Steven Garofalo
Spirituality/Belief • Education • News
IS GOD’S GRACE LIMITED?
By Steven Garofalo, July 19, 2024 (Copyright 2024)
July 19, 2024

Human beings tend to see God’s grace, patients and forgiveness as either being limitless, or having some arbitrary pre-set limit that we tend to assign or define personally.Today, I am going to show you that when it comes to God’s desire for all to come to repent of their sin and authentically follow Jesus as Lord and Savior-that even the worst of the worst sinners find NO limit to God’s forgiveness and acceptance. Let’s jump right in.

I was recently asked by an old friend, "Do you still keep in touch with that serial killer David Berkowitz (Son of Sam)?" I replied, yes, of course I do. He is authentically saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. My friend’s response was to push back in that it’s a psychosocial issue and that David is mentally crazy and dangerous. I explained to him that David personally wrote to me in the past that it’s frustrating that the prison system wants to categorize his past sinful behavior as a past-Satanic follower as psychological and not spiritual. My old friend has not surrendered his life and eternal salvation to Christ so his response was not surprising to me.

My friend went onto say that David is crazy and dangerous-so why would you keep in touch with him? I explained that David was saved by the blood of Jesus Christ decades ago and has been a baffling example of one of the best behaved prisoners in the country for many decades now. Furthermore, David has a wonderful ministry behind bars in prison. This gentleman could not accept that answer.  Again, my friend has not accepted God's grace as sufficient means for his own salvation in his own life so it makes sense that he cannot accept God’s grace and forgivenesses for a man who was once a serial killer, turned “Son of Sam” to “Son of God” decades ago.

In order to make sense of this, I turned to the Bible for wisdom and an answer, and quickly thought of the Parable of the Lost Sheep in Luke 15 which addresses this exact thing. Let’s read the parable found in Luke 15, verses one through seven.

 THE PARABLE OF THE LOST SHEEP: (Luke 15:1-7)

“15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” 3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

The parable speaks to God’s answer to our question as it was given by Jesus himself. That being said, I want to point out FIVE simple observational truths found within these seven verses that will answer the question as to the limitless forgiveness of God’s grace. Let’s start by looking at verse one:

FIRST: Notice that Jesus came to hang out with sinners who "were all drawing near to him" (v.1). Jesus has a way about Him that draws sinners (which includes all of us by the way). The greater the sinner the greater the draw. Jesus came to save the lost not entertain the self-righteous.

SECOND: The MORE one is forgiven, the more appreciation they have for the forgiveness and grace God has given them through Jesus Christ. Rewinding to Luke chapter 7, Jesus said this:

“Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred Denali, and the other fifty. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more? Simon replied, “”I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven””. (Jesus replied) “You have judged correctly, “ Jesus said” (Luke 7:41-43 NIV). The bottom line is that the more one is forgiven, the more appreciation that person has for the new person they become in Christ through God’s forgivenesses.

THIRD: Many people today, including many Christians cannot believe that God could or would save a serial killer. But He does and always has. Remember verse four whereby Jesus literally states that God goes after the "THE ONE THAT IS LOST, UNTIL HE FINDS IT" (v.4). God doesn’t arbitrarily choose to cast anyone into hell-but allows those who reject Him to choose their own eternal road to hell should they choose. We often think of God casting sinners into hell. This is not true in that God simply gives people what they want and what they asked for. If they reject God, they choose hell on their own and not against their will.

FOURTH: When God finally connects with the lost, just as He did with you and I, He picks us up and puts us on His shoulders, burdening Himself with our sin as we are forgiven and covered by God’s forgiveness through the blood of Christ. After walking with the Lord for many decades, I can tell you that God’s forgiveness is literal in that the days that I don’t go before God and ask His forgiveness are heavy while the days that I spend time with him and ask His daily forgiveness-while challenging, are filled with God’s grace and favor. God put’s the sinner on His shoulders and literally “shoulders his or her sin”.  VERSE GIVE says, “5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.”

FIFTH AND LASTLY: In heaven, I think that we will be surprised by some of the people that made it into the kingdom of God and those who didn’t. IN HEAVEN, "There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no reptence" (v.7). In truth the 99 who need no repentance are those of us who THINK we need no repentance. We ALL need repentence and to repent daily.

IN CONCLUSION: In Heaven, there is a massive celebration with each and every person who authentically comes to trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. VERSE SIX SAYS: “AND WHEN HE COMES HOME, HE CALLS TOGETHER HIS FRIENDS AND HIS NEIGHBORS, SAYING TO THEM, ‘REJOICE WITH ME, FOR I HAVE FOUND MY SHEEP THAT WAS LOST” (v.6). And this includes my friend David Berkowitz, AKA “Son of Sam Serial Killer before being saved by God’s grace through the blood of Jesus Christ.

David Berkowitz, AKA Son of Sam or now "Son of God" authentically reptended and is a new creation in Christ-just as you and I are in Christ. The truth about God's grace is that it shatters our idea of how much grace and forgiveness that God would and does extend to human beings. If we are honest with ourselves, we will admit that we demand justice upon others but God’s limitless grace and forgiveness upon our own lives from God. Before I close, I want to note that actions have consequences and David Berkowitz is in prison for the rest of his life without any chance of parole. In many cases, the death penalty is given to serial killers. In both cases, God’s grace and forgiveness are no less prevalent-but so are the real CONSEQUENCES of our sin. In the end, God’s grace and forgiveness are real. And the great news is that God’s grace, and forgiveness are dispensed at God's pleasure to those who would receive it; even to a serial killer.

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When I was in seminary, the question was raised as to if pets or animals in general go to heaven. Our professor, Dr. Norman Geisler said this: “Jesus Christ came to earth and died on the Cross for the human race, not animals.” I was working out at the gym one day when one of the regulars, who had just moved to Charlotte, NC from California told me that one of her beloved dogs died; and would that dog go to heaven. I have her the same answer. But, was that the whole story? That’s what we are going to look at today.

In a peace by Michael Housman, Founder of GotQuestions.Org, Housman wrote that “The BIble does not give any explicit teaching on whether pets or animals in general have souls, or spirits, or whether pets and other animals will be in heaven.

His answer was short but the animals not having souls maybe up for debate.

We can use general biblical principles to develop some clarity on the subject though Housman wrote. The Bible states that both man (Genesis 2:7) and animals (Genesis 1:30; 6:17; 7:15 and 22) have the “BREATH OF LIFE” that is, both man and animals are living beings. Furthermore, the primary difference between human beings and animals is that humanity is made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27), while animals are not.

Being made in the image and likeness of God means that human beings are like God in some ways; they are capable of spirituality; they have a mind, emotion, and “will”; and part of their “being” continues after death.

If pets and other animals do have a “soul” (or spirit or immaterial aspect), it must therefore be of a different and lesser “quality”. This difference possibly means that pets and other animal “souls”  do not continue in existence after death.

Another factor to consider regarding whether pets will be in heaven is that animals are a port of God’s creative process in Genesis. God created the animals and said they were good (Genesis 1:25). Therefore, there is no reason why there could not be pets and animals on the NEW EARTH as described in (Revelation 21:1). 

In the end, there will most definitely be animals during the millennial kingdom (Isaiah 11:6; 65:25). It is impossible to say definitely whether some animals of these animals might be the pets we had here on earth. We do know that God is just and that when we get to heaven, we will find ourselves in complete agreement with His decision on this issue, whatever that turns out to be.

So, there you have it. I think that’s the best answer on the subject in all honest. Please remember to SUBSCRIBE to our channel and check out StevenGarofalo.Com for exclusive content and early release of our two weekly podcast.

Until next time, I’m your host Steven Garofalo, and this is your reason for truth for today.

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AN ETHICAL ECONOMY IS GOOD FOR ALL
By Steven Garofalo, May 2, 2025

WHAT MAKES A GOOD ECONOMY

Government corruption comes to the advantage of a few-but at the expense of many if not all the rest of society. Today, I am going to show you through Ecclesiastes 5:8-9 that vanity and wealth, if not kept accountable, will devour one’s honor and the honor or the nation in whole. Let’s get started.

The Vanity of Wealth and Honor is an interesting subject in light of wealth, corruption, and the human heart. This subject effects many things, including what makes a good economy. 

In the Book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 5, verses eight to nine, Solomon says the following:

Ecclesiastes 5:8-9
“8 If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them. 9 But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.”

COMMENTARY: There are two things king Solomon is saying here within the theme of the vanity of WEALTH and HONOR. Wealth and honor are two different things, as one can have wealth with or without honor or honor with or without wealth. That being said, let’s look at verses 8 and 9 independently to see the simple message God provides us today through Solomon.

BREAK DOWN
Ecclesiastes 5:8-9

THE ABUSE OF AUTHORITY & WEALTH
 “8 If you see in a province the oppression of the poor and the violation of justice and righteousness, do not be amazed at the matter, for the high official is watched by a higher, and there are yet higher ones over them." 

COMMENTARY: Verse 8 clearly illustrates that there is a corruption at every level of government, with higher level oppressors plundering the equally oppressive lower-level magistrates. This perhaps explains the st state of America and the world. With blackmail running. Rampant and the public sector unchecked, they have been robbing the everyday citizen of their hard earned money. As a result, the system became insulated and division between the haves and have nots became more defined. When the high level government officials rob and abuse those below them, someone above that person robs and abuses the higher level person himself.

In America, where we print money out of thin air for the world, in this short period of history, there is little need to plunder those under one authority because there is so much to steal that those in authority can simply pay them off or blackmail them; whichever is most convenient. Either way, Solomon makes abundantly clear that when there is nobody minding the ship, evil perpetuates to the point of overtaking the government in whole. As a result, we end up with a 2024 government, riddles with corruption, immorality, blackmail, lawlessness, and all other things evil due to the lack of God-ness which equates to “goodness”. 

Economically speaking, when this happens to a country, its own economy begins to decline into debt due to their insatiable desire and emotional need for more money and resources. When resources are stripped and money is squandered, the elite few are smart enough to collect those resources and money and we end up with a U.S. Stock Market where only 5% holds up to 80%  of the entire market wealth. 

WHAT IS THE ANSWER?
The answer and solution is to keep to return to the system we created in the first place which is free market capitalism that allows those who desire to work hard, to have a fair chance at success, making money and turning a fair profit. This is called “honor for everyone”.

HONOR FOR EVERYONE
"9 But this is gain for a land in every way: a king committed to cultivated fields.”

CONCLUSION:

Government corruption comes to the advantage of a few-but at the expense of many if not all the rest of society. Vanity and wealth, if not kept accountable, devours one’s honor and the honor or the nation in whole. Solomon (Qohelet) considered goverment to be frustrating becuase it was a necessary evil, something deply flawed but indespsnsible. On the one hand people sould "not be shocked" when they see OPPRESSION and injustice in a governmental province (v.8). After all, bloated government bureaucracy tends to frustrate justice (v.8b). On the other hand, government has it advantages (v.9). Many hold to the belief that this verse continues the negeative assessment of government. Others see this passage better understood more positively since it fits with Qohelet's normal pattern of "on the one hand, on the other.." way of teaching. 

Even a corrupt government is better than anarchy, which devastates a country, it's culture and in Solomon's time, an agrarian economy that would lead to starvation. Keeping to God's ways is the only solution to man's sinful nature; especially in governmental rule. In the end, a king who devotes himself to developing the resources of the land ushers in a systems that brings the opportunity for profit to all, not just the corrupt few.

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SOLA SCRIPTURA
A Protestant & Catholic View Comparison

I grew up Catholic and now go to a Protestant or non-Catholic church in Charlotte, NC. Michael Houdmann, Founder and CEO of GotQuestions.Org writes that a major difference between the two boils down to believing in the Bible alone as God's word verses believing that God's word plus man's input as the divine inspired word of God.

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A major difference is the issue of sufficiency and authority of Scripture. While Protestants believe that the Bible alone is the source of God's special revelation to mankind, it also speaks to everything we need to understand as necessary for our salvation from sin.

Protestants view the Bible as the STANDARD for Christian morality and ethics which governs our behavior. This is called sola scripture and is one of the five Solas in Christianity. (Solas meaning "alone" in Latin. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 makes clear that "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (ESV).

WHAT DO CATHOLICS BELIEVE?

Catholics do not believe in sola scriptura hence do not believe that the Bible alone is sufficient. They see both the Bible and sacred Roman Catholic tradition as equally authoritative and binding on the Christian. While not all Catholics hold to doctrines such as purgatory, praying to the saints, worship or veneration of Mary, etc., the Catholic doctrine hold to them even though they have little or no mention or basis in the Bible. In truth, these doctrines are based on Roman Catholic traditions based on the Catholic Church's insistence that the Bible and tradition are equal in authority. The problem with this is that it undermines the sufficiency, authority, and completeness of the Bible. The view of Scripture is at the root of many, if not all, of the differences between Catholics and Protestants.

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