It's all about Jesus

Whenever we talk about Christianity, we cannot give to much credit to our Lord Jesus Christ.  Every thing is about him and for him.  Christ did everything to save us from damnation.  There is nothing we can do or merit salvation on our own, but through our faith in the gospel.  The gospel is simply this:  Christ was the son of God and was crucified and died on the cross, and rose again through the power of the Holy Spirit, and now lives again.  And if we believe that, the same power that raised Christ from the grave puts to death the sin in us, and covers us with his righteousness.  It’s all about Jesus.  Paul puts it very clear in the following verses:

Colossians 1: 10 – 23  That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son (Jesus Christ): In whom (Jesus Christ) we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who (Jesus Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature; For by him (Jesus Christ) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him (Jesus Christ), and for him (Jesus Christ): And he (Jesus Christ) is before all things, and by him (Jesus Christ) all things consist.  And he (Jesus Christ) is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he (Jesus Christ) might have the preeminence.  For it pleased the Father that in him (Jesus Christ) should all fullness dwell; And, having made peace through the blood of his (Jesus Christ) cross, by him (Jesus Christ) to reconcile all things unto himself; by him (Jesus Christ), I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.  And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he (Jesus Christ) reconciled.  In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven: whereof I Paul am made a minister;

Exodus 3: 13 – 14  And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name?  what shall I say unto them?  And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

Mark 14: 61 – 62  But he held his peace, and answered nothing.  Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?  And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Whether we read the old or new Testaments, it’s still the same:  It’s all about Jesus.

Jesus Christ is Grace

Jesus Christ is grace. It’s our belief in him that gives us our blessed hope.  Christ did it all so that we could have eternal life in heaven.  Christ became sin, to cover our sin.  He became a curse that we could be free from the curse.  He shed his blood to cover our sin once and for all.  We can do nothing to merit favor with God, except through Christ.

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.   This verse tells us that Christ is the only way to come before the Father.  Jesus Christ is the truth and the life.  It’s only through his life that we can gain righteousness.  When we accept Christ as our Lord, God washes away all our past sins, and cloaks us with Christ righteousness.

Romans 3:21-4:3  But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference (between Jew and Gentile):  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation (the act of God whereby he becomes gracious to the sinner through Jesus Christ) through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where is boasting then? It is excluded.  By what law? Of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Is he the God of the Jews only? Is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision by faith.  Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.  What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture?  Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Romans 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  When you read this verse, don’t stop at the word ashamed, but meditate on the word power.  The gospel of Christ is the power of God to salvation.  And the Gospel is:

I Corinthians 15:1 – 4  Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:  

Love covers sin

Faith, grace, righteousness and love. 

These are the four things that Paul teaches over and over again.  The law that God gave to Moses was good, but it couldn’t bring salvation.  Only the blood of Christ can do that.  After Christ died on the cross, he fulfilled the law of Moses.  Now we are under a new covenant with God.  Paul describes it as the same one that Abraham had.  Abraham lived over 400 years before God gave the law to Moses, yet Abraham was saved by Gods grace and made righteous because he believed God.  This is now the system we are under.  Not law.

Concerning Abraham, God tells us this:  Romans 4: 21 – 25  And (Abraham) being fully persuaded that, what he (God) had promised, he was able also to perform.  And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.  Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Romans 8: 10 – 11  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken (make alive) your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Paul tells us that now on this side of the cross in I Corinthians 13:13  And now abideth faith, hope, charity (love), these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

We believe that by the grace of God, he sent his Son Jesus Christ to die for our sin, and that Christ was crucified and died and rose the third day.  And by believing this God imputes to us the righteousness of Christ.  God showed us his love for us by allowing his Son to die for our sins.   It is not your love for God that blesses you, but it is Gods love for you.

I John 4: 7 – 21  Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.  In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.  Herin is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 

Proverbs 10:12  Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

Galatians 5:6  For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision (Jewish) availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision (Gentile): but faith which worketh by love.

I John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Our Blessed Hope

The Blessed Hope

In I Thessalonians 4: 13 – 17 Paul explains the process Christ will use to remove the believing Christians or the Body of Christ from the earth before the wrath of God ( tribulation) starts.   But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 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.  Paul describes that when Christ does call for the Body of Christ, those Christians who have already died will get their new resurrected bodies first and they will come down into the clouds with Christ and meet the Christians that are still alive in the air, where they will receive their new resurrected bodies also.  Then we all go back up into Heaven with Christ.  Paul further explains this in II Thessalonians 2: 6 – 8.  Paul explains that the antichrist shall not be revealed upon the earth until the Holy Spirit of God is removed.  And we know that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, so the Spirit is within us.  That being known unto us, we also know that when the Spirit is removed, we will also be removed with him.   And now ye know what withholdeth (is restraining) that he (the antichrist) might be revealed in his time. for the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he (the Holy Spirit) who now letteth (restrains) will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:  There is also teaching that this refers to the body of Christ being taken only, and that the Holy Spirit will always be present on earth.

When God destroyed the earth the first time with a flood, he gave the people of the earth ample time to join Noah.  When the time finally came for Noah to enter the ark, God closed and sealed the door.  As the rain began to fall, it didn’t matter how may people came and pleaded to get in the ark of safety, there was no mercy shown.  No one got into the ark after God sealed the door.  During the tribulation period though, God is going to show some mercy to the inhabitants of the earth that refuse to accept the mark of the beast. In the book of Revelations chapter 7 verses one through 4; between the 6^th and 7^th seal of the first round in the tribulation events, God’s ordains 144,000 Jewish believers. Twelve thousand from each of the twelve tribes of Israel, and sends them out into the world to minister the gospel of the Kingdom to any who have not accepted the mark of the beast.  There will be many saved during the few years that follow, but they will more than likely be killed almost as soon as they believe. They will lose their lives here on earth, but their spirits will go directly to Heaven.

The apostle Paul makes it clear, that the body of Christ will be delivered from the wrath of God coming upon the earth.  Now is the time to examine yourself and make sure your ready spiritually to meet the Lord in the air. Revelations 3:10  Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth.

We also just need to look back in the scriptures and see how God handled these type events in the past.  God did not allow one drop of rain to fall until he had first provided safety for those who believed on him.  He removed Noah and his family.  God closed the door and sealed them in the ark, then, destruction came.  When God told Abraham that he was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, he first removed Lot and his family, then, did the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah come.

II Thessalonians 2: 1-4   Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him. That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand (the tribulation). Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition: Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.  Most writers of eschatology believe the translation made in the king James to “falling away” actually should have been “taking away” or removing. The other older translations of the bible before the King James Version did use the “taking away” meaning.  Reading that verse using the latter definition, completely lines up with Paul other scriptures listed above talking about removing the saints and meeting Christ in the air. The last part of those verses speaks about the antichrist performing the abominations of desolation.  That event happens at the mid-point of the tribulation.

Mathew 24: 15 When you therefore shall see the abominations of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand)

Daniel 9:27  And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.

What Christ wants from us, is for us to believe in him and become one with him.  His gift to us will be to deliver us from this terrible time coming upon the earth, and to bless us with eternal life with him.  This is our hope.

How to be without sin

If you believe in Christ, you are free from sin.

Sin is like a virus that runs through the blood of every single person that is born upon this earth.  None of us can escape it or get rid of it on our own.  The sin living in each of us will bring death to our natural bodies.  Because God loved us, he made a way for us to escape being judged for our sins.  Our bodies will still die, because of the corruption of sin in them, but our souls can be delivered.

When Christ presented his blood upon the alter in heaven, God decreed that every person that would from that time forth believe in Christ, would be saved.

Hebrews 10: 15–19  Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. Having therefore, bretheren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit Jesus was raised from the dead, so he could return to heaven and present his own sinless perfect self, as a sacrifice for sin once and for all.  All you have to do is believe, but unfortunately we also have an adversary doing everything in his power to keep us from believing:  II Corinthians 4:3-4  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost (perishing): In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

To those who will seek God out, and plead before him, he has made a way to deliver those from sin. In Romans 8:3 the Holy Spirit tells us that God condemned sin for those who believe.  The word condemned as used in this verse is from the Greek word “katakrino” which comes from the Greek word “krino” It means to judge against, or distinguish.

Romans 8:3-11  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh; That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.  Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken (make alive) your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

How are the dead raised

 My little cousin Jone Franco passed away in January of 2012. I looked at my calendar today at work, and it was September 3, 2013 her birthday.  She would have turned 59 years old today. I couldn’t hold back my tears. Mostly I am ashamed of myself for not trying to stay in closer contact with her when she was alive.

I think it is human nature to feel like we have all the time in the world.  We feel we have plenty of time to get close to family members or to get close to God.  We have all the time in the world it seems until the things we love are taken from us.  Unfortunately then it’s too late.  My uncle Vernon told me once, after my aunt, his wife passed away, that you never realize what you have until it gone.  I say this to my shame.  My best friend when I was young is now gone.  I know I’ll never get to see her again on this earth, and that breaks my heart continually.

God does comfort me with his word that lets me know I will see her again. Jone believed God, and was planted firmly in faith of Jesus Christ our Lord.  God does reward those that love him with eternal life.  If you haven’t made your commitment yet, please do so now.  Time goes by faster than we think, and the end is near.

I Corinthians 15: 33      33) Be not deceived:  evil communications (company) corrupt good manners (habits).  34) Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.  35) But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?  36) Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened (made alive), except it die:  37)  And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but mere grain, perhaps wheat or of some other grain:  38) But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.  39) All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds.  40) There are also celestial (heavenly) bodies, and bodies terrestrial (earthly): but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41) There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.  42) So also is the resurrection of the dead.  It is sown in corruption; and it is raised in incorruption:  43) It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.  44) It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.  There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

I have been blessed to have known Christ for as long as I can remember.  I grew up loving him. My life has not always reflected that love unfortunately.  My Christian walk has been like a yo-yo.  I’d spend a few years inseparable from Christ, then a few years far away from him.  I could always tell that Christ was never far away, and that always comforted me.  I know I don’t deserve the constant love he has always shown me.  I have now dedicated the remainder of my life to him.  Life doesn’t let us go back and do things differently.  We have to start where we are and let Christ do the rest.

God knows you personally

The bible tells us that if we love God, then God will know us. That is an incredible statement.  We can take confidence in knowing that God knows who we are, and what we are going through.  The other side of this being, that if you do not love God, then you are unknown to God. That is the scary side to be on.

I Corinthians 8:3 (NIV)  But the man who loves God is known by God.  (KJV) But if any man love God, the same is known of him. (NKJV) But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him. The Him being capitalized means God.

If you want to be in the minority remnant of people that God knows, and don’t know how to obtain that, or what does God mean by “love God”, the apostle John puts it this way: John 14:23 22) Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23) Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.  Now, to us gentiles, Christ will make himself known unto the world through us, by the Holy Spirit that lives in us.

The apostle Paul tells us that without faith, it is impossible to please God.  The simple definition of faith is: taking God at his word, or believing what the bible says.

John 20:29  Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.  The last person we know of that saw Christ was the apostle Paul.  When Christ called him on the road to Damascus, Paul spend no greater than three years being taught mysteries that had never been revealed in scripture before.  Christ gave Paul a new message to give to the gentiles. Hebrews 11:6  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.

Romans 8: 6 – 10 6) For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8) So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9) But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you.  Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10) And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  The gospel:  believing that Jesus Christ was crucified on the cross, and that he died, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, was raised up from the dead on the third day, and now he lives. Believing this is the power of God that brings forth salvation and eternal live. As stated above in Romans 8:10, by believing in Christ Jesus, your body is dead because of sin, and when the Holy Spirit of God enters us, then we now live with the righteousness of Christ. We also have been raised from the dead so to speak, but yet we still live in our same old sinful bodies, yet the life that we now live, we live by faith in the Son of God. Galatians 2:20.

Romans 16:25  Now to him (the Holy Spirit) that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began.  The fact that Christ would have to be born of a virgin, die for our sins, be resurrected, allowing the Holy Spirit of God to indwell himself inside all those who would believe, was planned out even before God created the earth and those upon it.  It is also a fact that was never reveal to us by God until it was revealed to the apostle Paul.  Deuteronomy 29:29  The secret things belong unto the Lord our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

I Corinthians 2:6 - 8  6) Howbeit we speak wisdom amoung them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of the world, that come to nought: 7) But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:  8)Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Satan and all his demons would never have allowed Christ to have been crucified, had they known, that through that act, now the entire earth could be saved and filled with the Holy Spirit of God just by believing.  Before this act, Satan thought that by destroying the Jews, he could remove Gods presence from this world.  Now it is an impossible task. 

The Gospel

There is a very informative story in the book of St. John that I feel most people just read over and never get the full meaning of it. As the story goes, there is a group of gentiles that came to Jerusalem because of the celebration of Passover.  While they were there, they tracked down Jesus and wanted to visit with him.  Jesus had always instructed his disciples not to go to the gentiles, but only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.  Mathew 10:5 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: and again when a gentile woman from Canaan came to him pleading for help for her daughter, Mathew 15:24 - 26 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25) then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26) But he answered and said, It is not meet (good) to take the children’s (Jews) bread, and cast it to the dogs (gentiles).  Just hours before he was to be crucified, he didn’t see the group of gentiles that came to see him, but told the story of how salvation would now be coming to the Jews and gentiles alike.

John 12: 20 – 27  20) And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast: 21) The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.  22) Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus. 23) And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24) Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25) He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26) If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour. 27) Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.

Here Christ is talking about himself.  Before he can bring true salvation to the human race, he must first die.  If he dies then he shall raised from the dead by the Holy Spirit and go to the father and through his death, salvation will come to the Jew and gentile, bringing forth much fruit.

Romans 6: 5 – 6  5) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 5) Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

In these two verses in Romans, Paul elaborates on how Christ death served as the seed dying and being planted, and if we consider ourselves dead in Christ, we are the fruits that come from that seed.  We now consider ourselves dead in Christ, then we also shall produce much fruit for God.  If we are dead, then we are free from sin, and now live by faith in God, and sin has no more has dominion over us.  This is the grace of God.  Once we believe in Jesus, according to the Gospel, I Corinthians 15: 1-4  1) Moreover, bretheren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand: 2) By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3) For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4) And that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:  This is the gospel put in simple terms that anyone should be able to understand it.  The gospel that saves the lost and brings grace to those who believe is: Christ died and rose from the dead the third day.  That’s it, Christ did it all.  There are no works that can save us, nothing we can do, but believe this gospel and allow the blood that Christ shed and presented before God on our behalf, to cover our sins.  When we do that, then God covers us with Christ righteousness, then we are presentable to God.

What does it mean to be dead in Christ

One of my favorite scriptures is 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. 

Before Christ was risen from the dead, death rained from Adam until that time.  Death was brought on by the sin of Adam, and passed down to all who came after Adam.  No one could escape it.  Even though we were alive in our bodies, we were nothing more than the walking dead.  We had lost fellowship with God our creator, and sin now controlled us.  Paul tell us in Romans 1-4  1) Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2) (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4) And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 

According to verse 4 Christ obtained the full title of being the Son of God with power, when he was resurrected from the dead.  And how was he resurrected from the dead?  He was born of a virgin, and his father was God the father, so Christ had no sin in his veins.  He never gave in to the temptations of Satan, and lived a holy and sinless life.  Therefore, when he was crucified, the Holy Spirit of God was able to raise him up from the dead.  The very same Holy Spirit that now dwells in all those who call themselves part of Christ’s Body.

Ephesians 1: 19 – 2:1  19) And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21) Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22) And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23) Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.  2:1 And you hath he quickened (made alive), who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Paul makes it plain, that it’s not through any works we do that we can attain this great salvation, but through our simply believing in him.  Christ did all the works for us, when he fulfilled the law and died upon the cross.  All we have to do is believe and God will send us the Holy Spirit that raised Christ from the dead.  That Holy Spirit of God will be our law, and teach us to walk accordingly through wisdom obtain from the word.

Romans 8: 10 – 11  10)  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11) But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken (make alive) your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.  When we believe in Jesus Christ, God imparts Christ righteousness on us.  So now, we too can boldly proclaim:  I am crucified with Christ, never the less I live, yet not I, but Christ that dwelleth 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.

Love is the fulfilling of the law

Romans 13:9-14  9) For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10) Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. 11) And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. 12) The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. 13) Let us walk honestly (properly), as in the day; not in rioting (revelry) and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. 14) But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Almost all of the things I write and put into this blog, are not things God has given me to pass on to you to correct you for errors in Christian living, but these are things God has given me during my walk with Christ to help fix me.  They ended up (howbeit it took a while) being a great benefit to me, and helped me to turn around and get my Christian walk back on track.  I only hope, that passing this info along may be a help to other also.

I was one of those Christians that loved to worship on Sunday, but considered the rest of the week was mine, to go out and live in sin (even thou I would justify it in my head as not being sin).  Surely God wouldn’t hold me accountable, because deep inside I felt I loved him.  I do know a lot of others who call themselves Christians, but live like the devil.  I can’t say whether or not God will save them or not.  I know when I read the letters of Paul, I come across lists of sins (some of which I was doing, if not fiscally, I was doing in my heart) and after Paul list them, he says those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.  Funny thing was, nowhere could I find a verse that gave me permission to do any of those things I was guilty of doing.  Fortunately for me, I have a Godly wife, that doesn’t mind at all straightening me out, when I get off track and the Holy Spirit of course. 

Understanding Romans 7 part III

Before I start going over the remainder of Romans chapter 7, let’s look at another scripture that will explain this a lot better than I can.

Galatians 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

The rest of Romans 7 deals with the war that goes on between the godly side of man and the sinful side of man.  It’s like the old cartoon that showed an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other: each one trying to convince you to follow their advice.  The sinful nature we are all born with will always try and get us to follow our desires.  This battle rages on in the life of every Christian believer, and usually the side that gets fed the most, is the strongest and the one that will win out. 

Let’s say you have a problem with pornography.  You’re alone at home and turn on the TV, and you immediately feel a desire to find a channel that shows things you know you shouldn’t watch.  The battle is on.  Your inward sinful nature doesn’t want you to turn to a Christian station, because it knows that will kill your desire. Your godly spirit wants you to feed it with good teaching or worship that will drive out any bad desire your feeling.  It doesn’t matter if your weakness is pornography, adultery, fornication, lying, stealing, coveting or whatever.  The battle is the same.  The sinful nature loves the darkness, and light always drives out dark. 

Romans 7: 14-20  14) For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal (fleshly), sold under sin. 15) For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16) If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17) Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19) For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.  20) Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

In the next few verses, Paul mentions the word “law” and “law of sin”.  These terms for law do not represent the Ten Commandments or the Jewish law.  A better term for law here would be to insert “a fact of life.”    As in verse 21 Paul states “I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.”  He is actually stating, “I find it a fact of life that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.”    Consider this when reading the remaining few verses.

Romans 7: 21-25  21) I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22) For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23) But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24) O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25) I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Verse 24 makes it clear, that without the work of the cross, there would be no salvation attainable for us. Verse 25 leads us into chapter 8 which will bring out the Holy Spirit. In ourselves, there would be no hope of salvation, but by allowing the Holy Spirit to rule over us, salvation is our gift from God. Through the Holy Spirit, we can overcome our sinful desires and not give in to them or let those desires rule over us.

For a more complete and detailed study of Romans 7, or the entire book of Romans, please click on the Les Feldick link on the left side of my blog home page.

Understanding Romans 7 part II

In verses 8 through 13 the apostle Paul talks about the law.  This section sounds very confusing when you just read through it.  In one sentence Paul mentions how holy and good the law is, and in the next sentence he mentions how the law is a death sentence, and condemns.   In order to break this section of Romans 7 down, we need to take a good look at the apostle Paul himself.

Before his conversion on the road to Damascus, Paul was a devout religious Jew.  He followed the law to the letter, and excelled in his religion far above his peers.  But on the flip side of this, he went around persecuting his fellow Jews who accepted the fact that Jesus was their Messiah.  In Paul’s mind, he was following the law by capturing, torturing, and putting to death, the followers of Jesus. He was convinced he was keeping the law of God, by doing this.  So the question becomes, was Paul correct by doing this, or was he actually going against the law of God?  Since it was Jesus who gave the law to Moses, it becomes clear that the law Paul thought he was upholding, was actually the law that was going to condemn him and put him to death for what he was doing. 

It was not the fault of the law, the law as given by Christ was good and holy and for the good of all mankind.  It was Paul himself that got off track, through his religion he let sin come in and take control of him, and he lost sight of the true law, and he was destroying himself in the process.

Romans 7: 8-13  8) But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence (immoral thinking). For without the law sin was dead. 9) For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10) And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 11) For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me. 12) Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just and good. 13) Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

Understanding Romans 7 part one

There are three words you need to understand before you can understand what the apostle Paul is trying to explain to us in this chapter. Those three words are sin, law and grace.  The word sin is simply to do or think something outside the will of God. Another definition is a transgression of a religious or moral law, deliberate disobedience to the known will of God.

When God first created Adam, God gave him one requirement.  That was: he was not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. So to Adam, nothing he did was considered sin, except for that.  Adam was free to do anything he wanted, as long as he stayed away from that tree. Once he ate of that fruit, then he was accountable for all sin, because he then had the knowledge of discerning good from evil.  But what things did God consider a transgression?  How was mankind to know what things were against the will of God?

This is where the law came in.  God gave Moses a set of commandments to let us know what things would be held against us.  This is where the human race learned that God would hold us accountable for things such as killing, stealing, fornication, adultery, coveting, ect.  The problem with the law was that if you broke this law, the punishment was severe.  If you were caught in adultery, or fornication or using God’s name in vain, the punishment was death.  There were no second chances or leniency.  The law was good because it taught us about sin.  We wouldn’t have known that coveting was a sin if it hadn’t been for the law telling us.  

When Christ came to the earth in the form of a human, he let us know that the law was also impossible for us to keep.  The law tells us not to commit fornication, but Christ let us know that if we even look upon another with thoughts of fornication we have already committed fornication in our hearts. 

From the fall of Adam until now, there has only been one person that was able to keep the law without sinning. That person was Jesus Christ.  Because he was perfect, and gave his life up as an offering to God for us, we can now live by grace instead of law. Christ, being perfect, fulfilled the law, and by his death, delivered us from the law and gave us something better.  Grace. 

Grace is to believe that Jesus Christ was the son of God, born of a virgin, that he walked this earth, was crucified, and rose the third day.  We give our hearts to God, and now God takes away the law that was written on tablets of stone, and instead, placed the Holy Spirit in our hearts making our bodies a temple for God.  Now when we believe, we put our old life to death, and start all over again as a new creation.  Our old self is now dead, and the new us filled with the Holy Spirit now lives in our current bodies.  This does not mean that we have the freedom of Adam, and nothing we do is considered sin as long as we believe.  We are under grace, but we still know what God considers sin, and are told not to give in to it.  We will still be held accountable for what we do.

Romans 7 1-7  1) Know ye not, bretheren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law has dominion over a man as long as he liveth? 2) For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.  3) So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.  4) Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 5) For when we were in the flesh, the motions (passions) of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.  6) But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.  7) What shall we say then? Is the law sin?  God forbid.  Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.

Making yourself ready to be used by God

If you are a Christian, and have been praying for God to use you some how, the apostle Paul give us a roadmap of how to make ourselves ready for God’s use.

II Timothy 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

This one little verse sums up almost everything a Christian trying to walk a Godly life, needs to know.  Our bible was created by God and God alone.  It may have been written down by men, but these men were under the inspiration of God, and wrote only those things God wanted written.  From this book we get our doctrine which is the basis for our faith and salvation.  We also get reproof, or the wisdom to know we get off track and let sin slip into our daily lives.  The word lets us know, what God expects out of those that love him.  We also get correction, for when we stray from the truth.  And lastly, we get our instructions for righteous living acceptable to God. Everything we need to know is in this book, and no other book is needed.

II Timothy 2:15-22  15) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.  16) But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17) And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hy-me-nae’-us and Phile-tus; 18) Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and over-throw the faith of some. 19) Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his.  And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20) But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of clay; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.  21) If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.  22) Flee also youthful lust: but follow (pursue) righteousness, faith, love, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

The letters for doctrine are: Romans & Ephesians.  Reproof are: Corinthians & Philippians.  Correction are Galatians & Colossians. Instructions in righteousness are: Thessalonians & Timothy.

The only begotten Son. What does it mean?

The only begotten Son.  What does it mean?

What God offers us

God is offering the human race a very special gift.  He tells us that if we will believe in him, we will never die.  He will give us life forever.  Think on that for a minute.  God claims he has the power to take death away from us, so that we can live from now on.  Imagine that, living with our loved ones and never growing old, or getting sick, or suffering death.  How can he make such a promise?

John 3:16  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.

This verse give us our first glimpse of the word begotten Son.  Some people think it means Jesus birth in Bethlehem, others believe Christ became the begotten Son when John the Baptist baptized him and the Spirit descended on him like a dove.  But the scriptures paint a different picture.

Acts 13:33-34  33) God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. 34) And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David.

Here God is telling us, that on the day he raised Christ from the dead, Christ became his begotten Son.  Christ died in his body just like people do every day.  But Christ was resurrected from the dead.  He was the first person to ever die, and be resurrected never to die again. The bible has stories of people who died and were brought back to life, but later they all died again. Christ did not, nor will he ever face death again.

Romans 1: 1-4 1) Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2) (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4) And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

Revelation 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood.

Christ became the begotten Son of God, when he gave his life on the cross, and God raised him from the dead.  Now Christ will live forever and never face death again. And because of that selfless act, God is offering the same to you.

We are all born into sin, and live in bodies that are prone to sin.  But God tells us, that if we believe in Jesus Christ, he will apply the righteousness of Christ to us, and let the blood Christ shed on the cross, cover all your sin. Then through that, God can offer you the privilege to never die, but live forever with him.  Simply believe.

Romans 3:24-25  24) Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.

Because of Sin, the bodies we were born in are corrupt, and cannot enter into heaven. God waits for us until our bodies pass away then brings us up into heaven to be with him and live from then on forever.  When the time is right, God will give us a new incorruptible body that we will live in forever and forever.

I Corinthians 15: 53-55 53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54) So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.  55) O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil

The Lords prayer. 

Mathew 6:9-13   9) After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10) Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11) Give us this day our daily bread. 12) And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13) And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.  A-men.

The night Christ was betrayed

Luke 22:39-46  39) And he came out, and went, as he was wont, to the mount of Olives; and his disciples also followed him. 40) And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation. 41) And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed, 42) Saying, Father if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. 43) and there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.  44) And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.  45) And when he rose up from prayer, and was come to his disciples, he found them sleeping for sorrow, 46) And said unto them, Why sleep ye? Rise and pray, lest ye enter into temptation.

Christ knew what things he must suffer that night and the crucifixion that awaited him the next day.  As the man of flesh, he wanted to be delivered from this torture and suffering, as God he knew it must be done.  His flesh knew that he was God, and he could take over the world, and be the Kings of kings right then and there.  He could call down a legion of angles and destroy the Roman army, with just a snap of his finger.  He was in such turmoil, God sent an angel to comfort him.  He knew this was his last night as a human on this earth.  His prayer was for God not to let him enter into temptation.

As Christians, we tend to get lax and comfortable in our lives, and forget this simple prayer the Lord gave us.  How many great, big name evangelist have fallen from their ministry because they were tempted and fell into that temptation?  Don’t let this befall you.  When Christ said to his sleeping disciples to rise and pray, lest they enter into temptation, this was some of the last human words Christ gave his disciples before he was taken.  Pray, lest ye enter into temptation.  None of us are so set, that we don’t need this prayer daily. Of all the things Christ could have said to his disciples that last night, he thought this was the most important.

Are you ready to stand before God?

Genesis 7:11  In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.

Genesis 7: 15-16   15) And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life.  16) And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the Lord shut him in.

After God shut the door on the ark, it was impossible for any one else to enter.

Mathew 25: 1-10   1) Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.  2) And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.  3) They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:  4) But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.  5) While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.  6) And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.  7) Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.  8) And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.  9) But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.  10) And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

I Corinthians 15: 51-52   51) Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed,  52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

I Thessalonians 5:2  For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

Our pastor asked us one time, “Are you ready to meet the Lord?”  You need to make sure you’re always ready to stand before God, because if you get killed in a car wreck or some other accident, they you just had your rapture.  Make sure you live your daily lives ready at any moment to meet Christ.

For God so loved the world

God gave his Son for us

John 3:16-17   16) 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.  17) For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

The law led us to Christ, but now we have Christ we no longer need the law.

Galatians 2:22-29   22) But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.  23) But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should after-wards be revealed.  24) Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  25) But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.  26) For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.  27) For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.  29) And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

The Spirit of God now lives in us

I Corinthians 3:16   Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Now you are Christ, so put away all the acts of the flesh and put on the things of the Spirit.

Romans 8:1-8   1) There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  3) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:  4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  5) For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.  6) For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  8) So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.