by John Carpenter | Jul 26, 2026 | Devotional
“Know ye not, brethren – for I speak to them that know the Law – how that the Law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?” [Ro.7:1] (Because of what is accurately described from Ro.3:19)
“Seeing (or, “understanding”) it is One (or, that You are One and the same) God – which shall Justify – the Circumcision – out of Faith – and the un-Circumcision – through Faith: (31) Do we then make void the Law – through Faith? God forbid! We Establish the Law!” [Ro.3:30-31]
“Being Justified freely by His grace through the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus – (25) whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation – through Faith in His Blood – to Declare His Righteousness for the Remission of sins that are past through the Forbearance of God; (26) to Declare – I say – at this time – His Righteousness – that He might be Just – and the Justifier – of him which believeth in Jesus.” [Ro.3:24-26]
“Where is boasting then? It is excluded! Through what Law(?) – of works(?) – Nay – but through the Law of Faith! (28) Therefore we reckon a man to be Justified – apart from – works of Law! (29) Is God – only the God of the Jews(?) – and not also of the Gentiles? Yes – also of the Gentiles!” [Ro.3:27-29]
We are ready to examine – even further – the True Believing Sinner Child of God’s Relationship to the “Holy, Just and Good Law of God” [see Ro.7:12]. This is relevant unto all of us who have been awakened and quickened by the Holy Spirit in our having being Born from Above! This has happened – and yet we are still making our journey – our pilgrimage – through this present sinful age – right into the heavenly Holy Presence of our Lord and Savior — the Lord Jesus Christ! What a paradox this truly is!
We are still in our sinful and fallen bodies – and yet we are Saved-by-Grace sinners who have Received from the Holy Spirit of God an understanding that we are His Elect – His Chosen Ones unto His Eternal Salvation. And, we have been Justified (or, made to be clothed with the – Righteousness of Christ Jesus) – and right now – while we are still walking every day that we are in this fallen-in-sin world – in the bodies that we presently exist in – we travel through this sinful world proclaiming the Truth of the Gospel of the Glory – ONLY – of the Lord Jesus Christ! It is He who is the Only Sovereign Savior Substitute that there ever Was – or Is – or Ever Will Be! Praise His Wonderful Saving Name!
The third set of texts from Ro.3:24-26 – above — communicates this Truth quite plainly. It says that we are in a state of “Being Justified” (i.e. being declared Righteous – by Holy God, Himself).
While we are still existing – in our flesh – as we go through this world – we are still nothing but sinners! This is true even though we have been awakened by the Spirit of God to know and believe and understand this Gospel Truth!
How in the world did this reality come to pass?!
The Scriptures go on to explain that this reality came to pass – NOT by Our Receiving and Keeping the “Holy, Just and Good Law of God” the best way that we can. No way! Our Perfect Holy God requires His same Perfection – from us as well! After all – We are His children! Ro.3:24 simply and accurately says “Being Justified Freely by His Grace – through the Redemption – that is — In Christ Jesus”. So then, it is NOT by Anything that we do – But – it is by Everything that the Lord Jesus Christ has already Done – that brings to pass the reality of our Eternal Salvation! Praise His wholly wonderful – Holy, Holy, Holy Name!!
— John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Jul 26, 2026 | Camp News
All of us here at Camp Del-Haven truly praise our Lord and Savior for the 250th Birthday of our great Nation – and we praise Him for our own personal Spiritual Birthday unto Eternal Life through our Lord Jesus Christ!
Our earnest prayers continue to be presented for God’s continual guidance and protection as we likewise continue to diligently labor in performing the necessary repairs and restoration of our roads and also our buildings, etc. This year’s wind and rain storms have certainly taken their toll on all that is necessary to keep the Camp presentable and useful for the Glory of God. We only want to follow the leading of our Lord in regards to His answering our prayers where this ministry is concerned. Please pray with us that He continues to manifest His Presence in all that we endeavor to do according to His Will and Good Pleasure.
We did finally send out some invitations to the families that we have accumulated over the years – and we have our first family coming out on July 18th! Praise His Name! Please pray for God’s rich blessing upon the family’s response in this regard! This family has faithfully participated every year that we have instituted this format. Both the parents have brought their children out and enjoyed a whole day of the camp experience. We readily see the indications of a true work of God’s Saving Grace in and from this whole family! Thank you Lord Jesus!!
And as always, please continue to pray for us.
by John Carpenter | Jun 20, 2026 | Devotional
“Know ye not, brethren – for I speak to them that know the Law – how that the Law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?” [Ro.7:1]
“Seeing – it is one (or, that you are One and the same) God – which shall Justify the Circumcision out of Faith – and the unCircumcision through Faith: (31) Do we then make void the Law through Faith? God forbid! We Establish the Law!” [Ro.3:30-31]
“Being Justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus – (25) whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation – through faith in His blood – to Declare His Righteousness for the Remission of sins that are past through the Forbearance of God; (26) to Declare – I say – at this time – His Righteousness – that He might be Just – and the Justifier – of him which believeth in Jesus.” [Ro.3:24-26]
“Where is boasting then? It is excluded! Through what Law(?) – of works(?) – Nay – but through the Law of Faith! (28) Therefore we reckon a man to be Justified – apart from – works of Law! (29) Is God – only the God of the Jews(?) – and not also of the Gentiles? Yes – also of the Gentiles.” [Ro.3:27-29]
Having learned through the first scriptural context above – that being among the ones in this world that “know the Law” – we — through that reality — also know that we truly are sinners – in need of our Lord Jesus Christ! Indeed – we are sinners in desperate need of an Eternal Savior/Redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence, when we live out our time of being a sinner – in this world – and will immediately enter into God’s Holy Presence at our Judgment – i.e. the Judgment of our immortal Souls [See: 2Cor. 5:10] – we will desperately need an Eternal Means to be Eternally Justified (or, Declared to be Eternally Righteous) before God – and His Eternally Just and Holy Law! This is the only way that we can be Eternally Saved! This is what points all sinners – specifically to Jesus Christ. We Call upon His Name – for Him to be our Savior! [See: Ro.10:13]
This brings us directly into the Scriptural Context of the second set of scriptures. This next text describes for us the inescapable reality of God’s Gracious Provision for the Eternal Salvation of every single one — of His heavenly Family. God’s family will be made up by someone from all the family – throughout the history of fallen-in-sin humanity [See: Gen.12:3; 28:14]! And, truly – “Salvation is of the Lord” [See: Jon.2:9]. And this is absolutely true – whether we mean Jew or Gentile! If it’s not all Christ – it’s all wrong!
Consider this second scriptural context – “Seeing [or, Understanding] One God – which shall Justify [or, declare to be Eternally Righteous] the Circumcision – by [or, out of] Faith [that’s the Faith of Jesus Christ [See: Gal.2:16] – and Un–Circumcision – through the Faith.” [That’s through the Faith of Jesus Christ]. Note: It was common in the days of the Apostle Paul to refer to the Jew as — the Circumcision – and the Gentile — as the Uncircumcision. The point is – it doesn’t matter what your ethnicity is – any sinner before Holy God will need His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ – in order to be Eternally Justified before God – and thereby – through, Jesus our Eternal Propitiation – we are Eternally Saved! Praise His Wonderful and Marvelous Name!
We will delve more deeply into this understanding as we continue to examine this great theme.
— John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Jun 20, 2026 | Camp News
Well, Dear Ones, so far this has been a little different worldly environment for this time of year. For one thing — it has been a little more wet — to say the least! And, this has kept us having to play catch-up as far as maintenance of the Del-Haven Campground is concerned. It’s things like this that remind us that — without our Lord — we can do nothing [see: Jn.15:5]. No wonder God’s Word commands us to “Pray without Ceasing”! We all need Him — in all that we do!
The different storms that we have had to endure continue to drop — along with all the rain, and afterwards there are a whole lot of trees and limbs that tend to clutter the camp terrain. This keeps us on our toes with the tasks that need to be done to keep the appearance of the campground the best it can be. But, God be Praised — He is continually with us — and causing us to tackle the job and get the work done — all for His glory and honor. Please pray with us to this same end — all for the furtherance of His Great Kingdom!
The enemy is striving hard to thwart the mission and work of Christ — in claiming His own in this world — through this ministry. We are His witnesses — His servants — whom He chose — that we may know and believe Him — and understand that He — and He alone is God! He, and He alone is the Lord over all — and beside Him there is no Savior! We all (all of you — along with all of us) are His Witnesses — that He is the One True God [see: Is.43:10-12]! Praise His Name!
At this particular time we have so much that needs to get done — both where the trees and the campground are concerned — and the repairs and renovations of some of the structures. Please be in prayer with us that our Lord will lead us through getting all this accomplished.
Include in your prayers another young man whom the Lord has brought on the scene where tree work is concerned. His name is Cameron Cooper — and he has become a real ally to what we here at Del-Haven need done with a lot of our trees. He is a real professional in tackling this job. We need to be praying for him in accomplishing this dangerous work! Plus — he also has a real hunger for the Lord to be in his life and walk through this world. Let’s pray for him — he has already proven to be a real asset and provision from the Lord unto us.
Thank you, Dear Ones for being there in all your prayerful support over the years. We do not cease praying for each of you as well. We love you.
by John Carpenter | May 26, 2026 | Devotional
“Know ye not, brethren – for I speak to them that know the Law – how that the Law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?” [Ro.7:1]
“Seeing – it is one (or, that you are One and the same) God – which shall Justify the Circumcision out of Faith – and the unCircumcision through Faith: (31) Do we then make void the Law through Faith? God forbid! We Establish the Law!” [Ro.3:30-31]
“Being Justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus – (25) whom God hath set forth to be a Propitiation – through faith in His blood – to Declare His Righteousness for the Remission of sins that are past through the Forbearance of God; (26) to Declare – I say – at this time – His Righteousness – that He might be Just – and the Justifier – of him which believeth in Jesus.” [Ro.3:24-26]
“Where is boasting then? It is excluded! Through what Law(?) – of works(?) – Nay – but through the Law of Faith! (28) Therefore we reckon a man to be Justified – apart from – works of Law! (29) Is God – only the God of the Jews(?) – and not also of the Gentiles? Yes – also of the Gentiles!” [Ro.3:27-29]
From what is being stated in these four contextual sections of the holy scriptures – we will embark on making comments that ultimately will describe the True Believer’s Relationship – in this world – with the — “Holy, Just and Good Law of God”. [see Ro.7:12]
The first Text out of Ro.7:1 clearly relates the Gospel Truth – that we do not “own the Law of God” – but “the Law of God does own – all of us”! The Law –and what it reveals in our lives – has Sovereign Dominion over us from the Womb to the Tomb! For example, Ps.51:5 declares “Behold, I was shapen in Iniquity – and in Sin did my mother conceive me.” And from Is.48:8 the Bible says that all of us are “called a Transgressor from the womb”. Also, from Job 14:4 – the Word of God plainly asks — and then it answers – “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one!”
It is this Truth — we come into this world completely sinful – that underscores the Spiritual Significance of this whole subject matter. This is true because we are all sinners. Ro.3:23 dogmatically declares: “For all have sinned – and come short of the glory of God! And guess what! How do we Know this Truth? Ro.3:19-20 gives us the Answer — in this precise manner: “Now we Know that what things soever the Law saith – it saith to them who are – Under the Law – that every mouth may be stopped – and all the world may become guilty before God. (20) Therefore – by the deeds of the Law there shall No Flesh be Justified in His Sight – for by the Law – is the Knowledge of Sin.”
When the Word of God’s Holy Scriptures says this – it literally means — that it is God’s Law that has it’s Sovereign Dominion over all of us – and it declares its indisputable evidence that we are all – without a doubt — nothing but Spiritually Guilty Sinners! This is the Grave Reality that describes our Relationship with God’s Holy Just and Good Law – and we need to be Justified – or Declared to be Righteous – by none other than Holy Just and Good God! This Must be the case – or else we – with all our sins – are facing God’s Eternal Judgment. Amen. — John Carpenter
