He Wants You!

I remember during World War 1 and 2, we saw posters of Uncle Sam saying, "I want YOU!" It was a plea to inspire men and women to do their part to win in the war effort. It was a strong message in hopes of pulling on the patriotic heart strings of those to do their part. They were needed. Wanted! Doesn't everyone everywhere desire to be needed and wanted? Deep inside all of our hearts, we have a thirst for someone to love us as we desire to be loved. To be wanted, cherished, admired and cared for unconditionally, don't we?

Jesus Christ is being proclaimed to know who He really is. Isn't it amazing that He is personally inviting us to eternal life in heaven with Him. As long as we are willing to give everything up we are holding on to just to follow Him. No other faith group extends this invitation, from a God who loves you so much He wants to do everything He can to make sure you're not left behind for all eternity. He's willing to remove all of our sings and allow us to start fresh today.

Isaiah 1:18 ~ "Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

Whatever excuse you think you can make as to the reason why you have put off taking Jesus up on his offer, is not reason enough to separate you from Him for all eternity. Will you come to Him today, while you still have that chance and opportunity to do so? You can't do it when you're dead. It has to happen before them and no one is ever guaranteed a tomorrow.

We've been studying yesterday and continuing today about the deity of Jesus Christ and the scriptures that back up that Jesus Christ is God!

Psalm 2:11-12 ~ "Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling, Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are those who put their trust in Him."

Isaiah 7:14 ~ "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel."

Luke 1:30-32 ~ "Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David."

Philippians 2:10-11 ~ "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Philippians 3:20 ~ "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ."

John 3:16 ~ "For 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 4:42 ~ "Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world."

1 John 4:14 ~ "And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world."

2 Peter 1:11 ~ "for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

It's no wonder than that Jesus Christ is crying out to you today.

Romans 10:13 ~ "For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."

Acts 4:12 ~ "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

And this is just the beginning....read the Bible from cover to cover! You can't help but see Jesus as God throughout! Now will you come please, because Jesus Christ is the request and He is requesting YOU!

Revelation 22:14-16 ~ "Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star."

When it says that outside...this is not referring to looking over the wall of the heavenly city and seeing those who have rejected Christ, it is simply referencing hell, the complete opposite of where Jesus is and as far away as possible as they can be.

Jesus, Himself, is making a personal plea and testimony. He is speaking to YOU! Confirming the message He has sent in the churches, inviting YOU to come to know Him personally in your heart. Jesus is the Root of David, He has engineered it all from the very beginning of creation.

Revelation 22:17 ~ "And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" and let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely."

Come is a very common and simple word in the Greek language, which means to show up, to arrive, to return, to be there. There is a subtle, yet profound truth here in the Greek construction of this verse. Collectively, the confession is Come, Lord Jesus!

I would encourage you if you have been waiting on making your choice to follow Jesus, Come! Come to know Him today! Come let Him change your life forever! Come make the choice before it's too late. Come just as YOU are and He will do the work to restore, redeem and renew your life. Just invite Him in, He is waiting for You!

Is Jesus God?

Image courtesy of USAtoday.com "Son of God"

That is really the question that sparks all kinds of controversy in almost every single religion and even among Atheists, is the deity of Jesus Christ. Is Jesus God? He is no other than God in the flesh, but this very study will answer all those questions pertaining to the very essence and nature of just who Jesus is. You might want to print this to answer all those door knockers who come to your door with another gospel. This study will determine what the Bible has to say about whether Jesus is God.

One verse alone almost is guaranteed to upset most Muslims, Jews and other religious groups because their agenda is to dismiss or downgrade Jesus Christ. Some try to make Him a god among other gods; some try to make Him an angel among others, and some try to make Him an enlightened one among others. The issue has to do with Jesus Christ. 

Proverbs 30:4  ~ "Who has ascended into heaven, or descended? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is His name, and what is His Son's name, if you know?"

Even Jew's can't answer this one. Most of them don't believe Jesus Christ was the Son of God. They are still waiting on the promised Messiah! Yet they can't argue this verse. They are stuck. This is the very same reason that the god of Islam is not the same God of the Bible. Islam refuses to acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God and goes so far as to proclaim it around the Dome of the Rock in Arabic..."There is no God but God. He is One. God has no son." The Muslims don't even know the name of God and that is why they call Him, Allah. It's just a title, but the Bible clearly gives the many names of God in it. It is a monotheistic belief, a belief in one God is about all we have in common with Islam. With God, there are no multiples, no Firsts and Lasts, plural.

Did you know that prior to 1954, our government allocated part of its operating budget dedicated to the printing of the Bible? The reason "In God We Trust" is printed on our currency is because the government feared that during our countries prosperity, we would forget about God. Did you know that?

God anticipated that Jesus Christ would be under attack, and that is why the Book of Revelation, the final book of the Bible is all about the revealing who Jesus Christ really is. Why?

Because if you remove Christ out of the message, if you take away His deity, mankind is lost, no matter how religious he may try to me. There is no hope of eternal life if Jesus didn't really rise from the dead. 

Jesus Christ is the Righteousness! The one thing to note is that not all Bible versions have verse 13 from Revelation 22 printed in them. The King James and New King James Versions and some New International Versions do, but most modern versions don't. It's omitted. Even modern day publishers are trying to remove the very deity of Jesus Christ and are stripping it out. Be careful of that.

Revelation 22:13 ~ "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last."

There are three distinctive names of God given here by Jesus.

1. The Alpha and the Omega
2. The Beginning and the End.
3. The First and the Last

How is Jesus Christ our righteousness? Jesus is God incarnate? A few of the scriptures that teach this truth...

Isaiah 48:12 ~ "Listen to me, O Jacob, and Israel, My called: I am He, I am the First, I am also the Last."

Isaiah 44:6 ~ "Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: I am the First and I am the Last; besides Me there is no God."

The Lord of the Hosts is a reference to the Lord of armies or the Lord of war.

Isaiah 41:4 ~ "Who has performed it and done it, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD, am the first; and with the last I am He."

Isaiah 43:10 ~ "You are My witnesses," says the LORD, "and My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me."

"I am He" is a reference to the eternal self existing one.

Revelation 1:8 ~ "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

Revelation 21:6 ~ "And he said to me, "It is done!" I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts."

Revelation 4:8 ~ "The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!"

Revelation 1:11 ~ "saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, and what you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches..."

Revelation 22:13 ~ "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last."

Revelation 1:17-18 ~ "And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, "Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last. I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death."

Just this one verse alone, verse 18, points specifically to Jesus Christ alone, which the door knockers have written in their version of the book but refuse to believe what it says. Highlight that one!

Revelation 2:8 ~ "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write, "These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life:"

1 John 5:20 ~ "And we know that the Son of God has come and have given us an understanding, that we might know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life."

1 Timothy 3:16 ~ "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory."

Titus 2:13 ~ "Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ."

John 8:58 ~ "Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."

John 8:24 ~ "Therefore I sad to you that you will die in your sins' for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."

John 10:32 ~ " Jesus answered them, "Many good works I have shown you from My Father. For which of those works do you stone Me?"

Titus 2:10 ~ "not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things."

Jude 1:24-25 ~ "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever, Amen."

1 Timothy 4:10 ~ "For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe."

Isaiah 42:8 ~ "I am the LORD, that is My name; and my glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to carved images."

Hosea 13:4 ~ "Yet I am the LORD your God ever since the land of Egypt, and you shall know no God but Me; for there is no savior besides Me."

Isaiah 45:21 ~ "Tell and bring forth your case; Yes, let them take counsel together. Who has declared this from ancient time? Who has told it from that time? Have not I, the LORD? And there is other other God besides Me, a just God and a Savior; there is none besides Me."

Isaiah 43:11 ~ "I, even am the LORD, and besides Me there is no savior."

Psalm 68:4 ~ "Sing to God, sing praises to His name; extol Him who rides on the clouds, by His name YAH, and rejoice before Him."

There is no "J" in the Hebrew language. God is called YAH-Weh or YHWH, meaning Yehovah! This would be the correct pronunciation of the word we see often times as Jehovah!

We will continue this tomorrow....

You will NOT Get to Heaven Based On Your Works!

A lot of Christians believe their Christianity or maintain their Christianity or somehow conclude their Christianity by salvation being established, kept or preserved by works. It's human nature, as fallen as it is, to assume the responsibility of works and in many cases it can be commendable, but not when it comes to your salvation.

You will NOT get to heaven based on your works. Jesus did the work to get you into heaven. As a born again Christian, the Holy Spirit dwelling within you will cause works to come out of your life. Words, deeds, actions, but it doesn't save you. It's just evidence that you are saved.

Don't make the mistake thinking you can work your way into heaven. That's an abomination. The unsaved will be condemned by their works, while the saved are rewarded for their works. That is exactly what the Bible teaches.

We start to approach God on our merits. We have good weeks so we attribute that to how much God must love us and we must be doing good in His eyes. But that is NOT how God loves us. That's not how we relate to Him or even love Him.

Because we have a true living relationship with the LORD, that new life produces good works, but we are not saved by them. It's just proof we are saved. You don't have to work your way into heaven and any religion that tells you that is false. That is why Jesus said, "It is finished," as He hung on the cross dying for our sins. He gave His life that we might be saved.

What is required of you?

Jesus said, "This is the work, to believe on Him, whom God has sent." That is the work you are to do. Singular! From that life flows a life of works as proof that you have been saved, and have faith in Christ.

Does the return of Jesus Christ excite you? If not, why not? If you are afraid, perhaps something in your life isn't right. Will you now open your heart and give up everything for Christ today? Perhaps finally give up after all these years...your status, your religion, your position and give everything up to Jesus and humble yourself before Him? All your righteousness? Give it up!

Revelation 22:12-17 ~ "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last. Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star. And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely."

Why should you come? Because Jesus Christ is the reality.

Revelation 22:12a ~ "And behold, I am coming quickly..." 

No less than six times does Jesus teach us about His return, twice as a warning (Revelation 2:5,16) and four times as a promise (Revelation 3:11, 22:7, 12, 20).

Why Jesus Christ?

He is our only hope! He could come suddenly and without warning! There is nothing worth living for in this world, if we don't have Jesus. He promised He would come the first time, and He'll come back as He has promised again for the second time! When death comes to us in this life, it is merely a doorway to eternity.

Jesus Christ is the reward.

Revelation 22:12b ~ "My reward is with me, to give to every one according to his work."

This is not a verse for justification for salvation by works as many would quote and point to, when they read this. Salvation is apart from works, says the Bible. But the LORD will give rewards according to the words which the Christian, the one who has come to Jesus, has done while in this world!

You and I will be rewarded for every penny that we've invested in work of the Lord. You and I will be rewarded for every effort that we've made to tell others about Jesus and His love for them. You and I will be rewarded for every act of obedience to Christ while in this life.

Matthew 13:23 ~ "But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces; some a hundredfold, some sixty and some thirty."

Here's a simple, but powerful self-test to determine if you are a real, fruit-bearing Christian...What "effect for Christ" have you left people? His reward will be the "complete redemption" of our person. It needs to be for God's glory and not ours!

Believers will stand before the judgment seat of Christ, not the Great White Throne judgment, not to determine salvation and our entrance into heaven, but to determine our rewards and our intents on our works whether for our glory or for Jesus'!

What will you do today for the glory of Jesus?