Category Archives: SIN

Pearl Harbor & A Pearl Of Great Price! Bible Ballistics: BBs #609

11 Wednesday Dec 2019

Posted by in 'Tis The Season?, A Father's Love, Born Again, Choices And Consequences, Christmas, Christmas IS?, Church:Dead Or Alive?, Faith, IN Jesus!, JESUS, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Jesus Saves!, Jesus' Sacrifice, Lies, Lies That Defeat Us, Only One Way, Pearl Harbor, Pearl of great price, Remember, Salvation, SIN, The Word Or The World?, Trusting Jesus?, Truth is True

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #609 Pearl Harbor & A Pearl Of Great Price!

 

As we continue thinking about the Christmas season and the true “reason” for the “season”, I’m sure some of you are scratching your head and thinking, “What does Pearl Harbor have to do with Christmas?”  Good question!  But as a Navy brat (my precious daddy served in the United States Navy for 22 years, and I’m very proud of his service!) naval things are special to me; and Pearl Harbor was a milestone in both American and world history.  The surprise attack took many lives and rocked the world; yet history records that there were many miniscule warning signs that were disregarded, ignored or misunderstood!  That is the connection to Christmas and the coming of The “pearl of great price”; and just as the US military was caught unprepared by the attack, the world missed the coming of The Messiah!  Some who were seeking God, saw truth, but the rest not only missed the import of His birth—but crucified The “King of Glory”—this “pearl of great price”!  How about you?

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto

a merchant man,

seeking goodly pearls:

46 Who, when he had found

one pearl

of great price,

went

and sold

all that he had,

and bought it.”  Matthew 13:45-46

Will we miss the boat—or worse be destroyed because we didn’t recognize the enemy’s constant ‘surprise attacks’, and miss the true ally and Redeemer of our souls—Jesus?

“And it shall come to pass,

that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord

shall be saved.

22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words;

Jesus of Nazareth,

a man approved of God among you

by miracles

and wonders

and signs,

which God did by him

in the midst of you,

as ye yourselves also know:

23 Him, being delivered

by the determinate counsel

and foreknowledge of God,

ye have taken,

and by wicked hands

have crucified and slain:

24 Whom God hath raised up,

having loosed the pains of death:

because it was not possible

that he should be holden

of it.”  Acts 2:21-24

This merchant of pearls recognized true value when he saw it, but so often we are deceived, tricked and lead astray from this One who loves us beyond measure!  This One who gives life, came and took on flesh knowing that most would reject Him, yet He came anyway—for YOU and for ME!  It’s His birth we celebrate!  What or Whom are you celebrating?

“He was in the world,

and the world was made by him,

and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them

that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.

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.” John 1:10-14. AMEN!

So, as we go about our day today I pray that we will consider what we have done with this “babe” in the manger—the one we see all around us–and that we will remember that He came to die for sinful men and women, boys and girls; all who will come to Him in repentance and faith in His substitutionary (in my place), atoning (paid my debt), sacrifice (HE died that I could have eternal life with HIM)!  Talk about a “pearl of great price”; don’t miss the true treasure by believing the lies of the enemy of your soul.  Be sure that you receive the greatest gift of all—don’t be one who “received him not”!  Paul reminds us that while we might be able to fool others—we will never fool God.

“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.”  2 Timothy 2:19

And Jesus’ own words to “churches”, warning those who play at “religion” to check out what you’re trusting—for He is the One who knows the truth.

“I know thy works,

that thou art

neither cold

nor hot:

I would thou wert

cold

or hot.

16 So then because thou art lukewarm,

and neither

cold

nor hot,

I will spue thee out of my mouth.

17 Because thou sayest,

I am rich,

and increased with goods,

and have need of nothing;

and knowest not

that thou art wretched,

and miserable,

and poor,

and blind,

and naked:

18 I counsel thee

to buy of me gold

tried in the fire,

that thou mayest be rich;

and white raiment,

that thou mayest be clothed,

and that the shame of thy nakedness

do not appear;

and anoint thine eyes

with eyesalve,

that thou mayest see.”  Revelation 3:16-18

One simple question in closing: are you clinging to a treasure that is worthless, or have you received HIS “gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich”?  The choice is yours!  Choose wisely there is a test!

 

Christmas IS About Family??? Pt. 3 Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 17

08 Sunday Dec 2019

Posted by in 'Tis The Season?, A Father's Love, Abiding In Jesus, Abundant Life In Jesus, Born Again, Choices And Consequences, Christmas IS?, Consider Your ways, Encouragement, Every Knee Shall Bow, Follow Jesus, Gospel, Grace, He's Alive, IN Jesus!, It's Your Choice, JESUS, Jesus SinLESS Son of God, Joy To The World?, Just Jesus!, Overcoming By His Blood, Rejoice IN The Lord, Salvation, SIN, The Only Way, The Word, Trusting Jesus, Welcome Home, When Will You Bow?

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Bible Ballistics: Vol. 14 No. 17 Christmas IS About Family??? Pt.3

 

We talked last time about the first family and how our sin was the reason that Jesus came!  We also talked about the truth that Jesus as The Redeemer was God’s plan for our redemption “foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you”! (See 1 Peter 1:20). Jesus was, is and ever will be “the way….the truth….and the life..” that leads us “unto the Father”!  One plan, provided in the mind of God “before the foundation of the world”!  It is so important that we sink our anchor into this truth, as we continue in the last part of this series; focusing on this One who came that we might celebrate not only Christmas, but every day of the year! For He came that mankind “might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”!  I pray that you are as aware and grateful for that wonder as I am!

Yet Jesus is so much more than a “baby in a manger”!  He is ever God, and in the incarnation, He became the God-Man/Savior by His sacrifice for our sin; so, let’s spend this time together rehearsing the beauty, nature and character of our Lord and King—the Messiah of the world—Jesus Christ The Lord!

“Jesus Christ the same

yesterday,

and to day,

and for ever.”  Hebrews 13:8   Amen

We talked last time about the first family, their sin, and the first promise of the coming Messiah who would redeem mankind—all who would come to Him in repentance and faith.  The promise John spoke of:

“Behold the Lamb of God,

which taketh away

the sin of the world.”  John 1:29b

This same Jesus—who IS “the same”– identified Himself to the Apostle John in the book of the Revelation amazingly.

“John to the seven churches which are in Asia:

Grace be unto you,

and peace,

from him which is,

and which was,

and which is to come;

and from the seven Spirits

which are before his throne;

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,

6 And hath made us kings and priests

unto God and his Father;

to him be glory and dominion

for ever and ever. Amen…

…10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day,

and heard behind me a great voice,

as of a trumpet, 11 Saying,

I am Alpha and Omega,

the first and the last:

 and, What thou seest,

write in a book,

and send it unto the

seven churches

which are in Asia;

unto Ephesus,

and unto Smyrna,

and unto Pergamos,

and unto Thyatira,

and unto Sardis,

and unto Philadelphia,

and unto Laodicea.

12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. 

And being turned,

I saw seven golden candlesticks;

13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks

one like unto the Son of man,

clothed with a garment

down to the foot,

and girt about the paps

with a golden girdle.

14 His head and his hairs

were white like wool,

as white as snow;

and his eyes

were as a flame of fire;

15 And his feet

like unto fine brass,

as if they burned

in a furnace;

and his voice

as the sound of many waters.”               Portions of Revelation 1:4-15

In verse 6 we see that Jesus ascribed to Himself glory and dominion—that is significant!  Jesus reiterated His deity, just as He did in the Gospel of John.

“I and my Father are one.”   John 10:30

This declaration along with what Jesus says to John here in chapter 1 of The Revelation, requires that Jesus IS God—not God The Father, but God The Son—that “Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world”; who along with The Holy Spirit comprise the three persons of the trinity.  But God revealed long before what would confirm the deity of Jesus:

“I am the LORD:

that is my name:

and my glory will I not give

to another,

neither my praise

to graven images.”  Isaiah 42:8

And God didn’t give “His” glory to ‘another’, He gave it to “His only begotten son”—that Lamb who came as “God with us” to save us “from our sin”!  We could spend the rest of the year rehearsing the names of Jesus, but we’ll just take our time today and consider what He has told us about Himself!

HE IS:

 Jesus Christ—

 The faithful witness—

 –from GOD–

 –to us—

 The First Begotten from the dead—

  –He Arose—

  –He’s not dead—HE IS ALIVE-

   (No longer a babe but The Risen Redeemer!)

 The Price of the kings of the earth—

  The One who loved us and washed us from our sin—

  –IN HIS own blood—

  –To make us kings and priests unto our God—

  The ONE WAY who is worthy of glory and dominion– FOREVER!

And just as important as these titles is how He revealed Himself to John—the power of His very person:

HE HAS:

Hair like wool, like pure white snow—

He is the sinless Son of God—

 Eyes like fire—

He is the One who sees all of our being—

Feet like brass–

 The day of HIS judgment is coming—

Because God has made Him Lord and Judge—

“For the Father judgeth no man, but

hath committed all judgment unto the Son:”  John 5:22

His voice as the sound of many waters—

 You can avoid listening to Him—

 But you will bow before Him!

The question isn’t will you bow?  But when will you bow?  You can bow before Him now as Lord and Savior, or you will bow before Him as Judge—a judge where there is only one standard, JESUS!

“And I saw a great white throne,

and him that sat on it,

from whose face the earth

and the heaven

fled away;

and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead,

small and great,

stand before God;

and the books were opened:

and another book was opened,

which is the book of life:

and the dead were judged out of those things

which were written in the books,

according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead

which were in it;

and death and hell delivered up the dead

which were in them:

and they were judged every man

according to their works.

14 And death and hell

were cast into the lake of fire.

This is the second death.

15 And whosoever was not found

written in the book of life

was cast into the lake of fire.”   Revelation 20:11-15

Jesus can be your salvation, hope and life, or He will be your judge.  It’s your choice as to when you will bow, but you will bow!  Choose wisely, there will be a test, and the consequences will be true and righteous according to God’s Word and YOUR choices!

“And being found in fashion as a man,

he humbled himself,

and became obedient unto death,

even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,

and given him a name

which is above every name:

10 That at the name of Jesus

every knee should bow,

of things in heaven,

and things in earth,

and things under the earth;

11 And that every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory

of God the Father.”  Philippians 2:8-11

Praise God we can bow before the Lord Jesus Christ and become children of God, and all the work has been done for those who will repent and believe in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin—my sin and your sin!

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about

with so great a cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside

every weight,

and the sin

which doth so easily beset us,

and let us run

with patience

the race

that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus

the author

and finisher

of our faith;

who for the joy

that was set before him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down

at the right hand

of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:1-2

Jesus is creator of all and yet He loves us so much that He came to be my sacrifice and yours—for all who will come unto Him.  He is the Alpha and Omega—the beginning and the end—the “author and finisher of our faith”!  Are you counting on knowing about Him, knowing about His Word, or are you counting on knowing the Author of all things, including our salvation?  Will you come to Him and know the real “joy” of Christmas—JESUS?

“And she shall bring forth a son,

and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people

from their sins.

22 Now all this was done,

that it might be fulfilled

which was spoken of the Lord

by the prophet, saying,

23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child,

and shall bring forth a son,

and they shall call his name Emmanuel,

which being interpreted is,

God with us.”  Matthew 1:21-23

This Son would pay the price for my/your sin, crying from the cross that HE was paying the price required for sin.

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar,

he said, It is finished:

and he bowed his head,

and gave up the ghost.”  John 19:30

“For the wages of sin

is death;

but the gift of God

is eternal life

through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 6:23

And there is another time coming when He will call something else “done”, finished—the time when He will complete His work, and He will return as King of Kings not as a babe in the manger; when He will come and take His throne and finally complete the defeat of sin, death and hell!

“For as in Adam all die,

even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

23 But every man in his own order:

Christ the firstfruits;

afterward they that are Christ’s

at his coming.

24 Then cometh the end,

when he shall have delivered up the kingdom

to God, even the Father;

when he shall have put down all rule

and all authority

and power.

25 For he must reign,

till he hath put all enemies

under his feet.

26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed

is death.”  1 Corinthians 15:22-26

And after ‘these things’ there will be a new world where we will be with our God and He will dwell with us!

“And I saw a new heaven

and a new earth:

for the first heaven and the first earth

were passed away;

and there was no more sea…

…. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said,

Behold, I make all things new.

And he said unto me,

Write: for these words are true and faithful.”                              Portions of Revelation 21:1-5

Jesus fulfilled all the prophecies of His first coming and just as surely, HE will fulfill those about His second coming!  Are you ready? Are you in the family of God?  Do you know the Christ of Christmas?  I pray that you do, and if so, that you will remember that He came to save us and give us entrance into HIS kingdom!  Rejoice and be glad!!!  It is all about the “family” of God.  If you don’t know Him, He wants to give you life!  Won’t you listen for His voice and respond in repentance and faith to His sacrifice for You.  The angels will rejoice, and you’ll have the best Christmas ever.

“I say unto you,

that likewise joy shall be in heaven

over one sinner that repenteth,

more than over ninety and nine just persons,

which need no repentance.”  Luke 15:7

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock:

if any man hear my voice,

and open the door,

I will come in to him,

and will sup with him,

and he with me.”    See Rev. 3:20

Amen and Amen!!!

Christmas IS About Family??? Pt. 2 Bible Ballistics: BBs #608

06 Friday Dec 2019

Posted by in 'Tis The Season?, Abundant Life In Jesus, Blessed by God, Born Again, Choices And Consequences, Christmas IS?, IN Jesus!, SIN

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #608  Christmas IS About Family??? Pt.2

 

Continuing with our look at Christmas and family, I want us to go back to the first family—the place where the promise of Jesus was first announced (the promise that would culminate in His birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension back to His Father—and the “rest of the story”, HIS coming as King of Kings and Lord of Lords!) in the midst of sin and failure; Adam and Eve’s sin initiated the promise of redemption; which, by the way, was no surprise to God!  For He had the plan all along, for He knew our choices would lead to sin, death and hell for mankind—BUT GOD!  Oh, how I love those words—BUT GOD—our God knew all along that we would fail, yet He had already made provision through the sacrifice of HIS “only begotten son”!

“And the LORD God commanded the man, saying,

Of every tree of the garden

thou mayest freely eat:

17 But of the tree of the knowledge

of good and evil,

thou shalt not eat of it:

for in the day that thou eatest thereof

thou shalt surely die.”  Genesis 2:16-17

God warned the man, yet by the same token, without the opportunity to choose, we would have been puppets, rather than free moral agents; and while God knew that man would fail, out of His love for us and desire that we choose Him, He gave Adam and Eve a choice! People often say, ‘Well, they didn’t die!”, so, God didn’t mean what He said!  But truly He did—man died spiritually and lost His soul-tie, and beautiful intimacy with his creator!  His soul was marred by sin, and that’s why Jesus said we must be “born again” to see God’s kingdom, much less enter it!  And Jesus is (as my pastor often says) the ‘issue’ and the “issuer’ of salvation, life to all who will believe in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sin—my sin and yours!  Jesus was, is and ever shall be the answer to the sin problem. (And sin IS the problem!)

“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman,                               and between thy seed and her seed;

it shall bruise thy head,

and thou shalt bruise his heel.”  Genesis 3:15

The promise of the One who would crush the serpents head—and bring us victory over sin, death and hell.  Jesus received the ultimate blow from Satan, yet God knew all along that it would only crush His heel, but His resurrection from that blow of death would deliver all who would trust in His blood, crushing Satan!

“O death,

where is thy sting?

O grave,

where is thy victory?

56 The sting of death

is sin;

and the strength of sin

is the law.

57 But thanks be to God,

which giveth us the victory

through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren,

be ye stedfast,

unmoveable,

always abounding in the work of the Lord,

forasmuch as ye know

that your labour is not in vain

in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 15:55-58

Paul reveals this principle of spiritual death in his letter to the Ephesians—we are all born dead spiritually, but Jesus came that we might have not only “life” but “that they might have it more abundantly.”!  Jesus truly is our all in all, even before the world began—before sin!  Jesus was, is and ever shall be The Only Way!  There never was, nor is there now plan ‘A’ which failed, making Jesus plan ‘B’—Jesus has always been, and now is The Only “way….truth…..life” which reconciles to God!

“And you hath he quickened,

who were dead

in trespasses

and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked

according to the course of this world,

according to the prince of the power of the air,

the spirit that now worketh

in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation

in times past

in the lusts of our flesh,

fulfilling the desires of the flesh

and of the mind;

and were by nature the children of wrath,

       even as others.

4 But God,

who is rich in mercy,

for his great love

wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead

in sins,

hath quickened us together

with Christ,

(by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together,

and made us sit together

in heavenly places

in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come

he might shew the exceeding riches

of his grace

in his kindness

toward us

through Christ Jesus.”  Ephesians 2:1-7

Oh, how excited I get just writing these words on paper—we are so loved, blessed and treasured by the God who created us and ‘bought us back’ from sin, death and hell—Amen and Amen!  Jesus saves today, and I’m so grateful for the truth that He changed me!  How about you—do you know the Christ Jesus of Christmas.  Do the bells ring true in your heart the song of saving grace?  Does the light shine in your heart no matter how dark it is around you?  I pray that you will rejoice in the gift that God gave to us the night that Jesus was born so many years ago; and regardless of the date, or exact spot, or the circumstances—God came into this world as a babe to live the perfect, sinless life that we never could, to die as the Lamb of God who “taketh away the sin of the world”, that we might be “born of God”!

We’ll continue our quest to know God’s truth next time, and I pray that you will ponder these things and that God will draw you to Himself, that you might rest in HIM!  May you rejoice with the angels who proclaimed the glory of this marvelous gift of God!

“And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them,

and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them,

Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings

of great joy,

which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David

a Saviour,

which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a sign unto you;

Ye shall find the babe

wrapped in swaddling clothes,

lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace,

good will toward men.”  Luke 2:9-14

Amen!

Christmas IS About Family??? Pt. 1 Bible Ballistics: BBs #607

04 Wednesday Dec 2019

Posted by in 'Tis The Season?, A Father's Love, Abundant Life In Jesus, Christmas IS?, Come To Worship HIM, Family, It's Your Choice, Jesus Is Alive, Jesus Is The Only Way!, Joy To The World?, Salvation, SIN

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #607  Christmas IS About Family??? Pt.1

 

As we talked last time about the truth that Christmas is about Jesus’ gift to the world of Himself to be our substitutionary, atoning, sacrifice for sin to all who come to Him in repentance and faith, I want to spend some time this month talking about Jesus, Christmas, and family and how they are intertwined.

When we come to Jesus, we become part of the family of God—we are ‘born again’ into the Kingdom of God!

“He was in the world,

and the world was made by him,

and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his own,

and his own received him not.

12 But as many as received him,

to them gave he power

to become the sons of God,

even to them that believe on his name:

13 Which were born,

not of blood,

nor of the will of the flesh,

nor of the will of man,

but of God.

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.”   John 1:10-14

Jesus came into the world for you and me—that we might have “life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (See John 10:10)—that we might truly know what “life” is all about, from the God who created us, and bought us back to Himself with the blood of Jesus!  It’s what Jesus talked to Nicodemus about; this religious leader who wanted to know what Jesus was all about, yet came to Him at night, whether to be unseen of others, or whatever reason he had—he came.  What about you?  Have you come to Jesus?  He came—was born in a manger, lived a sinless life, died in my/your place, rose victorious on the third day that we might become a part of HIS family—to “become the sons of God”—sons and daughters of The Father!  Amen!

“Jesus answered and said unto him,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born again,

he cannot see the kingdom of God.

4 Nicodemus saith unto him,

How can a man be born when he is old?

can he enter the second time

into his mother’s womb,

and be born?

5 Jesus answered,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee,

Except a man be born of water

and of the Spirit,

he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

6 That which is born of the flesh

is flesh;

and that which is born of the Spirit

is spirit.

7 Marvel not that I said unto thee,

Ye must be born again.”  John 3:3-7

So, for our first look at family, we can choose to hear the message of Jesus, and become His children—we can know The Father—to be “born of the Spirit”!  I pray that you will rejoice in the beauty of the gift that God has given to the world as you see all of the Christmas beauty around us!!!

“….and thou shalt call his name JESUS:

for he shall save his people from their sins.”  Matthew 1:21b

Amen!

Bible Ballistics: BBs #604 A Month Of Gratitude??? #8 Truth

20 Wednesday Nov 2019

Posted by in Gratitude, Gratitude Is Timeless, Only One Way, Our God Reigns, SIN, Truth, Truth is True

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Bible Ballistics: BBs #604    A Month Of Gratitude??? #8 Truth

 

I am grateful for God’s Word (which I already spoke about) and the fact that it is truth—truth, no matter what others may say about it, accept it or deny it—I thank God that HIS truth IS true, and that it never changes.  Times may change, people may change, opinions my change, cultural norms may change but God and His Word never change, and for that I am truly grateful.  I read some things recently that just grieve my soul, for the cultural attacks on our faith in The Word of God, and the God of The Word.  Regardless of whether you or I believe or accept God’s Word, it doesn’t change the fact that HIS Word is set!  It will be our judge—both the spoken/written Word as well as the Living Word, Jesus!

“For the word of God is

quick,

and powerful,

and sharper than any twoedged sword,

piercing even to the dividing asunder

of soul and spirit,

and of the joints and marrow,

and is a discerner

of the thoughts

and intents

of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature

that is not manifest in his sight:

but all things

are naked

and opened

unto the eyes of him

with whom we have to do.”   Hebrews 4:12-13

Jesus Himself told us who He was, is and ever shall be—The Living Word—The Truth—The Light—the very hope of the world.

“Jesus saith unto him,

I am

the way,

the truth,

and the life:

 no man cometh unto the Father,

but by me.”  John 14:65

Jesus was and is truth embodied, and He came that we might have life IN Him!  But we can’t hold to the lies of the culture and still claim to know truth—written or living!  We must stand upon The Word of God or perish!

“There is a way

that seemeth right

unto a man,

but the end thereof

are the ways of death.”  Proverbs 16:25

Jesus is the Only Way—The One Way to God—and His way will never contradict His own Word!  He is that Way, and He is the gate into God’s kingdom, and we can only enter by faith in His substitutionary, atoning sacrifice.  And not to be rude, but “news flash” if you or I have never seen, nor do we now see our “sin” as “sin”, we may have never met the Jesus who died for SIN!  For Jesus saves us from our sin—and cleanses us “from all sin”!  But many claim that their behavior isn’t sin—it’s the way God made them, or it’s my right to choose (and it is but remember there is a consequence for every choice).  But when Jesus saves us, HE not only forgives our sin, but He cleanses us from it.  Jesus talked about this disparity that is so prevalent in our culture—our world—today.

“Enter ye in

at the strait gate:

for wide is the gate,

and broad is the way,

that leadeth to destruction,

and many there be

which go in thereat:

14 Because strait is the gate,

and narrow is the way,

which leadeth unto life,

and few there be

that find it.

15 Beware of false prophets,

which come to you in sheep’s clothing,

but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16 Ye shall know them

by their fruits.

Do men gather grapes

of thorns,

or figs

of thistles?

17 Even so every good tree

bringeth forth good fruit;

but a corrupt tree

bringeth forth evil fruit.

18 A good tree

cannot bring forth evil fruit,

neither can a corrupt tree

bring forth good fruit.

19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit

is hewn down,

and cast into the fire.”  Matthew 7:13-19

And the Apostle John spoke to this as well.

“If we say that we have fellowship with him,

and walk in darkness,

we lie,

and do not the truth:

7 But if we walk in the light,

as he is in the light,

we have fellowship one with another,

and the blood of Jesus Christ

his Son

cleanseth us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin,

we deceive ourselves,

and the truth

is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins,

he is faithful and just

to forgive us

our sins,

and to cleanse us

from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned,

we make him a liar,

and his word is not in us.”  1 John 1:6-10

And just as food for thought today, as we think about The Word of God, and God Himself, one of the Ten Commandments comes to mind.

“Thou shalt not

take the name

of the LORD thy God

in vain;

for the LORD

will not hold him guiltless

that taketh his name

in vain.”  Exodus 20:7

While this is clearly referring to speaking God’s name lightly, in jest, in ridicule or disparagingly, it also means to use God’s name in a vain way!  What do I mean?  I mean this isn’t simply a command to refrain from what we call “cursing” (which is a command that we need reminding of today, for sure) it is a reference to the fact that GOD is GOD, and worthy of worship, and acknowledgment of His authority; yet we hear people on every hand claiming to speak for God—God wouldn’t send someone to hell—God would or wouldn’t do or not do any particular thing—yet their words are contrary to HIS Word.  That is also taking His name in vain!  It’s also laying the fault of our sin at the feet of the Holy God Almighty of the universe!  So many today are making unbiblical claims and charges for and against God that are contrary to His Word, His character and His standard!  God “will not hold him guiltless”!

Jesus said there is one cause for this kind of behavior:

“Then said they unto him,

Where is thy Father?

Jesus answered,

Ye neither know me,

nor my Father:

if ye had known me,

ye should have known my Father also…

… 23 And he said unto them,

Ye are from beneath;

I am from above:

ye are of this world;

I am not of this world.

24 I said therefore unto you,

that ye shall die in your sins:

for if ye believe not

that I am he,

ye shall die in your sins…

… 34 Jesus answered them,

Verily, verily, I say unto you,

Whosoever committeth sin

is the servant of sin.

35 And the servant abideth not

in the house for ever:

but the Son abideth ever.

36 If the Son therefore

shall make you free,

ye shall be free indeed…

… 38 I speak that

which I have seen with my Father:

and ye do that

which ye have seen with your father…

.. 42 Jesus said unto them,

If God were your Father,

ye would love me:

for I proceeded forth

and came from God;

neither came I of myself,

but he sent me.

43 Why do ye not understand my speech?

even because ye cannot hear my word.

44 Ye are of your father the devil,

and the lusts of your father

ye will do.

He was a murderer

from the beginning,

and abode not in the truth,

because there is no truth in him.

When he speaketh a lie,

he speaketh of his own:

for he is a liar,

and the father of it.

45 And because I tell you the truth,

 ye believe me not.”  Portions of John 8:19-45

I know this is a lengthy passage but one that I thought necessary, and I’d encourage you to read John 6-8 on your own—Jesus’ message wasn’t always well received by the people, in fact they killed Him because HE spoke truth and they didn’t want to hear truth.  I simply want to remind those who are born-again children of God, our job is to live faithfully, speak truthfully and press on in the power of our Lord, knowing that as they rejected our Lord they will often reject us and our message (we are even now being called “haters” for speaking the truth of God!).  Jesus gave us a little jewel of advice and I’ll leave you with it.  And may I kindly remind us all (myself included) social media is a divider—intentionally—and we must not let the enemy trick us into “foolish debate” with those who have no desire to receive truth!

“If ye were of the world,

the world would love his own:

but because ye are not

of the world,

but I have chosen you

out of the world,

therefore the world hateth you.

20 Remember the word that I said unto you,

The servant is not greater

than his lord.

If they have persecuted me,

they will also persecute you;

if they have kept my saying,

they will keep yours also.

21 But all these things

will they do unto you

for my name’s sake,

because they know not him

that sent me.”  John 15:19-21

“Give not that which is holy

unto the dogs,

neither cast ye your pearls

before swine,

lest they trample them

under their feet,

and turn again

and rend you.”   Matthew 7:6

‘Nuff said!!!

Amen and Amen!