The Gift Of Righteousness: God’s Trust Fund

"For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we SHALL BE SAVED FROM WRATH THROUGH HIM. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, MUCH MORE, having been reconciled, we SHALL BE SAVED BY HIS LIFE. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God THROUGH our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have received the reconciliation." (Romans 5:6-11)

A trust fund is set up by an entity that has something, wants to give it to someone but places qualifications for the receiving of it, usually age, which may be considered an indication of maturity. It is a free gift as without the funder the funded would have nothing to receive. The receiver did not provide the fund for themselves; the funder did. The free gift of righteousness from God is His fund, through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ it is allotted."For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have in abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into outer darkness." (Matthew 25:29,30)

"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the WORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of FULL AGE, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil."  

(Hebrews 5:12-14)

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, RESERVED IN HEAVEN FOR YOU, who are kept by the power of God THROUGH FAITH FOR SALVATION ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:3-5)

God's trust fund is allotted through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. It is allotted by our adherence to His testimony.

Shrewd, Yet Not Accepted Luke 16:1-13

"He also said to His disciples: 'There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods. So he called him and said to him, "What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward." ' Then the steward said within himself, "What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg. I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they shall receive me into their houses."

"So he called every one of his master's debtors to him, and said to the first, 'How much do you owe my master?' And he said, 'A hundred measures of oil.' So he said to him, 'Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.' Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' So he said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' And he said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.'

"So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light. And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that WHEN you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home. He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give to you what is your own? No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."

So we have a steward who was wasting his master's goods. When he is found out, he "resolves" to approach "debtors" rather than his master to make a place for himself. The steward's "shrewdness" has a short-lived benefit: a place of temporary comfort with the debtors. Friendship along these lines will fail. It would have been better for that steward had he repented toward his master and done all he could to rectify his wastefulness, no matter the cost.

"If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it." (Genesis 4:7)

If You Eat Like That, Some Will Be Left With Nothing

"Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper. For in eating, EACH ONE takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you. (1Corinthians 11:17-22)

The Thanksgiving Day gathering is near. After preparation for the meal is complete, all gathered wait for the go ahead to partake. Normally, the one in charge of preparing the table is also the one that gives the permission to begin eating. Everyone at the gathering waits for that permission, yet once permission is granted, each partakes as they desire. Some like dark turkey meat, others like 

cranberries; some like mashed potatoes, others like the turkey dressing. It is understood, each enjoys according to their individual tastes. There also are differences with regard to how people eat: some slowly, others quickly. Without question, once the meal has been prepared, there is very little regard to what another is doing. Each one is focuses on what they want, at their speed. Nevertheless, the one who has prepared the table seems to notice what each one eats and how much of any dish is left over.

It is evident that Paul is admonishing the Corinthian church that partaking of the Lord's Supper should be different than physically eating a meal. It seems he is stressing the importance of partaking worthily, rather than unworthily. There are those who enter church having made themselves ready for it. There are those who enter in unprepared. They have not learned how yet, or are handling what they have learned without devotion. I think Paul is showing the Corinthians that we don't want to discard those who are not yet ready for the Bread of God, the Living Bread. He teaches us how to provide the way for readiness through the keys of the kingdom (Mark 11:22-26; Luke 17:1-6; John 15:1-8). The results will be fewer leaving the gathering with nothing.

"Therefore, whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgement to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world. Therefore, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. But if anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, lest you come together for judgement." (1 Corinthians 11:27-33)

He Who Enters By The Door Is The Shepherd Of The Sheep

John 9:39-41, 10:1-16

"For judgement I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind. Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, 'Are we blind also?' Jesus said to them, 'If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains."

" 'Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But HE WHO ENTERS BY THE DOOR is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet THEY WILL BY NO MEANS FOLLOW A STRANGER, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.' Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which Jesus spoke to them."

"Then Jesus said to them again, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay My life down for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd."


Jesus draws distinction between the hireling and the good shepherd. The substance of the hireling is "We see!", similar to "We already know!".  That sentiment is what causes those in the church age to "climb up another way". Rest in the fact that He, Jesus Christ, knows the way because He forged it to the glory of His Father. The substance of the shepherd is "Lord! Show us how to walk to and through your door!”

Give Attention To His Words

"My son, give attention to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Do not let them depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to all their flesh." (Proverbs 4:20-22)

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105)

Recently, as a result of a consideration to advance the ministry to which I feel called (you know, to help God in that which He needs 

none), I was sitting in front of an establishment, readying myself to enter for hot morning drinks for my wife and myself. I was recognizing that what I thought might have been a good idea was just another confidence in the flesh, a transgression. Sharper than any two-edged sword, the Most High spoke to me by His indwelling Spirit:

My words are a light unto YOUR path;
My words are a lamp unto YOUR feet;
My words are life to YOU as YOU find them;
My words are health to all YOUR flesh.(Especially to that flesh that could launch out to what seems reasonable, instead of letting Him add it to you.)

I sensed the Lord saying that His Body is called to the same path He walked. It is important to be made just like Him. He is the door to the Father and to the sheepfold. Going up some other way makes you a thief and a robber, harming the sheep.

"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant (self-controlled, watchful) because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the TRUE GRACE of God in which you stand."  (1 Peter 5:6-12)

In the true grace of God is the place to be.

Why Not Pray About Sin Leading To Death?

"If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that."             (1 John 5:16)

"If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; FOR THIS IS THE WITNESS OF GOD WHICH HE HAS TESTIFIED OF HIS SON. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us (John, Peter, Paul, James etc.), and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe on the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life,  AND THAT YOU MAY CONTINUE TO BELIEVE IN THE NAME OF THE SON OF GOD. Now this is the confidence that we (J,P,P,J etc.) have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him."  (1 John 5:9-15) 

"We know that whoever is born (made by) God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him. We (J,P,P,J etc.) know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen." (1 John 5:18-21)

"But may the God of all grace, who called us  (J,P,P,J etc.) to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle YOU. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that THIS IS THE TRUE GRACE OF GOD IN WHICH YOU STAND. (1 Peter 5:10-13)

So, why not pray for a brother whose sin is leading to death? Because that one has transgressed "the true grace of God" in which believers must stand. They are failing to turn toward His commandments. These must understand why there is a vacancy of "the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man (which) avails much"(James 5:16). Here, "judgement begin (s) at the house of God". When the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?"(1 Peter 4:17,18)

You "make Him a liar" to the ungodly and the sinner when you WON'T keep His grace, His commandments, His words!

He Himself Is Our Peace

"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For He Himself is our peace, who made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to CREATE IN HIMSELF one new man from the two, THUS MAKING PEACE, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father." (Ephesians 2:13-18)

"But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. NOW the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who MAKE PEACE." (James 3:17,18) We NOW make peace as His body through His words from the Father; His commandments (not ordinances) from the Father; the sufficiency of His grace from the Father.

"To me (Paul), who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, ACCORDING TO THE ETERNAL PURPOSE WHICH HE ACCOMPLISHED IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory." (Ephesians 3:8-13)

Through the message of the cross of Jesus Christ, Him crucified and risen, Paul was living "the fellowship of the mystery" so "the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church". An apostle of Jesus Christ, he was becoming a fellow servant and of the brethren who have the testimony of Jesus! (Rev. 19:10)