Gods way

God's way
The apostle Peter writes,
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade kept in heaven for you" 1Peter 1:3-4.
The apostle Paul wrote,
"But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit" Titus 3:4,5.
Christians do not believe we can live good enough lives to get to heaven on our merit. We believe that God in His mercy reached down to mankind from heaven in the form of His one and only son Jesus to die for our sins and to show us the way to heaven.
While it may sound foolish it is what we Christians believe. The apostle Paul explaining,
"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.  
For it is written: "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate." 
Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.  
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,  but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,  but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.”1 Corinthians 1:18-25.
God does not do things the way man thinks things should be done. He does things his way as is his right.
If we as humans do not want to believe what God has set before us that is our right. For God in making mankind did not make robots. He made individuals with the freedom to do whatever they wish.
Thus the choice is yours do you believe Jesus is the Saviour of mankind or not.
Please think about it. 

The Narrow Gate

The Narrow Gate
Jesus said,

“Enter through the narrow gate. 

For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, 

and many enter through it.  

But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, 

and only a few find it. 

                              Matthew 7:13.14.

If there is one thing that believers in Christ Jesus believe in, that is controversial, it is a statement the apostle John records as Jesus saying to his disciples,
"Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6.
This is a no compromise statement saying Jesus is the way to heaven.
Earlier in John’s Gospel he records Jesus speaking of himself saying,
“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.
This is what believers in Christ Jesus believe. He is the way to heaven period.
Many in this world say there are many ways to heaven. If they are right then a believer in Christ has nothing to fear, because Jesus is most definitely one of those ways.
On the other hand if what Christians believe is correct and Jesus is indeed the only way to heaven then those who have been presented with the gospel message and disagree with it, have a lot worry about.
Please think about it.

The Narrow or The Wide Gate

The Narrow or the Wide Gate
Jesus said,
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  
But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13,14.
There are many in the world today that say there are many ways to heaven. Believers in Christ Jesus do not believe this. We believe Jesus when he 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.
Even the apostle Paul admitted that what believers in Christ believed seemed to be foolishness. Paul wroting,
“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.
That being said all of the disciples of Christ including Paul and every other believer in Christ to modern day believe Jesus is the way to heaven.
Individuals must understand that God does not do things the way man does things.
I’m certain most individuals would say the best way to show God exists and show mankind the way to heaven is by God coming out of heaven in a miraculous way. For God to show Himself in all his might and power.
The apostle Paul however notes,
“Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?  
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.  
Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom,  but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.  
For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength. 1 Corinthians 1:20-25
God wants individuals to have faith in Him because God knows that people of faith are the truest followers. Followers who will literally go to the grave for what they believe in.
The writer 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.

Ultimately it all comes down to you the individual and what you believe. You have the choice to believe there are many ways to heaven, or you can believe Jesus is “The Way” to heaven The choice is yours. However remember this the writer of Proverbs states,

“There is a way that seems right to a man 

but in the end it leads to death” 

                                         Proverbs 14:12.

Thus I would ask the question, How firm are you in your beliefs?
If you were to die today do you believe you would go to heaven?
Please think about it.

Watch Out

Watch out
Jesus said,
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” Matthew 1:15.
Never has such a warning been necessary as in this century.
We live in a multimedia world. Where anyone with a smart phone can post there views on anything. This is especially true it seems when it comes to speaking about God. There are many people claiming to be Christians that are not.
They may seem to be. They may string a few scriptures together that makes them sound good but a closer look will see that they are not teaching the truth about Jesus.
The apostle Paul warned,
“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.”  2 Timothy 4:3,4
The apostle Peter warned,
“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves.  
Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute.  
In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. 
Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping.” 2 Peter 2:1-3.
  Such teachers were around in the time of the apostles and are very much around today.
Now I know within the Christian world there are differences of opinion on minor things.
However in order to be a follower of Christ Jesus we must agree on the basics.
The apostle creed while not written by an apostle of Christ is the baseline as to what I believe you need to believe in order to be a follower of Christ Jesus. It reads,
1.I believe in God the Father the almighty maker of heaven and earth
2. I believe in Jesus Christ God’s on and only Son, our Lord and Saviour.
3. I believe Jesus was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and born of the Virgin Mary
4. I believe Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate; That He was Crucified, died, was buried. That he descended in hell.
5. I believe He rose again on the third day from the dead.
6. I believe that he ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
7. I believe Jesus will one day Judge the living and the dead.
8. I believe in the Holy Ghost
9. I believe in the Church which is the communion of the saints,
10. I believe in the forgiveness of sin.
11. I believe in the resurrection of the body.
12. I believe in life everlasting.
What do you believe?
Please think about it.

Not Clever Stories

Not clever stories
The apostle Peter writes,
“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 1:16-18.
I have been a believer in Jesus Christ for over forty years now. In that time I have heard people say God does not exist. People have told me Jesus is a myth. Some while admitting Jesus lived said he was no more than a good man.
Nothing could be further from the fact. Jesus is real. He is everything Christians believe him to be, the Son of God, Saviour of mankind, God incarnate.
If Jesus is simply a man then the apostles and Jesus himself have created the greatest lie in history.
C. S. Lewis in he book Mere Christianity said of Jesus,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God.
That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. 
You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. 
You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.
Thus the question becomes. Who do you think Jesus is.
Please think about it.

Who is Jesus?

Who is Jesus

The apostle Paul states,
“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,” 
                                                                                           Colossians 2:9
A lot of debate as to who Jesus really is has happened over the centuries the Bible however makes things very clear. As quoted above the apostle Paul says,
“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,” 
                                                                                            Colossians 2:9
The gospel of John records.
“Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.  
The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.  
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.  
I and the Father are one.” 
                                  John 10:22-30 
In Chapter eleven of John he records this conversation between Martha and Jesus,
“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
Martha had to decide just who Jesus is. This is what people must decide today. Is Jesus the Son of God. The Christ who came into the world. OR is he a charlatan who pulled off the greatest lie in history?
C. S. Lewis said of Jesus,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” 
C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.
         Who do you think Jesus is?
Please think about it.

A Lesson from a Birth

A Lesson from a Birth
“In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,  
to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.  
The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 
Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.  
But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.  
You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.  
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,  and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” 
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.  
Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.  
For nothing is impossible with God.” 
“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.” 
     Luke 1:26-38.
Here is if you think about it a remarkable account of an angel telling a young Jewish girl that she would be the mother of the Messiah.
This is one of the core beliefs of Christianity. If not true, Christians around the world are believing a lie.
The writer Luke states at the beginning of his gospel,
“Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,  just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.  
Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,  so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.” 
                                                                         Luke 1:1-4.
We are not entirely sure who Theophilus was but it doesn’t matter. What matters is Luke who is considered by historians to be well educated, put down for us what he found out about Jesus. Luke is believed to have had access to first hand accounts of many of the events.
If what Luke is saying is untrue and Mary was not visited by an angel then like I said Christians are believing a lie.
Likewise if we question the reliability of even one part of Luke’s account of the life of Jesus then it brings all of his account into question.
If Luke is writing a lie then why put into his account the visitation of angels to Mary and indeed Joseph and the shepherds?
Why include throughout his gospel the accounts of miracles and other fantastic events like the resurrection.
The fact is Luke was telling the truth. A truth that Christians present to individuals everyday giving them the choice to believe it or not.
So the question becomes do you believe Jesus is the Son of God, the Saviour of mankind?
Please think about it.

Have a very Merry Christmas.

May the Love of Christ come into your heart and life this Christmas season,

 and bless you richly.

Jesus is

Jesus is

“Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.  
If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” 
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?  
Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.   Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.”  
                                    John 14:5-11.
Here is a statement by Jesus if not true it would mean that Christians are believing a lie and Jesus is deluded or worse.
Jesus makes it clear to Thomas the He is the only way to heaven. He states that
“I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.”
The New Testament gives another account of what Jesus says about himself. John’s gospel records,
“The Jews gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 
Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep.  
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.  
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.  
I and the Father are one.” 
Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” 
                                                                                                        John 10:24-32.
Jesus makes it clear He and God are one.
C. S. Lewis notes,
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg — or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.” 
                                                                                  C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity.
So the question becomes, Who do you think Christ is?
Please think about it.