5

Finding Jesus

M any people search for the Creator, but fail to find Him only because they look in the wrong place or they are unwilling to accept what they find. Archeological and Historical research has an abundance of proof that there is a supernatural Creator Who is engaged in the pursuit of His Creation. The God of the Hebrews is mentioned on numerous artifacts that substantiate the validity of the Biblical Record. Historical recorders have reported to the existence of the Biblical Characters existing at the precise era that the Bible teaches us of their lives.

So what reason can we use to ignore the Word of God?

Hebrews CP 2:1-3 Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation ; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

You have herd of the phrase “ The Gospel ”, well what does that really mean?

1Corinthians CP 15:1-4 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved , if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried , and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

You can see from 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 that the biblical definition for the word “Gospel” is the Death, the Burial and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ for our sins. If we keep this in memory we are saved through this knowledge.

The bible teaches that we are created in Gods image and God has an everlasting image so we also share in this everlasting image. We can choose to accept Gods plan, direction and Spirit, and receive Life eternal or we can reject this knowledge and share in the devils punishment of eternal death. This is referred to as the second death.

Revelation CP 20:11-15 And I saw a great white throne , and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works . And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death . And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

If you name is not written in the book of Life, you will be condemned to the second death and you will be judged according to your works. Your works will determine your position in the lake of fire. The wise thing to do is to get your name in the Book of Life.

There is also a judgment for those whose names are found written in the Book of Life. Their works have not earned them a place in the book of Life, rather their faith in the Gospel has place their name there and the Judgment is to determine the rewards for their works.

2Corinthians 5:10-11 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.

All mankind is under the curse of sin. It is our nature to sin, to seek another way other than Jesus. This Jesus had Power over death! He raised people from the dead and His Spirit also was revived from the grave. This was no mere mortal man that died on the cross, But God Himself. Jesus is God the Creator!

John CP 1:10-12 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:

Colossians CP 2:8-10 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Colossians CP 1:12-17 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood , even the forgiveness of sins : Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

So you can see that this God man's death has all the power of Creation in His possession and it is no great undertaking for Him to forgive your sin.

Jesus wants to forgive all your sin, even the sin you will perform in the future! He knows you are but flesh; remember he was in the flesh also. The enormity of the sin is of no consequence, it is only the Faith in Jesus that God is concerned with.

Hebrews CP 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

We are all unacceptable to God. God is perfect and He can allow no imperfection in His presence. God so loved the world that He sent us a solution to solve our imperfection so we can commune with a perfect God. This solution is Jesus who became imperfect for us.

Romans CP 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans CP 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Adam ate of the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden and the seed of sin has followed the seed of man all the way through the ages. This is why Jesus had no earthly father. The Holy Spirit was the Seed for Mary to produce a child. Jesus was born the seed of a woman and without sin. We on the other hand are condemned from our birth.

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

As we toil in our work place we receive wages for our labor, so also we receive wages for our sin in this life. The bible states that the wages of sin is death. This is speaking of that second death in revelation.

Revelation CP 21:8 But the fearful , and unbelieving , and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars , shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

But God created the lake of fire for the rebellious angels in Heaven, not for mankind. This is why He chose to reach out to you and me through His Only Begotten Son “Jesus”

Romans CP 10:9-13 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation . For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

The confession Paul speaks of here is that of a life long testimony of your faith in Christ. Its is true your salvation begins with your first confession and your belief that Jesus' blood was payment for your sins, however because we are not ashamed we continue proclaiming Christ for the rest of our lives.

Hebrews CP 10:35-39 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise . For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

Revelation CP 2:26 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

Hebrews CP 3:14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;

Matthew CP 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

The Holy Spirit is an overcoming spirit that leads us through the fire and allows us to overcome our sin. We are not perfect in our flesh, but we keep getting back up and believing that Christ's blood forgives us even again, and again, and ect.

The head knowledge of Christ is not enough to save us, it takes a heart knowledge of trusting in the chair to support your weight and not just looking at it. What I am saying is that you must be Born of the Spirit of God.

John CP 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

The Word is Spirit even as you can not separate the Son from the Father and the Holy Spirit you cannot separate the Word from the Spirit. I remember after I Got saved in January 1983 I wanted to put this supernatural Power inside me to a test. I was a smoker and I wanted to quit. I allowed this Spirit that had come into my body to enter that place where the craving for tobacco lived. I found power to quit!

Think about it now, if a supernatural Spirit had set up camp inside you, would you know it? Absolutely! That's why salvation is so contagious, you feel different, your perception has changed and what was a big gray area has now become black and white, Sinful and Holy, good and bad. Your desires and motives begin to change as you allow the Word to engulf your mind.

Romans CP 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

2Corinthians CP 5:14-17 For the love of Christ constraineth us ; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

The world hates the born again Christian and that is why John the beloved tells us not to love the things of this world.

1John CP 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

The Christian desires are continually being transformed. All this change cannot take place overnight. We daily partake of His Word, and we daily change. Just like the movie What about Bob? Baby steps keep us moving in His direction and when we experience trials and tribulations we take bigger steps as God purges us of the worldly influences. Baby steps over a long period of time can cover a lot of ground.

We like to think of ourselves as a self-sustaining unit, however God had different plans on this subject and He looks at it as if we are all one body interdependent on each other.

It is imperative that each of us has a support system of Christian friends. We must have a church family and a Pastor to Shepard us. We must be accountable to our Church leadership. This seems to be the hardest thing to master in the Christian life.

God refers to us as sheep. Sheep continually stray and it is the pastor's job to keep watch for this. You would be wise to find a Shepard for your soul and obey their sound leadership. If your Church is large try a deacon, elder or your weekly lesson leader.

Remember not all the church members are saved. Not all the church staff is saved. Jesus set forth a parable of the tares in Matthew 13:24 He warns us to allow them to grow next to the good seed and He shall separate us in the end. I say this to confront the person who is willing to put his spiritual future in jeopardy because of what someone at some church did to them in the past. Do not judge God by those who name His name.

Denominationalism, this is a sickness that we all seem to fall prey to. Let those who have no sin cast the first stone! All the church denominations or non-denominations are imperfect in one-way or another because we as humans are imperfect. Let us remember this as we walk the Christian road of life.

The fruits of the spirit are and essential part of the Christian life, without them there is little evidence there is a new life. If I claimed to be a carpenter and you hired me to build a house for you; then you would expect to see evidence that I possessed the talents of a carpenter. You would look for nicely fitted wood and sturdy solid support for the roof. In this same respect you should be able to see the fruits of the spirit in a Christian.

A man that stole would steal no more; a woman who cursed would learn to control the tongue. This is the behavior that becomes natural for the Born again believer. His nature, with the Holy Spirit living inside, begins to conform to the image of Jesus.

Over time, with the indwelling of the Word and the fellowship of other believers; the soul begins to transform into a influence on their environment. People will begin to respond to the change. They see you reading the bible on break and name you Holy Joe. They stop inviting you to the drunken parties. You no longer desire the friendship of your antagonistic friends. This is all the natural way of the new believer.

True Christian friends are the greatest gift one can find on this planet. They will wait for you encourage you and help you when life makes no sense. They will cry with you laugh with you, and the greatest thing about all this is that Jesus is inside their lives laughing and crying with you. This is how Jesus fellowships with us, through those he dwells in that he has placed around us.

Jesus said I will never leave you nor forsake you, so when a Christian friend offers you help, seize upon that help for this is how Jesus ministers to each of us.

If you are ready to trust Jesus, you can do it right now while you are reading this book! Remember Roman's cp 10:9-13 if you will confess with your mouth and believe in your heart, that is all that is required right now. There is no sin that His blood can't repay! It seems so easy, but you will find that everyone who ever got saved did it. If you did get saved while reading this book I encourage you to find a Christian brother or sister to latch hold of as a mentor. An older woman or man in the Church, one who knows the scripture well, and learn from them. This is the way of God.