Q&A: Knowing God

Did Jesus Create The Universe?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Knowing God
Did Jesus Create The Universe?

The Answer Is Found In John 1

Before being born by Mary, Jesus name is “the Word”.  God is a Triune being who has ALWAYS existed and is not bound by Time as we are. There was the Father, The Holy Spirit and the Word. Jesus always existed because He is God.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.” (John 1 KJV)

The Word (Jesus) created everything in our physical universe.

“All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”  (John 1 KJV)
The Word came by the Virgin Mary to be born as a human and still as God in the person of Jesus, the anointed. That is Jesus. The Christ. True life everlasting can only come by believing on Christ. Jesus is called The Light because He is the truth!

“In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John (Don: the baptist). The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” (John 1 KJV)

Jesus was born Jewish, to God’s chosen people, but they rejected His claim that He is the foretold Messiah and Christ come to be the once for all final blood sacrifice (Hebrews 9 & 10) for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). All who believe on Him and His name and believe in the Atonement for sins through His death burial and rising have had all their sins (past/present/future) paid in full by Christ on the cross. They have become the sons of God, born again in the Spirit (John 3, 1 Cor. 15:1-4, Eph. 1:13-14, Colossians 2).

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1 KJV)

Why Did The Hebrews Roam The Desert For 40 Years Before Entering The Promised Land?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Christian Living, Q&A: Faith, Q&A: Knowing God
Why Did The Hebrews Roam The Desert For 40 Years Before Entering The Promised Land?

A: MURMURING / COMPLAINING / UNBELIEF / LACK OF FAITH

When you read the story of what happened in the Exodus, you need to see all the foreshadowing for Jesus’ first coming and also foreshadowing for us believers today as well. The Hebrew slaves were rescued from their slavery of over 400 years. 400 YEARS!!!

And this was done with such enormous miracles. Think about all the plagues, locusts, frogs, turning water to blood. All first born with the blood on the doors (which was on mantle and both sides..a foreshadowing of the Jesus on the cross). And then we see just as Pharaoh’s army was upon them.. with no where to go, trapped by the red sea. A pillar of fire came and stopped them at night and a pillar of dust by the day. Ya know what a desert is like? BURNING hot in the day and FREEZING COLD at night! So by the day, the pillar of dust.. blocked the HOT SUN from scorching the Hebrews and by night the pillar of fire kept them warm! This is the per-incarnate Jesus doing this! He even told us it was HIM..

“For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.” (John 5:46 KJV)

And then we have, not to forget, one of the most enormous miracles God did with Moses, the Red Sea parted and so much so that the land under the sea where it parted.. was completely DRY. No mud! DRY LAND! And yet, we do see that after that the Hebrews did lots of murmuring and complaining, doubting and having a lack of faith. And God made the entire generation wander in the desert life for 40 years instead of a straight path to the land He had prepared for them; the promised land.

WE BELIEVERS NEED TO LEARN FROM THAT!

We too, should not be doing that as saved people. Complaining, whining, worrying. Jesus paid it all and gave us ALL THINGS. As Paul wrote,

“And we know that ALL THINGS work together FRO GOOD to them that love God, to them who are the called according to HIS PURPOSE.” (Romans 8:28 KJV)

How many times do we see Jesus telling us to not worry, fear not?

“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matthew 6: 31-34 KJV)
“Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:31 KJV)
“But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.” (Luke 8:50 KJV)

What we need as believers is to live IN FAITH and TRUST that GOD KNOW EVERYTHING HAPPENING TO US.. even before it does!

“And he said unto her, Daughter, THY FAITH hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.” (Mark 5:34 KJV)

We need to use faith as this woman did! Why is it that we cannot believe that Jesus lives WITHIN US? He is intimately involved in everything we face in our lives as believers.

We believers in Christ have been given so much! What do we have to complain about really?

We have been given a brand new born again Spirit of God, which is right now fully redeemed, fully forgiven all our sins in our life (past/present/future) (1 John 2:2) and are now without sin in our new Spirit (1 John 3) and God does not even remember our sins anymore(Hebrews 8:12). We have become the righteousness of God, in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17-21), we are one with the Holy Spirit who is one with Christ and Christ is one with the Father and we are one with them all (John 17), ! We are complete in Christ and already risen with Christ in the Spirit (Colossians 2) having gained eternal life (John 3).

As believers in Christ we look forward to the promise of the New Jerusalem, that heavenly city, the believers future eternal home. See how the Exodus is relating to US?? In the Exodus, God was leading the to the ‘promised land’. We believers today are headed for the ‘New Jerusalem, that Heavenly city’ ! The Hebrews passed through the Red sea waters, a picture of being saved by the Holy Spirit. Now saved….. how should we live?! In faith or fear?

“ 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.” ( John 14:2 KJV )

You want something to fear? The only time the word fear is used as something a believer should do is to fear this ONE THING:

“Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into HIS REST, any of you should seem to come short of it.” (Hebrews 4:1 KJV)

How great is our God! Jesus tells us He did it all and to have FAITH in life. Do not worry about anything. He has a PLAN! Yes, you will have tribulations and troubles. Yes, you will be persecuted for your belief in Christ and sharing the Gospel. But look what God has don or us. He made us His children! And gave us the most amazing inheritance imagined. NOTHING IN THIS LIFE can even compare!

Jesus said,

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might HAVE PEACE. In the world YE SHALL HAVE TRIBULATION: but be of GOOD CHEER; I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.” (John 16:33 KJV)

And the only time mentioned to us in Scripture, under the New Covenant we live within, the only thing to fear is not entering HIS REST!

I know I struggle with worry, anxiety at times, wondering ‘Why God? Why is this happening?’ I lack that kind of faith that I wish I had. But, it is growing and so is your faith. I hope this helps you see the truth. That is always the first step to living a life full of peace and faith and to hopefully one day be able to say as Apostle Paul in prison, facing physical death,

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” ( Philippians 4:11-13 KJV)

Why Does God Tell Moses His Name Is “I AM THAT I AM”?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Knowing God

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who HATH BLESSED US with all spiritual blessings in HEAVENLY PLACES in Christ:  According as he hath chosen us in him BEFORE the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having PREDESTINATED us unto the adoption of children BY Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of HIS will, To the praise of the glory of HIS GRACE, wherein he hath MADE US accepted in the beloved.” (Ephesians 1:3-6 KJV)

God created time and space so He exists outside of time and space as well. What name did God tell Moses to say to the Hebrew slaves as to who sent him?

“I AM THAT I AM”

Our God lives in the forever present. By that I mean that God sees our past, present and future all at the same time. Hard for us to comprehend because we are IN TIME. God knew before he created you and me, who would accept Christ and who would reject Christ.

The Bible says there is the ‘wicked’ and ‘the righteous’. To us living in time, we all start out in the ‘wicked’ group from the age of accountability, headed for judgment for our sins (John 3:18). And “whosoever” BELIEVES on Christ alone for Salvation, God predestined to conform to His image and become the Righteousness of God, IN CHRIST (2 Corinthians 5:21).

To God, we are already in Heaven and the New Jerusalem with Him because God exists in all times. He is the great “I AM”. The ONE and ONLY.

Hard for us to grasp right? So when you fail, when you fall into sin, when you stumble, remember that NOTHING you do takes God by surprise. He has it all worked out before you were even born.

“And we know that ALL THINGS work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28 KJV)

What is “His purpose”?

“Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”
(John 6:28-35 KJV)

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having PREDESTINATED US unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the GOOD PLEASURE OF HIS WILL, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath MADE US ACCEPTED in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of HIS OWN WILL: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were SEALED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE,  Which is the earnest of OUR INHERITANCE until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.”  (Ephesians 1:3-14 KJV)

Are we perfect in this life? NO. Not even after our Salvation. We still have this corrupted sinful Flesh. But our Spirit, the real you and me now, has been recreated NEW and it is Holy Righteous and Redeemed now and forever. We are COMPLETE IN CHRIST (Colossians 2)! And one day, maybe very soon, at the Rapture we will receive our new incorruptible and immortal bodies and we will be as Christ is.

Parable Of The Lost Sheep & The Lost Coin: God Loves You As An Individual

Don Gerrity Q&A: Knowing God, Q&A: Parables Of Jesus
Parable Of The Lost Sheep & The Lost Coin: God Loves You As An Individual

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

“Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. And he spake this parable unto them, saying,  What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.” (Luke 15:1-7 KJV)

The Parable of the Lost Coin

“Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” (Luke 15: 8-10 KJV)

How Important Are You, As An INDIVIDUAL to God?

How loved and precious are you to God? Even while a sinner? Just look at what God did; sent His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the price for your sins in His blood on the cross. That is how much!! Jesus paid the ultimate price for you! All that pain and suffering is how much God loves you, as an individual. If you were the only person on Earth Jesus would still have come and died for you. You are that precious. That important. That LOVED!

The World

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17 KJV)

In John 3 when it speaks of ‘the world’ what or who is that referring to? Let’s look at this from the original Greek.

‘World’ in the original Greek is the word ‘kosmos‘. The definition for the word has different meanings, ‘ the world, universe; worldly affairs; the inhabitants of the world; adornment.’

In John 3:16-17 the meaning is by context. One use is talking about the kosmos- the universe. The other two are talking about ‘the inhabitants of the world’.

So go ahead right now and replace ‘world’ with your name in the following verses. I have placed an underline instead of instances where ‘the world’ means ‘inhabitants of the world’. It is Scriptural and sound. And say it out loud so that you brain hears it externally as well. ‘Faith comes by hearing’.

“For God so loved the –your name here–, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn –your name here– ; but that –your name here– through him might be saved”

Jesus is not RELIGION. Jesus is grace. Jesus does not want you to do all these ‘religious things’ to be accepted and loved by God. Jesus wants to save you from all your sins and have a REAL intimate relationship with you, as an individual.

How awesome is our God ?!?

Are We Descendants Of Apes or Did God Create Us?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Knowing God
Truth

Why choose Christianity over other World Religions? This is the first question that everyone should ask about any religion otherwise how can we fully believe in what the religion is claiming. There are many religions in this world and each one claims to follow the `true’ god (or in some cases gods). How can anyone distinguish the truth from the fallacy? How can anyone know if God exists and, if He does truly exist, which religion is the true one serving Him? These questions are of paramount importance to all who seek the truth about God but with so many different views how can we know for sure? Can we know?

Does God The Creator Exist Or Are We Originally From Apes?

The whole premise of Darwin’s Theory of Evolution is that the universe and all life in it just happened by chance. Today we know that all life of every existing creature depends upon the fact that DNA replicates itself. This is how eye colour, hair colour, height, etc. are passed on to our children from generation to generation. Sometimes we see slight mutations within organisms of the same species. For example, there are albino mice where the hair is white and the eyes are pinkish in colour and there are regular mice of different colours, but this does not change the fact that they are all still mice. To claim that animals adapt to their environments over long periods of time is one thing but to say that billions of very specifically designed animals, which each have a very delicately balanced relationship between them, occurred simply by chance is at best extreme.

If the insects became extinct tomorrow what would happen to the birds, then the cats, then the dogs, etc.. Each creature in existence on this planet depends on the other to survive. Look at an organism as simple as a plant. The animals and humans of the world breathe in oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. The plants breathe in carbon dioxide and exhale oxygen. Everything from a microorganism to the vastness of the cosmos; it is all extremely well balanced because each individual is dependent on the other in minute and very specific detail. This extreme order is what forces us to examine the possibility that God exists. Logic tells us that it had to be designed by someone. To say that what we know about the human brain is a result of a series of mistakes in the DNA which began from a single microorganism is a statement that is hard to believe. The number of `mistakes’ in order to create a human brain alone out of a single microorganism, even if over billions of years, is just extremely difficult to believe in. Yet, this is the theory that we have been taught in High School Biology. The fact is that there is still, to this very day, absolutely no proof that man came from the apes. Despite what some may tell you I challenge you to find proof. Every skeleton that was believed to be half ape and half human has been found to be either a mistake in judgment or an all out hoax. We have been taught for years that the theory of Darwinism is true but NO hard evidence exists.

Organisms do adapt to their environments over long periods of time but to say that all creatures developed from a single microorganism billions of years ago? We should all have more proof before we accept that as truth. That is why Darwin’s idea is still called a `Theory’. Even with all of today’s technology, evidence has still not been found. If his theory is true why haven’t we found evidence by now? We have found organisms as small as mosquitoes that are many millions of years old but yet we can find no evidence to support Darwin’s Theory of Evolution that man came from the `apes’.

Yet, this is what is aggressively promoted in schools, and the media in general; that we are alive only because of a series of mistakes in DNA and coincidences too numerous to count. That we have somehow developed from microorganisms into humans over billions of years and that we exist only `by chance’. Today, many believe in Darwin’s theory of evolution because that is what we have been taught since early age, but is it really truth, or is it what “the scholars” think is truth? Promoted by our school system, this has caused a belief that no one is morally responsible for their own behavior. This is obviously in contradiction to the view that because of our sin we are all morally accountable to God.

Can we prove with evidence that God does exist?

In Romans 1:20 it reads,

“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:” (Romans 1:20 KJV)

Notice that in this verse of Scripture it states that we can see evidence of God in creation. With all the extreme complexities in the universe there is still a harmony that can only be explained by believing that a designer created them. But how does God make his existence known to us personally? If we look at nature we can know that He does exist. Just because we cannot physically see God does not in any way mean that He does not exist.

Look at such laws of nature as gravity, or even the wind. We can see, and feel, the effects of them even though we do not know where they originate from. Can you see the wind, or just the effects of the wind? So if you cannot see the wind, do you think the wind does not exist? Or do you believe that the wind does exist because you see and feel the effects of the wind?

Though we cannot physically the see wind or gravity we know that they exist. Suppose that God did create these laws. If God created them how much harder would it be to show who He is to each of us on a personal level? God would have to be infinite if he created every living being (after all, God started everything out of nothing). It would be extremely difficult for us to understand God, let alone relate to Him. We can see that He exists through what he created but He seems impersonal and `far off’ because we do not know how to relate to him.

What if God talked to you audibly? How would you know for certain that it was God and not some advanced technology? What if He came as a man with extraordinary powers that were used for miracles in order to relate to us? Who would believe that he was God? (We must ask this even of Christ Himself if we are to serve Him. We must know for sure that He is the true Son of God otherwise we would be serving under a false pretense.) Just imagine if modern day man built a time machine and went back in time 4000 years. What would the people of that time think about one of us dressed in a space suit having the ability to fly (with the use of a jet pack)? They could very well have thought that we were gods. If this is true, could not a man having a more advanced technology appear to perform miracles to us?

This is an important question to ask about God. Another very important question to ask is, if God does exist which, if any, of the world’s religions and sacred books were inspired from the true God of the universe? How can our mortal minds know God and which world religion is the one that truly serves him? The fact is by ourselves we cannot. If God exists He would have to find a way to relate to us personally, in such a manner that it would leave no doubt in our minds that it is God trying to relate to us. But how could God do this?

For many this is a tough question to answer but we must ask this of every religion; `How do I know that it is the truth?’ It is the answer to this question that sets Christianity apart from all other religions. First, the Bible is comprised of historical facts. There is much evidence from archaeology that confirm the Biblical accounts as historical facts. Even the school system (where God is not valid and prayer is prohibited) recognizes Biblical accounts as historical truth! What of other religions? The historical accuracy of the Bible has been vindicated many times over as have no other religious writings.

The biggest proof that the Bible is the word of God is also the simplest. It is the easiest for us to understand and helps us know that what the Bible says is true. It is the fulfillment of Bible Prophecy. Many sacred writings contain prophecy but prophecy fulfilled is missing from all other sacred writings except the Bible. In fact, 30 percent of the Scriptures contained within the Bible consist of prophecy. In Isaiah, it reads,

“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:”
(Isaiah 46:9-10 KJV)

 

“ I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them.”
(Isaiah 48:5 KJV)

The God of the Bible out right tells us that not only is He the true God, but that He has proof that no other can claim. He says this to us so that we will know that He is the true God. To paraphrase the above Scripture; `BEFORE it came to pass I showed it to you so that you would not believe in false gods’ (or idols, and graven images).

God reaches out toward us and reveals Himself as the true God with absolute proof! Can any other sacred writings actually prove so? Of course, this all is contingent on the statement being correct and that the said proof exists. And it does exist, very much so! All prophecies, except those to still be fulfilled, have a 100% accuracy rate thus far. In other Bible Study Articles on this website you will see prophecies that have already been fulfilled with minute detail, prophecies that are yet to be fulfilled, and even prophecies that are being fulfilled that you can see on your news today! As you read ask yourself, `How do I know that the Bible is the true word of the true God?’ It is the most important question that all of us must ask of all religions in order to believe that the one you choose is the true religion of the true God. God’s prophecies made a believer out of me. Without them I would still not know what to believe.

Many do not realize the importance of Bible Prophecy but the fact that it comprises 30% of the Bible should send a signal to all of us. Today we find that the vast majority of organized Christian religions and churches will not and do not teach what the Bible has to say about Prophecy fulfilled and prophecy not yet fulfilled. For example, the Bible calls the Rapture Event “the blessed hope” and it is part of the Salvation through Christ – yet many denominational main stream Christian churches do not even mention the event in the congregation. We must remember that all Scripture in he Bible is from God and so ALL Scripture is important.

“The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?” (Matthew 16:1-16 KJV)

At Christ’s first coming, Jesus Himself said that the people of that day and age said they could predict the weather by looking at the colour of the evening sky, yet they did not know the signs of the times. What he was saying paraphrased was, “Look, the Old Testament has many Prophecies pointing out that I would be coming during your time. Why don’t you know? Why is it you seem to have no idea about God becoming Human and arriving in your lifetime?” Considering that Bible Prophecy in the Bible consists of more then 30% of all Scriptures, we should be learning about it more. And given that of the remaining Bible Prophecies are to be fulfilled in our generation should really be tweaking our interest! In fact, if Jesus was asking them why they did not know He was coming when Bible Prophecy said He would, how much more should we know?

We seen all the Bible Prophecies regarding Jesus first coming come to pass exactly as predicted. The rest of the Prophecies for our time will also be fulfilled. The fact is many have already come to pass in our own generation exactly as predicted! Regardless of whether your church is omitting the Biblical Prophecies for our time, God gave them to Christians for important reasons, otherwise He would not have so many Scriptures dedicated to the subject of Bible Prophecies. Start learning them. Christ’s return is now at the very door and He will once again ask us,

” O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?“

This is a short article on a VAST topic and there are resources online that go into depth on this subject from a Biblical perspective. Here are some that I have found:

Why Did God Create Us?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Knowing God

I am convinced that there is not a single person in all of history that has not asked the question, Why Do I Exist? And I would go further to state that the other question most have is , What is the point of living a life and then we die? Is everything about us lost at death? Do we just cease to exist? When we see all the life of the planet Earth, why does humankind seem so different then the rest of nature? Humankind seems to have some traits not found in any other creature.

Knowing the answers to such questions is very important in knowing God. If God created us then there must be a reason and a purpose. If God created us different than all other life on this planet, He must have had a very specific reason. But something seems to be very wrong with the world around us. Most of us can just sense that something is not right here. Why do we have feelings such as guilt over our actions when other creatures we share the planet with do not seem to have such? Why does humankind continually strive for knowledge? And why do we all feel this sense that there is more to our lives then just living and eventually facing death? If God created us, then why do we have to die at all? If God created us with such a distinct difference from all other life on the planet why is there so much evil in the world on an ever increasing basis? No other religious writings in all of history seem to answer such questions as clearly as the Holy Bible does.

The Reason and Purpose For Humankind

The Bible makes it very clear that God created the heavens and the Earth and every living thing that exists. It also makes it clear that we are a race of beings that God made separate from all other types of life that exists.

God wants us to understand this and so the very first Scriptures in the entire Bible speak very simply and directly to us. Verses 1 to 20 of Genesis tell us how God created the universe, the Earth, the stars and the waters on the Earth. Then starting in verse 20 it reads,

“And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven. And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. And the evening and the morning were the fifth day. And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:20-25 KJV)

The book of Genesis then goes on and states,

“Then God said, “Let US make man IN OUR IMAGE, in OUR LIKENESS, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground. SO GOD created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:26-27 KJV)

One thing we notice is that God is showing that He is a Triune God by using words such as ‘us’, and ‘our’. God almighty is Triune; The Father, The Word (the Son), and The Holy Spirit. Together they are God. It is a mystery to us created beings living within a created time and space but this is what the Bible clearly teaches. All three are are co-equal as one God.

“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. “ (1 John 5:7 KJV)

Notice that the “Word” is capitalized. That is because it is a name. This member of the Trinity, named The Word, is Jesus the Christ, the Son of God as we see in John 1,

” In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made…

…14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1-3…14 KJV)

These verses also show us that Jesus Christ is the part of the Trinity who created everything! He always existed and is an eternal being as God! He existed before creation as The Word and when He became flesh to save us all He is known as The Son Of God.

We can see in Genesis that after God created all the creatures of the Earth He then created humankind. So He shows us that we were created separately and that we are a very different race of beings that He is creating. We see from just these two verses in Genesis 1, that God is making this point very clear to us. Humankind was set apart from the beginning by God Himself. First God shows us why we are different from all other life on this planet when He says, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness,…”. So God made humans in His own image. We have many of the same traits that God has. In fact, throughout the Bible from Genesis to Revelation it is plain to see that believers are described as the children of God and that God is our Father.

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:” (Romans 8:15-16 KJV)

“Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.” (John 6:27 KJV)

“To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 1:7 KJV)

“Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” (Matthew 7: 9-11 KJV)

These are only a few of literally hundreds of Scriptures that make it very clear that God is Our Father, as believers on Christ . Jesus also made this point very clear during His ministry to us. For God to call us His children and for us to call God our Father we must be able to relate to Him on God’s level, at least to some extent. We have the ability to both communicate with God and to also be like Him. That said, remember that God did not create us equal to Himself. The Bible does not say ‘Let us make man equal’, it says “Let us make man in our own image”. So God is clearly far superior to humans. But He created us with the ability to be like Him. And according to the Scriptures, God wants us to become more and more like Him through our life here on Earth and also in the Eternity to come after death.

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” (1 John 3:2 KJV)

This Scripture indicates that we do not yet know “what we shall be”. This implies that part of God’s plan for humankind is that we grow in knowledge and that His goal for us is in the future. That we grow and seek knowledge about God and learn more about God in the same way we learn about our parents from infancy and throughout our lives. It is an ever increasing knowledge to learn about our parents as we reach each stage of life. This is of course, is not speaking to Salvation as if we gradually becoming saved. Salvation happens at the moment of belief on Christ for righteousness (Ephesians 1:13-14).

How much more is this true about learning the knowledge of God and who He really is? This is why we all strive for more knowledge and why we look at the stars of the universe and marvel at God’s creation. God wants us to know Him. Not just know that He exists, but to really know Him intimately, in an ongoing relationship with Him. So the question remains, why did God create us in His image?

If you look at all creation each species of animal has their own way of communicating with each other. Look at Dolphins (an amazing creature to check out by the way), and the way that they communicate. It is a very intricate and complex language. Humans cannot understand them. In fact, either can fish or turtles or sharks. Why? Because God made every creature after it’s own species as we see in Genesis where it reads,

“And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so. And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.” (Genesis 1:24-25 KJV)

You see here that God tells us that He made every creature after it’s own kind. I am reminded about my preschool days when I would pull a string on this big red toy with animals all around it. This is a cow, it goes mooooo. This is a dog, it goes woof woof. This is a cat, it goes meow meow. I am sure you can relate. God did not make all creatures with the ability to speak with one another. Sure a dog can learn about it’s owner and how to get a treat and even to protect those protecting it. But all your dog can do is go “woof woof” and jump on you when it has to go outside. There is a relationship between you and your dog but your dog can not really know you the way you may think the dog does. A dog has no concept of God nor can a dog effectively communicate with God or know God’s ways. But the Bible makes it clear that humans can.

This sets us apart from all other creatures on the planet. Humans also are made after our own kind. If God created us in His image it is so we can know Him intimately and have intimate communication with Him.

Physical Humankind

“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2:7 KJV)

God gave humankind life. We are essentially formed from the dust of the Earth, that is the elements on this planet. This is certainly true.

By mass, human cells consist of 65–90% water (H2O), and a significant portion is composed of carbon-containing organic molecules. Oxygen therefore contributes a majority of a human body’s mass, followed by carbon. Ninety-nine percent of the mass of the human body is made up of the six elements oxygen, carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Composition_of_the_human_body)

Most other creatures also are made of elements on this Earth and that is why we can live on this planet. But here God is singling out this fact about humankind as to make the point that we are also made physically from the dust of the Earth. Many people believe that humans have a soul as a separate being from the body that is eternal. But it is important to mention that humankind did not receive such a soul from God when He created us. The Scriptures do not indicate this is true. It says in Genesis that God “..breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.” So we became a living soul, or a living being, when God gave us the breath of life. It is an important distinction to make. I say this is important because I hear it said all the time, even by Christians, that we all have an eternal `soul’. But a soul is not something that is eternal or indestructible. Adam and Eve were not perfect beings with immortality before sinning. Ezekiel 18: reads, “…the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” We can see from this that a soul can die. If Adam and Eve were given an immortal soul at creation, they would never die. If one is immortal he cannot die by the very definition of immortality. Also look at 1 Corinthians 15:53 where it reads, “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”

“And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (GenESIS 2:15-17 KJV)

This along with so many other Bible Scriptures makes it clear that humans are created MORTAL and not eternal. Eternal life is a spiritual life with Christ having an immortal body. The kind of body we will receive at the Rapture. Adam and Eve were physical and would remain alive as long as they did not sin. Yet, so many Bible teachers today tell people that Adam and Eve were created eternal and that humans were made eternal until they sinned and only then was it possible for humans to die. While this is true partly, it is a simple misunderstanding of the truth.

What the Bible is teaching is that when Adam and Eve were created they originally did not know sin. They were not given an eternal soul as something separate from the body. They had an eternal Spirit. Soul and Spirit are not the same thing.

God breathed life into them and they became living souls/beings. The soul is all about our physical being. The breath of life by God is our Spirit. God created a physical body but it was not alive until He breathed into us the Spirit which comes from God.

God was with them and communicated with them in the Garden. We can see that God was in communication with Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:8. The verse seems to indicate that Adam knew God was coming to communicate as if God always came to them and communicated with them. As long as they were without sin in their lives, their life would continue because God was with them. But if they disobeyed God by sinning against Him, they would surely die. This is confirmed in Romans 6:23 where it reads, “For the wages of sin is death…”. God is completely Holy and He cannot tolerate sin. Sinning is such a serious offence against God that the punishment is death.

Disobedience in the Garden

“And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17 KJV)

When the word `knowledge’ is used in this scripture it does not mean that Adam and Eve did not know about evil before they ate the forbidden fruit (before they sinned). The word knowledge is used above in the same way that the Bible uses the words `to know’ in the scripture that states,

“And Adam KNEW Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord.” (Genesis 4:1 kjv)

It is quite clear that the word `know’ in these scriptures literally means to experience intimately. Adam knew his wife before they had sexual relations. But to know his wife was something more; it was an intimate experience. The word knowledge in Genesis 2:16-17 means that they had not experienced nor committed evil themselves until they disobeyed God. Adam knew that he had freedom of choice. Adam could have obeyed or disobeyed God. Satan, the devil, came to deceive Adam and Eve depicted as a snake (the Devil is very subtle in his deceptions) we see in Genesis 3,

“And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” (Genesis 3:2-5 KJV)

Here we see that Satan is telling Eve that God is a liar and that by eating the fruit she would become like gods, which by implication are immortal. The fact that Eve could choose means that the capacity to sin was in her already, otherwise she would not sin. Freedom of choice is very important to God. He did not want to create robots to love Him. He wants a true relationship with humankind.

“And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.” (Genesis 3:6 KJV)

You see Eve and Adam both had the very same image of God that we all have but they also had the capacity to sin. We have a sense of morality and can be tempted to sin. In fact, the senses of ; taste, touch, smell ,sound; these traits allows us to perceive the world around us. These are the senses that the Devil uses to tempt us to sin against God. The Human nature of senses and temptation overcame them and they sinned against God by giving into the deception that Satan provided them with; namely “to make one wise “ (as God).

God created humans to commune with Him and to have an everlasting personal relationship with humankind. After all, this is the very reason for creating us in the image of God. Part of such an intimate relationship demands trust. God wanted trust but when Eve, and then Adam, sinned (ate of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil) the physical death experience we all know began. Adam and Eve’s soul could die because they no longer had a sinless life with God. Humankind’s Spirit became known as the Spirit of Man (Adam). Sin had separated us from God and became a wall between humankind and God in having personal relationship in the Spirit. God then kicked them out of the Garden,

“And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken.” (Genesis 3:22-23 KJV)

Remember that God said they may eat of any tree in the garden except one. Well here we see another tree in the garden called the `tree of life’. Apparently this tree gives the ability to live forever. God did not want Adam and Eve to become eternal in their sinful state because then they would be eternally separated from God and He loves us and wants communion with us. Out of His mercy and love He did not allow them a chance to eat of this tree because of their sin. Keep in mind that the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil and the Tree of Life are symbolic and a way for the writer to show us how sin entered the human experience. It was not that the tree itself or the fruit of the tree itself that gave Adam and Eve this knowledge. It is that God told them not to eat of that tree and by doing so they disobeyed God and sinned. Their own conscience let them know by experience that they had sinned and they now understood what evil was because they themselves committed an evil act of rebellion against God.

Here is another way of showing you that this is true; before they sinned Adam and Eve did not recognize that they were naked and openly communed with God not knowing (experiencing) sin (Genesis 2:25). After they willfully sinned, they hid themselves from God and covered their nakedness (Genesis 3:10). Adam and Eve hid from God because they knew they had sinned and done evil against God Almighty. So they knew they could sin before they did but it was only once they actually sinned that they knew the knowledge of good and evil. That is they committed the evil act and then they experienced sin by the act itself.

We are the descendants of Adam and Eve and therefore we all are mortal and separated from God. In Romans we see that “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12 KJV)

Because the relationship with God had changed so did the ability for them to resist evil and thus had no way of controlling the fleshly sinful mind. This flesh in all of us carries with it the consequences of suffering and death. With each generation since Adam and Eve the human evils (such as war, selfishness, and murder) have continually grown worse. We try to do good but we all have sinned against the God that created us. No person can match up to the holiness of God Almighty. In fact, any of our self righteousness and goodness is as filthy rags to God because it only takes one sin to disqualify us from being righteous in God’s eyes.

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” (Isaiah 64:6 KJV).

The Bible also talks about human beings as having a `spirit’ within us. This is part of the image of God that was given to us at creation from God himself that gives us the ability to communicate with God and have an intimate relationship with God. Adam and Eve both had this spirit before they sinned but once they sinned, the connection to God changed drastically.

When we believe on Christ for righteousness, The Spirit within us is the Spirit of God Himself. It becomes a new creation in the Spirit which is the very righteousness of God, in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17-21). When God’s spirit lives within us, we have a very intimate relationship with God.

After Adam and Eve sinned, God could not abide where sin is until the punishment for the sins were fully paid. God is perfectly just and sin must be judged. The punishment for sin is severe. The punishment for sin is an eternal death (Romans 6:23 ).  And God must remain true to His own perfect character.

We lost that intimate relationship with God. That said, God is love and full of mercy and He used this situation the devil began and has given us a way to regain this intimate relationship through Jesus the Christ’s act of atonement on the cross. (For those that do not know, `Christ’ means the anointed one, it is NOT Jesus’ last name) So God gave us the Old Testament and later the New Testament so that the world would know that He exists and wants to regain the intimate relationship which is called everlasting life. The Bible is the very word of God and the Gospel of Grace Through Jesus Christ Crucified is the power unto salvation.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16 KJV)

Why Did God Create Humankind?

Let us go deeper a moment. Why would God create us if He knew we were going to sin in the Garden? God foreknew everything that would happen before He created us.Nothing takes God by surprise friends. God has a plan and it is beyond our full understanding. Yet, God gave us enough information to believe this.

So we can see that God created us and that He created us in His own image and that He did so in order that we could be in an intimate relationship with Him.

In Revelation 4, John was shown a vision of heaven where he writes,

“ The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Revelation 4: 10-11 KJV)

Here see that God created all things; the universe, the Earth and all things in and on the Earth for His own pleasure. God is a creative being and it pleases Him to create all that is good. Notice that the Bible does not say that we were created to merely entertain God. God did not create us out of a sense of being lonely nor for his entertaining pleasure. He created us in the image of God so that we could know Him.

“What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.” (Psalm 8:4-5 KJV)

“Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” (John 15:14-15 KJV)

There is only one God ( Deuteronomy 4:35). He created humans in His own image, “…a little lower than the angels…” and crowned us ”… with glory and honour.”

That does not sound like we were created just to entertain God. And Jesus Christ (God in human form) said Himself that we are His friends. Since we know that God is love and is perfectly good and Holy, He cannot lie. It gave God pleasure to create us to have fellowship with Him forever. It pleased God to create us because He loves us. (Deuteronomy 7:9, Romans 8:38-39, Psalm 23, John 3:16-17, Ephesians 2:4, 1 John 4:7, and so many many more Scriptures !)

Humankind was created by God so we could enjoy fellowship with Him forever, through the saving act of atonement by Christ Jesus. Both in this life and throughout eternity. To fellowship with God and to become more and more like Jesus as the Holy Spirit renews our mind from within our newly created Spirit of God.

Regain A Relationship With God By Removing The Penalty For Your Sin

We are all sinners and no one can match up to the Holiness of our God. The penalty for sin is Spiritual death and we shall all die (except those alive and remaining at His second coming). The real us is our Spirit which resides in our physical body. After death comes the judgement as it speaks about Jesus the Christ and His work of atonement on the cross in Hebrews,

“For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.” (Hebrews 9:26-28 KJV)

Christ came and took on the punishment for our sin upon Himself (He is God in the Flesh) and all who believe on Him and ask Him for forgiveness will be saved. Once a person accepts Christ into His life and believes this He becomes a new creation.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (Jesus own words from John 3:16-18 KJV)

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:17-21 KJV)

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (Romans 8:1 KJV)

“Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.” (1 Peter 2:24 KJV)

“ Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.” (John 6:28-29 KJV)

“Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:6-11 KJV)

“ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 KJV)

“And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.…He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:17, 20 KJV)

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“For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up. And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.” (Jeremiah 24:6-7 KJV)

God Gave Us a Heart To Know Him

God wants you to know Him intimately. And when you learn about God and His ways, you will return to Him with your whole heart. Why? Because God is good! And He loves you more than any other being or person can or does.

“And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.” (Jeremiah 24:7 KJV)

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (Jeremiah 29:11 KJV)

“Teach me thy way, O Lord; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.” (Psalm 86:11 KJV)

God  Never Changes

“For I am the Lord, I change not…”
(Malachi 3:6 KJV)

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”
(Hebrews 13:8 KJV)

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” (James 1:17 KJV)

God’s Word And His Promises Never Change

“The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O Lord, thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever.” (Psalms 12:6-7 KJV)

“Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. ” (Mark 13:31 KJV)

And since God and His word in the Bible never changes we are assured that we can know Him. And when we known God more intimately we can then understand why He has done what He has done in the true stories of the Bible. The lives of past men and women of God are in the Bible to teach us and let us know about God and His ways. This is the very definition of eternal life:

“And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” (John 17:3 KJV)

God Is Perfectly Holy

This is the attribute that separates God from all created things. It is His perfect moral purity. God is not a man that he shall lie (Numbers 23:19). God is a truly perfect moral being. It is against God’s Holiness that all actions and morals of people are to be judged.

Speaking of the Angels that surround God’s throne we see that they “…rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.” (Revelation 4:8)

The apostle Peter puts it this way, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:15-16)

When Moses approached the burning bush God spoke and said to Moses,

“And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. “ (Exodus 3:5)

God Is Perfectly Just

Because God is so Holy, He is also perfectly JUST in all that He does. (Deuteronomy 32:4) The Bible says that to sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4) and that sin is greatly offensive to God. When we sin, God must punish the sinner. And the punishment is eternal separation from God. That is how Holy God is! Sin just once and you must be judged against the whole law of God (The Ten Commandments) and the perfect Holiness of God Almighty.

It is truly a scary thought indeed because according to the Bible, all “…have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23). That means EVERYONE OF US, even the Christian. The Apostle John said clearly,

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8)

Since God never changes He is Righteous, Holy and perfectly just in the punishing of our sinful deeds. Of ourselves, we cannot do anything to make up for our sins. Doing good deeds will not erase the sin deeds and we all stand judged. The truth is that in position, we are in sin, and are sinful and rebellious against God, even when we are trying to do good. The Apostle Paul puts it this way:

“For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”
(Romans 7:19-25 KJV)

Paul is saying that the good he should do, he does not do. And the evil he should not do, he finds himself doing, even though in his mind he believes in God, and the salvation brought by believing in the Christ, Jesus. There is a constant war within one’s self between doing what is right and what is wrong – even for, and especially with Christians. This is the captivity of sin, a literal spiritual prison we find ourselves in.

God Is Our Father

God wants us to be close to Him. To have a close intimate relationship with Him as our Father. To know His ways and how much He loves us and wants to have a close personal relationship with each of us. A guide in times of trouble. In the book of Galatians it reads,

“But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.“(Galatians 4:4-7 KJV)

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (John 1:12 KJV)

God Is Eternal

Unlike humans, God is eternal. God had no beginning and has no end. He is the great “I AM”. He was not created He always has existed.

“The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms…” (Deuteronomy 33:27 KJV)

“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” (Psalms 90:2 KJV)

God Is Omniscient

God knows everything that has happened and everything that is going to happen. As the great “I AM” he exists outside of time because after all He created time itself. He even knows our every thought.

“Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:” (Isaiah 46:10 KJV)

And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? (Matthew 9:4 KJV)

Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart. (Psalms 44:21 KJV)

God Is Omnipotent. God can do anything.

“And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.” (Revelation 19:6 KJV)

“For with God nothing shall be impossible. ” (Luke1:37 KJV)

“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26 KJV)

“And He said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.” (Mark 14:36 KJV)

God Is Present Everywhere

 Not to be confused with being everything; to be clear He is present everywhere.

“Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. “ (Psalms 139:7-10 KJV)

“Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord. “ (Jeremiah 23:23-24 KJV)

“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. “ (Proverbs 15:3 KJV)

“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. “ (Joshua 1:9 KJV)

God Is Sovereign

As the one and only true God He is supreme over everything that exists. God created everything that exists out of nothing.

“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” (Hebrews 11:3 KJV).

With full sovereignty, God will accomplish all and everything that He purposes.

“Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.” (Isaiah 46:9-10 KJV)

God Is A Trinity

God is three persons in one. The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit.

“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. “ (1 John 5:7 KJV)
(Note that `The Word` is a name and is in fact Jesus Christ. John 1:1-3, John 1:14 )

God is not a man that he should lie. God is completely faithful to His nature, words and promises.

“Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations” (Deuteronomy 7:9 KJV)

God Is Love

A small simple statement of fact: God Is Perfectly Loving.

“He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. “ (1 John 4:8 KJV)

“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. “ (1 John 4:16 KJV)

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. “ (1 John 4 :7 KJV)

God Is Our Rescuer

This goes along in full agreement that God is love. He loves you intimately and cares for you. God is always with you and near you. He is our helper in times of trouble!

“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. “ (Hebrews 13:5 KJV)

“The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower. “ (Psalm 18:2 KJV)

“And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that healeth thee. “ (Exodus 15:26 KJV)

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. “ (Psalm 46:1 KJV)

“And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you. “ (Isaiah 46:4 KJV)

The very first thing to do in times of any trouble in your life is to call out to God and acknowledge that He loves you and promises to be your deliverer in times of trouble. Agree with God and let Him know this. Thank Him for His presence in this time of great trouble and need.

“In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. “ (Proverbs 3:6 KJV)

In all your ways and things, that is, the good, the bad and the ugly things that affect your life. God is with you! Acknowledge Him and that God exists and loves you. He will direct your life and your path. Believe this ; If God allows something in your life then He has a purpose for it even though we may not know what it is right now! And remember this promise:

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. “ (Romans 8:28 KJV)

I can tell you there has been countless times this Scripture has helped me to acknowledge and see that God is with me in times of trouble. There are times in our lives when we feel things are going so wrong and bad that a deep despair puts us to the ground. But when you get to the very heart of why this happens it is because of FEAR. Fear of what will come next. Fear of the future. Fear of death itself! And all that stems from a fear that God does not love you. BUT HE DOES! God is our Father!

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. “ (Romans 8:15 KJV)

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. “ (2 Timothy 1:7 KJV)

“Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. “ (Deuteronomy 31:6 KJV)

The Fear Of The Lord

The only kind of fear that is good is the fear of the Lord. And that is not a fear because He wants to hit you on the head for every wrong you have done in your life either. Just the opposite is true according to the Bible. The fear of the Lord is a respectful reverence you should have for God almighty. Respectful reverence because He loves you and He sent Jesus to die for you so that your wrongdoing and sinful ways would be punished upon Christ in order that you would not be punished for your sins.

“And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. “ (Job 28:28 KJV)

In Psalm 25 is a good description of someone that has the fear of the Lord where it says,

“O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause. Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. “ (Psalm 25:1-14 KJV)

Asking God to teach you His ways is a key to knowing God. Knowing His ways is wisdom beyond anything else in this life and the life to come after death. It is an eternal pursuit and God wants you to know Him personally and intimately as well as His ways which never change.

God Is Our Redeemer

Even though humankind sins against Him, God loves us to the extreme utmost. He loves us so much that He sent His only Son (the second part of the Trinity of God Almighty) to become a human in the flesh as Jesus The Christ to taken upon Himself the punishment for our sins. To redeem us from the prison of sin into the prison of righteousness and eternal life. A free gift from God to be received, without any effort of our own.

“He has sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever: Holy and awesome is His name. “ (Psalms 111:9 KJV)

“For your Maker is your husband, The Lord of hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth.” (Isaiah 54:5 KJV)

“Blessed is the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited and redeemed His people…” (Luke 1:68 KJV)

“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…” (Romans 3:23-24 KJV)

“You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men.” (1 Corinthians 7:23 KJV)

A Positional Problem In The Prison Of Sin

Positionally, those called the unsaved, are in a state of spiritual unrighteousness, with many sins committed – prisoners and slaves to sin. There is a boundary and we are stuck in the prison of sin because of our debt of sins against a Holy God which we can NOT erase by our own effort, leaving us heading for the full wrath and Holy judgement of God. You cannot escape this prison by your own effort, try as you may by performing good deeds.

The good news is that the opposite is also true. The saved person, who accepts Christ’s atonement for sin on the cross, was translated from the spiritual prison of sin and unrighteousness to the new prison of righteousness where God abides. And those saved have a new boundary of being 100% forgiven and righteous…and the saved cannot not escape this wonderful prison by their own efforts either! Christ made sure of that on the cross! Jesus says clearly,

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” (John 6:37 KJV)

Those who turn to God, and accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior. Those that believe Jesus was born of the virgin Mary, born without the sin curse passed down since the fall in the Garden of Eden. That Jesus died on the cross and at that time accepted the punishment for the sins of the whole world and took upon Himself our sins. Instead of God punishing us for our sins, He became a human (Jesus the Christ) and bore our deserved punishment so that His perfect justice would be served. Those that accept this eternal pardon of sin are now called now “the SAVED”.

It is not working your way out of sin – which is a hopeless endeavor. It is not a religious thing; it’s a relational, positional issue between you and God Almighty. It is by faith, believing in the grace and mercy of God toward us and by believing and accepting this great gift of forgiveness; believing in Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Savior from what? From your sin debt!

“Being then MADE FREE from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” (Romans 6:18 KJV)

As Christians, we did not make ourselves free from sin! It says we were MADE FREE. By whom? By Christ Jesus! The saved have become a servant slave to righteousness! And before accepting Christ as Lord and savior Paul says, “For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.” There you can see the big flip in our relationship with God! It is a positional change. A prisoner transfer from the prison of unrighteousness, separated from God to the prison of righteousness with God. What a gift!

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” ( John 8:31-36 KJV)

The prison of righteousness is a prison of FREEDOM from sin. Notice that even though God loves you and I, and even though God is perfectly merciful towards you and I, He did not forgive us in a wishy washy way. That is, the punishment for your sin and my sin, still had to be PAID IN FULL. God is perfectly just right? He is not going to just say, “well you did some good deeds to make up for your sin, enter heaven”. NO! God is perfectly Holy and perfectly JUST too! The reality is that God loves you and I so much that He sent His own son to take upon Himself, the punishment we deserve. Jesus, the second part of the trinity of God, who never sinned, became a perfect sacrifice so we could be 100% forgiven for all our sins.

“That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:15-17 KJV)

That is what true salvation is all about. It is a loving and merciful gift from God, not anything we do or did. And as a gift, it must be received. Will you receive God’s gift of eternal life?

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 KJV)

We Were Given The Righteousness Of Christ

Jesus received the punishment we deserved as sinners and so we are now saved from our sin debt. We are completely forgiven in Christ. Many stop there but there is more to it then just this awesome gift of love toward the whole human race. We were not only forgiven by this great act of love. There is more to this gift from God! In 2 Corinthians 5:21 it reads,

“For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV)

An exchange was made when Jesus on the cross cried out, “It is finished!” (John 19:30) Christ redeemed us from our punishment from our sins and then we became the very Righteousness of God in Christ. This is the divine exchange that freed us from the prison of sin and placed us within the prison of righteousness. What a gift God has provided us with. And at the Rapture, our bodies and minds and spirit will be just like Jesus is. As the Apostle John states,

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:2 KJV

Is There Really A God That Loves Me?

Don Gerrity Q&A: Knowing God, Q&A: Uncategorized List
The Blessed Hope

“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:20 KJV)

Notice that in this verse of Scripture it states that we can see evidence of God in creation. With all the extreme complexities in the universe there is still a harmony that can only be explained by believing that a designer created them. But how does God make his existence known to us personally? If we look at nature we can know that He does exist. Just because we cannot physically see God does not in any way mean that He does not exist. Look at such laws of nature as gravity, or even the wind. We can see, and feel, the effects of them even though we do not know where they originate from. Can you see the wind, or just the effects of the wind? So if you cannot see the wind, do you think the wind does not exist? Or do you believe that the wind does exist because you see and feel the effects of the wind? Though we cannot physically see the wind or gravity we know that they exist.

Suppose that God did create these laws. If God created them how much harder would it be to show who He is to each of us on a personal level? God would have to be infinite if he created every living being (after all, God started everything out of nothing). It would be extremely difficult for us to understand God, let alone relate to Him. We can see that He exists through what he created but He seems impersonal and `far off’ because we do not know how to relate to him.

What if God talked to you audibly? How would you know for certain that it was God and not some advanced technology? What if He came as a man with extraordinary powers that were used for miracles in order to relate to us? Who would believe that he was God? (We must ask this even of Christ Himself if we are to serve Him. We must know for sure that He is the true Son of God otherwise we would be serving under a false pretense.) Just imagine if modern day man built a time machine and went back in time 4000 years. What would the people of that time think about one of us dressed in a space suit having the ability to fly (with the use of a jet pack)? They could very well have thought that we were gods. If this is true, could not a man having a more advanced technology appear to perform miracles to us?

Another very important question to ask is, if God does exist which, if any, of the world’s religions and sacred books were inspired from the true God of the universe? How can our mortal minds know God and which world religion is the one that truly serves him? The fact is by ourselves we cannot. If God exists He would have to find a way to relate to us personally, in such a manner that it would leave no doubt in our minds that it is God trying to relate to us. But how could God do this? We must ask this of every religion; `How do I know that it is the truth?’ It is the answer to this question that sets Christianity apart from all other religions.

The Bible Is Comprised Of Historical Facts

There is much evidence from archaeology that confirm the Biblical accounts as historical facts. Even the school system (where God is not valid and prayer is prohibited) recognizes Biblical accounts as historical truth! What of other religions? The historical accuracy of the Bible has been vindicated many times over as have no other religious writings.

God Knows The Future And Tells Us The Future In The Bible

The biggest proof that the Bible is the word of God is also the simplest. It is the easiest for us to understand and helps us know that what the Bible says is true. It is the fulfillment of Bible Prophecy. Many sacred writings contain prophecy but prophecy fulfilled is missing from all other sacred writings except the Bible. In Isaiah, it reads,

“I am God, and there is none else; I am God and there is none like me, declaring the beginning from the end, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure” (Isaiah 46:9-10 KJV)

“I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them;” (Isaiah 48:5 KJV)

The God of the Bible out right tells us that not only is He the true God, but that He has proof that no other can claim. He says this to us so that we will know that He is the true God. To paraphrase the above Scripture; `BEFORE it came to pass I showed it to you so that you would not believe in false gods’ (or idols, and graven images). God reaches out toward us and reveals Himself as the true God with absolute proof! Can any other sacred writings actually prove so? Of course, this all is contingent on the statement being correct and that the said proof exists. And it does exist, very much so! All Bible prophecies, except those to still be fulfilled, have a 100% accuracy rate thus far.

What Is A Proof That The Bible Is The True Word Of God

It is the most important question that all of us must ask of all religions in order to believe that the one you choose is the true religion of the true God. God’s prophecies made a believer out of me. Without them I would still not know what to believe. Many do not realize the importance of Bible Prophecy but the fact that it comprises 30% of the Bible should send a signal to all of us. It still amazes me me how many of the largest Christian denominations never teach Bible Prophecy, yet it is vitally important to God!

How can we know that the prophecies of the Bible are true and will occur? If we look at the prophecies from the past that have already been fulfilled we can see just how accurate God’s prophecies are. If we look at the Old Testament it is clear that the Jewish people (God’s Chosen People) looked toward the Messiah’s first coming and his death on the cross. This is because of the prophecies about His first coming found in the Old Testament. We now look back at Christ’s first coming and death on the cross because of the precision with which the Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled. Here are just a couple of the many historical prophecies of the Old Testament that were fulfilled.

Fulfilled: The Coming Of The Messiah (Jesus the Christ)

The list of prophecy fulfilled regarding the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ is an overwhelming proof that the Bible is the true word of the true God. Here are some of the amazing prophecies fulfilled in Jesus:

He would be born of a virgin.

  • Old Testament: Isaiah 7:14,
  • New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 1:18-23

He would come from the tribe of Judah, one of the 12 tribes descended from Jacob.

  • Old Testament: Genesis 49:10
  • New Testament fulfillment: Luke 3:23-24

He would be born in Bethlehem.

  • Old Testament: Micah 5:2,
  • New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 2:1

He would be preceded by a messenger.

  • Old Testament: Isaiah 40:3,
  • New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 3:1-2

He would enter Jerusalem riding on a colt.

  • Old Testament: Zechariah 9:9,
  • New Testament fulfillment: Luke 19:35-37

He would be betrayed by a friend.

  • Old Testament: Psalm 41:9,
  • New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 26:47-50

He would be sold for 30 pieces of silver.

  • Old Testament: Zechariah 11:12,
  • New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 26:15

He would be beaten and spit upon.

  • Old Testament: Isaiah 50:6
  • New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 26:67

He would be wounded and whipped by his enemies.

  • Old Testament: Isaiah 53:5,
  • New testament fulfillment: Matthew 27:26

His hands and feet would be pierced.

  • Old Testament: Psalm 22:16,
  • New testament fulfillment: Luke 23:33

He would be crucified with thieves.

  • Old Testament: Isaiah 53:12,
  • New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 27:38

Men would cast lots for his clothing.

  • Old Testament: Psalm 34:20,
  • New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 27:35

He would not answer, or speak, to His accusers

  • Old Testament: Isaiah 53:7
  • New Testament fulfillment: Matthew 27:12-14

He would live again after dying.

  • Old Testament: Job 19:25,
  • New Testament fulfillment: John 2:19, Matthew 12:39, 16:3

His Ministry would start in the region of Galilee

  • Old Testament: Isaiah 9:1
  • New Testament Fulfillment: Matthew 4: 12-17

Would be rejected by His own people

  • Old Testament: Isaiah 53:2, 63:3, Psalms 69:8
  • New Testament Fulfillment: Luke 9:58; Mark 6:3, John 1:11

Have his price given for a potter’s field

  • Old Testament: Zechariah 11:13
  • New Testament Fulfillment: Matthew 27:7

He will be spat on and struck on the cheek and mocked

  • Old Testament: Micah 5:1, Isaiah 50:6, Psalms 22:7-8
  • New Testament Fulfillment: Matthew 26:67, Matthew 27:30-44

Be given vinegar to quench thirst

  • Old Testament: Psalms 69:21
  • New Testament Fulfillment: Matthew 27:34

The odds are too great to dismiss the truth of God’s prophecies. Some skeptics go as far as to say that Christ simply read the Old Testament prophecies and then did what they said. But how could anyone predict where he would be born and under what circumstance he was born? How could anyone predict that exactly two thieves would be crucified with him, or that men would cast lots for his clothing? And why would any man actually want to die such a horrible death on a cross? And let’s not forget that Jesus raised people from the dead, healed the lame and diseased, walked on water etc etc etc. These too add to the undeniable truth that He was the Messiah, the Son Of God. These are only a few of the prophecies of the Bible that have been fulfilled to the letter regarding Christ’s first coming. There are at minimal 200-300 such Prophecies that were fulfilled regarding Christ’s first coming! There are many other prophecies fulfilled and many prophecies are coming to pass right before our very eyes in this modern time.

Prophecy Fulfilled: A Proof That The Bible Is The True Word of The One True God

Prophecy fulfilled to such specific accuracy proves without a shadow of a doubt that the Bible is the word of the true God. God uses prophecy fulfilled to let us discern the truth from the fallacy. To let us know without doubting that the Bible is the true word of the one true God.

The Lord Of The Old Testament Is The Same As The In The New Testament

Don Gerrity Q&A: Knowing God
The Lord Of The Old Testament Is The Same As The In The New Testament

Why did God give us the Bible anyway? Was it just a matter of showing us right from wrong? Was it created as a guide for living as we should? Or does it go beyond that? One thing that “stunned” me in my search for the truth about God and the Bible was that the Word of God is not just words. In the book of John it reads,

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1 KJV)

This seems to be telling us that God was called the “Word” “in the beginning”. Remember that the first verse of the Bible starts with “In the beginning…” when describing God’s creation of the Heavens and the Earth. This seems to be stating that “The Word” existed before God created the heavens and the Earth and that “the Word” was “with God”, and is a being because it says He in fact was God. But why would this scripture exist? It seems to be just calling God by a different name. So why write this Scripture in the Bible anyway? Later in the book of John it becomes clearer when it states,

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14 KJV)

The only being “with God” in eternity past who became flesh is Jesus the Christ, the Messiah. As part of trinity of God (God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit), Jesus was the Son of God who became a human being to save the world by His act of atonement on the cross. So “The Word” in John 1:1 is Jesus before He became human, in eternity past. Jesus is called “The Word” in His per-incarnate state of being. And it says “in the beginning” as to show us that Jesus was the part of the Trinity that created the heavens and the Earth. Jesus did not come into existence at his human birth. He existed BEFORE the creation of the universe! He was God who became flesh (human). Jesus Himself acknowledges this to be true in the Scriptures.

“For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me; for he wrote of me.” (John 5:46 KJV)

Where did Moses write about Christ? Wasn’t it God the Father that spoke with Old Testament believers? There are some verses of Scripture that indicate that this is not be the case at all.

“No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, HE HATH DECLARED HIM.” (John 1:18 KJV)

“And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.” (John 5:37 KJV)

If this is the case, who was the Angel of the Lord in the Old Testament Scriptures? Who was the Angel of the Lord during the Exodus? Who was the God of the burning bush that Moses encountered? If you look at the Scriptures regarding the Exodus God makes it clear who He is when Moses asks God:

“And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?” (Exodus 3:13 KJV)

Here we see Moses asking what God’s name is. And so God answers him,

“And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you.”
(Exodus 3:14 KJV)

This makes it clear that the Old Testament God Head of the Trinity during the Exodus was called “I AM”. So who is the I AM of the God head? Father, Son, or Holy Spirit? Jesus Christ Himself gives us the answer in the book of John when he says,

“… Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am..” (John 8:58 KJV)

Jesus tells us clearly that He is the “I AM” of the Old Testament! Christ was the pillar of fire by night and the pillar of clouds by day (Exodus 13:21). Jesus was the person of the Trinity of God that led the Israelites out of Egypt during the Exodus. If we look in the book of Genesis we see the story of how Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed. The sudden appearance of three men caught the attention of Abraham as it reads,

“Then the Lord appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground.” (Genesis 18:4 KJV)

We see here that these were not just three men arriving near their tent. There was something stunning about these three. In fact, Abraham knew they were not just men because as they approached closer we see Abraham “bowed to the ground” . This is why it reads “the Lord appeared to Abraham…” One of these three visitors was the Lord. It was Jesus Christ Himself in his preincarnate form of “The Word”. It was the part of the Trinity known as “The Son”. Many Christians believe that God the Father is the Lord Almighty in the Old Testament and Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit in the New Testament. However, the Scriptures clearly state that it was God the Son, the “Word”, in both the Old and New Testament.

“I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.” (Jude 1:5 KJV)

Of course, this is in the literal sense. Because we know that the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are all God almighty together, one God and each are completely equal. So it was really all three persons of God in that sense. But it is also clear in Scripture that each part of the Trinity does take on specific tasks. After all, God the Father and the Holy Spirit did not become flesh and die on the cross, Jesus Christ, the Son did that. And when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostles in the upper room, it was clearly the Holy Spirit sent for that occasion. And Jesus said He would send the helper (Holy Spirit) to dwell in us starting at Pentecost. And for those wondering about the other two individuals in the Sodom and Gomorrah story; the other two appear to be Angels. Angels often appear as men on Earth as we see throughout the Bible. In the book of Hebrews it reads,

“Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” (Hebrews 13:1-2 KJV)

We often think from the human point of view until God shows us the truth in the Word of God, the Holy Bible, and then our eyes start opening to the reality and truth. The entire Bible, both New Testament and Old Testament are all focused on ONE CENTRAL BEING and He is Jesus The Christ, the Savior of the world.

The Blood Of Christ And The Passover

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The Blood Of Christ And The Passover

“And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.”
(Exodus 12:13 KJV)

This scripture is from the time of the Exodus when Moses led the enslaved Hebrew people out of Egypt. God told Moses to tell the Hebrew people to sacrifice a Lamb or Goat, without blemish.

“And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.”
(Exodus 12:6-7 KJV)

What was the reason or purpose for this? God continues,

“And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the Lord‘s passover. For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.”
(Exodus 12: 11-13 KJV)

If you think about this for a moment, why did God have to see the blood of the door posts to pass over them? As God, He knew full well where all the Hebrews were located to pass over them, right? Again, this Scripture gives us the answer to this when it states, “Now the blood shall be a sign for ‘you’. Notice it was not a sign for God to know where the Hebrews were located! It was a sign for YOU, is what it says. That is by doing this and placing the blood on the doors as instructed they showed that they have faith and believe that God will save them. How? By pure FAITH! It was a declaration by those that believed in God to any of the Hebrews (and Egyptians) that did not believe in God at that time.

Remember, the Hebrews were enslaved to hard labor in Egypt for 400 years! That is a long time. Do you think that some of the millions of Hebrews in Egypt gave up on God’s promise to free them? It may well be that some of the Hebrews did not believe in God anymore. So the blood on the doors was a sign for all the Hebrews (YOU), those that by faith believe God is going to save them and pass them over for the judgement of God. Any Hebrew or Egyptian household with a first born that did not place the blood as told, surely had their first born die. Those Hebrews that did not believe may have repented after this happened and as such were saved and freed, the hard way; that is they first seen the judgment of God and many who did not place the blood on the doors, may have turned to God as well.

If this is the case, which does seem reasonable, it may be a foreshadowing of our times in that God, through Christians witnessing about salvation, are telling all of the unrepentant sinners to accept the gift of salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ and be saved from the coming judgements of God. Yet many will not believe and will go through the Great Tribulation period in the future where they will see for themselves the result of our sins. Many of who will then turn back to God for salvation.

The Bible does indicate that during the Tribulation period on Earth that the most people in history will turn to God and accept salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. It is like doubting Thomas who did not believe that Christ was risen until he could see and touch Him. And when he seen and touched the risen Lord, THEN he truly believed.

The Hebrews were told by God, through Moses, to place some blood of the sacrifice on the top of the door, and to each side of the door. If you have not figured that out yet, that make the cross in blood. The animal sacrifice of a Lamb or Goat without blemish is a foreshadowing of Jesus Christ, (referred to many times in the Bible as the Lamb of God) the only innocent and sinless human being (without blemish) sacrificed in blood on the cross for our sins. The act of doing what was told and actually placing that blood on the outside of their doors was an act of belief and faith in God that they would be saved from the death judgement that was coming to all the first born of Egypt because of Pharaoh’s refusal to let God’s enslaved people go free.

Notice that God did not tell them to go do good deeds and thus be saved. No, it is God alone that would save them. And when you realize that the Lord and God of the Old Testament was Jesus Christ incarnate, (John 5:46) (that is Christ prior to His human birth) this is even more significant!

In the same way, it is the belief and faith a Christian has in Jesus Christ on the cross taking the punishment for our sins, even though He was innocent and sinless, that covers us from the Wrath to come on all the unrepentant. Either the wrath at the Great Tribulation period in our near future (here is an overview article on what the Tribulation period is from gotquestions.org), or saving us from the everlasting punishment of the wicked and unbelieving at the Great White Throne Judgement after the 1000 years of peace on Earth with Christ ruling.

Side Note: The Great White Throne Judgement is where all the unrepentant and what the Bible calls ‘The Wicked’, will be judged according to their works and will be cast into a place the Bible calls the Lake Of Fire which was prepared for Satan and the fallen angels in everlasting punishment. (Revelation 20:11-15)

The point of this article is that it was their faith in God alone that saved them at the Exodus and it is by faith alone, without works that a person’s sins are completely forgiven. When God looks at a repentant sinner, one who accepted God’s free gift of forgiveness through Christ’s Act of Atonement, He does not see the sins. Instead He sees the perfect righteousness of Christ. Did you know that when you became a believer in Christ that you became the righteousness of God in Him? Some Christians are shocked and even upset when I tell them this but it is very Scriptural. Believers are the righteousness of God in Christ! (whether they like it or feel it or not).

“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.“ (2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV)

“And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more. (Jeremiah 31:34 KJV)

“For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.” (Psalms 103:11-13 KJV)

Jesus became the final, once and for all, true Passover for all humankind. The sacrificial Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the whole world for all who believe (John 1:29).

Do you need to have the door posts of your life brushed with the blood of Christ to forgive your sins and avoid being part of the judgement of God Almighty?

We ALL do!