How can I find God?

God’s promises are

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. – James 5:8

If you are sincere to know if there is a real God, pray if there is a true real God to reveal Himself to you. God Himself has promised – Jeremiah 29:13

13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Then how can I come to God?

First of all, we can’t come to God directly. Just think about the head of our country. Can we just go and meet them? We can meet them if we have an invitation. God is the supreme most power and the highest in authority in the whole universe. We can come to God only in His own terms, not ours.

God reveals of Himself as – of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity – Habakkuk 1:13

No one with iniquity or sin can come to His presence. We can come to God after being cleansed from our sins. We cannot cleanse ourselves from our sins.

God sent His ONLY begotten son Jesus Christ into this world so that ANYONE who believes in Him should not perish, but should receive everlasting life. If ANYONE believes in JESUS and repents of their own sins and asks JESUS to forgive their sins; He being God himself, has the power to forgive sins. Only the true God can forgive the sins of mankind. Jesus being God who came to earth in the form of human alone has the power to forgive our sins.

Be truthful to yourself and do repent of your sins. Pray to Jesus. He knows our heart.

He has promised in His word – in the Holy bible. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

For it is not possible that the blood of goats and bulls should take away sins.

Without shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin. In JESUS alone, we have redemption from our sins through His blood shed on the cross, and the forgiveness of sins and complete freedom from sin’s bondage on us.

With repentance tell all your sins to Jesus. Jesus understands all your needs. He will forgive and all your sins will be cleansed. You will receive eternal life and you can be assured that you are in the right way to heaven.

JESUS – the meaning of the name is – the one who saves the people from their sins.

The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:7-9

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name – John 1:12

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God – Romans 8:15,16

When your sins are cleansed, you become a child of God and then you can come to God, our Heavenly Father.

If interested, read the Bible with an open mind praying to the true God to reveal Himself to you. You can start with the new testament, Gospel of MARK and then Gospel of John and then the other books of the New Testament.

If you are sincere to know if there is a real God, pray if there is a true real God to reveal Himself to you. God Himself has promised – Jeremiah 29:13

13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Let the true God reveal Himself to you! In my case, I realised Jesus is really God and He is whom He says to be.

I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. – John 8:24

 




How did I meet with the true real God?

I was living my life care free. I was brought up in a not too strict religious family. I used to pray to God for my needs. All of us have needs right! Getting good grades in exams, getting a good job and the list just goes on as the time passes by. I was familiar with simple good moral values like don’t lie, don’t steal, don’t cheat etc etc. Once I started earning, I used to help poor people. So in my sight I was a pretty good human being – not harming others, helping out others, praying to God.

I used to wonder what this life is all about. Getting up, cooking and eating food, taking care of your family, job, exercise, relaxation, .. the day is done. Most of us have the same routine which gets interrupted by some holidays or vacations. But the fact remains days are passing by…

Is there anything more to life than this?

I guess even though we have sufficient money, good family, still there remains a question – what’s the purpose for which I am born? I think this would give a direction in life once we have the answer. I was living my life pretty content. I used to think about God as the one to whom I can bring my prayers. But is that whom God is – a mere hearer to our prayers? 

Is there really a God? really??

Is there really a God? really?? I think at some point of time, we all come across this question personally. For some of us the answer is yes, for some no. Its a personal choice which can have some influence by our upbringing as well. Personally I think there should be a creator. Recently i was trying to grow some seeds. I find it requires constant care to get the seeds/sapling growing. Too much of sunshine a day just resulted in some saplings getting wilted and finally died. I have seen some plants dying because of over watering also. basically just sufficient sunlight, just enough water would help the plant grow strong. I think this applies similarly to every life form. 

If there is no God, I can’t see much purpose to life. As I mentioned in the previous post just living each day, doing whatever the day requires, days passing by, getting old and then just one day pass away?? Is that all to it? if we are a robot, or a machine, or a laptop that makes some sense. Even machines are made with a purpose. it does its purpose and then wears out after some time and reaches a state where is no longer usable. Even a machine has a purpose and it has a maker. What about people like us? No purpose, no maker?? are we inferior to machines?? NO!! We are created beings, we have a maker, and our creator created us with a purpose. If alone many of us who are troubled by many things in life realised this, how it could change our lives for the better. A day came, I realised it personally. I have a creator who created me with a purpose, whom I used to address as God. But then why did God create mankind? why did God create me? What’s my purpose for which I am created???…

God, why did you create me then?

Even a laptop has a purpose for which its manufactured. God, why did you create me then? What’s your purpose for me??…

When a child is born, the parents rejoice. When I see a seed germinating, it brings much joy to me. a new leaf, a bud, a flower – just brings such a pure joy. Oh seed, when I had sown you and cared for you and waiting for you to germinate and grow, i never thought you would bring such joy to me. I knew you would be a good addition to my garden, but the pleasure your each phase in growth gives me is much beyond what I expected. I think I am right in saying that its a pleasure for parents to take care of their children and see them grow. When children show their affection, how much the parents rejoice!

I personally realised – God created us for His pleasure. It’s His pleasure to take care of us, when we return the love to Him, He rejoices. Oh God, I didn’t know this earlier. For me you were only one that I can come to with my prayers and I hoped that you would answer my prayers. You love me?? That thought is too wonderful to me. My birth was a pleasure to you? Really? You are interested in my day to day life – really? God, You care for me – really?

God, You care for me – really?

But God why would you care for me? I really never bothered about you? I think of you when I wanted something in my life. Why would you care for me then? Why would you love me when I never really bothered about you?

I personally realised God is love and its His characteristic to love. How much ever bad a child is, still His mother would love him. If human love cares for a bad son, how much more pure and high would God’s love be? So God more than being my creator, you also love me? I never thought so. I have only seen love in family or friendship. I don’t love people who don’t bother about me. God, that you love me even when i didn’t bothered about you is too wonderful a love for me to understand. I have to admit that, but as the years pass by I have realised increasingly that God you really are love and your love towards mere human beings is really beyond all description. Its such a high love beyond description.

But God, then how can I know for sure that you really love me, a human?

But God, then how can I know for sure that you really love me, a human?

As I mentioned before, I was brought up in a religious family. I believed in God, as the one to whom I can pray. I never thought there can be a God who is interested in my matters. really – if someone said that to me some years before, it would have been unbelievable. God loving me is beyond a question. In my childhood, I had never heard a statement like this – that God loved me.When I heard it also, I don’t think it had an impact on me. My family loves me, ok now God also loves me. A good to know statement. As I said earlier, I considered myself a good human. Helping poor, giving money for God, no lying or cheating, so I am in the good list. One day came in my life when I heard that we all are sinners. Really!! not for me. I am good. I do good things. The statement which I heard was that – We all are sinners, Christ came to this world to save sinners. I remember in my childhood, I saw the christian God Jesus hanging on a cross. I wondered why this Christian God was hanging on a cross? But then never gave much thought to it. Its the Christian’s God. I have my own God. 

When someone says that everyone is a sinner, I just couldn’t get it. As much as I know I do good things, so how in the world can I be a sinner? In my eyes, I am good. I never thought from God’s viewpoint. Everyone have some silly habits like being jealous of others, making fun of others faults, saying small lies, but not big lies. When I say that I was a good person in my viewpoint, I didn’t consider small things like this. Everyone does it right, but I am upright in serious matters.

I heard Jesus is God and came into the world to save sinners. The meaning of the name Jesus is – the one who saves His people from their sins.

I heard this and thought good Jesus is a nice God then who came to save sinners like murderers, adulterers, liars, cheaters etc. That’s fine then. Its a good thing to save people from their wrongs, so Jesus as God who save people from wrong doings was fine for me. 

But it took years for me to realise that I too am a sinner in God’s viewpoint. God slowly slowly started showing me that human beings are born in sin. The finest example is children, you don’t have to teach them to tell lies or fight with other children. Its natural for them to do so. Do parents teach children to fight or do other wrong things? Sometimes parents wonder how small children became selfish, not sharing their toys or other things, fighting with other children, taking others toys? Children do this without any training. Its because of sin within us. I realised after much time, that its true that we all are sinners. We may be able to impress other people with our goodness and righteousness. But what matters ultimately is what God says about me. Am I sinner or not?? God’s answer is everyone is a sinner in God’s eyes.

I thought I was a good person, But God said in His sight, there is none good, no not one. All are sinners. I had heard about this Adam Eve story. Initially God created man in His own image to have fellowship with Him. We as humans have spirit, soul and body. 

Body comprising flesh, blood, our senses

Soul – mind, emotion, will

Spirit – Conscience, intuition, to fellowship with God

God told Adam not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The fallen angel satan tempted Eve and she ate the fruit and shared it with Adam. Thus they disobeyed God and was driven away from the presence of God. Fellowship with God was broken. God had given Adam dominion over the earth and the animals. When the first parents disobeyed God and obeyed satan, sin entered into the world. Sin is basically doing our own will instead of God’s will. We know children resemble the parents or grandparents because of genes. Similarly sin was transferred to the future human generations which was originated from the first parents. Everyone is born a sinner. 

I thought God you loved me, but you made me realise that I am a sinner??

I thought God that you loved me, but you made me realise that I am a sinner??

God is love. At the same time He is perfectly just as well.  Since we are created in God’s own image, we have these characteristics in some quantity in us. When we see some injustice, it disturbs us. But God is the perfection of Justice. He is love, at the same time He is just.

If the love of God overlooks sin, it would be incompatible with the just nature of God. The sin has to be punished, without which man can never again come near to God and have fellowship with Him. 

God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son to the world that WHOSOEVER believes in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Would we sacrifice anything for someone who doesn’t care for us? I really doubt. We might for someone whom we love. But for someone who doesn’t care for you, will you sacrifice anything?

I realised that’s what God did. He really did love that much,that He gave Jesus to the world which didn’t bother about God .He showed His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

I thought family love is the strongest. But even in family when quarrels happen, don’t we realise that our love is not that pure? our love is not that strong and deep as we thought. if we analyse truthfully, we can sense how selfish our love is. Husbands and wives love each other. But think is that love really selfless?If family/friend’s love was selfless, there wouldn’t be arguments, there wouldn’t be self pity, there wouldn’t be harsh speech.

Human love is selfish, because all humans love themselves more than others. The nearest which can be said of selfless human love would be that of a mother’s to a new born baby. The mother loves the child without any expectations from the baby. We humans love others and expect others to love us.

Here is how God showed His love to us, that while we didn’t love God, He still loved us. He not only loved us, but acted on that love and gave His Son whom He loved the most to the world who never cared for Him. Will any human do that? I doubt. But that’s what God did and now I know that His perfect love to mankind is so strong that He gave His Son Jesus for the world. why did God do this? To restore our fellowship with Him. God loves me this much?? I never knew.. I never realised… But now I know.

God loves me this much?? I never knew.. I never realised… But now I know.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

This is Jesus, who left all the glory in heaven and came down to earth to take away the sin of the world.

Will we ever do it? Will we even go down a bit for other’s sake? Jesus did.

Will we bear inconvenience for other’s sake? Jesus did. when He left all the comfort and worship in heaven and came down to humans who crucified Him, He bore all the inconvenience and cruelty to the utmost.

Will we stand others accusing us? Jesus did, when He was falsely accused. He bore everything silently. He said – Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. Will we forgive? Jesus did.

But God did something more and then I knew His LOVE more deeply…

But God did something more and then I knew His LOVE more deeply

Have you gone through physical suffering? To some extend all of us has gone through in varying degrees.

God knowingly sent Jesus to the world. Both God the Father and Jesus knew that one day Jesus would be crucified by wicked cruel men. It was a choice. Jesus didn’t had to come. But Jesus and God the Father loved us and Jesus came into this world. He came as a human being born like us and underwent all this physical suffering. Did it pain for Jesus? Yes it did. Did it hurt God the Father seeing all that His Son had to go though. Yes it did. Because of the great love for me, all the physical suffering was endured.

Jesus knew all the time that He would be crucified. Just imagine that if we come to know that we would die in pain suffering a lot, would we have any peace of mind? The thought itself would torture us all the days of our lives. Jesus knew this that He would die and would die a painful shameful death. The mental suffering was at the peak as He poured out in prayer before being betrayed by Judas. 

And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 

Jesus suffered such mental agony. When a child suffers on death bed, the parent’s mental agony is something which cannot be described. The child goes through the pain, emotional suffering. By seeing the suffering child, the parents go through immense mental and emotional struggle. That’s how God the Father felt when He saw His Son Jesus in agony. – And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 

All this mental agony was endured because of the great love with which He loved us.

Throughout eternity, God the Father and Jesus the Son was one. Now to save the world from sin, justice has to be served. Jesus took our sins on Him and paid the penalty. The one who knew no sin, became sin for us. God is of pure eyes to behold evil. God is perfectly Holy and pure. There is no sin in God. Because of sin, Adam and Eve who were in fellowship with God was separated from God’s presence. Sin separates a person from God.

When the sin of the whole world was put on Jesus, God the perfect Judge turned forsook His Son whom He loved. Imagine a Judge having to sentence his son to death due to a crime committed. Justice demands the son to be sentenced.The Father gives the verdict. But imagine the mental suffering both the parent and the son has to go through. 

Here Jesus and God the Father who were perfectly one, had to endure the spiritual suffering of separation as the sin of the whole world was laid on Jesus. Jesus always used to address God as Father. When the sin was laid on Jesus, the spiritual separation caused Him to address as God and in all the Physical, Mental and Spiritual agony He cried out – My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

All this was for because of the great love of God the Father and Jesus for a mere sinner like me.

Now I know, now I realise God your great deep love towards me.

God, what do I need to do to be free from my sins?

God, what do I need to do to be free from my sins?

Jesus, the son of God, lived in Heaven in all His glory. God saw that the whole mankind was in sin. Everywhere hatred, violence, cheating, greed, selfishness, no love or compassion for the poor and needy. Because of sin in every human being, all human was unrighteous and sinful in God’s eyes.

None of their sacrifices of bulls or goats nor money could make a man become righteous in the sight of God. No man could be justified in the sight of God, because of their righteousness sake.

God sent His ONLY begotten son Jesus Christ into this world so that ANYONE who believes in Him should not perish, but should receive everlasting life. If ANYONE believes in JESUS and asks Him to forgive their sins, He being God himself has the power to forgive sins. Only the true God can forgive the sins of mankind. Jesus being God who came to earth in the form of human alone has the power to forgive our  sins.

JESUS – the meaning of the name is – the one who saves the people from their sins.

JESUS said –      ‘I AM THE WAY,

I AM THE TRUTH,

I AM THE LIFE.

No man cometh to the Father (the only true God), but by me. –  John 14:6

 

 Jesus said –       ‘My peace I leave with you.

My peace I give unto you.

My peace is not as the peace which the world give to you.

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. – John 14 : 27

 

Jesus alone can give the true peace. He is willing to give this peace to anyone who follows Him.

JESUS is the ONLY way to heaven.

Jesus came to the world to save people from their sins. Jesus took all our sins upon Him and died on the cross.

There was no sin in Him, no not even one. For the sake of sinners like me and you, He died a painful and shameful death on the cross.

We are born sinners, hence we need a Saviour to free us from our life long sins.

After his death, Jesus rose again after three days. Now He is in heaven at the right hand of the Heavenly Father, the Creator God.

 

Be truthful to yourself and do repent of your sins. Pray to Jesus. He knows our heart.

He has promised in His word – in the Holy bible.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness..

For it is not possible that the blood of goats and bulls should take away sins.

Without shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin. In JESUS alone, we have redemption from our sins through His blood shed on the cross, and the forgiveness of sins and complete freedom from sin’s bondage on us.

The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

With repentance tell all your sins to Jesus. Jesus understands all your needs. He will forgive and all your sins will be cleansed. You will receive eternal life and you can be assured that you are in the right way to heaven.

 

If you are sincere to know if there is a real God, pray if there is a true real God to reveal Himself to you. God Himself has promised – Jeremiah 29:13

13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

 

If interested, read the Bible with an open mind praying to the true God to reveal Himself to you. You can start with the new testament, Gospel of MARK and then Gospel of John and then the other books of the New Testament.

 

Let the true God, if it be Jesus or Allah or any other God, let the true God reveal Himself to you!

 

I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. – John 8:24

In my case, I realised Jesus is really God and He is whom He says to be.

 

 Read more by clicking the below posts

 

Is there only one God?

Is not having a child a curse?

Have money, position, power, good family.. what about the soul?

How can I come to God? How can I be a child of God?

What happened in the spiritual realm when Christ was crucified?

Can God bring good out of evil?

Unbelieving Husband – what should a Christian wife do?

Do we need to honour Jesus?

Why should I believe in Jesus?

Can Jesus give peace?

How do we love God?

Depressed? Anxious? What to do?

Did God create?

What is eternal life?

Who is God?

 




Is God timeless and spaceless?

Is God timeless and spaceless?

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. – Genesis 1:1  – Time started here. God is outside time. Time started when God created the heaven and earth. This is the origin of time.

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. – Revelation 1:8

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. – Revelation 22:13 – God is the beginning and the end.

Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. – Isaiah 44:5

John 1

 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Colossians 1

12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:

14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:

16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

Hebrews 11

 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

 

Romans 1

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

 

God is outside the universe and the whole space, because it is God who created the universe.

 

How all these things were created?

Genesis 1

1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.

And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so.

And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.

And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so.

10 And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good.

11 And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, and the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.

12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

13 And the evening and the morning were the third day.

14 And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years:

15 And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so.

16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.

17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth,

18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.

19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

20 And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

22 And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth.

23 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day.

24 And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.

25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

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

28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

29 And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.

30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so.

31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

 

6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. – 1 Corinthians 8:6

There is only One God – One being in Three persons – The Father , The Son Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit.

Three persons, but one God.

Can a man at the same time be a Son, a Father and a Husband?

A man is the Son of his mother.

The same man is a husband to his wife.

The same man is a father to his child.

But He is still the same person, but three different roles. -> We can understand this applicable for human beings.

As of God, HE is infinitely superior than human beings. He is our Creator. He is one being and existing in three distinct persons – The Heavenly Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit.

1 John 5

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

 




Who is God?

Who is God?

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. – John 4:24

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

God revealed Himself as 

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: –   Deuteronomy 6:4

13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?

14 And God said unto Moses, I Am That I Am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I Am hath sent me unto you. – Exodus 3

Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel, and his redeemer the Lord of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. – Isaiah 44:5

5 I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me:

That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else.

I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.

Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the Lord have created it.

Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands?

10 Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth?

12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.

 

Through out the Old Testament and similarly in Jewish Torah and Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), God reveals Himself as one and there is none beside Him.

There is no doubt there is only ONE GOD – The true living God.

 

In the new testament its described about Jesus ,

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

18 No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

John 8

57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?

58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.

John 10

24 Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.

25 Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness of me.

26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.

30 I and my Father are one.

31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?

33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.

34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;

36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.

38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.

Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?

10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.

2 John

Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

There is only One God – One being in Three persons – The Father , The Son Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit.

Three persons, but one God.

Can a man at the same time be a Son, a Father and a Husband?

A man is the Son of his mother.

The same man is a husband to his wife.

The same man is a father to his child.

But He is still the same person, but three different roles. -> We can understand this applicable for human beings.

As of God, HE is infinitely superior than human beings. He is our Creator. He is one being and existing in three distinct persons – The Heavenly Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit.

1 John 5

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

 




Is God a Harsh Judge or a Loving Father?

Is God a Harsh Judge or a Loving Father?

Can the Judge of the Supreme court in a country be a Judge and at the same time a loving Father to his children? We can relate to that when a  human can fulfill both the roles of a Judge and Father. Much more with God.. God is a Righteous Judge and a Loving Father. God is not a Harsh judge, but the most righteous Judge and the one whom we can trust to Judge fairly without partiality. At the same time He is a Loving Father also.. 

12 Art thou not from everlasting, O Lord my God, mine Holy One?

13 Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity: 

God is Just.. The sense of demanding justice is deep within us. If we being humans have this much sense of justice, How much more our Creator God would be Just seeing that He is the essence of Justice and He cannot tolerate the presence of iniquity.

Everything would be judged.

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment – Hebrew 9:27

11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.

12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.

It’s TRUE that God is a Judge, but not a Harsh corrupt Judge, but THE Righteous Judge.

At the same time God is a loving Father…

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

17 Jesus saith unto her, but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father

15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

 he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

God is the Righteous Judge and at the same time the Loving Heavenly Father.

 




How did I come to know God?

How did I come to know God?

I was living my life care free. I was brought up in a not too strict religious family. I used to pray to God for my needs. All of us have needs right! Getting good grades in exams, getting a good job and the list just goes on as the time passes by. I was familiar with simple good moral values like don’t lie, don’t steal, don’t cheat etc etc. Once I started earning, I used to help poor people. So in my sight I was a pretty good human being – not harming others, helping out others, praying to God.

I used to wonder what this life is all about. Getting up, cooking and eating food, taking care of your family, job, exercise, relaxation, .. the day is done. Most of us have the same routine which gets interrupted by some holidays or vacations. But the fact remains days are passing by.

Is there anything more to life than this?

I guess even though we have sufficient money, good family, still there remains a question – what’s the purpose for which I am born? I think this would give a direction in life once we have the answer. I was living my life pretty content. I used to think about God as the one to whom I can bring my prayers. But is that whom God is – a mere hearer to our prayers? 

Is there really a God? really??

Is there really a God? really?? I think at some point of time, we all come across this question personally. For some of us the answer is yes, for some no. Its a personal choice which can have some influence by our upbringing as well. Personally I think there should be a creator. Recently i was trying to grow some seeds. I find it requires constant care to get the seeds/sapling growing. Too much of sunshine a day just resulted in some saplings getting wilted and finally died. I have seen some plants dying because of over watering also. basically just sufficient sunlight, just enough water would help the plant grow strong. I think this applies similarly to every life form. 

If there is no God, I can’t see much purpose to life. As I mentioned in the previous post just living each day, doing whatever the day requires, days passing by, getting old and then just one day pass away?? Is that all to it? if we are a robot, or a machine, or a laptop that makes some sense. Even machines are made with a purpose. it does its purpose and then wears out after some time and reaches a state where is no longer usable. Even a machine has a purpose and it has a maker. What about people like us? No purpose, no maker?? are we inferior to machines?? NO!! We are created beings, we have a maker, and our creator created us with a purpose. If alone many of us who are troubled by many things in life realised this, how it could change our lives for the better. A day came, I realised it personally. I have a creator who created me with a purpose, whom I used to address as God. But then why did God create mankind? why did God create me? What’s my purpose for which I am created???…

God, why did you create me then?

Even a laptop has a purpose for which its manufactured. God, why did you create me then? What’s your purpose for me??…

When a child is born, the parents rejoice. When I see a seed germinating, it brings much joy to me. a new leaf, a bud, a flower – just brings such a pure joy. Oh seed, when I had sown you and cared for you and waiting for you to germinate and grow, i never thought you would bring such joy to me. I knew you would be a good addition to my garden, but the pleasure your each phase in growth gives me is much beyond what I expected. I think I am right in saying that its a pleasure for parents to take care of their children and see them grow. When children show their affection, how much the parents rejoice!

I personally realised – God created us for His pleasure. It’s His pleasure to take care of us, when we return the love to Him, He rejoices. Oh God, I didn’t know this earlier. For me you were only one that I can come to with my prayers and I hoped that you would answer my prayers. You love me?? That thought is too wonderful to me. My birth was a pleasure to you? Really? You are interested in my day to day life – really? God, You care for me – really?

God, You care for me – really?

But God why would you care for me? I really never bothered about you? I think of you when I wanted something in my life. Why would you care for me then? Why would you love me when I never really bothered about you?

I personally realised God is love and its His characteristic to love. How much ever bad a child is, still His mother would love him. If human love cares for a bad son, how much more pure and high would God’s love be? So God more than being my creator, you also love me? I never thought so. I have only seen love in family or friendship. I don’t love people who don’t bother about me. God, that you love me even when i didn’t bothered about you is too wonderful a love for me to understand. I have to admit that, but as the years pass by I have realised increasingly that God you really are love and your love towards mere human beings is really beyond all description. Its such a high love beyond description.

But God, then how can I know for sure that you really love me, a human?

But God, then how can I know for sure that you really love me, a human?

As I mentioned before, I was brought up in a religious family. I believed in God, as the one to whom I can pray. I never thought there can be a God who is interested in my matters. really – if someone said that to me some years before, it would have been unbelievable. God loving me is beyond a question. In my childhood, I had never heard a statement like this – that God loved me.When I heard it also, I don’t think it had an impact on me. My family loves me, ok now God also loves me. A good to know statement. As I said earlier, I considered myself a good human. Helping poor, giving money for God, no lying or cheating, so I am in the good list. One day came in my life when I heard that we all are sinners. Really!! not for me. I am good. I do good things. The statement which I heard was that – We all are sinners, Christ came to this world to save sinners. I remember in my childhood, I saw the christian God Jesus hanging on a cross. I wondered why this Christian God was hanging on a cross? But then never gave much thought to it. Its the Christian’s God. I have my own God. 

When someone says that everyone is a sinner, I couldn’t just get it. As much as I know I do good things, so how in the world can I be a sinner? In my eyes, I am good. I never thought from God’s viewpoint. Everyone have some silly habits like being jealous of others, making fun of others faults, saying small lies, but not big lies. When I say that I was a good person in my viewpoint, I didn’t consider small things like this. Everyone does it right, but I am upright in serious matters.

I heard Jesus is God and came into the world to save sinners. The meaning of the name Jesus is – the one who saves His people from their sins.

I heard this and thought good Jesus is a nice God then who came to save sinners like murderers, adulterers, liars, cheaters etc. That’s fine then. Its a good thing to save people from their wrongs, so Jesus as God who save people from wrong doings was fine for me. 

But it took years for me to realise that I too am a sinner in God’s viewpoint. God slowly slowly started showing me that human beings are born in sin. The finest example is children, you don’t have to teach them to tell lies or fight with other children. Its natural for them to do so. Do parents teach children to fight or do other wrong things? Sometimes parents wonder how small children became selfish, not sharing their toys or other things, fighting with other children, taking others toys? Children do this without any training. Its because of sin within us. I realised after much time, that its true that we all are sinners. We may be able to impress other people with our goodness and righteousness. But what matters ultimately is what God says about me. Am I sinner or not?? God’s answer is everyone is a sinner in God’s eyes.

I thought I was a good person, But God said in His sight, there is none good, no not one. All are sinners. I had heard about this Adam Eve story. Initially God created man in His own image to have fellowship with Him. We as humans have spirit, soul and body. 

Body comprising flesh, blood, our senses

Soul – mind, emotion, will

Spirit – Conscience, intuition, to fellowship with God

God told Adam not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The fallen angel satan tempted Eve and she ate the fruit and shared it with Adam. Thus they disobeyed God and was driven away from the presence of God. Fellowship with God was broken. God had given Adam dominion over the earth and the animals. When the first parents disobeyed God and obeyed satan, sin entered into the world. Sin is basically doing our own will instead of God’s will. We know children resemble the parents or grandparents because of genes. Similarly sin was transferred to the future human generations which was originated from the first parents. Everyone is born a sinner. 

I thought God you loved me, but you made me realise that I am a sinner??

I thought God that you loved me, but you made me realise that I am a sinner??

God is love. At the same time He is perfectly just as well.  Since we are created in God’s own image, we have these characteristics in some quantity in us. When we see some injustice, it disturbs us. But God is the perfection of Justice. He is love, at the same time He is just.

If the love of God overlooks sin, it would be incompatible with the just nature of God. The sin has to be punished, without which man can never again come near to God and have fellowship with Him. 

God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son to the world that WHOSOEVER believes in HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Would we sacrifice anything for someone who doesn’t care for us? I really doubt. We might for someone whom we love. But for someone who doesn’t care for you, will you sacrifice anything?

I realised that’s what God did. He really did love that much,that He gave Jesus to the world which didn’t bother about God .He showed His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

I thought family love is the strongest. But even in family when quarrels happen, don’t we realise that our love is not that pure? our love is not that strong and deep as we thought. if we analyse truthfully, we can sense how selfish our love is. Husbands and wives love each other. But think is that love really selfless?If family/friend’s love was selfless, there wouldn’t be arguments, there wouldn’t be self pity, there wouldn’t be harsh speech.

Human love is selfish, because all humans love themselves more than others. The nearest which can be said of selfless human love would be that of a mother’s to a new born baby. The mother loves the child without any expectations from the baby. We humans love others and expect others to love us.

Here is how God showed His love to us, that while we didn’t love God, He still loved us. He not only loved us, but acted on that love and gave His Son whom He loved the most to the world who never cared for Him. Will any human do that? I doubt. But that’s what God did and now I know that His perfect love to mankind is so strong that He gave His Son Jesus for the world. why did God do this? To restore our fellowship with Him. God loves me this much?? I never knew.. I never realised… But now I know.

God loves me this much?? I never knew.. I never realised… But now I know.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

This is Jesus, who left all the glory in heaven and came down to earth to take away the sin of the world.

Will we ever do it? Will we even go down a bit for other’s sake? Jesus did.

Will we bear inconvenience for other’s sake? Jesus did. when He left all the comfort and worship in heaven and came down to humans who crucified Him, He bore all the inconvenience and cruelty to the utmost.

Will we stand others accusing us? Jesus did, when He was falsely accused. He bore everything silently. He said – Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. Will we forgive? Jesus did.

But God did something more and then I knew His LOVE more deeply…

But God did something more and then I knew His LOVE more deeply

Have you gone through physical suffering? To some extend all of us has gone through in varying degrees.

God knowingly sent Jesus to the world. Both God the Father and Jesus knew that one day Jesus would be crucified by wicked cruel men. It was a choice. Jesus didn’t had to come. But Jesus and God the Father loved us and Jesus came into this world. He came as a human being born like us and underwent all this physical suffering. Did it pain for Jesus? Yes it did. Did it hurt God the Father seeing all that His Son had to go though. Yes it did. Because of the great love for me, all the physical suffering was endured.

Jesus knew all the time that He would be crucified. Just imagine that if we come to know that we would die in pain suffering a lot, would we have any peace of mind? The thought itself would torture us all the days of our lives. Jesus knew this that He would die and would die a painful shameful death. The mental suffering was at the peak as He poured out in prayer before being betrayed by Judas. 

And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 

Jesus suffered such mental agony. When a child suffers on death bed, the parent’s mental agony is something which cannot be described. The child goes through the pain, emotional suffering. By seeing the suffering child, the parents go through immense mental and emotional struggle. That’s how God the Father felt when He saw His Son Jesus in agony. – And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 

All this mental agony was endured because of the great love with which He loved us.

Throughout eternity, God the Father and Jesus the Son was one. Now to save the world from sin, justice has to be served. Jesus took our sins on Him and paid the penalty. The one who knew no sin, became sin for us. God is of pure eyes to behold evil. God is perfectly Holy and pure. There is no sin in God. Because of sin, Adam and Eve who were in fellowship with God was separated from God’s presence. Sin separates a person from God.

When the sin of the whole world was put on Jesus, God the perfect Judge turned forsook His Son whom He loved. Imagine a Judge having to sentence his son to death due to a crime committed. Justice demands the son to be sentenced.The Father gives the verdict. But imagine the mental suffering both the parent and the son has to go through. 

Here Jesus and God the Father who were perfectly one, had to endure the spiritual suffering of separation as the sin of the whole world was laid on Jesus. Jesus always used to address God as Father. When the sin was laid on Jesus, the spiritual separation caused Him to address as God and in all the Physical, Mental and Spiritual agony He cried out – My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

All this was for because of the great love of God the Father and Jesus for a mere sinner like me.

Now I know, now I realise God your great deep love towards me.

God, what do I need to do to be free from my sins?

God, what do I need to do to be free from my sins?

Jesus, the son of God, lived in Heaven in all His glory. God saw that the whole mankind was in sin. Everywhere hatred, violence, cheating, greed, selfishness, no love or compassion for the poor and needy. Because of sin in every human being, all human was unrighteous and sinful in God’s eyes.

None of their sacrifices of bulls or goats nor money could make a man become righteous in the sight of God. No man could be justified in the sight of God, because of their righteousness sake.

God sent His ONLY begotten son Jesus Christ into this world so that ANYONE who believes in Him should not perish, but should receive everlasting life. If ANYONE believes in JESUS and asks Him to forgive their sins, He being God himself has the power to forgive sins. Only the true God can forgive the sins of mankind. Jesus being God who came to earth in the form of human alone has the power to forgive our  sins.

JESUS – the meaning of the name is – the one who saves the people from their sins.

JESUS said –      ‘I AM THE WAY,

I AM THE TRUTH,

I AM THE LIFE.

No man cometh to the Father (the only true God), but by me. –  John 14:6

 

 Jesus said –       ‘My peace I leave with you.

My peace I give unto you.

My peace is not as the peace which the world give to you.

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. – John 14 : 27

 

Jesus alone can give the true peace. He is willing to give this peace to anyone who follows Him.

JESUS is the ONLY way to heaven.

Jesus came to the world to save people from their sins. Jesus took all our sins upon Him and died on the cross.

There was no sin in Him, no not even one. For the sake of sinners like me and you, He died a painful and shameful death on the cross.

We are born sinners, hence we need a Saviour to free us from our life long sins.

After his death, Jesus rose again after three days. Now He is in heaven at the right hand of the Heavenly Father, the Creator God.

 

Be truthful to yourself and do repent of your sins. Pray to Jesus. He knows our heart.

He has promised in His word – in the Holy bible.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness..

For it is not possible that the blood of goats and bulls should take away sins.

Without shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin. In JESUS alone, we have redemption from our sins through His blood shed on the cross, and the forgiveness of sins and complete freedom from sin’s bondage on us.

The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

With repentance tell all your sins to Jesus. Jesus understands all your needs. He will forgive and all your sins will be cleansed. You will receive eternal life and you can be assured that you are in the right way to heaven.

 

 




Why there must be a God?

Why there must be a God?

Nature is so beautiful. The beauty of the rivers, flowers, sea, sun, moon , stars, rainbow just reveal the majesty of the Creator. The human body itself is so complex and at the same time functions so perfectly in sync. The different types of cells in our body, the composition of the cells, even the minute components within the cells having distinct function it all reveals the infinite wisdom of the creator.

A dish just doesn’t come together in the kitchen. No where we see machines getting assembled by itself. Even in the automotive or aerospace industry, the assembly lines are carefully planned and designed. A thing of order is the result of someone acting behind it. Any explosion just results in a mess, not in anything so orderly. The earth has been rotating on its axis for the same time, for many centuries. If the earth choose to change its direction of rotation, or duration for revolution the mankind would be widely impacted. But seasons still come at the destined time.. just showing it’s all scheduled by the Creator. 

After the great flood at Noah’s times, God said

While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

But the Lord is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: 

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

To The Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.

God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;

That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.

Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:

Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways.

Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.

There is a living God who is behind the existence of the creation..

 

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

 




Acceptance from others

Acceptance from others

Don’t we all yearn for acceptance from others.. When someone appreciates what we did, when we are respected amongst the family members, in the office when recognised by our managers and peers, doesn’t it make us feel good. And motivates us to strive better so that we maintain or gain more acceptance..

Its within us humans.. from childhood itself we look for acceptance within our own group. we try to look better, try to be the smart and cool one in the group, to be the intelligent one in the group. From childhood itself we feel the peer pressure. 

But haven’t we noticed that the acceptance of others keep fluctuating.. today someone says good about you, you feel that you are much valued and loved by your family.. but then there are other days where some harsh words just spoil the day.. some day someone just love the dish which you prepared, other days things don’t turn out well and it just spoils the mood.. the root cause being that others didn’t like the dish which you made.. looking for acceptance from others tend to have a strong grip on our lives.. strong enough to dictate the direction which we take in our lives..

Definitely listening to others opinions is valuable.. especially from a loved one, some who is a well wisher of ours.. yes definitely listen and if its the right thing to do incorporate in our lives.. But trying to please everyone, trying to be well accepted by others and then it dictating the course of our life is not the right path to pursue..

Only God’s love is unconditional.

The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. – Jeremiah 31:3

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Human love changes with emotions, mood swings…. But God’s love never changes. He loves us unconditionally.. And He showed us His love by sending His Son Jesus to save us from our sins.. Be sure of this one thing – If you are a child of God, no matter whatever happens God loves you..

14 But Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.

15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee. – Jeremiah 31:3

 

 




Does God listen to prayers only of Christians?

Does God listen to prayers only of Christians?

Cornelius was not a Christian…

 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,

A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway.

He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius.

And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.

And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter:

He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

And when the angel which spake unto Cornelius was departed, he called two of his household servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;

And when he had declared all these things unto them, he sent them to Joppa.

On the morrow, as they went on their journey, and drew nigh unto the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour:

10 And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,

11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending upon him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:

12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

13 And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat.

14 But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean.

15 And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

16 This was done thrice: and the vessel was received up again into heaven.

17 Now while Peter doubted in himself what this vision which he had seen should mean, behold, the men which were sent from Cornelius had made enquiry for Simon’s house, and stood before the gate,

18 And called, and asked whether Simon, which was surnamed Peter, were lodged there.

19 While Peter thought on the vision, the Spirit said unto him, Behold, three men seek thee.

20 Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

21 Then Peter went down to the men which were sent unto him from Cornelius; and said, Behold, I am he whom ye seek: what is the cause wherefore ye are come?

22 And they said, Cornelius the centurion, a just man, and one that feareth God, and of good report among all the nation of the Jews, was warned from God by an holy angel to send for thee into his house, and to hear words of thee.

23 Then called he them in, and lodged them. And on the morrow Peter went away with them, and certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him.

24 And the morrow after they entered into Caesarea. And Cornelius waited for them, and he had called together his kinsmen and near friends.

25 And as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, and fell down at his feet, and worshipped him.

26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.

27 And as he talked with him, he went in, and found many that were come together.

28 And he said unto them, Ye know how that it is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew to keep company, or come unto one of another nation; but God hath shewed me that I should not call any man common or unclean.

29 Therefore came I unto you without gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for: I ask therefore for what intent ye have sent for me?

30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,

31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

32 Send therefore to Joppa, and call hither Simon, whose surname is Peter; he is lodged in the house of one Simon a tanner by the sea side: who, when he cometh, shall speak unto thee.

33 Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.

34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

35 But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

36 The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:)

37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;

38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

43 To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.

45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,

47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?

48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

 




Why Jesus had to die?

Why Jesus had to die?

Being born into a non-Christian family, as a child my first observation of Jesus was Him hung on a cross. Why Jesus, the Christian God was hung on a cross – with his face bowed down and his hands and feet pierced to the cross? As a child my mind couldn’t comprehend why the Christian God is like this. I didn’t ponder over it much as well. Many a times I saw the sculpture again and it was just impressed to my mind, but not giving much thought to it.

Why Jesus had to die? Wasn’t it sufficient to just come to earth, display His power as God and then go back to heaven? Why this cruel death on the cross??

My question as a child – Why Jesus the Christian God was hung on the cross? Why he had to die?

Now no longer a child, and having many years of experience in life, I think I understand why Jesus had to die…

All of us know of the Adam Eve story in which they ate the forbidden fruit. 

13 And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

14 And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. – Leviticus 17:11

they pierced my hands and my feet. – psalm 22:16

14 As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: – Isaiah 52:14

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.

11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

In the Old Testament and Tanakh (Jewish Bible), Jesus’ death was prophesied years before He came to earth as a man.

Romans 3

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. – Hebrews 7

14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.

17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

18 Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.

19 For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,

20 Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.

21 Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.

22 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

25 Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;

26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins.

But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year.

For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.

Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.

Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;

Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.

28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:

18 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.

19 And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was Jesus Of Nazareth The King Of The Jews.

28 After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.

29 Now there was set a vessel full of vinegar: and they filled a spunge with vinegar, and put it upon hyssop, and put it to his mouth.

30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week

13 And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs.

14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

15 And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?

19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.

21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.

22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;

23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.

24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.

25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?

27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,

34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

35 And they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them in breaking of bread.

36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.

41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?

42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.

43 And he took it, and did eat before them.

44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.