Paul tells us how to know Jesus better AMY… “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “WHO IS AND WHO WAS AND WHO IS TO COME, the Almighty.” (Rev. 1:8)
God ALWAYS HAS BEEN and ALWAYS WILL BE but most importantly for us, HE IS HERE RIGHT NOW. “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the FATHER, the WORD, and the HOLY SPIRIT; and THESE THREE ARE ONE.” (1 John 5:7) This verse is found in the “Textus Receptus” The Greek Text written by the original authors (John, Paul…). These original Greek Texts were almost all destroyed by the Bible haters. Long ago AMY, some of the religious leaders decided to leave out 1st John 5:7 because they felt it could cause confusion…
“In the beginning was THE WORD, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1) So, who is THE WORD? “…THE WORD became 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) Jesus Christ is THE WORD of God! “For God SO LOVED the world that He gave HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) Because of man’s sin, a perfect sacrifice was need to make atonement (the reconciliation of God and man) for our sins. Jesus was that PERFECT SACRIFICE!
Why was Jesus called the Word of God AMY? Now this is one of those God things that we just have to believe. Before Jesus was miraculously born of the virgin Mary, He was the WORD OF GOD. When God the Father spoke out of His mouth came The Word of God (Jesus) and the Word accomplished whatever was spoken by the Father. Then because of the need for a perfect sacrifice, Jesus was made flesh. “Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him (Jesus) ALL THINGS WERE CREATED that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. ALL THINGS WERE CREATED BY HIM AND FOR HIM.” (Col. 1:15-16)
A very important teaching of Jesus was about prayer, “…one of His disciples said, “Lord, teach us to pray, “WHEN you pray, say:
- OUR Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
- Your kingdom come. Your will be done (in me) as it is in heaven.
- Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins,
- For we also forgive everyone who (has sinned against) us.
- And do not lead us into temptation,
- But deliver us from the evil.” (Luke 11:1-4)
“WHEN” because prayer is not an option it’s a HEAVENLY OBLIGATION, “OUR” Jesus recognizes us as BROTHERS and SISTERS to Him. “…you received God’s Spirit when HE ADOPTED YOU (that happened when WE got saved) as HIS OWN CHILDREN. Now we call God, “Abba, Father…Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs (inheritors) of God and JOINT–HEIRS WITH CHRIST…” (Rom. 8:15, 17)
-Bill Stockham