January 18th - In a Beginning - Out of Nothing Came the Big Bang!

"In a beginning Elohim created the heavens and the earth. As for the earth, it came to be a chaos and vacant, and darkness was over the surface of the abyss." (Genesis 1:1-2 CLNT)

"Elohim" is a Hebrew plural word meaning mighty ones. There were two of them as I understand the Bible, God the Father, and His Son, the firstborn of all creation. 

"...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." (1 Corinthians 8:6)

In the very first "beginning" recorded in the Bible, the mighty ones were already there. The Scripture does not attempt to prove they exist. It simply implies that however far back we go, whatever beginning we want to look into, the mighty ones of creation are already there. 

"In a beginning Elohim created..". (Genesis 1:1)

Science calls this creation event "The Big Bang" or a "Singularity". But they are lost as to what was before the big bang because all known physical laws cease to work at that point. The most recent hypothesis is that there was nothing, everything in our vast Universe came into being out of nothing. It is interesting that the Hebrew word for "created" is "bara" which is generally understood to mean "come into existence out of nothing" which confirms the most recent scientific hypothesis!

But the Bible indicates that something happened to the Earth after its initial creation by the Elohim out of nothing. It states that the earth "came to be a chaos and vacant". 

Isaiah tells us it was not originally created that way...

"For thus says Yahweh, Creator of the heavens; He is the One, Elohim, the Former of the Earth and its Maker, He Himself established it; He did not create it a chaos; He formed it to be indwelt." (Isaiah 45:18)

God the Father and His Son, the Elohim, are in absolute control of the beginning and end of their creation. They will accomplish their plan to make humanity into their image. The Bible unfolds that plan for those patient enough to read the whole thing. When man has been made into that image they will enter and see the final Kingdom of God, a New Heaven and New Earth.

"And I perceived a new heaven and a new earth, for the former heaven and the former earth pass away, and the sea is no more. And I perceived the holy city, new Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I hear a loud voice out of the throne saying, "Lo! the tabernacle of God is with mankind, and He will be tabernacling with them, and they will be His peoples, and God Himself will be with them. And He will be brushing away every tear from their eyes. And death will be no more, nor mourning, nor clamor, nor misery; they will be no more, for the former things passed away." And He Who is sitting on the throne said, "Lo! New am I making all!" And He is saying, "Write, for these sayings are faithful and true." (Revelation 21:1-5)

January 17th - God 101 Final Exam

"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." (Colossians 1:20)

God 101 - Final Exam: (This is an open book test - and I assume you know what book)

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1.  Jesus came into the world to seek and to save...

(a)  some of the lost
(b)  the lost who repent of their sins and ask Jesus into their hearts
(c)  those who repeat the sinners prayer
(d)  all that are lost

2.  God wills...

(a)  all to be saved
(b)  a few to be saved
(c)  most to be saved
(d)  only Christians and Jews to be saved

3.  Jesus came into the world to

(a)  offer salvation to sinners
(b)  condemn sinners to hell
(c)  attempt to save sinners from hell
(d)  save sinners

4.  Salvation is...

(a)   an offer from God that can be rejected
(b)  earned by mixing the grace of God with the good works of people
(c)  limited to those who hear and believe the gospel
(d)  the free gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ the Lord

5.  God loves...

(a)  some people
(b)  all people
(c)  only Christians and a few Jews and Republicans
(d)  nobody

6.  At death...

(a)  Christians immediately go to heaven
(b)  Unbelievers immediately go to hell
(c)  That's it - People cease to exit
(d)  none of the above

7.  At the resurrection

(a)  we receive a new spiritual body not made from the soil
(b)  the new body is immortal
(c)  the new body is like the one Jesus now has
(d)  all of the above

8.  The English word "hell" in the King James Bible is from ...

(a)  the Hebrew word "sheol"
(b)  the Greek words  "gehenna" and "tartarus"
(c)  the Greek word "hades"
(d)  all of the above

9.  The blood of Christ Jesus has atoned for the sins of ...

(a)  the whole world
(b)  only Jews
(c)  only Christians and children who never reach the age of accountability
(d)  only Jews and Christians

10.  The lake of fire is defined in the Bible as...

(a)  the place where those who do not accept Jesus are tortured forever
(b)  the place God created to torture Satan and his demons forever
(c)  the place rich people go after death
(d)  the second death

TRUE OR FALSE

1.  God is Spirt.    ____

2.  God is Love.   _____
 
2.  God loves everyone.  ____
  
3.  God wills that all be saved.  ____

4.  God has the power to save everybody.  ____

5.  God's will is more powerful than man's will.  ____

6.  Jesus did the will of the Father.  ____

7.  Jesus was sent by God to save the world.  ____

8.  Jesus did not fail in what He came to do.  ____

9.  Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.  ____

10. The whole creation will be reconciled to God.  ____

FILL IN THE BLANKS

1.  "He said to Abraham, through your offspring ____ peoples on earth will be blessed."

2.  "Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tiding of great joy which shall be to ____ people."

3.  "And ___ humanity will see God's Salvation."

4.  "God our Savior, will have _____ humanity to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth."

5.  "We trust in the living God, who is the Savior of _____ humanity."

6.  "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw _____ humanity unto me."

7.  "The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to _____ humanity."

8.  "There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself a ransom for ____"

9. "For as in Adam _____ die, even so in Christ shall ____  be made alive."

10.  "Christ is  ___, and in ___."

11.  "That God may be ___ in ___."

January 16th - Grace and Truth

“...the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:17) 

“All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23)

The Law brings death because humanity is unable to obey it.

“…the wages of sin is death…” (Romans 6:23)

Only in Christ will anyone be deemed righteous. 

"God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them...God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:19-21)

God will freely give sinners abundant and everlasting life after death - that is the truth. 

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

At our resurrection we will be changed into immortals with a spiritual body, leaving our sinful flesh and blood bodies in the dust.

"So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. 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. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So it is written: The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual does not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man..." (1 Corinthians 15:42-49)

"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...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 15:51-53, 56)

“He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the law but of the Spirit; for the law kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:6)

January 15th - Give to God what Belongs to Him

"...give to God what belongs to God." (Mark 12:17)

What can we give God that "belongs" to Him?

King David of Israel asked this question...and answered it.

"What can I offer the LORD for all He has done for me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and praise the LORD’s name for saving me." (Psalm 116:12)

King David knew his salvation was a gift from God and all he could give back was his praise.  The Apostle Paul says the same thing...

"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise - the fruit of lips that openly profess His name."  (Hebrews 13:15)

"Give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind He will find acceptable."

(Romans 8:1)

"For by grace are you saved..." (Ephesians 2:11)

Simply put, praise God for saving you. You don't have to go to church to give God what belongs to Him.  Thank Him and live your life like you appreciate His gift of salvation - that is what "He will find acceptable".

“He has told you, O man, what is good...to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8)

"...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.” (Titus 2:11-13)

January 14th - The Destiny of Judas

"The world is a theater, the earth a stage which God and nature do with Actors fill" – John Heywood

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

“Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me…Lord, who is it? Jesus answered, it is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish. Then, dipping the piece of bread, He gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So, Jesus told him, what you are about to do, do quickly.” (John 13:21-28)

Jesus did not warn Judas of the consequences but gave him permission to betray Him. Judas was chosen by God for this purpose.

“Then Jesus replied, Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is an adversary! Now He meant Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray Him." (John 6:70-71)

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

God is in control of this great drama of life, and we are simply playing our part. And when this grand play concludes, we may be surprised that the actors gathered before him twill receive praise for the role they played, whether good or bad.

“Let all creation rejoice before the LORD, for He comes, He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness.” (Psalm 96:13) 

"He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.” (1 Corinthians 4:5)

Some of the villains are Satan, Adam, and Judas who performed their roles as written, yet all to the eventual glory of God, the author of the drama of life on this planet.  

The Lord Jesus Christ is playing the leading role of the hero, the Savior of the world!

“It was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself..." (Colossians 1:20)

"As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive…death will be abolished…so that God may be All in ALL" … "We  have seen and do testify that the Father has sent the Son as the Savior of the world" ... "He who testifies to these things says, Yes, I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-28; 1 John 4:14; Revelation 22:20)

So, the destiny of Judas is to be saved and reconciled to God, even though his part is a villain in the drama of life.

"For God locks up all together in stubbornness, that He should be merciful to all. O, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How inscrutable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways! 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 11:32-36)

January 13th - The Grace of God is for Everyone

"Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel…I will put My law in their minds and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people…they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them," says the LORD. "For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more." (Jeremiah 31:31, 33-34)

Long ago, God promised a new covenant of grace for His people Israel. Someday, all Israelites will turn to Messiah Jesus and realize they are recipients of His covenant of grace.

"And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; for this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins." (Romans 11:26-27).

This will take place when the Lord Jesus returns to this earth.

"And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they have pierced; they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn." (Zechariah 12:10).

Grace is not exclusive to Israel. The Grace of God has appeared to all humanity and brought them salvation.

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

"Faithful is the saying and worthy of all welcome (for for this are we toiling and being reproached), that we rely on the living God, Who is the Savior of all humanity, especially of believers. These things be charging and teaching." (1 Timothy 4:9-10)

"God, being rich in mercy, because of His vast love with which He loves us (we also being dead to the offenses and the lusts), vivifies us together in Christ (in grace are you saved!) and rouses us together and seats us together among the celestials, in Christ Jesus, that, in the oncoming eons, He should be displaying the transcendent riches of His grace in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For in grace, through faith, are you saved, and this is not out of you; it is God's approach present, not of works, lest anyone should be boasting." (Ephesians 2:4-9)

January 12th - The Roman Road of Salvation

"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." (Romans 3:21-23)

The word "sinned" means to miss the target.  All people miss - Romans, Democrats, Republicans, Jews, Christians, Muslims and everybody else. 

But Christ Jesus arrived to justify and deliver sinners gratuitously (free of charge).

Being justified gratuitously in His grace, through the deliverance which is in Christ Jesus (Whom God purposed for a Propitiatory shelter, through faith in His blood, for a display of His righteousness because of the passing over of the penalties of sins which occurred before in the forbearance of God), toward the display of His righteousness in the current era, for Him to be just and a justifier of the one who is of the faith of Jesus. (Romans 3:24-27)

Humanity is either justified gratuitously in His grace or not at all. Again, the word "gratuitously" means free of charge.  Nobody gets to brag about earning justification - it is free.

Where, then, is boasting? It is debarred! Through what law? Of works? No! But through faith's law. For we are reckoning a man to be justified by faith apart from works of law. Or is He the god of the Jews only? Is He not of the nations also? Yes, of the nations also, if so be that God is One, Who will be justifying the Circumcision out of faith and the Uncircumcision through faith.” (Romans 3:21-30)

Being freed from Sin as a gracious gift of God enslaves us to God - and that is OK by me.

"...now, being freed from Sin, yet enslaved to God, you have your fruit for holiness. Now the consummation is life eonian. For the ration of Sin is death, yet the gracious gift of God is life eonian, in Christ Jesus, our Lord." (Romans 6:20-23)

However, people need to be told about this gracious gift in order to have faith in it.

"Near you is the declaration, in your mouth and in your heart -- that is, the declaration of faith which we are heralding that, if ever you should be avowing with your mouth the declaration that Jesus is Lord, and should be believing in your heart that God rouses Him from among the dead, you shall be saved. For with the heart it is believed for justification, yet with the mouth it is avowed for salvation."  (Romans 10:8-10)

Jesus is the Lord of humanity, and everyone who invokes the name of the Lord shall be saved when they hear and believe.

"For the scripture is saying: Everyone who is believing on Him shall not be disgraced. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same One is Lord of all, being rich for all who are invoking Him. For everyone, whoever should be invoking the name of the Lord, shall be saved." ((Romans 10:8-13)

To this day Israel, as a nation, does not believe in Jesus nor do they believe God raised him from the dead - they are not invoking the name, so they are not saved - but Paul tells us that eventually all of them shall be saved…

“I am saying then, does not God thrust away His people? May it not be coming to that! ... in their offense is salvation to the nations …callousness, in part, on Israel has come, until the complement of the nations may be entering. And thus, all Israel shall be saved...He will be turning away irreverence from Jacob. And this is My covenant with them, whenever I should be eliminating their sins.” (Romans 11:1-27)

All people in every nation shall be saved as well…

"Or is He the god of the Jews only? Is He not of the nations also? Yes, of the nations also, if so be that God is One, Who will be justifying the Circumcision out of faith and the Uncircumcision through faith.” ... "There is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same One is Lord of all, being rich for all who are invoking Him.  For everyone, whoever is invoking the name of the Lord, shall be saved.” (Romans 3:29-30; 10:12-13)

Few people invoke the name of the Lord in this age.  In fact, most people have lived and died before Jesus was born.  So, when will they invoke His name? The book of Revelation tells us.

"I perceived a great white throne, and Him Who is sitting upon it...And they were judged, each according to their acts."  (Revelation 20:11, 14)

It is before the Great White Throne that all will finally invoke the name of the Lord and be saved. The Apostle Paul assures humanity that everyone will acclaim Jesus Christ as Lord.

“God highly exalts Him, and graces Him with the name that is above every name, that in the name of Jesus every knee will be bowing, celestial and terrestrial and subterranean, and every tongue will be acclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord, for the glory of God, the Father.” (Philippians 2:10-11)

In summary, all human beings get justified and saved the same way - as a "gracious gift of God...in Christ Jesus our Lord".