October 19th 2014
Christian Self-Help Books Make No Sense! You Should Pray, So Help Me God!
John 8:23-24 (NIV)
Jesus said, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins."
Has anyone ever told you that Jesus never claimed to be the Savior or the Messiah in the Bible? I have heard such a comment. Of course, most of us know this claim is not true, and just one time Jesus claimed He is the ONLY way for mankind to be saved is in the selected verses. Jesus said, “I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins." Therefore, please take Jesus’ comment as a sure proof that for any person to gain eternal life you must claim Jesus as your Lord and Savior! If a person dies to this life and has unforgiven sins, as a blemish on their immortal soul, will go to hell and reside there forever!
The most impressive claims Jesus made, in my opinion, that He is the Savior, and the only way any human being can get to heaven, is found also in the Gospel of John. 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." Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." Jesus answered: "Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. (John 14:5-10)
When Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.” Can anyone question that Jesus claims here to be the ONLY way for any human being to get to heaven and be with Our Father! Yes, it is correct to say Our Father, as we are considered to be brothers and sisters of Jesus, once we profess to believe He is who He says He is! While still walking this earth, Jesus told His disciples (us) how to pray to Our Father in heaven. Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13, AV)
Has the one line in the Lord’s Prayer ever bothered you, like it has bothered me, the line that says, “lead us not into temptation.” Here we are praying to God Our Father, and we ask Him to not lead us into temptation. Does God ever lead a believer into temptation? Also, remember Jesus is teaching His disciples to pray, and Jesus uses the word “us,” which would include Him in this prayer. Remember, God “allowed” Jesus to be tempted by Satan. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. (Matthew 3:16 thru 4:1)
I recently heard a sermon which used the term “orchestrated” in reference to how God handles evil in this world. God is in charge of everything that occurs in this world, and evil still exists here, and will until the new earth is created, and all evil is expunged! Please remember, because evil exits on this earth that is why God does not live here. As soon as evil started, when Adam and Eve brought sin into the Garden of Eden, where God walked with Adam, then they were cast out. God does not live and walk with sinners. Followers of Jesus will inhabit the new earth, and they (we) will again be able to walk with God. This is only because Jesus paid the price of admission when He died on that cross for your sins.
Exposure to evil allows believers to grow in their faith, if they resist it. James wrote about how testing can be a good thing, as it allows us to grow in our faith and develop perseverance. Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4) Remember when Jesus was tempted by Satan, He quoted Scripture to Satan. No one can quote what they have not read! It appears when Jesus was on this earth He read the Scriptures! Are you better equipped than Jesus was; therefore, it is not necessary for you the study the Scriptures on a regular basis?
In the Lord’s Prayer earlier I used part of it to indicate God may lead us into temptation, but note was not really the end of the thought. That thought was continued by Jesus, as “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” So when you are being tempted, and you will be, remember that God has also promised to be with us always. If you ask Him He will allow you to be delivered from the evil surrounding you.
Jesus died for all mankind, but only a few believe it and accept this indiscernible gift of grace. Show honor to everyone, and tell them about Jesus, because He died for them too. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellow-man has fulfilled the law. (Romans 13:7-8)
This commentary it seems should end with the Lord’s Prayer! Do not just read it, but surrender to it! Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13, AV)
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
John 8:23-24 (NIV)
Jesus said, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins."
Has anyone ever told you that Jesus never claimed to be the Savior or the Messiah in the Bible? I have heard such a comment. Of course, most of us know this claim is not true, and just one time Jesus claimed He is the ONLY way for mankind to be saved is in the selected verses. Jesus said, “I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins." Therefore, please take Jesus’ comment as a sure proof that for any person to gain eternal life you must claim Jesus as your Lord and Savior! If a person dies to this life and has unforgiven sins, as a blemish on their immortal soul, will go to hell and reside there forever!
The most impressive claims Jesus made, in my opinion, that He is the Savior, and the only way any human being can get to heaven, is found also in the Gospel of John. 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." Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." Jesus answered: "Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. (John 14:5-10)
When Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me.” Can anyone question that Jesus claims here to be the ONLY way for any human being to get to heaven and be with Our Father! Yes, it is correct to say Our Father, as we are considered to be brothers and sisters of Jesus, once we profess to believe He is who He says He is! While still walking this earth, Jesus told His disciples (us) how to pray to Our Father in heaven. Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13, AV)
Has the one line in the Lord’s Prayer ever bothered you, like it has bothered me, the line that says, “lead us not into temptation.” Here we are praying to God Our Father, and we ask Him to not lead us into temptation. Does God ever lead a believer into temptation? Also, remember Jesus is teaching His disciples to pray, and Jesus uses the word “us,” which would include Him in this prayer. Remember, God “allowed” Jesus to be tempted by Satan. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. (Matthew 3:16 thru 4:1)
I recently heard a sermon which used the term “orchestrated” in reference to how God handles evil in this world. God is in charge of everything that occurs in this world, and evil still exists here, and will until the new earth is created, and all evil is expunged! Please remember, because evil exits on this earth that is why God does not live here. As soon as evil started, when Adam and Eve brought sin into the Garden of Eden, where God walked with Adam, then they were cast out. God does not live and walk with sinners. Followers of Jesus will inhabit the new earth, and they (we) will again be able to walk with God. This is only because Jesus paid the price of admission when He died on that cross for your sins.
Exposure to evil allows believers to grow in their faith, if they resist it. James wrote about how testing can be a good thing, as it allows us to grow in our faith and develop perseverance. Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:2-4) Remember when Jesus was tempted by Satan, He quoted Scripture to Satan. No one can quote what they have not read! It appears when Jesus was on this earth He read the Scriptures! Are you better equipped than Jesus was; therefore, it is not necessary for you the study the Scriptures on a regular basis?
In the Lord’s Prayer earlier I used part of it to indicate God may lead us into temptation, but note was not really the end of the thought. That thought was continued by Jesus, as “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” So when you are being tempted, and you will be, remember that God has also promised to be with us always. If you ask Him He will allow you to be delivered from the evil surrounding you.
Jesus died for all mankind, but only a few believe it and accept this indiscernible gift of grace. Show honor to everyone, and tell them about Jesus, because He died for them too. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellow-man has fulfilled the law. (Romans 13:7-8)
This commentary it seems should end with the Lord’s Prayer! Do not just read it, but surrender to it! Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13, AV)
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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