left in this mortal  body. The writer of Ecclesiastes gives me some good advice while I wait...

"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 9:6-10)

God has promised to raise the dead into an "incorruptible" spiritual body. It will no longer be our blessed hope, but our glorious reality.

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

"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all humanity, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,  who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people." (Titus 2:11-14)

On resurrection day, God our Father will give Power to the People!

September 14th - The Good News Without the Need for Comment

“Jesus answered and said...Now is the judging of this world; now shall the Chief of this world be cast out. If I am lifted up out of the earth, I will draw all humanity to Myself.” (John 12:30-32)

“Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all welcome, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…” (1 Timothy 1:15)

“I am entreating, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, pleadings, thanksgiving be made for all humanity…for this is ideal and welcome in the sight of our Savior, God, who wills that all humanity be saved…”  (1 Timothy 2:1-4)

“Faithful is the saying and worthy of all welcome…that we rely on the living God, who is the Savior of all humanity.” (1 Timothy 4:9-10)

“For the saving grace of God made its advent to all humanity…the advent of the glory of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ…” (Titus 2:8-14)

“For there is one God, and one Mediator of God and man, a man, Christ Jesus, who is giving Himself a correspondent Ransom for all, the testimony in its own eras…” (1 Timothy 2:5-7)

“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 15:22-28)

"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 humiliation, 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)

“And I perceived a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth pass away…God Himself will be with them. And He shall 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 is saying, write, for these things are faithful and true.” (Revelation 21:1-6)

September 13th - Christ Was Lifted Up Out of Death For Humanity

“I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me will not remain in darkness. 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.” (John 12:46-47)

There are multitudes of Christians and others who do not believe Jesus came to save the world. They believe he has commissioned the church to save the world. They spend countless hours and millions of dollars trying to do what Jesus has already promised to do -“save the world”- He does not need help. We will not be judged for not winning people to Jesus, we will be judged for not believing He would save humanity. His word will judge us for our unbelief.

“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 12:48)

The judgment He is talking about is the shame that will accompany those who do not believe Jesus will “save the world”. They do not believe his words ”I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world”. 

Another judgment from God is already on humanity. That judgment is death for sin, and “it is appointed unto the human once to die, and after that the judgment.” Death will come whether we believed the words of Jesus or not. However, death's rule over humanity is to be "cast out" and Jesus will "draw all humanity" to Himself because He Himself was lifted up out of death.  

“Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all humanity to Myself.” (John 12:31-32)

When Jesus returned to life after dying on the cross the deal was done. In being “lifted up” out of death, He was given all power power and authority to “draw all humanity” to Himself when he returns to lift us up out of death to immortal life when resurrected. 

I know, I know, your church taught you that he was referring to being lifted up on the cross. But being lifted up on the cross did not save Jesus or anyone else. If He had not been resurrected the cross would have no value at all. He was lifted down from the cross and put in a tomb, but it could not hold him. He was “lifted up” out of the tomb and waits at the Father’s right hand for the command to go “draw all humanity” to Himself when He returns to “save the world”.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” (John 3:16-17)

There is too much darkness in the churches of the world. Many profess themselves to be wise, yet deny the word of the very Savior they worship and adore. The "ministry of conciliation" is rarely taught in churches. So, following is "the message of conciliation" believers  have been commissioned as ambassadors of Christ to share...

“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who conciliated us to Himself through Christ and gave us the MINISTRY OF CONCILIATION: THAT GOD WAS CONCILIATING THE WORLD TO HIMSELF IN CHRIST, NOT COUNTING HUMANITY'S SINS AGAINST THEM. And He has committed to us the MESSAGE OF CONCILIATION. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be conciliated to God. 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 5:14-21)

September 12th: Paul Chosen to Complete the Word of God

In a nutshell, here is what our Apostle Paul shared from house to house…

“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of ALL HUMANITY… 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 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 a preacher and an apostle, I am telling the truth, I am not lying, a teacher of the nations in faith and truth….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 humanity, especially of believers. PRESCRIBE AND TEACH THESE THINGS.” (1 Timothy 2:1-; 4:9-11)

 Paul taught about the...

"...administration of God, which is granted to me for you, TO COMPLETE THE WORD OF GOD -- the secret which has been concealed from the eons and from the generations, yet now was made manifest to His saints, to whom God wills to make known what are the glorious riches of this secret among the nations, which is: Christ among you, the expectation of glory -- Whom we are announcing, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we should be presenting every human mature in Christ Jesus" (Colossians 1:21-29)

I do not claim to be smart and I am sure not a theologian. But I have lived a few years and have studied the Bible most of my life. Here is a summary of my observations to date:

God chose the Apostle Paul to proclaim the truth about God's plan for humanity. That truth is the gospel, the good news that in the Grace and Love of God all humanity will be saved out of death by His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. This message was received with joy as Paul shared it from house to house.

After Paul died believers started institutional churches. Unfortunately, by the fourth century the truth that Paul had been given to share was no longer being taught in those institutional churches.