Why? Please tell me why would someone leave the comforts of home and go to a hostile place and risk his life? We’re all motivated by something. It might be fame, fortune, power, pleasure or something else. What motivates you most of the time?
Foreknowledge. Have you ever wondered why One of the members in the Godhead would condescend and volunteer to come to this earth knowing beforehand what men would do to Him? Yes, His death by crucifixion and resurrection were predicted in the Old Testament (Isaiah 53; Psalm 16:10; 22).
Decree. God the Son (The Lord Jesus Christ) came to this earth to carry out the “Decree” or “The Godhead’s Plan For The Ages” (Ephesians 1:11; 2:7). He came to reveal some things about Himself to His creatures, whom He had created (Genesis 1:1; John 1:3; Hebrews 1:2), both spirit beings: cherubs, seraphs, and angels (Colossians1:15, 16) along with human beings (Genesis 1:26; 2:7, 8). No, we can’t see the wind or gravity either but we believe they exist (John 3:8; Matthew 4:6).
Reliable. Yes, there is much that we can’t see and/or know apart from the Scriptures. But it is a reliable source of information in all that it says (John 14:6; 17:17). Believers need to study it carefully (2 Timothy 2:15). Most of it will seem to be foolish to unbelievers who have a natural blindness toward God’s Word (1 Corinthians 2:14).
God’s Nature. From nature (God’s creation of the heavens and the earth) we can learn that there is a God who is very powerful. Those who reject this truth and who aren’t grateful to God will suffer dire consequences (Romans 1:18-32). Even the rain that falls to the ground that causes the crops to grow tells us something about the goodness of God (Acts 14:17).
Love. When you truly love someone, you usually are willing to do what he/she wants you to do (Hebrews 10:7, 9). God the Son came down to our earth and joined Himself to humanity through the virgin, Mary. He added to His Deity a true human nature and a real body (Philippians 2:5-9). While He was here on earth Jesus did exactly what God the Father wanted Him to do and say (John 8:29).
Law. As a Jew, Jesus lived under the Mosaic Law perfectly and kept it completely (Exodus 20). He was qualified to become the sacrificial Lamb of God to take upon Himself the sins of the whole world and pay the penalty we owed to God (John 1:29; Romans 6:23; Isaiah 53:6; 1 John 2:2).
Fulfilled. He fulfilled all the requirements of this conditional covenant (Matthew 5:17). You and I can’t do what Christ did. New Testament Christians are not under the “Mosaic Law” but we are to be governed by “Grace Principles” (Romans 6:14, 10:4; Galatians 3:23-25; 5:1; 6:2; Ephesians 2:15; 3:2). Do you know specifically where to find them? A Christian can’t come to spiritual maturity by keeping the Mosaic Law or Kingdom Laws. See our “Dispensational Chart” for more information. It could revolutionize your life as it did mine.
Ivory Palaces. Our Lord left the comforts of heaven (Psalm 45:8) and came down to this sin cursed earth (Genesis 3:17; Romans 8:22) to glorify God the Father (John 17:4). God will fulfill His plan for the ages and keep all His unconditional promises (Covenants) to the Jews and separate ones to the Church. Do you know what they are?
Replaced? The Church hasn’t replaced Israel nor can it claim the promises that were given exclusively to the Jews. These are two distinct groups (1 Corinthians 10:32) and God will keep His separate promises to both groups. Among other things, God promised to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and their descendants the land that is heavily contested even to this day (Genesis 15:18-21). Do you know who rightfully owns the land and why?
Remnant. Did you know that the believing Jewish remnant is also promised a new earth in eternity future (Matthew 5:5; Romans 4:13; 11:1ff; Revelation 21:1). God hasn’t abandoned forever the Jewish nation and neither should we. They will be restored when they repent and cry out to Him whom they had crucified by the Romans (Zechariah 12:10; Matthew 23:39). God holds all men responsible for Christ’s death (Acts 3:13-15; 4:25-28).
Armageddon. But eventually and sadly the U.S. and all other nations will turn against Israel and meet in Armageddon to try to annihilate that tiny nation which the devil hates and wants to destroy (Revelation 16:16; Zechariah 14). But God will come to their rescue in the nick of time (Revelation 19:11ff). If God doesn’t keep His promises to the Jews, we have no assurance that He will keep His promises to us Christians. Rest assured, God cannot lie (Titus 1:2).
Plan. God came up with a unique plan to deliver sinful men from an eternal hell (John 3:16; Romans 6:23). Jesus lived a sinless life (Hebrews 4:15) so He could die in our place for our sins and rise again bodily (Luke 24:33-43) on the third day from the grave (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). He died as the Just One for the unjust ones (1 Peter 3:18) and paid a debt He didn’t owe. He did this once and for all (Hebrews 10:10). Only a living Savior can help us (Revelation 1:18).
Offer. God offers eternal life to anyone who will place his/her faith in Him exclusively (Acts 4:12; 16:31). We can’t be saved by our good works (Ephesians 2:9). Jesus is the only way to God (John 14:6). He offers us forgiveness and peace with God (Ephesians 1:7; Romans 5:1). Would you like to have these things?
Personalize It. Have you received Him as your personal Savior? If not, why not now? Once you’ve done this, demonstrate your faith to others by being baptized (immersed). It will enable you to have a good conscience toward God (1 Peter 3:21).
Share It. If He is your Savior, are you giving others the opportunity to trust Him too? They can’t believe in Someone and be saved forever if they don’t have the right information about Him. One’s faith must not be in the Christ of the cults but in the Christ of the Scriptures. Do you know the difference?
Gift. You can give the greatest gift to someone by sharing the Gospel with him/her or by giving a “clear” Gospel tract to someone. (Read “God’s Simple Plan Of Salvation” on our web site. We have it in 24 languages.) Don’t disseminate a false Gospel to others or they could end up in hell (1 Corinthians 15:1-8; 2 Corinthians 11:4, 13-15). Don’t leave the job to “Clerical George” either. All Christians can/should be His witnesses (Acts 1:8). Are you one of them?
Forward This. If you agree with what you have read here, will you pass this information on to someone else? It might help someone get saved or help a Christian grow in Christ and serve Him better.
Thought. “Good news is only good news if it gets there on time.” Don’t delay. Your life and the other person’s life is like a vapor (James 4:14). We’re all going to spend eternity somewhere. Where will you spend it? Are you absolutely sure? God’s Word says that we can be sure even before we die (John 3:16, 18; 36; 1 John 5:11-13).
For more information, call us at 805-238-3549 or visit our web site at www.kelseypeach.com
