April 25th 2021
Most Of The People In This World Know About Jesus, But Very Few Know Him!
Colossians 2:13-14 (NIV)
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.
Everyone must decide to turn from this world, in which we are born, and turn or repent from our sinful nature, and turn to God by accepting our salvation. This is the only Way that any member of mankind can change the path that would take us to be tormented in hell to instead be looking forward to going to heaven when we die. Jesus taught those who can believe Him that each person must be born again, and thus, their path is changed from the wide path that leads to destruction, to the narrow path that leads them to God through Jesus Christ. As Paul wrote in the selected verses, “God made you alive with Christ.” “He forgave us all our sins, nailing it to the cross.” Jesus took on the sins of this world with Him to that cross, and thus, made it possible for all those who by faith choose to believe, they are born again and they are thus on the path which ends up in heaven.
Are you on the right path? This is the most important question you will ever ask yourself in your earthly lifetime! Only you can truly answer this self-proposed question. Peter wrote about this idea of being born again and that this new birth only comes through you having faith enough to believe that Jesus is the Way! Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. (1 Peter 1:21-23). This reference to being born again is one of three such references in the NIV translation of the New Testament.
When we are born, and we start a life that is mortal, yes, it is true you are going to die some time. However, God has told us that when He created mankind, we were given an immortal piece that will never die. Jesus came into this world as a mortal member of mankind too. This became necessary when Adam and Eve brought sin into the then perfect world. The Fall of Man brought the death sentence into this then perfect world where there was no death and suffering. Then mankind inherited a sinful nature pasted on by mankind to their offspring. This malady could only be corrected by Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection from the dead! This was planned immediately by God, when that first sin was committed.
Paul wrote to the church in Rome, and for us, about this opportunity for all of mankind to gain salvation for our immortal soul through becoming followers of Jesus. We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Romans 6:4). This is another expression of being born again as Paul wrote it. Notice as Paul says we were buried with Jesus, and when He arose it granted assurance of our impending ability to be raised from the dead, and thus, “we too may live a new life.” This new life for you (us) begins immediately when we accept our salvation through Jesus and thus, become born again!
Paul also wrote to the church at Colossi, and for us, about this assurance of our resurrection from the dead by Jesus/God, when we leave this cursed world. In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. (Colossians 2:11-12). Here Paul states that when we are buried our immortal soul will not remain in the grave, but it will be raised for new life with Christ. Paul assures us, “having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.”
Paul again writes for us a warning about being sure we do not continue to conform to this world, but to repent of our sins and be changed by this renewal of our spirit through the grace awarded to all those who follow Jesus Christ. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2). Paul says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Has your mind been transformed by you allowing Jesus into your life? Let us close this commentary with Jesus’ assurance of our salvation, which can only be obtained through us becoming avid followers of Him! Do you know the Way to heaven when you die? The disciple Thomas had some good questions for Jesus about this. Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." (John 14:5-7).
Do you know Jesus? I am sure you know about Jesus, but you know Him. Most of the people in this world know about Jesus, but very few know Him! Most people in this world today do not believe that Jesus is the only Way by which they must be saved. If you are not sure you know Him, there is a book that tells His story. It is called the Bible. You should read it every day.
Can you tell someone about Jesus, so they may not end up in hell?
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Colossians 2:13-14 (NIV)
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross.
Everyone must decide to turn from this world, in which we are born, and turn or repent from our sinful nature, and turn to God by accepting our salvation. This is the only Way that any member of mankind can change the path that would take us to be tormented in hell to instead be looking forward to going to heaven when we die. Jesus taught those who can believe Him that each person must be born again, and thus, their path is changed from the wide path that leads to destruction, to the narrow path that leads them to God through Jesus Christ. As Paul wrote in the selected verses, “God made you alive with Christ.” “He forgave us all our sins, nailing it to the cross.” Jesus took on the sins of this world with Him to that cross, and thus, made it possible for all those who by faith choose to believe, they are born again and they are thus on the path which ends up in heaven.
Are you on the right path? This is the most important question you will ever ask yourself in your earthly lifetime! Only you can truly answer this self-proposed question. Peter wrote about this idea of being born again and that this new birth only comes through you having faith enough to believe that Jesus is the Way! Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. (1 Peter 1:21-23). This reference to being born again is one of three such references in the NIV translation of the New Testament.
When we are born, and we start a life that is mortal, yes, it is true you are going to die some time. However, God has told us that when He created mankind, we were given an immortal piece that will never die. Jesus came into this world as a mortal member of mankind too. This became necessary when Adam and Eve brought sin into the then perfect world. The Fall of Man brought the death sentence into this then perfect world where there was no death and suffering. Then mankind inherited a sinful nature pasted on by mankind to their offspring. This malady could only be corrected by Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection from the dead! This was planned immediately by God, when that first sin was committed.
Paul wrote to the church in Rome, and for us, about this opportunity for all of mankind to gain salvation for our immortal soul through becoming followers of Jesus. We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Romans 6:4). This is another expression of being born again as Paul wrote it. Notice as Paul says we were buried with Jesus, and when He arose it granted assurance of our impending ability to be raised from the dead, and thus, “we too may live a new life.” This new life for you (us) begins immediately when we accept our salvation through Jesus and thus, become born again!
Paul also wrote to the church at Colossi, and for us, about this assurance of our resurrection from the dead by Jesus/God, when we leave this cursed world. In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. (Colossians 2:11-12). Here Paul states that when we are buried our immortal soul will not remain in the grave, but it will be raised for new life with Christ. Paul assures us, “having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.”
Paul again writes for us a warning about being sure we do not continue to conform to this world, but to repent of our sins and be changed by this renewal of our spirit through the grace awarded to all those who follow Jesus Christ. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2). Paul says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Has your mind been transformed by you allowing Jesus into your life? Let us close this commentary with Jesus’ assurance of our salvation, which can only be obtained through us becoming avid followers of Him! Do you know the Way to heaven when you die? The disciple Thomas had some good questions for Jesus about this. Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." (John 14:5-7).
Do you know Jesus? I am sure you know about Jesus, but you know Him. Most of the people in this world know about Jesus, but very few know Him! Most people in this world today do not believe that Jesus is the only Way by which they must be saved. If you are not sure you know Him, there is a book that tells His story. It is called the Bible. You should read it every day.
Can you tell someone about Jesus, so they may not end up in hell?
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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