The Way, The Truth, The Life
To my loves, and others,
Today, I want to talk to you about the truth. I have written about many things in my time, and made reference to this, but have not written a blog solely, and specifically, about it.
The truth is that, two millenia ago, in His infinite love and grace, God put His essence, His Word, inside of a young virgin woman, impregnating her with a child, a child to be known as Jesus, Yeshua, Immanuel, Christ. Jesus was born to a virgin mother and lived from a child to a man sinless, perfect, obedient. Jesus went to John the Baptist, was baptized in water, and the Spirit of God came upon Him.
In His life as both God and man, Jesus performed a great multitude of marvelous and wondrous miracles from healing the sick and casting out demons to returning people to life from what we call death. He taught the Word of God and brought clarification to inconsistent or inaccurate teachings. He showed constant compassion and love, and lived by a great example to those who would follow Him. And after He did all that was predestined and planned, when His hour had arrived, He was arrested in spite of His innocence, judged by man, tortured/flogged, and crucified. He lived a perfect, blameless life. Days later, Jesus rose from death, appeared before many, and sent His apostles on a mission to spread what they had seen and experienced across many nations, that people may know Jesus is the Son and embodiment of God in the flesh. That they may know Him, love Him, and live a free life. He ascended to the heavens and gifted His apostles with the Holy Spirit, that they may too perform many wonders upon men, speak in many tongues, and spread the message far and wide. It was a perfect plan, a perfect life, for our salvation.
Jesus lived a perfect, blameless life because we could not, because we are sinners. We are tainted by the sin of our forebears, when Adam and Eve chose disobedience over God's instruction. Jesus died innocent, as a sacrifice, as a price, so that we may be blameless before God. That we could walk comfortably before Him, and live contently for Him, knowing we are no longer condemned by our sin. Jesus died for us so that we may live and die free. And all we have to do to be free of condemnation is to accept His sacrifice. Accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord.
One can look back on his or her life, and the number of sins committed cannot be counted if one had the rest of his or her life to do it. It would be easier to count each grain of rice in a ten pound bag, then one person's sins. We are flawed, imperfect, helpless in spite of our own efforts. Through Christ Jesus, we are free. We can look back, wave good-bye to our sin, and start fresh, blameless. Live life, blameless. We can take that mountain of guilt off of our shoulders and live fearless. Jesus carried the burden of our sins and it was all washed away by His blood. The way to life is through Jesus.
In accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we put aside our old life (old ways) of sin, and embrace a new life in Christ. And while we are still imperfect in the flesh, unwise and subjected to sin, the Lord redeems us so that we can pursue cleaner lives. He speaks to us, helps us with His in-dwelling Spirit, refining us daily into better people. We are not so easily seduced by the temptations of the world, but have a resistance through the Spirit. We deny ourselves of the world. He grows us in our trials and offers us peace in spite of what the sinful world brings.
Of course, accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior is not a halfhearted gesture. When you accept Him, you have to believe it. You must have faith in Him, trust Him, and accept Him. You pray to the Lord that you want Him in your life. You reach out to Him. It's one thing to say you're free and still be a slave. It's a completely different thing to have the shackles removed and dance to the rhythm of a content heart. It's one thing to say you're a Christian. It's a completely different thing to be a Christian.
Being a Christian is not simply believing in God. Some people attribute being a Christian to believing in God. A lot of people believe in God. Anyone can believe in God. Most people believe in a divine force or being. Even demons believe in God. Being a Christian is not simply going to church. Some people attribute being a Christian to going to church. Anybody can go to church. Building inspectors go to church. Auditors go to church. People invite people to church quite often. The person goes, sits there, listens or doesn't, and leaves. Being dragged to church does not make you a Christian. You can go to church for twenty straight years. In your heart, if you do not have faith in Jesus, if you did not accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are not a Christian. Being a Christian is not simply reading the bible. Anybody can read the bible. Religious study students have read the bible. Some Buddhists have read the bible. Some evolutionists and humanists have read the bible. Some atheists have read the bible. No doubt even Satan has read the bible. Saying you've read the bible means nothing. And having said all of this, if you believe you believe in God, go to church, and have read the bible, but you do not believe in Jesus, nor accept Him as your Lord and Savior, you are not a Christian.
The way to salvation is through Christ and that begins through prayer. To know Christ is to take the time to convene with Him and the Father, and read the Word (the bible). Through the bible, we see the journey of man in our relationship with God. The bible is a history of our relationship with God. The bible is about God, and about us, but foremost about God and His Son, Jesus. And our relationship with God and Jesus is essential. He loves us, and wants the best for us. Through prayer, you may speak to God, and Christ, and build a relationship. If you do not have a relationship, but seek one, and seek peace, freedom, contentment, in spite of the travesties of the world, go to God and ask for peace, ask for freedom, ask for contentment, and most importantly, ask for that relationship with Him. Seek out His Spirit, that it will move you in your daily life closer to Him, along the narrow path that leads to life. Join the body of Christ and get baptized.
I share this with love, because I want the best for you, each and every one of you, even the most corrupt of you, and even the petty ones who have annoyed me with high school shenanigans. We are all God's children. I share this because there is another truth that needs to be shared. And that is that Jesus is returning, and when He returns, the world as we know it will no longer be. The world will be punished and washed of sin, the sinners and the saints will be collected and divided. Those who have wholeheartedly accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will be pardoned, for their price has been paid. But those who have not accepted Jesus, those who are not in the Book of Life, those who have hardened their hearts, those who have chosen disobedience, debauchery, destruction, and death will stand before the Lord God Almighty. They will stand under judgment for their sins. The price of sin is death. And they will be cast into the fire. There will be a great gnashing of teeth. That will be their end. That will be their fate. There is nothing worse than this.
And even the best of us, even us saints deserve this, but we are spared by the grace and mercy of God through Jesus Christ. It is a matter of choice. Choose life. Choose love. Choose peace. Choose freedom. Choose Jesus.
I pray that all who may read this will be touched by the Spirit of the Lord, and will pursue the love, grace, and mercy of God, will pursue Jesus, and have salvation, in Jesus's name. Amen.
Today, I want to talk to you about the truth. I have written about many things in my time, and made reference to this, but have not written a blog solely, and specifically, about it.
The truth is that, two millenia ago, in His infinite love and grace, God put His essence, His Word, inside of a young virgin woman, impregnating her with a child, a child to be known as Jesus, Yeshua, Immanuel, Christ. Jesus was born to a virgin mother and lived from a child to a man sinless, perfect, obedient. Jesus went to John the Baptist, was baptized in water, and the Spirit of God came upon Him.
In His life as both God and man, Jesus performed a great multitude of marvelous and wondrous miracles from healing the sick and casting out demons to returning people to life from what we call death. He taught the Word of God and brought clarification to inconsistent or inaccurate teachings. He showed constant compassion and love, and lived by a great example to those who would follow Him. And after He did all that was predestined and planned, when His hour had arrived, He was arrested in spite of His innocence, judged by man, tortured/flogged, and crucified. He lived a perfect, blameless life. Days later, Jesus rose from death, appeared before many, and sent His apostles on a mission to spread what they had seen and experienced across many nations, that people may know Jesus is the Son and embodiment of God in the flesh. That they may know Him, love Him, and live a free life. He ascended to the heavens and gifted His apostles with the Holy Spirit, that they may too perform many wonders upon men, speak in many tongues, and spread the message far and wide. It was a perfect plan, a perfect life, for our salvation.
Jesus lived a perfect, blameless life because we could not, because we are sinners. We are tainted by the sin of our forebears, when Adam and Eve chose disobedience over God's instruction. Jesus died innocent, as a sacrifice, as a price, so that we may be blameless before God. That we could walk comfortably before Him, and live contently for Him, knowing we are no longer condemned by our sin. Jesus died for us so that we may live and die free. And all we have to do to be free of condemnation is to accept His sacrifice. Accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord.
One can look back on his or her life, and the number of sins committed cannot be counted if one had the rest of his or her life to do it. It would be easier to count each grain of rice in a ten pound bag, then one person's sins. We are flawed, imperfect, helpless in spite of our own efforts. Through Christ Jesus, we are free. We can look back, wave good-bye to our sin, and start fresh, blameless. Live life, blameless. We can take that mountain of guilt off of our shoulders and live fearless. Jesus carried the burden of our sins and it was all washed away by His blood. The way to life is through Jesus.
In accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we put aside our old life (old ways) of sin, and embrace a new life in Christ. And while we are still imperfect in the flesh, unwise and subjected to sin, the Lord redeems us so that we can pursue cleaner lives. He speaks to us, helps us with His in-dwelling Spirit, refining us daily into better people. We are not so easily seduced by the temptations of the world, but have a resistance through the Spirit. We deny ourselves of the world. He grows us in our trials and offers us peace in spite of what the sinful world brings.
Of course, accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior is not a halfhearted gesture. When you accept Him, you have to believe it. You must have faith in Him, trust Him, and accept Him. You pray to the Lord that you want Him in your life. You reach out to Him. It's one thing to say you're free and still be a slave. It's a completely different thing to have the shackles removed and dance to the rhythm of a content heart. It's one thing to say you're a Christian. It's a completely different thing to be a Christian.
Being a Christian is not simply believing in God. Some people attribute being a Christian to believing in God. A lot of people believe in God. Anyone can believe in God. Most people believe in a divine force or being. Even demons believe in God. Being a Christian is not simply going to church. Some people attribute being a Christian to going to church. Anybody can go to church. Building inspectors go to church. Auditors go to church. People invite people to church quite often. The person goes, sits there, listens or doesn't, and leaves. Being dragged to church does not make you a Christian. You can go to church for twenty straight years. In your heart, if you do not have faith in Jesus, if you did not accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are not a Christian. Being a Christian is not simply reading the bible. Anybody can read the bible. Religious study students have read the bible. Some Buddhists have read the bible. Some evolutionists and humanists have read the bible. Some atheists have read the bible. No doubt even Satan has read the bible. Saying you've read the bible means nothing. And having said all of this, if you believe you believe in God, go to church, and have read the bible, but you do not believe in Jesus, nor accept Him as your Lord and Savior, you are not a Christian.
The way to salvation is through Christ and that begins through prayer. To know Christ is to take the time to convene with Him and the Father, and read the Word (the bible). Through the bible, we see the journey of man in our relationship with God. The bible is a history of our relationship with God. The bible is about God, and about us, but foremost about God and His Son, Jesus. And our relationship with God and Jesus is essential. He loves us, and wants the best for us. Through prayer, you may speak to God, and Christ, and build a relationship. If you do not have a relationship, but seek one, and seek peace, freedom, contentment, in spite of the travesties of the world, go to God and ask for peace, ask for freedom, ask for contentment, and most importantly, ask for that relationship with Him. Seek out His Spirit, that it will move you in your daily life closer to Him, along the narrow path that leads to life. Join the body of Christ and get baptized.
I share this with love, because I want the best for you, each and every one of you, even the most corrupt of you, and even the petty ones who have annoyed me with high school shenanigans. We are all God's children. I share this because there is another truth that needs to be shared. And that is that Jesus is returning, and when He returns, the world as we know it will no longer be. The world will be punished and washed of sin, the sinners and the saints will be collected and divided. Those who have wholeheartedly accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior will be pardoned, for their price has been paid. But those who have not accepted Jesus, those who are not in the Book of Life, those who have hardened their hearts, those who have chosen disobedience, debauchery, destruction, and death will stand before the Lord God Almighty. They will stand under judgment for their sins. The price of sin is death. And they will be cast into the fire. There will be a great gnashing of teeth. That will be their end. That will be their fate. There is nothing worse than this.
And even the best of us, even us saints deserve this, but we are spared by the grace and mercy of God through Jesus Christ. It is a matter of choice. Choose life. Choose love. Choose peace. Choose freedom. Choose Jesus.
I pray that all who may read this will be touched by the Spirit of the Lord, and will pursue the love, grace, and mercy of God, will pursue Jesus, and have salvation, in Jesus's name. Amen.
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