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Sinless Christians?

I have had several people tell me over the years that they are sinless and sin no more. Their argument is that born again believers are a new creation and thus they cannot sin and they have overcome sin through the power of the Holy Spirit. They quote 1 John 3 which says that a believer can no longer sin.

“He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God.” 1John 3:9.

Sounds pretty convincing and convicting doesn’t it? Is John saying that a believer cannot sin and if he or she does they are of the Devil?

Let’s go back a few verses: “Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.” 1John 3:3-6.

They following contains a few exerts from commentary by John Stott and David Guzik. I ‘m gonna put some closing thoughts at the end.

Sin is lawlessness: John defines sin at its most basic root. It is a disregard for the law of God, which is inherently a disregard for God Himself.

We often fail in the battle against sin because we won’t call it for what it is: lawlessness, an offense against the Great Law Maker, God. Instead, we say things like “If I’ve done anything wrong . . .” or “Mistakes were made . . .” and so forth. Call it for what it is: sin and lawlessness. “The first step towards holy living is to recognize the true nature and wickedness of sin.” (Stott)

You know that He was manifested to take away our sins: John here defined the mission of Jesus Christ at its most basic root – to take away our sins. The angel Gabriel promised Joseph regarding the ministry of Jesus: “you shall call His name Jesus, for He shall save His people from their sin.” Luke 1:21

Jesus takes away our sin in the sense of taking the penalty of our sin. This is immediately accomplished when one comes by faith to Jesus.

Jesus takes away our sin in the sense of taking the power of sin away. This is an ongoing work in the lives of those who walk after Jesus.

Jesus takes away our sin in the sense of taking the presence of sin away. This is a work that will be completed when we pass into eternity and are glorified with Jesus.

He was manifested to take away our sins: This is the work of Jesus in our life. It is a work we must respond to, but it is His work in us.

We cannot take away the penalty of our own sin. It is impossible to cleanse ourselves in this way. We must instead receive the work of Jesus in taking away our sin.

We cannot take away the power of sin in our lives. This is His work in us, and we respond to that work. Someone who comes to Jesus does not have to clean themselves up first, but they must be willing to have Him take away their sin.

We cannot take away the presence of sin in our lives. This is His work in us, ultimately accomplished when we will be glorified with Him.

In Him there is no sin: Jesus had no sin to take away; therefore He could take away our sin, taking it upon Himself.

Abiding in sin or abiding in God.

Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

Whoever abides in Him does not sin: Since sin is lawlessness, a disregard for God ( 1 John 3:4) and since Jesus came to take away our sins (1 John 3:5), and since in Jesus there is no sin, then to abide in Him means to not sin.

It is very important to understand what the Bible means – and when it does not mean – when it says does not sin. According to the verb tense John uses, does not sin means does not live a life style of habitual sin. John has already told us in 1 John 1:8. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. In 1 John 1:8, the grammar indicates John is speaking about occasional acts of sin. The grammar of 1 John 1:6 indicates that John is speaking of a settled, continued lifestyle of sin. John is not teaching here the possibility of sinless perfection.

“The present tense in the Greek verb implied habit, continuity, unbroken sequence” (Stott); the NIV has the right idea when it translates these verbs with phrases such as keeps on sinning, continues to sin, and he cannot go on sinning.

Whoever abides in Him does not sin: John’s message is plain and consistent with the rest of the Scriptures. It tells us that a life style of habitual sin is inconsistent with a life of abiding in Jesus Christ. A true Christian can only be temporarily in a life style of sin.

Paul’s teaching in Romans 6 is a great example of this principle. He shows us that when a person comes to Jesus, when their sins are forgiven and God’s grace is extended to them, they are radically changed – the old man is dead, and the new man lives. So it is utterly incompatible for a new creation in Christ to be comfortable in habitual sin; such a place can only be temporary for the Christian.

In some ways, the question is not “do you sin or not?” We all sin. The question is, “How do you react when you sin? Do you give into the pattern of sin, and let it dominate your lifestyle? Or do you humbly confess your sin, and do battle against it with the power Jesus can give?”

This is why it is so grieving to see Christians make excuses for their sin, and not humbly confess them. Unless the sin is dealt with squarely, it will contribute to a pattern of sin that may soon become their lifestyle – perhaps a secret lifestyle, but a lifestyle nonetheless.

What is important is that we never sign a “peace treaty” with sin. We never wink at its presence or excuse it by saying, “Everybody has their own sinful areas, and this is mine. Jesus understands.” This completely goes against everything we are in Jesus, and the work He has done in our life.

Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him: To live a lifestyle of habitual sin is to demonstrate that you have not seen Him (in a present sense of the ultimate “seeing Him mentioned in 1 John 3:2), and that you have not known Him. There are some people so great and so wonderful that seeing them or knowing them will change your life forever. Jesus is that kind of person. (David Guzik)

So, if some claim that they are sinless, are they deceiving themselves? I strongly believe so. As long as we live on this earth in our earthly bodies we cannot and will not be perfect. They only sinless and perfect One is our Lord Jesus Christ. If people could be perfect and sinless on their own, than Christ did in vain. Why do we pray the Lord’s prayer where it says “forgive us our trespasses?” Why did Jesus in His letters to the seven churches ask them to repent? What about the passage in Revelation?

“Then “I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.” Rev 12:10.

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us” 1 John 1:8-10.

The Grace of God

I believe that many believers have never really fully comprehended what grace truly means for the believer. We hear the word grace many times, we hear about justice and mercy. Let me first say that mercy and justice are very much different from grace. Justice is something that we all deserve for we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23.

Mercy is not receiving what we deserve. We are all guilty before God and because God is a just God, He has to punish the sinners. He cannot compromise His perfect law and justice. If any of us committed a crime in this world and we had to appear before a judge and the judge would say, “you know what, I feel great today, I let you go.” That judge would not be a just judge. Crimes require a penalty, either with a fine or jail time.

The same thing is true with God our heavenly judge, He cannot just say, “don’t worry I let you off the hook.” A just judge will give a sentence that fit’s the crime committed, but he cannot let the person go free without any kind of penalty. That is justice according to the laws of the land. The judge hands down the punishment, a fine of $50.000 for the crime committed. The person say’s “I don’t have that kind of money.” The judge decides because the person can’t pay the fine, to impose a jail sentence instead. Just as the officers begins to handcuff the person someone comes in and pays the fine for the convicted criminal. The man is free to go, someone paid his fine for him. Not only that, when the men goes to his bank, he finds out that there is a deposit on his account for one million dollars.

That is what God did for us, Jesus paid the penalty for the sinners. He took all the punishment that we deserved upon Him at the cross. He is our propitiation i.e appeasement. It is by God’s grace that those who believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior are pardoned from their sins. The sinner is justified before God because Jesus paid it all. We were all deserving of the judgment and the punishment is eternal separation from God. But because God in His mercy and Grace gave His only Son so that we may live. Grace is a free gift. We cannot earn it or improve on it.

All believers are declared justified before God and that is just like we never ever sinned. God sees us through the blood of Jesus and He sees His righteousness. It is not by our righteousness or good works, it is the righteousness of Christ that was imputed onto the believers.God has bestowed His grace upon the believer and His grace is sufficient and will never wear out.

Many believers are trying so hard to please God, either by good works or some acts of righteousness. They live a legalistic life with commandments and ordinances and the result is that they have placed themselves into a life of bondage. They live under constant condemnation because they never feel that they are good enough. They are working so hard that they have forgotten the grace of God that they are trying to please God in the flesh which is impossible. No one can please God by the works of the flesh. One of the last words of Jesus on the cross were, Tetelstai or, it is finished. Relax, Jesus did it all for us. He did for us what we could not do for ourselves.

I believe that we need to remind ourselves sometimes that it is by God’s grace that we are saved and that there is nothing we can do to change that. He will never leave us nor forsake us. None of us is perfect and if we could be perfect on our own, Christ died in vain. We all stumble from time to time or mess up, but God’s grace covers it all.

The believer is justified the moment they believe in Jesus, that is unchangeable and irreversible. There is sanctification and that is a life long process. Everyday we are conformed more and more into the image of Christ. As we let go of the things of this world we draw nearer to Christ until the day arrives that we will be glorified with Him.

In the meantime listen to the still small voice and abide in Christ and He will finish our faith. He is the author and finisher of our faith. To me that sounds like that Jesus is writing my book and with every chapter written, I’m one step closer to heaven.

I thank God for His grace and His love and mercy towards me. Without the gift of grace and the sacrifice of Jesus, I would be hopeless and lost. Thank you Lord for revealing Yourself to me when I needed You most. You are the way the truth and the life. Thank you Father for your grace and I pray that many will come to realize that you love them and that they would turn from the world and embrace you and you promise of everlasting life.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast”Eph 2:8,9.

“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” Romans 3:21-26.

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1, 2.

The coming war of Gog and Magog?

Looking at the headlines today about the unrest in the Middle East makes one wonder, what’s next? It all started with Tunisia when one man set himself on fire. That set off a wave of protest throughout the Arab world what the media calls the Arab spring. Sudan became two countries, the North and the South with a border along the Nuba mountains. There are reports that came out just recently that a Bible college and 4 churches that are set up by Samaritan Purse have been bombed by radicals Islamist in South Sudan. Sudan is an ongoing battle to this day.

Next came Egypt and the removal of Mubarak after long and heavy fighting of the people against the regime. No one is really certain what the new government will finally look like. Egypt has been a long-standing ally of the US and had a peaceful existence with Israel, which seems to fade fast.

And who can forget Libya and Qaddafi’s regime? He and his son vowed a long and bloody battle. Many people died until Qaddafi was captured and killed by his own people. Now the Syrian regime is in the news and has killed at least 5000 protesters since the unrest by the people started. Just recently the UN failed to come to a resolution to oust Assad, even though the people of Syria are crying out to the world for help. Russia and China are the two countries that are opposed to the ousting of Assad.

The UN has been ineffective many time and is in my opinion irrelevant. They are headquartered in New York City. It might be a good idea to vacate the building and set up shop somewhere in the Middle East. At least it would be much easier traveling for Ahmadinejad and Hugo Chavez who hate the US anyways. And now Iran again is threatening with the annihilation of the state of Israel. Just recently the supreme leader came out with a statement why it is religiously justifiable to wipe out Israel. http://www.wnd.com/2012/02/ayatollah-kill-all-jews-annihilate-israel/

Israel is under tremendous pressure and it seems that the world has abandoned Israel. A nuclear Iran with a rogue regime like Ahmadinejad would be world-changing. Israel cannot allow for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon that would be aimed at them. Just today the Israeli Ambassador to the US declared that Israel will act unilateral if necessary. There are many speculations floating around if and when Israel will attack Iran. Many believe that it could come as early as this spring. Although sanctions have been imposed by the UN and the US, they have not deterred the Iranian regime from developing a nuclear weapon.

The Bible has prophesied many of these things and I believe we are at the verge of an all out war of biblical proportions. Could this be the Gog and Magog war spoken off in Ezekiel 38 and 39? I don’t know, I don’t want to make any predictions, but we are seeing some events unfolding as we have never seen them before. I have a strong sense that by this summer, we will see some events happen that could possibly cause an all out war in the Middle East. The escalation of Iran vs Israel could be the trigger for biblical prophecy to unfold right in front of our eyes. Iran wants to create chaos, in the Shiite religious belief, chaos will usher in the 12th imam or the Mahdi. It is Islams version of the Messiah, which is the Antichrist in Christianity.

What exactly will happen in the near future is uncertain, but I believe we have never been closer to the escalation of Gog and Magog. Many Bible scholars believe that Magog is Russia and as many of you know the former Soviet Union has changed dramatically over the last years. Many of the southern states are Islamic and are at the north of Israel with other Islamic countries virtually surrounding Israel. I have spoken to some Jewish scholars and some believe that China is part of Magog as well. That of course is a possibility, China sides with Russia on many decisions made at the UN. One thing is for sure, Israel has many enemies that surround her.

Coming back to Syria for a moment, there is a prophecy about Syria in the book of Isaiah that declares Damascus will be a heap of ashes. “The burden against Damascus. “Behold, Damascus will cease from being a city, And it will be a ruinous heap.” Isaiah 17:1. That has not happened yet, Damascus is one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world. Seeing what’s happening in Syria, maybe that prophecy is not too far off? Whatever happens in the near future, we need to look at the Middle East, especially Israel. Israel is the center of the world, Jerusalem is the center of Israel and the temple mount i.e Mount Moriah is the Epicenter.

It is also time for us Christians to stand with Israel, our current administration has thrown Israel under the bus and Israel will once again face the threats virtually alone. But on thing is for sure, Israel is the apple of God’s eye and God will not allow anybody to wipe them off the map. His promises to Abraham, Issac and Jacob will be fulfilled and the predictions about Gog and Magog will be fulfilled. God is in control and He will preserve and protect His chosen people. Let us all pray for the people of Israel that face a constant threat of annihilation from her enemies. If this escalation will result in the war of Gog and Magog or maybe a precursor, who knows. The stage is set. We are in the final act.

“For behold, Your enemies make a tumult; And those who hate You have lifted up their head. They have taken crafty counsel against Your people, And consulted together against Your sheltered ones. They have said, “Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, That the name of Israel may be remembered no more.”Psalm 83:2-4.

Ezekiel 35, the Arab-Israeli War before Ezekiel 38 (antwrites.com)
Insights of a Former Cia Director: Is an Israeli-iranian War Imminent? (flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com)

Can we really know God?

There are many religions in the world and all of them have some kind of a god. Muslims worship Allah for example and Hindus have 330 million different gods. Can anybody really know 330 million gods?

Muslims say that they know Allah and that he is the true god, yet they have no personal relationship with Allah. A Muslim can never be sure if Allah is pleased with them. Muslims have no assurance of Allah’s love for them. They weight out their good and bad deeds and hope that the goods deeds will outweigh their bad deeds. They hope that Allah will be merciful to them. They also have no assurance to make it to heaven i.e paradise. All religions are either based on a works based or man centered relationship with their god(s). That is what religion is, man trying in vain to reach God on their own merit.

How about Christianity? Can a Christian truly know God? When I talk about God, I am referring to the God of the Bible, the Creator of all things. The only true and living God. In all reality, there is only one true God, all others are man-made and do not exist. I know that will offend many religions and religious people, but it is the simple truth. There is only One true and living God and it doesn’t matter how many different gods people worship. Ultimately they will all face the true God, at the day of judgment.

Many people believe that it is impossible to know God. They say that God is incomprehensible, which He is. How can one know Almighty God that spoke the universe into existence, simply by His Word? It is way beyond our finite minds. When God spoke, His word traveled in the speed of light which is about 186.000 miles per second. Awesome, incredible and incomprehensible. God in the OT was know by Abraham as YHWH and to Moses God revealed Himself as the “I AM that I AM” in the burning bush. God revealed Himself and His awesome powers through various ways to the OT Saints. Adam and Eve before the fall, walked with God in the cool of the evening. How can somebody walk with God Who is Spirit? Moses wanted to see God and ask Him to show His Glory. “And Moses said, “Please, show me Your glory.” But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” Ex33:18, 20.

God did show Moses some of His Glory, by passing by, covering the eyes of Moses and Moses saw the back or afterglow of God. The result of that was that the face of Moses was glowing when he came down from the mountain. The children of Israel saw the presence of God as a flame of fire at night and a cloud during the day after the Exodus from Egypt. God is so Holy that we as fallen human beings could not stand in His presence and live.

How than can Christians claim to know God personally and have a loving relationship with Him? A Christian knows God because of Jesus Christ. He has revealed God to them. Jesus, the second person of the triune Godhead became flesh and dwelled among us (John 1:14). Jesus is the exact image of God, His character, nature and all attributes. “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” Col 1:15-17.

In the OT times God appeared to man as the Angel of the LORD. He appeared and spoke to Abraham in Genesis 18. Whenever God appeared to men in human form, it was through the person of Jesus i.e.the pre-incarnate Christ.

He was the Angel of the LORD that spoke to Haggar after leaving Abraham with Ishmael. The Angel of the LORD appeared to Moses in the burning bush (Ex 3:2). The Angel of the LORD appeared before Balaam riding his donkey in Numbers 22. He appeared to Gideon (Jdg 6). Manoah, Elijah and many others throughout the OT.

Whenever God communicated with men in human form, it was the person of Jesus. In the gospel of John in chapter 8 the Pharisees once again attack Jesus accusing Him of having a demon. Jesus is making one of the most profound statements to them: “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” Jhn 8: 56-58. Jesus took the very name that the Angel of the Lord revealed Himself to Moses in the burning bush. “I AM.” The Jews understood perfectly well that He said that He is God. That’s the reason they picked up stones to kill Him. Jesus is the great “I AM” or the becoming One.

Christians can know God the Father because Jesus declared Him and we know God because we know Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Jesus left heaven to dwell with man, He humbled Himself and became one of us. He willfully came to the earth dwelled among us and gave His life on the cross. He came to die for those that would believe in Him through faith. Believers in Christ Jesus are forgiven of their sins. The scriptures are very clear, only God can forgive sins. “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” Mark 2:7. They were right, only God can forgive sins and Jesus told the paralytic that his sins were forgiven. They called Jesus a blasphemer. What they failed to see is that Jesus is God. The Apostle John makes it very clear who Jesus is: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” John 1:1-3.

Christians believe in the trinity or the triune nature of God. Father, Son and Holy Spirit: Co-equal, Co-existent, Co-eternal. One God in three distinct Persons but of One Essence. (please see my article on the trinity).

Jesus showed us God. If we know and learn from Jesus we can know God and have a meaningful and personal relationship with Him by abiding in Christ. “All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Mat 11:27-30.

As true biblical Christians we can boldly claim to know God, because we know and believe in Jesus who is like the Father and He has shown us the Father. One of His own disciples was asking Jesus: “Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.” Philip wanted to see God, not realizing that God was in their midst. Jesus said: “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? “Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.” John 14: 9,10.

As Christians we can have assurance of forgiveness and eternal life because of our Lord and Savior. We can also come boldly before the throne of God because Jesus opened the way to the Father, He opened the veil to the Holy of Holiest.

The answer to the question in the beginning is a big YES. True believers in Jesus can know God, His Character, attributes, His kindness, His love, mercy and grace towards those who receive the Son. There is only one way to know God and there is only one way to God.

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6.

Jesus or Muhammad? (media4lifeministries.wordpress.com)
Christianity; the oldest “religion” in the World. (media4lifeministries.wordpress.com)
The Muslim Dilemma (media4lifeministries.wordpress.com)

The Atheist Dilemma

Atheists or Anti-theists love to make the statement, “there is no God!” I had numerous conversations with anti-theists which lead nowhere except around and around in circles. An Atheist strongly believes that there is no God, just as I strongly believe God exist. Sometimes I wonder why atheists are so outspoken against something they claim does not exist. They even have their own symbol and hold conventions, and meetings of “Free Thinkers”. Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, who recently expired, and many others have written numerous books on their belief’s.

Before I was a believer, I never thought of going around mocking Christians and their faith and belief’s in God. Atheists, however, go out of their way pushing their godless agenda. Atheists can get pretty upset when I call atheism a religion. Their statement of “there is no God” is an empty statement, because they cannot for a fact disprove God. Neither can I necessarily prove the existence of God. In my view an atheist has thoroughly examined all the evidence and has come to the conclusion in his or her mind that God does not exist.

Since the atheists can not disprove God for a fact, their belief that God does not exist is by faith. As a believer I know with an absolute certainty that God exist and that God is the creator of all things. I have not seen God, but I believe by faith just as the atheist believes by faith. When I say God, I mean the God of the Bible, YHWH, the only true and living God. God is only a title and there are many god’s. It can get confusing sometimes because people have made so many of their own god’s in the past and present. The Bible speaks very clearly about the natural man, which in this case, the atheist is, a natural man without any kind of true spiritual understanding. “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 2Cr 2:14.

It is a fact that unbelievers and rejecters of God have no spiritual understanding or relationship in any way to the true and living God. The dilemma for the atheists is that they can not be sure that there is no God. One thing believers and unbelievers share is that, at one point in our life, we will have to face death. One out of one dies and that is reality. The question for the atheist is, what happens at the moment of passing? Blackness, darkness, nothingness? The light switch just get’s turned off? What if you are wrong, my dear atheist? What if there is something that happens at the moment of death? The writer of Hebrews wrote this: “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment..” Heb 9:27.

What if he is right, my atheist friend? Can you stand before God on your Day of Judgment having rejected Him? The only unpardonable sin is the rejection of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. I would not want to be in your shoes on that day. Are you 100% sure that God does not exist? Because if not, I would really take some time to learn about Jesus. Meet the real Jesus, not the one portrayed on the History Channel or Discovery channel. Start with the gospel of John. Jesus said, “seek and you shall find,” Matthew 7:7. I think that the atheist community is in a dilemma because, if their theory proofs to be wrong, there is much to fear: Eternal separation from God. Even the unbelievers are still getting blessed by God, which will end one day, either when they die or on Judgment Day, at the end of the age.

The Bible teaches that today is the day of salvation. Seek God before it is too late. I hope and pray that any proclaiming atheist reads this to at least investigate who Jesus is, why He came and died on the cross for the sin of the world. The glorious promise of eternal life He gave to all of those who believe in Him by faith. Jesus said, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. “Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Mat 7:13, 14. Jesus does not want anyone to perish but to have everlasting life. Are you sure that when you die there is nothing? Think about it.

“The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.” Psalm 14:1

Believers in Jesus are not any better than anybody else. We are sinners just like everybody else. We are fallen creatures that were forgiven by Jesus Christ through His sacrifice on the cross. Heaven is not full of good people, but of forgiven sinners.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

Revised by Tikvas Garden.

Faith a gift from God (media4lifeministries.wordpress.com)
Looking unto to Jesus… (media4lifeministries.com)
Good without God? (media4lifeministries.com)
I Was an Atheist Like You Before I Found Jesus (fallenfromgrace.net)

“It is written….”

Have you ever felt like you are not worthy or deserving of God’s love? Is the enemy whispering in you ears sayings like, “look at you, you messed up again” or “for sure, God does not love you after this one.” Do you feel condemned and live a life of uncertainty? He loves me, He loves me not. He loves me, He loves me not?

That is exactly what the enemy namely Satan wants for the believers in Christ Jesus; a live of condemnation and fear. Satan is the accuser and he accuses us all day and night before the throne of God. That is what he does best. He is a liar and a murderer. Are we as finite human beings perfect? If we could be perfect on our own, Jesus died in vain. As believers we do stumble from time to time, we do things that are not pleasing to God. Does that mean that we have lost favor with God? We have three enemies, Satan, the world and the flesh. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Eph 6:12.

These three are powerful enemies. Satan tempted Jesus three times in the wilderness. Satan tempted Jesus with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life. We face those same temptations today. Things have not changed much from 2000 years ago, the enemy is still the same. His tactics and maneuvers are the same. We are in a spiritual battle, just as Jesus was. Jesus did not give in to those temptations presented by the deceiver. He answered all three temptations with, “It is written.” Jesus was quoting the scriptures from the book of Deuteronomy.

He answered with the word of God, which is sharper than a two-edged sword. The word of God is powerful and living and we as believers can overcome every temptation the enemy throws at us. We can be confident because of the word of God. Here are some scriptures that can give us the confidence and strength we need to overcome all things. “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Rom 8:38, 39. ” But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Rom 5:8.

That would be on to throw back against Satan if he makes you doubt God’s love for you. If we stumble or commit a sin ( nobody is sinless) we have this scripture to stand on: “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” 1John 1:9, 10.

Satan was defeated at the cross, everything that he does is only because God allows it for His divine purposes. Jesus came to set us free from condemnation and to give us eternal life. Satan tries to hinder us from fully realizing this freedom. So many Christians live a life of self-condemnation and a feeling of worthlessness. They fear God because in my opinion they have never really understood the true grace of God.

There is a very good book written by Pastor Chuck Smith of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa entitled “Why Grace changes everything.” He once lived as many of us a life of condemnation and had a legalistic relationship with God. This book and the understanding of the true Grace of God can change a person’s relationship with the Lord. A life of love, forgiveness and freedom that can only be found in Christ. He came to set us free, not back into bondage. “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:10.

Who is the thief? It is Satan, the world and the flesh. Satan condemns, the legalistic people put you under bondage and the flesh wants to bring you back to Egypt. We as Christians can all enjoy a live of freedom through the power of the Holy Spirit, if we just step out of His way and let Him do His work. “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27. We can relax in Christ, He is the author and finisher of our faith. God wants us all to walk in victory over Satan our accuser.

One of my favorite Psalms is Psalm 118. Victory without fear, trusting in the Lord and Him alone. “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:1-3.

The Lord promised us to come back and that we will spend eternity with Him. That is a comforting thought and our hope, to be with the Lord forever. In the meantime we need to stay strong and run the race to finish it. Satan may throw some stumbling blocks our way, but we will overcome, we are free. If Satan ever whispers in your ears, “God does not love you”, tell him, “It is written” and point him to the cross: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.

We are the once that will spend eternity with Him because He loves us. Satan’s fate doesn’t look all that great to me. “The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Revelation 20:10.

A 2000 + year old desert religion; still relevant for us today? (media4lifeministries.com)
Free in Christ (media4lifeministries.wordpress.com)

A 2000 + year old desert religion; still relevant for us today?

Christianity cannot be considered a philosophy as some have you believe. Christians believe and know that Jesus is the promised Messiah of the OT. He is the One that would come to be the Savior of the world through the shedding of His blood on the cross.

God made this promise way back in the Garden of Eden after Adam and Eve took of the forbidden fruit and sin entered the world. Sin brought forth spiritual death (separation from God). Satan the adversary tempted Eve by lying to her. God had told them not to eat of a specific tree or else they would die. They chose not to obey God’s word and gave into the temptation of Satan. He told Eve that they would not die if they ate of the fruit, contradicting God’s word.

What was that fruit? Nobody really knows, I ‘m sure it was not an apple. Because of this the fall occurred. Did they die after eating the fruit? No, they did not die physically but they died spiritually. Satan did lie to them. Jesus said in the gospel of John: “He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” John 8:44.

There is no truth in Satan at all. He lied to Adam and Eve and he is lying to the world. He has deceived many over all those centuries and they died spiritually spending time separated from God for eternity. One of his biggest lie is that he does not exist and that God does not exist. Many haven fallen into that trap, including me for many years. They either don’t think much about God or flat-out deny Him. They serve Satan and don’t even know it. Bob Dylan once wrote in one of his songs, “you gotta serve someone”.

The unrepentant world serves Satan and his agenda, willingly or unwillingly. The disobedience of Adam and Eve which caused sin to enter in to the once perfect world resulted in them being cast out of the garden. Adam and Eve saw the consequences of their disobedience, when one of their son Cain murdering Abel. God had created everything perfect but Lucifer a high ranked Cherubim had a pride issue and rebelled against God (Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28). By tempting Adam and Eve, the first recorded murder took place and things got worse after that. Sin was in the world and Satan was then and is now the ruler of this world because Adam and Eve forfeited the earth over to Satan. In the beginning was light but now Satan brought in darkness. The Bible which Christians believe is God’s written word to mankind, and is really a book of redemption. From Genesis to Revelation the book outlines God’s redemptive work, the promised Savior to mankind as promised shortly after the fall. “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” Genesis 3:15.

This is the first messianic prophecy found in the Bible. The Bible is historically accurate and we have the creation account, the fall, the flood in the days of Noah and the multiplying of people and the origin of nations. The Bible tells us that Noah had three sons, Japheth, Ham and Shem. Japheth and Ham are the fathers of the African, Middle Eastern, Northern European and Asian nations. Through the line of Shem came Abraham, Moses, King David and Jesus. Jesus is the promised Messiah from back in Genesis. He came to the nation of Israel to reconcile them to God as promised. The OT speaks of the suffering Messiah in Isaiah 53. Jesus was that suffering servant who came and was despised and hated by own. He shed his blood on the cross for the remission of sins. The religious leadership rejected Him as the Messiah and because of that, God punished them by dispersing them throughout the world by the Romans in AD 70.

As foretold in the OT the gospel i.e. the good news, would come to all the Gentile nations because of Israels rejection. The Gentiles were grafted into the olive tree. The early Church started in Jerusalem and later went out and it was in Antioch that they were first called Christians or Christ-like. From there the gospel went throughout the whole world. The gospel is really simple and it is as important today as it was yesterday and no other religion or philosophy can save us from our sins. Forgiveness and salvation is only through Jesus Christ and His redemptive and finished work on the cross. The cross was the fulfillment from Genesis. Here is the gospel message in a very simple and easy way to understand:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. What could be more simpler? Jesus purchased back the title-deed to the earth that was forfeited by Adam. God paid a very high price for it, the blood of His Son. Jesus was the the lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world. He was the unblemished passover lamb. The blood of the animals could only cover the sins of ancient Israel. The blood of Jesus the lamb takes away sins and God will not remember them anymore. They are forgotten as far as the east is from the west. Why is this “desert religion” still relevant 2000 years later? Because people are still sinners today and in need of forgiveness by God through His Son. The meaning of the word sin is simply “to miss the mark” and all of us have missed the mark. Many people say that they are “good people” and compassionate etc. In the eyes of a Holy God however we all fall short of His glory. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23. Sin is death and God can not allow sin in His presence because He is Holy and just and cannot approve of sin. There is a punishment for sin: eternal separation from God i.e. Hell. The Bible teaches that we all will die once and then judgement.

“And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” Hebrews 9:27, 28

A believer in Jesus as their Lord and Savior will not be judged as the unbelievers and those who reject Jesus and God’s plan of salvation. No religion or philosophy, good behavior and good deeds will get a person into heaven and eternal life. There is only one way and Jesus said so Himself:

“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6

Personally I think that this “desert religion” is very relevant today. Considering that there will be a judgment of God and realizing that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. No one can stand before God and defend themselves on that day. The punishment for sin is eternal separation from God which is also called the lake a fire where the fire is never quenched. I am not sure how exactly that looks like, but I’m sure I don’t want to be there. Thanks to God because of His love and mercy towards us, He has provided a way for us to be reconciled to Him. Jesus Christ the righteous and by believing in Him by faith, His righteousness is imputed onto every believer. It is His righteousness God the Father looks at, not our righteousness which does not exist. All sins past, present and future are forgiven and there will be no eternal judgment but eternal life with Him. That’s the good news and I hope that you have thought of your life and where you will be spending eternity. Jesus is real and He is alive and He will come again to take the believers home. The Bible says today is the day of your salvation. Tomorrow may never come. Should you die tomorrow, do you know where you will be going?

Jesus can give you that assurance by receiving Him as your Lord and Savior. He can forgive you of all your sins and you will be a new creation in Him. Don’t just believe me, read the Bible. Start with the gospel of John and learn about Jesus who He is and how you can know Him personally. Learn about Him, seek Him with all your heart and you will find Him. May the Lord Jesus Christ reveal His love to you.

Christianity; the oldest “religion” in the World. (media4lifeministries.com)
You reap what you sow… (media4lifeministries.com)
Simply teach the word Simply (media4lifeministries.com)
For unto us a Child is born… (media4lifeministries.wordpress.com)

The Lord Jesus Christ; God, Creator and Savior

This is a video I made some time ago. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God….

You reap what you sow…

Just as any good parent, our Father in Heaven has given His children guidelines which to live by. Are these rules there to exercise power and control over His children, or are they there to prevent pain and hurt that can last a lifetime? God gave only one commandment to Adam and Eve in the garden. They were not to eat of that one tree that was in the midst of the garden. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

As responsible parents we teach our children not to cross the roadway because they could be hit by a car. We set rules, don’t touch, don’t eat that, don’t talk or go with strangers etc. The child may not fully understand why parents make those rules. The parents know from their own experiences that one can get hurt doing certain things. Although these rules of the parents are established, kids will break them. Adam and Eve did the same in the garden. They knew not to eat the fruit of that one tree, but were deceived and tricked through the lie of the Serpent/Satan.

God told Adam that the day they would eat of that fruit, they would surely die. Satan challenged the word of God and deceived Eve with a lie, “has God really said?” He went continued by saying to her, “you surely will not die”.

Eve believed the lie Satan told her and did what God had forbidden them to do, she ate of the tree. Adam also ate of that forbidden fruit. Did Adam and Eve die the moment they ate it? No. Was Satan telling them the truth? No. When God said that they would die, He meant spiritual death. Because of their disobedience and not listening to God, they reaped the consequences of their disobedience i.e. spiritual death and eternal separation from God. Just as any good parent would punish and discipline their child when they break the rules, God had to punish Adam and Eve for their disobedience.

God knew the consequences to come if they would eat of the fruit and as a loving Father He warned them. Through this one-act, sin entered the world. The result, Adam and Eve being were cast out of the garden. The consequence of this one-act of disobedience, caused a spiritual separation from God, Who once walked with Adam in the garden. Things only got worse from their. The first recorded murder, as Cain killed his brother Abel. Can you imagine how Adam and Eve must have felt when they realized the consequences their disobedience? Seeing the blood of Abel shed by his brother? Adam and Eve reaped what they sowed.

Parents have their best interest for the children. They know that when their children disobey and break the rules, that certain consequences will follow. Ever action has a reaction. We reap what we sow. Parents should teach children not to experiment with drugs and alcohol and everything else society i.e the world offers them. Today’s the world is driven by the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye and the pride of life. Many have fallen into that trap and have bought into the lie. I’m sure that many of us who read this know that to be true. Early in my life I drank alcohol, smoked cigarettes, did drugs, had sexual relations before marriage etc. We are taught by society that it is all in good fun, seeking pleasure and self – fulfillment.

Looking back at my life today, I have to admit that some of the things were pleasurable, but with these pleasures also came consequences later on in my life, I was addicted to alcohol and drugs and because of sexual behaviors outside of marriage went from one relationship to another. Nothing ever really satisfied. There were always the next days, hangovers, another break up you name it. None of these pleasures that the world has to offer ever satisfy. People are searching for the next best high, but will never really find it. God our heavenly Father knows the consequences sin can bring into our lives and warned us just as He warned Adam and Eve.

But many do not listen, ignoring God, even denying God. They have gone the way of Cain, seeking what the world has to offer. The world follows the deceiver and his lies. Today we see the devastation from disobedience in our society and many other places around the world. I think Paul puts it best when he wrote in Romans: “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” Romans 1:28-32

That sounds just like today’s society. This is the direct result of not heeding God’s word and trying to remove God and His wisdom from everyday life. We see the consequences thereof, “You reap what you sow.”
“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” Galatians 6:7, 8

God has given all of us a free will to choose, but certain choices that one makes in life will bring also consequences that may last a lifetime. It is never to late to turn from a life of the flesh and turn to God our heavenly Father. You may say, I am too far gone and God is so far from me. How far is God the Father from you? All it takes is to turn around and He is right there, with open arms and willing to forgive and love you. How can you know that God loves you? Just look at the cross and see how great God’s love is, He gave His only Son, that through Him all of us may have forgiveness and eternal life. All it takes is to believe by faith in Jesus and His perfect sacrifice on the cross. He died and He rose for us, defeating Satan and his lies. Those who believe are forgiven of their sins, past present and future.

We are all sinners, but by the grace of God and His free gift we can all be forgiven no matter how great the sin. We all have missed the mark and come short of the Glory of God. Faith in Jesus reconciles the believers with God. It is the righteousness of Jesus that is imputed onto those who believe. Thank you Lord Jesus for loving us enough. Thank you for humbling Yourself to become one of us. Thank you for willingly giving your life for us so that we may live with You for eternity.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

Jesus Christ; The Man Who Changed The World And Divided Time.

Christians around the world believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Who was this Man that Christians 2000 years later regard and worship as the Son of God?

Was He just a mere man who was born over 2000 years ago in a little town named Bethlehem and was nothing more than a historical figure? What does set Jesus apart from so many that came before Him that claimed to be the Messiah? Maybe He was just another one of those delusional people with a Messiah complex.

Is He the Savior of the world as God had promised long ago and prophesied through His prophets? Jesus did not just come on to the scene out of nowhere. He came to the exact appointed time that God had determined before the foundation of the world. Jesus was the only One that ever qualified to be the true Messiah. There are over 300 prophesies in the Old Testament concerning the first coming of the Messiah. They were all fulfilled in Christ Jesus . Here are just some of OT prophesies and the NT fulfillment of them:

The Son of God, Ps 2:7 Luk 1:32, 35.

The seed of the woman: Gen 3:15 Gal 4:4.

Seed of Abraham, Gen 17:7, 22:18 Gal 3:16.

Seed of Isaac: Gen 21:12 Heb 11:17-19.

Seed of David, Ps 132:11 Jer 23:5 Acts 13:23 Rom 1:3.

Coming at the appointed time: Gen 49:10 Dan 9:24, 25 Lk 2:1.

Born of a virgin: Is 7:14 Mat 1:22, 23 Lk 2:7.

Called Immanuel (God with us): Is 7:14 Mat 1:22, 23.

Born in Bethlehem of Judea: Mic 5:2 Mat 2:1 Lk 2:4-6.

Great persons coming to adore Him: Ps 72:10 Mat 2:1-11.

The slaying of the children of Bethlehem: Jer 31:15 Mat 2:16-18.

Called out of Egypt: Hos 11:1 Mat 2:15.

Preceded by John the Baptist: Mal 3:1 Mat 3:1, 3 Lk 1:17.

Anointed with the Spirit: Ps 45:7 Is 11:2, 61:1 Mat 3:16 Jh 3:34 Acts 10:38.

Prophet like to Moses: Deut 18:15-18 Acts 3:20-22.

Priest after the order of Melchizedek: Ps110:4 Heb 5:5, 6.

Entering public ministry: Is 61:1, 2 Lk 4:16-21, 43.

Ministry in Galilee: Is 9:1, 2 Mat 4:12-16, 23.

Entering publicly into Jerusalem: Zec 9:9 Mat 21:1-5.

His coming into the temple: Hag 2:7, 9 Mal 3:1 Mt 21:12 Lu 2:27-32 Joh 2:13-16.

His poverty: Is 53:2 Mk 6:3 Lk 9:58.

His meekness: Is 42:2 Mat 12:15, 16, 19.

Tenderness and compassion: Is 40:11 42:3 Mat 12:15, 20 Heb 4:15.

Without guile: Is 53:9 1Pe 2:22.

His zeal: Ps 69:9 Jh 2:17.

Preaching in parables: Ps 78:2 Mat 13:34, 35. Working miracles, Is 35:5, 6 Mat 11:4-6 Jh 11:47

His bearing reproach: Ps 22:6 69:7,9, 20 Rom 15:3.

Rejected by his brethren: Ps 69:8 Is 63:3 Jh 1:11 7:3.

Stone of stumbling to the Jews: Is 8:14 Rom 9:32 1Pe 2:8.

Hated by the Jews: Ps 69:4 Is 49:7 Jh 15:24, 25.

Rejected by the Jewish rulers: Ps 118:22 Mat 21:42 Jhn 7:48.

Jews and Gentiles combine against Him: Ps 2:1, 2 Lk 23:12 Acts 4:27.

Betrayed by a friend: Ps 41:9 55:12-14 Jhn 13:18, 21

Disciples forsake Him: Zec 13:7 Mat 26:31, 56.

Sold for thirty pieces silver: Zec 11:12 Mat 26:15.

His price being given for the potter’s field: Zec 11:13 Mat 27:7.

Agony of his sufferings: Ps 22:14, 15 Lk 22:42, 44.

Sufferings for others: Is 53:4-6, 12 Dan 9:26 Mat 20:28.

Patience and silence under suffering: Is 53:7 Mat 26:63 27:12-14.

Smitten on the cheek: Mic 5:1 Mat 27:30.

Visage being marred: Is 52:14 53:3 Jhn 19:5.

Spit on and scourged: Is 50:6 Mk 14:65 Jhn 19:1.

Hands and feet being nailed to the cross: Ps 22:16 Jhn 19:18 20:25.

Forsaken by God: Ps 22:1 Mat 27:46.

Being mocked: Ps 22:7, 8 Mat 27:39-44.

Gall and vinegar being given Him to drink: Ps 69:21 Mat 27:34.

Garments being parted, and lots cast for His clothing: Ps 22:18 Mat 27:35.

Numbered with the transgressors: Is 53:12 Mk 15:28.

Intercession for His murderers: Is 53:12 Lk 23:34.

His Death: Is 53:12 Mat 27:50.

No bones would be broken: Ex12:46 Ps 34:20 Jhn 19:33, 36.

Pierced: Zec 12:10 Jhn 19:34, 37.

Buried with the rich: Is 53:9 Mat 27:57-60.

Flesh not seeing corruption: Ps 16:10 Acts 2:31.

His resurrection: Ps 16:10 Is 26:19 Lk 24:6, 31, 34.

His ascension: Ps 68:18 Lk 24:51 Acts 1:9.

Sitting on the right hand of God: Ps 110:1 Heb 1:3.

Exercising the priestly office in heaven: Zec 6:13 Rom 8:34.

The chief cornerstone: Is 28:16 1Pe 2:6, 7.

King in Zion: Ps 2:6 Lk 1:32 Jhn 18:33-37.

Conversion of the Gentiles to Him: Is11:10 42:1 Mat 1:17, 21 Jhn 10:16 Acts 10:45, 47.

His righteous government: Ps 45:6, 7 Jhn 5:30 Rev 19:11.

Universal dominion: Ps 72:8 Dan 7:14 Phl 2:9, 11.

Perpetuity of His kingdom: Is 9:7 Dan 7:14 Lk 1:32, 33.

Jesus was and is more than just a mere man. He is truly the Son of God who took away the sin of the world and nailed them to the cross. He rose from the dead, thus He overcame death and defeated Satan. He is the light of the world and He gives eternal life to those who by faith believe and trust in Him as Lord and Savior. He did not just live and died, He divided time. Because of His birth the calendar changed from BC to AD. The world was never the same again after Christ came and He has transformed many lives throughout the centuries.

If you are not a believer in Jesus Christ, maybe you have heard about Him, maybe somebody told you about the His birth, His ministry, His crucifixion and that He rose from the dead on the third day. He offers salvation and eternal life to those who repent and believe in Him. This Christmas season, take some time and think, what Christmas is really all about and why Christians celebrate this season. It is not about Santa Claus, gifts, parties etc. It is all about Jesus and the gift of God to mankind.

Jesus came at the appointed time. He died at the appointed time and He rose at the appointed time. His birth has changed the world and it will change you if you let Him. He offers salvation to those who will believe, and they shall not perish but have everlasting life. Salvation is a free gift of God. All of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, no one can earn salvation or a right standing before God through their good behaviors or good deeds.

Various religions are trying to reach God on their own merit, trying to live a good enough life, and maybe God will let them into heaven. In biblical Christianity, God reaches down to man offering salvation through Jesus Christ and through Him alone. God provided as promised a sacrifice for us, all we need to do is receive Him and open our hearts to him.

I pray wherever you may be in the world regardless of your religious background, to at least take some time to think and reflect on the message that Christians have proclaimed for the last 2000 years. Jesus is truly the Son of God who died and shed His blood for our sins on the cross, offering forgiveness and eternal life to those who by faith call upon Him. God loves you and He does not want you to perish, but you must come to Him by the way that God provided, through His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only way to salvation.

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6 “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16