Jesus Is God!

1. 

Hebrews 9:12-14: Jesus saved His people by HIS BLOOD. 

Acts 20:28: And He Who saved His people by HIS BLOOD is God.

2.

John 3:29; Mark 2:20: Jesus is the BRIDEGROOM. 

Isaiah 62:5: And the BRIDEGROOM is God. 

3.

John 5:21: Jesus GIVES LIFE TO THE DEAD.

1 Samuel 2:6: And He Who GIVES LIFE TO THE DEAD is God.

4. 

Hebrews 1:6: Jesus is WORSHIPED BY ANGELS.

Revelation 7:11: And He Who is WORSHIPED BY ANGELS is God.

5. 

Acts 7:59: Jesus is ADDRESSED IN PRAYER.

Genesis 20:17: And He Who is ADDRESSED IN PRAYER is God.

6. 

John 8:12: Jesus is the LIGHT.

Isaiah 60:20; Psalm 27:1: And the LIGHT is God. 

7. 

John 8:58: Jesus is the great I AM.

Exodus 3:14: And the great I AM is God.

8. 

Luke 21:33: Jesus' WORD stands forever.

Isaiah 40:8: And the WORD that stands forever is God's.

9. 

John 1:14: Jesus is the WORD.

John 1:1: And the WORD is God.

10. 

Acts 3:14: Jesus is the HOLY ONE.

Isaiah 43:15: And the HOLY ONE is God.

11.

Mark 4:39: Jesus CALMED THE STORMING SEAS.

Psalm 65:7: And THE STORMING SEAS WERE CALMED by God.

12.

John 8:24: Jesus is the I AM HE.

Isaiah 43:10: And the I AM HE is God.

13.

Revelation 22:13: Jesus is the FIRST AND THE LAST.

Isaiah 44:6: And the FIRST AND THE LAST is God.

14.

Revelation 22:13: Jesus is THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA.

Revelation 21:6: And THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA is God.

15.

Revelation 22:13: Jesus is THE BEGINNING AND THE END.

Revelation 21:6: And THE BEGINNING AND THE END is God.

16.

1 Corinthians 10:4: Jesus is THE ROCK.

Deuteronomy 32:3-4: And THE ROCK is God.

17.

2 Corinthians 11:2: Jesus is the ONE HUSBAND.

Isaiah 54:5: And the ONE HUSBAND is God.

18.

Matthew 23:8:  Jesus is the ONE MASTER.

Malachi 1:6: And the ONE MASTER is God.

19.

Revelation 19:16: Jesus is THE LORD OF LORDS.

Deuteronomy 10:17: And THE LORD OF LORDS is God.

20.

John 10:16: Jesus is the ONE SHEPHERD.

Psalm 23:1: Isaiah 40:11: And the ONE SHEPHERD is God.

21.

Acts 4:12: Jesus is the ONE SAVIOR.

Isaiah 45:21: And the ONE SAVIOR is God.

22.

Luke 1:68: Jesus is the ONE REDEEMER.

Isaiah 41:14: And the ONE REDEEMER is God.

23.

Revelation 5:9: Jesus is THE WORTHY ONE.

Revelation 4:11: And THE WORTHY ONE is God.

24.

Revelation 5:13: Jesus receives GLORY AND HONOR AND POWER.

Revelation 4:11: And GLORY AND HONOR AND POWER are received by God.

25.

John 20:28: Jesus is THE LORD AND GOD.

Genesis 14:22: And THE LORD AND GOD is God.

26.

Matthew 2:11: Only Jesus must be WORSHIPED AND ADORED.

Matthew 4:10: And people must only WORSHIP AND ADORE God.

27.

Isaiah 9:6: Jesus is THE WONDERFUL COUNSELOR.

Isaiah 28:29: And He Who is WONDERFUL IN COUNSEL is God.

28.

Isaiah 9:6: Jesus is THE MIGHTY GOD.

Jeremiah 32:18: And THE MIGHTY GOD is God.

29.

Isaiah 9:6: Jesus is EVERLASTING.

Psalm 90:2: And He Who is EVERLASTING is God.

30.

Hebrews 1:8: Jesus' THRONE IS FOREVER AND EVER.

Psalm 45:6: And He Whose THRONE IS FOREVER AND EVER is God.

31.

Hebrews 3:1-3: Jesus BUILT THE HOUSE.

Hebrews 3:4: And He Who BUILT ALL THINGS is God.

32.

Romans 9:5: Jesus is THE GOD OVER ALL.

Ephesians 4:6: And THE GOD OVER ALL is God.

33.

John 2:19, 10:17: Jesus RAISED Himself from the dead.

Romans 10:9: And He Who RAISED Jesus from the dead is God. 

34.

Colossians 1:27: Jesus DWELLS IN believers.

2 Corinthians 6:16: And He Who DWELLS IN believers is God.

35.

Ephesians 5:25-26: Jesus SANCTIFIES believers.

1 Thess. 5:23: And He Who SANCTIFIES believers is God.

36.

Revelation 2:23: Jesus SEARCHES THE HEART of man.

1 Kings 8:39: And He Who SEARCHES THE HEART of man is God.

37.

John 17:6: Jesus OWNS all believers as His own.

John 17:9: And He Who OWNS all believers as His own is God.

38.

1 Corinthians 7:22: Jesus reigns over believers as SLAVES.

Romans 6:22: And He Who reigns over believers as SLAVES is God.

39.

Titus 2:13: Jesus is THE GREAT GOD.

Psalm 95:3: And THE GREAT GOD is God.

40.

Mark 1:1-3: Jesus had a WAY PREPARED for Him.

Isaiah 40:3: And a WAY WAS PREPARED for God.

41.

1 Corinthians 1:30: Jesus is THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Jeremiah 23:6: And THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS is God.  

42.

Romans 10:13: Jesus is the name you MUST CALL ON TO BE SAVED.

Joel 2:32: And the name you MUST CALL ON TO BE SAVED is God. 

43.

Philippians 2:10: To Jesus every knee MUST BOW.

Isaiah 45:23: And every knee MUST BOW to God.

44.

Matthew 28:20: Jesus CAN BE PRESENT EVERYWHERE.

Psalm 139:7-10: And He Who CAN BE PRESENT EVERYWHERE is God.

45.

Revelation 2:23: Jesus SEARCHES MINDS AND HEARTS and KNOWS ALL THINGS. 

Psalm 139: And He Who SEARCHES MINDS AND HEARTS and KNOWS ALL THINGS is God.

46.

Hebrews 13:8: Jesus is THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER AND  DOES NOT CHANGE. 

Malachi 3:6: And He Who is THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER AND DOES NOT CHANGE is God.

47.

Colossians 2:9: In Jesus dwells THE FULLNESS OF DEITY bodily.

Deuteronomy 7:9: And THE FULLNESS OF DEITY dwells in God.

48.

John 12:44: Jesus must be BELIEVED.

John 12:44: And if you've BELIEVED in Jesus then you've BELIEVED in God.

49.

John 14:1: Jesus commands you to BELIEVE in Him.

John 14:1: And the One you are to BELIEVE in is God.

50.

John 5:23: Jesus must be HONORED just like His Father.

John 5:23: And He Who must be HONORED just like the Father is God.

51.

1 John 5:12: Jesus gives ETERNAL LIFE to all those who HAVE HIM.

Matthew 22:31-32: And all those who have ETERNAL LIFE HAVE GOD as their God.

52.

Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 1:3: In Jesus ALL THINGS HOLD TOGETHER.

Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 119:90-91: And ALL THINGS HOLD TOGETHER in God.

53.

Matthew 14:23-27: Jesus TREAD UPON THE RAGING WAVES of the sea.

Job 9:8: And He Who TREAD UPON THE RAGING WAVES of the sea is God.

54.

John 12:37-43: Jesus is the HOLY, HOLY, HOLY ONE WHOSE GLORY FILLS THE WHOLE EARTH.

Isaiah 6:1-5: And the HOLY, HOLY, HOLY ONE WHOSE GLORY FILLS THE WHOLE EARTH is God.

55.

Isaiah 9:6: Jesus is called THE EVERLASTING FATHER.

Romans 15:6: And THE EVERLASTING FATHER is God.

56.

Matthew 28:18: Jesus possesses ALL AUTHORITY ON HEAVEN AND ON EARTH.

Romans 13:1: And ALL AUTHORITY ON HEAVEN AND ON EARTH belongs to God.

57.

John 14:7: If you know Jesus, then you KNOW THE FATHER.

1 John 3:1: And if you KNOW THE FATHER, then you know God.

58.

Daniel 7:13-14: Jesus possesses an EVERLASTING DOMINION.

Psalm 145:13: And EVERLASTING DOMINION belongs to God. 

59.

Matthew 8:8-13: Jesus HEALED BY HIS WORD.

Psalm 107:20: And He Who HEALED BY HIS WORD is God.

60.

Colossians 1:16: For and through Jesus ALL THINGS WERE CREATED.

Romans 11:36: And ALL THINGS CREATED are from, through, and to God.

61.

Luke 7:48-49: Jesus FORGIVES SINS.

Psalm 103:2-3: And He Who FORGIVES SINS is God.

62.

2 Corinthians 5:10: We must all appear before the JUDGMENT SEAT of Jesus.

Romans 14:10: And He Whose JUDGMENT SEAT we must appear before is God.

63.

John 5:22: Jesus JUDGES EVERYONE.

Acts 17:30-31: And He Who JUDGES EVERYONE is God.

64.

2 Corinthians 5:17: In Jesus, people are MADE NEW CREATIONS.

Revelation 21:5: And He Who MAKES ALL THINGS NEW is God. 

65.

Acts 19:17: Jesus' name is MAGNIFIED.

Psalm 34:3: And He Whose name is to be MAGNIFIED is God.

66.

John 1:3-10: Jesus is the ONE CREATOR.

Genesis 1:1: And the ONE CREATOR is God.

67.

Matthew 13:37: Jesus is the SOWER OF THE NEW COVENANT.

Jeremiah 31:27: And the SOWER OF THE NEW COVENANT is God.

68.

Revelation 17:14: Jesus is the KING OF KINGS.

1 Timothy 6:15: And He Who is KING OF KINGS is God.

69.

Colossians 1:19-20:  Jesus RECONCILED the world to Himself.

2 Corinthians 5:18-19: And He Who RECONCILED the world to Himself is God.

70.

John 1:49: Jesus is the KING OF ISRAEL.

Isaiah 44:6: And the KING OF ISRAEL is God.

71.

Revelation 21:22: Jesus is the TEMPLE IN HEAVEN.

Revelation 21:22: And the TEMPLE IN HEAVEN is God.

72.

John 19:34: Jesus is the One they LOOKED ON, ON HIM WHOM THEY HAVE PIERCED.

Zechariah 12:10: And the One they LOOKED ON, ON HIM WHOM THEY HAVE PIERCED is God.

73.

Philippians 3:3: Jesus must be everyone's ONLY BOAST.

Jeremiah 9:23-24: And everyone's ONLY BOAST must be in God.  

74.

Colossians 3:11: Jesus is THE ALL IN ALL.

1 Corinthians 15:28: And THE ALL IN ALL is God.

“That’s My King!” In The Book Of Luke!

He’s the Lord that John the Baptist prepared a people for!
He was conceived in the womb of the virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit!
His name is called Jesus!
He is great and is called the Son of the Most High!
The Lord God gave to Him the throne of His father David!
He will reign over the house of Jacob forever!
His Kingdom shall have no end!
He’s called holy – the Son of God!
He’s the God Who makes the impossible possible!
Because Mary bore Him, all generations shall call her blessed!
He’s the horn of salvation raised up by God!
He’s the fulfillment of what God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old!
He saves us from our enemies!
He saves us from the hand of all who hate us!
He brought the mercy promised to our fathers!
He is the mercy promised to our fathers!
He’s the fulfillment of all the covenants and oaths sworn to Abraham and all His people!
He delivers from the hand of our enemies!
He makes it possible for us to serve God without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days!

That’s my King!

Through Him there is salvation and forgiveness of our sins!
He brings light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death!
He guides our feet into the way of peace!
He was born in Bethlehem!
He was wrapped in saddling cloths!
He was laid in manger because there was no place for them in the inn!
Angels and the glory of the Lord announced His birth!
He is great news of great joy that will be for all people!
He’s the Savior!
He’s the Christ!
He’s the Lord!
A multitude of heavenly hosts praised God when He was born!
He came for the lowly and outcasts – the shepherds keeping watch over their flock by night!
He was circumcised on the eighth day!
He’s holy to the Lord!
He’s the Lord’s Christ!
He’s God’s salvation!
He’s a light for revelation to the Gentiles!
He’s the glory of God’s people Israel!
He’s appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel!
Through Him the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed!
As a young boy, all who heard Him were amazed at His understanding and His answers!
He was never lost, but He must be in His Father’s house!
He was submissive to His parents!
He increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man!

That’s my King! Do you know Him?!

He’s mightier than the greatest man born among women!
The greatest man born among women is not worthy to untie the strap of His sandal!
He will baptize His people with the Holy Spirit and with fire!
He’s going to gather the wheat and burn the chaff with unquenchable fire!
He will be the One punishing the wicked with everlasting fire in Hell!
When He was baptized the heavens were ripped open, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him!
He’s the Son in Whom the Father is well pleased!
He’s the Son of David and the Son of God!
He’s full of the Holy Spirit!
He came to destroy the works of the devil!
He conquered every temptation, never sinned, and overcame!
He taught like no man ever taught and was glorified by all!
The Spirit of the Lord is upon Him!
He’s anointed to proclaim good news to the poor!
He proclaims liberty to the captives!
He grants recovery of sight to the blind!
He sets at liberty those who are oppressed!
He proclaims the year of the Lord’s favor!
He fulfills all that the Scriptures say about Him!
All spoke well of Him!
They marveled at the gracious words that were coming from His mouth!
But they also tried to kill Him after He preached His first sermon!
But He escaped to Capernaum, and they were astonished at His teaching!
His word possesses authority!
He commands unclean spirits, and they come out!
Reports about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region!
He rebuked sickness and fevers and healed the sick!
He came to preach God’s Word!

That’s my King!

He caught fish where there were no fish and almost made two boats sink with the greatness of the catch!
He’s the holy, holy, holy One Whom Peter called on to depart from Him because Peter was a sinful man!
He calls us not to be afraid!
He’s going to make us fishers of men!
He cleansed lepers!
Great crowds gathered to hear Him and to be healed!
He often withdrew to desolate places to pray!
The power of the Lord was with Him to heal!
He forgave sins, showing He is God almighty!
He knows people’s thoughts!
He made paralyzed men walk!
He’s the most extraordinary thing anyone has ever seen!
He calls sinners to follow Him!
He ate with tax collectors and sinners!
He didn’t come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance!
He’s the Bridegroom Who came to die for His bride, the church!

That’s my King!

He’s Lord of the Sabbath Who created the Sabbath!
He healed the withered hand!
He made self-righteous, religious men so angry they wanted to kill Him!
He prayed all night on a mountain!
He called apostles to follow Him!
Crowds sought to touch Him because power came out from Him!
He taught like no man ever taught!
He raised the widow of Nain’s son from the dead!
He’s a great Prophet and more than a prophet Who has arisen among us!
Through Him, God has visited His people!
He made the deaf to hear!
He loves and honors women!
He saves from sexual immorality!

That’s my King! I wonder if you know Him today?!

He rebuked the winds and the raging waves, and they obeyed Him!
He conquered Legion and all the legions of demons!
He raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead!
He’s the Son of righteousness who rises with healing in His outer garments!
He’s the everlasting Father Who healed His daughter who had a discharge of blood for twelve years!
He created enough bread and fish from five loaves and two fish to feed 5,000 men, plus all the others who were there!
He is the Christ of God!
To come after Him you must deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow Him!
He was transfigured on that mountain – the veil was pulled back to show His glory!
His clothes became dazzling white, and His Father said “This is My Son, my Chosen One; listen to Him!”
Because of Him, all were astonished at the majesty of God!
His face was set toward Jerusalem to do what He came to do – and no one could stop Him!
He rebuked sinners!
Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but He had nowhere to lay His head!
He’s more precious than your father and mother, sisters and brothers, wife and children!
He pronounced curses on those who rejected Him!
He rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, praising His Father for hiding the truth from the wise and understanding and revealing it to little children!
No one knows the Father except Him and anyone to whom He chooses to reveal Him!
The one thing necessary is sitting at His feet and enjoying His presence!
He’s the King Who brought the Kingdom!
He’s something greater than Solomon!
He’s something greater than Jonah!
He’s something greater than everyone and everything!

That’s my King!

So many thousands of people gathered together to see and hear Him that they trampled one another!
He’s coming at an hour you do not expect, so you better be ready!
He came to cast fire on the earth!
He came not to bring peace but division!
He preached repentance!
He wept over Jerusalem!
He healed on the Sabbath!
He said you must come to Him and hate your own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even your own life or you can’t be His disciple!
He received sinners and ate with them!
He pursues the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son!
He loves all the little children of the world!
He’s the good God Who alone perfectly obeyed God’s law!
He saves tax collectors!
He’s the King Who comes in the name of the LORD!
He cleansed the temple!
He rendered to Caesar what belonged to Caesar and to God what belonged to God!
He’s the Son of David and David’s LORD, all at the same time!
He will come again in a cloud with power and great glory!
Heaven and earth will pass away, but His Words will never pass away!

That’s my King!

He was willing to drink the cup of the His Father’s curse, anger, and judgment for us!
He came to perfectly do His Father’s will!
He was betrayed for sinners!
He was arrested for sinners!
He was denied for sinners!
He was mocked for sinners!
He was beaten for sinners!
He was blasphemed for sinners!
He was found guiltless in a court but condemned by the same court for sinners!
He was treated with contempt for sinners!
He died in the place of the murderer Barabbas!
He was so badly beaten He couldn’t even carry His own cross!
He was crucified between two criminals!
He cried out for His Father to forgive His murderers, even while on the cross!
He was stripped naked!
He was spit on!
He assured the repentant criminal that today he would be with Him in Paradise!
He died in darkness!
He endured the full measure of the wrath of God!
He gave us His spirit and died!
He was buried!
But three days later He rose up from the dead on the first day of the week!
He conquered sin, death, the grave, the devil, and hell!

That’s my King! Do you know my King?!

Moses and all the Prophets testify about Him!
He causes men’s hearts to burn within them!
He gives peace!
He has a resurrected, physical, glorified body!
Everything written about Him in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and Psalms was fulfilled!
He opens minds to understand the Scriptures!
His disciples proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins in His name to all nations!
He sent the promise of His Father, the Holy Spirit, so we would be clothed with power from on high!
He was carried up into heaven!
His disciples worshiped Him and were filled with great joy and continually blessed God!

That’s my King! That’s my King!

The New "All Lives Matter!" - "From The Womb To The Tomb!"

Saying you are pro-life "from the womb to the tomb" can be very similar to the response "All Lives Matter!" when someone says "Black Lives Matter!"

And it can be an indication that you really don't care much about unborn lives at all. Why focus so heavily on the murder and oppression of the unborn in the womb?

Because abortion is the only unthinkable sin mentioned in the Bible.

And because abortion is the worst social injustice ever:

Abortion kills the most innocent: an unborn child

Abortion kills the most helpless: a defenseless baby

Abortion is the cruelest: their heads and limbs are chopped off; their brains are sucked out

Abortion is the most prevalent: over 60 million children butchered in the U.S. since 1973; over 1.5 billion murdered worldwide since 1980 alone

Abortion is the most accepted: laws protect parent's rights to kill their own children

Of course "All Lives Matter." But if Black lives don't matter, then all lives don't matter. So there is a focus on black lives mattering because they haven't mattered for so long.

Of course we should be pro-life, from the womb to the tomb. But in the womb is where the greatest injustices and absolute unfathomable atrocities are happening to the greatest numbers of the most innocent and helpless human beings on the face of the earth. And it's all legal, protected by wicked, unjust laws! There is a reason the pro-life movement should continue to focus mainly on the unborn and not on "All Lives!" Scott Klusendorf writes in this DesiringGod Article: 

3. DON’T WATER DOWN WHAT IT MEANS TO BE "PRO-LIFE."

One well-meaning pro-life organization insists the pro-life movement must not only save children but "programmatically" help others "build strong families, have healthy marriages, be better parents, and have thriving faith lives" — that, and promote responsible fatherhood.

Pro-lifers just got saddled with a backbreaking job description no single cause can pull off. True, as Christians we will care about many issues, but it doesn’t follow that the operational objectives of the pro-life movement must be broad as well. We do not establish “pro-life” credentials by diverting scarce resources from the unborn to take on issues that Christians with larger platforms and better funding are more than willing to address. That will kill the pro-life movement.

My friend John Ensor writes that to be "pro-life" means

to speak up on behalf of children being led to the slaughter, and to engage in the rescue of those children, and their parents, who are often victims of the big abortion lie. It doesn’t mean that, as Christians, we don’t care about other issues. It doesn’t mean we don’t try to help our neighbors when they are in trouble. But it does mean we will not dilute our organizational resources chasing after every conceivable extension of life, particularly when many of those other issues already have personnel and resources that dwarf those of dedicated pro-life organizations.

Pro-life students stand alone in their calling to save children. We need to help them fulfill it. We need to teach them how to stand well.

I agree. Yes, we should care about all lives, from the womb to the tomb. Yes, all lives do matter. But there is a particular reason we should particularly care particularly about black lives that have not mattered to others for so long. And there is a particular reason we should particularly care particularly about the unborn lives that have not and do not matter to so many others for so long. And still don't matter.

If you've had an abortion or encouraged someone to have an abortion or performed abortions, please read this powerful Gospel testimony. Or watch this excellent documentary on the Gospel.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." Jesus (John 3:16)

Remember: "Abortion isn't a single-issue, it's millions of babies. Millions." Pete Bargas

All for Jesus, Who deeply loves all the little children in the world. 

The Insanity Of Claiming Christianity Was Copied From Earlier Pagan Myths Or Religions

I've encountered different people while doing street ministry who claim Christianity is copied from earlier myth religions. This claim is as ridiculous as claiming the movie Home Alone was copied from Christianity. I came across this funny point on a Facebook Page: Reclaiming Christianity: Destroying the Myth of Plagiarism From Egypt:

Is the story of Jesus told in Luke 2:42-52 stolen from the ancient myth of Kevin McAlister as told in Home Alone?

Also note these "amazing" parallels mentioned in the comments of the post: 

1. Kevin on a "cruciform" shape, between two thieves:

2. The head of the enemy being bruised while Kevin hangs. Surely the gospels must be plagiarized from this movie:

3. Kevin defeating his enemy with flames. The enemy came to steal, kill and destroy:

4. Depiction of a nail being driven through a foot:

The author writes: 

THIS is how ridiculous people sound when they make the parallel/plagiarism argument to try to prove Christianity came from Egypt or that the Bible's origin is rooted in these things. This isn't proof or truth, it's imagination and fallacy.

I 100% agree. It's absolutely ridiculous. There's no one, there's no one like Jesus! The best, short article I've ever read on this is: Was Christianity Copied from Pagan Myths?

And a very informative, but funny video is here from Lutheran Satire.

God And The Gospel

To learn more about the great and true Triune God, the God-Man, Jesus Christ, and His glorious Gospel message and everlasting Kingship, please watch American Gospel: Christ Alone. You can watch the full documentary here with a free, 3 day trial.

More Resources On Christianity And Pagan Myth Religions

1. Are The Stories Of Jesus Borrowed From Pagan Myths?

2. Was Christianity Copied from Pagan Myths?

3. Do the Gospels Borrow from Pagan Myths?

4. Zeitgeist Debunked: Jesus Is Not A Copy Of Pagan Gods

5. Horus Ruins Christmas

6. What About Pagan Parallels To The Resurrection?

7. Isn't Jesus Just A Copy Of Other Ancient Religious Figures?

8. Wes Huff Refutes That's Jesus Is Copied From Pagan Gods

It's Not Stupid But Loving And Biblical To Tell Muslims The Truth About Muhammad

I posted a portion of the hadith (hadith are collections of traditions about Muhammad and his words) Sahih al-Bukhari on Facebook with this message:

When my Muslim friends refuse to listen to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the first thing I like to tell them about their false prophet Muhammad is that he married a six year old girl and had sex with her when she was nine (Aisha). He was in his fifties. It's in one of their most trusted hadith: 

"5133. Narrated Aishah that the Prophet wrote the marriage contract with her when she was six years old and he consummated his marriage when she was nine years old, and then she remained with him for nine years (i.e. till his death)."

 

You can check it out directly in the hadith here: https://sunnah.com/bukhari:5133

Please turn away from Muhammad and come to the most precious, pure, powerful, praise-worthy Man Who has ever lived - the Lord Jesus Christ - the God-Man Who died for sinners and rose again from the dead so that you might be saved!

Islam, according to the Quran, allows marriage and sex with children. See: Muslim Preacher Says the Quran Allows Pedophilia and Aisha Was a CHILD When She Married Muhammad! - David Wood - Episode 3. This video will be helpful too: Are There Hadiths That Say Aisha Was Older Than Nine?

In Iran in 2012, at least 1,537 girls below the age of 10 were forced to marry. The documentary, Honor Diaries, clearly exposes Islam's evil oppression of women.

In Yemen, where an 8 year old girl died from injuries on her wedding night, some Muslims spoke out against this wicked practice. But they need to see that this kind of evil exists because it's what Muhammad did, and it's what their false religion teaches in its most trusted sources:

a. Yemeni Child Brides, Aisha, and Qur'an 65:4
b. An Examination of Muhammad’s Marriage to a Prepubescent Girl And Its Moral Implications
c. MUHAMMAD, AISHA, ISLAM, AND CHILD BRIDES

Furthermore, according to the hadith Sahih Muslim, book 4, 2127, Muhammad struck his wife, Aisha, on the chest: "Yes. He struck me on the chest which caused me pain, and then said: Did you think that Allah and His Apostle would deal unjustly with you?" For more on wife abuse in Islam, see Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.

I received some feedback from sharing information like this about Muhammad that I would like to respond to here. Why is it not stupid to tell Muslims this truth about their false prophet but loving and Biblical? I'm glad you asked:

1. This Is Not Where I Start - Always Start With Jesus And The Gospel

First of all, note I wrote that I only bring this up when my Muslim friends refuse to listen to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I don't start with the evil life of Muhammad. I start with the glorious, perfect, holy, amazing life, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Only this message can save anyone. In these excellent lectures (in lecture 2 in the lecture series at Biola University), Nabeel Qureshi warns that we must be very careful when telling our Muslim friends the truth about Muhammad because it could shut down a friendship that would lead to opportunities to share the Gospel.

But Jesus did tell His disciples:

And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. Matthew 10:14

This action of shaking the dust from their feet pointed to the judgment that would come to those who reject Jesus and His message. I see my telling Muslims the truth about their false prophet as a kind of "shaking the dust off" indicating that if they will not take Jesus and His glorious salvation, they are left with an old, dead, false prophet who did horrendous actions such as this with a six/nine year old - and he cannot save you. I hope and pray this might leave them with a little pebble in their shoe, so to speak, which will be used by God to cause them to question what they've been taught about Muhammad and drive them to seek refuge in the real Man of men: Jesus Christ.

2. I Am Merely Stating What The Most Trusted Muslim Sources Already Say

When I point my Muslim friends to Sahih al-Bukhari, I'm not pointing them to some anti-Muslim, anti-Islam propaganda. I'm pointing them to their own most trusted sources so they can read for themselves. Many of the Muslims I encounter don't even know this about Muhammad. In my neighborhood in Philly, I once told a Muslim man this fact about Muhammad. He got really mad at first. He said, "Are you calling Muhammad a pedofile?!" I simply responded by telling him that "pedofile" was his word, not mine - I was merely telling him the truth about what Muhammad did. I gave him the source and told him to look it up. He walked away angry and incredulous. But about two weeks later, the same man came up to me and briefly said this: "You know what you told me about Muhammad, you are right." And he walked away. 

I pray that many Muslims would come to see the wicked life of Muhammad for what it is, and that their seeing of this might open doors for them to see the glory, purity, and beauty of Jesus Christ and move many Muslims to come to Jesus and be saved. There's so much more material like this on the truth about Muhammad's life as well. For more information about the truth about Muhammad, also see: Answering Islam here.

3. It's Biblical And Loving To Tell People The Truth About False Prophets Who Will Ultimately Lead Them To Hell

 God's Word instructs us to expose unfruitful works of darkness: 

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Ephesians 5:11-14

If you love people, you are going to tell them the truth about people, places, things, and ideas that will hurt them, even if it offends them. Love will offend sometimes. Offense is not my first option. Offense is not (or shouldn't be!) my heart. Jesus and His Gospel message is my first option (and even that message will offend!). But when He is rejected - I will tell Muslims the truth about Muhammad. 

Consider a few examples of the "offensive" ways God's men have spoken to and about false prophets:

Elijah mocked the idol Baal and his false prophets: And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, "Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened." 1 Kings 18:27

Paul wished false teachers would cut their genitals off: "I wish those who unsettle you would emasculate themselves!" Galatians 5:12

Jesus called false teachers and false prophets snakes and ravenous wolves: "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?" Matthew 23:33

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves." Matthew 7:15

And why did they speak this way? Love. They loved God's glory. They loved God. They loved the truth. They loved those who were being deceived and dragged to hell by false teaching. Love will speak up, even if feelings get hurt. 

One man who does not shy away from telling Muslims the truth about their false prophet and religion is Zakaria Botros. He was World Magazine's Daniel of the Year in 2008. He was so successful at helping Muslims see the truth about their religion that radical Muslims put a $60 million bounty on his head. One show he did was entitled: "Was Muhammad A Messenger From God Or Satan?" What motivates Mr. Botros to so "offensively" attack the false prophet of Islam? He says it's love. He said, "My program is to attack Islam, not to attack Muslims but to save them because they are deceived. As I love Muslims, I hate Islam."

Love tells the truth. And sometimes this loving truth-telling will be painful and offensive.

Another faithful brother who loves Muslims with offensive, confrontational love is Jay Smith. I first heard of Jay when Mark Dever mentioned his name in a sermon, remembering Jay had said that he expected to die at Speakers Corner in London where he preached to Muslims for so many years, confronting them about the lies of Islam. Here Jay is confronting numerous Muslims with the fact that the Quran is not a perfectly preserved holy book, but there are numerous Arabic Qurans with textual variations. Here David Wood interviewed Jay about the Quran. I love how Jay Smith ended one of his videos, reminding Muslims that all that they hope for in the Quran is found in the Word of God made flesh: Jesus Christ. Jesus is eternal; Jesus was sent down by God; Jesus is complete; Jesus is unchanged: the same yesterday, today, and forever! Hallelujah! What a Savior! May many Muslims come to Him!

Hatun Tash is another lion of God who is willing to risk her life to tell Muslims the truth about Islam and the beauty of Christ. You can see her work here (Defend Christ Critique Islam) and here (DCCI Ministries).

Finally, Al Fadi, former Wahabbi Muslim from Saudi Arabia, is the founder of CIRA International: The Center for Islamic Research and Awareness. He also has many great informational videos on the truth about Muhammad.

4. One Of The Most Fruitful Men I Know In Ministry To Muslims Uses This Method

I rarely heard about or saw Muslims converting from Islam to Christianity. Until I was introduced to David Wood. David Wood is the main human instrument God used to bring a very devout Muslim, Nabeel Qureshi, to faith in Christ. Read this excellent autobiography about Nabeel's amazing conversion story. Also read his book comparing Islam and Christianity. You can also hear a shorter version of his testimony.

In Nabeel's conversion story, you see that one of the great barriers that had to be broken down in order for him to finally come to Christ was all the false ideas he had been taught about Islam, the Quran, and Muhammad. God used David Wood to help break down those barriers. Now David uses YouTube here, and here, and at this channel as well to do just this: tell Muslims the truth about what the Quran and Islam's most trusted sources actually say about Muhammad and Islam. And God uses this. He uses this to open Muslim eyes to the truth and beauty of Christ by first showing them the lies, emptiness, and deception of Islam.

This is not the only method to reach Muslims for Jesus. But it is a method God does use, and it's not stupid and useless. We are commanded to "destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge off God":

For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ . . . . 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

May we do so for the glory and praise of our great King Jesus and point people to Him, the only Savior. And may we do so with love and compassion!

5. Muhammad Cannot Be Compared With The One, True, Living God

One of the responses I received to my Facebook post implied that telling Muslims about their false prophet's attraction to a young girl is like telling Christians to abandon the God of the Bible because He commanded Israel to commit genocide and kill a whole race of people - referring to the Canaanite genocide. This comparison borders on blasphemy of the living God. I would tremble to make such a comparison.

First of all, Muhammad is a false prophet of a false god of a false religion. The God Who saved Israel from all of her enemies is the one, true, living God Who is just, righteous, good, and holy in all that He does, all the time. He is the triune God: One God eternally existing in three Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Second, every one and every nation that God commanded Israel to destroy through the Canaanite genocide deserved to be destroyed because their sin and rebellion against the holy God. 

Third, these judgments in the Old Testament point to the final judgment and are gracious and merciful ways that God is calling all people everywhere to repent of sin and turn to Him.

Finally, there is a trajectory in the Bible that the Quran does not share. The final chapter in the Quran chronologically (chapter 9) is one of the most violent chapters in the whole Quran. On the other hand, there is a trajectory in the Bible toward grace, mercy, and salvation with the coming of Jesus Christ until the final judgment. Right now is a time you can make peace with King Jesus before He returns. Then He will destroy all of His enemies, but now He is crying to all people everywhere: Repent, believe the Gospel, and be saved!

For more on this point, read Nabeel Qureshi's excellent article: How Does Jihad Compare with Old Testament Warfare? Also see this post on the curses of God and His people in the Bible.

6. Please Reject Muhammad And Believe In The Crucified And Risen God-Man: Jesus Christ

Unlike Muhammad, Jesus Christ never did anything sexually impure in thought, word, feeling, or deed. Jesus was the only perfect, sinless man who ever lived. He never looked at a woman with lust. He never even had sex with a woman, but was a pure virgin all of His life. He is truly God and truly man, all at the same time. And He was obedient to death, even to the point of death on the cross where He suffered the full measure of the wrath, anger, and fury of God toward sin and sinners. He died. He was buried. And on the third day, He rose up from the dead, conquering sin, death, and hell. Now He is calling all people everywhere to turn from their sins and believe in Him:

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." John 14:6

Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,  and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

Would you please come and trust in Jesus Christ today? 

To learn more about the great and true Triune God, the God-Man, Jesus Christ, and His glorious Gospel message and everlasting Kingship, please watch American Gospel: Christ Alone. You can watch the full documentary here with a free, 3 day trial.

You can also read more about the Gospel here. Also in Arabic here.

There's no one like Jesus Christ! He's the King forever!

These are excellent lectures on the truth about Islam and Christianity: Excellent Lectures On Islam By Former Muslim Nabeel Qureshi

Please consider these excellent resources on Islam, Christianity, and the hope all can have in the God-Man, Jesus Christ:

1. Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity, by Nabeel Qureshi

2. Answering Jihad: A Better Way Forward, by Nabeel Qureshi

3. The Dark Side Of Islam by R. C. Sproul and Abdul Saleeb

4. How does Jihad compare with Old Testament warfare?

5. Praying God's Curses On The Wicked: War Psalms Of The Prince Of Peace

6. Understanding Jihad In Islam 2 lectures by Dr. David Cook (He also wrote Understanding Jihad)

You can also listen to these excellent testimonies by Nabeel and Jay Smith on the same topics:

1. Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus

2. Answering Jihad

3. Violence In the Quran and in Islam

4. Islam and Violence by Ligonier Ministries

5. The Dark Side of Islam by Ligonier Ministries

God And The Gospel

To learn more about the great and true Triune God, the God-Man, Jesus Christ, and His glorious Gospel message and everlasting Kingship, please watch American Gospel: Christ Alone. You can watch the full documentary here with a free, 3 day trial.

May God awaken and save the Muslim world, and may the Lamb of God receive the reward of His sufferings!

Other Websites Helpful On The Truth About Islam

1. Jay Smith

2. Brother Rashid الأخ رشيد

3. Brother Rashid in English

4. David Wood

5. David Wood Archives

6. Al Fadi - CIRA International

7. Hatun Tash

8. DCCI Ministries

9. Zakaria Botros

10. Islam Critiqued

11. Answering Islam

12. Jihad Watch

My Other Posts About Islamic Violence Related To September 11th

Remembering God's Grace On September 11, 2001, And Beyond

The Inspiration For 9/11: Muhammad, The Quran, And Islam - Please Turn To The Prince Of Peace!

September 11th: National "See The Truth About Islam" Day

Resources About Jesus In Arabic/Other Languages

The Quest For Joy (The Gospel) by John Piper in Arabic

Fifty Reasons Jesus Came To Die by John Piper in Arabic

Resources From Desiring God in Arabic

Resources From Ligonier Ministries in Arabic

Resources From The Gospel Coalition in Arabic

Resources From Desiring God in other languages

"That's My King!" At The End Of Matthew 4!

Christ Is The Greatest Fisher Of Men

He Loved And Served And Reeled Them In

Called Fishermen To Start Again

With Him A New Life To Begin

He Died A Rose To Save From Sin

So We Leave All And Follow Him

None Like Him Has Ever Been

With Him You're Guaranteed To Win!

That's my King! Do you know Him?!

Christ Taught And Preached And Healed Them All

Reversed Each Pain Traced From The Fall

His Fame Spread Far To Great And Small

Against Vile Forces He Would Brawl

Then Died And Rose, On Death Stands Tall

New Life He Brings And Will Enthrall!

That's my King! That's my King!

The False "I Am" Of Joel Osteen And The True "I AM" Who Alone Can Save!

By God's grace, I've been preaching on the beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) and noticing how they are so diametrically opposed to what the wicked health, wealth, and prosperity false gospel preachers teach. Blessed are those who are poor in spirit, blessed are those who mourn, and blessed are those who are persecuted (to name a few)? Really? Yes!

I listened to a Joel Osteen sermon recently in which he encourages his hearers to be very careful about what they say after the phrase, "I am" because what follows the "I am" follows you. He warns not to speak negative words after the "I am" but positive words like: 

"I am strong, I am healthy, I am talented, I am disciplined, I am focused, I am prosperous, I am getting younger, I am attractive!"

You can watch this madness here: Joel Osteen's sermon on speaking things into existence or the power of I am.

It's very sad that so many people are so deceived by this. It's very sad that Joel Osteen takes millions of dollars from people teaching these ridiculous lies. It's very sad that in a sermon on the phrase "I am" he does not even once mention all the great "I Am" statements of the Lord Jesus Christ Who is the great "I AM" Who came in the flesh to die on the cross for sinners and rise from the dead so that all who repent and believe in Him might be saved. 

Please pray that he and his followers would repent and be saved by believing in the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.

What does God's Word actually teach? What have faithful followers of the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ actually said after their "I am" statements in the Bible? Come and see:

Isaac: "I am old" (Genesis 27:2)

Jacob: "I am not worthy" (Genesis 32:10)

Moses: "I am not able" (Numbers 11:14)

Joshua: "I am now old" (Joshua 23:2)

Gideon: "I am the least in my father's house" 

(Judges 6:15)

David: "I am a poor man and have no reputation"
(1 Samuel 18:23)

David: "I am in great distress" (1 Chronicles 21:13)

Solomon: "I am but a little child" (1 Kings 3:7)

Mephibosheth: "He bowed down, and said, 'What is your servant, that you should look on such a dead dog as I am?'" (2 Samuel 9:8)

 

Elijah: "I am no better than my fathers" (1 Kings 19:4)

Ezra: "I am ashamed" (Ezra 9:6)

Job: "I am of small account" (Job 40:4)

David: "I am weary with my moaning" (Psalm 6:6)

David: "I am a worm and not a man" (Psalm 22:6)

David: "I am poor and needy" (Psalm 40:17)

Isaiah: "I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips" (Isaiah 6:5)

Jeremiah: "I am lost" (Lamentations 3:54)

John the Baptist: "I am not worthy" (Matthew 3:11)

Roman Centurion: "I am not worthy to have you come under my roof" (Matthew 8:8) 

 

The Syrophoenician Woman: "But she answered him, 'Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs.'" (Mark 7:28) [Essentially, she said: "Yes, I am a dog."]

 

Peter: "I am a sinful man" (Luke 5:8)

Prodigal Son: "I am no longer worthy to be called your son" (Luke 15:19)

Paul: "I am of the flesh, sold under sin" (Romans 7:14)

Paul: "Wretched man that I am!" (Romans 7:24)

Paul: "I am the least of the apostles" 

(1 Corinthians 15:9)

Paul: "I am the very least of all the saints" 

(Ephesians 3:8)

Paul: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost" (1 Timothy 1:15)

Beloved, only God speaks things into existence. God's Word doesn't teach that we can. And God's people use "I am" statements to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God, Who opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (1 Peter 5:5).

May we be a people who are held captive by the Word of God and who rejoice in the great I AM - the Lord Jesus Christ. And may we rejoice in Him for Who He is and for what He did, not for the health, wealth, and prosperity He can give us.

Jesus said:

"I am the bread of life." (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51) 

"I am the light of the world." (John 8:12) 

"Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." (John 8:58)

"I am the door of the sheep." (John 10:7,9) 

"I am the resurrection and the life." (John 11:25) 

"I am the good shepherd." (John 10:11, 14)

"I am the way, the truth, and the life." (John 14:6) 

"I am the true vine." (John 15:1, 5)

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

God And The Gospel

To learn more about the great and true Triune God, the God-Man, Jesus Christ, His cross, and His glorious Gospel message and everlasting Kingship, please watch American Gospel: Christ Alone. You can watch the full documentary here and here for free!

Jesus Is The LORD God Of Psalm 146

1. Jesus is worthy of our praise:

“Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, O my soul! I will praise the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.” Psalm 146:1-2

“But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ they were indignant, and they said to him, ‘Do you hear what these are saying?’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Yes; have you never read,’ ‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?’” Matthew 21:15-16 

2. Jesus is the object of our trust Who gives salvation:

“Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation.” Psalm 146:3

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” John 14:1

“This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:11-12

3. Jesus is our Help:

“Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God”  Psalm 146:5

“He is able to help” Hebrews 2:18

4. Jesus made heaven and earth:

“who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them” Psalm 146:6

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” John 1:1-3

“For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things were created through him and for him.” Colossians 1:16

5. Jesus keeps faith forever:

“who keeps faith forever” Psalm 146:6

“and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood” Revelation 1:5

6. Jesus executes justice for the oppressed:

“who executes justice for the oppressed” Psalm 146:7

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed” Luke 4:18

7. Jesus gives food to the hungry:

“who gives food to the hungry” Psalm 146:7

“And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.” Mark 6:41-44

8. Jesus sets the prisoners free:

“The LORD sets the prisoners free” Psalm 146:7

“He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners” Luke 4:18

9. Jesus opens the eyes of the blind:

“the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.” Psalm 146:8

“Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.” Matthew 15:30-31

10. Jesus lifts up those who are bowed down:

“The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down” Psalm 146:8

“The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, ‘He's dead.’ But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.” Mark 9:26-27 

11. Jesus loves the righteous:

“the LORD loves the righteous.” Psalm 146:8

“Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.” John 11:5

12. Jesus upholds the widow and the fatherless:

“The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless” Psalm 146:9

“As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out – the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, ‘Don't cry.’ Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, ‘Young man, I say to you, get up!’ The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. They were all filled with awe and praised God. ‘A great prophet has appeared among us,’ they said. ‘God has come to help his people.’” Luke 7:12-16 

13. Jesus will reign forever:

“The LORD will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the LORD!” Psalm 146:10

“But about the Son he says, ‘Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom.’” Hebrews 1:8

“He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1:32-33 

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Jesus Suffered The Anathematudes So That We Might Enjoy The Beatitudes

The beatitudes of Matthew 5:3-11 (the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount) take their name from the Latin word for blessed: beatus

The Latin word for cursed is anathema. We know that on the cross, Jesus Christ was made a curse by God (Galatians 3:13).

So, when the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross, He did not experience the beatitudes but the anathematudes:

Cursed was the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, Who became poor in spirit for us, taking the form of a slave and was treated as one cast out of the kingdom of heaven so that we might be poor in spirit and enter into the kingdom forever!

Cursed was the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, Who mourned for our sins, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief, yet He was not comforted but utterly forsaken so that we might mourn and enjoy everlasting comfort!

Cursed was the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, Who was the meekest Man to ever live, but inherited judgment and wrath so that we might be meek and inherit the earth and everlasting glory!

Cursed was the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, Who alone perfectly hungered and thirsted after righteousness, but was made sin though He knew no sin so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him, hunger and thirst after righteousness, and be saved, safe, and satisfied forever where there’s fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore!

Cursed was the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, Who was shown no mercy so that we might be merciful and enjoy God's everlasting mercy!

Cursed was the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, Who is the only Man Who has ever been perfectly pure in heart, yet He did not see God when God hid His face from Him and forsook Him, so that we might be pure in heart, see God, and never be forsaken!

Cursed was the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, Who is the Prince of Peace and made peace as the Son Who was not spared any of God’s anger so that we might be peacemakers, sons of God, and enjoy peace with God forever!

Cursed was the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, Who was persecuted, reviled, and had all manner of evil spoken against Him falsely for righteousness sake like no one else in the history of the universe, yet He was treated as an unclean thing - as One cast out of the kingdom of heaven - so that we might enter the kingdom of heaven forever and never be cast out, never be reviled, and never be persecuted again!

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

That's my King! I wonder if you know Him?!

The Devil Is Very Busy Right Now - But We Know A Greater Lion!

Yesterday, I preached on how Jesus Christ faced and utterly defeated the temptations of the devil at the beginning of His ministry (Matthew 4:1-11), showing us that He is the true and better Adam Who came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8), and finally kick the devil out of the world as the first Adam should have done. Jesus is also the true and better Israel Who is God's Son and was called out of Egypt, baptized, and then tested in the wilderness. But unlike Israel, Jesus Christ conquered and won the victory. 

Yes, the devil is still roaming around like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8), but as Christians, we know a much bigger, greater, and stronger Lion! Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah Who defeated the devil in the wilderness, and He defeated the devil when He lived a perfectly righteous life, died on the cross for sinners, and rose from the dead! Hallelujah! What a Savior!

In my sermon, I tried to speak to the situation in our world today. Here is my attempt in the introduction:

In these verses we see Jesus being tempted by the devil. What does this have to do with what is going on in our world and the country in which we live right now? It has everything to with what's going on today!

The devil is still tempting wicked people to use their God-ordained authority in an unjust, evil way, which results in murder, death, and abuse like in the murder of George Floyd and others like him. 

The devil is still tempting wicked people to hate one another because of the color of their skin.

The devil is still tempting wicked people to violently attack one another, destroy businesses, grocery stores, and other buildings and steal things that don't belong to them.

The devil is still tempting wicked people to rebel against good and righteous and biblical authority.

The devil is still tempting Christians to be divided and hate one another because of ethnic differences, political differences, and all kinds of other differences.

The devil is still tempting Christians to be divided and hate one another because of differences on how to handle Covid-19.

Yes, the world and the flesh are also involved in these sins, but the devil is alive and working, roaming around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. And we need to be ready!

Our hope is that we have a great Champion Who came to destroy the works of the devil! He is our Savior! And He is our example! And today we see Him crush the devil and his temptations!

Beloved, keep looking to your great conquering Champion, the Lord Jesus Christ. He's our King! And only He can save and change the world and grant the justice, peace, grace, mercy, and love that we all desire.