The Mystery of Christ

In Col. 2:2-3 Paul says (to churches everywhere), My goal is that their hearts, having been knit together in love may be encouraged, and that they may have all the riches that assurance brings, in their understanding of the knowledge of the mystery of God, which is Christ, in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
The mystery of God is Christ.

Faith Alone, Grace Alone, Christ Alone

Faith, if it has not works, is dead. James 2:17
REALLY? Does one need to “work” (keep the law) to keep faith? Can you lose your salvation?

Rom. 4:5, But to him who does not work but BELIEVES on Him who justifies the ungodly, his FAITH is accounted for righteousness.
Are these verses a dichotomy or a misunderstanding? I have come to learn that these verses, although ripe for conflict, are a misunderstanding produced and nurtured by the fact that people cannot separate the Word to believing Jews of the Kingdom, from the Word to the “called-out” Body of Christ. Many people don’t even know the difference in what I just said. STUDY!!! 

Amazing Atoning Grace

Many people believe Grace and Gospel are synonymous (the same thing), and, in a way, they are. The definitions of these deep, profound words are, for us today in this age, I believe, too simplistic... basic, unsophisticated, adolescent. The Christian (Bible) definition of Grace = “unmerited favor” while the definition of Gospel = “good news.” Many believe the Gospel and Grace “began” with Jesus and the four “gospel” accounts of His ministry.

Ripe For Wrath

But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. Matt. 24:37 

So, the second coming of Jesus the Christ will be preceded by a reappearance of events in society as occurred in the days of Noah before the Flood. What kind of “events?” Well, #1, Gen. 6:5... “The wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”

Two Gospels? How about FOUR?

Paul said, The ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the Gospel of the Grace of God. Acts 20:24 

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you THE Gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved; that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. 1 Cor. 15:1-4
Believe... and nothing else!

The Cross Is Not A Fashion Statement!

"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree!" Gal. 3:13
The cross is the symbol of the shame and suffering of Jesus' crucifixion. It is itself, also, a curse. Wearing a cross as a mere piece of jewelry, is a form of sacrilege--reducing the sacred symbol of Christ's sin-atoning sacrifice to a mere ornament. The cross is not a fashion statement, but the emblem of our Lord's suffering and death. To treat it lightly, is to trample upon the solemn truths of Calvary, where the Son of God bore the wrath of the Father in the place of His elect people. Such careless use dishonors the gospel, making what is holy into something trivial.

Why Do You Need The Gospel?

You might say, “What?” What is a gospel? Exactly! That’s a good question because most people today probably never use that word in the normal course of conversation.  I never did. Even after someone gave me the definition of “gospel” (good news!) I do not recall incorporating the term in my conversations. I don’t think I ever said, “Hey man, check this out... I got some gospel today. I just got a promotion.” Who says that? The word is foreign to many people outside of churches. So the word “gospel” we usually hear, if at all, in religious conversations. And I did not have very many “religious” conversations back then.

So let’s define G O S P E L.

The Kingdom of God

Kingdom of God; Kingdom of Heaven; Kingdom of the Lord; Everlasting Kingdom; Gospel of the Kingdom; Kingdom of Christ. Distinctions, distinctions, distinctions.

It is so much easier, as many have done, to disregard “distinctions” and just say. “They’re all the same thing.” You go ahead and say that... the Bible makes distinctions; and then I have to find out what they mean!

Isaiah 40

Verse 12, Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, or measured heaven with a span of his hand, and
calculated the dust of the earth in a measure? Who has weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?
Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or as His counselor has taught Him? With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him, and taught Him in the path of justice? Who taught Him knowledge, and showed Him the way of understanding?
The implied answer is, “No one but God.”

Proverbs 8

In John 5, Jesus said,

"You search the scriptures for in them you think you have eternal life and they are they which speak of me.”

So if we look at Proverbs 8 for starters, we read beginning at verse 1...

A New Covenant

The word “covenant” in the Bible covers a lot of Israel’s history. Beginning, in order, with the Edenic Covenant,then the Adamic Covenant, and the Noahic, then Abrahamic, Mosaic, Palestinian, Davidic, and then the New Covenant. These all are explanations and promises of God to Israel. There should be NO disagreements that Israel is still the core of all God’s dealings with the human race. If we could take Israel out of history, the whole Bible falls apart. Likewise, if we could take the Apostle Paul out of the picture, then we as Gentiles revert back to what Paul said in Eph. 2:12...

That at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus you who sometimes were far off are brought close by the blood of Christ.

Bible Study

There is only one God. Believers and some unbelievers would agree with that. But, “How many expressions of God are we aware of?” I believe most would say, “One.” Any other answer treads on thin, controversial ice, and yet going out where others fear to tread opens a wealth of otherwise missed opportunity and blessings. The safe, comfortable attitude is always, “Go along to get along.” But therein is the spiritual death of the church in the world.

The Love of Christ

In John 11:35 we read;  Jesus wept.
The familiarity of this verse, for many people, lies in the fact that it is the shortest verse in the Bible. But this is a very profound verse. It reveals Jesus' perfect human nature and deity in His compassion for people because He loved them with the perfect love of John 3:16... “God SO  loved the world...” God expressed His love for His creation in that verse... and His plan for redemption. This kind of love does not bring a reserved compassion, but mournful grief for the state of creation. As Isaiah 53:3 says, He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief.