Bible Study - Tough Questions (5) - Aren't All Religions the Same? - Isaiah 44:6-11; John 14:5-7 - December

Bible Study – Tough Questions (5) – Aren’t All Religions the Same? - December 29, 2019

This is lesson five (5) in our series entitled “

Our focus scripture is Isaiah 44:6-11; John 14:5-7.

A vast difference exists between faith in JESUS and all other religions.

Religion is man-made. It is man-kind’s effort to reach up to god. But to which god? Are all gods of various religions the same? Can Christianity become a religion as way to god?  Did JESUS come to earth in the flesh to establish a way to a god or to The One and Only True GOD, HIS FATHER?

The Muslims say that they and Christians worship the same god. There are key words missing from the Koran - atonement, covenant, redemption, and regeneration. The Koran claims Jesus as a porphet but he was not crucified but only appeared to have been crucified. There is but One True GOD, YHWH.  

Let’s explore!

What does the Prophet Isaiah have to say as he speaks the words of the One True GOD as we read on ----?

Let’s read Isaiah 44:6-8:

No God Other Than the Lord

⁶ This is what the Lord, the King of Israel and its Redeemer, the Lord of Armies, says:

I am the first and I am the last.
There is no God but me.

The LORD makes it clear that HE is the One and only True GOD. There is NO OTHER. All other so-called gods are made up. The human mind is very creative and works to create in its own image some facsimile of its concept of god. It is man-kind’s desire to be in control. It began in the Garden of Eden. Isn’t it interesting how many things trace back to the Garden of 

Eden?

GOD Himself establishes the fact that there is “No other GOD than The LORD.” The LORD defined HIS name to Moses in Exodus 3:11-15:

¹¹ But Moses asked God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

¹² He answered, “I will certainly be with you, and this will be the sign to you that I am the one who sent you: when you bring the people out of Egypt, you will all worship^[d] God at this mountain.”

¹³ Then Moses asked God, “If I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what should I tell them?”

¹⁴ God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.^[e] This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.” ¹⁵ God also said to Moses, “Say this to the Israelites: The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name forever; this is how I am to be remembered in every generation.

Look back at verse 12, “this will be the sign to you that “I am” the one who sent you: “when you bring the people out of Egypt”, you will all worship^[d] God at this mountain.”

GOD proves Himself through what HE does as we obediently serve HIM, “I will certainly be with you,” when you are doing MY will.

GOD told Moses that when you do what I have asked you to do “you will know that “I AM” GOD.

People of today, you will never figure out The One True GOD, I AM/YHWH, using your intellect. The only way to know GOD is to take a step of faith by asking JESUS to forgive you for your sins and for HIM to come into your life. It is this step of faith that is the secret to having the right relationship with GOD through Spiritual rebirth, having eternal life and being indwelled by the Holy Spirit. Being indwelled by the Holy Spirit is every born-again believer’s assurance that they are GOD’S Child.

Let’s look again at this first scripture from GOD through Isaiah:

No God Other Than the Lord

⁶ This is what the Lord, the King of Israel and its Redeemer, the Lord of Armies, says:

I am the first and I am the last.
There is no God but me.

GOD defines Himself through action. HE is LORD, the King of Israel and the LORD of Armies. First, HE is LORD. HE has identified Himself by working in the lives of the Israelites as HIS chosen Nation through whom HE would send The Promised Messiah, JESUS.

GOD says what HE means and means what HE says. If you do not believe that, then read the Bible. The Bible is the revelation of GOD on an ever ascending scale culminating in JESUS sinless life, underscored by the miracles and works performed, HIS physical death, HIS resurrection by GOD, HIS ascension, the return of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the actions of the indwelling Holy Spirit through those born-again and the revelation of the final days.

GOD is the LORD of Armies and refers to HIS sovereign rulership over the created order. (Keep this in your mind when we read about the Prophet Elijah later on.) There are none like HIM. HE is unrivaled in power and authority.

GOD’S desire is for every person upon earth to build the right relationship with HIM through faith in JESUS. It is not a passive relationship but an active relationship and it is an exciting relationship. It is not an easy relationship but it is rewarding when we see the hand of GOD at work. 

Seeing the hand 0f GOD at work builds our trust in HIM and assures born-again Christians that HE IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS.

GOD continued to speak through the Prophet Isaiah as we read on ----
Let’s read Isaiah 44:7-11:

⁷ Who, like me, can announce the future? [ With 100% accuracy? No one or nothing! My insert.]
Let him say so and make a case before me,
since I have established an ancient people.
Let these gods declare^[c] the coming things,
and what will take place.
⁸ Do not be startled or afraid.
Have I not told you and declared it long ago?
You are my witnesses!
Is there any God but me?
There is no other Rock; I do not know any.

⁹ All who make idols are nothing,
and what they treasure benefits no one.
Their witnesses do not see or know anything,
so they will be put to shame.
¹⁰ Who makes a god or casts a metal image
that benefits no one?
¹¹ Look, all its worshipers will be put to shame,
and the craftsmen are humans.
They all will assemble and stand;
they all will be startled and put to shame.

GOD reveals HIS sovereignty in these verses. Making a statement is one thing but backing that statement up is another.

GOD gives us a lesson in logic. In essence, GOD tells us to think about any other god. Did any other god come to them or did they create the god they worship in their minds, looking at some object of wood, stone, metal or some other facsimile to give their false god form?

GOD demonstrated HIS power in 1 Kings 18:20-39:

Elijah at Mount Carmel

²⁰ So Ahab summoned all the Israelites and gathered the prophets at Mount Carmel. ²¹ Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions?^[b] If the Lord is God, follow him. But if Baal, follow him.” But the people didn’t answer him a word.

²² Then Elijah said to the people, “I am the only remaining prophet of the Lord, but Baal’s prophets are 450 men. ²³ Let two bulls be given to us. They are to choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and place it on the wood but not light the fire. I will prepare the other bull and place it on the wood but not light the fire. ²⁴ Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The God who answers with fire, he is God.”

All the people answered, “That’s fine.”

²⁵ Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Since you are so numerous, choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first. Then call on the name of your god but don’t light the fire.”

²⁶ So they took the bull that he gave them, prepared it, and called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “Baal, answer us!” But there was no sound; no one answered. Then they danced^[c] around the altar they had made.

²⁷ At noon Elijah mocked them. He said, “Shout loudly, for he’s a god! Maybe he’s thinking it over; maybe he has wandered away;^[d] or maybe he’s on the road. Perhaps he’s sleeping and will wake up!” ²⁸ They shouted loudly, and cut themselves with knives and spears, according to their custom, until blood gushed over them. ²⁹ All afternoon they kept on raving until the offering of the evening sacrifice, but there was no sound; no one answered, no one paid attention.

³⁰ Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near me.” So, all the people approached him. Then he repaired the Lord’s altar that had been torn down: ³¹ Elijah took twelve stones—according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Israel will be your name”— ³² and he built an altar with the stones in the name of the Lord. Then he made a trench around the altar large enough to hold about four gallons.^{[e][f] 33} Next, he arranged the wood, cut up the bull, and placed it on the wood. He said, “Fill four water pots with water and pour it on the offering to be burned and on the wood.” ³⁴ Then he said, “A second time!” and they did it a second time. And then he said, “A third time!” and they did it a third time. ³⁵ So the water ran all around the altar; he even filled the trench with water.

³⁶ At the time for offering the evening sacrifice, the prophet Elijah approached the altar and said, “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, today let it be known that you are God in Israel and I am your servant, and that at your word I have done all these things. ³⁷ Answer me, Lord! Answer me so that this people will know that you, the Lord, are God and that you have turned their hearts back.”

³⁸ Then the Lord’s fire fell and consumed the burnt offering, the wood, the stones, and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. ³⁹ When all the people saw it, they fell facedown and said, “The Lord, he is God! The Lord, he is God!”

GOD is sovereign. But how did the Prophet Elijah respond when Ahab and Jezebel told Elijah they were going to kill him as we read in 1 Kings 19:2-5:

² So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods punish me and do so severely if I don’t make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow!”

³ Then Elijah became afraid^[a] and immediately ran for his life. When he came to Beer-sheba that belonged to Judah, he left his servant there, ⁴ but he went on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. He said, “I have had enough! Lord, take my life, for I’m no better than my fathers.” ⁵ Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree.

Suddenly, an angel touched him. The angel told him, “Get up and eat.”

When our lives are threatened many of us do not look to the sovereignty of GOD but to our ability. Our ability falls short but GOD’S ability is sovereign. GOD allowed Elijah to run for his life becuse HE desired for Elijah to learn of HIM as we read in 1 Kings 19:9-15:

⁹ He entered a cave there and spent the night. Suddenly, the word of the Lord came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

¹⁰ He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Armies, but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are looking for me to take my life.”

¹¹ Then he said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the Lord’s presence.”

At that moment, the Lord passed by. A great and mighty wind was tearing at the mountains and was shattering cliffs before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. ¹² After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was a voice, a soft whisper. ¹³ When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.

Suddenly, a voice came to him and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

¹⁴ “I have been very zealous for the Lord God of Armies,” he replied, “but the Israelites have abandoned your covenant, torn down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they’re looking for me to take my life.”

¹⁵ Then the Lord said to him, “Go and return by the way you came to the Wilderness of Damascus.

Once GOD has revealed Himself to us personally, it is time for us to go in HIS power and strength. It may take a disappointment in us before the sovereignty of GOD is revealed. DO NOT GIVE UP, THE BEST IS YET TO COME.

GOD instructed Elijah to return the way that he came.

GOD is always teaching HIS Children because HE loves us and when we place our trust in HIM, we are confident in the path of life now and ahead. Trust is the hallmark of walking in step with GOD, as confirmed by the Holy Spirit.

We shift from the Old Testament to the New Testament. The Apostle John reveals what he has learned in his walk and intimate relationship with JESUS/GOD. John intimate relationship comes from his walk with JESUS and what JESUS revealed to him through HIS life and teachings.

Let’s read John 14:1-7:

The Way to the Father

14 “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe^[a] in God; believe also in me. ² In my Father’s house are many rooms; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. ³ If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also. ⁴ You know the way to where I am going.”^[b]

⁵ “Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way?”

⁶ Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you know me, you will also know^[c] my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Jesus Reveals the Father

⁸ “Lord,” said Philip, “show us the Father, and that’s enough for us.”

⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time and you do not know me, Philip? The one who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who lives in me does his works. ¹¹ Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Otherwise, believe^[d] because of the works themselves.

GOD through our faith in JESUS and the indwelling Holy Spirit reveals the Father to all born-again Christians. HE teaches through all things in our lives. If you do not see it, then ask HIM to reveal it or them to you.

True Christianity is NOT a religion but a personal, intimate relationship with JESUS/GOD. Some people attempt to make Christianity a religion based upon their works. No person can work hard enough or long enough to earn his or her way to Heaven. There is but one way and that is by placing your faith in JESUS. Today is the day of salvation. What a way to close out 2019 and begin 2020! Blessings!!!

Bible Study - Tough Questions (4) - Is JESUS GOD? - Luke 1:26-35 - December 22, 2019

Bible Study – Tough Questions (4) – Is JESUS GOD? – December 22, 2019


This is lesson four (4) in our series entitles “Answers to Tough Questions.”


Our focus scripture is Luke 1:26-35.


Everything about JESUS’ birth points to HIS divinity.

Addition - John 14:8-11:

Jesus Reveals the Father

⁸ “Lord,” said Philip, “show us the Father, and that’s enough for us.”

⁹ Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time and you do not know me, Philip? The one who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? ¹⁰ Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who lives in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Otherwise, believe^[d] because of the works themselves.

Also read Romans 5:6-20:

Those Declared Righteous Are Reconciled

⁶ For while we were still helpless, at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. ⁸ But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ How much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by his blood, will we be saved through him from wrath. ¹⁰ For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. ¹¹ And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received this reconciliation.

Death through Adam and Life through Christ

¹² Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.^{[d] 13} In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to a person’s account when there is no law. ¹⁴ Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam’s transgression. He is a type of the Coming One.

¹⁵ But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by the one man’s trespass the many died, how much more have the grace of God and the gift which comes through the grace of the one man Jesus Christ overflowed to the many. ¹⁶ And the gift is not like the one man’s sin, because from one sin came the judgment, resulting in condemnation, but from many trespasses came the gift, resulting in justification.^{[e] 17} Since by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

¹⁸ So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is justification leading to life for everyone. ¹⁹ For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. ²⁰ The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more ²¹ so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

GOD’S plan to offer redemption to mankind began in the Garden of Eden after Eve and Adam sinned. Consider Genesis 3:8-15:

Sin’s Consequences

⁸ Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze,^[c] and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. ⁹ So the Lord God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”

¹⁰ And he said, “I heard you^[d] in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.”

¹¹ Then he asked, “Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

¹² The man replied, “The woman you gave to be with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate.”

¹³ So the Lord God asked the woman, “What is this you have done?”

And the woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

¹⁴ So the Lord God said to the serpent:

Because you have done this,
you are cursed more than any livestock
and more than any wild animal.
You will move on your belly
and eat dust all the days of your life.
¹⁵ I will put hostility between you (Satan) and the woman,
and between your offspring and her offspring (JESUS).
He will strike your head,
and you (Satan) will strike his (JESUS) heel.

Since sin came into the world through Adam, a sinless human had to pay the sin debt, in full, by the shedding of HIS physical blood. And that sinless 100% human was and is JESUS, yet 100% GOD. JESUS willingly gave HIS sinless life so that all who place their faith in HIM will have eternal life through the miracle of Spiritual rebirth. 

JESUS was 100% human because HE had to have physical life in order to give it to pay, in full, for sin by the shedding of HIS blood. Life is in the blood.

Why, the shedding of blood? In Hebrews 9:19-29:

¹⁹ For when every command had been proclaimed by Moses to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats,^[d] along with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll itself and all the people, ²⁰ saying, This is the blood of the covenant that God has ordained for you.^{[e] 21} In the same way, he sprinkled the tabernacle and all the articles of worship with blood. ²² According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

²³ Therefore, it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves to be purified with better sacrifices than these. ²⁴ For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands (only a model^[f] of the true one) but into heaven itself, so that he might now appear in the presence of God for us. ²⁵ He did not do this to offer himself many times, as the high priest enters the sanctuary yearly with the blood of another. ²⁶ Otherwise, he would have had to suffer many times since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared one time, at the end of the ages, for the removal of sin by the sacrifice of himself. ²⁷ And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment— ²⁸ so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but^[g] to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Let’s explore!   Is JESUS GOD?

Consider John 5:5

⁵ Now, Father, glorify me in your presence with that glory I had with you before the world existed.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Let’s read Luke 1:26-29:

Gabriel Predicts Jesus’s Birth

²⁶ In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin engaged^[c] to a man named Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸ And the angel came to her and said, “Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you.”^{[d] 29} But she was deeply troubled by this statement, wondering what kind of greeting this could be.

Who is the angel Gabriel? Luke 1:19:

¹⁹ The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and tell you this good news.

Gabriel was sent by GOD to a virgin named Mary. GOD chose Mary. When was Mary chosen? What does GOD’S Word reveal to us in Ephesians 1:4? Ephesians 1:4 - ⁴ For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.^[c]

What does “favor” mean? It means “grace.”

Nazareth carries the idea of “Branch.”

Let’s read Luke 1:30-33:

³⁰ Then the angel told her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹ Now listen: You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. ³³ He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will have no end.”

The Angel Gabriel told Mary “Do not be afraid.” In that day, it was general knowledge that seeing an angel of the LORD meant something significant was about to take place. It could mean death. Gabriel wanted to quickly put Mary’s mind at ease because he had Good News for her.

In that time period the young girls between the ages 13-15 often wondered if they would be the one to give birth to GOD’S Promised Messiah. The angel Gabriel gave Mary the Good News. We can only speculate how this news was received by the Virgin Mary. She knew how babies came about and she quickly had a very important question for Gabriel, as we read on ----

Let’s read Luke 1:34-35:

³⁴ Mary asked the angel, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?” ^[e]

³⁵ The angel replied to her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

What was Mary’s reaction to this news? Since she was a virgin her question implied that she planned to remain a virgin until she married Joseph. She wanted to know. So, she asked the angel Gabriel a very good question, “How can this be, since I have not had sexual relations with a man?”

Gabriel explained the process to Mary. The birth of JESUS is a miracle and guess what? A person’s Spiritual rebirth is a miracle and the birth of JESUS is a foreshadow of the Spiritual rebirth of every person who places his or her faith in JESUS as his or her Savior. The Holy Spirit energized the egg of Mary and JESUS, 100% GOD and 100% human was conceived and remained in Mary’s womb for 9 months and was born in the flesh.

When a person places his or her faith in JESUS, the miracle of Spiritual rebirth takes place in an instant. The born-again Christian instantly becomes GOD’s Son or Daughter, has eternal life, citizenship in Heaven, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, equipped with one or more Spiritual gifts and the list goes on.

Once a person accepts JESUS as his or her Savior and is Spiritually Born into GOD’S Family that fact never changes. Once born-again Spiritually through faith in JESUS, that person is eternally secure. Therefore, a person could ask, “Why not get your fire insurance, so-to-speak, by making a profession of faith in JESUS and then living like the world?”

Keep in mind that there will be rewards in Heaven and Heaven is eternal compared to earth time; eternity never ends. So those who obediently serve GOD upon earth will enjoy the rewards GOD provides for eternity. What are these rewards?

Let’s consider 1 Corinthians 2:9 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

⁹ But as it is written,

What no eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no human heart has conceived—
God has prepared these things for those who love him.^[a]

No human eye has seen, no ear has heard and no human heart has conceived in their wildest imagination what GOD has prepared for those who love HIM. WOW!!!

Consider what the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 3:7-17:

⁷ So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. ⁸ Now he who plants and he who waters are one,^[b] and each will receive his own reward according to his own labor. ⁹ For we are God’s coworkers.^[c] You are God’s field, God’s building.

Let’s Segway to 2 Corinthians 5:1-5:

Our Future after Death

5 For we know that if our earthly tent (earth suit or human body) we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal dwelling in the heavens, not made with hands. ² Indeed, we groan in this tent, desiring to put on our heavenly dwelling, ³ since, when we have taken it off,^[a] we will not be found naked. ⁴ Indeed, we groan while we are in this tent, burdened as we are, because we do not want to be unclothed but clothed, so that mortality may be swallowed up by life. ⁵ Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.

Now let’s go back to our 1 Corinthians 3 scripture:

¹⁰ According to God’s grace that was given to me, I have laid a foundation as a skilled master builder,^[d] and another builds on it. But each one is to be careful how he builds on it. ¹¹ For no one can lay any other foundation than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ.

Faith in JESUS is the foundation that born-again Christians build upon. GOD made us with the freedom to choose. Born-again Christians have the freedom to choose the materials they use to build upon their faith in JESUS. We get notions based upon what we think pleases GOD and we build with materials that will not pass the test of fire. Let’s explore!

¹² If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, ¹³ each one’s work will become obvious. For the day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire; the fire will test the quality of each one’s work. ¹⁴ If anyone’s work that he has built survives, he will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If anyone’s work is burned up, he will experience^[e] loss, but he himself will be saved—but only as through fire.

Pay close attention to verse 15. If a born-again Christian builds upon the foundation of JESUS using materials that will be burned up, the born-again Christian will be secure in Heaven but without lasting rewards. Salvation is eternal. Being in Heaven will be glorious compared to the alternative, Hell.

¹⁶ Don’t you yourselves know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you? ¹⁷ If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and that is what you are.

The Apostle Paul admonishes born-again Christians to realize and understand that they are GOD’S temple and represent GOD and HIS salvation through faith in JESUS to others. Therefore, live as directed by the indwelling Holy Spirit and not according to the whims of the flesh (ego being one). The flesh builds with materials that will not pass the test of fire. Yet, the person who has placed his or her faith in JESUS will survive – “but he himself will be saved—but only as through fire.”

What does 2 Corinthians 5:5 reveal to born-again Christian –

 ⁵ Now the one who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the Spirit as a down payment.

GOD is also preparing a special Spiritual body which born-again Christians have in Heaven. This special body is being fashioned by GOD. It will be the Spiritual body all born-again Christians will have while they wait for the return of JESUS to earth. They will not be found naked. As you recall, after Adam and Eve sinned, they saw that they were naked. Sin exposes. Salvation cleanses and restores purity.  At the second coming of JESUS for all born-again Christians will receive their Glorified bodies, which will be like JESUS’ Glorified body Total Control – read about the body JESUS had after HIS resurrection.

Consider 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18:

The Comfort of Christ’s Coming

¹³ We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁵ For we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout,^[e] with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷ Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. ¹⁸ Therefore encourage^[f] one another with these words.

Every human lives in a miracle; the human body. The best is yet to come for those who place their faith in JESUS and obediently serve HIM as led by the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Was JESUS GOD?

Let’s consider - John 1:14 Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

¹⁴ The Word became flesh and dwelt^[a] among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son^[b] from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Yes, JESUS is GOD! Accept HIM as your Savior now. Why now? Because eternity is but one heartbeat away.

Blessings!!!