Question – Jesus, 86

 

~ Regarding Numbers, 2of2 ~ 

Introduction  ~  This series is about questions involving Jesus.  Some were asked by individuals involved with Jesus Christ while He walked on earth.  Others are questions that Jesus Christ asked others.  We will look at questions on about 130 topics (some may split into two or more posts).  Even so, it is far from an exhaustive list. 

Scripture  ~  “Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, ‘This is a hard saying; who can understand it?’  When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, ‘Does this offend you?  What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before?  It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.  The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.  But there are some of you who do not believe.’  For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him.  And He said, ‘Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.’

“From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.  Then Jesus said to the twelve, ‘Do you also want to go away?’  But Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.  Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’

“Jesus answered them, ‘Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?’  He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would betray Him, being one of the twelve” (John 6:60-71).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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Easter Simplified

 

~ The Story of Easter in Six Words ~ 

Introduction  ~  Someone sent me the following statements describing Easter in just six words.  Apparently, another website asked their followers to describe Easter using six, and only six words.  Unfortunately, I do not know the origin.  But here are some of the responses received. 

“Empty cross, empty tomb, Heaven opened.”

“HE came, lived, died, rose, reigns.”

“God’s plan of reconciliation to mankind.”

“Numb Death Touched by Eternal Energy.”

“His Love Betrayed, was Love Displayed!”

“Nails didn't attach cross.  Love did.”

“God's riches at Christ's expense (GRACE)...Hallelujah!!!”

Comment  ~  Why not spend a few minutes to develop your best shot at a six-word description of Easter?

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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Myth, 91

 

~ Most People Are Basically Good ~ 

 

Myth  ~  Many believe that each person is basically good.  Many politicians for example, believe that people will get better if we just send more education or more money their way. 

Reality  ~  Today, The United States is one of the most educated and richest countries in the world but crime is soaring.  How can we explain this paradox?

Scripture  ~  “What then?  Are we better than they?  Not at all.  For we have previously charged both Jews and Greeks that they are all under sin.  As it is written: ‘There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God.  They have all turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one’” (Romans 3:9-12).

“But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.  For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:21-24).

Consequences  ~  “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Solution  ~  Jesus Christ came to earth in the form of a human life.  He lived a perfect sinless life and then died in our place paying the wages of our sin!  But there is more to it than that.  In order for God to forgive our sin we must accept the truth about His Son Jesus Christ. 

The Son of God said this about Himself, “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.  For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.  But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (John 3:14-21).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

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