The Love of God, Pt. 3

Ronald Weinland

March 11, 2023

We are now going to continue in the sermon series entitled The Love of God, and this is Part 3.

We’re going to skip any kind of review from last Sabbath and just jump right into where we need to continue on so we’re going to go on to Romans 5 now as far as the series is concerned.

We’re going to continue with this mindset of looking more closely, of understanding more fully that which God is giving to us, to understand the kind of love He has for us, especially as we see the times we’re living in and the things we’re going through in this world and driving the point home to all of us in the Church. He wants us to grasp the kind of love He has for us and then ourselves to look inside of ourselves as well to see if we’re responding properly to what He’s blessed us to be given, frankly.

Sometimes we don’t grasp the depth. Well, we really don’t anyway, but we can strive to grasp it more, the depth of the kind of love God does have for us, so that’s why we review these things from time to time, and especially where we are in time right now. So, Romans 5:1.

I marvel, too, how this is just before Passover period. It’s coming upon us quickly. Days of Unleavened Bread. So, that’s awesome to understand, all the things that fit together here. But I’m always amazed by the series or the sermons that lead up to Unleavened Bread and Passover.

So, it says here, Romans 5:1—Therefore, being justified by/through faith we have peace with God through our Lord Joshua the Christ. So again, what an incredible thing to understand God’s plan and purpose and to know that we have a process we go through. We know it quite well but it’s good to review it, especially in the context of some of the things that Paul has to say here in the book of Romans.

Just to understand this matter of how we’re justified through faith, it’s not because we’re smart. It’s not because we figured things out on our own. It’s because God has given us the ability to believe things that are true. He gives it in our mind, and that is something we can have personal in our thinking, to know yes, that’s what happened.

People try to go out and share this with someone else, but you can’t. They don’t get it. They don’t see it. They don’t understand it. And so, for us to see it it’s like a knowing just because you heard it or you read it and you just know that it’s true. And how do you explain that to someone? It’s really kind of impossible.

So we have that in fellowship in the sense we share that knowledge, that understanding, and so that’s what it’s talking about. Because God has to give us what we believe first and then it’s our choice to hold on to it, to do what He’s given to us. That’s what faith is all about. It’s living by the truth that God gives to us. So, we choose to live by what He’s given us, the ability to believe. Generally, it starts with the Sabbath and the Holy Days, tithing. Those are the big ones in the sense of God seeing where we’re going, seeing if we’re responding to the calling He’s giving to us. Then if we do those things then He continues to give us more and we can grow then, leading up to baptism and then beyond that, obviously.

Yet I marvel still at those who at some point or another cease to believe. A lot of times various pulls in the world or things can bother us to where individuals cease to practice what they were given to believe. When that starts, it’s a backward movement, and if it doesn’t get repented of people are led right out of the Body.

So, I marvel because we’re approaching the Days of Unleavened Bread, I marvel because of all the things that are happening in the world right now. There are so many things going on, and I will read some news items here coming up within part of the sermon here because I feel like that’s necessary to help us to be aware of what’s happening in the world in the midst of the things that God is giving to us.

I can’t help but think of the fact that there are so many different kinds, not just Thunder going on, but so many different kinds of Thunder. That in itself should cry out loudly to us because it’s one thing through time and the things leading up to this period of time in the last couple of years, and especially now this past year, to have a Thunder here and a Thunder over there on occasion, we have heard things. But to have so many at the same time, it screams out in a very powerful way.

Just like it gives the example of a mother in birthing pain and those things building up stronger and stronger and more powerful. That’s an excellent analogy as so many things that God has given to us, to understand that’s what it’s like right now. And so, we’ll see where it goes and see how it continues on.

We may be much closer than what we grasp. I’ve been meaning to mention in the last couple of sermons, but we need to realize things can still happen this year. We have to be prepared for that, truly. We still have to plan ahead. I’m still planning trips on past Pentecost. We have the Feast planned for because we have to live that way. You have to do that on your job and different kinds of things you have in your life, your family. So, you still have to think ahead for the time to come and plan for things and yet to understand we may not see it in the same age. In other words, we may be in a new age even by the Feast of Tabernacles. So, we have to wait and see.

You think about the fact that the earth was basically destroyed as far as mankind was concerned upon it in forty days. Noah and his family were given the ability, the opportunity to continue and live on. And candidly, it wouldn’t take long now for things to hit in the same manner. When you have the kind of war that’s going to take place that can easily happen within forty days as well. Time will tell.

So again, we have this peace, a peace of mind, a peace that the world doesn’t have. Last night we were talking about various aspects of life and death and realizing what we’re like as human beings. We have a unique perspective in God’s Church. We have an understanding. The Great White Throne and other things as well, obviously, for the Church, and you can’t give that to anyone. But the more we grasp it and believe it and see it and live by it there is a peace there. There really is. It truly is awesome.

So, going on here it says …not the word “by.” I’m going to point it out right now. There are certain words that mean “by.” This word is better rendered “because of.” And so, this is stated many times in Romans here now and that’s why I’m bringing this to your attention. Because it’s more important when you realize “because of” something that’s taking place here.

So, We have, as it says here, peace with God through our Lord Joshua the Christ because of whom also we have access to faith. This word literally means “to.” It’s another word. …to faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. So, it’s an entire process that God has given to us whereby we can be delivered, saved, changed, transformed, everything that’s a part of our life in God’s Church.

Not only this but we… How do you describe this, “glory.” What does that mean? Well, it’s really a word in the Greek language that means “to boast.” It’s like pride but it’s the right kind.

You know, sometimes people are afraid to use the word “pride.” “I’m proud of this,” or “I’m proud of that.” If it’s one thing about yourself and it’s about self and you’re trying to lift yourself up because of pride, that’s one thing. But to have special feeling toward a situation, someone else, “I’m proud of you for what you’ve accomplished, for what you’ve done,” there is nothing wrong with that. That doesn’t mean that you’re filled with pride yourself. You’re just proud of what they have done.

It’s this word “glory,” if you will, but what does that mean? Well, this matter of you boast in, you’re lifted up because of what they’re doing, or something has happened and you’re excited for them in their life. That’s what it’s about. You take joy in it (glory, joy) in someone’s accomplishment and what they’ve achieved. There is nothing wrong with that.

So, we have to be careful sometimes how we use words. In this case to use that you’re proud of something, perfectly fine. If it’s not a matter of self and lifting up self, it’s a matter of lifting up someone else, it’s a matter of rejoicing and being excited about what you see someone else doing or fulfilling or accomplishing, and it’s a beautiful thing.

This is what it’s saying to us – not only this but we boast in, take pride in in a right sort of way. So, that’s not wrong of and by itself if it’s done for the right purpose. It’s not about self and our pride. That’s not what it means. It doesn’t mean you’re being lifted up by it and thinking yourself as being great. On the contrary.

…take pride in going through matters of tribulation. That’s an awesome way of stating it. We go through trials and we’re thankful to be a part. I think of things that happened around the Apostasy and it was like we talked about certain things being a badge of honor, you know, when certain things were done toward us. You’re able to keep on the right course.

I think of when they wanted to take our communication away within the ministry, and when they did something like that and something foolish toward others for doing the right thing it was like, “I’ll wear that as a badge of honor. They want to take it away? Fine. But I’m thankful for it because I’m on the right course.” And receiving something from others in a wrong way because of what, persecution, whatever you want to call it… I hope you understand what I’m saying.

So, we take certain things, like saying, “Well, I’ll wear that as a badge of honor,” which is whatever trial or hardship you go through, that’s good. To glory in tribulation? I think of all the things we’ve gone through. I wouldn’t trade anything for what we went through in the Apostasy. We can say in a right sort of way, to come through it in a right way, we’re proud to be a part of that. Because it’s from God. If you have it for the right reasons, it’s toward God because you glory in what God is doing with you and working with you in, and there is nothing wrong with that. I hope you understand the difference there and what I’m saying.

We take pride in tribulations, glory in, trials, whatever we go through. They’re not fun at the time oftentimes until you catch yourself, until you realize this has been good. There are certain things that we would never be able to see, grasp, or deal with, or come to a greater soundness of mind in or balance in if God didn’t let us go through them. It’s a part of the refining process we go through, the training we go through to be prepared for wherever He is planning on placing us within the Body. Awesome!

So again here, Not only this but we glory in (boast in, if you will) in tribulations (trials), also knowing that tribulation works patience. They go together. There are things we learn that if we didn’t go through them we wouldn’t learn in the same way – to wait on God, to look to God, to keep our eyes on God. Whatever we go through, we just keep going forward. It doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy.

That’s a part of a matter of character. You keep fighting. You take joy in that, that you’re able to continue to do so, knowing that God is still working in you and God’s leading you and you still see the things you do. And you think, what an awesome plan!

…and patience, experience. There are things we can’t learn except through experience. You can’t receive so much in life just by knowledge until you have the experience of it because experience is a matter of something that leads you to conviction. Experience. You experience something, you become convicted of it. If you don’t experience it how can you become convicted that God’s way is right in various matters of life?

So, we grow in experience, and experience, hope. It’s just it’s like something that builds upon itself greater and greater the more we grow in these things. Hope, greater hope.

Now, hope does not make ashamed or disappointed. Yet I’ve known many people in God’s Church as we led up to 2012 who were disappointed. Not only disappointed it was like, “You’ve got to be kidding,” you know, and finding fault and so forth. When that happens God can’t work with the mind anymore. He wants to see what we’re going to do with what we go through. I marvel at how God brought us through.

That’s why I think of 2005 and all those sermons we had about God, about Christ, that Christ didn’t eternally exist. We experienced something unique in God’s Church because that was a gigantic change in the Church as far as God giving us greater knowledge and understanding of Himself. A great Thunder, powerful Thunder at that time, all leading to the end here.

“Hope does not make ashamed or disappointed.” In other words, in that which, in essence, hasn’t even come to pass yet or something that hasn’t happened in our life that we maybe expected or thought it should be a certain way. We wait. We grow in faith toward God, that He knows what we’re going through in life, He knows what we’re suffering in life, whatever that might be, and He works with us.

…because the love (agape), the love of God… So, God loves us and so what does He do? …is shed abroad, poured out, in other words as it means in the Greek, or is being dispensed (dispersed) in our hearts, in our minds, in our being. It uses the word “heart” because this is the center of how we tend to have the strong feelings we have, whatever they might be, and then in this sense, God is showing us this is from Him. It’s His love being given to us so that we can change in our thinking.

We can change in our thinking toward one another and toward others in the world. The world can’t live this way. The world can’t understand the truth. And so, we don’t judge them. Well, we shouldn’t judge them. But anyway, we don’t judge them in the sense of expecting something of them that they can’t give.

That’s why I love what Christ said, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing.” That was for us. That was for us to understand something. They can’t. They can’t help it. They’re in bondage. We aren’t. What an incredible blessing that we can see the things we do.

Again, this love of God is shed abroad, poured out upon our hearts. That word, again, not “by” but because of the holy spirit which is given to us. It’s something that’s beyond the ability to reason or think about and have in your life. It has to be because of God’s spirit inside of you, inside the mind that starts helping the mind to think the same way – like God, becoming more at one with God, in harmony and unity with God in our thinking.

But we still have this carnal nature and so so often we don’t respond right away with love. Sometimes we have to go through some tough things and become corrected in our thinking at some point and then address where our thinking is wrong because that’s a process of experience and conviction – repentance and change because we want to think right toward one another. We want to think right toward one another within the Church. We want to think right toward others in the world, but especially to God’s Church because we all belong to God.

That’s why I marvel when it talks about “Who are we to judge another’s servants?” Powerful when you understand it’s about God. If we’re caught then judging, looking down upon, harshly condemning others, that’s exceedingly unwise and it’s a sin.

Because, again, the love of God is shed abroad, poured out in our hearts because of the holy spirit which is given—given—to us. God loves us to the point of wanting to give us of His holy spirit.

That’s why when I think, when I speak on something like this I am in awe of the fact the angelic realm was never given the holy spirit. They had knowledge. They saw things that God did. They only knew what God had given to them for so, so long. Millions? Billions? We don’t know the time that lapsed if we talk about earth years. They didn’t have such a thing then. In the beginning, obviously, it wasn’t even here.

In time there was one that began to think differently, began to find fault with God because He wanted something greater. What a mind-boggling thing that took place in the angelic realm. So, they never had access to the holy spirit. They just were made spirit, spirit composition, and those who believed God and continued to do so and had the joy and the excitement of what God was doing and continued to be faithful to God, God has blessed.

But those who didn’t, as soon as they sinned their minds were destroyed in the sense of ever being able to be redeemed. They can’t be redeemed because it’s spirit and that spirit mind, and once it sinned, will not change. It cannot change.

That’s why God made us physical. So when we sin, having a carnal human mind with a spirit essence in it, we can actually change. Awesome how God created us for that purpose.

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. So, the world, if it wasn’t for this, we would have nothing. We would have no strength at all as far as life is concerned. All we would have is this life. And if people thought that way, that this is all there was, can you imagine how much worse the world would really be? Because they’re going to get what they can get while they can get it, and this is it.

There is that something in the mind, in the spirit essence that God has placed in the mind, that human beings actually as a whole have this sense that there is something beyond this. Isn’t that amazing? Different religions. Until the mind becomes so perverted it doesn’t care about any of that.

“For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” Yeah, after four thousand years. After four thousand years of human beings being on this earth finally in due time, in God’s time, He sent His Son. He’s going to send him again after that two thousand years has elapsed. At the end of six thousand years then God’s plan for mankind, in that respect, of going his own way is finished and God brings His government, His Kingdom to this world. Awesome!

Indeed, scarcely for a righteous man will one die... So, righteous? Well, there are different measures of that, of what people would think. But again, it’s how the individuals think toward someone else. We generally think about something like that in a time of war, that someone is willing to sacrifice their life for others, others with whom they’re fighting, and so forth. And so, this is kind of the context.

In the world that really doesn’t exist, in that sense, if we understand it. …for a righteous man will one die. Yet peradventure for a good person, in essence, because it isn’t just the word for “man,” some would even dare to die. So, different standards that human beings have and different thinking.

I think of those who choose to be guards, those who choose to be bodyguards. Those who choose to protect leaders and so forth because their belief is so strong that they’re willing to try to prevent a leader or whatever from being assassinated or killed, and they’ll throw themselves in front. If they can do that, if they can accomplish that, they’re willing to do that. You think, incredible. So, this is a part of what this is talking about, what mankind at times is willing to do because of this deep sense of belief in what they believe in.

But God commends His own love, this agape again, toward us, in that while we were yet sinners… So, it’s kind of going back and giving this analogy of what are people willing to die for, for someone that’s an enemy? That’s insane. That’s nuts. You’re not going to try to sacrifice yourself for the enemy. That defeats the whole purpose of having war and battles and fighting and so forth. It’s like turning around and shooting your own rather so you can protect the other, and that doesn’t quite make too much sense, does it?

“But God commends His love toward us, that while we were yet sinners…” In other words, an enemy to God, at enmity with God. “The carnal mind is at enmity with God.” It can’t help it. Carnal nature, human nature is selfish. It’s just the way we are. It fights, it resists God’s law, God’s ways, God’s truth, God. And so, we learn these things very early on.

That’s what sin is. It’s about being against God. Because the lust of the flesh, the pride of life, all those things, the lust of the eyes, they’re against God because it’s not God’s way.

It says, but nevertheless, Christ died for us. What an incredible thing. For sinners, for those who are against him, those who are against God.

Much more then, now been justified by/through in this case, his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. So, it’s a matter of judgment. It’s a matter of a time when we are judged and God’s wrath, if you will, which only means that there is a penalty for sin. In time it’s death.

For when we were enemies… See, it addresses it, “when we were enemies.” All are enemies until they come to repentance, until they come to a point where they begin to turn from the way we naturally think as carnal human beings, and we want to change the way we think.

For when we were enemies we were reconciled to God because of, see, that word again, because of the death of His Son. It’s the only way we have, in essence, of being able to be reconciled to God. Because he had to pay. Someone, in this case it was His Son who is part of God’s plan to be Passover, was the way, in essence, we could have the payment of sin taken care of. Death, if you will.

…because of the death of His Son, much more been reconciled we shall be saved through His life.

So, I love that verse because there was a long time the Church didn’t grasp really, fully what that meant and it was kind of in the thinking that he’s alive, he’s a High Priest. But it’s more than that. Because he died, because he paid the penalty of sin, because we’re able to be reconciled to God, well, what does that mean? Well, we have to have God’s spirit to go through that process to be reconciled to him.

We have to have God’s spirit to have His mind, His love, to have the truth in us. It takes God’s spirit to reveal that to the mind. We’re saved because that enables God and Christ to live in us, his life. We’re saved through his life dwelling in us.

That’s why it’s such a horrible thing when we get out here within the midst of the Church and we find that some are resisting God. Whenever we do that, and we sin without repentance we begin to be cut off. When that happens we’re not able to be saved through his life anymore because it’s not coming into us. Sometimes people haven’t grasped the seriousness of sin.

So, we’ve got to understand that. It cuts us off from this reality. We can’t have His love in us. We can’t see things as we should see. We’re going to start losing the truth, the ability, and the conviction of it, and we’re just going to start losing His spirit within us.

This can be a long process. It can happen over a period of years, hence I think of some of the disfellowshipments that have taken place just in the last two to three weeks. Didn’t happen overnight and they were given grace and time, years in most cases here. I think of one in particular that stands out in my mind right now that it was years and years and years, but we didn’t know because he lied in his life to how he was actually living for years and years and years. But God brought it to this point in time and said, “That’s enough!” and God intervened and took care of it.

So, we have to understand the seriousness. That to me, and I hope it does to all of you, gives me a greater confidence and strength, even of where we are in time. Because this Body is being cleansed and He’s giving us opportunities to change and to grow and to be a part and to hold on with all of our being.

But if anyone is lying to God and lying to God’s Church and lying to God’s ministers by falsely being in fellowship and lying in that fellowship because this isn’t in their mind and they don’t want it and they don’t care for it because they want something else that’s filled with sick sin, well, that’s a choice. But you’re not going to be in God’s Kingdom, obviously, and you’re not, obviously, even going to have opportunity to live into the Millennium.

That’s why I’ve been saying stronger than ever as we get closer and closer, anyone who is doing that, God, if it doesn’t come up within the Church somehow, God is going to take care of it Himself. You will not live into the Millennium.

That should sober us because we have been given the opportunity, the chance to see these truths. The world hasn’t. The percentage is there. There are people going to live into the Millennium, but there are so many who are going to die. It’s just where we are in time. That’s just speaking clearly and plainly and bluntly as it needs to be done.

And not only that, but we also boast in God. That joy in God, glory in God, boast in God. All its meaning is this is what lifts us up. We don’t have to lift ourselves up with carnal human pride and trying to be greater than what we are. No. It’s because we’ve been given so much already. If we grasp that this is what we boast in. We boast in the reality, the truth that God has given us so much that it’s hard for us to even grasp the magnitude of it. But that’s what lifts us up. That’s what lifts me up. That’s what should lift every one of us up. It’s the truth. It’s where we are. It’s knowing what we know and grasping the world doesn’t have it.

We’re almost there after all this time. Thunders are taking place. We should not be asleep. We should be wide awake and excited. It lifts me up. The fact that some of these corrections are taking place in the Church lifts me up. I don’t find that as a bad thing at all. They had their opportunity; they had their chance. Shame on them if they don’t respond to God!

That’s all you can say. Because it’s better for the Body, it’s better for the world, it’s better for the Church for sure that we be a clean Body. The filth and the garbage needs to be cast out. And if we don’t have that conviction? It’s a matter of being in agreement with God.

Is that being too hard? There was a time in the Church it was like, that’s being too hard on somebody, to come down on them like that and not give them more time. Well, how do you know how much time they were given? How do you know? What are you aware of that we aren’t? I get a little worked up over some of these things because sin hurts. It hurts us individually if we don’t fight to get it out of our lives and it hurts the Body horrendously. That’s why God is not going to allow it to be deceitful and live on into a new age within His Church. Awesome to understand that.

Does that lift you up and strengthen you? The fact that God is taking care of things? It does me. Helping us to become more at one. That’s what we should want more than anything in the world. I wish people wouldn’t make the wrong choices and wrong decisions, but if they do it’s on them. Not on me. Not on us. It’s on them. It doesn’t matter who it is.

And not only that, but we also boast in God through our Lord Joshua the Christ, through whom we have now received the atonement, the reconciliation. Therefore, just as through one man sin entered in the world… So, here we go, Adam and Eve; the first ones sinned.

I remember sitting in class at Ambassador College when we didn’t have a matured sense of all these things yet and debate going back and forth, well, why did sin continue on? Why is everybody sinning? It’s like a lack of understanding that it’s just the way we are as human beings. We all have it.

Without God, without God’s holy spirit, that’s what we’re going to do. We’re going to do what Adam and Eve did. We’re going to hide from God when we sin until we become so hardened we don’t even care about hiding anymore. It’s just totally out in the open because people don’t care. But in the beginning, in this case here at least, they tried to hide in the garden a little bit. But later on, you know, people don’t believe God. They don’t want God in their life. So, God allows that. Six thousand years of it. Very few who have been called out of that and given an opportunity to become something different, to change.

…just as one man sin entered the world… Because that’s where it started. It wasn’t his fault that everybody else sinned. There are some churches out here that really have some weird ideas about that. It’s like, it was Adam and Eve’s fault and it’s “the sin.” Anyway, I’m not going to go into some of that. But anyway, it’s really sick. Some of it’s real perverted about how human beings think on some of these things.

But the reality is, no, it’s just that we’re all carnal, we’re all physical, we all have “lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life,” and the sooner we recognize that the better off we are. But who can understand that except God’s people, those who are called?

…therefore, just as one man sin entered into the world, and death because of sin… Who believes that in the world? That’s why they have to have some different kind of belief. Because you can’t believe the truth in the first place. You can’t take everything that’s said in scripture for face value even on a physical plane because if you did you would have to address the fact that there is a death penalty for sin.

People have to come up with some ideas of how, well, you can kind of do what you want to until the very end, until you’re in the bed and you’re dying and you’re gasping for air and “I need the guy to come and put this thing across me!” “You’re okay! You’re saved! Now you’re saved.” “You lived a horrible, wretched life and you didn’t care, and you treated people horribly. You robbed, you lied, you killed, whatever it might be, but ‘Now you’re okay because you’re on your death bed and you said, I’m sorry.’”

Some of them don’t even have the ability to say they’re sorry. But if there is a priest there or whatever they can do that magic thing and maybe throw some water out there, and all of a sudden, you’re okay, you’re going to be in heaven. Isn’t that stupid? Insane, the human mind. (I’m sorry.)

…so death passed upon all mankind for that all have sinned. We have to be forgiven of sin because it’s the death penalty. The world doesn’t take that seriously at all. It’s not real to them.

In the Church, sadly, too often this isn’t taken real either. Isn’t that amazing? Because if people really believed? See, God gives us the ability to believe the truth. If we really believed that because of sin, if we go out here and do our own thing apart from what God says, if we lie and cheat and steal, and steal against God, which so many have done in times past (and you think, don’t you know what that is), it’s the death penalty.

Is God being fair? Yeah. Just? Absolutely. Because we have the choice to make. Do we want to live in agreement and unity and oneness with God? Because that’s the only way real peace can be. We have to become at one, in total agreement with God in everything in life. What an incredible thing. Why would we want anything else?

Now, the rest of this is kind of awkwardly translated. It says, For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed where there is no law. That’s a very awkward translation. I’m not going to go through all the reasons why and the words that are used here and how it’s twisted and distorted, but this is the proper translation: Indeed, as far as the law, sin was in the world, for sin is not imputed, in other words, charged to one’s account, where there is no law.

In other words, the law has always been there. Always has been there. It’s just man has ignored it, ignored what God said. And because of that, death has reigned over all mankind until, unless or until God comes along and begins to draw us out of it to save us from it, to save us from death.

Verse 14—So, nevertheless—see—death reigned from Adam to Moses, when the law was given. Does that mean there wasn’t any law? It was always there of how people should treat each other. It doesn’t mean it was written as the Ten Commandments, but individuals who were called were given enough knowledge to understand what was true, how to think toward God, what you were to do. As far as Abraham giving tithes to God, where did he get that from? Well, God told him, see. That’s not one of the Ten Commandments. Lying and stealing is, so that’s a part of it when we understand it.

So, nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned after the same manner as Adam’s transgression. So, he sinned, Eve sinned, and there are different kinds of sins. Their son sinned later on by killing his own brother. So, it wasn’t the same one that Adam did, but nevertheless, it was sin, and still, death is the penalty.

…who is the figure of him to come. Another awkward thing here coming up so translating it should be, But not as the trespass… It’s not “the offense.” Some of those words, it doesn’t sound so bad to say, “It was an offense.” No, it’s a trespass, it’s a sin; it’s worthy of the death penalty.

…as the trespass, but in the manner of the free gift. So, God’s contrasting things here about what mankind has over him, all mankind. Yet what God is giving is free and it’s to those who are against Him. He’s talking about His love. To understand that kind of love, it’s hard for us to grasp, the patience, the love.

But it’s because of His plan for Elohim. He knows our human frame. He knows what we’re like. But that doesn’t give us excuse to sin as sometimes some individuals do. “Well, He knows I’m weak and I can’t quit this, and I can’t stop…” Yeah, you can. You can fight. You can continue to repent, and God will help you. You can conquer and you can overcome it.

For if through the trespass of one many are dead, much more… In other words, it started there. Not because he’s the only one, it’s because we’re all the same. We’re all human beings. We all have the same nature. We’re carnal. …much more through the grace of God through one man, Joshua the Christ. So, he’s showing here that a change can take place. Until then mankind is in bondage, is held under the death penalty, until there is Christ, our Passover, and then the gift through grace may abound unto many. That’s God’s plan, to offer that.

Yet even as I say this I think of the Church and how more have left than have stayed in the last two thousand years. That is an astounding thing to understand.

And not as though one who sinned is the gift, for the judgment through one was to condemnation, but the free gift of many trespasses under justification. So, it’s to understand we have a lot of sin. We’ve had a lot of sin in our lives and when we came into the Church we had so much that was forgiven to that point in time, whatever our age was. We were put under the watery grave, and we came up and had hands laid upon us. To God, it’s gone. You’re justified. Many, many, many, many sins. But they’re gone. No longer the death penalty.

But now, how do we live from that point forward? Well, there is still sin. There are problems in relationships, with people and how people think toward each other, within the Body, within the Church, and other things that happen on the job or wherever it might be, and weaknesses that individuals have because they had that before they came into the Church, whatever that might be, whatever we were like at that point.

Whatever our weaknesses were, that doesn’t change overnight. And so, in time we have to keep fighting, and we keep fighting. But God gives us the ability to fight and to change and continues to forgive. Every time we repent God forgives us. What an incredible thing. If it’s genuine and you really want the help and you’re genuine before God you’re forgiven.

Now, if you’re lying and you’re praying about it, why even bother? Because some have done that. You think, why would you pray and lie to God? “I really want help to change this,” and then your mind starts thinking about that sin and half an hour later you’re out there doing something you shouldn’t be doing. Think that’s ever happened in God’s Church? A lot. It’s just the way of human beings. You’ve got to fight and fight and fight, fight against self.

And not as though by one who sinned is the gift, for the judgment through one was to condemnation, but the free gift of many trespasses under justification. That’s what it’s talking about here.

Verse 17—For if one, and this “by one man’s” isn’t even in the Greek language here. They insert things that aren’t there. For if one trespass death reigned because of one… So, it’s one sin, and the point was there were so many more. When Adam did what he did, that wasn’t his last sin. When Eve did what she did, that wasn’t their last sin. Their whole life, that’s what their life was like from then on, and everyone who lived after that.

The first one that tried to battle in any fashion or form was Abel. He strived to live by God’s way. God was working with him until his brother killed him. But he was the first preacher of righteousness. He believed in God’s way of life, and he told others about it that came from Adam and Eve.

We have to understand they lived for several hundred years back then, and you think about the things that went on and numbers of people that came along. But to have even a small group there to talk about God, Abel was doing it. Awesome!

So again, For if one trespass death reigned because of one, meaning we’re all the same, we all did the same thing, not because of them, because it was their fault, much more those who receive abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness shall reign in life because of one, Joshua the Christ.

In other words, all were like Adam, if you will, carnal human nature and lived that way. But when we’re given the truth and we have the opportunity to receive this life, Joshua the Christ’s life into our lives to dwell within us, this is another matter. Because of that then all who become a part of that, become a part of the Body of Christ with Christ and God the Father dwelling within them can become something different. It’s making a contrast here between the two because we’re to become like Christ. He’s the one that has been set there, that we’re made, if you will, in the same likeness. That’s what God says about us. We’re to be in the same thinking, the same mind. That’s unique and awesome. That’s something we have to fight for.

Therefore, because of the trespass of one condemnation, speaking of the penalty, came upon all people because of sin, so the death penalty came upon all, even so by the righteousness of one justification came upon all people unto life. If we receive it properly. If we do what we have to do in order to continue in this. Start turning to God. Start obeying God. Pray to God for His help, of His spirit to always dwell in us, to repent quickly when we sin. Then we have that life and it stays in us, it will continue in us.

Indeed, because of one person’s disobedience, many were appointed sinners. Because everyone did the same thing because we’re all carnal. We’re to learn from that. So because of the obedience of one shall many be appointed of righteous—appointed righteousness. That’s our goal, our desire, to live right with God. With carnal human nature, you can’t do that, you’re going to do the same thing as Adam. So, everyone is going to do the same thing.

Verse 20—Moreover the law entered that the trespass might abound. So, the law is there. That’s all Paul is talking about there, and because there is so much in human life, of disobedience to God, trespasses were everywhere, trespasses were rampant. That’s the way it’s always been.

But where sin abounded, for us, for the Church, grace did abound much more. It’s an incredible way of contrasting all this and just saying, “Do you see what you’ve received?” Think how much sin there’s been in life. Think about how much sin there has been in each one of our lives. Yet God’s had mercy upon us, God loves us, and He wants to save us. He wants to mold and fashion us into that same image of Christ, that we become at one with God. Awesome to understand that process.

It’s thinking, it’s saying here, look how much then God’s grace has abounded to us even though within the Church we still have sin. Because we’re carnal and we have this fight. It’s a battle to change. But if we don’t fight it, we won’t remain, we won’t be able to. But if we’re willing to keep fighting it, our nature, on a constant basis, and repenting when we see we’re wrong in whatever we’ve done, that’s grace God gives to us.

He gives us time. He gives us favor. He wants us to repent. It’s just up to us if we’ll just acknowledge, “It’s my fault. My unhappiness and my woes of life,” in large part if we see that, “is because of our own thinking.” It’s the way it is. And so what he’s saying here? Look at God’s grace and His love toward us that He lets us go through all this in these battles we go through and this fight for so long.

I’ve been in the Church since 1969 and I’m still carnal. How about that? I still have things I have to fight and repent of. I still say things at times or I think of things that come out of my mind and as far as the world and different things that take place and have to correct it, have to repent of it. Not like it was when I first came in, because if it was then we’re in really big trouble. There has to be a growing process there in our life.

But I think of all the patience. That’s one thing on a personal basis that endears me more to God than anything. It’s the understanding that patience. He’s been so patient with me. And you think, and He still, He loves us. He doesn’t give up on us. What an incredible God! To understand that kind of mind.

We can’t do that as human beings toward one another except with God’s help and God’s spirit. Then we can begin to exercise that towards one another, and that’s a goal, that’s the desire, is that we start doing that more and more. But what an incredible thing this matter of patience and time and love, a willingness to put it all behind. Just go on with your life, repent, and go on. Don’t let that continue to drag behind you. Don’t worry about it anymore. Forgiven. What a peace because of that when you know that.

Verse 21—That as sin has reigned unto death… That’s all that’s there. All those who have died through time without knowledge of the truth, all those even who did have knowledge of it and turned from it, the hope is then the Great White Throne for them. The hope is for them that they’re able to have that opportunity, and the majority will.

So, death is still there until they’re able to be forgiven of it. How? Through the same things we’re going through. Repenting, being baptized, coming up out of the water. Those who already were, if God allows them then to go through that and live on into a new age it’s a matter of being awakened to a reality like after the Apostasy and all who were separated from God and then all of a sudden started a process very quickly, and then staggering it through time here of different ones called at different points in time. Not called but awakened from a spiritual sleep. Awesome!

That’s what God’s going to do to so many who have gone against Him in the past two thousand years. They’re going to be awakened out of a spiritual sleep. They’re going to be given the ability to see themselves in a way they never have. Incredible. Choices then at that time.

That as sin has reigned unto death, even so grace might reign because of righteousness unto eternal life because of Joshua the Christ our Lord. That’s why things like this, we can’t just become numb in our hearing because we’ve heard things about this, and not think about it, and not pray about it, to help us understand it more.

Because we’re approaching the Passover and God wants us to grasp what He’s given to us. He really does. He wants us to grasp what we’re going to do when we take that little bit of wine and take that little bit of bread, when we wash one another’s feet. Even that, even in itself reflects the kind of mind that God wants us to have toward one another, toward His people.

I’ve known of people who washed one another’s feet and it doesn’t take too long and they’re out there fighting and doing things they shouldn’t be doing toward others in the Body. Doesn’t take too long. That just shouldn’t be, but we have to repent of those kinds of things so that that would change.

I’m going to take some time at this point to read some news, have a bit of a break in that part of it. Because whether we grasp it or not, or realize it or not, one of the Thunders I’m going to bring your attention to is the Seventh. I hope we see what God is doing. Because it’s through sermons and the things He gives to us, there’s a reason for the pattern of things that God gives and we’re getting closer and closer to so many of these things being accomplished, but He wants us to grasp certain things about what He’s doing.

I think of especially since 2005 all the things that God has given to us, different Thunders, of changes that have taken place that we understand and see things in a way that the Church of God nor any called in times past have never, never, never known. Yet sometimes it’s hard for us to grasp how incredibly blessed we are to live at this period, that we are able to see these things. You can’t take them for granted.

You’ve got to understand how rich you are, how richly blessed you are to see the truths that you do. Do we grasp that we see many more truths than what anybody did during Philadelphia? Philadelphia was given a lot. Herbert Armstrong was given a lot. But he wasn’t given all the things that we are blessed with at this end-time, all the additional truths in the Church, understanding of things about God living in us that we didn’t grasp back then to the depth we do now. Do we grasp the incredible riches of that, that we see and know such things?

Well, the more we can focus upon those things especially as we’re getting close to the Days of Unleavened Bread here and Passover, and to realize that right now that Thunder of what God is giving to us is getting louder and louder, of Him. He’s getting ready to reveal Himself to the world in a way, and He’s doing that in the Church in a way it has never been done to the same level.

But can we grasp what it’s like that as soon as His Son starts returning God is going to reveal Himself in such a powerful way to the world? It’s never happened. Christ and 144,000 in the God Family being able to be seen, being able to experience various things in the world, and people being able to experience what they have to give to them?

We have no concept of what it's really going to be like when they’re all over this earth preaching and teaching and governing. It’s beyond our ability to grasp the magnitude of that because we’ve never experienced anything like it. But that’s where we are. So, that Seventh Thunder is just going to get louder and louder and louder and it’s going to continue on into the Millennium. Powerful! Awesome to understand that.

Anyway, that’s why I mentioned early on in the sermon then there are so many other Thunders right now. They are so loud. It’s just any moment whenever it’s God’s time, whenever the last of the 144,000 has been sealed, it’s over and it starts. So, when you know that something happens here in this country you’ll know the 144,000 are sealed and Christ is getting ready to come back.

What an awesome thing if it could be this year! I hope it is. With all my being I hope it is. But if it isn’t I’ll hope for the following Pentecost. I’ll keep focusing ahead and keep fighting. That’s what we have to do. But it’s getting so close. How long does labor go on? Until birth. We’ll know when the birth is. What an incredible thing to understand!

So, these things going on with Ukraine, I marvel how before the Ukraine War started how Europe was already starting to change its attitude toward this country, Europe. Because we didn’t see it in that light before. They did various things. But until finally they were poked and prodded and made, how can you say it, to feel ashamed, and their history comes back up of what they’ve gone through and they’re not supporting and doing what they really should be doing (when you look at NATO), and you see when something does go wrong in the world then there is incredible pressure on to put various restrictions on various ones.

Which is the entire banking system of the world. Who controls it? The United States. It’s an incredible system and yet there is tremendous power there that if you want to put restrictions on certain people that they can’t use it. See, that’s what’s happened to Russia and the oligarchs and different ones. They put more and more sanctions.

And so what happens? Other countries are supposed to support it as well, and if you don’t you may have sanctions, you may be punished. Some of them have been. I think of some of the banks over there that have been. We got in the tail end of some of that as it started to happen. Incredible what we’ve been going through in the world. But their attitude has been changing.

But it’s going faster and faster and faster, especially because of this war in Ukraine. Now it’s all out in the open, nothing to hide. Incredible! Incredible what’s taking place, it really is.

That’s why going through these news articles should give us a vision of things. People in the world aren’t looking up these things. They aren’t keeping abreast of what’s happening. They see a little bit here and there and it bothers them. What was it on TV the other day? They said now 40% of all Americans believe that we’re getting close to a war, a real war. That’s a lot.

So, why is that important? Well, because as it gets closer, and it becomes more of a reality there is the potential. See, God’s working with, preparing the world for people to receive something toward the end here of what is true so that when it comes what an awesome thing. Anyway.

An article here, “While Proposing Peace In Ukraine, China Issues Scathing Tome Over ‘The Perils Of US Hegemony.’”[1] It has to do with governing. It has to do with oversight of it and so forth and the controls. This country is very controlling.

Another one here, “The Fed's Biggest Fear Is ‘Complete Economic Collapse’ - Peter Schiff Warns ‘You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet.’"[2] So, I’m just going to read part of the article here because it’s amazing how people close their eyes to and will not acknowledge – especially on some of these business channels. They want to whitewash things so it’s, “Well, it’s not that bad.” But every once in a while they’ll come out and say something, “Yeah, this is pretty bad in this area.” But to grasp where we are and acknowledge it, that we’re so worse off than in 2008? They won’t… They’re starting to do it, some are, but not across the board.

He says, “I think the Fed is going to have to throw in the towel on the inflation fight because it will be fighting something it fears more, which is a complete economic collapse...” You know, it’s deja vu. We’re right back there again—incredible—except things are going to be happening faster.

“The federal government may be legitimately forced to cut Medicare and Social Security instead of illegitimately cutting it through inflation....” I hope you understand what he’s saying there. Do you know that some want inflation? Yeah. Because it pays things off easier. So, if the value of something, it’s inflated, it’s easier to pay it off. Sick, sick minds.

“Schiff contends, ‘They can’t cover the deposits at the FDIC...’" Like we ever thought they could. But anyway, “They have to acknowledge that the FDIC is bankrupt and people are going to lose money at a bank.  The losses are going to dwarf those in the Great Depression because we have a far more leveraged system now thanks to government intervention.”

It used to be I didn’t understand what “leverage” was when you talk about economics. Now I do and it’s amazing what banks do, what institutions do. They should just use the word “lie” to boost up things that are out here because it’s playing games. Whenever you see the word “leverage” you know there are problems, big, big, deep problems.

Another one here, “Subprime Auto Lender And Used Car Retailer Collapses As Distress Cycle Finally Arrives.”[3] “According to Bloomberg, the used car retailer, which targets consumers regardless of their credit history (and thus targets almost entirely subprime borrowers who can't get a loan elsewhere), said in an email to employees on Friday the firm was ceasing all operations, closing its headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee, and that all employees would be terminated by the end of the business day, the people said. It employed about 288 people at its headquarters.”

“The long overdue collapse - the first of many - comes as more Americans are starting to fall behind on their car payments, and the distress cycle is rapidly accelerating.” It’s amazing to watch what banks are doing out here. Throwing out here offers for people to get credit cards. Why? Then they start using them and what happens? They get full. But then there comes a time to pay them. It’s a vicious circle but it’s really getting bad, and that’s what it’s bringing out here about cars and banks and banking systems.

I don’t know if you heard about Silicon Valley this week. You think of one place that surely the banks wouldn’t collapse, and yet it’s happened. And now, what are they saying here, it was Chase, Fargo, and there was one other one, took several billion dollar hit on Friday, and the repercussions are just starting. Because that was Friday. So, you think, we’re right on the verge of things collapsing again and yet people don’t want to address it and acknowledge it because, well, it’ll just collapses faster, so they push back.

Here is another one, “Russia's Medvedev says arms supplies to Kyiv threaten global nuclear catastrophe.”[4] The fact they’re talking this way and they keep talking this way and they keep talking this way and this rhetoric keeps coming out and they keep talking about “If you go after Crimea,” in essence, that’s like their red line. Yet they’re even doing that. So you think, when does it happen? Well, when God says it’s time. That’s why we may be right there and don’t even know it.

A couple of weeks ago I thought, well, it’s going to be another year., Then I went through another week of news and it’s like really, we’re on the doorstep and it’s getting worse.

“European Antiwar Protests Grow As Fears Of NATO vs Russia Spiral.”[5] Another article. “Also on Sunday,” this is just over the past two weeks because I didn’t get some last week, so this is a catching up. “…Sunday in southwestern Germany, protesters gathered at the Ramstein air base – where the Ukraine Defense Contact Group’s meetings on arming Kiev are held – calling for an end to the weapons deliveries while demanding the U.S. Air Force to ‘go home.’”

Well, you might think that’s just a few of them out there saying this, but we’re not too far away from Europe saying that: “Go home!”

“In Nuremberg, protestors expressed their dire concerns that the German people were being dragged into another war with Russia. As one demonstrator commented ‘If we Germans get involved in a war, and I personally do not have a war with Russia, then for us Germans, based on history, it is the worst sign that we can send.’ The demonstrator continued, ‘no war must go through Germany, neither with arms deliveries nor anything else, because otherwise, Germany will be in the middle of it again.’ He believes this is just what ‘America wants.’”

Now, can you imagine the thinking of some? And this isn’t just one individual. This kind of sentiment is growing over there, that America keeps pushing at this because they’re pushing NATO, they’re pushing countries to various things, they pushed the sanctions, they can’t get the gas, the gas prices are up, they’re suffering because of it, and they’re not in love with the love they had before.

“As a result of the economic war on Russia led by the U.S., people across Europe have suffered skyrocketing gas prices and inflation, leaving some struggling to heat their homes during the frigid winter months. The strain is beginning to show, likely playing some role in motivating the spate of protest actions in recent days. Last year, tens of thousands attended similar demonstrations in Italy, Germany, France, and the Czech Republic, with many voicing outrage over pricey foreign aid to Ukraine as their living standards continue to plummet.”

Another article here from Newsweek, “NATO Inches Closer to Russia's Border.”[6] “Should Finland join, though, the move would be a blow to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who once stated that one of his objectives for the war in Ukraine … was preventing the expansion of NATO on Russia's borders.” But on the contrary, it’s just getting it closer and closer, and that’s why the conflict is getting worse and worse.

Another one here: “Core EU Inflation Unexpectedly Surges To New Record High.”[7]

Another article: “Russia claims Ukraine crossing border in sabotage attacks, Kyiv denies.”[8] These things are happening and there are things, Russia’s starting to experience some of this a little bit in their communities. When does it blow up? Well?

Another one here: “Russian State TV Responds to Bryansk Incident: 'Provoking Nuclear War.'”[9] This is from Newsweek. “Moscow has said that Ukrainian saboteurs staged a terrorist attack on Russian territory, which a Kremlin propagandist has said could lead to a nuclear response.” I always love this. It’s always “Russian propagandists.” The west has no propagandists, but they have propagandists.

“Ukraine has dismissed claims by Russian officials that a Ukrainian sabotage group had crossed into the Russian region of Bryansk on Thursday and fired at a moving car, killing one person and injuring a 10-year-child who was hospitalized. Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the alleged incident in the border district of Klimovsky as a ‘terrorist act’ adding that ‘we will crush them.’ In contrast, Ukrainian presidential advisor Mikhailo Podolyak has described the report as a ‘classic deliberate provocation.’"

“A group identifying itself as the Russian Volunteer Corps appeared to claim credit for the alleged attack in a social media post and videos. Made up of Russians fighting for Ukraine against Putin's invasion, the group denied that a Ukrainian sabotage unit had been involved. The group also said civilians had not been targeted.”

The point of all this is things aren’t settling down. They’re just getting worse and worse and they’re getting ramped up. The more it happens it gives Putin more ammunition to use as he desires and it’s going to come to a head.

Another article from Newsweek: “Only NATO or Nukes Can Save Ukraine From Russia: Estonia Foreign Minister.”[10] It’s what they had to say. “Estonia's foreign minister urged NATO allies not to exclude Ukraine from the transnational alliance in exchange for peace with Russia, warning that doing so would strand Ukraine in a ‘grey zone’ in which its only means of deterring further aggression from Moscow would be increasingly devastating weapons.”

So, there is this push to just keep pushing more and more in there. Now, it’s planes. I’m not going to read the rest of the article. There is just so much of this out there.

Another headline from Newsweek: “Russia Unveils New Nuclear Strategy.”[11] They aren’t being quiet about it. “Moscow is developing a new military strategy in which nuclear weapons will be used to protect Russia against possible aggression from the United States, according to a Russian Ministry of Defense journal.”

“The article published in the magazine Voennaya Mysl (Military Thought) follows a series of incendiary remarks from Russian political figures about the prospect of Russia using nuclear weapons.” Using them. “Guests and anchors on Russian state television have also boasted about Moscow's nuclear capabilities and called for strikes on western countries backing Ukraine in the war against Russian aggression.”

One of the things that is really kind of surprising me here is how more and more people in Russia who, yes, support Putin and get something out of it, I’m sure, in their own thinking, in their own minds, but more and more of them are being very outspoken about the fact they’re actually pushing to use nuclear weapons. That doesn’t go without or being able to be said unless they have an okay to do so from Putin.

So, you don’t do things over there just on your own and speak out against something you might be afraid of. But this… I started to use the word “propaganda,” but this scenario is being pushed more and more by them, by individuals in the government and business, and so forth.

“Adding to the discourse is the defense journal article, which said that the U.S. was concerned it was losing dominance over the world and so had prepared plans to strike Russia to neutralize it.” You know, if they really think that, and you know if you keep telling people this, they’re planning on doing this, they’re coming at us, NATO is coming at us, and get more of the country behind you, it’s not a far stretch to see where it’s going.

“Part of the strategy involved the Pentagon trying to ‘defeat’ up to 70 percent of Russia's strategic nuclear forces ‘using a conventional instant global strike,’ according to the article…” So, you get people in fear of the fact they’re about ready to strike us with nuclear weapons? That’s what they’re doing. So, their response is, “We need to change our strategy and consider striking first.” Insanity. I won’t read more of that.

Another one here: “US military chief Milley in Israel to discuss joint efforts on Iran.”[12] Another hot spot. When are they going to get attacked? Because Israel is not going to take it. You know, at some point, if they really believe that they have the bomb, they’re going to bomb them.

“State of emergency declared in Vanuatu…”[13] It’s the island just north of New Zealand, so they’re generally where some of the greatest of volcanos there, active volcanoes, but huge earthquakes that take place there as well, but they’re talking about a second cyclone that came through in a week and those that have swept across New Zealand as well and the kind of flooding they’ve had. It’s like, where is there an end to it, some of the things taking place there? Now, they only have, like between four and five million people on the two islands, but they’re being devastated by these things that keep hitting them like this.

Another one here: “'Epic': Extreme storms have California near an all-time snowpack record set 40 years ago.”[14] So again, it’s just it’s not the fact that these things haven’t happened in the past, it’s the fact that they’re all happening now all over the place in a profound way. This is what Thunder is all about. It’s about a woman in childbirth. All these things taking place that are increasing in magnitude and power.

I don’t know if some of you have seen the flooding out there that’s taking place and another system is coming into California now. Reminds me of the time that Steve used to talk about how, that, God talking about this warehouse of snow. And you think, they’re talking about so many feet of snow coming on top of what’s already there and another system coming in right behind that. So, they’re getting slammed out there.

Weird things that are happening throughout Europe and throughout, you know, from one extreme to another. Didn’t have any water. Now they have way too much. Thunder. That’s exactly what it says there. But happening all across the board here, different parts of the world.

I hope some of you are getting a lot of these things but there is so much. I don’t even have time to go through all this there is so much here.

“Russian State Duma Calls to Declare War on Ukraine.”[15] Because it’s not been called that yet. They haven’t declared it as being a war yet and they’re using different terminology. They’re calling it the “special military operation.” So, the Duma is saying “Let’s declare it what it is. Let’s call it a war now. We’re going to have war now.” They’re having war, but let’s call it one. So, you think, just ramping it up more and more.

Now, this one here I’m just throwing in just to show you the stupidity of human beings: “Space telescope uncovers massive galaxies near cosmic dawn.”[16] Do you know where that is, the “cosmic dawn”? Where it all started, I guess. But they keep finding things out there farther so where is the dawn really at? Anyway, I’m sorry.

“CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Astronomers have discovered what appear to be massive galaxies dating back to within 600 million years of the Big Bang…” Some of these things are so stupid. You think, okay you have a “big bang,” where did that come from? Where did it happen? By what science does a bang take place? What laws can cause a bang? Where did all that mass come from that created the entirety of the universe? Can you imagine that kind of mass? Well, where did that come from? “But there was a ‘big bang.’” (I’m sorry.)

“…suggesting the early universe may have had a stellar fast-track that produced these ‘monsters.’” Some of their talk even is just so dumb! These are scientists, well-educated people.

“While the new James Webb Space Telescope has spotted even older galaxies, dating to within a mere 300 million years of the beginning of the universe…” They don’t even have the foggiest idea when anything began. “…it’s the size and maturity of these six apparent mega-galaxies that stun scientists. They reported their findings Wednesday. Lead researcher Ivo Labbe of Australia’s Swinburne University of Technology and his team expected to find little baby galaxies this close to the dawn of the universe — not these whoppers.” It should have been only babies out there.

“‘While most galaxies in this era are still small and only gradually growing larger over time,’ he said in an email…” And you think, and how long have they been alive, and how long have they been doing this, and how on earth would you know they’re growing over time? “…said in an email, ‘there are a few monsters that fast-track to maturity. Why this is the case or how this would work is unknown.’”

“Each of the six objects looks to weigh billions of times more than our sun. In one of them, the total weight of all its stars may be as much as 100 billion times greater than our sun, according to the scientists, who published their findings in the journal Nature. Yet these galaxies are believed to be extremely compact, squeezing in as many stars as our own Milky Way, but in a relatively tiny slice of space, according to Labbe.”

“Labbe said he and his team didn’t think the results were real at first — that there couldn’t be galaxies as mature as the Milky Way so early in time — and they still need to be confirmed. The objects appeared so big and bright that some members of the team thought they had made a mistake. ‘We were mind-blown, kind of incredulous,’ Labbe said. The Pennsylvania State University’s Joel Leja, who took part in the study, calls them ‘universe breakers.’”

Don’t you just love the ingenuity and the mind of mankind, the education, the scholarliness of human beings?

Anyway, “‘The revelation that massive galaxy formation began extremely early in the history of the universe upends what many of us had thought was settled science,’ Leja said in a statement. ‘It turns out we found something so unexpected it actually creates problems for science. It calls the whole picture of early galaxy formation into question.’”

“These galaxy observations were among the first data set that came from the $10 billion Webb telescope, launched just over a year ago. NASA and the European Space Agency’s Webb is considered the successor to the Hubble Space Telescope, coming up on the 33rd anniversary of its launch. Unlike Hubble, the bigger and more powerful Webb can peer through clouds of dust with its infrared vision and discover galaxies previously unseen. Scientists hope to eventually observe the first stars and galaxies formed following the creation of the universe 13.8 billion years ago.”

I don’t know if it strikes you in the same way but scholarly minds, the foolishness of mankind to ignore that there is a Creator God who put these things out there. Just the refusal to believe things and wanting to come up with some idea, some way of saying this is what was happening, this is how it happened, and then everybody believing it is really kind of mind-boggling when it’s absolute sheer stupidity and defies law and science.

“Israel’s Window to Strike Iran Narrows as Putin Enters Equation.”[17] No, I’m not going to go through it.

“Russia and Iran secret nuclear deal would allow uranium transfers to Tehran's illicit weapons program: sources.”[18] All these things going on.

“Two Ukrainian pilots are in the U.S. for training assessment on attack aircraft, including F-16s.”[19] Now, you might think, oh, it’s just two pilots. But you know they sent the two that are the best in aircraft to go and learn this so they can go back and what? Teach it to others. But anyway, the fact that we’re doing it over here it’s just stirring things up again more and more.

Here is the one: “Over 40% Of Americans Think WW3 Is Imminent.”[20]

“North Korea cites ‘realistic’ chance of nuclear war.”[21] Now, this comes from Russia and people can make fun of and think, “What kind of a threat can North Korea really be to the United States?” and so forth. But candidly, it’s the one I believe is the most dangerous. Because they can be used as someone to do something at the very beginning because they’re being pushed to do it by those two up north, Russia and China, into doing something stupid.

Because they’re a paranoid nation, and if you feed their paranoia, which Russia and China are doing, the paranoia can lead to some stupid response. So, we have to wait and see if that’s actually what happens.

But anyway, wanted to read this part of this article, “‘Due to the irresponsible actions of the United States and South Korea, which are concentrating only on belligerent armed demonstrations thick with gunpowder, contrary to the international community's desire for tension relief and political stability, the risk of nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula is shifting from an imaginary stage to a realistic one,’ the ministry said, adding that the drills ‘clearly’ show the US is preparing for war with the DPRK.”

Now, see, this is what Russia is telling them. So, when you’re paranoid, as paranoid as they are, and they’ve lived their whole lives being paranoid, what does that do? It doesn’t alleviate the paranoia. Anyway. (I’m sorry.)

Here is another article: “Stock market will crash in 60 days, best-selling author on Lehman collapse warns.”[22]

Well, on and on it goes. There are so many articles out there right now about the economic collapse and where we are and what’s happening that resemble and have already gone beyond 2008 that you wonder how is it even staying together. But anyway.

Again, I’ve gone through these articles for a purpose – to show the wide variety of things that are the most important in the world that just keep happening. They’re not slowing down, they’re getting worse, and we’re just getting closer and closer and closer to this erupting at some point. We’re at the doorstep.

Romans 8:5. So, we’re jumping ahead a few chapters in Romans. Paul returns to some of the same context and builds upon it even more. Verse 5, it says, For those who were after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh, but those who are after the spirit, the things of the spirit. It’s a very basic thing. When I read this I just can’t help but think of people in the Church who have the ability to be after the spirit.

God has given us every door, every ability to have His spirit dwell within us, for Him and His Son to dwell in us through the power of the holy spirit, and we in them then. In other words, we are of the same mind. We have that fellowship of God’s spirit and the ability to see things and be of the same mind in the sense of agreement with God. And yet this hasn’t been practiced well. Not even within the Church where it should be practiced.

For to be carnally minded is death. We can understand that. To be carnally minded, “lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, the pride of life” is sin so it leads to death. …to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life, continuing life.

Do people want that? Does everyone in the Church want that, that continuing life at some point here, for some maybe a part of the 144,000, others at some point here after that in the next great resurrection that takes place into God’s Family? Think, why wouldn’t we? And yet there are so many who turn away from it to do other things.

…life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God. What a horrifying thing when someone in the Church who has been given the opportunity for baptism, had hands laid upon them, turns against God again, who turns against Christ, who has, as scripture talks about, becomes antichrist.

Because that’s about the Church. No one in the world can become antichrist because they have never been given the opportunity to know the truth. We are the only ones who have been given the ability to know what is true. And so, once we know that truth and we begin to turn away from it and we begin to want our own ways and we begin living it, begin doing it, then we start living something that’s so heinous – to be against God again.

I’ll tell you; I am sick of it. It just keeps happening. That’s one of the hardest things to deal with within the Church, when people will not repent, will not change, go off course, do strange things, do things against God, do things that require disfellowshipment. They’ve already done it. They’ve already separated themselves from God. But to formally follow through and let them know, yes, you are no longer in fellowship. That’s a horrible thing.

Because we want to see everyone succeed. God wants that for every one of us. How much more does God want that for everyone that’s called into the Church, who’s been baptized, more than I do, and yet I desire that deeply? I think we all do as we know one another within the Church. We don’t want to see anybody slide, slip, go backward and begin to lose what they were given, to know there is going to be incredible suffering with that, especially in the long term of what’s going to happen, lose out on being a part of the Millennium?

I mean, what a horrible thing after six thousand years God comes and reveals Himself to all mankind now in the most powerful way ever, obviously, because He hasn’t done that in six thousand years. He’s basically kept hands off. Now is His time to reveal Himself to the world through His Son and through the 144,000 who are spirit beings who are going to manifest themselves that people can see, can hear and even talk to, and it’s going to be so evident, everything that’s true about God.

There are still going to be those who don’t want it, don’t choose it. But what an incredible thing to come right up to that point and then throw it all away, have to wait until the Great White Throne. That’s hard! Hard to watch!

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God. True or false? Well, we ought to know it. That’s the battle we have. For it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. What a horrible thing when individuals in the Church get to that point where they come to a point where they are no longer subject to God’s law. Horrible!

So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. If we’re not striving to live by what is true, if we’re not striving to be obedient to God, if we’re not striving to receive of God’s spirit into our lives God says we can’t please Him, we can’t have a fellowship with Him. He’s not going to be there for us. Why? If we turn our back on Him and ignore Him why would He intervene for us?

But you are not in the flesh but in the spirit if so be that the spirit of God dwells in you. So, what does that say? If we have sin, if we’re doing our own thing and we’re lying against God, God doesn’t dwell there. He won’t dwell in sin! But once we repent, if we haven’t gone too far… Because sometimes it comes to a point where He says, “No more. I’ve given you all this grace, all this time, and what have you done with it?”

But if anyone does not have the spirit of Christ they are none of his. What a horrible thing. So we understand that in the world, and they can’t help that. But in the Church?

Now, if Christ is in you the body is dead because of (that word again), because of sin, but the spirit is life because of righteousness. That’s why it’s so important to repent quickly so that that life continue on in us, the ability to live by God’s laws, His way of life.

Now, if the spirit of Him who raised up Joshua from the dead dwell in you, He who raised up Christ from the dead shall also make alive your mortal bodies because of His spirit. These are powerful things. …because of His spirit that dwells in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors not to the flesh to live after the flesh. We’re to live after the spirit.

Hope those aren’t just words or that we’re tired of hearing them ever, but that we embrace them as we’re approaching Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread. Because we have to keep a prod on ourselves because if we’re not careful we can get into a point where we begin to kind of be lulled asleep. Can’t let that happen; you’ve got to fight until this is over with.

[1] https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/while-proposing-peace-ukraine-china-issues-scathing-tome-over-perils-us-hegemony

[2] https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/feds-biggest-fear-complete-economic-collapse-peter-schiff-warns-you-aint-seen-nothing-yet

[3] https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/subprime-auto-lender-and-used-car-retailer-collapses-distress-cycle-finally-arrives

[4] https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russias-medvedev-says-arms-supplies-kyiv-threaten-global-nuclear-catastrophe-2023-02-27/

[5] https://www.zerohedge.com/political/stop-killing-major-antiwar-protests-held-germany-france-italy

[6] https://www.newsweek.com/nato-inches-closer-russias-border-1784889

[7] https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/core-eu-inflation-unexpectedly-surges-new-record-high

[8] https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/russia-claims-ukraine-crossing-border-in-sabotage-attacks-kyiv-denies

[9] https://www.newsweek.com/russia-ukraine-bryansk-war-nuclear-skabeyeva-1785085

[10] https://www.newsweek.com/only-nato-nukes-can-save-ukraine-russia-urmas-reinsalu-1785023

[11] https://www.newsweek.com/russia-new-nuclear-strategy-ukraine-war-1785052

[12] https://www.debka.com/mivzak/us-military-chief-milley-in-israel-to-discuss-joint-efforts-on-iran/

[13] https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/state-emergency-declared-vanuatu-cyclone-kevin-bears-down-2023-03-04/

[14] https://phys.org/news/2023-03-epic-extreme-storms-california-all-time.html

[15] https://tsn.ua/en/ato/russian-state-duma-calls-to-declare-war-on-ukraine-2277247.html

[16] https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/space-telescope-uncovers-massive-galaxies-cosmic-dawn-97387424

[17] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/israels-window-strike-iran-narrows-063021801.html

[18] https://www.foxnews.com/world/russia-iran-secret-nuclear-deal-would-allow-uranium-transfers-tehrans-illicit-weapons-program-sources

[19] https://www.nbcnews.com/investigations/two-ukrainian-pilots-are-us-training-assessment-attack-aircrafts-f-16s-rcna73426

[20] https://www.zerohedge.com/political/over-40-americans-think-ww3-imminent

[21] https://www.rt.com/news/572620-north-korea-nuclear-war/

[22] https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/stock-market-will-crash-in-60-days-best-selling-author-on-lehman-collapse-warns/ar-AA18mUJR