by John Carpenter | Aug 27, 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 now focusing on the fourth scriptural context – which comes to us from Ro.3:27-29. Simply put – since our having been declared to be Righteous by Almighty, All Holy and All Just God – where, then, is there any cause at all for us to “Boast”? When, in fact, there is None!
And, why is that true? Even because God the Father placed us – by His Grace – “In Christ Jesus” and, therefore, “In His Perfect Righteousness” from the foundation of the world! But, we have no room to boast – because the Righteousness that we are identified with has not been accomplished by us at all. It is “The Righteousness” that has been accomplished completely by Christ our God! He gets all the Glory – because it’s a Righteousness that He has completely done! Praise His Holy, Holy, Holy Name!
When the scripture says that “boasting” is “excluded”– it literally means that it is completely cut out of the entire equation of any sinner’s Eternal Salvation by God! There is no room whatsoever as far as any sinner is concerned – for personal boasting! If a sinner’s Eternal Salvation is not all of and by Christ – it’s all Wrong! Do not be deceived about this Holy Fact! Eph.2:8-9 explicitly declares: “For by Grace are ye saved through Faith – and that not of yourselves! It is the gift of God – Not of works – lest any man should Boast”! Yes! Any and all Personal Boasting is completely excluded…or, completely cut out — of God’s whole plan of eternal salvation – for all of His Elect. They have each one been Eternally Saved – solely through the Singular Person and Work of the Lord Jesus Christ! Praise His Wonderful Name!
Christ Jesus is our Propitiation – our Kinsman Redeemer – our Sovereign Savior Substitute! He has – all by Himself – acted out each of these Divine descriptives on behalf of all the Divinely appointed and chosen children of the whole Kingdom of God. And, that’s everyone which Truly Believes in Him according to the Scriptures.
This means, therefore, in accordance with Gal.2:16> “Knowing that a man is not Justified by the works of the Law, but by the – Faith of Jesus Christ – even we have believed in Jesus Christ – and not by the works of the Law: For by the works of the Law shall no flesh be Justified.” True Believers ON Christ – are True Believers IN Christ – where God placed them (see Eph.1:3-5). Amen.
— John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Aug 27, 2026 | Camp News
Well, Dear Ones, we here at Del-Haven have been struggling under the affliction of the “prince of the power of the air” by virtue of the miserable heat wave along with its humidity and all the thunder storms which we have been experiencing. Two families that we did have scheduled to come out for a Day Camp Session have had to postpone their time. One of them came out anyway – but spent most of their time while here in the swimming pool! We do thank our Lord for the fact that we do have air conditioning in the chapel! The Lord did bless our time with that family in spite of the hard-to-endure weather. Praise His Name!
We very much covet your prayers for us – to get us through this season of repair of our roads and buildings. As is par for the course due to where we are and what we need done – the degree of difficulty in getting the needed workers out here can be great. We trust our Lord and Sovereign Leader all through every worldly ordeal that we face. Please pray with us regarding these things. The unseen and necessarily unanticipated battles (at least by us anyway – but never by our God) continue to hinder and harass the progress that we would like to see accomplished. This keeps us leaning on the Lord and His omnipresence with us every step along the way that we go. We must remember the wonderful words of our Lord Jesus from Jn.16:33> “These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have Peace. In the world – ye shall have Tribulation: But be of good cheer – I Have Overcome The World.”
The scripture says there is nothing new under the sun [see Ecc.1:9]. Therefore, all the hardship that we face in this fallen-in-sin world will prove to be nothing but another building block for that which our Lord has in store for us when He says> “Behold – I make all things New!” [see Revelation 21:5-7]
So, dear Faithful friends and Family of God, please continue praying for us – and please continue believing in that which only God can – and will – do where our whole worldly experience is leading us into His heavenly glory!
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
