Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | April 25, 2022

Snake-bit and Dying of Thirst!

A World Writhing in Pain and Dying of Thirst!

The Biblical truth is, you were “snake-bit” in the Garden of Eden and spiritually died in Adam, and, at your appointed time, you were born spiritually dead. Another sobering fact is, there was absolutely nothing, in your own strength, you could ever do to correct the problem.

A lifetime of good deeds could not resurrect you from the spiritually dead!

As a spiritually dead person, good deeds are like putting expensive clothes on a corpse, it may look better but it is still dead!

God and only God could resurrect you from the dead, and he did exactly that when Jesus Christ paid for the sin of that snake-bite by his death and resurrection! Now, you can by faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, look to the cross and live!

The Walking Dead

Today, mankind is in a heap of trouble and it seems to be getting worse each day that passes! It is getting harder and harder to even watch the news; there seems to be nothing but discord and death everywhere you look!

A veil of darkness and deception seems to be clouding the minds of humanity; historic standards of propriety and decency appear to be abandoned as ever lower levels of depravity demand recognition and approval.

I’m reminded of Genesis 6:5 where it is written:

“5 The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil.”

The world situation today is not yet that bad due to the restraining ministry of God, the Holy Spirit and the indwelling ministry of the Holy Spirit in all born again Christians. When the Holy Spirit is withdrawn, at the Rapture of the Church, the darkness of sin will rapidly deepen and mankind’s lust for sin will have full reign.

God’s Solution to the World’s Problems!

The third and fourth chapters of the Gospel of John do an amazing job of laying the groundwork for the Christian life and the age in which we live, the Church Age, the Age of Grace!

When Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus, he references the incident described in Numbers 21:4-9, the story of the bronze snake. Out of the entire Old Testament, Jesus chooses this story which just happens to be the perfect analogy to mankind’s need and Jesus’ mission to man at the First Advent.

In Chapter 3, “The Son of Man must be lifted above the heads of men—as Moses lifted up that serpent in the desert—so that any man who believes in him may have eternal life.”

In Chapter 4, “Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again. But whoever drinks the water I will give him will never be thirsty again. For my gift will become a spring in the man himself, welling up into eternal life.”

They sum up the essential elements of the Christian faith, look to Jesus if you want to live, and drink the water of life he offers to those who believe in him as Savior!

The Closing of the Age of Grace

The Age of Grace began on May 25, AD 33 and will close at a time known only to God when the restraining ministry of the Holy Spirit is removed.

In 2 Thessalonians 2:5-12, Paul speaks of evil’s delusion:

5-12 I expect you remember now how I talked about this when I was with you. You will probably also remember how I used to talk about a “restraining power” which would operate until the time should come for the emergence of this man. Evil is already insidiously at work but its activities are restricted until what I have called the “restraining power” (of God) is removed. When that happens the lawless man will be plainly seen—though the truth of the Lord Jesus spells his doom, and the radiance of the coming of the Lord Jesus will be his utter destruction. The lawless man is produced by the spirit of evil and armed with all the force, wonders and signs that falsehood can devise. To those involved in this dying world he will come with evil’s undiluted power to deceive, for they have refused to love the truth which could have saved them. God sends upon them, therefore, the full force of evil’s delusion, so that they put their faith in an utter fraud and meet the inevitable judgment of all who have refused to believe the truth and who have made evil their play-fellow. (J. B. Phillips New Testament)

As this age draws to a likely close, we are seeing the last days of the “restraining power” suppressing sin; as bad as it is now, it’s going to get much, much worse!

The Full Force of Evil’s Delusion!

After the removal of the restraining ministry of the Holy Spirit, life on earth will take a dramatic turn for the worse. Once again, the extent of human wickedness on the earth may well encompass and manifest the pre-flood condition, “everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil.”

It appears spiritual conditions are deteriorating at an accelerated pace each day that passes. It is vitally important each Christian let the Holy Spirit lead in their lives and abide in the full armor of God!

10-18 In conclusion be strong—not in yourselves but in the Lord, in the power of his boundless resource. Put on God’s complete armour so that you can successfully resist all the devil’s methods of attack. For our fight is not against any physical enemy: it is against organisations and powers that are spiritual. We are up against the unseen power that controls this dark world, and spiritual agents from the very headquarters of evil. Therefore you must wear the whole armour of God that you may be able to resist evil in its day of power, and that even when you have fought to a standstill you may still stand your ground. Take your stand then with truth as your belt, righteousness your breastplate, the Gospel of peace firmly on your feet, salvation as your helmet and in your hand the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. Above all be sure you take faith as your shield, for it can quench every burning missile the enemy hurls at you. Pray at all times with every kind of spiritual prayer, keeping alert and persistent as you pray for all Christ’s men and women. Ephesians 6:10-18 J. B. Phillips New Testament

The Doors to Salvation and Safety in God’s Family Are Still Open!

Deliverance from the Satanic poison is still available by looking to the cross and receiving the new birth by faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. Jesus Christ still offers the water of life to those who will believe in him as Savior!

I urge you with the greatest sincerity:

Love the truth and look to the Cross, receive deliverance from death by faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and drink freely of the water of life!

Painting, “Forgotten Creek” Adele Bower Copyright

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | April 18, 2022

God’s Family, the Second Adam Removed the Sin Barrier!

Where did the Sin Barrier Originate?

It is vital, if one is to truly understand God’s grace, to know the actual source of the sin barrier that once existed between God and man. The sin barrier between God and man was created by Adam when he disobeyed a direct command from God!

Personal sin, in each of our lives, is only a symptom of the sin virus created by Adam’s disobedience and passed on to Adam’s children!

That barrier continued to exist until the First Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ which climaxed at his resurrection from the dead!

There was a Change on April 3, AD 33 Which Affects Everyone!

Easter Sunday is the day Christians celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The preceding week had seen the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem, His death and burial as the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world.

At His crucifixion an amazing thing happened at Herod’s Temple, the heavy curtain separating the Most Holy Place from the Holy Place had been torn from top to bottom which was clearly a miracle from God as the massive curtain was reportedly four inches thick. This symbolized the separation between God and man caused by Adam’s disobedience had been removed by Christ’s death on the cross; sin was no longer a barrier between God and man.

If Sin is no longer a Barrier then why is it still such an Issue?

Do you think it would be safe to say the entire world has a problem with sin? I suspect that each of us could start with ourselves and see a deep problem with sins of all shapes forms and sizes almost everywhere we looked.

My wife refers to the local news as the “local police report” as it seems to feature all of the crime and carnage of the day. The old saying, “if it bleeds it leads” seems to characterize the priorities of the media and with improved communications it can even bleed in Europe or elsewhere and lead in the USA.

All of us would agree, at least to some extent, that sin is harmful; the problem is the popular definitions of what is sin vary all over the place. If you look up a dictionary definition of sin there would likely be some reference to God or theology. Sin, as defined by the individual, is seen as a problem within that person’s perception of reality and can be very subjective.

Transgressions against society are more likely to be labeled as “against the law” or illegal rather than sin or sinful. They are more easily identified because some law had been written by legislators in a specific cultural environment declaring certain acts to be a violation of the law in that environment. It is illegal to drive 75 in a 20 mph school zone during school hours; while that would be a clear violation of the law it would probably not be labeled a sin.

Now Back to the Change

Our Lord was explaining an important point about the ministry of God, the Holy Spirit, to His disciples when He told them in John 16:5-8,

“5 “But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and not one of you is asking where I am going. 6 Instead, you grieve because of what I’ve told you. 7 But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment; 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.”

The Advocate, a reference to God the Holy Spirit, would minister to Jesus’ followers in a new and significantly different way after Pentecost; He would be in the disciples and not just with them as the Lord explains in John 14:17.

“17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.”

The later is a reference to Pentecost, May 25, AD 33, when the Holy Spirit indwelt Christians for the first time. The Holy Spirit would also have a general ministry to the world concerning sin, righteousness, judgment and the restraint of sin.

In verse 9 our Lord identifies the world’s sin and tells His disciples; “9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me;”

Just think about that for a moment, the Creator of the universe is telling us that the world’s sin is rejection of Jesus Christ. Is there any shortage of evil acts being perpetrated against many; are there no more murders, rapes, or pillaging to be found in the world? I think we all know the answer to that question, there is no shortage whatsoever of evil, hurtful acts taking place all over the world and if anything they seem to be on the increase.

Why then would the Lord tell us the world’s sin is rejection of Christ, is there an answer?

Paid in Full!

In John 19:28-30 it is written:

“28 Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. 30 When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

At that point the penalty for all sins past present and future was paid in full, the debt was paid, and the redemption was complete. The work the Lord had come to do at the First Advent was completed and He was finished, our Kinsman/Redeemer had begun the restoration that would be completed at the Second Advent.

Sin, in all of its forms, was no longer the barrier between God and man; the only remaining issue was reception of Christ as Savior. That is why Christ could say the sin of the world was failure to receive Him as Savior.

Just Like Adam

When Adam was in the Garden of Eden there was only one sin he could commit and that was failure to obey the one commandment he had been given regarding the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

Today the world shares a similar situation, there is only one sin that was not fully paid for at the cross, only one sin that remains as a barrier between God and man and that is rejection of Christ as Savior. That is why Jesus could say, “The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me.”

Does that mean all the atrocities we hear of today are all forgiven? Yes, that’s exactly what that means; there is no sin or misdeed that you have ever heard about from any news source that has not been forgiven by the shed blood of Christ. None of those are an exception to the rule, none of them will be charged against the perpetrator, Christ died for them too!

So Now What?

Since forgiveness of mankind’s sin is total and complete with only one exception, and the Bible assures us it is, then what should be emphasized in the church’s message to the world? May I suggest:

Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

(First published April 1, 2016 under the title, “Is There One Unforgivable Sin? Revised and updated)

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | April 11, 2022

Good Friday and Easter Sunday, the Beginning of the End!

The End of What?

This Friday is the day we observe Good Friday and while that is the day we remember the crucifixion, death and burial of our Lord Jesus Christ; Easter Sunday is the occasion we celebrate His resurrection from the dead.

A historic change in man’s relationship to God had occurred; by God’s grace, the barrier between God and man that had been created by Adam’s deliberate sin of disobedience had been removed by the death of our Lord, the Second Adam from above.

You may recall in Genesis 2:15-17

“15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”

Unfortunately Adam choose to disobey God and when he ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil he, and all of humanity present and future died in Adam. As I’ve observed before, that means that you and I and every human born of a human father are born spiritually dead. It is the sin of Adam that created the barrier between God and man and the primary reason the Lord Jesus Christ suffered death as our kinsman-redeemer.

The Tearing of the Curtain on Good Friday

God gave us a symbol of the removal of this barrier when, at the time of the crucifixion, the curtain between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies in Herod’s temple was torn from the top to the bottom; signifying that access to God was now open to mankind through the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

By his death and resurrection, the Lord Jesus Christ had paid the penalty for all human sin for all time; sin had been removed as a barrier between God and man. As hard as it may be to imagine, personal sin is no longer the issue; the only remaining issue requiring resolution is receiving the forgiveness of God by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and God.

The Good News

Because of the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ, the end had come for sin as a barrier between God and man. This is effectively expressed in 1 John 2:1-2 where it is written:

“2 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. 2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.”

The church can now proclaim a message of hope, a message of reconciliation and good news for a suffering humanity:

BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND YOU WILL BE SAVED!

(First published April 3, 2015, revised and updated)

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | April 4, 2022

Palm Sunday 2022 and its Enormous Significance!

April the 10th, 2022 is Palm Sunday

This Sunday we observe and remember the entry of the Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem where He had come to die. This week was to be a terrible time of testing for the Jewish nation although they had no idea of the great significance of what was to happen from that point on.

The exact date for this momentous event had been prophesied by the Prophet Daniel and that prophecy, among many others, was being perfectly fulfilled by our Lord as He rode into the city. I would say it was certain that among the tens of thousands present that day, only the Lord understood the staggeringly wondrous truths that were being put into place as that amazing prophecy was fulfilled.

Four hundred and eighty-three years had passed since the beginning of the third and final group of three 490-year periods that had been given to Israel by God. The second group had ended with the Babylonian captivity and now the third group of 490 years had been put on hold at year 483 as also foretold by Daniel; I have written on this in some detail in a three-part series, The Seventy Weeks of Daniel.

Israel was being set aside for an unspecified number of years while a mystery was revealed, the mystery of the church and the age of grace, the age in which we now live. The remaining 7 years promised to Israel would resume at a point yet future when Israel would sign a covenant with the Antichrist.

The Entry into Jerusalem

Contrary to what we customarily celebrate, the entry was on a Monday, not a Sunday and it was not triumphal for our Lord; it was a time of great sadness as evidenced by Luke 19:41-42 where it is written,

“As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.”

The particular Greek word used for wept (ἔκλαυσεν) means a loud wracking sob; our Lord’s body was shaken by His sobs as He entered Jerusalem. He is likely the only one who understood the enormity of what was happening; the Jewish nation was being temporarily set aside, their rejection of their Messiah was going to yield great suffering for centuries to come. Their judgment would be severe and is still in force today.

It is likely, in His omniscience, that Jesus saw the Jerusalem of 70 AD as destroyed by Titus and could also see the bodies of some of those welcoming Him as they lay silent in death. This was a momentous, tragic moment that was being recognized only by the Lord and the thought of what was going to befall Jerusalem and His people reduced Him to wracking sobs. I suspect His disciples were totally confused by His reaction to the sight of Jerusalem and the excited crowds.

From the Shephard’s Notes.com

There is another extremely touching aspect of our Lord’s entering Jerusalem on Nisan 10. If we examine Exodus 12:3 we read,

“Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month (Nisan) each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household.”

This was part of the instructions given to Israel on the occasion of the first Passover in Egypt. Traditionally, the family would select a perfect lamb and place it on display in front of their dwelling so all could see they were offering the Lord their very best.

God’s Passover Lamb put on display

On March 30, AD 33, the 10th of Nisan, the Father put His Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world on display for all Jerusalem to see that the Father was offering them His very best. (In 2022 we are in year 5782 according to the Jewish calendar and the 10th of Nisan will be Monday, April 11th.)

After the passing of that day, Israel had been set aside for an undetermined number of years. Today we are at year 1,989 and still counting as Israel continues to suffer judgments until the return of the Lord they rejected.

The countdown clock on the remaining seven years of Israel’s last 490 years will recommence when Israel signs a covenant agreement with the Antichrist; this event and not the rapture of the church will be the trigger that starts their final countdown and the beginning of the Tribulation.

While this was an amazing week, filled with suffering and anguish for our Lord and judgment for Israel, it was the reason our Lord took on human form; that was necessary that He might die for our sins. The moment of triumph was coming soon, the following week our Lord would rise from the dead having perfectly paid the price of our redemption.

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Romans 8:1-4

(First published March 28, 2015, updated and revised)

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | March 28, 2022

God’s Timeline Revealed!

God’s Plan for the Redemption of Adam’s Fallen Family was Made in Eternity Past!

There is no doubt the timing of the First Advent as well as the Second Advent, has been precisely set by God. While the timing of the First Advent was revealed to Daniel, the timing of the Second Advent has not been revealed.

The only clues that have been given regarding the Second Advent’s timing are general references to the world condition as the end times approach. I have written more on that in the series that starts with, “What’s Going to Happen Next Part 1”

The Seventy Weeks of Daniel, A Truly Remarkable Prophecy!

While I have written a three-part series on this subject, I want to provide a short summary of that series for this review of the First Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God’s divine precision is revealed in the ninth chapter of the Book of Daniel; here, the exact date of Jesus Christ’s entry into Jerusalem is announced in the establishment of Israel’s third and final period of 490 years.

The second period of 490 years had ended with the Babylonian captivity and God’s judgment of 70 years on the land of Israel for Israel’s failure to observe the Sabbatical seventh year according to the Mosaic Law.

In Daniel 9:24-27 it is written:

24 “Seventy weeks are determined
For your people and for your holy city,
To finish the transgression,
To make an end of sins,
To make reconciliation for iniquity,
To bring in everlasting righteousness,
To seal up vision and prophecy,
And to anoint the Most Holy.

25 “Know therefore and understand,
That from the going forth of the command
To restore and build Jerusalem
Until Messiah the Prince,
There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks;
The street shall be built again, and the wall,
Even in troublesome times.

26 “And after the sixty-two weeks
Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself;
And the people of the prince who is to come
Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.
The end of it shall be with a flood,
And till the end of the war desolations are determined.
27 Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week;
But in the middle of the week
He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering.
And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate,
Even until the consummation, which is determined,
Is poured out on the desolate.”

(A prophetic week in this prophecy is a period of seven years, not days.)

In this amazing prophecy, the “Times of the Gentiles” is summarized right up to the time of the Second Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ. Biblical chronologists have carefully studied this prophecy and have used it to calculate the exact day Jesus Christ would be cut off as Israel’s Messiah.

In his book, “Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ,” Dr. Harold Hoehner determined from his research that Israel was set aside for an undetermined number of years which started on the day Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem on the week of his crucifixion.

The day Jesus Christ entered into Jerusalem was Monday, March 30, AD 33 which was Nisan 10 on the Jewish calendar. This was a time of great sorrow for the Lord as he knew what was coming for the Jewish people; the Gospel of Luke points out our Lord’s body was wracked with sobs as he entered the city.

The entry came at the end of the 69th week which would leave one week, 7 years, still future for Israel to complete the task described in verse 24. Today, we are living in the gap between the 69th and the 70th year of the prophecy; to this point, 1989 years have passed. Only God knows when this age in which we live, the “Church Age” will come to a close by the removal of the true church, all born again believers.

Today, we are living in a remarkable age of grace, anyone who takes advantage of God’s offer of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ as Savior, is given new life by means of the new birth! This new life is accompanied by the indwelling of God, the Holy Spirit in an eternal, unbreakable relationship!

The signs around the world would indicate this age is soon coming to a close; when that happens, the world will experience a time of divine judgment that will grow increasingly severe until the Second Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I urge you, with the greatest sincerity, to look to Jesus Christ and receive the salvation God is offering to you as a free gift of his love! Jesus warned his apostles in Matthew 24:21-22 where it is written:

“21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened.”

Next we will consider Palm Sunday and the enormous changes triggered by the crucifixion and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | March 21, 2022

Adam’s Family, the First Adam’s Deadly Mistake!

Today, Humanity is Divided but was it Always like That?

The short answer is no, initially there was one family with one father and one mother; we are all descended from that one family!

Adam, the father, and Eve, the mother, enjoyed a close relationship with their creator and would meet with him in a beautiful garden which had been given to them as their home.

Very sadly, the father made a catastrophic mistake and disobeyed the one command he had been given by his creator; this story is provided to us in the first chapters of the Book of Genesis and is familiar to most of us. I have written more on this in a series that starts with, “The Creation Story”, a multi-part series that focuses on the first six chapters of Genesis.

The first six chapters of Genesis establish the foundation for the balance of the Bible and are of the greatest importance to understanding God’s plan for mankind! Due to the father’s disobedience, God’s plan for the first family was revised from ruler, to tenant-farmer.

East of Eden, art by Adele Bower

A Unity in Death

Genesis 5 has been referred to as the death chapter as the descendants of Adam, through Noah and his sons, are listed and each reference, excepting Noah and his sons, ends with, “and he died.”

The Bible points out, the penalty of sin is death, but the only divine prohibition, to that point, had concerned the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and eating of that tree was no longer possible.

Why then, was everyone still dying, after the expulsion from the Garden of Eden, as no one could eat the fruit of that tree?

In Romans 5:12-14, the Apostle Paul provides God’s perspective on sin;

“12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— 13 (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.”

Every subsequent human, born of a human father, had died spiritually in Adam, and was born spiritually dead.

Fortunately, Paul does not stop the narrative in verse 14; in Romans 5:15-17 it is written:

“15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. 16 And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. 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.)”

God’s Gift of a Kinsman/Redeemer

There would never be anything mankind could do on their own to restore what had been lost by Adam; in Adam, the human race had sold out to Satan and was hopelessly enslaved to sin. Nothing anyone could do would change the basic fact of their spiritual death and their bondage to sin!

What was needed was a human, who was not spiritually dead, that could pay the price required for the redemption of all. Since the wages of sin is death, only one who was sinless, alive and could die, would meet the needed requirements.

God had already formulated a very precise plan which set the exact date this would all take place. Significant details of the plan would be revealed to the Prophet Daniel at a time determined by God. In the Book of Daniel, a prophecy is given to Daniel which specifies the date the redemption of mankind shall be accomplished.

Let us now take a look at that prophecy.

Image by Adele Bower, copyrighted

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | March 10, 2022

When God is Silent

Over the next few weeks, leading up to Easter, I would like to devote some time and thought to examining the reasons Jesus Christ had to die on the cross. As I worked on this project, a devotional from Jeff Wells came in my inbox; it was so timely that I wanted to share it with my readers.

Life today is filled with uncertainty and change; it is truly a time to live by faith and not by sight!

March 10
  When God Is Silent
 
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Psalm 22:1  
 
Psalm 22 describes a time of intense suffering in the life of David.  He is on the run.  Perhaps Saul is pursuing him.  David is desperate and he cries out to God.
 
Little did David know that the Holy Spirit put these words on the tongue of David to describe the crucifixion of God’s own Son a thousand years in the future.  What’s more remarkable is that David describes crucifixion, which he had never seen, which had not even been invented as a form of execution.  Notice David’s language for his own suffering and then how it is vividly echoed in the Gospels to describe the crucifixion of Jesus.
 
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?  Jesus would utter these same words from the cross.  When he took our sin, he was separated from the Father, for the first time in all eternity.  Their perfect oneness and community was shattered, and it was incredibly painful for Jesus.
 
All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads (22:7).  Matthew 27:39 describes Jesus:  And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads.
 
He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him (22:8).  In Matthew 27:43 we read:  He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him.  For he said, “I am the Son of God.”
 
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint (22:14).  This describes the physical collapse of Jesus’ body on a cross.
 
They have pierced my hands and feet (22:16).  For David this was figurative language for attack.  For Jesus, this was literally true on the cross.
 
They divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots (22:18).  This was fulfilled exactly at the cross.
 
Psalm 22 is the Psalm of the cross, figuratively true of David and literally true of the Son of David.  It was true of David in a limited sense, but true of the Son of David in an ultimate sense.
 
What a remarkable portrait of Christ’s suffering on the cross, given a thousand years before Christ even came, given before crucifixion was even used.  God is the Sovereign God and he is working his plan, a plan that culminates with a Savior dying for sinners.    

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | March 7, 2022

Wars and Rumors of Wars!

The media is full of horrific accounts of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine; the Russian attack seems indiscriminate and heartless as we see images of destruction and carnage. Having lived through a number of war’s, it is very saddening to see another war play out on the world stage.

Fox News Photo

Drone picture of residential building destroyed by shelling, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues, in the settlement of Borodyanka in the Kyiv region, Ukraine March 3, 2022.  (REUTERS/Maksim Levin)

While it is saddening to see such pictures and hear accounts of the war, it should not be a surprise as the Lord Jesus Christ warned of such things at the time of his First Advent. In Matthew 24:6-8 it is written:

“6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

The End of the Age

The evidence is growing that we are indeed living in the end of the age as referenced by our Lord. The Church Age is now in it’s 1,989th year and the speed of change seems to be increasing exponentially!

You have been cautioned by the Lord to not be troubled, as all these things must come to pass. We can know, with complete confidence, that these things will indeed pass as the Lord has told us.

As Christians, this troubled world is not our home; we serve as God’s ambassadors to this world and have been instructed to represent his interests, not ours during the time appointed to each of us. My favorite life verse is Galatians 2:20 where it is written:

“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.”

Scofield Memorial Church

During the time I was a student at Dallas Theological Seminary, I served as music director at Scofield Memorial Church. Our evening worship service would always open with the congregation singing a refrain which has always been very special to me.

“Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.“

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/laurendaigle/turnyoureyesuponjesus.html

There has never been a better time to let these words serve as a guide for your life! The things of earth grow increasingly corrupted and distorted; turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | February 28, 2022

Humanities Great Divide

There is a Critical Point of Division in the Human Race and it has Absolutely Nothing to do with the Appearance of our Bodies!

The human race is divided into two distinct groups; this division began in A. D. 33 and has dramatically increased in scope since then. Almost nothing is said or written about this division although its effects are profound and eternal!

There is no other distinction which even comes close to this one; nationality, gender, ethnicity, none of these can even come close to this great divide in the seriousness of its impact upon all people.

It is truly tragic so little attention is paid to this great divide by the media, nations, and ethnic groups. Inconsequential distinctions become the subject of discussions, sometimes heated, and even descend to physical violence including national wars.

Over the next few weeks, I intend to devote some attention to the subject of this great divide and explore how we got here and where do we go from this point forward.

Easter Sunday

On April 17, 2022, we will observe Easter Sunday, our recognition of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. The death and resurrection of the Lord was the turning point in God’s relationship to mankind; Jesus Christ died for the sins of the world and eliminated sin as the barrier between God and man.

In recognition of the spiritual reality, the massive veil between the Most Holy Place and the Holy Place was torn in two from top to bottom in Herod’s Temple. There remained one additional step that was needed to fully implement the new dispensation; Jesus must return to heaven and send the Holy Spirit to mankind. In John 16:7-11 it is written:

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

A New Dispensation

It would be at this point, mankind’s relationship to God would be altered forever; in John 14:15-17 it is written:

15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.

This change was implemented at Pentecost, May 25, AD 33 as described in Act 2:1-4 where it is written:

2 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

A Radical New Development, Many Members but just One Body!

At this time, a totally new form of human came into existence, a human, born of a human father, but permanently indwelt by God! Collectively, this new humanity is called the church, the body of Christ and is joined as each individual receives Jesus Christ as Savior and is born again by the power of God, the Holy Spirit.

This point is clearly stated in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 where it is written:

“19 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? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

Again in 1 Corinthians 12:12-14 where it is written:

“12 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. 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. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.”

Fortunately, we are not required to understand this new reality of being many members of one body; just to accept it as our new reality by faith. I find it very interesting that our creator God, one God in three persons, has designed the body of Christ to be composed of many members, but only one body!

Next time, we will explore some details leading up to this rather amazing development.

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Posted by: davidbowerkingwood | February 21, 2022

Keeping a Positive Outlook on Life in Today’s Troubled World!

God Wins, Satan Loses!

God’s victory over Satan is absolutely certain; watching world events play out at this point is more like watching a replay of a game that is already over and has been decisively won by the home team! We already know the final score and Satan crashes and burns!

The same God who works all things after the counsel of his own will has shared his plans with us in the pages of Bible prophecy.

Bible prophecy has long been a subject of great interest to me; the thought of the Lord’s return is indeed exciting to me and I look forward very earnestly to the time of the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe it entirely possible that, even at my rather advanced age, I shall be a part of the terminal generation of Christians at the time of the Rapture, but that is in the Lord’s hands and I’m at peace with that thought!

In chapters two and three of the Book of Revelation, we read of seven churches which also symbolize the seven historic eras of the organized Christian church. While the seven eras indicate the overall condition of the churches worldwide, each of the seven types have existed in all the historic eras.

While reading Bible prophecy is exciting, living out the events described is filled with challenge! Today, many students of Bible prophecy see striking parallels between events taking place today with events described in the Bible for the last days and I include myself among them.

We are given a description of the last church age, Laodicea, in Revelation 3:14-22 where it is written:

14 “And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,

‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God: 15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. 16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. 17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— 18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. 21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.

22 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” ’ ”

I find the word picture in verse 20 to be particularly touching, to think of the Lord Jesus Christ standing outside the door of the church and knocking to see if anyone will hear his voice, open the door and let him in is tragic and sad! Way too many churches today have closed the door to Jesus and opened the door to the world!

While a large part of the organized church is showing signs of the end times, we can also observe significant prophetic signs in society as a whole. In Matthew 24:4-8 it is written:

“4 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

In 2 Timothy 3:1-7 it is written:

3 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, [b]unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

The world seems to be filled with irrational behavior at all levels; decisions being made at the highest levels of government defy logic and common sense! It appears those who do not have the stabilizing influence of the Holy Spirit are being easily confused by Satanic deception!

How Can Christians Maintain a Healthy Outlook on the World Situation Today?

Jesus himself provides the answer to that question in John 8:31-32 where it is written:

31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

The Bible is God’s assembly instructions for life; it you would enjoy life the way God planned for you, then abide in his word, faithfully follow the instructions and apply them to your life every moment of every day!

Let the Holy Spirit lead in your life and manifest the fruit of the Spirit to all as described in Galatians 5-22-25 where it is written:

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

Finally, it is important to rejoice in the Lord always as described in Philippians 4:4-9 where it is written:

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Embrace God’s counsel for your life, abide in his word and walk in the power of God, the Holy Spirit and the God of peace will be with you!

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