Author: Hank

Welcome to Hank’s Place —  

The true gospel sets a person free. The true gospel imparts righteousness, peace and joy from the Holy Spirit. But what if the gospel you’ve heard is a mixture of old and new news? Such a gospel may look like the real gospel but because it includes the old — it doesn’t actually work. Many Christians have been sold this gospel mixture. Maybe you?

This gospel of New + Old, or grace + rules, will soon burden a person with doubts, debts, duties, and depression, no matter how sweet it sounded at the start.

A mixture gospel comes with a price tag. A price WE have to pay for something God has chosen to freely give. It subtly says God won’t accept you, or bless you, heal you, prosper you or whatever unless YOU FIRST do something for Him.

We have a perfect example of how this works. It’s found in the Epistle to the Galatians. They had been walking in the grace of God. Dancing in newness of life and freedom from condemnation. Then folks from Jerusalem came and sought to add the requirements of the Old Testament Law to the Galatian’s gospel. Paul in Galatians 3:1-3 wrote: “What has happened to you foolish Galatians? Who has put you under an evil spell? Did God not open your eyes to see the meaning of Jesus’ crucifixion? Was He not revealed to you as the crucified one? So answer me this: Did the Holy Spirit come to you as a reward for keeping Jewish laws? No, you received him as a GIFT because you believed in the Messiah. Your new life began when the Holy Spirit gave you a new birth. Why then would you so foolishly turn from living in the Spirit by trying to finish by your own works?”

And verse 5, “What does the lavish supply of the Holy Spirit in your life and the miracles of God’s tremendous power have to do with you keeping religious laws? The Holy Spirit is poured out upon us through the revelation and power of faith!”

Wow! How about you? Today it might not be Old Covenant rules but rules for holy righteous living by your church, church leaders or denomination. Are you working hard to stay saved or gain approval from God? Have others diverted your attention to things like responsibility, good works, missions, self control, sowing, investing, creating a legacy? These things are not inherently wrong, but it is a lie that says God’s favor depends on your doing any of them. Living this way is not living at all; it is suffering under a dark cloud of not measuring up.

My friend, Jesus met ALL of God’s demands. For us. We measure up in Him. Flee from rule-based preaching and dead works. Embrace the true gospel message from Calvary.

You’ll COME ALIVE!

NEW BLOG NOTIFICATION

Be notified when a new blog posts

Thanks for joining Hank's Place!

Name

Email*

Welcome to Hank’s Place —

In the past two episodes I have been sharing with you that believers have been forgiven by God. At the Cross. But what about unbelievers? In the grace of God, Jesus bore the sins of the entire world to the Cross. All sin was judged at the Cross. Does that mean unbelievers have a ticket to heaven? Not at all.

God has dealt with all sins whether we believe it or not. But if a person doesn’t believe it then His forgiveness will be of no benefit. The grace of God has to be RECEIVED to be effective. Jesus died and rose to become the Savior of the entire world. But a person must BELIEVE and RECEIVE Him in order to be saved, right?

This is why we need to RECEIVE the gift of forgiveness although we are already forgiven. When we RECEIVE the grace of God it will change us. Remember the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32? The prodigal was forgiven long before he came to his senses in that far off land. His father it says, was watching for him daily, then ran to him when he saw him at a distance. A pretty clear indication of forgiveness on the father’s part.

As for the prodigal: first we see him living his dead life — then awakening to reality and determining he would return home and say to his father, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.” He considered himself unworthy and unforgiven of his sins. But the father had the servants dress him in the best robe, give him a ring of authority, and sandals placed upon his feet. The father said, “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.”

WE once were dead in our sins, unworthy of the kingdom. But Jesus changed all that and forgiveness is ours. But let me ask you, have you RECEIVED His forgiveness? Are you still living under a dark cloud? Maybe you have been hoping that when you get to heaven you will hear those words, “well done, good and faithful servant.” Like the prodigal who did not believe he could be forgiven. I know pastors who are living in hope of this verse. How much better to RECEIVE His forgiveness — and expect to hear, “Welcome home son — welcome home daughter.”

The moment we put our trust in Christ and his finished work, his forgiveness, which was there all the time, becomes real to us. In him we have the forgiveness of sins. Ephesians 1:7. We cannot be in Christ and be unforgiven. Believe it today my friend.

Receive it today son, daughter, of the Living God, and COME ALIVE!

NEW BLOG NOTIFICATION

Be notified when a new blog posts

Thanks for joining Hank's Place!

Name

Email*

Welcome to Hank’s Place —

Last message I stated that believers’ sins were forgiven at the Cross. All our sins, for all time. This was God’s choice, His doing, for His glory, and it is done. And unlike under the Old Covenant, there are no conditions for us to fulfill.

Not sure? Consider what Jesus said in Luke 24:46-47; “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance AND forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”

Before the cross, repentance FOR forgiveness was required. Repentance for forgiveness was what John the Baptist preached. Forgiveness conditional on our turning from sin. AFTER the Cross, all glory to Jesus, God has chosen to forgive. If you need further supporting verses, check out Jesus’ words at the Last Supper in Matthew 26:28, and Hebrews 9:26b which both speak of Jesus doing away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself. At Calvary forgiveness became a free gift, paid for by the blood of the Lamb.

There’s more in Acts chapter 5. There the high priest calls the Sanhedrin together. In jealousy they toss the apostles into prison. An angel sets them free and off they go, preaching Jesus. They are brought back before the Sanhedrin who forbid the apostles from teaching in Jesus’ name. Peter states they must obey God rather than man, then says in verse 31: “God exalted him [Jesus] to His own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance AND forgiveness of sins to Israel.”

Dr Paul Ellis in his book “The Gospel in Ten Words,” available on Amazon, notes: (quote) “When they heard these words, the old men of the Sanhedrin were furious. Unconditional forgiveness and risen Saviors had no place in their theology. Their religion was based on doing things FOR God, not on God DOING THINGS FOR them. To the religious mind, grace sounds like blasphemy. The old men had the apostles flogged and ordered them not to preach Jesus.

Of course the apostles ignored this and years later, when Paul joined their ranks, he too began to preach the new message of unconditional forgiveness: “I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you.” Acts 13:38. No hooks, no “turn from sin you brood of vipers.” Just good news, delivered pure and straight.” (unquote)

So, how’s your religion dear friend? Is it based on doing things for God — or humbly receiving from God what He died to give you?

Try receiving from God — you’ll COME ALIVE!

NEW BLOG NOTIFICATION

Be notified when a new blog posts

Thanks for joining Hank's Place!

Name

Email*

Welcome to Hank’s Place —  

Listen to this verse — 1 John 2:12, “I write to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.” Believe in Jesus? Then your sins have been forgiven — and the reason we are forgiven — is found in God.

Surely there must be qualifiers if we read that verse in context, right? Like “…if we confess our sins…” or something? Read the entire chapter; you’ll not find a condition we have to fulfill. The chapter begins saying if we should sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus, whose blood covers and cleanses us from all unrighteousness.

As Psalm 103:12 prophetically states, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” — speaking of what would happen at the Cross.

So, do not let the devil torment you with questions like, “Am I really forgiven? What if I sin and don’t repent? What if I backslide?” God has forgiven us completely and for all time. That just sounds too good to be true, right? There must be a price to pay. Yes – and Jesus paid it.

Forgiveness is now a gift. It is something we receive, not something we earn by doing certain things.

But didn’t Jesus say in Matthew 6:15, “If you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.” Yes. He was speaking BEFORE the Cross, when the Old Covenant was still in effect, when God’s forgiveness was linked to our own.

Jesus went to the Cross under the Law, taking all our sins to that Cross. And what did He say upon that Cross? “Father FORGIVE them for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34. Jesus said he came to fulfill the law and on the cross he did exactly that. He forgave those who had sinned against him. The very condition for forgiveness that Jesus preached in the Sermon on the Mount, he himself satisfied on the cross. In fulfilling the Law Christ has become the end of the law for all who trust in Him. Romans 10:4.

It is NO LONGER TRUE that God won’t forgive you if you are harboring unforgiveness in your heart because God’s forgiveness is no longer conditional upon our performance. God has already forgiven you, thanks to Jesus and Calvary.

If you ARE harboring unforgiveness, I suggest you walk by the Spirit; let the fruit of the Spirit grow within you. It’s a much better way to live.

OK. Before the cross we find conditional forgiveness. AFTER the cross we find we have been forgiven. I’ve put a few scripture references in the written description of this episode for you.

Read them and rejoice for it time to toss off that condemnation and COME ALIVE!

NEW BLOG NOTIFICATION

Be notified when a new blog posts

Thanks for joining Hank's Place!

Name

Email*

Welcome to Hank’s Place — 

Many Christians camp out on 1 John 1:9. You know, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Why are they camping there? Likely they have been listening to words of condemnation – such as, ‘you haven’t done enough,’ ‘you should have said blah blah,’ ‘you gave a poor Christian witness,’ and so on. So they keep on confessing and confessing. And confessing. Maybe that’s you?

Listen! God does not forgive us because we are good, and got things ‘right,’ but because HE is good. HE is the faithful and righteous One who loved us WHILE we were sinners and sent His Son to save us. Forgiveness is not something we earn through confession — but a gift to receive — and in Christ we have that forgiveness.

In Him, we are completely and eternally forgiven according to the riches of His grace. The popular theological concept of ‘being positionally forgiven but needing relational forgiveness’ for we broke fellowship with God thru sin is to me simply man’s graceless thinking that is missing the incredible love of God.

Listen! God does not withdraw fellowship, relationship, from us if we sin. Believers are in Christ Jesus eternally. Just look at the very first sin for insight. When Adam and Eve sinned, what happened? God went walking in the cool of the evening, calling to Adam, “Where are you?” Genesis 3:8-9. Far from separating from Adam and Eve, God went looking for them! Think about it.

And what of Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep in Matthew 18:12–13. The good shepherd WENT LOOKING for the wandering sheep! Think about it.

Then examine the context in which 1 John 1:9 is found. John opens his letter speaking of the wonderful relationship, fellowship, with the Father and Risen Christ. He says he is writing, quote, “so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.” Sounds like the opening is to unbelievers.

John is writing to a church, and like all churches, believers, unbelievers, pretend believers, believer wanna be’s and so on are present.

So John explains, God is light, so if we claim to experience a shared life with Him (being born again) but walk in darkness, we are liars. If such people claim they are free from sin, or have never sinned, they are fooling themselves. They need to confess, to agree with God, that they have sinned, and receive God’s forgiveness!

If a believer should sin, the Holy Spirit will let them know. If it’s us, we can humbly thank God that we have His forgiveness through Jesus’ blood and not receive the devil’s condemnation.

Yes, dear friend it’s time to silence those demonic accusations. Stop listening to those ‘measuring up’ voices — and COME ALIVE!

NEW BLOG NOTIFICATION

Be notified when a new blog posts

Thanks for joining Hank's Place!

Name

Email*

Welcome to Hank’s Place —  

Are you living an unhappy Christian life of trying to die to self? Struggling to deny your appetites, desires, and dreams? Believing the more you deny your needs and wants, the holier, the closer to God that you will be?

Well, stop it. That message of self-denial is nothing more than the ancient practice of asceticism concealed in religious jargon. Abstaining from food, or fun, or future, won’t make you righteous and holy. Colossians 2:21-23. But it will make you religious. The idea that self-denial makes you a better, holier, more righteous person — is nonsense. All it does is leave you with anxieties and insecurities.

Jesus never said, “You must die to self.” Jesus did say in Luke 9:23, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.”

Simply, Jesus was saying to trust in Him, not in ourselves. To walk by the Spirit rather than the flesh. To live out each day in the glorious relationship we have with the Lord. Rather than a command to experience a miserable existence, is a thrilling invitation to the adventure of the life that is ours in Christ.

“Have I denied myself enough?” You can never know. So you’d better deny yourself some more, just to be safe. What Paul does do is remind us of the good news that Jesus died so that we might be free from this sort of dead and useless religion; that in Christ WE HAVE DIED to the world and its sin.

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” – Galatians 2:20.
“You have died with Christ” – Col 2:20
“We have died with Christ” – Rom 6:8
“Therefore all died” – 2 Cor 5:14

If you miss the power of these verses to set you free, and hear a message that says you need to fast and pray to become spiritually mature, to hear God better, you might decide to fast and pray. Immediately you are no longer walking by the Spirit, no longer trusting in the FINISHED WORK of the Cross. You are trusting in your own fasting and praying to make you mature, more sensitive to God. Where does the Lord fit in this picture? He doesn’t, and that’s the problem. It is dead religion, and it is a faithless way to live.

So recognize dear Christian friend, that you have died, that your life is hidden in Him, in Christ Jesus — you’ll COME ALIVE!

NEW BLOG NOTIFICATION

Be notified when a new blog posts

Thanks for joining Hank's Place!

Name

Email*

Welcome to Hank’s Place — 

The author of Hebrews writes remarkable things in his apostolic blessing and conclusion. It’s found in chapter 13:20-21. It reads, “Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, that is, Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

The Passion translation says in part, may the Father “…work perfection into every part of you – giving you all that you need to fulfill your destiny.” Work perfection into every part of you – giving you all that you need to fulfill your destiny, all God has created you for. POWERFUL, eh?

How can the author pray so boldly? Because he knows the blood of the eternal covenant has secured it for us! This eternal covenant is the new covenant, and it guarantees both God’s equipping of us to do His will, AND the successful use of that equipment to make our lives pleasing to God. What a stress reliever!

In this new and eternal covenant, the will of God is no longer a few words written on stone for us to puzzle out. His will is worked IN us. As Jeremiah 31:33 and Hebrews 8:10 and Hebrews 10:16 declare, “I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts.”

The result is: We feel and think and act in ways more pleasing to God.

Isn’t it obvious that if we are going to live in God’s will, we will need God’s help. By that I mean we need His grace, undeserved, unearned FAVOR. HE is working His will within us for His glory. Let’s let Him; let’s not resist those Holy Spirit thoughts and promptings.

He is working His will in us and we are working to please God because we are in Christ, not because we are trying to earn our way into Christ. God is at work in us doing that which is pleasing to Him. Philippians 2:13.

By the grace of God He has equipped us to do His will. By that grace – we want to do His will. Result: we are pleasing in His sight!

So rejoice today beloved child of the LIVING God. Rejoice — for God is at work within you, making you pleasing to Him — making you COME ALIVE!

NEW BLOG NOTIFICATION

Be notified when a new blog posts

Thanks for joining Hank's Place!

Name

Email*

Welcome to Hank’s Place — 

I live in Florida, where a great many people are retired. But far from finally ‘living the dream’ — many are barely living.

They are in desperate need of hearing and believing the basic truths concerning the Kingdom of God — and it is almost too late.

What are some of these basic truths? There are no righteous people, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. But God sent His son to become Savior of all who believe in Him. Those who believe this instantly become new creations, they are born again. Instantly they become righteous before God. How righteous? With God’s own righteousness. Can’t do better! And, He did not stop there. He has ingrafted every believer into Himself. And, Father, Son and Holy Spirit have come to live, settle down, make their home WITHIN every believer.

Incredible! All this and more, by the blood of Jesus Christ, His life for ours; it is not of our own doing. Through His life given for us, we have been accepted in Him, raised up with Him, and seated with Him in heavenly places. We have the privilege of speaking in the name of Jesus, as though it were Jesus Himself speaking into this world. Our prayers are heard by Almighty God — and answered!

Mary, my wife, immediately summed these truths into one incredible truth: because of Jesus’ work at Calvary, we can have a PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with GOD HIMSELF, a relationship that is full of grace, mercy and lovingkindness.

Are you trying to prove yourself worthy of a relationship with God? Too late. Jesus took care of that already. And this relationship is not that of a slave of God, but one of precious intimacy.

Consider the refrain from “In the Garden” by C. Austin Miles:
And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own,
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

Intimacy with God. Incomprehensible though it may be, but we don’t have to understand it to live in it!

Yes, choose to LIVE in it today. Talk with the Father, with Jesus today. They are not holding your sins against you. All the sins we have or even have yet to commit: past, present and future – were carried by the Lamb of God on the cross.

If you are not yet a believer in Jesus, change today. Unbelief is the only thing that can keep a person out of heaven. Declare your belief in Jesus, God’s Son, Savior.

If you ARE a believer in Jesus, then I urge you to believe ALL the good things God says about you – you are righteous and holy in Christ, completely forgiven and totally loved, for Jesus has paid the price in FULL.

Yes, believe the full Gospel — and COME ALIVE!

NEW BLOG NOTIFICATION

Be notified when a new blog posts

Thanks for joining Hank's Place!

Name

Email*

Welcome to Hank’s Place –  

If you watch any news, you know it is filled with tragedies in which the survivors are demanding answers, asking, “Why?” “How?” As if knowing the why’s or how’s would give closure to their pain.

Dear friend, this premise is simply — wrong. Even answers with a theological bent don’t ease the pain. I found an article by Pastor Tim Brown in the Enduring Word for January.

He addressed some common explanations given:
– We live in fallen bodies in a fallen world where the curse is not yet lifted. So what? Why, out of all possible people, was it my loved one the curse claimed? I live in a fallen body in a fallen world; why didn’t I die instead?
– Or my loved one made a bad decision. Others make worse decisions, and they live.
– Or someone else made a bad decision that resulted in my loved one’s death. This doesn’t bring me relief; it only increases my bitterness.
– Or being in the wrong place at the wrong time? In God’s providence, He could have protected my loved one, right?

Again, here’s the premise – that if I know the reason, I can better live with the result; knowing the reason will bring some measure of relief. The premise of the premise is peace through knowledge. No.

Peace doesn’t come through reasoning, knowing, the study of God and the Scriptures. It comes through a relationship with God. We want answers, but God offers us Himself. A satisfied intellect can never fill the emptiness of the soul. A satisfied intellect can never heal the pain of a soul. Our greatest challenge isn’t unanswered questions but empty souls. When I’m seeking reasons, God desires to give me revelation. When I’m thrashing around for answers, God is calling me to abide. My greatest need is not answers. My greatest need is His presence.

Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6. Jesus said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave you, My peace I give you.” Clearly, it is His presence that gives peace to our souls.

Pastor Tom writes, “The older I get in Christ, the less I know, yet deeper is the peace I experience…. Where I once sought satisfaction in answers and reason, my soul is now content with Presence.… His Presence sanctifies the tears of the soul and brings rest to the weary mind. Jesus cried out, “Come to Me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Jesus didn’t promise answers; He promised rest.”

I don’t know why some things in our lives have unfolded the way they have. We could have great grief and bitterness if we allowed these things any authority in our lives, but our souls can be satisfied in Christ. Even with ongoing pain, Jesus Christ can satisfy our soul.

Dear friend, let’s allow our soul’s to be satisfied with Christ in 2024. We’ll COME ALIVE!

Note: the full article can be found at The Post: https://post.enduringword.com/

NEW BLOG NOTIFICATION

Be notified when a new blog posts

Thanks for joining Hank's Place!

Name

Email*

Welcome to Hank’s Place – In the New Year 

Looking for something ‘new’ to do in this new year? Allow me to direct you to what Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:1 and 2: “Be imitators of God in everything you do, for then you will represent your Father as His beloved sons and daughters. And continue to walk surrendered to the extravagant love of Christ, for He surrendered His life as a sacrifice for us.”

Well, that certainly sounds preposterous! Paul is indicating we already have a perfect example of how to treat other believers. That much I can understand. But for him to tell me to ‘imitate God,’ well that’s mind blowing. Be an imitator — of God.

Paul did not write, “Think about God” or “Admire God” or “Adore God,” although these are all good. Paul calls us to practical action, to actual “doing” something. How can we, puny humans that we all are, possibly make God Himself our example and model and imitate Him? More than wearing a WWJD bracelet or T-shirt, but acting in situations just as Jesus or the Father would?

Anyone can make the conscious choice to let God be their example to admire, but actually imitating Him?

I need some answers! I have a suggestion: that we take note of Romans 13:14: “put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the lusts of the flesh.” It’s having Christ within us that makes imitation possible. Rather than slinking away from Paul’s words, “Be imitators of God” we put on the Lord Jesus, the God who is dwelling within us. Some might call it ‘manning up’ in Christ. Rather than allowing for weak flesh to say it is too hard, that we are not able, we put on Jesus Christ, consciously.

Jesus is our example as He has loved us and has given Himself for us. We put Him on and are able to display the same kind of self-giving love. Impossible by rule or regulation, but possible by Christ in us, by the Holy Spirit working His work through us.

And what happens is that God’s behavior towards us becomes the measure of our behavior towards one another, in the new year — and always.

Put on the Lord Jesus Christ my friend, surrendered to His extravagant love — and you will love one another, as Christ has loved us. A bit here, a bit there. God’s behavior towards us becoming more and more our measure for our behavior toward others. Let’s do it — let’s COME ALIVE!

NEW BLOG NOTIFICATION

Be notified when a new blog posts

Thanks for joining Hank's Place!

Name

Email*