Bible Study - Essentials (4) - The Death of JESUS - John 19:7-30 - March 28, 2021

 

Bible Study – Essentials (4) – The Death of JESUS – March 28, 2021

This is lesson four (4) in our series entitled, “Essentials of Christianity.”

Our focus scripture is John 19:7-11, 16b-18, 28-30.

Forgiveness is possible because JESUS died for our sins.

In the past week’s lesson, we saw in scripture that the shed blood of animals was not sufficient to take away sin. It was a place holder until JESUS came in the flesh, lived a sinless life and gave HIS life to atone for all sin past, present and future. Just know that each person must ask JESUS to forgive him (her) for his (her) sins, believing that HIS shed blood is all that is needed for the remission of sin. The forgiveness of a person’s sin opens the path between GOD and the person to receive the Holy Spirit and experience the miracle of Spiritual birth. The Spirit is eternal, thus eternal life.

Let’s explore!

*Let’s read John 19:7-11:

⁷ “We have a law,” the Jews replied to him, “and according to that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.”

The Law is rigid and crushes but grace is endless and comforts.

⁸ When Pilate heard this statement, he was more afraid than ever. 

Why was Pilate “more afraid then ever”? Could it be because Pilate’s wife had a dream – Matthew 27: ¹⁹ While he was sitting on the judge’s bench, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I’ve suffered terribly in a dream because of him.” Had the wife of Pilate experienced salvation? What did Pilate think about JESUS? Let’s keep on ---

⁹ He went back into the headquarters and asked Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus did not give him an answer. ¹⁰ So Pilate said to him, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Don’t you know that I have the authority to release you and the authority to crucify you?”

^*11 “You would have no authority over me at all,” Jesus answered him, “if it hadn’t been given you from above. This is why the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”*

Who handed JESUS over to them for 30 pieces of silver? Judas!

Who else is handing JESUS over? The scribes and pharisees, who knew the scriptures and were looking for the coming Messiah.

¹² From that moment Pilate kept trying^[b] to release him. But the Jews shouted, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Anyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar!”

Pilate being a Roman likely believed in various gods and that is why he asked JESUS where did he come from. Also, Pilate’s wife had a dream regarding JESUS that caused her much distress but the final decision maker was “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Anyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar!” Pilate feared a riot in Jerusalem and that would not bode well for him because he was commissioned to keep the peace. Decision made. GOD’S redemptive plan was being executed literally and figuratively.

But what the Jews or Pilate or the rulers did not know was as written in 1 Corinthians 2:7 -  ⁷ But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ^[c]ordained before the ages for our glory, ⁸ which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

¹³ When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside. He sat down on the judge’s seat in a place called the Stone Pavement (but in Aramaic,^[c] Gabbatha). ¹⁴ It was the preparation day for the Passover, and it was about noon.^[d] Then he told the Jews, “Here is your king!”

¹⁵ They shouted, “Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!”

Pilate said to them, “Should I crucify your king?”

“We have no king but Caesar!” the chief priests answered.

¹⁶ Then he handed him over to be crucified.

**Let’s read John 19:16b-18:

The Crucifixion

Then they took Jesus away.^[e] 17 Carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called Place of the Skull, which in Aramaic is called Golgotha. ¹⁸ There they crucified him and two others with him, one on either side, with Jesus in the middle. **

Let’s read verses 19-27:

¹⁹ Pilate also had a sign made and put on the cross. It said: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. ²⁰ Many of the Jews read this sign, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and it was written in Aramaic, Latin, and Greek. ²¹ So the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Don’t write, ‘The king of the Jews,’ but that he said, ‘I am the king of the Jews.’”

²² Pilate replied, “What I have written, I have written.”

Do you think that Pilate saw JESUS as the true Messiah? As JESUS told Pilate in verse 11, ¹¹ “You would have no authority over me at all,” Jesus answered him, “if it hadn’t been given you from above. This is why the one who handed me over to you has the greater sin.”

Pilate was unknowingly carrying out GOD’S redemptive plan. Pilate tried to release JESUS but as we read in verse 12, ¹² From that moment Pilate kept trying^[b] to release him. But the Jews shouted, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend. Anyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar!”

JESUS was 100% human and 100% GOD; HIS physical body was subject to physical death. JESUS had to trust the FATHER with the redemptive process. JESUS gave up and trusted HIS Spirit into HIS FATHER’S Hands. This is exactly what all humans have to do. The Bible makes it clear all humans have a body, souls and spirit. It is the spirit that is eternal.

Oh, all humans already have eternal spirit life. Yes, the question is where will your spirit spent eternity? JESUS gave HIS sinless life so that all who place their faith in HIM and HIS passion will experience the miracle of Spiritual rebirth and be Spiritually born into GOD’S Family, never to be unborn. But some of us might make it into Heaven with singes on our Heavenly robes. Meaning we may lose our rewards but not our salvation. My basis for this statement is First Corinthians 3:15 - ¹⁵ If anyone’s work is burned up, he will experience^[e] loss, but he himself will be saved—but only as through fire. This applies to the person who has accepted JESUS as his or her Savior but has not lived according to HIS directions through the indwelling Holy Spirit.

The life and death of JESUS is replete in the Old Testament. The Apostle John shares prophesy as recorded in the Old Testament in our next scripture ---

²³ When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, a part for each soldier. They also took the tunic, which was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. ²⁴ So they said to one another, “Let’s not tear it, but cast lots for it, to see who gets it.” This happened that the Scripture might be fulfilled that says: They divided my clothes among themselves, and they cast lots for my clothing.^[f] This is what the soldiers did.

Jesus’s Provision for His Mother

²⁵ Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple, he loved standing there, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” ²⁷ Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

Dying upon the cross, JESUS thought of the future of HIS mother. This brings up another issue we need to consider. We conclude from this that JESUS’ earthly father, Joseph had died. JESUS could have raised Joseph from the physically dead but HE didn’t. Why? We do not know except we know that JESUS was tempted in all ways as we are tempted, yet without sin.

*Let’s read John 19:28-30:

The Finished Work of Jesus

²⁸ After this, when Jesus knew that everything was now finished that the Scripture might be fulfilled, he said, “I’m thirsty.” ²⁹ A jar full of sour wine was sitting there; so, they fixed a sponge full of sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it up to his mouth.

³⁰ When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then bowing his head, he gave up his spirit.***

Was the sour wine the trigger that alerted JESUS that all scripture had been fulfilled? In Psalm 69, written by David, we read:

Instead, they gave me gall for my food,
and for my thirst
they gave me vinegar to drink.

“It is finished!” JESUS completed the will, plan and purpose of GOD, according to the scriptures. HE willingly gave HIS sinless life for everyone who will accept HIM. All humans are without hope unless they accept JESUS, by faith, as their Savior.

What is the alternative? Hell, which GOD made for the devil and his angels. The choice is up to each of us, choose wisely my friends. Where do you want to spend eternity?

Do you believe there is The One True GOD Who loves you and sent HIS only SON to live in the flesh upon earth and gave HIS sinless life in atonement for your sin? If so, then ask JESUS to forgive you for your sins, believing and accepting that HE gave HIS sinless life to atone for your sins and ask HIM to come into your heart, now. If you did this then welcome into the family of GOD. Ask GOD to lead you to a Bible believing and teaching body of believers so you can grow Spiritually and serve HIM. Read John 3:16-17:

¹⁶ For God loved the world in this way:^[e] He gave^[f] his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 

Blessings!!!

 

 

 

Bible Study - Essentials (3) - The Nature of Sin - Isaiah 59:1-13 - March 21, 2021

 

Bible Study – Essentials (3) – The Nature of Sin – March 21, 2021

This is lesson three (3) in our series entitled, “Essentials of Christianity.”

Our focus scripture is Isaiah 59:1-13.

We are sinners, and on our own, we can do nothing about it, except accept JESUS as our Savior.

Some people I have discussed eternity with contend that they are depending on living a good life and a good god will let them into Heaven. Sorry, if anyone of us, as humans, could live a life well enough for GOD to welcome us unto Heaven, there would be no need for HIM to send JESUS to earth in the flesh. Some think if they do enough good deeds or give enough money to good causes that GOD will let them into Heaven. That is not good enough. GOD expects perfection and no human can achieve perfection, except JESUS, GOD’S only perfect Son.

I used to have that discussion with GOD. GOD expects perfection.

No human measures up to GOD’S perfection. In Hebrews 9:22:

 ²² According to the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

The Jewish priests sacrificed animals for their own sins first and then for the sins of the Israelites. But was the blood of animals sufficient to atone for sin?

We read in Hebrews 10:4-7:

⁴ It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

⁵ Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said:

“Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,
    but a body you prepared for me;
⁶ with burnt offerings and sin offerings
    you were not pleased.
⁷ Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—
    I have come to do your will, my God.’”^[a]

JESUS was and is the perfect, sinless acceptable sacrifice to the One True GOD for the atonement of sin. Once the penalty for sin, eternal death, was paid in full by JESUS, the path between GOD and mankind was open for all to place their faith in JESUS. By doing so, they are Spiritually and eternally born into GOD’S Family as HIS Children.

Our scripture in this week’s study reveals life under the law. GOD chose the Israelites as HIS people and they accepted HIS offer. GOD gave them the Law to live by until GOD’S perfect redeemer, JESUS, was born upon earth at just the right time. GOD’S plan was to reveal Himself to the Israelites and to the world through the Israelites.

If we consider the Israelite nation as one person in unity serving GOD, we get a comparison of life under the Law versus life under GOD’S Grace. It is all about relationship which began in the Garden and was lost in the Garden due to sin. Redemption from sin required the sacrifice of GOD’S sinless SON, JESUS, the second Adam. Until the moment for JESUS to be born of a virgin, in the flesh, upon earth GOD revealed Himself through the nation of Israel.

JESUS gave HIS sinless life by willingly shedding HIS blood on the cross to pay, in full and personally for each of our sins. But each person has the responsibility to accept what JESUS did for him or her on the cross to be eternally and Spiritually born into GOD’S Family. Flesh and blood cannot go to Heaven.

In an earlier study, the Apostle Paul gave us a comparison of the human body with its different parts serving GOD in unity as one. Each body part has a unique purpose in the human body for it to function as a body. Each body part is vital.

GOD’S desire was for Israel to function as one body with many parts. The body of Israel was to be a light to the pagan world as a witness. The world knew that Israel served the one true GOD, YAWAH. This gives us a different comparison to the Israelites, who were many, serving The One True GOD, Yahweh as GOD revealed to Moses. GOD called the nation of Israel to serve HIM and they accepted. As such GOD has revealed Himself to the world through HIS relationship with the Israelites.

Let’s explore!

The Bible is the revelation of GOD on an ever-ascending scale culminating with the birth, life, death, resurrection, ascension of CHRIST and the coming of the Holy Spirit. Since JESUS came to earth in the flesh, animal sacrifices are no longer needed because JESUS has paid, in full, for all sin. The passion of JESUS opened the path between GOD and mankind. All mankind must accept what JESUS did and ask GOD to forgive him or her for their sins. The result is Spiritual birth and becoming GOD’S Son or Daughter.

So, what was the law and animal sacrifices all about in the Old Testament?

GOD made it clear that simply obeying the law was not sufficient to remove the consequence of sin because a person must also obey the Spirit of the Law. The animal sacrifice system was only a place holder until the perfect acceptable sacrifice was made by JESUS, GOD’S Only perfect, sinless SON.

As we study this, think of the Israelites as one person serving GOD under the Law.

The Prophet Isaiah was appealing to the Israelites to wake up and know that GOD was their hope for eternal life. The nation of Israel was a witness to all the other nations to the One True GOD. But were they a good witness? NO! The Prophet Isaiah gave the Israelites a laundry list of the issues GOD had against them.  

Let’s read Isaiah 59:1-5:

1.    Indeed, the Lord’s arm is not too weak to save,
and his ear is not too deaf to hear.

 

Indeed, is a word that applies to a proven fact. GOD is real and all knowing, all powerful, all seeing and hears your cries for help. But you have not asked HIM because your hearts are evil and sinful.

 

You, Israelites, have walked with GOD over the years. You know that HE has been visible to you as a nation and revealed Himself in many ways from Egyptian bondage to entering the Promised Land. HE has delivered you from your enemies but you have a serious problem that only you can do something about, which is sin.

 

The Prophet Isaiah was addressing the nation as a collective individual.

² But your iniquities are separating you
from your God,

 

What does unconfessed sin do? Sin blocks and separates our fellowship and relationship with GOD. That is why in 1 John 1:5-10:

 

⁵ This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him. ⁶ If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” and yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. ⁷ If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. ⁸ If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

 

This is what JESUS did for all who place their faith in HIM.

 

Let’s read on in Isaiah:

Unconfessed sin has serious consequences:

and your sins have hidden his face from you
so that he does not listen.
³ For your hands are defiled with blood
and your fingers, with iniquity;
your lips have spoken lies,
and your tongues mutter injustice.

 

Mutter is an interesting word. It carries the idea of meditating. Rather than the Israelites “meditating” on GOD’S Word and “justice”, they meditated on “injustice.” Their sin had cut them off from GOD revealing their sin to them. They had hardened their hearts against GOD and as a result, GOD had hidden HIS face from them. GOD did not listen to them because they did not approach HIM in repentance but they justified what they were doing, which was against what GOD desired from them. Their lips spoke lies and their tongues “mutter” injustice. They were corrupt because they focused upon sin which negatively impacted their thinking as we read ------

⁴ No one makes claims justly;
no one pleads honestly.
They trust in empty and worthless words;
they conceive trouble and give birth to iniquity.
⁵ They hatch viper’s eggs
and weave spider’s webs.
Whoever eats their eggs will die;
crack one open, and a viper is hatched.

 

What was the Israelites’ problem? It was SIN! Sin was rampant and they failed to recognize their problem because sin blinds and deceives. They ponder and dwell upon empty and worthless words in their minds rather than on truth as revealed by GOD.

 

Once they have allowed these empty and worthless words to incubate in their minds, they produce viper’s eggs, which when hatched, yield venomous snakes or eggs that contain venom. If these snake eggs are consumed, they will result in death or if cracked open puts you and others at risk of death.  The product produced by this empty/worthless mental process produces venomous results. Spider webs entangle the spiders’ victims but the spiders web is full of holes and cannot be used to cover the evil you ponder in your minds.

 

Our relationship to GOD helps us to ponder and focus upon the things GOD approves.

 

In Romans 12:2, we read:

 

² Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.

 

The way we think is vital to being in right relationship to GOD. When we block communication with GOD, sin enters.

 

1 John 4:1-4 reveals to us:

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

² This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, ³ but every spirit that does not confess Jesus^[a] is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming; even now it is already in the world. ⁴ You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them (the spirits that do not confess that JESUS has come to earth in the flesh), because the one (JESUS) who is in you is greater than the one (Satan) who is in the world.

In Isaiah 59:5, the Prophet Isaiah wrote about spider webs which carries over to our next scripture.

 

Let’s read Isaiah 59:6-8:

⁶ Their webs cannot become clothing,
and they cannot cover themselves with their works.
Their works are sinful works,
and violent acts are in their hands.
⁷ Their feet run after evil,
and they rush to shed innocent blood.
Their thoughts are sinful thoughts;
ruin and wretchedness are in their paths.

⁸ They have not known the path of peace,
and there is no justice in their ways.
They have made their roads crooked;
no one who walks on them will know peace.

 

The hearts of the Israelites were evil and they attempted to cover it up but GOD sees the heart of all. GOD knew the evil they were plotting, planning and embracing. The path they will go down is the result of.

their own doing because of sin. They will have to experience woes because sin has blinded them to the truth that only comes from being in right relationship with GOD

 

As Americans, does this get our attention? Are we who know the truth hiding the light of this truth from others? If we are, we and our children will go down the path of destruction. It is time for us to wake up and be the light GOD intends for us to be. If we do not there are Spiritual consequences as we read on ----

 

Let’s read Isaiah 59:9-13:

⁹ Therefore justice is far from us,
and righteousness does not reach us.
We hope for light, but there is darkness;
for brightness, but we live in the night.
¹⁰ We grope along a wall like the blind;
we grope like those without eyes.
We stumble at noon as though it were twilight;
we are like the dead among those who are healthy.
¹¹ We all growl like bears
and moan like doves.
We hope for justice, but there is none;
for salvation, but it is far from us.
¹² For our transgressions have multiplied before you,
and our sins testify against us.
For our transgressions are with us,
and we know our iniquities:
¹³ transgression and deception against the Lord,
turning away from following our God,
speaking oppression and revolt,
conceiving and uttering lying words from the heart.

 

When we wake up and realize the plight of the world we are living in, we ask what happened? Where is GOD and where is justice and righteousness? Where is the light and hope that only GOD provides?

 

When we awake from our Spiritual slumber and wickedness, we grope for answers but the darkness of sin overwhelms us. We who knew the truth have been consumed by the darkness of evil that resulted from our sin and complacency.

 

We all growl and moan because we once knew the truth and were in the right relationship with GOD but due to our thought life and being occupied with doing our own thing, we have sinned mightily against the One True GOD.

 

Christians in America, we know the truth and have seen and know the light of JESUS and the hope that is in accepting JESUS as one’s Savior. We must not hide the light of truth from a world that is in the dark covered by evil.

 

As Christians, our hope and justice are only through our faith in JESUS and we must join together and pray that the light of the Gospel will shine brightly from us into a world that is dark with sin.

 

Where is our faith? How much faith do we have to have in JESUS?

 

Faith the size of a mustard seed. Plant it and it will grow into a large tree. Plant it in good soil and water it with the living water that only comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit. Blessings!!!

 

Bible Study - Essentials (2) - The Purpose of Humanity - Genesis 1:1-5, 26-31 - March 14, 2021

Bible Study – Essentials (2) – The Purpose of Humanity – March 14, 2021

This is lesson (2) in our series entitled, “The Purpose of Humanity.”

Our focus scripture is Genesis 1:1-5 and 26-31.

GOD created us to serve and honor HIM.

The word “Genesis” means beginning. It does not mean the beginning of GOD, THE FATHER, THE SON or THE HOLY SPIRIT. It means the beginning of earth and the beginning of life upon earth, which includes humanity.

Let’s explore!  

Let’s read Genesis 1:1-5:

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.^[a]

Notice, heaven is plural and earth is singular. We know that the earth is wrapped with an atmosphere that is vital to all life upon earth. Our sky is considered a heaven for us and animal life to be able to exist. Then there is the second heaven where the stars, planets and outer space exists. Then there is a third heaven where GOD is.

GOD wanted all of mankind not to be ignorant of how HE created all things. So, HE gave instructions to Moses to pass onto all mankind. As we read and study the scripture, may the Holy Spirit open our minds to reveal truth. GOD does not want us to be ignorant of our physical beginning.

² Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness covered the surface of the watery depths, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. 

I love the statement “hovering over.” GOD created something from nothing by speaking. GOD created everything HE needed to accomplish HIS goal.

³ Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. ⁴ God saw that the light was good, and God separated the light from the darkness.

 ⁵ God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” There was an evening, and there was a morning: one day.

There was day and night which is defined as one day. Was it a 24-hour day or some other time period? It was a 24-hour day. I know many will say all sorts of time periods. I know, I used to think that it could have been some longer time period but GOD did it. When the Bible refers to “day”, it means a 24-hour day. Keep in mind GOD is GOD. The evolutionists want to make it fit their timeline. NO! GOD did it in 24 hours. 

Keep in mind that what GOD did on day one was necessary to support what HE did on day 2 and day 3, etc. Also, consider there is an abundance of light and as we read on, GOD was right-sizing the light.

⁶ Then God said, “Let there be an expanse between the waters, separating water from water.” ⁷ So God made the expanse and separated the water under the expanse from the water above the expanse. And it was so. ⁸ God called the expanse “sky.”^[b] Evening came and then morning: the second day.

⁹ Then God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. ¹⁰ God called the dry land “earth,” and the gathering of the water he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good. ¹¹ Then God said, “Let the earth produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds.” And it was so. ¹² The earth produced vegetation: seed-bearing plants according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. ¹³ Evening came and then morning: the third day.

Earth now has vegetation which holds the soil together by developing root systems and producing sustainable nourishment for what comes next. Light and water are good to promote vegetation growth.

¹⁴ Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night. They will serve as signs for seasons^[c] and for days and years. ¹⁵ They will be lights in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth.” And it was so. ¹⁶ God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule over the day and the lesser light to rule over the night—as well as the stars. ¹⁷ God placed them in the expanse of the sky to provide light on the earth, ¹⁸ to rule the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. ¹⁹ Evening came and then morning: the fourth day.

²⁰ Then God said, “Let the water swarm with^[d] living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.” ²¹ So God created the large sea-creatures and every living creature that moves and swarms in the water, according to their kinds. He also created every winged creature according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. ²² God blessed them: “Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the waters of the seas, and let the birds multiply on the earth.” ²³ Evening came and then morning: the fifth day.

Animal life began in the ocean, confirmed by a US Navy study. Birds scatter seeds and help scatter seeds, vegetation and pollinate.

²⁴ Then God said, “Let the earth produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that crawl, and the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. ²⁵ So God made the wildlife of the earth according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that crawl on the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.

An abundant, sustainable food supply was established for the animals GOD created before HE created Adam.

Guess what that means to mankind over the eons of earth time? It means fuel for our homes, transportation, medicines, pitch, tar used for many purposes and the list goes on. Now everything is in place to sustain mankind.

²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make man^[e] in^[f] our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl^[g] on the earth.”

Notice the use of the word “US.” Who is “US?” It is GOD, The Father, GOD THE SON and GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT. In John 1:1-5:

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was with God in the beginning. ³ All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. ⁴ In him was life,^[a] and that life was the light of men. ⁵ That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome^[b] it.

WHO is The WORD? JESUS!

Let’s go back to Genesis 1:27-31:

²⁷ So God created man
in his own image;
he created him in the image of God;
he created them male and female.

²⁸ God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every creature that crawls on the earth.” ²⁹ God also said, “Look, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth and every tree whose fruit contains seed. This will be food for you, ³⁰ for all the wildlife of the earth, for every bird of the sky, and for every creature that crawls on the earth—everything having the breath of life in it—I have given^[h] every green plant for food.” And it was so. ³¹ God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day.

GOD was very pleased, delighted and proud of HIS creation.

The Garden of Eden was the perfect place without sin until Adam and Eve disobeyed GOD and that is when sin came into the world. That is why JESUS had to give HIS sinless life upon the cross, by shedding of HIS blood to redeem mankind from eternal death.

Our first lesson, in this series, was leading up to the crucifixion of JESUS and this lesson is on the beginning of mankind upon earth. We have experienced GOD’S workmanship upon earth but the best is yet to come. JESUS said it best in John 14:1-7:

“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 it were not so, would I have told you that I am going 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.”

May the Holy Spirit enlighten those who do not know JESUS as their Savior to the truth that is only through faith in JESUS. Just as GOD prepared the earth for us to dwell, HE has prepared an eternal place for all who place their faith in JESUS to dwell.

In 1 Corinthians 2:9-10 -  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.^[c]

¹⁰ Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 

What GOD has prepared for all who place their faith in JESUS is beyond our wildest imagination. If you think earth is great, you have not seen anything yet.

Do not miss out! Place your life into the hands of GOD through faith in JESUS.

EASTER is coming!!! EASTER is GOD’S redemptive plan for all mankind as fulfilled in the physical death of JESUS by the shedding of HIS sinless blood, physical burial of JESUS and the physical resurrection of JESUS from the dead. This is proof that JESUS conquered sin and its consequence, eternal death but it takes faith in JESUS to restore in each of us the eternal life that Adam and Eve lost when they sinned.

Blessings!!!