John 14:9 Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?
Further, the truth of Christ is shown at His baptism when John the Baptist recognized Him. The whole truth of the gospel is that Jesus is from God, the Holy Son of God sent to finish the fathers work in the world. He was sent in that time to offer salvation to all who would seek it. He offered the final sacrifice for all who would normally be lost due to sin. He embodied Gods loving grace toward the human race. Yes, He performed miracles of exceeding ability that all knew it came from God and all the glory went to God. So many were healed, cleansed of demons, raised to life and made whole that all could only attest the power came from God Almighty.
In John 3:16 we see the love and mission,
Jesus' words to Nicodemus nicely summarize this: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. There were no strings attached to this promise, only believe in Christ and ask. There were no rituals required nor was there any references to being clean before we come to the Lord. The Lord came to us as we were, He cleansed us through His blood. There is no need to be concerned with a purgatory type of situation. The Lord forgives as soon as one will ask. So if He forgives us when we ask, then why would we consider ourselves in need still? As the Lord states:
Hebrews 8:12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.
Truly the undeniable love from God is clearly demonstrated. God alone made the decision to save all who would come to Him and accept Jesus as their savior. He provided the only pure sacrifice and payment for sin. That anyone, no matter what they had done could be saved. No longer would they be in slavery to their own guilt. No longer would they have to bear the burden of their sins. They could and would be cleansed by the sacrifice of Jesus. All they had to do was to believe, accept Christ and be saved. The Lord God has shown so much love in just this simple verse that I find it difficult for anyone to turn away from God’s offer.
But it does happen. The offer is made all the time, day and night. Yet many will not accept and be saved. We as Christians have no authorization or command to force this belief on anyone. We are only to do as Jesus did, make the message available. If forced to accept Christianity as a way to avoid punishment from people, or to avoid persecution from people, we have ourselves lost the message. The message in short is simple. It is the offer of peace with God, reconciliation and the reality and depth of the Love of God.
The book of John is so rich in the expression of God’s love that I believe anyone who reads it will experience God’s love through His living Word. To me the word of God comes alive in this book. Take for example the words of John the Baptist as he speaks of the coming of Jesus in John 333
33 He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true.
34 For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit by measure.
35The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.
36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
John knew the coming of the Lord was near. He knew that salvation was already at hand. What a wonderful thought that will fill anyone with hope and a newness for life. Along with the arrival of salvation came, the beginning of the end for this wicked world. We all have a newness of life after we have been saved, we will be new creatures. The Lord promises the Holy Spirit as our guide, counselor and to live within us as we become His children. We are never left alone but are protected buy His Holy being. We are no longer consumed by our sin but are forever forgiven. So to know Christ is to know God and His love. To know that salvation is ours to take. To know that we will no longer be the old selves we were, but are new creations of God the Father. We are clean and we must strive to stay that way by obeying Gods Word, which is Jesus Christ.
The Holy Word of God was transmitted through Christ directly to the ears of the people. It has been transmitted through writings to all generations. It never changes and the Lord never changes. He still has only one way to Him, JESUS.
Anyone who reads this and has not yet committed themselves to Christ, I would ask that you do. It is God’s love that you will accept. It is His way to eternal salvation and the only way to the Lord God. John 14:6 says,
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. So come to Christ and be saved. Come to Him who gives freely the gift of salvation. The One who took upon Himself the wage4s of your sin.
Let the Lord provide you the peace that each us needs. Let the Lord God be the Father and your happiness. His promise to those who surrender to Him through Christ is life eternal in His presence. Jesus will save those who want to be saved. Turn loose of old guilt and regrets, live a life free and new. Live a safe life, free from being lost or alone. He promises that He will never leave you. AMEN.