The religious world remains deeply confused about the grace of God. Many treat it as an automatic covering for every person regardless of response, or reduce it to a mental assent called “faith only.” Scripture alone presents a clear, consistent picture centered on Christ.
Grace is God’s unmerited GIFT expressed supremely in the sending of His Son to taste death for every man. Hebrews 2:9 declares that Jesus “by the grace of God should taste death for every man.” This is the heart of grace: God provided the sacrifice. No human effort originated it. Christ is the focus of the grace of God. Everything else flows from Him and His blood.
On man’s side, this grace is RECEIVED by faith. Faith is the obedient trust that takes hold of what God has freely offered. It is never mere intellectual agreement. The blood of God’s grace—the blood that cleanses from sin—is APPLIED when a believing person is baptized in water. At that point sins are washed away by His blood. Acts 22:16 records the command, “Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” Acts 2:38 links repentance and baptism “for the remission of sins.” First Peter 3:21 states that baptism “doth also now save us.” The power is not in the water itself but in the blood of Christ applied through the obedient act God appointed. COMPLYING with the Lord’s COMMAND is not earning salvation; it is receiving the gift on the terms God set. No one works his way into grace by obeying; one simply submits so that the blood can cleanse.
Grace delivers from the penalty of death. Through Christ we ESCAPE condemnation. Yet Scripture nowhere presents grace as irreversible once received. A person can be EJECTED from grace by turning away from God. Galatians 5:4 warns those who seek justification by law that “ye are fallen from grace.” 1Timothy 4:1 speaks of some who “shall depart from the faith.” Hebrews 2:3 asks how we shall escape if we neglect so great salvation. These and similar passages (Hebrews 6:4-6; 10:26-29; 2 Peter 2:20-22) show that continuing in faith and obedience is necessary. Grace does not cancel free will or remove the possibility of apostasy.
Two common misunderstandings distort this biblical picture. The first is the idea that grace automatically saves all humans. Hebrews 2:9 shows Christ died for every man, yet not every man is saved. Faith must receive the gift, and that faith includes the obedience of baptism for the washing away of sins. Universal automatic salvation contradicts the many calls to believe, repent, and obey, as well as the warnings of final judgment.
The second error is “faith only.” James 2:14-24 addresses it directly. Faith without works is dead. Abraham was justified by works when he offered Isaac, and the Scripture was fulfilled that “Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness.” James concludes, “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.” The works in view are not meritorious labor that obligates God; they are the obedient response of living faith. Saving faith always acts. Separating faith from the obedience God requires empties faith of its biblical meaning and leaves a person still in sin.
Thus, the Bible’s teaching is straightforward. Grace is God’s gift of Christ and His blood. That grace is received by faith and applied in water baptism for the washing away of sins. Christ remains the center. Obedience to His commands does not earn the gift; it receives it. Yet the same grace can be forfeited by turning away. This is the truth of grace according to the Scriptures alone—nothing more, nothing less.
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” (Psalms 1:1-3)
We all know someone who seems to meet every standard of goodness that human opinion can invent.
I can recall a person in my life who left an impression of goodness, kindness, generosity, and made me feel special just for being me. Some things I recall about them is that they were believers in God, prayerful, and had a good reputation among all. This kind person lit up every room they entered, and nearly everyone smiled and was glad to see them.
If you were to ask my opinion back then I would say these folks exemplified someone bound for heaven. If anyone was ready for heaven it would be them.
A similar real person appears in the pages of Scripture. Acts 10 and 11 tell us of a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Italian cohort stationed in Caesarea. The text states that he was a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God. The report about him among men was, “a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews…” (Acts 10:22). Left to us that would be the whole of the story. That would be our eulogy at his funeral had he died before the rest of the events in Acts 10 & 11.
An angel of God appeared to him and said that his prayers and alms had ascended as a memorial before God. The angel directed him to send men to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. Cornelius obeyed at once. When Peter arrived, Cornelius gathered his relatives and close friends to hear the message. Peter would relate later what Cornelius told him, “how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, ‘Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, who will tell you words by which you and all your household will be saved’” (Acts 11:13-14). You see, the angel told him he needed to hear words to be SAVED.
Peter proclaimed Jesus of Nazareth: how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, how He went about doing good and healing, how He was put to death and raised on the third day, and how God appointed Him to be judge of the living and the dead. Peter declared that to Him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name. He preached the Gospel (v38-43).
While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were amazed because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. They heard them speaking in tongues and extolling God. “And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them, as upon us at the beginning” (Acts 11:15-16). This outpouring served as clear evidence that God was accepting the Gentiles.
Peter then asked “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized,” (Acts 10:47). He commanded them, “to be baptized in the name of the Lord” (v48). Cornelius heard that message, believed in Jesus, and was baptized in water. He and his household continued thereafter in the way of the Lord.
The account leaves no room for doubt. Despite the genuine devotion, generous alms, continual prayer, and godly fear that marked Cornelius’s life, he still needed to hear the words by which he would be saved. Human reasoning might have concluded that such a person already stood accepted. Scripture records otherwise. The gospel required hearing about Jesus, believing in Him for the forgiveness of sins, and being baptized in water. The Holy Spirit’s descent confirmed God’s acceptance of the Gentiles, yet water baptism still followed as the commanded completion of faith.
We must not confuse a good life with having earned or owed salvation. A life filled with generosity, prayer, and respect may impress others, yet it cannot purchase forgiveness. We all need the blood of Christ. Nobody is saved outside of Christ, no matter how good we think they are. The same truth applies to the kind person I talked about at the beginning.
No matter how generous, prayerful, respected, or devout that individual may seem, the same need remains. Romans 3:23 states that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Character that impresses people does not remove the requirement to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, believe in Him, be baptized in water, and continue in faithfulness.
Cornelius’s story stands as a clear demonstration that even the most admirable life by human standards still requires obedience to the message that saves through the blood of Christ.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph 1:3)
The main spiritual blessing found only in Christ is the forgiveness of sins. Some erroneously say one can never lose salvation, while others claim we are immediately lost every time we stumble.
John wrote to the disciples so we may know that we have eternal life. “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” (1John 5:17). The written words of the New Testament give us this assurance. Let us consider a few simple questions that help us know where we stand.
Have we Heard and Obeyed the Gospel (2Thess 1:8)? (see the here for a simple outline of God’s plan of salvation). Assurance begins with a clear and obedient response to the gospel of Christ. The New Testament presents a consistent pattern for entering into Christ and remaining in Him. “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38). If we have obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ, we have the forgiveness of sins.
What happens we do when we stumble? John acknowledged that we all sin at times, yet he pointed us to the remedy. “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (1 John 2:1; see also 1:7–2:2). John’s first letter distinguishes between the person who lives in habitual sin and the one who stumbles but turns back to the Lord.
Are we Knowingly, Willingly, and Habitually Violating the Doctrine of Christ Without Repentance? Assurance is not for those who deliberately and persistently reject the teaching of Christ while claiming faith. The New Testament issues solemn warnings; “For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment” (Hebrews 10:26-27). Even in such a condition, repentance remains possible, as the example of Simon in Acts 8:18-24 shows.
Finally, are we practicing self-examination daily? True assurance involves honest, ongoing self-examination in light of Scripture, preparing us for the final judgment. “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves” (2 Corinthians 13:5).
John was telling the truth when he said that that through these things “ye may know that ye have eternal life.” There are many things we do not know, but through faith which comes from reading, studying, and obeying God’s word, we can know the truth and be set free.
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:” (Matt 28:19).
Who does what? This may appear like a simple question to you, but some are making it difficult and are opposing Jesus’ commands on how to be saved. Here’s how the objection sounds; “Water is not stated in that verse therefore it’s Holy Spirit baptism.” They will make this claim in all the places that baptism is commanded, (see Acts 2:38; 8:12; 9:1-18; 22:16; 16:15; 25-34).
There are several ways to answer this objection but let’s just look at a simple and logical one; Answer the question: Who is being commanded to do what?
In every case that a command is given, the one receiving the command is the one expected to perform it. This includes both inward actions (faith, believing, repentance, loving) and outward actions (going, teaching, baptizing, praying, singing, giving). Scripture never presents a command that is fulfilled by another person performing the commanded action in the place of the one commanded. In other words, the command is being given to people to do, therefore people comply with the action being commanded.
Faith is not excluded from this principle simply because it is inward. • Jesus commanded: “Believe the gospel.” (Mark 1:15); • Paul told the jailer: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts 16:31); • John writes: “This is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ.” (1 John 3:23);
Believing is therefore something the hearer is commanded to do. Likewise: • Repent (Acts 17:30); • Confess (Romans 10:9-10); • Continue in the faith (Colossians 1:23).
These are personal responses. Although invisible to others, they are nevertheless actions of the person commanded. (this same reasoning answers other similar objections).
Back to Matthew 28:19; what kind of baptism can a person administer who is commanded to “go…baptizing them”? A human being cannot administer: the baptism of the Holy Spirit, nor the baptism of fire. John the Baptist distinguished these. “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance… he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire” (Matthew 3:11). Notice the distinction. John administered water baptism. Christ administers Holy Spirit baptism. The administrator identifies the baptism. Only Jesus is ever said to baptize with the Holy Spirit. No apostle is ever commanded to baptize anyone with the Holy Spirit. But the apostles are commanded to baptize. Therefore, the baptism they administer must be one that men can administer. That baptism is water baptism.
Matthew 28 does not have to mention water explicitly. It identifies the administrator. Once Scripture identifies that men are to administer the baptism, the only baptism men are ever shown administering is water baptism.
Necessary inference. When Scripture gives a command: • The person commanded is responsible for performing the commanded action. • Matthew 28:19 commands people to baptize. • People can administer only water baptism. • Therefore, the baptism commanded in Matthew 28:19 is water baptism administered by one person to another.
Agape Spencer
BONUS ANSWER: Acts 8:34-39 “And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. 39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.”
What Inescapable conclusions do you draw from this passage?
Romans 3:9, 10, 23 All stand as sinners before God.
The Nature and Definition of Sin
1 John 1:8 If one says he has no sin he is not truthful. What is sin?
1 John 5:17 Sin is unrighteousness.
Romans 1:16 Righteousness is revealed in the Bible.
1 John 3:4 Sin is lawlessness (acting without law). What law?
James 1:25 Authority is found in the perfect law of liberty, the gospel of Christ.
Romans 14:23 Whatever is not of faith is sin. How does one get faith?
Romans 10:17 Faith comes by hearing the word of God.
James 4:17 Not doing good is sin. How does one know what is good?
Micah 6:8 What is good is shown by God to man in the Bible.
The Tragic Consequences of Sin 1) Isaiah 59:1-2 Sin is tragic. It separates man from God. (Separates; Injures; Never lets go) 2) Romans 6:23 Without God’s help, sin will separate man from God eternally.
God’s Love and Provision for Salvation 1) John 3:16 God’s love made it possible for man not to die because of his sin. 2) Matthew 1:21 Jesus came to save man from sin. 3) Jeremiah 10:23 God knew man needed help to deal with sin. 4) Proverbs 14:12 The end of the ways of man is death. 5) 2 Peter 1:3 God, in His word, has given man what he needs for life and godliness. 6) Romans 1:16 The gospel, God’s word, is His power unto salvation given through Jesus.
The Necessity of Hearing and Believing 1) Matthew 7:24-27 People must hear the words of Christ. 2) John 12:48 We will be judged by the words of Christ, therefore, we must live by them. 3) John 6:68 We must hear Christ’s words because they are the words of eternal life. 4) Romans 10:17 We must hear Christ’s words in order to believe (have faith. see John 20:30-31). 5) Hebrews 11:6 We must believe in order to come to God and be pleasing to Him. 6) John 8:24 We must believe in Jesus to keep from dying in sin.
Faith Must Lead to Obedience 1) Matthew 7:21 We must act on our belief (faith) with obedience. 2) Hebrews 5:8-9 Jesus will only save those who obey Him. 3) John 14:15 If you love Jesus, you will keep His commandments. What are they?
The Commands of the Gospel 1) Luke 13:3 Jesus commands all to repent. 2) Acts 17:30 All people are required to repent. 3) Matthew 10:32 All are required to confess Jesus as Lord. 4) Romans 10:10 Confession is essential to salvation. 5) Mark 16:16 Jesus commands baptism. 6) 1 Peter 3:21 Baptism now saves us. 7) Acts 22:16 Baptism washes away sin.
The Blessings of Being in Christ and His Church 1) Galatians 3:27 In baptism one puts on Christ. 2) Ephesians 1:3 All spiritual blessings are in Christ. 3) 1 Corinthians 12:13 Baptism puts one in the body of the saved. 4) Colossians 1:18 That body is Christ’s church. 5) Acts 2:47 God adds the saved to His church. 6) Ephesians 5:23 Christ is the Savior of the body, the church. (Eph 1:22-23)
The Urgency of Obedience 1) 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 Those who do not know God and those who do not obey Him will perish. 2) 2 Corinthians 6:2 Now is the time to obey. 3) James 4:13-14 There is no guarantee of a tomorrow.
People claim there are 2 gospels. One for the Jews taught by Peter that requires baptism. The second one is supposedly just to the gentiles and has no requirement for salvation except “faith alone.”
Is this true?
Look carefully at the great commission given by Christ Jesus after His resurrection and just before His assencion into heaven.
Matthew 28:19
Go ye therefore, and teach all NATIONS, BAPTIZING them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
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Mark 16:15-16 KJV
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the WORLD, and preach the gospel to EVERY CREATURE. [16] He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
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This command is universal—“all nations”—with no distinction between Jew and Gentile. It flows directly from the risen Christ to the apostles, including Peter (who was present) and extending to Paul’s ministry. The gospel is not divided by ethnicity or apostle; it is one message with one response.
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The idea of two gospels often misreads Galatians 2:7 (different audiences: “circumcision” vs. “uncircumcision”) as different content. But the text shows the same gospel entrusted to different men for different groups, just as Jesus commanded in Matthew 28. Dividing it creates the very “another gospel” Paul cursed. There is one body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism (Ephesians 4:4-5).
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Jesus’ command stands: one gospel, for all nations, baptizing them. Faith responds to the gospel; baptism is the obedient entry into Christ as the apostles practiced it—without ethnic division.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph 1:3)
As we continue to count our spiritual blessings in Christ, today is a fitting time to talk about the blessings we have in Christ through His blood. For us to appreciate the full impact of this blessing, we need to go back and see the impact of blood in the Old Testament.
The first implied reference to blood appears in Genesis 3, when God took animal skins to cover Adam and Eve after their sin. “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them” (Gen 3:21).
The next reference we find in the scene with Cain and Abel. Abel made an offering to the Lord from the firstlings of his flock. It says, “And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering” (Gen 4:4; cf. Heb 11:4). Three things stand out: first, that Abel gave the ‘firstling’; second, that it was the shedding of blood; and third, he offered it by faith (Heb 11:4).
We see animal sacrifices continue throughout Genesis, often involving the building of an altar and the offering of clean animals as burnt offerings. They emphasize faith, obedience, thanksgiving, or covenant relationship. When we get to Abraham we see another important element. Initially, his son Isaac was to be offered as a burnt offering, but God provided a ram caught in a thicket, which Abraham sacrificed in his son’s place. This event is seen as a foreshadowing of substitutionary sacrifice. “And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh (the LORD will see to it [will provide]): as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen” (Gen 22:13-14).
In Exodus God turned the waters of the Nile to blood and commanded the Israelites to apply blood to the doorposts and lintel during the final plague. This Passover event powerfully foreshadows the sacrifice of Christ. Jesus Himself used the elements of the Passover meal as symbols of His body and blood: “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread… this is my body… For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins” (Matt 26:26-28).
Another notable instance of the use of blood is at the dedication of the tabernacle. Blood was used—along with oil—to consecrate both the tabernacle and the priests setting them apart as holy for God’s service. Moses applied blood to the horns of the altar to purify it (Lev. 8:15), and he placed blood on the right ear, thumb, and big toe of Aaron and his sons before sprinkling them and their garments with a mixture of blood and oil (Lev. 8:23–24, 30; see also Ex. 29:12, 20-21, 36–37).
Blood plays a central role in God’s plan of redemption.
Agape spencer
BLOOD
And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
(Hebrews 9:22)
For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. (Leviticus 17:11)
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” (Eph 1:3)
Last month we saw how all spiritual blessings are IN CHRIST, and none are for those OUTSIDE of Christ. This month we shall answer the all-important question, “How to be in Christ?”
Continuing in the first chapter of Ephesians, all spiritual blessings (such as election, adoption, redemption, forgiveness, inheritance, and sealing with the Holy Spirit) belong exclusively to those who are “IN CHRIST” (Ephesians 1:3–14).
To be “IN CHRIST” means to be united with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection, then His righteousness, and blessings become yours (Romans 6:3–11; 2Cor 5:17, 21; Col 2:12; Gal 2:20).
The New Testament describes this union as happening through faith in Christ, through FAITH, REPENTANCE and BAPTISM:
Faith is the means: “Ye are all sons of God by faith in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:26). Believing the gospel of Jesus Christ begins our unity to Christ (Romans 10:9–10; Ephesians 2:8–9).
Repentance is inseparable from faith: Repentance was preached by Jesus at the beginning when Jesus said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15). And continued to be preached after His death, burial, & resurrection, “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21; cf Acts 2:38).
Baptism in water is the point of inclusion: “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls” (Acts 2:42, 47). “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27). “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death” (Romans 6:3). “Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead” (Colossians 2:12). Note that it is faith in God’s work as we obey the Gospel.
Thus, one becomes “IN CHRIST” by Hearing, Believing the gospel of Christ, Repentance, Confession (Romans 10:9), then being Baptized into Him (immersion in water in His name, Acts 2:38). It’s only then that a person is a new creation (2Corinthians 5:17), reconciled to God, and receives every spiritual blessing in Him.
No Ghosts, Zombies, or Draculas: The Bible’s Rejection of Wandering Spirits and Unfinished Tasks
The Bible, throughout both Old and New Testaments, offers no support for the chilling tales of disembodied spirits, zombies, demons, or Dracula-like undead haunting the earth or lingering to complete unfinished business. Pop culture, from gothic novels to Hollywood horror, profit on such fears, but Scripture is clear: human work, including obeying the gospel, must be done in life, and death leaves no room for wandering souls or monstrous transformations. The complete absence of evidence for these ideas calms our fears of death with the urgency of living faithfully now.
The Bible consistently teaches that our work, including spiritual obedience, is confined to this life. Ecclesiastes 9:10 in the Old Testament urges, “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.” This verse shuts the door on the idea of ghosts lingering to finish unresolved tasks. The New Testament echoes this urgency, particularly in obeying the gospel. In 2Corinthians 6:2, Paul writes, “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” There’s no biblical hint of posthumous chances to complete spiritual work or haunt the earth as spirits to punish the living. Ghostly tales of unresolved business are purely fictional, not rooted in Scripture.
The notion of humans becoming zombies or undead creatures like Dracula also finds no place in the Bible. Dark tales of vampires rising from graves or mindless corpses are absent from both Testaments. Instead, Scripture portrays death as final for human endeavors, under God’s authority. Psalm 146:4 states, “His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” This leaves no room for undead transformations. The language of the Bible never states, hints, nor has examples of humans becoming cursed, vampiric beings. The Bible’s silence on such horrors confirms they are literary inventions, not divine truth. There is one biblical account of a deceased man wishing someone could go back to warn his family, but they could not (Luke 16:19-31). If haunting to complete unfinished business was possible, that would have been a great time for Jesus to tell us about it.
Likewise, the idea of humans becoming demons lacks evidence. The New Testament distinguishes demons as separate spiritual entities, not transformed human souls (demon possession was limited to the time of Christ to demonstrate His deity and power, and to affirm the authority of the apostolic age in the first century). Scripture never suggests that people risk becoming demonic after death. What are called “demons” in the Bible are known to be fallen angels, distinct from humans, who followed Satan in his rebellion against God (e.g., Rev 12:9; Luke 10:18).
The Bible’s clear message is that life is the time to obey the gospel and complete our work, with no provision for ghosts, zombies, or Draculas. Death ends our work on earth, but God’s word holds no terrors if we obey the gospel and live faithfully starting today.
Agape
PS; this also means that we shouldn’t wait until death or the judgment to find out if we’re saved. We can know from God’s word today. “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men;” (2Cor 5:10-11a)
The Bible presents the children of Abraham, specifically the twelve tribes of Israel, as God’s chosen people, selected for a divine purpose: to bring forth the Messiah, Jesus Christ, through whom all nations would be blessed. This narrative weaves through the Old and New Testaments, showing the progression from the Law of Moses to the New Covenant in Christ, culminating in the universal call to become God’s chosen through faith and obedience to the Gospel.
The Chosen People and the Promise. God’s covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3) established his descendants as the vehicle for His redemptive plan. Through Abraham’s seed—ultimately Christ (Galatians 3:16)—all nations would be blessed. The twelve tribes of Israel, descending from Abraham through Isaac and Jacob (Genesis 17:19; 35:10-12), were chosen to preserve God’s covenant, carry His oracles, and prepare the world for the Messiah. Deuteronomy 7:6-8 emphasizes that Israel’s election was not due to their merit but God’s love and faithfulness to His promise.
The Purpose of the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses, given to Israel at Sinai (Exodus 19-20), served as a tutor to lead humanity to Christ (Galatians 3:24-25). It revealed God’s holiness, exposed human sinfulness (Romans 3:20), and provided a framework for Israel’s covenant relationship with God. The Law included moral, ceremonial, and civil commands, pointing to Christ through types and shadows (Hebrews 10:1). For example, the Passover lamb (Exodus 12) prefigured Christ’s sacrificial death (1 Corinthians 5:7). However, the Law was temporary, unable to justify or remove sin permanently (Hebrews 7:19; 10:4). Its purpose was to prepare Israel—and the world—for the coming of the Messiah.
Fulfillment in Christ and the New Covenant. With Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection—the Gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)—the Law of Moses was fulfilled and abrogated (Colossians 2:14; Hebrews 8:6-13). Jesus, as the promised seed of Abraham (Galatians 3:16), accomplished what the Law could not: justification and reconciliation with God (Romans 5:1-2). The New Covenant, established through His blood (Matthew 26:28), replaced the Old Covenant, making salvation accessible to all—Jew and Gentile—through faith in Christ (Romans 10:12-13). The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) commands the spread of this Gospel to all nations, inviting everyone to obey Christ’s doctrine (2 John 1:9).
Paul expresses his heart for Israel’s salvation in Romans 10:1, noting their zeal for God but lack of knowledge about the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ (Romans 10:3-4). The Law’s purpose was fulfilled in Christ, and now all who believe—whether Jew or Gentile—are justified by faith (Galatians 3:26-29).
The Saints as the Chosen People. Under the New Covenant, the “chosen people” are no longer defined by ethnicity but by faith and obedience to the Gospel. 1 Peter 2:9 describes believers—Jew & Gentile—as a “chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,” echoing Israel’s calling in Exodus 19:5-6 but now applied universally to the church. Anyone who obeys the Gospel by faith (Romans 1:16; Acts 2:38) becomes part of this spiritual Israel, grafted into God’s family (Romans 11:17-24). The saints, through Christ, inherit the promises made to Abraham (Galatians 3:29).
The twelve tribes of Israel were chosen to bring Christ into the world, with the Law of Moses guiding them toward this purpose while exposing humanity’s need for a Savior. Christ’s Gospel fulfilled and replaced the Law, opening salvation to all who obey Him by faith. The saints, as God’s new chosen people, reflect His redemptive plan: a universal call to become His own through the New Covenant, demonstrating His grace and power to save.
HOW IS ISRAEL SAVED TODAY?
Israel (and everyone else) is saved not by the Law of Moses but by the Law of Christ under the New Covenant. The fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:31-34, as affirmed in Hebrews 8, establishes that salvation for Israel—and all people—comes through faith and obedience to the Gospel of Christ.
Salvation Through the Law of Christ.
Since Pentecost, when the New Covenant was inaugurated with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4), salvation for Israel (and all nations) is through the Law of Christ, which is the Gospel—the message of His death, burial, and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
The Bible is clear:
Faith and Obedience to the Gospel: Romans 10:9-13 states that salvation comes by confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in His resurrection, with “no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him.” Acts 2:38, preached to Jews on Pentecost, commands repentance and baptism in Jesus’ name for the forgiveness of sins, resulting in 3,000 Jews being saved (Acts 2:41). This marks the beginning of salvation under the Law of Christ.
The New Covenant Fulfilled: Jeremiah 31:31-34 promised a new covenant with Israel, where God would write His law on their hearts and forgive their sins. Hebrews 8:6-13 declares this fulfilled in Christ, who is the “mediator of a better covenant.” His sacrifice replaced the Old Covenant (Hebrews 8:13), making the Gospel the means of salvation for all, including Israel.
The Law of Christ: Galatians 6:2 refers to “the law of Christ” as the guiding principle for believers. This involves faith working through love (Galatians 5:6), obedience to Christ’s commands (John 14:15), and adherence to His doctrine (2 John 1:9). For Israel, this means accepting Jesus as the Messiah and obeying His Gospel, as seen in the Jewish believers of the early church (Acts 2:41; 6:7).
The Law of Moses Abrogated.
(Abrogated: To annul by an authoritative act; to abolish by the authority of the maker or his successor; To put an end to; to do away with.)
The Law of Moses, given to Israel at Sinai (Exodus 19-20), is no longer the means of salvation:
Fulfilled and Replaced: Jesus fulfilled the Law (Matthew 5:17-18), and His death on the cross abolished it as a system of justification (Colossians 2:14; Ephesians 2:15). Hebrews 10:9 states that Christ “takes away the first [covenant] that He may establish the second.” The Law’s sacrifices and ordinances could not perfect or justify (Hebrews 10:1-4; Galatians 3:10-13).
A Tutor to Christ: Galatians 3:24-25 explains that the Law was a “tutor to bring us to Christ,” but “after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.” For Israel, the Law pointed to the Messiah, but since His coming, salvation is through faith in Him, not the Law’s works (Romans 10:4).
Inability to Save: Acts 15:10-11, in the context of Jewish believers, affirms that neither Jews nor Gentiles are saved by the Law, which was a “yoke” they could not bear. Instead, “through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved.”
Israel’s Salvation Today.
Since Pentecost, Jews (Israel) are saved by:
Hearing and Believing the Gospel: Romans 10:17 says faith comes by hearing the word of Christ. Jews must believe Jesus is the Messiah, as Peter proclaimed to Israel (Acts 2:36).
Repentance and Baptism: Acts 2:38 applies to Jews, as seen in the mass conversions at Pentecost. Baptism in Jesus’ name unites Jews and Gentiles with Christ (Galatians 3:27-29).
Ongoing Faithfulness: Like all believers, Jews must abide in Christ’s doctrine (2 John 1:9) and remain faithful (Hebrews 3:14). The remnant of Israel saved today includes Jews who obey the Gospel, such as the apostles and early disciples (Romans 11:5).
The Remnant and Future Hope.
Romans 11:5 speaks of a “remnant according to the election of grace” among Israel, saved by faith in Christ, as exemplified by Jewish believers in the New Testament (e.g., Acts 21:20). While Romans 11:26 anticipates a future time when “all Israel will be saved,” this does not imply salvation apart from the Gospel. The context (Romans 11:23-27) suggests Israel’s salvation comes through faith in Christ, aligning with the New Covenant promise of Jeremiah 31:31-34, fulfilled in Christ’s blood (Hebrews 8:8-12; Matthew 26:28).
Conclusion.
Since Pentecost, Israel is saved through the Law of Christ—the Gospel—not the Law of Moses, which was fulfilled and abrogated (Hebrews 8:13; Colossians 2:14). The New Covenant, promised in Jeremiah 31:31-34 and established through Christ (Hebrews 8:6), requires Jews to believe in Jesus as Messiah, repent, and be baptized (Acts 2:38; Romans 10:9-13). The remnant of Israel today, like all believers, enters God’s chosen people (1 Peter 2:9) by faith and obedience to the Gospel, fulfilling God’s redemptive plan through the eternal covenant of Christ.
Borger church of Christ @ Franklin & Juniper 