I mentioned in the preface that there are two methods through which we can know whether or not Jesus is who He claimed to be. One, to study everything ever written by or about Him during His ministry; primarily to discover what the Hebrew, Greek, and Armenian historians recorded about His accomplishments during the times He ministered to them. It is this method that I wish to speak to you about, before going into the gospel Jesus preached.
The Apostle John ended his gospel saying, "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they were to be written everyone, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written," (John 21:25). Clearly, Jesus worked many miracles other than those mentioned in the New Testament text. The Latin Vulgate Bible, which contained all of the books of our present day text was not completed until the year 405. However, in the year 450 the Roman Empire fell, and with it public education ceased to exist all over the world, thereby marking the beginning of the Dark Ages.
Then, when emerging from the Dark Ages in the late fourteenth Century, the studies of languages began in earnest for the first time. This made it possible for scholars to begin studying the recorded acts of Jesus when he was ministering to the three different groups of people during His personal ministry here on earth (Hebrew, Greek, and Armenian). As a result, by the end of the fifteenth Century all such information had been gleaned from the history books and compiled for seminarians studying the life of Jesus.
Henceforth, many students who have obtained a doctorate in theology, entered the seminary with a mere belief that Jesus is Lord, but ended their studies knowing that Jesus is Lord. In summary, they entered as believers, but finished professing themselves true believers. Thus, many such men in the ministry today believe themselves to have been born again as a result of their physical knowledge. In truth, they have not been spiritually born again, which is why they remain carnal-minded. This is why so many churches have become secular in nature, and the perceived church is self-destructing at an alarming rate.
The salvation message preached by Jesus and the Apostles contains dozens of Scriptures requiring a spiritual explanation. However, carnal-minded members of the clergy who have not been born of the Spirit are not qualified to give such an explanation. That is why they simply turn to the "Roman Road to Salvation" when leading someone to Christ. Albeit, Jesus found it necessary to spiritually explain the parables to the disciples to help them understand what He was saying before they received the Holy Spirit. And, spiritual-minded members of the clergy know that is what God has called them to do as well.
It was never intended that a man of God should have to preach a message on salvation every week, but it is the most important of all Sermons. Hence, the same message on salvation preached by Jesus and the Apostles, using their own words. This will make it easy for you to understand the reason for my opening remarks, and how Satan managed to pervert the gospel to the point that many who have received God's Spirit within them cannot Biblically explain how it happened to them.
Jesus began His ministry working miracles in order to attract people's attention so they would listen to the message He preached. He explained, saying, "The works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me," (John 10: 25). In summary, through His miracles Jesus made it possible for us to "believe" in Him, but through His Spirit He provided a way for us to know and love Him! The very essence of salvation is knowing Jesus, not merely believing in Him: albeit, believing is the first step.
Jesus said, "Whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die," (St John 11-25-26). Also, "I am the resurrection and the life and he that believes in me, though he were dead shall live."When Jesus made that statement, there was no proof that He was the Christ, because He had not yet died, nor risen from the dead. Those who believed in Jesus then were believers in the true meaning of the word, which means: (1) to have a strong conviction in something: (2) to accept a statement made by someone (whether true or false) to be true, honest and valid.
It is important to remember that, since the fall of Adam and Eve, each of us is born into the world spiritually dead. That is why Jesus said, "Except a man be born-again he cannot see the kingdom of God," (St. John 3:3). Just as the seed of a woman must be fertilized to create physical life growing within her, else her seed be expelled during her next cycle: Our human spirit must be fertilized with God's Spirit in order to create Spiritual life growing within us, or we will be expelled from the womb of this world at the end of days.
The abundance of false doctrine currently being taught on salvation is why there are so many lukewarm believers within the body of Christ. It should be noted that these believers have no fear of God, and are therefore a detriment to the church, because new converts have a tendency to judge themselves by how lukewarm Christians live their lives.
Most lukewarm Christians are merely believers who hear more messages on how to live a good Christian lifestyle, and the importance of confession and tithing, rather than on the severity of God from which we gain a healthy dose of the fear of God in our lives. An example is the apostle Paul explaining that, "If God spared not the natural branches, [Jewish people] take heed least He also not spare you. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them that fell, severity; but toward you goodness, if you continue in His goodness: otherwise you shall also be cut off," (Romans 11:21-22).
To know God is to fear Him, Psalm 111:10 states, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." One of the lyrics in my favorite hymn states, "It was grace that taught my heart to fear." What does the fear of God have to do with how we live our lives you might ask? Let me explain it this way: I loved my parents very much, and I obviously knew them, which is how I knew they would dust my bottom side, if I were disobedient. Hence, it was both my fear of letting them down and being punished that brought about my obedience.
Just as our parents instructed us on how to behave when we were children, God does the same. In Matthew 25:46, Jesus tells us that, "The unrighteous will suffer everlasting punishment, but the righteous shall have eternal life." He also instructed us, saying, "This is my word, abide ye in it." He did not say that it's okay to pick and choose the part you want to believe, and ignore the rest.
Personally, I don't serve God to keep from going to Hell, although that would be a good reason. I serve God because I both know and love Him more than life itself, and it's my fear of not being able to be with Him in the next life that drives me to do everything in my power to please Him in this one. In other words, God's love in me has conquered the evil that once controlled me.
Satan and his deceiving spirits are busy working within Christianity to prevent converts still on their faith-walk from receiving the Holy Spirit baptism, through which we are born-again. Herein, you will be provided with irrefutable Scriptural proof of that fact.
When the disciples asked Jesus which is the greatest commandment. He answered saying, "Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength:" (Mark 12:30). Now, I ask you to keep that verse, and its meaning in mind, as we delve into an in-depth examination of the gospel Jesus taught.
John 3:1 states, "There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jew's. The same came to Jesus at night, and said, Rabbi, we know that thou are a teacher come from God: because no man can do these miracles that you do, except God be with him. Jesus answered saying, Verily, I say unto you, "Except a man be born-again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus then asked, how can a man be born again when he is old, can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
As a student of the Scriptures Nicodemus truly believed that Jesus was the Messiah they spoke of, but for fear of being ridiculed by other Jewish leaders if seen with Him, he went to see Jesus at night in hopes of having a very frank discussion with Him about how he could receive the gift of eternal life. Jesus knew that, and He answered his question saying, "Except a man be born of water, and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."
When saying that "we must be born of water," Jesus wasn't referring to the water baptism. He was referring to our physical birth from the water of our mother's womb into this world, which is why He then said: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit." After making that distinction, Jesus could see that the wheels were really turning in Nicodemus' mind as he tried to understand what He was saying. However, Jesus knew that Nicodemus would never understand with his natural mind, which is why He then said, "Marvel not that I said unto you, you must be born again."
Jesus has the ability to know what we are thinking, and He could see that Nicodemus was in turmoil trying to figure out how to be born-again. Then, in an attempt to ease his mind, Jesus said, "The wind blows where it will, and you hear the sound thereof, but you cannot tell whence it comes, and where it goes, so is everyone that is born of the Spirit," (John 3:8).
It was night time, and they were apparently in a house and could hear the wind blowing outside. But, by merely listening to the wind from inside the house, Jesus knew that Nicodemus could not tell from what direction the wind was coming, or in what direction it was going. He was simply telling Nicodemus that, likewise, neither is it possible for him to figure out how to be born of the Spirit with his natural mind, because it's a Spiritual rebirth.
Jesus concluded His conversation with Nicodemus saying, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness; the Son of man must also be lifted up. That whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:14-16).
Remember, Jesus had not yet died for our sins when He had that conversation with Nicodemus. Therefore, the vast majority of what He and the Apostles would ultimately teach on the subject had neither been spoken nor written. However, all of that information is now available in the Scriptures. So clear your mind of everything else, and get ready to learn how to claim your burning bush experience with our Lord Jesus Christ.
While praying for each of us, Jesus said, "This is eternal life, that they might know you; the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent,"(St. John 17:3). The word "might" as used in that verse means exactly what it implies: meaning that, because of Satan's deceitful work, some might and some might not get to know the Lord. God said, "Let him who glories, glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord that exercises loving kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight says the Lord," (Jeremiah 9:24).
Most of the deceit Satan is responsible for is coming from those who use the "Roman Road to Salvation" as their sole means of leading people to Jesus; and those whom Satan inspires to preach the perverted gospel. Clearly, our Lord desires for us to know Him, and Jesus made that abundantly clear saying, "This is the will of Him that sent me, that everyone that sees the Son and believes in Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up on the last day," (John 6:40).
Jesus said, "He who has my commandments and keeps them, he it is that loves me, and he that loves me shall be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." (John 14:21 (KJV). The Greek text states, "I will love him, and manifest myself to him." The New International version states, "And I will show myself to him." The Amplified Bible states, "I will make myself be clearly seen by him, and make myself real to him."
This writer has never seen Jesus, however, after manifesting Himself to me spiritually; I then grew too know and love Him more than anyone, or anything in this world, including my wife and children. And, if you don't love Him that much, then you are about to find out how to make that happen in your life, because the following Scriptures will prove that God has provided a way for you to know Him. And, that Jesus truly will reveal Himself to you, if you follow the message He preached.
Jesus instructed us saying, "He that loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he that loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me," (Matt. 10:37-38). I had just started out on my faith-walk a few weeks earlier when I read those two verses while reading the gospel of Matthew. When I read those words I became angry and threw the Bible in the trash container provoking my wife to ask if I had lost my mind.
I then retrieved the Bible from the trash receptacle, and showed those Scriptures to her, saying, "Honey I love you, my parents, my children, my siblings, and my dog more than I love God, all of which, according to what I just read, means that I'm not worthy to be a Christian!" I did not know at the time that we are not born into this world with the innate capacity to love God in that manner. I just knew that I didn't; however, you really can love Him more than anyone, or anything, in the world, and the following paragraph explains how.
Prophesying about what it would be like for those living during this period of grace, our Heavenly Father said, "A new heart, also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you. And I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause [enable] you to walk in my statutes, and you shall keep my judgments, and do them," (Ezekiel 36:26-27).
Paul proved that God kept that promise saying, "God's love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, which is given unto us,"(Romans 5:5). Clearly, we receive God's kind of love (the new heart), when we receive agape love, which happens when the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our heart. Also, referring to this period of grace, the Prophet Hosea said, "Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord," (Hosea 6:3). Notice the caveat "if."
Paul said, "And hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit," (Romans 5:5). Paul is saying that when you make a public confession of your faith, you need not be ashamed of confessing your hope and faith in Jesus, because He won't let you down. The Apostle wanted us to know that we would receive God's kind of love (agape) upon receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit. And it is only through God's kind of love, that we are then capable of loving Him above all else.
Speaking of receiving the Holy Spirit within us, Jesus proclaimed, "Behold I stand at the door and knock: If any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come into him, and will sup [abide] with him, and he with me," (Rev. 3:20). He also said, "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him," (John 14:23). When Jesus does that, then and only then, can we establish a personal relationship with Him, and begin entering into the knowledge of the truth.
Jesus proclaimed, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: No man comes to the Father but by me," (St. John 14: 6). "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved," (Acts 4:12). He also said, "If you forgive men their trespasses, your Heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you forgive not men of their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive you," (Matthew 6:14-15). This writer cannot find words strong enough to express how important it is that we forgive those who have sinned against us, except to say, it is extremely important.
After having said all of the above, we now come to the most important, and the most misunderstood part of the salvation process. Therefore, please pay very close attention to what Jesus is saying in the following Scriptures, because He is explaining exactly how the born again experience occurs. And, it is important to remember that the Holy Spirit was with the Apostles until the day of Pentecost, not in them, as explained in St. John 20:22.
When speaking to the Apostles, and to those of us coming to Christ today, Our Lord said, "If you love me, keep my commandments, and I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another comforter that He may abide with you forever. Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows Him: But you know Him: For He dwells with you, and shall be in you," (John 14:15-17).
The Greek version of the New Testament text states, "The Spirit of truth, which the world cannot receive, because it [people of the world] beholds it [the Holy Spirit] not, nor knows it; but you know it, because it abides with you, and will be in you." The translators of the Greek text referred to the Holy Spirit as "it" because they did not want people to wrongly believe that Jesus was referring to Himself. Anyone could have seen Jesus when He made that statement, but the Holy Spirit cannot be seen with the eye.
Jesus said, "But you know Him;" revealing that He knows we are aware of the Holy Spirits presence when He is merely with us. However, when using the words "and will be in you," Jesus made a very definite distinction between the Holy Spirit being with us versus abiding within us.
Jesus said, "Even the Spirit of truth,"because it is only through God's Spirit abiding within us that we can then begin to obtain spiritual truth. As noted In John 20:22, John explained that the Holy Spirit was with them while they were with Jesus, stating that Jesus had breathed the Holy Spirit onto them, thereby "garnishing" them with God's Spirit, which is the exact same manner the Holy Spirit is with us when we embark on our faith-walk.
Jesus said it best saying, "When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walks through dry places seeking rest, but finds none. Then he says to himself, I will return into the house [the new-convert] from whence I came out; and when he is come, he finds [him] empty, [of spiritual growth] swept, [sins forgiven] and garnished, [the Holy Spirit is now with him] Then goes he, and takes with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there, and the last state of that man is worse than the first," (K.J.V. Matt. 12:43-45). The word "garnished" means equipped, embellished, or adorned; all of which mean with us, or on us, but not in us.
According to Jesus, the man mentioned in those verses had indeed received salvation, and the power to become a child of God. As a result, the Holy Spirit was placed with him to protect him from bad spirits while on his faith-walk, which is why the unclean spirit could not get back into him on his first attempt to do so. However, if a new-convert chooses to follow carnal-teachers to obtain his spiritual knowledge, over time, the unclean spirit will get back in by deceiving him with false doctrine. When that happens, as Jesus said,"The second state of that man is worse than the first."
The Apostle John summarized the salvation message saying, "But as many as received Him, to them He gave Power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in His name," (K.J.V. St. John 1:12). Notice that the words "received Him" are past tense; also, notice that immediately after receiving Jesus, God then gives us the power "to become" the sons of God, which is "future tense." Clearly, God gives us the power we need to become one of His children the moment we accept Jesus by placing His Spirit with us to protect us from demonic spirits and to convict us of sin while on the faith-walk.
The words, "To become the sons of God," are future tense, meaning that we can then become a disciple of Christ by obeying the leading of the Holy Spirit, while seeking God with all of our heart and soul. All of this means that believing in Jesus, and accepting Him to become the Lord of our lives, is only the first step toward becoming a child of God, which happens when, through our continued obedience to Him, God consummates His relationship with us, by placing His Spirit within us, whereby, we are then born again.
John concluded that verse saying, "Even to them that believe in His name." Notice that he distinguished absolutely no difference between those who had received Jesus, and those who merely believed in Him, but had not yet accepted Him as their Lord. Why? Because they believed in Jesus; meaning that at any time during their lives; they could act on their belief by receiving Him, and then following on to know Him as well.
John 3:18 agrees with John 1:12 KJV. It states, "He that believes in Him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." Those who merely believe in Jesus are neither saved nor condemned. They are not condemned because at any point during their lives they are free to act on their belief by accepting Jesus, and then following on to know Him. However, those who don't believe in Jesus will never accept Him to become their Lord: thus, because of their disbelief, they condemn themselves.
ActsBefore ascending into heaven, Jesus spoke to the Apostles, and "Commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise [Holy Spirit baptism] of the Father," (Acts 1:4). He did so, because He knew they would be unable to serve Him in Spirit and in truth, without the power of the Holy Spirit abiding within them.
He then said, "John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now. And you shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you. And you shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth," (Acts 1:5&8). Salvation unfolds for those of us coming to Christ today in the same manner that it did for those saved through our Lord's ministry.
Satan uses the fact that we feel God's presence at times before receiving the Holy Spirit baptism to try and convince us that we have already received it. This is because he knows that is how God consummates His relationship with us, and his top priority in our lives is to prevent that from happening. (Note; receiving the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is quite unlike what most novice Pentecostal pastors teach. More on that subject in part four).
After asking Jesus to become the Lord of our lives, God then commands His Spirit to remain with us to convict us of sin, to encourage us, and to help us keep the commitment we made to Him, while also preparing our hearts to receive the Holy Spirit baptism. This period is known as the "faith-walk," a time during which we are merely believers, because as new-converts, we generally don't feel saved. Although it is possible to sense our Lord's presence at times, especially during worship. Nevertheless, we are in fact carnal-minded until we receive God's Spirit within us. The Bible states: "To be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded, is life and peace," (Romans 8:6).
The disciples themselves were carnal-minded, and very weak spiritually before receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit, even to the point of denying Jesus. The same can be said for those of us coming to Christ today until we receive God's Spirit within us. But afterward, everything changes for us, just as it did for them. The power Jesus was referring to is the Holy Spirit's ability to ignite a Spiritual fire burning within us causing us to factually know that Jesus is Lord, while also drawing us into His word in search of spiritual truth. This is why Satan works so hard to keep us from receiving the Holy Spirit baptism.
Only the Holy Spirit can satisfy that relentless thirst crying out from deep within us. That's why Jesus said: "Whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him [Holy Spirit] shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him, shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life,"(John 4:14). From which we acquire the peace that passes all men's understanding. Neither fortune, fame, power, nor having everything we desire in this life will satisfy that thirst, only the Spirit of God can satisfy it, and make us whole. "Jesus was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: and with His stripes we are [Spiritually] healed," (Isaiah 53:5).
The Bible sates that, "Without faith it is impossible to please Him: For he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He rewards them that diligently seek Him," (Hebrews 11:6). If you "diligently" seek Jesus, and live in obedience to your commitment to follow him, you will be rewarded with the Holy Spirit baptism, as evidenced in the following verses. Dr. Luke said, "We are witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Spirit, whom God hath given to them that obey Him," (Acts 5:32). Paul said, "And being made perfect, Jesus became the author of eternal salvation, unto all them who obey Him," (Hebrews 5:9).
When a young couple agrees to marry, they enter into an engagement period whereupon they expect each other to be faithful: if either one is unfaithful during that period, the wedding will be canceled. God expects no less from us while on our faith-walk. Remember, God will never force His Will on anyone, albeit, Satan w