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Does it really make a difference what a person believes?Will all religions take us to the same place in the end?

By Bill White

What could be any more important than knowing where you are going to spend eternity? Perhaps the thought of what will happen to your soul after you die has crossed your mind over the years but somehow you manage to squash the thought whenever that happens. Today I would like you to consider that thought and follow it through as I address the question of whether Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. Of course this article will be answering that question in the affirmative and I will be using the Bible, which I believe to be the Word of God, to defend my position.

 

Bible Study Synopsis

Jesus Declared That He Was The Only Way - to the Father (John 14:6) - his Father is in heaven ( Matthew 7:21, 10:32-33) so He was telling us that He was the only way to heaven. Jesus also said that some who called Him Lord were not truly His children (Matthew 7:21) but only those who do the will of the Father. Jesus asked His disciples who they thought He was, and Peter acknowledged Jesus to be the Christ (Messiah) (Matthew 16:13-17). Either Jesus Christ is the Messiah or He is not! That means that every person on the planet, whether Jewish or Gentile, has a choice to make concerning the Messiah.

The Disciples Found The Messiah - Andrew declared unto Simon Peter that “we have found the Messias (Messiah) (John 1:40-42) which is another confirmation that Jesus is indeed the Messiah.

Jesus Revealed Himself As The Messiah - To a Gentile Woman - who was a Samaritan. (John 4:21-26). This woman believed in Jesus Christ, along with many others from her village, which shows us that Gentiles were getting saved before Christ died on the cross. Jesus also told this woman that God must be worshiped in “spirit and in truth” showing her that spiritual worship (from the heart) is not and cannot be limited to a physical place, including Jerusalem.

Jesus The Messiah Is Also The Savior - Having proven the case that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah) it can be easily shown that Jesus is the Saviour also, and therefore the only way to heaven for anyone.

Jesus Declared That He Was The Only Way

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

This is a very well known verse of scripture and this is the verse where Jesus makes the claim that He is the only way to the Father. I would like to go to some other scriptures in the Bible where Jesus mentions the Father, and heaven, in the same breath so that you can see the point that I am trying to make. I am doing this because Jesus did not mention heaven in John 14:6 and I know that there will be some that will try to twist the scriptures to say something that they do not say. I want to emphasize the point that Jesus Christ is absolutely the only way to heaven and that there is NOT an alternate route to get there.

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. (Matthew 7:21)Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 10:32-33)

In the verses above we can see that the Father is in heaven. Given the fact that Jesus said that He was the only way to the Father, then it can also be said that Jesus is also the only way to heaven where His Father resides.

 

The Disciples Find The Messiah

One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ. And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone. (John 1:40-42)

 

Here is a very clear verse in the scriptures which show us that Jesus Christ was recognized early on to be the Messiah. Please do not believe those who tell you that there is a different plan for the Jewish people and the Gentile people. There is only ONE Messiah and ONE Saviour according to the scriptures, and His name is Jesus Christ.

 

I would like to look at some other scriptures from the Word of God just to prove the point that Jesus Christ is the Messiah and that He came at a certain prophesied moment in time. The one thing we must remember is that Christ became the sacrifice for sin, so I am moving through the scriptures with that in mind.

 

When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 16:13-17)

 

WHO DO YOU SAY THAT “I AM”?

Here we are getting to the very root of the question as to whether or not Jesus is the only way to heaven. Here Jesus was asking His very own disciples (followers) what the rest of the people were saying about Him. They responded by telling Jesus that some of the people thought that He was John the Baptist, (resurrected) while others thought that Jesus was the prophet Elijah, or Jeremiah, or one of the other prophets of the past.

 

At this time Jesus put the very same question to them “But whom say ye that I AM?” And Peter responded by telling Jesus that He was the Christ, the Son of the living God. By the way that word Christ means Messiah, so Peter was in fact telling Jesus that He was the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Now Jesus makes a very important statement here in telling Peter (Simon Barjona) that he was a blessed man because that spiritual revelation did not come from flesh and blood (meaning another human being) but from His (Jesus) Father in heaven.

Keep in mind that the disciples were hearing the Word of God directly from the mouth of the Lord, which later became part of the book that we now know as the Bible. The Word of God, which is the truth, came directly into the heart of Peter. His “spiritual light” was turned on to the truth that Jesus was in fact the Messiah

 

Jesus Reveals Himself As The Messiah

 

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias (Messiah) cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee AM HE. (John 4:21-26)

 

In this passage of scripture the Lord comes into contact with a Samaritan woman by divine appointment. This woman was surprised by the fact that Jesus was even conversing with her because the Jews and the Samaritans did not get along with each other. The woman got a glimpse into the prophetic realm when Jesus revealed her sinful past and the fact that she had five husbands, and that she was currently living with a man that was not her husband. (John 4:16-1

The conversation then turned to spiritual things. The Lord made it clear to the woman that God must be worshiped “in spirit and in truth” stressing the importance of worship from the heart. It had nothing to do with a geographical location. After a while the Lord revealed to this woman that He was the Messiah. (John 4:26)

 

Do not miss the fact that the Lord specifically mentioned Jerusalem here when He was speaking on the topic of true worship. Jerusalem in Israel is a city much like many other big cities around the world. In that city there are some who worship the Lord Jesus Christ, but for the most part, He is still rejected, as He was when He walked in Jerusalem back then.

Jesus told us that God must be worshiped in Spirit and truth.

Jesus told the woman that a geographical place, including the earthly city of Jerusalem, did not matter because true worship in Spirit and truth precluded that.

Jesus was able to see into the sinful lifestyle of the woman.

Jesus revealed Himself as the Messiah to this same Gentile woman.

 

When the Lord’s disciples showed up, they were just as perplexed as she was, that Jesus was speaking with a Samaritan woman. The woman then decided to go back and testify to the people from her village.

 

And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days. And many more believed because of his own word; And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. (John 4:39-42)

 

Lessons Learned

 

The Samaritan woman got saved.

The Lord is able to save anybody in the whole wide world, Jewish or Gentile.

The Lord knew the Samaritan woman’s past but still offered her mercy.

The Samaritan woman became an instant evangelist for Jesus.

Other Samaritans testified that Jesus was the Christ (Messiah).

Other Samaritans testified that Jesus was the Saviour of the world.

Jesus the Messiah was saving Gentiles even before the cross

 

Jesus The Messiah Is Also The Saviour

 

We have learned through the most recent passage of scripture that many of the Samaritans came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ calling Him the “Saviour of the world”. Given the fact that the Lord revealed Himself to the “woman at the well” as the Messiah, we can naturally conclude that Jesus is both Messiah and Saviour. We can also conclude that Jesus is offering salvation to both Jew and Gentile.

 

I would like to look at just a few scriptures in the Bible that contain the word Saviour to further prove that Jesus is the only Saviour.

 

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11)

This verse tells us clearly that the Saviour is Jesus Christ and it mentions the city of David, which is Bethlehem, where Christ (Messiah) was born. That was the very place where Micah the prophet said that He would be born. (Micah 5:2)

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him. (Acts 5:29-32)

 

In the passage above we see that Peter confronted the Jewish religious leaders, including the High Priest, and told them that obedience to God was more important than obedience to men. He told them the “God of our fathers” (meaning the God of Israel) was the one who raised up Jesus (from the dead)! Jesus, the one that they killed! Peter then went on to say that Jesus was exalted to be a prince and a Saviour offering forgiveness to Israel. Peter then includes the Holy Ghost in his list of witnesses.

 

The main thing that I want you to get is that the people of Israel were given the same opportunity that the Gentiles were given to accept this person of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Paul himself said that the gospel was for the Jew first:

 

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)

 

In this next passage of scripture Titus mentions “God our Saviour” and “The Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour” within the span of two verses. This not only proves Jesus to be the Saviour but it also proves Jesus is God.

But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour; To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour. (Titus 1:3-4)

 

In the next two verses of scripture we learn that there is no other God beside the one who is the just God and Saviour:

 

I, even I, am the LORD; and beside me there is no saviour.  (Isaiah 43:11)

 

Tell ye, and bring them near; yea, let them take counsel together: who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? have not I the LORD? and there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. (Isaiah 45:21)

 

In the New Testament book of Acts the same theme is followed, telling us that Jesus Christ is the only name by which a person can be saved:

Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:10-12)

 

Considering the fact that all people on planet earth have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and that there are none righteous (Romans 3:10-11) there can be no other way for anyone to be saved apart from the Saviour whom God has provided for us. The blood is the only thing that will atone for the soul (Leviticus 17:11) and the blood that Jesus shed on the cross is the blood that was shed for all mankind.

 

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. (Romans 5:8-9)

 

We have proven through the scriptures that there is only ONE Messiah who also is the ONE Saviour. Jesus Christ is still the “way, the truth and the life” and there is NOT a single person who will enter heaven unless they come through Him.

 

The Ethiopian Eunuch Gets Saved

 

And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans. And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him. And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing. (Acts 8:25-39)

 

The angel of the Lord sent Philip to witness to this man.

The angel saw the man studying the book of Isaiah (53:7-8).

The Ethoipian man inquired as to whom Isaiah was speaking about.

Philip immediately preached Jesus unto this man.

The man was baptized and made a public profession           

 

This is the choice for you today, salvation in Christ or damnation without Him.

  

That is what Jesus taught.

 

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-1

 

Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. (Mark 16:14-16)

 

Review

Jesus declared that He was the only way to the Father. (John 14:6)

The Father is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21,10:32-33)

The disciples found the Messiah. (John 1:41-42)

Peter recognized Jesus to be the Christ, the Messiah. (Matthew 16:13-17)

Jesus revealed Himself as the Messiah to a Gentile woman. (John 4:21-26)

The Samaritans recognized Christ to be the Saviour. (John 4:39-42)

Titus told us that God was the Saviour. (Titus 1:3)

Titus told us that Jesus Christ was the Saviour. (Titus 1:4)

Isaiah declared that there is only one Saviour. (Isaiah 43:11, 45:21)

There is none other name to be saved by but that of Jesus Christ. (Acts 4:10-12)

The BLOOD of Jesus Christ was shed for YOU. (Romans 5:8-9)

Believers in Jesus Christ are not condemned. (John 3:16-1

Those who do not believe in Christ are condemned already. (John 3:16-1

Salvation in Christ or damnation outside of Christ. (Mark 16:14-16)

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE = AUDIO OF THIS MESSAGE

My name is Bill White and I was born in 1952, in Queens, New York. My family moved to Long Island and lived there for five years before moving back to Queens. While living on the Island I attended a public school. We were permitted to attend “religious instruction” classes once a week at the local Catholic School, and that’s where I was taught the Catholic Catechism.

I was taught that there were two types of sin, one was “mortal sin” (the more serious) and the other was “venial sin” (the less serious). I remember thinking to myself “how can anybody keep up with all of that stuff?” I was taught that it was a mortal sin to miss Mass on Sunday which I had already done, and I knew that I had committed more than my share of “venial sins”, so I started to become a little concerned about my soul. I was taught that there was a heaven, a hell, and another place called purgatory. Purgatory was described as a temporary place of punishment where the Catholic would stay until their love for God was perfect, and then they would proceed to heaven. Even at that young age their was enough conviction within my own heart to block out any thought of going to heaven, and even purgatory looked like a longshot to me. I went on to become an altar boy and being one of nine children I witnessed many “First Communion” and “Confirmation” ceremonies within my family. I must say that I always had a nagging question in the back of my mind, which was “where would I go after I die?”

During the 1970’s I had an insatiable desire to know the truth. I would travel to a shopping mall on Long Island, because there were two large bookstores in the mall. I would head straight to the philosophy and religious section where I would browse through the books, shelf by shelf, from bookcase to bookcase. After the first bookstore I would head to the other bookstore and repeat the same process over again. I wanted to know the truth and I eventually filled a large box with books on a variety of topics. I read books on Zen and I read books on meditation. I bought books on self improvement and how to improve the mind. You name it, I bought it and I read it.

One night in late 1980 I was drinking at a club and around midnight I decided to leave. I headed out to the south shore of Long Island to check out another club. I had been drinking for a couple of hours, and I was tired, but I can remember thinking that I wanted to get my “moneys worth” out of the weekend because it was back to work on Monday. I met my wife Cathy that night, and I remember when I left the club there was a ticket waiting on my windshield for parking on the street after 4AM. That was a typical weekend for me and many others of my age group during that time.

Cathy and I got married in July of 1981 and I still had the same desire and interest to seek out the truth. I read about a free seminar on mind control that spoke about improving ones mind power and memory. The seminar was being given a few miles from where we lived and I convinced Cathy to go with me. At the beginning of the seminar the teacher was talking about relaxation, emptying the mind, and visualization techniques. During this part of the class the teacher forgot what day it was and that just struck my funny bone. I could not stop laughing, to the point of tears, and this made Cathy laugh also. The teacher noticed us but simply smiled. The rest of the class had their eyes closed and they were in “visualization mode.” As I look back on that day I truly believe that it was the Lord who protected us from becoming involved in that sort of thing. I believe when a person starts “emptying their minds” that they can open themselves up to the occult, which in reality is the realm of the demonic.

During the mid 1980’s Cathy and I became aware of the Catholic Charismatic movement. The Mass was livelier and the songs were similar to those sung in Christian churches. We attended “healing masses” which focused on healing and praying the rosary. The rosary contains prayers which are mostly “Hail Mary’s”. At that time we became aware of what was known as the Marian apparitions at Medugorje. The “Virgin Mary” was allegedly appearing before some young men and women and bringing forth a monthly message. We were fascinated by stories of rosary beads changing colors, from silver to gold, when people went to Medugorje.

During this same period we began visiting a church in New York City where the gospel of Jesus Christ was being preached. We heard testimonies of how people’s lives were being changed by the power of Jesus Christ. This fascinated us also because we were so accustomed to the rituals and rote prayers we said every Sunday at the Catholic Mass. As time went on we would attend Mass in the morning and visit the other church in the evening, and the power of God’s Word was bringing us into the knowledge of the truth.

Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:31-32)

Cathy told a Christian woman at that other church about the alleged appearances over in Yugoslavia. The woman quoted a verse of scripture to her:

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. (2 Corinthians 11:14)

This troubled Cathy and she went before the Lord and asked Him to show her the truth no matter what. She prayed before the Lord with an open Bible and an open heart, and began to see many scriptures which contradicted the messages that were coming from the “apparition of Mary” in Yugoslavia. This was very upsetting to her because we were really into this apparition thing. We had purchased videos and invited others to come to our home to view them with us. We also handed out pamphlets which promoted the apparition. We were evangelists for Mary at that time. Cathy was convinced that this whole thing was not of God and she tried to convince me, but I was not willing to listen. This went on for several weeks until one day she came down the stairs with tears in her eyes and asked me to listen to her. Something inside my heart told me to listen, and I did, and I told her that I would pray about it.

I knew that I had a choice to make. It was either the word of God (the bible) or the messages of “Mary” from Medugorje. I chose to believe the word of God. I can remember the day when the Lord lifted the spiritual veil of deception which had covered my eyes. I was reading the gospel of John and it seemed that the words were jumping off the page at me. I knew at that moment that the Lord Jesus Christ was the Son of God who came down from heaven. I knew that the Lord Jesus Christ was persecuted and slain on the cross for my sins. This was “head knowledge” before but now it was revelation truth from heaven straight into my heart. The Lord Jesus Christ had become ever so real to me and I knew that He died for me. A change had taken place inside my heart, and I was born again in the true biblical way. Jesus said this:

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. (John 3:6-7)

Cathy and I researched the messages from Medugorje and it was as if the Holy Spirit had taken a fluorescent hi-liter pen and began to expose the contradictions and falsehoods within those messages. We did the same with the other apparitions of Mary and we found them to contain similar errors.

As new Christians we now believed what Peter said and that we were now part of the “priesthood of believers” (1 Peter 2:9) which encompasses people from every nation on planet earth. We now knew that we did not need the Roman Catholic Mass, which is called the “Perfect Sacrifice Continued” (item 360 Baltimore Catechism p171), and which declares as its purpose “to satisfy the justice of God for the sins committed against Him” (Item 361 Baltimore Catechism p173). We now believed what Jesus Christ proclaimed right before His life expired “It Is Finished” (John 19:30). We now believed what Peter told us in one of his letters:

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:1

We now believed what the apostle Paul told us in his letter to the Romans. We saw the value of the blood of Jesus Christ like never before.

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. (Romans 5:8-9)

We now knew that the Mass, which declares that Christ through the ministry of the priest is offering Himself to God in “an unbloody manner” (item 357 Baltimore Catechism p16 , was not in agreement with the Word of God which tells us this:

For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. (Leviticus 17:11)

We also knew from studying the scriptures that the real Mary was a sinner just like the rest of us:

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. (Luke 1:46-47)

Only sinners need a Saviour, and the Bible tells us that every single one of us has come short of the glory of God.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.(Romans 3:23)

The last time that I find Mary mentioned in the scriptures is in the book of Acts:

And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. (Acts 1:13-14)

Mary is listed here along with everyone else and she most certainly is not exalted above the others who are mentioned here. Mary was praying along with the rest of the other believers in Jesus Christ unto her God. None of the others are found praying to her as I did for many years and is still done today by multitudes.

One of the most striking things to me was the fact that the second commandment found in the Baltimore Catechism was not the same second commandment found in the bible. The real second commandment is found in Exodus 20 and reads as follows:

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:4-6)

In the Roman Catholic Baltimore Catechism the second commandment is listed as “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.” (Baltimore Catechism item number 195, p 100)

How could there still be Ten commandments if the second commandment which dealt with graven images (statues) and which took up three verses in the scriptures is removed from the list?

The answer is found by taking a look at the ninth and tenth commandments in the Baltimore Catechism which are as follows:

9) Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors wife.

10) Thou shalt not covet thy neighbors goods.

(Baltimore Catechism item number 195, p100)

But the bible relegates only one single verse to this subject which is found below.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s. (Exodus 20:17)

The Lord really opened up my eyes with this one because statues are found in Roman Catholic Churches all over the world. There are shrines to Mary all over the world. There are statues built to honor “saints” all over the world. I can remember visiting a Catholic shop in search of a statue of Mary because I wanted to have my own little shrine in the attic of my home. A person had a choice of a plain white statue or one which included the colors of blue and white. I was shocked at the prices for even the smaller statues, and I never bought one. It was not long after that visit to the Catholic shop, that I got saved and saw all of these things as nothing but idolatry according to God’s word.

As the Lord continued to open up my eyes about the deception of Roman Catholicism I would share this with others including pastors. I soon found out that this is an issue which most pastors refrain from speaking about. There was so much compromise I did not know where to begin. I have to remind myself that the bible warns us about such things in the following verse:

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (1 Timothy 4:1)

If the Spirit of God, which is the Spirit of truth prophesied of such apostasy then it must certainly happen. Many pastors walk under the disguise of a “love” which is nothing but a counterfeit love which creates a false “unity” of believers in Jesus Christ. They lay aside the truth of God’s word and accept the doctrines of devils which Paul warned us about. On the surface they appear to be “anointed” but in reality they are crafty compromiser’s of  God’s word. Some are very aware of what is going on, but they remain silent because it is not popular to speak out against these things. True love warns people about false doctrine and calls it what it is in order to protect the sheep. True Godly and biblical love can be found in the ministry of the Jewish apostle Paul who never failed to warn the people whom he loved so dearly.

Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. (Acts 20:26-31)

 You can also hear my testimony on AUDIO here.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Bible Study Synopsis

The New Testament Men Of God Honored God’ Word- The apostle Paul declared that all scripture is inspired by God and is everything we need in the way of righteousness. Peter one of the original disciples of Jesus Christ, and an eyewitness to many incredible miracles of the Lord Jesus Christ, exalted the Word of God above them all. (2 Peter 1:16-21) We can depend upon the Word of God to be a light for our path. (Psalm 119:105) We must not mix the Word of God with man made tradition, psychology, our own opinions or anything else. Any type of mixture will produce a perverted and corrupt Gospel.

The Old Testament Men Of God Honored God’s Word – Jeremiah said that it brought a rejoicing to his heart (Jeremiah 15:16) and he compared it to fire and a hammer (Jeremiah 23:29) Isaiah declared that the Word of God was the determining factor of whether a person had “light” in them. (Isaiah 8:20)and that the word of God would never return void. (Isaiah 55:11) Job said that God’s Word (spiritual food) was more important than his necessary (physical) food. (Job 23:12)

The Old Testament Prophecies Prove God’s Word True- Micah prophesied the birthplace of Jesus the Messiah in Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2/Matthew 2:6) Zechariah prophesied that the King of Israel, just and having salvation, would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey. (Zechariah 9:9/Matthew 21:1-5) Isaiah prophesied of the death of the Messiah approximately 700 years before the event actually took place. (Isaiah 53:1-12) No other “Holy Book” can make the claim that the Bible makes because no other book has Biblical prophecies with a 100 percent accuracy rate.

Jesus Christ Honored The Word Of God - Jesus Christ quoted from God’s Word three different times in fighting off the devil when he came against Him. (Matthew 4:1-11, Deuteronomy 8:3, 6:16, 6:13) and Christ also declared that the very words He spoke would be what judged us in the last day. (John 12:4

The New Testament Men Of God Honored God’s Word

The apostle Paul penned those words nearly two thousand years ago and they are just as true today as they were back then. We need not look any further than the scriptures themselves, to find everything we need, concerning the salvation of our soul and how to continue on in our walk with the Lord. It is all found in the Word of God.

The apostle Peter was one of the original disciples of Jesus Christ and as a close companion of Christ he was a witness to the many things that Jesus did.

Peter Was There When:

Jesus performed many incredible miracles

Jesus cast demons out of the possessed

Jesus raised the dead to life again

Jesus healed the sick of their diseases

Jesus caused a raging storm to cease with three words “Peace Be still”

Jesus was transfigured on a mountain top and spoke with Elijah and Moses about His coming death at Jerusalem

And yet after all of those amazing experiences Peter wrote the following words:

For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing 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 spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (2 Peter 1:16-21)

The apostle Peter shows us in this excerpt from one of his letters that he knew the value of the scriptures and he placed them above any of the experiences mentioned above. Peter made a point of writing down the fact that he was there as an eyewitness of the majesty of Christ upon that holy mount (mountain) when the glory of God shone upon Jesus Christ. Peter was referring to the time when he along with John and James saw Jesus Christ transfigured before their very eyes and they saw the glory of God all over Him. They also saw Moses and Elijah talking with Jesus about the death which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. (Luke 9:28-31)  I encourage you to read the gospel accounts in Matthew 17:1-13, Mark 9:1-13, and Luke 9:28-36 because there is much to learn there.

Peter contrasts that awesome mountaintop experience, described above with the “more sure word of prophecy” which are the scriptures themselves. Peter learned through experience that even after being an eyewitness to such great things that his faith could still be attacked. Do not forget that Peter denied the Lord three times when trouble came his way, and the rest of the disciples also vanished at that same point in time. Peter would eventually learn to trust in the Lord and the infallibility of His Word and stare death in the face. (John 21:18-19).

We cannot separate TRUE faith from believing the Word of God. They are absolutely inseparable. If you say that you believe in God then you must believe the words that He spoke! And within the Word of God you will find the right path that God wants you to take.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalms 119:105)

A fatal trap that many people fall into is when they start to MIX the Word of God with something else and therefore pollute the scriptures and come up with a mixture that will lead them astray.  Beware of those who add their own books and place them alongside the Bible and tell you that they are on an equal par with God’s Word.  The Lord does raise up people to teach and help others understand His Word but we are not to ADD or TAKE AWAY from His Word.

It is NOT the Word of God plus the traditions of man

It is NOT the Word of God plus man made psychology

It is NOT the Word of God plus man made opinions

It is NOT the Word of God plus something else

It is JUST the Word of God!

The Old Testament Men Of God Honored God’s Word

Jeremiah the prophet said this regarding the Word of God Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. (Jeremiah 15:16) Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? (Jeremiah 23:29)  Isaiah the prophet said this regarding the Word of God 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. (Isaiah 55:11) To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. (Isaiah 8:20)

Job the man of God said this regarding the word of God Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. (Job 23:12)The Bible has something that every other “Holy Book” does not have and that is prophecy.  There are scores of prophecies that are found in the Bible and many of them deal specifically with Jesus Christ.  This is not one of those tabloids that you buy in January that makes some predictions, most of which never happen but these are prophecies that were spoken hundreds of years beforethe evnts actually took place. Can you name ONE other “Holy Book” that can make that claim? Do not think too hard because there are NONE! Here are just a few references that you can check out for yourself.

The Old Testament Prophecies Prove God’s Word True

Micah, the prophet declared that the Messiah, the one who was “from everlasting”, meaning eternal, was to be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) and that is the very place where Jesus Christ was born. (Matthew 2:6)

Zechariah the prophet prophesied that the King, who is just, and having salvation would ride into Jerusalem on a donkey (ass). (Zechariah 9:9) and Jesus Christ, the King of the Jews rode into Jerusalem on a donkey (ass) just as Zechariah declared He would! (Matthew 21:1-5)

Isaiah prophesied of the death of Christ almost 700 years before the event actually took place. (Isaiah 53:1-12) and Christ, the Messiah, died just as he prophesied. (John 19:30)

There are absolutely scores of other prophecies in the Bible and I encourage you to take the time to study them for yourself.

Jesus Christ Honored God’s Word

Jesus Christ Himself used the Word of God to refute the temptations and the liesof the devil when he came to tempt him in the wilderness. Three different times the Lord quoted from the book of Deuteronomy , and He preceded each of those quotations with the words “IT IS WRITTEN!” (Deuteronomy 8:3, 6:16, 6:13) refuting the DEVIL at every single point with the scriptures. (Matthew 4:1-11)  If the Lord Jesus Christ found the Word of God to be that important, how much more do we need to know and use the Word of God ourselves? Not only that but Jesus told us that the very words that He spoke would be what would judge us in the end:

Have Ye Not Read?

At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. But when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? (Matthew 12:1-5)

The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, (Matthew 19:3-4)

But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.(Matthew 22:31-32)

And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner: (Mark 12:10)

The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. (Psalms 118:22)

He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. (John 12:4

Preach God’s Word

It is the Word of God that makes all the difference and it is the Word that needs to be preached to the lost souls all over the world. The pulpit is the place where the Word of God is to be preached and expounded on because it is the truth that sets people free. It is not a crime to have a healthy and sanctified sense of humor but when that becomes the rule and jokes become too common it can cheapen the gospel and send off the wrong message to the listeners especially when souls are at stake.

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. (2 Timothy 4:1-5 )

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE = AUDIO OF THIS MESSAGE

Elaina commented    “Keep spreading the Good News!!!! I have gained so much from this!!!!”

A May 11, 2007 New York Times article entitled “Pope Canonizes Brazil’s First Native-Born Saint” by Larry Rohter and Ian Fisher, Sao Paulo, Brazil, said this:

“After canonizing Brazil’s first native-born saint and receiving a bracing dose of Brazilian-style religious fervor at an outdoor mass here today, Pope Benedict XVI called for more forceful evangelization efforts throughout Latin America to counter growing conversions to Pentecostal Protestant groups.”

I did not realize until I was born again of the Spirit that the biblical way of becoming a saint is diametrically opposed to the Roman Catholic way of becoming a saint.

In the Roman Catholic Church it is the Pope who ultimately has the authority to “canonize” a person and make them a saint.  It is is based upon what they have done in their life and other strict qualifications of the Church.

In the bible we learn that the term “saint” is applied to living believers in Jesus Christ.  In his letter to the Corinthians Paul wrote the following:

Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother, Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:1-3)

We can see how Paul relegated the title “saint” to “… all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord …”

Paul wrote this to the church at Ephesus:

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (Ephesians 1:1-3)

Once again Paul is referring to living believers in Jesus Christ.  Paul writes “… to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus…”  Paul was simply referring to people who had placed their faith in Jesus Christ and continued to follow Him.

We must not forget that Paul was once a severe persecutor of Christians ” …breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord…” (Acts 9:1) until the Lord Jesus Christ spoke to him out of heaven. (Acts 9:1-6)

This Jewish apostle of Jesus Christ, by his own admission, consented unto the death of Stephen who was a faithful man of God. (Acts 8:1, 22:20)  We can therefore justly say that Paul was an accomplice to his murder.  So now we have a former murderer preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, and writing letters to other believers whom he refers to as “saints.”

The point that I am making is that every person in this world has the opportunity to become a true “saint” of God, by repenting and believing the Gospel. (Mark 1:15)  That is true biblical faith.

The true story about Paul should be an encouragement to all of us that our God is truly a God of  love and mercy. 

A person cannot truly come to Christ and become a “saint” until they see that their sin separates them from a holy and righteous God.

 The Bible makes it clear that there are “none righteous” (Romans 3:10) and every single one of us falls short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)  That is the very reason why we need a Saviour and that is the very reason why Jesus Christ came to this earth.  That is the very reason why Jesus Christ went to the cross and shed His perfect sinless blood for people like us.  (Romans 5:8-9) 

The Jewish apostle Paul wrote this many years after he came to Jesus Christ:

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. (1 Timothy 1:15-16) 

Are you a saint yet?

By Bill White

John Wesley was an evangelist who often preached on the necessity of being born again.  Someone asked John why he preached so often on that subject, and he replied “because You must be born again.”

This is an excerpt from a conversation that Jesus Christ had with Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.  Jesus had just told him that he needed to be born again and the conversation continued as follows:

Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. (John 3:4-

Every single one of us has been born in the flesh, which simply means to be born physically into this world, but Jesus stressed the importance of being born again of the spirit.  In other words Jesus was talking about a “spiritual birth” which must take place for a person to “see” the Kingdom of God.

Jesus compared this “spiritual birth” to the wind that blows, because you cannot see the wind but you can hear it.  We may see the effect of the wind upon the trees as they sway back and forth, but you do not see the wind.  When a person has been “born again” of the Spirit you will see the effect of the Spirit upon that person and you will hear a testimony about Jesus Christ.  When I was born again of the Spirit it was if an internal light was turned on inside my heart and I knew that Jesus Christ was real. That was the Spirit of truth at work inside my heart and I could not put the bible down.  My testimony is on this site.  You can hear an audio testimony by going to www.onlinetabernacle.com

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: (John 15:26)

The Spirit of God is called the comforter because He comforts the weary soul and points them to Jesus Christ, the one who came to rescue us. Nicodemus could not understand the words of Jesus and he said this:

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things? (John 3:9-10)

Nicodemus was obviously a very religious man, but he was also a man in need of salvation.  That described myself and millions of others who were “religious but lost” until we were truly born again of the Spirit.  Jesus left us with a promise regarding the Holy Spirit:

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. (John 16:13-14)

Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would “… not speak of Himself” and that the Spirit “… shall glorify me….”  Once again we see the focus is put on Christ.

There are probably millions of people who have their names on church rolls but they do not have their names on God’s roll, which is the Book of Life.  Many are trying to earn their way to heaven or sacrament their way to heaven but that is an impossible task. 

This is an excerpt from an article from entitled “Pope Assails Marxism and Capitalism” By Victor Simpson (Associated Press Writer) APARECIDA, Brazil (AP)

“… Benedict, speaking in Spanish and Portugese to the bishops, also said Latin America needs more dedicated Catholics in leadership positions in politics, the media and at universities.  He also said the church leaders must halt a trend that has seen millions of Catholics turn into born-again Protestants or simply stop going to church.”

Whenever I read something like this it really makes me wonder what is going on in Evangelical circles and it’s compromise with Roman Catholicism.  The big crusaders work side by side with the Roman Catholic church and remain silent about their false teachings while the Pope has no problem speaking his mind.  The Pope flat out told the bishops to halt the trend of people becoming born-again Protestants! 

Where is the prophetic voice within the church today?  How can they remain silent in times such as these? How can they sign documents such as the ECT (Evangelicals and Catholics Together) document of 1994 when statements such as the one from Pope Benedict XVI are made?

This warning from the Jewish apostle Paul is becoming clearer and clearer as the days grow darker and darker:

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (1 Timothy 4:1)

“… What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

 (Mark 4:41)

 By Bill White

My purpose in this Bible study is to show you, that it can be proven through the scriptures, that without doubt Jesus Christ is God.

Bible Study Synopsis

The Testimony Of John The Baptist - John was the “voice in the wilderness” (John 1:22-24, Isaiah 40:3) who prepared the way of the Lord Jesus Christ. John knew that Jesus was preferred before him because He was before him. (John 1:15,27) even though Jesus was physically born after him. John referred to Jesus as the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

The Testimony Of Jesus Christ - Jesus referred to Himself as the “I AM” which was the name that God Himself used when He spoke to Moses out of the burning bush (John 8:56-59, Exodus 3:13-14). The Jews sought to stone Jesus because they thought that He was guilty of blasphemy (John 8:59, Leviticus 24:16). Jesus claimed to be the First and the Last (Revelation 1:11,17-18,2: which is a name that God claims for Himself (Isaiah 44:6). Jesus also claimed to be the Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:8,11) and the Almighty (Revelation 1:8).

Many inferences can then be made about Jesus Christ as we examine scripture with scripture. Since we know that the Word of God which was made flesh (John 1:14) spoke of Jesus Christ then we also know that Jesus Christ is the Word who created all things (John 1:3). Consider the fact that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1) and that the Word who is Jesus Christ was also there in the beginning (John 1:2). We will then naturally conclude that Jesus Christ is God. We learn through Isaiah the prophet that God made all things alone and by Himself (Isaiah 44:24) which is in perfect agreement with John 1:1-3 and Colossians 1:12-16. If God did everything alone and by Himself it lays to rest those within the cults who insist that God created Jesus Christ and then used Jesus Christ to create everything else.

The Works Of Jesus Christ - The works that Jesus Christ did during His time on earth are more than ample proof that Jesus Christ is God. Jesus cast demons out of the possessed, He healed the sick, He had power over nature, He raised the dead , He forgave sins, causing His enemies to say “… who can forgive sins, but God only?” (Mark 2:7). Jesus also raised Himself from the dead.

The Testimony Of John The Baptist

John the Baptist was the son of Zacharias, a Jewish priest, and his wife Elizabeth. John was born to this couple after they had been without children for many years. John was born exactly as promised to Zacharias by the angel Gabriel. (Luke 1:5-25) The scriptures also tell us that John would be filled with the Holy Ghost and that he would turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. And that he would go forth in the “spirit and power of Elias (Elijah) … to make ready a people prepared for the Lord” (Luke 1:17). It is not surprising that John the Baptist attracted the attention of multitudes. Many people wanted to know who he was. The Pharisees, a Jewish group, sent people to question him:

Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias (Isaiah). And they which were sent were of the Pharisees (John 1:22-24).

Please keep in mind that John was questioned by the people because they wanted to know if he was in fact the promised Christ (Messiah) or if he was some other prophet (John 1:19-21). John responded to their inquiry by quoting from the Old Testament book of Isaiah. Here John makes a very revealing statement not only about his own identity, but the true identity of Jesus Christ also.

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God (Isaiah 40:3).

John let them know that he was that “voice in the wilderness” that the prophet Isaiah had spoken about. Now it is obvious that the voice was representative of a person with a message and the message was this:

to prepare the way of the Lord

to make straight … a highway for our God

So given the fact that John identified himself as THAT “voice in the wilderness” we can say without question that John was preparing the way for the Lord God.

The Hebrew word for Lord that is used in this verse is YHWH

The Hebrew word for God that is used here is ELOHIYM

We also know from the contents of the New Testament that John the Baptist was the very one who prepared the way for Jesus Christ. So we can rightly say, without shame and without fear, that the titles of Lord and God most definitely apply to Jesus Christ.

Here is another testimony from John regarding the deity of Jesus Christ:

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me. And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water (John 1:29-31).

In this passage of scripture John identifies Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God, and the one who came to take away the sin of the world. John also declares that Jesus was preferred before him because he was before him. It is most interesting when you look at the gospel account in Luke and find that Jesus was born at least six months AFTER John was born. (Luke 1:34-37). So we can conclude that John knew full well, by the Spirit of God, that Jesus Christ existed long before He was incarnated as a human being on this earth.

The topic in this study is of utmost importance. The claim that Jesus Christ is God is more than a mere theological debate between those who endorse the position of His deity (divinity) and those who do not. Why? Because if it can be proven through the scriptures (and it can) that Jesus Christ is in fact God, then we must take a closer look not only at the words that Jesus spoke while He walked this earth but also at the words that the Lord spoke to the children of Israel in the Old Testament. We can learn a great deal when we truly understand that this Christ whom we know as Lord was the very same eternal Lord who created all things, and who came to this earth and partook of our own human nature.

The Testimony Of Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ: He is the “I AM”

It has been said very often by those who do not believe that Jesus Christ is in fact God, that He never made that claim for Himself. That is not true. In the New Testament book of John we can read the following scriptures.

Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I AM. Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by (John 8:56-59).

I highlighted the words of Jesus Christ in red letters to make it easier to see when He is speaking. In this passage of scripture Jesus was in a confrontation with the Jewish religious people, and He told them that He Himself was the “I AM.”

I would like you to note that His enemies took up stones to throw at Jesus, which means that they wanted to kill him. The reason that they did that was because they thought that he had committed blasphemy in declaring Himself to be the “I AM” and that he was “living” before Abraham ever existed. The Old Testament book of Leviticus shows us the reason for their actions:

And he that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD, shall be put to death (Leviticus 24:16).

This shows us that his enemies knew full well what Jesus was declaring when he claimed the name “I AM” for Himself. This also shows us that Jesus most certainly made His deity clear on different occasions. What was Jesus trying to tell those who were in opposition to Him? Jesus was telling them that He was alive long before Abraham ever existed.

There are millions of people who only see Jesus Christ as a person who was born about two thousand years ago, lived a short life, did some good things and then died. The purpose of this Bible study is to show you the reader that Jesus Christ is more than a man. He is part of the eternal triune Godhead. When Jesus used the words I AM, He was using the very same words that were used by God when He spoke to Moses out of the burning bush. Moses was intrigued by that burning bush when it was not consumed, and when he approached the bush this is what happened:

And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God (Exodus 3:5-6).

The voice that spoke out of that burning bush identified Himself as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Moses was afraid to even look upon God. The point that I want to make here is that it was God who spoke out of that burning bush. Further down in that very same chapter we find the following:

And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you (Exodus 3:13-14 ).

Here we see that God told Moses that His name was “I AM THAT I AM” and that was what Moses was to tell the children of Israel. Am I trying to say that Jesus Christ was the very same person that spoke to Moses out of that burning bush? Yes, that is exactly what I am trying to say and there is further proof in the scriptures to make that point.

Jesus Christ: He Is The First And The Last

Now I would like to go to the new Testament book of Revelation to further prove the deity of Jesus Christ.

And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death (Revelation 1:17-18).

In this scripture verse John listens as the risen Christ declares Himself to be the FIRST and the LAST. Not only that, but He tells John that He was DEAD but now He is ALIVE forevermore! I do not think that the Lord could have made His deity any clearer than that. We all know that it was Jesus Christ who was slain for our sins and who rose from the dead. The title of the FIRST and the LAST is a title that is unique to God and Him alone, and here the glorified Christ claims it for Himself. Let’s take a look in the Old Testament to see how it is used.

Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God (Isaiah 44:6).

In the book of Isaiah we learn that the Lord is the King of Israel and also calls Himself the FIRST and the LAST. There are not several FIRST and LAST’s but only ONE. Not only that but this verse tells us that there is no other God beside Him. If Jesus called Himself the FIRST and the LAST then the title of God belongs to Him.

Jesus Christ: He Is The Alpha And Omega

Jesus Christ: He Is The Almighty

Back in the first chapter of Revelation we see that the First and the Last is also the Alpha and Omega “… I am Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last…” (Revelation 1:11). When we look back at verse eight we find out that the Alpha and Omega is called the Almighty:

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty (Revelation 1:8).

So we learned in this first chapter of Revelation that Jesus Christ is:

 The First and the Last

 The Alpha and Omega

 The Almighty

 The One who was dead but is now alive forevermore

 He holds the keys of Hell and Death