THE JESUS OF THE BIBLE

As this world rapidly descends into a God-less, lawless, reprobate planet, false prophets abound and many who will cry "Lord, Lord," will only truly believe in Jesus when they are forced to stand before His Great White Throne Judgment (Mt. 7:21-23; Rom. 1:28; Rev. 20:11-15)!  The vast majority of this world's population has heard about Jesus, but the god of this world has blinded them from "seeing Him" as their Lord and Savior (2 Cor. 4:4).  Not only that, but believe it or not, it is quite likely that a very large proportion of people who claim to be Christians, are C.I.N.O.'s (Christian in name only)!  According to Revelation 3:1-5, and 14-22, "the Church in Sardis," and "the Church of the Laodiceans," are described as being dead (v. 1), and as being "lukewarm" (v. 15-16)!  I truly believe the reason these churches describe so-called believers in such a fashion, is because neither of them view Jesus Christ as Lord, as the authority in their lives.

"Tucked in between" the "dead church" (v. 1) and the "Christ-less church" (v. 20), is the church representing genuine believers:  "the Church in Philadelphia" (v. 7-13).  John wrote this about the faithful Church in Philadelphia, an ancient city in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey):  "And to the angel of the Church in Philadelphia write; These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works..." (v. 7-8)!  While "religious works" cannot save a person, (Eph. 2:9), those who are born again believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, will be "doing good works" because of reverence for, and gratitude to, Him (Eph. 2:10; Jam. 1:22-27; 2:17-20).  Earlier, I made reference to Matthew 7:21-23; let's look at what it says:

"Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name?  And in Thy name have cast out devils?  And in Thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity."

What is "the will of My Father?"  John 6:28-29 says:  "Then said they unto Him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent."  Notice that the only "works" God requires for salvation, is for us to "believe on" Jesus.  Man is not born again by doing something; he is saved by believing on Jesus!   That is, those who truly believe that Jesus died for their sins, that He was buried, but that God raised Him from the dead in order that He might become their Lord  (Rom. 10:9-10; 1 Cor. 15:1-4).  Then in 1 Corinthians 15:58, Paul wrote:  "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

Who is Jesus?  He is Lord!  Those who believe in Him, want to obey Him!