Portraits of Jesus 1

Who is Jesus Christ?  If you have ever been curious about him, who he was, what he did, and how any of it affects you, the first thing you need to do is to find out who he is. 

Growing up as a child, my dad made us go to church every Sunday.  I grew up knowing about Jesus, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that I actually knew him.  I always knew he came as a baby in a manger.  I knew he grew up and healed people and later died on the cross. I knew he rose from the grave and went back to heaven. I knew he promised to return again.  What I didn’t know was:  I didn’t know him like I knew my dad, my friends or other people.  It was more like I knew him the same as I knew any literary personality, or TV celebrity.  I knew he was real and not a figment of some ones imagination.

I didn’t fit the mold of a perfect Christian.  There were times I spent years not involved in the church world and lived life they way I wanted to.  I thought during this time about getting involved in the “church” again, but didn’t want to face the consequences.  I knew I had done things that the bible said not to do, and I didn’t want to face an angry God and his punishment for my “sins”.  I didn’t know Jesus.

So how do we learn to know Jesus the same as we know our best friend or a family member? How do we learn to know what Jesus likes, doesn’t like, what he wants and what makes him happy or sad? 

I’m going to post a series of short letters that will use the bible to and allow God to paint his own portrait of Jesus Christ.

Matthew 13:44  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.  When I read this parable, I see the treasure as the knowledge of Jesus given to us in the bible (field).  The true Jesus, the real Jesus is hidden in bible from Genesis to Revelations.  If we search we’ll find.

For example, look at this parable in Luke:   Luke 15: 3-6  So He spoke this parable to them, saying: What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave he ninety nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?  And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.  “And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 

This is a hidden treasure in the word and a beautiful portrait of Christ.  Human nature tells us, that if we had to leave our 99 and go after the one, we would be fearful for the safety of the 99, we would be angry for having to go after the one lost and we wouldn’t feel like rejoicing when we found it.  We would probably grumble and want to whip the lost one for running off and drag it back to the other 99.  But look how Christ handles this. He searches until he finds.  The sheep that ran off wasn’t looking for his redeemer, but the redeemer went looking for him/her.  Jesus rejoiced when he found the lost one.  He wasn’t angry at all he even picks the lost one up placing it on his shoulders to comfort it and carries it all the way back cheerfully.  And when he gets back, he calls all his friends to rejoice with him.  Just imagine this kind of love that Christ shows for all that belong to him, even the ones who occasionally get lost. 

America's Fun House

When I was a child living in Oklahoma City, there was a small amusement park called Spring Lake.  My favorite attraction was the Fun House.  Today while I was praying for America, I was reminded of it.

 

At the entrance of the Fun House there was a set of steps that moved back and forth horizontally as you attempted to climb them.  You might feel as though you were walking a straight path up the steps but in actuality your path was zigzagged and unbalanced, just like the path of many American Christians today.  They believe that they are walking the Christian walk, when in fact they are taking a deceptively crooked path.  Actions offensive to God, such as premarital sex, adultery and pornography have become so commonplace and accessible, that some Christians think these behaviors are the new norm.  Isaiah 26:7. The way of the righteous is smooth; O Upright One, make the path of the righteous level.

 

Once you manage to climb the fun house steps you gingerly go forward into a very large barrel which rotates as you attempt to walk through it.  Up feels like down and down feels like up.  Everything seems topsy turvy.  America has become confused as to what is up and what is down.  Abortion of an innocent baby is considered acceptable to many, yet the death penalty of a convicted murderer is cause for outrage.  Television show producers are quick to poke fun at Christians even to the point of mocking Jesus, yet rarely speak negatively of Muslims and Buddhists and Atheists because of their desire to appear ‘politically correct’ and ‘tolerant”.  However, somehow Christianity, unlike any other religious or non-religious group is exempt from the media and Hollywood’s efforts to appear ‘tolerant’ and is fair game to poke fun at and to ridicule.  Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter

 

If you make it through the rotating barrel, then you arrive at the house of mirrors where reflections are distorted.  Proponents of the new ‘transgender’ wave, tell us that when we look at a transgender female, she is not a female but a male, and vice versa.  We are told by society not to believe our own eyes, but to believe what is wrong as though it were right.   And if we object, we are again labeled as not politically correct.  Another translation of Isaiah 5:20 reads  “They say that what is right is wrong and what is wrong is right; that black is white and white is black; bitter is sweet and sweet is bitter.”

 

Did you make it through the house of mirrors?  Great.  Now you are nearly done.  Just a small patch of wooden uneven undulating boards.  Be careful, because some of the boards move like waves and shoot out a powerful gust of wind when stepped on. Avoid those.  Ephesians 4:14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed and carried about by all kinds of teachings that change like the wind. We will no longer be influenced by people who use cunning and clever strategies to lead us astray.

 

Congratulations! You’ve made it to the end of the Fun House.  Did you come out unscathed or did you fall into sin and sinful thinking along the way?  Thank God for his mercy, because even if you did fall into some of Satan’s traps and tricks along the way, if you kept your faith, by God’s grace you are forgiven.  Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God

 

The very last step is to exit the Fun House.  There is only one exit, an unlit hole in the wall where a long slide waits in the darkness.  Grab a burlap sack, fling yourself out into the darkness, trusting that there is a light at the end.  John 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

 

10/25/17

by Kristy Dewberry

Is America falling from Gods Grace

The following is a message my wife received while she was spending her daily alone time with Jesus.  I believe this message is for America, and something Americans need to hear so I am posting this here.         

·         While I was praying this morning this is what I feel God spoke to me.

People in America, both Christians and non-Christians, have lost or distorted their sense of shame.  Adultery, sex before marriage, homosexuality and transgender issues are becoming socially acceptable to the point that no shame is felt.  The only shame we feel regarding these sins, is not the shame of committing sexual sins, but the shame of ‘judging’ others for committing sexual sin.  Even the Christians who commit sexual sin, do not feel the shame they should.  They feel that since God has forgiven both future and past sins, they do not need to feel shame.  Thank the Lord that he has forgiven our sins, both past and future, but God is saddened when his children choose to forget his will for them.

Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

We are not to be conformed to this world.  The will of God is good and acceptable and perfect.  We should strive to be as God-like as we can be.  If and when we fail, we should feel shame and acknowledge to him that we know we have disappointed him.  Then, knowing that he has forgiven our sins already and that he redeems our life from the pit, we can continue on our path to righteousness, until our next stumble.

When she told me this message, Romans 1 immediately came to mind, so I’ve posted that scripture here.

Romans 1:16-32  King James Version (KJV)

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.

¹⁷ For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

¹⁸ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

¹⁹ Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

²⁰ For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

²¹ Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

²² Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

²³ And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

²⁴ Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

²⁵ Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

²⁶ For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

²⁷ And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

²⁸ And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

²⁹ Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

³⁰ Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

³¹ Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

³² Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

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Never say NO to God

Psalms 14:1  The FOOL, hath said in his heart, There is no God.   The words There is, were added by the translator for clarification.  I think the better interpretation of this verse is to leave those two words out.   Reading the verse then comes out:  The FOOL, hath said in his heart no, God. 

Just take a look at Cain & Able.  They both knew what God expected of them.  Able believed and God accepted his sacrifice.  Cain “said in his heart no to God” and did the sacrifice his way. 

God gives us his word to let us know what is expected out of us.  We now live by faith in the Son of God, and not by sight.  John 1: 1 – 5  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 any thing 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.  John 1:  14  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.

Christ left his heavenly kingdom and came down to us on earth born of a virgin and without sin in his blood.  He gave his life as a selfless act in order to allow all people of the earth to be reconciled with God in spite of their sin.  The offer is good to this day and available to all who will believe and accept it.  Unfortunately, the vast majority of the earth’s population will say “No God,” and not accept it, and on the day of judgment will stand before God with no viable excuse for not accepting it.

Romans 1:  20 -22  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and God-head; so that they are without excuse. Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

It’s easy to find out what God expects out of all of us, just by reading his Word to us from the bible.  You need no other books or translations, just the Holy Bible is all you need.  Everything you need for eternal life is right there.  This side of the cross, it is important for us all to study the books of the apostle Paul (Romans – Philemon & Hebrews).   God gave us Paul to be the apostle to the gentiles (us), and it would benefit us all to study what God gave him to give us.  Be diligent about this and do not be one that says No, God.

                                               

Gay marriage, can I or not biblically

It seems like the most popular topic in the news these days is gay-marriage and should it be allowed or not. 

What does God say about Gay marriage?  Should the Church approve of Gay Marriage?  Should Christians accept Gay Marriage?  What does the bible say about Gay Marriage?

Hopefully the scripture itself will answer these questions for us.

The purpose of this article is not to condone or condemn, but to give a scriptural perspective only.  Society will end up doing what society will do, and nothing will ever change that.  Morality based on any-ones definition, cannot be regulated by law, but only by ones heart as an individual.

If the gay community wants to join together, they will do that with or without any laws, but scripturally speaking, it is impossible for them to marry.  You can call it anything you want, but marriage.  Remember I am speaking from a biblical perspective.

The Christian conception of marriage is a sacred union between a man and a woman that goes all the way back to Adam & Eve.  When the two join together they become one before God, and when they both give themselves over to God, then they also become one with God.  This is the way we were created to be, man plus woman plus God all becoming one with each other.

Man was created in the image of God.  Genesis 1: 27   So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him, male and female created he them. 

Genesis 2: 21 – 24    And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; and the rib, which the Lord God had taken from  man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.  And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.  Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh.

In the above scripture we are told why marriage can only be between a man and a woman.  When God created Adam, he created him in his image, and Adam was originally created both male and female in one body.  God had created them as “one flesh” like the angels.  God later removed the female portion of Adam out of his flesh and created Woman also in his image, so the male would have a mate to populate the earth.  Adam knew that this Woman God presented to him had been taken from him, and he knew that the only way now the male could be complete, would be to union himself back with the female, and the two would become “one flesh” a complete being again. 

Once Eve was taken out of Adam, he was no longer a whole, but a half, and Eve was the other half.  When those two halves come together in marriage, they become a whole again. This is made very clear in the scripture itself.  Read Genesis 5: 1 – 2 very carefully.  This is the book of the generations of Adam.  In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.   This verse very plainly states that God created Man both male and female and called their name Adam.

Joining two Adams together or two Eves together does not make a whole.  They only become a whole when the half that was whole is reunited with the half that was removed.   Consider taking an orange and removing the juice from the inside.  You have two parts of the orange.  But if you wanted a complete orange, you couldn’t take the juice from two and mix them together and say “now I have a whole orange.”  Nor could you take the two empty orange shells and put them together without the juice.  

I hope this explains the biblical perspective of marriage, and why it must be between a male and female only.  Society can set laws governing the legal definitions of anything, but if your desire is to be united with Gods approval, then you must follow the biblical definition.

Why does this matter to God, you might wonder.  Everything in the old testament is a sign for the new.  Adam and Eve became one through marriage and brought forth children.  Jesus after his death on the cross was stuck in the side with a spear and blood and water flowed just as with birth.  The death of Jesus was the birth of the church (modern day Christianity), and the church is the bride of Christ. The union of marriage between a man and woman joining together as one is a sign of the church getting ready to join itself with Christ.

God wants you

Acts 13:33-34  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. 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 was brought back to life, but later they all died again. Christ did not, nor will he ever face death again.

Romans 1: 1-4  Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 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.  Christ received a new resurrected body. 

This was a mystery (secret) held in the mind of the Godhead and never before revealed to the people, until he revealed it to the apostle Paul.  If we will dare to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord, God has made a promise to those that believe that they also will be resurrected from the dead and also become sons (children) of God. 

This does not mean, we’ll become Gods, but God has promised us to become his children in the next life after our corrupt bodies die.  Even better for those who believe and are still alive when God calls his new sons (and daughters), they will not have to face the death of their human bodies.

Paul says this to all who believe: 1 Corinthians 15: 50 – 54  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed, 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.  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 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?

The above promise God made to all those that believe, if you don’t accept Christ, you will not be part of this miraculous event.  All those that do believe, will at that point become children of God in the next world.

Galatians 3: 26 – 29  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.  For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.  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.  And if ye be Christ’s, then are you Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.

This was the mystery that only Paul received from God.  It was not just for the gentiles, but also for the Jews.  It was the creation of the “Body of Christ”.   When we believe in Christ, we become part of that body.  God only knows when the body of believers will grow until it’s the size he is looking for.  When that happens, the trumpet will blow, and all the believers that have died will arise first and receive their new immortal bodies.  Then the believers that are still alive, will be caught up in the air to meet the Lord and the rest of the body, and that is when they will receive their new immortal bodies.

After this event, the seven year wrath of God will be poured out upon the rest of all mankind.  The unbelievers.  One fourth of the earth population will die within the first three and a half years.  The rest will perish in the second half.

All this happens after the body is called up, because the body is not called to wrath.

I Thessalonians 5:9  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.

All it takes to be part of this body, is to believe.  Romans 3: 3 – 5  For what saith the scripture?  Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.  Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Right now, the door is still open, and the Holy Spirit is calling.  Now is the time for salvation.  All it takes is to believe in Jesus Christ.  We know from historians, that the man Jesus Christ did live around that era, and was put to death.  Our calendars even verify his existence separating AD from BC.  The bible tells us that if we seek, we shall find.  Seek him today while there is still time.

The meaning Easter

The important thing to remember about Easter is the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Once Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead, that allowed us to be resurrected from the dead.  But before he could be resurrected, he had to die first.  No man could take his life.  He had to lay it down freely.  Isaiah 53: 5  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.  God sent his son, down here to earth so that man and God could finally be reconciled together again.  Jesus Christ was our lamb led to the slaughter.  He never sinned against God or man. He went around doing good deeds always, healing and feeding both naturally and spiritually.  Even Pilate could find no wrong in him.  A pure innocent man gave his life that we might be saved.

He gave his body willingly to be tortured, mocked, humiliated, spit upon, and ridiculed so we can claim healing for ours.  His beard was yanked out by the roots (Isaiah 50:6).  There was a crown of thorns shoved down on his head. Most the flesh on his back was torn off through beatings.  Last of all, he had to carry his own cross.  Even our Lord, after he spent the entire night and most of the next morning being tortured, was so weak in his body, that he couldn’t endure the weight of the cross, and fell in the street a bloody mess.  He allowed himself to be nailed to that cross, and hung up to die one of the most excruciatingly painful deaths ever devised.  So that he could shed his blood to cover our sins.

Isaiah 52: 14  As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:  The word astonied comes from the Hebrew word shamem.  It means to stun: grow numb; stupefy; be shocked; make amazed; be astonished; wonder.  Jesus Christ the Son of God was almost unrecognizable as a man.

He did all of this willingly, for you.  The God of glory, the creator of heaven and earth himself, took on the body of man, and willingly gave up his life, to redeem us from the curse Adam put us under.  And believe me, his pain was every bit as severe as ours would have been under the same circumstances.  He was God dwelling in a human body.  

The night Christ was betrayed

Luke 22:39-44  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. 

Christ knew what things he must suffer that night and the crucifixion that awaited him the next day.  I don’t think Jesus feared the pain and suffering or even his own death, but dreaded the thought of all the sin of the world coming upon him.  His perfect sinless body was to take on the sin of the world.  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 angels and destroy the entire Roman army, simply by just speaking it so.  He was in such turmoil, God sent an angel to comfort him and help him through it.

I Corinthians 11:23 – 26  23) For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you.  That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:  24) And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, “Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.”  25) After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, “This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.”  26) For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.

Christ’s death was the birth of the New Covenant between God and Man.  Now, through believing in Jesus Christ, God will forgive man’s sins.  Hebrews 8:12  For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

Luke 23:44 48  44) And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.  45) And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.  46) And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, “Father into thy hands I commend my spirit:”  and having said thus, he gave up the ghost (breathed his last).  47) Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.  48) And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.

All the fearful things taking place along with the supernatural darkness over the land made the people realize the great sin they had committed and they smote their breasts.

In the book of John chapter 19 verse 28 it states that Christ, right before he breathed his last, knew that he had completed the work he was sent here to do, and at that point he also proclaimed in verse 30 “It is finished.”  As the Roman soldiers took a spear and pierced his side, blood and water flowed, just as in the birth of a child, thus giving birth to the new Covenant of God and man.

That day, Jesus took on all the punishment we deserve, and transferred to us all the righteousness he deserved.

Jesus Christ the only way

Mankind was created in the image of God, and we were created to be with God.  When you are in the presence of God, he will give you a peace in your spirit.  You can go to bed at night and sleep peacefully, not worrying about anything.  We place all our cares on him, because he cares for us.  We never worry about what will happen if we die, or get sick, or become unemployed.  We know that whatever we loose in this life, God restores.  Even when we try to do things on our own, they always pale in comparison to what god does for us.  When Adam and Eve fell in the Garden of Eden, they covered themselves with fig leafs.  God made them full coats of leather and covered them.  When Abraham sent Hagar and Ishmael out of his camp, he gave them a bottle of water for their trip that quickly ran out.  God provided Hagar and Ishmael a Well, to drink from. 

We have all drifted from God, and we are all sinful by nature, but God sent us his Son Jesus Christ, so that through him we could all be reconciled back to God.  If we take that step by faith, God will wipe away all our sins, he will be our God, and we will be his heirs along with Christ.  Jesus Christ is the only way to gain favor with God.  No other way will be profitable for eternal salvation, and eternal life.  No other way will bring you complete peace.  We can have confidence that we can enter God’s eternal rest when we die, and even if our children are taken by some misfortune, we can have confidence that God will keep them in heaven with him until we get there and be re-united with them.  Total peace and contentment is what you can have on this earth, if you have Jesus Christ as your Lord.

After our Lord was crucified, Peter and John were heading for the temple at the hour of prayer and came upon a crippled man at the gate begging for money.  In the name of Jesus, Peter healed the man who had been crippled since his birth.  The Jewish church leaders called upon Peter and John and asked them by what power or name have they done this.  This was Peters answer to them:  Acts 4: 10 – 12  Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.  This (Jesus Christ) is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

The author, who I believe was the apostle Paul, of Hebrews covers this as well in the opening chapter of the book.  He explains to the Hebrews of his day that before Christ, God spoke to them through prophets, but now he speaks to all through his Son.

Hebrews 1: 1 – 4  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; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Philippians 2: 9 – 11  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him ( Jesus Christ ), 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.

In the book of Matthew 17:5 God the Father boldly proclaims this:   While he yet spake (speaking of Peter), behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.  This one little verse speaks volumes. The Father God, loves his Son, and placed him in the highest position there is.  He made his name the highest name there is.  He spoke directly and said, “Hear Ye Him.”  If you want to find favor in God, you must go through his Son.  Jesus Christ is the way, the truth and the life.  We will all stand before God the Father one day.  How do you think God the Father will react, when you never accepted his Son, after his Son made so simple of a way for you to inherit eternal life?

Salvation is easier than you think.  Romans 10:9 says that if you will just confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus Christ and shall believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  Ask Christ to come into your heart, and start a new life of Joy and inward peace.

Old dogs

My wife and I have an old dog in the house that has been around long enough to watch all our grandchildren grow up.  She is a very sweet and gentle dog and very patient when it comes to being around kids.  I remember several times she would look up at my wife or myself with big sad puppy eyes, while one of the grandkids was pulling on her ears, or tail or dressing her up like a doll.  She never tried to bite; she just looked sad and put up with it.

Our old dog is getting way up there in years, and has to take several different pain medications each day.  She hates taking the medicine.  I guess she doesn’t like the taste of it or something.  I try to hide it in her food sometimes, and it will work.  Other times she finds it and spits it out.  My wife will try and force the medicine down her throat by placing it in her mouth, holding her head up while holding her mouth shut and rubbing her throat.  The old dog will usually out smart her though.  She acts like she swallowed it, and as soon as my wife lets her go, she spits it out and runs off. 

On the days we can’t get the medicine down her, she can just barely walk around, and yelps in pain at the slightest touch.  The other day, I was thinking to myself, “you stupid dog.  If you would just take your medicine, you wouldn’t be hurting like this.  You’re doing this to yourself.”

I’m sure God looks down on us thinking the same thing.  We run around down here getting ourselves into messes, and full of problems, when all along God has a solution if we would just follow him.  God sent us his beloved son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Christ made a way for us to be forgiven of all our sins, and allow the righteousness of Christ to be on us.

Jesus Christ said in John 10:10 -11   The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:  I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.  I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

Romans 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:   But by the death of one man, Jesus Christ, grace came upon all men who believe.  Romans 5:21  That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

God sent Jesus Christ into the world 2000 years ago, so all could be saved, and have a blessed eternal reign with the son of God.  Christ is our medicine for eternal life, and for a blessed and hopeful life down here on the earth.  It’s a shame that the vast majority of people would rather hurt and be miserable, instead of partaking of the medication God has already provided them.

Romans 10: 9-10  That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

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 you 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:

There is absolutely nothing we can do on our own, to live a holy enough life to merit eternal life with God.  If we accept Christ and believe in him, God will apply the blood of his dear son upon the heavenly alter and cleanse us of all sin, and cloak us with Christ’s righteousness.  This is what we call grace.  It’s only through Christ we can obtain grace.  If you believe in Christ, when you call upon God, he does not see you as sinful man, but sees Christ in you.

Hebrews 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

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.