Easter
Easter
Birthmarks of a Believer
Birthmarks of a Believer
Bethany Baptist
THE INCOMPARABLE CHRIST
He came from the throne of the Father to the womb of – the – woman. He put on humanity that we might put on divinity. He became Son of Man that we might become sons of God. He was born in a supernatural way, lived in poverty and was reared in obscurity. He had neither wealth nor influence, yet the wisdom of men has never matched His wisdom. Never has a man spoken like this man. His family was inconspicuous and uninfluential.
In infancy He startled a king. As a boy, He stunned theologians with His knowledge and wisdom for He was taught of God. In manhood, He ruled the elements and quieted the raging sea. He healed the multitudes without medicine and fed thousands from a boy's lunch. Even demons obeyed Him and He gave back life to those who died.
He never wrote a book, yet none of the libraries of the world can contain the books that have been written about Him. He never wrote a song, yet He has furnished the theme of more songs than all song writers combined. He never founded a college, yet all the colleges together cannot boast of as many students as He has. He never marshaled an army, yet no leader has ever had more volunteers.
Great men have come and gone yet He outlives lives them all. Herod could not kill Him. Satan could not tempt Him to sin. Death could not destroy Him. The grave could not hold Him. He laid aside His purple robe for a peasant's gown. He was rich yet for our sakes He became poor. He slept in another's manger. He rode on another's donkey. He was buried in another's grave. He conquered death and rose on the third day as He said He would. He ascended into heaven and is now at the right hand of the throne of God.
One day He will return with power and great glory to judge the world when every knee shall bow to Him and every tongue shall confess Him as Lord. His friends gladly. But enemies seeking for a place to hide from His face. He is the perfect one. The only one who can satisfy the soul. He gives everlasting life to those who love Him. He is altogether lovely. But best of all, He is my Savior.
This little tract is published by the Faith, Prayer and Tract League - and its title: The Incomparable Christ.
MAKING AN IMPACT FOR JESUS CHRIST - I
This is the first in a series of articles. CHRIST DIED FOR US
The Word of God, Psalm 89:47, “Remember how short my time is;” NKJV. In James 4:14, “For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” NKJV. Job 14:1, (life) “Is of a few days.” NKJV. After death, we go into eternity. Our Lord has made a way for us to be with Him forever. This is why the Bible says, John 3:16, “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.” NKJV.
Heaven is a real place. John 14:1-3, “Let your heart not be troubled; you believe in God, believe 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.” NKJV. And in John 14:5-6 Know this! “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” NKJV.
Hell is real. Believing what Christ says about heaven, we must realize that He also said, there is a real hell. He spoke of it: Luke 16:23-24. “And being in torments in hell, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” Every human being was created for eternity, and will live as long as God lives. Beyond deaths door, after man’s last breath here on earth, we will live forever – somewhere. We’ll live either with God or without God.
Eternity where? So, every human being has an appointment with death. After death, ask yourself; “Will I be in heaven or in hell?” There’s no question in life that deserves as much attention as this one. It’s the one issue that must be settled. This is why, in John 3:7, the Lord Jesus said to the man who came to Him under the cover of darkness, “Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’” NKJV. This man was Nicodemus, a Pharisee, a religious leader, but he responded to the words of Jesus, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus explained to Nicodemus that men must have a spiritual birth. This brings us back to John 3:16 and John 14:6.
MAKING AN IMPACT FOR JESUS CHRIST - II
This is the Second of a series of articles. ALL PEOPLE HAVE SINNED
Scripture passage: Romans 3:10-12, “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, not one.” NKJV. Supporting Scripture: Romans 3:23 - 6:23; Romans 3:19-20; Psalm 14:1-7; Galatians 2:16.
The Lord speaks about Jews and Gentiles, that there is no difference. This means I am a sinner and you are a sinner. We’re all sinners. In Paul’s writing he’s referring to Psalm 14, in the Old Testament. Imagine, our Creator, sees every person as valuable in His eyes because He created us in His image and He loves us, but no one is righteous (that is to say, no one can earn right standing with God). That said, even though we’re “valuable,” we have fallen into sin. But God, through His only begotten Son, has redeemed us and offers to forgive us if we will return to Him – in faith! Paul uses these Old Testament references to show humanity in general, of its present sinful condition, and that it is unacceptable (my emphasis added) to Him.
You see, the words of the Old Testament (from Psalms, Ecclesiastes, and Isaiah) destroy any hope people may have apart from their God.
In Romans 3;19-20. “Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” NKJV. Everyone is without excuse before God, under accusation with no possibility of defense, condemned because of both open, rebellious and private, secret sins. They are guilty because of what they say, do, and are. People can only act within the confines of their character, and without regeneration of the Spirit, it’s not possible for them to live without sin (Galatians 2:16).
Now, let’s look at Romans 6:23. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” And, Romans 3:23. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord." THAT’S IT! Is it not?
We are all sinners because we believers and unbelievers alike have that sin nature. In one sense, every human being is “still born” spiritually. Thus, we are spiritually dead. If that’s so, how can we have the ability to witness to those who are not saved?
The believer has received the gift of God, eternal life in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ has received all power from God the Father. Jesus Christ is with us now! How can that be? He’s in heaven at the right hand of the Father. What did Jesus say to His Apostle’s before He left them, ascending to the Father. “I will send you a Helper.” Jesus imparted His powers to the Holy Spirit who imparts that power to the believer. A side note: The saved cannot lose their Salvation. Share it.
What about our sin nature? We will carry that with us until we receive our transformed body - after our physical death; and go into eternal life with no sin or sin nature, if it weren’t that way, we wouldn’t be able to wear the white garments promised us in Revelation.
You can speak and teach the Word, the Words of the Gospel Message to the unsaved. Our IMPACT FOR JESUS CHRIST is to obey His command, with the authority and power of the name of Jesus Christ within each heart. It’s this opportunity we want to share with the unbelieving – thus evangelizing. CATCH THE SPIRIT!
MAKING AN IMPACT FOR JESUS CHRIST - III
This is the Third in a series of articles. CHRIST DIED FOR ALL PEOPLE
Scripture passage: Hebrews 2:8-9. “You have put all things in subjection under His feet. For in that He put all in subjection under Him, He left nothing that is not put under Him. But now we do not yet see all things put under Him. V9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone." ~ Supporting Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-4; John 10:18; 2 Corinthians 5:21; John 11:25-26; John 1:1-18; John 14:6; John 14:15-18.
In order for humanity to be restored to God’s original intention, God had to intervene. God’s own Son had to become a man (a little lower than the angels) and taste (fully experience) death for every individual. Romans 5:17. This speaks to the great promise to those who love Jesus Christ!
We can reign over sin’s power, over death’s threats, and over Satan’s attacks. Eternal life is ours now and forever. In the power and protection of Jesus Christ, we can overcome temptation.
Understanding that, God had placed Jesus in charge of everything, and Jesus then revealed Himself to humankind. We don’t yet see Jesus reigning here on earth, but we can however, picture Him in His heavenly glory.
You may ask, “If Jesus is in heaven how can He rule here on earth?” Jesus has sent the Holy Spirit, in all power and authority to lead us and guide us, until He returns. He has not surrendered His power nor authority - rather He has empowered the Holy Spirit. See John 14:15; John 15:26. Jesus is Lord of all, and one day He will rule on earth as He now rules in heaven.
It’s God’s kindness to us that led Christ to His death. The startling truth for some; Jesus didn’t come into the world to gain status or political power, nor as a military leader, rather - He came to suffer and die so that you and I could, by God’s grace have eternal life through and only through Jesus Christ, thus bringing us to glory with Him.
John 11:25-26. “Jesus said unto her, ‘I am the Resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; v26 and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believeth thou this?’” KJV
Jesus has power over life and death as well as power to forgive sins. This is because Jesus He is the Creator of life (John 14:6; John 1:1-5; Genesis 1:26; John 17:21)
The Message: He (Jesus) who is life can surely restore life. Whoever believes in Him has a spiritual life that death cannot touch or diminish in any way. When we realize His power and how wonderful His (gift of eternal life) really is, how can we not but help to commit lives to Him! And, to those who believe, what a wonderful, blessed assurance and certainty we have: “Because I live, you shall live also”, John 14:19.
Our Evangelical IMPACT FOR JESUS CHRIST mission is founded upon what He has spoken by the authority and power of the name of Jesus Christ to each heart. It’s this great message of the Good News of the Gospel that we want to share with the unbelieving. CATCH THE SPIRIT!
MAKING AN IMPACT FOR JESUS CHRIST - IV
This is the Fourth and final in a series of articles. ALL PEOPLE ARE SAVED THE SAME WAY
Scripture passage: Romans 3:25-26. “. . . whom God set forth as a propitiation by His (Jesus’) 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.” NKJV. Supporting Scripture, John 3:16; John 14:6 and others.
Romans 3:25-26, It’s an interesting verse that most people do not understand, but it explains the entire matter. “All people are saved the same way.” How can a holy God allow sinful man into heaven and still say He is a just God? He is just, and He is the Justifier! The Bible teaches that when we come to Jesus Christ and trust Him as our Savior, God declares that we are justified. Now, some think that being justified means “just as if we had never sinned.” However, it means so much more. It means more than being regarded just as if one had never sinned. It means to be regarded by God as if one were never a sinner. We see there is a great difference.
For the child of God, our heavenly Father has forgiven us; He erases any record of what we’ve done. There is no record that we were ever sinners. When one asks God to forgive his sin and places his/her faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior, God declares his/her sin paid for in full on the Cross. He imputes (puts) Christ’s record on the Christian’s account. God sees His children as He sees Jesus Christ. Christ was never a sinner. It’s more than the fact the He never sinned. He was never a sinner to begin with. When God looks at our record, He sees Christ’s record on our account just as if we had never been sinners.
Understand this! By His death, Christ satisfied the justice of God. Jesus paid the penalty of sin in full. Note: Apostle Paul cites two reasons why the righteousness of God comes through the death of Jesus Christ. (1) To demonstrate that God Himself is righteous, and did not judge the sins committed prior to the Cross. (2) The reason for the Cross is, God wanted to demonstrate that He is both righteous and at the same time the One who can declare sinners righteous. Because of Christ’s death, God does not compromise His holiness when He forgives a sinner. If you haven’t yet put your trust in Him, it’s time to do so.
Because for many years God atoned “temporarily” by covering over sin, it might have appeared He didn’t take sin seriously. The Cross removed all doubt: It is the public declaration that God is righteous in the way He has handled human sin. Sin is no longer merely covered, but removed!
Our Evangelical - IMPACT FOR JESUS CHRIST mission is founded upon what He has spoken by the authority and power of the name of Jesus Christ to each heart. It’s this great message of the Good News of the Gospel that we want to share with the unbelieving.