Author: Jim

Letter to a Jewish Friend Part 4

The Bible stresses there is an incredible price to pay for sin, and nowhere does it say that keeping the law earns you a ticket into heaven, not only because it’s impossible for anyone to keep the law going all the way back to the Garden of Eden, but more importantly, to deny any of us the ability to claim that our works make us worthy of it.  David writes in Psalm 14:3, “They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”  This is a recurring theme throughout the Scriptures.

Now look at Leviticus 24:11 and Matt. 12:31.  These verses deal with blaspheming God.  If God hates blasphemy and killed a child because of it, why wouldn’t God wipe Jesus right off the map for claiming to be “I AM”?  Even though Jesus claimed to be God’s Son, the Bible says he didn’t consider himself equal with God, nor did He demand royal treatment.  He was God’s humble servant and yet WAS and IS God.  Do you know how many bragging rights Jesus had?  Imagine if one of us were in such a role.    

We humans are all about consumerism and, from the beginning have been rebellious against God.  We love to customize everything to fit our needs, including God and the conditions upon which we’ll obey Him.  So, as an example, let’s use a smorgasbord of food.  We stroll through taking what we like and don’t like.  I’ll use myself as an example.  I tend to put healthy veggies on my plate because I know they’re good for me, but 99% of the time don’t eat them because I don’t like them.  It makes me “feel good” having them there even though, in the end, I don’t acknowledge them. 

So applying that spiritually, we want a double portion of God’s blessings, but we don’t want God’s discipline.  We want forgiveness of sins, but we don’t want Christ.  Maybe we put God on our plate (like my veggies) because it makes us “feel good,” but never acknowledge Him.  He’s a prop.  So we dictate to a holy and righteous God and give him our conditions.  “God, I like your salvation.  I’ll take that, but I’ll obey you when it works for me.  Don’t ask me to move out of my boyfriend’s house.  I know I’m living out of your will and it’s a sin, but I love Him too much.  It just feels too good.”  “God, I’ll do this, this, and this for you, if you do this, this, and this for me, but DON’T ask me to do THAT because I won’t.  Here’s where I draw the line.”  “God, I’ll obey your commandments because I want to look good in man’s eyes, and it makes me feel like a good person.”  We all need to be careful and not forget that at the end of the smorgasbord, there’s a price to pay for what we’ve taken, and none of us can afford to pay the tab.

There’s only one way to get past the cashier without paying because someone, who loves us very much, came through ahead of us and paid our tab, and was God’s Son, Jesus Christ.  God realized no one could afford the tab because we’re bankrupt, spiritually bankrupt, ruined by sin according to the law.  A person can only get through with JESUS CHRIST and JESUS CHRIST alone.  Nothing else will suffice, not Jesus PLUS something else, not good works, and not religion.  You could say that Jesus is our “Get out of Hell Free” card.  Jesus is God’s gift to everyone.  There’s nothing we can do to earn it, deserve it, and it can’t be bought, stolen, inherited, or shared.  It’s given freely to all, but it’s only good upon redemption by an individual placing their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their Redeemer and Savior.

⇛ continue reading Letter to a Jewish Friend Part 5
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Letter to a Jewish Friend Part 5

God told the Israelites to put an innocent lamb’s blood on their doorposts to avoid physical death when the angel of death passed over, and there will be a second “pass over” when Christ returns for His church and believers.  This time, God tells Jews and Gentiles alike to put an innocent lamb’s blood on their doorposts, the doorposts of their hearts to avoid spiritual death.  The innocent lamb’s blood is the blood of Jesus, the blameless Lamb of God.  When the angel of death passes over, if Jesus’ blood is missing, spiritual death will occur.  Those who’ve rejected Christ will suffer eternal punishment for their sins and eternal separation from God.  God chose Israel as his people, but throughout the Bible they rejected God despite all He did for them.  Even though they are God’s chosen nation, unless they accept Christ, just like Gentiles, they are not God’s children. 

God gave us all a free will.  We can reject His plan, we can reject His Son, and we can curse Him and have idols in place of Him, or we can get with God’s program.  He didn’t make us robots.  He allows each and every one of us to choose because He desires us to come freely.  In order to realize one’s need for salvation, the Bible says we must humble ourselves and come to God in childlike faith leaving our self-righteousness, education, religion, self-sufficiency, good works, self-worthiness, and anything else on our resume and check it at the door realizing we are spiritually bankrupt due to sin. 

Read the following Bible passage speaking about the Jews’ rejection of Jesus:  
2 Cor. 3:12-16, “Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech unlike Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the end of what was passing away.  But their minds were blinded.  For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament, because the veil is taken away in Christ.  But even to this day, when Moses is read, a veil lies on their heart.  Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” 

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Letter to a Jewish Friend Part 6

Many Jews today continue to reject God’s plan, as mentioned in the above scripture passage, but whether Jew or Gentile, atheist, Buddhist, Mormon, Islam, or any other religion, faith in Christ often comes with a price as well, but one that we can afford even though it might be difficult.  We might lose a job, friends, a spouse, or family members because of our faith.  Suzanne, you might have a lot to lose by becoming a believer in Christ, but the benefits are for an eternity.  This earth is so temporary, but unfortunately, ignorance doesn’t trump accountability.  We all have to stand before God one day and won’t have opportunity to blame anyone else or pass the buck.  It amazes me that while on earth, we always want the best odds working for us, but when it comes to eternity, we’re willing to gamble with bad odds, take enormous risk and lose everything permanently.

From the perspective of an atheist, Buddhist, Jew, or any other religion, if Christianity is wrong, I really don’t have much to lose.  But if Christianity is true, those who reject Christ have EVERYTHING to lose and nothing to gain in the end.  I don’t know about you, but I want the best odds possible, and God made those odds to work in my favor even though I don’t deserve it. 

I leave you this last passage in closing:  “See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, RATHER than according to Messiah.  For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form.  And in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Messiah.  Having been buried with Him in baptism (of the Spirit), in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.  And when you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions.  Having cancelled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us and which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.”

God, Creator of the universe, who hung the sun, moon, and stars and spoke the planets into place, desires our fellowship, not because He needs us, but because He loves us.  The same way we desire fellowship with our children and husbands because we love them.  In order to make that fellowship possible, God was required to hang something else, His precious Son, Jesus Christ, on the cross and shed His blood as the LAST and FINAL sin offering.  What a picture of God’s incredible love for us, the same love Abraham showed for God when he was willing to offer Isaac, his only son to God.

As you enjoy the warmth of God’s sun there in beautiful Arizona, I pray one day that you, too, will enjoy the warmth of God’s Son, Jesus, in your heart.  If you sincerely seek God through the reading of Scripture, God promises to reveal His truth through the conviction of the Holy Spirit.  If through your searching, God doesn’t reveal anything new, you haven’t lost much other than time.  But, if through this, God does reveal truths, you have EVERYTHING TO GAIN.

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Heaven – It’s Occupants

God dwells in Heaven

Ezekiel 1:1
Isaiah 14:13
Matthew 3:17
Revelation 4:2-3
Revelation 4:4-7
Revelation 4:8

Lord Jesus dwells in Heaven

Genesis 1:26
Daniel 7:13
John 1:1
Acts 1:9
Acts 1:55
Hebrews 4:14

Holy Spirit dwells in Heaven

John 1:32
John 15:26
Romans 8:9,11,15,26,27

Angels dwell in heaven

Luke 1:9
Luke 115:10
Revelation 5:11
Revelation 7:11

Saints (Believers) dwell in Heaven

1 Thessalonians 3:13
1 Thessalonians 4:13
Revelation 7:9-14
Revelation 19:6-9

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Heaven – It’s Names

A HOUSE (OIKIA –Greek)
a proper residence, house, home)

John 14:2 In my Fathers House are many Mansions (Greek MONE – a residence or dwelling) I go to prepare a place (Greek TOPOS – a spot, generally a space) for you

PARADISE (PARADISOS –Greek)
a park, an Eden, place of happiness

Luke 23:43 If the soul sleeps, it’s an empty promise. If the is NO Heaven, it’s an empty promise. If Christ is not who He claimed to be, it’s an empty promise.
2 Corinthians 12:4 Paul’s experience
Revelation 2:7 Future promise (where else in the tree of Life? Genesis 2:9; 3:22-24)

A CITY (POLIS –Greek)
a town with walls

Hebrews 11:8-10, 2 Peter 3:10-13, Revelation 21:18

Greek Names

OURANOS – Sky, Air
OURANOTHEN – From the Sky
EPOURANIOS – Above the Sky
MESOURANEMA – Mist of the Sky Philippians 2:10

Hebrew Names

SHAMEH – to be lofty
SHAMAYIN – Heaven
SHACHAQ – cloud, vapor, Heaven
GALGAL – a wheel, a whirlwind

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Heaven – It’s Location

Four Greek words translated to Heaven:
OURANOS                    –         Sky, Air
OURANOTHEN            –         From the Sky
EPOURANIOS               –         Above the Sky
MESOURANEMA        –         Mist of the Sky
Christ looked up toward Heaven for whence came His power
Matthew 14:19     Mark 7:24      John 17:1         (Matthew 26:39)
Christ ascended up into Heaven
Acts 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
Stephen viewed up into Heaven to see Christ
Acts 7:54-56 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
Paul hints at more than one Heaven
Ephesians 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.
Paul numbers the Heavens for us
1 – Atmosphere
2 – Planets
3 – Abode of God
2 Corinthians 12:2  I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.
Even Satan gives us a direction to Heaven
Isaiah 14:12-15 How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.
Isaiah 40:22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:
Note: Astrometry says that there is a void in the sky, Northward where there are no stars.
Peter writes that the Heavens shall pass away
2 Peter 3:10-12 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
New Heaven
2 Peter 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
John also writes of a New Heaven
Revelation 21:1  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
God’s Abode doesn’t ever Change! That’s where John was when he wrote Revelation.

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A New Heaven and Earth

Through out the scripture it is stated that the LORD GOD created Heaven and Earth.

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Exodus 20:11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Exodus 31:17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
2 Kings 19:15 And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, and said, O Lord God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.
2 Chronicles 2:12 Huram said moreover, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, that made heaven and earth, who hath given to David the king a wise son, endued with prudence and understanding, that might build an house for the Lord, and an house for his kingdom.
Psalm 115:15 Ye are blessed of the Lord which made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
Psalm 124:8 Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 134:3 The Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.
Psalm 146:6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:
Isaiah 37:16 O Lord of hosts, God of Israel, that dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth: thou hast made heaven and earth.

Acts 4:24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
Acts 14:15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:
Acts 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
Revelation 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

During his earthly ministry the LORD Jesus suggested Heaven and Earth would pass away.

Matthew 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Matthew 24:35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Luke 16:17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.
Luke 21:33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

The Apostle Peter tells for the Heaven and Earth being destroyed.

2 Peter 3:1-12 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:… But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men….But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

In verse 13 he reminds us of the promise of God.

2 Peter 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

This promise from God was recorded thousands of years ago.

Isaiah 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.
Isaiah 66:22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain.

The Apostle John, recording the Revelation of Jesus Christ, writes that this will happen after the great white throne judgement (Rev 20:11).

Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

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Heaven – A Place…

A Place of Light and Beauty – Unspeakable
Revelation 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Revelation 22:5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
2 Corinthians 12:4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

A Place of Knowledge
1 Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

A Place of Holiness
Revelation 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

A Place of Rest
Revelation 14:13  And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.

A Place of Joy
Revelation 21:4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

A Place of Praise
Revelation 5:11-14 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
Revelation 7:9-12 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,  Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

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Heaven

414 references found in the Old Testament

82 times in Genesis – Deuteronomy, 4 times in Joshua, 4 times in Judges, 7 times in Samuel.
60 times in the Kings and the Chronicles, 9 times in Ezra, 11 times in Nehemiah, 21 times in Job, 73 times in Psalms, 5 times in Proverbs, 4 times in Ecclesiastes, 31 times in Isaiah, 34 times in Jeremiah. 5 times in Lamentations, 9 times Ezekiel, 32 times in Daniel, 4 times in Hosea, 3 times in Joel. 2 times in Amos, 1 times in Jonah, 1 times in Nahum, 1 times in Habakkuk, 2 times in Zephaniah. 3 times in Haggai, 5 times in Zechariah and 1 time in Malachi.
Each of the Old Testaments references refer to the Heaven above or the Abode of God. Nowhere does it speak of where one goes when he dies.

277 references found in the New Testament   

75 times in Matthew, 17 times in Mark, 32 times in Luke, 17 times in John, 25 times in Acts.
Each mention refers to the Kingdom of Heaven, the Heaven above or the Abode of God. (The Kingdom of Heaven was Christ bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to the Earth where He would be the King.)
44 references to heaven by the Apostle Paul.  2 times in Romans (the place of God). 7 times in Corinthians
The most notable is 2 Corinthians 5:2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven:
Once in Galatians, 8 times in Ephesians.
Ephesians 1:3 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 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

2 times in Philippians
Philippians 3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
5 times in Colossians
Colossians 1:5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
3 times in Thessalonians, once in Timothy, 15 times in Hebrews.
As one studies the references to Heaven in the epistles of the Apostle Paul we see that believers already have a place in heaven and are just waiting to get there.
James refers to Heaven 2 Times.
Peter refers to Heaven 9 times.
John refers to Heaven once (1 John 5:7).
Revelation refers to Heaven 55 times. We perhaps learn more about Heaven in Revelation than any other Book in the Bible.

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Different Gospels

Major Gospels of Scripture

  • Gospel of Kingdom of God: overall rule of God (in Heaven and Earth)
    1 Corinthians 29:11, Mark 1:14-15, Acts 28:31
  • Gospel of the Kingdom on earth promised to the Jews
    Matthew 4:17-23; 9:35; 24:14, Mark 1:14-15
  • Gospel of God: the identity of Jesus, He is the promised Messiah
    Romans 1:1; 15:16, 2 Corinthians 11:7, 1 Thessalonians 2:2,8-9,
    1 Peter 4:17
  • Gospel of Christ: Calvary in light of Mystery Galatians 1:6-12,
    mystery of the Gospel Ephesians 5:32; 6:19
  • Gospel of Circumcision: to Jews, that Jesus was both LORD and Christ Galatians 2:7-8, Acts 2:36
  • Gospel of Uncircumcision: to gentiles Galatians 2:7-8, Acts 28:28,
    1 Corinthians 15:1-4, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21
  • Gospel of the Grace of God: saved by His Grace Acts 20:24,
    Ephesians 2:7-8
  • The Everlasting Gospel: fear GOD and give glory to HIM
    Revelation 14:6-7, Ephesians 2:19

The Gospel (Good News) was different to mankind as it was revealed progressively by God

  • Good News in the garden: a Savior would come Genesis 3:15
  • Good News for Noah: saved from the flood Genesis 6, Hebrews 11:7
  • Good News for Abram: a land (new country) Hebrews 11:8-10
  • Good News for Isaiah (Old Testament Prophets): God on Earth Isaiah 9:6
  • Good News for Daniel: Jews would be restored to their land
    Daniel 9:21-27
  • Good News for Mary: Messiah was to come thru her Luke 1:28-33
  • Good News to the Shepherds: a Savior is born Luke 2:10-12
  • Good News to Israel (from Jesus): The Kingdom is at hand Mark 1:14-15
  • Good News to Gentiles (from Paul): Salvation is for them Acts 28:28
  • My Gospel (Good News from Paul): Romans 2:12, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4,
    2 Corinthians 5:17-21
  • Good News Romans 10:9-13

Pastor Curt Crist of Grace Bible Church – 2005

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