Points to Ponder

“Points to Ponder” are things that cross my mind for one reason or another and are simply here to document the ponderings so that I can revisit them any time I feel the need.

Between the Old Covenant (10 Commandments) and the Old Testament Laws there are 613 commandments in total.
But no man is without sin.
It is impossible to keep all the commandments.
Therefore all are condemned.

BUT

“I come not to abolish the law but to fulfill it.”
…by being the perfect, sinless man.
…who has been sacrificed for you
…as punishment for YOUR sins.

SO

Believe in me and obey my covenant…
“Love me and your neighbor.”
To be redeemed and receive justification
by Grace, through Faith, From Christ.

AND

Pursue Sanctification by striving to obey the laws.

THEN

“Place my laws in the hearts and minds of those who believe.”
Christ’s kingdom will be occupied only by sinless (justified) people.
Think about what the characteristics / virtues are of the people that God would want in his kingdom.
If sinful people are in heaven then heaven would be of the flesh, not of the spirit.
Heaven would become just like earth.
Are you sinful or justified?
Would God want you in his kingdom?
(See Romans Chapters 12-15 for description of the proper virtues.)

Roman’s Road

3:23 All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God;
6:23 the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
5:8 But God proves his love for us in this: While we still were sinners Christ died for us.
10:9 because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised from the dead, you will be saved.
10:10 For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved.
10:13 For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
5:1 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Bottom Line

Even with all the programs that churches offer to draw people in, Christians still bounce from church to church to church…. Why? Their needs are not being met. News flash! Christianity is not about having your needs met! It is not about you! It's not about you being happy. It’s not about making yourself a better you! It’s not about enjoying your life now! It’s not about becoming prosperous and pain-free! What Christianity is supposed to be about is knowing who God is, understanding what he wants and how he expects you to live your life, loving God, living a righteous life, putting God in the center of all you do, and getting sinners into heaven. It is supposed to be about accepting Christ as your savior and redeemer. If you can do these things you will be happy. You will be living and enjoying the best life now. Having your needs met is the result of living a Christian life.

By Grace your are saved through Faith
By Grace… Through Faith… In Christ

Sola fida “by faith alone”
Sola scripura “by scripture alone”
Sola gratia “by grace alone”

Don’t you wonder what God does in his spare time?

God created this universe 14 billion years ago.
14 billion years to a timeless God is an insignificant amount of time.
What else has God been up to?
What other universes has he created?
What types of creations has he created?

The secret things belong to the Lord our God,
but the revealed things belong to us and our children forever,
to observe all the words of this law.
Deut 29:29

There are 613 Laws in the Bible

God’s laws are not there to burden us but rather to guide us through life. If we break a law God does not punish us but rather life punishes us by making us suffer the consequences of sin.

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and light to my path.” Psalm 119:105

Endure and Let Your Light Shine

1 Corinthians 10:13 -- No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.

Hebrews 10:36 -- For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

Proverbs 13:9 -- The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.

Matthew 5:14-16 -- let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

Matthew 10:32-33 -- ‘Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.”

The Great Commission

After Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection He returned in the flesh one last time to His apostles and instructed them in the Great Commission. These are Christ’s last words of instruction to us, as recorded by Matthew, before his final ascension to the spirit world.

Matthew 28:18-20 -- And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’*

Padre Pio

The Way to Heaven
What does it matter to you whether Jesus wishes to guide you to Heaven by way of the desert or by the fields, so long as you get there by one way or the other? Put away any excessive worrying which results from the trials by which the good God has desired to test you; and if this is not possible, resign yourself to the Divine will.

Make Yourself at Home
It is just as well to make yourself at home with the sufferings that Jesus is pleased to send you as you must always live with them. In this way, when you are least expecting to be liberated from them, Jesus, who cannot bear to keep you long in affliction, will come and relieve you and comfort you, giving you new courage.