1 Peter 3

 Chapter 3

Wives and Husbands

1 Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they see your respectful and pure conduct. 3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

7 Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Suffering for Righteousness' Sake

8 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. 10 For

“Whoever desires to love life

    and see good days,

let him keep his tongue from evil

    and his lips from speaking deceit;

11 let him turn away from evil and do good;

    let him seek peace and pursue it.

12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,

    and his ears are open to their prayer.

But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. 21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

Free Will

 Do humans have free will?

This is a "next level" question. While the Adam and Eve scenario deals with the origin of sin for the whole human race, this question here focuses on the individual.

If God is omniscient (all-knowing), He knows the final destination of every person before they are even born. This creates a difficult tension: Why bring a specific person into existence if the "result" is their rejection of Him?

The "Intermediate Good" Argument. This view suggests that an individual’s life has value and impact beyond their final belief system.  An atheist may still love others, create art, advance science, or be the parent or friend of someone who does find faith.

So, in a complex, interconnected web of history, God might create a person because of the "good" they do for the world or the role they play in the lives of others, even if that person never acknowledges Him.

Is there any Biblical evidence to back this? Actually, yes. The most vivid example of this in scripture is King Cyrus the Great. God explicitly states that He is using Cyrus for a grand purpose, even though Cyrus does not know Him.

“For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me. I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me,” Isaiah 45:4–5

Cyrus was a pagan king, but God used him to conquer Babylon, decree the release of the Jewish exiles, and fund the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem. This is a direct biblical example of God creating, equipping, and positioning a person who never personally acknowledged Him, specifically because of the vital, positive role he would play in the lives of others.

“From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had, in house and field.” Genesis 39:5

When Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt, he was purchased by a high-ranking official named Potiphar. Potiphar was an Egyptian pagan, yet God blessed him and his entire estate purely because of his connection to Joseph. While Potiphar didn't worship the God of Abraham, his existence, position, and household prosperity were directly utilized by God to preserve Joseph, who would eventually save the region from a catastrophic famine. 

However, if God only created people He knew would love Him, is that actually "freedom"? If a "filter" is applied at the moment of creation so that only "believers" are ever born, then the choice to believe isn't a choice at all—it’s a rigged deck.

For human freedom to be authentic, the "option" to be an atheist must be a biological possibility. To delete all future atheists from the "creation queue" would be a form of coercion that undermines the value of those who do choose to believe.

This perspective challenges the idea of a "fixed" outcome from a human time-perspective. While God may see the "end," the person experiences their life as a series of genuine choices. God provides every person with "sufficient grace" to believe. If He didn't create them, He would be depriving them of the opportunity to exist and the chance to change their mind, however small that chance might seem to us.

I’m sorry, but my main problem with “Election” and “Predestination without free will " is this. If God is truly all-powerful and all-loving, He wouldn't create someone for eternal separation. The friction point here is usually the concept of Hell or Eternal Punishment. If you believe in a God who creates someone knowing they will end up in eternal suffering, it is very hard to reconcile that with "Omnibenevolence" (all-goodness).

If you believe that God elects some people to be saved, no matter what, then logic dictates that the opposite is true. God creates people to burn in hell, no matter what. 

I would argue that humans possess genuine free will, real responsibility, and the power to choose their own destiny; let me show you a distinct thread of scripture. These passages frame God not as a puppet master, but as a Creator who presents real options and holds people accountable for what they decide.

Here are the primary biblical passages used to defend human responsibility and choice:

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore, choose life, that you and your offspring may live,” Deuteronomy  30:19

This is perhaps the most famous "free will" passage in the Old Testament. God is speaking to the Israelites through Moses, laying out the law, and then puts the decision squarely in their hands. The command to "choose" becomes a logical absurdity if the people didn't actually have the capacity to make that choice. If their choice was pre-determined, the appeal to "choose life" would be empty rhetoric.

“The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.” Ezekiel 18:20

In the ancient world, there was a heavy focus on generational guilt (the idea that children are punished for their parents' sins). In Ezekiel 18, God completely flips this, emphasizing strict individual accountability based on personal choice. This passage establishes that God judges people based on their own actions and alignment. Responsibility cannot be passed up or down the family tree; it stops with the individual's will.

Then Jesus came, there are a lot more examples, but for time sake we skip ahead to when Jesus came. In the New Testament, I want you to read the following in the view that there is no free will, and tell me if you think this makes any sense whatsoever. First, one of the most famous.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

Stop. Whosoever? Whosoever what? Believes. What? Should not perish but has everlasting life. Why? Because they, who? Whosoever believes. 

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.” John:3-16-18

Whoever believes, again, then whoever does not believe is condemned already. So? If there is no free will, then whosoever is saved or destroyed at God’s discretion, alone, then what is the point of any of what we just read? 

One of the toughest hurdles for the "no free will" argument is explaining instances where humans seem to actively thwart what God wanted for them. Luke provides a vivid example of this regarding the Pharisees:

“When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John, but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.” Luke 7:23-30

This text explicitly says humans are capable of rejecting God's purpose or counsel (boulē) for their lives. If God’s will were always irresistible, a human rejecting His purpose would be impossible.

How about this? 2 Peter 3:9

“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

 Not wishing who? Any. Any should perish. But who? All. All should what? Reach repentance. 

Again, if there is no free will, then any who perish, and, well, there would be no chance at all of repenting if it is at God’s discretion, alone, then what is the point of any of what we just read? 

Let’s look at Revelations. 

"I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star." The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. Revelation 22:16-18

The very last chapter of the Bible ends with a universal invitation that places the responsibility on the one who hears it. The phrase "let the one who desires" (or "whosoever will" in some translations) implies that the deciding factor is human desire and volition. The water is free and available, but the individual must choose to drink.

The entire biblical concept of judgment is built on these verses. For God to judge, reward, or punish a human being fairly, that human must have been free to do otherwise. If a person is forced to do good, the good isn't praiseworthy. If a person is forced or destined to do evil (or remain an atheist), punishing them for it would conflict with the biblical definition of a just and loving God.

Those who emphasize Human Responsibility (the verses we looked at just a moment ago) generally counter this by arguing that while humanity is indeed deeply broken and crippled by sin, God's "Prevenient Grace" reaches out to everyone, temporarily overriding that spiritual death just enough to give them the ability to freely choose or reject Him.  I do not believe that the scriptures teach Election only. Rather the contrary, we have now, and always have had, always will have free will. This is why, although we possess total depravity, we can still be saved through the grace of God. More on that next time. 

Remember, you can always check out the vast archive here at TAG

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the comfort of the Holy Spirit and the peace of our Lord Jesus be with you all. May God bless and be with you always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

1 Peter 2

 Chapter 2

A Living Stone and a Holy People

2 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture:

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,

    a cornerstone chosen and precious,

and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

7 So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,

“The stone that the builders rejected

    has become the cornerstone,”

8 and

“A stone of stumbling,

    and a rock of offense.”

They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.

Submission to Authority

13 Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution, whether it be to the emperor as supreme, 14 or to governors as sent by him to punish those who do evil and to praise those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you should put to silence the ignorance of foolish people. 16 Live as people who are free, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but living as servants of God. 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.

18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all respect, not only to the good and gentle but also to the unjust. 19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, nor was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Blessing others.

 Blessing others. 

I say it all the time. Be blessed, be a blessing. But what does that actually mean? Last time we talked about being blessed by God, today we will discuss blessing someone else. Let us pray. 

Father, LORD God, thank you for all you have given us, from Life to Life everlasting, and all the stops in between. We come before you today with thanksgiving and praise, and we ask to receive eyes to see, ears to hear, and a spirit to understand your Word. We seek the knowledge of how to bless others. Please help us understand what that means. We ask this in Jesus' name, amen!

The Bible presents blessing others not just as a nice sentiment or a polite greeting, but as a dynamic act that involves speaking well of someone, seeking their tangible well-being, and acting as a conduit for God’s favor.

In the biblical tradition, a blessing is often a formal "declaration of good" over someone. It is the belief that words have the power to shape reality.

You can bless someone with a Priestly Blessing. “But wait, I’m not a Priest.” Well, actually, 

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. “ 1 Peter 2:9 

Yes, you are. So you could offer someone a Priestly Blessing such as this. 

“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD makes his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lifts his countenance upon you and gives you peace.” Numbers 6:24-25

God instructs the priests on exactly how to speak over the people: "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you..." This shows that blessing is often an appeal for God’s presence and protection to rest on another person.

Are you blessing your children? In Genesis, we see patriarchs like Isaac and Jacob passing on blessings. This act was considered both prophetic and legal, as it determined the future success and identity of the recipient.

What about radical reciprocity (Blessing enemies)? One of the most distinct shifts in the New Testament is the command to bless those who do not "deserve" it. This moves blessing from a social courtesy to a spiritual discipline.

The Command of Jesus: In the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:44), Jesus instructs followers to "Bless those who curse you." 

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods, do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:27-36

This is also how we are called to overcome evil.  Paul echoes this in Romans 12:14, saying,

“Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.”

Here, blessing is described as a proactive way to "heap burning coals" of kindness on an enemy's head, potentially leading to their transformation.

“Therefore, if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” Romans 12:20-21

So other than saying a prayer, how else does the Bible talk about blessing others? The Bible frequently connects the word of blessing with the deed of provision. To bless someone is to take an active interest in their flourishing.

The "Blessed to be a Blessing" Principle: In Genesis 12:2, God tells Abraham, "I will bless you... and you will be a blessing." The implication is that any favor or resources a person receives are intended to be shared with the wider world. 

Have you ever heard that an empty pitcher pours nothing?? You cannot serve others if you are empty yourself. You must fill up before you can give out. This is where reading the Word, praying, and going to church come in. 

Sometimes, it will take more than words. In James 2:15–16, James warns against "blessing" people with words alone:

“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have work? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that”?  James 2:14-16

In the biblical sense, to "bless" someone is to actively desire and work toward their wholeness, physically, socially, and spiritually, while acknowledging that true favor comes from God. 

Now I encourage you to start slow and work from there. In other words, standing in line, and you see someone buying a coffee? Buy it. If you are at a restaurant and you see, oh, I don’t know, an elderly couple dining. By their dinner. I do this all the time, and you should see how it not only affects the couple, but the waitress or waiter as well. Sometimes, other people in the restaurant affect me. You would be surprised, this alone can open a door to share the Gospel. 

Remember this. 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22-23

Always try to be nice, but NEVER fail to be kind. If you do not feel you can do this one-on-one, then at least Tithe. Why? 

“Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.” Malachi 3:10

Let the church do it. However, the food, clothing, and medical needs, the Church's and the Pastor's needs are not free. Bless the church so that it may bless the society.  I encourage you to be a part of it, though. See how your kindness affects others. 

And to the rich or the well-off? The Word says this. 

“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.” 1 Timothy 6:17-19

It is never about stuff. Remember, folks, especially those who have money, it is never about the money. Those who do not have money, it is not about the money. Remember, money truly means nothing. It is simply a tool. One that you cannot take with you. 

“And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” Job 1:21

Jesus told us that the rich man who built bigger barns was a fool because he was going to die that very day. Then whose stuff will it be that the rich man leaves behind? So if you got it now, why not start blessing some now? 

Remember, as a child of God, we should be trusting more in God than our jobs or even ourselves. 

“And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

Whenever you get the chance, big or small, bless someone. Buy lunch, coffee, or whatnot. When asked why? Say something like: “Because Jesus loves you.” Or “God has blessed me with eternal life, so I wanted to bless you.” Give God the credit, and watch how God could open a door for the Gospel. 

I have said this many, many times. It is seldom about you. As a child of God, God can and often does use you to bless others. To share the Gospel with others. To care for others. Again, it does not have to be huge, like a new car or something. I mean, if you can, that would be so cool. But it could be as little as letting someone cut in line, or holding the door open for them. A coffee, a soda, whatever, just do it. 

Remember, you can always find this, and so much more, in the archives, over at TAG

The email, if you wish to contact me, is truthbygod1@gmail.com

May the Lord our God go before you as your way maker, as well as behind you as your rear guard, and may He be with you, always.

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!

1 Peter 1

 Chapter 1

Greeting

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

Born Again to a Living Hope

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

Called to Be Holy

13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you, 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for

“All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
The grass withers,
and the flower falls,
25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

Being Blessed

 Be blessed, be a blessing. 

I say it all the time. Be blessed. I mean it. If you say it, you mean it. If someone says it to me, I hope they mean it. But what does it mean? This is what we will be discussing today. Let us pray. 

Father, we come before you with thanksgiving and praise. We thank you for all things from life to life everlasting, and all stops in between. As we enter your Word, we pray for eyes to see, ears to hear, and a spirit to receive and understand your truth and your revelations. Please, Father, guide us, teach us, and yes, bless us, as we grow in faith and in your ways. In Jesus name, amen!

So what does it mean to be blessed? In the biblical context, "being blessed" is often misunderstood as a simple synonym for happiness or material prosperity. While the Bible does include physical provision as a form of blessing, the core meaning, which is derived primarily from the Hebrew barak and the Greek makarios, points to a state of divine favor and spiritual well-being that exists regardless of outward circumstances.

I want you to think about that. Seriously. Divine favor and spiritual well-being that exists regardless of outward circumstances. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word barak often conveys the idea of being "knelt before" or of being empowered by God to prosper and fulfill a purpose. It is a functional blessing that enables life to flourish. 

“And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Genesis 1:28 

Here, blessing is an endowment of power from God to succeed in the mission He has given humanity. Say, God will not call you to do something without the tool to do it. 

“And God can bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8

If God calls you to cross a river, He will supply a boat. If He calls you to dig a hole, He will give you a shovel. How about THIS for a blessing? 

“Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of the eternal covenant, even our Lord Jesus, make you perfect in every good thing to do his will, working in us that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21

Then, in the New Testament, particularly in the Beatitudes, the Greek word “makarios” is used. It describes a "privileged" or "fortunate" state of being. Crucially, this state is tied to one's relationship with God rather than one's bank account or health.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  Matthew 5:3

Jesus redefines blessing. You can be physically poor or grieving, yet "blessed" because you possess the kingdom of God. It is an internal satisfaction that the world cannot take away. However, it is not just in the afterlife. Are you a child of God only when you die? When you leave this earth? Or are you a child of God NOW?

I cannot tell you how often in my life (sigh) I have to be careful here. This does have a potential of sounding, uh, arrogant, or something. Have you ever experienced favoritism? On your job, at a store, through someone else? That is a form of being blessed. Pleased to bless you. They want to help you. They are drawn to you for favor, even if they do not understand. 

Then you have forgiveness and restoration. One of the most profound biblical descriptions of being blessed is the removal of the barrier between a person and God. 

“Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” Psalm 32:1

True blessing is the peace of mind and spirit that comes from being in a right relationship with the Creator. Turn with me to Romans 8:14-17

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" 

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.” 

Now, do not get all hung up on it, saying sons. In Roman law, the status of a "son" was a formal legal position. When a person was adopted into a Roman family as a "son," several radical changes occurred in their legal standing:

The person’s old debts and legal obligations were completely cancelled.

They came under the patria potestas (the power of the father) of their new family.

Most importantly, a "son" was a legal heir. In that culture, daughters and younger children often did not have the same direct, ironclad claim to a family’s estate and name as someone legally designated as a "son."  

Huios (Sons) vs.Teknon (Children). Greek has two distinct words that help clarify this distinction: Teknon (Children): This refers to a biological relationship or "offspring." It emphasizes the bond of birth and nature. You see this used often when the Bible discusses being "born of God.” Huios (Sons): This refers to the legal position and dignity of a child who has reached maturity. It is a term of "placement" or "position." If the text simply said "children," it would highlight the relationship, but by saying "sons," it highlights the privilege.

In the context of Romans 8, this is specifically linked to the Holy Spirit. The "Spirit of adoption" is what moves a person from the status of a slave, who has no rights to the master's house, to the status of a son, who is a "fellow heir with Christ." This applies to women as well. 

“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,” John 1:12

Say all. 

Ultimately, the Word states that the greatest blessing is not a thing God gives, but God Himself. 

“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD makes his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lifts his countenance upon you and gives you peace.” Numbers 6:24–26

To be blessed is to have God’s "face" turned toward you and the ability to live under His watchful care, guidance, and favor.

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:19

We no longer have to worry about anything. Nothing. For we are already told that God will be our provider. He will supply. He will fight our battles. He will exact revenge on our enemies. He will say when our time here is up.

“And God can bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8 

I know we have talked about Romans 8:18-39 plenty of times. This is something that all children of God should claim on their own. For their own. I will wrap it up today with this: join us next time for part two, Blessing others. 

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

There is nothing that can happen in this life, where you could even think about saying, " Oh, Heaven is not worth this.”

“For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.” 

Again, sons and daughters. 

“For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 

For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that what is not seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 

For those whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”

You have to get this child of God. Highlight it, underline it, memorize it. Ready? Here we go.

“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 

Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 

 As it is written,

 "For your sake, we are being killed all day long;

 We are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered." 

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Now THAT is being blessed. 

Remember, you can find so very much in the archives at TAG 

The Email is, as always, truthbygod1@gmail.com 

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord.

Coming up, The Books of 1 and 2 Peter

 Chat with Peter

Hey Folks, The time when we dedicate Wednesdays to a more in-depth look at an entire Book in the Bible. Starting next week, we will begin in 1 Peter, followed of course by 2 Peter. 

1 Peter. Written to scattered, suffering Christians throughout Asia Minor, 1 Peter is a letter of intense encouragement. Peter reframes their social isolation and suffering not as a sign of abandonment, but as a refining process.

 Peter reminds his readers that they are "elect exiles" and a "royal priesthood." Their true citizenship is elsewhere, which naturally puts them at odds with the culture around them.  He compares suffering to a refining fire 1 Peter 1:7. Just as gold is tested and purified by heat, hard times test and prove the genuineness of a person's character and faith.

Because of the resurrection, believers have a concrete anchor for the future, making earthly trials seem temporary and lightweight by comparison. Instead of reacting to hostility with anger or retaliation, Peter calls for radical, honorable behavior. He urges believers to respect authority, love deeply, and answer critics with gentleness and respect 1 Peter 3:15. 

This is a five-week read-through, which will bring us to 2 Peter.

While his first letter focuses on suffering from the outside, 2 Peter addresses a threat from the inside: false teachers, moral compromise, and skepticism. It reads like a final testament or a spiritual farewell address.

Peter repeatedly stresses the importance of accurate, intentional knowledge. He warns against "eisegesis"—twisting scriptures or interpreting prophecy based on personal whims and desires rather than the author's original intent.

The letter delivers a sharp critique of leaders who use their positions for greed, promote moral laxity under the guise of "freedom," and distort foundational truths. Peter addresses skeptics who scoff at the idea of justice or a final accountability, mockingly asking why things just keep going on as they always have. Peter counters that time operates differently from a divine perspective:  

"With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day." 2  Peter 3:8

The delay isn't a lack of ability or awareness; it is an act of patience, giving people the maximum opportunity to align themselves with the truth.

Together, the two letters provide a comprehensive manual for integrity. Persecution, slander, and social isolation. False doctrines, moral apathy, and skepticism. Steadfast Hope: Looking forward to an eternal inheritance. Growing in maturity and sticking to the truth.

Peter calls us to action. To live beautifully and honorably among critics. To guard the truth and live holy lives while waiting for justice. Ultimately, Peter argues that true wisdom and resilience aren't just intellectual concepts; rather, they must be actively lived out through character, clarity, and conduct, no matter how much the surrounding world shifts.

As always, you can always reach out to me for questions, comments, or just say "Hi" at truthbygod1@gmail.com. Don't forget the 1. Join us every Sunday for various Messages, led by God, from His Word, without the traditions of men called religion. Just the Truth According to God. 

As always, you can check out the vast archives here at TAG anytime you wish. 

May the Lord our God go before you as your way maker, as well as behind you as your rear guard, and may He be with you, always. 

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus is Lord!