It's The End-Game So Stop Waiting

Introduction

“I cry out to God seeking only his decision, Gabriel stands and confirms, I've created my own prison” (Scott Strapp & Mark Tremoti, “My Own Prison,” Wind-up Records, released August 26, 1997). Truth is truth: or as the wise man said, “He who speaks truth tells what is right.” Paul remains us, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true…if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things” (Proverbs 12:17; Philippians 4:8). And I can think of no other words, than those quoted from the above song, which better expresses the hopelessness of all who exist and eventually die outside of the salvation of my LORD.

While I don’t know if the authors of the song are saved—don’t ever take for granted one’s eternal destiny—what is astonishing is they recognized the utter doom of their current circumstance and are honest enough to admit it is through their own doing. In listening to the song one can sense the dual dread that is always associated with knowing you have offended GOD and you will be judged by GOD. Sadly, because Satan “the god of this world has blinded” most “so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:4), many will continue in their current state of eternal ruin and never find escape.

This is an especially sad, even heart wrenching (though true), commentary when you stop to consider that the greatest words ever spoke to humanity are: “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Onward Christian Soldiers…

But can anyone ever: “Call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher” (Romans 10:14)?

God has answered all these questions in you; if you are in fact a believer in the salvation offered through Christ. For Jesus commands that we: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation;” “and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that [He] commanded [us].” Additionally, Jesus says, “[We are His] witnesses;” and “as the Father has sent Me, I also send you” (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19, 20; Luke 24:48; John 20:21). Paul confirms this command in his exhortation to Timothy: He says, “Do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5).

There is an unfinished ministry of Christ to the world. And it is none other than you, the individual member of the Body of Christ, whom the LORD has delegated this commission: to carry the message of His salvation to all that are lost and in a state of eternal death.

The Almighty Working Of GOD’s Power

Scripture discloses the fact that GOD puts forth more of His power and resources into the salvation of the individual sinner than His power and resources were taxed in the creation of the entire material universe. Not that GOD’s power can ever be limited, but in salvation GOD extremely exerts His almighty power to the extent that He spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up as a sacrifice for all. He could do no more.

The word “salvation” carries more than the meaning of saving the unbelieving sinner from the penalty and condemnation of sin. Its extends to the deliverance of believers from the present power of sin and includes a whole series of other great doctrines and revelations—such as election, redemption, reconciliation, propitiation, forgiveness, regeneration, imputation, justification, sanctification, perfection and final glorification—in which the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are seen working towards transforming the believer into the heavenly glory of the “image of Christ.”

You should be eager to learn about these doctrinal truths. But for expediency let us focus on grace—the exact meaning of the word grace—and its Divine workings, as revealed in the Bible. This must be crystal clear to every child of GOD, for it is the sine quo non (Google this phase if you don't know what it means) of my LORD’s endeavor to save.

Definition Of Grace

The grace of GOD is both the cause (Acts 4:12) of and the purpose in (Romans 9:23; Ephesians 2:7; 3:8-10; John 3:16; Ephesians 2:10) salvation. Salvation cannot be effectuated in any other way; that is to say, GOD saves because of His grace and His purpose in saving souls is to display His grace. But grace reaches far beyond this in that it indicates the supreme motive, which actuated GOD in the creation, preservation and consummation of the universe: that is, what He did and is doing is for His Glory (Isaiah 43:7).

Nevertheless grace is the boundless goodness and kindness of GOD toward mankind (Titus 3:4). Grace means pure unrecompensed kindness and favor (Romans 6:23). What is done in grace is done graciously—you cannot earn grace and you cannot purchase it—therefore, it is given as a gift that is to be received. From this exact meaning there can be no departure; otherwise grace ceases to be grace.

Consider this: GOD created because of His grace. Before time, while in eternity, GOD had full knowledge of the fall—before He created—but so too Christ’s sacrifice “was foreknown [by GOD] before the foundation of the world.” To this end “God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer” and “at the right time Christ died for the ungodly” (1 Peter 1:20; Acts 3:8; Romans 5:6). Furthermore, “He chose us in [Christ] before the foundation of the world…He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself…to the praise of the glory of His grace…In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us” (Ephesians 1:4-8).

Based on the afore mentioned reasons GOD preserves the creation in grace. In spite of the fall He safeguards creation: “In him all things hold together;” “He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” He restrains sin (cf., 2 Thessalonians 2:7) in “kindness and tolerance and patience.” Therefore, He permits sin, because “the kindness of God leads” to repentance. And most of all, for the love of the sinner: “The Lord is…not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (Colossians 1:17; Matthew 5:45; Romans 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9).

GOD’s display of His glory in grace will come full circle in this cosmos: “The Lord” comes “like a thief;” then 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 burned up.” “But according to His promise we are looking for a new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:10-13). And this too will exist by His grace.

Understanding GOD’s grace enables the believer to clearly pass on to others, believer and unbeliever alike, His marvelous transforming handiwork (Colossians 4:6; 1 Peter 3:15). Insight into its meaning feeds the believer’s life with its inexhaustible riches (Ephesians 1:8), which are limitless (Hebrews 13:20, 21, Ephesians 1:7) since it represents realities of GOD, which are boundless. GOD’s grace proves to all nothing less than His eternal, infinite charity for fallen humanity (1 John 4:7-10).

Fundamentals of Grace

God grace is never withheld because of human failure (Romans 5:19-20). This fact about grace is more evident, perhaps, than any other in that a sinner—when he comes to his senses—knows he can cry out for the kindness and benefits of grace (Romans 3:4). But this is according to GOD’s desire as grace finds its greatest triumph and glory in human helplessness (Matthew 5:3-11).

There is no middle ground (Galatians 2:16)—grace is not ever lessened because of human failure (1 Timothy 1:13-15)—all questions of human failure have been banished as a result of the Cross, thus allowing GOD to righteously and freely exercise grace in every case where salvation is concern. With regard to the unbeliever, GOD’s full and equal exercise of His grace is extended to all (1 John 4:15), because Christ died for “whoever believes.” It never falls short of being the measureless saving grace of GOD (Romans 1:16); it is always the infinite expression of His love. It is ludicrous to assume that mere men can impose limits upon the gracious action of salvation by a righteous and completely sovereign (i.e., answerable to no one) GOD.

Therefore, grace, because it is a gift, cannot be exercised where there is the slightest degree of human merit to be recognized (Romans 11:6). It is Christ, the Lamb of GOD, who has taken away the sin of the world by His Cross, forever disposing the condemnation of sin. By the Cross He creates an entirely new relationship between GOD and man—“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. Consequently, men are now either accepting (John 20:31) or rejecting Christ who has borne their sins (John 8:24).

However, GOD does not ignore or slight the fact of human guilt and sin (Colossians 3:5-7); instead, He has met these issues perfectly and finally for all men in the death and resurrection of His Son. By grace there is now offered to all men the infinite resources of the saving power of GOD (1 Corinthians 1:18). However, while grace is exercised in perfect independence of any degree of human sin, a righteous accounting for sin is invariable determined for all who rejects GOD’s sacrifice of the Son and those who come to believe in the Sacrifice will suffer lost for the personal sins committed in their lifetime. However, the salvation of anyone once saved cannot be lost for any reason (John 17:20-26).

The Apostle John reminds us: “not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10); and quotes Jesus as saying, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent” (John 6:29).

And speaking to the believer Paul emphasizes the fact that “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10.)

Grace must always remain unadulterated in its generosity and benefit (Romans 11:6). There are infinite and eternal transformations wrought by the power of GOD when He exercises His grace and the results are: He is glorified (John 12:28; 13:31; 13:32); and sinners are saved. But by no means does the sinner pay or make the slightest restitution for his salvation and GOD makes no demand for payment. The act of grace is in no sense gracious if under any conditions a debt is incurred by man (John 10:28; Romans 6:23). What GOD has bestowed is a gift and it cannot rightly be called that if it is paid for either before or at the time or long after it is given (Romans 4:2-16).

Finally, grace is never a reward or payment for good works (Romans 9:10-16). There is not the least possibility that a Divine obligation exist toward anyone—God owes no one anything—and this in spite of the fact that some teach that those who are saved are so because GOD “foreknew” the good works they would do. Preposterous! All are sinners both by nature and by practice and the unbeliever would remain in rebellion towards GOD unless He draws them to believe that Jesus is their Savior (2 Thessalonians 2:13). To think that GOD saves because He knows of future good works to be done destroys the definition and all the characteristics of grace (Romans 4:4). But I will not go further into this subject as it is the cause of deep disagreement, sometimes to the point of violence in the Body of Christ; you will need to study the Word and come to your own Spirit-led conclusion.

Conclusion

In summary, the word "grace" represents the uncompromised, unrestricted, unrecompensed, loving favor of GOD toward sinners. It is the limitless, unrestrained love of GOD for the lost acting in full compliance with the exact and unchangeable demands of His own righteousness through the sacrificial death of Christ. It is more than love; it is love set absolutely free to satisfy the righteous judgment of GOD against the condemned sinner.

It is an unearned blessing of His infinite love to all humanity; through the death and resurrection of His Lamb; through whom He offers salvation as a gift; without human obligation or any consideration of human merit. Just believe this and it will be so.

But why, you ask, should anyone believe that a condemned rebel of the Roman Empire is their Savior? It is because this truth is engraved in every human heart: whether Islamist, Hindu-ist, Buddhist, humanist, atheist or any other "ist," this truth is present. Your ministry is not to convince anyone that this is the truth (this is the ministry of the Holy Spirit). Your mission is to tell them this is the truth!

This has been merely a concise explanation of grace, which is the key to salvation, but as it is with the works of Jesus so it is with grace: “If they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books that would be written” (John 21:25). But hopefully, in spite of the limited information given today, your compassion for the lost will take control of your motives in the understanding that there is an unfinished work of Christ in the world that Christians are called to act upon.

The Enemies Of Mankind, Part 3

Introduction

The primary word for world used in the New Testament is the Greek cosmos. Cosmos means: order, ornament, adornment or an orderly arrangement (cf., James Strong, “Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible,” #G2889, Thomas Nelson: Nashville 1990). In the New Testament it has three main uses. It is used of: (1) the orderly arrangement of the universe—it is an ornament of harmonious interactions hung in the infinite expanse of heaven (cf., Matthew 13:35; John 21:25; Acts 17:24); (2) arrangement of the inhabitants of the earth in tribes and peoples—the very people of the earth that Christ died for (cf., Acts 17:26; John 3:16; 1 Cor. 4:9; 1 John 2:2; 2 Pet. 2:5); (3) and a vast system of orderly arrangements of human affairs, commerce, governments, education, world religions and culture dominated and controlled by Satan who is god of this cosmos.

It is the last usage of the word—as an orderly system that functions apart from God—that we are concern with here. This system is: organized by Satan, headed by Satan and run by Satan. It is a counterfeit system used to seduce men away from God and the person of Christ. It is anti-God, anti-Christ and anti-Bible (cf., John 18:36). Therefore, cosmos, in the third usage, is the last of the potent enemies that confronts man in any attempt to be right with God apart from the saving grace He offers in Christ.

All the Kingdoms of the World and Their Glory

Scripture clearly establishes that Satan exercises supreme authority over the cosmos, but only at the will of God. As demonstrated in Matthew 4:8-9: “the devil took [Jesus] to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You.” Of note from this passage is the fact that Jesus, the Creator of the cosmos, did not dispute Satan’s right in offering the kingdoms of the world to Him. Also, as confirmed by the Apostle John: “the whole cosmos lies in the power of the evil one” (1 John 5:19).

Therefore, this system conforms to the ideals and goals of Satan. It is civilization functioning apart from God: “This system embraces its godless governments, conflicts, armaments, jealousies, its education, culture, religion of morality, and pride. It is that sphere in which man lives. It is what he see, what he employs. To the uncounted multitudes it is all they even know so long as they live on this earth. It is properly styled the satanic system, which phase is in many instances a justified interpretation of the so-meaningful word, cosmos. It is literally a kosmos diabolicus” (Lewis S. Chafer, “Systematic Theology,” vol. 2, pp.77-78). It is the worldwide humanistic system in which fallen mankind, at the behest of Satan, will allow God to have no part in its undertakings.

The Works Of The Cosmos

Keep in mind that Satan creates nothing. In the good universe that God alone created, the Devil is only involve in the cosmos to the degree that God has allow him a certain measure of authority in which to wield his corrupting influence (cf. 1 John 2:17; Romans 2:4-8). While creation as a whole is in fact affected by the limited sphere in which the devil exercises control (cf., Romans 8:19-22), it retains much of its godliness and most importantly it is still the property of God. As an example, even in our fallen state we still retain a semblance of God’s image, which includes the ability to build and create things for our benefit and enjoyment.

This ability in mankind is evident in the multitude of incredible works in every field of science, culture, religion and art that has been produced. However, it is by Satan’s misguiding of blinded humanity to live and act in agreement with his original lie—to be like God—that these works of man are fashioned (cf., Genesis 9:7 & Genesis 11). All the works of humanity are therefore corrupted. But these works are not properly categorized as “creations,” rather; they are properly called inventive construction, as man brings only his imagination and ability in begetting evil expressions from the virtuous raw material and abstract ideals that God created.

Note the following explanation of the relationship between the good that God created and the evil use it is put to is: “Evil is not a substance but a corruption of the good substances God made. Evil is like rust to a car or rot to a tree. It is a lack in good things, but it is not a thing in itself. Evil is like a wound in an arm or moth-holes in a garment. It exists only in another but not in itself.” “It is important to note that [deprivation] is not the same as mere absence. Sight is absent in a stone as well as in a blind person. But the absence of sight in the stone is not a [deprivation]…Since the stone by nature ought not to see, it is not deprived of sight, as is the blind man. Evil, then is a [deprivation] of some good that ought to be there. It is not a mere negation.” “To say that evil is not a thing, but a lack in things, is not to claim that it is not real. Evil is a real lack in good things, as the blind person knows only so well. Evil is not a real substance, but it is a real privation in good substances. It is not an actual entity but a real corruption in an actual entity” (Norman Geisler, electronic media).

The cosmos in every respect is evil. This is not saying that all things in the world lack any good. Rather, like the depraved human, it means that corruption extends to every facet of the cosmos and that there is nothing in the cosmos that is commendable to the righteousness of God. With this in mind: “Satan does incorporate into his vast system certain things which are good in themselves. Many humanitarian ideals, morals, and aspects of culture are consonant with spiritual realities, though resident in the cosmos. The root evil in the cosmos is that in it there is an all-comprehensive order or system which is methodized on a basis of complete independence of God. It is a manifestation of all that Satan can produce as a complete exhibition of that which enters into the original lie. It is the consummating display of that which the creature—both angelic and human—can produce, having embarked on an autonomous career” (Chafer, “Theology,” vol. 2, pp. 84-85).

So, along with man’s God-given talent to build tools for the betterment of all, we builds weapons (Psalms 120:6,7); along with man’s desire to seek truth, he builds a godless education system; governments that are supposed to rule justly (Romans 13:1-7) are corrupted (Daniel 7:23-27) to serve an elite class (READ THIS ARTICLE: Last-Day Oppressors: Honored Elites & an Indebted World Order); and the list goes on of those things created as good, like art and music, that are now distorted. In fact, everything that man has touched in his never ending pursuit of “the lie” is of no value in the eyes of God (Romans 3:10-20, cf., Isaiah 64:9).

God’s Purpose Behind The Lie

The cosmos represents the foremost labor of the most formidable creature who in wanting to be God has incorporated into his system all things that are good in themselves. This has doubtlessly given rise to the already mentioned deceptions manifested in human institutions.

The cosmos as it now exists began with Satan’s repudiation of the Creator and so far it has maintained the separation that he longs for. But it is not a battleground where God and Satan are competing for preeminence; the cosmos is merely a thing that God is permitting so that the lie—to be like God—may have its fullest unveiling. “The lie must run its course that it may be judged, not as a mere hypothesis or incipient venture, but in the complete and final exhibition of its anti-god character,” says Chafer (Ibid, p. 85). The cosmos will then come to an end.

The vision of its final doom was given to Nebuchadnezzar, a king of ancient Babylon. Daniel, a prophet of the Living God, interpreted the king’s dream: “The king [Nebuchadnezzar] said to Daniel, “Are you able to make known to me the dream which I have seen and its interpretation?” Daniel answered before the king and said, “As for the mystery about which the king has inquired, neither wise men, conjurers, magicians nor diviners are able to declare it to the king. However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days…As for you, O king, while on your bed your thoughts turned to what would take place in the future; and He who reveals mysteries has made known to you what will take place…You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom…After you there will arise another kingdom inferior to you, then another third…which will rule over all the earth…there will be a fourth kingdom as strong as iron…[then a] divided kingdom…In the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom” (Daniel 2:26-29,37-44).

And Daniel, too, had a vision of the end: “I was looking in my vision by night, and behold the Ancient of Days [i.e., God] took His seat…The court [of Heaven] sat…And the books [containing the evil deeds of unredeemed humanity] were opened…I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man [i.e., Jesus] was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented [as a sacrifice for the sins of man] before Him. And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him…His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:2,9-14).

Were You Fooled By Change?

While many who are unsaved comprehend that their own lusts and the Devil and his satanic cosmos are in fact their true enemies, ironically, because they themselves are in rebellion against God they are willing participants and co-conspirators with Satan in promoting their own self-ruled system. No matter that they recognize their own personal hurt, harm to others or are witnesses to the devastating ravaging of mankind, still, Satan’s program goes on regardless of superficial humanistic trends that claim to promote change.

No one committed to this circumstance truly desires to change themselves, break the bounds of Satan or bring about God’s good and righteous plan for humanity. While they may in fact despise the gross immorality infecting much of mankind, corrupt governments and social injustice they also revel in it, be it either secretly or openly, because it is in their nature to do so.

Even if they try really hard to be good, moral or sympathetic to the plight of those less fortunate than they and support all manner of programs to help others, sadly, all who are “in the flesh,” are blinded slaves of the devil relegated to both satisfying their lustful cravings and promoting the satanic cosmos system (cf., 2 Thessalonians 2:11). They, therefore, lack any power to effectuate change.

To truly break free, to be able to see truth, one must first believe that Christ is the Savior of mankind. But as Jesus Christ points out: “you [do] not understand what I am saying…because you cannot hear My word. You are of your father the devil…he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me.”

Conclusion

I recall watching an episode from a cable network series about Los Angeles street gangs. The show was very graphic in showing the sordid conditions most gang members grow up in and continue to live in until their young lives are violently ended or they wind up in prison. They most likely are “born into” the gang, as their parents before them and often times the grandparent were members already. The program showed in vivid details the sexual immorality, illicit drug use, drug dealing and betrayal of fellow gang member. It showed the weapons that they use on each other; the massive drugs supplies that they own, which they pump into their neighborhoods; the battle wounds from gang-on-gang warfare; and photos of the homicide victims. There were interviews of both active and non-active “gangstas” and every one of them both glorified and distained the life that were wrapped up in. Everyone also agreed that there was no escape from the gang and serious injury was certain and death was only slightly less a surety than prison.

One specific scene from the episode really nailed home, as the saying goes, the particular outcome of many who are involved in gang-life. In this outcome we can see, in microcosm, the plight of all mankind.

The scene centered on the funeral services of one young man who had been gunned down by rival gang members. It was an open casket and photos of the young man, his family and extended gang “brotherhood” surrounded the coffin. Another young man, holding in his arms the young son of the deceased, approached the casket with the child snuggly in his grip, so that he might see one last time his daddy. The child, not fully comprehending the state of affairs he was faced with cried out several times, “wake up daddy, daddy wake up…” It was too late, daddy was dead and not even the earnest and innocent cry of a child could change that fact.

Is there a more fitting epilogue of fallen mankind? Is there any more that can be said to prove the extraordinary plight of men? Truly, it is as Paul says, “as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper;” and “being filled with all unrighteousness…although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they [i.e., meaning all of unredeemed humanity] not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them” (Romans 1:28-32).

If you are not a believer in the grace offered by God through faith in the death of Christ you are as Paul says: “dead in your trespasses and sins…according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience…indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and…by nature children of wrath.” And John the Apostle of Christ reminds us, “If we, say we are without sin we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.”

Finally, as a plea from this writer to all who read this, heed the the words of Peter when he states: “the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself…Be saved from this perverse generation” (Ephesians 2:2; 1 John 1:8; Acts 2:40)!

BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS AND YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WILL BE SAVED!