There’s ONLY ONE WAY To Redemption…Through Sincere Belief In Jesus Christ!

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

And Wednesday continues like Tuesday; sunny but windy and chilly. That’s more than welcome though, since we did not get any of that dreadful 8 cm. of snow that was forecasted. Can you imagine the confusion that so much snow would have caused, especially with much, if not all of the snow clearing budget already being depleted. (smile) It seems we might have budgeted for the snow clearing by the amount of snow we received the previous year, and that certainly did not prepare us for the greater quantity we actually received. However, let’s believe that snow is a thing of the recent past, and we won’t have to remember it for another six months. 

In the meantime, let’s remember Jesus, all that He’s done for, is doing, and has promised to do for us. That will keep us safe and secure in both mind, body and spirit. And some upcoming memorable and oh so true words of His to the disciples highlight it all. Jesus in talking to the disciples about His going away, that’s His ascension, to prepare a place for them, concludes thus: ‘And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.’ (John 14:4) But that didn’t sit as well with them as Jesus had figured. For ‘Thomas saith unto him, Lord we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father by me.’ (John 14:5-6) 

Yes friends, that’s one of the biggest truths and foundational principles of our Christian faith! The ONLY way one can get to heaven, or to the Father is through the Son, Jesus Christ! Yes, it’s a one-way street! There’s absolutely no other way to get to heaven and eternal life unless you believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God! So, let’s see if we can come up with some scriptures to prove Jesus’ point.  

And, as per ‘the way,’ there can be no better scripture to prove that fact than these marvellous words of Jesus, where He informs the Jewish Leader Nicodemus: ‘For God so LOVED the world, that he sent his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ (John 3:16) That’s the long and the short of the story: either believe in Jesus and have eternal life, or don’t and be condemned to eternal separation and death! No two ways about it. 

And Bruh Paul, in writing to the Ephesians about Christ being our peace, reiterates that fact when he says: ‘For he (Jesus himself) is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition (division) between us… And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain (put to death) the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off (Gentiles), and to them that were nigh (Jews). For through him we both have access by one spirit unto the Father.’ (Eph. 2:14, 16-18) Yes my people, Jesus came and broke down all the barriers through His death and preaching of peace and reconciliation, so that we all could get to the Father through Him. 

And as per ‘the truth,’ we can begin right at the beginning of John’s gospel where he unequivocally states: ‘And the Word (Jesus) was made flesh (became flesh), and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.’ (John 1:14) Then three verses later he writes: ‘For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.’ (John 1:17) Then later on, Jesus Himself in speaking to those Jews who believed in Him, said to them: ‘If ye continue (abide) in my word, then ye are my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth , and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:31-32) 

Then to Pilate’s question about Him being a king, Jesus answered: ‘Thou sayest (rightly) that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.’ (John18:37) 

And, as per ‘the life,’ this magnificent scripture highlighting the conversation between Martha and Jesus re the death of her brother Lazarus, says it all. Jesus tells Martha that her brother would rise again, but she mistakenly thinks it’s in the resurrection at the last day. However, Jesus then says to her: ‘I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead (may die), yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believeth thou this?’ (John 11:25-26) Now my brethren, that’s a question all of us should take a moment and ponder and see if we believe it, because it hinges directly on where we will spend eternity. 

And as per ‘no man cometh unto the Father, but by me,’ check out these scriptures. Bruh Paul writes to Timothy: ‘For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. Who gave his life a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.’’ (1Tim. 2:3-6) 

Then after Peter and John had healed a lame man and the Jewish Leaders took them to task for it, Peter stood up and boldly proclaimed: ‘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 (rejected by you) builders, which is become the head of the corner (the chief corner stone). 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) 

And that’s the gospel truth friends! There’s no other name than JESUS by which salvation can be achieved! So, please, let’s remember that and act in the appropriate manner that we can be saved. (smile) Now let’s go home declaring (chuh man!!!) our Wednesday Wail letting the whole world know of our wonderful position in Jesus Christ. 

As one strong and sincere voice: ‘Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: I’m so glad to be alive on this Wednesday! Wednesday, Wednesday, Wednesday: Thank God the breath of life is still flowing through me on this Wednesday! I am halfway home. My hands are fixed securely on the plough, and I’m not turning back. I’m not looking back at the past, not focusing on what has gone before. But my eyes are fixed straight ahead; straight ahead to a glorious future with Jesus. Glory Hallelujah!’ 

And in case you didn’t know, there’s a promise for those who endure to the very end with Jesus; that future is going to be even more glorious than we can ever ask or imagine. So, I recommend that we all stay with Him right to the very end, so that we can enjoy that marvellous future together! Much LOVE!.

..Jesus is indeed…the ONLY WAY…to eternal life…

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Today’s Scrip-Bit 30 July 2021 Galatians 3:26.

Galatians 3:26.      For ye are all the children (sons) of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

Morning mih faithful bredrin in Christ Jesus! It’s a bright and sunshiny Friday morning, the coffee’s hot, sweet and strong, and going down nicely on the chest. (smile) Then we have this long weekend, the August Civic Holiday on Monday, to look forward to! Wow! And thus, all’s right with the world! Okay, okay, so you are disputing that last statement, but how much can we as individuals change whatever is wrong with it eh? Not a whole lot, although we can certainly do our small part in our neighbourhoods and workplaces. 

However, as the great and mighty and ever-spreading church of Christ, we can move mountains, change the bloody, strife filled, evil world we live in to one where Christ is worshipped and glorified! But it means taking Him and His word seriously and coming together as the ONE together church that He envisions, instead of the one that seems to be continually dividing and breaking up into even more cliques and denominations than we already have. 

Oh my people, do you think that Christ ever envisioned His church to be broken up into some three thousand denominations and sub-denominations and all the other supposed Christian groups that exist today? Obviously not! That’s the doing of our sinful, selfish human nature. We all think we know what Christ wants, and if can’t find it where we are at, we go elsewhere and seek it, or just start up a new group ourselves. It’s way too much about us friends, and not enough about Jesus! 

Remember Bruh Paul’s words to the church at Ephesus, when he talks about the two groups, uncircumcised Gentiles and circumcised Jews. The former had no part in the blessings of the God of Israel until after Jesus shed His blood on the cross at Calvary and brought them into the fold of God. ‘But now in Christ Jesus, ye who were sometimes (once) were far off are made nigh (near) by the blood of Christ.’ (Eph. 2:13) That is, Gentiles were now brought into covenant worship with God through Christ’s atoning death. 

‘For he (Christ Himself) is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition (division) between us. Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make (create) in himself of twain (the two) one new man, so making peace. And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain (put to death) the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off (Gentiles), and to them that were nigh (Jews).’ (Eph. 2:14-17) 

Oh precious people, the long and short of all that is simply Jesus, by His death on the cross broke down the wall in the temple courtyard which physically prevented Gentiles and unclean Jews from entering the temple, as well as disregarded the man-made rules, not God’s commandments, that previously kept Jews and Gentiles apart. Those man-made rules were made to supposedly protect Jews from pagan corruptions, but were terribly abused to make Jews feel superior to Gentiles which obviously caused dire enmity. Jesus’ death on the cross, served the wonderful purpose of abolishing all that enmity and making them One Body, through His Christian church. 

Now here is an interesting commentary on Bruh Paul’s discourse above, from the website Bible things in Bible ways. It claims: In short, this is what Paul is trying to say: As sinful gentiles, we had no part in the covenants of promise, and were also excluded from the citizenship of Israel. But when Christ came and saved us through God’s Grace, the partitioning wall that kept us outside, was broken down. No man-made decree can keep us away from enjoying the covenants of promise or the Citizenship of Israel, as all who believe in God are now made into one people. We were once hostile to God, but now through the blood of Messiah, we have been drawn into His sanctuary, not to be separated ever again.’ 

And all of God’s people shouted loud, proud and grateful: ‘All thanks and praise and glory to the Lord Jesus Christ! May His mighty name and glorious works be spread all over the land! May He reign for ever and ever!’ Yes friends, Jesus came to create ONE body, but we are tarnishing His image, destroying that single entity He envisioned, where all are one, all are welcome, by creating numerous conflicting divisions. 

Now listen to these fateful words of Bruh Paul on the subject, to the Galatians nuh. ‘For ye are all the children (sons) of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek (Gentile), there is neither bond (slave) nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.’ (Gal. 3:26-28) 

And that’s the living truth my fellow saints in Christ! If we have received Christ as Lord and Saviour, then we have all been made children of God and there are no longer any differences between us! We have been made ONE in Christ through His shed blood on the cross and reconciliation with our heavenly Father. So please, let’s stop dividing nuh, and instead start coming together. That is if we want to be true to the ideals of Jesus and not follow the foolish dictates of man, which has made the world a living hell! 

And we can begin right now by going to our heavenly Father in prayer, through our Friday Chant and asking for His awesome help and forgiveness. So as one strong and united voice, let’s pray: ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through this past week. You know it’s been rough… what with all the anxiety, the confusion and havoc that the Covid-19 virus and our many other problems are causing. We can’t seem to fix it on our own Lord, that means we desperately need your help. Oh heavenly Father, with your omnipotent help, and our trusting faith, we know that we can stand strong and steadfast and defeat both the virus and the unrest in our streets. 

So Lord, we sincerely ask you today to give the governments and those involved in the forefront of this serious and unexpected storm, the wise guidance to handle the situation properly, with the least amount of loss to life and property as possible. And please help those of us who must go out to work amidst all the confusion, to be responsible and to stay safe, and avoid any more serious setbacks. 

And Lord, we fervently pray that You’ll use this situation to bring a lot of backsliders back to your fold, show them the error of their ways. And please introduce a whole new flock, who will embrace your LOVE and compassion by the example, we, your faithful believers set. Yes Lord, please use this pandemic and the unrest in the streets as a means of restoring faith in You, so that our sinful world can wake up and smell the coffee, sweet and strong! We pray this in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Amen!’ 

Ah mih people…now it all hangs on our ability to deliver that promise; to be faithful believers and set a good example to unbelievers and backsliders. Much LOVE!

…the church is ONE foundation…in Jesus Christ ALONE…                                                                                                    

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