February 5th - The Gospel - We're all in!

Here is the gospel according to Paul in a nutshell...

“Now I am making known to you, brethren, the gospel which I bring to you, which also you accepted, in which also you stand, through which also you are saved, if you are retaining what I said in bringing the gospel to you, unless you did not actually believe. For I give over to you among the first what also I accepted, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that He was entombed, and that He was resurrected on the third day according to the scriptures.”      (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

The fact that Christ died for my sins, was entombed, and then resurrected on the third day is what saves me. That salvation is by the GRACE of God. My FAITH in that salvation is a "gift" from God . 

"For in grace, through faith, are you saved, and this not out of you; it is God's gift, not of works, lest anyone should be boasting." (Ephesians 2:8-10)

God's MERCY and LOVE, and the "transcendent riches of His grace"  for all humanity, will be shown throughout the ages to come.

"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 resurrects us together and seats us together among the Celestials, in Christ Jesus, that, in the oncoming ages, He should be displaying the transcendent riches of His grace in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:4-7)

"...through Him to reconcile all to Him, whether those on the earth or those in the heavens."  (Colossians 1:20)

Humanity is destined to have a seat "among the Celestials" where they will display "the transcendent riches of His grace in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus".

So, the result of the gospel of grace in a nutshell - we're all in!

"...we have hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all humanity, especially of believers. These things be charging and teaching." (1Timothy 4:10)

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone." (Titus 2:9)

February 4th - Agreement with the Devil

The Corinthian believers were called "saints" by Paul and he referred to them as "the body of Christ".

"Paul, a called apostle of Christ Jesus, through the will of God, and Sosthenes, a brother, to the ecclesia of God which is in Corinth, hallowed in Christ Jesus, CALLED SAINTS...Grace to you and peace from God..." (1 Corinthians 1:1-3)

"Now you are the body of Christ..." (1 Corinthians 12:27)

"Saints" are just sinners set apart ("sancified") by Jesus Christ and the Spirit of God. "Saints" are not perfect people, and the Corinthians were a good example. Paul reminds them of who they were and lays out the sins they were still doing even after God had declared them "saints" and placed them in the "body of Christ".

"...you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters." (1 Corinthians 6:8)

Paul tells these "saints" that they should not continue in that lifestyle because they have been "washed" by the blood of Jesus, "sanctified" by Jesus, and "justifed" in the name of Jesus and the Spirit of God.

"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...

These "saints" protested to Paul to which he responded...

'I have the right to do anything,' you say—but not everything is beneficial. 'you have the right to do anything'—but you should not be mastered by anything..." (1 Corinthians 6:11-12)

Paul acknowledged that they were free to do as they please, most likely having told them the same thing he told the Romans...

"Yet where sin increases, grace superexceeds..." (Romans 5:20)

But Paul insists that continuing to live like that does not "honor" God, reminding them that their bodies were now temples of the Holy Spirit...

"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

"Saints" have freedom because the "spirit of the Lord" dwells in us...

"Now the Lord is the spirit; yet where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." (2 Corinthians 3:17)

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1)

Going to church does not make anyone a saint, and some religious organizations enslave their members to their doctrine. Such is the power of deception.

"For Satan himself is being transfigured into a messenger of light. It is no great thing, then, if his servants also are being transfigured as dispensers of righteousness - whose consummation shall be according to their acts." (2 Corinthians 11:14-15)

"Saints" have freedom to join religious organizations, however, they should pay attention to what it teaches or they may find themselves unintentionally becoming a servant of Satan.

February 3rd - Christians Will Give Account to God

"Paul, a called apostle of Christ Jesus, through the will of God, and Sosthenes, a brother, to the ecclesia of God which is in Corinth, hallowed in Christ Jesus, CALLED SAINTS, together with all in every place who are invoking the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, both theirs and ours: Grace to you, and peace from God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 1:1-3)

There is no doubt to whom this letter is written - the "ecclesia" in Corinth, and everyone in "every place" who are "invoking the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ."

So, let's take a look at what these "saints" were doing. Were they a bunch of perfect people gathering together to sing "Kum ba yah"? - heck no, not this bunch. Here is the background of some members of this church - fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, effeminate, thieves, coveteous, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners.

"And that is what some of you were. 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 6:11)

"Now you are the body of Christ..." (1 Corinthians 12:27)

These sinners were "saints" and members of "the body of Christ" because, in the grace of God, they had been justified "in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God", not by their own righteousness. Being a "saint" does not mean you are doing more godly works than others. The word "saint" means "holy" - set apart by God. Not set apart because of what we do, but set apart because of "Jesus Christ's faith".

"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)

It is the faith and blood of Christ Jesus that "justifies" sinners (makes them righteous).

"...having perceived that a man is not being justified by works of law, except alone through the faith of Christ Jesus, we also believe in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by the faith of Christ." (Galatians 2:16-17)

Again, human beings become "saints" and members of the "body of Christ" by the grace of God.  When human beings hear, believe and accept the following about Jesus they become aware of their justification, salvation, and membership in the body of Christ...

"Now I am making known to you, brethren, the evangel which I bring to you, which also you accepted, in which also you stand, through which also you are saved....what also I accepted, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that He was entombed, and that He has been roused the third day according to the scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15:1-5)

Each "saint" will still give an account for the things done in the body, whether good or bad. The Lord will be examining all of us, including the Pope and the Apostle Paul.

"Now He Who is examining me is the Lord. So be not judging anything before the season, till the Lord should be coming, Who will illuminate the hidden things of darkness and manifest the counsels of the hearts. And then applause will be coming to each one from God." (1 Corinthians 4:5-6)

Paul tells these carnal Corinthian "saints" that they should shape up, correct their bad behavior and do what is right so they won't be ashamed when Jesus returns to examine them. John told Jewish believers the same thing.

"And now, little children, remain in Him, that, if He should be manifested, we should be having boldness and not be put to shame by Him at His presence." (1 John 2:28-29)

Christianity implies that if one is "saved" then they won't have to "account" to God after they die. They say saved people go directly to heaven and everyone else goes immediately to hell after they die. I think they are in for a surprise! NO ONE will be tortured in the mythological hell of Greek mythology, but God will illuminate everyone's "hidden things of darkness and manifest the counsels of the hearts". 

The result - "shame" or "applause". Yet after that judgment, all will be justified, saved, and transformed into the image of Christ.

"For our realm is inherent in the heavens, out of which we are awaiting a Savior also, the Lord, Jesus Christ, Who will transfigure the body of our humilation, to conform it to the body of His glory, in accord with the operation which enables Him even to subject all to Himself." (Philippians 3:20-

"...whom He foreknew, He designates beforehand, also, to be conformed to the image of His Son, for Him to be Firstborn among many brethren." (Romans 8:28-29)

February 2nd - The Bibles of Men

"No man ever believes that the Bible means what it says: He is always convinced that it says what he means." - George Bernard Shaw

"I am marveling that thus, swiftly, you are transferred from that which calls you in the GRACE of Christ, to a different evangel...but if ever we also, or a messenger out of heaven, should be bringing an evangel to you beside that which we bring to you, let him be anathema!" (Galatians 1:4-8)

I think George Bernhard Shaw was correct. But I would put it this way...

"No religious institution of man believes what the Bible says, instead, they are convinced the Bible says what their Theologians tell them it says."

The Bible has been translated into hundreds of different versions. As the result, the Bible we possess has become an abstract of the various opinions of Theologians. The original Scripture was infallible, but the versions created by men are not. They are filled with the biases of the translators. 

The first English version of Scripture came around 1380 A.D. by John Wycliffe, more than a thousand years after the Scriptures were canonized.  His and all others are biased toward the traditions of the Theologians of Catholicism. We should remind ourselves what Jesus pointed out to the Theologians of His day...

"Then, coming to Jesus from Jerusalem are Pharisees and scribes, saying, "Wherefore are your disciples transgressing the tradition of the elders? For they are not washing their hands whenever they may be eating bread. Now He, answering, said to them, "Wherefore are you also transgressing the precept of God because of your tradition?" (Matthew 15:1-3)

To elevate a tradition to the inspired and inerrant word of God is not good according to Jesus...

"You invalidate the word of God because of your tradition. Hypocrites! Ideally Isaiah prophesies concerning you, saying, "This people with their lips is honoring Me, Yet their heart is away a distance from Me. Yet in vain are they revering Me, teaching for teachings the directions of men.” (Matthew 15:6-9)

It is hard work to determine which of the many versions of the Bible come closest to the actual words of God because there are no original manuscripts in existence. The Concordant Version of the New Testament has become my go to version because the way it was translated removes most of the personal bias of the translator.  

The good news ("evangel") came to the Apostle Paul "by direct revelation of Jesus Christ".

"For I am making known to you, brethren, as to the evangel which is being brought by me, that it is not in accord with man. For neither did I accept it from a man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ."(Galatians 1:11-13)

Below is the good news for humanity revealed to the Apostle Paul by Jesus.

1. GOD LOVES SINNERS AND CHRIST DIED FOR US...

“God is commending this love of His to us, seeing that while we are still sinners, Christ died for our sakes.” (Romans 5:8)

“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” (1 Timothy 1:15)

“Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and He was entombed, and He has been roused the third day according to the scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-5)

2. GOD WILLS THAT ALL HUMANITY BE SAVED...

“...our Savior, God, who wills that all humanity be saved and come into a realization of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4)

“...we rely on the living God, Who is the Savior of ALL humanity, especially of believers.” (1 Timothy 4:10)

3. ALL WILL BE RECONCILED TO GOD THOUGH THE BLOOD OF CHRIST...

“...while we were enemies we were conciliated to God through the death of His Son.” (Romans 5:10)

“...God was in Christ, conciliating the world to Himself, not reckoning their offenses to them...” (2 Corinthians 5:19)

“...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.” (Colossians 1:20)

4. LIFE AFTER DEATH IS A GRACIOUS GIFT FROM GOD TO ALL HUMANITY...

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

“...the gratuitous gift of God is life eonian, in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

5. WHAT WE ARE TO DO WITH THE GOOD NEWS...

"These things be charging and teaching." (1 Timothy 4:11)

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

February 1st - Is Sin is a Good Thing?

Is it better to sin and be forgiven, than never to have sinned at all?

“Then Paul said to him, God is about to beat you, whitewashed wall!" (Acts 23:3)

"Would that those who are raising you to insurrection struck themselves off also!” (Galatians 5:12)

Paul had a temper and sometimes it just could not be contained. It was probably this “thorn in the flesh” that he pleaded with God to remove.

“…there was given to me a splinter in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, that he may be buffeting me, lest I may be lifted up. For this I entreat the Lord thrice, that it should withdraw from me. And He has protested to me, sufficient for you is my grace, for my Power in infirmity is being perfected.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)

To reveal the "grace" and "mercy" and "patience" of God, humans have to become "sinners", and Paul was thought himself to be the worst sinner around.

"Yet the grace of our Lord overwhelms, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.  Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all welcome, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, foremost of whom am I.  But therefore was I shown mercy, that in me, the foremost, Jesus Christ should be displaying all His patience, for a pattern of those who are about to be believing on Him." (1 Timothy 1:14-16) 

Paul learned that when his sin increased, God's grace was greater then his sin.

"Yet where sin increases, grace superexceeds, that, even as sin reigns in death, thus Grace also should be reigning through righteousness, for life eonian, through Jesus Christ, our Lord." (Romans 5:20-21)

It was Yahweh who planted the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Again, it was Yahweh, not Satan! It was the tree of the knowledge of both GOOD and EVIL. Yahweh knew what He was doing when he created evil and wicked humanity. 

“I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create EVIL: I Yahweh do all these things." (Isaiah 45:7)

"Yahweh has made everything for its own outcome, Yea, even the wicked for the day of evil." (Proverbs 16:4)

So, sin happens according to the will of God; and the result is death because humanity is lacking in the glory of God.

"...for all sinned and are wanting of the glory of God...the ration of sin is death, yet the gracious gift of God is life eonian, in Christ Jesus, our Lord” (Romans 3:23; 6:23)

The human race learns by experience so God planned for people in this "present evil age" to experience evil at the hands of the wicked so that they could appreciate the GOOD that also comes from His hand - His love, peace, and grace. 

"Grace to you and peace from God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, Who gives Himself for our sins, so that He might extricate us out of the present wicked eon, according to the will of our God and Father." (Galatians 1:3-4)

So, yes, I think it is better to sin and be forgiven, than to have never sinned at all.

January 31st - Hucksters Who Peddle the Word of God

“For we are not as the majority, who are peddling the word of God...”
(2 Corinthians 2:17)

Here is Strong’s definition of the word "peddling" used above:

2585 kapēleúō – properly, to act as an unscrupulous merchant, i.e. "a huckster" who profits by "peddling the Word of God" for personal gain. 2585 /kapēleúō ("peddler") is only used in 2 Cor 2:17 – of people "marketing the ministry" (the Word of God) for fast gain.

"There are many insubordinate, both idle talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole households, teaching things which they ought not, for the sake of dishonest gain" (Titus 1:10-11)

We should help those who have no family that can help them, only IF we have excess over what is needed to take care of our own family and those dependent on us!

"Now if anyone is not providing for his own, and especially for his family, he has disowned the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever."  (1 Timothy 5:8)

"For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you may be wanting, you can always do well to them..." (Mark 14:7)

Hucksters want you to think that giving to their various ministries is giving to God, and promise those gifts to them will come back "squeezed down and shaken together, and running over". However, it is my observation that giving to them simply makes them rich, and those who depend on you poorer. 

The Bible tells me that if you give to hucksters when your family has unmet needs, you have "disowned the faith".

January 30th - Religion, what is it?

"...they had certain questions concerning their own RELIGION..." (Acts 25:19)

"Now Paul, standing in the center of the Areopagus, averred, Men, Athenians! On all sides am I beholding how unusually RELIGIOUS you are. For passing through and contemplating the objects of your veneration, I found a pedestal also, on which had been inscribed, To an Unknowable God. To Whom you are ignorantly devout, This One am I announcing to you." (Acts 17:22-23)

The Greek word for "religion" is the noun "deisidaimonias" and means "superstition". The Greek word for its adjective, "religious", is "deisidaimonesterous" which means "very fearful of god". The word is actually two words together meaning "dread" and "teach".  The Greek noun and its adjective are used only two times in Scripture. 

Religion is superstition, and the fear of a god or gods who then become "objects" of  "veneration".

Paul, at the Areopagus in Athens some 1,950 years ago, told religious people about the true God of Scripture to whom they were "ignorantly devout". Such is needed among religious institutions today.

"The God Who makes the world and all that is in it, He, the Lord inherent of heaven and earth, is not dwelling in temples made by hands, neither is He attended by human hands, as if requiring anything, since He Himself gives to all life and breath and all. Besides, He makes every nation of humanity dwelling on all the surface of the earth, specifying the setting of the seasons and the bounds of their dwelling, for them to be seeking God, if, consequently, they may surely grope for Him and may be finding Him, though to be sure, not far from each one of us is He inherent, for in Him we are living and moving and are, as some poets of yours also have declared, 'For of that race also are we." (Acts 17:24-28)

God the Father is spirit and is all around us. It is He who gives life and breath. The nations of humanity are part of one single "race" and "inherently of God".

"The race, then, is inherently of God; we ought not to be inferring that the Divine is like gold, or silver, or stone, a sculpture of art and human sentiment. Indeed, then, condoning the times of ignorance, God is now charging humanity that all everywhere are to repent, forasmuch as He assigns a day in which He is about to be judging the inhabited earth in righteousness by the Man Whom He specifies, tendering faith to all, raising Him from among the dead." (Acts 17:29-31)

Paul told the Athenians that the real God is not like the gods of religion who are the "objects of your veneration". The real God judges "humanity" "in righteousness" by the "Man" whom he raised "from among the dead". And on that judgment day God will be "tendering faith to all".

Those who follow the God of Scripture know that the true God does NOT give us a "spirit of fear, but of power, and of love and a sound mind".

“God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7) 

Christ Jesus pronounced His "righteous" judgment on sinful humanity from the cross as He was dying for their sakes...

"...Father, forgive them, for they are not aware what they are doing." (Luke 23:34)

"...Christ died for our sins according to the Scripture..." (1 Corinthians 15:3)

Humanity should "repent" from the "veneration" of the false gods of religion and turn to the real God. 

So, if you fear a god who might eternally torment you in hell, then repent and turn to the true God.