December 26th - We Do Not Get to Vote on Who God Saves

"Out of Him, and through Him, and to Him, are all things" (Romans 11:36)

"...in accordance with the riches of God’s GRACE He made known to us the mystery of His will... to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ…according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will." (Ephesians 1:7-11).

God knew from the beginning that Jesus will save humanity from their sins and bring unity to all things. 
I suppose that is why we are instructed to pray for ALL humanity, not just the people we like.

"I am entreating, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, pleadings, thanksgiving be made for all humanity, for kings and all those being in a superior station, that we may be leading a mild and quiet life in all devoutness and gravity, 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." (1 Timothy 2:1-6)

I do not get to vote on who gets saved - and neither do you! Yet, it is my sincere belief that when the plan of God is consummated, all creation will have been saved out of death to enter the New Heaven and New Earth,

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” (Revelation 21:1-5)

December 25th - Merry Christmas!

"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. ”All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means, “God with us”)."(Matthew 1:20.23)

As I look upon the baby Jesus in celebration of His birth I cannot help but say with John...

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

 We are all sinners in Adam by Birth...

"...through one human sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all humanity...through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all..." (Romans 5:12)

Yet by the Grace of God we become Saints through the one act of righteousness of this baby - our Lord!

"...even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all humanity....so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.." (Romans 5:12-21)

"For the GRACE of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all humanity...and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners..." (Titus 2:11; 1 Timothy 1:14-15)

Merry Christmas Humanity - Sinners by Birth, Saints by Grace!

And He is coming back again - soon!

December 24th - Behold the Lamb

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

William Blake once said… “When I tell the truth, it is not for the sake of convincing those who do not know it, but for the sake of defending those that do.”

Jesus once said... "when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Those statements pretty well sum up why I continue to post my thoughts on the Scripture. It is only by the grace of God anyone discovers truth in this age. Nevertheless, those who encounter the truth then have faith that it is glorious for humanity:

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

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

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

"Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the good news I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand...Of first importance is that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15:1, 3-4)

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

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

“And having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile ALL unto Himself.” (Colossians 1:20)

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

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

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

And what are we to do with the good news? Have enough faith to tell our family about it.

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

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

The truth does not limit the victory of the "Lamb of God" to those who have faith. However, faith in the Lamb of God whose birthday we celebrate tomorrow enables us to say with the Samaritans…

"It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world." (John 4:42)

Merry Christmas Eve!

December 23rd - Merry Christmas Israel!

"For a Boy, He is born to us; a Son, He is given to us, and the Chieftainship shall come to be on His shoulder, and one shall call His name Marvelous; Counsel to the master shall He bring, unto the Chief, well-being. To the increase of the Chieftainship and to the well-being there will be no end; on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to brace it with right judgment and with justice, henceforth and in the future eon, the zeal of Yahweh of hosts, it shall achieve this."  (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Although Israel does not celebrate the birth of Jesus as their Messiah and Savior, nevertheless, He is the Messiah and He will establish the throne of David on this Earth when He returns. 

His earthly parents were Miriam and Joseph, both descendants of King David.

"Joseph, son of David, you may not be afraid to accept Miriam, your wife, for that which is being generated in her is of holy spirit. Now she shall be bringing forth a Son, and you shall be calling His name Jesus, for He shall be saving His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:20-21)

The Hebrew word translated Jesus is "Yahshua" and means "Yahweh, salvation." His birth was announced by Angel to a few Jewish shepherds watching over their flocks outside Bethlehem, the city of David.

"And the messenger said to them, "Fear not, for lo! I am bringing you good news of great joy which will be for the entire people, for today was brought forth to you a Savior, Who is Christ, the Lord, in the city of David. And this is the sign to you: you will be finding a Babe, swaddled and lying in a manger. And suddenly with the messenger there came to be a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,"Glory to God among the Highest! And on earth peace, among men, delight!" (Luke 2:10-14)

For 2,000 years millions of people among the nations of the world have believed Jesus is the Messiah and Savior of the world. However, most Israelites today do not think He is their Messiah. Nevertheless, God will eliminate this sin as well as all others when Jesus returns to rescue them.

"For I am not willing for you to be ignorant of this secret, brethren, lest you may be passing for prudent among yourselves, that callousness, in part, on Israel has come, until the complement of the nations may be entering. And thus all Israel shall be saved, according as it is written, arriving out of Zion shall be the Rescuer. He will be turning away irreverence from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them whenever I should be eliminating their sins." (Romans 11:25-27)

Merry Christmas Israel!

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)