We Walk By Faith Not Sight

People often say God shows them things or signs, they think they see signs everywhere, whether it is in the sky above them or the ground beneath them, some even claim to see them in their food.  For instance I recently have seen several people claiming to have seen God’s hands in the clouds.  But this is just not what Scripture tells us is happening today.  Christ tells us in 2 Corinthians that we are to walk by faith not sight, that means we are to trust what God’s word says and have faith that it is true not be looking for physical, visible signs. 

It’s true that in times past God did sometimes speak to certain people and give them visible signs in both the heavens and on Earth.  For instance he gave Moses many signs as he brought Israel as a nation out of Egypt and through the wilderness.  Then later he spoke to and gave his prophets signs for the nation of Israel as well.  Jesus in his earthly ministry and Peter on the day of Pentecost both talked about signs in the heavens that would occur during the last days leading up to and during Daniels 70th week as well. 

But all of these signs and messages have one thing in common, they are all to do with the nation of Israel – they are signs to Israel that confirm prophecies or things spoken to them by God.  They are never random messages or signs that only make sense much later in retrospect.  All through Scripture when these signs and messages occur they are to for and about Israel and have to do with God’s promises to them, they are never to the gentiles and nation’s or about them although occasionally a gentile or nation may see or be used to deliver a message to God’s chosen nation Israel.

“For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:” — 1 Corinthians 1:22 KJV

The one time anything related to Gentiles was seen in heaven was when the glorified risen Christ shined down on a Jewish Pharisee named Saul, who became known as Paul, and saved him by grace alone on that Damascus Road one day. But that was much more than just a sign in the sky, that was God Almighty pouring out his glorious grace on the world apart from the nation of Israel by saving a Jewish man who was also a Roman citizen – the perfect man for what God was about to do.

“And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:” — Acts 9:3 KJV

Israel and her promised Kingdom was put on hold and God revealed the secret he had kept hidden in himself since before the world began.  Before “Let there be light.” God had cooked up the most amazing plan ever to reconcile both heaven (which was already unclean in His sight) and Earth in Christ.  The Earth through Israel which was spoken of ever since the world began starting in Genesis and will be fulfilled in the future beginning with the promised Davidic kingdom of Christ on Earth.  The heavens though, they get restored in Christ through the Body of Christ which God is forming of all who trust Christ for their salvation today and are made members of his body. 

“Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” — Ephesians 2:11-13 KJV

Each and every person today who believes that Christ died for their sins, was buried and rose again for their justification before God is instantly and eternally saved. Then they are sealed by the Holy Spirit into Christ, made a new creature in him, a member of his body. It is a gift of grace by God and all we have to do is accept that Jesus Christ did it all, paid it all and it is finished.  In that instant we are saved, sealed and seated in Christ. It’s by grace through faith.

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” — 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” — Ephesians 1:7 KJV

“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,” — Ephesians 1:13 KJV

God will pick back up with Israel after the body of Christ is caught up and Daniels 70th week begins in the future. At that time salvation by grace through faith alone for all will end and salvation will once again be of the Jew on a faith plus works basis such as we see in Acts 2:38 and 3:19.  Unlike today when God is dealing with men individually and saving us one by one, in the future salvation will be through Israel and the only way for Gentiles to be saved will be for them to become a Jew or to bless Israel in some way.  And since the Jew requires a sign then God will begin giving them what they require, signs and wonders.

Today we have no signs and wonders occurring.  Scripture is very clear that today we walk by faith and not by sight.  We are to lean upon the word of God as our means of interpreting the world around us and knowing God’s will for our lives.  We are to study to understand what he is doing by rightly dividing the word of truth.  All of Scripture is true, it is all God’s word, but it isn’t all in effect at every moment.  Salvation is always by faith and the shed blood of Christ but the means of showing that faith and obtaining access to that salvation changes. 

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” — 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV

For instance Noah had a salvation plan given to him – build an ark.  Abraham was told to leave his father’s land, trust God and wait for a child then to sacrifice that child.  All through out the Old Testament we see how God gave different instructions to each person along the way and how the action required to show their faith is different. Israel as a nation had to do certain things such as get water baptized and confess their sins of rejecting God, killing their Messiah and blaspheming the Holidays Spirit to be saved and enter their future kingdom. Their program will again be filled with signs that verify and prove all the prophecies that God gave that have yet to be fulfilled.

“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” — 1 Timothy 2:3-4 KJV

But today God’s will is that all men be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth by grace alone through faith alone.  We don’t get signs, wonders or miracles.  For a time while Paul was receiving from Christ the revelations that would become and compete our Scriptures their were signs and miracles occuring such as tongues (actual foreign languages not nonsensical babbling like some teach today), prophecies (confirmation of revelations given to confirm what was Scripture and what was faked lies), and healings (signs done by Paul to counter those by Peter and the 11 to provoke the Jew to jealousy and believing the gospel of the grace of God and becoming a member of the body of Christ.  The signs and wonders done at the beginning of the age of grace ceased though in time.  By the time the last book of Scripture, 2 Timothy,  is penned by Paul the signs and miracles have ceased because that which is perfect – the completed word of God, the Bible – was come.  That’s why Paul told Timothy to take wine medicinally and why he left Trophimus sick in Miletum instead of just healing them. 

“For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” — 1 Corinthians 13:9-10 KJV

Because we have the completed word of God today we don’t need to look for signs in the earth or the sky or listen and seek for a word from God.  He has already given us all the words he wants us to have in the Bible.  If you speak English they are found in the King James Bible and that is our final authority, where we go to know what God is doing and what we need to do. We have faith that it is enough and we walk in that faith and assurance.  We don’t look for signs or for God to show us things (notice those things are only clear in retrospect when in Scripture they are clear immediately and do not have to be made to fit a situation) we read His word and walk by faith in it.  The reading is our sight and if we want to hear God speak read it aloud.

Grace and peace.

Has Anyone Ever Loved You Enough To Tell You How …

Mine heart breaks today for all of you my family and friends on my list of friends here on FB. You are

Friends from my past.
Friends I’ve met along the way.
New friends.
Old friends.
Friends that have already lived and died.
Even friends that I have never met.

Some of you are family members that I speak to frequently. There are those that I hardly know, and those who don’t know much about me at all other than I’m the one always talking about God.

Somehow each and every one of you have found yourselves acquainted with me in some way or another.
One day our path crossed.
We entered into this curious dance of modern-day internet friendship.

Isn’t it funny how that works. Who am I that you should befriend me. I am nothing special and I haven’t done anything that is considered remarkable. My name won’t make a lasting impact in this world.

Yet here you are reading my words.

On the flip side who are you that I would bother to post the written words of God each day in the hope that it might open your eyes?

In God’s eyes YOU are someone worth saving. Because you matter to HIM, you matter to me.

Because my Lord and savior Jesus Christ cares about each and every one of you. He loves you dearly.

Why else do you think the Lord Jesus Christ would go to the cross and die so that you might live?

He sure didn’t die because we were so worthy or because we deserved it or earned it.

You see God loved you so much that he sent his precious Son Jesus Christ to die for your sins WHILE you were yet sinners?

That is why I di what I do. It’s why I talk everyday about the ONE who offers you the only real hope, real peace you will ever have.

Because the same forgiveness that I have in Christ, is offered to anyone who would simply believe the gospel of the grace of God.

And that is why mine heart breaks right now, because I know not all of you will believe. If it breaks mine so how must it break Gods.

But I don’t want a single one of you people on my friend list, or that I come into contact with in this life, to not be given the opportunity hear the truth, to hear the gospel of the grace of God.

If you reject it, it won’t be because I didn’t love you enough to bother to tell it to you.

The truth is this: “Jesus Christ died for your sins according to the scriptures.
And that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.“
1 Corinthians 15:3-4

This is the gospel of the grace of God.

People get confused wondering what it is they are supposed to “do“ to be saved. Many have sat week after week in church buildings across the world and STILL can’t answer the MOST IMPORTANT question: “what must I do to be saved?”

My dear friends, there is NOTHING you can do. There just isn’t.

You can’t repent enough, stop sinning enough, get dunked in water, sing hymns enough, live holy enough.

You can‘t earn it by obedience to the Law of Moses, or attending church.

You don’t ask him into your heart, or make him Lord of your life or even walk down the isle at some church crusade.

Salvation is a free gift. You can’t earn it and you don’t deserve it but it is offered to you in love.

It is a gift extended to everyone.

The only thing you need to do is believe.

To be saved from an eternity in hell (which you do deserve we all do), separated from God, you must believe what God has said in his word.

You must hear the gospel of your salvation, and simply believe.

Thats it.

Believe. That takes faith.

Faith is trusting what God said and believing that he is able to do what he said.

One day, there will be no more days left for you to live.
You WILL meet him face to face.

Without the grace of God, you will be guilty before a holy and just God.

If you reject the free gift offered to you, you will pay for every sin you ever committed.

But if you have believed the gospel of Christ…

All of your sins, past and future, will be forgiven the moment you believe.

My heart aches because religion with it’s rituals, traditions, and steps has done its darndest to confuse and distracted you from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Don’t get distracted by all those trappings.

Just believe.

I will be thinking of you and praying that your salvation is today.

I have Bibles for anyone who needs one. And I am always available to answer your questions, talk with you, study, pray.

Please study Gods word yourself, and study it according to 2 Timothy 2:15. Rightly divide the word of truth. Don’t be ashamed. Don’t be religious- religion crucified the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ sent the Apostle Paul to write the commandments of the Lord to those of us living in the dispensation of grace.

Jesus Christ sent Paul.

Paul wrote his epistles, Romans to Philemon to you, for you and about you!

The King James Bible is the written word of God.
Think about that, God loves you so much that he preserved his words for you and promised us in Psalm 12 that he would keep them forever.

Grace and peace.

Looking Forward to the Cross?

No One Was Looking Forward to the Cross?

Reading a story backwards would be confusing. The characters would seem to unlearn information as you read from the end to the beginning. The denouement would all but disappear, as the story, read in reverse, unravels instead of coming together.
Read from end to beginning you may think Little Red Riding Hood wanted to be eaten by the wolf, or that Lois Lane always knew that Clark Kent was Superman, but just didn’t like to talk about it.
Just as silly is when people read the Bible from end to beginning, teaching that everyone in the Old Testament was looking forward to the cross.
They think that Abraham believed in Christ when he offered up his Son on the altar, or that those under Moses’ law thought of the future Christ every time they offered an animal sacrifice. But this is reading the Bible backwards reading the end back into the beginning.
Read properly from beginning to end, it becomes clear that God reveals his will progressively, and that no one was looking forward to the cross for salvation, because it was hid in God until it was time to make it known.

Did They See It?

It is not true that everyone in the Old Testament was looking forward to the cross, because no one knew about it. They cannot look forward to what they did not know.
Job asked, “how should man be just with God?”, not kowing anything about the cross of Christ (Job 9:2).
Moses did not even know God’s name (Exo 3:13).
David knew God had forgiven him, but did not know how, pleading for God’s mercy instead of pleading the cross (Psalm 51:1).
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Malachi, and Daniel all prophesied of the coming Messiah, but none of them understood what the prophecy meant when it spoke of the sufferings of Christ.

👉“Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.” – 1 Peter 1:10-11

The Missing Cross in Jesus’ Ministry

John the Baptist’s daddy, Zachariah, said Christ had come to deliver the nation “out of the hands of our enemies” and never once mentions the cross (Luke 1:71-74).
When John the Baptist identified Jesus as the Lamb of God, it was after the Lord’s water baptism for the remission of sins, of which Christ had none. What a strange saying if John the Baptist truly meant by his cry, “Here is the man who is going to die!” Instead of good news, that would be terrible news!
Peter took it as bad news when Jesus told him plainly he would die.
The first time Jesus communicates his death it was privately to his disciples in Matthew 16:21. Peter rejects the Lord’s seemingly pessimistic prophecy and tells him he will not die on his watch (Matt 16:22).
Peter was not looking forward to the cross, he was trying to prevent it! If Peter were looking forward to the cross shouldn’t he have rejoiced in the cross like Paull?

👉“God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” – Gal 6:14

It is clear that Peter nor any of the twelve disciples understood what Christ meant when he spoke of his death to them in private (Mark 9:32; Luke 18:34).

👉“But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.” – Luke 9:45

Don’t Read the End Back into the Beginning

If we read the Bible from beginning to end, and not backwards, it becomes clear that no one before the cross was looking forward to the cross. We cannot read back into the Old Testament what had not yet been revealed.
God had secretly purposed to provide salvation for all men at all times through the cross, but the mystery of that cross was kept secret since the world begin. This is exactly what we read in Paul’s epistles to whom the mystery preaching of Christ’s cross was revealed.

👉“Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, But now is made manifest…” – Romans 16:25

That they truly needed the cross is evident, and now that the mystery of the gospel has been revealed, we can see God preparing for the cross in types and shadows in the Old Testament, but no one then living understood it nor looked forward to it.
The men of faith in the Old Testament were hoping for salvation from God through his mercy, but they could not see the good news of the cross of Christ. It is only after the revelation of the mystery that we now know what had been hid in God since the world began, and look back to see how God could justify sinners.

A Wonderful Truth

What more wonderful truth is there than that we have redemption through Christ precious blood, forgiveness of sins. Not just one sin or some sins but all sins, past present and future are completely entirely forgiven because He paid for them, he became them for us! Talk about love, talk about grace that truth grips my soul in that grace eternally. It is the sweetest promise, sure and secure in who Christ is and what He did. My heart breaks that I put Him there on that cross at the same time it rejoices in gratitude that He would take my place, pay my debt, die for me. He did it all, paid it all, and saved us all who believe the gospel of God’s grace; that Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose the third day according to the Scripture. (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). When we believe that we are saved, sealed and delivered by the Holy Spirit into Christ, made one with Him in the new creature the body of Christ, we have eternal life in the one who died for us! And that is God’s gift to us, a gift we don’t deserve, can never earn but Christ loved us so much He gives it to all who believe in spite of that.

Crucified Buried Raised With Him

Salvation is a wonderous, glorious gift of God that is so rich, so incredibly more than we realize at first that it is humbling while filling us to overflowing with joy. That the God of heaven Creator of all things loves us so very much He took on flesh, became a man of no reputation, and was obedient unto death on the cross to give me life in Himself, I can only thank Him, praise Him, share Him.

Philippians 2:5-8 KJV — Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

He did that for each of us because we are all a hot mess of sin, we have all broken God’s laws because we are of Adam by birth. Scripture tells us that sin entered the world through Adam abd the consequences of that sin is death. That sin and it’s wage are part of all of us by nature, we are all sinners. It’s not something we have to learn or are taught. Spend 10 minutes with a little child and you’ll see that quick enough. Trust me you don’t gotta teach those little jokers to lie. We’re no different as we grow older either, we are all like toddlers with soiled diapers trying to deny our own stinking filth in God’s eyes. That filth that separates us eternally from God who is holy and can’t be around sin. He hates it and it breaks His heart that we wallow like hogs in slop in it. So He planned a way to fix our sin problem before He even began creating our world or us. See before the world began He already knew we were gonna jack it up in about a half a minute so He planned out the fix before hand . But He knew too Satan would be at the root of our fall and would love to ruin the plan – that’s just how that deceiver works- so God kept His master plan to restore both earth and heaven under Christ a secret until the right moment and then He revealed it to the Apostle Paul and offered complete forgiveness instantly through His glorious grace. He was able to do this because His Son died for our sins, became sin for us even though He, Jesus Christ never once sinned. He was crucified and died and it was my sins and yours that drove the nails in Him, that broke His heart and His body as His blood poured out and covered our sins, He was buried to remove those sins forever from us and rose the third day for our justification before God. All we have to do is believe that, the gospel of our salvation, the gospel of God’s grace.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV — For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

The debt we owe is stamped “paid” because Christ paid it all with His blood. When we believe that and trust that when He says it is finished He means it then we are saved, sealed and set into Him!

Ephesians 1:13 KJV — In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Ephesians 4:30 KJV — …whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

That’s it, it’s a done deal and you can never do anything to add to it or try to earn it cause Christ already did it all. You just have to believe and trust that and when you do then God sees you as crucified with Him, buried with Him, and raised with Him.

Romans 6:3-4 KJV — Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Colossians 2:12 KJV — Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

That’s just the beginning of the riches of His grace and it’s already almost too much to grasp. But that grace that saves us also guides us and it helps us grasp and rejoice in the freedom we have in Him. In the love that surpasses anything we’ve ever know and the peace and joy beyond our natural understanding, the love that blessed us who are in Christ with all Spiritual blessings in heavenly places! We’re just waiting for our bodies to catch up to our spirits😉. Make sure your eternally gripped in His glorious grace!

That Voice You Hear, It Ain’t God!

It’s just the bad pizza you ate. That’s because God isn’t speaking to anyone one audibly or in your head today! He’s given us His perfect word in written form already, it contains everything He wants us to know about what He is doing and leaves out everything He doesn’t.

Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, 👉to fulfil the word of God; 👈 Colossians 1:25 KJV

The Apostle Paul wrote the very last words God gave to us down. They were given to him by the glorified risen Christ through a series of progressive revelations over many years. It was through these words that we get our doctrines for today and understand why God is forming this new creature the Body of Christ.

We simply believe that what God has already said (and preserved) in his WRITTEN and preserved word (KJV) is true.

In hope of eternal life, which 👉God, that cannot lie, 👈 promised before the world began; Titus 1:2 KJV

That by two immutable things, in which it was 👉impossible for God to lie, 👈 we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Hebrews 6:18 KJV

God has never and will never go against his written word, because he values his word ABOVE ALL.

I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: 👉for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.👈 Psalms 138:2 KJV

Sanctify them through thy truth: 👉thy word is truth.👈 John 17:17 KJV

As for God, his way is perfect:👉 the word of the Lord is tried:👈 he is a buckler to all those that trust in him. Psalms 18:30 KJV

God’s word tells us plainly that apostle Paul was the LAST person to receive word from God.

Paul writes …

Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you,👉 to fulfil the word of God; 👈 Colossians 1:25 KJV

“To fulfil” means to complete, finish, done.

Now there’s no getting around it, either that verse is true or its not true.

Either God is truthful or God is a liar.

I believe that verse. I believe God is truthful, therefore I know God has already given to us ALL the words that he intended to give us, and preserved those very words perfectly in a book. Today, we have God’s complete word in the KJV Bible (KJV).

But, unless we, as a saved person, study it the way God instructs us to in his written word, 2 Timothy 2:15 KJV, we will not be able to get the profit out of it that God intends us to have. Thus, we will misinterpret his word and be without the clarity that is freely available when we obey his commandment to study and rightly divide.

If you’re hearing voices or think you are receiving signs, you are mistaken to assume it is from God. Whatever you might be hearing or seeing is either from your own imagination … or … from God’s adversary, Satan. That deceiver wants nothing more than to keep you confused, unfruitful, and destroy your testimony of God’s grace. So he tries to keep you from knowing it.

Our apostle Paul warns us:

And no marvel; for 👉Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 👈 2 Corinthians 11:14 KJV

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the 👉prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:👈 Ephesians 2:2 KJV

Paul makes the following about signs very clear.

For the 👉 Jews require a sign👈, and the Greeks seek after wisdom 1 Corinthians 1:22 KJV

(For we walk by faith,👉 not👈 by sight:) 2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV

Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you,👉 to fulfil the word of God; 👈 Colossians 1:25 KJV

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, 👉let him be accursed. 👈 Galatians 1:8 KJV

Paul penned the last words from God, and God preserved those last words for us in Romans thru Philemon KJV. So if you want to talk to God or for Him to talk to you grab a King James Bible and start reading.

They both..

The Way, The Truth, The Light cannot be broken. I think this says it all.

Don’t Be Accursed!

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:6‭-‬12 KJV

Paul gave this stern warning to us in his epistle to the Galatians about believing another gospel other than the one he preached which was given to him directly by the glorified, risen Christ. The gospel we are saved by today is:

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
1 Corinthians 15:1‭-‬4 KJV

Notice carefully what it consists of, it is all about the finished cross work of Christ, nothing else. You don’t deserve it, you can never earn it, and Christ already did it all anyway. It is a gift, you just believe that and accept it.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ephesians 2:8 KJV

And now notice what it does not consist of. There is no repentance, no water baptism, no rituals, no law keeping, NO works of any kind! That means the gospel for today is not the same one taught by John the Baptist, Jesus in the red letters, or the twelve apostles. The gospel they preached does save certain people under certain conditions and times just not today. That gospel was a kingdom gospel offered to Israel as a nation which they rejected so God put them in a big time out and brought salvation to the world anyway. See salvation was supposed to come through Israel to the Gentiles and in the future when God begins dealing with Israel again (after the body of Christ is caught up in the rapture) it will come through them. But right now it only comes through faith in Christ alone without any works or earthly promises, covenants, works, etc. God always knew this would be the case, he planned it before the world even began but He hid in Himself because if he hadn’t then they wouldn’t have crucified Christ, and that was the ultimate victory. God had a two fold plan to reconcile both Earth and heaven back under his government (Earth isn’t the only place that’s all jacked up, a whole bunch of angels rebelled too!).

Israel is the kingdom plan known as prophecy and it has been spoken of since the world began, they get the earthly kingdom of Christ, a literal kingdom that will be ushered in by the 70th week of Daniel and Christ’s return to set foot on Earth when he sets up the prophetic David kingdom lasting a thousand years in this Earth. Salvation under this plan is through faith in who Christ is, as in Christ the Son of God, what He did, and you prove your faith by works. Hence the Gospel that was preached by Jesus and the twelve “Repent and be baptized and have your sins forgiven at the times of refreshing”. That’s the second coming of Jesus to the Earth, their sins are not forgiven until then under the prophetic program.

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:38 KJV

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Acts 3:19 KJV

However today it’s all about grace and the mystery God had kept hidden all throughout history until just the right moment. That’s when He sent Christ to shine down from heaven’s glory and see save Paul to be the apostle to the Gentiles and take the gift of grace to the world. He’s forming a new creature, the Body of Christ that is spiritual, heavenly not earthly. We are made one in Christ the instant we are saved and nothing can ever separate us from Him. See, God’s not imputing our sins to us today, they are already forgiven and when we believe in the death burial and resurrection of Christ then it is finished we are saved that second. Saved, sealed, and delivered I call it. When he looks at us he sees His Son and who we are in Him.

In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Ephesians 1:13 KJV

That’s glorious but you won’t find it in any gospel other than Paul’s gospel found in Romans through Philemon. If anyone tells you are saved by repentance, being baptized, or that you need to do anything at all to be saved, stay saved or prove you are saved then they are preaching another gospel, anither gospel that isn’t actually because it is a gospel of Christ just like Paul’s is but it’s not the one for today. And when Paul says to beware of anyone preaching such, note in the Phillipian’s passage they are called accursed twice. This because at because believing it could cost you eternity. See, if you believe the wrong Gospel today you are putting your trust not in Christ’s precious blood alone to save you but His blood plus your efforts. This makes you an enemy of the Cross and frankly lost as a golf ball in high weeds.

Trust in Christ alone knowing that He paid it all and told Paul all about it so he could record the plan of salvation for us today. Believe Christ when he said we have redemption through his blood alone and nothing, nothing, nothing else. Stop trying to earn it just get with the program for today. Don’t be accursed!

Paul Taught Us All…

Yep, he did. Today God is forming the Body of Christ, a new creature, and we are his ambassadors here on Earth. The moment we believe in Christ’s death to pay for all our sins ever (all means all past, present and future – after all they were all future when He died to pay for them), his burial to remove them forever,and his Resurrection three days later for our justification before God and giving us eternal life in Him then we are sealed into Him and His death, burial and resurrection. It is a gift we don’t deserve freely given that we could never earn, it is God’s glorious grace! So as members of His body we represent Him here, we are His ambassadors and as such we have a responsibility to learn what is expected of us today and then get busy doing it. The first member of the Body was Paul the Apostle to the Gentiles. The only place in the Bible where you will find the gospel of God’s grace that is the only one that will save us today is in the books Christ instructed Paul to write for us : Romans through Philemon. That is where all of the doctrine and directions Christ expects us to know and follow are found. He gave them first to Paul who then gave them to us. Wanna be a good ambassador today, Paul taught us all!

Simply Grateful

I am weary tonight, heart sore, exhausted bit I am also extremely thankful I have His righteousness not my own, cause if it was dependant upon me in anyway shape or form then there was never any hope cause we are all a jacked up hot mess of sin which is precisely why we need Christ and His faith and righteousness to save us.