To: Scattered Israelites, spiritual and physical, called to be atOne with Jesus. 2/27/19, God’s 12^th month 22^nd day of Adar 1 until sunset.

The holy scriptures teach we Believers IN that we aren’t our own. Believers IN are spiritually surrendered to the will of our Creator. Paul explained as follows.

(Romans 8:5-11; “For those who live according to the flesh have their outlook shaped by the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit have their outlook shaped by the things of the Spirit. (6) For the outlook of the flesh is death, but the outlook of the Spirit is life and peace, because the outlook of the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to the law of God, nor is it able to do so. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. (9) You, “followers of Jesus, you Believers IN” however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, this person does not belong to Him. But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is your life because of, “Jesus’” righteousness. Moreover if the Spirit of the One who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, the One who raised Christ from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through His Spirit who lives in you.

(Rom 8:12-17; So then, brothers and sisters, we ‘followers of Jesus’ are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh (for if you live according to the flesh, you will die), but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live. (14) For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery leading again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit itself bears witness to our spirit that we are God’s children. And if children, then heirs (namely, heirs of God and also fellow heirs with Christ) – if indeed we suffer with Him so we may also be glorified with Him.”)

We each inherited a lawless “get for self nature” from Adam and Eve. A fleshly nature life that must ultimately die because of sin, or be changed from our sin nature to a gifted spiritual nature. A new supernatural gifted nature change through believing IN Jesus, “through whom is eternal life.” Jesus said we must be “born again” “born from above” “Fathered by God.”

(John 3:3- Jesus replied, ’to Nicodemus’ “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb and be born a second time, can he?” Jesus answered, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (6) What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must all be born from above.’ The wind blows wherever it will, and you hear the sound it makes, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”) The Holy Spirit, “spirit of truth” is like the wind blowing, “in that we don’t know or understand God’s working.” We know we’re a recipient of God’s spirit’s when we’ re gifted with a Godly desire to be atOne with Him. Jesus revealed and His apostle Paul explained.

(Philippians 2:12-18; “So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, continue working out your salvation with awe and reverence, (13) for the One bringing forth in you both the desire and the effort – for the sake of His good pleasure – is God. Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish though you live in a crooked and perverse society, in which you shine as lights in the world by holding on to the word of life so that on the day of Christ I will have a reason to boast that I did not run in vain nor labor in vain. (17) But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice together with all of you. And in the same way you also should be glad and rejoice together with me.”)

(1Peter 1:22-25; “You ’followers of Jesus’ have purified your souls by obeying the truth in order to show sincere mutual love. So love one another earnestly from a pure heart. (23_ You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God. (24) For all flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of the grass; the grass withers and the flower falls off, but the word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.”) Peter is quoting from Isaiah 40:6,8

To: Scattered Israelites, spiritual and physical, called to be atOne with Jesus. 2/27/19, God’s 12^th month 22^nd day of Adar 1 until sunset.

We intended to go through Peter’s first and second letters next, but decided to put his and Paul’s teaching, travels, personalities etc. together in one book. The book is titled, “Jesus’ Good News” as revealed to Paul and Peter. It’s available at Amazon and all major book outlets, in paper back and for download.

Sincerely; James Nelson

To: Scattered Israelites, spiritual and physical, called to be atOne with Jesus. 2/26/19, God’s 12^th month 21^th day of Adar 1 until sunset.

After giving a parable about a widow going to a judge often with her request and the judge finally relenting, Jesus said; “Won’t God give justice to His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay long to help them?” (Luke 18:8; “I tell you, He will give them justice speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”

(Luke 18:9-13; “Jesus also told this parable to some who were confident that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else. “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed about himself like this: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: extortionists, unrighteous people, adulterers – or even like this tax collector. (12) I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of everything I get.’ The tax collector, however, stood far off and would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, be merciful to me, sinner that I am!’ I tell you that this man went down to his home justified rather than the Pharisee. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”)

Self righteousness abounds with individuals and in nations calling themselves Christian, the division among people looking down on one another with hatred in their hearts is astronomical in our age. Belief in God is practically gone as so called higher unbelieving educators yield to the god of the age, “Satan.” Teaching such things like that puny man is capable of controlling climate, while condoning most all that our Creator God hates. We’re and the world is at the point of no return unless God supernaturally intervenes. The whole earth is very close to being as Sodom and Gomorra. Is anyone called to Believe IN?

(James 5:13-15; “Is anyone among you ‘Believers in God’ suffering? He should pray. Is anyone in good spirits? He should sing praises. Is anyone among you ill? He should summon the elders of the church, and they should pray for him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. (15) And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick and the Lord will raise him up – and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”)

“The Believer IN’S prayer of faith saves, sins forgiven and resurrection are sure.” Miraculous instant healing isn’t promised in this text! Other Believers IN praying for and anoint in the “nature” name of the Lord, initiated by gifted believing IN faith, is James’ teaching. It amounts to people knowing “to whom they belong” and belive that God is able to intervene, save, raise up and heal. “Believing IN faith comes from His reveling Jesus and Himself.” The deniers of creation, divisionary denominations and hostile individuals, conjured up hope faith, which isn’t necessarily bad, but they don’t realize such faith is merely superstition coming from within their fleshly nature. When people aren‘t converted to Jesus’ Way in every regard their prayers are empty. (James is speaking of spiritually gifted faith that comes with knowing God the Father and God the Son as they‘re manifested to be in His holy scriptures. Such gifted faith comes from God.

(James 5:16-17; “So confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness. Elijah was a human being like us, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain and there was no rain on the land for three years and six months!”) (Why did Elijah not want it to rain? God revealed and Elijah prayed accordingly. That defines the knowing faith James is writing about.)

(James 5:18; “Then he ’Elijah’ prayed again, and the sky gave rain and the land sprouted with a harvest. My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone turns him back, he should know that the one who turns a sinner back from his wandering path will save that person’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.”)

God revealed and Elijah prayed accordingly as did Jesus’ apostle peter when hearing of Dorcas - Tabitha’s death at Joppa. People asked Peter to come without delay (Acts 9:39-43; “So Peter got up and went with them, and when he arrived they brought him to the upper room. All the widows stood beside him, crying and showing him the tunics and other clothing Dorcas used to make while she was with them. (40) But Peter sent them all outside, knelt down, and prayed. Turning to the body, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” Then she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter, she sat up. He gave her his hand and helped her get up. Then he called the Saints and widows and presented her alive. This became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed in the Lord. So Peter stayed many days in Joppa with a man named Simon, a tanner.”) Elijah nor was Peter’s faith conjured up, God revealed and they as God ambassadors prayed accordingly.

Satan’s desire is to cause each Believer IN, to doubt and wonder from God’s gifted Truth - The Faith. When God the Father reveals Jesus as He’s manifested to be and we’re supernaturally “born from above” God’s spirit of truth, Holy Spirit, advocate or comforter is imputed to our minds. (John 14:21; “The person who has My commandments and obeys them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will reveal Myself to him.”) (John 14:25; “I have spoken these things while staying with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you everything, and will cause you to remember everything I said to you.”)

To: Scattered Israelites, spiritual and physical, called to be atOne with Jesus. 2/25/19, God’s 12^th month 20^th day of Adar 1 until sunset.

James said: Who knows what’s good and doesn’t do it is guilty of sin. Sin is lawlessness against God, our sin nature doesn’t naturally recognize the vulnerability it imposes until God our Father reveals Jesus. Then we can live humbly recognizing we’re but clay, “needing spiritual shaping to Jesus’ liking.” It’s the direction we’re led when gifted to believe IN Jesus.

James may have been present when the Pharisees ask his brother for a sign to prove that He was who He claimed to be.

(Matthew 12:38-42; “Then some of the experts in the law along with some Pharisees answered Jesus, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” But He answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish for three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights. (41) The people of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented when Jonah preached to them – and now, something greater than Jonah is here! The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon – and now, something greater than Solomon is here!”) See 1Kings 10:1-3, Josephus too wrote about “queen of the South” The south referring to modern S.W Arabia, modern Yemen and Ethiopia.

Generations living when Jesus spoke, along with Solomon’s and each generation since will be resurrected and face judgment! (Each in their own order, See 1Cor 15:23) They’ve all set aside times to honor imaginary gods. Considered idolatrous evil in God’s view. Such will be done away when Jesus returns. As Easter, which comes from, “the celebration of fertility.” Way back in Ezekiel’s day. God had him prophesy about such idolatry.

(Ezek 8:12-18; “He said to me, “Do you see, son of man, what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark, each in the chamber of his idolatrous images? For they think, ‘The Lord does not see us! The Lord has abandoned the land!’” He said to me, “You will see them practicing even greater abominations!” Then He brought me to the entrance of the north gate of the Lord’s house. I noticed women sitting there weeping for Tammuz. He said to me, “Do you see this, son of man? You will see even greater abominations than these!” (16) Then He brought me to the inner court of the Lord’s house. Right there at the entrance to the Lord’s temple, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty-five men with their backs to the Lord’s temple, facing east – they were worshiping the sun toward the east! (17) He said to me, “Do you see, son of man? Is it a trivial thing that the house of Judah commits these abominations they are practicing here? For they have filled the land with violence and provoked Me to anger, still further. Look, they are putting the branch to their nose! Therefore I will act with fury! My eye will not pity them nor will I spare them. When they have shouted in My ears, I will not listen to them.”)

Satan has the world believing God hears all denomination’s prayers.

James’ letter was written before the majority of “Acts of the Apostles” by Luke, Peter and Paul’s travels etc. It seems that James wrote before Peter’s visit to the home of Cornelius and God’s calling many gentiles. Though it is clear in the book of Acts, James understood, “perhaps better than most” the prophetic words through the prophets regarding God’s calling gentiles.

James’ letter to the dispersed tribes of Israel, is also with the knowledge that many Israelites were prideful of the customs handed to them through Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Moses. Remember James regarded himself as Jesus’ slave. (His salutation? “From James a slave of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes dispersed abroad. Greetings!) Revelations to Paul, gives us more understanding about God’s purpose and planning regarding both gentiles and Israelites being atOne.

(Romans 11:25-27;; “For I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: A partial hardening has happened to Israel until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: “The Deliverer will come out of Zion; He will remove ungodliness from Jacob. And this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins.” Paul is saying, Jesus’ covenant is with a people who are forgiven. Jesus’ apostles minds were miraculously opened to understand the holy scriptures, thus Paul is quoting from Isaiah 59:20-21, 27:9 and Jeremiah 31:33-34 in his exclamation.

(Rom 25:28-29; “In regard to the gospel they (“the Israelites”) are enemies for your “gentiles” sake, but in regard to election they are dearly loved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.”)

Promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Moses are irrevocable, many yet to be fulfilled.

(Rom 25:30- “Just as you ‘gentiles’ were formerly disobedient to God, but have now received mercy due to their “the Israelites” disobedience, so they too have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, “gentiles” they too may now receive mercy. For God has consigned all people to disobedience so that He may show mercy to them all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how fathomless His ways! (34) For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor? Or who has first given to God, that God needs to repay Him? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To God be glory forever! Amen.”)

Through God’s mercy seat, “now Jesus” both Israelites and all thought of as being foreigners have mercy through Jesus’ death, resurrection, ascension and now serving as our Mediatior before the Father. (The mercy seat in God’s first temple, looked forward to Jesus becoming “the mercy seat.” Study Exodus 25: - 40: and Leviticus 16:)

Jesus made it clear to the Pharisees and Sadducees, “you don’t recognize Me nor My Father” because it isn’t given to you to know at this time. (See Matt 13:11, Luke 8:10, 1Cor 2:12, 1John 4:13, & 5:20, Likewise today: “not many recognize the benefit of God the Father and God the Son being atOne and that all will be resurrected, “each in their own order.”

Jesus and James’ brother, “Jude” desired to write about the common salvation, but was compelled rather to write about the apostasy he was witnessing taking place. That common salvation is foreshadowed by God’s three seasons and seven annual Sabbaths. 15^th Nisan and 22^nd Nisan. First and seventh days of “The Feast of Unleavened Bread, Pentecost, Trumpets, Atonement and the Feast of Tabernacles first and eighth day.

Passover season.

Passover still looks forward to Jesus’ saving through His shed blood, “remission of the sins.” In Egypt the Lord Jesus had the Israelites put the blood of a lamb or goat on their door post, so they would be protected from the death angel, still looking forward to His own shed blood saving Believers IN Him from their sins. (1) First annual Sabbath, the 15^th day of Nisan. Jesus had them put leavening out from their dwellings for seven days, still foreshadows putting sins away from our life practices. Believing IN Jesus’ shed blood and our obedience saving from sin, gifting eternal life and a love of His law gifted. (2) Second annual Sabbath, 22nd day of Nisan, end of Feast

Pentecost.

(3) Pentecost “First Fruits” still looks forward to Jesus’ glorification and God the Father, imputing Believers IN with His spirit of truth, becoming atOne with God the Father, God the Son and one another. A greater fulfillment is destined to be during Jesus’ millennial kingdom on earth, when all Israel will be saved.

Feast of Tabernacles season.

(4) Trumpets still looks forward to the spiritual resurrection of Jesus Saints to serve with His. Satan bound for a thousand years. (5) Atonement still looks forward to our at-one-ment with Jesus, “seeing Him as He is” loving as He loves. (6) First day Feast of Tabernacles “Festival of Booths” still reminds that our physical lives are temporary, future peace, righteous judgment, Israel’s deliverances from their enemies, their enemies recognizing and coming to learn about their God and peace on earth. (7) The seventh annual Sabbath, eighth day of feast “Last Great Day” still looks forward to final Judgment, unrepentant person’s second death and New Jerusalem’s coming down with God the Father and submitting to the Father.

Israelites living in temporary dwellings and worshiping God exampled knowledge that temporary booths represents physical lives being temporary and looked forward to permanency. James and Jude could have included these holy seasons but were compelled to write about our overcoming this inherited from Adam nature, our resisting Satan’s deceptions, the apostasy taking place and overcoming pulls of the flesh to the end.

Gifted Desire to Overcome.

James 5:1-6; “Come now, you rich! Weep and cry aloud over the miseries that are coming on you. Your riches have rotted and your clothing has become moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have rusted and their rust will be a witness against you. It will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have hoarded treasure! Look, the pay you have held back from the workers who mowed your fields cries out against you, and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived indulgently and luxuriously on the earth. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person, although he does not resist you.”) In this age the rich and worldly educated yield to the “falsely, so-called science” regarding everything from God’s being Creator, to family values and child rearing.

Wait on Jesus’ Revelations and Return.

(James 5:7-12; “So be patient, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s return. Think of how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the ground and is patient for it until it receives the early and late rains. You also be patient and strengthen your hearts, for the Lord’s return is near. Do not grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be judged. See, the judge stands before the gates! As an example of suffering and patience, brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the Lord’s name. Think of how we regard as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job’s endurance and you have seen the Lord’s purpose, that the Lord is full of compassion and mercy. And above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath. But let your “Yes” be yes and your “No” be no, so that you may not fall into judgment.”) Swearing may include our speaking and teaching as if we know, “about things that aren’t revealed.” We should not think so highly of ourselves as to swear about what we think we know, what we learned from worldly education and what seems right to our inherited nature. Think, “if God reveals and is willing we will do such and such.” All God’s prophets, His apostles and many others are our examples of patiently persevering to the end.

To: The called and people being called to be atOne with Jesus. 2/23/19, God’s 12^th month 18^th day of Adar 1 until sunset.

To have mercy is to be an object of another’s favorable disposition or action,” “to be a recipient of another’s favor, kindness.” The favor/kindness is sometimes earned, in response to an action or condition (see Gen 32:5; 39:4; Deut 24:1; 1 Sam 25:8; Prov 3:4; Ruth 2:10). This is the case in Gen 6:8, where v. 9 gives the basis (Noah’s righteous character) for the divine favor. Jesus’ apostle Paul explains that Jesus is our mercy seat.

(Romans 3:23-26; “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. But they “we believers IN Jesus” are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God “the Father” publicly displayed Him at His death as the mercy seat accessible through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because God in His forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed. This was also to demonstrate His righteousness in the present time, so that He “God the Father” would be just and the justifier of the one who lives because of Jesus’ faithfulness.”)

The Christian life revolves around Jesus’ faithfully giving of Himself for the remission of our sins! (Jesus died because of our individual sins.)

Many unbelieving professing Christians have a problem with James’ letter to newly converted gentiles. Assuming newly converted gentiles could live by a lesser standard, “only turning from things defiled by idols, sexual immorality and blood.” NO, this isn’t what James is saying. (Instructing gentiles to demonstrate a change from their previous abominable practices and show genuine sincerity by yielding to these three basics.) This is parallel to foreigners in Moses day submitting to circumcision in order to become a part of Israel. (James wrote; “Therefore I conclude that we should not cause extra difficulty for those among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we should write them a letter telling them to abstain from things defiled by idols and from sexual immorality and from what has been strangled and from blood. For Moses has had those who proclaim him in every town from ancient times, because he is read aloud in the synagogues every Sabbath.” Acts 15:19)

Three basic things were particularly abominable to God “practices foreign to Israelite’s Godly gifted customs. Turning from these idolatrous customs wasn’t easy when their society condoned them. Things defiled by idols included their keeping times honoring imaginary gods, discarding statues, carved images and certainly to stop bowing to such. All followers of Jesus’ must submit to Christ like behavior. Paul explained in his letter to the gentile Ephesians.

(Eph 2:17-22; “And He “Jesus” came and preached peace to you who were far off “gentiles in the flesh” and peace to those who were near, “Israelites” so that through Jesus we both, “Israelites and gentiles” have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you “gentiles” are no longer foreigners and non-citizens, but you are fellow citizens with the Saints and members of God’s household, because you have been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the Cornerstone. In Him the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.”) Individually, every Christian is, “being built into God’s dwelling place!” Now back to James’ chapter 3:

(James 3:1- 6; “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we will be judged more strictly. For we all stumble in many ways. If someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect individual, able to control the entire body as well. And if we put bits into the mouths of horses to get them to obey us, then we guide their entire bodies. Look at ships too: Though they are so large and driven by harsh winds, they are steered by a tiny rudder wherever the pilot’s inclination directs. (5) So too the tongue is a small part of the body, yet it has great pretensions. Think how small a flame sets a huge forest ablaze. And the tongue is a fire! The tongue represents the world of wrongdoing among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the entire body and sets fire to the course of human existence – and is set on fire by hell.”) James’ point is that we need to control our speech and particularly, teach truth.

Some translators used the word “hell” when another word is better. Idea that there’s a place, where an ever burning fire is reserved for unrepentant sinners isn‘t scriptural. It evolved over time from gentiles and took hold among Israelites as well. Translators quoting Jesus’ use are yielded to tradition, He’s actually saying, “Gehenna.” Translated, “hell” in the Greek its (γέεννα, geenna) and Hebrew its (ge Hinnom)“Valley of Hinnom”) This was the valley along the south side of Jerusalem. In Olden times it was used for human sacrifices to the pagan gods Molech and Baal (see Jeremiah 7:31; 19:5-6; 32:35), The valley of Hinmon was used as a place where human excrement and rubbish were disposed and burned. In the inter-testament period, it came to be used symbolically as the place of divine punishment. (See Ezra 7:36). There is a diving punishment for evil, including Satan and his followers. A second fire, sulfur and brimstone eternal death awaits those who refuse to believe IN and be obedient to Jesus’ way. The second death is found four time in “Jesus’ Revelations to John” See Revelations 21:8.

As Jesus’ apostles went out proclaiming His good news, they were witnesses to Jesus’ life, Word, “Jesus’ revelations gifting understanding of the prophecies relating to His birth, teaching, death, resurrection, ascension and His return to establish God’s kingdom. They had the Old Testament scriptures and perhaps James’ letter after a few years.

As we’ll see, Jesus’ brother James was concerned for Jesus’ followers, teaching that we practice self control as we join in service to the resurrected Lord “Jesus.” Though not explaining our inherited from Adam nature that leads to eternal death, but the new gifted nature through Jesus leading to everlasting life. He exposes our fleshly pulls leading to conflicts.

(James 4:1; “Where do the conflicts and where do the quarrels among you come from? Is it not from this? from your passions that battle inside you? (Our fleshly inherited from Adam nature that results in eternal death, if not miraculously changed.)

To: The called and people being called to be atOne with Jesus. 2/22/19, God’s 12^th month 17^th day of Adar 1 until sunset.

Jesus’ apostle Paul explained that when we’re gifted to love God, “His love is shed abroad in our hearts.”

(Romans 5:1-5; “Therefore, since we “Christians” have been declared righteous by “Jesus” faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of God’s glory. Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”) When God’s love is shed abroad to our minds, we love His Way, His law, we hate the things He hates and love the things He loves. It isn’t a confusing faith that allows a person to be blown about like the wind, “not double minded.” People who don’t have the love of God shed abroad in the mind, conjure up a faith based on denominational or personal theories. The character to do the works of the true Jesus’ faith is lacking.

(James 2:14-19; “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but does not have ’Jesus’’ works? (Jesus’ message) Can this kind of faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm and eat well,” but you do not give them what the body needs, what good is it? So also faith, if it does not have works, is dead being by itself. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by my works. You believe that God is One; well and good. Even the demons believe that – and tremble with fear.”)

(James 2:20-26; “But would you like evidence, you empty fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? You see that his faith was working together with his works and his faith was perfected by works. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Now Abraham believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And similarly, was not Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by another way? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”) Let’s meditate on this when we are tempted not to keep God’s Sabbaths in memory: His Sabbaths and His Ways. God’s imputing His spirit of truth to our minds is, “a birth from above” making us atOne with Him. His fathering is gifted immortality and miraculously sheds His love abroad in our heart. We’re alive in Jesus when begotten of His spirit.

Before Jesus’ came in the flesh and after His ascension for a time, the Jerusalem temple was managed by a high Priest, “of Levite’s tribe,” a mix of Pharisees and Sadducees persuasions. Roman authorities had allowed mostly Judean’s back and the temple rebuilt. Israelites were scattered among gentile populations. But “the Lord God Jesus” had another temple rebuilding in mind, planned long before His coming in the flesh. He had Isaiah name the One who’d bring it about.

(Isaiah 44:26-28; “Who fulfills the oracles of His prophetic servants and brings to pass the announcements of His messengers, who says about Jerusalem, ‘She will be inhabited, ’and about the towns of Judah, ‘They will be rebuilt, her ruins I will raise up,’ who says to the deep sea, ‘Be dry! I will dry up your sea currents,’ (28) who commissions Cyrus, the one appointed as shepherd to carry out all My wishes and to decree concerning Jerusalem, ‘She will be rebuilt,’ and concerning the temple, ‘It will be reconstructed.’”

(Isa 45:1-13; “This is what the Lord says to His chosen one, to Cyrus, whose right hand I hold in order to subdue nations before him, and disarm kings, to open doors before him, so gates remain unclosed: “I will go before you and level mountains. “governments.” Bronze doors I will shatter and iron bars I will hack through. (3) I will give you hidden treasures, riches stashed away in secret places, so you may recognize that I am the Lord, the One who calls you by name, the God of Israel. For the sake of My servant Jacob, Israel, My chosen one, I call you ‘Cyrus’ by name and give you a title of respect, even though you do not recognize Me. I am the Lord, I have no peer, there is no God but Me.” (As always, study the whole.) The Lord God, ‘Jesus’ had Isaiah name and prophecy Cyrus’ rule and gifted characteristics before his birth.

(Isaiah 45:9-13; “One who argues with his Creator is in grave danger, one who is like a mere shard among the other shards on the ground! The clay should not say to the Potter, “What in the world are you doing? Your work lacks skill!” Danger awaits one who says to his father, “What in the world are you fathering?” and to his mother, “What in the world are you bringing forth?” This is what the Lord says, the Holy One of Israel, the One who formed him, ’Israel’ concerning things to come: “How dare you question Me about My children! How dare you tell Me what to do with the work of My own hands! (12) I made the earth, I created the people who live on it. It was Me – My hands stretched out the sky, I give orders to all the heavenly lights. It is Me – I stir him ‘Cyrus’ up and commission him; I will make all his ways level. He will rebuild My city; he will send My exiled people home, but not for a price or a bribe,” says the Lord who commands armies.”)

God raised up King Cyrus of Persia as prophesied some 700 years before. Cyrus fulfilled the Lord’s message spoken through Isaiah. The Lord stirred the mind of King Cyrus of Persia, to rebuild Judea and the temple in Jerusalem. (Thus said King Cyrus of Persia: “‘The Lord God of heaven has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has instructed me to build a temple for Him in Jerusalem, which is in Judah.” (Satan got in the way and troubled times followed, others ordered a stop to the rebuilding.) After Cyrus, God put King Darius in power, the temple problem was brought to his attention and he ordered a search of Cyrus’ records. It was found that Cyrus had given the following instructions.

(‘Let the temple be rebuilt as a place where sacrifices are offered. Let its foundations be set in place. Its height is to be ninety feet and its width ninety feet, with three layers of large stones and one layer of timber. The expense is to be subsidized by the royal treasury. Furthermore let the gold and silver vessels of the temple of God, which Nebuchadnezzar brought from the temple in Jerusalem and carried to Babylon, be returned and brought to their proper place in the temple in Jerusalem. Let them be deposited in the temple of God.’”) Darius then gave the order and rebuilding continued. See Ezra 1: - 6: This is the same temple Jesus predicted that would be torn down later.

Jesus had Isaiah prophesy about some Israelites returning and the temple rebuilt. Satan is still allowed to cause a hatred toward God’s Way people, over the whole world. Today Jews and followers of Jesus are hated. The little nation “Israel” will likely to be over run again, unless God shortens time for the Elect’s sake.

(Matthew 24:15-22; “So when you see the abomination of desolation – spoken about by Daniel the prophet – standing in the holy place (let the reader understand) then those in Judea must flee to the mountains. The one on the roof must not come down to take anything out of his house, and the one in the field must not turn back to get his cloak. (19) Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing their babies in those days! Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be great suffering unlike anything that has happened from the beginning of the world until now, or ever will happen. And if those days had not been cut short, no one would be saved. But for the sake of the Elect those days will be cut short.”)

Why would God have mercy and “pass over” selected people’s sins? Because of His mercy and promises to Abraham, Moses, David and His prophets. Except our sins, “lawlessness” be passed over, everyone’s sin nature inherited from Adam must die an eternal death. But Jesus, our Passover, resurrection, and through whom is life, shed His blood that our sin be remitted. Jesus revealed it to Paul and His followers.

(1Corinthians 15:20-23;” But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, “Adam” the resurrection of the dead also came through a man. “Jesus.“ (22) For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; then when Christ comes, those who belong to Him.”) Eternal death is the result of disobedience, but God made the way for His chosen to inherit eternal life through Jesus.

(1Cor 15:24-26; “Then comes the ‘millennial’ end, when He, “Jesus” hands over the kingdom to God the Father, when He, “Jesus” has brought to an end all rule and all authority and power. For He, “Jesus” must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be eliminated is death.”) It’s prophesied that Jesus will rule with His Saints, 1,000 years, Satan to be bound, the first resurrection is His called out Saints, and then all Israel is to be saved, “resurrected” miraculously delivered to the borders promised Abraham. (see Isaiah 35:)

Prior to New Jerusalem coming down, Satan will be released for a short season, to go out and deceive the likes of Gog & Magog. Satan and they will attempt to make war, but Jesus will destroy all evil, before New Jerusalem and God the Father comes down. (see Revelations 20: & 21:.)

No one deserves inheriting eternal life! Every individual has sinned. All have inherited Adam and Eve’s sin, “lawless toward God” nature. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God. However, from the beginning, God made The Way through Creator Jesus, “justifying a called people, who believe IN because of Jesus’ faithfulness.”

To: The called and those being called to be atOne with Jesus. 2/19/19, God’s 12^th month 14^th day of Adar 1 until sunset.

James wrote his inspired epistle about 40-41 AD. His seems to be the first epistle written after Pentecost, proclaiming Jesus’ Good News from Jesus’ first church at Jerusalem. It seems Jesus’ apostle John with support of others organized the scriptures, likely from the island of Patmos where he was confined for teaching Jesus. James became the primary leader of, “The Church of God, Jerusalem.”

Jesus’ apostles, nor did any follower of Jesus ever dress in priestly attire after that Pentecost, following His ascension. Jesus purposely dressed like the average Judean. It is believed and likely provable that some of the Levite priest, serving the temple during Jesus’ ministry became “believers IN Jesus” and following His precepts in every way.

As Jesus predicted. unbelievers organized themselves, proclaimed themselves Jesus’ apostles, appointed a leader and called him, “Pope.” That organization grew into “the cultic apostate Jude recognized taking place and wrote about.” Per Jesus’ prophetic Word, that apostasy was destined to change times, bring in ungodly customs from paganism and practice times designed to honor imaginary pagan gods in the name of Jesus.

Jesus’ other apostles recognized James’ leadership. After Peter proclaimed Jesus’ good news to “gentile Cornelius and family they miraculously converted, but the church in Jerusalem was slow to accept that gentiles could become members. Peter and Barnabas, brought the issue before the Jerusalem church.

(Acts 15:12-18; “The whole group kept quiet and listened to Barnabas and Paul while they explained all the miraculous signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them. After they stopped speaking, James replied, “Brothers, listen to me. Simeon “Peter” has explained how God first concerned Himself to select from among the Gentiles a people for His name. The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written, ‘After this I will return, and I will rebuild the fallen tent of David; I will rebuild its ruins and restore it, so that the rest of humanity may seek the Lord, namely, all the Gentiles I have called to be My own, says the Lord, who makes these things known from long ago.” Quote from Amos 9:11-12)

James demonstrated the high degree of cultural sensitivity when he cited this version of Amos’s text. (The Septuagint Greek translation of the Old Testament that Gentiles would use.) Acts 15:19-21; “Therefore I “James” conclude that we should not cause extra difficulty for those among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we should write them a letter telling them to abstain from things defiled by idols and from sexual immorality and from what has been strangled and from blood. For Moses has had those who proclaim him in every town from ancient times, because he “Moses” is read aloud in the synagogues every Sabbath.”) James is not saying, these three things would be all that’s required of the gentiles for salvation. These are the changes necessary to demonstrate a believing IN change from their previous practices.

No doubt, James, with his mother, other brothers and sisters witnessed all Jesus’ deeds, “turning water into aged wine, healings, resurrecting Lazarus, ascending to heaven and no doubt, James was a recipient of God’s gifted Spirit of Truth on that Pentecost after ascension. (James’ mind was miraculously opened to understand the scriptures.) His letter to God’s called out people predates the book of Acts and Paul’s letters. Note that James’ epistle is going out to the dispersed Israelites, the majority of whom still are.

(James 1:1;; ““From James, a slave of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes dispersed abroad. Greetings!” (Note that no apostle in their salutation ever included, “The Holy Spirit - The Spirit of Truth” or “spirit of a sound mind” with God the Father and Jesus Christ, because the Holy Spirit isn‘t an individual deity as is God the Father and God the Son.) Do a study, check original: “He” should read “that one” or “it.” “Jesus said; I’ll ask the Father and He’ll give you another (advocate, “K James Version comforter” Holy Spirit, spirit of truth or spirit of a sound mind.) These all identify the holy spirit. (John 14:12-13; “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. But when “that one” he, ’it’ the Spirit of truth, comes, “that one” he; ‘it’ will guide you into all truth. For “that one” he ’it’ will not speak on “that one’s” his ’its’ own authority, but will speak whatever “that one” he ‘it’ hears, and will tell you what is to come.”) If the spirit of truth were a deity, it could speak with its own authority, not necessarily what only it hears.

(John 14:15-17; “If you love me, you will obey My commandments. Then I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever – (17) the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it ’the world’ does not see ‘that one” him “it” or know “that one” him “it.” But you know “that one” him “it” (the spirit of truth) because “that one” he “it” resides with you and will be in you.”) Jesus identifies the advocate as the spirit of truth and at 1Timothy 1:7 Paul identifies it as “spirit of a sound mind.” (John 16:12-16; “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. (13) But when “that one” he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he ’that one’ will guide you into all truth. For that one will not speak on his own authority, but will speak whatever it hears, and will tell you what is to come. (14) He ’that one’ will glorify Me, because that one will receive from Me what is mine and will tell it to you. Everything that the Father has is Mine; that is why I said the Spirit will receive from Me what is Mine and will tell it to you. In a little while you will see Me no longer; again after a little while, you will see Me.”

To: The called and those being called to be atOne with Jesus. 2/18/19, God’s 12^th month 13^th day of Adar 1, until sunset.

Jesus’ apostles ask Him, “then who can be saved?” (Matt 19:26-30; Jesus looked at them and replied, “This is impossible for mere humans, but for God all things are possible.” Then Peter said to Him, “Look, we have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth: In the age when all things are renewed, when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne, you ’twelve’ who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (29) And whoever has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for My sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”)

From Adam to when Jesus ascended, “we have no record of a national people being calling by promise and deliverance by promise as were Jacob’s descendents. No people group has ever been delivered and led by promise as were the Israelites “from sin’s bondage.” Creator Jesus called Moses to be Israel’s deliverer through Himself. He made Israel His holy people by promise. Israelites are the only people purposely put in a sinful bondage situation to be miraculously delivered by a covenant promise. It was all planned and promise to Abraham 430 years before deliverance. Israel’s whole history is for our example and learning.

Israel’s bondage situation parallels our individuals sin condition before God our Father revealed Jesus and our individual sin nature’s condition. As are Jacob’s descendents, we followers of Jesus are spiritual Israelites and saved by the same covenant promises made to Abraham. Jesus’ apostle Paul was given to understand.

(Gal 3:28-29; “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female – for all of you ‘Christians’ are atOne in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to the promise.”)

When Israel was in bondage to Egypt, the Egyptians were about as pagan as could be. When Jesus through Moses caused plagues on them, “that was Godly love.” Forty plus years later when pagan Amorites were killed and their lands given to Israel, “that was Godly love.” God told Abraham about Israel’s future bondage and whose lands they’d afterward occupy and why.

(Gen 15:13-16; “They will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years. But I will execute judgment on the nation that they will serve. Afterward they will come out with many possessions. But as for you, you will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. In the fourth generation your descendants will return here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its limit.”) God’s putting limits on people’s lawless behavior is Godly Love. The whole world is now in lawless mode, sins have about reached God’s limit. Creator Jesus dying for the sins of the world was Godly Love.

The Passover Israelites kept in Egypt, looked forward to the Passover Jesus would keep, “sacrificing His blood” for remission of the world’s sins. People called to believe IN and accept His blood sacrifice for their saving will be spared the grief planned for this lawless world. Followers of Jesus are, as were, “the Israelites” saved by the same promises made to Abraham. It’s Godly love. Jesus’ apostles revealed “we’re a holy nation.”

(1Peter 2:4-10; “So as you ’Christians’ come to him, ‘Jesus’ a living stone rejected by men but chosen and priceless in God’s sight, you yourselves, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood and to offer spiritual sacrifices that are acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (6) For it says in scripture, “Look, I lay in Zion a stone, a chosen and priceless cornerstone, and whoever believes IN Him will never be put to shame.” (Quote from Isaiah 28:16) So you who believe ‘IN’ see His value, but for those who do not believe, the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, and a stumbling-stone and a rock to trip over. (Quotes from Psalms 118:22, Matt 21:42 & Acts 4:11).

They ’’the Israelites’ stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you “followers of Jesus” are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of His own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. (10) You ’Christians’ once were not a people, but now you are God’s people. You were shown no mercy, but now you have received mercy.”) Because of “Godly Love” planned from the foundation of the world. Christians are a chosen people, “in the world but not of the world” a chosen nation, “to and through Jesus, whom God the Father has revealed. A people whose desire is to be atOne with God, “now and forever!”

(Rom 3:27-31) “Where, then, is boasting? It’s excluded! By what principle? Of works? No, but by the principle of faith! ‘Faith in Jesus’ accomplishments on our behalf. (28) For we consider that a person is declared righteous by faith apart from the works of the law. Or is God the God of the Jews only? Is He not the God of the Gentiles too? Yes, of the Gentiles too! Since God is One, He will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. (31) Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not! Instead we uphold the law.”)

Believers IN. love the law because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts. There is no fear in Godly Love! Believers IN, love obedience because we love His righteous way, knowing He declaring us righteous by and through Jesus’ gifted faith.

Almighty God: thank You for calling and first loving us, thank You for Jesus and promises through Him. For revealing Jesus’ characteristics, His love, understanding and Your righteous Way. Thank You in Jesus’ name AMEN.

With the gifted imputation of God’s spirit, comes the realization that His Godly love was toward us while yet lawless. (1John 4:19; “We love because He loved us first.” Our calling and deliverance from the world’s corruptive path is God’s choosing. The principle of His choosing and loving us is the same as His loving Israel. Through His covenant promise with Abraham. After Jesus’ return, “Israel will again be delivered, not for any good in them nor on their part, but because He made a covenant promise.

What’s love? Our English dictionary defines “love” as “tender affections, feel desire, passionate desire etc. It’s one of the words we’re careless with. It should be defined as, “outgoing concern even as to self.” Young people particularly, confuse infatuation, physical attraction and lust with love. The lack of genuine love among people causes divorce, adultery, undisciplined children and war. Few are taught “God’s definition of love.

Instinctive protective concern is an inherited given, and is confused with love. Instinctive love is what we’re born with, “each person and most animal naturally have instinctive concern we ‘call love’ for their own. Some people develop selfishness to the degree that it “borders demonic.” Many are demonically influenced; “it’s the only way to define the Hitler like, barbaric hatred of Jews. For the most part people of this sort don’t even have protective, instinctively love for our own. Normally people have outgoing concern for “me, mine and ours” throughout their lives. Animals generally demonstrate protective concern for their own, “to a set growth stage.”

Our definition of love should be, “genuine outgoing love for others as for ourselves”) We need to recognize “there’s fleshly love and there’s Godly love.”

(1John 4:15-19; “If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God resides in him and he in God. And we, “followers of Jesus” have come to know and to believe the love that God has in us. God is love, and the one who resides in love resides in God, and God resides in him. (17) By this love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because just as Jesus is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears punishment has not been perfected in ‘Godly’ love. (19) We love because He loved us first.

We have Godly love, only when He reveals Himself to us individually, revealing that He loved us first. Until God makes Himself known, we can only humanly develop, “genuine outgoing concern for others as for ourselves.”

For the most part God has always allowed the populations at large, “go the way that seemed right to themselves individually. God allowed Adam’s son, “Cain” rely on his own intellect, regarding his practices and sacrificing. We have the record of Cain’s error and that result. “Study Genesis 4:.” Jesus had that record brought forward through His apostle Paul, who wrote; “though dead, Cain’s brother Abel’s faith still speaks to us.”

(Heb 11:3-4; “By, “gifted’” faith we understand that the worlds were set in order at God’s command, so that the visible has its origin in the invisible. By faith Abel offered God a greater sacrifice than Cain, and through his faith he, “Abel” was commended as righteous, because God commended him for his offerings. And through his faith he “Abel” still speaks, though he is dead.”)

Abel still speaks to us through Jesus’ preserving that portion of his obedient life. Though allowed to go the way that seems right, the populations at large have always had Abel’s witness. Adam’s Son Seth became an obedient witness and afterward Abraham. Abraham’s life record still speaks and is available to the world. Abraham and other’s mistakes are made available for our learning. Though he walked with God, Abraham depended on his fleshly intellect at times. Like when he passed his wife off as his sister and was found out by Abimelech, who knew something of God’s Way.

(Gen 20:8-13; “Early in the morning Abimelech summoned all his servants. When he told them about all these things, they were terrified. Abimelech summoned Abraham and said to him, “What have you done to us? What sin did I commit against you that would cause you to bring such great guilt on me and my kingdom? You have done things to me that should not be done!” Then Abimelech asked Abraham, “What prompted you to do this thing?”

(11; Abraham replied, “Because I thought, ‘Surely no one fears God in this place. They will kill me because of my wife.’ What’s more, she is indeed my sister, my father’s daughter, but not my mother’s daughter. She became my wife. When God made me wander from my father’s house, I told her, ‘This is what you can do to show your loyalty to me: Every place we go, say about me, “He is my brother.”’”) Three lessons should be learned here. (1) No lie will stand the test of time. (2) God called Abraham and God made him wander from his family, away from developing pagan practices; as a witness to the world: and though now dead, “Abraham still speaks.” (3) We should not assume that others have no revealed knowledge of and has no fear of God.

Jesus‘ apostle John also speaks of Cain‘s error, describing it as evil, that teaches us about Godly love and righteousness in God‘s View. Teaching that, except we be gifted with the love of God, we are in our evil inherited from Adam nature as was Cain.

(1 John 3:11-17; “For this is the gospel message that you have heard from the beginning: that we should love one another, not like Cain who was of the evil one “Satan” and brutally murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because Cain’s deeds were evil, but his brother “Abel’s” were righteous. (13) Therefore do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. (Because the world is as Cain was; hating God’s righteousness. Wanting to live and practice as seems right to their personal intellect.) We know that we “who are called and whom God has revealed Himself to.“ have crossed over from death to life because we love our fellow Christians. The one who does not love remains in death. (People in whom God isn’t revealed have not inherited eternal life.!) Everyone who hates his fellow Christian is a murderer, (“as was Cain”) and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. We have come to know love by this: that Jesus laid down His life for us; thus we ought to lay down our lives for our fellow Christians. (7) But whoever has the world’s possessions and sees his fellow Christian in need and shuts off his compassion against him, how can the love of God reside in such a person?”)

We now have the love of Jesus as our witness; but the world at large has turned to the demonic way, desiring to change The Way revealed to and through Seth, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and His apostles. The Way being? “to respect what our Creator has made holy to Himself and His followers.” His commandments, His Sabbaths that foreshadow His Way and planning. Let’s examine Paul’s understanding.

(Rom 3:1-2; “Therefore what advantage does the Jew have, or what is the value of circumcision? Actually, there are many advantages. First of all, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.”) Remember Paul is writing to a converted to Jesus’ Way people, “gentiles for the most part!” Teaching them and us that God has entrusted certain things to the tribe of Judea for the keeping of His Way for our example.

(3-4; “What then? If some did not believe, does their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God? Absolutely not! Let God be proven true, and every human being shown up as a liar, just as it is written: “so that you will be justified in your words and will prevail when you are judged.”) Paul was contending with pagan worshipers of the imaginary Zeus and Baal. A people whose ways had evolved to the demonic. A people who had made their own gods, calendars and set aside time to honor their imaginary gods.

(5-8; “But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? (I am speaking in human terms.) Absolutely not! For otherwise how could God judge the world? For if by my lie the truth of God enhances His glory, why am I still actually being judged as a sinner? And why not say, “Let us do evil so that good may come of it?” – as some who slander us allege that we say. (Their condemnation is deserved!”) Unbelievers twisted Paul’s words about grace and the law being our guardian prior to Jesus being revealed. Once Jesus is revealed and His spirit imputed to our minds, “we love the law as God’s intended it’s use.” Thus we understand through gifted love that the law was given for our good.

(9-18; “What then? Are we better off? Certainly not, for we have already charged that Jews and Greeks alike are all under sin, just as it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one, there is no one who understands, there is no one who seeks God. (Verses 10-12 are a quotation from Ps 14:1-3). All have turned away, together they have become worthless; there is no one who shows kindness, not even one.” “Their throats are open graves, they deceive with their tongues, the poison of asps is under their lips.” (Quote from Ps 5:9; & 140:3.) “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” (quote from Ps 10:7.) “Their feet are swift to shed blood, ruin and misery are in their paths, and the way of peace they have not known.” (Verses 3:15-17 is quoted from Isa 59:7-8.) “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” (Quote from Ps 36:1.) Jesus’ apostle Paul’s mind had been miraculously opened to understand the scriptures!

(19; “Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God.”))

Back in Abraham’s day, Abimelech and his people understood their relationship to God’s law; thus they feared God when they learned Abraham’s wife had been taken. However their fear for having broken God’s law did not make them righteous before God!

(20; “For no one is declared righteous before Him “God” by the works of the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin.”) God’s law defines sin.

(21-26; “But now apart from the law the righteousness of God (which is attested by the law and the prophets) has been disclosed – namely, the righteousness of God through the faithfulness of Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. But they (To whom Jesus is revealed and who are imputed with His spirit.) are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (25) God “the Father” publicly displayed Jesus at His death as the mercy seat accessible through faith. This was to demonstrate His (Jesus’) righteousness, because God “the Father” in His forbearance had passed over the sins previously committed. (26; This was also to demonstrate His righteousness in the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who lives because of Jesus’ faithfulness.”)