JESUS CHRIST

Jesus, who is divine and has existed from eternity, became a man to live on earth with us. It's in the Bible, John 1:1, 14, NIV. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Why was it necessary for Jesus to take on human nature? It was necessary to make atonement for our sins. It's in the Bible, Hebrews 2:14-15, 17, NIV. "Since the children have flesh and blood, he [Jesus] too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were  held in slavery by their fear of death. For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.”

As a human, Jesus was tempted just as we are - yet He never sinned.  It's in the Bible, Hebrews 4:14-15, NKJV. "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Jesus demonstrated His divinity by His resurrection. It's in the Bible, Mark 16:6, TLB. "But the angel said, 'Don't be so surprised. Aren't you looking for Jesus, the Nazarene who was crucified? He isn't here! He has come back to life! Look, that's where His body is lying,"

The apostle Paul testified to the divinity of Christ. It's in the Bible, Colossians 2:9, NIV. "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form."

What is Jesus relation to the Father? It's in the Bible, John 10:30, NKJV. "I and My Father are one.”

It's in the Bible, John 14:9, NKJV. "Jesus answered...'Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.'"

Jesus is the divine Son of God. It's in the Bible, Matthew 3:16-17, NKJV. "When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Sooner or later every man, woman and child will acknowledge that Jesus is Lord. It's in the Bible, Philippians 2:9-11, NKJV. "Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus calls people to repentance. It's in the Bible, Matthew 4:17, NKJV. "From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Jesus did not come to do away with the Law, but to establish it. It's in the Bible, Matthew 5:17, NKJV. "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

Jesus is the only way to God. It's in the Bible, John 14:6, NKJV. "Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Jesus has the power over death. It's in the Bible, John 11:25, NKJV. "Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live.

Jesus' life and ministry on earth showed us what God is like - His love and care for us. It's in the Bible, Matthew 4:23, NKJV. "And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people."

What does it take to follow Jesus? It's in the Bible, Luke 9:23, NKJV. “Then He said to them all, 'If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.'"

Jesus' life becomes ours. It's in the Bible, Galatians 2:20, NKJV. "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

We should try to be like Jesus. It's in the Bible, Philippians 2:5-8, NKJV. "Let this mind be in you who was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross."

Jesus wants to be your Savior. It's in the Bible, John 1:12, NKJV. "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name"

It's in the Bible, John 3:16, NKJV. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

It's in the Bible, 1 Peter 3:18, NKJV. "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit"

HOW CAN I GET TO HEAVEN?

How can you know God? Simple Jesus died as a sacrifice for our sins, so we can both be forgiven for and freed from our sins. Jesus promised to live within us, by his Spirit, that he would be our counsellor and guide, to lead us into all truth, to keep us in the truth. The bible is God's word; he will not tell you anything that is not in there. He wants a relationship with us. His love for you is great. In want to share a part of my salvation experience with you, to let you know what God thinks about us all. When I was first a Christian I was praying which I had never really done before I was a Christian, and I felt a feeling of love, only slightly, and a quiet voice that said "This is what I have always wanted". I thought to myself what a good person I am; I have always wanted a relationship with God. Then the voice replied "No I said that". God touched me with his love and told me he had always desired a relationship with me. He loved the fact he could now start that relationship. He wants to know you personally too. No matter how good you are no matter how bad you have become, he can change us all to be better individuals.

You might ask how do I become a Christian, or what is it I need to do. First note the following verse: Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. "Everything is permissible for me" —but not everything is beneficial. - 1Co 6:9-12

So if any of those things sounds like you, if you live one of those life styles you need to cease. Also note the final point of the verse "but not everything is beneficial" God knows what is best for us. Take drunkenness as an example, it causes a lot of problems for society, violence, and put lives at risk, one of my friends got drunk and was hit by a car, he lived but he could have been killed. Sexual immorality causes a lot of single mothers who are unloved and left with babies to look after, don't say it does not happen. I know many men who have sex with women get them pregnant then ditch them, or others who have sex then when the woman wants a committed relationship they basically tell them to f-off, a swear word. Homosexuality is not what God intends for us. Thefts, murder, greed, all of these things are wrong. God wants us to be blessed, he is a good God. You must repent. Turn around. And allow God to lead you into gentleness, kindness and love.

So what do you need to do to become a Christian, well, be sincere in you prayer, that is all God asks. Ask him to come into your life. Then just enjoy your life, there is no special task that he requires of you, only that you get to know him. The bible is where you find out about God, it is his final and complete revelation, Jesus said false prophets would arise and deceive many, but you be led by the truth. If you are a person of mission and purpose there are a lot of things you can accomplish with God as your guide. Don't think you have to live the ordinary life, when you can live the extraordinary. But we were all made for the ordinary as well, God made us to enjoy the simple things in life. Don't feel burdened that you may have a massive task ahead of you. God in my experience does not force you to do anything rather allows you to live at the point that you can cope with. So don't think you will need to give up all the good things in life and become a monk or a nun. God loves you, he wants you blessed. Let him bless you. You will find him, when you seek for him with your whole heart.

INSPIRATION

What does inspiration mean when applied to the Bible? It's in the Bible, II Timothy 3:16, TLB. "The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right."

Inspiration means that God is the ultimate source of the Bible. It's in the Bible, II Peter 1:20-21, NIV. "Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet's own interpretation. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit."

HONOR

It is God who gives true honor or "promotion". It's in the Bible, Psalms 75:6, 7, NKJV. "For exaltation comes neither from the east nor from the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one, and exalts another."

It is good to give honor to each other. It's in the Bible, Romans 12:10, TLB. "Love each other with brotherly affection and take delight in honoring each other."

Honoring parents is one of God's commandments. It's in the Bible, Exodus 20:12, TLB. "Honor your father and mother, that you may have a long, good life in the land the Lord your God will give you."

The award of Honor by man is often given as a result of the effort put by that man. However, Honor bestowed by God depends on the faithfulness of an individual in obedience to the word of God.

Man should always seek honor. Honor encourages goodness and hardwork.

GREED

Greed often accompanies prosperity and can lead to crime. It's in the Bible, James 4:1-2, TLB "What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Isn't it because there is a whole army of evil desires within you? You want what you don't have, so you kill to get it. You long for what others have, and can't afford it, so you start a fight to take it away from them. And yet the reason you don't have what you want is that you don't ask God for it."

Wealth can give us wrong attitudes about material things. It's in the Bible, Luke 12:15 NIV "Then [Jesus] said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

Be content - greed is a snare. The love of money leads to evil. It's in the Bible, I Timothy 6:8-10, NJKV. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

Greed is self-destructive. It's in the Bible, Proverbs 1:18-19, NKJV. "But they lie in wait for their own blood; they lurk secretly for their own lives. So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; it takes away the life of its owners."

Those who are focused on money and are greedy for gain should not be spiritual leaders. It's in the Bible, 1Timothy 3:2-3, 8, NKJV.  "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money,but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous...Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money,"

True gain is being content. It's in the Bible, 1 Timothy 6:6, NKJV. "Now godliness with contentment is great gain."

Don't lose your salvation for something as worthless as money. You can't take your wealth with you. It's in the Bible, 1 Timothy 6:7, NKJV. "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certainwe can carry nothing out."

Don't take bribes. Proverbs 15:27 "He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, but he who hates bribes will live."

Those who are rich by ill-gotten gains will meet their due justice. It's in the Bible, James 5:1-6, NIV, "Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you."

Either your love for money will destroy your love for God, or your love for God will cast out your love for money. It's in the Bible, Matthew 6:24, NIV. "No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."

Don't invest in the world that is temporary - invest in something with eternal dividends. It's in the Bible, 1 John 2:15-17, NKJV. "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."