Category: Calvary’s cross

Thank God!

Saturday, May 9, 2015

“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever. O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever” (Psalm 136:1-3 KJV).

O give thanks unto the LORD, the God of gods, the Lord of lords!

Scripture is replete with thanksgiving directed toward God. Actually, over 125 times, saints offer thanks to the God of Israel, the God of the Bible. Pause and consider the last time you thanked God for what He has given you. When was it? Do you even remember? 🙂

Every passing day, as soon as we open our eyes from sleep, we need to thank Father God that He has given us another day of His grace. We are over 700,000 days into the Dispensation of Grace. It will not last forever. Our lost family members and friends will not enjoy God’s grace indefinitely. God’s wrath is two millennia closer than it was in the New Testament times.

Every passing day, as soon as we open our eyes from sleep, we need to thank Father God for the Lord Jesus Christ. Over 100,000 people die and enter the eternal flames of hell every single day! How we need to thank the Lord Jesus Christ that He saved us, that He delivered us from such a horrible fate! We will never know just how close we came to dying and going there as lost people.

Every passing day, as soon as we open our eyes from sleep, we need to thank Father God for the Holy Spirit. There are 45,000 religions and denominations in this world, and how fortunate we have been that He has shown us Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork as means of forgiveness of sins and Paul’s apostleship and epistles as means of Christian spiritual growth.

Dearly beloved, I cannot emphasize it enough. There is so much deception, and we need to be ever grateful that Father God has us, grateful that we have His Son (Jesus Christ), grateful that we have His Word (King James Bible), and grateful that we have His spokesman to us (Paul)! 🙂

God on the Go

Friday, May 8, 2015

“And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (2 Corinthians 6:16 KJV).

Saints, when we are “on the go,” God is “on the go” with us!

Society has millions of professing “Christians.” Many of them say, “I was born a Christian.” (?) Unfortunately, most of these people are unable to define the term “Christian.” They declare their denominational affiliation or membership in a local assembly, but that is all they know. They have not actually studied the Bible to learn about Christians. They have no idea who the Holy Spirit is or where He is. They talk like they know Him but they do not. They are not possessing Christians, and thus, not really true Christians at all.

If you have relied exclusively on the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Saviour, His finished crosswork as complete and final payment for your sins, you are a possessing Christian. Today’s Scripture says that you are “the temple of the living God.” The God of the Bible is not some dead idol of wood or stone. He is the living God, and He lives in us Christians. Chapter 6 of 1 Corinthians says that we who have believed the Gospel of Grace unto eternal life, are “the temple of the Holy Ghost.” The third member of the Godhead lives within us to guide and strengthen us.

As JEHOVAH lived in Israel’s Temple in Jerusalem in time past, so He lives in us Christians today. Contrary to popular belief, He does not dwell in church buildings: “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands” (Acts 17:24). There is no manmade “house of God” today. God lives in us Christians, and we take God the Holy Spirit literally everywhere we go (even to the places of “ill repute”). Remember, friends, if we would not want to take the Holy Spirit into a place, we had better not take ourselves there either! 🙂

Thought It, Wrought It, and Brought It

Monday, May 4, 2015

“[Jesus of Nazareth] Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it” (Acts 2:23,24 KJV).

As a dear brother of old wrote, “Salvation—God thought it, God wrought it, and God brought it!”

Using his brain of mind-boggling capabilities and ingenuity, man has devised various gadgets, systems, and machines. However, about the eternal penalty of his sins, mankind is at a loss for thoughts. No human mind could have devised the plan of salvation as found in the Holy Bible. In fact, mankind in his natural state is unaware that he is even lost. He is too prideful to admit that he needs his Creator to also be his Saviour. “I am doing the best I can! I am not that bad! I am better than so-and-so, blah, blah, blah….”

We are “doing the best we can?” That ought to make us stop and think… our “best” is riddled with flaws, so will God accept “our best” or will He only accept absolute perfection? We are “not that bad?” Then Jesus Christ wasted His life and death, and God the Father wasted His Son! “I am better than so-and-so.” Sure, we may be “better” than other sinners, but whether a sinner with “much” sin debt or a sinner with “some” sin debt, the sin debt is still there. Whether big or small, any sin debt prevents entry into God’s heaven!

Israel and Rome wanted to get rid of Jesus Christ, and yet, in God’s knowing beforehand, He had Jesus Christ come to Earth so that when they would put Him to death, His death would be the fully satisfying payment for our sins. Jesus Christ suffered and died for us, and was raised again. He then commissioned the Apostle Paul to preach to us Gentiles that wonderful message of Calvary: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).

He thought it for us, He wrought it for us, and He brought it to us! 🙂

The Key to Harmony

Saturday, May 2, 2015

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32 KJV).

Behold, the key to harmony!

We all recall times when fellow Christians mistreated us. We all remember times when we wronged other Christians. While Father God has granted us abundant forgiveness in Christ (today’s Scripture), it is very difficult to apply that forgiveness to others. What they did to us hurt, and what we did to them hurt. Some wrongs are especially painful, very tough to relinquish (which then fester to become grudges). When we see these people, what they did to us immediately comes to mind. It was five, 10, 20, or over 50 years ago, but we still remember what happened. Our emotions (tainted by sin) then get involved, and how we want to lash out at them!

As a brother in the ministry once said, “We grace Christians need to be the kindest, gentlest, most loving people.” Today’s Scripture should be committed to memory. No, we are not to be doormats, but we should make every possible effort to make any situation better, especially if it involves another member of the Church the Body of Christ (Romans 12:18; Galatians 6:10). Sometimes, because of pride, the other party refuses to yield. They decline to reconcile—no apologies are offered, no kindness is shown, wrongdoing is denied, et cetera. Some matters just cannot be straightened out. Unfortunately, they will only be made right in heaven (when neither person’s flesh is in the way).

We need to take a moment to pray for those who have wronged us. If they are unsaved, may we be burdened to pray for their salvation unto eternal life. They need to believe the Gospel of Grace now before they die and go to hell and have to pay for those sins forever. If they are Christians, we need to pray ever so earnestly that they grow in God’s grace, and straighten up, and hurt the cause of Christ no more. Yes, they have done us wrong, but Jesus Christ took care of it at Calvary, and we need to send those wrongs there! 🙂

He Gave Himself

Thursday, April 16, 2015

“I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35 KJV).

Greed says gain; grace says give!

On five occasions, the King James Bible says Jesus Christ “gave Himself:”

  • Galatians 1:4: “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:”
  • Galatians 2:20: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
  • Ephesians 5:25: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”
  • 1 Timothy 2:6: “Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.”
  • Titus 2:14: “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

It is human nature to be selfish; it is godly nature to be altruistic. Man has the spiritual makeup of his spiritual father, Satan—he wants to do what he wants to do. What can I get out of life? How can I gratify my desires? Me, me, me!!! Take, take, take!!!

Jesus Christ has the spiritual makeup of His Heavenly Father—He wants to do what His Father wants Him to do. How can I best glorify My Father? What can He get out of My life? “Not my will, but Thine be done!”

In stark contrast to us sons and daughters of Adam, the Lord Jesus was not selfish. His Heavenly Father was not selfish either. Oh, how they both gave!!! Father God gave up His Son and His Son gave up His life! This is true love, seeking another’s highest good at your expense. When we walk by faith in God’s love to us, God’s love will cause us to give to others (2 Corinthians 12:15).

When the Roll is Called Up Yonder #4

Saturday, April 11, 2015

“To die is gain…. Having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better” (Philippians 1:21,23cd KJV).

The chorus of James Milton Black’s classic 1893 hymn “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder” highlights today’s Scripture.

“When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.”

Religion’s “sin of presumption” forbids anyone from claiming or believing in assurance of immediately going to heaven upon physical death. Theologians argue, “No sinful person can enter heaven without first being cleansed.” Hence, a purgatorial state is speculated to exist: the “faithful” soul, post-death and pre-heaven, is allegedly tormented to atone for any un-paid sins (sounds like hellfire to me!). Dear friends, purgatory belittles—and ignores—the efficacy of Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork. Jesus paid for a Christian’s sins in full (Romans 4:1-8; Colossians 2:13), so why would the Christian have un-paid sins? Friends, religion never makes sense (frankly, purgatory does not make sense because it is a money-making gimmick).

Saint Paul undoubtedly knew where he was going upon death. He was not going to sleep in a grave, not going to “die like a dog and pass into non-existence,” and not going to suffer “purgatorial cleansing.” Paul affirmed, “We are confident [fully assured!!!!], I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8; cf. today’s Scripture). He had such confidence because Jesus Christ was reliable, faithful. Had Paul been relying on his works, he could not be confident. Yea, to rely on faulty works is sure to introduce doubt! Beloved, the payment for sin is Jesus Christ’s suffering at Calvary, not our temporary suffering in purgatory!

Brethren, whether the Lord happens to call our name in physical death, or calls our name while we are living at the time of the Rapture, up we will go to Heaven to meet our Saviour and be with Him forever. We will be there in Heaven because, at Calvary, He paid the “airfare!” Let us keep looking up for our flight! 🙂

When the Roll is Called Up Yonder #1

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16,17 KJV).

The first verse of James Milton Black’s classic 1893 hymn “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder” highlights today’s Scripture.

“When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.”

Until the Lord Jesus Christ revealed the “mystery” to the Apostle Paul, no one knew of a special coming to remove the Church the Body of Christ from Earth: this “mystery” (secret; 1 Corinthians 15:51) coming is commonly called the “Rapture” (from the Latin word translated “caught up” in today’s Scripture). In fact, until it was revealed to Paul, a group of believers called “the Church the Body of Christ” was unknown.

Every believer since the Apostle Paul has anticipated the day when our blessed Saviour snatches us away, when all Christians in the Body of Christ, living and dead, are given glorified bodies and united forever with Him in the air. When no one else wants to trust Jesus Christ’s crosswork as sufficient payment for his or her sins, God Almighty will conclude the Body of Christ, close our Dispensation of Grace, and resume Israel’s program (Romans 11:25-29). With us instantly taken into heaven (1 Corinthians 15:51-55; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18), God’s wrath can fall on Christ-rejecting mankind (1 Thessalonians 5:1-4).

Dear reader, you can be on that roll, on that list of names of the saints. Just come by simple faith in Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as the complete payment for your sins, and you will be there at the Body’s gathering unto Christ. Yes, I will be there, to meet all the other saints. How you should come with us! 🙂

Christ Liveth in Me

Sunday, April 5, 2015

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20 KJV).

“He is risen” is not a simple blasé cliché!

When Jesus’ disciples came to His tomb on that glorious Sunday morning nearly 2,000 years ago, they were startled to find it empty! Angels inform them that He has resurrected, but they are still in shock (Matthew 28:1-8; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-8). Jesus Christ Himself must later explain the Scriptures to them regarding what happened those last few days (Luke 24:44-46).

However, until Paul’s ministry, Christ’s finished crosswork is not preached as good news for salvation. Peter and Israel’s other apostles simply preach that Jesus Christ is now resurrected to “sit on [David’s] throne” (Acts 2:30)—that is bad news for much of Israel, for they still reject Him, weeks and months after His resurrection and ascension. Throughout early Acts, Israel’s apostles warn her that Jesus Christ is coming back to judge them.

When we come to the Apostle Paul’s ministry, we learn that we Gentiles can benefit from Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork. Israel’s rejected Messiah is now our way to heaven! Yes, Israel hated Him, and demanded that He experience the most awful method of execution devised, but God allowed it in order to accomplish His will. Satan attempted to hinder God’s will by having Christ killed, but all that did was provide the method whereby God could save us pagan Gentiles. Calvary’s finished crosswork frees us from Satan’s evil system and gives us a chance to be God’s people (Acts 26:17,18)!

As people who have trusted Jesus Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection as sufficient payment for our sins, that crucifixion is our death to self and sin, and that resurrection is our raising to walk in newness of life—His life (today’s Scripture; cf. Romans 6:1-11)!

Indeed, Jesus Christ is alive, and He lives in and through those who walk by faith in God’s Word to them, Paul’s epistles of Romans through Philemon! 🙂

HAPPY EASTER!

*Adapted from a larger Bible study by the same name. That study can be read here or watched here.

Excruciating Thursday

Thursday, April 2, 2015

[Reader discretion advised: Christ’s sufferings are graphically described below.]

“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man” (Hebrews 2:9 KJV).

His three years of earthly ministry have expired, but His greatest work is yet to come!

During the all-night interrogation in the “kangaroo court,” His sentence is passed—execution by crucifixion. They have scourged, beaten, and punched Him. Covered in their spit, they laugh at Him, and strike His head with a rod to force on the crown of thorns. His back shredded, His skull possibly fractured, His beard ripped off. His massive blood loss weakens Him further. Having been stripped of His clothing, He struggles to carry His heavy cross to Mount Calvary: Simon must carry His cross for Him. The crowds watch Him, laughing and jeering. His little flock looks on in total shock.

They lay Him on the wooden cross, yanking His limbs to nail them in place. His bones unbroken, but exposed, and His limbs dislocated. They pierce His hands and feet with long spikes, severing the median nerve in the hands, causing permanent hand paralysis. They raise up that cross, and He hangs, slowly suffocating due to His own weight. Every breath becomes increasingly difficult, His lungs fill with fluid, His heart becomes progressively strained. Eventually, He cannot breathe, and thus dies.

Now imagine His spiritual suffering. Three hours into His crucifixion, His heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost have abandoned Him. For the first time ever, He is totally alone. Physical and spiritual darkness now cover the earth. The weight of all the world’s sin and sins of all time crushes His soul. God’s undiluted wrath falls upon Him, as it does on those suffering in hellfire. He cries out in agony. Hanging on that cruel cross, with His spiritual eyes, He observes Satan himself and all his evil creatures snickering and cheering. He looks out to see His disciples staring at His helpless disfigured body. Oh, if only they knew how His physical and spiritual bodies were being tormented, utterly tortured beyond imagination!

After six hours of excruciating pain, He finally lets Himself die….

Please check out our archived Bible Q&A: “Was Jesus Christ really crucified on Friday?”

Praying Like Elijah #18

Saturday, March 7, 2015

“Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months” (James 5:17 KJV).

Why did Elijah pray like this, what was so special about his prayer that God answered it, and how can we have our prayers answered of God?

Some have erroneously concluded that unless we use the same words Elijah used, we will not see results from God. The greater fallacy, however, is to mix our Dispensation of Grace with Israel’s Dispensation of Law. While we can pray for God to demonstrate Himself as when He did with Israel (signs, miracles, wonders), God will not do it because He never said it to us. As we saw “long ago,” God hearkened to Elijah because he was quoting Scripture that applied to him. Elijah valued (believed) God’s Word, he wanted God’s will accomplished, and because he prayed for God to do what He had already said He would do, Elijah saw God’s response!

What is God’s will in this the Dispensation of Grace? “[God our Saviour] Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). Today, God wants lost people to trust Jesus Christ (Paul’s Gospel; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4) to be saved from a devil’s hell, and He wants saved people to trust His Word to them (Paul’s epistles, Romans through Philemon; Romans 11:13) to be saved from a devil’s lifestyle!

Firstly, we should pray for lost people to be saved from their sins by trusting Jesus Christ’s finished crosswork as the sufficient payment for their sins. Secondly, we need to pray for fellow Christians to learn how to understand and enjoy the Bible. Thus, we will be motivated to share the Gospel of Grace with lost people, and share dispensational Bible truths with Christians. God wants law-abiding leaders and citizens, godly husbands and fathers, virtuous wives and mothers, obedient children, hardworking employees, benevolent employers, and faithful saints who maintain the local assembly. Beloved, honestly, we Christians need to quit wasting our time praying denominational prayers and we need to start praying for these things!

Just imagine such transformation….

Our latest Bible Q&A: “Should Christians participate in yoga?”