All About Jesus

"But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed." Galatians 1:8

Once, a well-known and popular entertainer, said, "There can't possibly be just one way," when discussing how a person gets to heaven. This same individual proclaims themselves to be a Christian as well. If there is more than one way to heaven, and you claim to be a Christian, then why did Jesus Christ say, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me (John 14:6)"? This statement is clear and cannot be dismissed for any reason. Yet, for many people dismissing the words of Jesus is exactly what they do. For example, the New Age movement, which is based on a combination of Eastern mysticism, Hinduism and paganism, says that Jesus is not the one true God and not a savior, but a spiritual model and guru. Cults like the Jehovah's Witnesses believe Jesus is not God and that before He came to earth He was Michael, the archangel. Another cult, the Mormons, believe Jesus is a separate god from the Father and is the "elder brother" of Lucifer; the devil. Judaism, albeit from God, sees Jesus either as a false messiah or a good, but martyred Jewish rabbi. Buddhism only sees Jesus as an enlightened teacher at best. Hinduism only views Jesus as a teacher or guru who did not die for sins or rise from the dead. Islam says that Jesus was not God or the Son of God and was not crucified or resurrected. There are numerous other belief systems that hold similar views to the ones here, but none see Jesus Christ as who He is and claimed to be; God in human flesh and the Savior of the world. None of these belief systems seem to address the words of Jesus Himself. They only make up what they want to say about Him in order to cling to their beliefs instead of recognizing the truth.

It is interesting to note that nearly every other religious system outside of Biblical Christianity has a viewpoint on Jesus to one degree or another. However, aside from Judaism, the Bible nor Jesus, never come close to mentioning these other faiths even though a couple of them were in the world prior to Jesus coming to this earth. Personally, I think it is because when you are the way, the truth and the life, as Jesus proclaimed, everything else by default is false. Therefore, why address any of it in specific terms? False beliefs proclaim Jesus was not God.  However, the Bible proclaims, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us (John 1:1, 14)" Others teach Jesus was a great prophet, but not God. Jesus said, "I and the Father are one (John 10:30).” Unbelievers say Jesus was just a man. The Word of God says, "This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about : His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit (Matthew 1:18)." The lost say Jesus was not raised bodily from the dead. Scripture tells us, "The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay (Matthew 28:5-6)." The bottom line is that there cannot be more than one way to heaven. Jesus, God in the flesh, was the only one who had a life to give that would satisfy God as payment for our sins. And, raised from the dead, He is the only one who can restore to us the life of God we lost when Adam sinned. No matter what a popular figure states or a well-established religion believes, if it doesn't line up with Biblical Christianity and the truth of Jesus Christ, it is to be accursed.

A Little Child Shall Lead Them

“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, The leopard shall lie down with the young goat, The calf and the young lion and the fatling together; And a little child shall lead them (Isaiah 11:6)." I was listening to an interview on the radio between a Christian pastor and the wife of a Christian man held captive in Iran for his faith. During the interview the pastor tells a story of a former Muslim man who came to faith in Jesus Christ. I am paraphrasing, but the story went something like this: This man was a fairly violent man who punished anybody who turned from Islam. He encountered a 10-year old girl who was a Christian. Perhaps not knowing what she was doing or the possible punishment she could face she implored the man to accept Jesus Christ. He warned her that if she was not a child he would have inflicted severe physical punishment on her. She said to the man, "I will embrace Islam with all my heart if you can show me in the Koran where it says Allah loves me." I assume he could not do this and it stuck with him for a long time until one day this man accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior. The Apostle Paul said, "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. (1 Corinthians 3:6-7)." It was this little girl who "planted" the seed that someone else may have watered and whom God gave the increase. How often do we a Christians bite our tongues when it comes to testifying about Jesus Christ? How often do we hear Christians say things like, "My faith is a private matter that I don't wear on my sleeve"? I have even heard of Christians who have described the Gospel of Jesus Christ as something they "can't put into words." It makes you wonder how it ever left Jerusalem if you can't put it into words. I don't say all this to condemn, but to light a fire. A little girl simply said show me a God of love outside of Jesus Christ and it led to the salvation of the man she said it to. We don't have to be scholars. We don't have to be missionaries to the far ends of the earth. We don't have to write books. We don't have to preach sermons. We don't have to chase people up trees with the Gospel. But, we should "always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you...(1 Peter 3:15)." If a 10-year old girl gave a reason for the hope she has in her, certainly the rest of us can. And if we cannot give that reason ask God to show you why and be prepared for Him to show you. You never know who you might run into and have the opportunity to speak life into someone who is dead to God. If a child can lead a wolf, lamb, leopard, goat, calf and lion during the Day of the Lord, and the Lord can us a a child to help "lead" someone to Christ, what can you do?

Convert, Pay a Tax, Flee or Die!

I get an email that asks me to "Stand with your brothers and sisters in northern Iraq who have been told to convert to Islam, pay a high tax, leave their homes — or die." The email goes on to say, "Imagine waking up one morning to find a red spray-painted symbol on the front of your house identifying you as a Christian. The Arabic letter “N” (nun), from the Arabic word nasara (meaning “Nazarene” to indicate Christians), was recently painted on homes of Christians in the city of Mosul, Iraq, by an organized terrorist group called IS (Islamic State) to identify Christians. Then on July 17, the terrorists gave area Christians an ultimatum: convert to Islam, pay a high tax, leave the area or die." If you're a Christian and found this letter "N" spray painted on your home, "What would you do?" I have to ask myself, "What would I do?" Anybody aware of the beheading of James Foley, the reporter, knows what kind of people are behind all of this. What a terrible choice to have to make. For those who have chosen to pay a tax, leave the area or die, praise the Lord. To be able to stand for your faith in Jesus in the midst of such a terrible situation is an honorable thing. But, what about those who chose to convert in order to save their lives. To them I say, "I understand." I say this for two reasons. The first is that, "For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7)." It is easy to say that a person who denies his Christianity and "converts" to Islam rather than suffer the consequences was not truly a Christian. Maybe they weren't, but God knows their heart. If they were truly saved, they are still saved. I believe that eventually their faith will be hard to contain, but regardless we must remember that, "if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself (2 Timothy 2:13)." The second reason is that we have the testimony of the Apostle Peter. Jesus Christ told Peter that he would deny Him three times and Peter responded to the Lord by saying, "Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you (Matthew 26:35)!” But, after Jesus was betrayed and arrested, what was Peter's response when he was being associated with the Lord? "I do not know the man (Matthew 26:74)!” Now, in his defense, Peter was not born again of the Spirit of God because the Holy Spirit had not yet been restored to him. However, consistent with God's faithfulness, what did the angel say after Jesus' resurrection? "But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee (Mark 16:7)." Peter is singled out as one to be told about the Resurrection. I believe it is because of Peter's denial that the Lord wanted him to know that he was still loved by the Lord and still part of His plan. We know that Peter was used mightily by the Lord and would later become a martyr for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. While I hope this present manifestation of evil is stopped in its tracks long before it touches anybody reading this post, if you are in Christ rest assured God is faithful to you and your sins are forgiven.May God be glorified in all the decisions and actions we make as His children through faith in Jesus Christ.

Islamic Prayers at the Vatican

“I have revealed and saved and proclaimed-- I, and not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "that I am God (Isaiah 43:12).” I was disappointed, but not surprised, when I came across the article entitled, “For The First Time In History Islamic Prayers to be heard at the Vatican.” According to the article, “For the first time in history, Islamic prayers and readings from the Quran will be heard at the Vatican on Sunday, in a move by Pope Francis to usher in peace between Israelis and Palestinians.” I am a firm believer that compromising your beliefs is the first step to giving them up entirely.  As a born again Christian, I don’t believe that the Catholic Church represents my views about the Christian faith. However, for many people in the world and inside Christianity, Catholicism does represent the faith. Therefore, to allow Islamic prayer to be heard in the Vatican is a not a sign of standing for the truth or being a witness for Jesus Christ. Besides, when has Christian prayer been allowed inside a Muslim place of worship? I am not aware of any time in the Bible where the nation of Israel found peace by compromising with foreign gods. In nearly every situation it led to God’s wrath, slavery, the destruction of lives and various other forms of suffering. Ultimately, it led to the rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ! As Christians, we are told to, “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints (Jude 1:3).” You don’t contend for the faith by compromising it. You don’t find peace by compromising with your enemies. Yes, the Bible does say, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men (Romans 12:18).” But, it never says that achieving peace should come at the expense of the truth or compromising with error. If that were the case, Jesus would not have said, “Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword (Matthew 10:34).” Jesus said this because the world doesn’t like hearing things like, “Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me (John 14:6)”” and “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12)." These are statements that create enemies for Jesus Christ and for Christians. 

The only way to find true peace with your enemy is when one of the two parties surrenders to the other or war is waged. Because Christians proclaim the truth that Jesus Christ is God and the only means of salvation offered by the One, True God of the Universe, we are hated by the world. We are in a spiritual war; a war between the Truth of God’s Word and the lies of Satan and the world. When we compromise the truth, we are losing battles in that war. Christians are God’s witnesses to the world that He is God. The lost world and Christians who have lost their salt or who are not Christians at all love to hear these stories of “compromise.” Yet, true believers will shake their head and hopefully have a righteous anger stirring within them. My prayer is that the members of the Catholic faith who truly know the Lord will finally start to realize that faith has an object. The object of the Christian faith is Jesus Christ not a man-made organization claiming to be His representative on earth. It is time to stop allowing organizations like this speak for us when they compromise God’s truth. The true Church of God is made up of individual members of the body of Christ all over the world. Jesus said, “And He said to them, "It is written, 'MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER '; but you are making it a ROBBERS' DEN (Matthew 21:13)." When Jesus found the Temple filled with people buying and selling He “cleansed” the Temple by driving them out and accused them of turning it into a “ROBBERS’ DEN.” He did not allow them to stay or invite them back. Robbers steal and that is one of the attributes of Satan, who is described as a thief who comes only to “steal and to kill and to destroy (John 10:10).” When we allow those who believe in “foreign gods” into the “Temple,” they are making it a “ROBBERS’ DEN.” It is time to “cleanse the Temple” and contend for the faith entrusted to the Saints. If the Catholic Church wants to facilitate peace between the Jews and Palestinians, it will only be found when all them come to faith in Jesus Christ, the “Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).”