November 30th - Did the Rich Man Go to Hell?

Jesus said the following about his parables...

“And the disciples came and said to Him, Why do you speak to them in parables? Jesus answered them, to you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted…" (Matthew 13:10-11)

So, is the following an historic event or a parable?

“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus…the time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.” (Luke 16:19-23)

A careful examination of the context beginning in Luke 14:7 shows me it is one in a series of parables, and therefore not a literal historic event. Everyone should be glad, for if it was a real event it would teach that rich people who receive good things in this life all go to hell, while the poor who receive bad things in this life go to heaven - in spite of the Cross, the Grace of God, or good works.

“So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’ But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony…” (Luke 16:24)

The context of the parable is the promises God has made to the nation of Israel, His chosen nation. The rich man represents the leaders who were rejecting Jesus as the Messiah, and the result would be that their political status would be taken from them, and their nation dispersed into the other nations where the "poor" would be cared for and the "rich" leaders would be in anguish. That literally happened to Israel!

For now we should concentrate on strengthening our faith, hope and love in the direct promises of God to people of all nations of the world. We should believe that the GRACE of God has brought salvation to all people.

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

"...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)

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and in a godly manner in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, eager for good deeds. These things speak and exhort, and rebuke with all authority." (Titus 2:11-15)

So, in my view, the rich man did not go to the hell of Greek Mythology - and neither will anyone else go there. All will be saved out of death by the GRACE and MERCY of God and become believers in Christ Jesus. They will come to a knowledge of the truth that all humanity is destined for salvation - the result of the death, entombment, and resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God.

November 29th - God is at Peace with His Creation

“…there is one God and Father of ALL, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift…And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers…” (Ephesians 4:6-11)

The bible says that God is the Father of ALL and in us all. And that He gifted a few humans to do certain things in this age until ALL become believers and come to unity of the faith... 

”…for the equipping of the saints, for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, until we ALL come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4:12-13)

These few believers are made aware of their salvation and are the ambassadors for Christ during this age.

“...all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the MINISTRY of RECONCILIATION.” (1 Corinthians 5:18)

These gifted few are to tell the world of humanity of their reconciliation to God...

“…that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” (2 Corinthians 5:19)

RECONCILIATION means that God and humanity are at peace with one another. In First and Second Corinthians the Greek word translated “reconciliation” and “reconciled” is “katallasso”. It has reference to God changing the way he looks at humanity as a result of the blood of Jesus. God is now at peace with humanity and therefore is “not imputing their trespasses to them”, the result of the shed blood of Jesus. 

NEVERTHELESS, it is a one-sided peace (God toward humanity) UNTIL each individual human makes peace with God. Those who do so in this age are the ambassadors of Christ - there are not many. 

In Colossians the Greek word for “reconciled” is “apokatallassó”. Notice the “apo” before “katalllasso”. The "apo" infers that a two-sided peace has come between God and humanity. It is only used in Colossians where it is written that all on the earth and all in the heavens will be reconciled (“apokatallassó”) to God…

“And, having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile (apokatallasso) all things unto Himself; by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.” (Colossians 1:20)

TWO SIDED PEACE is the destiny of all creatures who are now at enmity toward God! 

When created beings change their FALSE view of God as an angry God who in His wrath will torture them for their sins to the CORRECT view of a loving Father who will save them out of death, they will have peace toward God. They will forever trust Him and love Him.

Apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers were chosen to teach THIS TRUTH to others. Paul was the first to receive and minister this truth to the world…

“Now then, WE (apostles, etc.) are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore YOU (humanity) on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God (be at peace). For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might BECOME the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:19-21)

The salvation of all humanity is a done deal and is a free gift from God. All humanity will eventually be at peace with God because He has “made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us” so that the whole world could become the righteousness of God in CHRIST JESUS.

For this we all will be eternally thankful!

November 28th - There is Power in the Blood

“…For His mercy lasts forever.” (Psalm 136:1)

The Lord’s mercy is said to last forever 26 times in Psalm 136. If so, what are we to do with the doctrine of eternal torment in hell, or eternal separation from God?

God has revealed Himself in Nature, as well as in the Bible. He loves His creation and deals with sin in perfect righteousness, not with cruel and unusual punishment.

"The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands...For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship, so that humanity is without excuse." (Psalm 19:1; Romans 1:20)

The doctrine of eternal conscious torment is a “destructive heresy" "secretly" introduced by "false teachers"...

"...false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies..." (2 Peter 2:1)

Our loving and merciful Father God does act justly in disciplining His sinful children - but it is part of the process of reconciling them to Himself through the blood of Christ Jesus as the Bible teaches...

“…and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself -- having made peace through the blood of His cross -- through Him, whether the things upon the earth, whether the things in the heavens.” (Colossians 1:20)

God "disciplines" His children along the way to His goal of reconciling all things to Himself. That discipline will satisfy the justice of our Father God, while keeping intact His Love, Grace, and Mercy.

"For the LORD disciplines those He loves, and He punishes each one He accepts as His child.” (Hebrews 12:6)

What about the Satan...and some of you reading this might as well go outside and pick up a few choice stones because I am fixing to drive you over the edge. The Bible says God will reconcile "ALL things to Himself” which must include, in my view, all “things upon the earth or the things IN THE HEAVENS”. That covers all of God's creation. So, even Satan will be reconciled to God by the blood of Christ Jesus.

The "blood of His cross" is far more powerful than the religions of humanity are willing to admit.

I am thankful today for the plan of God.

November 27th - Dead Man Walking

The phrase “dead man walking” refers to an inmate on death row on his way to be put to death. The Scripture speaks of humanity as having inherited the death sentence...

“...even as through one man sin entered into the world, and through sin death, and thus death passed through into all humanity.”(Romans 5:12)

All humans have been sentenced to death and so we are, in a sense, “dead men walking”…but there is good news!

“For since, in fact, through a man came death, through a man also, comes the resurrection of the dead...the free gift of God is eternal life.” (1 Corinthians 15:21; Romans 6:23)

Senator John James Ingalls of Kansas once said... 

“In the democracy of the dead all men at last are equal. There is neither rank nor station nor prerogative in the republic of the grave". 

I am convinced by the study of Scripture that all humanity will one day walk in newness of life – all equal in the eternal republic of the Kingdom of God.

“...we rely on the living God,Who is the Savior of all humanity...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 Timothy 4:10; 1 Corinthians 15:22-28)

Our lives are "hid together with Christ in God" - humans, even the worst of us,  are safe in Christ Jesus!

"Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died." 

(2 Corinthians 5:14)

"For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." (Colossians 3:3)

"Do not worry about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God, that is superior to every frame of mind, shall be garrisoning your hearts and your apprehensions in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

Therefore, when death comes, we can rest in Peace!

November 26th - Biblical Faith Pleases God

“…without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

Biblical "FAITH" is believing what God has said in the original languages of the Bible. He has classified all humanity as sinners...

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23-30)

Christ Jesus came into the world to save those sinners and they will be saved because that is the will 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 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 men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time... 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 1:15; 2:3-6; 4:9-11).

A few people believe what God says and many do not. Nevertheless, all will believe at the close of the ages because they will have been gloriously saved out of death by the grace of God...

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” (Titus 2:11-14)

Having faith in what God says pleases Him. 

November 25th - Thanksgiving!

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.” (2 Corinthians 2:14)

Thanksgiving season is here again, and I am thankful to God for the peaceful confidence I have in what God has done for my family and friends. Just as there are pleasing physical fragrances that can be noticed by our physical senses, there are also pleasing spiritual fragrances. Most people attempt to put on this fragrance like cologne when they dress for church, but a person cannot put on this "sweet aroma". You either have it or you do not.

Those who do are rare and generally do not even realize they are projecting this wonderful aroma to those with whom they come in contact. I have met only a few of these people in my life. Some of them do not go to a church yet in some quiet place in their spirit they radiate their heavenly citizenship...the final destiny for all humanity.

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory.” (Philippians 3:20-21)

“If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly. Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.” (1Corinthians15:42-50)

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

I am thankful that it is the destiny of humanity to "triumph in Christ" and after being transformed into our final spiritual body of glory, we will manifest across the Universe the “sweet aroma” of His love, mercy, and grace throughout the ages to come.

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15)

November 24th - Did God Create Evil? Yep

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

There is much suffering in this world. From the homeless in our country to the poor and starving in other parts of the world. Tender hearts are broken and their tears fall when they see such suffering. It all seems so futile and pointless. Why are they suffering?

“For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now." (Romans 8:20-22)

The Greek word translated “hope” above is “helpidi” and does NOT mean hope as we understand the word 2000 years later. We say we hope our team wins, knowing that it might not. But the word “helpidi” has the idea of an assured outcome, therefore a confident expectation or the assurance that what is hoped for will come to pass.

In the above verses we are told that it is God who subjected His creation to futility and bondage to corruption....but in the "hope" (assurance) that our bondage to corruption is temporary, and that all creation is to be freed. It is upon this ASSURANCE that my salvation rests and allows me to love the God who “created evil”.

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

Some of our translations refuse to translate the Hebrew word above as “evil” and instead insert calamity, disaster, etc. But the Hebrew word is “ra” and is the same word translated evil in Genesis 2:17…

“But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eat thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:17)

Why do theologians try to hide this fact from people by changing the meaning of the word evil when translating Isaiah 45:7? 

It is because these same men teach that hell was a real place God created to punish and torture evil men for all eternity. And if God created this evil knowing that most of humanity would suffer endlessly because of it, then what does that say about their GOD? 

But God is GOOD, and has a purpose for evil. Paul tells us plainly that God subjected His creation to evil “in hope (confident expectation) that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God."

"It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have set our hope (confident expectation) on the living God, who is the Savior of all humanity, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things." (1 Timothy 4:9-11)

November 23rd - Grace Rules!

“The Law was given so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness, to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 5:20-21)

What value is there to the Ten Commandments, and the rest of the Law given Moses if its purpose was to increase trespasses? Paul says it reveals just how sinful "all" people are...

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God …Is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too…" (Romans 3:23, 29)

What did God do for these ungodly sinners?

"…at just the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly…God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Therefore, since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from wrath through Him?...For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 5:6-8;6:23)

Paul says God saves sinners by His "grace" which demonstrates that the love of God far exceeds the sin  of sinners.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8)

All that humanity can do about our sin is to have faith that God's "grace" is greater than our sin, and wait for God to prove it when all sinners have been resurrected to receive "the free gift of eternal life"… 

“For as in Adam all die, even so, in Christ all will be made alive…The last enemy to be destroyed is death…so that God may be all in all…just as we have borne the likeness of the earthy man, so also shall we bear the likeness of the heavenly man…the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ?” (1 Corinthians 15:20-58) 

Grace rules! It is greater than our sin. I am thankful for that!

November 22nd - What Does Following Christ Mean?

“Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, "If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple. Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it…So then, none of you can be my disciple who does not give up all his own possessions?"” (Luke 14:25-28)

To me this is a difficult passage of Scripture to comprehend. I have thought about it and here is my thoughts on what Jesus is saying to me...

“You Robert, are a sinner unlike me.  I am a unique, one of a kind, never to be cloned man who never sins. So, where I am going you are not qualified to come. And what I am going to do you are not qualified to do. I am going to abandon my Mom, brothers, sisters, and my earthly possessions to die on a cross - for you, a sinner. And doing so will save you. Why am I doing this? Because our Father God is gracious and merciful. He created you and loves you, and saving you is the right thing for Him to do. Count the cost of what I alone have done for you Robert, and realize you do not have the resources to save yourself or anyone else. So, lay down your cross and follow me to mine. I carried My cross to victory - for you and everyone else. And as you ponder what I have done, just say -THANK YOU!” (Robert's paraphrased version)

I no longer self-righteously claim to be a follower of Christ. I followed Christ to His cross where He saved me and my family, but that is as far as we can go for now. We must wait to go where He went after His death, entombment, and resurrection.

"Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now; but you will follow later.” Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You right now? I will lay down my life for You.” Jesus replied, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Truly, truly I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny Me three times." (John 13:36-38)

I am no different than Peter. I deny Jesus from time to time in my thoughts and actions. Yet, I have placed my faith and hope in what Jesus did to save me and my family. To be honest, I often feel the same way about myself that Paul felt when he wrote...

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

We sinners should pray for other sinners around us, like Paul encouraged his friend Timothy to do...

"First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people...that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way."  (1 Timothy 2:1)

Happy Thanksgiving Season!

November 21st - Some Good News for this Thanksgiving Season

“The LORD God commanded the human, saying, From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die…” (Genesis 2:16-17)

Here is a quote from an article by a Christian bible teacher…"Sin brings spiritual death".

Do you see the problem? There is absolutely nothing in the Scripture about “spiritual" death. The bible says the consequences for Adam’s sin and every other sin ever committed is death, not "spiritual" death, and even a child knows what death is. When we die, we are dead, resting in peace, until miraculously resurrected! 

"By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground--because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return." (Genesis 3:19)

"All go unto one place; all are of the dust, and all turn to dust again." (Ecclesiastes 3:20)

"...the dust returns to the ground from which it came, and the spirit will return to God who gave it." (Ecclesiastes 12:7)

When a person dies the “spirit” that powers the body returns to God. The Bible says a "living soul" is the result of God joining the body He makes for us with the spirit (power) He provides… 

“And the LORD God formed a human of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the human became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7)

An example would be what we do every day when we turn on a light. The electrical power (spirit) is joined to the light bulb (body) and light appears (soul). When the switch is turned off the power flows out of the bulb to its source and the light goes out and is no longer seen UNTIL the power (spirit) returns.

Our expectation (hope) is to be saved out of death when Jesus returns to wake us from death with a shout and return the “spirit” into the NEW "spiritual body” that God provides. Only then will our “soul” spring forth into abundant immortal spiritual life - and what a life it will be! 

"So also is the resurrection of the dead. 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. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. It is written also, the first human, Adam, became a living soul; the last Adam a life giving spirit." (1 Corinthians 15:42-46) 

"Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must be clothed 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 to pass: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-53)

"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 in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

"Now the Lord is the spirit; yet where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. Now we all with uncovered face, mirroring the glory of the Lord, will be transformed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as from the Lord, the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18)

"...our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body." (Philippians 3:20-21)

Thank you Lord, it doesn't get any better than that - it is the gospel (good news) of God that I dwell on during this Thanksgiving Holiday Season!

November 20th - Not All Have This Knowledge - Yet

"For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him. However not all people have this knowledge…” (1 Corinthians 8:5-7)

I suppose that there are as many gods and lords as there have been governments and religions over the history of the human race. Paul does not condemn to hell those who worship false gods, but simply says that they do not have the knowledge of the “one God, the Father" and the "one Lord, Jesus Christ.” But all humanity will know after the resurrection. Jesus told His followers...

“Verily, verily, I say to you — He who is hearing My word, and is believing Him who sent Me, has life during the ages, and to judgment he does not come, but will  pass out of the death into life…. Wonder not at this, because there is coming an hour in which all those in the tombs shall hear His voice, and they shall come forth; those who did the good things to a rising again of life, and those who practiced the evil things to a rising again of judgment." (John 5:24-29)

Jesus was speaking about the ages that will follow the present age. Revelation 20 tells us that the next age will last for a thousand years. At the BEGINNING of that age those who did “the good things” will be raised from the dead to live during that age and will rule and reign with Christ for one thousand years. Those who practiced “evil things” in the ages will not be part of that reign. They will sleep in death to be raised and judged at the end of the thousand years. So what happens to them at that judging?

“And I saw a great white throne, and Him who is sitting upon it, from whose face the earth and the heaven did flee away, and place was not found for them; and I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God… and they were judged, each one according to their works…if anyone was not found written in the scroll of the life, he was cast to the lake of the fire...this is the second death…” (Revelation 20:7-15)

Christian leaders have made the “lake of fire” equivalent to eternal torment, scaring the hell out of people who do not know any better. Yet, GOD says the “lake of fire” is the "second death". I choose to believe God.

Paul tells us what happens after the second death caused by the lake of fire… 

“ THE LAST ENEMY TO BE DESTROYED IS DEATH…that God may be ALL IN ALL….Death is swallowed up in victory...” (1 Corinthians 15:26, 28, 55)

I am confident that my family and I will be among those in the “first rising” because we have a knowledge of the truth about Jesus ands do our best to do "good things", and so we do not worry about the second death in the lake of fire and look forward to living with Christ Jesus for the next thousand years.

“Happy and holy is he who is having part in the first rising; over these the second death has not authority, but they shall be priests of God and of the Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:6) 

I am equally certain that if anyone experiences the second death, he or she will be made alive when death is destroyed. All humanity will then be a joint body in Christ Jesus, reconciled to God, and delivered from the penalty of sin - which is death. Jesus was the first to be saved out of death, but the rest of humanity will follow.

“And He (Jesus) is the head of the body…a first-born out of the dead, that He might become first in all things…and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself — having made peace through the blood of His cross — through Him, whether the things upon the earth, or the things in the heavens. And you — once being alienated, and enemies in the mind, in the evil works, yet now did He reconcile, in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and unblemished, and unblameable before Himself…" (Colossians 1:18-22)

Few seem to have this knowledge yet, but all will have it when God's plan for humanity is complete.

November 19th - A Work in Progress

Humanity was created in the image of God to become the image of His Son.

“Let us make humanity in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” (Genesis 1:26)

"For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers." (Romans 8:29)

Over many years I have read through the Bible numerous times in a bunch of different translations and paraphrases trying to figure out what it says God is up to. My summary of what I have learned about God is pretty simple:

God and His Son are Sovereign and they love humanity. They have no equals. They are always just. Their wrath ends with death. Their Grace and Mercy never end. God is the Father of humanity and we are all His children - the good, the bad and the ugly.

The Son is the firstborn of all creation. The Son created the ages to reveal to His creatures the power and attributes of God the Father. Knowledge of the Devine plan and purpose in those ages has been progressive throughout the ages. God's final revelation was to the Apostle Paul who tells us that at the end of the ages God will abolish death and all creation will bow before the Son and give glory to God the Father. After that there will be no more tears, sorrow, pain, sin or death.

"By Myself I have sworn; truth has gone out from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will swear allegiance." (Isaiah 45:23)

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I saw the holy city, the 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, and He will dwell with them. 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 there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:1-4)

Because humanity was made in the image of God the fruit of His Spirit shows up in humans from time to time. These fruits are simply the manifestation of His attributes and show we are moving toward the image of His Son. These fruits are:

"Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Meekness, and Self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23)

Humanity is in the process of being "conformed to the image of His Son". We are the clay in the hands of the Devine potter. Humanity was originally flawed by design to be smashed and reworked into the finished product.

Why were we flawed by design?

To provide creation with a contrast between good and evil. Humanity cannot appreciate good unless they have experienced evil. For example, we cannot appreciate being pain free until we have had some pain!

Our sinful nature and the resulting chaos provides creatures something to compare to the finished product.

We are all a work in progress. Our final transformation will be into the image of Jesus, the Son of God who Himself is...

"...the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation." (Colossians 1:15)

"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18)

Some humans are closer to the finished product than others and you can identify those folks when you see the above fruits of the Spirit shining through from time to time. But they are not complete so they regularly get bound up in the works of the flesh, and the glory of the Spirit fades.

November 18th - The Gospel of Grace

 "....there is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by His GRACE through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus ." (Romans 3:22-24)

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly....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!" (Romans 5:6-8)

Here is my summary of the GOSPEL OF GRACE:

Sin condemned humanity to DEATH. However, the love and grace of God will save sinners out of death, in other words, no human will STAY DEAD forever. All humans will be resurrected out of death and transformed into a new creation which will not and cannot sin or die.

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

"For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive...The last enemy that will be abolished is death...Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly." (1 Corinthians 15:22, 26, 49)

"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)

"And we...are being transformed into His image with intensifying glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18)

"...our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to subject all things to Himself, will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorious body." (Philippians 3:20-21)

The gospel of GRACE is meant to be so simple a child could understand, and so profound that a genius stands in awe of its simplicity and beauty. Unfortunately, the religions of humanity are...

"... ever learning but never coming to a knowledge of the truth" (2 Timothy 3:7).