July 5th - Do Not Be Afraid

“Hear, O Israel: Today you are on the verge of battle with your enemies; do not be afraid…for the LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.” (Deuteronomy 20:3-4)

Before they entered the promised land Israel was told they would have to do battle with their enemies, but not to fear for the LORD would “save” them…and He did.

Today we are told that the struggle of humanity is with another kind of enemy - "spiritual forces"…

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12)

Again, the Lord has overcome these "world forces of darkness". Humanity does not have to fear the various tribulations we encounter when we believe the "word of God".  

“In the world you have tribulation, fear not for I have overcome the world." (John 16:3)

"...put on the full armor of God…take up the shield of faith…take up the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." (Ephesians 6:13, 16,-17)

It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all humanity…”  (1 Timothy 4:9-10)

Humanity can only "take up" the shield of faith and the helmet of salvation when they hear about it and trust God. Trusting calms our fears.

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9)

"God has not given us a spirit of fear..." (2 Timothy 1:6)

July 4th - Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day! This is a day to celebrate American independence and the founding of our Republic. Yet there is coming a greater day in which the whole world will declare their independence from sin - it is the plan of God, the founding Father of humanity.  

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted… to console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified." (Isaiah 61:1, 3).

“His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)

God allows humanity to be broken, divided and bruised because of its sin. However, God intends to change humanity into a new creation, “trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified". All humanity will one day bow before Jesus in grateful thanksgiving for their salvation. 

“...at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:10-11)

"It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all humanity, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things.” (1 Timothy 4:10-12)

Jesus will liberate humanity from death. It will not prevail against us.

"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God...on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:16-18)

"Hades" (hell in the KJV) is the state of people after death. It means “unseen” or “grave”. The word "church" is the Greek word “ecclesia” and means “called out ones”. Christ Jesus is the first to die and be called out of death never to die again. He is the “rock” and foundation stone of our faith. 

“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 14:3)

The day of our salvation is coming, and it will be Independence Day for Humanity!

"...as sin reigned in death, so also grace would reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:21)

July 3rd- Forgive Them

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

Did God answer this prayer of Jesus? Of course, God forgave those who tortured and killed His Son.  

What sin then will be left unforgiven?

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

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." (1 John 4:10)

"And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world." (1 John 4:14)

Jesus is not the Savior of humanity if He fails to save even one human!

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and in a godly manner in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, eager for good deeds. These things speak and exhort, and rebuke with all authority." (Titus 2:11-15)

July 2nd - Jesus Christ's Faith is for All 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)

Up until verse 21 of Chapter 3, the book of Romans has condemned all humanity for failing to live up to the righteous standards of the law of God. Yet, beginning with verse 21, the apostle Paul tells us the good news that God will save humanity because of "Jesus Christ's faith". His faith is "for all", and will be "on all" when they believe this good news. In Chapter 5 Paul summarizes what Jesus has done for all humans...

"Consequently, then, as it was through one offense for all humanity for condemnation, thus also it is through one just award for all humanity for life's justifying. For even as, through the disobedience of the one man, the many were constituted sinners, thus also, through the obedience of the One, the many shall be constituted just...where sin increases, grace superexceeds, that, even as Sin reigns in death, thus Grace also should be reigning through righteousness,  for everlasting life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord." (Romans 5:18-21)

Jesus Christ's faith freed humanity from sin and the law, and enslaved us to God...

"Yet, now, being freed from Sin, yet enslaved to God, you have your fruit for holiness. Now the consummation is everlasting life. For the wages of Sin is death, yet the gracious gift of God is everlasting life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:22-23)

When I first realized this truth I began "loving God" for the first time, rather than being afraid of Him. I became aware that He is working all things for the good of humanity, and that it is God's plan to conform humanity into the image of His Son at our resurrection.

"Now we are aware that God is working all together for the good of those who are loving God, who are called according to the purpose that, whom He foreknew, He designates beforehand, also, to be conformed to the image of His Son, for Him to be Firstborn among many brethren. Now whom He designates beforehand, these He calls also, and whom He calls, these He justifies also; now whom He justifies, these He glorifies also. What then shall we declare to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? Surely, He Who spares not His own Son, but gives Him up for us all, how shall He not, together with Him, also, be graciously granting us all?" (Romans 8:28-32)

July 1st - The Time Has Come

"The Bible is a book that has been read more and examined less than any book that ever existed." --Thomas Paine (Author, 1737-1809)

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires.” (2 Timothy 4:3)

What is the "sound doctrine" which has been abandoned by those "wanting to have their ears tickled"?

Paul taught sound doctrine, as follows:

"For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life..." (Romans 6:23)

"This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who wills all humanity to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and humans, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all humanity, the testimony given at the proper time. For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying) as a teacher of the nations in faith and truth." (1 Timothy 2:3-7)

"...we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all humanity, especially of believers. Prescribe and teach these things." (1 Timothy 4:9-11)

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

I rest in the grace of God and the faith of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

For it is by Grace you have been saved, through FAITH - and that NOT OF YOURSELVES, it is the GIFT OF GOD...Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of FAITH, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Ephesians 2:8; Hebrews 12:2-3)

June 30th - Elementary Teaching About Christ

“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. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death. For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, All things are put in subjection, it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be ALL in ALL.” (1 Corinthians 15:20-28)

"...the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may be giving you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the realization of Him, the eyes of your heart having been enlightened, for you to perceive what is the expectation of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of the enjoyment of His allotment among the saints, and what the transcendent greatness of His power for us who are believing, in accord with the operation of the might of His strength, which is operative in the Christ, rousing Him from among the dead and seating Him at His right hand among the celestials, up over every sovereignty and authority and power and lordship, and every name that is named, not only in this eon, but also in that which is impending: and subjects all under His feet, and gives Him, as Head over all, to the ecclesia which is His body, the complement of the One completing the ALL in ALL." (Ephesians 1:17-23)

June 29th - Did Christ Die in Vain?

"I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain." (Galatians 2:21).

The Bible teaches me that salvation is a free gift to humanity from God.

“…for the free gift of God is eternal life…For by grace are you saved…for the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all humanity….” (Romans 6:23b; Ephesians 2:8; Titus 2:11-13)

My conclusion after reading the Bible from cover to cover is that God is going to save everyone as Paul says...

“...we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all humanity, especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things.” (1 Timothy 4:9-11)

"...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)

Christ did not die in vain!