This is the Truth

John 3:3 - Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

We all need to be saved. There is no other name under heaven by which we can be saved. There are no multiple ways to heaven. There is only one way, one truth and one life. His name is Jesus. We are called to come as little children, to trust in He who created all things. Jesus is the first and the last...all encompassing...Alpha and Omega...beginning and end. Let your end be in and through Him.

Jesus said... “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26)  When you receive Christ you become a true believer.

I’ve often struggled explaining what the word believe means. I finally found an explanation!

In regards to salvation, the word believe always implies far more than mental agreement with truth. [Even] Satan and the demons know more than any of us the facts about Jesus, the meaning of His death and resurrection, and the truth of Scripture. To believe for salvation requires more than that. A believer is one who has transferred ownership of his life and future to the lordship of Jesus. Jesus said, “You are my friends if you do what I command you” (John 15:14). So a believer, in the biblical sense, is one who has responded to God’s calling and chosen Jesus as the Lord of his or her life. A believer looks to Jesus alone for salvation from sin and hell. By the same token, an unbeliever is someone who has not allowed Jesus to be the Lord of his or her life. Religious-sounding words may have been spoken, but if the heart has not changed, it is not saving faith (Matthew 7:21–23). The person claiming salvation while lacking evidence of the transforming power of the Holy Spirit is still functionally an unbeliever. (Gotquestions.com)

The only way I’ve been able to explain it was a change of heart, an experience where you know you have been touched by God. If one wants this, one only needs to seek God for it. He will know that person’s heart and the true intent of it. He will respond if it’s what that person truly wants. It’s why I pray for hearts to be willing to receive what He has to offer...that free gift of salvation that no works or personal goodness can attain, but that a heartfelt request can. It’s all about Him, not us.

A well-used verse...

Ephesians 2:8 - For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God...

He Who Believes

John‬ ‭3:36‬ ‭- He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.

Yes, ...God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ‭‭(John‬ ‭3:16‬) ... yes, God loves all people and ...is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (2Peter‬ ‭3:9‬) However, He will not wait forever.

Jesus will return someday and by all the signs in today’s world, how there is much disruption, it will be sooner than later (all the more reason to seek Him now while you still have the time).

 

This is why it is important to know Jesus with all your heart, not just what your church might say about Him but what He says in His Word about who He is. 

It is important that one be familiar with the Word of God. This Book shows all aspects of Him, is filled with exciting and interesting accounts (I don’t like the word stories) of people whose lives were changed or destroyed by either knowing or rejecting Him in both the New and Old Testaments. It’s rich with history. It’s rich with encouragement and promises for true believers. It is also filled with admonishment for those who think a life without Christ is okay. God is both loving and judgmental. One will be confronted some day by one or the other.

Jesus will return as a thief in the night. But for those who understand the signs of the times and know Jesus, the Holy Spirit of God will show us in His Word these signs...and He will not come as a thief for us...only those who do not know Him.

John 5:24 - “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

Just Like in Noah's Day

Genesis 7:1 - Then the LORD said to Noah, "Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me in this generation." 

We are familiar with the story of Noah and the ark. We have known it since childhood. But how many believe it? Was it just a story? I believe it because the Bible "told me so." I also believe that history repeats itself...nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). 

If you remember the Noah story, you know that the reason for the ark was to save the lives of Noah, his family and anyone else who wished to be saved from a flood that was to occur. Of course, no flood had ever happened before, so Noah pretty much had to have faith in God alone and in that which was not seen. (Hebrews 11) So we are to believe also.

The world had turned corrupt (Genesis 6:11) Man had turned wicked and every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil. God was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart (Genesis 6:5-6). So He decided to destroy all living things, except those that would enter into the ark He asked Noah to build. He chose Noah because of his righteousness, his trust and devotion to God.

If history repeats itself, could it be this might happen again? I so totally believe this because I've read the Bible and I know how the end of the story will take place! God may not ask another earthly man to build yet another, greater ark, but I know a Man who became the ark. His name is Jesus.

After the flood, life began again...and again it became corrupt and evil, as evidenced throughout His Word. This time God sent His only Son to be born to become that ark in which all mankind would be allowed to enter into, into a relationship with God, through Jesus Christ. Enter into Christ and be saved. Repent, admit your sin and weaknesses and enter into a life of righteousness, like Noah, and no longer have fear of what the evil in this world dishes out. 

Trust in the one true God. Commit your ways to Him. Share the Gospel and do it without being ashamed. Let your light shine in the world. Listen for the prompting of His Holy Spirit. This is all available for anyone who is willing to submit to the Lord. Our religion can't save us. Our goodness can't save us. But Jesus can. He is the Way, Truth and Life (the Door...to the ark). No one goes to the Father but by Him (John 14:6).

I know this hard for some to believe. But read Genesis 6 and 7 for yourself. It's an easy read! See what happened to the people who did not choose to enter into the ark. Jesus saves! Enter in. If you've balked all your life, it's not too late. He will not reject a heart willing to seek Him now. Just as Noah walked with God, so can we all...through Jesus Christ.

Hallelujah! Do you trust God and believe with all your heart? This is for you:

Romans‬ ‭10:8-11‬ ‭- But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

No Middle of the Road

Galatians 1:6-7 - I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.

The sermon Sunday was called Enemies of the Cross. This can refer to a couple things. There are some clergymen who, like the scripture above says, pervert the Gospel. They preach half a message...that of the grace, mercy and love of God without mentioning that He is also a God who will one day judge. (We can avoid that judgment by receiving Christ.)

Some of these men might suggest that saying a "sinner's prayer" is all one needs to do to be saved and granted eternal life. They don't take it a step further and mention that you need to turn away from sin. Oh, heavens, don't talk about sin! You'll lose members of your church. They might tell you being a better person and doing good works is all that is needed. This is an enemy of the cross. They do not tell the whole truth. 

I'm going to take a different route based on words our pastor used. But let me share a handful of his words: If you don't serve God, you serve the devil. There is no middle ground. There's no gray area. It's all or nothing.

It's like a rock vs. sand. A rock is stable. You can stand on it. You will sink in sand. You can stand firmly on the Words of God but you have to believe them first, then obey His commands. Stand firm in Christ. Without that firm foundation of Christ you will fall, sink. Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock...But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand... (Matthew 7:24,26)

You either have Jesus or you do not. You believe and have faith with all your heart or you only believe with your mind and your faith is in something or someone else. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. (1John 5:20)

You are either a friend of Jesus or you are His enemy. Enemy may seem like a strong word, but it's not my word. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:4)  An adulterer here means one who is faithless toward God or ungodly. The world represents those who do not live a life for Christ.

You either believe the truth of God's Word or you believe lies. No in between. No picking and choosing what we want to believe. We might fail due to misunderstanding of the Word. But to say it's nonsense and think that some things don't apply today is a lie the enemy wants us to hang on to. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. (John 8:45)

We either believe that it is by God's grace and mercy that we are saved or we believe our works will save us. The first part is accurate, not the second. Jesus did all that was needed when He died on the Cross. To think we can add to that is pride. We think we are good enough in our own abilities and do these works in our own determination. Won't work. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)  Grace and faith in Jesus only. 

The Bible tells us things that seem strange. It tells us we are to die now to receive life. The world thinks if they don't know if they are going to heaven, they might as well enjoy life today. (I used to think hell was life on earth...and then when I died came heaven!) The thing is...we can know if we are going to heaven today...if we believe, follow and trust in Christ. We give in to Him (which is not some horrible thing) and learn His truths, live them out, have His Spirit in us and be lead by Him. It's not torture! If we die now, we will have eternal life later. If we do not, we will not. He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. (John 3:36)  Believing in our heart, not in our mind.

We either have life now in Christ or we live our everyday lives in death. When we receive Christ we receive life. If we do not we are living in sin. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)...  (Ephesians 2:4-5)

We either live in victory in Christ or we are living in defeat. The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1Corinthians 15:56-57)

So, it's either Jesus or the devil. Black or white...no gray area. It's a hard word and one which I was rebellious about more than half my life. Then I received Christ, His Spirit filled me and I began to know Him and learn more about Him through reading and studying His Word. That Word brought life to me. That Word being Jesus and also His written Word. Submit to Him, acknowledge Him and He will teach you. He wants to. Doesn't matter where you are in life, your age, social status, nothing. He is there for all people who want to believe and know Him. 

Romans 10:8-11 - But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

Eye Has Not Seen

1Corinthians‬ ‭2:9‬ - ‭But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.”

God is glorious. His desire is for all to know Him and follow Him. He is not some tyrant as many make Him out to be in the Old Testament. He is filled with love for all people. As with a father to a child, when that child is disobedient, especially when he has done the opposite of what his father has asked him, that father must invoke punishment. It's discipline, for that child's good. What child knows better than his father? 

So it is with God! When His people, His children, Israel, disobeyed His commands, He had to punish them that they might be disciplined. He had to show all people His holiness and justice. Our God knows better than any of us what is for our own good. The number one thing that we have to understand is that Jesus is not our enemy, but our Savior. God sent Him that all who would believe in Him would not perish. He is for our good! 

In the concluding lessons in Revelation we are talking about heaven. It's a complicated subject in some ways, filled with imagery. But I look at it simply, not wanting to have my brain taxed with things I cannot fully comprehend or wrap my head around. It is what it is and whatever it will look like or be I'm sure it will be more than amazing. While there may be differing views on just about anything, one truth stands out: It will be a glorious place for those who are believers in and followers of Christ.

Heaven will be free from evil and darkness. There will be no pain, sorrow, sickness. There will be no darkness because the light of Christ will be the only light we have. Remember, light exposes darkness, which ultimately hides. Heaven is all about Jesus. There is a description of the great, holy city of Jerusalem (New Jerusalem). It is described with huge walls, amazing foundations. The names of many precious gems are used to describe it. Streets of gold, gates, each one a solid 1500 mile high pearl. Eye has not seen, nor ear heard... 

This is supposed to be a literal description. Today we cherish gold and jewels. It's bling to some. We will walk on streets of gold. Walk on gold! What if...what if...this is a description the Apostle John wrote because he couldn't describe the absolute beauty of Who he saw within that city? What if...John was describing the gloriousness of heaven because Jesus consumed it with His brilliance and light? And all John could describe were jewels. Isn't Jesus what it's all about? I'm just imagining here...because I believe whatever it will be will be glorious beyond imagination...and quite acceptable! 

There is a picture earlier in Revelation 4 of the throne of God. It was surrounded by a rainbow, emeralds and other precious jewels were described and a sea of glass surrounded the throne that was like crystal. My imagination again...couldn't just the radiance of God on that throne cause one to see something like that? 

All the talk of jewels and gems. Jesus is supposed to be our treasure. We are told not to store up treasures on earth but heavenly treasures. Isn't the number one treasure Jesus? Then His Word. If we have Jesus He supplies us with all we really need...in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Colossians 2:3) The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field or a pearl that is found; we can't help but rejoice in finding it. (Matthew 13) That's what happens when we receive Jesus. And when we are finally His children we are then His treasured possession! (Deuteronomy 7:6)

Eye has not seen, nor ear heard... In our human, limited minds we cannot go beyond human words and descriptions of what heaven will be like. We don't consider it as we should. It will be a real place, eventually. It will not be boring. We will not sit on clouds and play harps. We will not become angels, nor have wings. We are who we are in glorified bodies, transformed by Christ Himself. We will be in the presence of God. We will serve Him. We will have work to do. Perhaps it will be like life in the garden of Eden...in which case it could be green and lush! But we must be in Christ for this to happen. We must look to God for forgiveness of our sins through Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone. 

An excerpt from Lesson 28, Bible Study Fellowship, Revelation:

People often form their own opinions about heaven to validate simple independence and the self-determined right to live apart from God. Some deny the reality of life after death to refuse accountability to their Creator. People who refuse to believe in eternal judgment logically deny the existence of heaven altogether. Heaven is rationalized as a crutch to comfort the grieving and relieve the fears of children. Others wrongly focus only on God's love for all his creatures, failing to grasp the righteous purity of God's love that required the death of his son. Confidence that is wrong we placed in one's own supposed to human goodness – comparing oneself to those who appear far worse – leads people to imagine scales of justice exist apart from the cross of Christ. This erroneous worldview mistakenly concludes heaven as a deserved destiny for all but a wretched few. 

The truth is none of us deserve heaven. We all deserve hell. None of us are righteous. (Romans 3:10) We are all sinners. My sin is no less than that most wretched person mentioned above. This is why Jesus died for our sins. It's not based our our good deeds or church attendance or denomination. It is based on our wholly accepting Christ's death, His work, on the cross for our sins. Believing, receiving, obeying and living for Christ in the here and now. Becoming disciples and sharing Christ...and heaven...with others. Will you consider believing this? Consider His love for you. He died for you. The offer of heaven is for you upon your acknowledgment of Jesus in your life and your heart. God has put a desire into the heart of every person for eternity. (Ecclesiastes 3:11) Seek Him, seek life, seek heaven.

Psalm 31:19 -  Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men!

The Only Requirement for Salvation

Galatians 3:5 - Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

I have been bombarded by this works thing. Scripture after scripture tells us we cannot work for our salvation. I heard that faith is mentioned about 200 times in just the New Testament as the only condition required for salvation. We cannot work or buy our way, or others', to heaven. Salvation comes in believing and having faith in Jesus Christ. It's an individual, personal choice. Only in Jesus, the only way, truth and life. And that comes first by hearing.

No amount of sacrificing, keeping the Commandments, being active in a church or baptized (as a baby), without first the faith after hearing the Gospel, will save us. We can never be good enough for God's holiness. That is why we need His perfect Son as our Savior. Listen to what Jesus said: This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent. (John‬ ‭6:29)

Also in this chapter of Galatians the Apostle Paul cites Abraham, who by faith ...obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country... (Hebrews 11:8-9)  There are many people of faith listed in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews...Abel, Noah, Sarah, Moses, David, Samson, just to name some of the more recognizable individuals. They trusted God. They weren't all perfect people, but they had faith that God would do, supply, encourage, save.

Look at salvation this way, God calls us to go out to a place He has chosen for us. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope ‭‭(Jeremiah‬ ‭29:11). We know in part but not know fully where we will go. We do know the ultimate end is heaven if we heed His call but we can only trust God in our earthly journey. We do know this, that we will suffer, maybe persecution, rejection or death for our faith, but God also tells us that these trials produce perseverance (Romans 5:3) and if we endure to the end, the end will be glorious. Jesus died for us, after all. He knew suffering and He is able to strengthen us while we are in the midst of it.

So why faith and not works? Because it so totally glorifies God. If we could do anything for Him doesn't that put us right up there as trying to be like God?? Not good. He is glorified in how He changes us, not what we think we can accomplish which puts the glory on us. That's not good either. We must trust in Jesus' death to save us. We must give of ourselves to Him, admit our own shortcomings...no, make that sins...and rely on what He did for us, trust Him. Have this faith in One we do not see but have heard about. It has nothing...nada, zero, zip...to do with anything we think we are capable of doing.

Works play an important part once we have received Christ. We are told faith without works is dead (James 2:17). But faith comes first. So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans‬ ‭10:17‬). Almost everyone has heard the Gospel. If anyone has read any of these blogs, they have heard the Gospel. If one has responded, they've done so in faith. If not...they may not have that faith or they may believe their works will save them, or they just don't care. We cannot do enough good in this world (because no one is good enough...not one person. Romans 3:10)

The opening scripture says that the Spirit of God is what gives us faith...which comes by hearing and this Spirit does the work in us to have faith. We must receive Christ without works but in pure trust and faith that what He says, what He represents and believing that He alone died for our salvation.

Everyone knows that good works are, well, good. If our works come before Christ, they do little to please God, but do a lot to please man, to give man credit. But faith in God followed by works, doing for the Lord after receiving Him, is pleasing in His sight. It glorifies Him. How? Because we have been saved by faith in Him, not by the works which are as filthy rags to God. Here we have a truth about our goodness and our attempt at good works...a two-for-one truth! But we are all like an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags...(Isaiah‬ ‭64:6‬) Hey, this isn't me...this is God! 

People, to truly know God we must let go of our preconceived, worldly ideas of what God wants, what He looks for. He comes to us in our fallen state out of a pure love for the sick sinner. He wants to change us that we might be righteous through His Son. It's the only way. He's the only Way. We cannot attain righteousness on our own. We need a Savior and His name is Jesus. Call on Him and He will make you whole. He will clean up your act. He promises eternal life only if you choose Him, by faith, by hearing His word, acting on it and submitting (in a perfectly good way) to Him. 

Romans‬ ‭1:16-17‬ - For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith."

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Nothing New Under the Sun

Matthew 11:14-17 - And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who is to come. He who has ears to hear, let him hear! But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, and saying: "We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we mourned to you, and you did not lament."

As seen in the Book of Ecclesiastes (again!), nothing changes. What was done in the past plays out still today. Nothing new under the sun. 

Jesus spoke above of John the Baptist, the one who ushered Him into His ministry. The one who was the voice calling in the wilderness to all who would listen to repent and turn to Him. Jesus had been prophesied about in the religious leaders' Tanakh, our Old Testament, that they should have recognized but refused to. This Messiah, Jesus, did not look like what they had expected, He turned their beliefs upside down, so they chose not hear His words. 

Elijah was an Old Testament prophet who stood fast in his beliefs of God and performed miracles, much like Jesus did. It is said he will return again before Jesus returns as a witness to Him. Perhaps through him many people, Jews and Gentiles, will finally believe. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse. (Malachi‬ ‭4:5-6)

Jesus is pleading above for those who have ears, to hear. He is talking to the religious leaders of His day. That pleading continues through Jesus' followers to all people. Hear the words of Jesus. Listen and learn. Know what He has come for, for whom and the results of not receiving Him.

Interestingly, there are chapters and verses not read in daily readings in synagogues by the religious leaders because they are prophesied words of Jesus and if they read them they might have to confront them and admit they had been wrong about Who the verses speak about. Isaiah 53 does this (as do various other Old Testament scriptures). If you are interested, watch this video. I just saw it. It is a Jewish believer witnessing to Jewish people. Very powerful.  

Funny how Jesus even suggested that His generation was filled with people so not willing to hear. Things do not change. Nothing new under the sun! To many Jesus is a myth, as is God. To others Jesus was no more than a good man, a prophet and teacher but somehow they overlooked His miracles and believed His resurrection false. Oh, the things we can believe if we are so determined. That goes for believers and unbelievers! 

Jesus spoke, admonished, showed signs and some still did not respond. Some came up with reasons for not following, many of which were just misconceived ideas. The truth was not received, facts twisted. How many thousands of years later and nothing has changed. 

Lord, let those ears hear. Let all the words You have spoken for our benefit be understood and received. Let the people grasp Who You are and what You have done for all people and what happens if we reject You. You forgive us of our sins, bring us hope and eternal life. Who wouldn't want that, especially in these days? Open the ears and eyes of Jews, atheists, people who just don't care and even believers, that there would be a greater measure of understanding, a desire for a closer walk with You. 

There is nothing new under the sun. Some people believed, some rejected, some lost interest. Same today. But as I said in a previous blog, there is always something new under the Son. Newness of life, spiritual healing, understanding, joy, comfort, peace. Let us hear Him. He does have the words of life. 

John 6:66-69 - From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” And Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

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Something A Little Different

Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God." (John 3:3,5-7,18-21) 

The scriptures may be different. 

The approach may be different. 

The message is always the same because Jesus never changes, 

nor do His words, 

nor what He has done, 

nor what He says we must do to receive everlasting life.

I'm attaching this old video. It speaks for itself. I hope you take the 3:53 minutes to watch. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=umn3iCn90IY

Acts 16:30-31 - And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

BELIEVE

Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭13‬ - Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

I saw someone had posted a photo on Facebook she had taken of a sign that only said BELIEVE... It no doubt had some special meaning. But what did this believe mean? 

My question is: believe what?

Another question, when told to keep the faith, is: faith in what?

I don't know what others believe or have faith in. I know that I believe and have faith in Jesus Christ alone. He is the answer to everything. Hope for "whatever" grows stronger through Him. We can believe He is able to do all He says He can do. We believe that He will do what is best...not always what we expect...and often times for some unknown reason we may never know about...a concept we understand if we know Him. 

In and through Him we awake with strength for each new day. Peace and joy in the midst of trials is evident. You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the LORD forever, for in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength. (‭Isaiah‬ ‭26‬:‭3-4‬)

Trusting in ourselves or others is a scary thing. We do not have all the answers. But our God does...so I will trust in Him. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (‭Psalm ‭18‬:‭2‬)

We do not know how to handle some of life's situations. But if we give it to God, leave the trouble at His throne, He will handle it. If we try to handle on our own we get in His way. Jesus said, “Do not be afraid; only believe.” (‭Mark‬ ‭5‬:‭36‬)  And He meant in Him!

When we come to Christ and recognize Him for who He is, our strong tower, protector, wise counselor, Father God, He will come through even if it doesn't always look like it at first. Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. (‭Proverbs‬ ‭30‬:‭5‬)

After I wrote this I read a devotion referring to Romans 1:24-25. The commentary with it stated that there are many who recognize that God exists but do not believe in Him. They will believe what they choose to believe. They might believe a lie, what suits their fancy. When that happens, because it is their choice not to believe in Him He gives us over to those things so desired that are not always of Him. And we end up without hope, joy, peace...

Give in to Him. Give yourself to Him and He will be beside you so you can lean on Him.

2Corinthians 3:5 - Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God...

I AM WHO I AM

Exodus 3:14 - And God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And He said, "This you shall say to the children of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

Moses was commissioned by God to deliver His people Israel out of captivity in Egypt. Moses, despite a little personal struggle, was obedient and did God's will. He did it because Israel was his people also. 

I've written this before but it never gets old for me. Today Egypt is a type of the world. We are all in captivity in this world until we are set free through Jesus Christ. We may not even realize we are in captivity without God, but we are. Moses was to be Israel's deliverer. He was a type of Jesus. We are all called to do the same, to share the truth of God's Word to a lost and dying world that they might be set free.

In Sunday school we are going through the Book of Ecclesiastes. Fits right in here. You'll recognize some of these words: I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and indeed, all is vanity and grasping for the wind. For what has man for all his labor, and for the striving of his heart with which he has toiled under the sun? To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted... (‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭1‬:‭14‬, 2:22, 3:1-2)  In the end of the book, which we are far from, are these words: Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil. (‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭12‬:‭13-14‬)  

Life is meaningless without Christ as the center of it, without I AM WHO I AM. If anyone has ever wondered why they exist, for what reason...He is the reason; we exist for Him. (‭1Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭6‬)

When we come to Christ whether it be through a sermon, an individual, a scripture, even a vision, the means that has gotten us there is the power of the Holy Spirit. God Himself has intervened. And when we then share our experience or our beliefs, we become the means to do the same for others, to be like Jesus. Not be Him, but like Him because we do His will. I cannot take credit for what He does in and through me. It is all Him, His Spirit...and my obedience. 

It is as if I AM WHO I AM has been sent. I AM is for everyone, whosoever believes...That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭15-16‬)  He and this truth never change. What God opted to do for Israel in Moses' day He will do today also. If you believe in your heart, not your head...

Revelation 1:8 - “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” 

Abraham Believed

Genesis 15:5-6 - Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. 

Abraham. A barren wife, therefore childless. God named him the father of many nations. God told him his descendants would be more than the stars he could try to count. Abraham believed and as history has shown, it has been done. You will find this throughout the pages of the Old Testament. While Abraham saw the beginning of this promise/covenant, he did not see the final outcome, which is still unfolding. But he trusted God. That was the most important choice he made, to just believe. 

There is another account where we are told to believe. Imagine if all would, like Jesus said, Believe in Me. Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭25-26‬)

Because Abraham believed we are here. And to God it was counted as righteousness. What if we believed in Jesus the same way? What if we put our trust and faith in Him the way Abraham did in God? Aren't we told the same thing...it would be counted as righteousness?

This belief, again, is not just knowing who Jesus is. It's a deeper knowing Him. It's putting faith and trust in Him for everything. Illness strikes, death occurs, job is lost...the bottom of life falls out. What do we do? Panic, fret, lose hope? Or do we go to God and ask for His strength and wisdom to get through this? If we know and believe in Jesus, we trust Him for it all. If we do not know Jesus we can't fathom the notion that He can still provide, heal and comfort, miraculously. 

Believing is a heart change. It's a knowing deep inside when God knows your true intent toward Him and at the time of that giving of your heart to Him, He fills you with His Holy Spirit who begins the process of this heart change. For me it started as a sudden strong desire to learn more about God. I got hooked up early in Bible studies. I took classes because I wanted to know more about Him. That alone doesn't make me better but it gave me a foundation that has shown me from Old Testament to New why it is important to know Christ, God's entire plan of salvation...and most important, why. 

This world will end someday soon, I believe. We see the signs that the Bible has pointed out for the last days. It's in the Word of God. He is Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End. All the days are in His hands. Our days are in His hands and He has the final judgment. He is the Judge who doles out our final resting place in the end...heaven or hell. If that is so why wouldn't one want to trust in Him alone? 

Philippians‬ ‭3‬:‭8-11 - Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 

I Will Not Believe

John 20:18-25

Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her. Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you."

When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you." 

And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." 

Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord." So he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."


I chose to stop here though this part of the story is not finished.

The disciples now have seen Jesus. They've heard Him speak. They have recognized Him and knew all He had said was true. Even the words earlier came to fruition: But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning. (‭John‬ ‭15‬:‭26-27‬) They now were filled with the Holy Spirit to receive wisdom and power.

But here also is the account of Thomas who needed to see to believe. I think this is where many people are, needing to see and not believing by faith. If one looks around His glory is seen. In all of life His glory is seen. Yet we can take life and all we have for granted. We don't always take into account Who started our life, Who has given us all these things.

Many times we need to be put into a situation where we see for ourselves, through tragedy sometimes, the outstretched hand of the Lord wanting to rescue us. It happens spiritually. And we see, spiritually. We recognize Jesus before us and we believe.

I had no idea prior to my born again experience what was about to take place and even when it happened I couldn't fully comprehend what all had transpired. I just know I had met with Jesus in a moment and He changed my life. A desire to know more filled me...and believing all He had said was true. He breathed on me. His Holy Spirit filled me and began the teaching.

I can say, I have seen the Lord. And others might say, Not until I see Him for myself will I believe. Ask Him to show Himself, if you really want to know. If you are not absolutely sure, ask Him.

James 1:5-6 - If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

Oh the Questions

John ‭6‬:‭25-40 - And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?” Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.” ‬

Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” 

Therefore they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 

Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.” And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” 

All these questions!

When did You come here?
What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?
What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? 
What work will You do? 

Jesus' answer: Do not labor for that which does not satisfy but only believe in Me, the bread of life.

How many times has He approached you and you did not notice? How many times have you thought you needed to be a better person before seeking Him? (Pride) Or how often do you consider all your good works will get you to heaven? (Pride) What sign do you need from Him before you will believe?

The sign He performed was His work done at the cross. All He asks is that we humble ourselves and believe in Him from the very depth of our souls. Yet it's our pride that tends to get in the way.

If He was willing to come down from heaven to us, to die for us, shouldn't we be willing to bow before Him?

Here's another chance to see Him and believe. Read His words above again. They are life. They satisfy. Nothing else will. If you can't believe me, believe Him.

Romans ‭4‬:‭2,4-5 - For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness...‬

Believe, Pride, Works, The Cross, Bread of Life, Humble Yourself

RABBONI!

John 20:10-17

Then the disciples went away to their own homes. But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and she did not know that it was Jesus.

Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where you have lain Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher).

Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.'"


I don't know about you but I don't think I would have casually answered two angels if they appeared before me!

Looking in the other Gospels we see variations of the same event. Matthew says Mary Magdalene and "the other Mary" came to the tomb. And there was an earthquake, the stone was rolled away by a man in white clothing. He told the women not to fear for Jesus was risen. And Jesus met them and spoke to them as they headed to tell the disciples.

Mark tells us Mary Magdalene was there with Mary, mother of James, and Salome who was also called Mary. When they arrived the stone was rolled away and one man in white sat inside. He also said He was risen. More interaction...He appeared first to Mary Magdalene and clearly all were afraid and said nothing to anyone.

Luke says certain women, followers of Jesus, arrived with the anointing spices at the tomb. The stone was rolled away. There were two men in shining garments. They also said He was risen and reminded them of His words regarding His capture, crucifixion and resurrection. They were afraid. And they remembered. There were four women, the three Marys and Joanna.

How could there have been four versions? My simple definition, the astonishment or fear altered the stories; the ears hearing the accounts heard differently. If there is an accident and various witnesses, are all their stories the same? Imagine the moment. Jesus is dead, buried and now He's gone. The thoughts that would have gone through their minds, apart from the grief they'd been going through.

The stories might not be exactly the same, but the fact that Jesus was risen and once again met with the women and the disciples was the important point. Jesus was risen. He spoke to them. This message is for us too. He IS risen and He still speaks to us. They saw and believed. That belief has carried on for nearly 2,000 years. Their Teacher. Rabboni! He still speaks today through the many different testimonies of people who have met Him.

How do we know that we have NOT been in His presence, or the presence of angels, before? There are scriptures that tell us: ...for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in...  We might question, ‘Lord, when did we do these things for You?' Jesus might answer: Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me. (‭Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭35,37,40‬)  We may have seen Him but also not known Him. Entertaining strangers. Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels. (‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭2‬) And what about the good Samaritan?

So Mary...and others...heard His voice and finally recognized Him. I ask again, how many times might we have heard His voice but did not recognize Him? He calls us in various ways to come to Him. But do we respond like Mary? Even as believers He calls. I believe He can speak or call to us through strangers in various ways, through help or the message of the Gospel. We need to recognize that.

Jesus calls us to know Him, to allow Him to teach us the truth of His Word. These people had sat listening to His Words, wondering at the words He spoke about dying and rising from the dead. It was at this moment that Mary too saw and believed. Not because of what the disciples might have said. In this account it appears He came to her. Maybe it was an instant when she needed to see Him and the incident seemed just for her. He chose to show her all He had said was true. She now knew and believed. There have been times in services when it seemed the words spoken were just for me. Others heard what I did, but those words, at that moment, were just for me. Might this have been the same thing?

Who can say we haven't had our own experiences? What an amazing time to have lived. To have seen Jesus face to face. Yet, it still happens today. Any time is amazing with our Lord. Look and see. We are spiritually blind until we meet Him...and allow Him to be our Teacher. Rabboni!

Matthew‬ ‭13‬:‭15 - For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, and
their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.

He Saw and Believed

John 20:1-9

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 

Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him."

Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first. And he, stooping down and looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in.

Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb; and he saw the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself.

Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; and he saw and believed. For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. 


The other disciple was John himself. Humble John. He spoke of Jesus, not himself. It was all about the Lord. It will always be all about Jesus.

Earlier in His ministry Jesus had said this: ...“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body. (‭John‬ ‭2‬:‭19-21‬)

For as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. They had heard Him say these words, but seeing is believing sometimes. The truth of these words were understood at this moment...John saw something and believed. I'm sure Peter did too. If not there had to have been some verbal exchange between them.

We are called to have faith in the things that are unseen. Yet we have all the words of this Bible to show us what we need to believe. Examples. A way to trust in those things we can't see. I've heard testimonies of individuals I personally know where a complete turnaround has taken place in someone's life after they gave their lives to Jesus. After they came to the end of themselves, recognized their sin, and gave it to God. Some change so drastically you'd find it hard to believe they were this old person. Hopefully my testimony has touched someone. When we have humbled ourselves to this extent He will change us. And He will allow our faith to grow. When our faith grows we know we can trust Him for all things.

Up to this point the disciples were still not certain what all these circumstances were all about...Jesus' words to them, His arrest, abuse, crucifixion, death. They'd heard Him speak but not until they saw would they believe. And here, John went in, saw the grave clothes and handkerchief still neatly wrapped...and he saw and believed. Amazing. ...He must rise again from the dead. What else could all this mean? Cloths lying neatly...not disheveled.

We can have that same experience when we come to Christ. We don't get it until the moment we receive Him. Then we see spiritually and believe. As our pastor explained a couple Sunday's ago, no one can understand what we say until it happens to them. It's one of those marvelous mysteries of God. His Holy Spirit power at work in us to give us understanding just by knowing. Have you this testimony? It happens when we give ourselves over to trusting in Him and not ourselves.

For You will light my lamp; the LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. ...His way is perfect; the word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him. For who is God, except the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God? (‭Psalms‬ ‭18‬:‭28,30-31‬)

Most Assuredly, Amen

John 14:11-14

Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also, and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.


Or in the King James Version, most assuredly is stated verily, verily... Words Jesus used to make a point! Meaning: Strong's Concordance: firm, faithful, of a truth (beginning of a statement), amen (at the end of a statement) or so be it. From Webster's: Without a doubt. I also came across this:

The word "amen" is a most remarkable word. It was transliterated directly from the Hebrew into the Greek of the New Testament, then into Latin and into English and many other languages, so that it is practically a universal word. It has been called the best known word in human speech. The word is directly related -- in fact, almost identical -- to the Hebrew word for "believe" (amam), or faithful. Thus, it came to mean "sure" or "truly", an expression of absolute trust and confidence. (HMM)

This is Jesus. Truth, faithful, firm (like the Rock He is), sure. What He says He means. There is no guile in Him. There is no deceitfulness. Just pure truth. Can I hear an Amen?!

The words most assuredly stood out in these verses for me. When we come to Christ we can, without a doubt,  be assured of a lot of things. We can be sure what He tells us is truth...that He and the Father are one and if we believe in Jesus, or here in the case of His disciples, since they had seen Him, we/they can know we've believed/seen the Father.

When we come to Christ we are filled with the Holy Spirit. "Verily, verily" is then made clear. Truth begins to become clear, our beliefs begin to change as we begin to change. None of this could happen without Jesus first needing to go to the Father...He needed to die so He could be resurrected, so people would see and believe. And so it is for us. We need to die to be resurrected to eternal life. We need to go to the Father through Jesus, His Son. No other person. No other way.

I did not see Him, nor talk to Him, nor see Him die, but there were witnesses from His time, His disciples and more, who have taken this occurrence to the ends of the world. Christ's death has been spoken of and believed to be true for 2,000 years. I heard the truth one day and believed from someone who had heard the truth and believed, all the way back to 2,000 years ago. Today it is by faith we believe. This faith is even greater because of ...the evidence of things not seen. (‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬) The Word never changes, God remains the same. The truth of Jesus Christ never changes.

We are asked to believe. And when we truly believe God will give us what we need. He first gave His Son, now He gives His Holy Spirit, the power of God, to help in our belief, to understand those things we could not understand before, to be witnesses, to speak the words of truth to unbelievers.

We can ask for anything, according to God's will, and He will give...according to what He knows we need. It's not always what we think or the way we expect. This is part of our faith in Him and part of our faith can come in the waiting. He promises He will always be there in the midst of the wait...most assuredly, verily, verily and amen. 

2Corinthians 1:20-22 - For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.