Who is God? How do we know that our God is not just another god? These are questions that people have asked throughout the ages. At the same time, some have chosen to worship earthly gods -- such as the pursuit of money, vehicles, houses, careers -- anything that will increase our wealthy status and stature within this world. Others worship statues of stone or religious objects made by man. When these do not suffice, we live our lives through others, transforming people into glorified, famous idols. And then, of course, there are a series of other gods that are associated with some form of culture [religiosity?] and laws. Some of these have been men who were perceived to be good by the public at large and similarly able to develop a following (of sorts) before their death.
But none of these are God. How can I say this? Because the God who created us in the beginning wasn't satisfied with a worldly status quo -- where man-made religion and/or churches (complete with glorified buildings and good music) are planted in an attempt to serve Him from a pew. Instead, God desires our hearts in full. He wants us to worship Him in spirit and in truth. He wants us to worship the Lord thy God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. In fact, our Lord God desires a personal relationship with His people where we walk with Him in the cool of the day.
As such, He didn't just provide lip service to His commitment to you and I. Indeed, He was willing to become flesh ... and ultimately, shed His precious blood on a cross so that we could personally know Him. God became as a Son -- the ONLY begotten Son -- so that we would have life everlasting.
Jesus said, "Greater love hath no man than this -- that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) But Jesus as God in the flesh -- the Word in John 1:1-18) did one greater than even dying for His friends. He died for you and I even while we still were His enemies.
"But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans chapter five explains it this way: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. [see Acts 2:38-42 for more on the Holy Ghost]
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
But none of these are God. How can I say this? Because the God who created us in the beginning wasn't satisfied with a worldly status quo -- where man-made religion and/or churches (complete with glorified buildings and good music) are planted in an attempt to serve Him from a pew. Instead, God desires our hearts in full. He wants us to worship Him in spirit and in truth. He wants us to worship the Lord thy God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. In fact, our Lord God desires a personal relationship with His people where we walk with Him in the cool of the day.
As such, He didn't just provide lip service to His commitment to you and I. Indeed, He was willing to become flesh ... and ultimately, shed His precious blood on a cross so that we could personally know Him. God became as a Son -- the ONLY begotten Son -- so that we would have life everlasting.
Jesus said, "Greater love hath no man than this -- that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13) But Jesus as God in the flesh -- the Word in John 1:1-18) did one greater than even dying for His friends. He died for you and I even while we still were His enemies.
"But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."
Romans chapter five explains it this way: "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. [see Acts 2:38-42 for more on the Holy Ghost]
For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Much more then, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.
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: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of Him that was to come.
But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.
For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.
For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:1-21)
In the beginning, Adam and Eve sinned and as a consequence, death and suffering became the norm for generations to come. While humans reigned on this earth (because God gave us dominion and authority over the earth in the Garden of Eden and He does not go back on His Word) only served to further turn us into people who were self-serving and ignorant of the things of God. Instead, we built shrines and worshipped idols made of stone, gold and brass. And sadly, this tradition continued from generation to generation.
But now in this current dispensation of grace -- the new covenant where the veil was ripped from top to bottom when Jesus died on the cross -- means that we are without excuse. Why? Because the same God who created us in the beginning and knew no sin at any point became sin for us on the cross at Calvary. His blood freely given so that our transgressions could be forgiven. Our Lord God became our Saviour. And this same Lord invites us to come.
Isaiah 55 gives us yet another reason to worship the only true God -- the King of kings and Lord of lords. For your edification ...
"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto Me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
Incline your ear, and come unto Me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given Him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people.
Behold, thou shalt call a nation that thou knowest not, and nations that knew not Thee shall run unto Thee because of the Lord thy God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for He hath glorified Thee.
Seek ye the Lord while He may be found. Call ye upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," saith the Lord.
"For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater, so shall My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. [And] instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for a Name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."
We serve an awesome God. His name is Jesus. He is the prophesied Christ. Come and taste His water that is forever everlasting. Guaranteed, with Jesus as your God and Saviour, you will never thirst again. Thank you Jesus. Stand in the offering plate.
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