The bible says when the Prodigal son came to himself, he saw that he was living with the pigs. And his father’s servants had homes,food and family. He said to himself, I will go to my father and ask forgiveness and become one of his servants. He started thinking soberly. God has standards so that our quality of life is good. As any father who wants for his children, God will move heaven and earth to do for us. But first we must come to ourselves and think soberly about who we are and where we are. It is true the no one can take us out of God’s hands. There is one exception, point you finger at yourself. You are the only one that can take yourself out of the hands of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God has given to every man the measure of faith. Romans 12:3. (KJV).

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com

Paul in the book of Acts was chased, stoned,and imprisoned for preaching the gospel. In every city he always went to the synagogue first, then went to the gentiles. He did this because as the word of God says, it is to the Jew first, then to the Greek. Salvation came to the Jews first. Some believed, some didn’t. But God has always kept His word to every man. In the book of Romans, Paul prays for the nation of Israel, they would see and understand the gospel and believe. And that we shouldn’t condemn them because of their unbelief. He said until the fulness of the gentiles comes in, then Israel will believe. God called them first. And that we should have mercy on them. As it says in Romans 11:29, for the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. (KJV).

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com

God chose the Hebrews to be a light unto the world. He wanted to show the world that God was alive and real. Although the Hebrews had their set of problems, God still brought the Messiah, Christ, into the world through them. Like the world, some of the Hebrews believed and some didn’t. In the book of Romans, Paul was discussing justification for all mankind. Showing how everyone can recieve Jesus and be accepted back into the kingdom. In Romans 9, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”(KJV). Everyone can come to Jesus and be accepted into the kingdom of God. For God is no respecter of persons.

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com

There are 2 parts to the gospel, the law and grace. Before the law was given to man, only death reigned not sin. The law brought the knowledge and accountability for sin. It’s the works towards God. And many hebrews believed that they could enter in with just works. But without faith they couldn’t enter in. Then Jesus came and brought grace. And people believed and had faith towards God. And yet in the end, Jesus will reject people who have lived in the church. If it isn’t just the law or just faith, what are we to do? The bible is one book. There aren’t any divisions in it. It is Jesus from one end to the other. If you don’t believe the entire bible, you have missed the mark. Faith has been required since the beginning. But if you don’t do something about your faith, it dies within you. This was true 6000 years ago. And it’s true today. Faith without works is dead, being alone. It takes the law and grace to be saved.

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com

The bible says that we are held in bondage all of our life through the fear of death. But Jesus came to set the captive free, by His shed blood. So if we are redeemed by God, then, “who can separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long, we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8, KJV).

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com

In Romans 8, Paul talks about being led by the Spirit, being in the Spirit and walking with the Holy Spirit. And those people who don’t, aren’t part of God’s kingdom. He talks about the hope we have in Jesus. And how the Holy Spirit prays continually for us. So, we aren’t condemned by our own heart. He also talks about how God loved us so much that He gave Jesus to die for our sins. And be able to come back home. Paul puts together 4000 years of oral and written laws and commandments together to show how God justifies us through the shed blood of Jesus. And after justification, is sanctification. If the Holy Spirit bears witness in us, then we are God’s children. And if we are His children then we are heirs with Jesus. “If so, then we will suffer with Him, to be glorified with Him. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time aren’t worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.For the earnest expectation of the creature waits for the manifestation of the sons of God.” (KJV).

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com

I’m reading in Romans 8. It’s the book about justification. It’s funny so is the book of Leviticus. I’m sure God taught Paul out of that book. Paul talks about the law and grace. I did a study of the 613 laws of Judaism. And all 613 laws are written in the new testament. Because God said it was one book and not one jot or tittle would change until all were fulfilled. But back to Romans ch.8. It says that we are saved by hope. And if hope is seen then why do we hope? But if we don’t see hope, we wait patiently for it. And the Spirit of God in us keeps reminding us that we are saved. Likewise the Spirit helps us by praying for us with groaning that can’t be uttered. And we know, that all things work together for good to them that love God and are called accordingly to His promise. For as many that are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com

There is an old saying that is a lie. Many Christians say it unfortunately. The saying is to be heavenly minded will make you no earthly good. The truth is just the opposite. You have to be spiritually minded to be any earthly good. Because if your thoughts dwell on God, you will accomplish God’s will on this earth. People need to see God in you to have hope that they can be rescued from this lost and dying world. I have been reading in Romans. In chapter 8, there is too much to talk about in one paragraph. But the opening sentence is, there is now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. The question is does your heart condemn you? And the answer is if it does then you aren’t walking after God in the Spirit. Condemnation is a sure sign from God that you need to turn around and face God. And walk with Him and in His direction. To be spiritually minded is life and peace with God.

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com

I love Joseph1637 | O Wretched Man, let’s play it!
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-8haf5-acb99c

This morning I was reading Romans 7. Paul was explaining why the law came in. God didn’t attribute sin to mankind until the law was written. The law of God is good. There is nothing wrong with it. It shows us where we are in relationship to God. It shows us our sin. God wrote His laws upon our hearts and minds. So that, we would know God and His commandments. If you remember the law, an eye for an eye, a touth for a touth, and a life for a life. Which includes our own life. If we choose not to serve God and lose our life, we are responsible to God for that life. And everyone will face God and answer for that life. O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then the mind myself I serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Crain Blanchard.

Www.joseph1637.com