IMPORTANT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

WHAT IS THE GOSPEL?

          Recently, in Bible class, my brother was teaching, and made an interesting observation. He stated that the first two letters of the word GOSPEL spell GO. He was indicating the importance of Christians going forth and telling others about Christ. The Holy Spirit prompted me to share with him and others in class that the last four letters; S, P, E, L signify Salvation Provides Eternal Life. It’s that simple the gospel is a simple and easily understandable message. We as Christian, are charged with the task of telling everyone we can, that salvation thru Jesus Christ provides eternal life, to those that will accept him. We must go forth faithfully with this truth. In the book of Romans it states, “… I am ready to preach (proclaim) the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” So you see, that the gospel is a powerful message. It is the power of God, and by his authority, that salvation is provided to every person on earth who will believe, and the reward for believing is eternal life. After receiving, that it is your responsibility to tell someone else, and others too.It is also very important to be cautious of false gospels. Many evil workers are out there trying to seduce Christians into cults and occult activities, using a different gospel. Remember, there is only one true gospel, and it is the gospel of Jesus Christ.        

      GOD BLESS YOU     

WHAT IS CHRISTIANITY?

          To begin with, let me first state that Christianity is not a religion. There are multiple thousands of religions throughout the world, ranging from spiritual, to physical, to mental. Today, everyone has a “religion” to support or defend. To some individuals, physical fitness is a religion. They view exercise and health foods as the means of satisfying their needs. To others, yoga or transcendental meditation is believed to fulfill their mental and emotional deficiencies.     

WHAT DOES “CHRISTIAN” MEAN?

If you walked up to 80% or more of the people on the street and asked them if they were a Christian, they would most likely say yes. Most people would not want someone to think they weren’t. Religiosity, tradition, and custom in the land has created a type of “Socio-Christian”, who is one, just as a Democrat is a Democrat, and a Republican is a Republican. On Sunday morning throughout the land, millions of “Socio-Christians” attend churches, dressed in their Sunday best – looking good, smelling good – and convinced in their minds that they have satisfied their “Christian” duty. Some of these same millions will curse at a pedestrian or fellow motorist on the way home, embezzle company funds, cheat on their income tax, use drugs, and many other unchristian-like activities.

          This leads me to the crux of the matter. Just what does “Christian” mean.  The word Christ, means “anointed one”, who came with a full measure of God’s anointing. Jesus was the Christ, or that anointed one.  After his resurrection, many of his followers and true believers mimicked his behavior in a place called Antioch.  The people there mocked them and called them “Little Christs”, and later this derived into Christians. But just what were they doing to deserve this title?  To understand better what they were doing, we need to go to God’s word and study a few scriptures.   In 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, it states, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation.  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.  Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him" 

From the scripture above, we can understand that we are representatives or ambassadors of Jesus Christ.  Our lives must exemplify the virtues and goodness of God. We must walk, talk, and live as Jesus did when He was on earth, so that others will see Jesus in us. Our purpose in our new life is to reconcile others to Him by witnessing, sharing our testimony, praying for them and being an example of Godliness to them.

          The word “Christ” means anointed.  Therefore, we as “Christians” are anointed ones.  We are anointed of God by our faith in Jesus and have been vested with the powers of God to do great works for Him on earth.  Christians should not be holy only on Sunday morning for an hour or two.  Christians are holy every minute of the day and need to pray and meditate on God’s word to remain that way.  All over the world there are so-called “holy” men.  Religions throughout the world have their own “holy” men. These same religions pray to a god and speak of a god figure. Even Ayatollah Khomeni is considered to be a holy man and spoke of holy wars against infidels.

          Remember, there is only one God, and He gave His only son to die for all men on earth, so they could be reconciled to Him.  Sadly, all men will not recognize the sacrifice Jesus made and therefore will perish.   It is the job and responsibility of "Christians"  (witnesses, ambassadors, anointed ones), to reach all men with the good news of salvation.  Just going to a building on Sunday morning is not enough.  Christians are on duty all day long, every day of the year.  We must realize the awesome fate that awaits those who are not reconciled to God.

          In conclusion, I hope I have helped someone out there to become motivated to be a “real” Christian and not the world’s stereo-type version.

GOD BLESS YOU

WHO IS GOD?

American Heritage Dictionary states,   1. God – a being conceived as the perfect, omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing) originator and ruler of the universe, the principal object of faith and worship in monotheistic religions.   

          There are over five billion people on this planet earth.  Among this great populace, many gods are recognized and worshipped.   Some people in the world neither recognize nor worship any god. I would like to attempt to prove that there is but one God and that He created the planet we live on and has total sovereignty over it.           

          Let me begin by stating that the most brilliant minds of scientists, philosophers, etc. have never been able to determine who God is.  Albert Einstein, who deduced the theory of relativity, could not tell anyone who God is.  He did believe, however, in a superior being that seemed to be able to cause changes in the earth.  Here we have one of the most brilliant minds of all time who could not tell us who God is.

          Today, technology and knowledge has increased dramatically.  Yet, none of the great minds who invented and produced these technological marvels can tell us who God is. Why is this?

          The answer to who God is can be known. Man lost the ability to know God thousands of years ago. Man at one time was a perfect being. Although he did not possess total knowledge, he did know God. This man’s name was Adam. One day Adam rebelled against God and forfeited the right to know God.

Therefore you can easily see that there is a God, but he can only be revealed to those who sin not and who choose to love one another. Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” What must be done then to erase this sin so that we can know God?

          The answer is Jesus Christ, his birth, his death, and his resurrection. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, (all 5 billion plus) that he gave his only begotten Son, that whomsoever believeth on him should not perish, (never knowing God) but should have everlasting life (knowing and abiding with God).”

In conclusion, the facts are evident and anyone who chooses to desire to know God can do just that. He will draw you by his Holy Spirit, and if you respond and accept his son Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, you will be acceptable and justified unto him and be allowed to know him. Otherwise, you are not able to truly discern the spiritual reality of a God who in the beginning created the heavens and the earth and reigns supreme. Abandon your intellectual reasoning, your logic, and any other thing that hinders you and keeps you from knowing God.         

          Now read the Book of Job, Chapters 38-41, and you will receive a better perspective of who God is.          

GOD BLESS YOU

WHAT IS SIN?

         Now that I have your attention, permit me to share with you what God’s Word says about it. Sin is the transgression of the law. There was no law until the Ten Commandments were given. Then when the Mosaic Laws were instituted, people had a guide as how to live. At this point, sin was imputed unto man and punishment was instituted as a way of discouraging sin. Ironically, the people of Israel wandered in the wilderness of Sin directly after crossing the Red Sea. Their unbelief and backsliding continuously kept them in trouble.

         When Jesus came, he fulfilled the law and gave us two new commandments. He said we should love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Secondly, we should love our neighbor as our self. Therefore, sin is not the disobedience of ordinances of man, created to establish order in the land. Sin is the direct disobedience of God’s law and of God’s commandments. (Sin) means without, and that means being without the fellowship of God. If you are not in fellowship with God, then you are living in sin. Your prayers will not be answered, and you are like a person on the outside looking in.

         In the Epistle of 1 John, it says, “Whosoever abideth in him (Jesus) sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children let no man deceive you; he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth (practices) sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.

         For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him; and he cannot sin, because he is Born of God.”

         The Word of God is quite clear. If you know to do right and don’t do right, then that is sin and you are playing right into the hands of the devil. If you truly want to know God, then you must be born of God. When you accept Jesus as personal savior, he will help you to overcome the sinful nature that has you bound. Jesus will set you free and no longer will you desire to sin, but you will desire instead to please God. The next time the temptation to sin comes along, you will remember this article, and it will convict your heart.

         You cannot run away from God. Instead, run to God. He loves you and sent his only begotten son to this miserable, sinfilled world to die for your sins. Accept God’s son today and be born of God.

GOD BLESS YOU