The Purpose of Jesus' Ministry

  The Purpose of Jesus’ Ministry

"But he was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5.

It is universally believed by Christians that Isaiah the prophet here is speaking about Jesus. His words giving us the purpose of Christ’s ministry.

Jesus speaking of himself stating,

"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.” John 3:16,17. 

The apostle Paul stating,

"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Romans 10:9,10.

Do you believe this?

Please think about it.

Trust Him or not?

 Trust Him or not?

In the Gospel of John we read 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.

Jesus here is speaking about himself. He is speaking plainly. He tell us that He came into the world to save the world. To save individuals from sin. From Hell.

I think it would be wrong of Jesus not to warn people of what will happen if they don’t believe in Him.

The choice however is up to each individual. The question we must ask ourselves is;

Do I believe that Jesus is The Son of God. Saviour of all who put their trust in Him or not?

Please think about it.

Keep an open mind

  Keep an open mind

The apostle John writes,

"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.

I have always said that if this portion of scripture is wrong then the apostle John and indeed the apostles of Christ have created the greatest lie in all of human history. A lie the believers in Christ Jesus are still perpetrating on mankind to this day.

On the other hand, (and I believe this to be true). If the apostle John is telling the truth. The day Jesus entered the world is the most momentous day in human history.

The thing is no one can force you to believe what John is saying here. Each individual must decide for him or her self if it is true.

If you believe it to be true then I firmly believe you need to start at least reading the New Testament in order to see what those who knew Jesus believed. As well as what the early church believed about Jesus.

If you don’t believe that God entered this world He created I would urge you to keep an open mind and read the New Testament to see what the early Christian church believed about Jesus.

Please think about it.

In the beginning

  In the beginning

In the book of Genesis we read,

“In the beginning 

God created the heavens and the earth.” 

                                                          Genesis 1:1.

The bible doesn’t argue about the existence of God. It was written to believers and to believers no explanation is necessary.

That being said Gods handiwork is all around. The Psalmist states,

"The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands." 

                                                                     Psalm 19:1.

If we study science carefully and with an open mind we can see what God has done. This world. This universe we live in is wonderfully and marvellously made. Everything from the smallest subatomic particle to the largest galaxy work in harmony to create conditions for life to exist as we know it on this planet.

Dr. Arno Penzias 1978 Nobel Prize winner in Physics states,

"Astronomy leads us to a unique event, a universe which was created out of nothing, one with a very delicate balance needed to provide exactly the conditions required to permit life and one which has an underlying (one might say ‘supernatural') plan."

Werner Heisenberg father of Quantum Mechanics and Nobel prize winner said,

"The first gulp from the glass of natural science will make you an atheist,

but at the bottom of the glass God is waiting for you" Werner Heisenberg.

William Philips stated,

“I believe in God more because of science than in spite of it"William Philips Nobel prize winning Physicist.

So dear reader do you believe this? 

Do you believe God created the heavens and the earth?

Do you believe in God?

Please think about it.

Disciple making

 Disciple making

Jesus speaking to his disciples said,

“Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20.

As Christians we have an obligation to God to make disciple in all the nations of the earth and to teach them everything Jesus taught.

Now we all can’t be missionaries going to countries around the world. But we can be a missionary in our neighbourhood and to our families. 

We can pray and ask God to open doors for us to tell our friends and neighbours about the unconditional love of God.

Do you do this?

Please think about.

Do not be ashamed...Pray!

  Do not be ashamed...Pray!

The apostle Paul wrote,

"So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God,.."2Timothy 1:8.

Around the world today there are millions suffering because they believe in Christ Jesus. Some are in jail. Some in hard labour camps. Some forced from their homes and villages. Some suffering physical abuse. All because they believe in Christ Jesus.

As Christians in a free and democratic society where we have freedoms unsurpassed anywhere in the world.

We in the western democracies of Europe, and North America should remember the persecuted church. Remember those who are in prison or persecuted for their faith.

We may not know them by name but we can pray for them.

Pray also pray for those who persecute them.

Jesus said, 

"You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.'  

       But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you," Matthew 5:43,44.

Please take some time to pray for those in the persecuted church around the world. Also pray that their persecutors will be saved.

Please don’t just think about it.

Do it. 

Have you kept the faith?

 Have you kept the faith?

The apostle Paul wrote,

“For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure.  

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:6-8.

The apostle Paul is writing here near the end of his life. He is about to be put to death by the Roman emperor Nero. Thus he looks back on all that he has done and states, he has fought the good fight, and kept the faith.

As a result he notes he will receive a crown of righteousness. That same crown that all who have served God and longed for Christ’s appearing.

Question... Will you receive a crown of righteousness for your faith in Christ?

Can you say “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

Please think about it.

Do you question?

 Do you question?

"Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you.  

"For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Christ,' and will deceive many." Matthew 24:4,5.

The apostle Paul stated,

"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." 2Timothy 4:3,4.

The Gospel of Christ has been around in excess of two thousand years. In that time it’s truths have been twisted by charlatans for their own purpose.

These men and women were around when Paul and the apostles were around and they warned against them.

These men and women are around today. That is why we must be carful. That is why we must read the Bible for ourselves and know what we believe and why we believe it. So that no one will call us to fall away from Christ.

I firmly believe we as individual Christians have the right to question any teaching that we may suspect as wrong. Going as far as asking the pastor, teacher or evangelist why they teach what they teach. To prove that what they are teaching is true. 

Do you ever question what is being spoken from the pulpit or by men and women claiming to be teachers of Gods word in the media?

Perhaps you should.

Please think about it.

Not Slow

  Not Slow

The Apostle Peter wrote,

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9.

It has been over two thousand years since Jesus walked the earth and I get asked, “why hasn’t Jesus returned?”

The answer is given by the apostle Peter. God wants everyone to come to repentance. God want’s the salvation message to reach every place on earth. It’s really that simple. 

Since God is an eternal being time matters little to Him. Thus if it takes millenniums to reach each person on the earth so be it.

The important thing is that he is willing to wait as long as possible to give people everywhere the opportunity to come to know Him.

In the gospel of John, John records Jesus speaking of himself 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.” John 3:16.17.

So the question becomes dear reader. Do you know Christ as your Saviour?

Please think about it. 

Dimly

  Dimly.

The apostle Paul writes,

“For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12.

Faith it seems can be strange at times. 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.

Faith can be like looking into the fog. You know an object is there but you can only see it faintly. 

That’s what the apostle Paul was saying. We know that God exists. We also know that He sent His one and Only Son Christ Jesus to die for our sins. Yet at this moment in our life. At this moment in time. We only see God as a dim reflection in a mirror.

Jesus speaking to Thomas said,

"Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." John 20:19.

Our faith should not necessarily be based on what we can see, feel, or hear. Our faith should be based on the evidence of God that is all around us.

The perfectly designed universe for example tells us that God exists.

Robert Brault wrote,

"God left so many fingerprints at the scene of Creation that you wonder — does He want to be found, or does He want to be stopped?" Robert Brault.

Do you have faith that God exists?

Please think about it.

I will trust

  I will trust.

The Psalmist writes,

"But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever. Psalm 52:8.

As believers in God. As believers in Christ Jesus. Do you have an unfailing trust in God?

There are many people who go to church regularly that don’t have trust God. Many go to church because it’s the correct thing to do. Many go to meet and talk to friends. Many go because their parents and grandparents went to church.

These people are hard to distinguish in church because they know when and what to pray. They know the ritual. But they don’t know God. They simply believe intellectually that there is a God. They have no personal relationship with God.

Dear reader do you have a personal relationship with God? 

Are you certain that if you were to die today that you would go to heaven?

Why not take sometime right now to assess your relationship with God. Why not make a sincere commitment to follow God today?

Take time to read the New Testament and see for yourself what the early believers believed about Jesus.

Please think about it.

A Light of revelation

  A light for Revelation

In the gospel of Luke we read,

"Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.  

It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord's Christ.  

Moved by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required,  

Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 

"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. 

For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."Luke 2:25-32.

Here is the account of when Jesus as a baby was taken by his parents to the temple to be dedicated. 

The account tells of a righteous and devout man named Simeon who had been told that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

Upon seeing Jesus he proclaims that Jesus is the Lords Christ. That Jesus’ purpose in life would be to be a light to show God to the gentiles and to glorify Gods people Israel.

If this is not true then Simeon had spoken a lie that has fooled millions of people throughout the centuries and in deed billions of people living today.

If it is true and I believe it to be so. Then you have two choices.

One, the choice Paul gave his Jailor,

“..."Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." Acts 16:31.

Or you can reject what is said.

The choice is yours.

Please think about it.