Some people claim that the doctrines of predestination, and election, are products of Reformation era heretics. These people are wrong. These doctrines are as old as the One True Faith. They reach back into eternity past. They are of God. The early Church believed them. The Bible teaches them. Only a biblically ignorant person, or self-righteous Pelagians would deny them.
In Augustine’s On the Predestination of the Saints, Book I, he articulates a doctrine of God’s sovereign election, emphasizing that God’s grace is bestowed not according to human merit but according to His own will. Augustine writes:
“That the salvation of this religion has never been lacking to him who was worthy of it, and that he to whom it was lacking was not worthy… we say, by divine grace or predestination.” New Advent
This passage underscores Augustine’s belief that God’s predestination precedes human worthiness, affirming the doctrine of sovereign election.
Additionally, in Book II, Augustine further elaborates on the nature of God’s grace and predestination:
“It is therefore settled that God’s grace is not given according to the deserts of the recipients, but according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise and glory of His own grace.”
This statement reinforces the idea that God’s election is based on His sovereign will, not on any foreseen merit or action by individuals.
These writings by Augustine provide a foundational understanding of the doctrine of God’s sovereign election, emphasizing that salvation is a result of God’s gracious choice rather than human effort or worthiness.
God’s Eternal Decree of Election and Reprobation Calvin asserts that God, by His eternal and unchangeable plan, has predestined some individuals to salvation and others to destruction. This distinction is not based on human merit but solely on God’s sovereign will. He writes: “We assert that, with respect to the elect, this plan was founded upon his freely given mercy, without regard to human worth; but by his just and irreprehensible but incomprehensible judgment he has barred the door of life to those whom he has given over to damnation.”
1. Election Not Based on Foreseen Merit
Calvin emphasizes that God’s choice to save individuals is not based on any foreseen merit or actions but is grounded in God’s sovereign will. He states: “God could foresee nothing good in man except what he had already determined to bestow by the benefit of his election.”
2. Holiness as the Result of Election
Calvin explains that the holiness of believers is a consequence of God’s election, not the cause of it. He argues that if election were based on foreseen holiness, it would contradict the biblical teaching that holiness is the result of God’s election. He writes: “If he elected us that we might be holy, he did not elect us because he foresaw that we would be holy.”
These passages illustrate Calvin’s doctrine of sovereign election, emphasizing that God’s choice to save individuals is based solely on His will and not on any merit or foreseen actions of the individuals.
1. Clement of Rome (c. 96 AD) In his epistle, Clement emphasizes that God’s elect are called to salvation through Jesus Christ, highlighting the divine initiative in their calling:
“Day and night you were anxious for the whole brotherhood, that the number of God’s elect might be saved with mercy and a good conscience.” — 1 Clement 59:2(Ante-Nicene Christianity)
This passage underscores the belief in a divinely chosen group of believers. (Ante-Nicene Christianity)
2. Hermas (c. 70 AD) Hermas speaks of God’s elect being prepared for eternal life, indicating a divine selection:(Ante-Nicene Christianity)
“But the white portion is the coming age, in which the elect of God shall dwell; because the elect of God shall be without spot and pure unto life eternal.” — The Shepherd of Hermas, Vision 4(Ante-Nicene Christianity)
This reflects the concept of a predestined group set apart for salvation.
3. Irenaeus (c. 180 AD) Irenaeus discusses the predetermined number of the elect, suggesting a sovereign divine plan:(Ante-Nicene Christianity)
“When the number is completed that He had predetermined in His own counsel, all those who have been enrolled for life will rise again.” — Against Heresies, Book V, Chapter 36(Ante-Nicene Christianity)
This indicates a set number of individuals chosen by God for salvation. (Ante-Nicene Christianity)
4. Clement of Alexandria (c. 195 AD) Clement notes that while all are called, only those who respond are considered the “called,” implying a selective calling:(Ante-Nicene Christianity)
“Therefore, all having been called, those who are willing to obey have been named ‘the called.'” — Stromata, Book VI(Ante-Nicene Christianity)
This suggests that the effective calling is reserved for those whom God has chosen.
5. Tertullian (c. 200 AD) Tertullian argues that if some are made by nature bad and others good, the latter would not be deserving of praise for being good, for such were they created; nor would the former be reprehensible, for thus they were made [originally]. But since all men are of the same nature, able both to hold fast and to do what is good; and, on the other hand, having also the power to cast it from them and not to do it, some do justly receive praise even among men who are under the control of good laws (and much more from God), and obtain deserved testimony of their choice of good in general, and of persevering therein; but the others are blamed, and receive a just condemnation, because of their rejection of what is fair and good. And therefore the prophets used to exhort men to what was good, to act justly and to work righteousness, as I have so largely demonstrated, because it is in our power so to do, and because by excessive negligence we might become forgetful, and thus stand in need of that good counsel which the good God has given us to know by means of the prophets.
This passage emphasizes human responsibility and the capacity to choose good or evil, suggesting that divine election is not arbitrary but based on God’s justice.
6. Augustine of Hippo (c. 428 AD) In his treatise, Augustine addresses the Pelagian view that God elected individuals because of their foreseen holiness, asserting that God’s choice is the cause of holiness:
“Therefore, we were to be such for the reason that He has chosen us, predestinating us to be such by His grace.” — On the Predestination of the Saints, Book I, Chapter 35
This clearly supports the doctrine of sovereign election, where God’s will precedes human merit.
These citations from early Christian writings illustrate the belief in God’s sovereign election of believers, a theme that is consistent across various Church Fathers.
In Luke, Chapter 10, just after the 70 who were sent out return, and testified to the things they had done in Christ’s name, Jesus says an interesting thing. He said, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.” The word He used(Ἐθεώρουν) is a verb that is imperfect, indicative, active, and first person, singular. As the eternal Son, He was witnessing the fall of satan, but as the incarnate Son, and Word, He is recalling this activity to the men who had just returned. They were amazed at the things they had done, like casting out demons. To get them focused on the right idea, He tells them about it. Then he tells them about the authority He had given them over demons. It is obvious by the context that the serpents, and scorpions, are representing these demonic forces. It is also obvious from the context that this ability is not something that was applied to us, as we were not there as part of the 70, we were not commissioned to do what they did, and it wasn’t carried forward to us to continue doing. They had to be reminded to not rejoice in the fact that Jesus had subjected the spirits to them, but instead to rejoice in the fact that their names are recorded in heaven. For those whacky folks out there binding up satan, and casting out demons every Sunday, you need to stop. You are making fools of yourselves. You are focused on the wrong things. You should be focused on Jesus, not demons. You should be focused on what He did to justify you to God, and atone for your sins. If you are in the right spirit, you will be preaching the good news of Jesus, and rejoicing in what He has done.
Luke 10:17-24 (LSB Strong’s) The Joyful Results 17 Now the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.” 18 And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. 20 Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven.” 21 At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight. 22 All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and anyone to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” 23 And turning to the disciples, He said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see, 24 for I say to you, that many prophets and kings wished to see the things which you see, and did not see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and did not hear them.”
There are some arguments out there that go something like this. “We are the one true faith. We are the original Church. We are the oldest, and can trace our line back to Peter, or Jesus Himself. All other Churches are false, and cannot trace their authority back to Peter, or Jesus. You wouldn’t even have the Bible if it weren’t for us. That is why the early Church needed our traditions, because they didn’t have a Bible yet. They only had the traditions of the Apostles, and that is all our traditions are.” Some pagan cults like Hinduism, Odinism, & Native American tribal religions claim their gods were here before Jesus. So their religion is older. Older doesn’t mean true by the way. How many of you have ever heard these arguments from Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, or some other religious group? I want you to know there has always been the one true faith. Once God created man who was endowed with the ability to have that faith, there was the one true faith on Earth. Don’t forget that it was eternally established before the creation.
Ephesians 1:3-6 (LSB Strong’s) 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him in love, 5 by predestining us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He graciously bestowed on us in the Beloved.
Adam and Eve had first hand knowledge of God. Their faith was one of knowing. God was with them, talking with them. They tried to hide from Him. These are not the actions of people who do not believe that they did something wrong. They were different from the angels, and demons. The angels, demons, and satan knew God is. They weren’t looking for a Savior. The Bible never talks about saving the demons, or satan. Adam and Eve were the first to hear of some hope in the future in regards to the curse of God for their sins. In Genesis 3:15 we have the protoevangelium.
Genesis 3:15 (LSB Strong’s) 15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.”
The gospel plan of salvation is eternal. It has always been. The Son was always going to be Jesus in our fallen world. In the ancient times, man did not have much of the progressive revelation of scripture to explain the faith, but it was right there at the start. As time went on, more was revealed.
The Faith has been called different things through history. It was the faith of the patriarchs, it became known as the faith of Israel, and then the Hebrew, or Jewish faith. After the incarnation, ministry, crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, it had become known as Christianity. Sometimes Christians were called people of the way. Some time between the 7th, and 8th century after the quran had been compiled, muslims began calling Christians people of the book. Earlier in the 4th century the Holy Roman Empire adopted Christianity. At the end of the 6th century around 590A.D. Pope Gregory the 1st consolidated much of western Europe under papal authority. This is when we see the Roman Catholic church start as a unified ecumenical group. The Roman Catholics have a tradition that would have you believe that they can trace their lineage back to the Peter, who they erroneously claim was the first pope. They had misunderstood a section of scripture, and put the misunderstanding into use. After a period of use, it became tradition. Whether they ignorantly made the mistake, or not, I do not know. I do know they have had centuries to repent, and double down instead.
Matthew 16:13-20 (LSB Strong’s) Peter Confesses Jesus Is the Christ 13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, saying, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14 And they said, “Some say John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; but still others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” 15 He *said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.” 20 Then He warned the disciples that they should tell no one that He was the Christ.
It is obvious that the rock, or truth that the Church is built on is Jesus. Peter confessed that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus isn’t calling Peter the rock on which the Church is built, but his confession of Christ. We read in Isaiah 28:14-17
Isaiah 28:14-17 (LSB Strong’s) 14 Therefore, hear the word of Yahweh, O scoffers, Who rule this people who are in Jerusalem, 15 Because you have said, “We have cut a covenant with death, And with Sheol we have made a pact. The overflowing scourge will not reach us when it passes by, For we have made falsehood our refuge and we have hidden ourselves with lying.” 16 Therefore thus says Lord Yahweh, “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone, A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed. He who believes in it will not be disturbed. 17 I will make justice the measuring line And righteousness the level;
Does that sound like prophecy about Peter? Of course not. Let’s look at Ephesians 2:19-22
Ephesians 2:19-22 (LSB Strong’s) 19 So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, is growing into a holy sanctuary in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.
Seems pretty explicit to me. How about you? If that is not enough to seal the deal for you, Peter himself declares in 1 Peter 2:6-7
1 Peter 2:6-7 (LSB Strong’s) 6 For this is contained in Scripture: “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES UPON HIM WILL NOT BE PUT TO SHAME.” 7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “THE STONE WHICH THE BUILDERS REJECTED, THIS BECAME THE CHIEF CORNER stone,”
Moving on, we see that the one true faith continues on today. The apostasy of Roman Catholicism also continues. They may claim to be the one true faith, but they make an error by connecting their authority for their claims to the idea that the one true faith started with the incarnation, and Christ allegedly appointing Peter as the first pope. When we look past this further back into history, we see men like Noah, Abraham, and David, who truly believed God. They were looking ahead for God to provide salvation. The Old Testament saints were saved the same as the New Testament saints, by faith. Ours happens to be on the other side of the incarnation of the god-man who split time.
We’re going to switch gears and look at the eternality of the Word of God in both the person of the Son, and the progressive revelation of scripture.
Turn to Genesis 15, This is just after Abram’s encounter with the Prince of Melchizedek, which was a Christophany.
Read Genesis 15:1-21 Genesis 15 (LSB Strong’s) 1 After these things the word of Yahweh came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.” 2 And Abram said, “O Lord Yahweh, what will You give me, as I go on being childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Since You have given no seed to me, behold, one born in my house is my heir.” 4 Then behold, the word of Yahweh came to him, saying, “This one will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir.” 5 And He brought him outside and said, “Now look toward the heavens, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your seed be.” 6 Then he believed in Yahweh; and He counted it to him as righteousness. 7 And He said to him, “I am Yahweh who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess it.” 8 And he said, “O Lord Yahweh, how may I know that I will possess it?” 12 Now it happened that when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him. 13 Then God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your seed will be sojourners in a land that is not theirs, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. 17 Now it happened that the sun had set, and it was very dark, and behold, there appeared a smoking oven and a flaming torch which passed between these pieces. 18 On that day Yahweh cut a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your seed I have given this land, From the river of Egypt as far as the great river, the river Euphrates:
You’ll notice this is not the actions of a disembodied text floating before Abram’s eyes. This is the 2nd Person of the Trinity, the eternal Son, the Word of God. We know this is so because it is the first thing John tells us in Chapter 1 of John.
Turn to John Chapter 1. John 1:1-5 (LSB Strong’s) The Deity of Jesus Christ 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.
John 1:14-18 (LSB Strong’s) 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John *bore witness about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has been ahead of me, for He existed before me.’” 16 For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.
Psalms 119:89 (LSB Strong’s) 89 Forever, O Yahweh, Your word stands firm in heaven.
Isaiah 40:8 (LSB Strong’s) 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.
1 Peter 1:25 (LSB Strong’s) 25 BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ENDURES FOREVER.” And this is the word which was proclaimed to you as good news.
There is a distinction between the 2nd Person of the Trinity, and the physical script printed on hides, vellum, papyri, and paper. I’m not trying to convince you that the two are the same thing. What I do want you to consider is the character of our God. He did not leave us alone after creating us. He didn’t keep from us His character. He revealed Himself in both writing, and in person as well as the creation. During Jesus’ ministry, Old Testament believers recognized Him as the Savior from His written word. We get to know Him by His Word, or we know the Word of God, by the Word of God.
Through history, in different regions of the middle east, the progressive revelation of scripture was being revealed by various prophets. At the time of the incarnation the scriptures had already been compiled, and translated into Greek for approximately 250 years. It has been traditionally dated to the reign of Ptolemy II Philadelphus of Egypt. The Septuagint had been in use before the time of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus, the Apostles, and the early Church could have very well been acquainted with the Septuagint, on top of their knowledge of the Tanakh. They had the word of God in print. Let’s remember what the scriptures primarily are. They are God’s mind for us to know Him by, with all that entails. Think about how they were conveyed being progressively revealed. Over time, there were more, and more revelations from God recorded until we had the entire canon of scripture. The Roman Catholics, and the Eastern Orthodox weren’t even around for the Septuagint. It was completed by Jewish translators who were Commissioned by Ptolemy II around 800 yeasrs before they were historically a thing.
How impoverished are the religious sects who don’t see this truth? They fight, and argue, about who was first on the scene, who has authority, or power. They practice all sorts of strange traditions that are no wheres mentioned in the Word of God. They put on all sorts of fine raiment. They cause men to bow down, and kiss their rings. They sit on gold encrusted thrones. They heap up odious labors upon their followers. They rob God of His glory. Martyrs have gone to their deaths destitute of earthly wealth, and go on to their eternal rewards which show these pious men to be spiritual paupers.
Our God, condescended from the majesty of heaven, deigned to put on human flesh, dwelt among us, and laid down His life as a sacrifice to justify us to Himself. We must repent of our sins, and trust solely in the finished work of Christ Jesus.
Numerous times I’ve read that Christianity came from Judaism, or Protestantism came from Roman Catholicism. Some even go as far to say that muslims, roman catholics, jews, mormons, and jehovah’s witnesses, all worship the same God. Well they don’t, and that is why I didn’t capitalize them. They are all cults. None of them have the true God. Only the one true faith has the one true, and living God. That one true faith has been known by different names throughout history.
At the moment God created a creature that could have faith in Him as their Creator, and Savior, there was the one true faith. That creature is man. Adam, and Eve knew God in the garden, but that knowledge was from knowing Him face to face. They talked with the preincarnate Jesus, who is the eternal Son. When they sinned, and were cursed by God, He cursed the serpent by saying that Eve’s seed would crush the head of the serpent. Whether you believe it is necessarily a reference to a singular seed, representing the protoevangelium, or that seed being the collective of elect individuals representing humanity up to the incarnation, with Christ being the culmination, and fulfillment of the protoevangelium, you still end up with the faith of antediluvian people being in the coming Savior who would set things right, and deal with their sin.
We know that Noah found favor in the eyes of the God because of his faith. How do we know he had faith? He built the ark. God in the Old Testament was followed, and worshipped by the Patriarchs. These men truly believed. People who followed them, may not have, but we know the one true faith existed in those times. It has never ceased. We follow this true faith in God, and His telling of a coming of the specific Messiah through the Old Testament. We read of Abraham, Isaack, Aaron, Jacob who became Israel, the people of Israel, and so on. Inside of the works righteousness, self-righteous, oppressive religious system the jews developed, there was always a group of them who truly believed the scriptures, and the prophecies. They were waiting for their Savior.
When the eternal Son condescended from the majesty of Heaven, deigned to put on human flesh, and live among His sinful creatures, it was to finally deal with sin, and cleanse for Himself a bride, for the glory of God. Jesus said to Thomas in John 14:6 (LSB) “6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through Me.” According to Acts 4:12 (LSB) “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”
The Jew says the Savior has not come yet, even in light of the fact that the first Christians were the Jews from Jerusalem. He loves his self-righteousness, his laws, his ceremonies, and detests the true Savior. They seek to save themselves. The muslims are the same. Of course they are. They plagiarized the Old Testament, and added all the demonic doctrines of Moo Ham Head their satanic prophet. He was nothing like Jesus. Moo Ham Head was a murderous, thieving, lying, slave owning, pervert, pedophile who died, and went straight to Hell. Jesus is alive! Jesus is thrice holy, righteous, good, true, just, and loving. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (LSB) “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” Our God sacrificed Himself, His only Son, the second person of the Trinity, to justify us to Himself, for His glory, and our good! Moo Ham Head never did that. He never dealt with sin. Romans 5:8 (LSB) “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Jesus never taught that baptism into the Roman cult saves a person. He never taught that you must be baptized to be saved, or that it has any actual efficacious results on our justification at all. His word never teaches that either. It is one of two sacraments we have as Christians. It is for the public profession of your conversion. We identify with Christ in His death, burial, and resurrection. Rome, the Eastern churches, the Mormons, and many other cults, mandate a work of man, like the observance of a sacrament, to attain justification, or maintain it.
Roman Catholics make a blasphemous mockery of Christ’s atoning work on the cross with their mass. It is one of the most blatantly satanic, antichrist, man made doctrines, I’ve ever learned about. Read Romans for crying out loud. I don’t know how anyone, even a lost person, can read the book of Romans, and decide that salvation is partially caused by the works of the person claiming to be Christian. It is the most deceitful reading of the text. The text, over and over again, obviously argues for salvation being by faith alone. Works are a product of being born again, and justified by God. They are the product, not the cause. That kind of self-righteousness is disgusting, and only equaled by the other cults like mormonism, and the JW’s.
The hubris of man to think he can merit God’s favor by the work of his filthy hands. This is the pride, and self righteousness, on display for all to see. Why, they don’t even really need a Savior… They could just obey, and earn their way… Not! God says in Romans 6:23 (LSB) “For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” All men are sinners. How are you going to deal with your sins? Are you going to try to make yourself as holy, and righteous as God? Because that is His standard of good. You’d have to be as good as God, which means you’d have to be God. You can’t!
In Christ you can have His goodness as God, imputed to you by faith in Him, and His grace. Turn from these false religions that cannot save you! They cannot deal with your sins! Only Jesus laid down His life to take the hell that you deserve. He took the punishment that His people deserve on Himself, on the cross of His crucifixion! Moo Ham Head didn’t! Joseph Smith didn’t. None of the Popes did! Marry didn’t! The watchtower didn’t! Buddha didn’t! Repent, and put your faith in the singular seed from God who finally, and thoroughly dealt with sin! You can start living eternal life today. Don’t wait for tomorrow!
Christianity is the modern name of the one true faith. It does not find it’s origins in any other religion. It is the continuance of the one true faith founded at the creation. Many people have co-opted it, renamed it, made up their own doctrines, made up their own gods to fit their needs, but nonetheless, it is apart from all the lies. The ancient self righteous jews didn’t wait for the Savior. The ones who had the true faith were already putting their faith in Him for their eternal peace. Roman Catholicism came out of the Holy Roman Empire. It co-opted Jesus from the true faith, and built a self-righteous, works righteousness system around Him. The muslims co-opted Jesus but reduced Him to be simply a profit. They too made a works righteousness system. The same is true of all the other systems that claim the name of Jesus, but make man responsible for his own justification in part, or in whole.
If you are a young person, who believes in anthropogenic climate change, and is also Christian, stop believing the lies of the world, and believe God’s word. He says the planet will go on until the end of its appointed days. Then He will destroy it. Genesis 8:21-22 (LSB) “21 And Yahweh smelled the soothing aroma; and Yahweh said to Himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again strike down every living thing as I have done. 22 While all the days of the earth remain, Seedtime and harvest, And cold and heat, And summer and winter, And day and night Shall not cease.””
Isaiah 24 (LSB Strong’s) 1 Behold, Yahweh empties the earth to destruction, eviscerates it, distorts its surface, and scatters its inhabitants. 2 And the people will be like the priest, the male slave like his master, the female slave like her mistress, the buyer like the seller, the lender like the borrower, the creditor like the debtor. 3 The earth will be completely emptied to destruction and completely plundered, for Yahweh has spoken this word. 4 The earth mourns and withers; the world languishes and withers; the exalted of the people of the earth languish. 5 The earth is also polluted by its inhabitants, for they trespassed laws, violated statutes, broke the everlasting covenant. 6 Therefore, a curse devours the earth, and those who inhabit it are held guilty. Therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men remain. 7 The new wine mourns; The vine languishes; All the glad of heart sigh. 8 The joy of tambourines ceases; The rumbling of those exulting stops; The joy of the harp ceases. 9 They do not drink wine with song; Strong drink is bitter to those who drink it. 10 The city of chaos is broken down; Every house is shut up so that none may enter. 11 There is an outcry in the streets concerning the wine; All gladness turns to gloom. The joy of the earth is taken away into exile. 12 Desolation remains in the city, And the gate is struck down to ruins. 13 For thus it will be in the midst of the earth among the peoples, As the shaking of an olive tree, As the gleanings when the grape harvest is over. 14 They lift up their voices, they shout for joy; They cry out from the west concerning the majesty of Yahweh. 15 Therefore glorify Yahweh in the east, The name of Yahweh, the God of Israel, In the coastlands of the sea. 16 From the ends of the earth we hear songs, “Glory to the Righteous One,” But I say, “I waste away! I waste away! Woe is me! The treacherous deal treacherously, And the treacherous deal very treacherously.” 17 Panic and pit and pitfall Are upon you, O inhabitant of the earth. 18 Then it will be that he who flees the sound of panic will fall into the pit, And he who climbs out of the pit will be caught in the pitfall; For the windows above are opened, and the foundations of the earth quake. 19 The earth is broken asunder; The earth is split through; The earth is shaken violently. 20 The earth reels to and fro like a drunkard And it totters like a shack, For its transgression is heavy upon it, And it will fall, never to rise again. 21 So it will be in that day, That Yahweh will punish the host of heights on high, And the kings of the earth on earth. 22 They will be gathered together Like prisoners in the pit, And will be confined in prison; And after many days they will be punished. 23 Then the moon will be humiliated and the sun ashamed, For Yahweh of hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, And His glory will be before His elders.
Isaiah 51:6 (LSB Strong’s) 6 Lift up your eyes to the sky, Then look to the earth beneath; For the sky will vanish like smoke, And the earth will wear out like a garment, And its inhabitants will die in like manner; But My salvation will be forever, And My righteousness will not be dismayed.
Matthew 24:35 (LSB Strong’s) 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.
2 Peter 3 (LSB Strong’s) 1 This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles, 3 knowing this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” 5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being deluged with water. 7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some consider slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be found out. 11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens burning will be destroyed, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 13 But according to His promise we are looking for NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH, in which righteousness dwells. Be on Your Guard 14 Therefore, beloved, since you are looking for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, 15 and consider the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, 16 as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. 17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest you, having been carried away by the error of unprincipled men, fall from your own steadfastness, 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Revelation 21:1-8 (LSB Strong’s) 1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, 4 and He will WIPE AWAY EVERY TEAR FROM THEIR EYES; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain. The first things passed away.” 5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He *said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” 6 Then He said to me, “They are done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. 7 He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I WILL BE HIS GOD AND HE WILL BE MY SON. 8 But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
So stop worrying over the Earth. Treat your little corner nice, but don’t be so concerned that your concern turns into idolatrous worship. Worship God, not the planet. Repent of your sins, and trust Jesus for your salvation. Your works, even those environmental ones, will not save you from hell’s fire, and God’s wrath. Only the justifying work of Jesus on the cross can do that.
If you’re like me, you may be having trouble getting in the Christmas spirit. I see the evils of this world on the news, and marvel at how it doesn’t take a break, even during Advent. It shouldn’t surprise me, but it does get to me. If you are like my wife, the fact that there is no snow on the ground brings her down. During our childhoods, we both had snow by Christmas. Some folks try to get in the Christmas spirit by shopping, watching, “Christmas” movies, and listening to, “Christmas” music. Let’s face it, the movies are more about Santa then Christ. Don’t get me started on secular, “Christmas” music.
If our feelings aren’t matching the reality of Christ’s entrance into this world to seek, and save the lost, let’s remember the glory of this Advent. The eternal Son, at the will of the Father, and the work of the Spirit, condescended from the majesty of Heaven, deigned to put on human flesh, forever joining Deity to humanity, in the person of Jesus, who is righteous, without sin, He emptied Himself taking the form of a servant, suffered persecution, laid down His life, was crucified, and had the wrath of holy God poured out on Him, to cleanse us from our sins, and justify us to God, died, buried, and resurrected on the third day, conquering sin, and death, on our behalf, as the perfect fulfillment of the Passover Lamb of God. He ascended to the right hand of the Father, where He intercedes for us, and the Holy Spirit is now with us, indwelling those who are His, and giving them communion with God for ever.
Our efforts to, “get into the Christmas spirit” are often well intended, but misguided. We miss the forest for the trees. If we are focused on Jesus, the gospels, and singing praises to God with the carols that do the same, we will be thinking about the true reasons we celebrate Christmas. You may find the Christmas spirit there.
Read this account from Exodus that records what God was going to do to the people who rebelled, and what Moses had to do so that God would relent. It is time for us to choose, as a nation, who we will worship, and whose laws/morality we will enforce.
Exodus 32 (LSB Strong’s) The Golden Calf 1 Then the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain. So the people assembled about Aaron and said to him, “Arise, make us gods who will go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” 2 And Aaron said to them, “Tear off the gold rings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.” 3 Then all the people tore off the gold rings which were in their ears and brought them to Aaron. 4 And he took this from their hand and fashioned it with a graving tool and made it into a molten calf; and they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt.” 5 And Aaron looked and built an altar before it; and Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow shall be a feast to Yahweh.” 6 So the next day they rose early and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink and rose up to play. 7Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, “Go! Go down at once, for your people, whom you brought up from the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. 8 They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them. They have made for themselves a molten calf and have worshiped it and have sacrificed to it and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!’” 9 And Yahweh said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and behold, they are a stiff-necked people. 10 Now then let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may consume them; and I will make you a great nation.” 11Then Moses entreated the favor of Yahweh his God and said, “O Yahweh, why does Your anger burn against Your people whom You have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a strong hand? 12 Why should the Egyptians speak, saying, ‘With evil intent He brought them out to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your burning anger and relent concerning doing harm to Your people. 13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants to whom You swore by Yourself, and You said to them, ‘I will multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens, and all this land of which I have spoken I will give to your seed, and they shall inherit it forever.’” 14 So Yahweh relented concerning the harm which He said He would do to His people. 15 Then Moses turned and went down from the mountain. And the two tablets of the testimony were in his hand, tablets which were written on both sides; they were written on one side and the other. 16 Now the tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God engraved on the tablets. 17 Then Joshua heard the sound of the people as they shouted. And he said to Moses, “There is a sound of war in the camp.” 18 But he said, “It is not the sound of the cry of triumph, Nor is it the sound of the cry of defeat; But the sound of singing I hear.” 19 Now it happened, as soon as Moses came near the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing; and Moses’ anger burned, and he threw the tablets from his hands and shattered them at the foot of the mountain. 20 Then he took the calf which they had made and burned it with fire and ground it to powder and scattered it over the surface of the water and made the sons of Israel drink it. 21 Then Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you, that you have brought such great sin upon them?” 22 And Aaron said, “Do not let the anger of my lord burn; you know the people yourself, that they are prone to evil. 23 Indeed they said to me, ‘Make gods for us who will go before us; for this Moses, the man who brought us up from the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’ 24 And I said to them, ‘Whoever has any gold, let them tear it off.’ So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.” 25 Now Moses saw that the people were out of control—for Aaron had let them get out of control to be a derision among their enemies— 26so Moses stood in the gate of the camp and said, “Whoever is for Yahweh, come to me!” And all the sons of Levi gathered together to him. 27 And he said to them, “Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, ‘Every man among you put his sword upon his thigh, and go back and forth from gate to gate in the camp, and kill every man his brother and every man his friend and every man his neighbor.’” 28 So the sons of Levi did according to the word of Moses, and about three thousand men of the people fell that day. 29 Then Moses said, “Be ordained today to Yahweh—for every man has been against his son and against his brother—in order that He may bestow a blessing upon you today.” 30 Now it happened on the next day, that Moses said to the people, “You yourselves have committed a great sin; but now I am going up to Yahweh, perhaps I can make atonement for your sin.” 31 Then Moses returned to Yahweh and said, “Alas, this people has committed a great sin, and they have made gods of gold for themselves. 32 But now, if You will forgive their sin—but if not, please blot me out from Your book which You have written!” 33 And Yahweh said to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will blot him out of My book. 34 But now go, guide the people where I told you. Behold, My angel shall go before you; nevertheless in the day when I punish, I will punish them for their sin.” 35 Then Yahweh smote the people because of what they did with the calf which Aaron had made.
Most Christians won’t ever condone violence. I do. Afterall, enforcement of a law, means with force. Police Officers use force when people are acting lawlessly, or as antinomians. If we legislate our way back to a Christian nation, we can write morally good laws, that use force for moral good, instead of tyranny, which is when man writes laws, and enforces them, that command us to do things that God forbids, or to not do things that God commands. We are living under the alphabet mafia’s tyranny. We are living under the satanic tyranny of the globalist communists who hate us, and God. They love to cause human suffering, and death. They love perversion.
God destroyed the Earth with water last time He poured out His judgment on it. The last time is going to be with fire. Repent of your sins, and trust Christ. Let’s make America a Christian nation, with Christian laws. It would be morally good for everyone, even the law breakers would benefit spiritually from America being a Christian nation.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last few decades you are aware of the moral decline in America, and the rest of the world. It should be blatantly obvious to everyone at this point. The Democrats are the party of baby murder, every type of sexual immorality, lawlessness, animosity towards Christ, and His people, worship of the creation/creature instead of the Creator, genital mutilation of children, mind altering drugs, money laundering, proxy wars, corruption and coverups, lies, coercion, blackmail, weaponization of corrupt law enforcement agencies, and so on. The Libertarian party is the party of, “Do as thou wilt.” Which is the only commandment of the satan worshippers. Then we have traitors promoting communism, and socialism, in those parties. Both of those ideologies are satanic, and rob the human being of his dignity being made in the image of God, and on a more important issue, are blasphemously attempting to impugn God’s character.
I’m not saying that Republicans are the answer. There are far too many RINOs who have been bought, and paid for. Blackmailed, or coerced into doing the bidding of the demonic globalists. We can see their influence in every local election. We get the word out, “Don’t vote for that guy! He’s a RINO.” Then big money comes in from out of state to smear the honest to goodness Christian candidate, and what do you know? The RINO wins somehow. I’m not encouraging people to give up on politics, but I am encouraging people to SHARE THE GOSPEL!!! If people become born again, and repent of their sins, their minds will be changed by God. He will put them in right order. They will, by accord with their new natures, begin to abhor evil in the world, and love righteousness. God will give us the leaders we deserve. You can see that by the things the other parties call their, “platform.” Which is really as platform of satanic ideologies.
It isn’t a matter of Californians, or New Yorkers, moving to your state. Your own public schools are brainwashing your children to hate themselves, their parents, their country, their skin color, Christianity, their gender, and their history. You have homegrown enemies that the state has formed in the image of satan. Homeschool your kids! Put them in a Christian co-op! Put them in a charter school, or classical academy! Do whatever it takes to get them out of public schools. Get on the school board! Fire the perverts!
We’ve all seen the unhinged, apoplectic, lunatic, ravings, of the pro-abortion crowd. They see baby murder as a right. They lose their minds when baby murder is made illegal. The seething, and frothing at the mouths of these exceedingly wicked people is grotesque, and disturbing. It should awaken in anyone with a conscience, the fact that these people are in deed, and purpose, satan’s slaves. They love the murder of infants. It is a unholy, blasphemous sacrament of theirs, that they communally take part, and pleasure in.
The godless have been lying to our kids, and people. They tell them that they can be whatever gender they want, and that it is not tied to the biological reality of sex. They pervert their minds, and corrupt them, young and old. They are grooming them to be their children, as they can not propagate their perverse pleasures by natural copulation alone. They reproduce in the spirit of the mind by damning lies! All of their works lead to the suffering, and death of people who were made in the image of God. These people seethe in waves of emotional duress, while lecturing us on how our words are violence! They commit actual violence! They murder our youth in the schools! The homosexual, “trans people,” pedophiles, and those who are practicing bestiality, are being normalized. It is only a mater of time before necrophilia, and cannibalism are normalized. Mark my words. I told people this was going to happen thirty years ago, if we didn’t repent, and here we are.
They encourage people to use drugs. They hate humanity. They love to see people addicted, dying in the streets, homeless, and dirty. It makes them feel superior, and virtuous simultaneously. They say, “Look how loving we are. We won’t put you in prison for using drugs. We love you.” All the while, sitting back drinking their fancy coffee drink, and watching people literally kill themselves, and others, while on the streets, using drugs. I retired from Corrections as an Officer after 26 years. I can tell you, over the years, many inmates told me prison saved their lives. I currently work part-time at a rehab. We lost a client who finished the program. After a month of being out, he overdosed. If he had been sent to prison, he would have lived. He wouldn’t be on the streets. He would have 3 hots, and a cot. He’d have health care, mental health care, chapel, training to become an electrician, plumber, cad-cam, sign shop, construction tech, and more. I ask you, who is more loving? Who cares more for the imago dei, Christians, or godless leftists?
They have convinced the kids to worship animals, plants, and the planet. They tell them not to have children because we are killing the planet. They convince them that animals are on the same level of being as humans. We are made in the image of God, and given dominion over the planet to subdue for the encouragement of human flourishing, and the reduction of human suffering. The godless cannot have this. They love human death, and suffering. God will uphold this creation until His purposes with it are completed. Then He will burn it up with fire. Don’t believe the lies. Worship God the Creator, not the creation!
The only way out, is the only way, Jesus Christ! He is the way, and the truth! No man comes to the Father, except by Him! He is our King! His word is our pleasure, and duty! We worship the God of the living! We begin truly living the life eternal upon our true birth! Repent of your sins, and trust the Savior! Communism makes everyone equally subject by force. Who are they subject to? The centralized, governing of tyrants! Someone has to be more than equal to subject others to a false equality! God makes man equally man. Communist can’t have that. They attempt to rid their society of any god who would wield supreme authority. They are satanic usurpers, and murderers! Better dead, than red, the saying used to go. Don’t fall for the lies of the evil one. The only way you can fight evil is to be born again. Otherwise, you will fight against true goodness, and think you are doing good.
It is blatant to me. It is becoming blatant to many in this hour. My hope is that you will all wake up to the fact that the world is spiritually dead, and enslaved to sin. If you are not in Christ, you are part of that. You think you are good, but you are not. You are in love with demonic thinking. You only seek to please your own fleshly desires. Even your mercy is cruelty. Your good deeds, are for your own feelings of pseudo-piety. Repent, and trust Jesus for your justification to God. Only then will your works pleas Him.
I’m currently frustrated with all arguments I’m encountering from people supporting the Hebrew Roots Movement, and Messianic Judaism. I understand that these two groups may not want to be grouped together, but I really can’t see why I shouldn’t. Messianic Judaism sounds like an oxymoron to me. If you are in Christ, just call yourself a Christian already. From what I gather, to be a Messianic Jew, you need to be born an ethnic Jew, and then come to believe that Jesus was, and is the Messiah. Ok, fine, but why do they continue to practice their faith as if they had never been converted? Just drop all of the Old Testament practices, and be united to the other New Covenant believers. Paul had quite a bit against Peter when Peter gave in to the Judaizers.
Then there are the even whackier Hebrew Roots Movement hacks. Some of the Hebrew Roots Movement people have even cited Stephen’s sermon to the Jews who martyred him, including Saul at the time, as proof of their doctrinal stances. This one thing by itself blows my mind because it is such an obvious sermon against them. Anyhow, I thought it might be helpful to post a few sections of scripture with plenty of surrounding context, so you could read them, and hopefully figure it out. Let’s not put ourselves under the Old Covenant, or try to somehow get closer to God, or feel more spiritual, by imposing the traditions of the Old Covenant ancient Jewish people on ourselves, or others. We also don’t need to use broken, hacked up, ignorant idiots play-time Hebrew for dummies. Stop with, “You gots to call Jesus by His Jewish name, or you’re not a believer!!!” You sound like a JW telling people they have to use, “Jehovah” which isn’t even in the text. It was a translation convention created a long time ago to express the tetragrammaton by adding vowels from adonai to YHWH. We are under a New Covenant people. Jesus is our Savior, High Priest, and King. Please keep in mind, I don’t hate Jewish people for being Jewish. I’m simply frustrated by people’s desire to get back under the law, and self-righteousness.
Galatians 2:11 – 5:26 (LSB Strong’s) Paul Opposes Peter (Cephas) 11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles, but when they came, he began to shrink back and separate himself, fearing the party of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before everyone, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews? 15 “We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; 16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified. 17 But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin? May it never be! 18 For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ, and 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 up for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” The Righteous Shall Live by Faith 1 O foolish Galatians, who bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified? 2 This is the only thing I want to learn from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? 4 Did you suffer so many things for nothing—if indeed it was for nothing? 5 So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith? 6 Just as Abraham BELIEVED GOD AND IT WAS COUNTED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS, 7 so know that those who are of faith, those are sons of Abraham. 8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, proclaimed the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer. 10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse, for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO DO THEM.” 11 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident, for “THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.” 12 However, the Law is not of faith; rather, “HE WHO DOES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”— 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. The Promise by Faith 15 Brothers, I speak in human terms: even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it. 16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And TO YOUR SEED,” that is, Christ. 17 And what I am saying is this: the Law, which came 430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to abolish the promise. 18 For if the inheritance is by law, it is no longer by promise, but God has granted it to Abraham through promise. 19 Why the Law then? It was added because of trespasses, having been ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. 20 Now a mediator is not for one person only, whereas God is one. 21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed be by law. 22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were held in custody under the Law, being shut up for the coming faith to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor unto Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to promise. Sonship in Christ 1 Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and stewards until the date set by the father. 3 So also we, while we were children, were enslaved under the elemental things of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. 8 However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods. 9 But now, having known God, or rather having been known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you want to be enslaved all over again? 10 You observe days and months and seasons and years. 11 I fear for you, that perhaps I have labored over you for nothing. 12 I beg of you, brothers, become as I am, for I also have become as you are. You have done me no wrong. 13 But you know that it was because of a bodily illness that I proclaimed the gospel to you the first time; 14 and that which was a trial to you in my bodily condition you did not despise or loathe, but you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself. 15 Where then is that sense of blessing you had? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have plucked out your eyes and given them to me. 16 So have I become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 They zealously seek you, not commendably, but they wish to shut you out so that you will zealously seek them. 18 But it is good always to be zealously sought in a commendable manner, and not only when I am present with you. 19 My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you— 20 but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, because I am perplexed about you. An Allegory of Two Covenants 21 Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the Law? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the servant-woman and one by the free woman. 23 But the son by the servant-woman had been born according to the flesh, while the son by the free woman through the promise. 24 This is spoken with allegory, for these women are two covenants: one from Mount Sinai bearing children into slavery; she is Hagar. 25 Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother. 27 For it is written, “REJOICE, BARREN WOMAN WHO DOES NOT GIVE BIRTH; BREAK FORTH AND SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR; FOR MORE NUMEROUS ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE DESOLATE ONE THAN OF THE ONE WHO HAS A HUSBAND.” 28 And you brothers, in accordance with Isaac, are children of promise. 29 But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh was persecuting him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. 30 But what does the Scripture say? “CAST OUT THE SERVANT-WOMAN AND HER SON, FOR THE SON OF THE SERVANT-WOMAN SHALL NOT BE AN HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN.” 31 So then, brothers, we are not children of a servant-woman, but of the free woman. Christ Set Us Free 1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free. Therefore, stand firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery. 2 Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3 And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law. 4 You have been severed from Christ, you who are being justified by law; you have fallen from grace! 5 For we through the Spirit, by faith, are eagerly waiting for the hope of righteousness. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. 7 You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? 8 This persuasion is not from Him who calls you. 9 A little leaven leavens the whole lump. 10 I have confidence in you in the Lord that you will adopt no other view. But the one who is disturbing you will bear his judgment, whoever he is. 11 But I, brothers, if I still preach circumcision, why am I still persecuted? Then the stumbling block of the cross would have been abolished. 12 I wish that those who are upsetting you would even mutilate themselves. 13 For you were called to freedom, brothers; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in this: “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another. Walk by the Spirit 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you do not do the things that you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. 19 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become those with vain glory, challenging one another, envying one another.
Acts 6:8 – 8:3 (LSB Strong’s) Stephen Accused of Blasphemy 8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. 9 But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and were arguing with Stephen. 10 But they were unable to oppose the wisdom and the Spirit by whom he was speaking. 11 Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.” 12 And they stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and they came up to him, dragged him away, and brought him to the Sanhedrin. 13 And they put forward false witnesses who said, “This man never ceases speaking words against this holy place and the Law; 14 for we have heard him say that this Jesus the Nazarene will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us.” 15 And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Sanhedrin saw his face like the face of an angel. Stephen’s Defense 1 And the high priest said, “Are these things so?” 2 And he said, “Hear me, brothers and fathers! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3 and said to him, ‘LEAVE YOUR COUNTRY AND YOUR RELATIVES, AND COME INTO THE LAND THAT I WILL SHOW YOU.’ 4 Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. From there, after his father died, God had him move to this country in which you are now living. 5 But He gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot of ground, and He promised that HE WOULD GIVE IT TO HIM AS A POSSESSION, AND TO HIS SEED AFTER HIM, even when he had no child. 6 But God spoke in this way, that his SEED WOULD BE SOJOURNERS IN A FOREIGN LAND, AND THAT THEY WOULD BE ENSLAVED AND MISTREATED FOR FOUR HUNDRED YEARS. 7 ‘AND I MYSELF WILL JUDGE THE NATION TO WHICH THEY WILL BE ENSLAVED,’ said God, ‘AND AFTER THAT THEY WILL COME OUT AND SERVE ME IN THIS PLACE.’ 8 And He gave him the covenant of circumcision; and so Abraham was the father of Isaac, and circumcised him on the eighth day; and Isaac was the father of Jacob, and Jacob of the twelve patriarchs. 9 “And the patriarchs, becoming jealous of Joseph, sold him into Egypt. Yet God was with him, 10 and rescued him from all his afflictions, and granted him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he appointed him governor over Egypt and all his household. 11 “Now a famine came over all Egypt and Canaan, and great affliction with it, and our fathers could find no food. 12 But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent our fathers there the first time. 13 And on the second visit Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph’s family was disclosed to Pharaoh. 14 Then Joseph sent word and invited Jacob his father and all his relatives to come to him, seventy-five persons in all. 15 And Jacob went down to Egypt and there he and our fathers died. 16 And from there they were removed to Shechem and placed in the tomb which Abraham had purchased for a sum of money from the sons of Hamor in Shechem. 17 “But as the time of the promise was drawing near which God had assured to Abraham, the people increased and multiplied in Egypt, 18 until ANOTHER KING AROSE OVER EGYPT WHO DID NOT KNOW ABOUT JOSEPH. 19 It was he who deceitfully took advantage of our family and mistreated our fathers to set their infants outside so that they would not survive. 20 It was at this time that Moses was born, and he was lovely in the sight of God, and he was nurtured three months in his father’s home. 21 And after he had been set outside, Pharaoh’s daughter took him away and nurtured him as her own son. 22 And Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was powerful in words and deeds. 23 But when he was approaching the age of forty, it entered his heart to visit his brothers, the sons of Israel. 24 And when he saw one of them being treated unjustly, he defended him and took justice for the oppressed by striking down the Egyptian. 25 And he supposed that his brothers understood that God was granting them salvation through him, but they did not understand. 26 On the following day he appeared to them as they were fighting together, and he tried to reconcile them in peace, saying, ‘Men, you are brothers, why are you treating one another unjustly?’ 27 But the one who was treating his neighbor unjustly pushed him away, saying, ‘WHO MADE YOU A RULER AND JUDGE OVER US? 28 DO YOU INTEND TO KILL ME AS YOU KILLED THE EGYPTIAN YESTERDAY?’ 29 At this remark, MOSES FLED AND BECAME A SOJOURNER IN THE LAND OF MIDIAN, where he was the father of two sons. 30 “And after forty years had passed, AN ANGEL APPEARED TO HIM IN THE WILDERNESS OF MOUNT Sinai, IN THE FLAME OF A BURNING BUSH. 31 When Moses saw it, he was marveling at the sight; and as he approached to look more closely, there came the voice of the Lord: 32 ‘I AM THE GOD OF YOUR FATHERS, THE GOD OF ABRAHAM AND ISAAC AND JACOB.’ Moses trembled with fear and would not dare to look. 33 BUT THE LORD SAID TO HIM, ‘REMOVE THE SANDALS FROM YOUR FEET, FOR THE PLACE ON WHICH YOU ARE STANDING IS HOLY GROUND. 34 I HAVE SURELY SEEN THE OPPRESSION OF MY PEOPLE IN EGYPT AND HAVE HEARD THEIR GROANS, AND I HAVE COME DOWN TO DELIVER THEM; COME NOW, AND I WILL SEND YOU TO EGYPT.’ 35 “This Moses whom they disowned, saying, ‘WHO MADE YOU A RULER AND A JUDGE?’ is the one whom God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer with the help of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 This man led them out, doing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. 37 This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, ‘GOD WILL RAISE UP FOR YOU A PROPHET LIKE ME FROM YOUR BROTHERS.’ 38 This is the one who, in the congregation in the wilderness, was with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai and with our fathers; the one who received living oracles to pass on to you. 39 Our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him, but rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt, 40 SAYING TO AARON, ‘MAKE FOR US GODS WHO WILL GO BEFORE US; FOR THIS MOSES WHO LED US OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT—WE DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAS BECOME OF HIM.’ 41 At that time they made a calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. 42 But God turned away and delivered them up to serve the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, ‘DID YOU PRESENT ME WITH SLAIN BEASTS AND SACRIFICES FORTY YEARS IN THE WILDERNESS, O HOUSE OF ISRAEL? 43 YOU ALSO TOOK ALONG THE TABERNACLE OF MOLOCH AND THE STAR OF THE GOD ROMPHA, THE IMAGES WHICH YOU MADE TO WORSHIP. I ALSO WILL REMOVE YOU BEYOND BABYLON.’ 44 “Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as He, who spoke to Moses, directed him to make it according to the pattern which he had seen. 45 And having received it in their turn, our fathers brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations whom God drove out before our fathers, until the time of David. 46 David found favor in the sight of God, and asked that he might find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob. 47 But Solomon built a house for Him. 48 However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands, as the prophet says: 49 ‘HEAVEN IS MY THRONE, AND EARTH IS THE FOOTSTOOL OF MY FEET. WHAT KIND OF HOUSE WILL YOU BUILD FOR ME?’ says the Lord, ‘OR WHAT PLACE IS THERE FOR MY REST? 50 WAS IT NOT MY HAND WHICH MADE ALL THESE THINGS?’ 51 “You men—stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears—are always resisting the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52 And which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; 53 you who received the Law as ordained by angels, and yet did not observe it.” Stephen Is Stoned to Death 54 Now when they heard this, they became furious in their hearts, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. 55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; 56 and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But crying out with a loud voice, they covered their ears and rushed at him with one accord. 58 And when they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 They went on stoning Stephen as he was calling out and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 60 Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” And having said this, he fell asleep. Saul Persecutes the Church 1 Now Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 And some devout men buried Stephen and made loud lamentation over him. 3 But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he was delivering them into prison.
Hebrews 8:1 – 10:25 (LSB Strong’s) Jesus, High Priest of a New Covenant 1 Now the main point in what is being said is this: we have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, 2 a minister in the holy places and in the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, not man. 3 For every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices; so it is necessary that this high priest also have something to offer. 4 Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law; 5 who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “SEE,” He says, “THAT YOU MAKE all things ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN.” 6 But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises. 7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second. 8 For finding fault with them, He says, “BEHOLD, DAYS ARE COMING, SAYS THE LORD, WHEN I WILL COMPLETE A NEW COVENANT WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND WITH THE HOUSE OF JUDAH; 9 NOT LIKE THE COVENANT WHICH I MADE WITH THEIR FATHERS IN THE DAY WHEN I TOOK THEM BY THE HAND TO LEAD THEM OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT; FOR THEY DID NOT CONTINUE IN MY COVENANT, AND I DID NOT CARE FOR THEM, SAYS THE LORD. 10 FOR THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS INTO THEIR MINDS, AND UPON THEIR HEARTS I WILL WRITE THEM. AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. 11 AND THEY SHALL NOT TEACH EVERYONE HIS FELLOW CITIZEN, AND EVERYONE HIS BROTHER, SAYING, ‘KNOW THE LORD,’ FOR ALL WILL KNOW ME, FROM THE LEAST TO THE GREATEST OF THEM. 12 FOR I WILL BE MERCIFUL TO THEIR INIQUITIES, AND I WILL REMEMBER THEIR SINS NO MORE.” 13 When He said, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear. The Old Covenant 1 Now even the first covenant had requirements of divine worship and the earthly sanctuary. 2 For there was a tabernacle prepared: the first part, in which were the lampstand and the table and the sacred bread, which is called the holy place. 3 And behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Holy of Holies, 4 having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, and Aaron’s rod which budded, and the tablets of the covenant. 5 And above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. 6 Now when these things have been so prepared, the priests are continually entering the first part of the tabernacle performing the divine worship, 7 but into the second, only the high priest enters once a year, not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance. 8 The Holy Spirit is indicating this, that the way into the holy places has not yet been manifested while that first part of the tabernacle is still standing, 9 which is a symbol for the present time. Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, 10 since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, requirements for the body imposed until a time of reformation. The New Covenant 11 But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation, 12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy places once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? 15 And for this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, so that, since a death has taken place for the redemption of the trespasses that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. 16 For where a covenant is, there must of necessity be the death of the one who made it. 17 For a covenant is valid only when men are dead, for it is never in force while the one who made it lives. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment had been spoken by Moses to all the people according to the Law, he took the blood of the calves and the goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “THIS IS THE BLOOD OF THE COVENANT WHICH GOD COMMANDED YOU.” 21 And in the same way, both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry he sprinkled with the blood. 22 And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. 23 Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ did not enter holy places made with hands, mere copies of the true ones, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; 25 nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy places year by year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. 27 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, 28 so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him. Christ’s Sacrifice Once for All 1 For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. 2 Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have consciousness of sins? 3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says, “SACRIFICE AND OFFERING YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, BUT A BODY YOU HAVE PREPARED FOR ME; 6 IN BURNT OFFERINGS AND sacrifices FOR SIN YOU HAVE TAKEN NO PLEASURE. 7 THEN I SAID, ‘BEHOLD, I HAVE COME, IN THE SCROLL OF THE BOOK IT IS WRITTEN OF ME, TO DO YOUR WILL, O GOD.’” 8 After saying above, “SACRIFICES AND OFFERINGS AND BURNT OFFERINGS AND sacrifices FOR SIN YOU HAVE NOT DESIRED, NOR HAVE YOU TAKEN PLEASURE in them” (which are offered according to the Law), 9 then He said, “BEHOLD, I HAVE COME TO DO YOUR WILL.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. 10 By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; 12 but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, 13 waiting from that time UNTIL HIS ENEMIES ARE PUT AS A FOOTSTOOL FOR HIS FEET. 14 For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. 15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us, for after saying, 16 “THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD: I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART, AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,” He then says, 17 “AND THEIR SINS AND THEIR LAWLESS DEEDS I WILL REMEMBER NO MORE.” 18 Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin. A New and Living Way 19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Here is a copy of an e-mail I sent to some coworkers, and friends who are Christian. Maybe it will help you.
As many of you already know, the death rate is far lower than originally projected. Many of us know someone, or know of someone who has died of the virus. Several of us have had the virus. I want to give you a little ray of sunshine. If you look at the numbers as of today, 10,513,068 people in America have tested positive since they started keeping track almost a year ago. This is not the number of active cases, even though that is how it seems to be presented by the media. The total number of deaths in America has been listed as 242,527. We know that this number has been inflated, and is actually lower. How much lower, I do not know. To give the doom, and gloom squad the benefit of the doubt, we’ll use that number. The next number we will look at is the number of Americans who have recovered from the virus. As we know, this number is dramatically under-reported by the media. In reality, you either recover, or die within a month. So it is obvious they have not kept pace with all the recoveries. For some reason they don’t track, or report accurately on the number of recovered cases. Perhaps it would seem to lead to a different narrative than the one we are being presented?
In my house, when I had the virus, I was the only one tested. After I came down with it, I promptly infected everyone else. My wife, 32 year old son, and 20 year old daughter all caught it. Since they weren’t tested, their numbers didn’t get recorded, or added to the total number of confirmed cases. The clinic would not test them. They told them to stay home and quarantine. I understand that this is pretty typical. Also, around 50% of the people are asymptomatic. If you take these factors into consideration, the real number of people who had the virus is more likely 3 times the official amount, and the government knows it. That would be approximately 31,539,204 people who have had the virus. If we divide the number of people who have died, by the number of people who have had the virus, we get .76% mortality rate. In other words, 99.24% of all people, in all age groups, with all kinds of diseases, and pre-existing conditions survive the virus. Tell me again why we are going through all of this? Why are we shutting down jobs, and families? Why are we wearing useless masks? Don’t get me started on masks. Have you seen what kind of gear they wear in labs that work on viruses?
Don’t let your emotions, and fear take over. Trust God. Even during the bubonic plague when mortality rates were around 50% Christians still went into sick homes, and ministered to dying people. This virus is not the same, but Christians should have the same message. God is sovereign. He is in control. Even this is in His will. We all are guilty sinners, and deserve suffering, death, and hell. If He has determined to bring me home by catching a virus, so be it. It doesn’t change the fact that people need to hear the gospel. They need to be warned, they are sinners, just like you and I. We will stand before God on judgment day. We will have no excuse for our sins. We must repent, and trust the justifying work of Jesus, His life, death, and resurrection. Be found in Christ on the day of your judgment, and live with Him in glory. Don’t fear the virus, fear God, and live!
“The way to Heaven is ascending; we must be content to travel uphill, though it be hard and tiresome, and contrary to the natural bias of our flesh.” ― Jonathan Edwards
Snyder's Soapbox 