Made in God’s Image

Made in God’s Image

by | Mar 10, 2020 | Simple Bible Truth

Made in God’s Image

Reflect God’s Image

We are made in God’s image and as Christians, children of light, we are expected to reflect that image to the world around us.  Jesus reflected the Father and we should reflect Jesus.

Paul told his listeners to imitate him because he imitates Christ.  That is a bold statement that many today would think you arrogant if you told someone that.  But, we should be able to make this statement in all honesty, not in arrogance.

In 1 Corinthians 4:15-16 Paul says that in Christ he became their father in the faith through the Gospel (of the Kingdom), therefore they should imitate him.

Christians must step up their game.  Too many are blending in with the world or passively sitting on the sideline.  Followers of Christ must stand out from the world and be discipling others.  Can you say to others, “Follow me as I follow Christ?”

Die to Self

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him to come and die.”  Too often people think that “coming to Christ” is just a one-time decision that requires no further thought.  Many unwittingly make an emotional decision without even knowing who the Christ is or what he taught and what he expects from those who follow him.

The decision we need to make is not only something we decide in our mind, but it is a heart issue as well.  The deeper aspect to truly following the Christ and reflecting God’s image, is that we must be willing to put our own desires on the altar.  We must release our grasp on our very lives in their entirety.  We must count the cost of being his disciple and we must be willing to leave everything for his sake.

God’s Image is Pure Holiness and the Saints Should Reflect God

In Ephesians 5:3 it tells us that sin should not even be named among the saints, meaning there should not be sin among Christians.  It is a very high standard and 1 Timothy 4:7 says that we should have nothing to do with worldly fables, and on the other hand, it is essential to discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.

1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 reminds us to examine everything carefully and it exhorts us to avoid even the appearance of evil.  So, if something even looks like it could be evil, or if it resembles evil, we have nothing to do with it.  We shouldn’t watch it, listen to it or play it.

Deuteronomy 8:9-14 instructs God’s people to not imitate the world’s detestable practices.  Likewise, in the New Testament Christians are told they must be in the world, but they should not be of it.  In other words, we live in this world, but we should not imitate those in the world and what they practice.

God demands obedience and He has set a very high standard!  Christians cannot mix with the world.  It is as simple as that.

Obedience Leads to  Life

Ezekiel 11:18-21 orders God’s people to remove any detestable things that are among them.  He then promises to replace their hearts of stone with a heart of flesh.  He says that he will do this so that they can obey and follow His ways.  If people will obey, then they can be God’s people.  Only through obedience can we be God’s people.

God gave people free will.  They can choose to obey or disobey.  But, there are consequences if they make the wrong choice.  As God told the Israelites, He is still telling us today, chose obedience and life rather than disobedience and destruction.

Pursue Holiness and Righteousness

Ephesians 5:15-16 urges believers to be careful how they live.  Christians must be wise, not unwise, and they ought to make the most of their opportunities.

2 Peter 1:3 informs us that the Father’s power has given us the ability to keep our lives pure and be holy because He is holy.  We have no excuse.

2 Timothy 2:22 encourages its reader to pursue holiness.  That means to run after and chase down righteousness.  It is very active and not passive!

Training in Righteousness

Through obedience we are preparing to be kingdom citizens. If we do not desire to practice holiness today, or train in righteousness, then why should we expect that anything would be different in the kingdom.

Ephesian 5:11-12 explicitly says not to participate in deeds of darkness and that those things are disgraceful to even mention, let alone talk about or promote.  We are told not just to stay away from those things, but to even expose evil.

2 Tim 4:2-5 says that Christians should be trained in righteousness because people will be drawn away from truth and turn aside to myths.  We must be training others so they in turn can train others.

In Matthew 28:20 Jesus said to teach people to observe all that he commanded us.  He didn’t say pick three of ten or choose what suits your desires or lifestyle.  He said to obey all that he commanded.

Made in God’s Image to Receive a Crown of Righteousness

Paul said in 2 Timothy 4:7-8 that he fought a good fight and he finished the course.  I hope that is something we can say as well.  We know for certain that we have a crown of righteousness that we will receive when Jesus returns.  That should be enough to stimulate us to press on and strive for holiness today.

Righteousness is not just changing your behavior.  True righteousness is changing your heart.  What we sacrifice and give up now, can’t even compare to what we will receive in the future.  We must internalize this truth and keep it at the forefront of our minds.  Like Paul, this hope motivated and strengthened him as he strived to obey and please the Lord he that committed to follow.

Jesus taught about the narrow road and the wide road. We must be diligent and aware as to which road we are traveling on!  The righteous walk on the narrow road that leads to life.

Children of Light

Children of Light

by | Mar 9, 2020 | Simple Bible Truth

Children of Light

Walk as Children of Light

We are told in Scripture to walk as children of Light.  We know that if one turns a light on, the room is no longer dark.  Darkness and light don’t mix.

If a pail of clean water gets a little bit of manure in it, it all becomes contaminated and we won’t drink it.  We must keep the manure out of our lives!  Just as a little yeast raises the whole loaf, so does a little sin in our life.

How Righteous do I have to be?

There is an age-old question that many continue to ask today.  How righteous must we be?  How much or what sin can we commit and still be OK with God?

“For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”  (Ephesians 5:5)

This verse does not differentiate between a “half-immoral” person or one who is more than half immoral.  People are either moral or immoral, there is no degree of immorality in God’s eyes.  Moreover, it states the fact that an immoral person will not have any inheritance in God’s coming Kingdom.  Therefore, we must choose daily to walk in God’s ways.

Children of Light are Cleansed from Sin

This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.  If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;  but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.  If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.   And if we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.  (1 John 1:5-10)

There is a difference from being a sinner, which we all are before we are washed clean by Jesus’ blood, and sinning from time to time.  As a Christian we should be sinning less and less and overcoming sin. 

Yes, we will continue to sin, unfortunately, until we are perfected in the resurrection, but this does not mean we should allow sin to reign in our lives.  We must take sin captive and expel it!

No Longer a Sinner, now a Child of Light

1 Corinthians 10:13 encourages us and speaks truth to the topic of sin in our lives.  “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”

Another way to get closer to the perfection we are called to is to focus on God and Jesus.  We should work to imitate them, not our neighbor or even the person next to us in the pew.  We have been bought with a price and we have been made righteous.  Christians are not righteous in and of themselves, but because of the work that Jesus did and it is him in us through God’s spirit that we are made righteous.  Thus, we are no longer a sinner.

For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth).  Ephesians 5:8-9

Abandon Worldy Attachments

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “The cross is laid on every Christian. The first Christ-suffering which every man must experience is the call to abandon the attachments of this world. It is that dying of the old man which is the result of his encounter with Christ.”

Each Christian must ask themselves if they are willing to abandon the attachments of this world.  This commitment to following Jesus is the question each must answer, like the rich young ruler.  Are we willing to take up our cross and follow Jesus?

Action & Obedience

Bonhoeffer also said, “Every moment and every situation challenges us to action and to obedience. We have literally no time to sit down and ask ourselves whether so-and-so is our neighbor or not. We must get into action and obey—we must behave like a neighbor to him.”

Each thought, word and deed must drive us to action and obedience!

Matthew 5:48 gives the simple command:  Be Perfect as God is Perfect.

Jesus set the standard high!  Are you up to challenge of walking  in God’s ways?  Are you willing to strive for this perfection?  Our fruit reveals how serious we are and if we are walking in the light as we were commanded.

Chidren of Light Strive for Perfection

Matthew 5:48 gives the simple command:  Be Perfect as God is Perfect.

Jesus set the standard high!  We are to live as children of light.  Are you up to challenge?  Are you willing to strive for this perfection?  Our fruit reveals how serious we are and if we are walking in the light as we were commanded.

Human Jesus

Human Jesus

by | Feb 29, 2020 | Simple Bible Truth

Human Jesus

The Human Messiah Jesus

When did  the human Jesus begin being human?  The big political question today is the same,  when does life start, in the womb or after birth?  I find it very interesting that you NEVER hear people debating whether life starts before the womb!

Some people claim that Jesus is the human Messiah and yet believe that he pre-existed in some way, other than just in the mind of God, as the word of God, or as God’s plan as He prophesied in Genesis when He was handing out the curses.

Genesis 3:15 Prophecy

“Her seed (meaning a physical descendant of Eve); shall bruise Satan on the head, and Satan shall bruise him on the heel.”  God’s first prophecy about the coming Messiah came right after Adam and Eve sinned.  He already had a plan for restoration.

When Jesus died it fulfilled the prophecy that he would “bruise his heal” on Satan.  But believers look forward to the day when the rest of the prophecy is fulfilled and Jesus “bruises Satan’s head.”  Then lies and death cease and God’s victory is final.

Pre-existence is Non Sequitur

I learned a new word not long ago, “non sequitur.”  It means, “a conclusion or statement that does not logically follow from the previous statement.”  That is exactly what this statement, that Jesus is human and also existed before he existed, sounds to be.  It is non sequitur.

No HUMAN can exist before he comes into existence.

This thinking is not logical, nor is it biblical.  People don’t exist before they exist.  This would make them non-human!

Test What You Hear

1 John 4:1-3 tells us to test the spirits to see whether they are from God,  Why should we test the spirits?  John gives the answer, because many false prophets are in the world.  He then  tells us how we to know who is speaking truth and who is false and not to be trusted.  

By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ came in the flesh is from God (every preacher and teacher that acknowledge that Jesus was human and had his beginning in the womb of Mary);  and every spirit that does not confess Jesus (confess that he is human) is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist.

(“Confessing Jesus” means to confess WHO Jesus really is… a human being – that he “came in the flesh”)

Jesus’ Human Ancestry 

The Gospels show us Jesus’ genealogy and list his relatives.  Luke 3:38 follows his lineage back the to “the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.”

The Bible says that Jesus is the second Adam, and we know that Adam did not exist before he existed.  God miraculously created him from dirt on the sixth day of creation.  Likewise, Jesus did not exist before he existed, but had his beginning when God miraculously created him from Mary’s egg in her womb.  Both Adam and Jesus were human like all other humans, only they had a miraculous beginning.  God created them in a unique way and they were unique human beings.

The Human Jesus Was Empowered and Elevated By God

Act 2:22-24 says, “Men of Israel, (or all people at all times since ALL Scripture is to be used for everyone, 2 Timothy 3:16) listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know—  this man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put him to death.  But God raised him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for him to be held in its power.”

God empowered the man Jesus to perform miracles, wonders and signs.  It clearly says that God performed these miracles through Jesus, not Jesus in and of himself.  God also raised Jesus from the dead and exalted him over all other created beings (Hebrews 2:7-8).

Descendant of King David

Acts 2:29-36 gives us clear insight as to who Jesus was.

It testifies that David both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day (he’s not in heaven, but in his grave).  David was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne.   He looked to the future and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was neither left in hades (the grave,) nor did his body decay.

There were many witneses to the fact that God raised Jesus from the dead.  If the Father hadn’t raised Jesus from the dead, he would still be dead and in his tomb today.

Jesus was exalted to the right hand of God and received from the Father the promise of the holy spirit.  God exalted Jesus, and received the holy spirit from the Father.

Therefore,it should be obvious that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ (Messiah).

Jesus, A Human Being is at the Right Hand of God

The resurrected Jesus, a man whom God anointed and exalted. sat down at the Father’s right hand.  Can you imagine, a human being is in heaven right now seated at God’s right hand?! 

This is amazing!  Jesus was the first human to be resurrected and given immortality.  Jesus was the firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8:29) and was the “first fruits.”  That means we too can be assured of resurrection to immortality.  Mortal humans, the faithful believers, will put on immortality at the last trumpet, “the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.”  (1 Corinthians 15:20-23, 52-54)  Come Lord Jesus!

Walk in God’s Ways

Walk in God’s Ways

by | Feb 19, 2020 | Simple Bible Truth

Walk in God’s Ways

Walk in God’s Ways – Deuteronomy 8

Deuteronomy 8 is a stern, but loving, reminder from the Father, God Almighty, that He is a gracious God, yet has high expectations for His people and demands that we walk in His ways.  When we walk in God’s ways we are promised great things!

Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him.  (Deuteronomy 8:6)

The Father reminds us of His faithfulness and that He is our Provider.  He makes sure that we know this, and He emphasizes that we should not forget this fact.

Commands

God’s commands are not suggestions.  He expects us to obey and He tests us so that He can see our hearts.  God humbles us and allows us to feel the needs we have, and then He shows His faithfulness and meets those needs from His own hand.  When this happens we learn to not only trust Him, but to love Him!

Discipline

The Father disciplines us as any loving father would because of His love for us.  That is why He gives us warnings.  The question is, will we listen, submit and obey?!

We are reminded today that when we have success and are satisfied with our present lives, we must take care not to forget God who gave us everything.  God gives us opportunities, skills, health and strength to do our jobs and create a life for today.  He warns us to not allow pride to get the best of us because it will cause us to fall.

Warnings

We are reminded that if we ever turn from Him and seek something else to take His rightful place, we will regret it.  We will perish.  Just like those who reject God today, we too will be snuffed out if we refuse to listen to God.

Blessings When We Walk in God’s Ways

In the end, God desires that we walk on the narrow path that Jesus set before us, with a pure  and contrite heart.  He holds out blessings to us if we choose to walk in His ways and fear Him.  He promises to bring us into a good place, a good land, where we will lack nothing.  Jesus spoke of this land and time of prosperity, the coming Kingdom of God.  (Luke 4:43)

Questioning the Trinity

Questioning the Trinity

by | Feb 11, 2020 | Simple Bible Truth

Questioning the Trinity

Are you Questioning the Trinity?

Do you believe in God, the Father, and in His son Jesus, but you are questioning the trinity and how they both can be God?

Did you know that Jesus has a God?

If you have rejected the false teaching of the trinity, you don’t have to leave Christianity!  True Christians, like their founder, believe the Bible and in Jesus, but without the doctrine of the trinity.

We are warned in the New Testament about false teachings about Jesus. and many people over thousands of years since then have questioned the man-made doctrine of the trinity.  Still today, this unbiblical teaching is questioned by diligent Bible students.  I want you to know that If you are questioning the trinity, that doesn’t mean you have to look for another religion.  Jesus is still the only way to the Father.

What did Christianity’s Founder Believe?

The founder of Christianity (Jesus,) didn’t believe in the trinity.  John 20:7 says that Jesus believed in the One True God, his Father.  Most professing Christians do not know that Jesus had a God!  He said, go to My brethren and say to them, “I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.”

Jesus also said that If you loved me, you would have rejoiced because I go to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.  Jesus himself acknowledged that the Father was greater.  John 14:28

Jesus also admitted that the son can do nothing of himself.  (John 5:19, John 5:30)

I can do nothing on My own initiative.  As I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I do not seek my own will, but the will of Him who sent me.

Simple Bible Truth

These verses are simple Bible truths that many theologians and churches have made unclear as a “mystery.”

Jesus knew his place, and that place was and is under the Father, who Jesus acknowledged as the Only True God.

The very simple teaching that even a child can understand is that Jesus died.  As Anthony Buzzard says, “No matter what you think death is, God can’t do it!”  God Cannot Die, but Jesus died.

Only One Person is God

In the Bible there is only one person who is God.  And it is not Jesus!  He is not God!  YHVH, the LORD, is the ONLY God. 

How do we know this?  He, God, says so!  Here are some verses to consider about WHO God is and how many make up the ONE true God; by God’s own words!

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD our God is one LORD!” (Deut. 6:4).

“Do we not all have one Father? Has not one God created us?” (Mal. 2:10).

“Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me” (Isa. 43:10).

“I am God, and there is no other” (Isa. 45:22).

“I am God, and there is no one like Me” (Isa. 46:9).

God seems to be pretty clear.  There certainly is no “mystery” when it comes to knowing who God believes He is!

God could not make Himself more clear.  It is a simple Bible truth and simple to understand with the mind that God gave us.

1 Corinthians 15:28 tells us that when all things are subjected to him (Jesus), then the son himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to him, so that God may be all in all.

John 17:3 in Jesus’ prayer for us tells us that THIS is eternal life, that they may know You, the Only True God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

Are You Questioning the Trinity?

In review, Jesus, the founder of Christianity,

– had a God,

– acknowledged that his God was greater than he,

– and submits to his God.

Jesus even died knowing and trusting that God would raise him from the grave.  If God did not resurrect Jesus, he would be dead and in his grave yet today!

 

If you are a Christian, you should question the trinity and follow the founder of your faith!  Reject the trinity, NOT Christianity!

My Near-Death Experience

My Near-Death Experience

by | Feb 3, 2020 | Simple Bible Truth

My Near-Death Experience

Are You Prepared to Die?

We must weigh every tetimony and near-death experience with the Scriptures. If it doesn’t totally align with sound biblical doctrine, then it is not from God.  There are many “near-death experiences” on YouTube where people claim to have gone to heaven, seen angels or talked to Jesus.

My near-death experience was much different.

Early in my teenage years I put myself in a position that I very well could have died.  I was climbing around on the side of a cliff with a winding river below.  It was a beautiful setting.  As I shimmied along the side, I finally came to a point of no return.  I couldn’t go forward anymore, up was too steep, and I didn’t want to go back.  Looking down at the swirling water that tumulted over a waterfall downstream, I came face to face with the possibility of dying.

My fingers were getting tired as I clung to the side of the cliff.  I was exhausted and as I considered my options, I didn’t like any of them.  When I pondered the option of falling into the water and going over the waterfall, my thoughts raced.

I had never really thought much about me dying, and I didn’t know one could have so many thoughts in such a short amount of time.  I believe that God used this to grow my faith and strengthen the truth that I love.

It was an amazing feeling realizing that I didn’t fear death and I was not afraid to die.  Although I did fear the pain I most likely would feel in the process of tumbling over rocks and the edge of the waterfall.  But even so, I had peace.  I knew I would be resurrected when Jesus returned and would be given immortality in the Kingdom.

So, what was there to fear?

The peace I experienced was like none other; even when faced with death.  I was so sure of my hope.  It became a defining moment for me and my faith.  Death may be our enemy, but it is only temporary for the one who has the resurrection hope.  Jesus conquered death, and so will we!

The strength I gained that day came when I was weak.  It fanned a spark into a flame and it became a force that has propelled me in my life and my ministry to this day.

I didn’t see a light.  I didn’t see angel or Jesus.  And I didn’t go to heaven.  I just hung onto the side of a cliff and talked to God about death and dying and confessed my faith in His promise of resurrection and His coming Kingdom.  That faith and my hope became very real to me that day.  My near-death experience gave me wings like an eagle and freedom from the fear of death.

My question for you is, are you prepared to die?  Do you have peace when you consider that today might be your last day?  And even more important, do you know for certain that you will hear the trumpet when Jesus returns and be one of the faithful that meets him in the air?

(My earthly father ended up throwing a rope over the cliff so I could climb up.  So thankfully, I am still here today preaching and teaching about the Kingdom Hope.)

Jesus' Return at the End of this Age
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