December 2nd 2018
When You Say, “I Believe” Are You Acknowledging That Jesus Is The Savior Of The World?
Romans 8:13-14 (NIV)
For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
As we start this year’s advent season, are you really looking forward to celebrating the coming of Jesus Christ into this world, which happened some 2018 years ago? Do you believe He is coming back, as the Bible tells us? “I Believe” slogans today often relate to a belief in Santa Claus or may be related to placing your belief in some other human being, who was just that, only a human being. All the world religions do this and profess to believe some member of mankind can lay a path for you to get to heaven, or some other named wonderful place when you die to this life! It is important what you believe or do not believe about Jesus Christ, because the Bible tells us that the only way for you to go to heaven when you die is through Jesus. Jesus told us this when he still resided on this earth as the only ever God/man! Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6). Only Jesus knows if you believe in Him as your Lord and Savior! Your salvation depends on your faith to be truly able to say “I Believe” when you profess that you know that Jesus’ death has saved your eternal life!
In the selected verses Paul wrote that “those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” Jesus left the Holy Spirit behind on this earth when He ascended back into heaven. This statement does not need to be modified for gender as when we die, we will look like Him to God the Father, when Jesus takes us to be in heaven, where He is! This is referring to our immortal soul not to our body. Our immortal soul leaves our mortal body when we die to this lifetime. When you were born again you became a new creation, therefore, it is possible for you to be able to live “by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body.” Since you no longer want to “live according to the sinful nature.” This does not mean you will never sin again, but your thoughts are directed toward trying to lead a sinless life. This puts us back at the idea of what you profess to believe. Jesus once said to us (His disciples), If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." (Matthew 21:22). The important phrase here is “If you believe” then your prayers will be answered!
The writer of Hebrews expounds upon this idea as he wrote, “without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6). If you can believe you are pleasing God by your good behavior at least by your attempts to be doing some good deeds, then you should try to continue to work on becoming more Christ-like. This should allow you to be become more peaceful in this life. Paul wrote about this to the church in Philippi, and for us too! Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7). During this Advent (shopping) season it would be great to have “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding!”
When Jesus spoke to the woman at the well, He told her He was the Savior of the world, and she became convinced He was, because of all the stuff He knew about her life. Here is some of that conversation. The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he." (John 4:25-26). After her conversation with Jesus she went back home and started to evangelize her relatives and neighbors. She convinced them to the point they came out and talked with Jesus to find out more about Him. After this some of them became convinced that this man was in fact the Savior of the world, their world too! They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world." (John 4:42). Do you like them believe, “that this man really is the Savior of the world.”? I believe that Jesus gives us each breath we breathe every day and upholds the world in all other aspects.
When Jesus was teaching His disciples, Jesus claimed to be the bread of life and indicated they could feed upon Him to obtain life. Of course, He was referring here to eternal life, and that He came to this earth as the bread of life. On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." (John 6:60-61, 66-69). Do you believe like Peter did that there is only one Savior, and Jesus is that Savior? If you do, then you know there is no other member of mankind that you can follow into heaven when you die. During this lifetime you can choose to follow Jesus as the Way to heaven, or you can choose to follow Satan and go to hell.
Do you believe it is important to be with other believers as much as possible all year, but maybe especially during this Advent season we should be sure we attend the church of our choice on a regular basis? We are told that Jesus attended a synagogue, when He was walking this earth as a member of mankind. Do you think Jesus needed to go to His church, but somehow you don’t need it? Jesus also prayed a lot and for long periods of time. Do you ever pray? The writer of Hebrews cautioned us about the importance of meeting together on a regular basis. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25). Is the day of the Lord’s return coming soon? What do you think? I think it is coming soon! The writer of Hebrews tells us we should meet with other believers often, “and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no-one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31). Have you placed your hope of eternity in the Lord? When you say, “I Believe” are you expressing a knowledge that Jesus is the Savior of the world, and does this knowledge allow you to “soar on wings like eagles; run and not grow weary, walk and not be faint?”
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Romans 8:13-14 (NIV)
For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
As we start this year’s advent season, are you really looking forward to celebrating the coming of Jesus Christ into this world, which happened some 2018 years ago? Do you believe He is coming back, as the Bible tells us? “I Believe” slogans today often relate to a belief in Santa Claus or may be related to placing your belief in some other human being, who was just that, only a human being. All the world religions do this and profess to believe some member of mankind can lay a path for you to get to heaven, or some other named wonderful place when you die to this life! It is important what you believe or do not believe about Jesus Christ, because the Bible tells us that the only way for you to go to heaven when you die is through Jesus. Jesus told us this when he still resided on this earth as the only ever God/man! Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6). Only Jesus knows if you believe in Him as your Lord and Savior! Your salvation depends on your faith to be truly able to say “I Believe” when you profess that you know that Jesus’ death has saved your eternal life!
In the selected verses Paul wrote that “those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” Jesus left the Holy Spirit behind on this earth when He ascended back into heaven. This statement does not need to be modified for gender as when we die, we will look like Him to God the Father, when Jesus takes us to be in heaven, where He is! This is referring to our immortal soul not to our body. Our immortal soul leaves our mortal body when we die to this lifetime. When you were born again you became a new creation, therefore, it is possible for you to be able to live “by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body.” Since you no longer want to “live according to the sinful nature.” This does not mean you will never sin again, but your thoughts are directed toward trying to lead a sinless life. This puts us back at the idea of what you profess to believe. Jesus once said to us (His disciples), If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." (Matthew 21:22). The important phrase here is “If you believe” then your prayers will be answered!
The writer of Hebrews expounds upon this idea as he wrote, “without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6). If you can believe you are pleasing God by your good behavior at least by your attempts to be doing some good deeds, then you should try to continue to work on becoming more Christ-like. This should allow you to be become more peaceful in this life. Paul wrote about this to the church in Philippi, and for us too! Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7). During this Advent (shopping) season it would be great to have “the peace of God, which transcends all understanding!”
When Jesus spoke to the woman at the well, He told her He was the Savior of the world, and she became convinced He was, because of all the stuff He knew about her life. Here is some of that conversation. The woman said, "I know that Messiah" (called Christ) "is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us." Then Jesus declared, "I who speak to you am he." (John 4:25-26). After her conversation with Jesus she went back home and started to evangelize her relatives and neighbors. She convinced them to the point they came out and talked with Jesus to find out more about Him. After this some of them became convinced that this man was in fact the Savior of the world, their world too! They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world." (John 4:42). Do you like them believe, “that this man really is the Savior of the world.”? I believe that Jesus gives us each breath we breathe every day and upholds the world in all other aspects.
When Jesus was teaching His disciples, Jesus claimed to be the bread of life and indicated they could feed upon Him to obtain life. Of course, He was referring here to eternal life, and that He came to this earth as the bread of life. On hearing it, many of his disciples said, "This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?" Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, "Does this offend you? From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." (John 6:60-61, 66-69). Do you believe like Peter did that there is only one Savior, and Jesus is that Savior? If you do, then you know there is no other member of mankind that you can follow into heaven when you die. During this lifetime you can choose to follow Jesus as the Way to heaven, or you can choose to follow Satan and go to hell.
Do you believe it is important to be with other believers as much as possible all year, but maybe especially during this Advent season we should be sure we attend the church of our choice on a regular basis? We are told that Jesus attended a synagogue, when He was walking this earth as a member of mankind. Do you think Jesus needed to go to His church, but somehow you don’t need it? Jesus also prayed a lot and for long periods of time. Do you ever pray? The writer of Hebrews cautioned us about the importance of meeting together on a regular basis. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25). Is the day of the Lord’s return coming soon? What do you think? I think it is coming soon! The writer of Hebrews tells us we should meet with other believers often, “and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no-one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31). Have you placed your hope of eternity in the Lord? When you say, “I Believe” are you expressing a knowledge that Jesus is the Savior of the world, and does this knowledge allow you to “soar on wings like eagles; run and not grow weary, walk and not be faint?”
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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