John
14:9-11 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not
known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show
us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in
Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority;
but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in
the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works
themselves.” NKJV
This is THE question for most of the world and
people have pondered this question for 2 millenniums now. The problem with
humanity is they want to search out God and find Him as the scientist in the
laboratory conducts his experiments and draws his conclusions. But most of
humanity is bent on creating their own version of god and they do not want
their lives under the Lordship of their god but they want him to be their
supplier but they want to reign over their own lives. However, the true God has
said emphatically that there is no one place where He resides and that He is so
far above man in intelligence, power, purity, and holiness that no man could
ever see Him and live.
Exodus
33:20 But He said, “You cannot see My
face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” NKJV
Sadly many people even in Churches, Catholic or Protestant
have bitten from the poisonous fruit of satan’s deception from first hoping, to
now believing that God will spare those who reject or resist (see the article “Will
you Reject, Resist, or Receive Jesus Christ? www.faithwriters.com/article-details.php?id=130955) the Holy Spirit’s conviction of
sin upon their hearts and come to Christ Jesus for restoration and continue to pursue
the other spiritual roads that they think surely must lead to God. How could God (who is Love) stand back and
watch millions/billions of Hindus, Buddhist, Muslims, Wizards, Witches,
Mediums, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witness, etc. who are sincere in their beliefs and
many live good lives doing great amounts of good in this world go into a place
like the Lake of Fire?
Well, even Christ disciples had not fully
comprehended the magnitude of His first coming (despite seeing His mighty
power, many miracles, and compassionate unconditional love for any person) and
did not see the glorious truth He wanted them to grasp and cling to forever. The
disciple’s early relationship with our Lord was face to face as He was manifested
in His earthly body and like any good teacher today knows that some will get
the lessons easy and early but some will require more time. He would so often
call Peter, James, and John to go with Him to witness some of His more
spectacular miracles knowing that He would give them the hardest task initially
after His ascension. Our Lord knew that they would not have the capacity or
ability to retain and apply all of His teaching except they had a constant and
ever present helper with them always to teach them, guide them, comfort them,
and strengthen them. Unlike the prophets like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Elijah, etc.,
Jesus Christ never once spoke and said the word of the Lord came to me but in
sharp contrast He said, “"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born
again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” because no other man ever spoke like
Him (see the article “No man ever spoke like the Lord Jesus Christ www.faithwriters.com/article-details.php?id=94629 ).
Later on after Christ resurrection from the dead and
sending God the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4 When
the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one
place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty
wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there
appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of
them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with
other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. NKJV) the disciples from
that very moment and day understood what the Lord said and meant by these
words, John 14:19-20 “A little while
longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live,
you will live also. At that day you will
know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” NKJV Footnote:
Only 120 true disciples were waiting for His promise, even after the many
thousands were healed, fed, and delivered by His miracles. Remember the 10
lepers, only one came to Him out of love and gratitude.
Immediately the faithful 120 knew that the Lord had come back
to them as He promised and He did not leave them as orphans down here on the
earth and they were ready to tell the whole world about the death, burial, and
resurrection of Jesus Christ and that all men everywhere must repent (change
their minds about God and turn away from their sins) and receive God’s free
gift of salvation. You see Jesus Christ is the only way to God because He is
the One true God that humbled Himself, left Heaven, came to earth and became a
man (His own creation) in order to reverse what Adam did by his sin. Therefore,
you must come to God the only way possible for reconciliation and whosoever
does will be forgiven, healed from sins dominion, loved unconditionally, and
protected for the rest of their sojourn on earth, and then live in the presence
of Jesus Christ in Heaven forever.
2
Corinthians 5:17-19 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a
new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now
all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus
Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling
the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed
to us the word of reconciliation. NKJV
“Christianity is a love relationship between a child
of God and his Maker through the Son Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy
Spirit.” Dr. Adrian Rogers
“The Christian life is not about all the things we
do for God--it's about being loved by Him, loving Him in return, and walking in
intimate union and communion with Him.” Nancy Leigh DeMoss
“Christianity means a lot more than church
membership.” Billy Sunday
“Enemy-occupied territory-that is what this world
is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might
say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign
in sabotage.” C. S. Lewis
“The use or abuse of Christianity in contradiction
to the very message of the gospel reveals not the gospel for what it is, but
the heart of man. That is why atheism is so bankrupt as a view of life, for it
miserably fails to deal with the human condition as it really is.” Ravi
Zacharias
“There are those who hate Christianity and call
their hatred an all-embracing love for all religions.” G. K. Chesterton
“The one true Church is composed of all believers in
the Lord Jesus. It is made up of all God's elect - of all converted men and
women - of all true Christians. In whomever we can discern the election of God
the Father, the sprinkling of the blood of God the Son, the sanctifying work of
God the Spirit, in that person we see a member of Christ's true church.” J. C.
Ryle
“If you do not plan to live the Christian life
totally committed to knowing your God and to walking in obedience to Him, then
don't begin, for this is what Christianity is all about. It is a change of
citizenship, a change of governments, a change of allegiance. If you have no
intention of letting Christ rule your life, then forget Christianity; it is not
for you.” Kay Arthur
Sincerely in Christ,
Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you
Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus
Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and
Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple
I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reader,
Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…
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