They Knew Jesus

 They Knew Jesus

The Apostle Peter wrote,

We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.  

For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”  

We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.” 2 Peter 1:19-18.

Peter who was with Jesus throughout his earthly ministry, witnessed the miraculous things that happened. And he told anyone who would listen about Jesus. 

He makes it clear “we did not follow cleverly invented stories” 

From my perspective why would Peter and the other Apostles make up stories. Most of the new testament was made within living memory. And such stories could have been called out as fake.

Even today Christians all over the world believe what is in the Bible. And in the new testament in particular telling lies would be counterintuitive to the building up Christianity. The apostle Paul wrote,

“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18.

So the question come down to. Do you believe what is said in the Bible? Do you believe Jesus is God incarnate the Saviour of mankind?

Please think about it. 

Are you Do you?

 Are you Do you?

In the book of Deuteronomy we read,

“But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul."  Deuteronomy 4:29.

Whether it’s a lost coin, or a lost person. In order to find it you must first be looking for it. This is especially true of God. You must be looking for him in order to find Him.

In the book of Hebrews we read,

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6.

         This is why many atheist cannot find God. They do not believe he exists so they are not looking for him.

An anonymous writer stated,

“Maybe the atheist cannot find God for the same reason a thief cannot find a policeman.” Author Unknown.

So where do you stand? Are you looking for God? Do you truly believe in God?

Please think about it.

 

Joshua's choice

 Joshua’s choice

In the book of Joshua we read,

"Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.  

      But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24: 14,15.

When we become Christians. True followers of Christ Jesus we are asked to make similar choices to the Israelites. Our Gods in this day and age are different than the Israelites. Our gods are materialism, wealth, sex, and many others. All of which we must be willing to give up when we accept Christ as our saviour.

We must believe in faith that God exists and will help us change our life around.

The writer of Hebrews telling us,

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6. 

Do you believe this?

Do you serve the LORD?

Please think about it.

Believers Principles for living #7 Trusting in God

 Believers Principles for living #7 Trusting in God

The writer of Proverbs tells us,

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart 

and lean not on your own understanding; 

in all your ways acknowledge him, 

and he will make your paths straight.”

                                               Proverbs 3:5,6.

If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus do you trust God completely? Is your faith squarely in Him. The writer of Hebrew tells us,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see.”  

                                                           Hebrews 11:1

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, 

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists 

and 

that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” 

                                                                            Hebrews 11:6.

I have learned first hand that trusting in God really does work. 

Yes there have been times when I thought things would not work out. Still I committed the situation to God and left it there. Ultimately the situation did work out, although sometimes not in the way I thought it would work out.

The apostle Paul said,

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  Romans 8:28.

And Paul should know he went through a lot for his faith yet it all worked out in the end. Even though he was ultimately martyred for his faith he had the opportunity to share that faith throughout the Roman empire. He stood before everyone from rulers to slave and told them of his faith before leaving this earth for heaven.

So the question becomes, if you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus do you put your trust fully in Him?

Please think about it.

If we are wrong

 If we are wrong

In the book of Lamentations we read,

"The LORD is my portion" says my soul, 

"therefore I will hope in Him" 

                                             Lamentations 3:24

According to the Oxford dictionary one definition of portion is a persons destiny. 

So is God your destiny? As you go through life do you see your ultimate destiny as being with God?

Are you sure you will be with God in eternity?

As Christians we believe what the apostle Paul wrote,

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." Ephesians 2:8,9.

We believe what the writer of the book of Hebrews states,

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."  Hebrews 11:1

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6

We believe in what the apostle Paul said as recorded in the book of Acts,

“The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.  

He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 

They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved...” Acts 16 30,31a.

As believers in Christ Jesus we believe the words of Jesus who said,

“Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  John 14:6.

If we who believe in Christ Jesus are wrong there is no need to be worried. If on the other hand we are right. There is a lot to at the very least think about.

Please think about it.

Christian principles for living #7

 Christian Principles for living #7 

Trust in the Lord

The writer of Proverbs tells us,

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart 

and lean not on your own understanding; 

in all your ways acknowledge him, 

and he will make your paths straight.”

                                               Proverbs 3:5,6.

If you claim to be a believer in Christ Jesus do you trust God completely? Is your faith squarely in Him. The writer of Hebrew tells us,

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for 

and certain of what we do not see.”  

                                                           Hebrews 11:1

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, 

because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists 

and 

that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” 

                                                                            Hebrews 11:6.

I have learned first hand that trusting in God really does work. 

Yes there have been times when I thought things would not work out. Still I committed the situation to God and left it there. Ultimately the situation did work out, although sometimes not in the way I thought it would work out.

The apostle Paul said,

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”  Romans 8:28.

And Paul should know he went through a lot for his faith yet it all worked out in the end. Even though he was ultimately martyred for his faith he had the opportunity to share that faith throughout the Roman empire. He stood before everyone from rulers to slave and told them of his faith before leaving this earth for heaven.

So the question becomes, if you consider yourself a believer in Christ Jesus do you put your trust fully in Him?

Please think about it.

The way you love

 The way you love

Jesus said,

"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  

By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34,35.

Love is one of the cornerstones of the Christian faith.

In the book of Ephesians we read,

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:1,2. 

It is our duty as Christians. As believers in Christ Jesus to Love as Christ Loved. Unconditionally. Our love should have no bounds.

The apostle Paul defines Christian love this way,

"Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, 

it is not easily angered, 

it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil 

but rejoices with the truth.  

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Love never fails....

And now these three remain:

 faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."  

                                                                                   1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,13.

Is this the way you love?

Please think about it.

Do you believe in God?

  Do you believe in God

The Prophet Isaiah writes,

"A voice says, "Cry out." And I said, "What shall I cry?" 

"All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. 

The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. 

Surely the people are grass. 

The grass withers and the flowers fall,

 but the word of our God stands forever." 

                                                                   Isaiah 40:6-8.

I over my nearly sixty plus years on this earth that some believe God is dead. That the Bible is irrelevant. Nothing could be further from the truth. 

Many years ago I read a poem that read,

Last eve I passed beside a blacksmith's door,

And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime;

Then, looking in, I saw upon the floor

Old hammers, worn with beating years of time.

"How many anvils have you had," said I,

"To wear and bater all these hammers so?"

"Just one," said he, and then, with twinkling eye,

The anvil wears the hammers out, you know."

And so, thought I, the anvil of God's Word,

For ages skeptic blows have beat upon;

Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard,

The anvil is unharmed - and hammers gone.

                                                                    Anonymous.

God has given each and every person on this earth the freedom to choose to believe and do as they wish. That includes believing whether or not God exists.

Thus the question becomes; Do you believe in God?

        Do you believe Jesus is the one and only Son of God, who  died for your sins?

Please think about it.

So you believe this?

Do you believe this?
The apostle Paul wrote,
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved
Romans 10:9-13.
Here is what Christians believe in a nutshell. We believe

1. If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord. 

2. If you believe in your heart God raised him from the dead.

You will be saved.

It is really that simple. There is no middle ground. Each person must decide for themselves if they truly believe Jesus is Lord, and that God raised Him from the dead.
Thus my question to you the reader.
Do you believe this?
Please think about it.

It's self explanatory

It’s self explanatory
The Apostle Paul writes,
"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame."  
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”Romans 10:9-13 
The apostle Paul make it very clear for all who can read. “If you confess with your mouth “Jesus is Lord” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
This is a cornerstone belief of Christianity.
If this statement is wrong, no one has anything to fear if it is on the other hand a true statement then everyone who reads it has a lot to think about to say the least.
As C. S. Lewis stated,
“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C. S. Lewis.
Please think about it.

Can

Can
John’s gospel records this conversation between Jesus and Martha.
“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;  and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes Lord” she told Him, “I believe you are the Christ the Son of God, who was to come into the world,” John 11:25,26,27.
The other day I was asked if I believe a gay man can get to heaven. I answered with the words of the American evangelist Toni Campolo who said,
“We ought to get out of the judging business. We should leave it up to God to determine who belongs in one arena or another when it comes to eternity. What we are obligated to do is to tell people about Jesus, and that's what I do.”Tony Campolo
Jesus speaking about himself said,
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.  
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. John 3:16-18.
The apostle Paul wrote,
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  Romans 10: 9,10.
The psalmist writes,
 “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” Psalm 139:13-16
Only God knows why we are the way we are. No one can truly tell what is in the heart and mind of another person. No one knows an individual as well as God does. Thus we have no right to Judge other people when it comes to where they will spend eternity.
Jesus told his disciple and through them us,
“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”Matthew 28:18-20.
He did not tell those who believe in him to judge people with respect to where they will spend eternity. He told them to go out and show the world how they can spend eternity in heaven.
Please think about it.

Do your Best

Do your best
The apostle Paul writes,
"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." 2Timothy 4:3,4.
If you consider yourself a Christian, a true follower of Christ Jesus, are you teaching sound doctrine?
Many churches are not following sound doctrine. Many preachers and evangelist are teaching what they believe and not what the bible teaches. To make matters worse there are few voices in the Christian world who are willing to take a stand and at least try to correct those teaching wrong doctrine.
The apostle Paul wrote,
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” 2Timothy 2:15.
This is what we as Christians whether we stand in the pulpit or sit in the pew must do.
Please think about it.

Because

Because

The following is what I believe each individual Christian should be able to say and people able to see in their lives. It’s simply called Because and I present it hear for you to think about.

Because

Because...

“...He (God) first loved us.”

       1 John 4:19

I will...

love God

Because...

“...God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”  John 3:16

I will...

love God

            

           Because...

Jesus said in Matthew 22:37-40:

“...you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

I will...

love God and my neighbours whoever they may be.

Because...

Jesus said, “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 

bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.”   Luke 6:27,28

I will...

Love my enemy.

Because...

Jesus said,“A new command I give you: 

Love one another. As I have loved you, 

so you must love one another.  

                    By this all men will know that you are my disciples, 

            if you love one another.”

John 13:34,35

I will...

love my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Because...

The apostle Paul said,

 “Love is patient, love is kind. 

It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered,

 it keeps no record of wrongs. 

Love does not delight in evil

 but rejoices with the truth.  

  It always protects, always trusts, 

always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails....

                             1 Corinthians 13:4-8a,

I will...

I will show this kind of love to those around me.

Because...

The Bible says, 

“Now abides faith, hope and love, these three; 

but the greatest of these is love.  

1 Corinthians 13:13

I will...

Have faith hope and love in God 

and for my fellow man.

Because...         

According to Ephesians 2:8,9:

“...by grace you have been saved through faith, 

and not of yourselves; it is a gift of God, 

not of works; lest anyone should boast.”

I will...           

Have hope in Christ and present this hope to my fellow man.

   Because

According to Romans 5:1,2: 

“...having been justified by faith, we have peace with God

 through our LORD Jesus Christ, 

through whom also we have access by faith into this grace 

which we stand, and rejoice in hope of glory of God.”

I have...           

I have peace with God and rejoice in the glory of God

Because of this and much more

I will love both God, and my neighbour 

who ever they may be.