Malachi 4:2 "But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall." Malachi, God's prophet, speaks to the people of Israel, addressing their spiritual condition and calling them to repentance. The prophet Malachi is believed to have prophesied during the Persian period, after the reconstruction and dedication of the second temple in 516 BC, generally thought to be around 450 BC in Jerusalem. As the final chapter of the Old Testament's prophetic writings, Malachi 4:2 carries great significance, promising healing and restoration for the remnant of God's grace (Romans 11:5) . The imagery of the "sun of righteousness" arising with healing symbolizes God's intervention and the coming of a new era of justice and peace with the arrival of the promised Messiah, who will save His people, described as "those that fear God's name." The effects of the sun may be twofold. For the righteous, it rises with healing because of Christ's completed work before God the Father. To the righteous, it shall be the advent of the gladdening Sun, not of condemnation, but "of righteousness" ; not destroying, but "healing" (Jeremiah 23:6) . However, this is contrasted with its effect on the wicked (Malachi 4:1) . To the wicked, it shall be like an oven that consumes the stubble (Matthew 6:30) . The LORD Jesus Christ is THE "SON OF RIGHTEOUSNESS," sent to satisfy God's law and justice on behalf of an elect remnant. Just as the sun rises at the dawn of a new day, so the coming of the LORD Jesus is described as the Dayspring from on High. "Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the Dayspring from on high hath visited us" (Luke 1:78). The fulfillment of this promise was in the coming of the Messiah (Jesus Christ), who brought light and healing for those whom God had elected by His grace, and for whom the LORD Jesus would pay their sin debt—chosen out of a world of darkness. The phrase "leap like calves released from the stall" evokes the joy and freedom that God's people would experience once they were restored to a right relationship with God through the sacrificial death of the LORD Jesus on their behalf. So complete would be His work in satisfying God's law and justice that there would remain nothing but righteousness to impute to their spiritual account, along with the peace of God that passes all understanding. "Therefore, being justified, by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Romans 5:1). What a beautiful depiction that showcases God's sovereign mercy and grace in Christ, which, at the time Malachi wrote it, was still forward-looking to His coming as God in the flesh. What was still 450 years away at that time has now been fulfilled. The imagery of "healing in His wings" reveals the comprehensive nature of Christ’s redemption: spiritual healing from sin, brokenness, and the condemnation of the law of God. Yes, there was a physical aspect to the ministry of the LORD Jesus, healing many diseases that were a consequence of the fall. Yet, the physical healing was only a demonstration of His ability to heal the spiritual effects of the fall, which would have eternal consequences had the LORD Jesus not taken on Himself the spiritual debt of His people. "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed" (1 Peter 2:24). Malachi 4:2 is rooted in God’s eternal covenantal love for His Son and for those sinners whom the Father chose out of fallen humanity to give to Him to save by His sacrificial death. It underscores the mercy and grace shown through Christ's life and death. He earned and established the righteousness necessary to satisfy a Holy God, and then laid down His life to redeem and justify them, whereby they are now declared righteous, in the beams of the "sun of righteousness," ever shining with favor on them. Salvation, then, is a gift to those whom God has chosen, who trust in His name, and who, through Christ, experience the fullness of God's redemptive grace. This is glorious GOOD NEWS: the LORD Jesus Christ came to save—and did save—not based on human merit, but on God's sovereign purpose of grace, granting His mercy freely to those He has chosen to redeem, and has redeemed and justified once and for all (Hebrews 10:10, 14).

Hebrews 12:3 "For consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds." Here is a powerful verse encouraging believers to look to the Lord Jesus as their ultimate example amid trials and difficulties. This verse calls the believer to consider the perseverance of Christ and the hardships He endured, particularly the suffering and opposition He faced, and to reflect on how these challenges were part of His faithful obedience to God’s will for their salvation. In doing so, the Holy Spirit, through the writer to the Hebrews, urges each of the Lord's redeemed ones not to grow weary or lose heart, but to find strength and encouragement in the example of the LORD Jesus as their Substitute. He is both the Source and the Perfecter of the Faith. It serves as a reminder that enduring faithfulness, even in the face of hardship, is integral to the earthly journey of the LORD'S redeemed ones. When men of renown pass from this world, much attention is given to their lives and successes. There is a fascination with how they spent their last days, said their farewells, and how they want to be remembered. Yet, how much time, praise, and consideration is given to mere mortals who are but dust and whose end is to return to dust! How often have we stood and stared at a little whirlwind on a hot, dusty summer day, watching it move along, picking up leaves, dust, and dirt, spinning its way on a path for a while before dying down to nothing? We gaze in amazement at something temporary, that moves at the will and direction of the LORD and is but for a brief moment before passing. If we are taken up with these earthly matters, how much more should we consider Him, Who is no mere mortal, but God in the flesh: "Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory" (1 Timothy 3:16). Whenever we become wearied and faint in our minds over the opposition and hardness of men’s hearts regarding the Truth, the Gospel, and the doctrine of Christ, let us remember how Christ Jesus the LORD endured the contradiction of sinners against Himself. Yet through it all, He was submitted to the will of His Father, never wavering from the cross, and fulfilling all that the Father purposed, so that He would be the Just Justifier of His people. Peter declared of Him, "Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain" (Acts 2:23). Often, in reviewing and remembering the lives of mere mortals, much attention is given to their struggles, failures, and difficulties before they become rich and famous. Yet all of that pales in comparison to what the Lord Jesus Christ endured in the flesh, and the Price He paid in His life and death, to satisfy law and justice for those sinners the Father gave Him from eternity. Consider Him who loves His children unto the end unconditionally: "...and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matthew 28:20).

1 Corinthians 1:23 "But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;" The Apostle Paul’s first letter to the church in Corinth addresses divisions and challenges within the congregation. In this particular verse, Paul emphasizes the contrasting reactions to the message of Christ: "but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to Gentiles." Paul highlights the necessity of the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus as essential to the faith revealed once and for all to all of God’s chosen children throughout time (Jude 1:3 ) . To the Jews, the idea of a Messiah who would suffer and die was a stumbling block, as it did not align with their expectations of a triumphant, conquering King who would come to overthrow the Roman government and establish an earthly Jewish kingdom. To the Gentiles, who often viewed divine power and wisdom in terms of philosophical superiority, the notion of a crucified Savior seemed foolish. Yet, for those who believe, according to God's electing grace, the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus represents the power and wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:18). Christ crucified was a stumbling block to the Jews (religious moral men). They presumed themselves to be the children of God based on their heritage— "we have Abraham as our father" (John 8:33-39). They thought themselves righteous based on their attempts at observing the law and, therefore, not in need of the work of Christ for them (Romans 10:1–2). However, the cross of Christ declares none righteous, NO, NOT ONE (Romans 3:10) . Like the Jews of old, most people today see themselves as basically good and just in need of a little help, rather than totally depraved and condemned and in need of Christ’s effectual death alone to save them. Such would be our own natural conceit but for the grace of God. Christ crucified was foolishness to the Greeks. There is nothing in the plain doctrine of the cross to suit natural men’s taste. They find it distasteful to trust in one who was condemned and crucified as a malefactor, a man of low birth and poor in life, and cut off by so vile and reproachful a death! Such is the pride of sinful human reason, and therefore, they find such a doctrine repulsive. But to those who are saved by His blood shed unto death and called, He is the wisdom of God and the power of God. By the Spirit of God, they rejoice in HIM, whose blood and righteousness alone are ALL their salvation! There is a universal nature to Christ’s work on the cross set forth here by the apostle Paul, but not as false preachers declare that He died to save every single sinner. No! The cross represents the work of the Lord Jesus for a world of elect sinners, representing both Jews and Gentiles. However, therein lies the offense of the cross: the Lord Jesus did not die to save everybody, but rather those that the Father gave Him before time (John 17:1-3) . The apostle Paul was calling believers to embrace a faith that might appear foolish to the world but is, in fact, the wisdom and power of God. The unbelief against the clear declaration of Scripture regarding the cross and Who died there reveals the depravity and hardness of men’s hearts. 1 Corinthians 1:18 declares, "To those who perish, the message of the cross is foolishness, but to those who are saved, it is the power of God." To the Jews, who thought themselves morally upright, and to the Greeks, who thought themselves wise, the cross is an offense. Only the Holy Spirit can grant " repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (Acts 2:21) and cause those sinners for whom He died to believe on Him and His finished work for all their salvation. Otherwise, they will continue in their rebellion and unbelief to their condemnation. They will continue to say that God is unfair in not having given every sinner a 'chance' at salvation. The problem is that salvation is not by chance, but rather the clear choice of God to save whom He wills, by the death of the LORD Jesus alone. Thank God there are those sinners that He has chosen to save and has saved by the death of His Son to the satisfaction of His law and justice, otherwise none would believe and would continue to trust in their works and attempts at salvation, rather than come to Christ and rest in Him alone.

2 John 1:7 "For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist." Throughout Scripture, there is a consistent warning about deceivers and the danger of being deceived. Everything must be weighed according to the Word because many deceivers have gone out into the world, handling the Word of Christ deceitfully. "Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time" (1 John 2:18). Failing to give all glory to Christ, failing to exalt Him in His Word—He is the Word—is to be a deceiver. John emphasizes this again in 2 John 1:7 "For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist." Many people are preoccupied with identifying the antichrist, yet they unknowingly give him a place to stand in their pulpits because the preachers that they hire do not point sinners to Christ (2 Peter 2:1-2) . They are preachers that have never been taught of Christ by His Spirit, do not know Him and, therefore, cannot point others to Him. This deception goes deeper than simply acknowledging that Jesus came in the flesh—it is about understanding who He is, why He came, and what He accomplished in the flesh. The Number of Deceivers One of the first things to note in John’s writing is the sheer number of deceivers. Many do not fully realize the extent of this deception. John warns , "For many deceivers are entered into the world." These are individuals who use the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, but do so deceitfully. Jesus Himself addressed them, saying: "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Matthew 7:22-23). This is a sobering reality. Many assume that the man standing in the pulpit week after week preaching to them is truly of God, yet he may be among those to whom Christ will one day say, "I never knew you." Jesus also warns: "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat" (Matthew 7:13). The Character of Deceivers Beyond their number, John highlights the character of these deceivers: "Who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh."  This is where many are misled. These deceivers often appear to be good and moral men by human standards. They show kindness, visit the sick, comfort grieving families, and perform acts of charity. However, what sets them apart is not their outward conduct but their message. They do not confess the truth of Christ’s coming. Being deceivers, they are also seducers, drawing people to themselves rather than pointing them to Christ. They present themselves as examples of morality, living upright lives and preaching morality as righteousness. However, many outwardly moral people are ignorant of the Righteousness of God. They have not submitted to the Righteousness that the Lord Jesus earned and established, which God imputed to the spiritual account of His children when Christ died on the cross. Instead, they seek to establish their own righteousness: "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth" (Romans 10:3-4). The Danger of This Deception What makes this deception so dangerous? The greatest counterfeits are those that most closely resemble the truth. That is why they are imperceptible to the undiscerning. The LORD Jesus compared this deception to leaven: a perversion of the truth that, like yeast in dough, spreads subtly until it permeates everything. Its effects are not immediately visible, but over time, they become evident. This is why, in the parable of the wheat and the tares, when the workers asked if they should uproot the tares, the Lord responded: "Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them" (Matthew 13:29). Some who appear to be wheat are, in reality, nothing but tares. The Need for Discernment We are called to be discerning and cautious. Even among those who preach grace, deception is often found not just in what is explicitly stated, but in what is implied or how the truth is applied. Consider these examples: Justification by Faith Misunderstood  – Some preach that we are justified by our belief rather than understanding that faith is Christ, the Object of faith. We are justified by Him, not by our act of believing. Sanctification as Human Effort  – Many teach that sanctification is something we work out in our flesh in cooperation with the Holy Spirit. In truth, sanctification is entirely found in Christ and His finished work at Calvary. The life we live is simply the fruit of what He has already accomplished. Redemption as a Mere Covering  – Some reduce Christ’s redemption to merely covering sin, rather than being a full propitiation for those for whom He paid the debt. They claim that Christ’s blood was shed at the cross, but is not effective until a sinner believes. This suggests that Christ died for some who remain under God's wrath—a contradiction to the sufficiency of His death on the cross. Misunderstanding God's Sovereignty  – Some attempt to reconcile God's sovereignty with man's responsibility by making God’s sovereignty conditional upon man's actions. They claim that God's blessings depend on human obedience, creating a framework where man becomes a rival to God's sovereignty. This is nothing more than free-will theology disguised as obedience to God. Conclusion This is why we desperately need the Spirit of God to illuminate our hearts and reveal to us the Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Only by His grace can we discern truth from deception and remain steadfast in the gospel.

Titus 2:14 "Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works." In this verse, Paul addresses Titus, his fellow laborer, emphasizing the efficacy of Christ's sacrifice in the salvation of sinners—specifically, those chosen by the Father before the foundation of the world (a peculiar people) . It underscores that the Lord Jesus willingly gave Himself to redeem His elect from sin. He did not merely offer salvation but obtained it, creating a people declared righteous through the imputed righteousness He earned and established and God the Father imputed to their spiritual account at the cross. These redeemed and called sinners are eager to glorify God for their salvation, which is evidenced by good works produced in and through them by the Spirit of Grace. This passage also reflects the sanctifying work of Christ’s death, setting His people apart according to God’s purpose and glory, enabling them to live in a way that reflects His grace. The Gospel presents Christ as the victorious Savior, who gave Himself—not out of mere sympathy for sinners, but because of the mercy and grace of God the Father and the necessity of establishing a just satisfaction for sin. This satisfaction was for those whom the Father purposed to save before the foundation of the world. The Good News is that Christ’s death was not merely an attempt to save as many as possible, but rather the redemption of every individual whom the Father purposed to save and gave to His Son. Christ Himself declared, “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing but should raise it up again at the last day” (John 6:39). When Scripture states “that He might redeem us from all iniquity,"  the word " that"   reveals the purpose of His coming. His mission was not to attempt to save everyone indiscriminately, but rather to redeem us —God’s elect (Titus 1:1) . The phrase "that He might redeem"  does not imply uncertainty. In Greek, this entire phrase consists of just two words, which could be better translated as "in order to redeem"  or "with the purpose of redeeming."  Has God ever failed in what He has purposed to do? There is no doctrine more dishonoring than one suggesting that God intended to save sinners who, in the end, are not delivered. That could never be! (Isaiah 42:1-4). However, there is another crucial aspect of this text that deserves careful attention. Christ’s death not only redeems from the curse of sin but also its power and, ultimately, from its presence in glory ( 2 Corinthians 1:10). Scripture declares, "...and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."  To purify  means that believers are both justified (declared righteous) before a holy God by the death of His Son and sanctified (set apart unto holiness) by the gracious work of the Spirit of God in their hearts. This sanctification is founded in Christ's death, Who has already set them apart by His shed blood (John 17:19) . The term "peculiar people"  does not mean " odd"  but rather " purchased."   Because they have been bought with a Price, they are not their own (1 Corinthians 6:20; 7:23) . These purchased people are identified as those whose minds, wills, and affections belong to Christ. Their thoughts are drawn to Him; their affections are fixed on Him; their hope and expectation rest entirely in Him. Their joy is not dependent on anything in themselves or this sin-marred world, but rather, it is found in Christ alone. Thus, they live their lives for His honor, praise, and glory.

James 1:12 "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him." This scripture is a strong encouragement that promises hope to those who remain steadfast in the Faith that was revealed in them by the Spirit of Christ to enable them to endure trials and opposition against them for Christ's sake. It highlights the blessing that comes from enduring hardships with perseverance, promising the ultimate reward—eternal life—to those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). This scripture harmonizes with the subject treated in James 1, which emphasizes the value of trials in strengthening faith and producing spiritual maturity. James reminds God’s children that trials are not without purpose; rather, they are designed by God to cause them to grow in steadfastness and receive His promised Reward, Christ. Perseverance through trials is the pathway purposed by God for His children. While this directly addresses children of God as chosen, redeemed, and called, it also reflects the tribulations that the Lord Jesus would have endured in His coming in the flesh to suffer and die to save those sinners that the Father sent Him to save. For that reason, He is the truly blessed Man, through whom all spiritual blessings flow. " Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ" (Ephesians 1:3). In this one scripture, there are four particular descriptions of the LORD Jesus and what He would have endured as God the Father's suffering Servant, not just as an example to follow, but as their Substitute to suffer in their place for God to justify them once and for all. Steadfast Perseverance – The LORD Jesus endured immense suffering, including rejection, temptation, persecution, and finally the cross. His steadfastness in perfect obedience to the Father is unlike any other that any mere man could endure. If righteousness could have been earned and established by any other, then the LORD Jesus would not have come. But He came to this earth, already blessed of the Father for the work He was given to do, which was to endure the contraction of sinners against Himself, but more importantly the very wrath of God, not for His own, but of that people that He came to save. The Greatest Trial  –The LORD Jesus underwent the greatest trial ever known to man—His suffering and crucifixion—standing firm in His mission to redeem an elect people once and for all from their sin. His endurance was not just for personal victory but for the salvation of the many sinners that the Father gave Him to save from eternity. The Crown of Life  – The LORD Jesus, after enduring suffering and death, was resurrected and glorified, receiving the ultimate "crown" of life in His exaltation at the right hand of God (Philippians 2:8-11). The crown of life is not an actual ornamental headdress, but a symbolic representation of God’s recognition for having spiritually triumphed in this life. In the original Greek, the word rendered “crown” in this scripture denotes a prize. The term does not refer to a royal crown like those worn by kings and rulers. This crown describes a garland or wreath of laurel foliage that, in ancient times, was placed upon the head of a victorious athlete as an emblem of honor and triumph in a contest. The LORD Jesus ran the race in His life and death, and is now crowned with glory and honor for being faithful. An Example for Believers  – The tribulations our LORD endured serve as the highest example of enduring trials by His faithfulness. Believers are called to follow in His footsteps, knowing that steadfast faith leads to eternal life, as promised here. " But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved" (Matthew 24:13). Enduring unto the end is not the cause of God saving those who endure, but rather those who endure, God has already saved, and continues to keep by His grace. "For by grace are ye saved," [literally saved and being kept saved] (Ephesians 2:8). Even as James 1:12 reflects the life of Christ, who perfectly exemplified endurance and was ultimately crowned with glory, he also encourages believers to remain faithful under trials, looking unto the LORD Jesus as the Author and Finisher of their Faith (Hebrews 11:1-2).

2 Corinthians 11:3 "But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." Throughout the Apostle Paul's letter to the Corinthian church, he expresses concern that they may be led astray from the simplicity of the Gospel message in Christ. He compares their potential deception to how Eve was deceived by the serpent in the Garden of Eden. Paul warns against false teachings that could corrupt the Faith revealed to them in the preaching of Christ and His death as their justification before God. He emphasizes the need for steadfastness in the Truth of the Gospel. This verse highlights the dangers of spiritual deception and the importance of remaining true to Christ exactly as He is revealed in the Gospel. The greatest counterfeit is that which is closest to the original. When Satan beguiled Eve [literally ‘cheated by deception’], it was by turning her eyes away from the Tree of Life (a type of Christ) to desire something more! What more could have been necessary for her enjoyment, comfort, and peace? What could the tree of the knowledge of good and evil offer her more than she already enjoyed in the Tree of Life? The deception was in thinking that something more was needed than what Adam and Eve were already given to enjoy (Genesis 2:9) . The fruit of the Tree of Life was unto Life, and the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil was unto eternal death and condemnation. No matter how good the fruit appeared, it was forbidden by God not to eat or even to touch it (Genesis 3:2, 3) . The apostle Paul warned the church of Corinth of the same deception in being drawn away by those who presented themselves as Gospel preachers, preaching Christ and professing to be speaking by the Spirit of God and yet who were false prophets, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. What was the issue? Like Satan’s subtleties with Eve, they would draw sinners away from the One Perfect Substitute, Christ crucified and their perfect standing in Him by His imputed righteousness, to another "tree of the knowledge of good and evil, " another righteousness, "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God" (Romans 10:3). Paul wrote that they are transformed as ministers of righteousness but not the ONE TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS, established by Christ in His death at the cross and imputed to every one of God’s elect there, by the Father. It was no light matter for Eve in the beginning, and it is no light matter for us today. The question is: On what basis does God declare poor, worthless, condemned sinners righteous? Some say that Christ ‘guaranteed’ our righteousness by His death, but it is only realized when we appropriate it by our ‘faith.’ Others say that this righteousness is imparted in the sinner when the Spirit grants life, given a ‘sinless nature’ upon believing. They call it an ‘imparted righteousness,’ worked in you, although that is not the language of Scripture. Others say it is by righteousness worked out by you, whereby by His death you are given the ability now to grow it by sanctifying yourself and improving on what Christ accomplished for you, but that now you achieve. They say His was the down payment and your faith and dedication complete it. Either way, it is to declare righteousness IN us, or BY us, and not IN and BY CHRIST ALONE! Subtle error, but lethal to the soul. There is much interest in this ‘tree of knowledge’ and much explaining as to what this supposed righteous nature is but ultimately, it is drawing attention away from the ONE TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS, outside ourselves, in the LORD Jesus Christ and His finished work alone, Who is now seated in Heaven, His work complete (1 Corinthians 1:30; Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 2:2)! Even as Adam and Eve were deceived in thinking they needed something more than that perfect standing they enjoyed with God already, let us not be deceived in thinking that our acceptance with God and fellowship with HIM is by any other means than the blood and righteousness of Christ alone, fully accomplished at the cross and imputed there, which the Spirit of God, in time, does REVEAL (not impart) to sinner’s hearts (Luke 10:21-22) . He causes us to rejoice in Him alone for all our salvation, in Christ Who finished the work! " For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek, f or therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith" (Romans 1:16,17).

Acts 2:23 "Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:" Acts 2:23 is part of Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost, where he boldly proclaims the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to a mixed crowd of Jews and Gentile proselytes who were in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost. The Lord Jesus had laid down His life 50 days prior at the Passover. He had shown Himself to His disciples for 40 days after His resurrection, and 10 days after His ascension (Acts 1:3) He poured out His Spirit on those gathered as proof that the Lord they had crucified was now seated in glory as the reigning King and Savior (Acts 2:33-36) . The gift of tongues (languages) was evidence to the Jews from various nations who had gathered for the Feast and heard the disciples speaking in the languages of their respective countries (Acts 2:8). What religious zealots call "speaking in tongues" today is nothing but a false and poor counterfeit of what took place on the day of Pentecost, by which Satan has deceived many to the destruction of their souls (2 Thessalonians 2:9). The speaking in languages on the day of Pentecost following the pouring out of the Spirit, confirmed that Jesus of Nazareth, whom they had taken and by wicked hands crucified and slain, was indeed both Lord and Christ. It is noteworthy that Peter was not led by the Spirit to focus on the gift of tongues, which was a one-time gift given to select witnesses of Christ in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies (Isaiah 44:3, Joel 2:28-29). Rather, he was directed to preach about the Christ whom they had crucified and slain. They willingly delivered Him out of rebellion and disdain, acting as representatives of those for whom He was laying down His life (the elect of God). Yet, in doing their will, they were ultimately fulfilling the will of God. The priests among them, accustomed to offering up animal sacrifices according to the Law, now had the Lamb of God placed in their hands and offered Him up to be slain according to the Law and the good pleasure of God the Father. Yet, they were ignorant of who He was and whose He was—the Beloved Son of God. This verse highlights the sovereignty of God in all human acts (Isaiah 45:7) even in the most heinous act of crucifying the Lord Jesus. They could do nothing more or less than what God the Father had foreordained: "For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done" (Acts 4:27-28). Peter asserts that the Lord Jesus was handed over to be crucified according to God’s predetermined purpose and foreknowledge, yet he lays the blame for His crucifixion on them because of their wicked hearts. Here we see that if the LORD Jesus died on the cross for our sins, we must confess that those who nailed Him to the cross were our representatives and that it was because of our sins that He suffered and died. This verse underscores the mystery of God's providence, showing that while human actions played a role in Christ’s suffering, they ultimately fulfilled God’s redemptive purpose. To this end, Peter calls his hearers to repentance and faith in the very Lord Jesus, who died and rose again for those whom the Father had given Him. Peter declares that Christ's death was according to the "determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God." God is all-knowing. His omniscience encompasses His unlimited knowledge of the past, present, and future: "Great is our Lord... his understanding is infinite" (Psalm 147:5);"The Lord is a God of knowledge... by him actions are weighed" (1 Samuel 2:3). Foreknowledge pertains to God's knowledge and will, by which He decreed all things. It is defined as: "Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world" (Acts 15:18). The Greek word for foreknow is proginosko , from which we derive the English word "prognosis." It means "to know beforehand" or "to decide beforehand." Though it appears sparingly in Scripture, it carries profound significance. God's foreknowledge concerns the prophets: "But those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets..." (Acts 3:18)." Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done" (Isaiah 46:10). God's foreknowledge concerns the elect: "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee" (Jeremiah 1:5)."For whom he did foreknow..." (Romans 8:29). "God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew" (Romans 11:2). God's foreknowledge concerns Christ: "Him, being delivered by the... foreknowledge of God" (Acts 2:23)."For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done" (Acts 4:28). God foreknew the who , how , and when  of those He purposed to justify by the death of His Son: "Jesus... was delivered for (because of) our offenses... raised again for (because of) our justification" (Romans 4:24-25). The cross was the occasion; the resurrection was the proof. The salvation of sinners was fully and freely accomplished according to God's eternal purpose at the cross. It was there that He purposed to save—and did save—each one He freely chose in Christ before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:3-4) . "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father “ (Galatians 4:4-6). This was prophesied from the time of the fall (Genesis 3:15) , God knowing all things beforehand, having predetermined all things according to His Sovereign Will. What a glorious God He is in the salvation of His elect! What a glorious Redeemer Christ is! By His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, He has once and forever saved His people and is now seated at the right hand of the Majesty on High, where He ever lives to intercede on behalf of those for whom He paid the debt (Hebrews 8:1). Praise His Holy Name!

2 Peter 3:4 "...Where is the promise of His coming?" The apostle Peter, directed by the Spirit of God, addresses a prominent skepticism in his day surrounding the return of the LORD Jesus Christ. Verses 3 and 4 read: "Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." In this passage, Peter warns that in the last days, scoffers will arise, questioning the promise of the LORD Jesus’ second coming at the end of time. The same unbelief regarding His first coming continues toward His second coming. Many argue over the second coming of the LORD Jesus while never understanding the purpose of His first coming. The LORD Jesus, who came the first time, came to lay down His life as God's Sacrificial Lamb so that God might be just in justifying a people He chose before the foundation of the world (Romans 3:24-26). The same mockers of His second coming are those who scorned His first coming, rejecting Him as a failure because they expected Him to establish an earthly Jewish kingdom. However, that was not the reason for His first coming, nor is it His purpose in coming again to establish an earthly kingdom. Skepticism is the fruit of an unbelieving heart. Our LORD Jesus declared that His purpose in coming the first time was not to establish an earthly Jewish kingdom but rather to save sinners out of every tribe, nation, and tongue (Revelation 7:9). When our LORD denied them the kingdom they sought and instead established a Spiritual Kingdom made up of those sinners the Father gave Him from eternity, upon completing His death on the cross, the Father justified them. Now, the Spirit is in the world calling each one to Himself—those for whom He already paid their sin debt and has united to Christ as members of His kingdom. The unbelievers who rejected Him at His first coming, left to themselves, will continue to denounce Him at His second coming. If these scoffers had truly considered the dreadful vengeance with which God already swept away an entire world of ungodly people in the flood, they would not have mocked His warnings of an equally terrible judgment to come. The same Word that once brought destruction now declares that the present heavens and earth will one day be destroyed by fire. This is as certain as God’s truth and power. Nevertheless, for Christ's people, this passage affirms and strengthens their faith in the LORD who has promised to come again and receive them to Himself (Acts 1:11). While humans perceive a vast difference between a single day and a thousand years, to God, there is no such distinction. Past, present, and future are always before Him. A delay of a thousand years means no more to Him than a brief postponement means to us. Those who do not know or believe in the eternal God tend to imagine Him as being like themselves, limited by time. What people see as delay is, in reality, God's long-suffering with the unbelieving world, which He has already appointed to judgment. Since Christ has not yet returned, it is because He is not willing that any of those He chose and Christ redeemed should perish (2 Peter 3:9). The day of the Lord will arrive unexpectedly for the unbelieving world. All of their earthly treasures and palaces will suddenly be consumed by fire at His coming. All the sinners who were not redeemed by Christ's blood will serve as fodder for the fire of God's judgment, and every work of man will be brought to destruction (2 Peter 3:10). Peter is not attempting to convince the unbelievers, who left to themselves, would continue to walk in their lusts and mock and scoff at the clear declaration of the Word of God—pertaining not only to His first coming but also to His second at the end of time. Because thousands of years have passed since creation and thousands of years have continued since Christ's first coming, the natural-minded find it unbelievable that there is a Man seated in glory today, who once walked this earth as a Man to earn and establish righteousness to God the Father's satisfaction. That work ended in His death on the cross at the hands of wicked men, but He rose again, ascended on high, and is now seated there until the time of His return. Unbelievers continue to mock His delay in returning, just as they mocked Him at His crucifixion when He would not come down from the cross. Everything the LORD Jesus does, He does according to the sovereign will of His Father, and nothing happens until it is the will of the Father. Christ did not come down from the cross, it was because He needed to pay the full debt of sin for His elect, and therefore, He could not and would not step down. The same is true of His return at the end of time. What is keeping Him from coming again? Is it not that the full number of the Father’s elect has not yet been called out? It may still be millions of years before Christ returns because He knows those who are His—some of whom may not even be born yet—and therefore, He will not return until the last one He redeemed is brought to Him by the Spirit. Let the unbelieving world mock—those who have no interest in the Sovereign LORD Jesus—but none of their unbelief can change who He is, what He accomplished in His first coming, or the fact that, at the appointed time, He will return to gather to Himself every sinner He redeemed. He has purposed that they should dwell with Him forever, which is all their hope of glory.

Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the LORD alway: and again I say, Rejoice." Life is full of ups and downs—moments of joy and seasons of struggle. Yet, in Philippians 4:4, the Apostle Paul gives a clear and powerful command: "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice." At first glance, this may seem like an impossible instruction. How can we always rejoice when life brings hardships, disappointments, and pain? When Paul wrote to the Philippian church, he was imprisoned in Rome for the sake of the Gospel, awaiting a hearing before Caesar. He had appealed to Caesar after being falsely accused of fomenting an insurgency among the Jews (Acts 25:6-12). His confinement served as the backdrop for his message of joy, perseverance, and reliance on God despite difficult circumstances. In Philippians 1:12-14, Paul describes how his imprisonment advanced the Gospel: "But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear." Paul, writing from a prison house, was not speaking about a shallow, fleeting happiness dependent on circumstances. Instead, he pointed to a deep, unwavering joy found in Christ—a joy revealed by the Spirit of Christ within him. He knew that God had ordained every detail of his life, from conception to his calling by God’s sovereign grace in Christ (Galatians 1:15). When the LORD first drew him to Himself on the road to Damascus, He sent Ananias to deliver this message to Paul: look "Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake" (Acts 9:15-16). The LORD gave Paul the grace to bow to His sovereign will, and because of that, he could rejoice. He was strengthened by God’s grace in Christ, knowing that everything was from His sovereign hand. This is what it means to rejoice in the Lord—not only in times of peace but also in seasons of trial. As Romans 8:28 reminds us, "All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."   This truth helps God's children shift their focus away from temporary struggles and onto Christ, who lived, died, and rose again for His elect. In Him—who is now seated in the heavenly places, having completed the work of redemption, justification, and sanctification—Paul found true joy, peace, and eternal hope. "...for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal"   (2 Corinthians 4:18). No matter what a child of God may face, our joy is secure because it is rooted in the unchanging character of God, in His sovereign will, and in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ. He has paid the sin debt of those He redeemed, and this is why the awakened child in Christ cannot help but rejoice—every moment of every day. Deep within their soul is a rejoicing in Christ Jesus, their Lord and Savior. As God’s children, we always rejoice when HE  causes us to rejoice. Just as He rejoices over each of His elect—those whom His Son has redeemed—rejoice in Him. "As the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee" (Isaiah 62:5). Because He sings over us, our souls continually sing of Him, as Isaiah proclaimed: "The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing..."   (Zephaniah 3:17).

Revelation 17:5,6 "And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration." Revelation 17:5-6 is a passage from the Book of Revelation that describes a mysterious and symbolic figure known as "Babylon the Great." These verses are part of the Apostle John's vision, revealing a woman sitting on a scarlet beast—representing a corrupt and powerful entity. This passage portrays Babylon the Great as a force leading people further away from Christ and persecuting His followers. It serves as both a prophecy and a warning about spiritual deception and the ultimate judgment of evil. Revelation 17:5 identifies "Babylon the Great," symbolizing a powerful, deceptive, and spiritually corrupt religious and political organization. It represents the alliance between the religious Jews of the first century and their league with the Roman government in persecuting believers who remained faithful to the Lord Jesus. This Antichrist alliance sought to corrupt the church, but the title "Babylon the Great" suggests influence over nations, immorality, and rebellion against God. Despite this persecution, the truth of the Gospel, established through Christ's death and the blood of the martyrs, continued to grow with God's blessing. As the Lord Jesus Christ declared: "I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18). Revelation 17:6 reveals that (false religion) actively persecuted and killed the elect of Christ's church, for whom He had paid the price for sin on the cross. The imagery of being "drunken with the blood" signifies the severity of persecution against Christians. Many wrongly assume that this passage describes a future tribulation at the end of the world. However, John was writing about what the early church was already enduring in the first century. The Book of Revelation states: "The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto Him, to show unto His servants things which must shortly come to pass; and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His servant John"   (Revelation 1:1). The things that "must shortly come to pass" refer to what John and the early church would experience in their lifetime for the sake of Christ and His accomplished salvation on the cross. The Apostle Paul also warned: "Beware of dogs"   (Philippians 3:2) . He used this strong language to describe false teachers—those who outwardly appear religious but have no true care for men's souls. Religion may seem to emphasize love, compassion, and service to humanity, but when it does not exalt the Lord Jesus Christ, it ultimately seeks to devour souls. Such organizations and institutions align themselves with the great harlot, Babylon the Great . The term "whore" is used because of the deceptive nature of false religion, which, like a harlot, seduces and leads people away from the truth. It integrates human works and will with the exclusive message of Christ crucified, thereby corrupting the Gospel (Galatians 1:6-10). In this passage, the whore is depicted as one who has been unfaithful to her husband—forsaking the covenant of God and prostituting herself to the kings of the earth. Revelation 17:2 states: "With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication." False religion is widespread, reaching every corner of the world. It propagates a mixture of truth and error, deceiving many. Revelation 17:4 describes her appearance: 1. "Arrayed in purple and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls." These adornments are mere imitations of the true Gospel, much like a harlot who uses enticing outward appearances to seduce. The book of Proverbs warns about the "strange woman" who allures men to their destruction—symbolic of false religion. Similarly, Babylon the Great uses religious symbols, such as purple for royalty and scarlet for the sacrifice of Christ, to create the illusion of legitimacy. However, false religion leads people to believe that salvation depends on their efforts rather than on Christ alone. True salvation is the work of the Lord from beginning to end; if it were not entirely His work, none would be saved. 2. Revelation 17:5 states: "And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH." In ancient times, some harlots would publicly display their names on signs, openly identifying themselves. Likewise, Babylon the Great is marked by blasphemy and deception. She represents all that is false and opposed to the Truth. Revelation further describes her as being "drunken with the blood of the martyrs," illustrating her deep hatred for Christ’s true followers. This enmity against God's people persists even today, as spiritual warfare continues between the Truth of the Gospel and the deception of false religion. This is the full manifestation of the enmity that God put between the seed of the serpent and the Seed of the woman, (Genesis 3:15). The Seed of the woman (Christ) has prevailed by His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension.

Luke 11:2 "And He said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed by Thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth." Luke 11:2 is part of the passage in which our LORD Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray, often called the Lord’s Prayer, but it is the disciples’ prayer. The context of Luke 11:2 arises when one of Jesus' disciples asks Him to teach them how to pray, just as John the Baptist taught his followers. What our LORD Jesus taught them was a model of how true prayer is expressed from the heart of one of the LORD's children. In response, the LORD Jesus highlights key elements of a Spirit-drawn approach to communion with God and submission to His will in worship, dependence on Him for daily needs, and seeking forgiveness and deliverance from temptation. Our LORD gave this prayer as a pattern for how His disciples should pray. It was never intended to be a prayer to be memorized and repeated but serves as a pattern for how the Spirit of God directs God’s children to pray. Notice: 1.) "When ye pray:"  There is no prescribed time to pray but rather as the Spirit of God directs one of Christ’s redeemed ones to pray. The ‘when’ is determined by the LORD, causing one of His own to cry unto Him and seek Him. The word ‘pray’ here means ‘to wish’ or ‘desire’ of God. True prayer is not seeking God for what the flesh desires but for the spiritual, as the Spirit directs. "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Romans 8:26). Where there is true, Spirit-given prayer, there are desires only after Christ and His blood and righteousness: "Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all Truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come" (John 16:13). 2.) "Our Father which art in heaven:"  Only those whose Father He is can address God as Father! To address Him as Father requires the Spirit of God to reveal Christ in them first: " And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father" (Galatians 4:6). In this context, the Spirit reveals Christ in the hearts of those for whom He paid the debt only: "But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law" (Galatians 4:4). True prayer is for the sanctity and glory of the Father alone. His name is hallowed only by the work of the LORD Jesus; therefore, none can come to God but by HIM: "Jesus saith unto him, 'I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me'" (John 14:6). 3.) "Thy Kingdom Come:"  We should not pray for some earthly, natural kingdom. That would be to pray contrary to the LORD’S teaching (Luke 11:2) . His kingdom was established at His resurrection, upon the satisfactory completion of His death on the cross (Acts 2:30-36) . His kingdom is advanced now in the world when the Spirit of God reveals Christ in the hearts of those for whom He paid the debt and draws them to Himself: "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me" (John 12:32). 4.) "Thy will be done:"  This is not a wishful, "hope-so" request but rather a declaration that God’s will SHALL be done. Prayer is not foolishly attempting to get God to bend to our will but rather Him bringing us to bow to HIS will, which is sovereign in all things. All that HE has purposed in creation, providence, salvation, or condemnation is exactly what shall be, to HIS honor and glory in His Son.