There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true. —Soren Kierkegaard. "…truth is true even if nobody believes it, and falsehood is false even if everybody believes it. That is why truth does not yield to opinion, fashion, numbers, office, or sincerity–it is simply true and that is the end of it" – Os Guinness, Time for Truth, pg.39. “He that takes truth for his guide, and duty for his end, may safely trust to God’s providence to lead him aright.” – Blaise Pascal. "There is but one straight course, and that is to seek truth and pursue it steadily" – George Washington letter to Edmund Randolph — 1795. We live in a “post-truth” world. According to the dictionary, “post-truth” means, “relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.” Simply put, we now live in a culture that seems to value experience and emotion more than truth. Truth will never go away no matter how hard one might wish. Going beyond the MSM idealogical opinion/bias and their low information tabloid reality show news with a distractional superficial focus on entertainment, sensationalism, emotionalism and activist reporting – this blogs goal is to, in some small way, put a plug in the broken dam of truth and save as many as possible from the consequences—temporal and eternal. "The further a society drifts from truth, the more it will hate those who speak it." – George Orwell “There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.” ― Soren Kierkegaard
We must humbly profess our sorrow and shame for sin, and humbly engage ourselves in the strength of divine grace, that we will be better and do better for the future.
Lord, I repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand, Matthew 3:2(ESV) to which you have exalted your Son, Christ Jesus, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins. Acts 5:31(ESV)
I have heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eyes see you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes; Job 42:5-6(ESV) therefore will I be like a dove of the valley, moaning over my iniquities. Ezekiel 7:16(ESV)
O that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for my transgressions, Jeremiah 9:1(ESV) and might in such a manner sow in those tears as that at last I may reap in shouts of joy; may now go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, and may in due time come home with shouts of joy, bringing in my sheaves with me. Psalm 126:5-6(ESV)
My iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me; Psalm 38:4(ESV) but weary and heavy laden under this burden, I come to Christ, who has promised that in him I shall find rest for my soul. Matthew 11:28(ESV)
O knowing the affliction of my own heart, 1 Kings 8:38(ESV) may I look on him whom I have pierced, and may I mourn and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn. Zechariah 12:10(ESV) That I may grieve after a godly sort, with that grief which produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret; 2 Corinthians 7:10(ESV) and that I may remember and be confounded, and never open my mouth again because of my shame, when you have atoned for me for all that I have done. Ezekiel 16:63(ESV)
And, O that I may bear fruit in keeping with repentance! Matthew 3:8(ESV) and may never again turn back to folly; Psalm 85:8(ESV) for what have I to do anymore with idols? Hosea 14:8(ESV) For sin will have no dominion over me, since I am not under law but under grace. Romans 6:14(ESV)
I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant, for I do not forget your commandments. Psalm 119:176(ESV)
Nehemiah 7:73-8:18 In this week’s studies, we see that Nehemiah not only wanted to rebuild the wall, but also the nation.
Theme
Never the Same Again
4. Sorrow over sin (v. 9). The result of this anticipatory prayer, the reading of the Law of God and the explanation of the law was revival. And the first evidence that revival was truly on the way was grief over sin. It was intense grief, though the story does not dwell upon it. It says only that “the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law,” undoubtedly because they had been convicted by it. This grief must have been intense because Nehemiah, Ezra and the Levites who were instructing the people had to interrupt the reading and exposition of the law to deal with it, urging the people to rejoice instead.
The people did what they were told, of course. They went away to eat and drink, to provide for others who had little and “to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them” (v. 12). But they were never the same people again.
Did they sin again? Of course.
Twelve years after this Nehemiah returned to find many sins and a need for renewal again. The people of God always need renewal. Still it was different. These days left a mark on the nation that lasted down to and even beyond the time of Jesus Christ.
For one thing, they became a people of God’s book. The events I described took place on the first day of the seventh month. The feast urged on the people by their leaders was that night. But the very next morning, “On the second day of the month, the heads of all the families, along with the priests and the Levites, gathered around Ezra the scribe to give attention to the words of the Law” (v. 13). In other words, Ezra was asked to give daily Bible readings (cf. v. 18), or, as we might say, the heads of the families determined to engage in regular and systematic Bible study.
Second, the life of the people began to revolve around the holy days which God had prescribed for worship.
What the remaining verses of the chapter describe is a rediscovery by the people of the instructions for celebrating the Feast of Tabernacles or Booths. It was a harvest festival much like our Thanksgiving. But it was to be done in a way that would remind the people of the days of their wandering in the wilderness. It was a seven day feast, beginning on the fifteenth of the month. At this point they still had two weeks to prepare for it. They were to gather sticks and make temporary shelters for themselves outside of or on the roofs of their homes. These would remind them that they were wanderers in the desert for forty years and that God had brought them into a land flowing with milk and honey. When they celebrated the feast they were to remember that it was God who had provided for them and blessed them abundantly.
Somewhere in this time of preparation the people must also have observed the Day of Atonement, with its emphasis upon sorrow for sin. It came on the tenth of the month. It is not mentioned, probably because the emphasis at this point was so much on gratitude to God and rejoicing.
And why not? Nehemiah had told them to rejoice, saying, “The joy of the LORD is your strength.” It was indeed their strength. For theirs was a happy God, and they were a happy people.
We should be a joyful people too. Indeed, we are frequently told to rejoice. If we do not, it is because we do not love the Word of God as these people did or because we do not obey it.
Study Questions
What evidence do we see in our passage for a genuine sorrow for sin?
How were the people changed as a result of Ezra’s ministry?
Application
Application: Is your life marked by joy in the Lord?
For Further Study: Download for free and listen to James Boice’s message, “The Greatest Revival in History.” (Discount will be applied at checkout.)
The more time I’ve spent investigating unsolved murders, the more suspicious I’ve become—not just of suspects, but of people in general. If cold case killers can blend in for years, looking and acting like good citizens, how many more “good” people might be capable of something terrible? The answer, uncomfortable as it may be, is all of us.
For centuries, philosophers, theologians, and psychologists have wrestled with a fundamental question: Are humans inherently good or bad? Are we born noble, or are we, at our core, selfish and prone to wrongdoing? Most thinkers have leaned toward the latter. Arthur Schopenhauer famously described humanity as “a dreadful wild animal,” only tamed by the structures of civilization. When those structures break down, he warned, our true nature—pitiless and cruel—emerges. Carl Jung echoed this, calling the hidden “shadow” in every person “a positively demonic dynamism.” The less we confront this shadow, Jung wrote, the darker and more dangerous it becomes.
Psychiatrist Thomas Anthony Harris put it plainly: “Sin, or badness, or evil, or ‘human nature,’ whatever we call the flaw in our species, is apparent in every person.” Philosopher Thomas Hobbes agreed, arguing that left to our own devices, human life would be “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”
You don’t have to be a scholar to see the evidence. Anyone who’s raised children—or remembers their own childhood—knows that selfishness and impatience don’t need to be taught. They’re part of our default setting. Early psychological studies confirmed just how “nasty” and “brutish” we can be under the right circumstances.
Consider Stanley Milgram’s infamous 1960s experiment. Participants, believing they were administering real electric shocks to another person, continued to do so—even as the “victim” screamed in pain—simply because an authority figure told them to. The shocks were fake, but the obedience to cruelty was real. The experiment has been replicated many times, with similar results: our capacity for harm is disturbingly robust.
A decade later, Philip Zimbardo’s Stanford Prison Experiment revealed more of this darkness. College students, randomly assigned as “guards” or “prisoners” in a simulated jail, quickly descended into abusive behavior and emotional breakdown. The experiment, intended to last two weeks, was called off after just six days. The lesson? Even ordinary, well-adjusted people can become cruel and dehumanizing when given power and anonymity.
Modern research continues to show that we are innately selfish, especially when resources are scarce or stress runs high. In a crisis—say, a pandemic—people hoard supplies, cheat, and look out for themselves, particularly when no one is watching. “In highly stressful, resource-poor environments, we’ll step on whoever is in front of us if it helps us survive.” The less we depend on others, the more we revert to this selfish baseline. We become isolated, less caring, and more likely to dehumanize those who are different—a tendency that emerges alarmingly early in life.
One study found that children as young as five already show signs of “otherism,” seeing some people as less than human. Clinical psychologist Jennifer Kunst notes, “We do not start out in innocence… there is an urge in all of us to be naughty, to fight, to punish, to spoil, to take our revenge.” We’re also quick to judge others more harshly than ourselves, excusing our own faults while condemning the same behavior in others. We cling to first impressions and resist evidence that challenges our prideful assumptions. We overestimate our own virtue and understanding.
Our darker inclinations even influence what we find attractive. Research shows that the so-called “dark triad” traits—narcissism, psychopathy, and Machiavellianism—can make people more appealing in the short term. Leaders displaying these traits often rise to power, reflecting our own self-interest and attraction to those who seem like us.
Governments and religions recognize this reality. Laws exist to harness self-interest for the common good, not because we’re naturally generous. Tax systems, for example, are built on the assumption that we won’t give freely on our own. Even Jesus acknowledged our self-focus, urging his followers to treat others as they themselves would want to be treated—a command that leverages our innate self-interest for good.
Yet, for all our flaws, we are also capable of nobility. Researchers recognize “empathy-induced altruism” as part of human nature. Alongside daily news of cruelty, we witness acts of bravery, sacrifice, and service. We are, in truth, creatures of paradox—capable of both great good and great evil.
So which is it? Do we learn goodness because we’re evil, or evil because we’re good? The evidence points to both. Altruism, though rare, is undeniably real. Some, like Plato’s Glaucon and Adam Smith, argue that even our noblest acts are rooted in self-interest. Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins calls us “survival machines,” programmed for selfishness, but acknowledges that cooperation can arise when it serves our genetic interests.
Ultimately, we are dual-natured—Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in one body, as Stevenson’s novella suggests. Plato’s chariot, pulled by two opposing horses, captures this perfectly: we are both noble and base, capable of swinging between extremes. This is the enigma of humanity, and the challenge each of us must face.
A new ‘State of Theology’ survey by Liogoner Ministries, in conjunction with Lifeway research, has revealed the abject state of beliefs among American evangelicals, including nearly half of respondents who said “God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.”
Rather than a generic poll of self-describing ‘Christians,’ Ligonier polled only evangelicals, which they define as people who “strongly agreed” with the following four statements:
The Bible is the highest authority for what I believe.
It is very important for me personally to encourage non-Christians to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior.
Jesus Christ’s death on the cross is the only sacrifice that could remove the penalty of my sin.
Only those who trust in Jesus Christ alone as their Savior receive God’s free gift of eternal salvation.
Some of their key findings include:
53% of American evangelicals agree that “Everyone sins a little, but most people are good by nature.” 53% think that “The Holy Spirit is a force but is not a personal being.” 47% believe “God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.” 64% believe that “Everyone is born innocent in the eyes of God.” 94% responded that “God loves all people the same way.”
Alarmingly, only 61% of evangelicals agree that “Every Christian has an obligation to join a local church.”
Ligonier concludes:
The 2025 State of Theology survey makes clear that many evangelical churches and individuals lack a firm grasp of the essential Christian faith revealed in Scripture.
The solution to this state of affairs is what it has always been—God’s plan for Christian growth and discipleship within the context of doctrinally sound local churches. As biblically qualified pastors lead God’s people in worship and the accurate exposition of God’s Word on a regular basis, healthy growth among believers will take place as the Holy Spirit causes the Word to bear much fruit.
Evangelical churches that do not prioritize sound doctrine and biblically qualified leaders who can accurately teach the Word will inevitably stray from the faith delivered once for all to the saints, exchanging truth for trends and substance for a superficial Christianity that bears little resemblance to what the Scriptures teach.
Just as man’s part in salvation is to come humbly, it is also to come in faith. Although finite minds cannot fully comprehend the truth, divine grace and human faith are inseparable in salvation. God sovereignly provides salvation, which includes the fact that man must give himself to the Lord Jesus Christ in commitment before it becomes effective. Jesus said, “All that the Father gives Me shall come to Me,” and then immediately added, “and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out” (John 6:37). Salvation is not through a creed, a church, a ritual, a pastor, a priest, or any other such human means—but through Jesus Christ, who said, Come to Me. To come is to believe to the point of submitting to His lordship. “I am the bread of life,” Jesus declared; “he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). Comes and believes are parallel just as are hunger and thirst. Coming to Christ is believing in Him, which results in no longer hungering and thirsting. Other biblical synonyms for believing in Christ include confessing Him, receiving Him, eating and drinking Him, and hearing Him. Peter declared, “Of Him [Jesus Christ] all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins” (Acts 10:43). And the Lord Himself said, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; that whoever believes may in Him have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:14–16).
REPENTANCE AND REST
all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. (11:28b)
All who are indicates a condition that already exists. Those whom Jesus invites to Himself are those who already are weary and heavy-laden. Although this aspect of Jesus’ invitation is mentioned after faith (“Come to Me”), chronologically it precedes faith, referring to the repentance that drives the humble, seeking person to Christ for salvation. Kopiaō (to grow weary, or “to labor”) carries the idea of working to the point of utter exhaustion. John uses the term to describe Jesus’ fatigue when He and the disciples reached Sychar after a long, hot journey from Jerusalem (John 4:6). Weary translates a present active participle and refers figuratively to arduous toil in seeking to please God and know the way of salvation. Jesus calls to Himself everyone who is exhausted from trying to find and please God in his own resources. Jesus invites the person who is wearied from his vain search for truth through human wisdom, who is exhausted from trying to earn salvation, and who has despaired of achieving God’s standard of righteousness by his own efforts. Heavy-laden translates a perfect passive participle, indicating that at some time in the past a great load was dumped on the wearied person. Whereas weary refers to the internal exhaustion caused by seeking divine truth through human wisdom, heavy-laden suggests the external burdens caused by the futile efforts of works righteousness. In Jesus’ day, the rabbinical teachings had become so massive, demanding, and all-encompassing that they prescribed standards and formulas for virtually every human activity. It was all but impossible even to learn all the traditions, and was completely impossible to keep them all. Jesus spoke of the heavy loads of religious tradition that the scribes and Pharisees laid on the people’s shoulders (Matt. 23:4); and at the Jerusalem Council, Peter noted that the Judaizers were trying to saddle Christianity with the same man-made “yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear” (Acts 15:10). Although the term itself is not used in the text, Jesus gives a call to repent, to turn away from the self-centered and works-centered life and come to Him. The person who is weary and heavy-laden despairs of his own ability to please God. He comes to the end of his own resources and turns to Christ. Desperation is a part of true salvation, because a person does not come to Christ as long as he has confidence in himself. To repent is to make a 180-degree turn from the burden of the old life to the restfulness of the new Repentance was the theme of John the Baptist’s preaching (Matt. 3:2) and the starting point of the preaching of Jesus (4:17), Peter (Acts 2:38; 3:19; cf. 5:31), and Paul (17:30; 20:21; cf. 2 Tim. 2:25). The person who humbly receives God’s revelation of Himself and His way of salvation, who turns from the unbearable burden of his sin and self-effort, and who comes to Christ empty-handed is the only person God will save. Anapauō (to give … rest) means to refresh or revive, as from labor or a long journey. Jesus promises spiritual rest to everyone who comes to Him in repentance and humble faith. God’s rest is a common Old Testament theme. The Lord warned Israel, “Do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the wilderness; when your fathers tested Me, they tried Me, though they had seen My work.… Therefore I swore in My anger, truly they shall not enter into My rest” (Ps. 95:7–9, 11). After quoting that passage, the writer of Hebrews warns those who make a pretense of faith in Christ but have not really trusted Him: “Take care, brethren, lest there should be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart, in falling away from the living God” (Heb. 3:12). To intellectually acknowledge Christ’s deity and lordship is a dangerous thing if it does not lead to true faith, because it gives a person the false confidence of belonging to Christ. In the time of the early church many Jews were attracted to the gospel and outwardly identified themselves with the church. But for fear of being unsynagogued, ostracized from the worship and ceremonies of Judaism, some of them did not truly receive Christ as saving Lord. They went part way to Him but stopped before full commitment. “As a result” of such superficial allegiance, John says, “many of His disciples withdrew, and were not walking with Him anymore” (John 6:66). Consequently they would not enter God’s rest, that is, His salvation, because they still possessed “an evil, unbelieving heart” (Heb. 3:11–12). Just as those Israelites who rebelled against Moses in the wilderness were denied entrance into the Promised Land because of unbelief, so those who refuse to fully trust in Christ are denied entrance into God’s kingdom rest of salvation for the same reason (v. 19). “Therefore, let us fear lest, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it. For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, ‘As I swore in My wrath, they shall not enter My rest’ ” (4:1–3). The dictionary gives several definitions of rest that remarkably parallel the spiritual rest God offers those who trust in His Son. First, the dictionary describes rest as cessation from action, motion, labor, or exertion. In a similar way, to enter God’s rest is to cease from all efforts at self-help in trying to earn salvation. Second, rest is described as freedom from that which wearies or disturbs. Again we see the spiritual parallel of God’s giving His children freedom from the cares and burdens that rob them of peace and joy. Third, the dictionary defines rest as something that is fixed and settled. Similarly, to be in God’s rest is to have the wonderful assurance that our eternal destiny is secure in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. It is to be freed from the uncertainties of running from philosophy to philosophy, from religion to religion, from guru to guru, hoping somehow and somewhere to discover truth, peace, happiness, and eternal life. Fourth, rest is defined as being confident and trustful. When we enter God’s rest we are given the assurance that “He who began a good work in [us] will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” (Phil. 1:6). Finally, the dictionary describes rest as leaning, reposing, or depending on. As children of God, we can depend with utter certainty that our heavenly Father will “supply all [our] needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19).
MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1985–1989). Matthew (Vol. 2, pp. 274–276). Moody Press.
And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly.Romans 16:20
This promise follows well upon that of yesterday. We are evidently to be conformed to our covenant Head, not only in His being bruised in His heel but in His conquest of the evil one. Even under our feet is the old dragon to be bruised. The Roman believers were grieved with strife in the church; but their God was “the God of peace” and gave them rest of soul. The archenemy tripped up the feet of the unwary and deceived the hearts of the simple; but he was to get the worst of it and to be trodden down by those whom he had troubled. This victory would not come to the people of God through their own skill or power; but God Himself would bruise Satan. Though it would be under their feet, yet the bruising would be of the Lord alone.
Let us bravely tread upon the tempter! Not only inferior spirits but the prince of darkness himself must go down before us. In unquestioning confidence in God let us look for speedy victory. “Shortly.” Happy word! Shortly we shall set our foot on the old serpent! What a joy to crush evil! What dishonor to Satan to have his head bruised by human feet! Let us by faith in Jesus tread the tempter down.
Was Jesus pointing to Peter, establishing him as the first pope and the foundation of the church? Or was the rock the staggering truth of Peter’s confession: that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God? Matthew 16:18 sparks debates, with implications for who holds ultimate authority and what the true foundation of the church is, even challenging the Roman Catholic Church’s claims. We analyze the four leading interpretations—Peter, his confession, his faith, or Jesus Himself—by examining the Greek words petros and petra and seeing what the rest of Scripture says about the chief cornerstone. Stop guessing and see why the most biblically sound view involves a simple, powerful play on words that reveals the real foundation of Christ’s unbreakable church. In this video, pastor nelson answers your question: What did Jesus mean by “upon this rock I will build my church” in Matthew 16:18?
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. (2:8–9)
Our response in salvation is faith, but even that is not of ourselves [but is] the gift of God. Faith is nothing that we do in our own power or by our own resources. In the first place we do not have adequate power or resources. More than that, God would not want us to rely on them even if we had them. Otherwise salvation would be in part by our own works, and we would have some ground to boast in ourselves. Paul intends to emphasize that even faith is not from us apart from God’s giving it. Some have objected to this interpretation, saying that faith (pistis) is feminine, while that (touto) is neuter. That poses no problem, however, as long as it is understood that that does not refer precisely to the noun faith but to the act of believing. Further, this interpretation makes the best sense of the text, since if that refers to by grace you have been saved through faith (that is, to the whole statement), the adding of and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God would be redundant, because grace is defined as an unearned act of God. If salvation is of grace, it has to be an undeserved gift of God. Faith is presented as a gift from God in 2 Peter 1:1, Philippians 1:29, and Acts 3:16. The story is told of a man who came eagerly but very late to a revival meeting and found the workmen tearing down the tent in which the meetings had been held. Frantic at missing the evangelist, he decided to ask one of the workers what he could do to be saved. The workman, who was a Christian, replied, “You can’t do anything. It’s too late.” Horrified, the man said, “What do you mean? How can it be too late?” “The work has already been accomplished,” he was told. “There is nothing you need to do but believe it.” Every person lives by faith. When we open a can of food or drink a glass of water we trust that it is not contaminated. When we go across a bridge we trust it to support us. When we put our money in the bank we trust it will be safe. Life is a constant series of acts of faith. No human being, no matter how skeptical and self-reliant, could live a day without exercising faith. Church membership, baptism, confirmation, giving to charity, and being a good neighbor have no power to bring salvation. Nor does taking Communion, keeping the Ten Commandments, or living by the Sermon on the Mount. The only thing a person can do that will have any part in salvation is to exercise faith in what Jesus Christ has done for him. When we accept the finished work of Christ on our behalf, we act by the faith supplied by God’s grace. That is the supreme act of human faith, the act which, though it is ours, is primarily God’s—His gift to us out of His grace. When a person chokes or drowns and stops breathing, there is nothing he can do. If he ever breathes again it will be because someone else starts him breathing. A person who is spiritually dead cannot even make a decision of faith unless God first breathes into him the breath of spiritual life. Faith is simply breathing the breath that God’s grace supplies. Yet, the paradox is that we must exercise it and bear the responsibility if we do not (cf. John 5:40). Obviously, if it is true that salvation is all by God’s grace, it is therefore not as a result of works. Human effort has nothing to do with it (cf. Rom. 3:20; Gal. 2:16). And thus, no one should boast, as if he had any part. All boasting is eliminated in salvation (cf. Rom. 3:27; 4:5; 1 Cor. 1:31). Nevertheless, good works have an important place, as Paul is quick to affirm.
MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1986). Ephesians (pp. 60–61). Moody Press.
Saved by Grace Alone
Ephesians 2:8–9
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.
Our text is one of the best known passages in the Bible—and rightly so, for it contains the greatest message that any person can hear. It is probably one of the most widely memorized texts, along with John 3:16 and the Twenty-third Psalm. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” Ephesians 2:8–9 says the same thing theologically: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” The text has three parts. The first part tells how it is that God saves us: “It is by grace.” The second part speaks of the channel through which this grace of God comes to us: It is “through faith.” The last part, which is a contrast, tells how God does not save us, and it explains why: It is “not by works, so that no one can boast.”
All of Grace
A number of years ago one of my predecessors at Tenth Presbyterian Church, Donald Grey Barnhouse, published a small booklet on these verses in which he illustrated this teaching. He began by commenting on the difficulty of forming adequate definitions even of common things, like a chair, let alone theological concepts. Therefore, rather than give a theological definition of grace such as “God’s unmerited favor” or “the kindness and love of God toward sinful men and women,” he told this story. During the last century, in the worst slum district of London, there was a social worker whose name was Henry Moorehouse. One evening as he was walking along the street he saw a little girl come out of a basement store carrying a pitcher of milk. She was taking it home. But when she was a few yards from Moorehouse she suddenly slipped and fell. Her hands relaxed their grip on the pitcher and it fell on the sidewalk and broke. The milk ran into the gutter, and the little girl began to cry as if her little heart would break. Moorehouse quickly stepped up to see if she was hurt. He helped her to her feet, saying, “Don’t cry, little girl.” But there was no stopping her tears. She kept repeating, “My mommy’ll whip me; my mommy’ll whip me.” Moorehouse said, “No, little girl, your mother won’t whip you. I’ll see to that. Look, the pitcher isn’t broken in many pieces.” As he stooped down beside her, picked up the pieces, and began to work as if he were putting the pitcher back together, the little girl stopped crying. She had hope. She came from a family in which pitchers had been mended before. Maybe this stranger could repair the damage. She watched as Moorehouse fitted several of the pieces together until, working too roughly, he knocked it apart again. Once more she began to cry, and Moorehouse had to repeat, “Don’t cry, little girl. I promise you that your mother won’t whip you.” Once more they began the task of restoration, this time getting it all together except for the handle. Moorehouse gave it to the little girl, and she tried to attach it. But, naturally, all she did was knock it down again. This time there was no stopping her tears. She would not even look at the broken pieces lying on the sidewalk. Finally Moorehouse picked the little girl up in his arms, carried her down the street to a shop that sold crockery, and bought her a new pitcher. Then, still carrying her, he went back to where the girl had bought the milk and had the new pitcher filled. He asked her where she lived. When he was told, he carried her to the house, set her down on the step, and placed the full pitcher of milk in her hands. Then he opened the door for her. As she stepped in, he asked one more question, “Now, do you think your mother will whip you?” He was rewarded for his trouble by a bright smile as she said to him, “Oh, no, sir, because it’s a lot better pitcher than we had before.” Here is an illustration of the grace of God in salvation. The Bible teaches that men and women were created in the image of God. But when our first parents, Adam and Eve, sinned by disobeying God’s righteous law, that image was broken beyond repair. This does not mean that there is no value at all to human nature. Even a broken pitcher is not without value. Archaeologists use pieces of broken pottery to date civilizations uncovered by their digs. I have seen bits of pottery used as ashtrays or even some on which pictures have been printed. Broken pottery is not worthless. But it is worthless so far as carrying milk is concerned. In the same way, human nature in its broken state is useless for pleasing God or earning heaven. The Bible says, “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one” (Rom. 3:10–12). Yet men keep trying to please God by their character. Like Moorehouse in his first attempts to help the little girl, they keep trying to put the pieces of their broken righteousness back together. They cannot achieve God’s perfect standards of righteousness, but they see parts of their character that are good from their perspective, and they try to work with those. The result is a patchwork of shards, which God condemns. But here is where the grace of almighty God comes in. The Lord Jesus Christ came to this world, which was weeping in its failure and sin, and he became the means by which an utterly hopeless situation was transformed. There is nothing in the Bible to indicate that Jesus ever attempted to patch up fallen human nature. He did not come to assist us or reform us. He came to re-create us. He said, “You must be born again” (John 3:7). Instead of trying to piece together the broken pieces of our fallen nature, Jesus gives us a new nature: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Cor. 5:17). And to paraphrase the words of the little girl, “It’s a lot better nature than we had before.” It is nothing less than the nature of the holy and eternal God within his people. And it is all of grace. In Barnhouse’s story the little girl did not do anything to deserve Moorehouse’s favor. She did not pay for her new pitcher and milk. She did not hire Moorehouse’s services; she had nothing to hire him with. She did not even prevail upon his sympathies because she was pretty or miserable or homely or pathetic. Moorehouse did as he did solely because it pleased him to do it. He did not even expect a reward from the girl’s parents. Thus did Jesus come not “to call the righteous, but sinners” to repentance (Matt. 9:13). He died for us and saved us solely because of his good pleasure. The great nineteenth-century Baptist preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon wrote, “Because God is gracious, therefore sinful men are forgiven, converted, purified and saved. It is not because of anything in them, or that ever can be in them, that they are saved; but because of the boundless love, goodness, pity, compassion, mercy and grace of God.”
What is Faith?
“But just a minute!” someone says. “You have been speaking of the grace of God in salvation, and that is all very wonderful. I admit that I cannot put the pieces of my life back together. I cannot meet God’s standards of perfection. If I am to be saved, salvation must come graciously from God in Jesus Christ. But that is still remote, abstract. How does a salvation as great and free as that become mine personally?” The answer of Ephesians 2:8–9 is that it becomes ours “through faith.” Here, of course, we must dispense with the world’s common misunderstandings of faith. The most common misunderstanding is to think of faith as subjective feelings. Some years ago in a rather extended discussion about religion a young man told me that he was a Christian. As we talked, I discovered that he did not believe that Jesus Christ was fully divine. He said he was God’s Son, but only in the sense that we are all God’s sons. He did not believe in the resurrection. He did not believe that Jesus died for our sin or that the New Testament contains an accurate record of his life and ministry. He did not acknowledge Christ as Lord of his life. When I pointed out that these beliefs are involved in any true definition of a Christian, he answered that nevertheless he believed deep in his heart that he was a Christian. The thing he called faith was only a deeply held gut feeling. Another substitute for faith is credulity. Credulity is the attitude of a person who will accept something as true apart from evidence, simply because he or she earnestly wishes it to be true. Rumors of miraculous cures for some incurable disease sometimes encourage this attitude in many unfortunate people. This is faith of a sort, but it is not what the Bible means by faith. A third substitute is optimism. In this view faith is a positive mental attitude as a result of which the thing believed in is supposed to happen. An example would be a salesman who so intensely believes in his ability to sell that he actually becomes successful at it, or the congressman who believes that he can become President of the United States and does so by faith in himself (and hard work). Of course, there is some value in a positive mental attitude. A positive attitude to one’s work really will help one to do better at it. Faith in oneself really is self-fulfilling to a degree. Yet this is not faith in the biblical sense of the term. Norman Vincent Peale has made much of this outlook. He popularized it originally in a best-selling book called The Power of Positive Thinking. He taught that the Bible contained a technique for “spiritual power” that could make us successful. For him, the heart of the gospel was to be found in a few strong statements about faith in the New Testament, verses like “Everything is possible for him who believes” (Mark 9:23) and “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you” (Matt. 17:20–21). All we had to do, he said, was memorize these verses and allow them to sink down into our subconscious minds and transform us, and we would become believers in God and in ourselves. Then we would be able to do what we previously thought impossible. Peale concluded, “According to your faith in yourself, according to your faith in your job, according to your faith in your God, this far you will get and no further.” But here is the difficulty. Apparently, in Peale’s mind faith in oneself, faith in one’s job, and faith in God are essentially the same thing, and this really means that the object of faith is irrelevant. John R. W. Stott, who analyzes Peale’s outlook, says, “To Dr. Peale faith is really another word for self-confidence.” Against these distortions we must reply that real faith is not based upon a person’s individual attitudes and feelings. In the context of these human definitions, faith is unstable. In the context of biblical teaching, faith is reliable; for it is faith in the trustworthy God, who reveals himself reliably. Faith in the biblical sense actually has three elements, which I call: knowledge, heart response, and commitment. In Spurgeon’s work on grace, which I referred to earlier, the great Baptist preacher speaks of knowledge, belief, and trust, but the elements he is thinking of are essentially the same.
Knowledge. This must be first because it is impossible to believe in a thing unless we know what it is we are believing. In the biblical sense this knowledge is of the gospel. It is knowledge of the very things Paul has been writing about in Ephesians 2: that in our natural state we are all dead in transgressions and sins, that we are objects of God’s just wrath, but that God nevertheless has reached out to save us through the work of Jesus Christ—and that this is of grace. The work of Christ consists in his dying for sin in our place. Calvin wrote, “We shall possess a right definition of faith if we call it a firm and certain knowledge of God’s benevolence toward us, founded upon the truth of the freely given promise in Christ, both revealed to our minds and sealed upon our hearts through the Holy Spirit.”
Heart response. But faith is not mere intellectual assent to certain truths. It is also a response to such knowledge. Therefore, Calvin also says, “It now remains to pour into the heart what the mind has absorbed. For the Word of God is not received by faith if it flits about in the top of the brain, but when it takes root in the depth of the heart that it may be an invincible defense to withstand and drive off all the stratagems of temptation.”
Commitment. The final element is commitment or, as Spurgeon says, trust. It means casting yourself upon Christ, resting on his promises and accepting his finished work on your behalf. It is saying, as Thomas did, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). Marriage provides an illustration. A good marriage is the culmination of an extended process of learning about someone, responding to him or her, and then making a commitment. Courtship may be compared to faith’s first element: knowledge. It is a time for getting to know each other, for seeing whether the other person possesses those characteristics that will be good in the marriage. It is a very important step. If the other person is not of good character or cannot be trusted, there will be trouble later on. The second stage is comparable to the second element in faith: the movement of the heart. This corresponds to falling in love, which is quite obviously an important step beyond mere knowledge. Finally, there is the point of verbalized commitment contained in the marriage ceremony. At this point the couple promise to live together and love each other regardless of what their future circumstances might be. So also do we commit ourselves to Christ for this life and for eternity.
How God Does Not Save Us
There is one last idea in Ephesians 2:8–9. It tells how God does not save sinners: “not by works, so that no one can boast.” This makes “faith” something other than a work; for although faith is a channel by which the grace of God comes to us, it is not a deserving action or attitude on our part. In speaking on this text I have sometimes referred to the previous phrase in verse 8 (“and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God”) as referring to faith, teaching that even faith is God’s gift. This is probably not what Paul had in mind, because “faith” (pistis) is feminine, and “this” (touto) is neuter. The statements in verse 8 probably refer to the whole of the previous sentence, teaching that the salvation which is ours through faith is not of ourselves but rather is God’s gift. Still, although Paul is writing that “faith” is not from ourselves, the point is nevertheless valid in that we do not contribute to our salvation even in so vital a matter as the faith by which Christ’s work is received. If faith were a virtue, then we would be able to boast in heaven. We would be there because of the grace of God plus faith, and another would not be there because in his case faith was lacking. No, not even faith is a work. Nothing that you or I can do, however great or small, can get us into salvation. If we think there is, we are still trusting ourselves and our own ability rather than Christ, and we cannot be saved. Salvation is by grace alone. All we can do (but also must do) is take the pitcher God puts in our hand—and thank him because it is a lot better than anything we ever had before. Will you not do that? It is the way a person becomes a Christian and thus passes out of death into life. Say, as we do in the hymn,
Nothing in my hands I bring,
Simply to thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to thee for dress,
Helpless, look to thee for grace;
Foul, I to the Fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee.
Boice, J. M. (1988). Ephesians: an expositional commentary (pp. 63–68). Ministry Resources Library.
Democrats Demand GOP Betray Voters to Fund Government With government funding set to run out at midnight on September 30, Republicans and Democrats are nowhere near a deal, and a shutdown looks imminent. While Republicans have proposed and passed a clean continuing resolution (CR), Democrats have demanded that Republicans reverse all of their legislative victories from this year to keep the government open – effectively requiring that the GOP undo exactly what the American people voted for last year.
A rogue black hole is beaming energy from a nearby dwarf galaxy Traditionally, black holes are usually thought to “reside” at the centers of galaxies. However, a research team led by Dr. AN Tao from the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has discovered a wandering black hole in a dwarf galaxy located about 230 million light-years away (redshift z = 0.017). Unlike typical black holes, this one is not located at the galactic center, but rather, it is offset by nearly one kiloparsec and is launching radio jets. This off-nuclear, in-situ, accreting black hole with jets, found in a nearby dwarf galaxy, is one of the closest and most convincing cases confirmed thus far.
Democrats Press on with Shutdown Threats… Even the Media Isn’t Buying Their Obstruction Democrats are threatening to hold government funding hostage to score political points, ignoring the real-world consequences — barreling our country towards a government shutdown if Republicans don’t adhere to their roughly $1.5 trillion wish list. The American people want to keep their government open — and even the media isn’t buying Democrats’ political posturing.
Trump Says Ukraine Can Win Back All Territory As UN Warns Of Russian Torture (Worthy News In-Depth) Frustrated about Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, U.S. President Donald J. Trump warned Moscow on Tuesday that Ukraine would be able to “fight and win back” all the land it lost since the Russian invasion began in 2022. Russia has been fighting aimlessly for three and a half years a War that should have taken a Real Military Power less than a week to win,” Trump added on his Truth Social media platform.
Mysterious Object Screaming Toward Mars Is Huge and Far More Massive Than Scientists Thought, According to New Paper For over two months, astronomers have been closely following an interstellar object — dubbed 3I/ATLAS … Loeb has also pointed out that the object’s highly unusual trajectory brings it suspiciously close to Jupiter, Mars, and Venus. In just over a week from now, 3I/ATLAS will come within just 1.67 million miles of Mars’ orbit around the Sun, a “remarkable fine-tuning” of its path, the astronomer previously argued.
Heaviest rainfall in 93 years hits northern Israel Northern Israel received a record rainfall overnight Wednesday and Thursday morning, with over 100 mm (3.9 inches) of rain in the northern coastal town of Nahariya, which resulted in drainage problems and flooding in the area. The unprecedented rainfall broke Israel’s previous record of 95.7 mm (3.76 inches), set in Gush Etzion near Jerusalem in September 1932 – 93 years ago.
ChatGPT Is Blowing Up Marriages as Spouses Use AI to Attack Their Partners “Our son heard us arguing,” the husband told Futurism. “He’s 10, and he sent us a message from his phone saying, ‘please don’t get a divorce.’” What his wife did next, the man told us, unsettled him. “She took his message, and asked ChatGPT to respond,” he recounted. “This was her immediate reaction to our 10-year-old being concerned about us in that moment.” “We’ve had ups and downs like any relationship, and in 2023, we almost split. But we ended up reconciling, and we had, I thought, two very good years. Very close years.” “And then,” he sighed, “the whole ChatGPT thing happened.” “What was happening, unbeknownst to me at the time, was she was dredging up all of these things that we had previously worked on, and putting it into ChatGPT,” he said. As his wife leaned on the tech as a confidante-meets-journal-meets-therapist, he says, it started to serve as a sycophantic “feedback loop” that depicted him only as the villain.
Russia Exposes USA’s $37 Trillion Financial Reset Plan: Here’s How It Will Make You Poor A senior Russian presidential advisor, Anton Kobyakov, has suggested that the USA is planning a quiet but catastrophic escape route from its debt crisis, leaning on crypto, stablecoins, and gold. Currently $37.5 trillion in debt and paying $882 billion per year in interest alone, the US relies on financial engineering to keep the machine running. The reset suggested by Kobyakov would be the largest wealth transfer in history, with the asset-rich gaining extreme wealth while wage workers are plunged into poverty. Remember that this is not a US-specific problem. Stocks, bonds, commodities and trade are still mostly tied to the US dollar, affecting most of the world’s economy. The Road to Financial Control: Digital Currencies Are Coming. Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) are governments’ next idea to monitor how you live. The ability of the government to seize or “switch off” personal funds, and diverting people from traditional banking or physical cash, would cause an enormous revolt. Except in a crisis.
James Comey indicted on federal obstruction, perjury charges A federal grand jury indicted former FBI Director James Comey on Thursday, approving charges for a top foe of the White House just days after President Trump called for his prosecution. Comey was indicted on charges of making a false statement, as well as another for obstruction. “No one is above the law. Today’s indictment reflects this Department of Justice’s commitment to holding those who abuse positions of power accountable for misleading the American people. We will follow the facts in this case,” Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote on in a post on social platform X.
Hegseth calls military leaders to meet next week in sudden order “The Secretary of War will be addressing his senior military leaders early next week,” chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement to The Hill, offering no additional details. The Washington Post first reported that Hegseth earlier this week ordered hundreds of the U.S. military’s generals and admirals to gather on short notice and without a stated reason. The meeting is expected to take place on Tuesday at a Marine Corps base in Quantico, Va., according to the Post.
Report: Microsoft to block Unit 8200 Microsoft announced that it will block Israel’s Unit 8200 of the IDF Intelligence Corps from accessing its Azure cloud services and will conduct an external review of its military collaboration, according to The Guardian. The move follows an investigation revealing that Unit 8200 used Microsoft’s cloud to store, process, and analyze millions of phone calls from Palestinian Arabs in Judea and Samaria and the Gaza Strip. According to the report, since 2022, Unit 8200 had uploaded extensive databases of Palestinian Arab phone calls to Microsoft’s cloud, as part of a project approved during a meeting the previous year between the unit’s commander and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
Dozens of Houthi terrorists estimated dead in strikes on Yemen Dozens of Israel Air Force aircraft, directed by IDF intelligence, conducted strikes on Thursday against targets belonging to the Houthi regime’s security and intelligence establishments in the Sanaa area deep in Yemen. Among the targets struck were the Houthi General Staff Command Headquarters, compounds of the terrorist regime’s security and intelligence apparatus, the Houthis’ military public relations headquarters, and military camps where weapons and military operatives of the Houthi terrorist regime were identified in the Sanaa area. This was the 15th time the IDF struck targets in Yemen.
Strong and shallow M6.3 earthquake hits Venezuela few hours after M6.2 A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as 6.3 hit northern Venezuela on September 25. The agency is reporting a depth of 14 km (8.8 miles). This is the second strong earthquake to hit this area after a 6.2 on September 24.
At least 14 dead, 46 missing after Maitai’an Creek barrier lake overflow, Taiwan At least 14 people were killed and 46 remain missing after the Maitai’an Creek barrier lake overflowed in Hualien County, Taiwan, on September 23, 2025. The flood, triggered by extreme rainfall from former Typhoon Ragasa, released about 60 million tonnes of water downstream, inundating Guangfu Township and nearby areas.
What Is The Real Reason? Why Have Hundreds Of Generals And Admirals Suddenly Been Summoned For A Mysterious Meeting In Virginia? An “unprecedented” gathering of generals and admirals will be happening in Virginia next week, and the purpose of the meeting is a huge mystery. This has sparked a frenzy of speculation on social media, but we still aren’t getting any answers. Hopefully, we will get an explanation soon, because things are starting to get really weird. First, the “Department of Defense” was renamed the “Department of War,” and then President Trump boldly declared that Ukraine can win the war against Russia and take back all of the territory that the Russians have conquered. Of course, that wouldn’t be possible unless NATO forces got directly involved. So are we going to war soon? There are some that believe that this is the real reason why this mysterious gathering of generals and admirals has been scheduled for next week…”
Terror From Within: Oklahoma National Guardsman Arrested After Trying to Arm al-Qa’ida — Exposing Islam’s Grip on Our Military The Department of Justice has unsealed charges against Andrew Scott Hastings, 25, a former U.S. Army National Guard soldier who allegedly attempted to provide 3-D printed weapons and machine gun parts to al-Qa’ida. The arrest is being hailed by federal authorities as a major counterterrorism success — but it also raises urgent and troubling questions about the growing infiltration of radical Islamic ideology within the U.S. military itself.
Heckled, Spat At, And Physically Assaulted: Jewish Student Trip To Italy Showcases The Depth Of Antisemitism In Europe “Zionism equals terrorism,” the letters on the graffitied wall in downtown Rome boldly proclaimed. “All Zionists are bastards,” read another. Stickers of Palestinian flags and portrayals of Israeli soldiers holding flags dripping with blood are just a few examples of the antisemitic environment that a group of Jewish and pro-Israel students from across Canada stumbled upon as we entered the ancient city of Rome this past June. We had come to learn Jewish history in Italy and build meaningful bonds as students, planning our strategy for the upcoming year to fight antisemitism and stand up for Israel on our respective campuses.
No Matter What People Call It, The Land Never Was And Never Will Be ‘Palestine.’ Had Hitler not committed suicide in his bunker and survived the war, would he have been a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize? Of course not, so why in the world is Palestine being recognized as a state almost two years after the bloody murders of October 7, 2023, by Hamas, and with still hostages kept in Gaza? Are we rewarding terrorism, rape, murder, and hostage taking? By saying yes to the Palestinian Authority demanding full recognition, we absolutely are, and that is more problematic than people realize.
The WHO/UNICEF DTP vaccination programme throughout the developing world is a crime against humanity “WHO, under pressure from the Gates Foundation, uses DTP vaccination coverage rates to measure whether a country is meeting its vaccination goals (and is thus eligible for additional funding). Given that the DTP shot kills 5 times more kids than it saves, the WHO/UNICEF vaccine programme throughout the developing world is a crime against humanity that must be prosecuted by the International Criminal Court,” Dr. Toby Rogers wrote in 2022.
Russia Exposes USA’s $37 Trillion Financial Reset Plan: Here’s How It Will Make You Poor A senior Russian presidential advisor, Anton Kobyakov, has suggested that the USA is planning a quiet but catastrophic escape route from its debt crisis, leaning on crypto, stablecoins, and gold. Currently $37.5 trillion in debt and paying $882 billion per year in interest alone, the US relies on financial engineering to keep the machine running.
Holland: PEGIDA Leader Burns Quran at Migrant Center — Violent Riots Erupt, Islamization Exposed Edwin Wagensveld, the fearless leader of PEGIDA, once again risked his life and liberty to expose the growing Islamization of Europe. With court approval in hand, he carried out a Quran burning in front of a refugee shelter in Hoofddorp. The protest lasted less than ten minutes—yet it unleashed hours of violent rioting that proved his warnings correct.
At One Time Many Mocked The Idea That The Radical Left Wanted A Violent Internal Revolution In America, But Nobody Is Laughing Now Those that laughed when we warned about the violence that would be coming from the radical left owe us an apology. Even before the election, radical leftists all over social media were talking about the need for a violent “revolution” if Donald Trump won. Of course, once Trump was victorious that just pushed things into overdrive. It is so important to understand that Charlie Kirk’s assassination did not happen in a vacuum. ICE facilities and ICE personnel have been getting attacked all over the nation for months. Earlier this year, Teslas and Tesla dealerships were the trendy targets. And as you will see below, corporate CEOs are now being targeted at a level that we have never seen before. There are tens of millions of radical leftists in this country, and a lot of them are openly embracing violence. At this stage, everyone should be able to see that this is a very serious threat.
“Nothing deserves the name of law but that which is certain and universal in its operation upon all the members of the community.” —Benjamin Rush (1788)
GDP numbers: The U.S. economy grew in the second quarter by 3.8%, much stronger than the Commerce Department’s original estimate of 3.3%. Consumer spending has remained strong despite recent lower-than-anticipated jobs numbers and an increase in the unemployment rate. Priscilla Thiagamoorthy, senior economist at BMO, observed, “Today’s run of data suggest that the economy — which strongly rebounded after the pandemic recession — continues to hold up well, even as we anticipate some slowdown ahead.” The stronger-than-expected economy has some wondering if the Federal Reserve will reconsider its plan to further cut interest rates at its subsequent meetings.
TikTok EO: On Thursday, Donald Trump signed an executive order paving the way for the popular social media platform TikTok to become “American-operated all the way.” Trump has repeatedly paused congressionally mandated action against the Chinese-owned company, which required either the banning of TikTok in the U.S. or China fully divesting ownership to an American-owned company. Over recent months, the Trump administration has been negotiating a trade deal with Beijing, and it appears that the sale of TikTok is part of it. “I have great respect for President Xi, and I very much appreciate that he approved the deal because to get it done properly, we really needed the support of China and the approval of China,” Trump explained. TikTok is valued at roughly $14 billion.
Anti-ICE ambusher used app promoted by CNN: The man who attempted to kill ICE agents and did kill a detainee on Wednesday used an ICE-tracking app publicized by CNN. The ICEblock app is meant to crowdsource the location of ICE agents to enable illegals to evade law enforcement. That in itself is cause for concern, but now the app has been used for a more nefarious purpose: hunting ICE agents. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt blasted CNN for what she called “free publicity” for the app. The app is still available on the Apple and Google stores, and neither company has responded to questions about whether they will remove the app after this incident.
The UN continues to be useless: President Trump attended a summit of world leaders at the UN General Assembly in Manhattan, New York, and faced crippling disruptions. First, the escalator stopped abruptly, which could have caused a fall. This occurred after The Times of London reported that UN staff members were joking about turning off the escalators. Then his teleprompter failed to display his speech for the first 15 minutes of his time on stage, forcing him to speak off-the-cuff. Finally, the sound in the auditorium stayed off, rendering his speech inaudible to most of the attendees. Trump has said this was deliberate triple sabotage by the UN. If so, Americans may begin asking themselves why the UN is granted prime real estate in America’s greatest city or why the UN continues to exist at all.
Trump orders dismantling of violence-inciting left-wing groups: Donald Trump signed an executive order on Thursday that aims to dismantle antifa and similar left-wing groups inciting political violence. The Justice and Treasury Departments will be working in concert with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force to seize funding for these groups. Trump suggested that certain wealthy people were responsible for the financing, but he did not blame specific individuals. He added that George Soros “is a name I keep hearing,” and “maybe I hear about a guy named Reid Hoffman.” While Soros and Hoffman are both well known for their donations to leftist causes, they have denied any wrongdoing.
RFK Jr. announces review of abortion drug: HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary recently sent a letter to 22 Republican attorneys general telling them of an FDA review of the “real-world outcomes and evidence, relating to the safety and efficacy” of the abortion drug mifepristone. Under the Biden administration, the FDA significantly eased access restrictions on the drug, effectively allowing women to obtain it by mail without a doctor’s visit. This was a deliberate effort to get around abortion-limiting laws in a number of Republican states. What troubles RFK Jr., who is not personally opposed to abortion, is the “potential dangers” connected to the use of the drug “without sufficient medical support or supervision.” As Kennedy and Makary explained in their letter, “This administration will ensure that women’s health is properly protected by thoroughly investigating the circumstances under which mifepristone can be safely dispensed.”
Voddie Baucham passes away: Servant of Christ Voddie Baucham, a prominent Southern Baptist Convention pastor-turned-dean of a seminary in Zambia, has gone to be with his Savior at age 56. Baucham had ventured into the culture wars in recent years with his book Fault Lines, which pushed back against woke racial ideology in churches. Yesterday, an emergency medical incident claimed Baucham’s life. He had previously undergone treatment for heart failure in 2021. Of his own death, Baucham had said, “You are going to hear a rumor one day that Voddie Baucham is no more. Don’t you believe it … because though I die, I will rise with Christ.”
NJ gubernatorial race is now a toss-up: Democrats are getting nervous in the blue state of New Jersey, as recent polling numbers show that the gubernatorial race between Republican Jack Ciattarelli and Democrat Mikie Sherrill is in a dead heat. According to an Emerson College survey released yesterday, both Ciattarelli and Sherrill are polling at 43%, with 11% undecided. Just a month ago, Sherrill was a shoo-in, but she’s been weighed down by a raft of bad news and the recent revelation that she was barred from walking in her 1994 U.S. Naval Academy graduation due to a cheating scandal. Digging into the poll holds even more concern for Sherrill. She is polling 14 points ahead of Ciattarelli with voters under 50, but she’s losing voters 50 and older by 16 points. Should Ciattarelli beat Sherrill in November, it will serve as an ominous warning to Democrats for next year’s midterms.
Headlines
With straight face, Democrat warns Republicans his party may indict political enemies if liberals regain power (Not the Bee)
Trump directs the enforcement of death penalty laws in Washington, DC (Whitehouse.gov)
Zelensky says he’ll end Ukraine presidency once war with Russia is over (Newsweek)
Former FBI Director James Comey has been indicted by a federal grand jury for making false statements within the jurisdiction of the legislative branch and obstruction of a congressional proceeding. He turned himself in this morning, and he faces arraignment on October 9. For a guy who tried to torpedo Donald Trump’s first term as president with Crossfire Hurricane and then likely lied to Congress, it’s about time.
“No one is above the law,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. “Today’s indictment reflects this Department of Justice’s commitment to holding those who abuse positions of power accountable for misleading the American people.”
“For far too long, previous corrupt leadership and their enablers weaponized federal law enforcement, damaging once proud institutions and severely eroding public trust,” added current FBI Director Kash Patel. “Nowhere was this politicization of law enforcement more blatant than during the Russiagate hoax, a disgraceful chapter in history we continue to investigate and expose.”
President Donald Trump, who fired Comey in May 2017, took to Truth Social to gloat:
JUSTICE IN AMERICA! One of the worst human beings this Country has ever been exposed to is James Comey, the former Corrupt Head of the FBI. Today he was indicted by a Grand Jury on two felony counts for various illegal and unlawful acts. He has been so bad for our Country, for so long, and is now at the beginning of being held responsible for his crimes against our Nation. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
Specifically, Comey allegedly violated 18 USC 1505 by obstructing Congress’s probe into the wrongful disclosure of information, as well as making a false statement to Congress regarding authorization of an anonymous FBI source. The latter occurred during an exchange with Senator Ted Cruz in Comey’s testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 30, 2020.
Here’s Cruz’s question:
On May 3rd, 2017, in this committee, Chairman [Chuck] Grassley asked you point blank, “Have you ever been an anonymous source in news reports about matters relating to the Trump investigation or the Clinton investigation?” You responded under oath, “Never.”
He then asked you, “Have you ever authorized someone else at the FBI to be an anonymous source in news reports about the Trump investigation or the Clinton administration?” You responded again under oath, “No.”
Those answers, Cruz noted, are at odds with statements made by former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, whom Cruz said “publicly and repeatedly stated that he leaked information to the Wall Street Journal and that you were directly aware of it and that you directly authorized it. Who’s telling the truth?”
Comey replied, “I stand by the testimony you summarized that I gave in May of 2017.”
According to the indictment, “That statement was false, because, as JAMES B. COMEY JR. then and there knew, he in fact had authorized PERSON 3 to serve as an anonymous source in news reports regarding an FBI investigation concerning PERSON 1” (a.k.a. Hillary Clinton).
As always, Comey was defiant in response to the indictment. In an Instagram video, he said, “My family and I have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump, but we couldn’t imagine ourselves living any other way. We will not live on our knees, and you shouldn’t either.”
He added, “My heart is broken for the Department of Justice, but I have great confidence in the federal judicial system, and I’m innocent. So let’s have a trial and keep the faith.”
You know who was not innocent? Hillary Clinton, who knowingly and deliberately violated federal law with her closet email server, followed by obstruction of justice in “wiping it with a cloth or something.”
So, you’ll forgive me if I don’t trust Comey’s judgment on who’s innocent and who’s guilty. (I don’t trust his judgment about what to post on social media, either.) Likewise, Special Counsel John Durham had a thing or two to say about the FBI’s lack of judgment.
Comey faces up to five years in prison if convicted, but let’s be real — this case won’t end in his conviction.
Why do I say that? Well, the Washington Examiner reports, “U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff, a former President Joe Biden appointee, has been assigned to former FBI Director James Comey’s case.”
Oh.
As for the Democrats complaining about Trump being vindictive and seeking retribution, maybe they’re right. He does beat them at their own game. But he makes no bones about the fact that they started it with their disgraceful impeachments and lawfare. If they don’t like the game, well, they made the rules.
Emmy Griffin: Harris Stumbles Out of the Gate on Book Tour — The former vice president reminds us that she is not only bad at communicating but also has nothing to say that’s worth hearing.
Thomas Gallatin: Leftmedia Lie: Conservatives Aim to ‘Exterminate Trans People’ — The Left can’t give up its efforts to falsely smear Republicans as “fascist” “haters,” but it is leftists who are most prone to violence against conservatives over ideas.
Douglas Andrews: A Damning J6 After-Action Report — There were 274 plainclothes FBI agents on site at the Capitol on January 6, and many of them weren’t the least bit happy about it.
Brian Mark Weber: Trump’s Strategy Against Venezuela — “The criminal regime of indicted drug trafficker Nicolás Maduro leads one of the largest cocaine trafficking networks in the world, and the United States will continue to seek … justice.”
Ron Helle: All Things — God has infused in our souls the desire and power to serve Him. That tells me I have “all things that pertain to life and godliness.”
BlueAnon Devastated as FBI Debunks Insane Conspiracy — The shooter who attacked the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Dallas was targeting ICE agents, federal officials said at a news conference.
Charlie Kirk’s Death Sparked a Student Uprising — Students across the country are rising up and pushing back against woke indoctrination on campuses. Let’s take a closer look at how high schools and colleges are changing for the better.
When Gaming Culture Crosses Into Reality — Thomas, Sterling, Andrew, and special guest Jordan Leithart explore the deep connections between gaming, online communities, and the cultural forces spilling into our society today.
What About Jimmy Kimmel? — Don’t you hate it when people use your face to create a scam that defrauds thousands of people? And what about this whole Jimmy Kimmel thing?
“I’m not president right now. There’s nothing I can do about it.” —Kamala Harris responding to a heckler on her book tour
“I can’t stand JD Vance. … He could literally, like, rescue my cat out of a burning building and I would still hate JD Vance.” —Joy Reid
Demagogue
“I don’t know what’s happened [in Dallas], and I don’t know about the guns, but we need better laws on guns.” —Senate Democrat Leader Chuck Schumer
Grim Reality
“We’re not shooting people. The Left is shooting people, and they’re being inspired by people.” —Ben Ferguson dispelling leftist “both sides” rhetoric on CNN
“The Right is a lot tougher than the Left, but the Right’s not doing this. They’re not doing it, and they better not get them energized, because it won’t be good for the Left. And I don’t want to see that happen either. I’m the president of all the people. … Radical-left Democrats are causing this problem.” —Donald Trump
“Leftist haters and unstable people, who are constantly being told they must ‘fight the fascists threatening our democracy,’ are predictably committing violent attacks.” —Gary Bauer
“There has been no respite, no collective impulse to pause and reflect, no bipartisan efforts to eliminate dangerous and hyperbolic accusations, no unified calls for behavior we once agreed reflected basic human decency. Brace yourselves. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.” —Laura Hollis
“While Kimmel is coming back, ponder this: If ABC decided to part ways, Kimmel could always find another job. Charlie Kirk’s daughter and son will never be able to find another father.” —Christine Flowers
“I don’t think [the Democrats] could turn it off now… I think they have unleashed this long enough on the American people that we’re going to have to continue to suffer through what are just waves of domestic terrorism.” —Buck Sexton
For the Record
“Democrats are about to shutdown the government because they demand we fund healthcare for illegal aliens.” —JD Vance
“[Kamala Harris] judges [Pete Buttigieg] on his identity, his sexuality. Let’s look and see whether he did a good job. Let’s look on merit, and I can tell you, on merit, he’s a failure, and on merit, she’s a failure.” —Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
“Want free college for everyone? Lower standards, worse educational quality and fewer resources for students who need them most. Want universal health care overnight? Rationed care, longer wait times, worse services and fewer health care breakthroughs.” —Armstrong Williams
ON THIS DAY in 1950, American-led UN troops reclaimed Seoul, South Korea, from the invading North Korean communists.
Please join us in prayer for our nation — that righteous leaders would rise and prevail and we would be united as Americans. Pray for the protection of our uniformed Military Patriots, Veterans, First Responders, and their families. Lift up your Patriot Post team and our mission to support and defend our legacy of American Liberty and our Republic’s Founding Principles, in order that the fires of freedom would be ignited in the hearts and minds of our countrymen.
The controversy over whether or not Israel should annex key lands in Biblical Judea and Samaria, in the area known in the West Bank- President Trump says he won’t let it happen, but some in Israel say they should go ahead with the move anyway; that comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives in New York to address the United Nations, and Israel launches a campaign to point out the war began with the deadly Hamas attacks on October 7th; Israel keeps up its strikes on Hamas in Gaza City, hitting an estimated 200 targets a day; Chris Mitchell talks about the reaction in Israel to Trump’s statement about not letting Israel annex the West Bank, the importance of Judea and Samaria in the Bible and to the Israeli people, the Israeli response to a reported plan for walkout on Netanyahu’s speech at the UN, how Hamas is using the UN General Assembly this week for a propaganda victory, the concerns about the security of Israel if there’s a Palestinian state next door, and more; President Trump shows support for Ukraine, now saying it can take back the land it’s lost to Russia; and our Studio 5 look at the new film, “Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie,” based on the long-running animated TV series, including interviews with stars Laila Lockhart Kraner and Gloria Estefan.
Today’s edition of Stand Up for the Truth with guest John Haller focuses largely on the global eyes that are perpetually on Israel. Each week brings more Middle East mayhem, and a lot of it is lost on the US because it’s not getting reported. We talk about the danger that Syria has become, the UN and their duplicity, always, when it comes to Israel; the Palestinian state that does and doesn’t exist all at the same time; and how any nation can jump on this delusion is mystifying. We dive into the Judea and Samaria dilemma and Trump’s take on that; we discuss the 21-point plan floated by Trump and what that might contain. Also on our list is Qatar’s double trouble, technology and so much more. John Haller is an in-demand speaker, pastor and has an agile mind that is capable of storing more information than many of us would ever hope to have, and in these times, that is a gift.
Israeli PM Netanyahu says intelligence forces wired his UN speech straight into Gaza — broadcasting over loudspeakers and onto Gazans’ phones — as he delivers a warning to Hamas and a message to hostages:
“Our brave heroes, this is Prime Minister Netanyahu speaking to you live from the United Nations. We have not forgotten you, not even for a second.”
“We will not rest until we bring all of you home.”
“Free the hostages now! If you do, you will live. If you don’t, Israel will hunt you down.”
“Nearly 90% of Palestinians supported the act of October 7. They celebrated. They danced on the rooftops. They handed out candies in Gaza and in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank). It’s the same way they celebrated another horror: 9/11.”
INN: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the United Nations General Assembly, opened his speech with the threats facing the world from Iran, especially Israel. Israel was rapidly developing a missile program, intended to destroy Israel, the US and blackmail nations everywhere. Sinwar sent terrorists to invade Israel and commit atrocities, while thousands of missiles were fired at our country. In Yemen Houthies fired missiles.”
“So what’s happened since last year, we have mostly overcome all those threats – Houthis, Hezbollah and thousands of terrorists were killed, mainly we devastated Iran’s nuclear program.”
“So here’s where things stand today. Half the Houthis leadership gone. Hezbollah, gone. Millitias in Iraq, gone. Iran’s top military commanders, gone too.”
“Israel’s 12 day war with Iran has gone down in history. Between Israel’s and US’ pilot, we have taken Iran down. I would like to thank President Trump for our cooperation on this. We made a promise, and delivered on this promise. We lifted a dark cloud that risked millions and millions of lives. But we must not allow Iran to rebuild it capabilities.”
“Thanks to the resolve of our people, the resolve of our soldiers, Israel experienced one of the most stunning comebacks in history. But we’re not done yet. The final remnants of Hamas still hide in Gaza City and vow to repeat October 7th, which much of the world does not remember. But we remember that day!”
“On October 7th Hamas carried out the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust, including US citizens. They beheaded men, burned babies alive in front of their parents. They took hostages, which include grandparents and grandchildren, brothers – deprived of daylight, deprived of humanity.”
Netanyahu spoke directly to the hostages, through mega loudspeakers that were placed on the outskirts of Gaza, “Our brave heroes, this is PM Netanyahu, speaking from the UN. We have not forgotten you. We will not rest until we have brought all of you home.”
“I call on Hamas, ‘lay down your weapons. Free the hostages now. If you do, you will live. If you don’t Israel will hunt you down.”
“If Hamas puts down their weapons and releases the hostages, the war will be over now. The war in Gaza has affected every Israeli. I am sure that people around the world are wondering what this has got to do with them – it has got to do with each and everyone of you.”
“My point is that our enemies hate all of us, with equal venom. I think that all of you know that Israel is fighting your fight. So I’ll tell you a secret – all of the leaders who publicly condemn us, privately thank us for saving countless lives.”
“Chancellor of Germany admitted that Israel is doing the dirty work of all of us. Regrettably many leaders who are represented in this hall send a different message. Many supported Israel in the past, but things have changed. And that is that we fought back. Imagine a terrorist regime that invades the US, murders tens of thousands of American citizens and takes thousands hostage. Would the US sit back and accept this? Never. We are doing what every self-respecting government would do.”
“Many world leaders have buckled under the pressure of political pressure, media pressure and more. The saying says that ‘when the going gets tough, the tough gets going.’ And that is what Israel is doing. As we fight the terrorists who murdered many of your citizens, you wage war against us. This is not an indictment of Israel; this is an indictment of you. When will you learn that you have to stand with Israel, but that is not what you are doing. You have turned good into evil, and evil into good.”
“It has been proven that Israel is taking extreme measures to prevent civilian casualties, more than any other country, especially considering the density of the Gaza population. We have repeatedly warned Gaza civilians to leave areas before Israel attacks, but Hamas has threatened them, some at gun point, not to leave. Hamas uses civilians as human shields.”
“Would a country committing genocide plead with a population to get out of harm’s way? Did the Nazis ask the Jews to leave before they annihilated them? Of course not. So the truth has been turned on its head. Hamas’ charter calls for the murder of all Jews on the planet, while Israel does the opposite, and we are put in the dark.”
“Israel is accused of deliberately starving the population of Gaza, but we have sent tons of food to Gaza, enough for each citizen. The reason that they are not getting the food is that Hamas has been looting it – 85% of the trucks. That is why there is deprivation.”
“In recent months Jews have been assaulted in many countries around the world. An elderly Holocaust survivor was burned here in the US, a young Jewish couple was gunned down outside the Holocaust museum. Instead of condemning these acts, many give them rewards – recognizing a Palestinian state. Nearly 90% of Palestinians supported the October 7th attack, they celebrated, they threw candies, just the way they celebrated another horror – 9/11. And the message they get is ‘murdering Jews pays off.’”
“So I have a message – when you support their actions – this is a mark of shame on all of you. You support a Palestinian state next to Israel, but the problem is that they don’t agree with that – they want a Palestinian state instead of Israel. Every time they were offered a state, they only attacked us again.”
“I don’t understand how the world does not see this, even though it is repeated again and again. You should know that the Palestinian Authority pays terrorists to slay Jews – it names its public buildings, its schools after the mass murderers of both Jews and Christians.”
“Many world leaders say that the PA promised it would reform, but we have heard these promises for decades. They use the same text books as Hamas, they teach their children to murder Jews. When Bethlehem was under Israeli control 80% were Christians, a number that has dwindled to 20%. Giving the Palestinians a state one mile from Jerusalem is like giving Al Kaeda a state one mile from Washington.”
“We will not allow the establishment of a terrorist state just because you don’t have the guts to recognize this situation. I say, on behalf of myself and all the residents of the State of Israel, that over 90% voted against a Palestinian state.”
“Western leaders may have buckled under the pressure, but Israel won’t. Israel’s victories over the terror axis, have opened opportunities in the area. We have opened negotiations with Syria that we believe will protect minorities in the region.”
“Peace between Israel and Lebanon is possible as well. I call on the leadership of Lebanon to disarm Hezbollah and I am sure that we can achieve a sustainable peace. But until that happens we will take whatever measures are needed to protect ourselves. I’m sure that if the Lebanese government persists in this goal, peace will come between the two countries.”
“Forward looking Arabs and leaders know that cooperation with Israel will lead to many good outcomes, in medicine, agriculture, and more. Many of those who waged war on Israel today, will be gone tomorrow. The long suffering Iranian people will once again be great and we will restore a friendship that will benefit the entire world.”
“The horrors that happened on one dark day, October 7th, has happened many times over the generations, but then we had to beg others to defend us. Now Israel is fighting back itself. Our sons and daughters fought like lions, fulfilling the dream of generations who came before them; the dream of having an army to defend us.”
“Today the resolve of Israel burns brighter than before, leading to prosperity and peace.”
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