Although we may not fully understand the specifics of what is ahead of us when it comes to heaven and eternity in general, sometimes it's interesting to wonder out loud and talk about it. However, at times, we might discuss such things almost in the form of a fairy tale, myth, or fable. It's understandable because we're living in our current reality of what we know while trying to imagine something we're unfamiliar with ... something that may be more real than the world in which we now live. (What is physically seen was created from that which is not seen).
In our current state, it's not unusual to see a type of "celebrity status" being given to the people we read about in the Bible. In some religious circles, it may even be an unhealthy, worship-like obsession. Of course, it's natural for us in the here-and-now to wish we could have a conversation with some of these people. After all, we have a lot of questions and much curiosity about things that may be difficult for us to understand. So we might begin to think we'll look forward to the day when we can ask some of those same questions to individuals we now consider spiritually famous.
Let's dive into this swimming pool with no water ?? and speculate as to whether this is likely to occur and if it will even be a desire once we arrive at our destination.
When we started back in the year 2005, it wasn't exactly the long-term plan to have our 20th anniversary land on our 1000th podcast. In fact, when someone invited us to participate in a new launch of an "Internet Radio" channel, we had no idea if we would do a few programs or if it would go a while longer. But here we are. We just couldn't stop yapping about the good news of grace that has been vastly overlooked in so many popular corners of corporate Christianity and the religious educational institutions who have influenced them.
We hope you'll take a listen as we reflect on the unlikely partnership between two regular guys whose paths crossed in a radio station studio in 1994 and grew into a what would become a seemingly supernatural like-mindedness when it comes to the gospel of grace ... while attracting many thousands of listeners from around the world who have desired to hear such a message of love, assurance, forgiveness, and peace.
The takeaway from this week's program will hopefully bring confidence that God is orchestrating so many things through you—things that you may come to realize at times ... but often will never know in this life. Trust Him to live through you in both the biggest and smallest of ways that will have a significant impact on many you will never meet.
Thank you for your encouragement through the years and for sharing the podcast with someone you know. Your "word of mouth" has resulted in bringing something very special to many hurting people.
The Apostle Paul could have competed with anyone in the boasting department when considering his background as a Jewish person who was born under the law. He was dedicated to it—even to the point of persecuting and executing Jews who believed in Jesus.
But he counted it all as loss and rubbish after gaining Christ, not having his own righteousness through dead works but attaining God's righteousness by faith in Christ. Again—faith ... not works. This led him to a special place and heartfelt desire to know Jesus Christ and the power of His resurrection.
What does this look like? How can it happen for us? Is the focus based on proper Bible teaching and interpretation? Sound doctrine? Depending on the correct belief system which may change and evolve? Our program this week is meant to bring a reminder and encouragement that God lives in us and His Holy Spirit is very real. Sadly, He is sometimes forgotten to a degree and even considered a thing of the past—even by those who consider themselves ministers of the gospel ... which is not contained within pages containing words and letters ... but is found within a Person who is very much alive.
Paul told the Philippians that if anyone had reason to have confidence in the flesh based on commitment and dedication through various experiences and working diligently ... it would be him. But in spite of Paul's ability to boast—if he had chosen to do so—he counted it all as rubbish so that he may gain Christ. To gain Christ would be to attain righteousness ... not through the law or by his works ... but by faith in Jesus Christ so that he could know Him and the power of His resurrection. Nothing else mattered.
And yet there were Jewish brethren who would eventually try to convince Paul to go back to the zealousness he once had for the law prior to his conversion ... and to proclaim a testimony publicly in front of other believing Jews that his rumored teachings were untrue and that he also was one who seeks to observe and keep the law of Moses.
Anyone can read the pages of the Bible repeatedly and still miss many themes and chunks of valuable information. One of these subjects which is found threaded throughout, especially in the New Testament, is the matter of two groups of people—those who are Jewish and those who are not ... referred to as Gentiles. Although Jesus came to minister primarily to Jews under the Mosaic law during His time on earth, He would drop some hints that salvation would not be limited to the people of Israel. Of course, the book of Acts and epistles that followed revealed even more about this within the message of the gospel.
One example is the parable known as the prodigal or the prodigal son. Just who was this guy? He was left for dead and came seeking life without needing to lift a finger to do anything to earn it ... even though he felt obligated to do so. And then there is the older brother who worked so faithfully and diligently, declaring he never neglected a command while refusing the Father's invitation to a celebration. How offensive that the younger brother be treated as an equal!
In the previous chapters leading up to this parable, Jesus alluded to some things about Jews rejecting the Messiah, turning down an invitation to an eternal fellowship with free food, and then ordering that the unwanted and ignored from the city be invited. But that wasn't all ... the invitation would also extend to those far off, beyond the highways and the hedges. The hedges? The prodigal was described as being far off. All of this is carefully planted evidence, providing us with exciting answers from Ephesians chapter 2 ... and it's worth celebrating.
As we read the pages of the Bible, it can be a very difficult thing to put ourselves in the shoes of the people living during the time of Jesus and those first decades after the cross. But becoming more aware of the historical aspects of that time as it relates to the gospel message may help us to understand some of the writings better. Otherwise, we may skim past significant information that has relevance for us today.
For example, Jewish people who had been working for generations under the burden of the Mosaic law and were coming to believe in Jesus ... might have struggled greatly with Gentiles (non-Jews) receiving the same Spirit of God by believing in Christ. After all, Gentiles had been viewed as outsiders, sinners, and unclean, and had no part of their previous covenant as the Jewish people who were considered exclusively set apart as God's people. It caused some division even among apostles and their companions, and would impact how the gospel would be spread and shared.
In the second chapter of Ephesians, Paul is explaining how salvation arrives for all people (Jew and Gentile) by grace through faith as a gift ... and not of works by which people can boast. As one who has been created in Christ as His workmanship—created not to do good works but for good works that we should walk in, we come to a place of humility as we realize we aren't blessed in our doing but rather by Him working through us. The gift of His righteousness to us is based on work that He did to make it happen. Regardless of what we do or don't do, we are His workmanship, and you are a unique masterpiece.
The legalistic side of the fence will surely tout grace to a point, but will somehow still gravitate back to what one must do to either be saved, to maintain salvation, or to manifest good works as some type of evidence that their faith is "genuine" and not phony or dead. Paul would go on to explain why it was necessary for works to be off of the table when it comes to faith that saves ... and it all has to do with Jews and Gentiles coming together as one in Christ Jesus.
