"A CHANCE" OR THE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE?"

As we grow older we should always be learning, especially in regards to our understanding of the Word of God. I have for years spoken of and written about ‘The Scheme of Redemption”. A friend of mine and brother in Christ who has traveled to three different continents mentioned to me that in other cultures the word ‘scheme’ carries the meaning of trying to defraud or cheat someone. So I have begun to speak or write of the eternal purpose or plan of God to redeem mankind from sin. First of all, I would like to emphasize the reason Jesus Christ shed his precious blood and died on the cross as mentioned in the following scriptures. Matthew 26:26-28: “And when He had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.” Ephesians 1:7: In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace…”. 1 Corinthians 15:3: “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures…” And being a child of God and a member of the body (church) of the Lord and living a life of faithfulness (not perfection as one might understand), we possess the promise that is found in 2 Peter 1:11, “For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” The word ‘chance’ carries a meaning of “a possibility of something happening; “the occurrence and development of events in the absence of any obvious design.” Thus, the word chance carries the idea that it might happen rather than the certainty of what is promised as found in the Word of God. The biblical meaning of the word ‘hope’ is “a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.” “The Greek word for "hope" in the Bible is "elpis," which is often used to convey the idea of confident expectation and anticipation. It is used in various passages in the New Testament to describe the hope that believers have in God's promises and in the future.” In fact, the word hope is mentioned 50 times in the New Testament. Here are just a few passages that mention the hope we have in Jesus Christ: "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit"(Romans 13:15); “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:3-5); “Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior” (Titus 1:1-3); “For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it” (Romans 8:24,25). There is no uncertainty in the hope that is found in the word of God. It is not a matter of ‘chance’ but a promise from God who cannot lie (Hebrews 6:18). Many who have a desire to be saved eternally cannot really expect it because they have not had their sins washed away by the blood of Jesus Christ (Acts 22:16; Ephesians 1:7). Believers in Jesus Christ should obey the commands given in the Word of God in order to receive remission of sins and to have the hope of eternal life when we come to the end of our days on this earth (Acts 17:30, Acts 2:37,38,41,47).

TAKE TIME TO THANK GOD

To me, the national holiday of Thanksgiving is my favorite. While we are to be thankful each day for the bountiful blessings that flow from the hand of our gracious God, this day is set aside as a time for the entire nation to express its gratitude and to enjoy the fellowship with family and friends. David wrote long ago, “Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving…” (Psalms 95:2). “Enter into his presence with thanksgiving…” (Psalms 100:4). “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving” (Psalms 69:30). The apostle Paul said “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you ” (I Thessalonians 5:18). Again, Paul wrote, “In nothing be anxious, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known unto God'' (Philippians 4:6) We must accept by faith that “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (James 1:17). My friends, it is impossible to “count your blessings, name them one by one” because they are innumerable. Thanksgiving will produce ‘thanksliving’. It is only when we live by faith in God and in His Son Jesus Christ that we can say as Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:3, “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.” The faith that saves is the faith that obeys (Hebrews 5:8; Galatians 3:26,27). When our hearts are ‘overflowing with thanksgiving’, we cannot help but to - “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below; Praise Him above, ye heav’nly hosts; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!”

WHERE DO SINS GO WHEN THEY ARE FORGIVEN?

Where do our sins go when they are forgiven? That too is a most difficult question. However the word of God does offer us some understanding on this subject. Take for instance the passage found in Micah 7:19: “He will again have compassion upon us: he will tread our iniquities under foot; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” Sin in this verse is regarded as a personal enemy which by God’s sovereign grace will be entirely subdued. As God destroyed Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea, so shall he cast our sins into the depths of the sea of forgiveness and forgetfulness (Exodus 15:4, 10). If you will observe, the Lord will cast our sins into the “depths of the sea,” and not near the shore where they can be washed back again. In Psalms 103:12, we learn, “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” In reference to the new covenant that God would make with Israel and Judah, the promise was made: “For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no more” (Jeremiah 31:31-34: Hebrews 8:12; 10:17). Thus we learn that the Infinite Intelligence possesses the attribute of forgetting sins that are forgiven. To some degree we understand how this is possible. Loving parents have often forgotten as well as forgiven the mistakes and sins committed by their children. In perfection, our Heavenly Father forgives and forgets the sins of His penitent children (I John 1:7, 9). My friends, if you have not had your sins blotted out by the blood of Christ, please, as a penitent believer, be immersed in His name in order to obtain His divine forgiveness (Acts 3:19; 2:38). And God who forgives will also in His mercy forget your transgressions.

GODLY FATHERS

GODLY FATHERS Raymond Elliott One of life’s greatest blessings and challenges for a man is fatherhood. This relationship involves the greatest joys and demands the best one has to give and often will include many sorrows. A godly father loves his wife and is loyal to his marital vows (Ephesians 5:25). He desires the best for his children. A father is industrious. He labors to provide for his family and the needs of others who lack the material things of life (I Timothy 5:8; Ephesians 4:28). The greatest contribution a father can make to his family is leadership in spiritual matters. In every age, the head of the family has been required of God to provide the proper direction regarding religious training. Modern fathers are most likely to leave this responsibility to the wife and mother. However, Paul exhorted: “And you fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but nurture them in the chastening and admonition of the Lord’ (Ephesians 6:4). It is a tremendous requirement to make sure one’s children are taught of God but the rewards are everlasting. A Christian father may not be able to give very much materially to his children but the legacy of having a father who loved his family and the Lord, surpasses everything else. The greatest inheritance a Christian father can leave is one that is rich in faith in God and the Lord Jesus Christ. We should never underestimate the love that a father possesses in his heart for his children. His emotions may not be as noticeable as the mother; yet, the feelings are just as deep. Most fathers would give their lives on behalf of their families. Their hearts are filled with deep gratitude when they witness their children succeeding in life. The Christian father rejoices greatly when his children obey the gospel of Jesus Christ. My father will be remembered for being a fine Christian gentleman. Also, the legacy of having a good name has meant more to me than all the riches of this world. It was the wise man of old who wrote: “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold” (Proverbs 22:1); and, “A good name is better than precious ointment…” (Ecclesiastes 7:1). Godly fathers are rare in this modern society. But, we should always be thankful for the ones who are. Truly, you are blessed indeed if you have/had a Christian father who placed Christ first in his life. His influence in your life and even in the lives of his grandchildren will be felt for many years to come. Say, have you hugged your father recently? Fathers Are Wonderful People By Helen Steiner Rice Fathers are wonderful people Too little understood, And we do not sing their praises As often as we should... For, somehow, Father seems to be The man who pays the bills, While Mother binds up little hurts And nurses all our ills...