Last Class

God = Jesus Christ

There's none apart from God. There's one God, one Lord, Jesus Christ!

Deuteronomy 6:4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is One!

Galatians 3:20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one.

Colossians 2: 9-10 For in Him (Jesus Christ) dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

Hebrews 1:3 Who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. (Didn't literally sit down at the right hand of God. Being at the right hand of God means Jesus had the power and authority of God.)

Jesus is fully God and fully human:

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Which translates to God (himself) with us.

Isaiah 40:3 The voice of the one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord: Make straight in the desert A highway for our God.

John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, My Lord and my God! Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

Acts 20:28 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.  The blood that Jesus shed is God's blood!

2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.  Hosea 13:4 Yet I am the Lord your God ever since the land of Egypt, And you shall know no God but Me; there is no savior besides Me.  This is God speaking and they refer to Jesus as the savior in 2 Peter 1:1. God and Jesus are one!

1 Timothy 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, Received up in glory. They're not separate!

The titles of Jesus:

Father: God in relationship to mankind. Creation.
Son: God incarnate. Redemption.
Holy Spirit: God in activity.

If I had kids I would be their father.  I am a son of my parents.  I am a brother to my brothers.  I am a carpet cleaner at my job.  All these titles by themselves only describe a person.  What is my name? Chris.

Isaiah 48:11 For My own sake, for My own sake, I will do it; For how should My name be profaned: And I will not give My glory to another.  God says he won't give his glory to anyone.  In Matthew 28:18 Jesus says, " All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth."  He didn't give his glory to another. God is Jesus.

Isaiah 45:23 I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath. Philippians 2:10 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.  God reveals his name!

Bridging the Gap

I haven't blogged since 2008, but for some reason I feel led to start doing it again.  I feel like things stuck with me a lot more when I shared about lectures, revelations, and new exploits with the Lord on this blogger.  Feedback was also nice and encouraging.  I'm going to make a point to blog about new chapters and seasons with the Lord.  Currently, I am studying at the Northern Pacific Bible College of San Jose.  The classes I've taken thus far are Introduction to the Bible, Spiritual Discipline, Apostolic Constitution, and I am currently studying Apostolic Doctrine.  In the last class, we all had to present an oral presentation on, "Why Truth?"  We had to search our hearts, our minds, and our bibles about the benefits to biblical truth and the downfall to biblical truth.  There are many benefits.  Of course the truth sets you free.  It is of God.  It puts you on the right track and right standing with God.  Jesus himself refers to Himself as the truth, the way, and the life.  It gives you grace, mercy, and peace.  It leads to life everlasting.  The truth encourages you to step out in faith.  Faith is what pleases God.  When you follow truth, you're following Jesus.  What are the downfalls?  There are many people that said there are no downfalls.  It is hard to find a downfall in following the truth of God.  What can go wrong?  The best answer I heard in response to this is, "the cost."  There is a cost to following the truth.  The truth hurts.  In encourages you to change your ways.  It is not the friend of flesh.  It is not what flesh wants to hear.  It requires a stand and a sacrifice.  It requires you to deny yourself and take up your cross.  Nailing your flesh to that cross everyday, every second, every hour.  It may lead you to persecution.  Jesus himself was persecuted for speaking truth.  John the baptist was beheaded for speaking the truth.  Many  apostles died a martyrs death regarding the truth.  Jesus, the truth, was crucified.  There is a cost.  There is a reward.  Jesus is our reward, He is our portion.  Are we willing to follow no matter how much it costs?