A Scary Truth
A Scary Truth
Christianity is serious business. There is to be no fooling around, hypocrisy, lying, cheating, sexual misconduct, covetousness, or anything else that defies love.
Being Christian means that I honestly stand in awe and love of the LORD, who has loved me (Yes, me.) and saved me through the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Being Christian means sincerely bowing in humble worship, acknowledging my helpless and hopeless condition, AND ACCEPTING God’s gracious gift of forgiveness, salvation, and eternal life in heaven — as bought and paid for by Jesus.
Now what’s so scary about that?
There are many who attend church regularly, work zealously on committees, do all sorts of good works, etc., but deep inside they feel they’re a pretty good “Joe” or “Josephine” and that they don’t need to humble themselves before the LORD by accepting THAT gift of full salvation. They don’t need a blood payment for their sins.
With inner disdain, Joe mutters, “I’m not an unworthy sinner or a wretched, utterly destitute critter that has to accept an absolute freebie. I’m better than that. I don’t have to feel that ashamed of my sins. I do enough good things to more than make up for whatever bad I’ve done.”
So, Joe and Josephine do believe in God. That’s why they pray, go to church, and take part in activities. But, they’re often inwardly upset because God doesn’t answer their prayers as they would like. They question God’s love. Often church is a drag, especially that confession and liturgy part. All that church work is a real drain, but a person’s got to keep up appearances. They feel they are working their way to heaven.
And here is the scary part.
In Matthew 7:21-23 Jesus says,
“Not every one who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'”
James 2:19 adds another detail to Jesus’ eye-opening truth by stating,
“You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe and shudder.”
All the demons know God is real. They’ve seen God’s heavenly glory. Their knowledge makes them shudder with revulsion. They’re afraid of the LORD. But, that doesn’t make them bow down in worship, obedience, and love. They dread their inevitable condemnation while continuing to plunge ahead in all their evil and hatred. Their pride in being allowed to defy God eggs them on to greater hatred and defiance of all that is holy. They simply don’t want the LORD to be their King and God.
Jesus said only those who do the will of the Father will be able to enter heaven. What is the Father’s will?
In John 6:29 Jesus says,
“This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”
That’s it. Honestly believe that God loves us so much that He accepts the bloody sacrifice of Jesus as the full payment for all our sins.
We need to follow God’s advice in Isaiah 1:18,
“‘Come now, and let us reason together’ says the LORD, ‘Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow, though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.'”
Look at the putrid ugliness of sin. Never dismiss sinful thoughts or ways. It’s vital to realize the grossness of our sins. If we don’t, we won’t feel the need for a Savior. Realize we are helpless to change. Recognize that all things are possible with God. Reason with the LORD about His free plan. Accept God’s gift with humble love.
In accepting God’s gift, our hearts will change and we will love God who first loved us. Then we will understand 1 John 5:3-5,
“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are NOT burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world — and this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith. And who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”
Acceptance of free salvation enables joyful worship and service to the LORD and grants us eternal life. God knows everyone who has accepted His gift. Have you?
Love, Margaret
Hallelujah 
Thank you Margaret, it is good to read what you share. I love Jesus and we can never have enough of the love that God has demonstrated in Jesus and still does every day that we live. What a privilege it is to live knowing that God loves us and has saved us.
Ron
Hi Ron,
Thank you for stopping by. You are so right in saying, “What a privilege it is to live knowing that God loves us and has saved us.” There is no greater privilege. That’s what leads us to praise our Savior and willingly share the grace He has given us.
Margaret
If Jesus is prophet of Almighty God the concept is correct but if you try to say that jesus is God I will disagree.
if any one says Jesus is God,then in the second coming of Jesus he will say to the people whom declared Jesus is God
Jesus says,
“Not every one who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”
This prof is in the bible not in the quaren.So bible clearly explains that Prophet Jesus is the messenger of God and not God.
So in common terms the truth to be agreed is worship only the Father in the heaven and follow the teaching of Prophet Jesus (PBUH)..You can enter the heaven but if you do it oin opposite it is lalessness as said by our beloved prophet Jesus(PBUH)..This is very basic ..For knowing more about Almighty God read whole bible and the last and final revelation Quaren.Compare the both mark my words you will say Allahu Akbar.
Hi Fareed,
To be sure, it is quite the wonder to realize that Jesus is God. It’s mind boggling. As one considers the many Bible verses that declare Jesus to be God, one needs to remember what God tells us in Isaiah 55:8-9 + “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”
We certainly do see that to be true as we consider the following Scripture verses. These are only a few of the Bible references that say Jesus is God. It would take a whole book to mention all of the references. But, I hope these few verses would be helpful to you.
John 1:1 + In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14 + And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Philippians 2:5-10 + Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be gasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth.
Hebrews 1:1-4 + God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.
Hebrews 1:6 + And when He again brings the firstborn into the world, He says, “And let all the angels of God worship Him.”
Hebrews 1:8 + But of the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, and the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom.”
Isaiah 9:6 + For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
Titus 2:11-13 + For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus.
Micah 5:2 + But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.
Colossians 1:13-17 + For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities — all things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together.
Isaiah 54:5 + For your husband is your Maker, whose name is the LORD of hosts; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, who is called the God of all the earth.
Revelation 17:14 + These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.
Revelation 19:16 + And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
1 Timothy 1:17 + Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
Jude 1:24-25 + Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Jesus is often referred to as a great prophet — both in the Bible and in all the world. We need to remember that a great and true prophet does not speak lies. So, when Jesus healed various people, they would bow down to Him in worship. He never once corrected them. Why? Because their worship was in truth and righteousness.
A great prophet will always correct misunderstandings in his disciples. But, after His resurrection, Jesus did not contradict Thomas in John 20:26-29, where it says, “After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”
Jesus did not correct Thomas because Thomas finally got it right. And then Jesus says all who have believed without seeing are blessed. I hope this has been helpful in understanding the Christian perspective of Christ Jesus our Lord God. May your study of God’s word — the Bible — be a blessing to you.
Margaret
Why will the meek inherit the earth if we are all going to heaven?
Col 1:15 Says that Jesus was the first of god’s creation. Right? Jesus does as the father does and is a reflection of his father. After the 1000 year reign of Jesus and the 144000
1 Cor 15:24 Next, the end, when he hands over the Kingdom to his God and Father, when he has brought to nothing all government and all authority and power
Praise be to jah Jehovah ! Jesus father who created him who allowed Jesus to be our eternal father.
Hi John,
Thank you for stopping by. This is a great question, and because it deserves an answer that more people would like to read about, I wrote an answer that will be posted tomorrow, on Sunday, October 2. It’s called “Blessed Are the Meek“.
The older God’s children get, the more they can look back on and realize how God has us inherit the earth during our lives here.
I will try to reply to your other statement in a post soon because whole books have been written regarding that and my time is limited.
Margaret
Hi John,
I wrote a post in reply to your comment. It will be posted October 4, 2016 and is called, “He Is the Image of the Invisible God”. I hope it makes things clear for you and shows you that Jesus is God from all eternity. The post explains the meanings of the Greek words in Colossians 1:15.
Have a great day.
Margaret