Tag Archives: Resurrection

Why don’t people consider cleaning their insides? We clean the outside don’t we?

Posted on by under Christianity, Faith, Jesus Christ, Jews & Gentiles, The Word

We know how to clean our bodies by showering or bathing, but do we understand that we also need to have our insides cleaned? Our hearts, our minds, our souls? How do I know this? Because I have been confronted with this myself. What in the world do I mean? Bear with me and read these words.

Luke 11:37-44, ‘And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him; and he went in, and sat down to meat. And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner. And the Lord said unto him,’ “Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also? But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you. But woe unto you, Pharisees! for you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgement and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.” Psalm 5:9 states, ‘For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.’ …They gave no thought to the condition inside themselves and how spiritually distant they really were from God. They were passing over God’s love for them and passing over what God really thinks of them in their condition. The most important thing to Jesus, to God, about each one of us is our spiritual side, and what we are truly like on the inside.

We need to ask Jesus to help us, and we need to take action about how our insides are to be kept by reading his words. He wants all our corners cleaned out. He would like us to desire holiness and his righteousness and to be like him. We as people can spend an exorbitant amount of time on our outside appearance and status and the like can’t we? But what about the inside and what about our conscience? Jesus desires for us to see our insides as the most important, not the outside. Our thoughts are most important to him. It’s opposite of how the world thinks isn’t it? If we don’t start looking at Jesus, the one who made us, reading his word to help us understand what he thinks, we will never learn all there is he wants us to know about him, ourselves, our insides, and this world. Jesus was saying to the Pharisees, look inside yourselves and at your sins and what you are doing… you are living not from me but from yourselves. The Pharisees desired only to lift themselves up in their own eyes and other people’s eyes, to be seen, to be recognized, be pointed to, and revered. They cared so much for the outside and their power, but never took the time to look deep inside within and see the lack thereof. The Old Testament had laws that said if a person touched a grave he was unclean. Jesus said because of the Pharisees corruptness they were guilty of making everyone else who came into contact with them unclean also. Innocent people became contaminated themselves with sin and got caught up in uncleanness too, because of not staying close enough to God, and staying away from these truly ungodly leaders. Sin keeps a person separated from God. But Jesus has provided a way for us.

Please read more. In Luke 11:45-54: ‘Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master; thus saying thou reproachest us also. And he said,’ “Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers. Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchers of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchers. Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation; From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation. Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.” ‘And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things: Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.’

How blind can a person be right?! The Pharisees wanted to be known for building tombs for the prophets but didn’t look at how their forefathers could possibly be wrong in killing the prophets? This is because they refused to even consider Jesus. Jesus talked about the load people had to carry on the inside because of all the Pharisees’ rules, and how the ‘experts in the law’ didn’t do anything about it… uncaring, selfish and truly blind that they were because of no empathy here in their lives. And even after Jesus leaves, the Pharisees continue to conspire against Jesus instead of having a look inside themselves and trying to understand even a little of what Jesus was talking to them about. Attack and do not look inside to see if there might be even a grain of truth inside! And in reality if they had they would have seen that Jesus was telling them the whole truth. He was their long awaited Messiah! We must take time for our inside, our conscience, to be thought about. God wants us to compare ourselves to what we see and hear about in his word. Why? Because our thoughts and feelings can be wrong unless we compare them against the truth of God’s word. He gives us the straight story about ourselves. Just ask him to help you. You can change and be better for it!

Jesus tells us we cannot change from the inside out without his help and grace. We are dependent upon him, and he wants us to depend on him for this and ask for his help. No one can truly understand about God and that they need him, without him, and him drawing you to him. So if you are reading this, this is a sign, that he is drawing you as you read this. It is very exciting! His grace is truly a free gift given for each of us and that only, Jesus Christ himself, can give to someone. It is personal and it is from Jesus. Ephesians 2:8-10 tells us, ‘For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.’ We may try to change ourselves on our own but we will always fall short because it is beyond our ability. Coming to Christ for salvation is not a work. You can do nothing without him. For you must become born again to be changed and cleaned on the inside, as God’s word says in John 3:1-8. Read it for yourself. We need Jesus Christ. And he created us for relationship with himself. Only Jesus can cleanse us from our sin from the inside out. Jesus gives us this hope in the true story of his gospel; coming into the world born of the virgin Mary, death on the cross, shedding his blood for each of us, and rising from the dead on the third day thereby destroying sin’s power over death and us being able to live with Jesus while on this earth and for eternity in heaven. Jesus Christ is the free gift in what he did for you and is given to any who sincerely desire to have a new and changed life in him, for those who desire with whole hearts to repent fully of their sins and believe in him and what he’s done for them. Come just as you are if you desire to have this new life and believe he did this for you. No need to ‘clean up’ before you come, because Jesus loves you right where you are at right now. In John 14:6 Jesus tells us, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no one cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Glory be to God for providing a way for us!

Whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, Jesus is coming back one day!

Jewish people, sent but not forgotten.

Posted on by under Christianity, Faith, Jesus Christ, Jews & Gentiles, The Word

God’s chosen people were the Jews. God’s original intention was for the Jews to go out into the world and tell others about him. In Matthew 10:5-7 it states, ‘These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying,’ “Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Paul, on his missionary journeys in the new testament, preached first to the Jews, then to the Gentiles.

Romans 9:29 with Paul speaking to the Jewish people states, ‘And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.’ Romans 9:27 says, ‘Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved.’ Romans 10:3-4 explains this, ‘For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God (what God tells us in his word). For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.’ Verse 3 is clear, the Jews thought that by their works they would be able to obtain righteousness. But just as the Gentiles must know if they are ever to understand Christ, it is that their righteousness is not from anything we can do, for that is considered ‘a work.’ Salvation is not from anyone’s work but Jesus Christ’s. We as mere human beings cannot do a single thing to satisfy the requirement God needed to bring us into a right relationship with him. For none of us ever are good enough to bridge that gap on our own. God required a holy and righteous sacrifice. One perfect in his eyes that would be able to take on all the sins of the world. One that could not be fully human only for none are righteous in his eyes. So Jesus Christ came fully as a human but also as God fully divine, without a spot of sin or wrinkle.

A shedding of blood is required to cover and atone for sins. Hebrews 9:22 states, ‘And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.’ It goes on in Hebrews 9:26, ‘For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by sacrifice of himself.’ Jesus Christ was and is the great sacrifice, coming once and for all in these last days, Jew and Gentile alike. His birth, death on the cross, and his resurrection three days later made a way for us to be able to enter by God’s grace into his presence, …to be able to have a relationship with him. That is why in John 19:30 Jesus says, “It is finished.” It is over and paid for in full for the forgiveness of the people’s sins. Jesus’s love for us was sacrificial and perfect, done for you, done for me. Jesus is the bridge that fills the gap between us and God, the Father. Jesus rising three days later proving to us that there is life after death and that we will one day, rise to meet him and live eternally with him if we are born again (saved). It is only by grace we are saved. Ephesians 2:8-9 states, ‘For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.’ Romans 9:16 says, ‘So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.’ It is a gift offered freely for any who desire to accept by faith the good news of what Jesus has done. Do you desire with all your heart to repent of all your sins, desiring to change your ways, and come to Jesus asking for his forgiveness? Do you desire a ‘new life’ in him? Come as you are and accept the free gift Jesus has for you. Tell him so.

Romans 11:25-27 states, ‘For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.’ Israel will finally recognize Jesus as their Messiah. Ezekiel 11:17 says, ‘Therefore say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; I will even gather you from the people, and assemble you out of the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.’

John 14:6-7 states, ‘Jesus saith unto him,’ “I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If you had known me, you should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.”

What is your role as a Jewish person in this ‘Age of the Gentiles?’ Are you meant to be reading this? Is there a purpose specifically designed for you by God? I believe you are meant to read this and yes, there is a purpose God has made you for! Even in Romans 1:16 it states, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.”

Whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, Jesus is coming back one day!

Israel’s Unbelief.

Posted on by under Christianity, Faith, Jesus Christ, Jews & Gentiles, The Word

The Jews expected Jesus Christ to be a different sort of king than he was. They figured Jesus would be a regular type of king that would be of this world, so that he would rescue them from Roman rule, and then they would be independent as a nation with Jesus as their true king and messiah. And because of this most Jewish people don’t believe who Jesus Christ truly is. But Jesus came as a servant to the whole world, to physically show his love to you and me by actually dying for each and every one of us on that cross. Jesus Christ is God come in the flesh to us, so he would not be thinking as the Jewish people expected. Jesus Christ was to come into this world to save all people from their sins, which he has done by physically coming into this world, dying on the cross, and rising three days later. He’s defeated sin and death for each of us. He’s provided a way for this whole world, every person/sinner to come in repentance to him to have the relationship with God himself restored to us now. In Hebrews 3:19 states, ‘So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.’ Israel lost their total dependence on God that it had had before sadly. We all need Jesus and he wants us to be dependent on him. We all need to keep our eyes and thoughts on Jesus Christ and his word to decipher what he is thinking and telling us to know. Over 300 prophecies told the Jewish people about their Messiah and some of those stated that he also would be persecuted and killed. It was foretold. Paul writes in Romans 9:4-5, ‘Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed forever. Amen.’ Their heritage was the most blessed of any in the world.

To have been chosen to just be in the Jewish lineage… what a privilege it was and still is!

Let’s look quickly at just a few of those 300+ prophecies that have verses corresponding  both from the old and new testaments. The Messiah would be a sacrifice for sin: Isaiah 53:5-12 & Romans 5:6-8. The Messiah rejected by his own people: Psalm 69:8 & John 1:11. The Messiah silent before his accusers: Isaiah 53:7 & Mark 15:4-5. The Messiah buried with the rich: Isaiah 53:9 & Matthew 27:57-60. The Messiah resurrected from the dead: Psalm 16:10 & Matthew 28:2-7; also Psalm 49:15 & Acts 2:22-32.

In Isaiah 41:14 the LORD refers to himself as ‘thy redeemer.’ Redeemer means rescuer. Jeremiah 31:31-34 states, ‘Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah. Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was and husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.’ This can only happen by the power of the God and from his free gift of grace to you through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the new covenant. Jesus came to save you from your sins. Ephesians 2: 8-9 states: ‘For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not by works, lest any man should boast.’ Humbly and truthfully confessing all of our sins before him, desiring to change with true repentance, and acknowledging Jesus’s death on the cross and his resurrection for you are included. This is a new covenant that is made with Israel and with all mankind. He desires you to be born again spiritually so you are able to see things as he sees them, from God’s worldview and not only from your human standpoint. Hebrews 11:6 states, ‘But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.’

Matthew 5:17-20 talks of how Jesus didn’t come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; but to fulfill them. In Verse 20 Jesus states, “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” And how can this be done? Only through Jesus Christ and his righteousness. Read God’s word. It cannot be from ourselves, good works of any kind, or anything we think we should do to get us into heaven because why would Jesus had to of died on the cross for us then? Here again we see God’s words pointing only to Jesus Christ, the savior of the world. We must keep our eyes and our heart on him and be in his word if we are to understand. The Pharisees were studious in the Law, and pious on the outside. They believed strict obedience to the Law would get them into heaven. But their hearts were far from God and his kingdom. The Pharisees allegiances were on themselves. God wants our dependence on him, not ourselves. We are not the key, Jesus is himself. Read the word, you will find out for yourself. As Jews and Gentiles we can’t do anything to make ourselves right with God. And there is only one way. In John 14:6-7 says, ‘Jesus saith unto him,’ “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.”

Romans 9:30-32 talks of how the Jews pursued a law of righteousness and were not able to attain it, but how the Gentiles obtained righteousness because of their faith. It states how the Jews thought they’d be able to attain it for themselves by their works. Again, why would we need Jesus Christ if we could get to heaven by something we ourselves could do? Romans chapter 11 talks of the remnant of Israel. Verses 5-7 states, ‘Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for: but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.’

Galatians 3:23-26 says, ‘But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.’ Galatians 3:29 states, ‘And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.’

Jesus Christ is the new covenant. Given to us as a free gift from God the Father above. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Only by God’s grace through faith can you receive him if you want to be born again from above. Repent and trust in him. Ask him to help you to understand.

You will know if you have truly received Jesus Christ as your savior as he gives you the Holy Spirit to guide and give you direction in this new life. Stay in the word of God to be continually fed, you will need this! And you will have a new purpose along with new eyes to see, new ears to hear, and a deep faith that pleases God! Praise Jesus! His word is true life. Praise God!

Whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, Jesus Christ is coming back one day!

Taking time to prepare your heart.

Posted on by under Christianity, Faith, Jesus Christ, Jews & Gentiles, The Word

God declares the end from the beginning. The Bible as God’s book of love and personal instruction is sent to us and for us. It gives us the most important and captivating history lessons and spiritual lessons to learn from. It starts with the beginning of time and creation in Genesis, and goes onto what will be happening in the end times. Isaiah 46:9-10 says, ‘Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.’ God gives everyone his Word, the Bible, so we can be prepared ahead of time for what is coming and understand why his own inspired, inerrant words were written to and for us. Readying our heart, mind, and spirit to get to know him personally and hopefully that you might receive him. Jesus Christ urges us to be ready by reading and hearing his word. Understanding that he knows everything about us already since he’s made us. Knowing what he wants us to learn from it and that it is for our own best and that of our family’s. He wants us to be ready with our lamps burning and plenty of oil in waiting for his return. This is so exciting! Revelation 22:20 states, ‘He which testifieth these things saith,’ “Surely I come quickly.” ‘Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.’ Prophecy is proof that the bible is from a truly loving and holy God. Prophecy comes from the prophets in the old testament and there is some in the new testament. Jesus loves us and wants us to read and take his Word, the Bible, very seriously. In fact there is no more important thing we can do for ourselves in heaven or on earth than to prepare ourselves to know Jesus Christ and read his words. Come just as you are to him and read. The new testament book of John is a wonderful place to start with inside the Bible because it gives us a lot of Jesus’s own words and explains to us who Jesus Christ really is, and about believing in him. There are some spectacular miracles written about here, and about his life. I love that it’s full of truth and light and love.

A good majority of God’s word is prophecy. By one account over 25% of both old and new testament scripture is prophecy. So prophecy is most important in the bible! 2 Peter 1:20-21 states, ‘Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.’ God’s message is clear; he exists and is in control of history! This is truly comforting. There are over 300 prophecies that Jesus Christ has fulfilled on the topic of his life, death, and resurrection.

Jesus also tells everyone in Luke 21 about remaining watchful for his return. We are living in the last days everyone! Hebrews 1:1-2 states, ‘God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.’ His words say in Hebrew 2:1-4, ‘Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?’ Christ wants us spiritually fit and ready because he is coming back. Don’t be lazy or careless about life – seek God – who he is, why he came, what he did, and what he will be doing. You don’t know what you don’t know. Ask God for his help in this. Ask him for what you need whether it’s knowledge, wisdom, or/and understanding and he will give it to you. Knock at his door! Read his Word. In Matthew 7:7,8 Jesus states, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” Get a good bible, I recommend the authorized KJV with the words of Jesus in red letters and the chapters indexed. Do not give up, stick with it, and see what happens! How is a person to know the signs of the times we are coming upon unless you start getting acquainted with what Jesus says in his word so you can understand and be ready?

If you knew something in the future was coming wouldn’t you act to prepare? No one likes to be left behind or left out of anything important, and in this case it is the most important thing of all. If we know our car needs fixing we don’t wait until it almost falls apart to get it looked at. Or if one of our children needs to go to the doctor suddenly, we just wouldn’t ignore them would we? That is what Jesus is trying to tell us, be ready! In Luke 12:40 Jesus states, “Be therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” A lot of prophecies left to be fulfilled have to do with him coming again one day. And he wants you prepared not only for yourself but for your family and friends as well.

In Revelation 22:7 Jesus tells us, “Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” In Revelation 22:13 Jesus says, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” John 1:1-5 says, ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.’ The Word is consistent, unchanging, and always points to Jesus Christ. Much prophecy was fulfilled in his first coming. And with Jesus’s second coming, he is coming to rule over all nations and this time as the one and only king of all. Revelation 19:15-16 states, ‘And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.’ Let us make time to prepare our hearts, our minds, and our souls for him!

2 Peter 1:19 states, ‘We also have a more sure word of the prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts.’ The morning star is our Messiah.

Scripture/the Word/Jesus Christ is the only light for our feet. In John 14:6 it says, ‘Jesus saith unto him,’ “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” In the bible we meet Jesus Christ who died for us and is our answer for everything in all of life and for eternity. Light shines to help us and guide us. Follow the light of the world who is Jesus Christ and you will never regret it, and your life will become more and more like his. Light draws us, warms us, staves off darkness, makes things visible, and sustains all life. As plants do not grow without enough light, the Lord is truly our light to help us see and learn that we wither without his light and grace to sustain us and keep us strong. In John 8:12 it says, ‘Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying,’ “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” This is a promise from Jesus Christ to you!

Whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, Jesus is coming back one day!

Israel and it’s past, present, and future.

Posted on by under Christianity, Faith, Jesus Christ, Jews & Gentiles, The Word

The Jews are God’s chosen people told to us from God’s Word. Deuteronomy 14:2 states, ‘For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.’ There is a purpose in this. In the book of Genesis Seth is Adam and Eve’s third son, with most of the other descendants of Adam and Eve not being written about. This is because Jesus Christ can be traced from the line of Seth. Jesus Christ is what the whole bible talks to us about as people. The Bible is progressive which means as you read God’s Word it reveals over time what God is planning and how things will be changing in the future. From Seth down to Noah (think the flood), Noah to Abraham, to the twelve sons of Jacob (Jacob was Abraham’s grandson), to the kings of Judah and then to King David, until when we come to the world’s savior, Jesus Christ, the world’s Messiah; God had chosen and planned for the Jewish people to understand where Jesus, the Anointed One, was to be born into and what race he would be from. 1 Kings 8:53 states, “For thou didst separate them from among all the people of the earth, to be thine inheritance, as thou spakest by the hand of Moses thy servant, when thou broughtest our fathers out of Egypt, O Lord GOD.” Israel was to be the honored nation of priests, prophets, teachers, and preachers sent out to the Gentiles from God. Israel was to be the nation who pointed the world towards God, the Word, and the world’s prophesied about Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 53 clearly prophesies about the Messiah coming to suffer for the whole human race. Isaiah 53:10-12 states, ‘Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he had put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.’ The Jews instead of thinking of how Jesus, their sent Messiah, would suffer for them, only loose themselves in their thinking how soon ‘the Anointed One’ would bring them victory. Wasn’t he their prophesied king, one who was to set up his kingdom and rule? This of course was true but only wasn’t to happen then at that time. He will come to be King one day soon but he first came to die for the world and so came as the suffering servant for them. So when Jesus Christ comes into the world to live among those he created, to die on the cross and be resurrected three days later, they continue to reject him. Jesus had come to die for the Jewish people’s sins and the Gentiles’ sins. Israel’s heart was hardened; but surprisingly and ultimately this actually ends up leading to a way for both Jews and Gentiles alike to be able to get to know God in relationship through Jesus Christ who had come. This was in God’s progressive plan, to have Jesus his dearest one and only begotten son crucified, being made a ransom for all in the world, as his great gift given to us to restore our relationship with God the Father. Paul states in Romans 11:25, ‘For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.’

In Romans 9:23,24 Paul says, ‘And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?’ Romans 9:27 states, ‘Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved.’ Romans 9:30-33 says, “What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith. But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by works of the law. For they stumbled at the stumblingstone; As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.’ Paul goes on in Romans 10:1-4, ‘Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.’ Romans 11:1-6 states, ‘I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying, Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.’ After this Jesus teaches about the vine and the branches: the tree’s natural but broken branches (any Jewish people) and the wild olive shoots (any Gentiles); that share from the olive root (Jesus Christ), the nourishing sap needed to grow healthy and stay strong. In John 15:1-2 Jesus Christ states, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.” Jesus is the living vine today for all who want to/should come to him. Be not afraid. Come read his Word. (I use the authorized KJV.) His words tell us there, without faith it is impossible to please him. We can not understand God or bear any bear fruit that counts in God’s eyes, or become more Christ-like, without knowing Jesus and becoming born again/saved. For he alone is the way, the truth, and the life.

God desires each of us and all to come to know him personally, Jewish people and Gentiles alike. This whole biblical account is for all of us, what he did and over time and through the ages. Dying as the Passover Lamb, being the true ‘Lamb of God’ who takes away the sins of the world… back then and today right now, and in the future, all the sins of those whom he calls and who will believe on him. What the Word says he did. What a gift! And what a mystery, and what love, light, and truth! He offers new life only by his grace, to any who in true sincerity will come repenting of (turning from) their sins to him, confessing them to him, asking for his forgiveness, and believing in Jesus Christ and that he died and rose again three days later for their sins and to forgive them. In Matthew 4:17 it states, ‘From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say,’ “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” For Jesus was there in the flesh with them being fully man and fully God right in front of them at that time.

Israel will be restored one day. Isaiah 11:11-12 says, ‘And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Cush, and from Elam, and from Shinar, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea. And he shall set up an ensign for the nations, and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.’ Praise God!

The book of John in the new testament is a wonderful place to start reading the Bible in coming to know who our Lord Jesus Christ is and what he says to us. I really love reading the book of John. God’s holy Word is divine and inspired from God. Did you know Jesus Christ is called the Word? Look with me at John 1:14. It states, ‘And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.’ John 1:1 says, ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.’ Isn’t this fascinating and all encompassing? Read it for yourself and see.

Are you ready? Jesus urges us to be ready. Jesus’s words in Luke 12:40 state, “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”

Whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, Jesus is coming back one day!

Who is Jesus Christ?

Posted on by under Christianity, Faith, Jesus Christ, Jews & Gentiles, The Word

Jesus Christ is the one, appointed from God the Father, who came to this earth to save all the people from their sins. This was prophesied long ago by the prophets in the bible’s old testament, of one who would be coming into this world to suffer and die for us, and to be resurrected three days later. Isaiah 7:14 states, ‘Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.’ Jesus came into the world. Luke 9:56 tells us, “For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” Jesus Christ came for us because without him people would not be saved/born again and would spend eternity in hell without him because of the broken relationship created between man and God the Father, because of Adam and Eve. More than seven hundred years before Jesus was born, Isaiah 53 was written, and this book prophesied about Jesus and his suffering. He came to die and then rise again to defeat death and sin for each one of us. He desires to give each one of us a brand new life here on earth and to spend eternity with him after our death. A life for all eternity being with God!

God the Father sent his son Jesus Christ, God incarnate (embodied in flesh in human form), to come into the world for us. God has given us his holy and perfect Word (the Bible) because of his great love for us and so we would have his direction plan for our lives in this gravely fallen world. John 1:1 says, ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.’ John 1:4 states, ‘In him was life; and the life was the light of men.’ God and his word are inseparable. The bible is powerful and full of truth!

Jesus’s resurrection is proof that Christ is who he said he was… the Son of God. Who else could die and rise again for us? In John 2:19 Jesus says, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Jesus was speaking of his death and resurrection three days later. The resurrection tells us that we too, can have that hope that we will rise again after our death and be with him if we are born again/saved believers. In John 3:3 Jesus states, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Our souls are immortal, our bodies are not. 1 Cor. 15:22 says, ‘For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.’ 1 Cor. 15:44 in part states, ‘…it is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.’ The Apostles being eyewitnesses, hid after Christ’s death, fearing for their lives. But after Jesus’s resurrection, he appears to them, and they boldly start proclaiming God’s Word. In Luke 24:39 Jesus states, “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.” After Christ’s resurrection and his appearance to Paul on the road to Damascus, Paul has a conversion experience and does a total 180 degree turn around. Instead of killing Christians as he had been doing (he was then called Saul of Tarsus before Jesus got ahold of him and Jesus renames him Paul), he starts defending the very Gospel of Jesus Christ. The bible tells us of Jesus’s resurrection and his appearance to many after he is resurrected. He shows himself to Mary Magdalene, various other women, Peter, the Apostles (once without Thomas and later to them all), to over five hundred believers at once, James, and Paul (Saul of Tarsus).

Jesus Christ is the bridge between God and man given to all people from God the Father. What bridge? Listen, without him alone we as man have no opportunity to be connected to God again in a restored relationship. Sin in the world cut that off to us and sin must be atoned for. Jesus gives us this amazing and free gift, which is himself, so we can be reconnected in a real relationship with God. He gives us this free gift, that is alone your gift from him to you, absolutely free for the taking if you will believe all that he’s said he’s done for you. His birth, death, and resurrection all done for you.

Can you believe it, that Jesus gives us this gift of himself?! I am still amazed by all of this just as I was at the beginning of when I became a born again believer myself. Even after forty-five years of walking with him, it’s truly still as fresh and new as it was when I first believed. We can be truly thankful for him and his word. What happiness and what joy, knowing he did this for us. Since Jesus did this for you why don’t you come just as you are right now and believe/trust in what he did for you? Dying on the cross and rising again three days later, don’t you desire fullheartedly to repent (turn from) of all your sins, asking him to give you a brand new life and tell him how you feel?

It says in John 14:6 ‘Jesus saith unto him,’ “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

In John 15:13 Jesus tells us, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Jesus Christ is the new covenant where all people are given the opportunity to receive him. The new covenant was originally given to only Israel but after Christ’s death and resurrection God by his grace alone allows Gentiles (anyone not a Jew) to be able to have the new covenant as well. His sacrifice on the cross and his resurrection given for every single person’s sins in this world: past, present, and future, has replaced the old covenant. The old covenant was a sacrifial system that required strict obedience to the Mosaic Law, but only temporaily removed sins and the people continually broke it. Thus the continual blood sacrifices of animals had to be made. There could be no coming into God’s presence themselves in that time unless you were the high priest for the Jewish people or one that God chose to speak to and that we read about in the Bible like Adam and Eve, Noah, Moses, Abraham, etc. By his coming into the world, and by his death and resurrection, he provides grace for those who desire and will come to Christ. And he provides the purification and cleansing for their sins. Thus this new covenant spoken of in the old testament by different prophets tells us there will be true believers from the Gentiles along with some Jewish people now who will receive this new covenant, but at a future unknown time from now, Israel then will have the opportunity at Jesus’s coming in the future to receive him if they haven’t. But we who are living now need him before this life is done folks! Don’t wait for no one knows what tomorrow will bring. …Sins turned as white as snow from his forgiveness, and cleansed from guilt to have freedom and true life in Christ. And knowledge of an everlasting life with him? Nothing is better!

Whether you are a Jew or a Gentile, Jesus is coming back one day!