Posted on November 16, 2025
use 'up-arrow button' at the bottom left to return to the Quick Links menu.
Paul's Ponder
Saturday, November 15, the Beaumont church sponsored a Food Giveaway with the help of other Inland Valley churches and several community service organizations. Due to the government shut down earlier, we expecting a large group of people to show who did not have access to resources. With them getting money back on their cards and a rainy day, our numbers dimmed. However, the churches came through. We served about 150 people and the fellowship was wonderful. Congregations contributed from Victorville to Corona, Upland to Palm Desert and places in between. Such joy as we shared together in the gracious gifts of our Lord.
When we unite as the body of Christ we can accomplish powerful things. Not the church of Christ in one town or another, but the church eternal. We are not separate entities, but one body. We can find joy and strength in our brothers and sisters from many miles away, when we realize that we are all the same body. Jesus prayed for unity in John 17. May we fulfill Jesus’ prayer by uniting in the eternal love of our Savior.
John 17:20 - 23
20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
May we be brought to complete unity.
Just Pondering.
Posted on November 2, 2025
use 'up-arrow button' at the bottom left to return to the Quick Links menu.
Paul's Ponder
You have probably seen many warnings already. So I want to warn you again. DO NOT SET YOUR CLOCK BACK AN HOUR THIS SUNDAY so that you will be on time for Bible Class.
My Aunt Donna told me she was going on a date to Disneyland. “Doesn’t that cost a lot of money?” I asked. “I don’t have to pay anything. The boy pays for it all.” I wished I was a girl.
Growing up a SOCAL kid, Disneyland was a keen objective. Neighboring children fought over who had gone to Disneyland the most. On TV we watched “The Wonderful World of Disney” and “The Mickey Mouse Club.” Due to the cost (less than $5 per adult), we only went when we had Grandma and Grandpa visiting from Michigan. I could have gone everyday. After all, Dad was paying. My involvement with Disneyland may have won me the friendship with a missionaries’ son, Allen, and the interest of my eventual bride, Debbie. Disneyland is a magical kingdom.
You could say I’m a kingdom kid, but Disneyland is not my kingdom of choice. The entry costs are between $104 and $206 (about 1,708% increase), and now I have to pay. The magic is gone. The Kingdom I desire is the Kingdom of God. It is much more magical and the joy never ends. Besides, my Father has paid the price, so I can be there every day. The residual benefits are 100 times greater than Disney.
Mark 10:
29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Just Pondering
Posted on November 18, 2025
use 'up-arrow button' at the bottom left to return to the Quick Links menu.
Sweet Sisters,
Today’s lesson begins in Psalm 56:1 - 4.
1
Be merciful to me, my God,
for my enemies are in hot pursuit;
all day long they press their attack.
2
My adversaries pursue me all day long;
in their pride many are attacking me.
3
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
4
In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
Merciful = compassionate, gracious, forgiving, tender, tenderhearted, sympathetic.
What is David’s request in verse one?
“For” can also be translated “because”. Why is David requesting God’s mercy?
David’s enemies are relentless in their pursuit of him. David feels like he an not get away from them. They are hostile and insatiable in their pursuit of him.
The open mouths of sinners
When they rage
Should open our mouths
In prayer
Charles Spurgeon
Instead of build up gradually to his complaint,
the psalmist pours out his heart immediately.
Van Gemmeren
David acknowledges that he experiences fear but chooses to counter it with faith. His fear is not an end, but a starting point for trusting God. David makes a conscious decision to trust and put his faith in God, even when he is afraid.
In verse four, what does David praise?
Praising God’s word is the direct result of faith. The more we immerse ourselves in God’s word, the more strength we have to face our fears. If I believe that God is who He says He is and that God can do what He says He can do, then what can mere mortals do to me?
David ends Psalm 56 with verses 12 - 13.
12
I am under vows to you, my God;
I will present my thank offerings to you.
13
For you have delivered me from death
and my feet from stumbling,
that I may walk before God
in the light of life.
What do you think David is saying in verse 12?
David has made promises to God in times of trouble when he was afraid. Once God delivered him from his fears, then David honors his commitment with an offering of thanksgiving or gratitude.
What does verse 13 tell us God delivered David from?
Why did God deliver David?
Does this psalm speak to you? How?
Have you ever felt like your enemies were in hot pursuit of you? Have you thought like they just wouldn’t stop filling your world with drama and grief? Have you felt like you were in a battle you could not possibly win unless God stepped in and saved you?
While in the midst of your fear and frustration, did you make promises to God? When God delivered you, were you filled with gratefulness and did you honor your promises to Him?
In verse 13, what do you think, “light of life” means?
This passage emphasizes living in God’s presence, enjoying His favor and being guided by His truth and will.
I John1:7 says it this way…
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
Let’s move on to Psalm 91:1 - 4.
1
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.[a]
2
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3
Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4
He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
Where does verse one tell us rest can be found?
ALMIGHTY is El Shaddai in Hebrew. It emphasizes God’s power, provisions, and ability to care for God’s people completely. Also translated “ALL SUFFICIENT ONE”. God is completely capably and powerful enough to meet every need we may have.
In verse two, what does the psalmist say about the Lord?
In verse three what does the Lord save us from?
FOWLERS SNARE an unseen trap set to capture birds. It symbolizes satan or wicked people who try to capture or destroy God’s people.
DEADLY PESTILENCE - a widespread and highly fatal epidemic disease that can overwhelm a community (think Covid or Bubonic Plague)
What does the image in verse four remind you of?
SHIELD - a person or thing providing protection from danger, risk or unpleasant experience.
RAMPART - a defensive wall of a castle or city. May also figuratively mean strength, security or even an army.
In times of fear and trouble, we can count on God’s faithfulness to protect us.
Psalm 91:14 - 16
14
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15
He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16
With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
What promises does God make in this passage to those who love Him?
What will God do for those who acknowledge His Name?
Our final stop in the book of Psalm is Psalm 118. We will make two stops here. The first one is verses 5 - 7.
5
When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;
he brought me into a spacious place.
6
The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
7
The Lord is with me; he is my helper.
I look in triumph on my enemies.
In verse five, what does the psalmist do when he is hard pressed?
HARD-PRESSED closely pursued, burdened with urgent business.
How does the Lord respond to the psalmist?
SPACIOUS PLACE - a location with a large amount of open space, making it feel roomy, expansive and easy to move around.
Have you ever heard the phrase, “room to breathe”?
When life is crowding in on us and we feel like we cannot move or breathe, God steps in and gives us room to breathe. He gives us peace.
We saw this same phrase back in Psalm 18:19.
He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
Since God is with me, I do not need to be afraid because God is more powerful than any man! He is my helper and gives me victory over my enemies.
Our second and final stop on our tour in Psalm is Psalm 118:13 - 14.
3
I was pushed back and about to fall,
but the Lord helped me.
14
The Lord is my strength and my defense;
he has become my salvation.
I love this passage!
I have been in this situation so many times, where I felt on the edge and totally out of balance. One more thing and I would go toppling over.
God stepped in and helped me.
Sweet Sisters, There is a theme running through today’s lesson. When we feel afraid, overwhelmed, caught in a dark scary place where we can’t breathe, when we feel out of balance and ready to go flying over the edge, God hears our cries for help and will rescue us.
We do have to be willing to give up trying to control the situation ourselves and trust Him to provide all we need.
Our next lesson will take us into the book of Isaiah.
TRUST GOD
OBEY GOD
WAIT ON GOD
Debbie
My prayer is that all of you will have a beautiful Thanksgiving. I’m going to not do a lesson Thanksgiving week and resume the first week of December.
Posted on November 11, 2025
use 'up-arrow button' at the bottom left to return to the Quick Links menu.
Sweet Sisters,
When we were on our trip in Oklahoma, people would say, “If you don’t like the weather, wait a minute, it will change”.
Life works that way as well. Circumstances can change in a heart beat. Good or bad. Last Sunday night, Paul and I were driving home from a Bible study we do every Sunday in Sky Valley. Traffic was at a crawl. We were OK with it. It’s a normal occurrence for us.
All of a sudden our van begins to make a strange noise. All kinds of lights start flashing on the dashboard. Lights that have nothing to do with each other. The RPM’s started dropping. Paul starts inching over to the far right lane. We are one mile from the Cabazon exit. God is good and we make it to the exit.
Suddenly, all the lights stop flashing, and things seem to return to normal. Paul pulls into the parking lot of the Morongo Casino Bowling Alley so we can evaluate what to do next. Paul doesn’t want to risk getting back on the freeway. We decide to call for a tow truck.
Due to the heavy backup on the freeway, we had noticed several cars stranded on the side of the freeway. The tow company tells us they will be there in two hours! We are approximately five miles from our house. It is 6:30 at night and dark. Of course, as soon as I hear that I may be stuck in the van for two hours, I need a bathroom!
We decide that Paul will wait for the tow truck and I will see if I can find someone to come and pick me up. Once again, God is good. My friend, Ruth, graciously agrees to come and rescue me. She arrives in about 15 minutes. Within no time, I’m home. Two and a half hours later, Paul walks in the door. The tow driver thinks it is the alternator.
On Monday, Paul had the van towed to our mechanic’s shop to be assessed and fixed, an unexpected and potentially expensive crisis. Turns out it was the alternator. It also turns out that we replaced it earlier this year so it was still under warranty, meaning it didn’t cost us anything to repair. God is good!
The theme of our lesson is “Whom Shall I Fear?” We could also ask, “What shall I fear?” When Paul and my world suddenly took an unexpected turn, how did we choose to react? Did we panic? Did we stay calm, knowing that God was in control and everything would work out well?
I’ve heard it said that the “only constant in life is change”. Often in ways we have no control over. Once again, let me ask you, “Whom, or what, will you fear?”
In today’s lesson we will explore Psalm 34. The Psalmist begins by praising God in Psalm 34:1 - 3.
1
I will extol the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
2
I will glory in the Lord;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3
Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.
EXTOL = praise enthusiastically, joyfully. It often carries a connotation of a public proclamation. Have you ever been so impressed with the way God showed up in your life that you cried out, “Thank you Jesus” or “Praise the Lord”?!?
GLORIFY = praise and worship.
When does the psalmist say he will extol the Lord?
In verse two, who should hear and rejoice?
AFFLICTED = can also be translated as humble, helpless, meek, oppressed, hurting.
The psalmist is saying that no matter what is going on, he will absolutely praise the Lord.
Psalm 34:4 tells us why he feels this way.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
What’s his past experience taught him?
What was he delivered from?
I love that the psalmist uses the word “all”. He doesn’t say “some”.
God hears us and responds to us regardless of how big or small or significant our fear is. It’s not because of who we are as much as it is because of who He is.
Psalm 34:5 (NCV)
Those who go to him for help are happy,
and they are never disgraced.
We can trust God that He will answer our prayers in a way that is good for us and will not embarrass us or shame us.
SHAME = loss of respect or esteem, dishonor.
I want to emphasize that God never uses shame as a tool to get us to do His will. We tend to do this with each other, but God does not.
Again we see in Psalm 34:6, that God hears and saves those who call on Him.
This poor man called, and the Lord heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
Psalm 34:7
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
ANGEL OF THE LORD = God of angel armies: Jesus.
ENCAMP = the resting place of an army or company of travelers.
What does this verse teach us about how God works in our lives?
How does it make you feel that the Commander of God’s Army is always by your side, ready to go to battle for you?
Psalm 34:8
Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
Why do you think the psalmist inserts this thought here?
Is the psalmist saying that the more we experience God’s goodness, the easier it gets to trust Him?
As we continue our tour, we move on to Psalm 46:1 - 3
1
God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
2
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
What do we learn about God in verse one?
Why does verse two begin with the word “therefore”?
Do you think the psalmist, in verses two and three is describing an actual, physical event, or is he describing life events?
Have you ever felt like your life was “rocking and rolling”?
I love how the psalmist ends chapter 46 with verses 10 - 11.
10
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
11
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
BE STILL = the Hebrew word for “still” can be translated as “let go” or “relax”. It means to cease striving and let go of the need to control circumstances.
Surrendering to the fact that God is actually the one in control. It implies a reliance from anxieties and a ceasing of our own efforts to force an outcome.
It does NOT mean to do nothing. It is a state of mind that allows one to continue doing what is necessary, what needs to be done, while at the same time acknowledging that God is our source of power, our refuge and fortress.
In 1987, Susan Jeffers wrote a book she entitled, “Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway”. The book teaches that it is possible to take action despite feeling fear, and in doing so, you gain confidence and power.
Fear is a part of the world we live in. We face it often. The key to dealing with our fear is to take it to God. He will empower us with everything we need to overcome our fear. The more we do this, the more our confidence and belief in what we can accomplish will grow.
Sweet Sisters, refusing to let our fears paralyze us is a process, we achieve one baby step at a time. My prayer is that each of us will determine to stop allowing our fears to define us, and that we will strive to be still and know that He is God.
TRUST GOD
OBEY GOD
WAIT ON GOD
Debbie.
Posted on October 12, 2025
use 'up-arrow button' at the bottom left to return to the Quick Links menu.
Sweet Sisters,
As we continue our “Whom Shall I Fear” tours, we enter the book of Psalm. We will make many stops in Psalms. The book of Psalm was written as a guide to prayer and worship. It offers wisdom and instruction for navigating the challenges and joys of life, reminding us of God’s character, faithfulness and sovereignty.
The Psalms are known for their raw emotions allowing believers to express their pain, confusion and anger while also celebrating joy and delight in God. Psalm emphasizes the importance of trusting in God’s protection and care, offering comfort an strength in times of uncertainty.
I want to remind you that the book of Psalm is a collection of 150 poems and songs written over many centuries by multiple authors. The first stop on our tour through the book of Psalms will be Psalm 3.
1
Lord, how many are my foes!
How many rise up against me!
2
Many are saying of me,
“God will not deliver him.”
3
But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
4
I call out to the Lord,
and he answers me from his holy mountain.
5
I lie down and sleep;
I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.
6
I will not fear though tens of thousands
assail me on every side.
7
Arise, Lord!
Deliver me, my God!
Strike all my enemies on the jaw;
break the teeth of the wicked.
8
From the Lord comes deliverance.
May your blessing be on your people.
What is the psalmist afraid of in verses 1 - 2?
Even though the psalmist is distressed, he reminds himself of who his Lord is in verse 3. What three things does he tell us about the Lord?
What is important about each of these:
Shield
Glory
Lifter of my head
So far the psalmist has acknowledged his fear and reminded himself of who his Lord is. What does he do in verse four and why?
What are the results of his action in verse five and why?
Psalm 3:6 is one of the most popular verses in the book of Psalms.
I will not fear though tens of thousands
assail me on every side.
“Assail” can also be translated: set against, surround, taken positions against.
The psalmist makes a decision in this verse. What is it?
Because the psalmist makes the decision, what request of God does he have the confidence to make in verse 7?
As the psalmist begins chapter 3 he is concerned because his enemies are telling him that God is not going to deliver him. He is torn. He wants to trust God but part of him fears they may be right. By the time he finishes chapter 3, what conclusion has he come to?
What do we learn from this passage about us?
What do we learn from this passage about God?
In what ways can we apply what we have learned to our lives?
Our next stop is Psalm 18. We will spend the rest of today’s lesson here and continue next week as well.
Psalm 18 is one of my favorite psalms. It is packed with powerful imagery describing our Warrior God. It is believed that David wrote Psalm 18 because it is almost identical to David’s song of praise in 2 Samuel 22:29-51. I’m not going to include this passage in today’s lesson, but I strongly encourage you to read it in conjunction of doing this lesson.
Let’s begin with Psalm 18:1.
I love you, Lord, my strength.
David begins by acknowledging his love for his Lord.
In Psalm 18:2, David tells us why he loves his Lord.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn
of my salvation, my stronghold.
What are the seven reasons that David gives for his love?
I like to call Psalm 18:3 - 19 a “super hero” passage. It reminds me of something out of a Marvel comic strip movie. We learn in Psalm 18:3 - 5 that David is in trouble.
3
I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and I have been saved from my enemies.
4
The cords of death entangled me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
5
The cords of the grave coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.
What does David say is going on?
What does David do in Psalm 18:6, and how does God respond?
6
In my distress I called to the Lord;
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came before him, into his ears.
We have to read Psalm 18:7 - 19 in its entirety to really experience the imagery that David is describing.
7
The earth trembled and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains shook;
they trembled because he was angry.
8
Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.
9
He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under his feet.
10
He mounted the cherubim and flew;
he soared on the wings of the wind.
11
He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—
the dark rain clouds of the sky.
12
Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced,
with hailstones and bolts of lightning.
13
The Lord thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.
14
He shot his arrows and scattered the enemy,
with great bolts of lightning he routed them.
15
The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke, Lord,
at the blast of breath from your nostrils.
16
He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
17
He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
18
They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the Lord was my support.
19
He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
Cherubim - a winged angelic being described in Biblical tradition as attending God. It is represented in Middle Eastern art as a lion or bull with eagle wings and a human face with many eyes. They serve as celestial attendants of God.
Most High: El Elyon (Hebrew)
• Creator of heaven and earth
• Celebrates God’s power and protection
• Emphasizes God’s dominion over human kingdoms.
No one is higher, more exalted, or more powerful than God.
David depicts the Most High God so angry at David’s situation that He mounts a cherubim and comes flying out of heaven with power and might to rescue David.
Describe David’s feelings in verses 17 - 18.
In verse 19, why does David say God was willing to rescue him in such an incredible way?
David believed that God delighted in him and would go to battle for him. Do we?
I want to share two more passages that share this theme with you as we close this lesson.
Psalm 24:8
Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
the Lord mighty in battle.
Isaiah 42:13
The Lord will march out like a champion,
like a warrior he will stir up his zeal;
with a shout he will raise the battle cry
and will triumph over his enemies.
Sweet Sisters, whom shall we fear? Our God is a great warrior who will go to battle for us!
TRUST GOD
OBEY GOD
WAIT ON GOD
Debbie
Posted on December 3, 2023
Masters of the Storm
In times of need we may call out to God asking ‘to be taken out of the storm’. We may later reconsider and ask God to ‘calm the storm’, or we may request that He be with us 'in the storm’. Storms are inevitable! Jesus told His disciples that they would receive many blessings ‘with persecutions’ (storms). Paul understood what He meant and said that through trials and temptations that ‘we persevere’. James, the brother of Jesus, said we should ‘count it all joy’ in our trials, and Peter added that we should embrace our suffering in the name of Jesus Christ.
God knows what is needed before people ask, and that He responds when asked. God wants what is best for all people. While Jesus was in the midst of His own storm; facing crucifixion, He relied on God and prayed ‘not My will but Thine’. Parents know that children need godly discipline—Jesus subjected Himself to His parents. Some may not appreciate discipline and may only recognize it’s value later in life—God disciplines those He loves.
God gave Adam and Eve ‘Paradise’; free of storms—they were unappreciative. Today, it is a common practice to ask God for blessings and to live ‘storm free’. Few ask to be challenged or disciplined. All people are given the choice to choose the wide road or the narrow road, the hard road or the easy road. God, our Heavenly Father, places storms in our lives to strengthen us, not to defeat us! As Christians, we delight in our struggles for ‘the joy set before us’. Overcoming a difficult task is exhilarating! Instead of asking God to remove unwanted obstacles let’s ask for the strength to endure and become ‘masters of the storm’. Peter
Peter's Message
use 'up-arrow button' at the bottom left to return to the Quick Links menu.
Posted on November 5, 2023
Jesus is called ‘The Lamb of God’. He is also known as Light, Love, Lord, and Lion (of Judah). Creation is a reflection of Jesus; the Creator, made with precision and with purpose. Nothing created is without value or significance.
Jesus is also known as ‘The Good Shepherd.’ He is the shepherd of His sheep and the perfect sacrifice for them. Shepherds are held in high esteem; willing to defend their flock against all predators and willing to stay awake and on guard through the night. Shepherds care for the entire flock, risking their lives for the 99 and one that is lost. Sheep have a special place in the hearts of shepherds who often care for them as their children. Shepherds know how to protect their flock with their lives.
People have taken lambs into their hearts as some do domestic pets. To require of a shepherd that a first born lamb, in full health, be used as a sacrifice is to demand the very best. It is a sacrifice for the shepherd and lamb! Jesus willingly became a sacrifice and went to His death with ‘joy set before Him’, as did God, the Father, make a sacrifice for His ‘love of the world’. He gave His only begotten Son. Mary, Jesus earthy mother, was with Him at His death, suffering silently. Both God the Father and Son purposed to save mankind at the right time and manner—they willingly gave the very best of themselves and heaven. Peter
Peter's Message
use 'up-arrow button' at the bottom left to return to the Quick Links menu.
Posted on October 1, 2023
Moses, a servant of God, was chosen by God to deliver His law in what is known as the Ten Commandments, and to set them as God’s standard for His people, Israel. There are two sections: respect for God and respect for fellow man. Many more commands given through Moses have formed the basis of Jewish religious law through the centuries.
Jesus, the Son of God, was chosen by God to speak His words for all people; all nations of the world. Jesus, the Word of God, stated, ‘My words will judge you in the last day’. Jesus has many attributes and is known by several well known titles: He is Christ the Messiah, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, High Priest and Advocate, Great Shepherd and Prince of Peace.
Jesus’ word is God’s Christian standard. On earth, all nations have requirements for all citizens that are accepted as legal and right. By what standard-of-law, then, does God require for entrance into heaven? The Greatest Command Jesus spoke is to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:28-30).
Jesus showed His love for all people by His willingness to forgive sin. Forgiveness is His gift and response to repentance. Jesus is our righteous judge and advocate, and we will appear before His judgment-seat (II Corinthians 5:10, I John 2:1). By His words, eternal life is given to all who hear and believe—these do not come into judgment (John 5:24). Peter
