7 Amazing Bible Facts

 

The Bible is the most printed book of all human history. When there are secular books that number their copies in the millions, the bible numbers its copies in the billions. Yes billions with a “B”. Although the Bible is the most printed book, many are not familiar with these following interesting Bible facts:

1. Jesus was a time traveler

In the book of John we read of a most interesting occurrence. Most readers focus on the obvious amazing event of Jesus walking on the water; however, another miraculous event occurs right after the walking on the water by Jesus and is commonly missed. Jesus becomes a time traveler. Read the following verses and notice how John, being an eye witness to the event, writes that after Jesus enters the boat, the boat carrying Jesus, john and his companions immediately appears at shore on the other side of the lake. To accomplish this, time would have to have been manipulated seeing that the boat was being battered by a storm on the lake just a moment before. So, after considering the account of John, it is clear that Jesus, manipulating time itself, caused the boat and its passengers to move through time at an accelerated rate to immediately reach the shore after Jesus boarded. An incredible time travel event that rivals even the best of the sci-fi movies today. Truly amazing indeed.

(Joh 6:16)  And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea,

(Joh 6:17)  And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.

(Joh 6:18)  And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.

(Joh 6:19)  So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.

(Joh 6:20)  But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.

(Joh 6:21)  Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.

2. The Bible describes the earth as a circle

Thousands of years before science established that the earth is round, the Bible already established it was a circle. In more than one place the Bible describes the earth as a circle. Look at the following passages:

Job_26:10  He has inscribed a circle on the face of the waters at the boundary between light and darkness.

Pro_8:27  When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,

Isa_40:22  It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;
 

In Job 26:10, it specifically describes the pattern that light makes upon the earth when it shines upon the earth, dividing the light part of the earth from the dark part of the earth in the pattern of a circle. What is really important to notice is that this pattern that light shines upon the earth can only be seen from space, from a viewpoint that allows the viewer to see the circle pattern of light, as photographs from satellites and orbiting space shuttles reveal. The boundary being the line between the light half of the earth and the dark part.

When one really thinks about what this verse says, it blows the mind that such knowledge could be recorded by a writer that had a horse for transportation, no electricity – only fire for heating and cooking, and no telescopes or optics of any kind to view the stars - only the naked eye. It begs one to inquire with the question, how could the writer know such an amazing fact? Of course the only explanation is that it was supernaturally revealed to him – revealed by the same supernatural Spirit that the Bible identifies, the Holy Spirit of God.

In fact, we know God had to reveal it to the writer because the description of the circle of light pattern comes from the event in Genesis, take a look:

Gen 1:3 And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.

Gen 1:4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.

Gen 1:5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

The writer records what God saw on the day He created light at the beginning of the world. This is what God inspired the writer to record. This line between light and dark can be seen on the moon also.  Truly amazing.

3. The Bible describes fountains in the deep oceans

In 1949 hot saline water was discovered coming from the sea floor of the sea. In the 1960s, scientific discoveries confirmed the presence of sub sea floor hot springs of brine water (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrothermal_vent#Exploration). As fantastic as these discoveries have been for our ability to understand our oceans, the concept is not really completely new. The following verse in the Biblical book of Proverbs reveals that the ancient Bible writer knew about the deep sea springs of water.

Proverbs 8:28 when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep,

How did an ancient Bible writer who couldn’t even drill a well for water discover deep sea springs? He didn’t, it was revealed to him supernaturally. Evidence of this supernatural revelation can be seen in the same book just verses before:

Proverbs 8:22 “The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.

Proverbs 8:23 Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.

Proverbs 8:24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.

It is the Lord that possesses the wisdom to create the fountains of the sea as described. It is clear that the writer, lacking the knowledge of such wonderful secrets of the sea, had to obtain the knowledge of deep sea springs from another source, a source shown to be of supernatural origin – the Lord.
 

4. The Bible states wind has weight

Since ancient times man has known of wind, and that wind exhibits a force when it blows; however, that was the limit of man’s knowledge. Aristotle, a very intuitive thinker and philosopher, acknowledged the presence of wind and thought of it as a “vital spirit” and classified wind as an element with earth, fire and water. This view prevailed for over 2,000 years until the 1700 (source: shttp://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/everest/earth/air.html). During the 1700s various discoveries and technologies permitted further investigation and discovery in the study of air.

So, if the properties of air were not beginning to be understood until the 1700s, how is it that the Biblical writer of Job describes wind as having weight? Look at the following passage: 

Job_28:25 When he gave to the wind its weight and apportioned the waters by measure,

In light of what modern science now knows of air and its properties, the writer of Job must have had supernatural insight – insight given by the Spirit of God. The following confirms this Biblical knowledge:

“ The average mass of the atmosphere is about 5 quadrillion (5×10¹⁵) tonnes or 1/1,200,000 the mass of Earth. According to the American National Center for Atmospheric Research, "The total mean mass of the atmosphere is 5.1480×10¹⁸ kg with an annual range due to water vapor of 1.2 or 1.5×10¹⁵ kg depending on whether surface pressure or water vapor data are used; somewhat smaller than the previous estimate. The mean mass of water vapor is estimated as 1.27×10¹⁶ kg and the dry air mass as 5.1352 ±0.0003×10¹⁸ kg."

(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air#Density_and_mass).

Here we see that modern science has calculated the mass of air. Since we know that mass has weight – we see that the Biblical writer was correct in his faithful record. Air does possess weight. Again, a simple statement inspired by God that has truly amazing implications.

 

5. Wind travels over the earth in circuits or patterns

Ancient wise men knew the presence of wind; however, it would take modern technology and science to rediscover and verify that wind circles the earth in designated patterns. Why the word “rediscover”? Because according to the ancient writer of Ecclesiastes in the bible, wind was already known to circulate in set patterns as the following verse indicates:

Ecclesiastes 1:6 The wind blows to the south and goes around to the north; around and around goes the wind, and on its circuits the wind returns.

The writer of Ecclesiastes had no way of knowing just how accurate his statement was that he recorded. He had faith in what he was writing was the truth. Today, according to modern science, the following statement testifies to what was revealed thousands of years ago.

“Global wind patterns: Winds are named after the direction from which they blow. The globe is encircled by six major wind belts, three in each hemisphere. From pole to equator they are the polar easterlies, the westerlies and the trade winds. All six belts move north in the northern summer and south in the northern winter.”

(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_wind_patterns)

The writer could not have written a statement so true. The writer probably didn’t travel more than a few hundred miles in his lifetime away from his home, which was common in his time. God is amazing.

6. Six seals of Revelation fulfilled

The seven prophetic seals of Biblical Revelation span thousands of literal earth years. In Revelation, John sees seven seals opened and witnessed events that corresponded with each seal.

In Zechariah 10:3 we see Gods people compared to a horse, so it is also in Revelation. Thus, the white horse of the first seal represents Gods people, His church, during its early period – a time of Christian purity.

The second seal symbolically represents Gods people by a red horse – this is a period of persecution, when many Christians were martyred for their belief and faith in the risen Christ.

The third seal horse, shown as a black horse, represents famine – a spiritual famine for the oppressed word of God.

The fourth seal horse is represented as a pale color, the color of death. This was a period of death for followers of Jesus Christ, and because they are the church, it was a time of spiritual death of the church, when the papal church and state system held the majority of the Christian world in oppression and spiritual darkness. Possession of a Bible in this period was considered a crime punishable by death. Millions were martyred for their faith during this Dark Age.

The opening of the fifth seal changes perspective and employs personification to symbolically show martyrs under an alter waiting patiently for the resurrection of the saints.

The sixth seal, somewhat different in nature by showing specific astronomical events, opens with a great earthquake, then progresses to a darkening of the sun and moon, then followed by falling stars in the night sky.

As for the first five seals of Revelation, history testifies to their fulfillment from the victories and growth of the early church to the bloody martyrs of the papal and Spanish inquisitions during the Dark Ages. However, the sixth seal, not so well known, necessitates review.

Rev 6:12  When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood,

Rev 6:13  and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale.

After the Dark Ages, in 1755, the inhabitants of Lisbon suffered the world’s most encompassing and important earthquake to date. Historical data locates the origin in Lisbon, however the effects of the earthquake were felt over thousands of miles, even into other countries. The Encyclopedia Britannica states 60,000 people perished in Lisbon alone. (source:www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1421131/Lisbon-earthquake-of-1755).

In 1780, on May 19, the great dark day occurred after the persecution of the Dark Ages just as Jesus predicted it would in His sermon on mount Olivet. The sun was darkened, however the darkness was not attributed to an eclipse. Timothy Dwight wrote:

"The 19th of May, 1780, was a remarkable dark day. Candles were lighted in many houses; the birds were silent and disappeared, and the fowls retired to roost. ... A very general opinion prevailed, that the Day of Judgment was at hand." Quoted in Connecticut Historical Collections, compiled by John Warner Barber (2nd ed.; New Haven: Durrie & Peck and J.W. Barber, 1836) p. 403.

He continued: "Almost if not altogether alone as the most mysterious and as yet unexplained phenomenon of its kind, . . . stands the dark day of May 19, 1780,--a most unaccountable darkening of the whole visible heavens and atmosphere in New England." That the darkness was not due to an eclipse is evident from the fact that the moon was then nearly full. It was not caused by clouds, or the thickness of the atmosphere, for in some localities where the darkness extended, the sky was so clear that the stars could be seen. Concerning the inability of science to assign a satisfactory cause for this manifestation, Herschel the Astronomer declares: "The dark day in North America was one of those wonderful phenomena of nature which philosophy is at a loss to explain."

Also:
"The occurrence brought intense alarm and distress to multitudes of minds, as well as dismay to the whole brute creation, the fowls fleeing bewildered to their roosts, and the birds to their nests, and the cattle returning to their stalls." Frogs and night hawks began their notes. The cocks crew as at daybreak. Farmers were forced to leave their work in the fields. Business was generally suspended, and candles were lighted in the dwellings. "The Legislature of Connecticut was in session at Hartford, but being unable to transact business adjourned. Everything bore the appearance and gloom of night."

(source:www.bibleuniverse.com/articles/second-coming-prophecies-fulfilled/sun-turned-into-darkness.aspx).

The dark day was immediately followed by a blood red moon that night. Milo Bostick in “Stones History of Massachusetts” wrote: "The moon which was at its full, had the appearance of blood."

(source:www.bibleuniverse.com/articles/second-coming-prophecies-fulfilled/moon-turned-into-blood.aspx).

The final part of the sixth seal was fulfilled on November 13, 1833. The stars falling from the sky fell in the same manner as described in the Biblical prophecy – as they were shaken from a tree. Ellen White wrote of the event stating:

“Professor Olmstead, of Yale College, said that they who were so fortunate as to witness the falling stars on November 13, 1833, probably beheld the greatest display of celestial fire-works that has ever been since the creation of the world-certainly the greatest that has ever occurred within the time covered by the annals of history. It was more than a “shower”, as it has been called.”

“They began to fall as early as 11 o’clock, and increased until they truly resembled a showry but of many hours’ continuance. We witnessed them in all their glory for nearly three hours, ‘till they were obscured by the dawning day. And when the day dispelled the appearance, they were still falling as numerous as ever, as was proved by their being visible in the west when the advancing light of the sun rendered them invisible in the east."

“We were given an extract from an article written by Henry Dana Ward, in regard to the falling stars of November 13, 1833, published in the Journal of Commerce, November 15, 1833 –

“At the cry, ‘look out the window,’ I sprang from a deep sleep, and with wonder saw the east lighted up with the dawn and meteors. The zenith, the north, and the West also, showed the falling stars, in the very image of one thing, and only one, I ever heard of. I called to my wife to behold, and while robing, she exclaimed, ‘ see how the stars fall!’. I replied, ‘that is the wonder!’ and we felt in our hearts that it was a sign of the last days”

“For, truly, ‘the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind.’ Revelation 6:13. The ancients understood by aster, in greek, and stella, in latin, the smaller lights of heaven. The refinement of modern astronomy has made the distinction between, stars of heaven and meteors of heaven. Therefore, the idea of the prophet, as it is expressed in the original greek, was literally fulfilled in the phenomenon of yesterday.

(source:text.egwwritings.org/publication.php?pubtype=Book&bookCode=EMTF&pagenumber=50)

Such an awesome fulfillment of prophecy should shake each of us to our core being – knowing that the Bible is true and can be trusted and that we must get ourselves ready to meet our Lord.

The entire seventh and final seal refers to the return of Jesus Christ as our Savior to bring those that are saved home with Him. It only takes a moment to realize that we are all living on the edge of time and eternity. Soon Jesus will return and all will cease for eternity. We all must examine ourselves in comparison with God’s word, the Bible, and by God’s grace and power ensure our preparation to meet our Lord Jesus Christ. The return of Jesus is around the corner, a truly amazing thought.

7. The Angel(s) of New Jerusalem

In the Biblical book of Revelation a most interesting description of an angel occurs. It is a peculiar description because of the current held ideas of angels in this modern age. Movies depicting angels abound today as do other mediums such as art. However, a certain description of an angel in Revelation is very far from what we commonly think of when contemplating angels today. Look at the passage:
 

Rev 21:17  He also measured its wall, 144 cubits by human measurement, which is also an angel's measurement.

A quick reading of the verse doesn’t seem to incite a startling response, however that is because most of us are not familiar with ancient Biblical units of measure. After we study the modern equivalent of a cubit, we soon realize the grandeur of the passage. The key to placing the verse in context the conversion of the cubit.

“The cubit is an archaic unit of length based on the length of the forearm from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger. Cubits of various lengths were employed in many parts of the world in antiquity, during the Middle Ages and as recently as Early Modern Times. The term is still used in hedge laying, the length of the forearm being frequently used to determine the interval between stakes placed within the hedge.[1]”

“In ancient Rome, according to Vitruvius, a cubit was made up of six palms and was thus equal to one and a half Roman feet or pedes.^[9]” (source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubit)

If we use the Roman cubit of measurement in use during the time of johns writing of this vision, then a cubit is about 18 inches. Although it is impossible to know the exact length of the ancient cubit, the 18 inch measurement is sufficient for the purpose of examining this verse. This 18 inch measurement is then multiplied by 144 as described by the verse as being the angel’s measurement. After some quick and easy multiplication one sees that the size of a New Jerusalem angel is about 216 feet. A terrible and frightful size when one realizes that it is the height of an angel that guards the gate of the New Jerusalem. A very imposing figure that man has not yet seen – an example that reminds us that our eyes have not seen nor our ears heard what our Lord has prepared for us in heaven.

What a privilege is offered to us as a gift by Jesus Christ – to be citizens of heaven and live in the New Jerusalem with Gigantic angels as friends and God as our King. Truly amazing indeed.

Tags: air, weight, wind, Jesus, time traveler, bible, 7, amazing, earth, circle, round, angel, new Jerusalem, revelation, city, heaven, john, seals, dark ages, fountains, deep, oceans, sea, water

7 Reasons Jesus is God

7 Reasons Jesus is God

There are many people that do not believe Jesus is God. Some accept Jesus as the Messiah, however, they deny the divinity of Jesus. Many Jews today deny the divinity of Jesus, while Messianic Jews accept Jesus as the Messiah. In light of the different views held in society today, we will attempt to shed some light on the issue.

Because the idea and concept of God is religious in nature, we will look to the Bible to find our answers, which is widely accepted as Gods word and has been for thousands of years. Here are seven reasons why I believe that Jesus is God.

 1. Names of Jesus in the Bible. Emmanuel and the Word.

There are many names for Christ in the Bible. Those names used to represent Christ tell us about Jesus. Matthew chapter 1, verse 23, uses the name Emmanuel for Messiah, Jesus Christ. Here the familiar Christmas story we all know is told as Mary, the Virgin mother of Christ, is told she will have a child that will save the world. She is told to name her child Emmanuel - meaning God with us. It is very clear here that Emmanuel is revealed as God.

Matthew 1:23 KJV
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

In the book of John we see that Jesus is called the "Word". This "Word", Jesus, is the Creator of the world and of all things. This Word, Jesus Christ, was "made flesh and dwelt among men". The life record of Jesus Christ, His life and His resurrection is well known by Christianity and many non-Christians alike. It is this Jesus Christ, the Messiah, that the apostle John, an eyewitness to Jesus' life, writes and records is God the Creator and the Savior of humanity.

John 1:1-3, 10-12, 14 KJV
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: And the Word was made 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.

 2. Jesus' acts of authority in the Bible. Jesus demonstrated authority over the natural elements and the supernatural.

In the book of John Jesus demonstrates His authority over the physical elements of nature. Jesus was witnessed walking on the sea, a clear indication of authority over the elements of nature. But not only did Jesus exercise authority over nature, but He also demonstrated authority over time itself as recorded by John's statement, "and immediately the ship was at the land". So not only did Jesus walk on water, but Jesus exercised authority over time itself, witnessed by the Johns observation - the boat, being at sea, was immediately and supernaturally transported to land. John further supports his eye witness account of the event by recording that there was only one boat on the shore and that other people, besides himself, witnessed that the disciples boarded that boat without Jesus. Therefore, Jesus could only arrive at the other side if John's account of the event was true.

John 6:17-22 KJV
And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid. But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid. Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went. The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone.

In the book of Mark we read about Jesus' authority over unclean spirits, or demonic fallen angels. It is important to note that even the fallen angel that was troubling the man recognized Jesus as the "Holy One of God". The fallen angel demon asked Jesus if He was going to destroy him. Only God has the authority to punish fallen angels; a clear indication that even the supernatural world recognizes Jesus as God.

Mark 1:23-27 KJV
And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. This punishment of the fallen angels is seen in the book of Revelation.

3. Jesus' authority over eternal rewards and punishment.

Matthew 25:40-41, 46 KJV
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

The King here spoken of is recognized by Biblical scholars as Christ, the King that will rule this world after defeating the kingdoms and nations of this world as predicted by Daniels prophetic dream. Only God has the authority and power to punish the devil and the angels that follow him. Additionally, only God can give eternal life to the righteous because only God has immortality within Him; immortal by nature. So the King, which is Jesus Christ, is God, whom executes the punishment of the lost and the reward of the saved.

 4. Jesus' creative and restorative power.

In the Bible book of John that Jesus demonstrated His most restorative and creative act, the raising of Lazarus from the dead. It is in that act that Jesus gives us a glimpse of the creative power that He will soon exercise when He calls all the dead back to life at His return - the righteous to life everlasting and the lost to eternal death and separation from God. Only God Has power to create life as seen in the record of creation, therefore, Jesus demonstrates He is God through restoring life and body to Lazarus.

John 11:43-44 KJV
And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

 5. Jesus' authority to forgive sins.

 In the book of Luke we see the faithful Doctor turned writer records Jesus exercising the authority to forgive sins. In Israel it was common knowledge that only God can forgive sin and pardon the sinner from the condemnation of the Law of God, the Ten Commandments. This makes sense because only the author of the divine law can adjudicate the transgressor of the law, and that author is Jesus, and Jesus is God. Additionally, Jesus also demonstrates the power to know a persons thoughts - after listening to the Pharisee's thoughts, Jesus addresses the Pharisee's concerns and doubts audibly, thus demonstrating He is God. What the Pharisee thought was secret thoughts only known to himself, Jesus Christ knew, and revealed that knowledge to him. (see psalms chapter 44, verse 21 - shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart. Also, Psalms chapter 139, verse 23 - Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts.

Luke 7:37-39, 44, 47-50 KJV
And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

 6. Jesus' authority over His own life and death.

Jesus Christ made it clear that He would lay down His life and He would take up His life again. It was not taken from Him - Jesus voluntarily gave His life for all humanity, for all men and women. It is this power over His own life, death and resurrection that clearly testifies that Jesus was God. We all should be in awe of such a sacrifice and we should not let this gift pass us by without our acceptance. We all need Jesus' gift of His sacrifice for our sins so we can enter heaven and spend eternity in Gods presence.

John 10:17-18 KJV
Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

7. Jesus claimed to be God.

In John it is important to note that even Jesus Himself claimed to be God. Jesus is the one who gives eternal life and says that nobody can remove those that are saved from His hand. Jesus then adds the same statement about God the Father - that nobody can remove the saved from His hand. So, essentially Jesus claims to be God and makes a direct parallel comparison between the power of God the Fathers hand and Jesus' hand, that nobody can remove the saved from either of their hands. The Jews present clearly understood Jesus' claim of divinity - it is that claim of divinity, claim of being God, that the Jews present wanted to kill Him.

John 10:28-30 KJV
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one.

There it is, the 7 reasons why Jesus is God. This list of 7 reason is obviously not exhaustive. There are many more reasons why Jesus can be shown to be God, however these 7, when considered together as a whole, are sufficient to demonstrate Jesus' divinity.

Tags: jesus, God, messiah, Emmanuel, jesus Christ, life death

Biblical Righteousness

BIBLICAL RIGHTEOUSNESS

Below is a word study on the word biblical word "righteousness". The bible has a lot to say about righteousness and what it means to us. We all need to meditate on biblical righteousness.

Psa 51:10 Create a pure heart in me, O God, and put a new and loyal spirit in me.

Strong's Definition of Righteousness: From dike; equitable (in character or act); by implication, innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively) -- just, meet, right(-eous)

Note: By definition "righteousness" is innocence in the eyes of God. The opposite is "unrighteousness" and with it guilt – guilt that is by the breaking of Gods law (1Jn_3:4, 1Jn_5:17). When we are called by God to be righteous (Romans 6:13, Mathew 25:46) – we are required to live in innocence - living without offence to God by sin. Since sin comes by breaking Gods law, righteous living then comes by living in harmony with Gods law (1Co_15:34,Rom_6:23, ), not because we are saved by it, but because of condemnation from it when we break it. Thus by following Gods law through the power of His Spirit (Rom_8:4), it can be said that we preserve the gift of righteousness given to us through Jesus Christ – this is truely "abiding" in Christ (Joh_15:10). Those that do not abide in Christ by denying the heart-changing power of Gods Spirit, re-condemn themselves by breaking Gods law, even after claiming salvation in Christ (Rom_6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.).

RIGHTEOUSNESS IS LIFE – UNRIGHTEOUSNESS IS SIN, EVIL AND BRINGS DEATH

Righteousness leads to life and evil is death

Psa 51:2 Wash away all my evil and make me clean from my sin!
1Jn_5:17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.
Psa 51:4 I have sinned against you---only against you--- and done what you consider evil. So you are right in judging me; you are justified in condemning me.
Pro_11:19 So righteousness tends to life; but one pursuing evil, it is to his own death.
Pro_12:28 In the way of righteousness is life, and in that pathway there is no death.
1Jn_3:10 In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the Devil: everyone not practicing righteousness is not of God, also he who does not love his brother.

Note: Righteousness must be a way of life for those who expect to see heaven as thier home, for we were not redeemed unto death and sin, but unto life and righteousness (Rom_6:13, Rom_6:16, Rom_6:18, Rom_6:20). A loving parent, after cleaning thier child up from a pit of filth, would not allow thier child to return to it before entering the house – such is the love of God for us, not permitting such behaviors that make up sin to remain in our hearts and lives, but cleansing us from sin (1Jn_1:7 ) so we are fit to enter heaven and into His presence and community with Him.

TWO KINDS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM GOD

Jesus is our righteousness and sanctification

2Co_5:21 For He has made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Php_3:9 and be found in Him; not having my own righteousness, which is of the Law, but through the faith of Christ, the righteousness of God by faith,
1Pe_2:24 He Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that dying to sins, we might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed.
1Co_1:30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who of God is made to us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption;
Heb 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
Joh 17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Note: Righteousness [From dike; equitable (in character or act); by implication, innocent, holy (absolutely or relatively) -- just, meet, right(-eous) ] - is "right-doing". We become righteous, by accepting the righteous life of Christ and it is then credited to us through faith (1Co_1:30)– thus Christ accomplishes for us what we could never do for ourselves (Tit_3:5 ). Additionally, we must then live in righteousness by the power of God (Rom 6:13), obeying Gods will and word, which includes His law, so we will not return to a state of condemnation under the law through sinful living (Rom_8:4).

Jesus is also our sanctification (From hagios; to make holy, i.e. (ceremonially) purify or consecrate; (mentally) to venerate -- hallow, be holy, sanctify. Consecrated and set apart for a holy purpose / ceremonially or morally clean); Jesus is holy, set apart for a holy purpose and without sin, thus as we accept Jesus' life to our credit, we are credited with sanctification (1 Cor 1:30).

However, sanctification differs from justification in the way that while we are "justified" in the sight of God the moment we repent from our sins and when we accept Christ as our personal Saviour - with sanctification, we are to set ourselves apart for His holy purpose for a lifetime and become holy through applying the truth of the word to our lives - this process of learning and applying truth to our lives takes time, thus sanctification is the process of a lifetime1-4.

1 - Sanctification is not the work of a moment, an hour, a day, but of a lifetime. It is not gained by a happy flight of feeling, but is the result of constantly dying to sin, and constantly living for Christ. Wrongs cannot be righted nor reformations wrought in the character by feeble, intermittent efforts. It is only by long, persevering effort, sore discipline, and stern conflict, that we shall overcome. We know not one day how strong will be our conflict the next. So long as Satan reigns, we shall have self to subdue, besetting sins to overcome; so long as life shall last, there will be no stopping place, no point which we can reach and say, I have fully attained. Sanctification is the result of lifelong obedience. {AA 560.3}

2 - "This is the will of God," the apostle Paul wrote, "even your sanctification." 1 Thessalonians 4:3. The sanctification of the church is God's object in all His dealings with His people. He has chosen them from eternity, that they might be holy. He gave His Son to die for them, that they might be sanctified through obedience to the truth, divested of all the littleness of self. From them He requires a personal work, a personal surrender. God can be honored by those who profess to believe in Him, only as they are conformed to His image and controlled by His Spirit. Then, as witnesses for the Saviour, they may make known what divine grace has done for them. {AA 559.3}

3 - In his anxiety that the believers at Thessalonica should walk in the fear of God, the apostle pleaded with them to reveal practical godliness in the daily life. "We beseech you, brethren," he wrote, "and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication." "For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness." {AA 262.1}

Obedience to the law is righteousness and is necessary to prevent re-condemnation of the Christian by the law through sin

Deu_6:25 And if we are careful to do all this commandment before Jehovah our God, as He has commanded us, it shall be our righteousness.
Rom_8:4 so that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Rom 8:7 And so people become enemies of God when they are controlled by their human nature; for they do not obey God's law, and in fact they cannot obey it.
1Co_15:34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

Note: The law of God can not save us but it can condemn us: We must maintain and keep the righteousness of Christ by following Gods law as Jesus did as our example; otherwise, we condemn ourselves by sinful living and do not abide or live in Christ (Joh_15:10). Because man does not have the power to change himself or live a righteous life by himself due to his sinful nature that is in rebellion against God (Rom_8:7), He must daily submit himself to Gods will and pray for the power to live an obedient life through the guidance of Gods Spirit (Rom_8:4), only then a new character can be formed for heaven1.

This is where so many fail by false conversion – they claim to accept Christ into thier heart but fail to submit thier will, heart and lives to God by the power of His Spirit and obey His word and commandments; thus they are quickly overtaken by sin and condemned again by the law and are under the penalty of the law, which is death – they are fallen from grace (Hos_14:1 O Israel, return unto the LORD thy God; for thou hast fallen by thine iniquity.)2

1 - Those who at Pentecost were endued with power from on high, were not thereby freed from further temptation and trial. As they witnessed for truth and righteousness they were repeatedly assailed by the enemy of all truth, who sought to rob them of their Christian experience. They were compelled to strive with all their God-given powers to reach the measure of the stature of men and women in Christ Jesus. Daily they prayed for fresh supplies of grace, that they might reach higher and still higher toward perfection. Under the Holy Spirit's working even the weakest, by exercising faith in God, learned to improve their entrusted powers and to become sanctified, refined, and ennobled. As in humility they submitted to the molding influence of the Holy Spirit, they received of the fullness of the Godhead and were fashioned in the likeness of the divine. {AA 49.3}

2 – Notice here that Gods people are described as "fallen" and reason given for this fallen state is "iniquity – iniquity is sin and sin is breaking Gods law.

MAN AND RIGHTEOUSNESS

Two classes of humanity

Rev_22:11 He that is unrighteous, let him do unrighteousness still: and he that is filthy, let him be made filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him do righteousness still: and he that is holy, let him be made holy still.
Note: It is shown here that righteous living is not only possible, but required - for there are only two classes of people when Jesus returns – the righteous saved and the unrighteous lost. This emphatically supports the truth that although a mans works cannot save him – his works are judged and works found to be righteous are evidence of his regenerate heart, saved from the power of sin and his sinful nature, accomplished only by the grace and power of God. 1

1 - All who in that evil day would fearlessly serve God according to the dictates of conscience, will need courage, firmness, and a knowledge of God and His word; for those who are true to God will be persecuted, their motives will be impugned, their best efforts misinterpreted, and their names cast out as evil. Satan will work with all his deceptive power to influence the heart and becloud the understanding, to make evil appear good, and good evil. The stronger and purer the faith of God's people, and the firmer their determination to obey Him, the more fiercely will Satan strive to stir up against them the rage of those who, while claiming to be righteous, trample upon the law of God. It will require the firmest trust, the most heroic purpose, to hold fast the faith once delivered to the saints. {AA 431.1}

The man living by the Spirit of God is contrasted with the man living in his sinful nature

Pro_11:6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but deceivers shall be taken in lust.

Note: The righteousness here is not just mere works – the filthy rags of mankinds self-righteousness. Deliverence from the penalty of the law is what only Christ Jesus can accomplish by His blood. It is the righteousness of Christ joined with the believers faithful obedience to Gods law and will that saves repentant mankind from sin by the power of His Spirit 1 – regarding this, there is no law or condemnation - this is truely abiding in Christ. This righteousness is contrasted with deceitful men who are fallen from righteousness by lust; which is living not by direction of the Holy Spirit, but as they are moved by thier own lust from a sinful nature; thus breaking the law of God.

1 - The office of the Holy Spirit is distinctly specified in the words of Christ: "When He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment." John 16:8. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts of sin. If the sinner responds to the quickening influence of the Spirit, he will be brought to repentance and aroused to the importance of obeying the divine requirements. {AA 52.2}

 ....Having brought conviction of sin, and presented before the mind the standard of righteousness, the Holy Spirit withdraws the affections from the things of this earth and fills the soul with a desire for holiness. "He will guide you into all truth" (John 16:13), the Saviour declared. If men are willing to be molded, there will be brought about a sanctification of the whole being. The Spirit will take the things of God and stamp them on the soul. By His power the way of life will be made so plain that none need err therein. {AA 52.5}

Mans righteousness by his own works can not save him

Tit_3:5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit.

Note: Righteousness is a gift of God, through Jesus Christ His Son, as Jesus is the only provision offered by which mankind may make peace with God. As with the patriarch Abraham, God has provided the peace offering, approved by Himself for Himself, as a token and evidence of His mercy and love for sinners. The true Christian undergoing a true conversion experience will demonstrate the fruits of regeneration by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Man can be righteous

Pro_14:34 Righteousness lifts up a nation, but sin is a shame to any people.
Pro_15:9 The way of the wicked is hateful to Jehovah, but He loves him who pursues righteousness.
Pro_21:21 He who follows after righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness, and honor.
Hos_10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground. For it is time to seek Jehovah, until He comes and rains righteousness on you.
Zec_8:8 And I will bring them, and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem. And they shall be My people, and I will be their God, in truth and in righteousness.
Mat_5:6 Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness! For they shall be filled.
Act_10:35 but in every nation he who fears Him and works righteousness is accepted with Him.
Rom_6:16 Do you not know that to whom you yield yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves to him whom you obey; whether it is of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness.
Jas_3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
2Pe_2:5 And He did not spare the old world, but saved Noah the eighth one, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly.
1Jn_2:29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who does righteousness has been born of Him.
1Jn_3:7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as that One is righteous.

Note: The volume of references to righteousness in Gods word is evidence that His word is inspired not by the pen of man, but by the Spirit of God, for man in his rebellion against God and His law can not lift himself to the high standard of righteousness as written in Gods word, and would never condemn himself with contemplating righteousness apart from God. Therefore, it is Godly wisdom that presents righteousness as the standard for the Christian and it is Gods provision by Jesus Christ that makes righteousness possible for mankind.

Those who deny righteousness deny Jesus Christ and His Spirit, for these are the sources of all true righteousness. Righteousness then, originating in God, reflects Gods character and is demonstrated by love, life, mercy, truth, passion and commitment to right-doing, respect for God and one another, obedience to Gods will and His law, peacefulness, witnessing to others, etc. God requires righteousnss from mankind – and because it is required by God, it is possible to obtain through the grace and righteousness of Jesus Christ and the power of the Spirit of God.

Mankind is called to righteousness

Rom_6:13 neither present your members unto sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves unto God, as alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
1Jn_1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness
Rom_6:18 Then being made free from sin, you became the slaves of righteousness.
Rom_6:19 I speak in the manner of men because of the weakness of your flesh; for as you have yielded your members as slaves to uncleanness, and to lawless act unto lawless act, even so now yield your members as slaves to righteousness unto holiness.
Mat_5:20 For I say to you that unless your righteousness shall exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of Heaven.
Eph_4:24 And you should put on the new man, who according to God was created in righteousness and true holiness.
Eph_6:14 Therefore stand, having your loins girded about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness
Php_1:11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
1Ti_6:11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and meekness.

Note: God is the creator of man in His own image, but because man has enslaved himself into sin by breaking Gods law, God had to purchased man from the penalty of the law by the sacrifice of His son, satifying the penalty of the law for us. So then, man is called by God out of the sin that created his bondage to death and through the workings of the plan of salvation, man is re-created in Gods image, which is holiness, righteousness, truth., etc. By this re-creation, man is to be prepared for reinstatement to his original home with God in heaven, thus restoring man to his original estate. Therefore, we are called to "put on the new man" and to be "instruments" and "slaves" to righteousness, which denies the sinful lifestyle and honors God by obedience to His word and law, through the power of His Spirit.

Righteousness learned by God through His word

2Ti_3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

Note: Gods word is inspired by Himself, thus its principles are as sure and true as Gods character. The inspired word of God is the righteous standard by which mankind is to be judged and is the instrument by which he learns righteousness; thus, man must aquaint himself with its promises, power and requirements to enter into life. God is the God of the living, and His instruction through His word is life-giving - therefore, rejection of His word and its instruction leads to death.

Righteousness obtained by faith

Gal_3:6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.
Gal_5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness out of faith.
Heb_11:7 By faith Noah, having been warned by God of things not yet seen, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

Note: Faith is the vehicle by which we take hold of the promises of God. God promises to create a new heart in us as we seek Him. The new heart that we are given is claimed by faith and given by the power of the Holy Spirit, which without, we can not be changed. This new heart is the Spiritual nature that is given as a gift from God and is available to all that repent from sinful living with a sincere heart and by faith claim the Spirit of life from God. The truely repentant Christian will submit themselves daily to the regenerating power of the Spirit, bearing the fruit of good works that is evidence of thier change of heart in Chist Jesus.

Righteous living is by the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit of God

Eph_5:9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
Note: The source of power to change mans sinful nature comes only from God through His Spirit. It is the Spirit that awakens the concience of man to discern spiritual principles and identify sin in all its forms. Obedience and submission to His Spirit brings forth the fruits of the Spirit of which righteousness is associated. Mankind can not be righteous without living under the guidance and influence of Gods Spirit. Those that deny the power of the Spirit deny Gods Ambassador of righteousness and regeneration, without whom none can see heaven.1

1 - Paul knew that his warfare against evil would not end so long as life should last. Ever he realized the need of putting a strict guard upon himself, that earthly desires might not overcome spiritual zeal. With all his power he continued to strive against natural inclinations. Ever he kept before him the ideal to be attained, and this ideal he strove to reach by willing obedience to the law of God. His words, his practices, his passions--all were brought under the control of the Spirit of God. {AA 314.3}

Man can lose righteousness by commiting sin

Eze_3:20 And when the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and when I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die. Because you have not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand.
Eze_18:24 But when the righteous turns from his righteousness and does injustice, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked do, shall he live? All his righteousness that he has done shall not be remembered; in his trespass that he has trespassed, and in his sin that he has sinned, in them he shall die.
Eze_33:18 When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall even die by them.
2Pe_2:21 For it would have been better for them not to have fully known the way of righteousness, than fully knowing it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.

Note: It is very clear that Christian believers who do not live in submission to the will, word and commandments of God, re-condemn themselves by sinful living. Therefore, a true believer must daily submit themselves to the will and word of God, including the decalogue, for it is from the penalty of the decalogue that we are saved by the grace of Jesus – how then can it ever be permissible to sin and claim salvation from that sin which you were saved from? True believers in Christ will pray for not only forgiveness of sin and salvation through faith in Christ, but for power to remove sin from thier lives at the roots.

Gods people will be righteous

1Jn_3:10 In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the Devil: everyone not practicing righteousness is not of God, also he who does not love his brother.
Rev_19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white. For the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints.
Pro_11:6 The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but deceivers shall be taken in lust.

Note: In the above verse the children of God are known by thier righteous works – not because they are saved by thier works but because righteousness or "right-doing" is the finger print and signature of the power of Gods Spirit in us.

Reward of the righteous

2Ti_4:8 Now there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that Day; and not to me only, but also to all those who love His appearing.

Note: The wonderful crown of righteousness can only be obtained by righteous living through the power of the Holy Spirit.


THE LAW OF GOD IS RIGHTEOUSNESS

The law of God is righteousness and following Gods law is righteousness

Psa_119:172 My tongue shall speak Your Word, for all Your Commandments are righteousness.
Deu_6:25 And if we are careful to do all this commandment before Jehovah our God, as He has commanded us, it shall be our righteousness.
The law of God is truth
Psa_119:142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your Law is the truth.

REPENTANCE AND CONVERSION

Repentance or turning away from sin is evidence of true conversion of the sinner to a Christian. Repentance is a pre-requisite for conversion.

Act_3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
If a person does not repent or turn away from thier sinful life and be converted they will not receive salvation or heaven.
Mat_18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
The law of God teaches us Gods ways, shows us the need for a Savior and when the sinner repents and accepts Jesus as his Savior – he becomes converted by the power of God
Psa_51:13 Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
1Ki_3:14 And if thou wilt walk in my ways, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as thy father David did walk, then I will lengthen thy days.
Conversion takes faith
Luk_22:32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.

Conversion is necessary before the forgiveness of sins

Mar_4:12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

GRACE AND THE LAW

Grace is not a license to sin, Grace is the power to live without sin
Rom_6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

Salvation Has Conditions

Biblical salvation has conditions

In the great records of the scriptures we see the theme of salvation over and over; Noah and his family saved in the ark upon turbulent waters, Lot and his saved out of the sinful city of Sodom, the children of Israel saved out of the pagan bondage of Egypt and many more living examples; however, there is one great truth that stands out in all these historical examples for us but is seldom understood in its true importance; that is obedience.

Obedience is the critical factor that rests upon every person that claims salvation if they are to realize that eternal gift of God; however, when within common culture today, obedience is swept under the rug of a “just believe and your saved forever” type of mentality and mantra; thus, as is it is an incomplete Gospel.

It wasn't enough for Noah to just believe the flood was going to happen - his belief had to be of sufficient nature to motivate him to take action in obedience to God's instructions and commands. Lot had to take action and place his feet in the direction of obedience and leave Sodom with the angel; acting a participant in his salvation. Likewise, all Israel exercised obedience by applying the blood of a lamb over their door post to preserve the first born from death as the judgment of God passed over the land.

Over and over the sacred scriptures record the faithful acts of obedience of those that were the beneficiaries of God's grace by salvation and preservation. Many people believe that to be saved you only have to believe in Jesus Christ and then your saved forever, but is there more?

What is necessary for salvation?

First, we must realize a few things before we address how to be saved; we must understand how and why salvation is offered to us.

Titus 3:5
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.

Salvation is available to us as an act of love to us by God to save us from our sins. Not because of anything we have done. It is God's free gift to us.

What is sin?

1 John 3:4 KJV
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. The law referred to here is the 10 Commandments (found in Exodus 20).

Sin is knowingly breaking Gods 10 commandment law and the result is we become law breakers. Where there is a law broken there is a penalty

What is the result or penalty of breaking God's 10 commandment law?

Romans 5:12
Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned --

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Death is the penalty for sin. Adam sinned when he disobeyed God and at that moment he was condemned as a lawbreaker. Because he was the first man, all people after him are condemned to death as lawbreakers also; we have a sinful nature and have also sinned.

If I'm condemned to death as a sinner, how can I be saved? Is God's salvation for me also or just people society considers "good"?

Titus 2:11
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.

1 Thessalonians 5:9
For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Salvation is freely given as a gift by God to everyone that will accept the life and death of Jesus in their place. How do we accept the free gift of the life and death of Jesus as our own so we can be saved?

John 3:16
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.

We are to believe on Jesus Christ, but is that all? Or are there additional requirements?

Acts 2:38
Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness

2 Corinthians 7:10
For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

From the previous verses, to be saved we must do the following,

A. Turn away from our sins We must admit we are a sinner and that we need Jesus to save us; believing that Jesus will save us. We must be honestly sorry for breaking God's 10 commandment law and have the desire to obey His law by the power of the Holy Spirit; asking by prayer for that power.

Romans 3:23
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

B. Confess all our sins to Jesus Christ so He can forgive and pardon us

Romans 10:10
For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Leviticus 5:5
'And it shall be, when he is guilty in any of these matters, that he shall confess that he has sinned in that thing;

In confession we need to be as specific as possible about the sins we are confessing as we are able by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Although it is impossible to remember every individual sin we committed in our lifetime; our best effort must be exercised to confess as much as we can. Some recite each commandment, asking forgiveness for breaking it.

It is only by following Gods word completely that we can have a change of heart and life. Only God can change our motivations. We need to do make an effort to be obedient to Gods word and when we do, God will change us from the selfish sinnful person we are to a selfless person God desires us to be.

We Can Stop Sinning

We can stop sinning

What does the bible say about the Christian and sin?

1 John 3:5
And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.

Romans 6:12
Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.

Psalm 51:6-7, 10-12
6Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. 7 8 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. 10Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. 12Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

We must stop sinning - stop breaking God's 10 commandments (remember, sin is breaking God's 10 commandment law as found in Exodus 20). We must pray for a new mind, desires and motivations that only God can give us. The natural unsaved man or woman cannot obey God because their nature is sinful and selfish; however, when our hearts and minds are changed by the power of the Holy Spirit we become a new person that desires to obey and please God, and love God and others. This is the miracle of "regeneration in Christ" or as Christ said being "born again" of the Holy Spirit.

1 John 3:6
Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Jesus Christ died on the cross for all of us and paid the penalty of breaking God's law for us. The purpose was to save us "from" sin, not to save us "to keep sinning".

In the previous texts above it is very clear that as Christians we are expected to stop sinning; stop breaking God's 10 commandment law However, we can't stop sinning on our own, we must pray to God and request His power to keep us from sin, to give us the power to stop sinning.

We must be baptized by immersion in the name of the heavenly Father, Son and Holy Spirit by a pastor or leader in the church.

Matthew 28:19
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Baptism is a public display of our decision to follow Jesus Christ and to start a new life in Him. It is by Baptism that the the gift of the Holy Spirit is given to us for the power to lead a successful Christian life that defeats sin and developes holiness; thus, baptism by immersion is a necessary Christian act for the new believer in Christ.

We must always follow God's 10 commandments and instructions as found in the bible.

Psalm 119:80
Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes, That I may not be ashamed.

John 14:21
He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."

Mark 12:33
And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."

Revelation 14:12
Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Our obedience to Gods 10 commandment law, biblical instructions and principles is the result of the joy, thankfulness and love we have for God after being saved and having the gift of eternal life by faith.

Restoration and Restitution; we must make right the wrongs we have done as much as possible. We are to give back or replace what we have stolen, apologize to the people we have hurt, etc

Leviticus 6:4
then it shall be, because he has sinned and is guilty, that he shall restore what he has stolen, or the thing which he has extorted, or what was delivered to him for safekeeping, or the lost thing which he found

Luke 19:8-9
8Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold." 9 And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham...

Matthew 5:23-24 23
Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Restitution is required and is an important step, it helps the believer in Jesus Christ understand the nature and result of the sins he or she has committed and to understand its consequences. Restitution is also a test of true sorrow for the wrong one has done; individuals that are not truly sorry for what they have done will not make it right; most likely they will make an excuse for not making restitution.

We must continue daily in the Christian life; following God's commandments and bible instructions. We must pray for the Holy Spirit to guide and teach us how to apply what we read in the bible to our lives. We must pray to God for power to follow his commandments and live a Christian life without sin.

What is the result of salvation in a person and their life?

2 Corinthians 5:17-18
17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.

Ezekiel 11:19-20
19Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, 20that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.

When sins are confessed and forsaken and Christ is accepted as our personal Savior, then by the power of the Holy Spirit, the believer receives a new heart, mind and spiritual nature; this results in a new life of obedience to God, His commandments and instructions as found in His word