December 22nd - Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

“He’s making a list and checking it twice, he’s gonna find out who’s naughty or nice...you better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I’m telling you why, Santa Claus is comin’ to town.” (John Haven Coots and Haven Gillespie)

I love the songs and the whole story of Santa Claus, and I love watching kids relate to him and write letters assuring him they have been good. I have no problem with that fairy tale and did my best to keep my Grandkids from finding out who he really is, or isn’t, for as long as possible.

However, sometimes I wonder if our ideas about God come more from fairy tales than the Bible. If you’re good you will be blessed and go to heaven, but if you’re bad…look out because Jesus is coming back to town. At least with good old Saint Nick, bad children only get a lump of coal and a Ho Ho Ho, while the children of the angry God of old Saint Religion get eternal torment in the fires of hell - Ho Ho Horrible!

God's children all sin except for His first born Son Jesus. He chastens His children in this life ending in death, and will correct all flaws in the next. His gracious gift to them after death will be salvation and immortal perfection followed by the unmerited “free gift of eternal life”…

"…He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men..." (Luke 6:35)

"...your Father is merciful..." (Luke 6:36)

"...for God has locked up ALL in disobedience so that He may show mercy to ALL..." (Romans 11:32)

"...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 in Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 3:23; 6:23)

"...who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.” (Philippians 3:21)

The Son of the real Santa is coming to town soon!

"...who will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."(Isaiah 9:6)

So, enjoy the fun of Santa Claus with the kids, but take some time to tell them about the real Santa, the God Who revealed Himself in the baby Jesus, the Son of God who grew up to become the Savior of the world. 

"Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:20-21)

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)

December 21st - I Have Redeemed You

“I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist. Return to me, for I have redeemed you." (Isaiah 44:22)

Too often religious people will not entertain new thoughts for fear they may accept it as true. The salvation of all is one of those thoughts. But if we trust God then we should not fear entertaining new thoughts - and we might learn the truth of the Scripture and reject the dogma of men. 

“Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for 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 14:1-3)

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

December 20th - Flesh and Blood is Out

“Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.” (1 Corinthians 15:50)

ALL people who have ever lived are “flesh and blood” in this age, and there is “none righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10). None of us inherit the Kingdom of God in our body of “flesh and blood”.

“The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body…the spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual…and just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man." 

(1 Corinthians15:42-49)

This "perishable" body must be raised with an "imperishable" immortal body.  Only then will there not be murderers, thieves, etc. That new body will be completely without sin, a “spiritual body” not made of flesh and blood.

"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, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself." (Philippians 3:20-21)

If the Scripture is true, all sinners are treated by God with Grace (unmerited favor). And all human bodies will be "transformed" from sinful flesh and blood bodies into a "spiritual body" of sinless "glory".

"For God has consigned everyone to disobedience so that He may have mercy on everyone. O, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been His counselor?” “Who has first given to God, that God should repay him?” For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen." (Romans 11:32-36)

December 19th - Some Bad News and Some Good News

Some bad news…

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

“They are corrupt, and their ways are vile; there is no one who does good…there is none righteous, not even one.”  (Psalm 53:1 and Romans 3:10)

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

"…the dead know not anything …" (Ecclesiastes 9:5).

"… there is no work, or device, or knowledge, or wisdom in the grave where you are going" (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

"The dead praise not the LORD…" (Psalm 115:17).

"In death there is no remembrance of You: In the grave who shall give You thanks?" (Psalm 6:4-5).

Some good news…

"I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more…" (Jeremiah 31:34)

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

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone." (Titus 2:11)

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

“…the dead will be raised imperishable…then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory.” (1 Corinthians 15:50-54)

"...by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God…."  (Ephesians 2:8-9)

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

"...we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, and especially of those who believe. COMMAND AND TEACH THESE THINGS." (1 Timothy 4:10-11)

December 18th - Two Good News Messages

Paul writes…

"…I have been entrusted with the gospel (good news) of the Uncircumcision, according as Peter of the Circumcision (for He Who operates in Peter for the apostleship of the Circumcision operates in me also for the nations.)" (Galatians 2:7-8 CLNT)

There is much good news in the Bible. But there are two good news messages that need to be distinguished. One concerns the promises made to Israel, termed the circumcision, and the other concerns the good news for all nations, termed the uncircumcision.  Both are focused and centered on Jesus, but are different good news messages.

Good News for Israel, the "Circumcision": The good news for them was "entrusted" by Jesus to the Apostle Peter.  It tells Israel what it must do to take part in the future kingdom of Israel which is to come to this Earth and will last 1,000 years. They were instructed to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus the Messiah. 

"Thenceforth begins Jesus to be heralding and saying, "Repent! for near is the kingdom of the heavens!" (Matthew 4:17)

"Now Peter is averring to them, Repent and be baptized each of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the pardon of your sins, and you shall be obtaining the gratuity of the holy spirit."  (Acts 2:38)

During the thousand years ISRAEL will be a "royal priesthood" and they will be "reigning" with Christ over this present Earth.

"You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a procured people"(1 Peter 2:9)

"The Lord God shall be illuminating them. And they shall be reigning..." (Revelation 22:5)

Israel shows their faith in God by being obedient to the works of the law. Their faith and works "confirm" their "calling and choice".

”James...to the twelve tribes in the dispersion…faith, if it should not have works, is dead by itself."  (James 2:1,17)

"Wherefore, rather, brethren, endeavor through ideal acts to confirm your calling and choice; for, doing these things you should under no circumstances be tripping at any time. For thus will be richly supplied to you the entrance into the eonian Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 2:10-11)

The Jewish followers of Jesus the Messiah were commissioned to make disciples of Jesus among all the nations where the Israelites had been scattered, and teach them to observe what Jesus the Messiah had commanded them.

"Going then, disciple all nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to be keeping all, whatever I direct you." (Mathew 28:19-20)

Sadly, at the close of the Acts period, only a few Israelites had become believers in the Messiah Jesus. For 2,000 years most Jews have became callous to the good news about Jesus. Today there is only a "remnant" of the "circumcision" who believe Jesus is the Messiah and they are generally referred to as Messianic Jews. 

So is God through with Israel? No

"I am saying, then, Does not God thrust away His people? May it not be coming to that!...in the current era also, there has come to be a remnant according to the choice of grace" ..."callousness, in part, on Israel has come, until the complement of the nations may be entering. And thus all Israel shall be saved." (Romans 11:1-5;11:25)

Jesus will return to fulfill the promises to Israel and set up the Millennial Kingdom of Israel on this Earth, but the exact time was not revealed directly to Peter and the other disciples.

"Lord, art Thou at this time restoring the Kingdom to Israel? Yet He said to them, Not yours is it to know times or eras which the Father placed in His own jurisdiction...Jesus Who is being taken up from you into heaven shall come thus, in the manner in which you gaze at Him going into heaven." (Acts 1:6-7, 11)

Good News for the Uncircumcision:  This good news of the grace of God was entrusted to the Apostle Paul and I summarize it as follows:

1. Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, was entombed, and raised from the dead on the third day after His death. It tells us that the blood of Jesus atoned for all sins and God is now at peace with humanity, and is not counting their sins against them. This good news is referred to as the grace of God. It was entrusted to Paul to preach to all humanity, not just the Jews. 

"Now I am making known to you, brethren, the evangel which I bring to you...that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was entombed, and that He has been roused the third day...God was in Christ, conciliating the world to Himself, not reckoning their offenses to them, and placing in us the word of the conciliation." (1 Corinthians 15:3-4;2 Corinthians 5:19 CLNT)

2. This good news tells believers that they were chosen by God to become "body" of Christ. Humans are "placed" in the "body" of Christ as God the Father "wills". 

"...He chooses us in Him before the disruption of the world..."for we are members of His body"(Ephesians 1:4; 5:30)

"God placed the members, each one of them, in the body according as He wills."  (1 Corinthians 12:18) 

3. This good news for all people was kept a secret until revealed to the Apostle Paul. 

"I should be perfecting my career and the dispensation which I got from the Lord Jesus, to certify the evangel of the grace of God.... through Him to reconcile all to Him (making peace through the blood of His cross), through Him, whether those on the earth or those in the heavens...the secret which has been concealed from the eons and from the generations, yet now was made manifest to His saints..." (Colossians 1:20,26) 

"For the saving grace of God made its advent to all humanity."(Titus 2:11)

"God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love...vivifies us together in Christ (in grace you are saved)...in grace, through faith, are you saved, and this not out of you; it is God's approach present, not of works..." (Ephesians 2:4-9)

4.  The church is to proclaim this "grace" during the ages.

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

"...suffer evil with the evangel in accord with the power of God, Who saves us and calls us with a holy calling, NOT in accord with our acts, but in accord with His own purpose and the grace which is GIVEN to us in Christ Jesus BEFORE times eonian.” (2 Timothy 1:8-9)

5.  All believes will reign with Christ during the thousand year kingdom of Israel on the Earth and among the celestial regions of heaven.

"For the Lord Himself will be descending from heaven with a shout of command...and the dead in Christ shall be rising first, thereupon we, the living who are surviving, shall at the same time be snatched away together with Him in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air." (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)

December 17th - Tell People of he Grace of God

"But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the gospel of the wonderful grace of God." (Acts 20:24)

Paul looked at his career as one from the Lord Jesus to "telling others the gospel of the wonderful grace of God." 

I think if I do not tell my family of the grace of God my life will not amount to much.

"Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace. For there is one body and one Spirit, just as you have been called to one glorious hope for the future. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, in all, and living through all. He has given each one of us grace through the generosity of Christ." (Ephesians 4:2-7)

December 16th - Let Use Reason Together

"Come now, and let us reason (decide the matter) together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)

God has decided that our sins were to be cleansed. Jesus did that with His own blood. Jesus is the light shinning in a dark world.

"...if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin." (1 John 1:7)

To be honest, I only dimly see the beauty, wisdom, and glory of God in this world most of the time. And it is not in the words of men, it is in the sunrise and the sunset ...

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” (Psalm 1:1-4)

The beauty of creation allows me to make the decision (reason) that although the sins of the world are  "as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow" because those words come from the God who created everything and declares the end from the beginning. 

"I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me. I declare the end from the beginning, and ancient times from what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and all My good pleasure I will accomplish. I summon a bird of prey from the east, a man for My purpose from a far-off land. Truly I have spoken, and truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, and I will surely do it." (Isaiah 46:9-11)

Sometimes the reasonable decision is to do is nothing, just trust God until His plan is accomplished.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Be in awe of the LORD and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones. Honor the LORD from your wealth, and from the first of all your produce; 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 or loathe His rebuke, for whom the LORD loves He disciplines, as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights. (Proverbs 3:5-12)

December 15th - Prolepsis

Prolepsis is a figure of speech in which a future act or promise is represented as if presently existing or accomplished. It is used often in Scripture.

"For the love of Christ is constraining us, judging this, that, if One died for the sake of all, consequently all died. And He died for the sake of all that those who are living should by no means still be living to themselves, but to the One dying and being roused for their sakes." (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)

"For you died, and your life is hid together with Christ in God. Whenever Christ, our Life, should be manifested, then you also shall be manifested together with Him in glory." (Colossians 3:3-4)

That Christ Jesus died for the sake of all is a historical fact, however, the phrase "consequently all died" is prolepsis, a figure of speech in which humanity is considered to have died when Jesus "died for the sake of all". The result is that our "life" after death is now "hid together with Christ in God".

"So that, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: the primitive passed by. Lo! there has come new! Yet all is of God, Who conciliates us to Himself through Christ, and is giving us the dispensation of the conciliation, how that God was in Christ, conciliating the world to Himself, not reckoning their offenses to them, and placing in us the word of the conciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:17-19)

That humanity will have "life" after death is a future event so certain that it is spoken of as if this world has passed by "become new" - again, proleptically speaking. Thistruth it gives us peace with God, and we want to share this "word of conciliation" with the world as the "ambassadors" of Christ. 

"For even as, in Adam, all are dying, thus also, in Christ, shall all be made alive...For Christ, then, are we ambassadors, as of God entreating through us. We are beseeching for Christ's sake, "Be conciliated to God!" For the One not knowing sin, He makes to be a sin offering for our sakes that we may be becoming God's righteousness in Him." (1 Corinthians 15:22; 2 Corinthians 5:20-21)

God is at peace with humanity and wants people to be at peace with Him - not be terrified about what He might do to us after death. God is not angry with humanity for its sin because the blood of Christ His Son was shed "for our sakes".

"God is commending this love of His to us, seeing that, while we are still sinners, Christ died for our sakes." ..."and through Him to reconcile all to Him (making peace through the blood of His cross), through Him, whether those on the earth or those in the heavins." (Romans 5:8; Colossians 1:20)

Humanity is saved, justified and reconciled to God proleptically speaking. Yet it will be manifested in the a future age.

"Not that I already obtained, or am already perfected. Yet I am pursuing, if I may be grasping also that for which I was grasped also by Christ Jesus. Brethren, not as yet am I reckoning myself to have grasped, yet one thing -- forgetting, indeed, those things which are behind, yet stretching out to those in front -- toward the goal am I pursuing for the prize of God's calling above in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14)

I can speak of my salvation  and justification as if it has already occurred because the very Word of God says so. And that is good enough for me and I am at peace with God - not perfect, just at peace.

December 14th - The Word of His Grace

"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 20:32)

What does “word” mean? The Greek for “word” is “logo” and simply means that which is communicated to humanity. And what is that? 

His GRACE…the unmerited favor to "those who are sanctified".

And who are the "sanctified"?  The human beings who believe the truth God has communicated to us - "the word of His grace"…

“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent Me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate Myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.” (John 17:17-18)

Christ Jesus came to save the world. He consecrated Himself for that purpose and will succeed.

"John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29)

“He has appeared once FOR ALL at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” (Hebrews 9:22-26)

What are the details of “the word of Hs grace"? To me, it is as follows:

First  - Humanity will all be SAVED out of death because of His grace.

“For by grace you have been saved...” (Ephesians 2:8)

Second - Humanity will all be JUSTIFIED (declared righteous) because of His grace.

“…so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:7)

Third - Humanity will all be RECONCILED to God because of His grace.

“…God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them.” (2 Corinthians 5:19)

So what part does FAITH have? The Greek word for faith means to BELIEVE. So biblical FAITH is simply believing what God says. Humans find JOY and PEACE in this present evil age by believing what God says - the “Word of His Grace". 

There will come a day when everyone will come forth from the grave and believe, as Jesus told us…

“…for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment. I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is JUST, because I do not seek My own will, but the WILL of Him who sent Me.” (John 5:28-30)

Those who hear and believe the “word of His Grace” before they die will be immediately changed at His return from mortal to immortal. 

Those who did not hear and believe the “word of His Grace” in this life will have to wait one thousand years to be raised to life. Yet, they will all hear and believe at that time. They will be condemned to die the second death. That second death will be abolished, and they too will be made alive and become immortals so that God is "All in all".

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

"The last enemy that will be abolished is death...so that God may be All in all." (1 Corinthians 15:26-28)

"For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory...thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:53-57)

"...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 4:8-10)

For those of us who believe the "word of His grace" now, we will reign with Christ during the next age, which is called the Millennium.  For all others - see you in about a thousand years.

"They all came to life again, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years. This is the first resurrection. (The rest of the dead did not come back to life until the thousand years had ended.)" (Revelation 20:4-5)

December 13th - There is a Purpose for the Ages

“In accord with the purpose of the ages, which He makes in Christ Jesus, our Lord." (Ephesians 3:11)

“Purpose” means that God has a plan concerning the outcome of creation. The ages were made by and for Jesus the Son of God, and they are unfolding according to the plan of God. 

"God, having spoken long ago to our fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the ages." (Hebrews 1:1-2)

The free will of humanity will not deter the purpose of God. God is the God of certainty and not of chance, and He made up His mind what He wanted to do and then created the ages to work out His plan.

At the close of the ages God will be "All in all" of His creation. He will be All in all of His creation.

"For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive...When He has done this, then the Son Himself will be made subject to Him who put everything under Him, so that God may be All in all."     (1 Corinthians 15:22-28)

In our troubled world I am glad God has a plan to save the world, and that His plan cannot be altered by the free will of mankind. That gives me "peace" in a world whose free will decisions are regularly bad and often changed.

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27)

Again, the purpose of the ages is for God to become All in all His creation. He becomes so by saving everyone and transforming them into the image of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

"For those He 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)

"He worked in Christ, having raised Him out from the dead, and having set Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, above every principality and authority and power and dominion, and every name being named, not only in this age, but also in the one coming. And He put all things under His feet and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the complement of the One completing the All in all." (Ephesians 1:20-23)

December 12th - The Grace and Salvation of God are FREE Gifts to Humanity

"I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus." (1 Corinthians 1:4)

The GRACE we receive is FREE. We do not earn, accept, or reject it. It is a gift given us “by Jesus Christ”.

And we are SAVED after death by the grace of God, it is also FREE. And it is ours “through Jesus Christ”.

“…the FREE gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23b)

I notice some translations leave out the word “free”. They have a problem with salvation being FREE. They add words like “offer” to their translations, but the Bible in the original language has no such "offer".  Salvation is a "free gift" to “all humanity” by the "grace of God"…

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

Notice the addition of the word "offers" in the NIV translation...

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.” (Titus 2:11 NIV)

I like the NIV because of the way it reads, but the Greek manuscripts do not include the word "offers".

I know most of you will not take time to look it up in the Greek so here it is for the verses above in Romans…

“…τὸ δὲ χάρισμα (free gift) τοῦ θεοῦ ζωὴ αἰώνιος ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τῷ κυρίῳ ἡμῶν."(Romans 6:23 Greek)

The NIV leaves out “free gift”, and adds “offers” to the text. Their translators knew most people would not look it up. The offer is THEIR offer, not GOD's. 

Again, God says that Salvation is a “free gift” to “all humanity” by the “grace of God given to you by Christ Jesus."

Rejoice in that as we approach the celebration of the birth of "the Savior of the world"...

"Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." (Luke 2:10-11)

"We have heard for ourselves and know that this one is indeed the Savior of the world" (John 4:42)

"The Father has sent the Son to be (not offer to be) the Savior of the world..." (1 John 4:14)

December 11th - The Gifts From God

The Bible tells us of some specific things that God GIVES…

“…the grace of God given to you by Christ Jesus…” (1 Corinthians 1:4)

“For by grace you have been saved…it is a gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

“My peace I give to you…” (John 14:27)

“…and I give them eternal life…" (John 10:28:)

"...the free gift of God is Eternal Life…” (Romans 6:23b)

“…and He will give you another helper…” (John 14:16)

“…may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in knowledge of Him…” (Ephesians 1:17)

“…it is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom…” (Luke 12:32)

Everything good and perfect thing we have received or will receive is a GIFT from God. It is NOT a reward for good behavior. He does not owe us anything for being good occasionally.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17)

God gives out of a Father’s LOVE, which of course is His very nature for…

“…God is love” (1 John 4:8)

The love of God the  Father requires disciplining His children on occasion. This discipline IS the result of our frequent bad behavior. However, it is always remedial and balanced and is good for us…

"Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.” (Job 5:17)

December 10th - Gehenna or Hell

Jesus said…

“And if thy hand causes your downfall, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go to HELL - the unquenchable fire, where the worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.” (Mark 9:43-44).

Did Jesus really say that?  Not exactly. What Jesus actually said, properly translated, was…

“And if your hand causes your downfall, cut it off. It is better to enter life maimed than to have two hands and go to GEHENNA – the unquenchable fire, where the worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.”

I have highlighted the one word that differs, but it exposes the error of religions.

"GEHENNA" was a literal place, the valley of the sons of Hinnom. It is located outside the walls of Jerusalem, and at the time Jesus made the above comment, it was a place used to take their trash. It had a continual fire that burned the trash and dead carcasses, including criminals. 

"HELL" is the underworld of Greek mythology. Teaching that Jesus used it as an illustration of eternal torment is embracing pagan Greek mysticism.  So,  what was Jesus teaching in Mark 9 above when He used the word "Gehenna"? 

Pretty simple to me. It is better to live righteously in this life without ones hands than to use them for criminal activity and be caught, convicted and sentenced to death – resulting in their dead carcass being cast into Gehenna to rot, be eaten by worms, and burned with the trash. That fire continued until its job was done.

Christ Jesus died as a "ransom for all", so even those criminals whose bodies were cast into Gehenna are included. As a result they will be saved out of death, and reconciled to God who is gracious, merciful and good. He has compassion on all He has made. As King David said…

“The Lord is good to everyone: and His compassion rests on all He has made.” (Psalm 145:9).

Paul considered himself to be the worst sinner for having consented to the murder and imprisonment of many believers before he was confronted by Jesus on the road to Damascus. He tells us what will happen to himself, the foremost sinner, and all others - they will die for their sin, and then be saved from perishing in death!

"The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 3:23)

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all welcome, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, foremost of whom am I…this is ideal and welcome in the sight of our savior God, Who wills that all humanity be saved…For there is one God, and one mediator between God and humanity, a man, Christ Jesus, who is giving Himself a correspondent ransom for all.” (1 Timothy 1:15-2:1-7)

Hitler's final solution was to exterminate all Jews. Institutional Christianity's final solution is to endlessly torture everyone who does not join that religion. The same is true of the religion of Islam. However, as I read the Bible, God's final solution is death for sin, thereafter to save every sinner out of death as the result of the shed blood of His Son on the cross of Calvary. The shedding of His blood being a demonstration of His love, grace, and mercy toward sinners. His resurrection being a demonstration of His salvation out of death for all. Like Jesus, all flesh and blood bodies are destined to be transformed into the image of God's resurrected Son when death is abolished.

"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 8:28)

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

"Now we all, with uncovered , mirroring the Lord's glory, are being transformed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as from th Lord, the spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18)

December 9th - The Sign of the Times

Is there a specific “sign” of the return of Jesus?. The religious Jews of His day demanded a sign to prove He was the Messiah, and Jesus responded as follows…

“Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matthew 12:39-40)

That sign was fulfilled when Jesus lay dead “three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” before He was raised to life just as Jonah was in the belly of the sea creature three days and three nights before he was spit out. 

We are now asked to “watch” in faith for the sign of His return because we do not know the day He will come.

“And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great trumpet call, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds,  from one end of sky to the other…Therefore keep watch, for you do not know on what day your Lord comes.  And know this, that if the master of the house had known in what time of night the thief comes, he would have watched and not have allowed his house to be broken into. Because of this, you also be ready, for the Son of Man comes in that hour you do not expect.” (Matthew 24:30-31; 40-42)

For now we should return to the Lord when we stray from time to time waiting for the sign of His appearance.

“Come, let us return to the LORD. For He has torn us to pieces, but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bind up our wounds...let us press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, He will appear; He will come to us like the rain, like the spring showers that water the earth.…” (Hosea 6:1-3)

December 8th - Flesh and Blood

“Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.” (1 Corinthians 15:50)

Note that even Believers (Christians if you prefer)  cannot inherit the reality of the kingdom of God until we are rid of our "flesh and blood” bodies, and not one of us are righteous now - except by faith. 

“There is none righteous, no not one...” (Romans 3:10). 

"Yet now, apart from law, a righteousness of God is manifest (being attested by the law and the prophets), yet a righteousness of God through Jesus Christ's faith, for all, and on all who are believing..." (Romans 3:21-22)

"Therefore, since we have now been justified (made righteous) by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from wrath (death) through Him! For if, when we were enemies of God, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! (Romans 5:9-11)

Again, the way I understand the Bible, none of us will inherit the kingdom of God in our current bodies of flesh and blood. However, by the GRACE of God, we unrighteous sinners - all humanity - will eventually be changed into a new creation with a SPIRITUAL and IMMORTAL body. 

“The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body…the spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual…and just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man (Jesus)”. (1 Corinthians 15:42-49)

Only in that resurrected, immortal, spiritual body can anyone enter and see the Kingdom of God. That kingdom is future. One must remember this in order to understand what the Apostle Paul meant when he wrote...

"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

The bible often uses a literary figure of speech called "prolepsis". It is defined by the Encyclopedia Britannica as "a figure of speech in which a future act or development is represented as if already accomplished or existing." 

We believers speak of ourselves as saved, justified  and sanctified. But we are speeking proleptically. Our actual salvation, justification, and sanctification remains to be manifested in the future when we are "born again", changed into our spiritual and imperishable bodies.  For now we have that expectation (hope)only by believing (having faith in) the good news.

Once God's plan for humanity is complete there will be no murders, thieves, slanderers, homosexuals, bisexuals, self righteous hypocrites, Christians, Muslims, Hindu, etc. Humanity - all of us - will then be completed in the image of Christ, and enter, see, and eternally dwell in the Kingdom of God!

December 7th - All is from Him

“For, who knew the mind of the Lord? or, who became His adviser? or, who gives to Him first, and it will be repaid him? seeing that out of Him and through Him and for Him is all: to Him be the glory for the eons! Amen! (Romans 11:35-36)

It seems to me that the various religions of the world, including Christianity, have missed this simple truth. Maybe because it is so simple and profound – “from Him and through Him and for Him are ALL THINGS”. But most likely they mussed this truth because of fear of making the Lord responsible for evil. 

However, if the Bible is true then ALL things are from the Lord - even evil.  Don't believe me? Well maybe you will believe Him...

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

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

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

"For to VANITY was the creation subjected, not voluntarily, but because of Him who subjects it…” (Romans 8:20-21)

So, what is God's "purpose" for evil, for the destroyers, and for wicked people?

No, I don't like to think about it either, but I have, and these are my thoughts after reading the Bible - all of it!

- God created evil because He wanted humanity to have both the knowledge of good and evil.

- God uses evil to humble us and teach us that good is better than evil. 

- Humanity learns what is good by contrasting it with evil.

- God is not finished with humanity. He is at work in all of us. When He is done He will banish evil and wipe away all tears and pain.

- God will create a New Heaven and New Earth without evil.

- God has eternity to make up for the evil humanity experiences in this present age. 

- Humanity will be transformed into immortals that know by experience that the evil in this temporary time on earth are not worthy to be compared to the glory of the new creation.

There you have it. The evil we see all around us IS FROM the Lord, and it is a necessary part of our journey to immortality. 

“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!” (Romans 11:34)

Nevertheless, it is OK to hate evil and hold tight to the good we encounter in this world.

"Hate everything that is evil and hold tight to everything that is good." (Romans 12:9)

December 6th - Receiving Jesus

“But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, even those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12-13)

I have heard countless invitations in which the pastor promises salvation if his listeners would “receive" Jesus based on the above scripture.

But those verses do NOT say that those who receive Him are then saved, it says they are given “the right to BECOME children of God”. So, when do they BECOME the children of God? It is when two things happen. First, they “believe in His name” and Second, are “born not of blood nor the will of the flesh nor the will of man, BUT OF GOD”.

No human being sees or enters the Kingdom of God of their own free will. It is a matter of the will "of God”. And, it is the will of God that they be born AGAIN of "the Spirit"  before they can enter and see the Kingdom of God. Jesus told Nicodemus...

"Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot SEE the kingdom of God…unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot ENTER the Kingdom of God." (John 3:3,5)

All human beings are “born of water” when their mother’s water breaks. And all human beings are born of “the Spirit” after they are resurrected from death.

“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...However, the SPIRITUAL is not first, but the natural; then the SPIRITUAL.” (1 Corinthians 15:42-49)

Being born again was a mystery to Nicodemus until the mystery was revealed by the Apostle Paul.

“Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a MYSTERY; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. “O death where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 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 15:50-57)

One final question: How many humans will finally receive Jesus, believe in His name, and enter the Kingdom of God as His children? My answer: ALL of them!

"...at the name of Jesus EVERY knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that EVERYy tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father...for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure." (Philippians 2:10-13)

"...for this is ideal and welcome in the sight of our Saviour, God, Who wills that ALL humanity be saved and come into a realization of the truth. For there is one God, and one Mediator of God and humanity, a Man, Christ Jesus, Who is giving Himself a correspondent Ransom for ALL (the testimony in its own eras), for which I was appointed a herald and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the nations in knowledge and truth." (1 Timothy 2:3-7)