Talk of JESUS . com

Tag: Christ

An Adjudicator of Grace in Every Era
What is the first SCRIPTURE that comes to mind when I ask you to tell me about GRACE?
```
Go ahead and COMMMENT with the first BIBLE verse YOU recall.

& Tell us what it speaks to YOU that exemplifies GRACE.
```
Grace for the Everyday Sinner in 2024 C.E.

Last time in my initial post of this SERIES I introduced GRACE linked to its root words of both the OLD and NEW TESTAMENTS of the Holy Bible.

Since only 15 of the 132 verses naming Grace occur in the Old Testament chances are that the first Bible verse you might SHARE about GRACE will come from the NEW TESTAMENT.

New Covenant GRACE

DYK that “Testament” διαθήκη – diatheke is the rendering of a Hebrew word meaning a “covenant” or agreement?

Was the grace of God different in the OLD TESTAMENT?

Has the grace of God changed in the Common Era of our post-Christian correctness?
```
You may as well offer your comments on those two questions as well.
```
But before I take on any contemporary question of grace in the Common Era let’s take a look back to one of the oldest illustrations of the Old Testament.

Old Covenant GRACE

JOB – a man blameless, upright, fearing God, and turning away from evil
There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job..

map source: BibleAtlas.org
Click here to learn more about Job from previous posts and resources.

(I encourage you to ask questions and share comments on these posts as well. – RH)

A man there hath been in the land of Uz — Job his name — and that man hath been perfect and upright — both fearing God, and turning aside from evil.
Job 1:1 Youngs Literal Translation

PERFECT, UPRIGHT AND BLAMELESS?

That could NOT have been this fallen sinner of the Common Era?

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

Job was a penultimate Old Testament example of a righteous man as GOD requires of those who worship Him.
Roger@TalkofJesus.com

IF any man deserved GRACE it certainly would have been Job.

Yet Satan is as involved in this unseen story of a mere man as he was in the events of Eden.
```
Some Christians will no more consider the impact of unseen evil in our daily lives than did Job's friends and speculative advisors. 

But other than your QUESTION about this post that would be a discussion for another day.)
```
Have YOU ever heard OR given such ill-conceived advice as Job’s advisors?

Men and women typically try to conceive answers concerning God’s providence with little consideration or understanding of God’s redeeming grace.

Friendly Unhelpful Observations
- Eliphaz Says the Innocent Do Not Suffer
“Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright wiped out? – Job 4:4

In an earthly sense, is this not an everyday occurrence in every era?

Job answers:

“For the despairing man lovingkindness should be from his friend;
But he forsakes the fear of the Almighty.
Job 6:14 LSB

Lovingkindness received from a friend is surly the fruit of grace. But Job does not receive it here.
- Bildad Claims God Rewards the Good
(Yet do the so-called good men and women have their rewards in this brief life?)

If you would seek God earnestly
And plead for the grace of the Almighty,
If you are pure and upright,
Indeed now He would rouse Himself for you
And make your righteous abode at peace.
Though your beginning was insignificant,
Yet your end will increase greatly.
Job 8:5-7 LSB (ill-conceived advice of a friend and advisor to Job)

Ah! — Here Job’s smiling friend offers him a cheap grace of the Almighty bringing His power into his friend’s life NOW!

Job’s best Life could be filled with blessings before his end in death (never mentioned).

Is GRACE simply an increase of life’s everyday blessings?

Job Replies There Is No Adjudicator

Picture now a scene in the Heavenly Court of the Old Testament BEFORE God’s revelation of a perfect Priest and Mediator of Christ the only Son of a better Sacrifice for man’s sin.

JOB ASKS THE ENDURING QUESTION OF EVERY AGE:

But how can a man be in the right before God?
Job 9:2b LSB

If one desired to contend with Him,
He could not answer Him once in a thousand times.

Wise in heart and mighty in power,
Who has stiffened his neck against Him and been at peace?

Where do YOU stand before God
```
Job continues his hopeless defense (without the Perfect Powerful Advocate pleading his case for him:
```
the One who removes the mountains.. who shakes the earth.. out of its place..

Who alone stretches out the heavens,
And tramples down the waves of the sea..

10 Who does great things, unsearchable,
And wondrous works, innumerable.

11 Were He to sweep by me, I would not see Him;
Were He to move past me, I would not perceive Him.
12 Were He to snatch away, who could turn Him back?
Who could say to Him, ‘What are You doing?’
```
After Job's irrefutable argument worthy of any courtroom case he then makes an astounding statement concerning GRACE before the One Lord God.
```
“For though I were right,
I could not answer [plead my case];
I would have to plead for the grace of my judge.
Job 9:15 LSB
```
I would make supplication to my judge. - KJV
```
I would beg mercy of my Judge. – NKJV

Even if I were right, I would have no defense.
I could only plead for mercy. – says the New Living Translation of Job’s silent plea.

“I must appeal for mercy to my accuser and judge” suggests Job.

The MERCY of the LORD relates to HIS graciousness rather than OUR righteousness.
Roger@TalkofJesus.com

A blessing of Numbers 6 guides our prayer and plea

6:25 יָאֵר יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ׃ ס

The Adjudicator of Grace, Mercy and Peace

Many would attempt to plead their own case before the Judge!

I would — possibly even as I accuse every accuser who has brought me before the Authority to determine MY GUILT and PUNISH MY SIN.

Of course ALL of us tend to demand JUSTICE for all, i.e. ‘everybody else’, even while covering every personal trespass against others and expecting MERCY in the disposition of our own case.

Even in a Court of Law in a great America of the past …

Job, A RIGHTEOUS MAN (which NONE OF US are), presents a stellar defense before God, the Father of all mercies.

HOWEVER first, the JUDGE of all men has something to say to the accused who had asked to represent himself before God.

Then Yahweh answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,

“Who is this that darkens counsel
By words without knowledge?

Now gird up your loins like a man, And I will ask you, and you make Me know!
Job 38:1-3 LSB

After a lengthy introduction to JUSTICE by the JUDGE OF ALL MEN Job will relent in his plea with an appropriate answer.

“WHO NEEDS GRACE?”

The simple answer to our own case in every instance is that WE ALL NEED Mercy, Forgiveness and Grace.

The legal question before the Heavenly Seat of Judgment is:

WHO can represent a SINNER so that I might receive MERCY and GRACE?

Then Yahweh answered Job and said,

2 “Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty?
Let him who reproves God answer it.”

Job recognizes the flaw in attempting to be his own counsel.

Then Job answered Yahweh and said,

“Behold, I am insignificant; what can I respond to You?

I place my hand over my mouth. Once I have spoken, and I will not answer; Even twice, and I will add nothing more.”
Job 40:3-5 LSB

JOB, A RIGHTEOUS MAN, has a dilemma and can only keep silent before his Judge.

In fact, Job has no Advocate and therefore must rely on any undeserved mercy from God the Father of all mankind before Whom he stands guilty.

Is Job’s judicial dilemma common to YOU — even in this 21st century — post-Christian –Common Era?

NEXT:

God-willing, we will defer to our only Mediator and Advocate

“Even now, behold, my witness is in heaven,

And my advocate is on high.
Job 16:19 LSB
January 18, 2024
Apollos and Paul – Apostles crossing paths
Apollos arrives in Ephesus

Acts 18:

The Connection of Christ’s Missions

21 But on taking leave of them he said, “I will return to you if God wills,” and he set sail from Ephesus.

[No mention here of Silas, Luke or Timothy also part of this 2nd mission. Email me or comment if you know where these apostles of the church might be as Paul begins his 3rd missionary journey. – Roger@TalkofJesus.com ]
```
Notice where Ephesus fits into our A.D. 51-52 timeline as the noted Jewish teacher Saul of Tarsus [Paul] departs and Apollos, another notable Jewish apostle to the gentiles begins working alongside disciples of The Way of the Messiah Jesus.

Priscilla and Aquila (also Jews) remain in Ephesus as Paul sails back to Jerusalem and Antioch, Syria [his home church].
```
Paul’s Third Missionary Journey Begins

23 After spending some time there, he departed and went from one place to the next through the region of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

As you can see on a map more familiar to Saul of Tarsus than 21st century christians who simply see modern Turkey, the Apostle Paul has once again set out to visit the churches of his Second Missionary Journey.

Ephesus is miles ahead where Paul will journey through the mountains to the Aegean coast where Apollos has already arrived and preached.
```
Luke continues his detailed account of Acts of the Apostles by way of introduction to Apollos.
```
Who is this Messianic Jew Apollos?

24 Now a Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus.
- He was an eloquent man,
- competent in the Scriptures.
- 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord.
  - (Not by Paul, but by other disciples of the risen Christ.)
- And being fervent in spirit,
- he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus..
```
We'll leave it there for the moment. 
Pretty good credentials for a new Preacher of Jesus to the Jews in Asia Minor (Ephesus).
```
Apollos the Baptist

Now, perhaps, some controversy might arise from calling apollos a ‘Baptist.’ This is no mere division of denomination of an early church in Asia Minor. No, the Baptist moniker in the year of our Lord 52 would have referred to the preaching of John the Baptist.

MANY would have heard of the Baptist, perhaps even hearing him preach prior to Herod beheading him.
```
A.D. 30 - Twenty some years earlier from Luke's Gospel (yet to be published ten years from now along with ACTS of the Apostles sometime between A.D. 60 and A.D. 62.)
```
Gospel of Luke 9:

Verses 18-21 Legacy Standard Bible

And it happened that while He [JESUS] was praying alone, the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying,

“Who do the crowds say that I am?”

And they answered and said,

“John the Baptist, and others say Elijah, but others, that one of the prophets of old has risen again.” And He said to them,

“But who do you say that I am?”

And Peter answered and said, “The Christ of God.”

But He warned them and directed them not to tell this to anyone..
- AND suppose that Apollos and other disciples had heard The Baptist preach and yet as must have been the case for many never heard the Christ of God preach in Person?
- What might these disciples of JESUS recall some twenty years later?
Luke 3:

[John] .. came into all the district around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins;
```
Now unlike most 21st century christians, these 1st century Jews knew their SCRIPTURE!
```
as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,
```
“THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS,

‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD,

MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.

‘EVERY RAVINE WILL BE FILLED,

AND EVERY MOUNTAIN AND HILL WILL BE BROUGHT LOW;

THE CROOKED WILL BE STRAIGHT,

AND THE ROUGH ROADS SMOOTH.
```
AND ALL FLESH WILL SEE THE SALVATION OF GOD.’”
Luke 3:6 LSB quoting: Isa 40:5; Isa 49:6; Isa 52:10

a response to Apollos OR The Baptist OR JESUS

“But indeed the ax is already laid at the root of the trees; therefore, every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”

And the crowds were questioning him, saying, “Then what should we do?”
Luke 3:9-10 LSB

John answered, saying to them all,

“As for me, I baptize you with water, but One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to untie the strap of His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

“His winnowing fork is in His hand to thoroughly clear His threshing floor and to gather the wheat into His barn,

but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

So with many other exhortations he proclaimed the gospel to the people.

Gospel of Luke 3:18 LSB of the preaching of John the Baptist

Refining the Preaching of Apollos

Acts 18 continued in Ephesus

26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue, but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
```
It is expected that mature believers must instruct new followers of JESUS Christ more accurately. 

Even as Aquilla must have given exhortation to Apollos, the Apostle Paul on the way to Ephesus is most like doing the same as he revisits the new churches of previous missionary journeys (some to whom the Apostles has already written an Epistle).
```
27 And when he wished to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples to welcome him.

God-willing, ACTS of the apostles Paul, Apollos, Aquila and many others — To be continued

Talk of JESUS . com

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
September 1, 2023
Some thoughts about 10 years and more
Some LIVE thoughts from Roger

HERE is where you can add your COMMENTS & birthday wishes IF you read what I write.

Thoughts from TODAY
```
Throughout this post
```
and below some thoughts, quotes & links from the 1000+ posts on TalkofJESUS.com.

Don’t forget to COMMENT BELOW

and

Come back later TODAY OR TOMORROW to see what may again become PRIVATE from the archives of my library of thoughts, scriptures and writing from personal things about Roger over the years.
```
MORE surprises later...
```
God-willing, REGULAR UPDATES TODAY ONLY. —

To be continued…

Roger

Thought from my first post –

Jesus interrupts our thinking that life is burdensome or ordinary.

Every moment has the possibility for a miraculous interruption of interaction in the will of God.

Life Interrupts Life – August 6, 2013

Follow Me.

Thought 10 years later: Twitter is now brand X – Facebook is now Meta – JESUS IS still ONE with GOD!

Series of thoughts about EMPIRE

We live in a FALLEN world where Christ followers are aliens (not truly citizens) in FALLEN EMPIRES.
Roger@TalkofJesus.com – 21 August in the year of our Lord 2023

The lessons of history and specifically Scripture sound the trumpet of warning in these last days. Is the United States of America any less likely to fall than the EMPIRE of Rome know to JESUS?

EMPIRE Fallen; Church Divided traces the beginnings of CHURCH HISTORY as related to historical events also linked to Christian faith.

The concept of the Falling CHURCH has been food for thought since my early posts. Here is a quote from an early series RE-Posted as a Summer Rerun in A.D. 2021:

8 August, 2013 A.D. – This time in history.

Genesis 1:2a King James Version – And the earth was without form, and void…

Creation, mankind, nations, the church, families and individuals ALL have a history.

“Most history is untold and unknown to most.
Roger@TalkofJesus.com – Thought from a 3 min. introduction to a 3-part series EMPIRE Fallen; Church Divided

Roger writes for Christian believers

false – for it is intolerant of Christ and Scripture

GOD Allows Violence

“Sin against God Almighty will be judged. Sin of false prophets will be judged. Sin of godless religious and national leaders will be judged. Sin of godless men will be judged. – August 17, 2013 AD

Paul and his Christian brothers write to the churches. They are not claiming to write to everyone in Galatia or Corinth or EVERYONE anywhere else in the idol-worshiping gentile world. Is that OUR approach?

Isn’t it nice to watch some preacher online (or on T.V.) and conveniently claim to the culture that you are ‘a christian?” ARE YOU? Simply because YOU watched some christian preacher saying graceful things?

But Not ALL Preaching is Scripturally motivated
Distinction between the Kingdom and the Church of Christ – 9/24/2022 AD

ONLY Scripture – Sola Scriptura

An ongoing thought & caution:

True of False Teaching?

a 2 minute read, BUT do my ‘christian’ ‘friends’ bother to HEAR Scripture & respond?

AGAIN, the challenge of 2013 remains among the challenges of A.D. 2023. What is true of false teaching? What source can you trust for TRUTH?

How is it that you can listen to false teachers for hours, yet will not READ your Bible even for minutes?
Do you believe the Bible? How will you know if your teacher is false?
Roger@TalkofJesus.com – August 13, 2013

Thoughts about gods and COUNTRY

And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.
Luke 20:15 LSB – thought from JESUS

Don’t you just love all the DEBATE every four years trying to buy a NEW Caesar for the Palace?
```
Roger has generally not take political sides nor does he avoid the debate as some of the arrogant leaders may spin their own outcomes.
```
Supposing that WE THE PEOPLE elect our Caesar’s as Idols of our EMPIRE only to carry daggers of assassination into hate week debates of NEWSPEAK every four years.

#2024NoTrumpNoHarris
Pilate *said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?”
The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar.” – Gospel of John 19:15 LSB
– YET the ‘christian’ right & ‘catholic’ ‘choice rights’ radically claim ‘religion without Christ’

The Unfaithful City

for the US election in the Common Era of 2014

JUSTICE is not only blind, but crippled by unrighteousness.
LAW is lost without AUTHORITY of GOD.
Roger@TalkofJesus.com – August 14, 2014 CE

FORGET POLITICS & RELIGION, CHRIST

IS THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL TOPIC!

You may have heard of the Trinity before,

but it will not impact your faith until you receive the Holy Spirit.
Roger@talkofJesus.com – June 12, 2021 Doctrine – GOD IS HOLY

About Roger + some theological thoughts

Job 27:11

A ‘life verse’ from Job, a righteous man questioning Almighty God.

For what is the hope of the godless, though he get him gain,
When God taketh away his soul?
9 Will God hear his cry,
When trouble cometh upon him?
10 Will he delight himself in the Almighty,
And call upon God at all times?
11 I will teach you concerning the hand of God;
That which is with the Almighty will I not conceal.
Job 27:8-11 ASV

Many of His Disciples Left Him – John 6:66

updated TODAY – is this a post-Covid christian direction?

A man of too many friends comes to ruin,

But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24
```
I have neither too many nor a friend closer than a brother.
For I have not been one to more than a few.

Lack of response by these here will verify the lonely truth of this. - RH
```
more about Roger
```
Written for this 'celebration' of my mortal life 3 years ago with some personal events and milestones available to ALL as one of my 1000+ posts written for my 'brothers & sisters' in Christ for 10 years. (I suppose not much has changed, but who really wants to hear what.)
```
70 Years (or so)?

Thought of this celebration: Today I have reached the ‘or so.’

Talk of JESUS . com

acts Bible Christ Christian christmas Church corinthians death deuteronomy exodus family fiction Genesis God Gospel heaven hebrews holy spirit Isaiah israel jerusalem Jesus jews John Lord love Luke mark Matthew messiah moses paul peter prayer prophets Proverbs Psalms repent Revelation Scripture series social truth witness worship

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel

a thought on my birthday
August 21, 2023