Hi everyone,

As sinners, we wonder if God will continue to forgive us for committing the same sins over and over. We know we are saved by God's grace, but then we must strive to become holy as the Father is holy. That means a constant daily battle to do the Father's will. 

Like Paul, we may have a thorn in our side that keeps tripping us up frequently. But Jesus told Peter that we must forgive others 70 x 7 times, i.e., as often as one asks for forgiveness. So will God forgive us as often as we ask? The answer demands two actions from us: we must sincerely try to avoid committing that sin again in the future; we must be willing to forgive those who repeatedly offend us. After all, if we make no effort to avoid committing the same sin over and over, then it is doubtful that we are truly repentant. And if we can not forgive others, how can we expect God to forgive us?

Sunday's readings shed some light on God's mercy. The first reading sets out the goal for each of us.

"The first man, being earthly, was of the earth; the second man, being heavenly, will be of heaven. Such things as are like the earth are earthly; and such things as are like the heavens are heavenly. And so, just as we have carried the image of what is earthly, let us also carry the image of what is heavenly." 1 COR 15:47-49

Paul is telling us that although we are earthly creatures, God expects us to become more and more holy like the saints in heaven. 

The second reading shows man's mercy in action. 

David said: “Behold, the king’s spear. Let one of the servants of the king cross over and take it. And the Lord will repay each one according to his justice and faith. For the Lord has delivered you this day into my hand, but I was not willing to extend my hand against the anointed of the Lord (my translation). 1 SM 26:23-24

David had the opportunity to kill Saul, but he showed mercy instead. 

The third reading expounds upon the greatness of God's mercy.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and bless his holy name, all that is within me.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and do not forget all his recompenses.
He forgives all your iniquities. He heals all your infirmities.
He redeems your life from destruction. He crowns you with mercy and compassion.
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our iniquities from us.
As a father is compassionate to his sons, so has the Lord been compassionate to those who revere (my translation) him. PS 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13

"to those who revere (fear) him." That is the key. We must do our best to control ourselves. We may fail despite our best efforts, but God knows that we are earthly creatures and prone to sin as long as we are here on earth. Like our earthly father, our heavenly Father knows how weak we are and is more than willing to overlook our frailties as long as we try to do the right thing. So let us do our best and let God do the rest!

God bless!

Feeling depressed? Frustrated? Bad news got you down? Well, cheer up! Today's Gospel readings really are some Good News: In this life, or certainly in the next, God rewards those who, despite the jeers, insults and temptations of the world, seek to do good; and he punishes those who spread evil. 

JER 17:5-8

5 Yahweh says: Cursed is the man who trusts in man, and makes flesh his arm, and whose heart departs from Yahweh. 6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, a salt land and not inhabited. 7 Blessed is the man who trusts in Yahweh, and whose trust Yahweh is. 8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, who spreads out its roots by the river, and shall not fear when heat comes, but its leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. 

Lesson: To be (blessed) happy, trust in God (refreshing waters), not man (parched land). 

PS 1:1-2, 3, 4 AND 6

Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked,
    nor stand on the path of sinners,
    nor sit in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in Yahweh’s law.
    On his law he meditates day and night.
3 He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water,
    that produces its fruit in its season,
    whose leaf also does not wither.
    Whatever he does shall prosper.
4 The wicked are not so,
    but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
5 6 For Yahweh knows the way of the righteous,
    but the way of the wicked shall perish.

Lesson: To be (blessed) happy, avoid the wicked (chaff) and embrace the righteous (fruitful tree). 

1 COR 15:12, 16-20

12 Now if Christ is preached, that he has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 16 For if the dead aren’t raised, neither has Christ been raised. 17 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins. 18 Then they also who are fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable. 20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruits of those who are asleep.

Lesson: Happy (Blessed) are we who follow God' precepts, for we shall see God.

LK 6:17, 20-26

17 He came down with them, and stood on a level place, with a crowd of his disciples, and a great number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases.

20 He lifted up his eyes to his disciples, and said,

“Blessed are you who are poor,
    God’s Kingdom is yours.
21 Blessed are you who hunger now,
    for you will be filled.
Blessed are you who weep now,
    for you will laugh.
22 Blessed are you when men shall hate you, and when they shall exclude and mock you, and throw out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake.

24 “But woe to you who are rich!
    For you have received your consolation.
25 Woe to you, you who are full now,
    for you will be hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
    for you will mourn and weep.
26 Woe, when men speak well of you,
    for their fathers did the same thing to the false prophets.

Lesson: You may struggle financially, lack the basic necessities of life, suffer tragedy, or be persecuted because you do what pleases God rather than man, but the Kingdom of God is yours. That's what Jesus says and you can trust in his words.

Now that is some Good News!

God bless!

Peter met a crippled beggar who had nothing. Peter gave him the greatest gift of all: life everlasting. Read on!

The Glory of the Gospel

by Toni Babcock 

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ; for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth…” (Romans 1:16a KJV)

The gospel, by virtue of its own power, gives us the ability to respond. I call it our “response-ability”. We who have a responsibility toward God and have often failed, now have a supernatural power to turn to and believe in. At last we can be saved from sin and self through the power of Jesus.

The gospel ignites a faith that takes God at His word. A faith that runs, not a faith that drags itself half-heartedly. A faith that leaps, not a faith that lugs as it were, a kind of deadness behind it. The Apostles Peter and John met a beggar at the temple one day who was lame from his mother’s womb. He had nothing to give and couldn’t do anything but ask. Peter looked directly at the man and said, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he, leaping up stood and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking and leaping, and praising God.” (Acts 3:6-8 KJV)

Every Christian was once a beggar who had nothing to give and couldn’t do anything but ask. “Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” (Matthew 7:7 KJV).

This is the glory of the Gospel.

copyright 2018 

Toni Babcock is author of Reflections from the Heart in Light of the Gospel of Jesus, and The Stone Writer, Christian Fiction for Young Readers and Teens.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com

Predestination

Are some souls destined for heaven and others for hell? That is a question that has puzzled biblical scholars and theologians for centuries. Here are some quotes from Scripture that deal with the issue:

"As the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of God. As many as were appointed to eternal life believed." Acts 13:48

"Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in love; having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire, to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely gave us favor in the Beloved." Eph 1:4-6

"We know, brothers loved by God, that you are chosen, and that our Good News came to you not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance." 1 Thess 1:4-5

"God... who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before times eternal." 2 Tim 1:9

"Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen ones who are living as foreigners in the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia." 1 Peter 1:1

"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." 1 Peter 2:9

"Those who dwell on the earth and whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel when they see that the beast was, and is not, and shall be present." Rev 17:8

"All who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been killed. Rev 13:8

"Therefore I endure all things for the chosen ones’ sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory." 2 Tim 2:10

In the following quote Paul tackles the matter head on:

"For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren: and whom he foreordained, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." Rom 8: 29-30.

What is Paul saying? First, we have to define some words. 

Predestination = God's destiny for his people is their salvation. Predestination signifies that he determined our destiny before he created the world.

Foreknow = to know in advance; God, since he is all-knowing, knew us before he created us. God exists outside time and space so He can see past, present and future all at once.

Conform to his Son's image = to be Christ-like

Foreordain = to officially set aside in advance; God chose certain souls (the elect) before the world began to be saved by opening their hearts.

Justify = to forgive one's sins and guilt; to make righteous

Glorify = to grant entrance into heaven

Grace = spiritual assistance from God; in this case, to open our hearts to be receptive to his message

So what is Paul saying? God chose in advance those whom he would help to achieve salvation (and those he would leave to their own devices). Christ is our role model and the saved will become Christ-like. God called them and they responded; he justified them by forgiving their sins; and glorified them by bringing them into heaven.

Does this mean that God's plan deliberately condemns certain souls to hell?  No. God does not wish that any soul perish, so he offers salvation to everyone. 

"The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

Yet before time began, God chose to give more grace to certain souls to help them achieve salvation. The parable of the talents (Matt: 25: 14-30) may help us understand this situation better. The master gave 5 talents to one of his servants and one talent to another. The one who received 5 talents multiplied his talents a hundred fold; the servant who received one talent hid it rather than investing it, thus adding no value to it. We all have the opportunity to increase our value, or in this case, attain salvation. Granted we can make more gains if we have more grace (5 talents), but even those with less grace (1 talent) can achieve success, but they will have to work harder to achieve it. 

"A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, one who worshiped God, heard us; whose heart the Lord opened to listen to the things which were spoken by Paul." Acts 16:14

So the big question is: Why did God give more grace to Lydia? Obviously so she could understand his message better. Therefore, we must conclude that God shows preferential treatment to some to ensure the success of his plan of salvation. But what about the people who do not receive an abundance of God's grace? That brings us to perhaps the most difficult teaching in the Bible: 

Reprobation

According to several readings in the Bible, we may conclude that God has eternally predestined certain souls, on account of their foreseen sins, to hell. Although God wants all souls to be saved, he does not wish to save those who reject his message of salvation.

"For there are certain men who crept in secretly, even those who were long ago written about for this condemnation: ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into indecency, and denying our only Master, God, and Lord, Jesus Christ. Jude 4

"For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, 'For this very purpose I caused you to be raised up, that I might show in you my power, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.' So then, he has mercy on whom he desires, and he hardens whom he desires." Rom 9: 17-18

"What then? That which Israel seeks for, that he didn’t obtain, but the chosen ones obtained it, and the rest were hardened." Rom 11:7

"For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed." 1 Peter 2:8

So are we like pieces on a chess board that God moves in certain directions to accomplish his will? Or do we have a say in the matter? Perhaps the answer to both questions is "yes." God nudges us in certain directions, but we can always accept the move or reject it. Peter in 2:8 says that some of the Jews were "destined" to reject Christ. but didn't those who ignored Christ have the option to accept him? I humbly proffer that the answer must be "yes" because we have free will. We are not doomed to destruction. 

Fate signifies that we must act a certain way. Destiny indicates a final outcome that is possible, but requires effort to attain it. We were fated to be born in a certain family, in a certain city. We had no say in the matter. Yet we use the expression, "He was "destined" to be a doctor (priest, lawyer, etc.), but failed to become one because, for example, he did not study hard enough. We are not fated to become a doctor, but we are destined to fail if we don't make the effort. The dictionary defines "fate" and "destiny" in a similar fashion. Yet in literature, their meanings are quite different. "Fate" is imposed on us; "destiny" involves our consent. 

So perhaps the understanding of reprobation relies on semantics. Some will see God as the Almighty condemning certain souls to hell - that is their fate. Others will see God as our Heavenly Father who in his love for his creatures sometimes works his will in ways that can lead some to their destruction. But we have a choice. We can choose our destiny. We can either accept the grace he offers and gain our salvation, or harden our hearts and reject him, thus condemning ourselves. Even Egypt's Pharaoh agreed to let the Israelites go. Perhaps that act could have saved his soul. But he had a change of heart and decided to pursue them through the Red Sea, leading to the destruction of his army and his soul. 

Ultimately, the reader will have to ponder this mystery - even paradox - of a God who in his mercy wants to save everyone, but in his justice must sacrifice some souls to achieve that goal. We must accept that God sometimes places some people in situations where the chances of losing their soul are almost certain. Yet all is not lost. God still offers his love and mercy even to the reprobate who is dangling over the precipice of hell. All he has to do is reach for God's hand to pull him to safety. 

Let us as Christians be grateful to God for counting us among his elect, but let us also continue to pray for our fallen brothers and sisters whose destiny we hope can still be changed. Amen.

God Bless!