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| | WHAT DO YOU SAY?
The Lord of Glory is asking this question right now, because when we meet Him after our physical death, the matter will be already firmly and unchangeably decided. So while it is still called today, what do you say about the most important question you will ever answer: who is Jesus of Nazareth?
“21 Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together. Who hath declared this from ancient time? Who hath told it from that time? Have not I, the LORD? And there is no God else besides Me, a just God and a Savior. There is none besides Me. 22 "Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is none else. 23 I have sworn by Myself; the word is gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, that unto Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear. 24 Surely, shall one say, `In the LORD have I righteousness and strength. Even to Him shall men come, and all that are incensed against Him shall be ashamed.” (Isa 45:21-24 KJ21)
COMMENTS: The LORD God alone is the Savior from sin to eternal life. All those who are against Him, and refuse to receive Him shall surely be ashamed when eternal life eludes them forever. There is only one God, and one Savior!
“13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" 14 And they said, "Some say that thou art John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15 He said unto them, "But who say ye that I am?" 16 And Simon Peter answered and said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, "Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father who is in Heaven.” (Mt 16:13-17 KJ21)
COMMENTS: The truth of scripture is revealed to each person by God, not discovered by any of us because of our own ancestry, our training, or our intellect. Peter was a fisherman by trade, not a religious leader, but he was familiar with the Old Testament scripture as a Jew. He did not come to his declaration about Jesus solely on his own, and neither will anyone else. Through the Lord's will, Peter became an apostle for the church, but even the most seemingly insignificant person who becomes a Christian does so by accepting the truth when it is revealed to them as it was for Peter.
“25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 He said unto him, "What is written in the law? How readest thou?" 27 And he answering said, "`Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind, and thy neighbor as thyself.'" 28 And He said unto him, "Thou hast answered right; this do, and thou shalt live."” (Lu 10:25-28 KJ21)
COMMENTS: The Lord will require each of us to be responsible for our acceptance of the truth of scripture, as he asked the lawyer in the passage above, , "how do you read it?" As the passage goes on, we find that this man who was very learned in the Old Testament law was still seeking to justify himself, rather than to accept the gift of eternal life from God through faith in Christ Jesus. Those two great commandments can only truly be followed after receiving the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ Jesus.
“41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 saying, "What think ye of Christ? Whose Son is He?" They said unto Him, "The son of David." 43 He said unto them, "How then doth David in the Spirit call Him `Lord,' saying, 44 `The LORD said unto my Lord, "Sit Thou on My right hand until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool"'? 45 If David then call Him `Lord,' how is He his son?" 46 And no man was able to answer Him a word; neither dared any man from that day forth ask Him any more questions.” (Mt 22:41-46 KJ21)
COMMENT: Jesus posed a question that pointed to himself. If David was speaking of his Lord who was the ever-existing God, how then could that one also be a descendent of David? The Bible scholars of the time were unable to answer this mystery: God would become a man to provide the perfect sacrifice for all our sin. they did not recognize that Jesus was that man because they had nullified the law by elevating their traditions above faith. Many over the centuries have also missed this essential point that was realized in Christ Jesus because they have allowed unbelief in many forms, and the traditions of men, to close their hearts to the message from the Holy Spirit.
“24 Then came the Jews round about Him and said unto Him, "How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly." 25 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and ye believed not. The works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me. 26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of My sheep, as I said unto you. 27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them and they follow Me. 28 And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who gave them to Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand. 30 I and My Father are one." 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. 32 Jesus answered them, "Many good works have I shown you from My Father. For which of those works do ye stone Me?" 33 The Jews answered Him, saying, "For a good work we stone thee not, but for blasphemy, and because thou, being a man, makest thyself God."” (Joh 10:24-33 KJ21)
COMMENTS: In chapter 10 of the gospel of John, Jesus speaks clearly enough for those who will believe, but the Jewish leaders wanted to kill Jesus for blasphemy that only seemed to be a legitimate charge because in their unbelief, they could not accept the truth that He is God. This attempt to stone him took place before he later surrendered himself to them at the proper time as predetermined by God. Then to fulfill prophecy, they held court to judge Him, then handed him over to Pilate for execution on the cross.
“63 But Jesus held His peace. And the high priest answered and said unto Him, "I adjure thee by the living God that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God." 64 Jesus said unto him, "Thou hast said; nevertheless I say unto you, hereafter shall ye see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming in the clouds of heaven." 65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, "He hath spoken blasphemy! What further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy!” (Mt 26:63-65 KJ21)
COMMENTS: The Jewish high priest had no doubt that Jesus claimed to be God, even though there are critics today who disclaim that fact. Therefore, he declared Jesus guilty of blasphemy, because his own unbelief blinded his heart from seeing the fulfillment of prophecy right before him. No amount of education, tradition, or position of high authority could bring the high priest to the truth that only God can reveal to the heart that is not hardened.
“67 "Art thou the Christ? Tell us." And He said unto them, "If I tell you, ye will not believe. 68 And if I also ask you, ye will not answer Me nor let Me go. 69 Hereafter shall the Son of Man sit on the right hand of the power of God." 70 Then said they all, "Art thou then the Son of God?" And He said unto them, "Ye say that I am." 71 And they said, "What need we any further witness? For we ourselves have heard it from his own mouth."” (Lu 22:67-71 KJ21)
COMMENTS: The passage in Matthew 26, and the one in Luke 22, both are couched in such a way as to allow the skeptic in any age to continue in their unbelief, just as did the religious leaders who actually fulfilled scripture by their rejection and their condemnation of Jesus to death. Because all have sinned as scripture declares, There is no living person who has the ability in any way within himself to become fully justified before a Holy God. We MUST accept the sacrifice that God himself provides the only means to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO BELIEVE
“67 Then Jesus said unto the twelve, "Will ye also go away?" 68 Then Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life, 69 and we believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God."” (Joh 6:67-69 KJ21)
COMMENTS: Some speak of Jesus and seem to be following, until various reasons cause them to turn away. but those who follow in authentic faith have the same attitude as indicated in Peter's answer. There is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.
“30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing, ye might have life through His name.” (Joh 20:30-31 KJ21)
COMMENTS: The apostle John wrote his gospel from a heart of devoted love to his Savior, to present truth of salvation to eternal life, that many readers might be saved by faith in Christ alone. John declares that much more could have been written, but an ever increasing volume of truth will not penetrate a heart hardened to the LORD.
“And we know that the Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding, that we may know Him that is true; and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and Eternal Life.” (1Jo 5:20 KJ21)
COMMENTS: The apostle John wrote a letter with the same earnest desire as that carried in his gospel, and that is clearly expressed in the verse above. Jesus came that we might have an understanding that He is the true God and Eternal Life. My prayer for anyone who read this while yet outside of Christ, is that the Holy Spirit will open your heart to the truth of scripture, not any system devised by man, and thereby that you receive eternal life to be forever secure in Christ!
Glory to the Lord Christ Jesus, amen.
| | | Posted 4/17/2008 8:55 PM - 2 comments
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