“For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands.  The law simply shows us how sinful we are. But now God has shown us a way to be made right with Him without keeping the requirements of the law…”

Rom 3:20, 21 NLT

Good News – the poor hear Gladly !!!   We are facing eternity.

 We can run away, but eternity will follow us and we will face eternal life or eternal death and separation from the Living God. Most people would rather have eternal life, once they die, but most people
do not seem to connect to making that decision.

Having just returned from a month at one of the poorest regions on the edge of Africa, it is clear that the world is not well. No electricity, no water and the Covid virus could not survive either! Sometimes we need to be grateful and take what we can while we can. We can be grateful for our family and miss my wife or son, but have you ever missed God? If not, the time you have with God could be religious. God is a person (Jesus), and He desires to have a relationship with you.

Grace – Jesus is available but most people are ignoring the option. Is there a time limit? God is patient and He is not willing that any should perish. – 2 Pet. 3:9 “Where would you like to spend eternity after the judgement?” – Pat Robertson.

We have watched adverts on TV where those interviewed very confidently declare “My funeral will be taken care of because I have paid for all the benefits – my loved ones will get the rewards.” However, has the person paying the monthly premiums ever sat down to take a closer look at what could be coming his way… when his family starts enjoying those benefits. At exactly the same time that his wife buys a new car or his son is attending a wonderful school the man who paid for these benefits will be spending eternity in an amazing place called heaven or a horrible place called hell. The reader could be thinking “I don’t enjoy this kind of hell fire stuff – I prefer Good News.”

Grace the gospel (good news) allows you to sit and think it out and get to a decision long before death arrives.- Act 20:32

1 Jn. 4:19 – We love Him because He first loved us. He loved me first. That means there is no force to get me to love God. His love for me is unconditional. There is no have to or ought to – and God is not out to get me. God’s perfect love for you casts out fear. – 1 Jn. 4:18

Manipulation, control, lying, stealing, adultery, hatred, covetousness, jealousy, unbelief, competition, lust (no love), self-promotion, animal sacrifices or any other sin are fully paid for by the finished work of the cross. And we have the tools in the word of grace to live a life that glorifies Jesus. We can run from God or put the devil on the run. Most people don’t take ownership of their position with Christ by humility – they avoid responsibility. When we get the wrong end of the stick, we take on a performance mentality expecting a reward from men. Self – righteousness (Works righteousness) comes through self effort, but  His Righteousness (Faith righteousness) is accepted by faith and grace. 

Understanding our worth and value to our Heavenly Father will unashamedly usher us into that position of sitting next to Jesus. I can keep my seat if I do not get distracted. As He is in this world so am I. 1 Jn 4:17. Because of His grace He declared us righteous and gave us confidence. Titus 3:7..This is the confidence that we have…and know in our hearts..1 Jn 5. Anyone will be apprehensive under a law-keeping mentality. The old covenant legal system is obsolete or old fashioned.- Heb. 8:13. We could lose our confidence looking at the sins above, but when we know our position of rest, the enemy and his offers crumble up. Sin has no power over me because I am under grace and not under law.. Rom 6:14

However, we read the Old Covenant through the eyes of the New Covenant.