A Short: Jesus is God

 

Bible Study Shorts ESV

Jesus is God

    In John 17:1-5, “When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.”

    Notice that Jesus said,“the glory” he had “with” the Father “before the world existed.” The glory that he had “with” the Father. The glory Jesus had “with” the Father that he wants to return to. The glory Jesus shared “with” the Father. The same Glory as the Father. The same level of Glory. The Glory only God can have. Not the glory of creation, but the Glory of God. Jesus said “glorify me in your own presence.” Together in the Father’s “own presence” that he wants to return to. A “presence” and “glory” that the Father and Son shared together “before the world existed.”

Is Faith a Work?

 

Bible Study ESV

Is Faith a Work?

    I have heard people say that to have faith or to believe in Jesus is a work because the act of having faith or to believe is a work. These people assert that one must do works as well as have faith in Jesus to be saved. So, they assert that to have faith is a work, therefore one must work to be saved. This was confusing until I realized that a gift is not a gift if you work for it. In Ephesians 2:8-10, Paul states, it is “by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” If anyone believes that their faith is a work, then the “gift of God” is no longer a gift because they are doing something to receive something. Paul separates faith from works by stating that grace is a “gift of God” and that salvation, which comes from God’s grace, is “not your own doing” and that it is “not a result of works.” Our salvation and our works are separate. Faith is not a work.

    This is important to understand because Jesus said in Matthew 7:21-22, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.” These are people who believe, but they are also declaring their works as a reason to enter into the kingdom of heaven. They are declaring their works to Jesus as evidence of their faith and that they should enter the kingdom of heaven. Their “lawlessness” comes from not following the Father’s will. Jesus tells us the will of the Father, which is, “the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:40). We are saved by grace through faith in the Son, not by any other means, or by our works, or by any other work, or by any other definition.

    Paul states, “you have been saved by grace through faith. And this is not your own doing.” Grace is undeserved favor. We don’t deserve God’s grace, but God gives it freely to anyone who chooses to have faith in his son, Jesus. Our choice to have faith is entering into the work Jesus has already done for us. It is not our work. We cannot add to Jesus’ work. By having faith, we are entering into Jesus’ work. That is why our salvation is “not [our] own doing.” Our salvation depends on the work of Jesus, not the “result of [our] works, so that no one may boast.” No one can save themselves by adding works to their salvation. The sinner cannot save the sinner. If salvation depended on the sinner, then no one could be saved. Without God’s grace, there is no salvation. Without Jesus’ work, there is no salvation. We cannot add our sin to a Holy and Perfect God.

    Paul states that followers of Jesus are God’s “workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Once you choose to believe, God works in you that you may become like his Son, and the works that you will do have already been “prepared beforehand” by God. These works have nothing to do with earning grace or salvation, but everything to do with discipleship and becoming God’s “workmanship.” In Matthew 5:16, Jesus states, “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” Our works are our “good deeds” and our “good deeds” are meant for each other, which glorifies the “Father in heaven.” We glorify the Father by making him known to others by the way we live our lives following Jesus. Our “good deeds” are not for salvation. Our “good deeds” are for us to “walk in them.” Our “good deeds” don’t earn anything, but are good and helpful to one another. This means praying, going to church, giving to the poor, baptism, helping someone in need, studying the bible, loving those who do not love you, forgiving one another, witnessing, cutting off your old way of life, and all other “good deeds” are for us to “walk in them” to become the “workmanship” of God and to do for each other to make the Father known. There is a relationship between us and God, by our “good deeds” that we “walk in them,” so that others may see them and benefit from them and this glorifies God. We are not adding glory to God. We cannot add anything to God, but we are glorifying God by making him known to others that they may know him.

Are There Many Ways to God?

 

Bible Study ESV

Are There Many Ways to God?

    In Matthew 7:13, Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.” 

    Jesus said to “Enter by the narrow gate.” This states that there is one gate, but it also implies that there are other gates. The gate is “narrow,” which is restrictive. The other gate is “wide” and “easy” because there are no restrictions, which makes it appealing and acceptable to the “many” who enter through it. This “wide” gate is “easy” and leads to “destruction” because the “way” of the “wide” gate is of the “many.” Since the “narrow gate” implies there are other gates, these other gates are the “wide” gate, and that one should avoid them because they all lead to “destruction.”

    In Matthew 7:14, Jesus said, “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

    The way of the “narrow” gate is “hard” and few “find” this gate. The “narrow” gate is “hard” because the “way” of the “narrow” gate is not the way of the “many.” The “narrow” gate is “hard” because it’s the gate that the “many” will reject. The “narrow” gate is “hard” because one has to see and believe that there is only one gate or only one way to eternal life, which goes against the belief that there are other gates or many ways that lead to life. To go against the more acceptable “wide” and “easy” gate of the “many,” but to accept the “narrow” gate that the “few” enter, will lead to hardship. It will not be easy to follow Jesus according to his teachings and way of life and go against what the “many” believe. The “way” of the “narrow” gate is “hard” because one has to be humble enough to see that the “easy” way that they are following will lead them to “destruction.” That one has to “find” the “narrow” gate also suggests that there are other gates to avoid. And to “find” the “narrow” gate implies that the gate is not ours, but that the gate belongs to God.

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

    Jesus clearly calls himself the “narrow gate.” He is the “way” and the “truth” and the “life.” Notice that these are all singular. There are not ways or truths or many life. Jesus is the “way” to live and the “truth” to believe and the “life” to receive here and now and in eternal life. Even more restrictive is that Jesus said, “no one” will have life “except through me.” Jesus is the “narrow gate.”

    Then in Matthew 7:15-16, Jesus warns, “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits.”

    Jesus said to “Enter by the narrow gate,” and avoid the “wide” gate, and then the next thing he warns of is of “false prophets.” There is a relationship between those who enter the “wide” gate and “false prophets.” This is a critical reason why few “find” the “narrow” gate. Since “many” enter the wide gate, then there are many false prophets who will lead “many” to “destruction.” The “false prophets” will be recognizable by their “fruits,” that is what they teach. That is what comes out of their mouths that differs from what Jesus and his apostles and disciples taught. The words they use will sound good and acceptable. Pleasing to the ears and reasonable. Intellectually stimulating and elevating. They will rewrite the bible. They will change the nature of God. They will change the nature of the Father. They will change the nature of Jesus. They will change the nature of the Holy Spirit. Their changes will be subtle and difficult. They will create doctrines that you will love. They will create traditions that you will love. They will claim new revelations. They will mix the beliefs of the many into something that is appealing and acceptable. They will deny God. They will deny truth. They will elevate you as god. They will look and sound so right and so good that you will not see the “ravenous” wolf.

Jesus Died on the Cross for You

 

Bible Study ESV

Jesus Died on the Cross for You

    Do you want to go to heaven? Do you believe there is a God? If not, consider that the universe had a beginning from nothing. Consider how precise natural laws are not only on earth, but in the universe. Consider how many natural laws there are? Does it makes sense that there is a God who is the creator and who holds everything together? Ask yourself this question: “If I die tomorrow, would I go to heaven?” If you are unsure, ask yourself, “Why?” Ask yourself: “Am I a good person?” If you say yes, consider these questions. Have you ever lied? Stolen? Have you ever lusted or was angry or felt hatred? Have you ever not forgiven someone? These are God’s standards. We have all broken them. These are the standards by which God will judge us because God is Holy and is Perfect, and we are not. There is no way we can keep God’s standards, but God did make a way for us through his son Jesus, who died on the cross 2000 years ago for you.

    We are separated from God because of sin. Because we have sinned, we have to answer to God for our sins. When you trust in Jesus, that he died for you. His death on the cross becomes payment for your sins and, he gives you his righteousness. Paul writes in Romans 3:21-26, “But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”

    We are reconciled to God by accepting the gift of God’s grace through faith in his son Jesus Christ. Jesus takes our punishment and gives us his righteousness and saves us from God’s punishment. A punishment we all deserve because of our sins against God. Paul states in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” All one must do to be saved is to trust in that gift of grace and that gift alone. It is by faith alone, by grace alone. Paul states in Ephesian 2:8-10, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” God is Holy and Perfect and his standard is far above ours. Because of our sin, we need Jesus to redeem us, so that we may enter into God’s presence after we die.

    Jesus died on the cross to satisfy God’s wrath against our sins and against the sins of people before Jesus. Only God can save us from ourselves. There is no good deed we can do to save us. The sinner cannot redeem the sinner. All that God requires of us is to trust that Jesus died for us. It is a gift that you only have to receive by believing. Again, ask yourself this question: “If I die tomorrow, would I go to heaven?” What percentage would you give it? Between 0 and 100 percent? Since Jesus died on the cross and took 100 percent of your punishment, how much is left for you? Zero right? So the big question is when are you going to accept that gift? You make the decision and in that instant, you are saved.

    After you have accepted, what should you do next? Get to know God by reading his word in the bible. Study the bible. Start in the New Testament, so that you will learn about Jesus. Also, get involved with a church, but check what is said in the church with the bible. Check to see that the church teaches only from the bible. Change your way of life to Jesus’ way of life. Follow Jesus’ teachings. Begin in Matthew 5, 6, and7. Pray to God. Forgive the people from your past. Seek forgiveness from those you have hurt. Cut off the things in your life that are sinful. Make the decision and do it. Be sincere and stop doing them. You can do it. Get baptized. Memorize scripture in the bible. And then finally, tell people about this wonderful gift. Begin with the people you love, family and friends. These are just a few things you can do. These all are good deeds and they are just a part of our discipleship. These all have nothing to do with our salvation. Our works don’t save us, but they do have everything to do with our discipleship. Our discipleship has everything to do with to love one another. It is my hope that you may find joy and peace in this message.

Paul states, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God,” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

A Short: The Purpose of Life

 

Bible Study Shorts ESV

The Purpose of Life

    In John 17:1-5, “When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.’”

    It’s not about how much you have or what you have.  It’s not about your title and position. It’s not about your status above or below other people.  It’s not about your accomplishments. It’s not about your intelligence.  It’s not about your hardships.  It’s not about your past.  It’s not about your plans.  But it is about your relationship with the “only true God” and his son, Jesus.  When Jesus said, “that they know you” requires belief in the “only true God.”  To “know” the Father is to “know” the Son.  To “know” the Son is to follow the Father’s will, which is to believe in his Son (John 6:40).  The purpose of life is to know God.  The “only true God.”  The purpose of eternal life is to “know” God, an eternal God, who has always been and always will be.