Previous Sabbath Thoughts
2021 2022 2023 2024Feast of Sukkot (booths) or Feast of Tabernacles – October 4, 2025
Leviticus 23:34-35, 42-43, “Speak to the children of Israel, saying: ‘The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the Feast of Tabernacles for seven days to the Lord. On the first day there shall be a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it. … You shall dwell in booths for seven days. All who are native Israelites shall dwell in booths, that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel dwell in booths when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.’” This is a lesser known feast that God commanded Israel to keep. We see in John 7 that Jesus kept this feast. For many Jews, they spend time every day for seven days dwelling in booths made from palm branches or some other material to make a temporary dwelling place. This feast was to commemorate that God protected and provided for Israel when they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. It also celebrates the end of the year when the Bible calls it the Festival of Ingathering where Israelites enjoyed the blessings of a bountiful fall harvest for seven days. For New Testament Christians, this feast looks forward to the Millennial rule of Jesus and His resurrected saints over this earth. Revelation 20:6, “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” There are many Old Testament scriptures that describe this 1000-year period. We will just look at two of them. Micah 4:1-4, “Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the Lord’s house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And peoples shall flow to it. Many nations shall come and say, ‘Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths.’ For out of Zion the law shall go forth, And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, And rebuke strong nations afar off; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war anymore. But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, And no one shall make them afraid; For the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.” Zechariah 8:3-5, “Thus says the Lord: ‘I will return to Zion, And dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. Jerusalem shall be called the City of Truth, The Mountain of the Lord of hosts, The Holy Mountain.’ Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘Old men and old women shall again sit In the streets of Jerusalem, Each one with his staff in his hand Because of great age. The streets of the city Shall be full of boys and girls Playing in its streets.’” We also see that God will require all nations of the Earth to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. Zechariah 14:16-19, “And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. And it shall be that whichever of the families of the earth do not come up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, on them there will be no rain. If the family of Egypt will not come up and enter in, they shall have no rain; they shall receive the plague with which the Lord strikes the nations who do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. This shall be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations that do not come up to keep the Feast of Tabernacles.” Jesus kept the Feast of Tabernacles and told us to do as He did. God says He will require all nations during the Millennium to send representatives to Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Tabernacles. It stands to reason therefore, that Christians should be keeping the Feast of Tabernacles in this day and age. This year the Feast of Booths is from October 7 to the 14.
Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement – September 27, 2025
When the Jewish Temple existed, the High Priest was only allowed to enter the Holy of Holies once a year on the day of Atonement. The Ark of the Covenant with the Mercy Seat was located in the Holy of Holies. In order for the High Priest to enter, he first had to offer a sin offering for himself and all the priests (Leviticus 16:6, 11). He also then killed a goat for a sin offering for all the people of Israel (Leviticus 16:9, 15). Then in order to enter the Holy of Holies he took a censor of incense to fill the Holy of Holies with smoke to obscure the Mercy Seat so he dies not (Leviticus 16:13). Taking turns, he would sprinkle the blood of the bull and the blood of the goat on the main objects of worship in order to make an atonement between God and the worshippers. Greater details of all this are found in Leviticus 16. But now we have Jesus Christ as our High Priest. Hebrews 2:17, “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” This is stated again in Hebrews 3:1, “Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus.” The High Priest made the evening and morning sacrifices every day plus additional sacrifices on all the Holy Days including the Day of Atonement. But Jesus as our Eternal High Priest only made that sacrifice once. Hebrews 10:11-12, “And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.” Jesus makes the atoning sacrifice that forgives and cleanses us from our sins. The purpose of this, the necessity of this, is so we can have a good relationship with God our Father, to become “at one” with God our Father at the First Resurrection. Hebrews 4:14-16, “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Jesus as our High Priest is also the mediator of a better covenant with better promises than those God made with Old Testament Israel. Hebrews 8:6, “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.” The book of Hebrews is largely about how Jesus is a better High Priest than those from the family of Aaron. Hebrews, chapters 9 and 10, are analogies of how Jesus fulfills the rituals of the Old Testament Day of Atonement with an eternal spiritual priesthood that those rituals and sacrifices could never accomplish—the remissions of sin. The Day of Atonement is this next Thursday, October 2. All Christians should observe this day, afflicting their souls in a spirit of humility in order to accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for the cleansing of our souls.
Resurrections and the Feast of Trumpets – September 20, 2025
Revelation 20:4 talks about those who have been killed for their belief in Jesus and will live again and reign with Jesus for 1000 years. It then goes on to say, Revelation 20:5-6, “But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” These verses not only document the “First Resurrection,” but imply there will be other resurrections. This is confirmed later in this chapter. Jesus refered to a resurrection at His Second Coming. John 6:44, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” The Apostle Paul gives us more details about the First Resurrection and why it is necessary. 1 Corinthians 15:50-52, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” Paul talks about a “last trump.” This is not referring to the seven trumpets of Revelation. He is referring to the last trumpet blown on Rosh Hashanah, as the Jews call it, but referred to as the Feast of Trumpets by others. On Rosh Hashanah, the shofar is blown multiple times throughout the day, around 100 times depending on local traditions. They consider these as a call to introspection, remembrance, and repentance for one’s sins. They also serve as a reminder that God calls people to a new year of devotion and commitment to Him. The “last trumpet blast” on this day is called the “Tekiah Gedolah,” the final and longest blast of the shofar. Jews relieve this is to foretell the same sound at the coming of the Messiah. Paul refers to this and two other distinguishing events for a total of three, to happen at Jesus Second Coming. 1 Thessalonians 4:16, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.” The Trumpet blasts on this day represent several other things, remembering the covenants of God, an alarm of war, a call to gather God’s people together, a time of liberation, a warning to be ready for Jesus’ Second Coming, and a heralding of God’s presence and joy. The Feast of Trumpets is this coming Tuesday, September 23, and is a Holy Day all Christians would benefit from keeping.
Reason Jesus Became Human, To Bring Personal Peace – September 13, 2025
Last Sabbath we discerned the difference between personal, spiritual peace and the trouble and chaos in the world in general. This Sabbath we will review the scriptures that state we can have spiritual peace in Jesus while living in this turbulent world. Romans 5:1, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 2:14(NLT), “For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us.” The peace that Jesus gives us is a mental and emotional, spiritual peace. Philippians 4:7, “and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Colossians 3:15, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Jesus’ shed blood allows us to have a peaceful relationship with God our Father. Colossians 1:20(NLT), “and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.” God is a God who wants peace and wants to share that with us. 2 Thessalonians 3:16, “Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all.” The spiritual wisdom God gives us grants us peace and we should promote peace with others. James 3:17-18, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.” God the Father and Jesus send their peace to the disciples of Jesus. 2 Peter 1:2, “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” Revelation 1:4, “John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne.”
Reason Jesus Became Human, to Bring Peace or a Sword? – September 6, 2025
Some people think there are a lot of contradictions in the Bible. Jesus made several statements about peace that might seem like this at first. John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” Matthew 10:34, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.” Jesus explains He is talking about two different situations. John 16:33, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” In our personal relationship with Jesus, we as Christians can have a spiritual peace. But Jesus’ Gospel of the Kingdom of God is not always well received in this present evil world. There are wars, many, if not most of them, are motivated by beliefs in different religions. Let us review a few scriptures on this second point and then next Sabbath we will list some more scriptures about the peace of mind we can have with Jesus and the Father. Jesus told His disciples they would be hated and persecuted. John 15:19-20, “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.” Luke 12:51, “Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division.” The Apostle Paul repeated Jesus’ thoughts about Christians being persecuted. 2 Timothy 3:12, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” The book of Acts contains a history of how the early Christian church was often persecuted. Here is just one such example. Acts 5:27-28, 33, 40-41, “And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, ‘Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!’ … When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them. … And they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. Next time we will review the scriptures of the spiritual peace we have when we accept Jesus as our Savior.
Reason Jesus Became Human, To Perfect Our Faith – August 30, 2025
The Bible gives so many different reasons why it was necessary for Jesus to become flesh and blood in order to be our Savior. In addition, there are also a lot of other lessons Jesus taught us while He was living as God in the flesh. Jesus taught us about how to have more faith. Luke 17:5, “And the apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith.’” Jesus then went on to explain how powerful faith can be. The Apostle Paul said faith comes by hearing the Gospel about Jesus. Romans 10:17(NLT), “So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.” The importance of faith in Jesus is that is how we are justified from our sins. Galatians 2:16, “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” Paul then says he got rid of the “old self” and lives a new life by faith in Jesus. Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Our obedience, which is flawed, doesn’t earn us salvation, only by faith in Jesus can we receive salvation. Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” Jesus set the example for us in how to live a life pleasing to God the Father, in His case, sacrificing His life for the forgiveness of our sins. Hebrews 12:2(NLT), “We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” All humans have sinned and are under a death penalty, but faith in Jesus spares us from that verdict. Galatians 3:13, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree).” God the Father does not want to judge us for our sins, but through Jesus’ sacrifice, grant us salvation. 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.” There are difficult times ahead as prophesied by Jesus in the Olivet Prophecy and in the book of Revelation and other prophecies. 1 Thessalonians 1:10, “and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” Christians can hope and pray for deliverance from both our sins and terrible end time prophetic events. All by having a living faith in Jesus.
Promises of God, A Concluding Summary – August 23, 2025
The Spiritual Promises of God are amazing. They reveal to us the love that God the Father and Jesus our Savior have for humans. They reveal God’s Plan of Salvation, how humans can be born into the Spiritual, Eternal Family or Kingdom of God. “The Message” Bible paraphrases 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 to bring this out in an expanded way, “That’s why we have this Scripture text: No one’s ever seen or heard anything like this, Never so much as imagined anything quite like it— What God has arranged for those who love him. But you’ve seen and heard it because God by his Spirit has brought it all out into the open before you. The Spirit, not content to flit around on the surface, dives into the depths of God, and brings out what God planned all along. ” This is a reference to Isaiah 64:4, "For since the beginning of the world Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, Nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him." The Apostle Peter tells us that humble Christians will be exalted into the Kingdom of God. 1 Peter 5:6, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.” Peter also tells us what no one has suspected, we will be eternal spirit beings like God the Father and Jesus the Son of God. 2 Peter 1:4, “by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” The Apostle John confirms this in his epistle. 1 John 3:1-2, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” We are called the children of God, His sons and daughters. 2 Corinthians 6:18, “’I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.” Children are of the same composition as their parents. As the children of God, we will be like our Parent, God the Father, as we just read in 1 John 3. The Bible usually refers to the Kingdom of God as the destiny of Christians. What is a kingdom? It is a family grown large. The Kingdom of God is the all about how large the Family of God is going to be when the majority of humans enter there into via various subsequent resurrections. This is succinctly summarized in John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” We started covering the spiritual promises of God way back on November 6, 2021. We’ve had 26 sermons about these Promises of God, as can be found on our church website, www.cogsr.org. The notes used for those sermons and these Sabbath Thoughts will be converted into an article that will show up on our church website in the near future.
Promises of God, Jesus’ Second Coming, Part 4 – August 16, 2025
This Sabbath we conclude our review of the New Testament scriptures concerning the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Peter refers to Jesus’ Second Coming four times in his first epistle. 1 Peter 1:7, “that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:13, “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;” 1 Peter 4:13, “but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” 1 Peter 5:4, “and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.” The Apostle John basically says the same thing in his epistle. 1 John 2:28, “And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.” The Apostle Jude refers to a prophecy by Enoch. The books of Enoch that are available today or unlikely to be the original writings of Enoch, they were written between 300 BCE and 100 CE and attributed to Enoch to gain respect and authority but were never written by the Enoch in Genesis. However, Jude’s reference does let us know that even before the flood, the patriarchs of God knew about a Messiah, judgment day and resurrection. Jude 1:14-15, “Now Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men also, saying, ‘Behold, the Lord comes with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.’” In conclusion, we have four direct references to the Second Coming of Jesus in the book of Revelation. Revelation 1:7, “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.” To the Philadelphian church, Revelation 3:11, “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” In Revelation 19 we see Jesus returning to this earth riding a white horse with an army of resurrected saints following Him. Revelation 19:11-14, “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.” In the last chapter of the Bible Jesus tells us He will soon return. Revelation 22:12, “And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. ” The Bible was written more specifically for this last generation just before Jesus’ return than any other generation. Let us take heed and be ready for the Second Coming of Jesus.
Promises of God, Jesus’ Second Coming, Part 3 – August 9, 2025
We continue this Sabbath with our review of the scriptures mentioning the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:10, “and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” In this book, the Apostle Paul concludes each chapter with a statement about Jesus’ Second Coming. 1 Thessalonians 2:19, “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?” 1 Thessalonians 3:13, “so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul says he fought the good fight of faith and near the end of his life says he awaits his reward. 2 Timothy 4:8(NLT), “And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.” Paul comes the closest to using the term “Second Coming” in the book of Hebrews. Hebrews 9:28, “so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” The Apostle James also makes one reference to Jesus’ Second coming. James 5:7-8, “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.” Next time on this topic we will conclude with scriptures from the apostles Peter, Jude and John.
Reasons Jesus Became Human, to be the Captain of Our Salvation – August 2, 2025
Hebrews 2:10, “For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” The Greek word for “captain” means “author.” It is also translated pioneer, founder, prince, leader. Jesus is our leader, He is leading us to our salvation. Acts 3:15, “and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.” The same Greek word is used here as in Hebrews 2:10, but translated prince in this case. Other translations use: source of life, originator of life, author, and leader. Acts 5:31 basically says the same thing, “Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.” The Apostle Paul summarizes this thought in reference to the death and resurrection of Jesus. Hebrews 12:2, “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Jesus is the Savior of everyone who has existed, whether they know it or not, whether they are currently alive or dead. Romans 14:9, “For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living.” Jesus has experience both physical life and death, making Him the only being qualified to judge all those who have lived. Acts 10:42, “And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.” Paul told Timothy this was to be part of what he preached. 2 Timothy 4:1, “I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:”. Our last scripture is a reminder from Peter that God will judge all who have ever lived. 1 Peter 4:5(NLT), “But remember that they will have to face God, who will judge everyone, both the living and the dead.” Therefore, we should live our lives in love and obedience to God our Father and Jesus our Savior.
Promises of God, Jesus Second Coming, Part 2 – July 26, 2025
We are reviewing the New Testament scriptures that talk about the Second Coming of Jesus. Mark and Luke also refer to this in their accounts of the Olivet Prophecy. Mark 13:26-27, “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven.” Luke 21:27, “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” John tells us Jesus is now preparing a future place in heaven for us to live in at Jesus’ Second Coming. John 14:2-3(NRSV), “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.” When Jesus departed this earth 40 days after His resurrection, angels told the disciple He would return. Acts 1:11, “who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.’” Besides the First Resurrection, Jesus’ Second Coming is referred to as a time of refreshing and restoration. Acts 3:19-21, “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.” The Apostle Paul also preached about the Second Coming of Jesus. 1 Corinthians 1:7-8, “so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 4:5, “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.” Paul talks about Jesus’ resurrection and the coming First Resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15. We know from other scriptures that the First Resurrection occurs at the Second Coming of Jesus, but Paul does not specifically refer to the Second Coming of Jesus in this “resurrection chapter.” Next time on this topic, we will continue reading the rest of the New Testament scriptures on Jesus’ Second Coming, a most important event we all look forward to.
Reasons Jesus Became Human, to be our Atonement – July 19, 2025
1 John 4:10 (NRSV), “In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” Atonement is different than forgiveness. Atonement and forgiveness are related but distinct concepts. Forgiveness is the act of pardoning someone for a wrong they have committed. Atonement is the act of making amends for a wrong or injury. Atonement can be seen as a step towards achieving forgiveness, but it is not necessarily a guarantee of forgiveness. Atonement is more about the process by which Jesus’ shed blood helps remove obstacles to our reconciliation with God the Father. On the Day of Atonement, the emphasis is the cleansing or washing away of our sins by the shed blood of Jesus. This is, of course, tightly interwoven with forgiveness of sins. 1 John 2:2 (NLT), “He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.” The Greek word means “atonement,” but the old King James uses the word “propitiation.” Many modern translations use either “atonement” or “propitiation.” Romans 3:25 (NRSV), “whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed;” By Jesus’ atonement, we can be reconciled to God the Father, that is, have a friendly relationship with God because our sins have been forgiven and washed away. Romans 5:10-11 (KJV), “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.” When we sin, we are condemned to death. But by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus, we are saved from such condemnation. John 3:17-18, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 12:47, “And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.”
Promises of God, Jesus Second Coming, Part 1 – July 12, 2025
We come to the “last” Promise of God in our long list of God’s spiritual promises relative to our salvation. We have not covered the multitude of other promises of physical blessings, tests and trials, or prophetic events like the Day of the Lord and the Millennium, etc. The Second Coming of Jesus could be considered the second most significant event of God, second only to the First Coming of Jesus and His crucifixion and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins. Tightly linked together with the Second Coming of Jesus are a couple of other major promises of God: the first resurrection and the gift of eternal life. While the Bible never refers to the return of Jesus as “the Second Coming,” it is implied as a future, distinct event. Likewise, while there are Old Testament prophecies about a descendant of David ruling the earth that can only happen at the Second Coming of Jesus, in these Sabbath Thoughts, we will only review the New Testament scriptures. The Gospel of Matthew makes the most references to Jesus’ Second Coming. The first is Matthew 16:27, “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.” There are several references in the Olivet Prophecy. Matthew 24:27, 30-31, “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. … Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” Matthew 24:37, 39, 42, 44, 46, “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. … and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. … Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. … Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. … Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.” The parable of the Ten Virgins is about being spiritually ready for the Second Coming of Jesus. Matthew 25:6, 13, “And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!’ … Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” After the parable of the talents, Jesus states, Matthew 25:31-32, “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.” We will continue to review the scriptures relative to the Second Coming of Jesus in future Sabbath Thoughts.
Reasons Jesus Became Human, to be our Mediator – July 5, 2025
There are literally dozens upon dozens of reasons why Jesus became flesh and blood in addition to the main one of dying for the forgiveness of our sins. When we sin, we sin against God our Father. Jesus is our Advocate, our Intercessor and a Mediator between God the Father and humankind. That is why Jesus is called both the Son of God and the Son of Man. 1 John 2:1-2, “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.” Jesus not only died for our sins, He pleads our case before the Father, reminding the Father how difficult it is as a human to obey the laws of God and advocating for the Father to show mercy. Jesus is also called our intercessor with the Father. Hebrews 7:25, “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Romans 8:27, 34, “Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. … Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” There are several scriptures that state that Jesus is the one and only Mediator between the Father and humankind in administrating the better promises of the New Covenant. 1 Timothy 2:5, “there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” Hebrews 8:6, “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.” Hebrews 9:15, “And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.” Hebrews 12:24, “to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.” Jesus said no one could access the Father except through Himself. John 14:6, “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” Jesus now dwells in heaven above with the Father as our Advocate, Intercessor and Mediator. Hebrews 9:24, “For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;”
Jesus 70th Command – June 28, 2025
We now come to Jesus’ last command to all disciples, specifically given to the eleven disciples when Jesus returned to heaven after occasionally visiting with them for 40 days, and 10 days before Pentecost. Acts 1:8, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Peter led the disciples in choosing a twelfth disciple to replace Judas in order to have 12 apostles as witnesses of Jesus ministry, crucifixion and resurrection. Acts 1:21-22, “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” Peter in his sermon on Pentecost preached, Acts 2:32, “This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.” Jesus had previously told the disciples they were witnesses that Jesus fulfilled all the Old Testament prophecies for a Messiah. Luke 24:18, “And you are witnesses of these things.” God the Father has also born witness that Jesus is the resurrected Savior. Hebrews 2:3-4, “how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?” The Apostles Peter and John said they bore witness of Jesus. 1 Peter 5:1, “The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:” 1 John 1:1-2, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us.” One of the signs of the end time is a preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God as a witness to the world. Matthew 24:14, “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” The Great Tribulation lies in the future. Unfortunately, many Christians will die for what they believe. However, as they witness for Jesus, they will be in the First Resurrection. Revelation 20:4, “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” There are a many scriptures in the book of Acts stating that the apostles and Christians were witnesses for Jesus. Acts 3:15; 4:33; 5:30-32; 10:38-43; 22:15; 23:11. The Apostle Paul when Jesus appeared to him, told him he was to be a witness. Acts 26:15-16, “So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.” All Christians can be a witness for Jesus by the way we live our lives, being a light to others. And when a good opportunity arises, we can verbally profess that Jesus is the Christ. Acts 13:31, “He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people.” Acts 8:4, “Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word.”
Promises of God, Eternal Life, Part 3 – June 21, 2025
This Sabbath we will continue and finish our review of the many scriptures that show God wants to give us eternal life. Romans 2:6-7, “who will render to each one according to his deeds:eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality;”. Romans 5:21, “so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Yes, we are all sinners deserving death. But by accepting the shed blood of Jesus, we have forgiveness of sins and therefore can receive the gift of eternal life. Romans 6:22-23, “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Galatians 6:8, “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” No matter the enormity of our sins, if we accept Jesus as our Savior, we can receive forgiveness, mercy and eternal life. 1 Timothy 1:16, “However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.” God’s Plan of Salvation conceived before the creation of the universe was to offer sons and daughters eternal life. Titus 1:2, “in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began.” Titus 3:7, “that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” 1 John 2:25, “And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.” To receive the gift of eternal life, we must believe in Jesus as our only Savior. 1 John 5:11-13, “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” Jude 1:21, “keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.”
Promises of God, Eternal Life, Part 2 – June 14, 2025
Think of it! God our Father and Jesus our Savior are offering those who believe, love and obey Them the gift of eternal life—to live in eternity with Them and all the other believers. This Sabbath let us continue our review of the many scriptures on this topic. John 6:27, “Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” John 6:40, “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” Notice that Jesus wants us to have eternal life, He desires to give it to His believers. John 10:28, “And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” Yes, Jesus said, all humans will die. But through faith in Jesus, we will live again. John 11:25-26, “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?’” Seeking first the Kingdom of God and putting everything else in second place is what we have to do to receive eternal life. John 12:25, “He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” Jesus also said the commands of God the Father lead to eternal life. John 12:49-50(NLT), “I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.” In Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane He stated one of His main purposes. John 17:1-3, “Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: ‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.’” Through Peter and then Paul, God also opened up the way to eternal life for Gentile believers. Acts 13:46-48, “Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, ‘It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ Now when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. And as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.” Let us praise God and give thanks that He wants to share eternal life with those of us who believe.
Correctly Counting Pentecost – June 7, 2025
On April 19, we discussed how to properly determine when Wavesheaf Sunday was this year, the beginning point for counting 50 days to Pentecost. This Sabbath let us look at how to properly count the Feast of Weeks, also called the Feast of Firstfruits and Pentecost. Leviticus 23:15-16(NKJV), “And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new grain offering to the Lord.” Several errors have been made in how to count Pentecost over the years, some of which have been corrected, but usually not all of them. One mistake beginning around 90 years ago was beginning the count by “counting from Wavesheaf Sunday.” In our English way of counting, that meant not counting Sunday as day one, but making Monday the first day of the count. This has generally been corrected by all according to the Biblical Hebrew way of beginning a count, counting inclusively, making Sunday day one in the 50-day count. A second mistake is not counting a full 50 days before keeping Pentecost. Most Bible students don’t realize that Jews in the Bible did not count a day “as a completed day,” until it was over. The Jews in Biblical times counted days the same way we currently count years. A child in his second year of life is not counted as two years old until the end of his second year of life. Jesus, after His crucifixion and resurrection, joined two men walking on the road to Emmaus, seven miles from Jerusalem. This was on the first day of the week. They called this Sunday the third day since Jesus crucifixion. Luke 24:21, “But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.” Jesus died on the cross late on a Wednesday afternoon, the day before the first Holy Day of Unleavened Bread. In these modern times, in the English language, we would say Sunday was the fourth day since the crucifixion: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. But they did not! They called it the third day because that day had not yet been completed, i.e., had not yet ended. Read Leviticus 23:15-16 again! The Bible never says keep the 50th day, it says count 50 days, THEN make your firstfruit offerings. The Bible is explicit, it says the last day of the count is the day after the seventh Sabbath, THEN (implied) make your offering. Please reread Leviticus 23:15-16 several times and let that sink in to your spiritual understanding. However, understanding another truth, Monday is the 50th day until that day comes to a close. Another way to prove this is to count the days until Pentecost by half days, or better yet, quarter days. Saturday midnight is 49 ¼ days, Sunday morning 49 ½, Sunday afternoon 49 ¾. You don’t reach a full count of 50 days until Sunday evening at sunset. If you observe Pentecost on a Sunday, you have only counted 49 days when it begins—the Bible says to count 50 full days before making your firstfruits offerings. This is what Acts 2:1 is confirming, “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.” In addition, when we proceed with counting by quarter days, Sunday midnight is 50 ¼, Monday morning is 50 ½, Monday afternoon is 50 ¾. Thus, with this Biblical and Jewish way of counting days, we can see how Monday is actually considered the 50th day as shown by Luke 24:21. Another critical rule that is ignored by most is that one should either begin and end the count of 50 days by counting inclusively or exclusively, not a mixture of the two. If one keeps a Sunday Pentecost, they are beginning the count inclusively but ending the count exclusively by not actually counting the last Sunday as part of the 50 days that must be completed before observing Pentecost. In one sense, the Church of God 90 years ago began and ended the 50 days counting exclusively, not correct by Biblical counting, but correct by English counting. Regardless, the concluding result was by revelation, being led by God to the right day. And this is of major importance. Are the Churches of God going to have faith in the original revelation of all the Holy Days 90 years ago? Or, the scholarship of individuals who made the change who mostly don’t even keep the Holy Days? Put another way, “Who is your authority? God or scholars?” Did God mislead His church 90 years ago when He revealed to it the necessity of keeping His Holy Feasts? As one minister once said, you must understand how to count Pentecost spiritually before you can count it correctly physically. May God give us all guidance in understanding how to correctly count 50 days and then keep Pentecost on the right day. This year, Pentecost is on Monday, June 9.
Promises of God, Eternal Life, Part 1 – May 31, 2025
An amazing promise that God makes to physical human beings is the reward of eternal life. One of the most famous verses in the Bible contains this promise. John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Think of that! It is almost hard to believe, except that there are so many scriptures that tell us God wants to give us eternal life. Even in the Old Testament there are a couple of scriptures that support this promise. Ecclesiastes 3:11(NLT), “Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.” Daniel 12:2, “And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and everlasting contempt.” The Jews who understood these Old Testament statements asked Jesus what was required of them. Matthew 19:16, “Now behold, one came and said to Him, ‘Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?’” Jesus answered him by stating he needed to keep the 10 Commandments. To be a disciple of Jesus requires sacrifice. But Jesus promised those who do so will be rewarded. Matthew 19:29, “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life.” The message of the Gospel of John is more spiritual than the historical nature of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. John therefore references eternal life much more often. John 3:36, “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 4:14, “but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:36, “And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.” John 5:24, “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” John 5:39, “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me.” We will continue our review of the many scriptures promising God’s people eternal life in a future Sabbath Thought.
Reasons Jesus Became Human, to become Our High Priest – May 24, 2025
Jesus is our spiritual, eternal High Priest. In order to be granted this office by God the Father, Jesus had to experience what life was like for those whose High Priest He would become. Hebrews 2:14a, 17-18, “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same … Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” Jesus, as God in the Flesh, experienced everything we do, some of which were: the emotions of sorrow and grief over loosing loved ones, seeing people get sick, dealing with the poor, joy and happiness when others experienced joy and happiness, and likewise disappointment when others failed or didn’t hold up their part of a bargain or betrayed others. Isaiah 53:3-4, “He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted.” Jesus wanted to be alone after John the Baptist’s death (Matthew 14:13), Jesus wept at the lack of faith when He said Lazarus was just sleeping (John 11:35), Jesus wept knowing Jerusalem would be destroyed (Luke 19:41), He sweat blood knowing He was going to be crucified (Luke 22:42-44). Jesus also experienced temptations like we do, but never giving in to those temptations. Hebrews 4:14-15, “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” God the Father directed that this should happen so Jesus would have compassion and deal gently with sinners who repent because He, Jesus, knows how difficult it is to obey as a human being. Hebrews 5:1-2, “Every high priest selected to represent men and women before God and offer sacrifices for their sins should be able to deal gently with their failings, since he knows what it’s like from his own experience.” Hebrews 5:8-9(NLT), “Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him.” Because of everything Jesus experienced as God in the flesh, God the Father has given Him the responsibility to be the judge of everyone who has ever lived. John 5:22, “For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son.” Acts 17:31, “because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” That day of judgment is coming soon at the Second Coming of Jesus. Let us make sure we are ready.
Reasons Jesus Became Human, So We Could be Justified & Righteous – May 17, 2025
Acts 13:39, “and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.” None of us can be justified by keeping the laws of God, mainly because we cannot keep them perfectly. But believing in Jesus and having faith in Him as our Savior, that alone justifies us with God the Father. Romans 3:24, 28, “being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, … Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.” We are first forgiven of our sins by the shed blood of Jesus. However, that alone does not make us “good” or righteous. That happens by the grace of God the Father with faith in Jesus our Savior. Romans 4:25(KJV), “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.” Romans 5:1, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Galatians 2:16, “knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.” Justification by faith in Jesus is a gift, it is not something we can earn. Titus 3:4-7, “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Likewise, we cannot achieve righteousness by our actions. Only by faith in Jesus through the grace of God our Father, Jesus’ righteousness is instilled in us. Romans 4:5, “But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness.” Romans 5:17, “For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:30, “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” 2 Corinthians 5:21(NLT), “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” Philippians 3:9, “and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith;” Let us be thankful and praise God that by the grace of God the Father and faith in Jesus Christ, we can be justified and become righteous in the eyes of God.
Jesus’ 69th Command, Make Disciples in All Nations – May 10, 2025
Matthew 28:19-20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Jesus’ next to last command was for His apostles to spread the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to all nations, not just the Jews and Israelites. The book of Acts is all about how the apostles and their associates began to fulfill this command, starting the New Testament church by the power of the Holy Spirit. On the day of Pentecost, Peter preached the first sermon, inspired by the Holy Spirit, with outstanding results. Acts 2:38, 41, “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’ … Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.” This outcome was not the result of just one sermon by Peter. Most likely, many of those who were baptized that day had heard about what Jesus preached and numerous of them probably had actually heard Jesus speak. Shortly thereafter, the apostles ordained seven deacons and they all spread the gospel. Subsequently, more were converted, even among the Aaronic priests. Acts 6:1a, 7, “Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, … Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.” There are many stories about how the church grew. And then we come to the opening of the gospel to the Gentiles. Acts 10:42-48, “And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins. While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, ‘Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?’ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.” We have the story of Paul and Silas being jailed, freed by an earthquake and their jailer being converted and baptized (Acts 16:25-34). We all know about the travels of the Apostle Paul preaching the gospel. Acts 18:8, 23, 27, “Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized. … After he had spent some time there, he departed and went over the region of Galatia and Phrygia in order, strengthening all the disciples. … And when he desired to cross to Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him; and when he arrived, he greatly helped those who had believed through grace;” These are just a few of the stories of the establishment of the New Testament Church. Paul in his letters also explained the importance of becoming a disciple of Jesus through baptism. 1 Corinthians 12:13, “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.” In doing so, we become a “new person.” Galatians 3:27(NLT), “And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on the character of Christ, like putting on new clothes.” As disciples of Jesus we should be one big, happy church family. Ephesians 4:2-6, “with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” And so Christianity continues to grow to this day. However, there is much more growth needed. And the ultimate spreading of the Gospel of the Kingdom of God will be accomplished at the Second Coming of Jesus.
Reasons Jesus Became Human, To Redeem and Reconcile Us – May 3, 2025
A Biblical definition for “redeem:” "redeem primarily means to buy back or recover something lost, often through payment of a price. In the Old Testament, this could refer to a kinsman-redeemer rescuing someone from bondage or reclaiming property. In a more general sense, it can also mean to liberate, rescue, or free someone from a negative situation, whether physical, legal, or spiritual. The New Testament uses "redeem" in a theological sense, emphasizing the ultimate redemption of humanity through Christ's sacrifice, which delivers people from sin and its consequences. Galatians 4:4-5, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” We were all bond servants to sin, but Jesus paid the price to redeem us. 1 Peter 1:18-19, “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” Colossians 1:13-14, “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” Titus 2:14, “who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” A Biblical definition for “reconcile:” “reconcile (and its related word "reconciliation") refers to the act of restoring a relationship, particularly between God and humanity, or between individuals, after a period of estrangement or conflict. It signifies the restoration of harmony, peace, and favor after a break in relations.” The Bible says our sins separate us from God and our carnal nature is at enmity with God. Jesus buys us back from slavery to sin, cleanses us by forgiving our sin, subsequently reconciling us with God the Father. Romans 5:10, “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” 2 Corinthians 5:18-19, “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.” Colossians 1:20-22, “and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight.”
Jesus’ 68th Command, Feed My Sheep – April 26, 2025
John 21:15-17, “So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these? “He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.” Most Christians know Peter denied three times that he even knew Jesus. But God forgives. We all make mistakes. For Peter, Jesus’ commission to him and all of Jesus’ disciples was to minister to the flock of God’s chosen people, the Churches of God. The New Testament is a history of that being carried out. These apostles ordained other ministers and directed them to do likewise. Acts 20:28, “Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” These ministerial responsibilities are for the edifying of the church, to nourish it with spiritual food, to promote unity. Ephesians 4:11-16, “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” The Apostle Paul emphasizes that all the members of the Body of Christ are important. 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, “For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. For in fact the body is not one member but many.” Paul continues this discussion comparing a foot vs a hand and an eye vs an ear. We need them all in order to have a functioning body. An important principle in the Churches of God or a marriage, is that everyone is equal in the eyes of God, but each individual has a different responsibility. We are all brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. We should be one big happy family. 1 Timothy 5:1-2, “Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father, younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity.” The word minister can be either a noun or a verb. When someone is a minister, noun, in the church, they should minister, verb, their fellow brothers and sisters. There should not be a “class” hierarchy, everyone in the church should serve one another as they are able. The Apostle Paul was diligent in putting these principles into practice in his ministry. 1 Thessalonians 2:6-8, “Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.”
When is Wavesheaf Sunday this Year? – April 19, 2025
Leviticus 23:9-11, “And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: “When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest. He shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted on your behalf; on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.”’” The Churches of God originally understood this to always be the weekly Sabbath during the Days of Unleavened Bread as this instruction occurs within the context of those days. However, most all of the Churches of God will not do that his year, they will use the Passover Feast of God as the weekly Sabbath to determine the Wavesheaf. Let us consider if this is correct. One, the weekly Sabbath of this year’s Passover is used because the churches state that Wavesheaf Sunday must fall within the Days of Unleavened Bread. This requirement is nowhere stated in the Bible. This is adding a new requirement to the scriptures that the Bible warns should not be done. Deuteronomy 12:32, “You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.” See also: Deuteronomy 12:32, Proverbs 30:5-6, Revelation 22:18-19. Two, Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread are two separate feasts of God. One should not take a command of God for the Days of Unleavened Bread and apply it to Passover. Three, Wavesheaf Sunday is a workday. The Israelites were not allowed to harvest and eat any grain from the new spring harvest until they had offered the Wavesheaf. Leviticus 23:14, “You shall eat neither bread nor parched grain nor fresh grain until the same day that you have brought an offering to your God; it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.” There were different practices for offering the Wavesheaf, all grain farmers had to do this; plus, the High Priest would also do this symbolically for the whole nation. The Jews in their hurry to be able to start harvesting at first light Sunday morning, moved the Wavesheaf offering to our Saturday night right after sundown—this is likely not what God intended. Let us emphasize that if one uses the weekly Sabbath of Passover this year, choosing the weekly Sabbath outside of the Days of Unleavened Bread, then Wavesheaf Sunday is on the first Holy Day where no work can be done. This defeats a major purpose of what the Wavesheaf offering represented, the beginning of the spring harvest. Four, Jesus was resurrected on the weekly Sabbath during the Days of Unleavened Bread. He then presented Himself to God our Father in heaven above on the first day of the week as our Spiritual Wavesheaf Offering. John 20:17, “Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, “I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.”’” If the Passover Sabbath is used this year to make Wavesheaf Sunday on the first Holy Day, then one would be using the Passover Sabbath to represent, on the same day, both the death of Jesus and His resurrection, as His resurrection must occur before the Wavesheaf. This doesn’t make logical sense from a spiritual point of view. Five, Jews who choose the weekly seventh day Sabbath during the Days of Unleavened Bread to determine when the Wavesheaf should be, have fixed it as April 20th this year, after the Days of Unleavened Bread are over. We should not make exceptions to the laws of God. It doesn’t make spiritual sense to use the weekly Sabbath during the Days of Unleavened Bread every year to determine Wavesheaf Sunday except when that Sabbath is also the last Holy Day, a “double Sabbath” as we refer to it. For 40 years, the Churches of God always used the weekly Sabbath during the Days of Unleavened Bread even if it was also the last Holy Day. They never used the Passover on the weekly Sabbath to determine the Wavesheaf. Now, only a few small churches still adhere to that original teaching. There is no Biblical requirement that Wavesheaf Sunday has to fall within the Days of Unleavened Bread. The requirement is that we must use the weekly Sabbath during the Days of Unleavened Bread. We should not be using the weekly Sabbath of Passover when it occurs on our Friday evening after sunset to determine Wavesheaf Sunday. Let us not add requirements to the Word of God and alter when Wavesheaf Sunday occurs this year.
Be Ready to Take the Passover – April 11, 2025
Passover is this Friday evening, April 11, after sunset. Passover is a once a year Holy Feast of God. Leviticus 23:5, “On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the Lord’s Passover.” Jesus gave the New Testament symbols for the Passover as rehearsed by the Apostle Paul. 1 Corinthians 11:24-26, “and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.” Jesus is our Passover Lamb of God who died for the forgiveness of our sins. One things Jesus preached was a call to repentance. Matthew 9:13, “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.” We all sin and need forgiveness. Christianity is the only religion that proclaims forgiveness of sins and that only because God became flesh and blood and died, shedding His blood as a sacrifice to God our Father. Romans 9:23-25(NLT), “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past.” As a Christian, we have a responsibility to examine ourselves, repent and change in order to be ready to take the Passover. 1 Corinthians 11:28-29, “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.” Repentance is something we should do every day, but this is especially true in order to be baptized and then to take the Passover. Acts 2:38, “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” Repenting implies changing, we should not continue to live the same sinful ways. Ephesians 4:22-24(NLT), “throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.” Jesus if referred to often as the Lamb of God in both the Old and New Testaments. John 1:29, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’” We will not read these, but the book Revelation refers to Jesus as the Lamb of God 26 times. We will close with the only New Testament scripture that directly calls Jesus as our Passover. 1 Corinthians 5:7, “Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.”
Reasons Jesus Became Human, To Sanctify Us and Be a Ransom for Us – April 5, 2025
As we approach Passover in one week, we will continue our review of the many different reasons Jesus sacrificed Himself. Hebrews 10:10, 14, “By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. … For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” Sanctified means to be set apart for a holy purpose. Only the shed blood of Jesus could cleanse us of our sins in order that we might be sanctified in the eyes of God our Father. Hebrews 13:12, “Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate.” Being sanctified by the blood of Jesus allows us to become “at one” with God our Father and Jesus our Savior. Hebrews 2:11, “For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren.” There are other scriptures that state we are sanctified by Jesus. 1 Corinthians 1:2, “To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours:” 1 Corinthians 6:11, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” Jesus not only died to sanctify us as individuals, in addition He died to sanctify His church. Ephesians 5:25-27, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.” The Apostle Paul tells us that when we sin, we are slaves to sin, in other words, we are “owned” by sin. Jesus’ death frees us from that slavery. Romans 6:6, “knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.” In addition, Jesus’ death “buys” us back from our slavery. Matthew 20:28, “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” A ransom is something that is paid to provide for the release of someone who is held captive. Jesus’ death paid the ransom to free us from being slaves to sin. 1 Timothy 2:5-6, “there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” Our sins separate us from God, condemn us to death, make us as unclean rags, create a criminal record and subjugate us to evil. The sacrificial death of Jesus frees us from the power of sin, clears the record of our offences, cleanses us from the filth of sin and unites us with God our Father. Let us never take for granted the terrible price Jesus willing paid in order to accomplish our salvation.
Reasons Jesus Became Human, to Lay Down His Life as an Offering – March 29, 2025
This Sabbath we will continue to review the many different phrases the Bible uses to emphasize the multifaceted sacrifice of Jesus for our sins. God the Father did not force Jesus to become flesh and blood and die for our sins, Jesus volunteered to do what was necessary. John 10:11, 15, 17-18, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. … As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. … Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” Galatians 1:4, “who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.” Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Titus 2:14, “who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” 1 John 3:16, “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” In addition, the Bible says Jesus voluntarily gave Himself as a sacrificial offering for our sins. Ephesians 5:2, “And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” Hebrews 7:27, “who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.” Hebrews 10:4-5, 10(NLT), “For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God, ‘You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer.’ … For God’s will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time.” This willing sacrifice of Jesus not only forgives our sins, but cleanses our consciences of the gilt of sin. Hebrews 9:14, “how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” Hebrews 10:22, “let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” Jesus’ willing sacrifice accomplishes so much in our Christian lives: the forgiveness of sins, the cleansing of our souls, the removal of guilt so that we might be clean and acceptable before God our Father.
Reasons Jesus Became Human, to Cleanse Us and Clear the Slate – March 22, 2025
Passover is three weeks away. This Sabbath we will continue to review the many reasons Jesus became a flesh and blood human being. The major reasons that we usually think about, especially this time of year, are relative to the forgiveness of our sins. The Bible uses serval different key words and phrases to emphasize this import topic. The Bible tells us Jesus came to cleanse and purify humans. Acts 15:9, “and made no distinction between us [Jews] and them [Gentiles], purifying their hearts by faith.” 1 Corinthians 6:11, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” Titus 2:14, “who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” Titus 3:5(NLT), “he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.” 1 John 1:7, 9, “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. … If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Revelation 1:5, “and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.” Another way the Bible describes the forgiveness of our sins is by stating Jesus’ death wipes away our sins and clears the charges against us. This is more clearly stated in modern paraphrases. Acts 3:19(NLT), “Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away.” Romans 3:25(TMSG), “God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin. Having faith in him sets us in the clear. God decided on this course of action in full view of the public—to set the world in the clear with himself through the sacrifice of Jesus, finally taking care of the sins he had so patiently endured.” Romans 4:7-8(TMSG), “Fortunate those whose crimes are carted off, whose sins are wiped clean from the slate. Fortunate the person against whom the Lord does not keep score.” Colossians 2:13-14(NLT), “You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.” How thankful we should all be that God the Father send Jesus in the flesh to die for our sins so the record of our sins would be wiped out, so that we would be cleansed and be made pure in the sight of God our Father and Jesus our Savior.
Reasons Jesus Became Human, To Sacrifice Himself – March 15, 2025
We are reviewing the many reason why Jesus became flesh and blood. We are emphasizing the different words and phrases the God- inspired Bible uses to teach us these lessons. There are several scriptures that simply state Jesus sacrificed His own life, saying He did it for us. John 10:11, 15, 17-18, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. … As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. … Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Ephesians 5:2, “And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” 1 Timothy 2:6, “who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” Hebrews 7:27, “who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people’s, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.” The main reason for Jesus self-sacrifice is, of course, the forgiveness of our sins. Hebrews 9:26,28, “He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. … so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” Hebrews 10:11-14, “And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” 1 John 2:1-2 (NLT), “My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.” It is almost five weeks until Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread. We should be examining ourselves in order to strive to remove our sins as represented by leavening for these two separate feasts of God. The Apostle Paul gave this admonishment in 1 Corinthians 5:7, “Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.”
Reasons Jesus Became Human, To Take Away Our Sins – March 8, 2025
We are only five weeks until Passover which represents Jesus’ sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins. The Bible uses many different words and phrases to emphasize this single most important event in our Father’s Plan of Salvation. We have in the past covered several of these, let us now examine a few more. The Bible tells us that Jesus bore our sins, carried them on His shoulders, so to speak, as He was crucified. Hebrews 9:28, “so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” The Apostle Peter quotes from Isaiah 53 where is was prophesied that the Messiah would suffer and die for our healing and the forgiveness of our sins. 1 Peter 2:24, “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.” Another concept the Bible uses is that Jesus takes away our sins, puts them away or purges them from our lives. John 1:29, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’” Hebrews 1:3, “being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Hebrews 9:26b, “but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. ” 1 John 3:5, “And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.” The Apostle Peter also emphasizes that Jesus had to suffer for the forgiveness of our sins. 1 Peter 3:18, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.” 1 Peter 2:21-24, “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ‘Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth’; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.” Peter then tells us that since Jesus suffered and died for our sins, we should strive to eliminate sin in our own lives. 1 Peter 4:1, “Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.” Our sins required a great penalty to be paid, God becoming flesh and blood in order to die, Jesus’ shed blood paying the price for them to be forgiven. Let us be thankful and give God praise for this act of forgiveness. As we approach Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread let us examine ourselves, repent and seek to live a better Christian life in the eyes of God.
Jesus 67th Command, Receive the Holy Spirit, Part 5 – March 1, 2025
We will conclude our review of the many beneficial aspects of having the Holy Spirit active in our Christian lives. God uses the power of the Holy Spirit to call individuals into His church. 1 Corinthians 2:4-5, “And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 12:3, “Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.” 1 Peter 2:5, 9, “you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. … But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” We as Christians are to have our bodies as a temple for the Holy Spirit to dwell in. 1 Corinthians 3:16, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 John 3:24, “Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.” It is by the Holy Spirit that there should be unity within God’s church. Ephesians 4:3-6, “endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Philippians 2:1-2, “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, ulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” It is by the power of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ that Jesus intercedes on our behalf giving us access to God our Father. Romans 8:27, “Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Ephesians 2:18, “For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.” The Apostle Paul also tells us that we as Christians should use the Holy Spirit God has given us to help one another. 1 Corinthians 12:7, “But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:” Paul also talks about this in Romans 12. And we have a list of the fruits of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” In one sense we have only scratched the surface of the power of the Holy Spirit in Christian lives and what it does for us in our relationship with God our Father, Jesus our Savior and also our fellow brothers and sisters in the faith. Let us close with an admonition from Paul. 2 Timothy 1:6-7, “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
Jesus 67th Command, Receive the Holy Spirit, Part 4 – February 22, 2025
The Bible gives many benefits of the Holy Spirit in our Christian lives. Let us continue our review of them. By the Holy Spirit we are washed and sanctified. 1 Corinthians 6:11, “And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” 2 Thessalonians 2:13, “But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.” Titus 3:5, “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” It is through the Holy Spirit that we have a comforting relationship with Jesus and the Father. John 14:16, 18, 26(KJV), “And I will pray the Father and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever. … I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. … But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 15:26(KJV), “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me.” Acts 9:31, “Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.” Other translations use the words Advocate or Helper in place of Comforter. The Holy Spirit can influence and even inspire us in what to say to be convincing to others about the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Matthew 10:19-20, “But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.” Acts 2:4, “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 4:8, “Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders of Israel.’” 1 Corinthians 14:1, 3, 5a(TEV), “It is love, then, that you should strive for. Set your hearts on spiritual gifts, especially the gift of proclaiming God’s message. … But those who proclaim God’s message speak to people and them help, encouragement, and comfort. … I would like for all of you to speak in strange tongues; but I would rather that you had the gift of proclaiming God’s message. For the person who proclaims God’s message is of greater value than the one who speaks in strange tongues…” 1 Peter 1:12, “To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.” Let us as Christians be sure to keep the power of the Holy Spirit active in our daily lives.
Jesus 67th Command, Receive the Holy Spirit, Part 3 – February 15, 2025
We are reviewing the many different ways in which the Holy Spirit helps us to be good Christians. While there may be many scriptures that support each point, we will only list a few. A very important aspect of the Holy Spirit is that it gives us the ability to obey the spirit of God’s laws. 1 Peter 1:22, “Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.” Romans 8:1, 4-5, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. … that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.” Another way of saying this is that we are to walk in the Holy Spirit. Galatians 5:16, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” The Holy Spirit is a down payment of eternal life the Father will give us at the First Resurrection. 2 Corinthians 1:22, “who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” 2 Corinthians 5:5, “Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.” Ephesians 1:13-14, “In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 4:30, “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” We have a responsibility with the Holy Spirit, to renew it every day with prayer, Bible Study and meditation. 2 Corinthians 4:16, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” Ephesians 3:16, “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man.” Titus 3:4-7, “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” Let us give thanks to God our Father and Jesus our Savior for the gift of the Holy Spirit that enriches our Christian lives.
Jesus 67th Command, Receive the Holy Spirit, Part 2 – February 8, 2025
We are reviewing how the Holy Spirit guides us and helps us to be good Christians. A very important aspect of the Holy Spirit is the spiritual understanding it gives us. John 14:26, “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” John 16:13, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.” The Apostle Paul declared that hidden truths were understood through the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:10-12, “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.” Ephesians 1:17, “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” 2 Timothy 1:13-14, “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.” The Apostle Peter stated that through the Holy Spirit, Christians can understand the gospel that the apostles were preaching. 1 Peter 1:12, “To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.” The Apostle John refers to the receiving of the Holy Spirit as an anointing. 1 John 2:27, “But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.” An additional interesting thing that the Holy Spirit sometimes does in our lives is to lead us to someplace we need to be. Or sometimes it may cause us to be early or late in order to avoid an accident or some other bad thing that would otherwise happen to us. This happened a few times in the early New Testament Church, but can happen, usually unnoticed, to Christians today. Simon, a devout believer was led by the Holy Spirit to be in the Temple courtyard when Joseph and Mary were there to make an offering after the days of her purification. Luke 2:25-30, “And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: ‘Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation.’” We see two more example of this in Acts, first, concerning the eunuch from Ethiopia. Acts 8:29, “Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go near and overtake this chariot.’” Second, the Holy Spirit delayed Paul’s trip into Asia in order that he first preach in Greece. Acts 16:6-10, “Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’ Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.” The power of the Holy Spirit is essential for Christians to live as disciples of Jesus before God our Father. We will review more scriptures next Sabbath relative to how the Holy Spirit helps us to live as Christians.
Jesus 67th Command, Receive the Holy Spirit, Part 1 – February 1, 2025
Luke 24:49, “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city [of Jerusalem] until you are endued with power from on high.” Christians recognize that Jesus is talking about the Holy Spirit. Here in Luke, Jesus is telling His disciples to receive this gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is power from God received at baptism with the laying on of hands. Acts 2:38, “Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” Acts 8:15-17, “who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” Jesus gave a commission to His disciples, to makes disciples of others and baptize them so they too would receive the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” The power of the Holy Spirit guides and helps Christians in many ways. We will review these now and on the upcoming Sabbaths. A very important one is that the Holy Spirit helps us communicate with our Father and Jesus in prayer. Romans 8:26-27, “Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” 1 Corinthians 14:15(NLT), “Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand.” Ephesians 6:18, “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.” Jude 1:20, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.” We will continue listing ways in which the Holy Spirit helps us to be good Christians next Sabbath.
Reasons Jesus Became Human, to Become Sin for Us – January 25, 2025
This Sabbath we will continue reviewing the different ways the Bible states that Jesus became human to die for our sins. Jesus came “to bear our sins,” to take our sins upon Himself and then die to forgive them. 1 Peter 2:24, “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.” Peter is quoting from Isaiah. While the Jews would only recognize a Messiah that came in glory to restore the Kingdom of Israel, they ignore the Old Testament prophecies that state the Messiah would first suffer and die for the forgiveness of sins. Isaiah 53:3-6, 11, “He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. … He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities.” The Apostle Paul states the separate purposes of Jesus’ first and second comings. Hebrews 9:28, “so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” Another way the Bible describes Jesus’ purpose is to “take away our sins.” John 1:29, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’” Paul uses similar terms, “purge” and “put away,” to describe this. Hebrews 1:3, “who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Hebrew 9:26, “then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” The Apostle John confirms this description of what Jesus did. 1 John 3:5, “And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.” The Bible uses a variety of terms to emphasize what Jesus did for the forgiveness of our sins. We’ve reviewed two more this Sabbath.
Promises of God, A Resurrection, Part 4 – January 18, 2025
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” This is one of the clearest scriptures in the Bible about the coming resurrection from the dead. Christians will come back to life again after death. The resurrection of the dead is one of the seven core doctrines of the Christian faith mentioned by the Apostle Paul. Hebrews 6:2, “of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.” Peter reiterates what we saw last Sabbath, that because Jesus was raised from the dead, so will we. 1 Peter 1:3, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” The Apostle John tells us there will be more than one resurrection, a first resurrection for Christians and latter, another one to give everyone an opportunity to know and accept Jesus as their Savior. Revelation 20:4-6, “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” There is a day of judgment coming for the dead. Revelation 20:11-15, “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books. The sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.” There is no eternal burning hell fire. There is a Lake of Fire where the incorrigible wicked will be burnt to ashes. Those who love the Father and Jesus as their Savior will live forever. Those who do not will cease to exist, God will not make them suffer forever. This is how a loving God offers salvation to His people.
Promises of God, A Resurrection, Part 3 – January 11, 2025
There are several scriptures that tell us that because Jesus was resurrected from the dead, we also have the hope of a future resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.” This chapter is called “the Resurrection Chapter” because the Apostle Paul tells us a great deal about the resurrection. Let us read just a few more verses. 1 Corinthians 15:50-53, “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.” Paul also wrote to the church at Rome that Jesus’ resurrection related to a future resurrection for Christians. Romans 6:5, 8, “For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, … Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him.” Romans 8:11, “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” The resurrection of the dead is a central theme in the New Testament. Jesus was crucified and resurrected so that we might receive the gift of eternal life through a resurrection into the Family of God the Father. 1 Corinthians 6:14, “And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.” 2 Corinthians 4:14, “knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you.” Paul’s goal was to be in the First Resurrection. Philippians 3:10-11, “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.” By the resurrection from the dead to eternal life, we will live in glory with Jesus Christ. Colossians 3:4, “When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” We will conclude this important topic of a resurrection next Sabbath.
Promises of God, A Resurrection, Part 2 – January 4, 2025
We continue this Sabbath with New Testament scriptures about a resurrection of the dead. Mainstream Christians do not emphasize a resurrection because they mistakenly believe they go to heaven or hell immediately upon death. However, the Bible only states there is a resurrection and that no one has yet gone to heaven. The Apostle John was inspired to write his gospel late in his life around 90 AD, 60 years after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. John 3:13, "No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven." John goes on to say the dead are in their graves waiting for their resurrection. John 5:28-29, “Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.” Jesus said several times that the resurrection of the just will occur at the last days, that is, at the His Second Coming. John 6:40, 44, “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day. … No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.” Martha talked with Jesus about the resurrection after her brother had died. John 11:24-25, “Martha said to Him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.’” Jesus also said those who help the poor would be rewarded in the resurrection. Luke 14:14, “And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you; for you shall be repaid at the resurrection of the just.” A major part of the apostles’ ministry was preaching about the resurrection. When Paul preached about the “unknown god” in Athens, the Gentiles had a mixed reaction. Acts 17:32, “And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, ‘We will hear you again on this matter.’” When Paul was brought before Jewish and Roman leaders, he proclaimed the resurrection. Acts 23:6, “But when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, ‘Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged!’” Acts 24:15, “I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.” Acts 26:7-8, “To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews. Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?” We will continue this important discussion of the resurrections next Sabbath.