davidbowerkingwood

In these rather confusing times it is easy to wonder where we fit into the overall scheme of things. So much is happening that is beyond our control that we are left wondering where do we go from here?

As Christians, we have a source of direction that is timeless and certain, the Holy Bible, God’s assembly instructions for his family. In those blessed pages, we can find the instructions we need to find the path we are to follow and to know our purpose and destination according to God’s plan for our lives.

I have referenced the devotionals published by Jeff Wells before and when this one came out I knew I would want to share it with my readers, it seemed particularly timely! I would add one point to his comments on you and that is you’re an immortal creation, you will live forever; after all, you’re created in the image of God!

Who You Are
 
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
1 Peter 2:9-10

 
 Two things are essential to a healthy, thriving, joy-filled spiritual life.  First, know who God is.  Second, know who you are. The second depends on the first.  Define yourself by who you are in God.
 
1 Peter 2:9-10 is one of the clearest passages on who we are in God.  This is who we are:
 
“A chosen race.”  God has chosen you.  This means he has set his love on you and adopted you.  You did not choose him but he chose you.  Or, you chose him because he chose you.  You are loved, chosen, adopted.

“A royal priesthood.”  Every believer is considered a priest, bringing people to the grace of God and praying for people.  That’s who you are:  one of God’s priests.  Moreover, you are a royal priest.  You are royal because you belong to the family of the King.

“A holy nation.”  Holy.  You are holy and blameless in God’s eyes, because the blood of Christ has washed all your sins away.  You are just as holy as Jesus Christ because God sees you in Christ and through his blood.
 
“A people for his own possession.”  You belong to God.  You are known, you are loved, you are adopted.  You belong.  Indeed, who you are is based on whose you are.  You are God’s.
 
“God’s people.”  Again, you belong to God.  You are one of his people.
 
“Recipients of God’s mercy.”  You are not just the object of God’s choice.  You are the object of God’s mercy.  God has poured mercy and grace and love into you and over you.  You are much loved, completely forgiven, blood-bought.
 
There are condemning voices out there saying:  “You’re so bad!  You’re such a failure!  God can never use you.  God is angry at you!”
 
Don’t listen to those voices.  Shut your ears to every voice except God’s voice.  This is what God says about you.
 
Take the attitude:  “God said it.  I believe it.  That settles it!”

By Jeff Wells, © 2020 WoodsEdge Community Church. All rights reserved. This article may be reproduced for any non-commercial use.

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Who Were the Magi?

One of the traditional parts of the Christmas story has always been the account of the wise men as related only in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 2, verses 1 – 12. The Greek word used in these verses is magi which is from a Persian word for men who were expert in the study of the stars and also the word from which we get our English word magic.

This Persian word is equivalent to the Hebrew word chakamim used in the book of Daniel to describe wise men who were one of three different types: astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers.

We learn that Daniel, who was later made chief of the chakamim, was responsible for their deliverance when God enabled him to interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. God’s continued blessings enabled Daniel to become a wealthy and influential leader in the Babylonian Empire who lived a long and successful life, aiding not only the Babylonian leadership but also the Medo/Persian leadership after Babylon fell.

Daniel’s Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks

One of Daniel’s most amazing prophecies concerns the prophecy of the seventy weeks; it is in this prophecy the timing of the Lord’s First Advent is revealed. God revealed to Daniel there would be 70 weeks, or 490 prophetic years, divided into a span of 69 “weeks” which is a prophetic reference to 483 prophetic years and a period of 1 week or 7 years, which would come later. I have written more on this in a three-part series that starts with “The Seventy Weeks of Daniel.”

The 483 years would come to an end when Messiah would be cut off; the prophecy was fulfilled on the 10th of Nisan, March 30, 33 AD on the occasion of the entry of the Lord into Jerusalem. This date is based on the research done by Dr. Harold Hoehner in his book: “Chronological Aspects of the Life of Christ,” published by The Zondervan Corporation, 1977, ISBN 0-310-26211-9.

Although the Lord’s entry into Jerusalem is usually portrayed as a triumphal entry, we learn in Luke 19:41 the Lord wept over the city as He beheld it. The Greek work used here is eklausen which is the word for a loud, wracking, sob; this was not just a few tears running down our Lord’s cheeks but a loud sobbing that shook His whole body.

Israel is Set Aside for a Season

It was on this occasion Israel was being set aside for a long period of time during which a people would be called out as the Church, the bride of Christ, the body of Christ. The Church was a mystery hidden from the Old Testament prophets; this mysterious age of grace would continue until the time the church was removed by the Rapture. At some point, after the Rapture, the last seven years promised to Israel would commence as a time of severe judgment on the world but that is a different subject.

There arises now a question of timing; how did the wise men know there was something very special about this star and how does Daniel and his prophecy of the seventy weeks fit into this picture? We can speculate the star/shining appeared to the wise men at the time of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. I believe it possible, at some point, the star/shining started moving toward the West and would the next night start its Westward movement all over again until the wise men realized the star/shining was inviting them to follow.

An Impressive Caravan

The Bible does not address the subject of the background of the wise men nor does it even tell us how many there were. Because of the three types of gifts it has often been assumed there were three but this is nowhere confirmed by the Bible; the Bible does not even address them as kings, but only as wise men.

There are some who believe the wise men, however many there were, rode on horseback rather than camel and more who believe they were accompanied by a large enough group of men to provide complete protection, serve the traveling needs of the group and properly impress any observer; the Bible is completely silent on these details.

It is at this point I acknowledge I’m speculating when I suggest a possible source for the expensive gifts they gave and their understanding of the timing of this particular star; this particular line of speculation is held by others as well.

Daniel’s Legacy

God so blessed Daniel that he was to be placed by Darius, the Mede, over the entire kingdom much to the distress of the presidents and princes of the land. The result of this distress resulted in Daniel’s lion’s den experience as described in Daniel 6. The reason I mention this was to show the great prominence Daniel had in the kingdom of the Medes and the Persians.

What I believe happened is Daniel, after God’s revelation of the seventy weeks prophecy, established a group of sympathetic chakamim that would preserve a legacy for the coming Messiah. It would be a simple matter for them to determine the 483 years and to calculate the likely date of the birth of Him who was to be cut off at the end of that period.

I think it possible that Daniel entrusted to them the financial resources that would make the gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh available at the time of the Messiah’s birth. I believe they were given a time frame during which to expect a special birth which would be signaled in a special way.

What Kind of Star Did They See?

Since one of their areas of expertise was the study of the stars, the appearance of a new star would certainly attract their attention. That brings up the nature of the star that led them to Bethlehem; it’s my speculative opinion that this was not a regular star, but was in fact the Shekinah Glory of God, the glory the shepherds experienced in Luke 2:9.

Although God was certainly at liberty to create a star and move it around as He willed, I’m more inclined to believe that this star-like manifestation was God’s Shekinah Glory. The Greek word used here is astera which can also refer to a luminous, shining body.

In summary what I’m suggesting is Daniel, inspired by the seventy weeks prophecy, established a special group of wise men to hold a legacy in trust and await the arrival of the Messiah. An approximate time frame was provided as to when those entrusted with the legacy could expect the birth of the Messiah. The starting point for the 483 prophetic year countdown came on March 5, 444 BC when Artaxerxes issued the decree noted in Nehemiah 2:1-8 and prophesied 95 years earlier in 539 BC by Daniel in Daniel 9:25.

When the supernatural star-like shining appeared to them in the sky, they correctly interpreted it as the long awaited sign and eventually followed the star/shining to Bethlehem where they were able to worship the Messiah and give Him the gifts that had been entrusted to their predecessors so many centuries before.

It is interesting to note for a time they must have lost sight of the shining; they went to Jerusalem and asked directions from Herod who, after consulting with the chief priests and scribes, sent the wise men to Bethlehem where Herod had been told the Messiah would be born.

In Matthew 2:9 we read the star/shining was now visible again and “went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.” In verse 10 we read: “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.” I think this joy was based on their temporarily having lost sight of the star/shining which resulted in their effectively announcing the birth of the Messiah to the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem.

Although this is speculation, it is based on fact and is, in my opinion; more plausible than saying these wise men just happened to see the star and just happened to have a small fortune available to give to Him, and just happened to stop by Herod’s palace and ask for directions to the one “born King of the Jews,” as Herod was not a legitimate king of the Jews.

The gifts enabled Joseph and Mary to escape to Egypt and avoid the murderous rampage of King Herod when he ordered the death of all male children in Bethlehem two years and younger. Matthew 2:13-18

Our family has always been thankful for Daniel’s ministry even to the point of naming our second son after him; so giving him additional credit for planning ahead is appropriate and fitting especially when credit is so well deserved.

First published as “The Original Star Trek” on December 19, 2011; revised and updated.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6

Over the years, as I began to get older, the inevitability of age and retirement began to more frequently flick through my thoughts. As I’ve written before in “A Surprising Discovery,” I really had no idea how much age would impact my life and my perceptions of life.

Although “A Surprising Discovery” was written several years ago, the process of discovery has continued and my perceptions continue to change as time passes.

Retirement

I had not made any firm plans for my retirement, I honestly had no idea what I would do with my life after I retired from full-time work. I had worked for over 36 years in the home-building business which is one of those businesses that never stops; there is something going on seven days a week and it is all too easy to let oneself fall into the trap of never stopping.

Sadly, I saw many young men fall into that trap and find themselves pressured by family and friends to give it all up. I began to warn new employees of the necessity of creating a sustainable pace; to not let themselves fall into the trap of constant work!

I was able to remain in the business for 36 years, because I had developed what was for me, a sustainable pace which adequately balanced work with family life.

My tentative plan had been to work until I was 75 but changes in several areas persuaded me to retire when I was only 71. That has been a very good decision and my wife and I have been greatly blessed over these last 16 years.

God’s Unexpected Plan for my Life, Dallas Theological Seminary

Although I had not made any plans for my retirement, it appears God had it all worked out! Two completely unexpected events would bring changes that caught me by complete surprise. I had been forced to drop out of Dallas Theological Seminary because of serious financial reversals as a young man. My failure to graduate had been a continuing source of disappointment all my life.

You can imagine my joy when I received a letter informing me of a new program created by DTS wherein those who had not finished their work would be allowed to return and finish their studies and graduate. I reacted immediately and was later told my application was the first one they received for the new program.

After a delay of 46 years I finally graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary. I was finally able to complete what I had started as a young man! At that point, I still had no idea of what I would do with my life; I was teaching a class at church but that was pretty much it.

Around two years after graduating, I had a mild heart attack which required open heart surgery and five by-passes, within a year I had a stroke but now seem to be stabilized with medication. After the passage of another year a second life-changing development would be revealed by the Lord.

Global Media Outreach

In January of 2012, one Sunday morning at church, we heard of an organization devoted to evangelizing the world over the internet. Both my wife and I saw what a perfect fit this would be for me so I volunteered immediately. After a period of training, I was approved as a new online missionary for Global Media Outreach.

Since then I have had the privilege and opportunity to work with people all over the world and provide them help and encouragement in their pursuit of Jesus Christ and a Christ-honoring life. What is really working out well is the fact I can do this from home; my age limitations are not impacting my ability to help others find Christ and grow in their faith.

Yesterday morning, I passed, what is to me, a small milestone; by God’s grace I have now helped over 8,000 people in their search for spiritual truth. I am amazed by God’s grace to an old man; God’s hand of grace and mercy has provided a purpose for life that I had never imagined. I feel so greatly blessed that Jesus Christ has placed me in a position to serve as a vessel he can use.

Global Media Outreach keeps a running record of contacts served; the following came out Friday morning:

Name – David Bower
Username – rdavidbower
People Helped – 8003
Replies Received – 16813
Your Response Rate
This Month – 17%
This Year – 15%
Last Year – 12%

I am truly thankful to our gracious and loving Lord for the opportunity he has given me to serve him!

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

Galatians 2:20

The Happiest Season of the Year!

Art by Adele Bower

That wonderful, happy time of the year is almost upon us, Friday the 25th is Christmas. This particular Christmas comes at the end of what has been an exceptional year; the United States is very different from the way it was on Christmas of 2019.

While circumstances may change dramatically, the basic message of Christmas has remained unchanged since its inception in a manger in Bethlehem. God’s message to mankind, beautifully summed up in Luke 2:8-14 tells the simple, yet profound story:

“⁸ And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

⁹ And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

The enormous significance of Christmas, the First Advent of our Lord, may sometimes get lost in the hustle and bustle of the season and the sometimes frantic preparations that seem to be an inevitable part of the days before Christmas. Circumstances, however frantic and perverse, cannot alter the reality of the First Advent of the Lord Jesus Christ!

For those of us who love the Lord Jesus Christ, this season is a beautiful reminder of our Lord, the wonder of His birth and the enormous significance of the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us.

Four Hundred Years of Silence

The voice of God through His prophets had become silent; for 400 years Israel did not receive any word from God through the prophets. Much had happened that was instrumental in setting the stage for the events that would transpire during the First Advent but there was no word from the Lord; just silence for 400 years.

God was planning to break that silence in the most dramatic way possible; God the Son, the living Word, would be born of a virgin and become flesh of our flesh and bone of our bone. The silence would finally be broken by the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord; the Word of God would be made flesh and dwell among us. We would have a Kinsman/Redeemer, a Savior who would take our place of judgment and die on the cross for the redemption of our sins.

The Birth of the King

It is fascinating to me to reflect on the decisions God made as to the birth of the Son of God. The eternal creator of the universe was not to be born in a palace or even a major city of the time; but was to be born of humble parentage in a small insignificant village named Bethlehem.

Although both were of the line of King David, any association with royalty had faded generations before. His mother, Mary, was a peasant girl and her future husband, Joseph, was a simple carpenter; hardly a likely couple to become the caregivers for the humanity of the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe.

All proceeded according to God’s eternal plan and the precious baby was entrusted to humans to care for and love as He grew in stature and wisdom over the early years of His life.

The Shepherds

The Bible describes two events surrounding the birth and early childhood of our Lord. The first had to do with the angelic host appearing to the shepherds. I have read that these particular shepherds and the sheep of their flock were very special; these were the sheep destined for temple sacrifice. How fitting that the announcement of the birth of the Lamb of God, slain before the foundation of the world, should be made to shepherds tending the sheep to be sacrificed on the Temple altar.

The Magi

The second event concerns the arrival of the magi whose number is not specified in Scripture. I have previously written on the magi and the mysterious star they followed and have some strongly held opinions concerning both. The account of the magi is only given in Matthew 2:1-12, and the implications are the magi appeared around two years after the birth of Jesus. I believe these particular magi were of a group founded by the prophet Daniel, and the gifts presented by the magi were placed with that group originally by Daniel himself.

Daniel had prophesied the very day our Lord would enter Jerusalem as the Lamb of God and I believe he instructed the magi to pay particular attention as that time drew closer. I believe the star was in fact the Shekinah Glory of God and led the magi to the place where Jesus was living. While none of this is specified in Scripture, it would explain a lot. I have written more on this in “The Original Star Trek” which I will publish again next week.

Christmas Today

Although the attack on Christmas has momentarily faltered, there are still secular forces that would try and pervert the significance of this celebration of the birth of our Savior. Christmas is still a powerful factor in the lives of many; I think we can all agree that the mood becomes a bit more joyous and happy around Christmas especially in the Christian community.

The traditions of Christmas are always welcome and bring remembrances of Christmas past and the fun and fellowship of family and friends. The traditional Christmas hymns are a great blessing and tell the story of our Lord’s birth with beauty and simplicity.

While we once again celebrate the First Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ; we can also anticipate with great joy the certainty of his Second Advent! Events which were commenced at his First Advent will be consummated at his Second Advent; our beloved Kinsman/Redeemer will restore his creation to the pristine condition originally planned.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

This is an updated version of an essay first published on December 18, 2013.

The Japanese Bomb Pearl Harbor

On this date in 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. The attack started somewhere between 7:48 and 7:58 AM local time on a Sunday morning. The public announcement of the attack was delayed by almost two hours so the announcement aired in the USA around 2:30 PM Eastern time and 9:30 AM Hawaiian time.

My mother, stepfather, and I were out on a Sunday afternoon drive looking for an alternate camping site for my stepfather’s Boy Scout troop. The time was around 1:31 PM when the announcer broke into the radio broadcast we were listening to and said the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor.

I was sitting in the back seat and still remember hearing the announcement; I don’t recall how we reacted at that point, but I’m certain none of us had any idea of the far reaching implications of that action.

A number of the boys that had been scouts in my stepfather’s troop would be killed in WW II and the Korean War; a name that stands out to me is John Ditner, a remarkably fine young man who had been my Patrol Leader when I was in the troop and was killed in the Korean War.

I am always fascinated by the impact of seemingly remote activities; Pearl Harbor was so far away so how could that affect our lives? But affect our lives it did and in a most profound way. The next several years would see a change in America that would deeply touch everyone.

Today, seventy-nine years later, we still remember the day that “lives in infamy.” To that date we have added September 11, 2001; another date that will live in infamy. At Pearl Harbor 2,402 Americans were killed, on 911 there were 2,977 killed not counting the Muslim terrorists.

I hope and pray there will be no more days of infamy but that is unlikely; I suspect we can all agree the oft quoted warning, “Eternal vigilance is the price of freedom” is as fully applicable today as it ever was. This year, 2020, may well go down in history for more than one reason; time will tell!

Revised and updated 12/7/2020

What do you Know, the 2020 Election is Still a Work in Progress!

It was my plan to publish an essay on the results of the 2020 Presidential Election but, rather surprisingly, the results of the election are still being not only counted, but disputed as well!

While the globalist media seems to have made a decision regarding the identity of the next president; that will not necessarily be the final outcome. The media does not elect the president, the Electoral College does that!

It is not really clear when all of this will finally be resolved; but it certainly seems clear it will wind up in the courts.

It seems rather fitting that this exceptional election should take place in what has otherwise been a very exceptional year. None of this has caught the Lord by surprise; he has known from the beginning how this year would play out and what the final results will be.

There is anger and frustration in both the Democrat and Republican Parties as they struggle with votes and counting of votes in an effort to achieve their desired results. This anger and frustration is shared, to some degree, by the citizens who voted in this election and hoped to see their candidate victorious.

A Moment of Truth for Christians!

What should our reaction, as Christians, be to the uncertainty surrounding this election?

If we are to believe the Bible, and we certainly should, then God is working all this in accordance with his divine will. If this is all in accordance with God’s will, and I’m convinced it is, then we, as Christians, should be at peace as we watch God’s will unfold before our eyes.

I believe it would be safe to say, the extent you are in the least disturbed by these events is the extent you are living your life by sight rather than by faith!

I refer to a sense of inner peace which is a product of the Holy Spirit as described in Galatians 5:22-23 where it is written:

²² But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

It is this sense of peace which should not be forfeited as a result of circumstances; this is the life of peace with God!

This is another one of those Proverbs 3:5-6 moments in life:

“⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
    do not depend on your own understanding.
⁶ Seek his will in all you do,
    and he will show you which path to take.”

It is easy to experience a feeling of helplessness in a situation like this, but it is vitally important to remember God, is in complete control of everything!

The Spirit Led Life!

Let the Holy Spirit be your guide and just rejoice in the Lord!

⁴ Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! ⁵ Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

⁸ And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. ⁹ Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.

I will continue to monitor this election until God’s will for the United States is finally revealed.

How can a Person be Declared Righteous?

Recently a Christian organization sent out a letter posing the subject question. The variety of responses indicated a rather widespread lack of understanding about Biblical teachings on that subject.

As one might expect, a number of responses focused on works and included the Mosaic Law. Religion, and I specifically exclude Christianity when I say that, is always presenting a set of selected works as the way to achieve their particular god’s approval.

While each religion has a customized set of works which are promoted; they all require adherents to do certain specified things if they are to receive the approval of the religion and whatever so-called god it serves.

Christianity is unique in this matter in that God did the work, and the followers of the Christian faith receive the blessings without doing any work themselves.

This concept absolutely flies in the face of human reason; it just doesn’t make any sense at all to the human mind.

Biblical Righteousness

The Jews, particularly under the influence of the Pharisees, were loaded down with a vast number of works for which they were responsible. God had given the Jews the Mosaic Law which was filled with specific tasks to be performed if God’s approval was to be given.

The Mosaic Law had a deeper meaning, however, it was a picture of the person and the works of the Messiah who was to be sent to the nation of Israel.

Over the centuries, the meaning of the Mosaic Law had become so distorted by the religious leaders that when their Messiah actually came to them, he was not even recognized as the true Messiah and the religious leaders wanted to kill him!

The New Covenant

God had fully anticipated the rejection of the Jewish Messiah and had already carefully planned an alternative which was the mystery of the Church. The Church was to be a whole new world with a new and vastly improved version of mankind included as a bonus.

The rejected Messiah was to die for the sins of the whole world and rise again to life as proof he was indeed God’s Messiah. Israel was to be set aside for a pre-determined number of years and the Holy Spirit would indwell human beings for the first time.

This change took place on Pentecost, May 25, A.D. 33 and is still in effect today as a part of the New Covenant. God’s grace was to be manifested in an enhanced manner to all those transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit and joined to the body of Christ, the Church!

God’s new creation was to receive justification before God and given the righteousness of Jesus Christ as a free gift by simple faith in Jesus Christ as Savior!

Grace Replaced Works!

Grace had replaced the works of the Mosaic Law as the basis of righteousness before God with salvation and deliverance by faith in Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul speaks to this profound change in Galatians 2:15-21 where it is written:

¹⁵ We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 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.

¹⁷ “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! ¹⁸ For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. ¹⁹ For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. 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. ²¹ I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

During this age of grace, the Church Age, righteousness is given freely to all who receive Jesus Christ as Savior.

But What About Works?

Christianity is really different, you don’t work to be saved, you work because you are saved! The letter I mentioned in the first paragraph also asked a question:

“If someone asked you to articulate your mission on earth, what would you say?”

If we were to base our answer to that question on the testimony of the Bible, we would have to respond:

My mission on earth is to die to self so Christ might perform his good works in me!

Paul explains this in Ephesians 2:10 where it is written:

¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

When you think about it; there is a meaningful balance to be found there. Christ died on the cross that all who receive him as Savior might live; Christians die to self that Jesus Christ might live in them and use them to perform the “good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

This is the plan for the Church, this is the plan for you, this is God’s plan for human righteousness, this is the New Covenant!