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The Glorious Gospel Of Jesus Christ

by Henry Bechthold
1/26/2011 / Bible Studies

2nd Corinthians 4:4, in the King James Translation, refers to the gospel as the "glorious gospel of Christ". As you will see, the gospel is all about Jesus Christ, and it is indeed glorious, because He is glorious.

It was Jesus Christ Himself who first proclaimed the gospel in the New Testament. He said, "The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:15).

The word gospel literally means "good news". And, right at the beginning of the book of Romans, which is viewed by most theologians as a theological treatise on the gospel, the Apostle Paul states that the gospel of God is concerning His Son Jesus Christ (Romans 1:1-3). The gospel is, therefore, the "good news" about Jesus Christ.

The gospel begins with God's "glory". And, a major aspect of His glory is His character, which is revealed in Jesus Christ:

In Exodus 33:18-23, Moses asked the Lord to see His "glory". The Lord told Moses that He would put him in the cleft of a rock and would cover him with His hand, as He passed by showing Moses His back. Then, in Exodus 34:6-8, the Lord passed by Moses and proclaimed: "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty.."

So, in response to Moses' request to see the Lord's glory, the Lord declared His character traits as He passed by Moses. In other words, a major aspect of His glory is His wonderful, glorious character. And, as the following scriptures demonstrate, the awesome character and glory of God are revealed in Jesus Christ.

2nd Corinthians 4:6 states that we are given the "light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ". The Apostle John declares, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became 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. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him" (John 1:1; John 1:14; John 1:18). In other words, Jesus Christ revealed God's glorious character.

Jesus Himself stated that, "He who has seen Me has seen the Father" (John 14:6). And, the Apostle Paul proclaimed that, "In Him (Jesus) dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9). In other words, Jesus is a full, perfect manifestation of the glorious character and person of God.

What is the "gospel"?

Paul describes it in 1st Corinthians 15:1-4, where he states: "Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

Paul further describes the gospel in Romans 1:16-17, where he says: "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes For in the gospel, a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

The glorious "good news" about Jesus Christ, however, begins before His resurrection and death on the cross for our sins. The Scriptures reveal that Jesus shared glory with His, and our, Heavenly Father before our world was created (John 17:5). Furthermore, all of the following texts demonstrate that the glory that Jesus shared with our Heavenly Father, was not a lesser glory of a lesser being, but rather an equal glory of an equal being; that is, as an equal member of the Godhead, with Jesus Christ being fully God to the same extent as our Heavenly Father.

Jesus Christ's glorious, eternal, divine status:

Jesus, God's Son, is referred to as, "O God", in Hebrews 1:8. He is called Immanuel, God with us, in Matthew 1:23. The Apostle Paul designates Him as our great "God and Savior", in Titus 2:13. Jesus is described as being the "eternally blessed God", in Romans 9:5. The Scriptures refer to Him as God and Mighty God (John 1:1; Isaiah 9:6).

Jesus referred to Himself as "I Am" (John 8:58). The Apostle John said that Jesus "made Himself equal with God" (John 5:18). The Apostle Paul stated that Jesus was in the "form of God", and did not consider it robbery to be "equal with God" (Philippians 2:5-6). In 1st Timothy 3:16, Paul said that "God was manifested in the flesh", which is an obvious reference to Jesus. And, as previously mentioned, Paul also stated that, "In Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" (Colossians 2:9).

Isaiah 54:5 declares that, "Your Maker is your Husband, the Lord of Hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth". We know that Jesus is our Redeemer and Husband in the New Testament, and the scriptures listed in the next section also reveal Him to be our Maker/Creator. Therefore, Jesus is the "God of the whole earth" spoken of in this passage in Isaiah 54:5.

Jesus Christ, our glorious Creator:

The Apostle John states that, "In the beginning was the Word (Jesus Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made" (John 1:1-3).

Colossians 1:15-16 declares that, "He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

Also, as stated in the previous section, Isaiah 54:5 states that our "Maker" (Creator) is also our Husband and Redeemer, and, as mentioned before, we know that Jesus Christ is revealed as our divine Husband and Redeemer in the New Testament, which means that Jesus also is our "Maker".

His glorious and sinless creation:

Genesis chapter one describes the six-day creation of the heavens and the earth, including the creation of mankind. And, in Genesis 1:31, we're told that everything God (Jesus) had made was very good. Regarding our glorious Creator (Jesus Christ) and His creation, Nehemiah 9:6 states: "Blessed be Your glorious nameYou alone are Lord. You made the heavens, even the highest heavens, and all their starry host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything, and the multitudes of heaven worship you." And, Isaiah 6:3 proclaims: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory."

The Psalmist declares: "O Lord.who have set Your glory above the heavens.When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars which You have ordained, what is man that You are mindful of Him (Psalm 8:1-4)?" The Psalmist also said that, "the heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands" (Psalm 19:1).

Sin and death entered the world through the fall of man:

Genesis 2:16-17 says that, "The Lord God commanded the man (Adam), saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die." Then, Genesis chapter three continues the account by stating, "Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman (Eve), "Has God indeed said, you shall not eat of every tree of the garden?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, you shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.'" Then the serpent said to the woman, "you will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." So, when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. Then the Lord God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forevertherefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life" (Genesis 3:1-7; Genesis 3:22-24).

As Genesis chapter three reveals, man had become mortal after Adam's sin, and access to the tree of life was denied him. Death was now his fate, as the following scriptures demonstrate.

The book of Romans states that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23-first part). Romans 5:12 adds that sin and death entered the world through one man (Adam), and that death came to all men. And, Romans 5:18 says that Adam's sin also brought condemnation on all men.

Adam's sin passed to all of his future offspring, polluting the human race, and separating man from God; man's heart had become wicked, and he could not change his corrupt condition or his fate:

Romans 5:19 states: "Through the disobedience of the one man (Adam), many were made sinners." Mankind's nature had changed; all of humanity had become sinful. Romans 3:23 declares that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God". And, Romans 3:10 proclaims that "there is none righteous, no, not one".

Isaiah adds that even our "righteousnesses" had become like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). In other words, even our outward apparently "good deeds" were tainted by selfish, prideful, sinful motives. Isaiah also states that our iniquities (sins) had separated us from God (Isaiah 59:2).

Jeremiah says that man's heart had become deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). And, he also states, in Jeremiah 13:23: "Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Then may you also do good who are accustomed to do evil?" In other words, mankind was incapable of changing his corrupt condition.

God's judgment and "hell" await unrepentant sinners:

As mentioned in the previous segment, there is not even one person who is righteous, for all have sinned (Romans 3:10; Romans 3:23). Therefore, Romans 3:19 states that the "whole world" is guilty before God. And, in Romans 14:10-12, we're told that: "We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.. Each of us will give account of himself to God."

Likewise, in 2nd Corinthians 5:10, we're admonished that: "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." Romans 2:5-9 concurs, by stating that God "will render to each one according to his deeds"; furthermore, declaring that the impenitent (unrepentant) are treasuring up for themselves wrath in the "day of wrath" at the revelation of the righteous judgment of God; moreover, proclaiming that those who obey "unrighteousness" will receive indignation, wrath, tribulation and anguish.

The Scriptures also state: "For we know Him who said, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And again, "The Lord will judge His people." It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 10:30-31). And, the Bible plainly declares that the "unrighteous" will not inherit the kingdom of God. It says: "Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God" (1st Corinthians 6:9-10). Similarly, Revelation 21:8 proclaims that: "The cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone (hell), which is the second death."

This is the final fate that awaits all who do not repent of their sins.

God wants us to recognize the weight of our condition, to come to repentance, and believe the gospel:

As previously stated, the Bible declares that all have sinned (Romans 3:23). It states that: "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us" (1st John 1:8). In fact, it adds that: "If we claim that we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us" (1st John 1:10).

Furthermore, as also previously mentioned, the Scriptures clearly proclaim that "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23), and they also state that "without the shedding of blood, there is no remission or forgiveness" (Hebrews 9:22). And, the passage in Jeremiah 13:23, which I presented earlier, revealed that we are incapable of changing our sinful condition. This is the weight of our condition that God wants us to recognize so that we repent and believe the gospel.

It was Jesus who first proclaimed the gospel when He said: "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe the gospel" (Mark 1:14-15). Likewise, Peter told the people: "Repent, and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins" (Acts 2:37-38). In 2nd Peter 3:9, Peter also stated that Jesus hasn't returned yet because God is patient with mankind, not wanting anyone to perish, but to have everyone come to repentance.

The word "repent" basically means to turn. In other words, God wants sinners to recognize their sinful condition, and then to choose to repent or "turn away" from their previous life of sin by placing their faith in Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ, our glorious Savior:

Because God is a gracious, merciful and loving God, He sent His own Son in our place to pay the price for our sin, to offer us salvation, to "reconnect" us with God, and to make His righteousness available to us. As John 3:16 declares: "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." And, as also stated in 1st John 4:10: "This is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (atoning sacrifice) for our sins."

The Apostle Peter adds, in 1st Peter 2:24, that Jesus, "bore our sins in His own body on the tree (cross)". And, Peter also states: "You were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold,but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1st Peter 1:18-19).

2nd Corinthians 5:21 proclaims that God "made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin, to become sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him". What an exchange! Jesus took our sin and death, and gave us His righteousness and life! And, He reconnected us to God. Ephesians 2:13 states that: "You who once were far off, have been brought near by the blood of Christ."

This salvation, righteousness and "reconnection" with God are available only through Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself said: "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). Likewise, as stated in Acts 4:12: "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

This salvation and eternal life is a gift of God's grace that we receive through faith, repentance, confession, and receiving Jesus:

Romans 6:23 states that eternal life is a "gift" from God that we receive in Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9 says that we have been saved by grace through faith, and it also declares that this salvation is a "gift of God". In Acts 16:30-31, the Apostle Paul tells the keeper of the prison in Philippi to "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" in order to be saved.

When the people asked the Apostle Peter what they needed to do, he told them that they needed to "repent" for the remission or forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:37-38). The Apostle John states that it is those who receive Jesus who are given the right to become "children of God" (John 1:12). And, Romans 10:9-10 says that, in addition to believing in our hearts, we also need to confess with our mouths that Jesus is Lord in order to be saved.

God has justified and made righteous those who have put their faith in Jesus:

Galatians 2:16 and Romans 3:28 declare that we are justified by faith in Jesus Christ, and not by observing the law. And, Romans 3:21-25 and Philippians 3:8-9 state that "righteousness from God" also comes to us through faith in Jesus Christ.

When we receive Jesus and place our faith in Him we are "born again", adopted by God as His children, and Jesus dwells inside of us:

In John 3:3-5, Jesus said that we cannot enter the kingdom of God unless we are "born again". And, in John 1:12-13, we're told that it is those who receive Jesus and believe in His name, who become "children of God"; moreover, this text then explains that these are the ones who were not born of blood or flesh, but who were born of God. In other words, to be "born again" is to be born of God by receiving Jesus and placing our faith in Him.

Ephesians 1:5 states that God has adopted us as His children through Jesus Christ. Likewise, Romans 8:15-17 proclaims that we have received the "spirit of adoption", and that God's Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are children of God. And, 1st John 3:1 declares: "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God."

In addition to God adopting us as His children, Jesus gives us the infinite honor and blessing of dwelling inside of us. 2nd Corinthians 13:5 states: "Do you not know yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you?" Ephesians 3:17 declares that "Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith". Colossians 1:27 proclaims, "Christ in you, the hope of glory". Jesus said: "The glory which You (God the Father) gave Me, I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one; I in them, and You in Me" (John 17:22-23). And, in Revelation 3:20, Jesus declared: "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him."

For those who believe in Jesus, there is no condemnation. And, their sins are forgiven:

Romans 8:1 gives us the blessed assurance that there is "no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus". Similarly, John 3:17-18 states that, "whoever believes in Him (Jesus) is not condemned".

In addition to freedom from condemnation in Christ, we also receive forgiveness for our sins. Revelation 1:5 states that Jesus "washed us from our sins in His own blood". Likewise, Colossians 1:13-14 declares that "we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins". 1st John 1:9 adds that: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

And, when God forgives our sins, they are gone. The Bible says that He removes them as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). In Micah 7:18-19, we're told that God casts our sins into the depths of the sea. And, Hebrews 8:12 states that God does not even remember our sins anymore.

God wants us to have assurance of our salvation in Jesus Christ:

Jesus said that He gives His followers eternal life, and they will never perish (John 10:28). In 1st John 5:13, the Apostle John states: "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life." And, in Romans 8:38-39, the Apostle Paul declares: "Neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

God continues to work in the lives of those who have put their faith in Jesus, conforming them to the likeness of Jesus Christ:

Philippians 2:13 states that God works in us to will and to do His good pleasure. And, in Philippians 1:6, we're told that God has begun a good work in us, and He will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. In other words, God will continue His work of transforming us until the day Jesus returns.

In Romans 8:29, the Apostle Paul says that God has predestined us "to be conformed to the image of His Son"; God wills for us to become like Jesus in character. Furthermore, in 2nd Corinthians 3:18, Paul states that, as we behold the glory of the Lord, we are being transformed into His same image. So, if we want to become more like Jesus, we need to spend time beholding Him in the Scriptures.

In Jesus, you have now become part of God's Church, which is the Body of Christ:

In 1st Corinthians 12:12-13, the Bible states: "For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. For, by one Spirit, we were all baptized into one body." Then, 1st Corinthians 12:27 adds that: "You are the body of Christ, and members individually." Likewise, in Romans 12:4-5, we're told: "For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ."

The Apostle Paul elaborates in his comparison of the "human body" to the "church body" of Christ, by comparing the many different parts of the human body (eyes, hands, feet etc) to the many individual members of Christ's church body with their differing gifts and callings (1st Corinthians 12:14-26). Paul's message is clear; everyone who places their faith in Jesus Christ has become a vital and unique part of Christ's church body. As stated in Ephesians 2:19, we have become "fellow citizens with the saints, and members of the household of God".

We now have "hope" through Jesus Christ, who is our hope:

1st Timothy 1:1 states that Jesus Christ is our "hope". The Apostle Peter declares that we have "a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead". In Romans 5:1-2, we're told: "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

Titus 3:7 adds that, "having been justified by His (Jesus Christ's) grace, we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life". And, Titus 2:13 declares that we are "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ".

Everything is received through faith:

In Ephesians 2:8, we're told: "By grace you have been saved through faith." Galatians 2:16 states that we have been "justified by faith". Philippians 3:9 declares that righteousness comes through faith. And, 1st John 5:4 says: "This is the victory that has overcome the worldour faith." So, victory, righteousness, justification and salvation are all accessed through faith.

Moreover, Hebrews 11:6 proclaims that it is impossible to please God without faith. And, in Romans 14:23, we're told that whatever is not from faith is sin. Faith is obviously a necessity for every Christian.

In the NIV Bible translation, faith is defined as "being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1). As the Apostle Paul also stated, "we walk by faith, not by sight" (2nd Corinthians 5:7). And, the Bible tells us that faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17). Therefore, to have a strong faith, it is extremely important to spend time reading and listening to the Scriptures.

Jesus Christ's glorious exaltation:

Ephesians 1:20-22 states that God has seated Jesus Christ "at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the Church". Philippians 2:9-11 adds that, "God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

Jesus Christ's glorious return:

Jesus said: "Behold, I am coming quickly" (Revelation 22:7). In 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17, the Apostle Paul states: "The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout..And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord."

Jesus declared that "the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels" (Matthew 16:27). Also, in Matthew 24:30, He said that all the tribes of the earth will see Him coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And, the Bible states that we should be "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ" (Titus 2:13). As this last scripture said, the return of Jesus Christ should be the blessed hope of every Christian; to be able to see our Savior face to face, and to have the awesome privilege and honor to spend the rest of eternity with Him.

Our glorious future in Christ:

In 1st Corinthians 2:9, the Bible states: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." In other words, God's plans for us are beyond our wildest imaginations. After all, we serve a God "who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20).

At the return of Jesus, death and the grave will be conquered. The Scriptures state: "Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep (be dead), but we shall all be changedin a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So, when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory" (1st Corinthians 15:51-54).

What image will our bodies be changed into? Philippians 3:20-21 says that Jesus "will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself". So, we will be given a body like the body of Jesus! And, the passage from Corinthians in the previous paragraph, said that this will happen when "the trumpet will sound". When is that? In 1st Thessalonians 4:16-17, the Apostle Paul states that "the Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord." So, the trumpet will sound at the return of Jesus, and, therefore, that is when our bodies shall be changed into the image of Jesus' glorious body.

We are going home to heaven with Jesus! And, according to this text in Thessalonians, we shall always be with the Lord. But, that's not all; Jesus has been preparing a special place in heaven for each of us. We're told in John 14:2-3: "In My Father's house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."

Revelation 21:2 depicts God moving the holy city of "New Jerusalem" from heaven down to earth. It says: "Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."

In Revelation 21:1-4; Revelation 21:10-23; and Revelation 22:1-5, the Apostle John describes the New Jerusalem, our heavenly home on earth, as follows: It's a place with no death, sorrow, crying or pain, and where God the Father and Jesus Christ dwell with us forever. The city is 1500 miles wide, 1500 miles long and 1500 miles high, and it is made of pure transparent gold. Its wall is made of jasper, its foundation stones are twelve different, huge, precious jewels, and each of the twelve mammoth gates that enter the city are individual pearls. It has a pure river of water of life running through it that is clear as crystal, and the tree of life that bears twelve different types of fruit is also there. There is no night in the city, and the brightness of the Lamb of God, Jesus, is the light of the city. This is the future home for all who receive Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord!

In light of these things, we are being called to live differently:

In Ephesians 2:10, we're told that we have been "created in Christ Jesus for good works". Titus 2:12 instructs us to deny "ungodliness and worldly lusts", and to "live soberly, righteously and godly". 1st Peter 1:15 says that we are to "be holy" in all of our conduct. And, Romans 12:1-2 declares that we are to present our bodies as a "living sacrifice" to God, and are not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Titus 3:8 states that we "should be careful to maintain good works". In Hebrews 12:1-2, we're told to "lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us". And, this text says that we are to keep "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith". In other words, we are to keep our eyes on Jesus from "start to finish".

Psalm 37:3 tells us to "trust in the Lord, and do good". Likewise, Proverbs 3:5-6 states to: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths."

1st Timothy 6:11 says that we are to "pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and gentleness". Romans 13:12-13 instructs us to "cast off the works of darkness and.put on the armor of light". It tells us to "walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy".

Ephesians 5:11-12 states that we are to have "no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness". Also, this passage says that "it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them" (evildoers). And, 1st Thessalonians 5:22 admonishes us to "abstain from every form of evil".

Psalm 101:3 declares: "I will set nothing wicked before my eyes." Galatians 5:22-24 proclaims: "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control..And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."

Philippians 4:8 tells us what kinds of thoughts to allow our minds to dwell upon. It says: "Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthymeditate on these things."

The Apostle Paul admonishes Christians to put on God's spiritual armor. In Ephesians 6:10-18, Paul states: "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 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.."

Also, as a proper response for all that Jesus Christ has done for us and given to us, the Bible clearly teaches that obedience is both expected and required by God. Hebrews 5:9 states that "He (Jesus) became the author of salvation to all who obey Him". Jesus said: "If you love Me, keep My commandments" (John 14:15). Similarly, the Apostle John proclaimed: "This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments" (1st John 5:3).

Jesus also declared: "You are My friends if you do whatever I command you" (John 15:14). Furthermore, in Luke 6:46, Jesus asked: "Why do you call me Lord, Lord, and not do the things which I say?" And, the Apostle John is even more blunt when he states: "He who says, "I know Him", and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him" (1st John 2:4).

The Apostle Paul sums it up by saying: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2nd Corinthians 5:17). In other words, truly "saved Christians" should be new and different people living new and different lives.

Jesus Christ, our glorious "everything":

In addition to the scriptures I've listed previously, which say that Jesus Christ is our Creator, Savior, Lord, God and our righteousness, He is also all of the following things, and "much more".

1st John 2:1 reveals Jesus Christ as being our Advocate. Hebrews 3:1 and Hebrews 7:25 state that Jesus Christ is our High Priest and Intercessor, while 1st Timothy 2:5 says that Jesus Christ is our Mediator.

John 15:15 and John 10:11 declare that Jesus Christ is our Friend and Shepherd. Hebrews 2:11-12 and 2nd Corinthians 11:2 proclaim Jesus Christ to be our Brother and Husband.

Matthew 28:20 reveals Jesus Christ as being our "constant companion". Ephesians 2:14 and 1st Timothy 1:1 state that Jesus Christ is our peace and hope. John 14:6 declares Jesus to be "the way, the truth, and the life".

2nd Corinthians 12:9 and Philippians 4:13 say that Jesus Christ is our strength. And, 1st Corinthians 1:30 proclaims Jesus Christ to be our wisdom and sanctification.

Ephesians 1:22 declares that Jesus Christ is our Head over all things. John 5:22 tells us that Jesus Christ is our Judge. Hebrews 12:2 states that Jesus Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith, and that He is the one we are to keep our eyes fixed upon.

Revelation 19:13 says that Jesus is "The Word of God". John 6:48 and John 8:12 reveal Him as the "bread of life" and the "light of the world".

Revelation 19:16 exalts Jesus as being the "King of Kings and Lord of Lords", while Revelation 1:8 declares Him to be the "Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End". Isaiah 9:6 calls Jesus the "Prince of Peace" and the "Everlasting Father".

Philippians 1:21 says that "to live is Christ". Colossians 3:4 proclaims that Christ "is our life". Colossians 2:10 declares that we are "complete in Him".

Colossians 1:18 states that Jesus Christ is to have the "preeminence" in all things. John 15:4-5 reveals that Jesus Christ is the one we are to "abide in". In 2nd Corinthians 10:5, we're told that we are to bring all of our thoughts captive and obedient to Jesus Christ.

John 5:39 proclaims that Jesus Christ is the one of whom the Scriptures testify. Philippians 4:19 declares that Jesus Christ is the one in whom all of our needs are met. In Ephesians 1:3, we're told that Jesus Christ is the one in whom we receive every spiritual blessing.

Romans 8:29 states that God predestined for us to become conformed or transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. And, 2nd Corinthians 3:18 says that we are transformed into Jesus' image by beholding Him.

The Apostle Paul sums it all up in 2nd Corinthians 1:19-20, where he declares that Jesus Christ is the one in whom all of God's promises receive their divine "Yes" and "Amen". In other words, all of God's promises are fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

What is the logical conclusion?

In view of all of the gracious blessings bestowed upon us in Jesus, what is the only logical conclusion? We owe to Jesus everything that we are and have.

The Lord Jesus Christ Himself said that we can do nothing without Him (John 15:5). And, I personally can vouch for the truth of that statement, as can millions of others who have placed their faith in Jesus and surrendered their lives to Him. So, trust Him, love Him, seek Him, behold Him, obey Him, honor Him, praise Him and worship Him.

If you do, you too will have a "fountain of water" springing up into everlasting life within you (John 4:14), which will result in rivers of living water flowing forth from your heart to also refresh others (John 7:38).

I am an evangelical, non-denominational, Christian pastor. You can research other interesting and provocative topics at my website: http://www.godormen.com.

Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com-CHRISTIAN WRITERS

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