by John Carpenter | Jan 21, 2022 | Devotional
(2)“For the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus – hath made me free from – the law of sin and death.(3)For what the law could not do – in that it was weak through the flesh – God – sending His own Son – in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh. (4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us – who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” [Ro.8:2-4]
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked. For whatsoever a man soweth – that shall he also reap! (8) For he that soweth to his flesh – shall of the flesh reap corruption – but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap Life Everlasting!” [Gal.6:7-8]
These two passages of holy scripture provide for us true children of 3xholy God — a wonderful New Year’s Resolution. In fact, they exhort us to pursue a resolution for a whole new life and walk through this sinful world. A resolution to follow – not the law – but the Spirit of Christ!
Rom.8:2 contrasts the freedom of “the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus” with the bondage of “the law of sin and death”. With the sound principle of studying the Word of God — that stands absolutely true when it tells us that — “scripture interprets scripture” – let’s examine what the whole context of Ro.8:2 is here saying.
First of all, let’s contemplate what God’s Word refers to when it says: “the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus”. Remember 1Co.15:45 that says: “And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul – the last Adam (Christ Jesus) was made a quickening Spirit.”. And, from Jn.10:10 Jesus said in reference to those who are described as being His sheep (for whom He died) – He said, “I am come that they might have Life – and that they might have it more abundantly!” And then there is also Jn.5:21 from where our Lord Jesus declares: “For as the Father raiseth up the dead and quickeneth them – even so the Son quickeneth whom He will.” All of which makes perfect sense! Jesus is – without a doubt — the incarnated eternal Son of God. This means that He is – One with God the Father and One with God the Holy Spirit – and they are One with Him. This means that the Lord Jesus Christ — He is God!
Now what does the Word of God tell us concerning “the law of sin and death”? What exactly is this law? The Holy Spirit tells us from Ga.3:10-13> “For as many as are of the works of the law – are under the curse. For it is written, Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law – to do them. (11) But that no man is justified by [or lit. in] the law in the sight of God – it is evident! For “The just shall live by [or lit. out of] faith”. (12) And the law is not [out] of faith; but the man that doeth them [i.e. anyone that doeth — the works of the law] shall live in them.”
According to the Spirit, this scenario constitutes a fallen human effort in futility! Because, there is no approved and acceptable Justification before God that we can even hope to manufacture from our striving to live a righteous life out of the works of the law. But, Praise the Lord God our eternal Savior for vs.13 – which says: “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law – being made a curse for us – for it is written: Cursed is everyone that hangeth on a tree.” This is the truth of the Gospel of Christ’s glory only! He bore the consequences of our curse so we could be clothed with His perfect righteousness! We will look more deeply into this next time.
For Christ’s Glory Only! John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Dec 20, 2021 | Camp News
My dear friends and family in Christ, the end of 2021 being right upon us – let us not forget to continue to earnestly pray for the children who have been in the hearing of Del-Haven’s gospel preaching camp program. Please pray that our sovereign Lord will be pleased to allow us to be able to hold regular camp sessions once again. Pray for the boys and girls and also for our staff leaders and helpers. Nothing is too hard for our Lord. He can lead us victoriously through this whole ordeal!
From what we have experienced during this difficult time is indeed amazing! Our new thrust of ministering the gospel to family groups has been very rewarding as well. We may be able to incorporate a few sessions of that in addition to having regular camps. Pray with us – for the Lord’s leading in this regard. We love the opportunity of being able to proclaim the gospel to the whole family as well.
Again, we want to express our sincere thankfulness unto the Lord God for the way that you have maintained your much needed prayers and gifts during these last two years. By God’s great grace you have been so marvelous in hanging in there with us! We just Praise the Lord for all of you!
You are continually in our prayers. We love you – and wish all of you a wonderful and meaningful Christmas Season.
by John Carpenter | Dec 20, 2021 | Devotional
“We are of God – he that knoweth God – heareth us; he that is not of God – heareth not us. Hereby know we the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. (7) Beloved, let us love one another for love is of God; and everyone that loveth – is born of God – and knoweth God! (8) He that loveth not, knoweth not God – for God is love! (9) In this was manifested the love of God – toward us – because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world – that we might live through Him. (10) Herein is love! Not that we loved God – but that He loved us – and sent His Son – a propitiation for our sins.” [1Jn.4:6-10]
At this time of year, from the last phrase of this passage of holy scripture, we see a descriptive announcement of God’s perfect purpose in His sending His only begotten Son into this lost, sinful and law-cursed world. This wonderful announcement plainly tells us that God loved us “and sent His Son – a propitiation for our sins”! In other words, God’s Son – was sent into this world to be the complete and total satisfaction of whatever divine requirements there are that need to be met for the perfect approval and acceptance of every chosen member of God’s eternal and heavenly household. This includes even the perfect Justice that God demands to be carried out where our sins are concerned. And, in Christ – and by Christ – this as been accomplished! This is the pure truth of the gospel of the holy glory, only, of our Lord Jesus Christ!
The question is – just exactly for whom has this great salvation been wrought – or totally worked out? And, from vs.6-9 John is inspired by the Holy Spirit to address this precise matter. These men and women – boys and girls – receive the announcement and presentation of the gospel of God’s grace and believe it! They “hear” by the presence and power of the Grace of the Holy Spirit – and they know that what they hear is the gospel truth of God. Furthermore – they “Love” what they hear because the love of Christ controls them and causes them to love the truth of the gospel of the glory, only, of Jesus Christ, this is what manifests that they are indeed the true children of God!
Before this – 1Jn.3:5 – states: “And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins – and in Him is no sin.” This text unfolds even more wonderful news! Not only has the incarnated eternal Son of God satisfied the total penalty and punishment that our sins deserve – but God has also used His Son to be all our perfect righteousness that makes us to be approved and accepted in God’s Holy Presence! “In Him is no sin”! In Christ is where God has created us (see: Eph.2:10)! “He has chosen us in Him – before the foundation of the world – that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love” (see: Eph.1:4)! The “Good News” just keeps getting better and better! God, Himself, fulfills that which He commands of us from Rom.13:14 which says: “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ – and make not provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof.”
This then leads us into “seeing” the Saving Purpose of God’s sending His only-begotten Son into this sin filled world as stated in 1Jn.3:8> “…For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil.” And, vs.10 says: “In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil.”
And, just who are these children of the devil? They are even as 1Jn.4:5 describes> “They are of the world – therefore speak they of the world and the world heareth them.” Pr.20:12 declares: “The hearing ear and the seeing eye – the Lord hath made even both of them!” Praise His Name! Jesus Christ really did come into this world this world – “to save sinners”! All glory to Him! Let’s all celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ, into the world of fallen humanity (see Rom. 8:3-4).
For Christ’s Glory Only! -John Carpenter
by John Carpenter | Nov 8, 2021 | Camp News
Well, dear ones, we are once again approaching another Holiday Season – and once again we ask that you all please remember to pray for the children that have been through the Del-Haven Ministry during this time of year. For many of the boys and girls are from broken homes – this time of year serves only to remind them of what they don’t have…a loving, stable and safe relationship with their families. This is precisely what the pure truth of the gospel of the glory, only, of the Lord Jesus Christ announces unto them! A Relationship – an eternal Relationship – with the Heavenly Father – and the Holy Spirit of God – through an ever present Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ – their Kinsman Redeemer! Del-Haven is not a Camp Ministry that seeks to just be a platform to promote Religion. No! We long to be used of the Lord to introduce children (and their families) to a lifelong reliable Relationship and walk with the Lord of lords and King of kings – Jesus, the Christ of Almighty God.
Please keep praying for us – that we will be able in 2022 to have regular weekly camps like before without all the divisive restrictions. This is what we are designed to do. This is the Lord’s ministry – He has been – and still is – totally in charge. Never doubt that fact!
And, when you pray for the kids, please do not forget to pray also for those that the Lord will send to us to fill positions on our Staff! They need to be sent by the Savior to do what needs to be done throughout all our camper days. God is absolutely sovereign and in control – and He uses the prayers of His children to accomplish His Will and Good Pleasure! [See Phil.2:13]
We will continue to try to keep you informed of our needs as they unfold before us – just so you can pray with understanding for us. For the time being we feel we have done what’s necessary to maintain a safe environment for our buildings by trimming tree limbs and even removing some trees that were a real threat should they be blown over during a storm. The unexpected expenses to do that came to $4250. Please pray that this expense can be met. For just about 70 years, now, the only fund raising method that has ever really worked – is – We pray and God provides! Praise His Name! We are ever so thankful for all of you!
“Therefore if any man be in Christ – he is a New creature!
Old things are passed away; Behold – all things are become New!
And, all things are of God,
who hath Reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ,
and hath given unto us the ministry of Reconciliation.”
[2Cor.5:17-18]
by John Carpenter | Nov 8, 2021 | Devotional
(13) “But Now – in Christ Jesus – ye who sometimes [or, once were] far off – (lit.) have been made nigh – by [or, in] the blood Christ.(14) For He is our Peace – who hath made both one – and (lit.) having broken down the middle wall of partition {between us}; (15) having abolished in His flesh the enmity, {even} the law of commandments {contained} in ordinances; for to make [or, to create] in Himself {of} twain (lit.) into One New Man – {so} making Peace! (16) And {that} He might Reconcile both unto God in One body – (lit.) through the cross – having slain the enmity thereby: [or, found therein] (17) And (lit) having come – He preached Peace to you which {were} afar off – and to them that {were} nigh. (18) For through Him – we both have access (lit.) in one Spirit unto the Father. (19) Now therefore – ye are no more strangers and (lit.) sojourners – but fellow-citizens with the saints – and of the household of God!” [Eph.2:13-19]
The main subject of this particular context of descriptive scripture is the blessed and wonderful pure truth of the gospel of the glory of God’s grace concerning the Reconciliation between Holy God and all His chosen sinner/children (whom He authoritatively includes in the phrase “with the saints”). For them — this has been accomplished — and is presently being maintained – through the person and work of – the Prince of Peace, Himself — the Lord Jesus Christ. For the Word of God explicitly declares from 1Jn.4:17: “Herein is our love made perfect that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment: because as He is – so are we – in this world!” This is the pristeen, sin-cleaned standing that we now – by the grace of the faith of Jesus Christ – can right now realize that we have! This is Reconciliation with God – through the eternal accomplishment of our Redemption by Christ Jesus. Through Him – we have been exalted from the dunghill of this sinful world – into the glory of His wonderful grace. Praise the Savior!
You see, in order for there to be no violation of God’s Holiness – there are certain Godly legal requirements that must be met as far as His sinner/children are concerned before we could be truly Reconciled – with God. If these requirements of God’s law are not met – then our standing before the Lord God – our verdict before His Holy Court – would eternally be guilty! And, our souls would necessarily be lost in our eternal condemnation.
This is precisely why we need a Sovereign Savior Substitute! This is why the eternal Son of God was sent by the Divine three in One – to be incarnated — into the “likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh. So that – (lit.) “The righteous requirements of the Law might be fulfilled in us – who walk not after the flesh – but after the Spirit.” [Rom.8:3-4] This is why Rom.8:1 announces the pure gospel truth: “There is therefore – Now – no condemnation to them which are – in Christ Jesus – who walk not after the flesh – but after the Spirit.” It is because – as Eph.1:4 tells us: “According as He hath chosen us – in Him (i.e. in Christ Jesus) – before the foundation of the world…that we should be Holy – and without blame – before Him in love.”
This means that yet another grand blessing of God’s grace must come to us through the person and work of Christ, our Substitute – and that is our Justification! We cannot be accepted and approved in our Eternal Reconciliation with God – before we are Eternally Justified. 2Co.5:21 must be completely fulfilled as a righteous requirement as well. God made Jesus to be our Substitute! He made Him to become our sin and take our eternal punishment for it. This is the only way for us to be clothed in His eternal perfect righteousness – and be able thereby to be eternally Reconciled with God – (and with all of His Holy Household)! Praise His Eternal Savior Son of God!
For Christ’s Glory Only! – John Carpenter
