A Short: Jesus is God

 

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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.”

There is Only One Way to God

 

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There is Only One Way 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

 

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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

 

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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.

My Testimony: When I was an Atheist

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When I was an Atheist

    Shortly after my Dad died in 2007, I chose to become an atheist. Before, I had been questioning whether God existed. My thinking was if he did exist, he wasn’t loving because of all the evil in the world, and if he did exist, he was limited in power and was detached from us and was not all good. The final thing that led my decision to become atheist was when I went to college and learned about human evolution. I remember thinking that, “Adam and Eve couldn’t have happened.” Then I spent many months following atheists on the internet. Listening to their arguments and agreeing with them. The thing is, is that I thought I was following the truth. The assertions of atheists: there’s no evidence for God, therefore there is no God, and you only have one life, so make it count, and you make meaning out of your own life, and that morality comes from people seemed to me to be the truth. In fact, I wanted it to be true. I wanted it to be true because I felt free. I could live my life the way I wanted. Therefore, I wasn’t accountable to God. Only to myself and to my family and to society. I remember, I felt free.

    But then, I began to have this argument in my head about morality and I couldn’t find an answer I was comfortable with. The argument was if morality comes from people, then morality is relative to the person. If morality is relative to the person, then everyone’s morality is valid, which meant Hitler’s morality was valid. Then I would think that society determined morality, not the person, which meant that the morality of Nazi Germany was valid. Then I would think that the Germans made poor choices, but I would try to imagine what if Nazi Germany had won. Then no one would know the difference because all people would have been taught since birth to serve Nazi Germany. Also, none of us would exist. Then I would think if morality was relative to the person or to society, then it just leads to chaos. If what atheists assert is true that morality comes from people or society, then there is no such thing as justice. Hitler killed himself, escaping human justice and if there is no God, then he escaped any justice. Even though I couldn’t make sense of it, I still wanted atheism to be true. I had faith in atheism, so I tried to not think about morality.

    Atheism is a belief. I didn’t see it as a belief. I saw it as reality. Instead of putting my faith in God, I put my faith in what other people would say about evolution and astronomy and biology and philosophy and physics to explain reality that I could use to create meaning for my life. Atheism is more than a disbelief in God. It is in itself a belief that uses academic disciplines, the works of other people, to explain a purpose and meaning to life. Essentially, atheism makes us into god. Where we have the answers, and that we will eventually discover all the answers in time. Atheism is a faith in humanity above all. It is a faith that is centered on the will, not the will of God, but on the will of the atheist. Atheism is just one branch of the tree to be desired to make one wise, so that our eyes shall be opened and, so that we shall be as gods to know good and evil. (Genesis 3:5-6)

    Why am I not still an atheist? It began for me back in March (2024). I watched a video with Stephen C. Meyer and Joe Rogan titled, “This is What Really Sold Me on God.” Before this video, I had never heard an argument against evolution and never heard the Hume argument that we can’t trust our perception of the world, unless there is a creator God who provides our perception and the world we perceive. This was the answer to my morality problem. Therefore, morality cannot be relative to the person or subjective. Morality is objective in that it comes from God and has been given to us. This also solved my problem of justice. In the end, no one escapes justice. And once I started to learn about the arguments against evolution, I realized that evolution itself isn’t tenable and requires faith.

    In the weeks that followed after watching that video, I kept thinking to myself, “I think I’m coming back to God.” Then a few months later in May, I watched a second video with an atheist debating a Christian, and at the end of the video, I realized what I had done. Actually, it’s not that I realized it, but I knew it. I knew what I had done. There was no doubt. I wept and I felt ashamed and I told God, “I’m sorry.” My life has not been the same since.

    Sometimes it’s just a word or two that will change things. Sometimes, in just a moment the right thing will be said, or will be seen, or will be experienced and you change your life. I know that I could choose to go back to my old way of life, but I don’t want to. I want to follow Jesus because his dying on the cross was no small thing. It is the most significant, important event in history with no comparison. An innocent man dying on the cross for the sins of the world, past, present, and future. That God himself took on the very nature of a servant and became man and became obedient to death on the cross is no small thing, so that we can have eternal life with him.

A Short: Salt of the Earth

 

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Salt of the Earth

    What is it to Believe?  Jesus said in Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.”

    Salt cannot lose it’s saltiness, unless people change it. You add salt to your meal and it enhances the flavor, not in one part of the meal, but through and through. If the salt sits in its salt shaker, the meal remains tasteless. It is the same when you believe in something. When you believe, you act on that belief. For example, you believe in a political candidate. You act on that belief in words and action. Whether you volunteer hours for your candidate or even if you don’t vote, but tell one person you hope so and so wins. You are acting on that belief. Your words and your actions are like the salt that flavor the thoughts, and words, and actions of other people around you. But, if you say nothing and do nothing with your belief, it just sits inside you and loses its saltiness.