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Believe In Me

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“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” – John 11:25-26

What does it mean to believe in Jesus, the son of the living God? Believing in Jesus is more than believing about him. It is trusting him. For our own sake, He demands that we trust in Him. Because of who He is, He is able to rescue us from condemnation, judgment, and the wrath of God. He calls us to believe in Him to get us out from the desperate situation each one of us is in.

How Jesus rescues us from condemnation and God’s wrath is by taking our punishment for sin onto Himself. Whereas he suffered and died as a penalty paid on our behalf.

As it is written in Isaiah 53:4-6:

“Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;”

Since there is nothing we can do to add to the redemptive work of Christ, He simply demands that we believe in Him. To keep us from God’s wrath.  To believe in Jesus is not only about knowing and accepting who He historically is, but it’s also trusting Him for who He really is. Believing in Jesus is trusting Him. As we thirst for nourishment, we drink for life-sustaining energy. To believe in Jesus is to thirst for the life He gives to those who trust Him. It is receiving Him. As our thirst becomes quenched by Him as our living water. 

Come to Me

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Those who God the Father has given to Jesus will become His. A chosen people who are given faith to believe will hear His voice and will come to Him. From a state of spiritual death, His people are called by his power and irresistible grace. To glorify Him and to enjoy Him forever. Belief and repentance are granted as a gift to those who are His. 

People are called to the Lord by the Father. Out of a state of slavery and spiritual death, they are called. People are recipients of God’s power to bring people to life spiritually to draw them to Him. As a people given to the Lord Jesus as His possession.

Furthermore, wherefrom repentance is given to those who believe and are drawn to Him; ultimately, they see Jesus as having a supreme value above all things. 

So once called, Jesus becomes our treasure. A holy treasure as we enter the narrow gate and walk a hard way of life. A hard way of life because, in this world, it is very difficult to value Jesus above all things (Matt 5:29-30).

Jesus demands that we come to Him. It is to accept Him and God’s gift of repentance to enjoy Jesus and God the Father above all for our eternal security. For His glory and the Father’s good pleasure.

Lose It All

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Harsh, it seems. However, the warning is an act of enormous mercy during this time of grace.  It is what we are called to do, both for believers and unbelievers alike. If we do not, the soul will not survive. The unrepentant will be given over to oblivion. 

Given over to eternal separation and lasting suffering. So there is an urgency to this demand from Jesus because our time is short. By the certain and clear words of Jesus, those who do not repent will perish in God’s judgment. 

So today, I spent time in Luke 16. This is where we are reminded of the rich man’s situation—having been in abundance and no felt need upon God. He neglected his standing before the Lord and those among him.

“There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side.

The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you, a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’

And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house— for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’ ”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Lk 16:19–31). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

The evidence of repentance in a person’s life is what by the Spirit is doing within. If there is authentic repentance, that person is bearing fruit. It is the fruit of the Spirit that confirms a person’s standing. Through the word, ask for the faith that produces repentance for your enduring sanctification. Repent and put your faith in Christ so that you shall be saved.

Dead or Alive

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There was a time when God promised that he would cause his people to be born again. A clear promise from within the book of Ezekiel (Ezk 36:25-27). 

Following thereafter, Jesus spoke to Nicodemus saying, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” God the son knew he was speaking to generations through Nicodemus.  

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Jn 3:3). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

The world consists of two types of people. Those who are spiritually alive and those who are spiritually dead. And what Jesus demands of Nicodemus is what He demands of everyone in the world. 

When the Spirit does find itself into God’s people, nothing is ever the same. You’re reborn and sealed. When the Holy Spirit comes to take up residence into your being. When everything who you were previously would tell you, “this is foolish.” Then in time, you begin to understand, the dead can’t see.

Grave Condition

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“Their throat is an open grave”

Cited from Ps. 14:1-4 are the words that clearly spell out the condition of people who are separated from God. As again referenced by Rom. 3:11-18, the specifics are about what people are predisposed to. To reinforce the fact that no one is righteous.

10  as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one;
11  no one understands; no one seeks for God.
12  All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, Not even one.”
13  “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.”
14  “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
15  “Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16  in their paths are ruin and misery,
17  and the way of peace they have not known.”
18  “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Ro 3:11–18).

Trace of a Saint

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Higher Calling

Set apart and called for a purpose isolated, narrow, and exceedingly difficult to live. To press and to strive, to be willing to go and do. To produce and make certain the miracle of obedience born within.

Having just finished a slow-walk study of Acts where the ancient manuscript ends with the Apostle Paul in Rome, I have again undertaken a careful effort to go through the book of Romans. To retrace steps earlier taken. On the hope that the words will bring life and they are life and echo well beyond where we are.

I am newly awakened that the next 16 chapters are loaded with deep meaning from the Eternal and Most High. Far beyond my ability to absorb too much at once, I find myself going in reverse quite a bit. A rewind and retake of sorts to ponder, “Father what did you just say?” or “what was that again?” Numerous times anew to push me back in my seat and just mumble ‘wow’. Revealed are the words falling afresh. To newly accept what is accomplished as reality from a perspective that is not my own.

Out of my isolation, I am made aware and informed. Of a truth that I have seen before but have not recognized.

These are the words:

To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

For some reason, especially certain and assured that these words will have the greatest bearing in the afterlife.

276 Souls

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On the verge of shipwreck, Paul the Apostle as a prisoner of Rome is with a crew of sailors, soldiers, and prisoners on a vessel bound for Italy. They were about 276 persons in all. By the revelation of the Lord Jesus’ presence that Paul was to go before Caesar. To answer false accusations, but also to bring his testimony before Gentiles. Some Gentiles of which were of considerable influence and were being made accountable before the living God. They were made accountable in the hearing of Paul’s testimony while appearing before king Agrippa, governors Felix and Festus, and emperor Caesar. He witnessed that the Lord Jesus was pressing upon them the meaning of God’s kingdom as spoken of by Himself and the prophets. 

Throughout Acts, from Pentecost all the way to Paul’s missionary journeys, the Holy Spirit was bringing to life Gentiles throughout numerous far-off locations. As the good news of redemption through Jesus made its way beyond the Jews, Paul the Apostle through great hardship carried the gospel to the common person.

So as commissioned by the Lord, Paul fully obeyed and sought to honor our Most High King. Among 276 souls and through distress, fear, uncertainty, beatings, imprisonment, and poisoning, he was brought through by what Jesus had him do. For His glory and for the people claimed for His kingdom. 

That even when the Lord’s originally chosen people would not accept the prophets or Himself, His apostles would take the gospel to the common people, and the Lord would breathe His Spirit among them and bring them to life. 

As it is written: 

“Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen.” [When he had spoken these words, the Jews departed, having a great dispute among themselves.] And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.” -Acts 28:28-31

Forsaken King

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The Lord Jesus, our King, once forsaken by not only God the Father in our atonement but by His apostles beforehand. First Judas, when Satan entered into him to betray the Lord. Then Peter, with his denial of Jesus three times. Upon finishing the Passover supper, the Lord’s suffering began not at the point of His entrapment. His trials began well before that and became pronounced mainly from the time of the Last Supper onward.

(a.) Forsaken – Satan demanded to sift Peter to ruin Jesus’ work and His followers
(b.) Forsaken – Satan entered into Judas where he would afterward betray Jesus to religious leaders
(c.) Forsaken – While Jesus prayed at the Mount of Olives in severe agony from his sorrow, His apostles were asleep nearby
(d.) Forsaken – Peter denied Jesus three times while with others in the Lord’s presence
(e.) Forsaken – By God the Father upon the Lord’s crucifixion

The Gathering

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The will of the living God sets in advance eternal outcomes. It is made sure through all of creation and through the faith of His people. More specifically, it is faith as a spiritual dimension bestowed that somehow resonates with the will of YWHW.

Yet there are those who come and there are those who will not. In refusal, a choice of a will is enslaved to sin. To the eternal glory of God one way or another.

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, and it is they that bear witness about me, yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.”

For the weary and burdened, for those who are given to abundant life. Because, we bear His image, because of His infinite love, for His glory, and for His purposes.

Come to Christ to find rest for your soul.

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Wandering Soul

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“And Cain said unto the Lord, My punishment is greater than I can bear.” In sadness and darkness and terror did the unhappy wretch set out upon his wanderings. Yet not in solitude. Even in this punishment, God had mercy; He gave Cain human companionship to soften and sustain him. The Bible makes no positive statement of any daughters born thus early to Eve; but Hebrew legends mention them, and the Scripture leaves us to assume them. For presently it speaks of Cain’s wife as accompanying him, and then of a son and grandsons gathering around the pair.

‎The little party fled from the more fertile regions of earth. Part of the curse upon Cain had been that when he tilled the ground he should get but little return in crops. This implies that his journeying was through a barren land. Hence the artist has here pictured Cain with fear fixed forever on his brow, leading his unhappy band through a wilderness, that dark and mysterious “land of Nod” wherein the Bible tells us that he dwelled.”

The Bible and its Story, Volume 1: The Law, Genesis to Leviticus 
Bewer, Julius; Horne, Charles

Face Like The Sun

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In Matthew 17, an amazing thing happens. Centuries ago four men head up to a high mountain where they came upon a situation that brought about wonder, deep reverence, and distress. While three of them were among themselves, the fourth one transformed into a being of a glorified appearance. Specifically, the man’s face emitted an intense shine like the sun. The man’s clothing became white as light. That man was Jesus the Messiah, the son of the Most High God.

Thereafter, two additional men who were once dead from thousands of years ago appeared with Jesus. To speak with Him, those men were Moses and Elijah. The two men that were speaking with Jesus as He was transformed into His glorified state. Who had his attention while a bright cloud appeared among them.

It was a cloud that appeared also among Jesus’ apostles as they were concerned about shelter and safety on the mountain where the encounter occurred. It was a cloud from which the Voice of YHWH spoke. The voice with a message to the negligent and reckless, “Listen to Him.” As the living God gave His reason; He was and is well-pleased with Jesus. By infinite wisdom and grace, it was a message to listen. A message from the living God about the man whose face shone like the sun. Listen to Him.

The Winnowing Fork

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The winnowing fork in Matt 3:11-12 refers to the separation of both the repentant and the unrepentant. In my study today, it occurred to me that the chaff thrown into the unquenchable fire is the unrepentant. The unquenchable fire is not temporary as by baptism, but a “fire” everlasting.

Those who repent and trust in him will receive the blessing of the Holy Spirit (Joel 2:28-29, Acts 2:16-21), while the unrepentant will receive the judgment of eternal fire, and even the repentant may undergo purifying fire. 

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He (Jesus) will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” -Mt 3:11-12