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UNDERSTANDING GOD\u2019S TIMELINE FOR MAN (PART 1)<\/p>\n
(The Gospel of John)<\/p>\n
I<\/strong>n the last issue of \u2018Thy Kingdom Come\u2019, we presented a timeline for man, and the order in which certain events will take place. As you read this article, please use the timeline to aid in understanding the order of the events, and to help yourself in better understanding scripture. It is the hope of the author that over the next two issues, you will come to understand why verses that seem to contradict, are in reality, the same verses that harmonize God\u2019s word. When scripture now says that a man \u201cis not justified by works<\/strong>\u201d,<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n Galatians 2:16\u00a0 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works<\/strong> of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works<\/strong> of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n yet it also says that a man \u201cis justified by works<\/strong>\u201d, <\/em>you will be able to defend your Christian faith and God\u2019s word. (1 Thes.5:21)<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n James 2:24\u00a0 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified<\/strong>, and not by faith only.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1 Peter 3:15\u00a0 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer<\/u> to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n A MESSAGE FOR THE UNADOPTED CHILD<\/p>\n <\/p>\n H<\/strong>ave you ever been part of, or known someone involved in the adoption process? It goes something like this: the child visits homes until they find one that is suitable for them. They then do all the paperwork, and\u00a0 pay for all cost in the adoption process . Of course this is foolishness; we all know that the parent involved does all the work. It is the same with God (He has done all the work<\/em>), and it is His gift to us. Now a gift is free; a gift is given with nothing<\/strong> expected in return. No amount of work can purchase a gift. It is 100% free. As a child in the adoption process, you are helpless to do anything but accept what has been done for you<\/strong>. What would the parent say to the child if he worried himself about paying the parent back for adopting him? He would probably say, \u201cYou are my child, and will always be my child, but I do expect you to obey the rules of my house.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Once you have been adopted, you are a child forever, regardless of whether you are good or bad.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2 Timothy 2:19-20\u00a0 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure<\/strong>, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But<\/strong> in a great house<\/strong> there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth<\/strong>; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Though we are a child forever, this does not mean that our father will not punish us for disobedience.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hebrews 12:5-6 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children<\/strong>, My son<\/strong>, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord<\/strong>, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth<\/strong>, and scourgeth every son<\/strong> whom he receiveth.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n It is here that we will begin to understand what that gift is, and how to receive that gift.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Acts 8:20\u00a0 But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee<\/strong>, because thou hast thought<\/u> that the gift of God may be purchased<\/strong> with money.<\/em><\/p>\n Now our common sense should tell us that God\u2019s word is written to God\u2019s people.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em>2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God<\/strong>, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God <\/strong>may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em>But we must ask how is it that a person becomes a \u201cchild of God\u201d? Though all scripture is written for the child of God, there is one book in the bible that places most of its emphasis on this one subject. This book is \u201cThe Gospel According To St. John\u201d. The book of John has five main issues we want to look at:<\/p>\n The Message of John<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong>F<\/strong>or many, the next few subjects will be familiar territory; but I ask your patience for those who may be reading that are unbelievers.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/u><\/strong>The gospel of John begins like this:<\/p>\n John 1:1\u00a0 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Our first question would be, who is the \u2018Word<\/strong>\u2019? Whoever this \u2018Word<\/strong>\u2019 is; they would be God. John does not take long to answer the question for us.<\/p>\n John 1:14\u00a0 And the Word was made flesh<\/strong>, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only<\/u> begotten<\/strong> of the Father,) full of grace and truth.<\/em><\/p>\n It is Jesus Christ. the only begotten Son of the Father.<\/p>\n 1 John 4:9\u00a0 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only<\/u> begotten Son into the world<\/strong>, that we might live through him.)<\/em><\/p>\n If ‘The Word’ is Jesus Christ, and ‘The Word was God’, then Jesus Christ is God.<\/p>\n \u201cWe don\u2019t use the words begetting<\/em> or begotten<\/em> much in modern English, but everyone still knows what they mean. To beget is to become the father of: to create is to make. And the difference is this. When you beget, you beget something of the same kind as yourself<\/strong>. A man begets human babies, a beaver begets little beavers, and a bird begets eggs which turn into little birds. But when you make, you make something of a different kind from yourself<\/strong>.\u201d ………. \u201c If he is a clever enough carver, he may make a statue which is very like a man indeed. But, of course, it is not a real man; it only looks like one.\u201d……. \u201cNow that is the first thing to get clear. What God begets is God<\/strong>; just as what man begets is man. What God creates is not God; just as what man makes is not man.\u201d<\/p>\n THE JOYFUL CHRISTIAN<\/strong> (by C.S. Lewis)<\/em><\/p>\n Though Isaiah tells us that there is but one God:<\/p>\n Isaiah 45:5\u00a0 I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me<\/strong>: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:<\/em><\/p>\n scripture lets us know that this \u2018one God\u2019 consist of three distinct persons.<\/p>\n Matthew 28:19\u00a0 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father<\/strong>, and of the Son<\/strong>, and of the Holy Ghost<\/strong>:<\/em><\/p>\n 1 John 5:7\u00a0 For there are three<\/strong> that bear record in heaven, the Father<\/strong>, the Word<\/strong>, and the Holy Ghost<\/strong>: and these three are one<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n OTHER VERSES PROVING THE DEITY OF JESUS CHRIST<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Jesus claimed to be God (John 10:30, John 14:8-11)<\/p>\n Disciples believed Jesus was God (John 20:26-28, 1 John 1:1-2)<\/p>\n Jews believed Jesus was claiming to be God (John 5:18, John 10:30-33)<\/p>\n Jesus in the Old Testament (Isaiah 9:6, 1 Corinthians 10:9)<\/p>\n (For more information on this subject, please read [Seek Ye First \/ Issue 1]\u201cWho Was Jesus?\u201d)<\/em><\/p>\n It is very simple:<\/p>\n Romans 3:23\u00a0 For all<\/strong> have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;<\/em><\/p>\n Romans 5:12\u00a0 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned<\/strong>:<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Hebrews 4:15\u00a0 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n 1 Peter 2:21-22\u00a0 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ <\/strong>also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin<\/strong>, neither was guile found in his mouth:<\/em><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Romans 6:23\u00a0 For the wages of sin is death;<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Colossians 3:25\u00a0 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done<\/strong>: and there is no respect of persons.<\/em><\/p>\n We need to understand that as sinners, we can neither die for others sins, or for our own sins.<\/p>\n John 8:24\u00a0 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins<\/strong>: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n Gods nature is to punish sin, and that can only be satisfied by a sinless sacrifice. Therefore God Himself became a man to die for the sins of all men.<\/p>\n Acts 20:28\u00a0 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.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n 1 Corinthians 5:7\u00a0 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Ephesians 5:2\u00a0 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God<\/strong> for a sweetsmelling savour.<\/em><\/p>\n John 3:16\u00a0 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son<\/strong>, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.<\/em><\/p>\n The Word of God says that there is but one savior; and that ONE SAVIOR IS\u00a0 JESUS CHRIST!<\/strong><\/p>\n Isaiah 43:11\u00a0 I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n Titus 1:3-4\u00a0 But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God<\/u> our Saviour<\/strong>; To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ<\/u> our Saviour<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n Acts 4:12\u00a0 Neither is there salvation in any other<\/strong>: for there is none other name<\/strong> under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.<\/em><\/p>\n Jesus became sin for us; therefore when He was crucified, our sin debt was paid in full to God the Father. We have but one thing to do; believe.<\/strong><\/p>\n 1 Corinthians 15:3\u00a0 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our<\/u> sins<\/strong> according to the scriptures;<\/em><\/p>\n Galatians 1:4\u00a0 Who gave himself for our<\/u> sins<\/strong>, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:<\/em><\/p>\n 2 Corinthians 5:21\u00a0 For he hath made him to be sin for us<\/strong>, who knew no sin;<\/strong> that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.<\/p>\n As we mentioned earlier, a child in the adoption process is helpless to do anything but accept what has been done for them. Jesus has paid the full price for our sins, and all we need to do to accept this gift is to \u201cbelieve<\/strong>\u201d.<\/p>\n John 6:47\u00a0 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that<\/strong> believeth<\/strong> on me hath everlasting life.<\/em><\/p>\n John 3:14-16\u00a0 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever<\/strong> believeth<\/strong> in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth<\/strong> in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.<\/em><\/p>\n Many men would ask Jesus what work was needed to be done to become a child of God. But a child does not need to do work that has already been done for them. As humans we want our life to be put upon a scale, so that God will weigh our good against our bad. No amount of our own good works can ever make us a child of God. We need only to believe upon God\u2019s finished work<\/strong> on the cross.<\/p>\n John 6:28-29\u00a0 Then said they unto him, What shall we do<\/strong>, that we<\/strong> might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God<\/strong>, that ye believe<\/strong> on him whom he hath sent.<\/em><\/p>\n (John 2:23, John 4:39-42, John 4:51-53, John 8:30, John 10:41-42, John 11:45, <\/em><\/p>\n John 12:10-11, John 12:42-43 )<\/em><\/p>\n John 20:30-31 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:<\/em><\/strong> But these are written, that ye might believe<\/u> that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing<\/u> ye might have life through his name.<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n\n
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