Colossians 3:11: “Here there is not Greek and Jew, Circumcised and Uncircumcised, Barbarian, Scythian, slave, free, but Christ is all in all.” (ESV – All emphasis is mine)
Psalm 16:5: “The Lord is my chosen portion, and my cup; You hold my lot.” (Psalm 73:25-26, 28: “Whom have I in Heaven but You? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever…. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord God my refuge that I may tell of all Your works.”
When our Jesus walked this earth as a human and allowed Himself to be lower than the angels for a time (Hebrews 2:7, 9), He showed us just how much our Triune Godhead – Father, Son, Holy Spirit – really loves us. There are many man-made religions in this world today, and they require works and specific donations to remain in good standing. Sadly, there are some previously Bible-based churches that are tweaking God’s word to accommodate earthly desires and passions.
Ephesians 2:8-9 are very powerful verses that put God’s love for us in perspective. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works so that no one may boast.”
Going to Ephesians 2:19-22: “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the Cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In Him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God, by the Spirit!”
If those verses sound familiar, Paul was emphasizing that Jesus had not come just for the Jews. Our Savior stated in John 10:16: “And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My voice. So there will be one flock, one Shepherd.”
Jesus provided a pure, sinless blood sacrifice for every human that has lived since Calvary and will live to the end of this age. In order for us to be granted this gift that He freely gave, we must receive and accept Him as our Lord and Savior forever.
Romans 10:9-13 gives the simple steps to our Salvation. First, we must confess that we believe Jesus is Lord and that God raised Him from the dead. We’re told there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for Jesus is Lord of all who will call on Him. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Joel 2:32, Acts 2:21, and Romans 10:13 all give us this promise of Salvation.
Another issue we must acknowledge is that we are all sinners in need of a Savior. Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, and Romans 6:23 all tell us this. Our Heavenly Father is totally aware of this and offers a pathway to forgiveness for all of us while we’re on this earth in human form. In 1 John 1:8-10 we read: “If we say 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. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
Please remember, God already knows what we have or have not done. What we must understand is He is a forgiving Father and stands ready to offer forgiveness, even if there is some discipline that we may receive.
Hebrews 12:6-7: “For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and chastises every son whom He receives. It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his Father does not discipline?”
John 15:4-5: “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.”
All who have received and accepted Jesus have the promise of Romans 8:1: “There is therefore, now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Our Jesus is all the world to all who have truly called out for Him to be our Savior. Will L. Thompson (1847-1909) wrote a wonderful hymn in 1904 with this in mind called “Jesus Is All the World to Me”
1.) Jesus is all the world to me; my life, my joy, my all; He is my strength from day to day; without Him I would fall. When I am sad, to Him I go; no other one can cheer me so. When I am sad, He makes me glad; He’s my Friend.
2.) Jesus is all the world to me, my Friend in trials sore; I go to Him for blessings, and He gives them o’er and o’er. He sends the sunshine and the rain; He sends the harvest’s golden grain. Sunshine and rain, harvest of grain; He’s my Friend.
3.) Jesus is all the world to me, and true to Him I’ll be. Oh, how could I this Friend deny when He’s so true to me? Following Him, I know I’m right; He watches o’er me day and night; following Him by day and night, He’s my Friend.
4.) Jesus is all the world to me; I want no better friend. I trust Him now, I’ll trust Him when life’s fleeting days shall end. Beautiful life with such a Friend, beautiful life that has no end, eternal life, eternal joy; He’s my Friend.
Our Heavenly Father wants no one to fail and be lost for all eternity, as stated in 2 Peter 3:9: “The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
At the same time, He will force no one to receive His free gift, but allows each person to choose their eternity.
All who receive and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior will appear at the Judgment Seat of Christ, as given in 2 Corinthians 5:10, to receive or lose rewards for what we did while alive on this earth. All who appear at this judgment will spend eternity in Heaven with our Lord and Savior.
All who reject the Savior for whatever supposed reason they may have will appear at the Great White Throne Judgment of Revelation 20:11-15. This judgment will determine the degree of punishment each person there will receive forever in the lake of fire, also known as hell. Please note: there are no pardons or forgiveness at this judgment.
What it comes down to is where do you choose to spend your eternity? Our Jesus will turn no one away who truly calls out for Him to be their forever Savior.
We are not guaranteed another day here. To put off any decision to follow Jesus and be a part of His precious flock could prove to be the worst choice anyone could make.
For peace of mind, today would not be too soon to call out for Jesus to forgive you and add you to those who will be spending eternity with Him. It’s the most important decision you will ever make.
Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!
The post Our Whole World Is Jesus :: By Dennis Huebshman appeared first on Rapture Ready.
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