Two Sides of God's Will

God's will has two sides. We can know God's revealed will for us in the Bible. God's secret will cannot be known. God's revealed will is our responsibility. God's secret will is not known. God's revealed will may be disobeyed; God's secret will is sovereign, certain to be fulfilled in God's time.

"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law" (Deuteronomy 29:29).

God's revealed will comes to us through the commandments of Scripture. For instance, God commands all people everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30). That is God's revealed will of command which often is ignored. Yet, there are some who repent, turn to God and receive mercy and grace in Christ. The revealed will of God is our responsibility. Yet, God certainly knows that many will disobey to their own condemnation.

God's secret will is not for us to know. It is God's will of decree. It is certain to come to pass. Some may speculate and debate the secret will of God, but without Scripture as evidence. His secret will includes all the details of providence known only to God. The classic illustration is the appointed time for the second coming of Christ. Scripture teaches that no one knows the day nor hour, not even the angels of heaven. Yet, God's secret will appoints the day and hour.

Faith without Doubt

Faith without doubt is based upon God's promises. The Christian life begins with the promise of God for all who believe. The Bible says, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved (Acts 16:31). The believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is saved according to the promise of God. Faith is simply trusting what God promised. Salvation is by faith in Christ, based upon God's sure promises.

Faith without is trusting and relying upon God's promises in the Bible. Trying to live the Christian life without the promises of God becomes confusing and doubtful. The victorious Christian life is based upon what God promises in Christ that cannot fail. That's because God who has promised cannot lie (Titus 1:2).

Faith without doubt is in God's promises through our Lord Jesus Christ. For all the promises of God in Him are Yes and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us (2 Corinthians 1:20). God keeps His promises through us as believers to the praise of His glory. Prayer based upon what God promises you is answered with Yes and in Him Amen. Trusting what God promises in your Bible is the solid foundation for all who live by faith.

Faith without doubt is standing on God's promises. That's faith with confidence in the promises of God in Christ. They are Yes and Amen in Christ. Don't let doubt rob you of victory unto the glory of God. Pray the promises of God. The answer is Yes and Amen in Christ. Your faith is sure, because what God promises you cannot fail.

Salvation In Christ

Salvation is in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:3-8). The gospel is the death of Christ for our sins and his resurrection from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Grace is the gift of God in Christ to all who believe. You are saved by grace through faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-10). Paul was emphatic that if anyone preached any other gospel, let  him be accursed (Galatians 1:8).

Salvation comes through the call of God. The gospel call to Christ is to all nations and races of people. Yet, the gospel call is personal. God calls us to receive Christ (Galatians 1:6). That call is effective when our hearts are changed, as we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 10:9).

Salvation changes your mind and heart. That is God's grace renewing your mind (Romans 12:2). That's the change of heart, which is the mind, will and emotions. You become a new creation by the grace of God in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). That change is by grace through faith in Christ.

Salvation brings peace with God (Romans 5:1). God's peace is within you. Peace with God means you are reconciled to God in Christ our Lord. Peace within you is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). This grace is not based upon any merit on your part, but the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord. You are saved as you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:30-31).

God Saves Whoever

God saves whoever calls upon him. Whoever calls upon the name of Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13). Those who sincerely call upon the Lord are saved today. That's why today is the day of salvation.

The Bible warns about waiting for a day in the future to be saved. The danger is hardening our hearts in sin. Today if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts (Hebrews 3:15). It's a serious matter to resist the convicting work of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-11). That's the reason the Bible declares, Behold now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. However, those who have hardened their hearts will not, even in the face of death. Life is so uncertain and death is so sure. That's why today is the day of salvation. We are not promised tomorrow. 

The dying thief was saved on the day he died. Being crucified next to Jesus, he said, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom (Luke 23:42). Jesus said to him, Today you will be with me in paradise (Luke 23:43). There is no doubt about his salvation. The words of our Lord confirmed it. Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.

The Tabernacle of God

We read in Revelation 21:3 these words: Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. This is a prophecy about the eternal state of God's people. We will live with God forever. God Himself will be with them and be there God.

The word tabernacle simply means dwelling place. The desire of God has always been to dwell with His people. In the Old Testament God dwelt among His people in the wilderness. God's tabernacle was a tent of meeting, where He lived indirectly with them. The tabernacle in the wilderness was a place of sacrifice to atone for the sins of the people.

In the New Testament God the Father tabernacled among His people through Jesus, His only begotten Son. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). Jesus is God incarnate in the flesh. God was in Christ dwelling among His people. Jesus said, the Father who dwells in me does the works (John 14:10).

In the new heaven and new earth, God will dwell or tabernacle directly and intimately with His people. His manifest glory will be seen and experienced by all. It will be eternal communion with God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away (Revelation 21:4).

Prophecy in the Bible

Prophecy in the Bible includes the end time. It must certainly come to pass (Matt. 24:1-2; Luke 21:9; Rev. 1:1). In a word, it is infallible. Prophecy of Holy Scripture is infallible simply because God is infallible. He knows the end from the beginning. God's word of prophecy cannot fail.

There are two types of prophecy in the Bible, conditional and unconditional. The prophecy of Jesus about the end time is unconditional. However, other prophecies, such as Jonah's prophecy to Nineveh, was conditional. The prophesied judgment on Nineveh was averted, because the people repented (Jonah 3:5-10). Prophecy was God's mercy and patience allowing them to respond to the warning. God has not changed. He is merciful and patient today.

Jesus prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple decades before it happened (Luke 21:20-23). That prophecy was fulfilled in 70 A.D. Believers took the warning from Jesus and fled the city as the Roman army approached. Their lives were spared. Yet, according to the historian Josephus, more than a million Jews died in the destruction. Likewise, believers today take the end time prophecy of Jesus as sure to come.

Prophecy in the Bible is comfort and hope for the people of God today. Every believer should rest assured that God Almighty rules over the circumstances of our lives. His prophetic word in the Bible is infallible. Jesus is coming again. Our future is certain and our hope is sure. It's based upon a God's word of prophecy.

Christ Is Our Salvation

Christ is our salvation based upon Scripture alone. The Bible alone is the Word of God written. Scripture takes precedent over church tradition. Holy Scripture alone is inspired by the Holy Spirit. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16).

Christ is our salvation through the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). Christ died for our sins. He is risen for our justification. All who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ are saved from the curse of the law and the condemnation of sin (Acts 16:30-31).

Christ is our salvation by God's grace alone. We can never earn salvation. Grace alone saves us from the condemnation and curse of sin. Grace is the unmerited favor of God, the gift of God freely given (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Christ is our salvation through faith alone. Faith is trust in God and our Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is by God's grace through faith in Christ. Faith is trusting Christ to save you. Without faith no one can please God (Hebrews 11:1-6).

Christ is our salvation to the praise of God's glorious grace (Ephesians 1:6, 12, 14). Give all the praise to God. The purpose of our salvation is to God's glory in Christ alone.