THE DEITY OF CHRIST: HIS WARNING

Having previously gone through the book of Revelation, lets turn our attention to the Apostle John’s first work – the book of John a.k.a. the Gospel of John. The book of John is one of the most mystical books in the Bible. John probes its depths of mysteriousness, hidden meaning and revelation, explaining Jesus as the “Word” of Creation; using the term “I AM” right out of the story of the burning bush; and following the liturgy of the Passover. If one looks closely, it can be noticed that so much of John’s message and style is contained in both books. It would seem fitting to me that they could have been called “First and Second Revelation of Jesus Christ.”

John’s Gospel (book of John) reveals the deity of Christ in His first Advent and the revelation (book of Revelation) presents the deity of Christ in his Second Advent. John’s Gospel (book of John) is woven around the Spring festivals of Passover, Unleavened Bread and Firstfruits, while the book of Revelation is woven around the Autumn festivals of Trumpets, Atonement and Tabernacles.

Each corresponding chapter expounds upon identical themes, thus pointing us to the inescapable conclusion that not only was the Apostle John the author of both books, but that they are also Divinely inspired books. This Providential anomaly was expounded upon in two previous articles titled DUPLICATIONS OF DESIGN BETWEEN JOHN AND REVELATION: IS IT BY DIVINE DESIGN? and DUPLICATIONS OF DESIGN BETWEEN JOHN AND REVELATION 2: JOHN’S THREE VIEWS OF THE ANTICHRIST. In chapter 1 of the Gospel (book of John), Christ is presented as the eternal “Word” – the Logos who, “in the beginning,” created “all things.” In chapter 1 of the Revelation (book of Revelation), Christ is presented as the “Alpha and Omega,” who “was and … is and … is to come, the Almighty.” Furthermore, both chapters speak of 7 lights. They expound the same identical themes.

In chapter 2 of the Gospel (book of John), John tells us first about a wedding, then about cleansing the Temple. In chapter 2 of the Revelation (book of Revelation), John records the letter to Ephesus, as a bride who has left her “first love” and continues with letters to the churches, in which Christ says, “I have somewhat against thee.” Both chapters expound the same identical themes.

In chapter 3 of the Gospel (book of John), Jesus speaks to Nicodemus, a religious leader; then John the Baptist refers to Jesus as the Bridegroom and those who believe as the bride. In chapter 3 of the Revelation (book of Revelation), the letter continues – addressed to the “angels” or leaders of the churches, who represent the bride. Again, these two chapters expound the same identical themes.

Since this subject has already been written about extensively in previous postings on this site, I will move on to other aspects of John’s Gospel (book of John). But we cannot leave this subject without once again calling your attention to the identical theme of chapter 19. In John 19, Jesus is seen wearing a crown of thorns. And in Revelation 19, Jesus is seen wearing a royal crown.

This duplication in design is apparent in every chapter throughout both books, and worthy of your attention.

Believe And Live

We’ll notice that the Apostle John uses two key words throughout the Gospel – “believe,” used 98 times, and “live,” used 36 times.

I am sure you are familiar with the Bible’s most famous verse …

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

The message is clear: “believe and live.” The alternative is not a pleasant one. The alternative is to remain in disbelief and spiritually die – or what the Apostle John refers to as the “Second Death” (Revelation 2:11, Revelation 20:6, Revelation 20:14-15 and Revelation 21:8). The theme of “believe and live” runs throughout the entire book of John. In chapter 20, John writes …

“And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God: and that believing you might have life through his name” (John 20:30-31).

Presenting Deity

John’s main purpose in both the Gospel (book of John) and the Revelation (book of Revelation) is to present the Godhood of Jesus. He was no mere man. He existed from eternity past. He was the very one who stood on the brink of nothingness and called the worlds into existence.

Jesus is indeed Deity. Over and over again throughout the Gospel (book of John), John emphasizes that theme. It is the very reason why Jesus was rejected and crucified.

Every time Jesus referred to himself as the “Son” of God, or that God was his “Father,” the Jews would riot. This occurred over and over again in John’s Gospel. Their main complaint to Pilate was that Jesus claimed to be the the “Son of God” (John 19:7).

Before continuing further below, take a moment and review the passages in which John presents the deity of Christ. Read them carefully …

In John 1:10, John tells us: “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.”

In John 1:34, John the Baptist gave this testimony: “I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.”

In John 1:41-42, Andrew tells Peter, “We have found the Messiah … and he brought him to Jesus.”

In John 1:49, Nathaniel declared, “Thou art the Son of God; Thou art the King of Israel.”

In John 2:11, “after turning the water into wine, John writes: “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.”

In John 2:23, John tells us that “many believed … when they saw the miracles that he did.”

In John 3:16, Jesus tells Nicodemus that he is “the only begotten Son.”

In John 3:34-36, John the Baptist said of Jesus: “God gives not the Spirit by measure unto him … the father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand … He that believes on the Son has everlasting life.”

In John 4:14, Jesus told the Samaritan woman, “whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst … a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”

In John 4:25-26, the Samaritan woman said, “I know that Messiah comes … Jesus said unto her, I that speak unto you am he.”

In John 4:42, the men of Samaria said, “Now we believe … that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”

In John 4:49-50, a nobleman said, “Sir, come down ere my child die. Jesus said unto him, Go your way, your son lives. And the man believed …”

In John 5:18, we are told that the Jews wanted to “kill him, because he not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.”

In John 5:39, Jesus said, “Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”

In John 6:35, Jesus said, “I am the bread of life: he that comes to me shall never hunger; and he that believes on me shall never thirst.”

In John 6:38, Jesus said, “I came down from Heaven.”

In John 6:47, Jesus said, “He that believes on me has everlasting life.”

In John 6:69, Peter said, “We believe and are sure that you are that Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

In John 7:38-39, Jesus said, “He that believes on me … out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water … But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.”

In John 7:46, the officers sent to arrest Jesus returned without him and said, “Never man spake like this man.”

In John 8:12, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world: he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

In John 8:23, Jesus said, “I am from above … I am not of this world.”

In John 8:58, Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I am.”

In John 9:35-38, Jesus found the man who was healed of blindness and said, “Do you believe on the Son of God? He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him. And Jesus said unto him, You have both seen him, and it is he that talks with you. And he said, Lord, I believe.”

In John 10:9, Jesus said, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

In John 10:11,17 and 18, Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd gives his life for the sheep … Therefore does my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.”

In John 10:27-28, Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give to them eternal life; and they shall never perish.”

In John 10:30,31 and 33, Jesus said, “I and my Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him … saying, For a good work we stone you not; but for blasphemy; and because that you, being a man, make yourself God.”

In John 10:40-42, Jesus went out to the Jordan River where John once baptized. People flocked to hear him. The Apostle John writes: “… All things that John spake of this man were true. And many believed on him there.”

In John 11:25, Jesus told Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die.”

In John 11:45, Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead, “Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.”

The Passion Week

The previous eleven chapters covered a period of three-and-a-half years. With chapter twelve, we begin John’s review of the last week that ended in crucifixion and resurrection.

John chooses to cover only 20 days in the ministry of Jesus – but enough to show us the obvious essay of his Godhood.

In John 12:13, Jesus made his triumphal entry into the holy city. The people welcomed him, saying, “Blessed is the King of Israel that comes in the name of the Lord.”

In John 12:32, Jesus said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”

In John 12:37-40, John tells us that even though Jesus had performed so many miracles, yet many people did not believe on him … “That the saying of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled … he has blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted.”

A few verses later, in John 12:46, Jesus said, “I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believes on me should not abide in darkness.”

In John 13:18-19, Jesus told his disciples, “He that eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me. Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, you may believe that I am he.”

John 14:1-6, Jesus tells the disciples that the Father’s house has many mansions … that he is going to prepare a place for them. He promises to return for them someday. Answering a question by Thomas, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father, but by me.”

The Savior is now focused on the events of the next day. He gives some instruction to his disciples, but in John 16:12, Jesus said, “I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now.”

In chapter 17, Jesus talks to the Father. It is an intimate conversation between the Father and the Son, concerning what is about to happen. In chapter 18, John tells us that they arrive at Gethsemane. But John does not record the agony, only the betrayal.

In John 18:4-6, Judas approaches with soldiers and Jesus asks, “Whom do you seek? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus said to them, I am!” Notice the “he” is in italics in the KJV, meaning it is not there in the Greek. Jesus was actually invoking the statement that he had made to Moses from the burning bush fifteen centuries before. As Jesus says, “I AM,” the soldiers “went backward, and fell to the ground.”

In John 18:33-36, Jesus faces Pontius Pilate … who asks him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answers, “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from here.” Pilate repeats his question, “Are you a king then?” Jesus answered, “To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world.”

After scourging, Pilate questions Jesus again. In John 19:7, his accusers tell Pilate, “We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.” Upon hearing this, Pilate becomes even “more afraid.” Earlier, Pilate’s wife had told him that she had suffered a dream about Jesus and begged him not to condemn the Savior. Pilate asked Jesus, “Where are you from?” Receiving no answer, he chides, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have ^power to crucify You, and power to release You?” Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against me, except it were given to you from above.”

Through all of this, Jesus is in complete control of the situation. At no time is he defeated. He has come to Earth to die for the sins of all men and women – from the sin of Adam and Eve in the past to the last person yet to be born into this world. He must die if we are to obtain eternal life. To be clear, this is not to say that eternal life is automatically bestowed upon every human being who traverses the road of life and then exits. It is not. Eternal life is offered to all men and women through what Christ willingly did upon the cross, but it will only be possessed by those who willingly and consciously receive it through belief upon him – and as a result, call upon him for the salvation that he offers. It is not automatically bestowed upon those who remain in unbelief and conscious rejection of him. It is a conscious and active faith, and not works.

The Archaeological Evidence of Jesus’ Deity: The World’s First Selfie

In John 19:19, we have the documentation that Pilate inscribed on the cross of Jesus’ crucifixion the words that identify him …

“And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS” (John 19:19).

When speaking about the subject matter of demonstrating Jesus’ deity to the skeptical yet open mind, it is rather derelict in duty to not discuss the most powerful piece of evidence in existence – especially with the advent of modern technology. This amazing piece of evidence is known all over the world as the “Shroud of Turin.” It is a burial cloth believed to be the burial shroud of Jesus that was used after his crucifixion. It is kept in a cathedral in the city of Turin in Italy. It is said to have become the most studied artifact in Western civilization. Since in-depth and hard scientific study and observation first began on this large piece of cloth, scientists have now presented undeniable evidence that it is none other than the burial cloth of Jesus. What is most striking about this cloth is that it bears the imprint of a man who has been severely beaten and crucified. The image below is an actual photographic negative of the man imprinted on the cloth.

The long-held theories that the Shroud of Turin is a painting have long been debunked and dis-proven. With the advent of modern technology, evidence emerged showing us that the image of the man on the Shroud was formed from an incredibly powerful burst of light that originated from within the body itself. That same scientific evidence reveals that the image contains 3D information. A painting or picture does not contain this type of information as was revealed when put under the scrutiny of science – such as the VP image analyzer which was first developed back in the 1970s. The scientists who first studied and examined the cloth revealed that a painting or picture will appear distorted when examined by this technology. But this does not happen with the Shroud image. Instead, what we see under the scrutiny of modern science and technology is a 3-dimensional image. Evidence reveals that the body of the man in the Shroud was floating in mid-air away from the cloth in an upright position. In other words, it is the world’s first photograph – a photo taken supernaturally showing the resurrection of Jesus in progress. A more detailed 3-D image of the Shroud can be seen below from different angles. What is striking about the image is not only the obvious dimensionality of the image on this cloth, but the fact that this 3 dimensionality is the actual information embedded within the image on the cloth itself being revealed through technology. Many have said that the information contained within the image is holographic. It is not someone’s made up portrait of what the image would look like in 3 dimensions.

That said, notice that the hair is flowing down to the sides of the head and not splayed – such as it would appear if he were laying down. Some have said that this is indicative of someone floating in mid-air and not laying down directly on the cloth, but floating in front of the cloth while not quite touching it completely.

Modern scholars talk about the “man in the shroud” but seem reluctant to take the position that the crucified man is Jesus. But, the late Dr. Alan Whanger of Duke University, developing a special technique using polarized lenses to study the shroud, found the Greek letters for “Nazareth” apparently photographed into the fibers of the cloth.

The letters appear to be from the title board that was placed above Jesus’ head on the cross. The Latin term for this board is “titulus.” It seems that the sign was laid beside the left leg of Jesus at burial, and was under the shroud at the time the image was formed on the fibers of the shroud – which was at the moment of his resurrection.

Dr. Whanger says …

“Helena, mother of Constantine the Great, went to Jerusalem in the early 4th century to search for the holy places. She reportedly found the tomb with objects in it, including the titulus with the words, ‘Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews’ in three languages – Hebrew, Greek and Latin. She divided the board, sending one to Constantinople, and taking the other to Rome where it presently resides in the ‘Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem.'”

The wooden fragment is kept in a silver chest. It measures approximately 5.2 inches high by 9.2 inches wide. Its letters are gouged into the wood by some sort of stylus,, and then filled with a still-discernible red paint.

Amazingly, Dr. Whanger found that its letters match those found on the shroud. Now we know. The image of the “crucified man” on the shroud has been identified. He is none other than Jesus Christ.

One cannot get a better testimony for Jesus’ deity than that. John includes it in this Gospel because his theme is consistent throughout. Jesus is the Messiah – the Son of God. When confronted with the statement in John 19:22, Pilate tells Christ’s accusers, “What I have written, I have written.”

In John 20:8-9, Peter and John rush to the empty tomb. John stops at the entrance, but Peter goes on in. They find the shroud and the napkin, but no body …

“Then went in also that other disciple (John), which came first to the sepulcher, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead” (John 20:8-9).

That evening, Jesus met with the fearful disciples. In John 20:20, Jesus showed them his hands and side – “Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.” But of course, Thomas was not there. When told, he refused to believe. He still doubted the deity of Christ. But the next week, when Jesus appeared again, this time with Thomas there, the doubter Thomas exclaimed, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28).

All of these brief verses, excluding the story that surrounds each of them, show quite clearly that Jesus is not a mere man. He is not just a poor preacher from rural Galilee. He is the Heaven-sent Son of God. John concludes in verses 30 and 31 …

“And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through his name.”

Jesus’ Deity Seen in the Human Chromosome and DNA

In the picture above, you are looking at a photograph of human chromosomes. Notice their shape. It looks like God has produced the sign of the cross in man’s smallest packages of DNA. Chromosomes are complex structures formed by tightly coiling a very long piece of double-stranded DNA. Each human cell holds about six feet of DNA tightly wrapped up in our chromosomes.

Using a high-resolution atomic force microscope, a group of scientists years ago at the University of Bristol (England) photographed the chromosomes in a single human cell. The image above is that resulting photograph.

Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) produced a topographic image of the surface by raster scanning a sharp probe over the specimen and recording the changes in height. To represent changes in height, a color-map was used. In this example, the purple/pink regions are the highest points, with the green/yellow background being lower. These strands of DNA contain the genetic information in the form of 4 bases – A, C, G and T – that has been “read” by the teams in the Human Genome Project.

The atomic force microscope is also able to image DNA at very high resolution – far smaller than the human eye or any optical microscope can see. The smallest details that can be seen using optical microscopes are governed by the wavelength of the light being used. But science has developed a microscope that can see DNA – chromosomes in the shape of crosses.

When considering the human cell that these crossed-shaped chromosomes are contained within, the name of the substance that holds our cells together is a protein called laminin. Like a type of glue, laminin promotes the cell adhesion. Heart cells stick together to pump blood while other cells stick together to form the vessels. Muscles, brain, bones, digestive organs, lungs, and more are held together because of this one central protein. Without laminin, you would fall apart.

As seen under an electron microscope, the molecule has three short arms and one long arm with a striking resemblance to a cross.

If this sounds familiar, consider what the Apostle Paul wrote …

“And he is before all things, and by him all things consist” (Colossians 1:17). Some versions of the Bible translate this verse as all things “hold together.” These cross-shaped laminine proteins literally holds our cells together.

Hollywood’s View of Jesus

Many Hollywood movies portray Christ as befuddled about his mission. Years ago, in ABC’s television movie called Judas, there is a scene where Judas commends Jesus for overturning the moneychanger’s tables, to which Jesus replies, “I just lost my temper. I shouldn’t have done that.” Later, Jesus gives the money bag to Judas, asking him to take care of it, saying, “I am no good with keeping up with money. I don’t have the ability to keep the books. I have a tendency to spend, spend, spend!” Such rhetoric is nonsense. Hollywood downplays deity – the omniscience (all-knowing) and the omnipresence (all power) of Jesus. Never was Christ befuddled. Never was he less than completely competent. He was/is the Creator of the entire universe – and the Creator of all things …

“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 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: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist” (Colossians 1:14-17).

In Hollywood’s worst movie, The Last Temptation of Christ, Jesus is seen saying, “The devil lives in me. I want to lie, steal, kill … have a woman, but I am afraid!” In a documentary that aired on NBC’s Dateline with Stone Phillips years ago, Phillips interviewed a handful of so-called “theologians” about various aspects of the crucifixion. Two of them were admitted skeptics. The thrust of the entire program set out to discredit the accuracy of the Gospels.

Phillips discussed so-called “inconsistencies” with skeptics, Paula Fredriksen, Ph.D., Aurelio Professor of Scriptures at Boston University, and skeptic John Dominic Crossan, D.D., Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at DePaul University. Phillips opened the program by describing Jesus as “a Jewish preacher from a small town in rural Galilee, an area known for its political activism.” He said, “He traveled the countryside reaching out to the common people, including the outcasts, the unpopular and downtrodden of his time.” A careful analysis of these opening statements sets forth the concept that Jesus was a “nobody” who appealed to “nobodies.” To hear Stone Phillips talk, one would think that Jesus was nothing more than a deranged political activist campaigning for the office of king.

Marcus Borg, Ph.D. from Oregon State University chimed in: “Jesus preached the kingdom of God – what the kingdom would be like “… if I were king and those other guys were not.” Dominic Crossan agreed: “When Jesus talked about the kingdom of God, he was saying, as clearly as he could … ‘In your face, Ceasar!’ The most direct challenge possible – a frontal attack.”

The thought they conveyed was that Jesus was deliberately stirring up a political hornet’s nest.

Inconsistencies?

Now, here comes the so-called “inconsistencies.” Stone Phillips posed the theory: “When scholars try to use the Gospels historically, problems emerge. The writers sometimes offered different accounts, and the earliest book was written at least 30 years after Jesus’ death.” Then he said, “Scholars Dominic Crossan and Paula Fredriksen view the books skeptically.” Phillips continued: “Was Jesus arrested by the Temple Guards or Roman soldiers?” The Gospels offer different accounts. In Matthew and Mark, Jesus was tried by the Sanhedrin. But scholars say the scenario is unlikely – that despite his popularity, a rural preacher like Jesus would not have rated such a high-level proceeding, especially not in the dead of night during a major religious festival like Passover.”

The camera then switches to Paula Fredriksen: “It’s a lot like the Supreme Court meeting twice between nightfall and morning of Christmas. It’s impossible as depicted in the Gospels, historically, and it’s also inconsistent in the Gospels’ traditions.”

Of course, no alternate view of this concept was aired. It just became a foregone conclusion that the Gospels were wrong – that they had been written at least 30 years after the fact and memories were clouded. The network was sending a strong message that the audience should also be skeptical of the Gospels.

Then Phillips asked: “So, what did happen? Was there a scaled-down hearing before Caiaphas? Dominic Crossen agreed: “Caiaphas’ job was to collaborate with the Roman authorities. I don’t see any reason to demonize him. That’s what he has to do. If he doesn’t, he’s be fired and someone else would take his place.” No one presented a view that the Gospels might be accurate and Divinely inspired – that they were not simply recollections of events from the dusty past. Later, Phillips will say that the each succeeding Gospel was a “revision” of the story. But that accusation will wait until the audience is prepared to accept it.

Moving on, Stone Phillips said, “John doesn’t record a Jewish trial, leaving some scholars wondering whether it happened at all.” Fredriksen agreed: “Brief stop. That’s it. No trial. Phillips continued: “Pilate washed his hand in just one Gospel account, leaving scholars to doubt whether it really happened that way.” It is obvious throughout this documentary up to this point that there is no balanced reporting here. He said, “leaving scholars to doubt …” What scholars is Phillips talking about? It sounds like no one has a choice but to “doubt” the accuracy of the Gospels.

Fredriksen then added her two cents worth: “He was so popular that he had to be arrested by ambush. That was the only way they could get him without risking a popular uproar. And yet, by morning, there’s a hostile crowd screaming for his death. Where does this hostile crown come from? Did it really exist?

Phillips chimes in: “It doesn’t matter!“

Fredriksen chimes in: “It doesn’t square. If this were a script for a Law & Order episode, you’d say, ‘Wait a minute!’ This is inconsistent and that’s where you’d have to sort through.”

These skeptics are talking as if there was no deliberate orchestration of events. Though we do not know what happened to the enthusiastic crowd who welcomed Jesus earlier in the week, the skeptics cannot simply deny that the crowd who called for his crucifixion didn’t exist. The “Pavement,” as it was called, was relatively small. It didn’t have to hold more than a few hundred paid rabble-rousers. Stone Phillips would have us to doubt the accuracy of the scriptures. If he can do that, he could accomplish the same feat that the serpent in the Garden of Eden managed by saying, “Hath God said …? Well, he didn’t exactly mean you would die!” Just throw in a little doubt and you destroy one’s hope for eternal life. It doesn’t take much doubt to keep a person from receiving Christ as Savior.

Then, Stone Phillips continued: “And there is something else that doesn’t square with some scholars: the notion that Pilate would have been persuaded by the whims of any crowd. Ancient historians describe him as an unyielding tyrant, known for cruelty, thievery and executions without trial.”

Dominic Crossan chimed in: “Pilate had his own way of crowd control – known as ‘slaughter.’ He is not the Pilate of the Gospels … the first person who’s just trying to be a good governor, but the crowd won’t let him go so he finally gives in. That is absolutely unhistorical.”

So, Crossan basically just called the Bible a pack of lies. Of course, the alternate view is not even given. The audience is left with the notion that Pilate could not have been a man of wisdom. He had to be a thoughtless tyrant. Remember, this is the same skeptic who said that Caiaphas was just doing his job, and that he would not want to demonize him. Now, Dominic Crossan is willing to demonize Pilate. Ironically, you can see here that the skeptic himself is inconsistent.

To be sure, Pilate was not a nice guy. But one most certainly should believe the scriptural account of his actions – the vacillation and indecision; the warning of his wife that she had a dream about Jesus being a just man; his statement, “I find no wrong in him;” and the washing of his hands.

If you will investigate the demeanor and character of various Roman centurions in the Gospels and the book of Acts, you will find that they rose in the ranks of the Roman military by being men of deep thought and wisdom. The leaders of the Roman establishment were men of intelligence and reason. There was the centurion who came to Jesus because his servant was sick. There was the centurion at the cross who said, “Truly, this was the Son of God.” There was the centurion who called for Peter to come up to Ceasarea and tell him how to obtain eternal life. He was a man of compassion who gave alms to the poor. Why should we relegate Pilate to the position of a cruel barbarian when those around him aspired to be noble and wise? One can conclude that it pained him to condemn Jesus. John tells us that when Pilate heard that Jesus claimed to be the “Son of God,” he was afraid (John 19:7-8). I am sure Pilate was educated in the customs of the Jewish religion. He knew about the prophecies of a Jewish messiah. The thought that he was in the presence of Deity frightened him. How can the skeptics be so cavalier about denying the accuracy of the Gospels?

Now, Stone Phillips comes in for the kill. He will blame the Gospels for anti-Semitism. He asks: “What really happened that day? Who was to blame? Where does anti-Semitism come from?” Then he answers the questions by blaming the Gospel accounts: “From the Gospels themselves. If you read the four books in the order that they were most likely written, Jewish culpability increases with each revision. Take for example the scene with Pilate and the crowd …”

The camera then switches to Dominic Crossan: “You can watch the crowd expand and metastasize before your eyes. From Mark, where it starts as a “crowd” to Matthew “crowds” to “all the people” in ten verses … and then on to John where it becomes “the Jews.”

First, Phillips says that each Gospel was a revision of the previous one. He doesn’t take into account that they follow the four levels of biblical interpretation, each with its own unique message and viewpoint of the actual and same events. But if they can convince you that they are “revisions,” then their next level of thinking is to make you believe that the “crowd” becomes “crowds,” then “all the people,” then “the Jews” – as if John finally blamed all the Jews of all ages.

Never mind that John doesn’t even mention the Jewish trial before the Sanhedrin or Herod that the other Gospels record. Never mind that John was personally acquainted with the priesthood, and especially the high priest. In John 18:15, we are told that an unnamed “disciple was known unto the high priest, and went in with Jesus into the palace of the high priest.” That “disciple” was John himself. We can determine from his Gospel and his Revelation that John was intimately acquainted with the priesthood and their services. John would not have blamed all the Jews. He reported in John 9:41 that Jesus said, “If you were blind, you should have no sin.” John is fully aware that the Jews were spiritually blinded – unable to understand that Jesus was the Son of God. Even his own disciples were kept in the dark about his death and resurrection until after Christ had risen.

Now, Stone Phillips tries to soften his accusation against the Gospels, “Matthew, Mark, Luke and John didn’t mean to blame the Jews, it just came out that way.” He continues … “Those revisions were not overt acts of anti-Semitism. Three of the authors were Jewish themselves. Instead, scholars see them as by-products of the times. The Gospels were written decades after the crucifixion when the earliest Christians were trying to break away from Judaism and shield their budding religion from the watchful eye of Rome.”

Finally, the program concludes with skeptic Paula Fredriksen saying: “The message of the crucifixion is directed to the pilgrims: ‘You’re wrong. He’s not the Messiah.'”

Her statement at the end lets us know the true intent of the entire program. Its producers did not want the world to know that Jesus Christ is the very Son of God – and that he was God incarnate in a human body that came to Earth – and that if we believe that fact and personally receive him by trusting him for forgiveness of sin by faith, we can have eternal life. The entire program, as is the case with most all others of its kind including Hollywood movies, attempted to discredit Christianity. This is so entirely typical of an unbelieving world. They propose the exact opposite of what John was trying to convey: “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.” If we believe in Jesus and personally trust him and receive him by calling on him for forgiveness of sin past, present and future, we can live forever. That is the message of John.

The Metaphysical Message

The Gospel of John is presented with such simplicity that the book is printed by itself and given to new converts. New believers are encouraged to read John’s Gospel first, then branch out to the rest of the Bible. And yet, there is a metaphysical aspect to John’s depth. If we look just beneath the surface, we find that John’s presentation of the deity of Christ probes the very depths of spiritual truths and reality. Leon Morris once said, “I like the comparison of John’s Gospel to a pool in which a child may wade and an elephant can swim. It is both simple and profound.”

Profound indeed. As the book of John is completely explored chapter by chapter, we will be able to see the Deity of the Savior, Jesus Christ – the one whom every man and woman will stand before on the day of judgment when this life is over and give an accounting for our lives. For the saved Christian, it will be a glorious day of receiving or losing rewards in the coming kingdom. For the unsaved Christ rejector, it will be a day of utter shock and horror at the realization of their fate in the afterlife.

The world’s view about Christ expressed through these movies and documentaries represent nothing less than an all-out attack and assault on Christianity and on the deity of Christ himself. But regardless of any of that, to this day, he is still God who sits in the heavens and continues to be long-suffering to all so that none would perish, but that all would come to repentance and receive eternal life through him. However, there is soon coming a day when Jesus himself will return to Earth – not as the meek and mild Jesus that paid for the sins of humanity the first time around, but as a lion exacting revenge and Divine wrath upon a wicked Christ-rejecting world.

WHO DO MEN SAY THAT I AM? – YOUR ONLY WAY INTO HEAVEN

During Christ’s sojourn here on Earth, there is no more important question that he ever asked man such is found in Matthew chapter 16. As I have stated previously in another posting, when Jesus asks a question, he is not looking for information. He already has the answer for he is Deity. He is the God that created all. He is asking the question for the illumination of the human soul that resides in darkness – to bring it into the light …

“When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:13-18).

Upon your belief and answer to this most important question asked by Christ himself hinges the destiny of your very soul … literally. Why? Here’s what Jesus said – the one before whom all men and women must stand before on judgment day and give an account …

“And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. 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 8:23-24).

Here, the God of the universe and of all creation declares in no uncertain terms that if you do not believe that he is who he said he is and reject him for the payment of your state of sin (lost spiritual condition) inherited from the first man Adam, you have no chance of ever entering into Heaven. That is the clear message of Jesus’ question. This is why he asked directly … “Who do you say that I am? He is asking you personally right now. It will not matter that you think he was “just a good man” on judgment day. “Just a good man” you can ignore. He specifically said that unless you believe that he is “he” which is from above, then you will die in your lost spiritual condition. Again, he is not asking because he needs information. He is asking in order to illuminate your soul and to reveal a truth to you. That truth that he wishes to reveal to you is that he is God and that he incarnated himself in a physical body when he came to Earth the first time to be crucified to pay the price for your personal redemption. The other truth he wishes to reveal is that he is the creator of the universe – thus the Son of God – and that without him, you have no chance of entering Heaven when this life is said and done. Since God sees and knows the heart of every human being on planet Earth at all times, he is right now presently viewing yours …

“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him …” (2 Chronicles 16:9).

Upon your heart’s answer to that all-important question hangs your very soul. If he is just a good man in history to you, then you have no hope of eternal life. He is asking you to believe on him as the Son of God who came and payed your sin debt in full. But he is not a cosmic rapist. He will not force himself on you. He gives you the freedom of choice to believe on him and receive him, or reject him. The choice is yours.

The Choice of Unbelief And Rejection: The Result And Destination

A Doctor and a minister/teacher of the Gospel message of salvation through Christ are similar to each other in many respects. A doctor knows that when his patient is desperately ill, he must immediately operate in order to save the patients life. The operation may be gruesome and the physician may not want to do it, but he knows that if he doesn’t, the patient will die without the surgery required to save his or her life.

A pastor or teacher of the Gospel message of Christ is like a spiritual doctor. He knows that there is something desperately wrong with the human heart. He also knows (or at least they should know and are supposed to know) that every man and woman ever born is in a dire state of affairs – he or she knows that the spirit of the human soul/spirit is born into a state of spiritual death. It is a state of death that if not operated on with the truth of the Gospel message of Christ to pierce the heart of said soul/spirit, the soul will die a gruesome and tragic death once it leaves the human body and spend a very long time in the afterlife without God. Eventually, it will then be destroyed. These are real people that we walk around day in and day out as we go about our lives. God has already made the diagnosis all the way back into the book of Genesis when Adam and Eve fell in the Garden of Eden and physical and spiritual death fell upon not only them, but also all men and women ever born thereafter.

There is very little teaching in the average modern pulpit down the street about a future place of torment for the lost called Hell. In fact, it is often said that Jesus mentioned a place of suffering in the afterlife for the lost more often than he did about Heaven. This could be said of the Old Testament as well.

In modern times, the concept of a place in the afterlife where people go to suffer is incomprehensible. By today’s modern thinking, Hell is out of date. However, it is most certainly not out of business. Unfortunately for the majority of humanity, Hell is the destiny that awaits the unbelieving Christ rejector. We can factually say this because Jesus himself is the very one who astonishingly reveals that the majority of people are walking down the broad road that leads to destruction:

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:13-14).

Notice the key words here are “many” and “few.” It is a sobering and horrifying view of the state of the masses of humanity. Human beings will not go to Hell because they had a bad start. They will go to Hell because they had a bad finish. In the grand canvas of your mind, imagine evil supernatural beings called demons under the control of a fallen angel we all know as Lucifer a.k.a. the devil/Satan conspiring to deceive mankind and each and every individual within this grand collective of humanity to keep the Gospel message of salvation through Christ a secret. Imagine these evil spirits conspiring together to deceive the minds of the masses of human beings to influence the pastors of a massive number of Churches to tell their congregations that there is no Hell. For some, imagine that these same evil spirits are conspiring together to get many of those same pastors to convince everyone in their congregations that everyone is a “child of God” and that a loving God would never allow anyone to go to such a place so horrible. Imagine that they are conspiring to tell them all to give out the message to their congregants to “think positive.” Imagine them whispering in their ears to tell their congregants that anyone who would dare teach anyone of such a place and that real people will go there after death is a right-wing fundamentalist and is a little cooky for believing such horse manure.

Does that sound a little fanciful? Well, believe it or not, this is exactly what is taking place. The Apostle Paul gives us the picture …

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6:12-20).

The Apostle Paul reveals just such a conspiracy in the opening verses of Ephesians 6. Paul further reveals of these spirits that they are ever-working to tickle the ears of a willing humanity with soothing words and various machinations to convince the masses of the unreality of such a place …

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables” (2 Timothy 4:3-4).

With all of that propaganda, a soul-damning silence and spirit of unbelief has invaded the pulpits of the world – inspired and propagated by the dark side of the supernatural. Not all pulpits of course, but a great many. As a result, the “many” (Matthew 7) now find themselves walking down the broad road that leads to their own destruction. It seems rather infathomable that there are many sitting in churches around the world walking down this road, but yet, Jesus told us that this is indeed the case. Most of humanity really aren’t sitting in churches at all. Some are just walking down the road to perdition without any Church affiliation whatsoever. They are just living life and that is it. Some may even be “religious,” but are in reality still lost and on their way to damnation. But the sobering reality of the damned within church attendance and/or membership is seen in Jesus’ own words to the Apostle John concerning the Church of the Laodiceans in Revelation chapter 3 …

“I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Revelation 3:15-22).

The sobering result of a message being preached and taught in the pulpit without the warning of such a place that awaits all who refuse to trust in Christ but trust in themselves for their security in the hereafter has been the abandonment of soul-winning in the Church at large. I dare say most today who attend such services are infatuated about what God can do for them, not about what God will allow to happen to them through their own personal choice. Alarmingly, Jesus’ Great Commission of soul-winning has become a side issue in the average Church. It has all become about ritual and compromise when it comes to the hard-core warning message that Jesus himself taught and warned about concerning Hell. It is a “feel-good” theology without substance. Abhorrently, it is a theology that will march the masses of humanity straight through the gates of damnation on the day when it is all going to really matter in each individual’s life. It is a theology that is sensuous, soothing and relaxing and strokes the feathers of its adherents and fails to light a fire under the rumps of its adherents.

The logical question that should be asked is, “If people do not believe that there is something to be saved from, then why try to win people to a living Savior? Why go to Church at all? Why bother learning about God at all? Why build Churches at all? Why any of it?

In the aforementioned Matthew 7 narrative of Jesus, he warned that the majority of humanity are on the road to damnation while the minority of humanity are on the path to Heaven. This is a statement that should be setting off alarm bells in your hearing. When one understands who Jesus actually was and is – which was God manifest among men and now is at the right hand of God in Heaven – then his words should be lighting a fire (pardon the pun) under a great many rumps in the world. It is a deadly and tragic mistake for anyone to go along with the majority report of just who Jesus was when the majority of the world fails to realize that he was God incarnate and was sent to Earth in order to provide a way of escape from a bleak afterlife. This is the same majority that is walking down the broad road of Matthew 7. We now live in a day when being politically correct is more important than being spiritually right. Unfortunately for the adherents of this attitude, Jesus made it plain that your chances of ending up at the final destination of damnation while traveling down the road of unbelief are very good indeed. Unfortunately, it is guaranteed.

It is rather easy to end up there. One really doesn’t have to do anything but ignore the Gospel message. Or sit on the sidelines and watch the show and ignore the whole thing. Or shall I say “take a neutral position.” Unfortunately, this attitude is akin to rejection of the Gospel message and rejection of Jesus Christ. Just as unfortunate, it is not a matter of opinion, but of Jesus’ statement. This kind of neutral attitude will not do anything to bring a person’s dead and damned soul to life again and assure a different outcome at death.

Just as unfortunate is the fact that, upon arrival there, there is no escape. Many have been taught that there is something called “Purgatory,” which is a place of temporal punishment in which sinners who are in possession of God’s grace must go to endure temporal punishment for transgressions that did not receive payment during their lives. As the teaching goes, if anyone has any leftover sin, this place called “Purgatory” will purge them of said sin before they reach the gate of Heaven. However, this idea is a false teaching derived from uninspired and false text. History will show that Purgatory is nothing more than a theological fabrication of the Middle Ages in order to dupe the illiterate out of money. Jesus never taught that there is a place of purgatory. The reality is that once a person dies, their destination is fixed and cannot be changed. It’s either Heaven or Hell. There is no in-between place.

Unfortunately, for those who die without having ever received Christ, they will have heard their last Gospel sermon. They will have received their last opportunity to be saved. Once a personal stumbles into the abyss of the damned, in the theatre of your mind, imagine the greatest tormented prayer meeting for God’s deliverance you’ve ever heard inside that land of the lost, but unfortunately and horrificly, not one answer is going to come. It is easy to imagine that such people who find themselves in that place will remember every moment during their personal life on Earth that they had the opportunity to hear or read the Gospel message but rejected it. It will be a place of tormenting remembrance that their current circumstances could have been different – had they only heeded the warning of Jesus and the warning of the brave and toiling soul who went out of their way and put in the effort to warn and communicate that same message of Jesus to avoid this place.

In this posting, you have seen not only the archaeological evidence but also the evidence in creation itself to reveal that Jesus was who he said he was and that he is currently alive and in Heaven looking down upon your decision about him. If you’re reading this and you have not accepted the loving offer of salvation that Jesus offers, it is not too late (yet). Perhaps you are open to the possibility to accept that Jesus really was Deity incarnate who came to rescue those who would personally receive him and the act he committed upon the cross to satisfy God’s just demand for payment for the redemption of your soul. The only payment that could be offered was his blood. He offers the gift of eternal life without cost, without religious rule-keeping, without religious ritual, without making sure that some sin is not committed throughout your life, without works period. He asks you to come to him just as you are without any required preconditions to receive a gift that cannot, and will not, ever be taken away for any reason whatsoever.

As far as hard evidence to the skeptic or anyone who may be on the fence concerning the claims of Christianity or of Christ himself is concerned, the reality of Hell has been demonstrated by observing that the image on the Shroud of Turin is indeed of supernatural origin. This fascinating burial cloth serves to prove his existence and his Deity – which means Hell is real because he spoke of such a place and revealed who will actually go there. To save the lost is the whole reason that he came to Earth to begin with. His very existence as demonstrated and seen in the Shroud of Turin, declares the reality of Hell.

But as always, the choice is yours to receive him or reject him. Choose wisely.

In order to accept the offer of God’s grace and his salvation, you must take the crucial three steps of …

1. Agreeing – A belief and agreeing with God in all that he says in his word, the Bible, about the fact that you are separated from God, as every man and woman on the face of the earth are befoe accepting his salvation.  The Bible reveals that all are separated from him in a spiritual state of death, or said another way that the Bible reveals it, in a state of sin, that will result in damnation in the afterlife.  Agreeing with God in your heart that you are in need of his salvation.  The Bible reveals that God looks upon the heart of a man or woman, and thus, responds accordingly to the person who comes to him for salvation in recognition of his inability to save himself.  The Bible makes these facts very clear – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).  “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).  The Bible describes these three kinds of death:  

• physical death (the state experienced when life leaves our bodies).
• spiritual death (spiritual separation from God caused by our state of spiritual death inherited from the first man Adam – the state of sin that results in our daily outward acts of sin, whether deliberate or not, whether omissive or not; and finally …
• the second death (the fixed state entered into by the individual who dies physically while he or she is dead spiritually). This state is entered into after the death of the body which results in punishment in the afterlife until the event of the Great White Throne Judgment occurs wherein the damned are resurrected from Hades, or Hell, and are judged according to their works and finally destroyed and cease to exist after being cast into the Lake of Fire. Revelation 14 refers to this tragic end of the unsaved as the “Second Death” (verse 14). It is this state of suffering entered into after physical death and then final destruction at the Great White Throne Judgment in particular which is the horrible result of receiving the wages of sin (unforgiven due to unbelief and rejection of Christ). The Lord Jesus Christ frequently described such a death as being irrevocable in a destiny which he called Hell.  He described Hell as a literal place of judgment (Matthew 13:42); a place of everlasting fire (Matthew 18:8); a place of torment (Luke 16:24,28); a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:50); a place of remorse (Mark 9:44-48); of bitter memory (Luke 16:25), and a place originally prepared for the Devil and his angels (Matthew 25:41).  In fact, Jesus more often warned about Hell than he spoke about Heaven.

It is not God’s will or desire that any person should be consigned to perish in Hell (2 Peter 3:9), but rather that all should come to repentance of unbelief toward him and believe on him for the salvation of the individual’s soul.  But God’s justice requires that the “soul who sins” (remains in it’s state of death or state of sin) is the one who will die a second time after a long period of torment (Ezekiel 18:4).  So, agree with God, admitting that you are unable to save yourself and in a state of sin under God’s just condemnation for that sin and that you are in need of his salvation.

2. Believing – Then, believe that God does not want you to suffer this fate because of your sin.  Believe that God loves you so much that he provided a way whereby he could still be a just, holy and righteous God, and yet pardon you.  Believe that God did not just overlook sin, but that he sent his only begotten son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to provide salvation by personally paying the penalty for sin.  Believe that Jesus Christ, whose life, death, burial and resurrection is the best-attested fact of antiquity, did come to earth to live, die, rise again and ascend to Heaven in order to provide justification and salvation for all who trust him.  Believe that he, and he alone, can save you because he has fully satisfied the just demands of God.  Believe that you can’t become righteous in God’s sight by your own effort.  Believe that he wants to save you and that he will save you.  The Bible provides a solid basis for such belief …

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

“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.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16-17). 

“But God demonstrates his love toward us in this:  while we were yet sinners,  Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). 

God presented him (Jesus Christ) as a sacrifice of atonement through faith in his blood.  He did this to demonstrate his justice because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished – he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies the man or woman who has faith in Jesus (Romans 3:25-26). 

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures … ” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4). 

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). 

“Jesus answered, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).  “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

“All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out [drive away]” (John 6:37).

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).

3. Calling – It is not enough to agree with God, admit your need, and believe that Christ can and will save you.  You must act upon those facts. God’s requirement is that you repent of your unbelief toward him and actively call upon him for the salvation of your soul based on the fact that you cannot save yourself. It is unbelief in particular that damns the soul to its horrible fate …

“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” (John 3:18).

“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36).

“And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:15).

You must be willing to completely turn from your own efforts to save yourself or from any other hope.  You must come to Christ, calling upon him for salvation and counting on the fact that he will do what he has promised.  This means simply taking the gift of pardon and eternal life which he offers.  Merely believing about Jesus Christ without coming to him makes as much sense and is as effective as believing that a medication can successfully treat a fatal disease, but failing to take it.  Yet again, the Bible emphatically and authoritatively provides the basis for such statements.

The word translated “believe” here means to “rest one’s entire weight and trust on the object or person in which the belief is placed.”  It requires action in keeping with the intellectual assent of that belief.

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

” … but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

The logical question you may be asking at this point is:  “how do I come to Christ and call upon him?”  The answer is that “calling upon the Lord” is just another term for praying, or talking to God.  To talk to God is not a complicated process, dependent upon some special rituals.  God has invited people to approach him through his Son in simple, straightforward terms.  In fact, Jesus approved of the dishonest, despised tax collector who simply prayed, “God be merciful to me, a sinner.”  While the exact words of your prayer to God are not of vital importance (since God sees and knows the attitude of your heart), the following is the kind of prayer that you could pray in calling upon God for salvation …

“Dear Lord Jesus:  I realize that I need you.  I admit that I have sinned and that I deserve your just, eternal punishment for that sin.  But I am sorry for my sin and I am turning to you and asking for forgiveness.  I believe that you died and rose again to pay sin’s penalty on my behalf.  I come to you and open my heart to you.  I ask you to come into my life, forgive me for all of my sin and make me your child.  I invite you to take control of my life and to cause me to be the kind of person you would have me to be.  I thank you for doing this because you have promised that whosoever calls upon you, as I am doing now, shall be saved.  I pray this in the name of your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.”

If this prayer expresses the desire of your heart, I urge you to sincerely and genuinely express it to God as your prayer.  The Bible makes clear that when we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ in our heart, God forgives our sins and counts us righteous, and that when we openly confess with our mouth what we have done in our heart,  God gives us assurance of that salvation (Romans 10:9-10).

“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again” (John 3:3-7).

Recommended Reading and Viewing:

THE MIRACULOUS IMAGE ON THE SHROUD OF TURIN: THE CONCLUSIVE FINAL SAY
ARE WORKS AND COMMANDMENTS NECESSARY FOR SALVATION?
YHVH-ATCG DNA CODE: SIGNATURE OF GOD – IMAGE BEARERS OF THE CREATOR

The next installment of this book of John study series can be read in the link below:
THE DEITY OF CHRIST 2: THE LIGHT