Romans 2 is a wonderful chapter that contrasts with Paul’s description of unrighteous men. He articulates all the sins and ungodly behavior or those who do not honor God (Romans 1:21). Then, in Romans 2, Paul explains that we have no excuse. Every sin has been clearly laid out as detestable and worthy of God’s judgment. Every sin is we, His creation, missing the mark of what God wants for us. Sin feeds on sin to capture mankind and keep him separated from God. What strikes me, is Paul particularly calls out those of us who judge (Romans 2:1). We condemn ourselves when we pass judgment on those who commit the very sins that we commit.

First, Paul attacks one reason why we may do this. Do we suppose that when we judge others for the same sins that we commit, that we will escape God’s judgment (Romans 2:3)? If we accuse another of lust while lusting ourselves, that somehow God will not notice that same sin in ourselves? Maybe, as Paul suggests, there’s another justification. Perhaps, we presume on God’s kindness and forbearance? We are counting on God’s deep well of patience with us that he will just keep that patience flowing no matter what we do and no matter how long we do it (Romans 2:4). Paul explains that God’s patience and kindness to us is meant to turn us to repentance. Repentance means that we turn away from the sin we submitted to and walk away from it. Our God is not going to spring judgment on us at the first moment of weakness that we show. No, he is patient so that we can repent and change our path.

I’m struck when I think about this hitting me in my life. I have no excuse because I know what I’ve done and how my deeds are sinful. I have repented of those sins and continue to repent but I sometimes find myself right back in that same sin again; having to repeat the cycle. However, when I see another committing a sin that I’ve chosen to forget in my own life, I can be so indignant. My attitude has been critical and judgmental of another because I so clearly see their sin but forget that I have done the same, maybe worse. It takes a Godly relationship in my wife to remind me, “Don’t you know that you did the same thing? Don’t you remember?”

I am crushed. That is the hand of God touching me and reminding me of where I come from so I can be a better Christian to those around me. That is my Nathan (2 Sam 12:1-7a) moment. It is so easy to be self-righteous. Just like David, I need to have Godly people in my life reminding me that I am nothing without Jesus and His Holy Spirit in me. Even Jesus asked the question “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” (Mark 10:18). If Jesus said that, who am I to make any claim to be good?

Unfortunately, all too often, teachings stop here. We learn how weak, wrong, and reckless we are without seeing the other side of the coin. Sure, that is all true but don’t forget who we are IN CHRIST; those who have accepted Jesus as their savior and who give Him Lordship over their lives (from: https://onlyjesusministry.com/who-we-are-and-what-we-have-in-christ/):

• You are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)
• You are complete in Him (Ephesians 2:5)
• You are God’s masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10)
• You are a child of God (1 John 3:1, John 1:12)
• You are righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 5:19)
• You are dearly loved by God (Colossians 3:12, 1 John 3:1)
• You are forgiven of all your sins (Eph 1:7, Col 2:13, 1 John 1:7)
• You are accepted in Him (Ephesians 1:6)
• You are redeemed from the curse of the law (Gal 3:13-14)
• You are blessed (Galatians 3:9, Ephesians 1:3)
• You are chosen (1 Thessalonians 1:4, Ephesians 1:4)
• You are called (2 Timothy 1:9)
• You are more than a conquerer (Rom 8:37)
• You are the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19)
• You are sanctified (1 Corinthians 1:2)
• You are being changed into His image (2 Corinthians 3:18)
• You are set free (John 8:31)
• You are healed by His wounds (1 Peter 2:24)
• You are free from condemnation (Romans 8:1)
• You are a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20)
• You are free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2)
• You are an ambassador for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20)
• You are reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:18, Romans 5:10)
• You are joint-heirs with Christ (Rom 8:17)
• You are under grace (Rom 6:15)
• You are dead to sin (Rom 6:2)
• You are alive with Christ (Eph 2:5)
• You are a slave to righteousness (Romans 6:18)
• You are seated with Christ (Eph 2:6)
• You are the light (Ephesians 5:8, Matthew 5:14)
• You are the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13)
• You are one with Christ (John 17:21, 1 John 4:17)
• You are strong in the Lord (Ephesians 6:10)
• You are strengthened with all power (Colossians 1:11)
• You can do all things (Philippians 4:13)
• You are victorious (Revelation 12:11)
• You are enriched in everyway (1 Corinthians 1:5)
• You are never alone (Heb 13:5)
• You are owned by God (1 Cor 6:20)
• You are zealous for good works (Titus 2:14)
• You are priests and kings (1 Peter 2:9, Revelation 1:6)
• You are sealed by the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13)
• You are under God’s training and loving discipline (Hebrews 12:4-13, Titus 2:11-12)
• You are God’s possession (Ephesians 1:14)
• You are bought with a high price and the precious blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:20, 1 Peter 1:19)

Over the last few months, I’ve seen various social media comments that state something like this:

America has lost it’s mind because:

• People who say there’s no such thing as gender are demanding a female President
• Boys can compete with girls and win as long as they think they are girls
• Universities that advocate equality discriminate against Asian Americans in favor of African Americans
• Criminals are caught and released but stopping them while robbing stores is bad because it’s a violation of their rights
• One president demanded and got quid pro quo from Ukraine while another who suggests it is impeached
• Immigrants with TB and polio are welcome but Americans have to prove they are vaccinated from COVID-19 to keep their jobs
• Five billion dollars for border security is too expensive but one and a half trillion for free healthcare is not
• If you cheat to get your kid into college you go to prison, but if you cheat to get into the country you go to college for free

While we may debate some of these points, I think it is fair to say that our American liberal culture does seem to have lost its collective mind. What does the Bible have to say about this?

I think Paul addresses this in Romans 1:16-22a. He explained that believers in Jesus have the righteousness of God; revealing truth. Unfortunately, those whose ungodliness produces unrighteousness ultimately suppress truth. They are under the wrath of God. Without accepting Jesus, they are subject to their own artificially created righteousness which leads to depravity, sin and foolishness. Those who reject God and continue to reject Him, He gives over to their own lusts, impurity, dishonor. This is where Paul gets into the detail of the fruits of unrighteousness including sexual immorality of women with women and men with men (Romans 1:26-27). God also left them to exist with a “debased mind” so they would do whatever should not be done including evil, covetousness, malice, gossip, slander, hating God, insolence, pridefulness, boastfulness, inventors of evil, disobedience to parents, foolishness, faithlessness, heartlessness and ruthlessness. Most relevant to what we see now, Paul describes that, even though they know the fruits of this behavior is death, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them (Romans 1:28-32). One simple example of this is PRIDE month; celebrating and honoring the debasement of men, women and children.

This behavior is not unique to our country today, but was also symptomatic of Christians during Paul’s time who lost their way and rejected God. Even though Paul is describing the God-rejecting people of his time, it sounds like he is giving a sermon about today. There’s nothing new to see here but something we must learn about from history. We must not reject God and his son Jesus Christ or just look around to see the consequences.

So what should we learn from this? I learn that I should not look to this world for hope. There are wonderful, righteous Christians around me and I am grateful to God for them, but I cannot expect the worldly systems to change unless they accept Jesus. I tend to get angry or overwhelmingly sad when I see such injustice and foolishness from the media, political leaders, Olympics, even some Church leaders. Anger won’t help. My job is to help them to see Jesus as their only hope. No laws, policies, or regulations will help. The only solution is for them to turn to God and our savior Jesus Christ, repent from their sin and seek His face. “If my people who are called by my name humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14). That is a promise from God that will only come when WE (believers in God; not the unbelievers) call on Him, humble ourselves, pray and seek His face. He won’t respond with healing the land when we vote, boycott, protest, yell, get angry. No! He promises to respond when we humble ourselves and pray to Him.

That helps me SO MUCH. I pray it helps you, too.

As federal election season comes to the United States, I ponder what Jesus taught us about our responsibility and engagement in politics. I feel drawn to state my opinion about political candidates in order to share what I believe are Christian tenants that should drive election choices. I thank God that we have the privilege to vote for our preferred candidates in the United States and that we still have freedoms to enjoy and exercise in our country. However, I am also called to model my life after my Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, so here it goes.

During Jesus time on earth, Rome, a pagan country occupied Jerusalem. Consequently, Jews didn’t live under the Laws from Leviticus and Deuteronomy but rather under Roman law. Many Jews thought a Messiah would save them from foreign occupation and become a king for their land.

As Roman citizens, Jews were under excessive Roman taxation. The tax collectors or publicans were Jews who bought the right from Rome to collect Roman taxes. In fact, Matthew was a publican. These tax collectors earned their living by taxing Jews above the Roman tax rate and pocketing the difference (Luke 3:12-13) (Luke 19:1-10). Jews hated paying taxes to the Roman government but that was the law of the occupying power. So, as a Jew in the politically pagan non-Jewish government of Rome, should Jews pay taxes to a government that oppressed them?

When the Heridonians (those Jews who were in favor of Herod and the Roman Empire rule over Israel) and the Pharisees (those Jewish leaders over the religious lives of the Jews) asked Jesus if he agreed with Roman taxation of the Jews, they were trying to trap him (Mark 12:13-14). If Jesus said no, don’t pay taxes, then he was defying Roman law and the Herodians would go to Caesar and complain about his illegal behavior. If he said yes, then he was against the Pharisees and the Jewish religious leadership. They thought he couldn’t win. Instead, Jesus said “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” (Mark 12:17).

Jesus clearly answered their question by giving authority to Caesar and to God. It is God who removes kings and establishes kings (Dan 2:21). Since God establishes kings, then we are to respect and be obedient to them. He uses all the world for his good purpose. In fact, God has even used evil nations to reprove his own people (Habakkuk 1:5-6).

Consider what the Bible teaches where followers should draw the line. It teaches that where the laws of men defy God’s laws and Jesus instructions (Acts 5:27-29), follow God. Not just in the New Testament but also in the Old. Babylon besieged and took over Jerusalem. The Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar ordered to capture members of the royal family and bring them into Babylon in order to indoctrinate them for three years (Daniel 1:3-4). Notable among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah (Daniel 1:6-7) who were given new Babylonia names, the first step to make them into Babylonian leaders. Although they were Jews, they were respectful of their occupying leadership but drew a bright line in their obedience when the Babylonian king issued orders that were against God’s laws.

• They didn’t eat ceremonially unclean foods (Daniel 1:8-16) because of Lev 3:17, Lev 11:41-42, Deut 14:21, Lev 11:3
• They did not worship the golden image of king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon (Daniel 3:10-12) because of Exodus 20:4-6
• Daniel would not stop praying (Daniel 6:12-13) because of Jeremiah 29:12, Prov 15:8, Psalms 16:6, Psalms 142:2, Psalms 102:17

Ultimately, Paul describes a Christian’s responsibility to the government in Romans 13:1-7. That we are to acknowledge that governments authorities are put in place by God, who is over all things. Since the governing authorities are put in place by God, they are to be obeyed, no matter what they may establish. This is a hard word but know that, according to Daniel, this does not give government laws superior authority over God’s laws. However, we are to acknowledge the sovereignty of God and that He raises up and brings down kings according to His plans.

In early 2021, the Biden administration passed a 1.9T “American Rescue Plan” meant to ease the impact of COVID-related shutdowns. Then, on November 5, 2021, they passed a 1.2T “infrastructure spending bill” that the Democrats heralded as a key part of their “Build Back Better Plan“. This bill was 1.75T less than they originally wanted but was a compromise result of 13 House Republicans voting for the plan.

After this unprecedented spending spree, the inflation rate rose from its .7 – 2.4% range between 2012 and 2020 to 7% in 2021 and 7.5% so far in 2022. When the 2021 numbers came out, after Biden’s first year in office, the administration was quick to suggest it was transitory and only recently admitted that transitory probably wasn’t the right term to use. This admission started to reveal that the administration really had no handle on what to do about inflation since the government has begun spending recklessly.

One key contributor to this inflation is energy prices. For the first time since at least 1949, the US became a net oil exporter in 2020. Just after taking office, Biden withdrew permits for the Keystone Pipeline that would have provided high quality crude oil to the US. Biden also closed federal lands to oil exploration and increased the “social cost of carbon” to make using federal land for oil and gas drilling too costly. Then, after US District Judge James Cain of the Western District of Louisiana issued an injunction against using that “tax”, Biden issued an order to pause new federal land leases for oil and gas drilling; bypassing the judges’ ruling. The Biden administration has aggressively made the US more energy dependent on foreign sources (namely Russia) in the name of controlling climate change.

Now, after Putin invaded the Ukraine, this US energy policy is clearly even more unwise. In an address before the Bundestag (the German Parliament) the German prime minister Chancellor Olaf Scholz, announced a complete turn-about in military and energy policy. The energy policy will strive to be more independent by sustaining nuclear and coal power plants indefinitely and working to increase renewables. Former German Chancellor Angela Markel’s legacy left Germany dependent on Russia for 60% of their natural gas, 50% for their coal, and 35% for for oil while also attempting to foster renewable energy sources. She also worked to approve the NordStream pipeline that would have doubled the Russian dependency on natural gas. Former President Trump hailed it a mistake and imposed sanctions on the NordStream pipeline. However, President BIden immediately supported it by removing all sanctions after taking office.

However, US policy isn’t changing at all. In fact, sanctions against Putin include removing Russian banks from the SWIFT bank electronic exchange network except for Russian banks associated with oil and gas financial transactions (the prime revenue source to fund Russia’s war machine). Additionally, demonstrating the complete ignorance of current events, John Kerry (Biden’s climate envoy) stated that he hoped, despite the Ukraine invasion and other sanctions, Putin would “stay on track” in the fight against climate change.

Meanwhile, I just read a very prescient comment from a most unlikely source; George Takei (net worth $14M), former Star Trek actor “Sulu”. This comment revealed what I believe to be the key democratic party strategy for the coming mid-year election cycle. Despite the series of policy and economic blunders of this administration that has resulted in inflation at levels not seen since the 1980’s and a reversal of the first time the US has been energy independent since 1949, the message is this: “Americans need to endure higher food and gas prices in order to hurt Putin”. It seems like the Left is creating a focus on the Ukraine invasion at least partly because it will become a rallying cry that distracts from the current administration (and the democratic party in general) utter failure to govern.

My primary objection to gaining medical benefit when I am otherwise completely healthy is that all vaccines available in the US today are developed (during research, production and/or validation) from the cells of aborted children. I believe that all lives matter and those without an ability to defend themselves are the most needing representation. By refusing to take all the current COVID 19 vaccines, I am hoping to encourage the medical industry and big pharma to do better by not choosing to develop medicine based on the cells of children whose mothers chose to kill.

Life begins at conception

The US Federal government health division and the medical industry states that life begins at conception. Since life matters, is precious, and the vulnerable need to be represented, I believe that the harvesting of cell lines from aborted children as ethically and morally bankrupt.

US Federal Health and Human Services states life begins at conception

According to the US Federal Health and Human Services 2018-2022 strategic plan:

HHS is the U.S. Government’s principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves. HHS accomplishes its mission through programs and initiatives that cover a wide spectrum of activities, serving and protecting Americans at every stage of life, from conception

https://www.hhs.gov/about/strategic-plan/introduction/index.html

American College of Pediatricians supports life beginning at conception

Moore’s 1974 edition of a human embryology textbook states that development is a continuous process that begins when an ovum is fertilized by a sperm and ends at death.  It is a process of change and growth that transforms the zygote, a single cell, into a multicellular adult human being. Moore’s 2008 edition emphasizes that development does not end at birth but extends into early adulthood. Professor Emeritus of Human Embryology of the University of Arizona School of Medicine, Dr. C. Ward Kischer, affirms that “Every human embryologist, worldwide, states that the life of the new individual human being begins at fertilization (conception).”  Even authors who philosophically lean towards not attributing the same value to human life at the one-cell stage as they do to later stages of development admit that “As far as human ‘life’ per se, it is, for the most part, uncontroversial among the scientific and philosophical community that life begins at the moment when the genetic information contained in the sperm and ovum combine to form a genetically unique cell.”

https://acpeds.org/position-statements/when-human-life-begins

Biblical Basis for life beginning at conception

My faith holds life as precious. God created all living things and, with that creation, elevated men and women as “in his image” Genesis 1:27. Other passages of scripture point to God’s unique role in creating us and how precious He considers that creation.

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. … Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them”

(Psalm 139:13, 16)

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” 

Jeremiah 1:5 

“your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb.” 

Isaiah 44:24 

Paul states that God “had set [him] apart before [he] was born.”

Galatians 1:15

“The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”

Job 33:4

Given these references, abortion is the taking of a life. However, there is legal dispute as to whether this unborn life is a person. For instance, according to the National Conference of State Legislators:

Currently, at least 38 states have fetal homicide laws: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin. At least 29 states have fetal homicide laws that apply to the earliest stages of pregnancy (“any state of gestation/development,” “conception,” “fertilization” or “post-fertilization”)

https://www.ncsl.org/research/health/fetal-homicide-state-laws.aspx

However, under current US Federal law, a pregnant woman can, with premeditation, kill this life even up to and including the point of viable birth in some states (e.g., New York, Colorado, New Mexico) (see this article)

All current COVID vaccines exploit the abortion of a child for the medical benefit of healthy adults

All versions of currently approved (FDA and Emergency Use) COVID-19 vaccines are developed with the benefit of cell lines derived from aborted babies (some abortions proven to be voluntary).

The Johnson and Johnson Vaccine uses PER C6 cell lines for production and manufacturing phase of their vaccine. The AstraZeneca vaccine also uses aborted fetal cells in development and testing.  Moderna and Pfizer used HEK 293 cell lines for research and validation of their mRNA vaccines. (https://www.nebraskamed.com/COVID/you-asked-we-answered-do-the-covid-19-vaccines-contain-aborted-fetal-cells)

It is against my Christian belief to benefit in any way from the sacrifice of babies, let alone in order for an otherwise healthy adult to reduce the probability of getting sick. All life is precious, particularly the life of those who are innocent and vulnerable. I understand that HEK 293 cells are used quite often in drug development and I believe that to still be an immoral act. I believe that unless people stand for their closely held religious beliefs, the medical industry will not invest in innovation that moves away from this terrible practice of harvesting cells from sacrificed children for financial, personal or social benefit.

But the Pope and Billy Graham say it’s OK…

On August 18th 2021, the Pope called receiving the vaccine an “act of love” while the Archdiocese of New York sent a letter to area priests in which they stated that there was no basis for a religious exemption for the vaccine. When addressing the use of fetal cells in production and research, the Vatican says that the evil associated with abortion is remote so it is allowed. The remoteness of the evil seems to be of some debate since the Johnson and Johnson vaccine uses cells from aborted babies in production while the others use similar aborted baby cell lines in research or validation.

Billy Graham also supports the vaccine saying “I believe it is consistent with scripture that we protect our lives and do whatever we can to save life” and that “Jesus would have made reference to and used” vaccines if they were available during his time.

These are compelling and well thought-out arguments for taking the vaccine from those who are or who are seen as leaders of Christians. However, I have two key issues with these statements:

• The Pope seems to be compromising by creating a theoretical philosophy that suggests that evil isn’t evil as long as you are some conceptual distance from it. I find this very creative but not very compelling.
• Billy Graham suggests that life is precious, which it is, but ignores the fact that these companies have built their highly lucrative drugs on the flesh of aborted innocent babies. I suggest that the baby’s life is also precious and must be protected.

If these people wish to take the vaccine, I have no moral or ethical standing to suggest they should not. I also have no concern for them sharing their personal belief and philosophy. Their statements and comments are worthy of consideration to anyone who believes in Jesus as their Savior.

Nevertheless, they are both created beings doing the best they can to guide and teach on behalf of the creator. I also rely on the Holy Spirit, Scripture, and prayer to guide me. If pastors and church leaders are speaking in ways that I believe are inconsistent with the teachings of the Holy Spirit, Scripture and prayer, their words have no weight for me.

I also don’t expect them to force their decisions on me any more than I would force my decisions on them.

I pray that this humble article serves as insight and information for you as you choose the best way you know how. Please make your decision based on the leading of the Holy Spirit, Scripture and prayer and do not let others pressure you.

Maranatha!

References:

A guide to human fetal cell lines from aborted children used in vaccine development

Fact checking the fact checkers: Yes, New York does allow abortions up to birth

What you need to know about the COVID-19 vaccines

PER C6 & HEK-293

For an excellent summary of the current vaccines and their use of tissue from aborted babies, see this: https://lozierinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/CHART-Analysis-of-COVID-19-Vaccines-02June21.pdf

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/how-cells-taken-decades-old-fetal-tissue-are-used-covid-n1242740

https://www.nebraskamed.com/COVID/you-asked-we-answered-do-the-covid-19-vaccines-contain-aborted-fetal-cells

https://www.health.nd.gov/sites/www/files/documents/COVID%20Vaccine%20Page/COVID-19_Vaccine_Fetal_Cell_Handout.pdf

I have found myself enthralled with the latest unfolding drama in the US since the most recent presidential election. Every day, I read something newly shocking about our federal and local government decisions and choices. Celebrating partial birth abortion laws, celebrating and encouraging sinful behavior, sanctioning and funding terrorism both domestic and foreign are just a few of the most recent shocks. Then, on top of that, we are hearing Christian religious leadership promoting one world religion with statements that all world religions are “Meeting God In Different Ways” and that all people in the various world religions are “Children of God”. Those same leaders are calling Fundamentalism (the belief in absolute truth) a scourge.

Furthermore, our government gives the free, advertising-based services owned by an elite set of young men and women in California the complete authority to arbitrate truth. If you say anything they don’t agree with, you are banned. If you mention the new COVID-19 vaccines in any way that might be interpreted as questioning it or sharing unflattering facts, you are banned. If hate groups post to your prayer page because they hate what you stand for, your prayer page is banned. If you encourage citizens to make their voices heard, you are permanently banned (or for at least 2 years but likely more).

Then, the new race philosophy of “Critical Race Theory”, derived from the Marxist class division philosophy is becoming the new institutional orthodoxy. This anti-white racist philosophy leads people to make surprising choices like the white schoolteacher who decided she was being racist by teaching Spanish to her students and, consequently, canceled herself.

With all this happening, my first reaction is to document and try to make sense of what is going on. I analyze the different sides of the stories, I roll the decisions and data through my brain and come to the conclusion that this is CRAZY! How could all this be happening? How can people, generally rational and intelligent people, come to these conclusions and make these choices?

Today, I was praying about this and felt 2 answers from God. First, I felt he said “It is good you don’t understand these things.” That, to me, meant that I shouldn’t be agreeing with these things but to refuse to accept them. Second, through a study my wife has been doing through Revelation and Daniel, we heard a pastor say “The answer is in Revelation 17:17”.

For God has put it in their hearts to execute His ^[a]purpose ^[b]by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God will be fulfilled.

Revelation 17:17 New American Standard Bible

As I prayed about this today, I realized that one clear explanation for this irrational behavior is that it fits into God’s plan. He is arranging these things to happen before He returns. These things must pass so that people realize that their plans for a utopian society, as a form of salvation, are fruitless and foolish. I realized that I was fighting against God’s plan by trying to document and make sense of all that was going on. We are living in the “End Times” and God is alive and working. I never dreamed that I would be living to see the unfolding events in Revelation; but I think I am. Now, instead of trying desperately to make sense of what is going on around me, I pray that God’s will be done and that He gives me boldness to proclaim the Gospel to those he places in my path. I also pray that this is a comfort to anyone who reads it.

God is on His throne. He is not sleeping or on vacation (1 Kings 18:27) during all this craziness. He is allowing this craziness so people recognize the foolishness of playing God. He is arranging these things to bring about the events found in the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Please read and study Revelation. God gave us this book because he wanted us to recognize the things that were coming so we would not fear but be prepared.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and ^[a]communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, ² who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, everything that he saw. ³ Blessed is the one who reads, and those who hear the words of the prophecy and ^[b]keep the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

Revelation 1:1-3 New American Standard Bible

May Jesus’ peace be in you….

According to https://biblegateway.com, the most popular verses searched over the last few years are: John 3:16 and Jeremiah 29:11.

(Joh 3:16) “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

(Jer 29:11) ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

New American Standard Bible Version

Let’s look closer at John 3:16 by understanding the context of the passage. Before this passage, Jesus was answering a question from Nicodemus, a Pharisee.

Joh 3:1-15 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; (2) this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” (3) Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” (4) Nicodemus *said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” (5) Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (6) “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ (8) “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (9) Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” (10) Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things? (11) “Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony. (12) “If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? (13) “No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. (14) “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; (15) so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.

New American Standard Bible Version

Nicodemus begins with a statement that humbly acknowledges Jesus as coming from God because of the miracles he performs. Jesus explains that no one can see the kingdom of God without being born again. Nicodemus expresses confusion about the concept of being born again so Jesus explains that to understand heaven, one must be born of the Spirit and not of flesh. Without that rebirth, even the most advanced teachers of Israel will not understand his teachings until Jesus is lifted up and becomes the way of salvation for all.

With this backdrop, Jesus then explains God’s plan for salvation.

Joh 3:16-21 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (17) “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. (18) “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (19) “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. (20) “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. (21) “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

New American Standard Bible Version

It is easy to see why John 3:16 and even 3:17 are so well loved. Jesus explains that his coming was not in judgment but out of God’s love for the world in order to save it through Him. This speaks of love without judgment. What’s not to like about that? Everyone seeks love and few hold the same affection for being judged. Even unbelievers like these verses because it seems to offer unconditional acceptance and love no matter what they believe or don’t believe. Unfortunately, Jesus doesn’t stop there even though most who quote these verses today do stop there.

Jesus next explains why God didn’t send him to judge the world. God didn’t send Jesus to judge the world because the world already suffers judgment. “He who believes in Him is not judged but he who does not believe has been judged already.” Jesus isn’t sent to judge because the world and everyone in it has already been judged. Jesus brings the only way for salvation from the already existing judgment. Jesus light comes into the world as the only means to be saved. Unfortunately, as Jesus continues, those who do evil hate this light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. They avoid his truth and, consequently, avoid the truth.

Jesus took on the wrath of God for all our sins in breaking God’s law. He accepted God’s judgment and curse for our wrongdoing. We have all fallen short of God’s Law (Romans 3:23). Let’s seek His light, our only hope of redemption. Life comes from fath (Hab 2:4). Let’s abandon our own ideas about how mankind will save this world from judgment because this world is already in judgment. Our only hope is in Jesus as our savior.

Jesus came to save us from our sins.

Joh 3:16-17 NASB “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (17) “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

That is His promise but He also made a statement about sin that even He, the Messiah, cannot forgive.

Mar 3:22-30 NASB The scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “He casts out the demons by the ruler of the demons.”

The scribes accused Jesus of serving Satan and casting out demons who were tormenting the possessed through Satan. Jesus used miracles to demonstrate his authority from heaven but the scribes attributed this witness work as coming directly from Satan, not from God. Jesus used this grave error as a moment to teach that even his salvation power has limits.

(23) And He called them to Himself and began speaking to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? (24) “If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. (25) “If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. (26) “If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but he is finished! (27) “But no one can enter the strong man’s house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strong man, and then he will plunder his house. (28) “Truly I say to you, all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they utter; (29) but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”– (30) because they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”

Jesus first cuts at the ridiculousness of the accusation. Why would Satan engage with Jesus to defeat himself? Jesus also explains that by casting out demons, He is plundering Satan’s property. Satan, the strong man in Jesus parable, isn’t in league with the plunderer. Instead, Satan must be subdued in order for the plundering of his property to succeed. The scribes statement fall short of even the simplest analysis.

Next, Jesus teaches the spiritual severity of those who make this accusation. He begins with stating Amen (truly I say) “all sins shall be forgiven the sons of men and even blasphemies they utter but blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness.” Making a blasphemous utterance is forgivable but holding belief that the person of the Holy Spirit is satanic is unforgivable because the person is attributing God’s Holy Spirit as serving Satan; the father of lies.

Joh 8:44 NASB “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

Jesus states that “uttering” blasphemes is forgivable but blaspheming the Holy Spirit is not. The implication applies to more than saying something out of anger or ignorance but applies to those who are believing and living out the blasphemy.

The unforgivable sin is not expressing anger at God. If it were, David, Habakkuk, and many others in the Bible would not be forgiven. The unforgivable sin is also not about the severity of the sin as Paul explained:

Rom 3:21-25 NLT But now God has shown us a way to be made right with Him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. (22) We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. (23) For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. (24) Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when He freed us from the penalty for our sins. (25) For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed His life, shedding His blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when He held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past,

The unforgivable sin is believing and claiming that the work of the Holy Spirit is from Satan. How can God forgive you through the work of Jesus Christ if you believe that the Holy Spirit represents the work of Satan?