Hidden (Krypto) Treasures

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Tag: What is eternal life

They know not :: Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do

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On March 25, 2013

In Christian, Good Friday, Seven Sayings

Jesus’ first saying from the Cross is recorded in the gospel according to the apostle Luke in chapters 23 verse 34. It reads “Father, forgive them;  for they know not what they do.” referring to the parties that were responsible for his crucifixion at that present time, and all who preceded and succeeded them.

Jesus’ reasoning to God, his Father was that the people did not know. What is it that the people did not know? They did not know, that knowing God and Jesus, whom God had sent was eternal life (John 17:3). In other words, they did not know what eternal life is. They did not know that in killing Jesus, the One who is life personified, they were players in God’s grand plan of being gifted eternal life, for without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin and the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 9:22; Romans 6:23; John 3:16).

They did not know that the verdict of their guilty act of murdering Jesus was not death, but life; life eternal.

Points to ponder:
Do you know God the Father and Jesus whom he has sent, for only in knowing God the Father, and his Only begotten son, through the revelation of God’s Holy Spirit, are you assured of eternal life. If we know, and our verdict is life instead of the death which we deserve, are we living as if we have been gifted eternal life, or are we living our lives without Christ Jesus being the Lord and Master of our lives. In other words. would Jesus have to request to God the Father, today, for him to forgive us and give God the reason – They know not? Think about that.

Luke 23:33-34 (KJV)
33 And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left.
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

John 17:3 (KJV)
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Put First Things First :: Know

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On January 17, 2013

In 7 habits, Christian, Put First Things First

The Apostle Peter records that “Know this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (1 Peter 1:20-21).

Many is the world have attempted and some still continue to attempt to discredit the authority and credibility of the Holy Bible, which is in reality a love story of God unto man. It is the autobiography of Jesus, from the beginning (Genesis) until the final unveiling of him in all of his glory (Revelation). I sometimes wonder how a love story can be hated so much and when vile and baseless words are spoken against the Bible, the followers of Christ need not be discouraged or dejected, but instead take solace in the fact that all Scripture (every word of God in the Holy Bible) is inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16) and the holy men who wrote the words of God, wrote not out of their own will, but after being moved by the Holy Spirit of God (1 Peter 1:21).

While this may seem to be a point in an apologetic defense of the Christian faith, what is of importance is to first know that “All Scripture is from God, about God, a blueprint for man to conform into God’s Image and not conform to the patterns of this world” (Romans 8:29; Romans 12:2). This conformance begins with first knowing God and his Son Jesus Christ, and this knowing is eternal life (John 17:3). At the same, this is also a warning for the Christ follower, that the words of God is not for private interpretation, for anyone who adds or subtracts from the scripture will be held accountable (Revelation 22:18-19). Unless, we have the Holy Spirit of God within us, who comes upon our belief in God’s Son, Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we cannot be moved to interpret this love story of God unto man.

Putting First Things First, we must first Know Jesus Christ and upon knowing him, we can be sure that his words (Scripture) are given unto man from God, the Ultimate Authority over all the worlds, to tell us his Love Story, and we can take him at his word.

Points to ponder:
Are you assured of Eternal Life? In other words, do you know God and his Son Jesus Christ, for eternal life is defined as knowing the One Trust God and his Son, Christ Jesus, whom God sent into the world to save sinners (John 3:17). First Know Jesus Christ. Also, know this first, that the Bible is from God and it is about God. It is given unto man as a blueprint for us to conform into God’s Image. It is his Love Story for you and me and he loves us. Do you love him? Do I love him?

1 Peter 1:20-21 (KJV)
20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

John 17:3 (KJV)
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Professional Speaking :: Jesus The Teacher

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On September 6, 2012

In Christian, Professional Speaking

A teacher is one who instructs and imparts knowledge. It is said that “Experience” is a good teacher and there is no doubt about that, but would we be able to consider Jesus to be a Teacher?

The Bible answers this question. In fact, Jesus was called a “Teacher from God” by Nicodemus, who was himself a ruler of the Jews and master (teacher) of Israel, for Nicodemus recognized that what Jesus taught was not of any man, but of God (John 3:2). The Bible tells us that God (Jesus) will instruct us in the ways that we should go (Psalm 32:8) and Jesus’ disciple, Simon Peter recognized that Jesus held the words of eternal life (John 6:68). In other words, Jesus is the only one who can impart the True knowledge of eternal life (Salvation), which is to know God the Father, the only true God and Jesus, the Teacher whom God had sent (John 17:3). And when you shall know this truth (taught by Jesus through his word), This Truth shall make you free of any bondage, that keeps you from eternal life.

Points to ponder:
Jesus is The Teacher from God who teaches us the way of eternal life. Are you/I as students willing to listen and learn from Jesus The Teacher? Where else can we go? (nowhere) for it is Only Jesus who holds the words of eternal life.

John 3:1-2 (KJV)
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

John 6:68-69 (KJV)
68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

John 17:3  (KJV)
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Death is Certain; Life is Not

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On July 2, 2012

In Christian

Death Is Certain Life Is NotWhile celebrating our firstborn son, Reuben’s birthday in the Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, Texas, I came across a young man wearing a T-Shirt which had some intriguing and interesting words printed in the back. I stopped him and asked if I could take a picture of his T-Shirt and he agreed to allow me to do so. I quickly snapped a picture and later when going through my photos, realized as to how “serious” the message in the print was. The T-Shirt print read “(Bible) studies have proven — Death is certain, Life is Not.” and it had the verses from Deuteronomy 30:19-20 printed below that phrase.

Come to think of it, we cannot choose whether and when we will die and in that regard, death is certain, but once we die, it is appointed unto man that we must enter into judgment (Hebrew 9:27). The verdict of this judgment would be based on whether we have chosen life when we were alive or not. In other words, if we have believed in Jesus Christ, the Lord our God, who is the resurrection and the LIFE (John 11:25), then we shall not perish but have everlasting life as the verdict (John 3:16), but if we have not, then the verdict is eternal separation from God or death again (second death) (Revelation 20:6).

Points to ponder:

God has set life and death, blessing and cursing before us this day (Deuteronomy 30:19). The choice is however ours. We must choose today, life or death. If we choose to know Jesus, the Lord our God, we choose life, for in knowing him is eternal life (John 17:3; 1 John 5:20) and once we come to know him, we must love him and obey his voice (Deuteronomy 30:20). To love him is to obey his voice (commandment) (1 John 5:3). We must also cleave to him (Deuteronomy 30:20), meaning that we must leave the allegiance we have with the world and its pleasures of sin, but be faithful to Jesus and love him for his first loved us (1 John 4:19).

Death is Certain; Life is NOT — Choose ye this day, life!

Deuteronomy 30:19-20a (KJV)
19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
20 That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: …

Jesus Calls :: Known, Know and Follow

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On June 22, 2012

In Christian, Jesus Calls

Jesus referred to himself as the good shepherd and his people as the sheep who know him and are known by him (John 10:14) and then he went on to add that “my sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me” (John 10:27). When Jesus calls, his people hear his voice and he knows them and his people respond by following him. They follow him because they know him. What does it mean to know Jesus? To know Jesus is to believe in him, the chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4), which is eternal life (John 17:3).

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8) and his call today is just as he expressed. He knows his sheep and he calls them. His sheep know him, hear his voice and follow him.

Points to ponder:
Does Jesus, the chief and good Shepherd, know you/me? Do you/I hear the voice of Jesus, the chief Shepherd? Do you/I know him? i.e., Are you/I assured of eternal life? If you/I know him and you/I hear his voice, do you/I respond by FOLLOWING him. Jesus calls – “Follow me”.

John 10:14 , 27-28 (KJV)
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
…
27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

John 17:3 (KJV)
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Half Truth :: The truth shall make you free

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On May 7, 2012

In Christian, Half Truth

The familiar saying “The truth shall make you free” has been the subject of several sermons and messages from the pulpit, and often only half the truth as expressed in the Bible is exposited on. The Bible says that “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32) but the four verses preceeding that gives the account of many who believed in Jesus when he spoke of being lifted up and being recognized as the Messiah. Then said Jesus to those who believed on him, that if they continue in his word (i.e) in their belief, that he indeed is the promised Messiah, they would be his disciples (John 8:28-31). It is this truth that Jesus is the Messiah and the knowing of this truth, that shall make one free.

The half truth is “The truth shall make you free”. The truth is “When you  shall know the truth that Jesus is the Messiah and when you believe in him, you shall be made you free.” Jesus said, I AM the truth (John 14:6) and to know him is eternal life (John 17:3), meaning total freedom from spiritual death.

John 17:3 (KJV)
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 

Jesus in the NT :: 1st John

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On January 12, 2012

In Christian

The book of 1st John gives us a glimpse of who Jesus is in the  New Testament (N.T).

Moving from 2nd Peter where we encountered false teachers who scoffed and denied the imminent return of the eminent King, Jesus Christ, we now face another strange heresy in the book of 1st John, where some started to say that Jesus was not a real man and that He was not in the flesh, but merely in the Spirit when he was on earth. This book establishes the fact that in the physical senses, the apostles and others were eye witnesses of Jesus Christ in the flesh; that they heard him, saw him, looked upon Him and touched his hands. Jesus Christ was fully God no doubt but fully man as well.

Genesis 9:6 accounts for the inexplicable love of God – God made man in God’s own image.
Philippians 2:7 accounts for the insurmountable love of God – God made God in the image (likeness) of man.

Nara-hari in Sanskrit means Man-God. Jesus Christ is Nara-hari and there is no other.

In fact, those who deny that this God-man, Jesus is the Christ, is said to be have the spirit of the anti-Christ is what 1 John establishes. (1 John 4:3)

But why was this book written? This book was written so that we may know Jesus and in knowing Him we may have life, for Jesus is LIGHT, LOVE and LIFE (1 John 5:13)

1 John 1:5 states that God is LIGHT and in him there is no darkness. Jesus said, I am the Light of the World (John 8:12). There is no darkness in Christ (1 John 1:5) for in him was found no guile. Jesus dispels darkness as the morning rays of the sun dispels the darkness in the room at dawn.

1 John 4:7-8 states that God is LOVE and since Christ is God, Christ Jesus Is Love. We love Him, because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).

1 John 5:13 states that in knowing the Son of God, is eternal LIFE. In John 11:25, Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: God has given us eternal life and this life is in Jesus (1 John 5:11). He who has the Son (Jesus) has life and he who does not have the Son (Jesus) does not have life (1 John 5:12).

In 1st John, Jesus Christ is LIGHT that dispels the darkness from our lives, the LOVE of GOD expressed and personified, and LIFE ETERNAL.

Points to ponder:
Is your life in darkness? Do you feel unloved? Are you more dead than alive? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, then you need Jesus. Ask Jesus to be your Light, your Love and to be your Life and He will not disappoint you.

Jesus’ Prayer :: Selfish?

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On November 22, 2011

In Christian, Jesus' Prayer

The first five verses of what is referred to as Jesus’ Great Prayer or the High Priestly Prayer, that is recorded in John 17, goes on as follows and is unique because it publicly records what Jesus prayed for himself. He prays that God glorifies him now.
“These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.“

While on the surface this may seem to be kind of selfish, and seeking self-glorification, close scrutiny of this prayer, reveals certain hidden treasures; treasures of knowledge that reflect, in essence, who Jesus is.

Jesus started his prayer by looking up to the heaven, and addressing God as Father, stating the time had come. To his earthly mother, Jesus had stated that his time had not yet come (John 2:4), but now to His heavenly Father, Jesus is stating that his time had come. He then goes on to express, that it was God’s time to glorify Him, by saying “glorify thy Son that your Son may glorify you.” (John 17:1). Here Jesus expresses the fact that he is indeed the Only begotten beloved Son of God, in whom God was well pleased because his glory was to be a reflection of God’s glory.

Then Jesus states the power that had been granted unto him, by God the Father, who had sent him; power to save and deliver all who know God the Father and Him. Here he defines eternal life by saying that “Knowing God the Father as the one true God and knowing Jesus Christ” is eternal life. What does it mean to know God? The Bible says, whoever loves, knows God and is born of God (1 John 4:7-8) and he that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love. Jesus summed up the law of the prophets in Loving God and Loving Man. Eternal life comes by loving God (i.e., hating sin) above all else and it comes only by Him for there is no other name, under heaven among men, by which one can be saved (Acts 4:12). Here Jesus expresses the fact that He is not only the Son of God, but also the Savior of the world (John 17:3).

Then Jesus states that He had glorified God the Father, and finished the work (of Salvation) that had been entrusted unto him (John 17:4), and reasserts that God the Father now glorifies Him with God’s own glory, which He had with God, before the world began. By using the phrase, “glory which I had with thee before the world began” (John 17:5), Jesus expresses his Sovereignty making himself equal to God, which He rightfully was. Jesus had made himself of no reputation, considering equality with God, as a robbery before he had finished the work, that He had been entrusted to fulfill (Philippians 2:6-7). Now that the time had come, it was time for Jesus to be restored into his heavenly glory and hence his prayer.

Points to ponder:
Do you know Jesus Christ as the Son of God?
Is Jesus Christ your Savior?
Is Jesus Christ your Sovereign King?

John 17:1-5 (KJV)
1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee:
2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.
5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

Knowledge is Power, but what kind?

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On November 5, 2010

In Christian

You must have heard of the saying, “Knowledge is Power” and this is very true. Take a game of chess, the winner is the one who not only knows how to play the game, but is also the one who knows what his opponent is thinking. Effective war strategists spend a lot of time learning about the enemy. To know of the other’s gameplan/strategy is very powerful. But we must also recognize that “the kind of power” is directly proportional to the “kind of knowledge” one has.

The book of Jude refers to those who have taken the grace of God as an unbounded license to live a sensual and self-satisfying selfish life, as brute beasts, who have not Spiritual knowledge, but natural knowledge. It goes on to counsel us that natural knowledge corrupts (Jude 1:10). Spiritual knowledge on the other hand corrects, cleanses and conforms us into the Image of Jesus Christ, our Savior. John 17:3 says that to Know Jesus is eternal life. Who is this Jesus? Jesus is revealed to those whom God, the Father wishes to reveal, (Matthew 16:17) and the Holy Spirit of God bears witness (Romans 8:16). Thus the knowing of Christ Jesus is Spiritual knowledge and when we know Him through His words, we will not sin against Him (Psalm 119:11); we will be cleansed of our wicked ways and we will know of His perfect character and conduct, that we need to conform to.

So, yes, Knowledge is Power, but the kind of Knowledge matters. Natural knowledge corrupts, while Spiritual knowledge, corrects, cleanses and conforms us to God’s image.

Jude 1:10 (KJV)
10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.

1 Corinthians 12:7-8 (KJV)
7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.
8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;

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