This is an age of war.
Jesus said: "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34).
This is an age of grace.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:8-9).
But what does that mean? War? Grace?
How do we make sense of all this?
Everything (all understanding) centers around the person of Jesus Christ.
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18).
Anyone who believes the following truths about Jesus Christ will see the world much differently than anyone who does not. This is the sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6) with which war is waged in the age of grace.
TRUTH (THE GOSPEL) OF JESUS CHRIST
-Jesus Christ was born of a virgin - as foretold.
-Jesus Christ lived a perfect sinless life - as foretold.
-Jesus Christ worked many miracles (the deaf received hearing, the blind received sight, the dead were raised to life) - proving that He was and is the promised Savior of the world - the foretold Messiah.
-Jesus Christ went willingly to the cross - to suffer and die for the sins of all mankind. Why? Because without blood there is no remission for sin (Hebrews 9:22). This is key to God's law, God's plan.
-Jesus Christ was raised from the dead by the power of God - as foretold.
-Jesus Christ showed Himself as the resurrected Savior - proving again and again that He was who He said He was and that He is who He said He is.
-Jesus Christ is the promised Savior of the world.
-Jesus Christ is the foretold Messiah.
-Jesus Christ was God who came to earth in the flesh - fully man and fully God.
-He came to save mankind from the curse of sin.
-Jesus Christ is now the resurrected Savior for us in this age.
Jesus died for the sin of all mankind, so that anyone in this age who chooses to believe (place all their trust) in Him can be forgiven and saved from the eternal punishment for sin (separation from God = hell). Anyone is free to choose Jesus right now and be saved from the curse of sin and death.
If anyone believes the message above, "the message of the cross" (1 Corinthians 1:18) - then it is strong evidence that they "are being saved". On the other hand, anyone does not believe "the message of the cross" - if the information above is "foolishness" - then they are "perishing" according to God's Word (1 Corinthians 1:18).
This is a salvation test for mankind in the age of war and grace.
Question: Is the cross of Jesus Christ foolishness to you?
Answer Yes = you are perishing according to the Word of God (1 Corinthians 1:18)
Remember: It is the Lord's will that non should perish but that all should come to repentance (a turning away from sin - a turning towards God). 2 Peter 3:9
Here's another test:
http://www.jesusplusnothing.com/commands.htm
NOW - FOR THE REST OF THE STORY
Jesus Christ is coming again to put an end to this age.
Only after Jesus returns as promised will there be complete peace on earth.
Truly, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him” (Corinthians 2:9).
The Word of God is true - all of it is true.
Where there is confusion: It's the understanding of sinful man that is flawed.
Right now we exist in a fallen world. We are literally immersed in sin. That's why it sometimes seems so difficult to make sense of things.
Here's a link to a chart that reveals some of that confusion in regard to man's understanding of the revealed ages or dispensations of God:
http://www.preservedwords.com/disptruth/images/1-ages.gif
God bless you!
