Grace--the Amazing Gift

God didn't have to plan our salvation. He didn't have to do anything to fix Adam's selfish act that caused the eternal separation of humankind from our Creator. If God had so chosen, He could have erased it all and began anew, with a new earth, new heaven, and a new Adam. There is no way for us to understand why God didn't speak sinful man out of existence the moment Adam sinned.

The birth, life and the death of our Lord Jesus Christ is absolutely amazing.

That is grace! Nothing but grace!

Jesus' resurrection is truly the awesome grace of God.

If God had so desired, He could have destroyed the entire creation when sinful man laid hands on the Son of God and nailed Him to the cross. Even before, when Jesus was wrongly put on trial, the end of all things would have been justified. The horrible, sin-darkened, spiritually blind humankind laid hands on the God-Man to kill Him to try and get rid of the truth of the guilt in their hearts.

God didn't destroy them. What grace!

God provided the 'death' of all humankind so He could prove He loves us beyond our comprehension.

Jesus spoke such a huge truth that reverberated through all history and through the entire universe when he cried "It is finished!"

That Jesus resurrected from the grave to prove that His sacrifice for our sin was all taken care of forever is something we should never, ever take for granted.

"Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not  impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit" Psalm 32:1,2.

In 1 Corinthians, when Paul is explaining the meaning of communion, he warns we should not take the Lord's supper in the wrong manner. We need to examine and assess our hearts and minds before approaching the Communion service. Jesus asks us to look at our faith in what He did for us. The cross needs to be brought to mind and remembered. Think about it.

"Do this in remembrance of Me."

The cross and the resurrection are the awesome grace of God! Amazing Grace! Such love!




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The Blessing of the Barley Harvest

In the book of Ruth, in the very last line where chapter 1 stops in our Bibles, there is this very interesting statement. "Now they came to Bethlehem at the beginning of barley harvest" Ruth 1:22.

All of the Bible is about God. This story surrounds Naomi and Ruth, yet it teaches us about God's grace, love, mercy and His mighty working power in the lives of His people.

We see God's mighty power shown in the way this chapter ends. Ruth and Naomi didn't realize the significance of returning at this exact time. Being widows and the poorest of poor in the land they needed this season. Naomi believes she's at the worst part of her life but she is about to experience the loving care of God. Ruth needs someone to take care of her, and God is going to show Himself to be her faithful care-giver.

The last part of verse 22 has a great hope attached. "Now they came to Bethlehem at the time of the barley harvest." Because God watches over the care of His children, He arranges for Naomi and Ruth to hear there's food in Bethlehem. With this good news, they travel back to the land where God has placed His name.

When in need, return to the last place you met God

When God gave Moses the Law, He set up a simple welfare system for the poor to go into the fields to pick up food for themselves. (Deut. 24:19-20) By providing the barley harvest, God has supplied the very thing Ruth and Naomi seek when most in need. With a little work, they have food and sustenance. A days' work proved self-support for these women.

God supplies for His sons and daughters

We give glory to God when we recognize our need and seek the One who can supply everything that is. He doesn't always give us what we want, but He does supply His children all we need, and He is waiting for us to pluck it into our hands.

For what are you in need? Maybe the blessing is waiting for you to pluck it into your basket today. Are you seeing the blessing of barley harvest surrounding you? 

God knows just what we need and just when we need

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Divine Math in 2 Peter

"as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue," 2 Peter 1:3.

Good start---His divine power. All believers have this and it empowers us for life and godliness--it just does. Without reservations or demands, we have supernatural knowledge of Jesus. As the next verses tell us empowerment of the knowledge of God is the means by which we add these attributes, abilities and changes to our daily lives.

"But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your virtue knowledge, to knowledge self control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love," 2 Peter 1: 4-7

If we believe verse 3 then these things will readily manifest in our lives. We cannot help but be the lights shining the presence of our God because this is already given to us by His divine power.

In conclusion....we change the word 'if' in verse 4 to 'since these things are yours' (ours)--there is no way they cannot manifest themselves because they are God's nature in us. Therefore these are not ours to produce by any strength we assert but because of the faithfulness of the Divine Power.

"For if these things are yours and abound you will neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" 2 Peter 1: 8.

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James: A Self-Help Book

Christian, do you want to know what to do?

Now that I have your attention, let me make it clear the Bible is NOT a Self-Help book. If you approach the Bible attempting to make yourself better, imagining it will make you more Spiritual and thus graduating into God's graces---Forget about it!

Now let me now explain my title. Ever heard someone say "I wish I knew how to be a better Christian?" or "What is expected of me?" Maybe you've even asked this. Well, the small letter James wrote actually defines elements of what to do as a Christian. This is a very limited list. Serving God is limitless and you need to seek Him for full instructions but here are some basic 'steps' to your worthy goal.

1. A Christian must know God

     As he opens his letter, James first acknowledges his personal standing and where his faith lies. This is fundamental to Christianity. God wrote the Holy Bible through the hand of faithful men, (2 Peter 1:20, 21). Your first step is become more knowledgeable about God, the Bible, and the world where you live.
2. A Christian needs to ask God how-to live every day life

     James 1: 5 says ask for wisdom. Wisdom is the ability to use all your knowledge in everyday life. How simple a message--if you don't know--ask. The wisdom that comes from God helps you know how-to ask and what-to ask. This message also comes with an explanation in the surrounding verses 2-10. That is, verses 2-4, how-to get through hardships, verses 5-8 are how-to pray, verses 9 - 11 are how-to live within your social status and income.
3. A Christian is to not be deceived

     Verses 1:12-18 are how-to avoid and resist temptation. The Christian life actually does draw distinct lines of right and wrong. The more you know about Jesus, the clearer these demarcations become. Temptation is not sin--giving into them is the sin that kills you. While you may not die from whatever you sin, you will certainty sever your line of communication with God. In that case, confess your sin (no excuses) and ask forgiveness, repent of them and see self-help #1.
4. A Christian must apply the Bible

     "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves" (1:22). Simple. Well not if you don't read the Bible. The Bible is loaded with instructions and lessons for Christian living in all things. The more you read it the more you understand it. If you neglect this task, you'll be left with a lot of unexplained questions about how to be a witness for Christ. After all, a witness is a person who tells what they have seen. Miss the first two applications and the prosecution, (Satan), will tear you to shreds on the witness stand. When things get hard to manage, return to self-help #2.
5. A Christian must study human nature and in most cases do the opposite of everything the world does toward their fellow man

     James 2:1-13. Self-help in how-to be approved by all without offending God or man. Or how-to live among all your people, Christian and non-Christian, and still please God.

6. A Christian must prove their Christianity

     A dangerous job yet unavoidable in every Christian's life. (James 2:14-26) Do all your work totally for Jesus. Your menial and extraordinary tasks should all be done in knowledge and acknowledgment of your recognition of God's ownership of you. The demons know God but they have no connection to life through Him. You do--so prove it! I am not going to list what to do. Go back to the previous self-helps for instructions in this area.
7. A Christian must very carefully teach all they know

     Chapter 3, verses 1-12 is all about talking. As representatives of Jesus, (2 Corinthians 5:20), we're to carefully speak about God diligently and knowledgeably. (see #1) But utilize self-helps #1 & #2 before you open your mouth. Get as much wisdom as possible about it all. Never stop studying about God, the Bible and your Christianity.

8. A Christian must constantly examine themselves

     If you don't put yourself under a microscope you will never see the minute, filthy, ungodly specks stuck all over your humanness. James 3:13 through 4:12 spells out right and wrong. Get a good dictionary and look up all the words. Make a list of them in two columns, good and bad. Memorize the good as verbs--actions to live everyday. Think of the bad as murderers and sentence them all to death row. If you have to kill them every day---do it! "For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live" Romans 8:13. (note that 4:2 & 3 remind you to ask God for what you need and explains how-to ask it.)

9: A Christian must never ignore God's sovereignty

     Make plans and conduct yourself with God's input. (4: 13-5:12) You want life insurance--get the best plan you can but always remember God is your ultimate life-line. Want to start a business--open the very best business you can--but always remember God knows your closing date. Want to raise a family--go ahead and raise the most beautiful and godly children in the world but always remember God loves them more than you do. Want to build a house--build the best house in the neighborhood but always remember God lives there too. Buy a car, buy a boat, take a world cruise, ski the Swiss Alps, climb Mt. Everest, learn a second language, sing in the choir, or go to a mission field? God's wants to help you achieve it all. Be shrewd in all you strive for. Seek all the professional help possible within your means, but always remember God owns it all, is over all, and controls all. Your behavior in your every day life is a reflection of your faith. For further instruction review self-helps #1--#8.

10. A Christian must remain integral to a body of believers.

     No Christian is a lone ranger. James 5:13-19 is how-to bless and be blessed as part of a body of believers. If you neglect you're part of the church in Christ, you negate all previous ideas of how to serve God. The best Self-Help you can give yourself is to be an integral part of a Bible believing church. Your faith will manifest itself in how to treat your brothers and sisters, how you pray, how to seek God, and how to minister to other believers.

Grace is God's gift and no one can ever be a self-made Christian

Read James for instructions on How-To live as a Christian, but don't stop there. Reading the entire Bible will help you know what you're to be doing.

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" 

2 Timothy 3:16, 17.

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Re-Post: Jesus--Nazarene, (Nazirite?)

Originally posted May 2014

There is no evidence Jesus was ever under the law of the Nazirite though I have often heard Christians make the statement that He was a Nazirite. The Bible actually contradicts the idea of Jesus being a Nazirite because of the restrictions listed in the written law.

So what does the Bible say about Jesus, the Nazarene?

Matthew 2: 23, Joseph moved his family to Nazareth, a village in the Galilean region thus fulfilling prophetic scripture, ‘He shall be called a Nazarene.’ Though Jesus lived in Nazareth, none of the prophecies concerning Jesus states He was to keep the Law of the Nazirite.

In His lifetime on earth, Jesus separated Himself unto the work of God in all aspects, thus more consecrated to God then those under the Law of the Nazirite.

• Law of the Nazirite

Numbers 6: 2, Anyone placing themselves under the Law of the Nazirite, separates themselves to God.

Numbers 6: 3, 4, 5, Anyone under a Nazirite vow separates themselves from wine or similar drink: vinegar wine, or fermented vinegar of any kind; no grape juice, fresh grapes or raisins. A Nazirite separates himself from all produce of the grapevine, seed to skin.

Numbers 6: 5, All the days of his vows, no razor shall touch his head.

Numbers 6: 6-8, All the days of his vows, he shall not go near a dead body.

Numbers 6: 9-12, If anyone under a Nazirite Vow is touched by; has touched, or unintentionally touches, a dead person, they must go through a special cleansing ritual preformed at the temple in sight of the priest.

• Jesus was a citizen of the town of Nazareth, hence a Nazarene.
• But NOT a Nazirite

John 2: 1-11, Jesus first miracle was to turn water to wine.

The Gospels record Jesus ate meals with many people, including enemies, but not once is it recorded anyone ever tempted Him to break a Nazirite Vow with wine, or other drink.

Luke 22: 17, 18, The bible records Jesus is the giver of the cup of wine that is the predecessor of our Communion Service. If Jesus had been under the Law of the Nazirite, He would never have touched any ‘fruit of the vine’.

Matthew 11: 19, If Jesus had been under the Law of the Nazirite, His enemies accusation of him being a drunkard and a glutton would have been accurate. By observing Him drinking anything fermented, they would prove Him a false teacher and a Hypocrite.

1 Corinthians 11:3-16, Only a man avowed under the Law of the Nazirite would let their hair grow for the length of their vow. All other Jewish men are to have their hair worn short. Jesus would have had short hair as a common man.

(Acts 18:18, The Apostle Paul took a Nazirite vow for a season.)

John 11, Jesus brings Lazarus back to life. (Mark 5:41, Jesus raises Jairus’ daughter. (Luke 7: 14, Jesus raises the widow’s son. (Mark 5: 1-17, Jesus goes to the region of Gadarene and drives out a legion of demons from a man living in a graveyard. 

The Law of the Nazirite forbade touching dead people, or being near the dead. Any such contact required a cleansing ritual. (Numbers 6: 9-12) Jesus never broke any of the OT Laws. There is no record of Him needing the required cleansing ritual after exposure to the dead.

Isaiah 53:2, The bible records Jesus wasn't someone who stood out in a crowd. Had He been under a Nazarite Vow, long hair would have made Him noticeable. The bible records Jesus was able to disappear in a crowd.

Judas identified Him with a kiss in the Garden of Gethsemane. A Nazirite would have been identifiable among the others. 

If God could say "This is My Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased," Jesus couldn't have been a Nazirite and break all these regulations of the Nazirite Vow clearly spelled out in the law given to Moses.

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