May 21st - Tetragrammaton - Who is He?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

May 20th - The Good News

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

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

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

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

The Apostle Paul said this...

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

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

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

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

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

May 19th - What Happened at the Cross?

Romans 6:23 clearly says that...

"the wages of sin is death”

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

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

Again, all humans die for their sin...

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

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

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

So, what happened at the cross? 

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

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

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

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

"God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself...For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him , and through Him to reconcile ALL to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach.” (2 Corinthians 5:19; Colossians 1:19-22)

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

Paul related to the Jewish leaders His commission from Jesus to gentiles and was nearly killed by them…

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

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

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

Nevertheless, the salvation of all humans is God's plan.

“It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all humanity, especially of believers. PRESCRIBE AND TEACH THESE THINGS..." (1 Timothy 1:15, 4:10-11)

May 17th - Deceitful Workers

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

Jesus had this to say to religious and political deceivers 2000 years ago...

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

I suppose that there are “deceitful workers” in all religious and political groups. Their methods are subtle, as Satan is subtle. All of them separate humanity into two groups - the good and the bad - with their group of course the good men and women.

Nevertheless, God will unify humanity. His plan is that at the end of the ages humanity will become a united new creation - and as I understand the Bible, even the "deceitful workers" will be transformed into good people.

“The wages of sin is DEATH but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord...who gave Himself a ransom for all...for it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach...it is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all humanity, especially of believers. PRESCRIBE AND TEACH THESE THINGS..." (Romans 6:23; 1 Timothy 2:6; Colossians 1:19-23; 1 Timothy 4:10-11)

May 16th - Doing Good

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

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

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

"...they also live and reign with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead do not live until the thousand years should be finished.). This is the former resurrection. Happy and holy is he who is having part in the former resurrection! Over these the second death has no jurisdiction, but they will be reigning with Him the thousand years." (Revelation 20:5-6)

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

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

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

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

This life sucks sometimes, but ruling and reigning with Christ will be worth all the suffering we may experience for hearing and having faith in what God the Father says about His Son Jesus.

May 15th - Humanity Cannot Save Itself

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Those who hear and believe the truth of their salvation have peace in this life. Those who do not are repeatedly searching ways to find peace by their own acts - often encouraged to do in places of worship.

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

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

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

"By Myself I have sworn; truth has gone out from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow before Me, every tongue will swear allegiance. Surely they will say of Me, In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.’ ” (Isaiah 45:23)

"Christ Jesus, Who, as He already existed in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself by taking the form of a bond-servant and being born in the likeness of humans. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death: death on a cross. For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:5-11)

Again, humans cannot save themselves from death, but fortunately we do not have to - God will do that.

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

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

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

"For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and humanity, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed as a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth." (1 Timothy 2:5-7)

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

May 14th - What Does God Require of You?

“And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)

Humility is a characteristic that God likes in humans. Most of us have a hard time being humble because the world teaches us to be proud of wealth, success, or position.

But God esteems the humble.

“. . . this is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit…” (Isaiah 66:2)

God prefers humble folks who feel bad when they hurt others. They trust God to direct their path, even when His path takes them through difficult circumstances.

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

They pray in private for themselves and those they care about - short simple prayers. 

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as the nations do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again." (Matthew 6:5-7)

And when they pray they have a peace they do not fully understand.

"Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand." (Philippians 4:6-7)

God prefers humble people  - so I am working on becoming one.

May 13th - Heavy Burdens of Religion

Jesus said this about religious leaders of His day:

"For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders." (Matthew 23:4).

The rules and regulations found in the religions of the world leave humanity frustrated, guilt ridden and depressed. Jesus came to set humanity free from rules and regulations of religious institutions, whether Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Hindu or any other religious system.

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed." (Luke 4:18).

"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...it is for freedom that Christ has set us free." (2 Corinthians 5:18-19; Galatians 5:1)

Sinful humanity, all of us, will eventually be set free from death - the wages of sin. Our final destiny is to be resurrected to eternal life.

"Upon this rock I will be building my church, and the gates of the grave shall not be prevailing against it." (Matthew 16:18)  

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

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

"...I give to you the gospel that I accepted, Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, He was then entombed, and then rose to life the third day according to the Scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15:3)

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

May 12th - A Righteousness from God for Humanity

"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, for there is no distinction, for all sinned and are wanting of the glory of God. Being justified gratuitously in His grace, through the deliverance which is in Christ Jesus." (Romans 3:21-24)

At this point in Paul's Roman letter he has clearly set forth that all humanity...the good, the bad, and the religious... are ALL sinners who are lacking "in the glory of God". Humanity's only hope is the mercy, love, and grace of God. Paul then relates the good news of God's love for humanity:

"...yet God is commending this love of His to us, seeing that, while we are still sinners, Christ died for our sakes.  Much rather, then, being now justified in His blood, we shall be saved from indignation, through Him." (Romans 5:8-9)

"For God has imprisoned everyone in disobedience so He could have mercy on everyone." (Romans 11:32)

Humanity will be saved because God is rich in mercy, love and grace.

"God, being rich in mercy, because of His vast love with which He loves us...vivifies us together in Christ (in grace are you saved)" (Ephesians 2:4-6)

In summary:

1. "a righteousness of God" has been brought to light for all sinners.

2. This righteousness is "Jesus Christ's faith" in God, as opposed to humanity's lack of faith in God.

3. Jesus Christ's faith is sufficient for God to justify (declare righteous) all humanity.

4. "There is no distinction" between the believer and the unbeliever.

5. This righteousness is "for all", but it rests "on all" who believe.

6. Both believers and unbelievers have "all sinned and are wanting of glory of God".

7. Because of the love of God for humanity, all are "justified gratuitously (freely) in His GRACE through the deliverance which is in Jesus Christ.

8. Jesus will deliver humanity from death, its "last enemy", by abolishing death.

"Christ has been raised out from the dead, the firstfruit of those having fallen asleep. For since death came by a man, so also by a man has come the resurrection of the dead. For as indeed in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive...The last enemy to be abolished is death." (1 Corinthians 15:20-22, 26)

If humanity would believe what God says - all would rest in peace when they die, knowing their salvation from death is what God will do for us all.

May 11th - Believe the Truth

Again, the truth is the truth whether people believe it or not!

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

“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.” (Romans 8:3)

What did Paul mean when he said Jesus “condemned sin in the flesh”? Sin condemned humanity to "death" as Paul tells us. Christ condemned death to be swallowed up in Victory at the resurrection. And this Victory Christ obtained is for ALL humanity.

"Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all humanity, because all sinned…just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for ALL humanity…so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also GRACE might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord...for as in Adam ALL die, even so in Christ shall ALL be made alive...death is abolished...that God may be All in all” (Romans 5:12-21; 1 Corinthians 15:22-28)

May 10th - We Win

The truth is the truth whether people believe it or not.

“O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: for His MERCY endures forever.” (Psalm 118:29 KJV)

“For by GRACE are you saved…” (Ephesians 2:8 KJV)

GRACE and MERCY are the flip sides of God’s coin of Love. MERCY is not giving humanity what it deserves….staying dead. GRACE is giving humanity what they do not deserve….the free gift of being resurrected from death to immortal life. This is the coin that God flips to determine our eternal destiny, Regardless of which side turns up - WE WIN!

“So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” (1 Corinthians 15:54)

May 9th - "Lions and Tigers and Bears - Oh My!"

"In God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" (Psalm 56:11).

"Without faith it is impossible to please God." (Hebrews 11:6)

Faith does not save anyone from the consequence of sin, which is death. The mercy, love, and grace of God takes care of our salvation by our resurrection.

"God, being rich in mercy, because of His vast love with which He loves us...vivifies us together in Christ (in grace are you saved)..." (Ephesians 2:4-6)

Faith in His mercy, love, and grace delivers us from the fear of death and enables us to have peace and joy in the midst of difficult circumstances we have from time to time.  And of course, that kind of faith does "please God".

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

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

When our salvation and transformation to immortality is complete we will have eternal abundant life.

"It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies." (1 Corinthians 15:52)

Don't fear "Lions and Tigers and Bears" Dorothy - Rejoice in God's "Mercy and Love and Grace - Oh My!

May 8th - The Knowledge of Salvation

Those who have "the KNOWLEDGE of salvation" are to share it with the rest of humanity. Salvation involves the remission of our sins through the tender MERCY of God.

"To give the knowledge of salvation to His people by the pardon of their sins, because of the merciful compassions of our God..." (Luke 1:77)

The mercy of God is shown in the shed blood of Christ Jesus for all humanity. 

"For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all die; and He died for all, so that those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose on their behalf." (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)

His death is the basis for the pardon of the sins of Israel, for making all humanity righteous (justification), and for saving all out of death.

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

"God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him." (Romans 5:8-9)

The wrath of God toward humanity ends with the death of human beings. Humanity will not perish (stay dead), they will be saved out of death as a free gift of God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

"For all sin and come 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)

Again, those of us who have this "knowledge" should tell others about it. We are not to OFFER salvation, but declare the certainty of salvation through the finished work of Christ Jesus. We are to share the GOOD NEWS of the SUCCESSFUL, completed, and finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ - the work of saving the world!

"...we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world." (John 4:42)

God does not need the help to save the world, but He does like for us to share our "knowledge of salvation" with the people who do not know about it!

May 7th - Craziness

The Apostle Paul, writing to his friend Timothy observed this about some people he knew...

"...he is puffed up with pride and has no true knowledge, but is crazy over discussions and controversies about words which give rise to envy, quarrelling, revilings, ill-natured suspicions, and persistent wranglings...blinded to all knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 6:4-5)

This is what I see on TV over and over with regard to our political candidates. Most everything the network media says about them are based on suspicion. These "ill-natured suspicions" often has "blinded them to all knowledge of the truth".

All of us should consider whether our thoughts and opinions about others are based in truth or just "ill-natured suspicions"?

I learned years ago that I could get "crazy over discussions" that usually led to "quarreling" and I continue to fight that craziness from time to time.

The Apostle Paul went on the say to his friend Timothy...

"...godliness is gain, when associated with contentment..." (1 Timothy 6:6)

I rarely, if ever, change another persons mind by debating an issue so I have quit trying. It is enough for me to have "contentment" in what I believe to be true, sharing the basis for my views from time to time on social media as I await the return of Jesus who will settle all differences of opinion.

"...for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until the day of His return." (2 Timothy 1:12)

May 6th - Addiction

All of us are addicted to something. And those who overcome an addiction are some of my heroes. My addiction was to the local church. It caused me to fall out of the grace of God and into religious bondage. Then, miraculously, I was set free by Christ Jesus. 

"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love." (Galatians 5:1-6)

Sometime after moving back to Sayre in 1977 I became addicted to the local church. I am not talking about my relationship with God or Jesus, or my place in the Body of Christ, or my love for the Bible. I am talking about organized, programmed involvement in the local institutional church. I got "high" on this ritual. I felt good and fulfilled only when I was participating in these church related activities. It was an addiction! 

Over twenty five years later God intervened - lovingly, graciously, and mercifully. I was at my computer, and in the search engine I typed the word "hell," and God began a five year process of delivering me from my addiction and setting me free from my addiction.  

I have been clean since that time and now seek to live every day in the fruit of the Spirit - love, joy, and peace. I have a real appreciation for my loving and gracious heavenly Father, and for His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I grow in grace and knowledge of Them as I read and study the Bible. I am thankful for my addiction, for God knew it was necessary FOR ME to find Him and His plan for me and my family - and all others. Here is what I have learned about that plan in a a nutshell:

God is not mad at humanity. He loves us unconditionally. The Son of God became a man named Jesus. He came to die for the sins of the world and to demonstrate the love of God for His creation. Jesus died for our sin, was entombed, and then raised to life. Forty days later He was transformed back into His preexistent spiritual immortal body as He ascended back to His Father to be seated once again at His right hand. The Son of God will return soon, raise the body of Christ, and Jesus will reign over this earth for one thousand years. Thereafter, He will raise the rest of humanity, judge them, save them from the second death, and transformed them into His glorious immortal image. All humanity will then enter and see the New Heaven and New Earth, the Kingdom of God where we will never again be separated from Him. 

As I continue to study the Bible I discover the details of His incredible plan for the new creation.

"Now, whenever all may be subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also shall be subjected to Him Who subjects all to Him, that God may be All in all." (1 Corinthians 15:28)

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away... He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” (Revelation 21:1, 5)

"Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their wrongdoings against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:18-21)

May 5th - The Truth

The truth is the truth whether we believe it or not. God will save humanity to of death and all will ne reconciled to God. Then all will know the Truth, and it will set them free from the bondage of religious doctrine. At that time...

"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 31:34; Hebrews 8:11)

We will "know the Truth, and the Truth will make you free.” (John 8:32)

That is GOOD NEWS!

May 4th - Paul's Peaching and Teaching

 "Him we preach, warning every human and teaching every human in all wisdom, that we may present every human perfect in Christ Jesus." (Colossians 1:28)

What was Paul "warning every human" about? And what was he teaching "every human in all wisdom"?

In verses 19-21 Paul had said this about Jesus:

"For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation" (Colossians 1:19-21)

Paul was teaching that God has reconciled "all things" to Himself through Christ Jesus. Paul was warning his listeners that it is immature (less than perfect) to teach or believe that Jesus would FAIL to do so.

May 3rd - Man's Dominion Will End

In the beginning...

"...God created humanity in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”  (Genesis 1:27-28)

“Yet You have made him a little lower than God, and You crown him with glory and majesty! You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet. All sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, whatever passes through the paths of the seas.” (Psalm 8:4-8)

Almost 6,000 years later, how is dominion in the hands of humanity working out?

Fortunately, God reserved for Himself dominion AFTER humanity’s dominion comes to an end. At that future time God will make humanity into a new creature, and they will live in a new heaven and a new earth.

"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)

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away; behold, the new has come into being." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

After humans have our shot at dominion we must give an account of the part we played, and there will be chastening associated with that accounting, BUT NO CONDEMNATION!

“So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:12)

"...when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may NOT be condemned with the world (cosmos)." (1 Corinthians 11:32)

We human beings should live in such a way that we will not be ashamed of our actions when the accounting comes.

"And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming." (1 John 2:28)

Human governments and religions have failed miserably in having dominion over this earth, and DEATH is the merciful and just result of that failure. However, God has told us that He will save humanity out of death in spite of its failure. He will not condemn any of us forever,  nor will He chasten any forever. He will make all of us into a new creation, the former failures will have passed away.

"For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive...The last enemy to be destroyed is death." (1 Corinthians 15:22,27)

“It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance…Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners…God our Savior wills ALL humanity to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth… there is one God, and one mediator between God and humanity, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for ALL...we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of ALL humanity, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things.” (1 Timothy 1:15, 2:3-7; 4:9-11)

Again, the governments and religions of humanity have and will continue to fail to save us - but God cannot fail so He will save us and make all things new when the age of mortal human dominion ends. 

It cannot come soon enough for me!

"He who is the faithful witness to all these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon!” 

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20-21)

May 2nd - God is love

After fifty years of reading commentaries of the Bible and Sunday school literature provided by the denomination I attended, it finally dawned on me...

“Yet furthermore, my son, beyond these, be warned; of the making of many books is no end; and much study is a weariness to the flesh.” (Ecclesiastes 12:12)

I stopped reading commentaries on the Bible to discover the truth and started focusing solely on reading it for myself. I noticed that the Bible defines its author as "love"...

"God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him...There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love." (1 John 4:16-19)

Jesus did not "fear" punishment because the love of God was in Him to continually cast out fear. You and I do not yet abide in love - so we fear God and other things from time to time. But the things we fear in this world will pass...

"The world is passing away, and also its desire; but the one who does the will of God lives forever." (1 John 2:17)

The "one" who does the will of God is Jesus, and He is the only human who currently "lives forever". Yet all humanity is destined to become like Him when they are "made alive" after death, for God so loved the world that He sent His Son to save the world from condemnation.

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

"For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for US ALL, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:29-32)

"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." (1 Corinthians 15:20-22)

Religion separates humanity into those who go to heaven and those who go to hell - and gives a detailed vision of the hell they fear hoping to scare people into a free will decision to be saved and join the their churches. Yet, the LOVE found in the inspired Word of God "casts out fear", replacing it with assurance that God will indeed save humanity out of death, change them into the image of His Son, and give them eternal life - because God is love.

May 1st - Don't Worry

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4-7)

Prayer is the prescribed medication that people can apply to those circumstances which seem impossible from time to time...enabling them to have some peace in the midst of the storms of life. And when we pray it seems wise to do so in the manner Jesus instructed…

“…when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not babble on like pagans, for they think that by their many words they will be heard. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”  (Matthew 6:5-8)

I bring my worries to Him, and alone with God is the only place I find inner peace when the wars of living this life seem to much for me.

“…toss your entire worry on Him, for He is caring for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)