Writings

Looking up to Capitol dome, Wisconsin.

Saturday, 6 April 2024

“For these reasons the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me. Acts 26:21

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

A more literal translation is, “Because of these, the Jews, me – having seized – being in the temple, endeavored to kill” (CG).

To understand what Paul says in this verse, reviewing the previous two verses will help –

“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, ²⁰ but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.”

Remembering that, Paul next says, “Because of these.”

Because of Paul’s obedience to the heavenly vision in declaring to the Jews and then to the Gentiles that they should repent (meaning reconsider), turn to God, and do works befitting their reconsideration, he says, “the Jews, me – having seized.”

The truth is that the other apostles were still in Jerusalem and were telling the Jews throughout Israel to do the same things. However, they were not under the same scrutiny or threat that Paul was. Rather, the main brunt of the Jews’ animosity towards him was his going to the Gentiles. That is perfectly evidenced in his speech in Acts 22 –

“Then He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.’
²² And they listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voices and said, ‘Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live!’” Acts 22:21, 22

As with so many Jews to this day, there is a hatred of the notion that anyone but them is right with God. It is almost as if they feel God owes them salvation because of who they are. Paul understood that this was not at all the case. Everyone needs Jesus, and without Him, no person can be saved. As for the Jews having seized him, he continues, saying, “being in the temple.”

That was specifically noted in Acts 21. He was there to announce the expiration of his days of purification when he was to make an offering. While there, he was accused by the Jews who cried out –

“Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, the law, and this place; and furthermore he also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place.” Acts 21:28

It was at that time that Paul notes that it was him they “endeavored to kill.” That is specifically recorded in Acts 21:36 where they were crying out, “Away with him.” The meaning is that they wanted the world to be rid of him. Only the intervention of the Roman guards saved Paul from being beaten to death or torn to pieces by the rabid crowd.

In these words, is a verb found nowhere else in Scripture, peiraomai, meaning to try, attempt, endeavor, etc. It is from the noun peira, an attempt, trial, experiment, etc. It was because of the attempt of the Jews to kill Paul, something they had no legal right to do, that the Roman soldiers acted.

There are two distinct supposed sins that Paul was guilty of in the minds of the Jews. It is these that led to their desire to kill him. One was that he preached to the Gentiles. How dare he attempt to elevate them to the same level as the sacred people Israel!

The second and more direct issue was that he preached Jesus. They could not come to allow themselves to believe that a Nazarene who wasn’t a great and mighty defender of their cause was the Messiah. They had rejected Him, and they wanted nothing more to do with him.

As noted, however, the other apostles were still in Jerusalem and were living out their lives. Paul visited them while in Jerusalem. However, they were tolerated, though probably mocked by those who rejected Jesus. They may have taken abuse in other ways, but nothing is written concerning the utter opposition to their message that is said have come against Paul.

As for the Greek verb translated as “kill” in this verse, it is diacheirizomai. It is only used two times in the New Testament. The other time is in Acts 5:30 when describing the killing of Jesus. It is not without coincidence that these are the only two uses of this word. They killed Him and they wanted to kill His messenger.

Life application: The message of Jesus is one that offends. It has offended the Jews for two thousand years. It has offended kings, governors, presidents, and other world leaders. It has offended religious leaders from innumerable other religions. It offends those who are morally offensive in their being. And so forth. They killed Jesus, they tried to kill Paul, they have killed faithful believers all along. Even now, once Christian nations are becoming increasingly hostile to the message of Jesus.

Because of this, it is not unlikely that if a bad actor gets enough power, he and those under his authority will try to kill their own citizens who hold fast to their faith in Christ Jesus. Think of it! The only possible way that man can be reconciled to God is not only rejected by many, but it is the reason for the killing of those who cling to Him.

Stand fast in your faith as so many have in the past. Don’t let the woes of this life weaken or shake the precious treasure of faith that you possess. Jesus will be there waiting for you if you are called to make the ultimate sacrifice for your faith.

Lord God, what an increasingly trying and difficult world we live in for believers. Help us to remain faithful to our faith in You. May we be willing to take whatever trials come our way with grace and acceptance. May we not waffle in or walk away from our faith. Help us in this, O God. Amen.

LIBERTY. Wisconsin State Capitol.

Friday, 5 April 2024

“but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. Acts 26:20

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

More literally, it reads, “but those in Damascus first and Jerusalem, and to all the region of Judea, and the Gentiles – I declared to reconsider and turn to God, practicing works worthy of reconsideration” (CG).

In the previous verse, Paul said to Agrippa that he was not disobedient to the heavenly vision. Having said that, he continues with a list of those he preached to and what his message was, saying, “but those in Damascus first.”

This is just what is recorded in Acts 9 –

“So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.
²⁰ Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.” Acts 9:19, 20

From there, Paul next says, “and Jerusalem.” This is the next recorded location in Acts 9 that Paul went to after leaving Damascus. That is seen in Acts 9:26 with the words “And when Saul had come to Jerusalem.” From there, Paul next notes, “and to all the region of Judea.”

These words may not be chronological. In Galatians 1, he says –

“Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. ²² And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. ²³ But they were hearing only, ‘He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.’ ²⁴ And they glorified God in me.” Galatians 1:21-24

There are two separate clauses in the words, “(but those in Damascus first and Jerusalem), (and to all the region of Judea, and the Gentiles).” This then alleviates any supposed contradiction with Galatians 1:22 if it is not chronological.

However, as Jerusalem is within the area of Judea, his statement now may be included in Acts 9:28 where it says, “So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and going out.” If Paul went around the area outside of Jerusalem, then this would qualify. Or his words could include in later trips through the area when returning from missionary journeys. Whatever the intent, he next says, “and the Gentiles.”

These words encompass the majority of Paul’s time recorded in Acts. It is also the substance of almost all of his epistles. First and foremost, Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles. This is explicitly stated in Romans 11:13, Galatians 2:8, 1 Timothy 2:7, and 2 Timothy 1:11.

Of these locations, Paul next describes what he did when at each, saying, “I declared to reconsider and turn to God.”

The word is metanoeó, usually translated as “repent.” However, the word repent is no longer used in that way by most people. Today, people think of the word repent as being akin to “turn from sin” or some such thing. That is not at all what the word means. It signifies “to change the mind.” For a single word that carries the meaning, “reconsider” gets the point across.

Paul told those who he addressed, both Jew and Gentile to reconsider, meaning about their thinking concerning God and their relationship with Him. When they have so reconsidered this, meaning coming to Jesus who is God’s Messiah and path to salvation, they should then be “practicing works worthy of reconsideration.”

Here, Paul uses the noun form of the verb just used, metanoia. It means “a change of mind.” After reconsidering what one believes about God, one should then demonstrate his reconsideration by doing things that are worthy of what he has reconsidered. Those things are explained by Paul in his epistles.

Paul’s explanation to King Agrippa shows that he did exactly as the divine vision had instructed. If the vision was true, then he could not have done anything wrong and worthy of persecution, except by those who would reject the very mandates of God given in the vision. Which is exactly what the Jews did.

Life application: The verb translated as “declared” is in the imperfect tense (meaning it was an ongoing thing) and, unlike many translations, it comes after, not before, the list of those who Paul declared to. As you can see, it is located just prior to the word “reconsider.” This sums up his long and continuous activity of declaring his message.

Paul’s use of the word “reconsider” should be evaluated further. What does he mean? Is he saying that a work is involved in his gospel? Based on his consistent message in the epistles, the answer is obviously, “No.”

The word is defined by James Strong as, “change my mind, change the inner man (particularly with reference to acceptance of the will of God), repent.” HELPS Word Studies agrees, saying, “properly, ‘think differently after,’ ‘after a change of mind’; to repent (literally, ‘think differently afterwards’).”

The idea of this as making some sort of active change in one’s life is not at all what this is speaking of. It is a mental assertion that one is out of favor with God, and after hearing the message of the gospel, he will change his thinking about the path that he is on.

For a person who has heard of Jesus and rejected Him, it is to change his mind about Him being God’s path to salvation. For someone who has never heard of Jesus, his reconsideration is from whatever idea he had about God and a relationship with Him to acceptance of Christ and yielding to His will.

The obvious question is, “How can one yield to His will until after he has been told what His will is?” If His will is for us to have faith, turning to Christ from another belief, then salvation must precede any works. Yielding to His will for salvation requires hearing a salvation message and responding to it. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

Paul’s statement that man is saved by grace through faith must stand. If this is so, then the words “practicing works worthy of reconsideration” are logically placed last in this thought. From there, the next logical question is, “What if he doesn’t do works befitting of reconsideration? Does this mean he could then become ‘unsaved?’”

If salvation is a gift and if the sealing of the Holy Spirit is a guarantee, then those things cannot be conditional upon performance. Rather, they are conditional upon knowledge, which comes through proper instruction concerning the gospel.

As for “practicing works worthy of reconsideration,” that can only then be accomplished by 1) knowledge, and 2) willingness to do what is expected. It is unreasonable to assume that anyone who had no discipleship would do what the Bible expects of him. How could he?

Further, every person who has received Christ is on a different level than every other person. This is why we have Bible studies, commentaries, etc. It is to learn doctrine. If we never do this, then we will never mature and do the works that Paul says we need to do, but this logically cannot bear on our salvation. Instead, it must fall into some other category of the workings of God. And it does, Paul explains that in 1 Corinthians 3:9-15 and 2 Corinthians 5:9-11.

Understanding this, if anyone ever tells you that you can’t be saved because you haven’t done this or that (Sabbath observance, baptism, eating the wrong foods, being circumcised, etc.), tell them to get out of whatever cult they are in. You are saved by grace through faith. Only after that, comes the practicing of deeds worthy of the change in you that took place. Those things are up to you as you work out your own salvation through faith.

Lord God, help us to carefully consider the meanings of words in Your word as they were originally intended to be understood. Over time, the meanings of our words may change, but the intent of the original word does not. So, help us to pay heed as we consider various translations and to discover why there are differences. When we find out which is correct, may we faithfully consider what You are saying from that proper context. Amen.

Neat architecture. Wisconsin Capitol.

Thursday, 4 April 2024

“Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, Acts 26:19

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

Paul just finished repeating the words of Jesus that he had received during the vision. With that, he next says, “Therefore, King Agrippa.”

Paul once again specifically addresses Agrippa as he did in verse 13. The word translated as “Therefore,” hothen, is derived from two words signifying “where” and “then.” The older English translations of “Wherefore” or “Whereupon” give a good sense of the intent. The meaning Paul is conveying is that he received this vision, and from that, he made his decision, saying, “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.”

It is an astonishing set of words to be considered. Paul uses the verb ginomai, to become or come into being. The tense of the verb, being aorist, gives the sense of “I did not become disobedient.”

As Ellicott notes, “The language of the Apostle is significant in its bearing on the relations of God’s grace and man’s freedom. Even here, with the ‘vessel of election’ (Acts 9:15) ‘constrained’ by the love of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:14), there was the possibility of disobedience. There was an act of will in passing from the previous state of rebellion to that of obedience.”

It is another testimony to the doctrine of free will in man. Paul’s choice of words clearly signifies that he could have, in fact, been disobedient to the vision. However, his choice was to comply with what he had been told. In essence, his words can be turned around to say, “How could anyone find fault in me for being obedient to such a message!”

It is reflective of the words of Isaiah 6 –

“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:
‘Whom shall I send,
And who will go for Us?’
Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’” Isaiah 6:8

The doctrine of free will in man is seen time and again in such callings. Moses and Jonah are great examples of this. Jeremiah is as well.

As for the word translated as “vision,” it is optasia. It refers to an actual vision as opposed to a dream or some other non-specific vision. It is used in Luke 1:22 and is frequent in the Greek translation of the book of Daniel.

Life application: The words of Paul in this verse confirm the doctrine known as synergism. It signifies that man has his part in the conversion process. However, that, in turn, does not mean that man has any part in the salvation process. These are two separate things that some try to shove into one box in an attempt to justify the incorrect doctrine of monergism.

Monergism teaches that man has no part in the conversion process and that God alone converts a person. For example, the idea of being born again from a monergistic teaching says that God chooses a person, God regenerates that person, allowing him to believe (he is born again), and from there, he believes and is saved. The teaching is utter rubbish.

Rather, the conversion process is based on the salvation process. Jesus did everything necessary for man to be saved, minus nothing. However, with that process complete, His work must then be appropriated by those who hear. They can mock, oppose, or blaspheme what they hear (see Acts 18:6), a free-will choice. They can contemplate and check out what they hear (as in Acts 17:20), a free-will choice. They can simply hear and believe (think of Cornelius in Acts 10), a free-will choice. Etc.

With the salvation process complete, man is hopefully provided the chance to believe in what He has done. This is why we share the gospel, send out missionaries, etc. Faith comes by hearing and hearing comes by the word of God. If the doctrine of monergism was correct, none of this would be necessary. In fact, it would be a pointless waste of time. God’s will cannot be thwarted. But the process must be carried out –

“But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:8, 9

God truly wants all to change their minds about Him. But He does not change it for them. Rather, He asks those who believe the message to get about the business of sharing the gospel. Only through that avenue will others be saved. So, get about sharing the gospel.

Heavenly Father, help us to take Your word in its proper light. When we are presented with a doctrine that is incorrect, may You help us to identify it, contemplate why it is so, and then turn from it to that which is correct. We are asking for Your guiding hand to be with us so that we will be properly trained followers of You. Amen.

Under di dome o di Wisconsin Capitol.

Wednesday, 3 April 2024

“to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ Acts 26:18

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

Though clunky, a literal translation would be, “to open their eyes – the turned – from darkness to light, and the authority of Satan unto God. They received forgiveness of sins and a lot among those having been sanctified – the faith in Me” (CG).

The previous verse is provided with the addition of the ongoing words of this verse, “…delivering you from the people and the Gentiles to whom now I send you, to open their eyes.” “Their eyes” is thus referring to those to whom the Lord is sending Paul. Of them, and in particular the Gentiles to whom his main ministry was directed, the Lord next says, “the turned – from darkness to light.”

Paul is to be the vehicle by which this change was to come about. The people of the world without Christ are in darkness. It is a state from which they could not bring themselves. There is no ability to discern the mystery of the gospel apart from it being specially revealed to a person. This was to become Paul’s ministry.

And he was the perfect person to accomplish this. He was a living metaphor of these words. He was spiritually blind and he was made physically blind as well. However, he was brought into the light of Christ, and he was healed of his physical darkness at the same time. He was blind, but now he saw. He could fully empathize with those he ministered to because of this.

As for the change in a person who receives this light, Jesus continues His words, saying, “and the authority of Satan unto God.”

The thoughts are completely tied together. If one is of Satan, he is blind, he is without light, and he is under the authority of Satan, not of God. This is seen from the first pages of Scripture, and it carries through in the words of Jesus and the apostles. It even goes through the book of Revelation until Satan is finally cast into the Lake of Fire.

John, in his first epistle, sums this thought up –

“He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. ⁹ Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.” 1 John 3:8, 9

Sin is the problem. Violating law is what brings about the imputation of sin. The devil uses law to lure man to fall into sin. However, once a person turns to God through Jesus Christ, he is brought into the light, his eyes are opened, and he can see. In God there is no darkness, one who is in Christ is also, therefore, no longer in darkness.

As noted, this theme follows from the earliest pages of the Bible to the very last pages. It literally permeates Scripture. As for those who are so turned, Paul continues, saying, “They received forgiveness of sins.”

Some translations make this clause subjunctive, “that they may receive.” Others make it a cause-and-effect type of thing, “for their receiving.” However, the verb is aorist. They have had their eyes opened, they have been brought into the light, and they have moved from the authority of the devil to that of God. Hence, they have received forgiveness of sins. With that, it next says, “and a lot.”

In the opening of the eyes and the turning to God from Satan, there is then forgiveness of sins. In turn, there is then a lot, meaning an inheritance, for them. An inheritance is something granted by another. In the case of those who come to Christ, it means salvation, eternal life, and a heavenly hope. This is all to be obtained by simple faith in Christ’s complete work. Paul explains this in Ephesians 1 –

“In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, ¹⁴ who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:13, 14

This lot, or inheritance, is next said to be “among those having been sanctified.” It is as sure of a pronouncement of eternal salvation as any found in Scripture. The verb is a perfect participle, an accomplished fact wrought by the act of faith.

A perfect participle indicates something that occurred in the past and which has continuing results at the time it is being referred to. As this is a statement of fact, it is something that can be conveyed at any time into the future. It thus speaks of eternal salvation. Understanding this, Paul then notes what brought this about, meaning how it was appropriated, saying, “the faith in Me.”

That is wholly consistent with his words of Ephesians 1 noted above. Those who have believed are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. God Himself seals that person as an absolute guarantee. It is something to be collected by the one to whom the guarantee is given. God has promised and it will come to pass.

This is what Paul was called to do. He was to go out into the Gentile world, even with the knowledge that harm would face him. He had a mission and a calling which was under the authority of God through Christ.

As this was so, then his mission could not be thwarted by any power on earth. The fact that he was standing there on trial then could only be considered a part of the plan in which he was called to participate. Either these words concerning Paul are true, or they are not. If they are, then all of the fighting against Paul’s doctrine by so many in the modern world is simply a fight against the Lord Himself.

Life application: When properly considered, the words of this verse, which are perfectly in accord with the rest of Scripture, clear up a lot of really bad doctrine. They show that the law has no part in one’s salvation. No works are required to be saved or to continue to be saved.

They show that all people are separated from God when they do not have Jesus Christ. Either one is under the authority of the devil, or he belongs to God because of Christ. The words also tell us (based on the previous verses) that one must be presented with the gospel and a response must be made, believing what was heard.

Once belief occurs, the person is saved, eternally. These and other points of doctrine are clearly presented in what Paul has said in just a few words to those who listened to him. It is our duty to consider what Scripture is telling us and to accept it at face value. People need Jesus. Without him, they are lost.

Does this affect you or move your soul? You may be the only person who will ever have the opportunity to clearly explain the gospel to them. Be about it while you can. Tomorrow may be too late.

Lord God, Your gospel is clearly presented in Scripture so that we can know what to tell others. Help us to convey the life-changing message clearly and responsibly to those we come in contact with. May we be willing to do this so that they can have the same hope of eternal life that we now possess. Amen.

JUSTICE. Wisconsin Capitol.

Tuesday, 2 April 2024

‘I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, Acts 26:17

Note: You can listen to today’s commentary courtesy of our friends at “Bible in Ten” podcast. (Click Here to listen).

You can also read this commentary, scrolling with music, courtesy of our friends at “Discern the Bible” on YouTube. (Click Here to listen), or at Rumble (Click Here to listen).

More literally it reads, “delivering you from the people and the Gentiles to whom now I send you” (CG).

Paul just explained his calling to those of the court in which he stood, noting that he had been called as a minister and a witness concerning Christ. He now continues that thought. Taken together, they read, “But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you, delivering you from the people and the Gentiles to whom now I send you.”

The words “delivering you from the people” refer to the Jewish people. That is inserted by the NKJV for clarity. However, simply saying “the people” is a way of specifically identifying them. The fact that they are mentioned indicates that he knew, right from the mouth of the Lord, that he would, in fact, be persecuted by them.

However, the Lord also let him know that he would be delivered from them. The trials which had been held against him were proofs of this very fact. Along with them, it next says, “and the Gentiles.”

The implication is that he would be likewise persecuted by them, exactly as has occurred throughout all of his time recorded in Acts.

Albert Barnes notes that “As the opposition of the Jews arose mainly from the fact that he had gone among the Gentiles, it was important to bring this part of his commission into full view before Agrippa, and to show that the same Saviour who had miraculously converted him had commanded him to go and preach to them.”

Paul’s words are carefully selected to show the substance of his commission and the Source of it, meaning Jesus. It is this ministry to the Jews and Gentiles that Jesus next says, “to whom now I send you.”

In some manuscripts, there is an emphasis in his words where the “I” is in the emphatic position, “to whom I, I send you.” If that is the correct reading, it is the same words used by Jesus, egō apostellō, “I, I send,” that is seen in Matthew 10 when Jesus selected and commissioned the original apostles –

“Behold, I send [egō apostellō] you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.”

For Paul, he now recounts his own calling. The voice from heaven was sending him out with a promise of deliverance. The purpose of the marvelous commission is to be found in the next verse.

Life application: Paul’s opening words to those in Galatia say –

“Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), ² and all the brethren who are with me,
To the churches of Galatia:
³ Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁴ who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, ⁵ to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Galatians 1:1-5

Paul was commissioned to minister to both the Jews and the Gentiles, but his primary mission was to the Gentiles. Jesus said that He would deliver Paul from both. But the fact is that the people he ministered to also needed to be delivered from the Jews as well.

It is the main purpose of the book of Galatians, meaning holding to the grace of God in Christ and not being suckered into law observance by the Judaizers. They had come to Christ, having never observed the law. They were given the Spirit and were saved. But along came the Judaizers who told them that they now needed to be circumcised and observe Moses.

In doing so, they would be setting aside the grace that originally saved them. It would mean they were obligated to the law and grace no longer was of any value to them. Their lives and actions would no longer be acceptable to God. At the Bema of Christ, all they could expect is judgment with no rewards, only loss.

Unfortunately, this infection has crept into the church time and again throughout the church age in various ways. Anytime someone falls back on the law for personal merit before God, he sets aside God’s grace. With Israel called back to the land, everything Jewish has suddenly become popular with many in the church.

This is fine to an extent. But along with this fascination of what God is now doing in the people of Israel after two millennia comes a renewed call to law observance. The church that has carried the banner of God’s grace in Christ has been duped, once again, into the heresy of the Judaizers.

Be on guard for this. God’s grace is not for sale. God’s grace cannot be earned. God’s grace requires faith that He has done it all. Trust in this and do not allow yourself to be brought under the yoke of slavery to the law that got Israel into the position it has been in for eons. Rest in Jesus, revel in the grace He provides, and be appreciative to God for His tender mercies to His people through the finished, final, and forever work of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Lord God, thank You for Your wonderful love, mercy, and grace that has been so marvelously revealed in the coming of Jesus. The burdens are lifted. We do not have to earn Your favor and we no longer have a fear of death. Praise You, O God, for what You have done. Amen.