The Word of God is not only inspired, but is also a history book documented by facts. Jesus really walked on this earth. His virgin birth in Bethleham really happened. His crucifixion at Jerusalem was ordered by Governor Pontius Pilot.
Some people thought Jesus was John the Baptist or Elias. Others thought He was Jeremiah or one of the old prophets.
"But who do you say I am?" Jesus asked his disciples. Simon Peter gave the correct answer. "Thou art Christ, the Son of the Living God."
Jesus wants to hear your answer. Do you really know His magestic power full of grace and glory? Are you willing to tell others about Him?
What does God the Father say about Jesus?
Philippians 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name;
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things in earth and things under the earth;
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
My God is real for I can feel Him in my soul.
Albert Brumley wrote about the rapture -- being caught up -- when he penned "I'll Fly Away". The world will never fully understand that song.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For The Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet The Lord in the air; and so shall we ever be with The Lord.
What a meeting that will be! Christians will receive glorified bodies, like the glorified body of Christ. Believers who have died are planted like a seed in the ground and will become a flower from that seed during the resurrection (Phil 3:20-21; 1 Cor 15:47-58). Their soul that went to be with The Lord at death will be united with their body at resurrection.
On earth, we have walked with Christ by faith, but in the air we shall see Him as He is. Hallelujah!
Sadly, those who have never believed on Christ as their personal will miss this meeting.
If we are united to God through faith in Christ, we share His nature -- love. Love for our neighbors is a true test of unity.
The greatest expression of God's love to us is in the death of His Son.
Romans 5:8,9 But God commendeth himself to us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
We are not saved by loving Christ. We are saved by believing in Him. That's when the Holy Spirit enables God's love nature in us to love one another.
Love heads the top of God's priority list.
Every form of life has its enemies. Insects hide from hungry birds, and birds avoid hungry cats and dogs. Even human beings have to dodge automobiles and fight off germs.
The Christian's enemy is sin. The Apostle John warned his brethren about the desires of the flesh and the pride of life.
It bothers some people, especially young Christians, that believers sin. They forget that the old physical nature fights against the new nature which we receive when we are born again (Gal. 5:16-26).
No amount of self-discipline, man-made rules or regulations can control this old nature. Only the Holy Spirit of God can enable us to "put to death" the old nature and produce the fruit of the Spirit.
Romans 8:12,13 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin, but yield yourselves unto God as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
The parable of the man giving his servants talents to invest is a message of surrender for all believers. Traveling to a far country, their lord expects a return on his investment when he returns.
One servant took his five talents and doubled them. Another doubled his two, but the third one buried his only one.
God gives us time, talents, and treasures to glorify Him. He wants 100% return on His investment. The Bible says He won't put more on us than what we can handle. It all belongs to Him.
Psalm 24:1 The earth's is the Lord's and the fulness thereof: the world and they that dwell therein.
When the lord returns, the first two servants are awarded for their obedience. The third servant gives a flimsy excuse about burying his talent. God calls him wicked and slothful (lazy) and gives his to him that had ten. God adds to those who willingly do the most.
Do we bury our talent and say, "Lord, I can't sing or talk like someone else."? The Lord already knows what you can and can't do.
We serve God because we love Him, not because of what He gives us.
. . . The new birth is not the end; it is the beginning. God gives His children all that they need to live godly lives, but His children must apply themselves and be diligent to use the "means of grace" He has provided.
Peter lists seven characteristics of the godly life (2 Peter 1:5-7): Virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. We develop one quality as we exercise another.
2 Peter 1:8 For if these things be in you and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Godliness is intensely practical. Godly people make right and noble decissions. They don't take the easy path simply to avoid pain or trial. They do what is right because it is the will of God.
For Christ, Gethsemane is a place of agony. At the end of the day, Jesus, alone and talking to His Father, prepares Himself for the cross. His sorrow is great because He is about to take on sin. To a Holy God, that is depressing.
Though His body would feel the beating, them pulling out His beard, thorns in His skull, nails in His hands and feet, and the gash in His side, the sorrow and depression was about the One who knew no sin, taking on the sins of mankind. He prayed one hour with a heavy heart.
Mark 14:36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what thou wilt.
The cup of His Father -- 'Daddy', he called Him -- was His Father turning away from the sin while He is on the Cross. It breaks His heart.
To the Son of God, all sin is wretched, putrid, and repulsive; yet Jesus is willing to make the sacrifice for our redemption.
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
If that isn't love, the ocean is dry
There's no stars in the sky, and the sparrow can't fly
If that isn't love, then heaven's a myth
There's no feeling like this if that isn't love.
Dottie Rambo
. . . all about being Christ-like. We are in Him. His life becomes ours. "I am dead, yet I live."
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
God loved us first when we were unlovable. Through this love we see Him for what He truly is, and it unites us. When someone is born into the family of God, they should grow spiritually. We come together to worship, to nourish our spiritual bodies. There is potential for our lives. We are to feast upon God. That's what true Christians do.
2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever.
There is more to being a Christian in love and life only. We are to be baptized as He asks. We are to trust and obey. Stay in God's Word. Allow the Holy Spirit to teach us the truth in scripture.
