The apostle Paul defined the true nature of grace in a rather unusual way, but then he was an unusual representative of God with very unusual insight into grace.

Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, was a Jew. And Paul died as a Jew. He proclaimed a Gospel based on faith alone; yet Paul, himself, did the works of a Jew. He was in a hurry to get to Jerusalem before the day of Pentecost or the Feast of Weeks. These feasts represented the first fruits of rededication to God (Acts 20:16). Paul and his Jewish companions had to undergo purification before they could participate in the offering in the temple. The Jewish Christians were still practicing the Jewish traditions and Paul did the same.

Long before Jesus was born, the Lord God demonstrated "His Presence" in a shepherd boy called David, who became king over God’s people, Israel. King David had committed a few fallacies and he attempted to cover up his transgressions. We are told that the Lord God sent Nathan to admonish and to correct the King David. The king had to learn that the wages of sin are demanding, "a life for a life." David had taken the life of Bathsheba’s husband and now the king had to lose her child, that he had fathered, in adultery (II Samuel 11-12). Such a crime cannot be atoned in this life. Taking a life is a sin against God! Because that person (that life) has been separated from God without having a chance to make things right in this life, which is required to establish an upright standing with God. David knew it and therefore he cried out:

Time is the frame in which we live, move, and have our being. Time is granted to us to structure our lives in such a way that we become competent to make our way through the world and into the Arms of God. Christmas is a time when we ought to long to return home and be reunited with our loved ones. At least that was my wish when I was some six thousand miles from my family. It reminded me of the Gospel that informs us that God, the Father, had a similar longing, only his children were not willing to receive His First-born Son. There was no room in the inn and His own family did not want His Son (Luke 2:6-7; John 1:11). He (Jesus) was the First-born! For Jesus existed before man was designed, by God, to be made in “His Image and in “His Likeness.” Yet, in this world, the Son of God, our Brother, was not allowed to have a simple roof over His head. And Jesus had nothing to offer of any value on earth to those who desired to follow Him. Jesus gave this answer to a prospect:

Paul did not, nor could he write an orderly account of Jesus the Son of God. He found it impossible to put the “One” in whom the fullness of God was into a letter or even into a dissertation. It was like putting an ocean into a coffee cup. The immensity and the match up is beyond all human comprehension. With Paul, we all nibble on "tiny bits and pieces." Even the crumbs, which fell off Christ’s table, were more than sufficient for Paul to pen these words:

Jesus has been granted the power to bring the souls back from Sheol and keep them out of Sheol. John, of all the witnesses of Jesus, was inspired to record the greatest promise Jesus made. “Truly truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever He does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son, and shows him all He himself is doing; and greater works than these will He show him, that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes Him who sent me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (Jn. 5:19-24).

Daniel saw in a vision, “Thrones were set up and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and his wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened” (Dan. 7:9-10). John completed the vision, “I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books” (Rev. 20:12).

The purpose of this study is based on Psalm 51:10-12, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit."

Jesus made this promise to his followers, “Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And when I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way where I am going” (Jn. 14:1-4; RSV). Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, was inspired to recall these words, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him” (I Cor. 2:9; RSV).

Adam and Eve settled in a Garden called Eden as stewards. The Lord God commanded them, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die” (Gen. 2:15-117). The couple ate and they died; but God loved man and promised, “I will ransom them from the power of Sheol; I will free them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O Sheol is your destruction” (Hos. 13:14)? In this study, I am looking at death as a blessing and not as a curse.