I BELIEVE A CHRISTIAN NOT WILLING TO SHARE THEIR FAITH IS COMMITTING HIGH TREASON. I ALSO BELIEVE TO WATER DOWN THE GOSPEL IS HIGH TREASON.

PROVERBS 11:30 SAYS, HE WHO IS WISE WINS SOULS. – ARE YOU BEARING FRUIT? OR, ARE YOU A PART OF THE SACRED SOCIETY THAT SNUBS SINNERS…TALKING ABOUT HOW THEY LIVE, THE DRINKING, THE CURSING, THE FILTHY JOKES. DO YOU KNOW WHY THEY DO THAT? BECAUSE THEY’RE SINNERS. NO WHERE IN THE BIBLE DOES IT COMMAND SINNERS TO COME TO CHURCH. THE BIBLE TELLS THE CHURCH TO GO TO THEM!

LIVING HOLY AND BEING SEPARATE DOES NOT MEAN TO BE ISOLATED. IF YOU’RE A HUNTER THEN YOU KNOW IT’S NOT THE DEER’S JOB TO COME TO THE CABIN, YOU HAVE TO GO OUT TO THEM! TODAY’S HOME PRICES ARE GOING THROUGH THE ROOF, IT REMINDS ME OF THE OLD SAYING: THE VALUE OF SOMETHING IS WHATEVER

SOMEONE IS WILLING TO PAY FOR IT. WELL, JESUS PAID FOR OUR SOULS WITH HIS BLOOD! ALL THE SOUL WINNING YOU’LL EVER DO, YOU’LL DO IN THIS LIFE. ARE YOU GOING TO GO HOME TO JESUS EMPTY HANDED?

NOW, HOW ABOUT PARENTS WITH CHILDREN TRYING TO GET READY FOR CHURCH ON SUNDAY MORNING. IT REMINDS ME OF THE LITTLE BOY TELLING HIS MOM, I AIN’T GOING. SHE TRIED TO CORRECT HIM BY TELLING HIM TO SAY, “I AM NOT GOING, HE IS NOT GOING, THEY ARE NOT GOING.” THE LITTLE BOY LOOKED AT HIS MOM AND SAID, WELL IT LOOKS LIKE AIN’T NOBODY GOING…ANOTHER STORY I’M REMINDED OF IS THE STORY OF A WIFE TELLING HER HUSBAND, YOU GET THE KIDS READY FOR CHURCH, AND I’LL SIT IN THE CAR HONKING THE HORN. DO YOU LOSE YOUR RELIGION JUST TRYING TO GET YOUR FAMILY TO CHURCH?

I RECENTLY CONNECTED WITH A HIGH SCHOOL ACQUAINTANCE ON A FACEBOOK BOOK DISCUSSION, WE RESPECTFULLY DISCUSSED SCRIPTURE. HE BELIEVED THE CHURCH HAS MADE THINGS HARD AND CHRISTIANITY SHOULD BE EASY. HE COULDN’T ANSWER WHERE IN SCRIPTURE IT GIVES US AN EASY BUTTON?

JOHN 6…VERSE 51, I AM THE LIVING BREAD THAT CAME DOWN OUT OF HEAVEN; IF ANYONE EATS OF THIS BREAD, HE WILL LIVE FOREVER; AND THE BREAD ALSO WHICH I WILL GIVE FOR THE LIFE OF THE WORLD IS “MY FLESH.” VERSE 53, THEN JESUS SAID TO THEM, MOST ASSUREDLY, I SAY TO YOU, UNLESS YOU EAT THE FLESH OF THE SON OF MAN AND DRINK HIS BLOOD, YOU HAVE NO LIFE IN YOU…VERSE 54, WHOEVER EATS MY FLESH AND DRINKS MY BLOOD HAS ETERNAL LIFE, AND I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY. (VERSES 60-66), THEREFORE MANY OF HIS DISCIPLES, WHEN THEY HEARD THIS, SAID, THIS IS A HARD SAYING; WHO CAN UNDERSTAND IT? JESUS KNOWING THAT HIS DISCIPLES COMPLAINED, HE SAID TO THEM, DOES THIS OFFEND YOU? WHAT THEN IF YOU SHOULD SEE THE SON OF MAN ASCEND WHERE HE WAS BEFORE? IT IS THE SPIRIT WHO GIVES LIFE; THE FLESH PROFITS NOTHING. THE WORDS THAT I SPEAK TO YOU ARE SPIRIT, AND THEY ARE LIFE. BUT THERE ARE SOME OF YOU WHO DO NOT BELIEVE. AND HE SAID, THEREFORE I HAVE SAID TO YOU THAT NO ONE CAN COME TO ME UNLESS IT HAS BEEN GRANTED TO HIM BY MY FATHER. FROM THAT TIME, MANY OF HIS DISCIPLES WENT BACK AND WALKED WITH HIM NO MORE. SO, I SEE WHERE IT IS HARD, BUT I HAVEN’T SEEN THE EASY PART YET. LUKE 9:23 SAYS, WHOEVER WANTS TO BE MY DISCIPLE MUST DENY THEMSELVES AND TAKE UP THEIR CROSS DAILY AND FOLLOW ME.

THIS MEANS TOTAL SURRENDER AND THAT YOU WILL SUFFER AND LOSE YOUR LIFE FOR HIM. NOW, BACK TO COMMITTING HIGH TREASON. THE FIRST IS IN THE AREA OF WATERING-DOWN SCRIPTURE. THE SECOND IS IN FULFILLING THE GREAT COMMISSION. SO, CONCERNING THE FIRST, I HAVE MANY PEOPLE SAY TO ME THAT THEY BELIEVE SCRIPTURE IS INTERPRETTED DIFFERENTLY BY EACH READER. THE BIBLE IS GOD’S WORD, AND IN 2 PETER 1:20, IT TELLS US THERE IS NO PRIVATE INTERPRETATION OF SCRIPTURE, WHICH LET’S US KNOW THERE IS ONLY ONE MEANING. TODAY’S NEW AGE TRANSLATORS ARE GOING IN A DIRECTION THAT IS VERY CONCERNING TO PURISTS. AND BY THAT, I MEAN THAT TRANSLATORS ARE TAKING LIBERTIES WITH THE TEXT BECAUSE THEY ARE ‘READER-ORIENTED’ TRANSLATORS. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY’RE LOOKING AT THE TEXT, THE ORIGINAL TEXT IN THE HEBREW AND THE GREEK, AND SAYING, WHAT HELPS THE READER VALUE THIS FOR THEMSELVES? THAT IS THE WRONG APPROACH. THAT IS SAYING WE GET TO ADJUST THE SCRIPTURE TO ACCOMMODATE THE READER. AND EVERY FEW YEARS OR SO, SOMEBODY COMES OUT WITH A NEW TRANSLATION, AND IT HAS MOVED ANOTHER FEW STEPS TOWARD THE READER’S DESIRES.

NOW YOU MIGHT WONDER, ‘WHAT’S WRONG WITH THAT?’ WHAT’S WRONG WITH THAT IS THERE’S ONLY ONE REQUIREMENT IN BIBLE TRANSLATION, AND THAT IS, WHAT DID THE WRITER SAY? FORGET THE READER, BECAUSE THE WRITER IS THE ONE WE’RE CONCERNED ABOUT. WHAT DID GOD ACTUALLY SAY? IT IS IRRELEVANT TO A TRANSLATOR WHAT THE READER WANTS OR DESIRES.

THE GAP BETWEEN THE TEXT AND THE READER IS CLOSED BY THE PASTOR, NOT BY THE TRANSLATOR. AND THIS IS ONE OF THE WAYS IN WHICH WE PERFORM HIGH TREASON, SO, LET ME GIVE YOU SOME EXAMPLES. WHAT I’VE EXPERIENCED IS SOMEONE MAKES A STATEMENT ABOUT SCRIPTURE THAT TO THEM IT MEANS THIS OR THAT, BUT IT GETS TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT OR MISINTERPRETED ALL TOGETHER. IT GETS WATER DOWNED!

THE MOST PROMINENT ONE IS MATTHEW 7:1, “JUDGE NOT, THAT YE BE NOT JUDGED.” WITHOUT THE FURTHER CONTEXT OF TAKING THE BEAM OUT OF ONE’S OWN EYE BEFORE TAKING THE SPECK OUT OF OUR BROTHERS EYE.

THE OTHER VERSE DEALS WITH LOVE THY NEIGHBOR. GOD INCLUDED THIS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT AND NEW TESTAMENT. SO, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? IN LEVITICUS 19:18, IT TELLS US “THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF.” WHICH IS THE MOST OFTEN QUOTED OLD TESTAMENT VERSE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT. IT IS REPEATED THREE TIMES IN MATTHEW, TWICE IN MARK, ONCE IN LUKE, ROMANS, GALATIANS, AND JAMES.

SO, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE ORIGINAL CONTEXT OF WHAT THE WRITER SAYS IN LEVITICUS 19. TO REMAIN IN CONTEXT, WE NEED TO LOOK AT LEVITICUS 19:15, IT SAYS, IN RIGHTEOUSNESS YOU SHALL JUDGE YOUR NEIGHBOR. AND IN LEVITICUS 19:17, IT SAYS, THOU SHALL SURELY REBUKE YOUR NEIGHBOR, AND NOT SUFFER SIN UPON HIM. SO, LEVITICUS 19 GIVES US INSIGHT TO BOTH THE JUDGE YE, LEST YE BE JUDGED AND THOU SHALL LOVE THEY NEIGHBOR AS THY SELF MEANINGS. SO, IN REBUKING OUR NEIGHBOR, WE ARE NOT TO HATE OUR BROTHER IN OUR HEART, BUT IT ENSURES WE DO NOT INCUR GUILT BY INFORMING THEM OF THEIR WRONG. IN THIS WAY, WE SHOW OUR LOVE FOR THEM, AND THAT WE HAVE NO HATRED TOWARD THEM.

IF THY NEIGHBOR HAS WRONGED YOU, TELL THEM PRIVATELY, GO AND TELL HIM HIS FAULT BETWEEN YOU AND HIM ALONE. IF HE HEARS AND REPENTS, YOU HAVE GAINED A BROTHER, BUT IF HE DOES NOT THEN TAKE ONE OR TWO MORE, AND IF HE NEGLECTS THEM, BRING IT BEFORE THE CHURCH. THEN YOU HAVE DONE ALL SCRIPTURE TELLS US TO DO, AND BY THIS, YOU HAVE ENSURED YOU DO NOT PARTAKE OF HIS SINS. CONTINUING ON TO VERSE 18, LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF, WE OFTEN FORGIVE OURSELVES FOR WRONGS WE HAVE DONE, WHICH DOES NOT LESSEN THE LOVE WE HAVE FOR OURSELVES. SO, WE IN LIKE MANNER, WE MUST DESIRE THE BEST WELFARE FOR OUR NEIGHBORS. IN ROMANS 13:9, PAUL PUTS LOVE THY NEIGHBOR AS THYSELF ON EQUAL OBEDIENCE OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. SO, IT BASICALLY FULFILLS THE GOLDEN RULE OF, “DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO TO YOU.” (MATTHEW 7:12).

I DON’T SEE ANY OF THIS AS EASY…DO YOU? SO, LEVITICUS 19 SHOWS US THAT REBUKING OUR NEIGHBOR IN KINDNESS AND IN PRIVATE BY BRINGING THEIR SINS TO LIGHT IS LOVING THEM, WHICH IS ALSO JUDGING THEM AND OURSELVES TO THE SAME STANDARD. THIS IS LOVING AND JUST.

UNFORTUNATELY, TODAY SATAN WORKS OVERTIME TO GET US TO WATER DOWN OR CHANGE SCRIPTURE, OR STEP AWAY FROM GOD COMPLETELY. SATAN USES HOLLYWOOD AND THE MEDIA TO INSTILL EMOTIONAL MANIPULATION, LIES, AND SUBJECTIVE-ONE-SIDED INFORMATION TO BRAINWASH US INTO NORMALIZING SEXUAL IMMORALITY.

THEY DO THIS THROUGH THREE AVENUES. DESENSITIZING, JAMMING AND CONVERSION. THROUGH SAME-SEX PROMOTION IN TV SHOWS, MOVIES, WITH ACTORS, MUSICAL ARTISTS, AND ATHLETES WHO COME OUT AND ARE NOW GLORFIED IN THE MEDIA TO CONTINUALLY DESENSITIZE ADULTS AND CHILDREN.

NEXT, THEY USE JAMMING. JAMMING IS ACCUSING CHRISTIANS BY PORTAYING US AKIN TO BEING LIKE HITLER WITH ONE-SIDED SMEARS AND ATTACKS BECAUSE NO ONE WANTS TO BE COMPARED TO HITLER. AND THEY WANT CONVERSION. YOU MUST EMBRACE THEIR LIFESTYLE OR BE CANCELED. THEY ARE ACTIVELY MAKING EVERYONE EMBRACE THEM, LIKE THEM, AND ACCEPT THEIR LIFESTYLE BY APPEALING TO EMOTIONS, MINDS, AND WILLS. THEY DO THIS THROUGH TV, MOVIES, MEDIA, SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES.

WE ARE TO STAND ON THE TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD AND NOT BE FOOLED. THE MOST LOVING THING WE CAN DO FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE DECEIVED IS TO WARN THEM AND TELL THEM THE TRUTH.

SO, DO NOT LET ANYONE TELL YOU THAT IT IS NOT LOVING TO STAND ON THE TRUE WORD OF GOD. SPEAK THE TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD TO THEM, BECAUSE IT IS THE MOST LOVING THING YOU CAN DO FOR THEM. BECAUSE GOD SAYS THEY ARE IN JEOPARDY OF AN ETERNITY IN HELL. DO NOT WATER DOWN GOD’S WORD, AND DO NOT BE SILENT WHEN CONFRONTED WITH HAVING TO STAND ON THE TRUTH!

THE SECOND WAY WE COMMIT HIGH TREASON IS NOT KNOWING JESUS AND NOT SHARING HIM WITH OTHERS AS WE ARE COMMANDED IN THE GREAT COMMISSION. IN PSALM 126 NO MATTER HOW GENEROUS WE ARE, HOW ACTIVE WE ARE IN CHURCH, OR HOW ELOQUENTLY WE PREACH, THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR SHARING OUR FAITH WITH OTHER PEOPLE. PSALM 126:5-6 REVEALS HOW TO SHARE JESUS: THOSE WHO SOW IN TEARS SHALL REAP IN JOY. HE WHO CONTINUALLY GOES FORTH WEEPING, BEARING SEED FOR SOWING, SHALL DOUBTLESS COME AGAIN WITH REJOICING, BRINGING HIS SHEAVES WITH HIM.

THE SOUL IS OF GREAT WORTH; JESUS DIED UPON THE CROSS, PAYING THE PRICE WITH BLOOD AND AGONY TO SHOW HOW MUCH HE DESIRED OUR SOULS. EVERY SOUL HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BE TRANSFORMED INTO THE LIKENESS OF JESUS CHRIST. WE MUST BE COMMITTED TO SHARING OUR FAITH BECAUSE IT IS THE COMMAND OF OUR SAVIOR. WE ARE DESIGNED TO GO FORTH; NOTHING TAKES THE PLACE OF GOING. IT’S NOT ENOUGH TO “LIVE GOOD LIVES,” BECAUSE OUR LIVES ARE NOT WHAT SAVES SOULS… SALVATION IS THROUGH JESUS BY HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION. THEN, WE MUST BE CONCERNED WHEN WE SHARE OUR FAITH. IF WE FEEL WE’VE LOST OUR BROKEN HEARTS FOR THE UNSAVED, WE MUST BEG GOD TO BREAK THEM

AGAIN. WE MUST BE CONSISTENT AS WE SHARE OUR FAITH, FOR WE BEAR SEED FOR SOWING. IN MATTHEW 13, THE SEED IS THE WORD OF GOD, AND IN THAT SEED, THERE IS LIFE. BECAUSE THERE IS POWER OF LIFE IN THE SEED, THERE IS POWER IN THE SOUL WINNER WHO SCATTERS THE SEED. FINALLY, WE MUST BE CONFIDENT IN SHARING OUR FAITH: IF WE KEEP SOWING, WE WILL SEE A HARVEST. WE JUST SOW THE SEED, ASKING GOD TO GIVE US OPEN DOORS AND INCREASE. ARE YOU ENDEAVORING TO SHARE JESUS WITH OTHERS? ARE YOU COMMITTED, CONCERNED, CONSISTENT AND CONFIDENT IN SHARING YOUR FAITH?

THERE’S NO GREATER JOY THAN BRINGING A SOUL TO JESUS CHRIST. IT’S EASY TO GO TO CHURCH, TO STUDY OUR BIBLES, HAVE OUR DEVOTIONS, AND IT’S ALL GOOD. BUT, WOULD YOU NOT SAY: ‘LORD JESUS, HELP ME TO SHARE?’ I LIKE HOW ADRIAN ROGERS SAID IT, “TO EXPLAIN JESUS CHRIST IS IMPOSSIBLE, TO IGNORE JESUS CHRIST IS DISASTROUS, AND TO REJECT HIM IS FATAL.”

IT IS CRUCIAL WE UNDERSTAND WHO JESUS CHRIST IS. IF WE KNOW HIM, WE WILL LOVE HIM; AND IF WE LOVE HIM, WE WILL TRUST HIM. TO TRUST HIM IS TO BE RADICALLY, DRAMATICALLY, AND ETERNALLY TRANSFORMED.

COLOSSIANS 1:15 EXPLAINS HOW JESUS REVEALS THE FATHER: “HE IS THE IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD, THE FIRSTBORN OVER ALL CREATION.” GOD IS SPIRIT—INVISIBLE, UNFATHOMABLE, UNAPPROACHABLE. WE WILL ONLY KNOW GOD BY REVELATION, AND JESUS CHRIST CAME TO REVEAL HIM TO US. WE WILL NEVER KNOW THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH THE SON; THE VISIBLE JESUS MAKES THE INVISIBLE GOD KNOWN.

COLOSSIANS 1:18 EXPLAINS HOW JESUS RULES THE FUTURE: “AND HE IS THE HEAD OF THE BODY, THE CHURCH, WHO IS THE BEGINNING, THE FIRSTBORN FROM THE DEAD, THAT IN ALL THINGS HE MAY HAVE THE PREEMINENCE.” JESUS IS THE POWER AND PRESERVER OF CREATION: “AND HE IS BEFORE ALL THINGS, AND IN HIM, ALL THINGS CONSIST”

(COLOSSIANS 1:17). WE ARE TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE LITTLE BABY IN MATTHEW CHAPTER ONE IS THE MIGHTY GOD OF GENESIS ONE; THERE WAS NOTHING MADE WITHOUT HIM. JESUS CHRIST IS THE GLUE OF THE GALAXIES; HE IS THE ONE WHO FEEDS THE SUN WITH ITS FUEL, SETS OUT ALL THE STARS, AND GUIDES THE PLANETS IN THEIR ORBIT. HE IS THE PURPOSE OF CREATION—ALL THINGS WERE CREATED BY HIM, AND FOR HIM (COLOSSIANS 1:16).

FINALLY, COLOSSIANS 1:21-22 EXPLAINS HOW JESUS RECONCILES THE FALLEN: AND YOU, WHO ONCE WERE ALIENATED AND ENEMIES IN YOUR MIND BY WICKED WORKS, YET NOW HE HAS RECONCILED. JESUS RECONCILED GOD AND MAN TO A RIGHT RELATIONSHIP THROUGH HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS. WHEN JESUS CREATED THE UNIVERSE, HE DID IT WITH HIS WORD. BUT WHEN HE SAVED US, IT TOOK EVERY DROP OF HIS BLOOD. WE COULD NOT MAKE PEACE WITH GOD, SO JESUS MADE PEACE WITH HIS BLOOD ON THE CROSS. WE
MUST ENTER INTO THAT PEACE BY FAITH AND TRUST WITH JESUS.

DO YOU KNOW JESUS—WHO REVEALS THE FATHER, RULES THE FUTURE, AND RECONCILES THE FALLEN? DOES HE HAVE PREEMINENCE IN YOUR LIFE?

IN ACTS 1:1-3 OUR GREATEST NEED IN THIS WORLD IS JESUS; AS BELIEVERS, IT IS OUR GREATEST PRIVILEGE TO MAKE JESUS KNOWN TO OUR NEIGHBORS AND NATION. IF WE WANT TO MAKE JESUS KNOWN, WE MUST FIRST RECOGNIZE HIS PRESENCE IN US.

THE BOOK OF ACTS TAKES PLACE AFTER JESUS’ RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION INTO HEAVEN. YET, HIS WORK HAD ONLY JUST BEGUN, AS HE CONTINUED IT THROUGH HIS DISCIPLES. IN THE GOSPELS, JESUS BEGAN. IN ACTS, JESUS CONTINUES. IN THE GOSPEL, HE DID THAT THROUGH HIS LITERAL BODY, AND NOW IN THE BOOK OF ACTS, HE DOES THAT THROUGH HIS MYSTICAL BODY. WE ARE NOW HIS BODY; HE WANTS TO LIVE AND WORK THROUGH HIS CHURCH, SUPERNATURALLY, NOT SUPERFICIALLY.

WE NEED TO RELY UPON HIS PROMISE TO US, WHICH IS THE HOLY SPIRIT. JESUS HAS COMMANDED US TO MAKE DISCIPLES THROUGH EVANGELISM, MARK THEM THROUGH BAPTISM, AND MATURE THEM IN MINISTRY. IN ACTS 1:4-5, JESUS INSTRUCTS HIS DISCIPLES TO WAIT IN THE CITY UNTIL THEY HAVE RECEIVED THE SPIRIT TO BEGIN. THE PROMISE WAS FULFILLED AT PENTECOST, AND THE DISCIPLES CARRIED OUT THIS IMPOSSIBLE MISSION. WE ARE NOT WAITING FOR THE SPIRIT ANYMORE. IF WE ARE SAVED, HE HAS EQUIPPED AND ANOINTED US WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT TO ACCOMPLISH HIS WORK. WE NEED TO RESPOND TO HIS PROGRAM THROUGH US.

AS BELIEVERS, WE ARE WITNESSES OF JESUS, HAVING SEEN AND HEARD HIS POWER IN OUR LIVES; WE DON’T HAVE TO KNOW ALL THE ANSWERS IN ORDER TO SHARE THE GOSPEL WITH OTHERS. IF WE ONLY RECOGNIZE HIS PRESENCE IN US; REMEMBER HIS PROMISE TO US; AND RELY UPON HIS PROGRAM FOR US TO MAKE DISCIPLES, THEN WE WILL SEE JESUS DO SOMETHING WONDERFUL THROUGH US. THERE ARE NO BARRIERS:

NO MATTER OUR AGE, EDUCATION, OR SOCIAL STATUS, GOD CAN USE YOU RIGHT NOW, WITH WHAT YOU HAVE. GOD WILL SUPPLY ALL THAT YOU NEED TO MAKE JESUS KNOWN. OF ALL THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE EVER WALKED THE PLANET EARTH, ONLY A HANDFUL HAVE MADE ANY REAL, LASTING IMPRESSION, AND HAVE ACTUALLY CHANGED THE WORLD. AND, IN THAT HANDFUL OF PEOPLE, THERE IS ONE WHO STANDS HEAD AND SHOULDERS ABOVE ALL OF THE OTHERS—AND HIS NAME IS JESUS.

MORE ATTENTION HAS BEEN GIVEN TO HIM; MORE DEVOTION; MORE CRITICISM; MORE ADORATION; AND MORE OPPOSITION HAS BEEN GIVEN TO THIS ONE PERSON THAN ALL OF THE OTHERS. EVERY RECORDED WORD THAT HE SAID HAS BEEN SIFTED, ANALYZED, SCRUTINIZED, DEBATED— EVERY WORD—YET, HE WAS HERE 2,000 YEARS AGO. AND, AFTER 2,000 YEARS, THERE IS NEVER ONE MINUTE ON THIS EARTH THAT MILLIONS ARE NOT STUDYING WHAT HE SAID. THINK ABOUT IT—REALLY, THINK ABOUT IT: HERE’S A PERSON WHO LIVED IN A TINY LITTLE LAND TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO; AND YET, HIS BIRTH DIVIDES THE CENTURIES—B.C. AND AD. BEFORE CHRIST AND – ANNO DOMINI, THE YEAR OF OUR LORD. HE NEVER WROTE A BOOK THAT WE KNOW OF; AND YET, LIBRARY AFTER LIBRARY IS FILLED WITH VOLUMES OF BOOKS ABOUT HIM. HE NEVER PAINTED A PICTURE, SO FAR AS WE KNOW; AND YET, THE WORLD’S GREATEST ART, DRAMAS, MUSIC, AND LITERATURE HAS JESUS CHRIST AS ITS SOURCE.

HE NEVER TRAVELED VERY FAR FROM HIS BIRTHPLACE; AND YET, HIS TESTIMONY HAS GONE AROUND THE WORLD. HE ONLY HAD A HANDFUL OF FOLLOWERS THAT FOLLOWED HIM IN HIS MINISTRY; AND YET, TODAY, AT LEAST ONE THIRD OF THE WORLD’S POPULATION CAN NAME HIS NAME.

A MINISTRY OF ONLY THREE SHORT YEARS; AND YET, HERE WE ARE, 2,000 YEARS LATER, SAYING, “JESUS, YOUR NAME IS WONDERFUL,” BECAUSE HIS NAME IS WONDERFUL.

HE HAD NO FORMAL EDUCATION. HE DIDN’T ATTEND A UNIVERSITY OR SEMINARY; AND YET, JESUS HAS HAD MORE EFFECT ON THE HISTORY OF MANKIND THAN ANY OTHER PERSON WHO EVER EXISTED.

I’M TALKING ABOUT WHO IS JESUS. HUMAN SPEECH IS TOO LIMITED TO DESCRIBE HIM. THE HUMAN MIND— TOO SMALL TO COMPREHEND HIM; AND, THE HUMAN HEART CAN NEVER REALLY, COMPLETELY, TOTALLY ABSORB WHO JESUS CHRIST IS. COLOSSIANS 1:12: GIVING THANKS UNTO THE FATHER, WHICH HATH MADE US QUALIFIED TO SHARE OR PARTAKE IN THE INHERITANCE OF THE SAINTS IN LIGHT. NOW, THAT’S TALKING ABOUT YOU. HE’S TALKING ABOUT YOUR INHERITANCE. IF SOMEBODY WEALTHY LEFT YOU AN INHERITANCE, WOULD YOU NOT BE INTERESTED? WHO HATH DELIVERED US FROM THE POWER OF DARKNESS, AND HATH TRANSLATED US INTO THE KINGDOM OF HIS DEAR SON (COLOSSIANS 1:13). IT IS CRUCIAL WE UNDERSTAND WHO JESUS CHRIST IS. WE WILL NEVER KNOW THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH THE SON; THE VISIBLE JESUS MAKES THE INVISIBLE GOD KNOWN. COLOSSIANS 1:18 EXPLAINS HOW JESUS RULES THE FUTURE: AND HE IS THE HEAD OF THE BODY, THE CHURCH, WHO IS THE BEGINNING, THE FIRSTBORN FROM THE DEAD, THAT IN ALL THINGS HE MAY HAVE THE PREEMINENCE.

COLOSSIANS 1:21-22 EXPLAINS HOW JESUS RECONCILES THE FALLEN: AND YOU, WHO ONCE WERE ALIENATED AND ENEMIES IN YOUR MIND BY WICKED WORKS, YET NOW HE HAS RECONCILED IN THE BODY OF HIS FLESH THROUGH DEATH, TO PRESENT YOU HOLY, AND BLAMELESS, AND ABOVE REPROACH IN HIS SIGHT.

JESUS IS THE PREEMINENT ONE! JESUS DOESN’T WANT “A PLACE” IN YOUR LIFE. HE DESERVES PREEMINENCE. “PREEMINENCE” MEANS TO HOLD FIRST PLACE, TO BE DISTINCT, SUPERIOR, ABOVE ALL OTHERS. COLOSSIANS 1:13-18 SAYS JESUS IS: • GOD’S DEAR SON (V.13) – OUR ATONING SACRIFICE, OUR SAVIOR (V.14) – THE EXACT IMAGE, REPRESENTATION, AND LIKENESS OF GOD THE FATHER (V.15) – THE FIRSTBORN OVER ALL CREATION (V.15) – CREATOR OF ALL THINGS HEAVEN AND EARTH (V.16) – THE ONE WHO HOLDS ALL THINGS TOGETHER (V.17) – THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH (V.18). WHEN PAUL SAYS JESUS IS THE “FIRSTBORN” IN VERSE 15, FIRSTBORN DOESN’T IMPLY A BEGINNING. IT SPEAKS OF HONOR AND PRIVILEGE, OF HIS EXALTED POSITION. JESUS DIDN’T HAVE HIS BEGINNING AT BETHLEHEM BECAUSE HE NEVER HAD A BEGINNING.

THERE WAS NEVER A TIME WHEN JESUS WAS NOT. HE HAS ALWAYS EXISTED—HE IS THE SECOND PERSON OF THE TRINITY. JESUS SAID IN JOHN 8:58, “BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS, I AM.” NOT “I WAS,” “I AM.” HE IS THE GREAT I AM. JESUS DESERVES PREEMINENCE IN YOUR LIFE FOR THREE REASONS. REASON #1: JESUS REVEALS THE FATHER DO YOU WANT TO KNOW GOD? JESUS CHRIST HAS CORNERED THE MARKET. HE HAS A MONOPOLY ON REVEALING THE FATHER. WITHOUT JESUS CHRIST, HOW ARE YOU, A HUMAN BEING, GOING TO KNOW GOD? YOU CAN’T. YOU CANNOT KNOW HIM BY REASON, RELIGION, OR RITUAL. YOU WILL ONLY KNOW HIM BY REVELATION. THE VISIBLE JESUS MAKES THE INVISIBLE GOD KNOWN. THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN EVER FULLY KNOW GOD THE FATHER IS THROUGH JESUS.

JESUS HIMSELF SAID: ALL THINGS HAVE BEEN DELIVERED TO ME BY MY FATHER, AND NO ONE KNOWS THE SON EXCEPT THE FATHER. NOR DOES ANYONE KNOW THE FATHER EXCEPT THE SON, AND THE ONE TO WHOM THE SON WILLS TO REVEAL HIM (MATTHEW 11:27). HE SAYS, NO ONE KNOWS MY FATHER BUT MYSELF, AND YOU CAN’T KNOW HIM UNLESS I INTRODUCE HIM TO YOU, BECAUSE HE IS THE EXPRESS IMAGE OF THE INVISIBLE GOD. THAT’S A BIG STATEMENT. YOU’RE NEVER GOING TO FIGURE GOD OUT. HOW CAN THE FINITE UNDERSTAND THE INFINITE? NOT BY REASON, BUT BY REVELATION. JESUS DIDN’T SAY, “I’M A WAY.” HE SAID: “I AM THE WAY.” HE DIDN’T SAY, “I AM A LIFE.” HE SAID: “I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE” (JOHN 14:6).

COLOSSIANS 2:9 SUMS IT UP: “FOR IN HIM DWELLS ALL THE FULLNESS OF THE GODHEAD BODILY.” REASON #2: JESUS RULES THE FUTURE. JESUS IS THE POWER OF CREATION. ALL THINGS WERE CREATED THROUGH HIM AND FOR HIM (COLOSSIANS 1:16).

COLOSSIANS 1:17 SAYS JESUS “IS BEFORE ALL THINGS.” HE COULD NOT BE CREATED BECAUSE GOD SAYS IT WAS JESUS, THE SECOND PERSON OF THE TRINITY, AT WORK DURING CREATION, DOING THE CREATING.

JESUS IS THE PRESERVER OF CREATION. THIS MEANS THAT IN JESUS ALL THINGS “STICK TOGETHER.” HE KEEPS IT ALL FROM FALLING APART OR COMING APART. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT NATURAL LAW, THERE IS NO “NATURAL LAW”—THEY ARE THE LAWS OF JESUS THAT NATURE OBEYS. IN HIM, ALL THINGS HOLD TOGETHER.

JESUS IS THE PURPOSE OF CREATION. WHETHER THINGS IN HEAVEN OR THINGS ON EARTH, EVERYTHING WAS MADE BY JESUS AND FOR JESUS (COLOSSIANS 1:16). WHY? IT WAS ALL FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST. IT IS ALL HEADED TO JESUS. HE IS THE KEY TO THE MYSTERY OF HISTORY. WE’RE MOVING TOWARD THE TIME WHEN THE KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD WILL BECOME THE KINGDOM OF GOD. REASON #3: JESUS RECONCILES THE FALLEN.

THIS JESUS WHO DECLARES THE FATHER AND DOMINATES THE FUTURE IS ALSO THE PEACEMAKER, THE REDEEMER, THE ONE WHO DELIVERS THE FALLEN, RECONCILING GOD AND MAN. FOR IT PLEASED THE FATHER THAT IN HIS SON, JESUS, ALL THE FULLNESS DWELLS, AND BY HIM, RECONCILES ALL THINGS TO HIMSELF, WHETHER THINGS ON EARTH OR THINGS IN HEAVEN, HAVING MADE PEACE THROUGH HIS BLOOD. AND YOU, WHO ONCE WERE ALIENATED AND ENEMIES IN YOUR MIND BY WICKED WORKS, YET NOW HE HAS RECONCILED US IN THE BODY OF HIS FLESH THROUGH DEATH, TO PRESENT YOU HOLY, AND BLAMELESS, AND ABOVE REPROACH IN HIS SIGHT (COLOSSIANS 1:19-22). WHEN JESUS CREATED THE UNIVERSE, HE DID IT WITH HIS WORD. BUT WHEN HE SAVED US, IT TOOK EVERY DROP OF HIS BLOOD. WE MUST TRUST THE LORD JESUS. “THAT IN ALL THINGS HE MAY HAVE THE PREEMINENCE.”

PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR THE EASY BUTTON. AND FALSE PASTORS ARE PROMISING PEOPLE THAT YOU GET PHYSICAL COMFORT AND POSSESSIONS. DO YOU KNOW SOMETHING THAT FASCINATES ME? IN MATTHEW CHAPTER 8 A DISCIPLE CAME TO JESUS AND SAID, “I’LL FOLLOW THEE WHEREVER THOU GOEST.” AND JESUS SAID, “WELL, I’M SORRY, BUT FOXES HAVE HOLES, AND BIRDS OF THE AIR HAVE NESTS, BUT THE SON OF MAN HAS NOWHERE TO LAY HIS HEAD.”

BASCIALLY JESUS SAID, “FELLA, I DO NOT ACCEPT YOU BECAUSE YOU’RE LOOKING FOR COMFORT, AND YOU’RE LOOKING FOR EASE, AND YOU’RE LOOKING FOR ALL OF THOSE KINDS OF THINGS TO MAKE YOUR LIFE COMFORTABLE, AND I’M NOT OFFERING THAT.” AND JESUS REJECTED HIM. HE WANTED COMFORT. JESUS SAID NO. A SECOND MAN CAME AND SAID, “I’LL FOLLOW YOU, TOO, BUT FIRST LET ME GO BURY MY FATHER.” JESUS SAID, “YOU’D BETTER LET THE DEAD BURY THE DEAD.” THE POINT WAS THE MAN’S FATHER WASN’T EVEN DEAD YET. BUT HE WANTED TO HANG AROUND TO GET THE INHERITANCE. HE CAME TO JESUS AND SAID, “I’LL COME BUT LET ME GET MY MONEY.” JESUS TURNED HIM DOWN.

THESE PEOPLE ARE PLAYING INTO THE HANDS OF THE LIES OF SATAN. THE THINGS THAT KEEP MEN FROM CHRIST ARE PERSONAL COMFORT. THEY’RE AFRAID OF GIVING UP COMFORT AND POSSESSIONS. AND HERE COMES THESE FALSE TEACHERS AND THEY BYPASS THE REAL GOSPEL FOR A PHONY. AND WE MUST CONFRONT PEOPLE WITH THE GOSPEL, BEING UNASHAMED TO SPEAK IT, AND SO UNASHAMED OF IT IN ITS TRUTH THAT WE DO NOT COMPROMISE IT TO ACCOMMODATE THE SIN OF MAN.” ARE YOU COMMITTING HIGH TREASON? ASK YOURSELF: DO THINGS THAT BREAK JESUS’ HEART, BREAK YOURS? ARE YOU COMMITTED TO SHARING YOUR FAITH? DOES JESUS HAVE PREEMINENCE IN YOUR LIFE?