Jesus Only

[hadirfuss]

1-THROUGHOUT HISTORY

It seems throughout history, man has wondered what happens after death. Is there another life, or do we simply live and then die? There are many books claiming to have the answers, yet no book in the world has caused more debate than the bible. Some blindly believe it is untrue. Others receive it as God’s word. Some have studied it closely and discounted it. Others have studied it closely and are fully persuaded it must be the word of God. Some people love and believe the bible so strongly that they willingly risk death to make a stand for it. Others hate the bible so intensely that they will kill a person that owns one.

2-Virtually impossible to make eleven predictions

It has been stated that it would be virtually impossible that any one could make 11 straight predictions 1900 years into the future. There was only one chance in 8 x 10 to the 63rd power, or 80 with 63 zeros after it that such a thing could be done. If such a set of predictions existed, it would have to be the word of God.

Imagine trying to write 11 exact predictions 1900 years into the future. Include nations that would be aligned together and the exact size of an army. Tell what the people would be like. Cover what the nations would be like. Do this and add many more items. You might say it is impossible. The bible does exactly this and much more. The only possible conclusion an honest person can make is—the bible is the word of God.

3-The bible is given by inspiration of God

It is written, knowing this first that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost-2 Pe 1:20,21. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness-2 Tim 3;16. That is a key. Note God’s word says, profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, for instruction in righteousness.

4-Many people do not want their beliefs proven wrong

Many people do not want their beliefs proven wrong. They do not want to be reproved and corrected. They do not want to be told how they should live or what they can or cannot do. Many people want to live their own way now, but die as a saint. They do not want Jesus (God’s word) to reign over them. Thus, they sometimes choose to believe the bible is not true, or they spend very little time reading and studying it.

Sometimes they go to a church that preaches what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear. They choose deceit rather than truth, and they justify themselves. The bible commands people to repent, to change, to do God’s will rather than their own will. Few are willing to do this.

5-What does the bible teach?

So what does the holy book teach? It teaches us that there is a heaven and a hell. It teaches us that it is appointed unto men once to die and then the judgment. It teaches us there is only one way to go to heaven. If we reject that way, we will perish.
The final destination for all that reject God’s plan of salvation is eternal torment in the lake of fire: a fire which shall never be quenched, and there is no rest day nor night. It teaches us that there is a spirit called Satan who can and does lie to us in our minds and causes us to feel that what is right in God’s eyes is really wrong.

Satan deceives the whole world-ref rev 12:9. The bible teaches us that few people go to heaven, and many are rejected. They are rejected, because they did not believe and "obey" the gospel. They were never born-again, or if they were born-again they did not continue in the faith. It teaches us that there is a battle going on inside us.

6-A battle between truth and error

It is a battle between truth and error. God had said in gen 2:17-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. Then the serpent (the one we call satan) told the woman in gen 3:4-ye shall not surely die. We hear God's word, and we hear satan’s lies. Eve chose to believe satan’s lies. She ate, and died.

Satan tries to make us think the thoughts "he" puts in our minds are true, not lies. Our heart then makes the decision which we believe is true. As you are hearing or reading this message, you can also expect to have thoughts that some of what you are hearing is not correct. Fear God, and depart from evil. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God-heb 10:31.

7-Jesus is the only way

It is written, jn 14:6-Jesus saith unto him Iam the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the father, but by me. In jn 11:25,26, Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? We may ask, who is this that is making such claims saying that "he" is the way, he is the truth, he is the life, he is the resurrection, and further saying, no man cometh unto the father but by me?

Jesus christ is deity. He is God. He is the word. He is from everlasting to everlasting. He is the first and the last. He is the only begotten son of God. He is God manifested in the flesh. He is the beginning of the creation of God. For by him were all things created-col 1:16. He is the second person of the trinity: the Father, the word (Jesus), and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the almighty. He is Jehovah God-ref-jn 1:1,14; jn 3:16; mt 28:19; 2 jn 7; 1 jn 5:7; rev 1:8, 2:8, 3:14, 4:11; isa 42:1, 48:16, 61:1; gen 1:26.

Jn 10:9-Jesus said, I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. Rev 1:18- I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, i am alive for evermore, amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. It was Jesus that lived, was crucified, and was dead; but now, he is alive for evermore! Jn 10:27,28-my sheep hear my voice, and i know them, and they follow me: and i give unto them eternal life: and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Note, it is jesus that gives eternal life, but there is a price to be paid, as it is written, they follow me. If you seek eternal life, you must follow jesus.
Jesus tells us in jn 12:48-he that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that i have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. What you feel, what you think, what your church says, will mean nothing at the judgment. God’s word shall judge you. If you have not received God’s word (the bible), if you have not received the words of Jesus, you shall surely perish. He that believeth not the son (the word) shall not see life-jn 3:36.

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[hadirfuss]

Jn 3:16-18-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. The word believe may be defined as a total, uncompromising commitment of love and obedience. Few believe in Jesus this way.

1 jn 5:10-12-he that believeth on the son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his son. He that hath the son hath life; and he that hath not the son of God hath not life. 1 tim 2:5,6-for there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man christ Jesus; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

1 jn 5:20-and we know that the son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Acts 4:12-neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

Heb 5:8,9-though he were a son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that "obey" him. Again, we have a condition on salvation. It is obedience. He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that "obey" him, to those who obey the bible, to those who follow him. Only a few people study the bible diligently, and even fewer, submit to god’s word or obey it. Some follow blind leaders of the blind and think they are obeying god. They perish. Even among clergy, only a few are truly walking with God even though they may look like they are.

Ro 10:9-11-that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Llord jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that god hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
For the scripture saith, whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Thus, we need to believe on Jesus Christ. We need to follow him. We need to obey him. We need to believe in our heart that God raised him from the dead. We need to confess Jesus Christ openly and not let fear of what may happen cause us to be ashamed.

For is it written, mk 8:38-whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of "my words" in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the son of man be ashamed.
Some may say, mt 25:25-i was afraid. God tells them in mt 25:30-cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness. It is written, in 1 jn 2:23-whosoever denieth the son, the same hath not the father: but he that acknowledgeth the son hath the father also. Do you acknowledge the son in what you do, or do you deny him? Do you witness for him? Do you serve him? Do you love the brethren and love correction? Do you follow the lusts of the flesh, and thereby deny him? Do you partake of garbage on television, or take drugs, or smoke, or get drunk? Do you follow after illicit sex, pornography, or riches? If you own a television or automobile, which is more important to you? Is it the things of the word of God? Do you deny him, because you have not forgiven other people, or you have bitterness, or pride, or envy, or jealousy in your heart? Do you deny him, because having your own way is more important to you than yielding to god’s way? Are you selfish or stubborn or rebellious? Do the pleasures of this life, or cares of this world, or lusts of other things hinder you from following jesus? Are you a one-day-a-week type christian? Is there some secret sin you won’t let go of? Who or what is your god? Is it your church, or denomination, or your family, or wanting to be someone, or your mouth? Is it foolishness?

Ja 4:6-God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Who or what is your god? Is it your plans, your desires, wanting to get married, wanting to buy certain things? Is your god money and possessions, or possibly just wanting to please certain people more than god? What is your idol? Is your number one desire to study God’s word, and do it? Is your number one desire to win souls, and do the will of God, and be like Jesus?
This know, phili 2;10,11-that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the father. It is better to yield to Jesus now, than to face the judgment that sends you to the lake of fire.

2 jn 9-whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the father and the son. 2 jn 10-if there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him god speed: for he that biddeth him god speed is partaker of his evil deeds. Note the words-bring not this doctrine- evil deeds. Ro 6:23-for the wages of sin is death; but the gift of god is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Eph 4:4-6-there is one body, and one spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. Mk 12:10-12-and have ye not read this scripture; the stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?

8-The bible stands alone: nothing is to be added or subtracted

To follow Jesus is not the bible plus something. It is not the bible plus someone’s writing. It is not the bible plus another gospel. It is not the bible plus the traditions of a church or a denomination. It is not the bible plus someone’s interpretation. It is not the bible plus what man says. It is not parts of the bible, but the full gospel. It is not the bible plus dreams, visions, or prophecies. The bible stands alone. The bible is the authority by which all things are to be judged.

Any denomination or group that adds or takes away from God’s word, get away from it; no matter how big or small or influential that denomination, church, or group is. Reject falsehood. Is it not written, their idol is falsehood? Beware of those that preach another Jesus.

The scriptures warn us of false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. Remember, satan’s ministers are positive they are ministers of righteousness. They are very persuasive, because the part they play is themselves (ref 2 cor 11:13-15).

Mt 4:4-man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God

 

[DanV]

1-THROUGHOUT HISTORY
It seems throughout history, man has wondered what happens after death. Is there another life, or do we simply live and then die? There are many books claiming to have the answers, yet no book in the world has caused more debate than the bible. Some blindly believe it is untrue. Others receive it as God’s word. Some have studied it closely and discounted it. Others have studied it closely and are fully persuaded it must be the word of God. Some people love and believe the bible so strongly that they willingly risk death to make a stand for it. Others hate the bible so intensely that they will kill a person that owns one.
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In chapter 5 of 2 Corinthians is a continuation of Paul's reason for Joy in his Suffering. He had just said that the greater the Suffering in this present world the greater will be the Glory in Eternity. Paul's mind was on the Future World.

What is the teaching here? Is the New Body put on at the moment of Death? Death is spoken of as, not an Unclothing, but as Being Clothed - 2 Corinthians 5:4. To be Absent from the Body is to be At Home with the Lord - 2 Corinthians 5: 8. In Philippians 1:23 Death is regarded as a Departure to be With Christ, which is Very Far Better.

But in 1 Corinthians 15 and 1 Thessalonians 4 the Resurrection Body is connected with the Coming of Christ. Evidently, the teaching is that those who Die before the Lord's Coming enter immediately into a state of Conscious Blessedness with the Lord, which is very far Better than Life in the Flesh, but which still is short of the Glorious Existence following the Resurrection.

God Bless,

Dan