What If Jesus Christ is the Only Way to God?

To understand the fact that Jesus Christ is the only way to God, you need to know what has separated you from God. Maybe you have never had this explained to you before. I trust this will be helpful to you. It all started in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve disobeyed God. This act brought sin into the world. Sin separates people from God. Thus, man was separated from God through this act of rebellion against God's will. The problem was that when Adam and Eve fell into sin and out of fellowship with God, they brought death into the world. This was spiritual as well as physical death. At this time, Satan bound the human race to a covenant to serve him rather than God. Thus, there needed to be a way for people to get to God through a new covenant with God. Jesus is the new covenant that God has made with humankind to restore their fellowship with God. Jesus is the only covenant that has been made by God to renew our relationship with Him. If God had not made this new covenant with the human race, there would have been no hope of us having fellowship with Him.
Why could there not be other ways for me to have fellowship with God? Why is Jesus the only way to get to God? This is an easy one. God only made one way to get to Himself. Jesus is the only covenant God made with us. The book of Hebrews in the Christian's New Testament Bible explains this new covenant.

How can I know Jesus is the only way to God? How do I know the Christian religion is not one of many ways to God? How do I know the New Testament is the true covenant God has made and not just what a few men came up with about 2000 years ago? These are honest questions and are worthy of honest answers! It was necessary for a perfect sacrifice to be made that would satisfy the justice of God. Jesus' sacrifice is the only perfect sacrifice that could pay for your sins and open a way for you to renew your relationship with God. This is not easy to understand. I will explain this further in the next article. The way you can know for yourself is to follow John 3:16, 17. When your life is transformed, you will know.

Maybe all of this can be understood by taking an example. Say you have a judge that you are facing for a crime you have done against him. You plead guilty. The judge gives you a sentence of death. To your surprise a person comes forward and pleads with the judge that he be allowed to take your sentence and that you be allowed to go free. Your slate is wiped clean and in the process of all this the judge becomes your friend, and you are treated as though the crime had never taken place. Now put God the Father in place of the Judge, put you in place of the rebel against the Judge, and Jesus Christ, God's Son, as the one that has taken your place so you could go free. Do you know of any one else who could or would do this for you?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2892555

Foundations Of The Christian Faith - Faith Toward God

Faith is believing beyond what we can see or feel. Rather, it is means to believe with the heart, our spirit, our inward man. Faith is much stronger than a fleeting emotion, which has no stability, but is enticed and motivated by the winds of change which blow constantly in divers directions, never seeming to get its feet on solid ground.

Indeed, the person who decides to live by the notion that, "If it feels right, it must be right" and "If it feels good, do it", can testify that a live influenced by every feeling which an individual experiences will be filled with much misery, regret and decay. Feelings are not always reliable. They are to be enjoyed, but not depended upon.

Christianity is not based upon how we feel. It is stable and reliable. It is by faith. It is believing in God and what He says, beyond how things appear. This is actually the second of the six foundational teachings of Christianity. We must have faith toward God and we must develop faith in God.
No intelligent person, who desires to know truth will deny that there is a God. Even creation itself reveals that God exists. The world is too well put together and the universe too magnificent and vast for any real thinking person to doubt that a Being of Enormous Power, Wisdom, Intelligence and Might created it. This Being is God. Some call Him the Higher Power. Indeed He is. He is the One Who made everything and therefore He is the One to Whom all will have to give account.

The first of the Doctrines of the Christian Faith is Repentance from Dead Works. This means to turn around from sin and all religious works which cannot give a person right-standing with the Creator of the universe, a Righteous and Holy God. The next step is to have faith in God and in what He has done to bring us back to Himself.

Did I say, "bring us back"? Indeed I did, for something happened which had separated us from our God. The story can be found in the first Book of the Bible, the Book of Genesis. Almighty God had created man in His image and after His likeness. Man was made for the purpose of fellowshipping with God. Man had right-standing with God. He was clean, innocent, and holy. God made man like Himself and for Himself. Man however decided to go against God, being tempted by an angel, a fallen angel who did not want to submit himself to the very One Who made him. We in Christianity call him the devil. He is wicked, evil and full of lies and deceptions.

He tempted man and mankind succumbed to that tempter. When the first man, Adam, and his wife, listened to and obeyed God's enemy, the fallen angel, they fell from their right-standing with God. They were now sinners, meaning that they were in sin and incapable of helping themselves get out of it. This is what the phrase in the Bible, "dead in sin" means. (Ephesians 2:1-3)
This sinful nature they passed down, through birth, to all of humanity. (Romans 5:12, The Bible). All of us came into this world with a nature of sin. It is said that man is inherently good. According to the teachings of the Bible, this is not so. Man is inherently evil, until he repents and turns to God in faith that what God has provided for man can set us free and bring us back into right-standing with Himself.

God, in seeing man-kind's situation determined, because of His great love for us, to help us. We could not help ourselves. So God sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ to die for us and shed His blood to wash away our sinful nature, bringing us once again into right-standing with God as His very children.
This is the real essence of faith toward God. We must believe that God sent His Son to die for our sins. We must believe that Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins and that God raised Him from the dead. We must believe that we can now come to God and be His children, obtaining a righteous position with Him once again, not on the basis of what we have done, but rather on the basis of what He has done for us in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. And we must receive God's Son, the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and personal Savior.

This is the second of the foundational teachings of Christianity. Please continue to search EzinesArticles for the third of these lessons on the Foundational Doctrines of The Christian Faith.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5814516

Christian Faith-vs-Religious Works

I guess it started with the seeming argument between Paul and James as to whether faith can always be seen in a physical action or is just a spiritual reality. Sadly, there are Christians today, so strongly believing either side of this issue that they won't talk to each other. Some believe faith must be accompanied by certain outward actions or it isn't real, while others believe faith requires no action at all. This article is dedicated, first, to show both sides they are wrong, and, second, to show that Paul and James were in agreement on the issue of faith and works. A tall order, I know!

Looking For Evidence: The "religious works" camp seems bent on finding physical evidence for every spiritual act of faith. For instance, have you ever heard someone say, in order to show that you believe in Jesus, you must be baptized, testify to one or more people, publicly confess sin, publicly express regret for sin, or pray the "sinner's" prayer? These are all a result of religious people demanding a physical sign so they can be "shown" your faith. Other religious people expect you to publicly display certain "gifts of the Spirit" so they can be shown you have faith that you've received the Holy Spirit. Still others demand you show answered prayer, personal wealth or personal poverty, all as signs or faith. Over the years, these demands for religious works and signs have acted as stumbling blocks to keep people from a relationship with Jesus because they wanted their spiritual life to be private between themselves and their God. Many baby Christians have been led to doubt their own salvation or to fake signs in order to accommodate the expectations of others.

Modern Day Judaizers: People who place these stumbling blocks and doubts in front of people are not acting out of faith, but a religious works mentality. In Paul's time there were "Judaizers" who traveled around the churches to tell people they were not real Christians unless they were circumcised. Paul cautioned the churches that, in fact, performing a religious act to be saved, is the opposite of faith. If you believe you have to be physically circumcised or physically baptized (or any other physical act) to be saved, you can't believe Jesus saved you. You either believe Jesus can save you without your religious act or you believe your religious act has saved you. Where do you place your faith? People who teach the need for physical evidence of a Spiritual act are running a grave risk...they risk the very faith they proclaim.

Who Judges Faith? The mistake these people make is in thinking there will be some outward sign they can see and agree upon that "proves" a spiritual thing has taken place. The Bible never gives us the responsibility, authority or ability to someone's faith. In fact, it's clear from the Bible, we're incapable of judging even our own hearts and motives...even unable to refrain from sinning, according to Paul, John and Peter. Since Jesus said to perfect ourselves before we go to judging others, where do we get this idea that we can judge the faith of someone, based on a few outward acts? Jesus warned us that there would be many deceived by false signs and wonders. He is the only one who can judge true faith.

What Is Christian Faith? True faith is defined in the Bible as belief in things unseen and hoped for. If we require a sign, we lack faith. Does this mean that James was wrong to say that faith without works was useless? Not at all! Paul, in fact, quotes the Old Testament in saying, "By faith, the just shall live." Our every act is shaped by what we believe...we can't do otherwise for very long. Are Jesus and the Apostles wrong to ask for confessions or baptism of those coming to Christ? Of course not! It's just that we are wrong, and not acting in faith, ourselves, if we believe these acts "prove" a work of the Holy Spirit...or worse...are required so that the Holy Spirit can work.

Jesus said "if you believe" you have eternal life, and, if you "don't believe" you are condemned. What is it about our sinful nature that makes us want to make it more complicated than that? A woman who had not displayed any spiritual gifts was asked once how she knew she had received the Holy Spirit. She said, "God promised it! I asked for it! That settles it!" Her bottom line is ours, as well. When we look for more than faith, we're looking away from faith to other things. I believe Paul and James would agree, while faith without works is useless, looking for works to prove faith, is both useless...and faithless.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/423859

Paul Says Speak in Tongues But Not in Public

Paul was the King of teaching and man of mighty signs and wonders. Penning one third of the New Testament he had the right to speak on the gifts of the Holy Spirit and in 1 Corinthians 14 he speaks especially about tongues, prophecy and proper church policy. Join me as we look at 1 Corinthians 14:1-2.

OUR TEXT:
1 Corinthians 14:1-2
Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2 For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

If you read my first article on 1 Corinthians 14:1 you would have seen me unpack - "Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy."
Yet for you who have not read that lets refresh verse I Corinthians 14:1
First of all God says through His Son that the two greatest commandments are to love Him above every thing else, and to love your neighbour as you love yourself.

Paul says that we are to pursue this love of God and pursure this love of mankind. One of the most exciting ways of serving and helping lost humanity that costs nothing and does great things is to walk in the gift of prophecy.

Many people do no know that prophecy or being prophetic means that you can walk in 3 gifts of the Holy Spirit:

1. Word of Knowledge (i.e. Supernatural knowledge about a person present life circumstances or past, information you just could not have known. Like Jesus knowing the name of Tax collecter in the tree that wanted to see Him pass by. Or like how Jesus knew the woman at Jacobs well in Samaria had been married five times and was presently in sexual relationship with a man that was not her husband. This ability to "read a person's mail" is very powerful.

2. Word of wisdom (i.e The ability to give people God's solution and directions for a person's life or problems.)

3. Prophecy (i.e The ability to tell a person their purpose in life, their future, and any other comforting words God wants to speak to them.
Imagine if you could do all that?

Well these gifts are just one prayer away and so far 400 people I have prayed for have done prophecies over my life that proved to me and them that they had received the gifts after the prayer.
Now bearing all this in mind, let us look at 1 Corinthians 14:2 which says:
For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries.

So what is the use to a person compared to the 3 gifts of prophecy if you go up to them and speak in tongues to them. Tongues is like speaking Japanese to a person who does not even know how to say hello in that language let alone anything else.

You wouldn't persist to try to speak to a new Chinese arrival in your country that waved at you and said "No English, Can't speak English."

Ignoring this Chinese person who had learned how to warn people that they have no idea what you are talking about, and continuing to try and talk to them would make you a fool. You would have to be crazy or mentally challenged.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4445902

Love Endures

In 1 Corinthians 13 the very first gift that Paul sets love over and against is tongues. In Paul's day as in ours tongues was a special concern. Two kinds of tongues are mentioned here: tongues of men and tongues of angels. This is the only time that the phrase "tongues of angels" occurs in Scripture. The obvious references can only be to human and angelic languages. No doubt Paul had encountered glossolalia among some of the Corinthian members. Given what we have seen about the desire of some of the Corinthians to mix Greek ideas into their Christian theology, it should come as no surprise that the highly valued spiritual practices of the Greeks at the highly valued Oracle of Delphi, and no doubt elsewhere, had found their way into Corinthian worship. People seem to have a natural propensity for religious syncretism.

Indeed, the idea of mystical communication and its interpretation by specialized priests has a very long history in the religions of humanity. Even the Roman Catholic Church has held on to vestiges of this practice into the Twenty-First Century. Until Vatican II the Roman Catholic Church recommended that church members not read the Bible because of its interpretative difficulties. Rather, Catholics were to rely upon the clergy in this regard. The clergy would read and explain the Scriptures for the people. The point is that such a practice was simply the continuation of what I have called God's mystical communication and its interpretation by specialized priests.

Paul's mention of tongues of angels is, I believe, an allusion to the practice of mystery glossolalia that had become part of the Corinthian church experience. If so -- and I believe it was, Paul was placing the gift of love above it. He said that Christian love is more important than mysterious communication with God, even more important than translating the gospel into foreign languages. Why? Because apart from the primacy of Christian love, any translation of the gospel into a foreign tongue would be inadequate and inaccurate because the person doing the translating would lack the main ingredient of faithfulness -- love.

In addition, Christian love is more important than communication with angels. Why? Because Jesus Christ has been given all authority and anything divine that needs to be communicated has been or will be communicated through Him and/or through the structures of authority that have been given in Scripture. Angels take a back seat in the light of Christ.

In essence, Paul was saying that Christian love is more important than anything anyone can say, more important than words. As the old adage goes, "Actions speak louder than words." Apart from the actual manifestation of Christian love, words are just noise. "And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:2).

Paul said that love is more important, more valuable than the ability to perform miracles. This is a big one. To be able to miraculously move mountains from one place to another is nothing compared to Christian love. Even perfect and complete understanding of all religious mysteries and all knowledge of the world are nothing compared to Christian love. Paul is saying that not only are words without love nothing more than meaningless noise, but that thinking itself, thought and understanding are nothing without love. Any thought or ideas that anyone may bring to the table in defense of some position -- any position about anything -- is nothing but noise apart from Christian love. Paul has essentially and effectively undermined all opposition to the love of Jesus Christ, which manifests as Christian love among God's people.

"If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing" (1 Corinthians 13:3). Here Paul suggests that people can do sacrificial things, good things, noble things, and still lack the essential ingredient of Christian love. But to do so amounts to nothing. Even martyrdom can be nothing but an effort of works-righteousness apart from the actual manifestation of Christian love provided through regeneration by the power and presence of God's Holy Spirit in the lives of believers. This is a very significant statement because it identifies Christianity as an expression of Christian love, not theology, not mystery, not personal sacrifice or commitment to some ideal. Agape is love in action. Having said this Paul moves on to define

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 is a call to Christian faithfulness. Here is the very heart of Christianity. Here are the characteristics that necessarily mark all Christians. And conversely, anyone who claims to be a Christian but does not manifest these characteristics is deluded about his or her membership in the body of Christ.

What is patience other than the good-natured tolerance of delay and incompetence? Patience means not flying off the handle when things don't go they way that you think they ought to go. Patience means endurance and perseverance in the face of difficulty, complexity and confusion. Patience means not chomping at the bit. Patience and worry are opposites.

Kindness and patience go hand-in-hand. Kindness means being warmhearted, considerate, humane and sympathetic toward others. Patience and kindness are related to manners, social deportment. Manners are the commonly understood and practiced behaviors that communicate kindness and patience. Manners provide various ways to demonstrate kindness and patience. Manners give legs (or wings) to kindness and patience.

Paul then shifts gears and sets out some limitations to his definition of love by expressing what it is not. The definition of a thing in the negative, saying what something is not, is a way to provide for maximum freedom of definition. The Ten Commandments employ this method. By saying what a thing isn't, you allow the widest possible interpretation of what a thing is by setting the limit at what it is not. Love is many things to many people, and we are free to understand love in many different ways. There are as many ways to understand love as there are people, and yet the various understandings of love have much in common. So, rather than trying to provide a detailed list of everything that love is -- an impossible task, Paul simply says what it is not. And by implication, then, as long as these negative characteristics are avoided, all other definitions of love are viable.

Love is not envious or boastful, said Paul. Both envy and boasting are functions of pride. So, Paul is saying that love and pride are opposites, and that they don't and cannot mix. Nor is love arrogant or rude. Arrogance issues from feelings of unwarranted importance or overbearing pride. To be rude is to lack civility or good manners. And again, we see that arrogance and rudeness are functions of pride.
In addition, love "does not insist on its own way" (1 Corinthians 13:5). Of all of the characteristics Paul enumerates, this may be the most important. It means that love understands itself to be a servant, not a master. To love another is to live in service to him or her. And to keep this service from simply feeding the ego of the person loved, Christian love is first given to Jesus Christ. Christians love Christ first and foremost, and then love their brothers and sisters in Christ as an expression of their love for Christ. This means that our service to those we love is not a matter of simply doing whatever they want us to do for them. But rather it means that our service to those we love in Christ is a matter of doing what Christ wants us to do for them. Christ is the governor of our love and service. By loving Christ first and foremost our love for others in Christ does not serve or feed the selfish desires that abide in the breast of every person. Rather, our love for and service to others is directed, not by them, not by their felt needs, but by Christ.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4222998

What to Do When Things Get Tough: Consider Jesus

Anything under God's control is never out of control. ~ Charles Swindoll

When someone asks how you're doing, do you often respond, "I'm OK, considering the circumstances"?

Are you so wrapped up in what's going on around you that you forget what's going on inside you? It's easy to do, I'll admit, but there is always another way to look at things-through the eyes of Jesus. You see, Jesus defeated every possible problem or circumstance you could ever face.

When did He do that? When He faced satan on his own turf! The Bible gleefully explains that Jesus despoiled principalities and powers, [making] a show of them openly, triumphing over them (Col. 2:15). Despoiled means He devastated, ransacked, pillaged, laid waste and stripped them of their power. In Christ, we have access through faith into that same power to despoil the circumstances of our own lives. Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace, that the promise might be sure to all the seed... (Rom. 4:16).

Where did He do it? On the cross and into the very depths of hell. Surrounded by every demonic power and evil intention, He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities, the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole (Is. 53:5 AMPC). Jesus took every evil work into Himself-and won! Your peace, well-being, wholeness and victory over every circumstance were taken care of forever by the toughest guy in heaven and earth.

How did He do it? God transferred the punishment for every guilt, every sin, and every bad thing anyone has ever done or will ever do onto Jesus. In the Old Testament, sheep, goats, birds and other animals were the substitute sacrifices for the Israelites' sins. In the New Testament, Jesus was the scapegoat, the sacrificial Lamb. Behold, the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)

If you've ever read or heard about how the English monarchy raised their royal children, you've heard of a whipping boy. A young lad was assigned as the substitute to receive any punishment that the prince deserved. In that same fashion, Jesus took the punishment that was due to mankind and satisfied Royal justice forever.

Why did He do it? To give you victory (I Cor. 15:17) and to prove that whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world (I John 5:4) Satan's goal is to make things tough so that you are too busy worrying about the outcome to be a threat to his kingdom. The thief cometh not but to steal and to kill and to destroy (John 10:10). Jesus said. "I am come that you might have life, and have it more abundantly! The Amplified Classic Edition confirms that Jesus came so that you could have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

Over not Under

Jesus was never 'under the circumstances' and He doesn't want you to be there either. When Jesus appeared to His followers after His resurrection, He spoke unto them saying, "All power is given unto me in Heaven and on earth. Go ye therefore... (Matt. 28:18-19). He ended that speech by saying, "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world." (v. 20). In other words, you have everything you need, all the blessing, power and protection to overcome every circumstance.

Consider this insight from Jesus' own lips: I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.] (John 16:33 AMPC).
Think about Abraham. God promised him a child, but he couldn't see past his own age and Sarah's barrenness. The circumstances didn't look good. After fifteen years of doubting faith and no son, God told him to quit looking at his own situation. Look toward the heavens and count the stars-if you are able to number them (Gen. 15:5). In other words, God's got more ways to turn your circumstances around that you can even count! Sure enough, Abraham and Sarah had a son; then after her death, Abraham has six more children with his second wife. Abraham got out from under his restricting circumstances by considering God's promise.

Consider Jesus...

When things get tough, we need to do what Abraham did. Paul explained that Abraham stopped considering his body and Sarah's. Instead he staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God (Rom. 4:19-20). He latched onto hope. He built his faith in God's Word until he knew that he knew that he knew it would happen-and it did!

God wants you to trust Him so much that He sent Jesus to be your Advocate. Jesus is the author and the finisher of your faith. In other words, if you can find the promise (the author), you can have the result (the finished work)! Consider these words from Hebrews 3: Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to Him that appointed Him... as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and rejoicing of the hope, firm unto the end (v. 1-2, 6).

It doesn't matter what kind of tough times you are facing or what circumstances you think you're under, Jesus has the solution. Actually, He's got more than enough of whatever you need so that, no matter what people, the world or your circumstances do, He can bring you out to rich fulfillment and bless your growth (Ps. 66:12).

Consider His Word

God gave you His divine promises so that you could grab hold of them and not let go. Then He appointed Jesus as the High Priest over your confession. If you will speak the Word and believe the Word, you can have the victory! (See Mark 11:23-24)

When things get tough, the first place to go is Psalms. Consider these verses instead of your problems: Trust in the LORD and do good; so shall thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also in the LORD, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart... Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him; fret not thyself... (v. 3-4, 7).

God does not want you burdened with troubles, anxieties, worries and concerns. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding; in all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths (Prov. 3:4-5). Faith considers the Word as final authority, declaring over every problem, "It is finished," right along with Jesus.

The companion to that verse is found in First Peter where God tells you to cast all your cares upon Him because He cares for you. The Amplified Bible says God cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully (v. 5:7). When things get tough, He wants you to run to Him as a child runs to a parent. Maintain that childlike trust by placing your faith and fate in His hands, standing on His promises of victory and deliverance.

Put Your Faith to Work

"And he who has My Word, let him speak My Word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat?" says the LORD (Jer. 23:28). The tares, the chaff in your life, have no power over the spoken Word of God. The wheat doesn't pay any attention to the weeds. It just grows up and becomes ripe for harvest.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful (Heb. 10:23). When things get tough, apply spiritual pressure to your circumstances. Consider Jesus and all He has done for you. Confess God's promises over your life. Jesus, your Advocate and the 'High Priest of your confession', will see to it that what you say becomes what you see. Consider Jesus.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9587397

Looking Unto Jesus: Our Hope, Power and Victory

Love paid a price so hope could become a reality. ~ Susan Gaddis

The resurrection of Jesus is both the end... and the beginning of our Christian faith. Jesus' death ended the Old Covenant with all its rules, symbolized by the veil in the temple being rent in two (Mark 15:38). His death ratified a New Covenant, a better covenant, which was established upon better promises (Heb. 8:6). Then God raised Him from the dead and anointed Him as our High Priest to minister those promises to us.

Easter symbolizes all that we hold dear in our Christian faith. Jesus' demonstration of love, obedience and sacrifice established a new relationship between God and His people. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down at the right hand of God from henceforth to wait until His enemies be made His footstool (Heb. 10:12-13).

When God made covenant with Abraham, He ratified it with the blood of animals and birds (see Gen. 15). Our New Covenant, however, was ratified with Jesus' own blood (see John 20:17).
Blood covenants are rooted deeply in human experience. American Indians become blood brothers. Husbands and wives become one with the shedding of blood. In ancient times, families, tribes and villages created blood covenants for protection, loyalty, support and profit.

A blood covenant is a form of adoption. Neither party is singular; they are now one. It is the strongest relationship bond known to humanity. Two parties exchange everything that they are or have for the benefit of the other. In our case, the New Covenant sealed forever our access to all of heaven's riches and power. That's why the ceremony of communion is so powerful; it reaffirms our Covenant with God Almighty and His Son, Jesus, our Savior, Lord and High Priest.

God declared "I will be their God, and they shall be my people" (2 Cor. 6:16). Why?... that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus (Eph. 2:5-7).

Can you imagine? God wants to show us His exceeding riches and kindness! He wants to bless us exceeding abundantly above all you can ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us (Eph. 3:20). Here are just three of our promises in the Resurrection.

Jesus, Our Hope

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God (Rom. 5:2)

Hope means expectant anticipation. No matter what is happening in your life, hope grabs hold of God's promises, expecting things to turn around. As born-again believers, we expect to spend eternity in heaven because of Jesus. Why? Because God said so! But God wants us to have a good life here on earth too. He wants us to hope in ALL of His promises. Peter explained that we were redeemed by the precious blood of Christ... that your faith and hope might be in God (I Peter 1:19,21).

Covenant hope comes from The Word. David said, "Thou art my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Thy word" (Ps. 119:114). Paul explained in Romans that we have access by faith into the grace and favor of God. Faith - putting our absolute trust in God's Word alone - is the substance of things we hope for. Hope, partnered with faith, declares God's promises of health, prosperity, peace, joy and deliverance out loud, believing that they will come to pass.

Jesus, Our Power

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need(Heb. 4:16).

The power of God is demonstrated throughout the Bible. From creation and the parting of the Red Sea to the miracles of Jesus and the acts of the Apostles, we see physical circumstances overpowered by the voice of Almighty God. The greatest demonstration of His power was Jesus' resurrection from the pit of hell. How did He do all His mighty works? By speaking words out of His mouth. Whatever He says has the power within itself to come to pass. And He transferred that power to us through Jesus!

As joint-heirs with Him, we are empowered to speak His Word. Jesus, as our High Priest, is ready to ratify our words spoken in faith. The God of Israel is He that giveth strength and power unto His people (Ps. 68:35). That power is inherent in the Word of God, but we also need strength to stand patiently until the manifestation. Faith grabs hold of The Word, knowing He giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might He increaseth strength (Is. 40:29).

Jesus, Our Victory

But thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:57).
Hope and power lead to victory. Born-again believers have an advantage the rest of the world lacks. For whosoever is born of God overcometh the world. And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith (I John 5:4).

Think about Jesus' mission on earth. The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the Gospel [good news] to the poor. He hath sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them at are bruised (Luke 4:18). The Amplified says those who are 'downtrodden, bruised, crushed, and broken down by calamity'.

Healing, deliverance, restoration and liberty are part of our Covenant. Jesus never refused anyone who asked for healing or restoration. He brought victory wherever He went. He never said, "You don't deserve it." In fact, The Bible says He only said and did what the Father told Him to say and do, so everything He did was an example of the Father's will. God wants to do you good and bring you victory wherever you need it.

Yea an Amen

Sometimes, we feel like God is telling us no, not now, or simply ignoring us, but that's not true. For all the promises of God in Him are 'yea'; and in Him 'amen' unto the glory of God by us (2 Cor. 1:20). It's a covenant partnership. Jesus is the Mediator, but the power works 'by us' as His representatives on this earth. God's promises are always 'yeah and amen', but it takes our faith to make the connection to Divine provision. It takes both parties to make a strong covenant.

God called us to be His family, to receive all the bounty and blessing He can bestow. We are not only His covenant partners, we are His sons and daughters. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise (Gal. 3:29).

If you were named as an heir, I'm willing to bet you'd be ready and waiting to receive whatever you were promised. You'd call the attorney and tell him, "Hey, that's me. I'm entitled to that and I want it. What do I have to do to get it?" Then you'd do whatever it took to get what you were promised.

The same is true with the New Covenant of grace. God's grace has made everything available to you through the blood of Christ and the Word of promise. Look unto Jesus, grab hold of His promises and take your stand. You've got the supernatural hope, power and victory you need to bring them to pass, all because of the Resurrection.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8984273

Suffering Love: A Redemptive Force or an Enabling One?

"Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good."
Romans 12:9

As we seek to understand God's way for us in the midst of an abusive relationship, there are times when the Scriptures can provoke us to doubt or fear the heart of the One who loves us. The Scriptures indeed acknowledge that there are times when enduring harsh or inappropriate treatment serves as a powerful testimony and can bring glory to God. But too often we are inclined to believe that, if we are suffering in marriage, we are called to pray, perfect ourselves to attempt to earn our abuser's love, and hope for change.

But what if a hostile husband's behaviors have nothing to do with a lack of understanding, a difficult phase in his life, his struggles at work, or a traumatic childhood? What if the one with whom you share your bed is an utterly self-absorbed, abusive - even wicked - man? What if he knows exactly what he is doing, doesn't care if you are hurting and uses your faith to keep you bound to him? Does your commitment to sacrifice yourself to his will minister to him or merely enable him? If it is the latter, you must ask yourself: Is that what God would have me do?

Some in the church insist that we should not contest suffering at the hands of our spouse, asserting that it must be within God's divine will - to teach us obedience and endurance and to allow us to share in the fellowship of the Lord's suffering.

Really? Is that consistent with the example our Lord set? Did He really lay Himself bare and allow Himself to be tortured so that wickedness might triumph? That is foolishness and needs to be clarified from a biblical perspective, specifically when it comes to abuse in marriage.

Looking at the totality of Scripture, is an abused wife called to remain in an abusive home for life? Some contemporary churches would say 'yes.' One of the oft-quoted verses that seem to support this sentiment was penned by the Apostle Peter, who wrote,"Likewise you women be submissive to your husbands, so that if any of them are disobedient to the word, they may be won without a word by your chaste and respectful behavior..." (I Peter 3:1-2)

This section of Peter's letter immediately follows a section urging servants to bear up under suffering from unreasonable masters, and highlights our Lord's own terrible suffering as a basis comparison, so we are initially prone to accept that suffering to the point of death in marriage is an honorable calling. But, Jesus didn't suffer to promote suffering, but for a profound, redemptive purpose.

So let's take a step back and ask, "What does redemptive love look like?" Let us look not only at the Lord's final days but also at His character, and some of his dealings during His ministry.

First of all, Jesus did not treat all people the same. To the seeking and downtrodden, He offered hope, grace and healing. Yet, the arrogant legalists, those who put on a good show but whose hearts were hardened to the things of God, He very harshly condemned. When they tested Him or crossed Him, He was neither gentle nor accommodating toward them. He called them out for their hypocrisy.

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." Matthew 23:27-28

In another encounter, Jesus condemned the religious elite for honoring those who sacrificed their material possessions to essentially purchase good standing in the eyes of the Pharisees while neglecting the primary needs of their families. The mere perception of righteousness was an offensive contradiction to the practical essence of faith. The Pharisees began the encounter by criticizing Jesus for not insisting that His disciples wash properly before eating, as we see here:
"Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread."

And He answered and said to them, "Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, 'Honor your father and mother,' and 'He who speaks evil of father or mother is to be put to death.' But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever I have that would help you has been given to God, he is not to honor his father or his mother.' And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition. You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.'"Matthew 15:2-8

Rather than enabling these religious people, Jesus consistently skewered them for their arrogance and left them to their own ends, saying to them at one point,"If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, 'We see,' your sin remains." John 9:41

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8940459

Money And Religion: How Christians Are Being Misled

Today's Christian Evangelists, Teachers, and Preachers Are Grossly Misleading America And The World, Concerning Money Contributions.

It has been said that: 'Money is the Root of All Evil'...well that statement is no more true than in the way it pertains to the message given to the seekers of God, by today's misleading Christian leaders, most of whom are from America. These misleading evangelists and preachers are telling people that money is the 'seed' that must be sowed, in order to receive blessings from God. This is in direct opposition to the Word of God, and to the teachings of Jesus and the Prophets.
The root of any plant grows from a seed of that plant, through a germination process; likewise, these false prophets are sowing a false seed of 'Money', the root of which has produced 'Evil' (false doctrine) in the world, all through the instigation of Satan.

Today's leaders (many seen regularly on TV) are being held in bondage to 'darkness', meaning: lack of Knowledge of the Truth of God. These leaders do not know that as they live the 'good-life', and that as they build up their treasures here on earth, they will not have a good life on the 'other side' (in the Hereafter), because they will not have stored up treasures in Heaven--they will have had their 'heaven' here on earth, while living a life of deception. How can these blind Christian leaders guide others out of 'darkness' when they, themselves are totally engulfed in this darkness, due to their arrogance and to their love for money (gold) and material possessions?

Irrespective of all the hype going around, coming from today's evangelists, pastors, teachers, etc., promoting prosperity for individuals by their investing money into someone's ministry; I rebuke these gestures, as they are used by many only to get people's money for their own personal gain. God does not need money, and neither Jesus, nor any other prophet of God collected money, or was in the business of receiving from needy people; they were in the business of giving. The true prophets of God did not condone the living of lavish lifestyles, as many of the TV evangelists do. These evangelists also preach false doctrine in many other areas of God's Word.

Money is among the dirtiest of items that are handled by people, as it contains on its surfaces: all types of contaminants, from human excretions and drugs, to viruses and many other pollutants; yet, it is among, if not the, most sort after substance in the world. American money even has a symbol for the 'god of this world' on it, and a slogan commemorating trust in this god. Money is totally of the 'world' and it has no spiritual value. So all of these false prophets, who lust after money by using false promises and divinations, are only conforming to the world, because they are of the world, and not of God.

To sow a Seed for God is to sow the Truth, to sow the Truth is to sow the Word. Therefore, the Seed is the True Word of God, sown in righteousness, out of love for God only. It is not money given to someone's ministry, for something in return. Jesus wants us to use our love to bring more people to the Knowledge of the True Kingdom of God; that is our increase: the numbers of souls we help save from that Day of destruction, through our testifying of and our acting on God's Word.

Why We Should Praise God With Understanding

"Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding." (Psalm 47: 6 - 7).

It is a common knowledge that we are to appreciate every good done to us especially God who has done all things well for us. But in appreciating or praising God we are required to do it with understanding. Until we praise God with understanding we may never do it nor will it bring us blessings from God.

The psalmist said, we should sing praises with understanding. In other words, our praises should be guided with good understanding if at all it must ascend to the throne of God and must be pleasant unto His hearing. It is the understanding that differentiates whether we are really praising Him or making noise.

WHAT TO UNDERSTAND

If we are required to praise God with understanding, it is therefore important to know what God wants us to base our praising Him upon. This understanding will guide us in bringing quality praise to God anytime and anywhere.

1. Know That God Is Your Creator

The Scripture said "Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture." (Psalm 100: 2 - 3).

The first understanding that must guide your praise is the fact that God is your creator. We are to praise Him first and foremost for creating us. This understanding helps you to recognize your source of existence, knowing that you are not a product of evolution but a masterpiece of God the creator. He took time to create and fashion you just the way you in revealing His glory.

2. Know That God Is Holy

"Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy." (Psalm 99: 9).
The second sacred truth in praising God is that God is holy. This understanding should create in us the sense of repentance and holy conscious in approaching before God. That we are required to praise God does not mean we should praise Him in sin. Although God loves sinners, He does not anyway tolerate sin. For this reason we are admonished to "worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth." (Psalm 96: 9).

Until our praise is in the beauty of His holiness, it will not become a sweet smelling savour. Let you praise be guided with that understanding that God is holy and you are to praise Him in the beauty of holiness not with a heart of sin.

3. Know That You Are Made From Dust

God's Word said "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).

Beloved, God carefully made us from the dust of the ground. This should also guide us in praising Him knowing the fact that it is His breath that is keeping us alive. Outside His breathe we are but mere dead people.

This knowledge should create in us the sense of humility in our worship of God knowing fully well that He knows our frame. David said "For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust." (Psalm 103: 14).

Most times, pride has made us forget how we were made. No matter what we have or look today, we are the product of dust and breathe of God. This should humble us in giving praise to God. For this reason the Scripture says "Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD." (Psalm 150: 6)

4. Know That God Has Not Dealt With You According To Your Sin

This is very important to understand in giving quality praise to God. Most times the way we jump and shout in church make us forget that we have not wrong God in any sort. But hidden beneath those jumping and shouting are lies, fornications, covetousness and many other sins.

But praise God for His mercies! He has not dealt with us according to what our sins deserve. If He has done, it will be very clear that nearly none of us would survive His judgment.

The Scripture say "He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities." (Psalm 103: 10). We must praise God with the understanding that He has not deal with us according to our sins but through His forgiveness.

The only reason we have boldness to approach God is because He has cleansed us from all unrighteousness. If not out jumping, shouting and singing will remain irritating odour before His nostrils.

Praise God with the understanding that His mercies have covered your sins, weaknesses and shortcomings.

5. Know That God Is Watching Over You

With this understanding we should praise God knowing that He is watching over us to protect and keep us away from the plans of the enemies. If it had not been the Lord on our side, the enemy would have swallowed us up quick.

"Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand." (Psalm 121: 4 - 5)

Beloved, you are alive because God is keeping you. You may have taken some drug to enable you sleep; there is no drug to wake you up. That you woke up means God has preserved you. The Scripture say "I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me." (Psalm 3: 5).

6. Know That God Is The Source Of Your Resource

It is important to know that we brought nothing into this world neither are we going to take anything from it. Naked we came and so we shall depart. This means all that we have came to us. And God is the source of all that we have.

For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? (1 Corinthians 4: 7).
We must approach God in praise knowing that God is the source of all that we have. This should create an attitude of humility in us owing to the fact that God has provided for all we have today.
"A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven." (John 3: 27).
If you have received anything, it is because God approved and brought it your way. Praise God in this understanding.

7. Know That God Has Fully Paid For Your Redemption

If you are not redeemed, all jumping, singing and shouting in the name of praising God are all in vain. Your praise will only be truly meaningful in the light of the redemption of your soul. And graciously God has paid for your redemption.

"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." (John 3: 16)
Jesus is our redemption. And if you have received Christ, hallelujah, praise God with the understanding that you are saved and that you have a place in eternity.

God bless you. Please make out time this month to praise God with this understanding.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6007287