“GOD IS SPIRIT (pneuma: an essence, devoid of matter but full of awesome power) and those who worship Him must worship IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH.” (John 4:24) Because Jesus is the truth! “Jesus said, “I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE. NO ONE comes to the Father EXCEPT THROUGH ME.” (John 14:6)
What is Man? “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole SPIRIT, SOUL, and BODY be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23)
What about our spiritual part? “…you He made alive, who WERE DEAD in trespasses and sins.” (Ephesians 2:1) “What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things IS DEATH. But now having been SET FREE FROM SIN, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH, but the gift of God is ETERNAL LIFE in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:21-23)
God had warned Adam that HE WOULD DIE. He had told Adam not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. In Genesis 2:17. the original Hebrew records God as saying, “if you eat, YOU SHALL DIE.” Adam and Eve suffered a SPIRITUAL DEATH and passed that along to ALL MANKIND. That’s why Jesus said to Nicodemus, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is BORN AGAIN, he cannot see the kingdom of God…Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN.’” (John 3:3-7)
How do we become BORN AGAIN? The term in the original Greek text is gennaṓ (born) meaning “to regenerate” and ańōthen (again) meaning “from above, anew.” Both meanings are consistent with the redeeming purpose. The label of Christian (Christianos) means “follower of Christ.” The born-again Christian has accepted this supernatural transformation from sin to righteousness, evil to good. Jesus saves us “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to HIS MERCY He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit…” (Titus 3:5) “For BY GRACE you have been saved THROUGH FAITH, and that not of yourselves; it is the GIFT OF GOD, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
“SO, TURN AWAY FROM YOUR SINS (Repent). TURN TO GOD (ask God to forgive you). THEN YOUR SINS WILL BE WIPED AWAY. THAT’S WHEN THE LORD MAKES EVERYTHING NEW.” (Acts 3:19)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham