December 8th 2019
We Are All Members Of Mankind And Part Of Adam’s Race!
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no-one can boast.
We are now entering a gift giving season, and therefore, we are all expected to buy some gifts for those people we love. This season should be referred to as the Christ-mas season, but it is now often referred to as the holiday season. In the last VOW I wrote about how the word(s) holy day has been collapses into the word holiday. A gift giving season should be a time to be joyful, but for some people it is not, because in part, they may not be able to buy great gifts for their loved ones. In my childhood it was more of a remembrance of the person, you would purchase a gift from them, and present it on either Christmas eve or on Christmas morning. There was great anticipation for this type of gift giving, and children especially enjoyed this special time in their life. Now in the USA we live in a time of plenty for most people living here this anticipation is expected to be an event where several expensive gifts are expected. At the same time there are people living here who are not able to share in this expectation because they are not flourishing in the wealthy atmosphere. This year my prayer is for this country somehow going back to the idea of believing this season should first be a time to honor Jesus Christ as the greatest gift of all.
In the selected verses Paul is defining this wonderful gift from God to all of mankind, because we did not have to do anything to earn this greatest gift, in fact it was given to us while we were still sinners, and not worthy of such a gift! Paul wrote “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works.” Then Paul continued with the statement “so that no-one can boast. So, here we have a true gift given to all those who can recognize it and they are willing to treasure it as something they do not deserve, and they have in no way contributed to purchasing it. It is truly a gift from God through the work Jesus Christ performed on this earth as the Son of Man. Yes, I know it is not Easter time, it is Christmas time, but without knowing what is coming then we would be just be recognizing the birth of a baby about 2020 years ago. The belief that Jesus Christ came into this world to offer salvation to all mankind, in NOT believed by most members of mankind, and such people are not celebrating Christmas, but they are seeking a gift that will make them happy, but this is the only long term gift that exists.
Many of you reading this today can remember a time when you may have not really identified this wonderful gift from God. Then we can know how we feel during this season when we are again celebrating the birth of the Savior of the world. Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus and for us today, about how taking Jesus Christ into your life is so illuminating. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:3-5). Think about this greatest gift available to all of mankind. We can celebrate this wonderful gift because, “it is by grace you have been saved.” All that is required of anyone is to just believe Jesus is who He says He is, and your immortal soul will be saved, and live with Jesus forever!
Church attendance is dwindling in this country, and even at Christmas time we no longer see many people coming to church, just in case these Bible stories are true. Such people also came at Easter time, just in case! At Easter we are told, He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2:24). Of course, this idea should cause us to want to abide by the laws and commands given in our Bible. As this verse tells us we should desire to become better people “so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness.” Throughout the history given in our Bible we see how mankind has always looked to things as being more important to them than a belief in God. When mankind became too evil, then God often stepped in and caused something to force them to relent and return to Him. When these times came to pass, God always maintained a remnant of people who still believed and followed Him. Paul wrote about one such time to the church in Rome, and for us. So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. (Romans 11:5-6). In this day-in-age are you a part of a “remnant”?
It is important to remember that we are all members of mankind, yes, it is true as the Bible plainly states we are all members of Adam’s race. Adam had rebelled against his Creator’s authority, and all of mankind suffered. Paul wrote about this to the church in Rome, and for us today. Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. (Romans 5:12-13). Many of the laws being enacted today do not consider this idea of mankind being of one blood. Nor do these laws recognize something called sin. Today, many people are becoming more and more lawless, as evil seems to be increasing in this world. This is not some new thing as we can see evil flourishing when we read our Bible.
Paul next wrote about how Jesus coming into this world is the answer to how this death sentence imposed by Adam’s sin is offset or forgiven through grace because this God/man came into the world to forgive all our sins. This did not stop the death sentence imposed because of the original sin committee by Adam, but it does allow salvation for our immortal soul. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come. But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! (Romans 5:14-15). Has this gift overflowed to you through your acceptance of coming to know this Jesus who came into the sin cured world to free us from our sinful nature inherited through Adam’s sin?
It is the Christmas season and it is time to expect a wonderful gift from God. God sent His Son to be born in a lowly stable not in a castle befitting of a king, yet this Jesus became the King of kings! However, this King wants you to be His friend, not His servant! However, He does desire for you to be the servant of other members of mankind. Jesus is the reason for the season, because He came not to punish mankind because of their sinful nature, but to free them from this evil nature.
Amazing love of God for mankind is the reason for this truly free gift!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no-one can boast.
We are now entering a gift giving season, and therefore, we are all expected to buy some gifts for those people we love. This season should be referred to as the Christ-mas season, but it is now often referred to as the holiday season. In the last VOW I wrote about how the word(s) holy day has been collapses into the word holiday. A gift giving season should be a time to be joyful, but for some people it is not, because in part, they may not be able to buy great gifts for their loved ones. In my childhood it was more of a remembrance of the person, you would purchase a gift from them, and present it on either Christmas eve or on Christmas morning. There was great anticipation for this type of gift giving, and children especially enjoyed this special time in their life. Now in the USA we live in a time of plenty for most people living here this anticipation is expected to be an event where several expensive gifts are expected. At the same time there are people living here who are not able to share in this expectation because they are not flourishing in the wealthy atmosphere. This year my prayer is for this country somehow going back to the idea of believing this season should first be a time to honor Jesus Christ as the greatest gift of all.
In the selected verses Paul is defining this wonderful gift from God to all of mankind, because we did not have to do anything to earn this greatest gift, in fact it was given to us while we were still sinners, and not worthy of such a gift! Paul wrote “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works.” Then Paul continued with the statement “so that no-one can boast. So, here we have a true gift given to all those who can recognize it and they are willing to treasure it as something they do not deserve, and they have in no way contributed to purchasing it. It is truly a gift from God through the work Jesus Christ performed on this earth as the Son of Man. Yes, I know it is not Easter time, it is Christmas time, but without knowing what is coming then we would be just be recognizing the birth of a baby about 2020 years ago. The belief that Jesus Christ came into this world to offer salvation to all mankind, in NOT believed by most members of mankind, and such people are not celebrating Christmas, but they are seeking a gift that will make them happy, but this is the only long term gift that exists.
Many of you reading this today can remember a time when you may have not really identified this wonderful gift from God. Then we can know how we feel during this season when we are again celebrating the birth of the Savior of the world. Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus and for us today, about how taking Jesus Christ into your life is so illuminating. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:3-5). Think about this greatest gift available to all of mankind. We can celebrate this wonderful gift because, “it is by grace you have been saved.” All that is required of anyone is to just believe Jesus is who He says He is, and your immortal soul will be saved, and live with Jesus forever!
Church attendance is dwindling in this country, and even at Christmas time we no longer see many people coming to church, just in case these Bible stories are true. Such people also came at Easter time, just in case! At Easter we are told, He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2:24). Of course, this idea should cause us to want to abide by the laws and commands given in our Bible. As this verse tells us we should desire to become better people “so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness.” Throughout the history given in our Bible we see how mankind has always looked to things as being more important to them than a belief in God. When mankind became too evil, then God often stepped in and caused something to force them to relent and return to Him. When these times came to pass, God always maintained a remnant of people who still believed and followed Him. Paul wrote about one such time to the church in Rome, and for us. So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. (Romans 11:5-6). In this day-in-age are you a part of a “remnant”?
It is important to remember that we are all members of mankind, yes, it is true as the Bible plainly states we are all members of Adam’s race. Adam had rebelled against his Creator’s authority, and all of mankind suffered. Paul wrote about this to the church in Rome, and for us today. Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. (Romans 5:12-13). Many of the laws being enacted today do not consider this idea of mankind being of one blood. Nor do these laws recognize something called sin. Today, many people are becoming more and more lawless, as evil seems to be increasing in this world. This is not some new thing as we can see evil flourishing when we read our Bible.
Paul next wrote about how Jesus coming into this world is the answer to how this death sentence imposed by Adam’s sin is offset or forgiven through grace because this God/man came into the world to forgive all our sins. This did not stop the death sentence imposed because of the original sin committee by Adam, but it does allow salvation for our immortal soul. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come. But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! (Romans 5:14-15). Has this gift overflowed to you through your acceptance of coming to know this Jesus who came into the sin cured world to free us from our sinful nature inherited through Adam’s sin?
It is the Christmas season and it is time to expect a wonderful gift from God. God sent His Son to be born in a lowly stable not in a castle befitting of a king, yet this Jesus became the King of kings! However, this King wants you to be His friend, not His servant! However, He does desire for you to be the servant of other members of mankind. Jesus is the reason for the season, because He came not to punish mankind because of their sinful nature, but to free them from this evil nature.
Amazing love of God for mankind is the reason for this truly free gift!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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