The Word became Flesh

The word became flesh
The apostle John states,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  
He was with God in the beginning. 
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  
In him was life, and that life was the light of men....
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. ” John 1:1-4,14
Of all the things Christians believe perhaps this is one of the most contentious. Christians believe that God in the form of His one and Only Son Jesus Christ entered the world to point mankind to heaven.
The writer of Hebrews tells us,
“In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe.  
The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Hebrews 1:1-3.
I understand that believing such things can be hard for some people. After all why would God enter his creation?
The apostle Paul writing to Titus states,
“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior 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
The apostle John quotes Jesus as 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.
For believers in Christ it is a believe it or not situation. You either believe what the New Testament says about Jesus or you do not.
You either believe that Jesus is God incarnate that came into this world to provide purification of our sins or you do not.
What do you believe?
Please think about it.  

The Way to Heaven

The Way to Heaven
The gospel of Luke records,
“One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?  
We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’” 
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” 
                                                                                                                      Luke 23:39-43.
The above is the account of the crucifixion of Jesus. These are probably the last words the two criminals at least spoke on this earth.
In their conversation with Jesus we see the choice all people everywhere must make.
The one criminal wanted Jesus to prove he was the Christ by getting them down from the cross.
He like many others both then and now wanted some sign from Jesus.
Jesus had given signs. He’d done numerous miracles. He’d even said He and God were one. 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.
Yet still people did not believe Him.
The other Criminal however did believe in Jesus. He demonstrates to the world how one receives eternal life saying,
“We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’”
                                                                                                  Luke 23:41,42.
This man believed by faith Jesus was the Messiah, the Christ. He confessed that he was a sinner being punished justly for his deeds. He then simply asked Jesus to remember him when he came into His kingdom.
To which Jesus said,
“Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” 
                                                                                                                                Luke 23:43.
 We Christians believe that first and foremost you must believe that Jesus is the Son of God. God in the flesh.
Then we believe we must confess our sin to him directly.
The apostle John wrote,
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.” 
1John 1:9-10.
The apostle John also tells us,
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—  children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.’ 
                   John 1:12,13.
Salvation and eternal life with God is a free gift from God.. The apostle Paul saying,
“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.
All we have to do as individuals is go to God in prayer. Confess our sins to God, and believe by faith Jesus is the one and Only Son of God.
The writer of Hebrews stating,
“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.
Please think about it.