What Do You Think Of Christ?

This is the most important question you will ever answer!

In Matthew 22:41-45 The Lord Jesus asked the Pharisees and Sadducees a question.  "What do you think about the Messiah?  Whose son is He?"

The Pharisees knew that the Messiah would be a descendant of David, but they did not understand that He would be God himself.  Jesus quoted from Psalm 110:1 to show that the Messiah would be greater than David.  Hebrews 1:13 uses the same text as proof of Christ's deity. (Bible notes)

"If God became a man, then we would expect Him to:

1 - Have an utterly unique entrance into human history. "Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Emmanuel." Isaiah 7:14

2 - Be without sin.

"And ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in Him is no sin." 1 John 3:5

3 - Manifest His supernatural presence in the form of supernatural acts, that is, miracles.

Jesus performed many miracles before the public, and the recorded testimonies found in the gospels have the same validity for evidence as the experiences of beholding the events." (Ramm, PCE, 140)

4 - Live more perfectly than any human who has ever lived.

"Which of you convinces me of sin?" John 8:46

5 - Speak the greatest words ever spoken.

"Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away." Luke 21:33;

Even the Roman officer exclaimed, "No one ever spoke like this Man!" John 7:46

6 - Have a lasting and universal influence.

To be sure, the personality of Jesus Christ has made such an impact on humanity that even after two thousand years the impact has not worn off.

7 - Satisfy the spiritual hunger in humanity.

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled" Matthew 5:6

8 - Overcome humanity's most pervasive and feared enemy, death.

"... Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures." 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

The resurrection of Christ is the seal of our resurrection. Because He arose, we shall arise!" (Romans 8:11), (Ramm, PCE, 185-86)

 "THE IMCOMPARABLE CHRIST!"

More than nineteen hundred years ago there was a Man born contrary to the laws of life. This Man lived in poverty and was reared in obscurity. He did not travel extensively. Only once did He cross the boundary of the country in which He lived; that was during His exile in childhood. 

He possessed neither wealth nor influence. His relatives were inconspicuous, and had neither training nor formal education. In infancy He startled a king; in childhood He puzzled doctors; in manhood He ruled the course of nature, walked upon the billows as if pavements, and hushed the sea to sleep. He healed the multitudes without medicine and made no charge for His services.

He never wrote a book, and yet all the libraries of the country could not hold the books that have been written about Him. He never wrote a song, and yet He has furnished the theme for more songs than all the song-writers combined.

He never founded a college, but all the schools put together cannot boast of having as many students. He never marshaled an army, nor drafted a soldier, nor fired a gun and yet no leader ever had more volunteers who have, under His orders, made more rebels stack arms and surrender without a shot fired.

He never practiced psychiatry, and yet He has healed more broken hearts than all the doctors far and near. Once each week the wheels of commerce cease their turning and multitudes wend their way to worshipping assemblies to pay homage and respect to Him.

The names of the past proud statesmen of Greece and Rome have come and gone. The names of the past scientists, philosophers, and theologians have come and gone; but the name of this Man abounds more and more. Though time has spread nineteen hundred years between the people of the generation and the scene of His crucifixion, yet He still lives. Herod could not destroy Him, and the grave could not hold Him.

He stands forth upon the highest pinnacle of heavenly glory, proclaimed of God, acknowledged by angels, adored by saints, and feared by devils, as the living, personal Christ, our Lord and Saviour. 

Author: Anonymous
(taken from Josh McDowell's book: The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict)

May I ask you now: What do you think of Christ? 

As for me, He is my Redeemer, my Friend, and altogether lovely!

Claudine

What Will Heaven Be Like?

'Where Jesus is tis heaven there!'

In every generation and culture, ideas of eternal life tend to be based on images and experiences of present life.  In Matthew 22:23-33 the Lord Jesus answered that these faulty ideas are caused by ignorance of God's Word. We must not make up our own ideas about eternity and heaven by thinking of it and God in human terms. (Bible Notes)

We should rather be concentrating more on our relationship with God than what heaven will be like. If you are saved (see Acts 16:30, 31; 1 Timothy 2:3-5 about this word 'saved'), you will find out and it will be far beyond your expectations. But if you would like to read a bit about it, there is Revelation chapter 21 and 22, which are the last two chapter of the Bible. One thing is very clear, THERE WILL BE NO SIN IN HEAVEN!

Something to remark is that the Bible speaks more about hell than about heaven! Oneself ought to search the scriptures diligently to find out which way he is heading! This is a very serious issue, for it is about the eternal destiny of your soul (for a road map to eternity based on the Bible, check out my website at: http://salvation4you.shutterfly.com/ ).

"It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment"! Hebrew 9:27
According to this clear verse, we are judged right after our passing away and this determines the destiny of our souls (read John 3:36) for eternity. No amount of prayers, tears, masses, money ... will change that. Jesus paid for our ransom and we must receive His gift of forgiveness (Romans 6:23) while we are still living. There is only one way to total forgiveness and heaven (John 14:6).

"For by grace (undeserved kindness) you are saved through faith, and that's not from you; it is the gift of God, not of works lest anyone should boast." Ephesians 2:8-9

Eternity - time soon will end

Its fleeting moments pass away

Oh sinner say where wilt thou spend

Eternity's unchanging day!

Precious Pearl:
http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/am/v9/n2/visits-to-heaven
I feel a visit to this site might be a very good thing to read

"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God." 1 John 5:13

Claudine

Do You See What I See?

"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13

In Matthew 20:29-33 we read of two blind men who, realising the Lord was passing by, wanted to receive their sight. So they cried: 'Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us.'

Even though they were physically-blind, they knew Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah.  Not like their religious leaders who witnessed Jesus' miracles, who were spiritually blind to His identity, refusing to open their eyes to the truth. But these blind men called Him 'Son of David', because the Jews knew that the Messiah would be a descendant of David (Isaiah 9:6,7, 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5,6).

In verse 31, we read of the crowd telling the two blind men to stop shouting and be quiet.  But they shouted all the more!  The Lord was in fact on his way to Jerusalem (21:1) where He would soon be crucified.  This was their last opportunity to be healed by Him. I'm glad they kept shouting for because of their faith in Him, the Lord stopped and showed compassion on them, and healed them.

Don't let the crowd (family, friends, co-workers...) stop you from coming to the Saviour of sinners. "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" 1 Timothy 1:15

Do you see what I see?  I see myself a sinner and I see Him my Saviour!

Precious Pearls:
- "I have come to judge the world. I have come to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind." John 9:39

-"Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

-"Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near." Isaiah 55:6

-"Jesus said unto him: I am the Way, The Truth, and The Life: no man comes to the Father but by Me." John 14:6

Give me a sight, O Saviour,
Of Thy wondrous love to me,
Of the love that brought Thee down to earth,
To die on Calvary

Oh, make me understand it,
Help me to take it in.
What it meant to Thee, the Holy One,
To bear away my sin.
GHB

A sinner saved by grace,

Claudine

"It Is Finished!" John 19:30

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us!" Titus 3:5

In Matthew 19:16-26, a rich young man comes to the Lord Jesus with this question: 'What good things must I do to have eternal life?'  The Lord not revealing His deity replied: "Why ask me about what is good, only God is good!". 

How can we think we can do something good to go to heaven, sinners like we are?  We were helpless to save ourselves, that is why the Lord had compassion on us, and came to save us, when he paid the full price for our sins on the cross of Calvary!
1- All have sinned (Romans 3:23)
2- We have ALL gone out of the way (Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:12)
3- There is none good, no not one! (Romans 3:10

"But we are ALL as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags" Isaiah 64:6
 This rich young man wanted to do something MORE!  Instead of adding another commandment to keep or good deed to perform, he needed the Saviour, by humbly submitting to the lordship of Christ.

Then, in Matthew 19:24 we read about the Lord stating: It is impossible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, and it is also impossible for a rich man (any sinner) to gain or enter heaven by his own merit.  Humanly speaking, it is impossible but with God ALL things are possible, Jesus then added.  ALL people, even the rich of course, can enter heaven if God brings them in. The Just died for the unjust so he can bring us to God, that's how it is possible for God (1Peter 3:8)! Faith in Christ, not in self or riches will bring you in! "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us!" Titus 3:5

Wont you come to the Saviour of sinners by humbly submitting to the lordship of Christ.
He will save you, he will save you NOW!

Precious Pearls:
"ALL we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us ALL."  Isaiah 53:6
"Therefore by the deeds of the law (commandments) there shall no flesh be justified in his sight.." Romans 3:20
"Being justified FREELY by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.." Romans 3:24
-"For Christ also has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God,.." 1 Peter 3:18
-"For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast!" Ephesians 2:8:9
-"The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son cleanses us from all sin" 1 John 1:7
-Not by prayers, money or tears (no purgatory), no need of it ... it is Christ's work that saves and only Christ's work!


Finished was the work when the Saviour died!

By His Marvelous Grace,
Claudine

The Lord Quotes Scriptures!

"Haven't you read the Scriptures? Jesus said in ..." Matthew 19:4

In Matthew 19:3-6 The Lord Jesus quotes Genesis 1:27, and 2:24 referring to them as Scriptures. He often quoted the Old Testament Scriptures by declaring: 'As it is written..."

Jesus Christ not only assumed the authority of the Bible existing in His day (the Old Testament); He taught it, going so far as to say that the Scriptures are entirely without error and eternal, being the Word of God. If the Scriptures are the Word of God, as Jesus taught, they must for this reason alone be entirely trustworthy, for God is a God of truth (Josh McDowell).  God can preserve His Word,  has preserved it, and will preserve it as He promised!  "But the word of the Lord endures for ever.  And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you." 1 Peter 1:25

The prophets spoke of Christ (Hebrews 1:1); the Apostles confirmed about Christ (Hebrews 2:3).

"ALL SCRIPTURE IS GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD, AND IS PROFITABLE FOR DOCTRINE, FOR REPROOF, FOR CORRECTION, FOR INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS." 2 TIMOTHY 3:16

Do not err, not knowing the Scripture! (Matt 22:29)  This year, take on this new resolution! Ask God, the author of the Bible, to help you understand it and know what He says to you!  He has written it for you, you know!  It is His letter to you!

Precious Pearls:
- "Long ago God spoke many times and many ways to our ancestors through the prophets.  But now in these final days, He has spoken to us through His Son." Hebrews 1:1-2.
  -"How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him." Hebrews 2:3
-"...showing by the Scriptures that Jesus was Christ." Acts 18:28
-"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My Words shall not pass away." Matthew 24:35
-"...the Scripture cannot be broken." John 10:35
-"Thy Word is truth" John 17:17

"Your Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105
He has led me into the way everlasting!
Claudine