Whosoever Believes

It's common knowledge in our American Christianity that to be 'saved', you need to believe in Jesus. This is not only an understatement, but I believe the way it is used, according to scripture, is a lie.

The context of 'belief' in American Christianity simply leads someone to believe that Jesus Christ is real and even that He died and rose again. There's more to it. But don't take my word for it.

John 3:16

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

If you base your salvation on this verse alone, I warn you to search your heart and read the scriptures. You need only to go back two verses in the same gospel to understand what this means.

John 3:14-15

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

So you see, this 'belief' that we must have is tied to something else that happened in the Old Testament. Look at it with me if you will.

Numbers 21:5-9

5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” 6 Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. 7 And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

We need to notice something very important here. Look in verse 7. What did the people realize? They realized and confessed that they had sinned! So now you have a situation where you have sinners, or to make it personal, a sinner in need of God's intervention and deliverance. A sinner in need of salvation. Praise God for verse 8.

Now we have a representation of the very sin, or serpents, that are causing the people to die. Moses makes the bronze serpent (verse 9) and sets it on a pole. Why? So that whoever looks on it, realizing he is a sinner and is in need of God's salvation, will live!

Now, look at John 3:16 in context on Numbers 21:5-9 and John 3:14-15.

John 3:14-16

14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

So, if you realize that you are a sinner (Romans 3:23) and you realize that you need God to save you. Look to Jesus Christ as your representative and substitution of the death you deserve and believe in Him.

2 Corinthians 5:21

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

If you still think it is enough to just believe, then read John 8:31-47. Jesus is talking to Jews that had believed in Him, but He tells them they are of their father, the devil and that they are not of God.

Just thought it was worth pointing out.

For Christ,

j

The Lies that Convicted Jesus (Part I)

It is interesting to look into the trial of the Lord Jesus Christ and understand that He did not just stand trial in one arena, but two.

The Lord Christ stood trial in two judgmental systems:

1. The Jewish system (religious court)
   
2. The Roman system (secular court)

Neither of these systems could find fault with Him in accordance with the laws of the day. So, the question begs why was Jesus found guilty?

When we look at the history of Jesus' ministry and understand that spies had been dispatched by the Jewish religious leaders in order to "catch" Him in His words (Luke 11:54, Luke 20:20,26) but they could not, why was Jesus even brought to trial?

John's gospel gives us some insight into this:

John 11:45-53

45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the Council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.

In the eyes of the Jewish leaders, Jesus was going to die even if it meant lying to do it.

Now we have to ask ourselves what exactly was it that did Jesus in?

Matthew 26:59-68

59 Now the chief priests and the whole Council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, 60 but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward 61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’” 62 And the high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 63 But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” 67 Then they spit in his face and struck him. And some slapped him, 68 saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who is it that struck you?”

Mark 14:53-65

53 And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. 54 And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire. 55 Now the chief priests and the whole Council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. 56 For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. 57 And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’” 59 Yet even about this their testimony did not agree. 60 And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 61 But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 62 And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? 64 You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death. 65 And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received him with blows.

For anyone to be brought to trial in the Jewish religion there had to be two or more witnesses.

Deuteronomy 17:6
On the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses the one who is to die shall be put to death; a person shall not be put to death on the evidence of one witness.

Deuteronomy 19:15
“A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.

Both Matthew and Mark's gospel indicate that the chief priests could find no matching testimonies even though many came forward. Then both gospels state:

Matthew 26:60-61
At last two came forward 61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to rebuild it in three days.’”

Mark 14:57-58
57 And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’”

Both witnesses quote Jesus as saying that He was going to destroy the temple of God. But what was it that Jesus actually said?

John 2:18-21
18 So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body.

Imagine that!! Even 2000 years ago people were taking the words of Christ out of context!!

Their entire testimony and trial was built on lies.

Is God Evil?

What would you call someone who does bad things, wicked things. If a person does things that are evil, does that not mean that he or she is evil?

What if the One who is bringing about these evil things is God? Does that make Him evil?

Isaiah 45:7 says the following:
7 I form light and create darkness,
I make well-being and create calamity,
I am the Lord, who does all these things.

Now, I don't want to build a theology on one verse, so look at other passages.

1 Kings 17:20:
20 And he cried to the Lord, “O Lord my God, have you brought calamity even upon the widow with whom I sojourn, by killing her son?”

Surely, Elijah didn't think that God was evil. But why ask if He had brought calamity? The word here means 'to be bad, be evil'.

How about Amos 3:6:
6 Is a trumpet blown in a city,
and the people are not afraid?
Does disaster come to a city,
unless the Lord has done it?

Well, does it? Is God not sovereign? Is God not in control? Does God not ordain all things? If, then, God causes evil to happen, is He evil?

No.

The evil we think of when we hear the term is a moral evil. By definition, this would be actions that go against the will and commands of God. And what is the first commandment? You shall have no other gods before me.
It seems in most if not all cases that when God brought calamity,or evil, it was for judgment or punishment, most often on His chosen people. What had they done? Turned from Him, done evil in His sight. They had committed moral evil so in turn God brought about physical evil.

So, does this mean it's okay to bomb abortion clinics?

Romans 12:19
19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

It's probably best if we not bomb any clinics right now, but accept the fact that God brings about calamity as well as blessing as well as grace.