The truth behind what Jesus meant when he said to the Pharisees: “If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24) is contained in the Old Testament Scriptures. In fact, Jesus was literally referring to a certain passage when he spoke those words! Realize, the Old Testament (written on scrolls) was ALL the people of Jesus’ day had to read and understand about God and His plans; and the Pharisees would read from them every Sabbath day in the synagogues. In those ancient Scriptures God had made many prophecies about a coming Messiah, some of which the people of Jesus’ day understood and many of which they flat-out didn’t. So the confusion and mystery concerning this Messiah (or this “Christ”) — namely, who he would be and what he would say and do — can be evidenced in the dialogue of the people of Jesus’ day as recorded in the four New Testament Gospels.One of the prophecies in the Old Testament Scriptures concerning this Messiah was EASY to understand. The Pharisees knew it well, and so did the common synagogue-going Jew. The prophecy was about a special & unique “Prophet” who was to come; and God Himself had spoken words about this Prophet, which Moses then wrote down in the book of Deuteronomy. The anticipation of the arrival of this Prophet is palpable in the people of Jesus’ day! They came to John the Baptist and asked: “Art thou THAT Prophet?” (John 1:21). He wasn’t. Later, after seeing Jesus perform a miracle, some said: “This is of a truth THAT Prophet that should come into the world” (John 6:14). And again, after hearing Jesus speak, some said: “Of a truth this is THE Prophet” (John 7:40). Do you see? The Pharisees and Jews were anxiously looking for this Prophet’s arrival!
Oh, but what had God spoken about this Prophet in the ancient Scriptures? Listen to it: “I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee (Moses), and I will put MY WORDS in his mouth; and he shall SPEAK unto them ALL that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that WHOSOEVER WILL NOT HEARKEN UNTO (OBEY) my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him” (Deuteronomy 18:18-19). Listen to it in the Living Bible: “I will raise up from among them a Prophet, an Israeli like you. I will tell him what to SAY, and he shall be MY SPOKESMAN to the people. I will personally deal with anyone who will NOT LISTEN to him and HEED (OBEY) his messages from me” (Deuteronomy 18:18-19, Living Bible). Wow, do you see? God’s “deal” with this Prophet was that when he came along ... the people MUST LISTEN to his WORDS (TEACHINGS) and OBEY them! And the Pharisees and Jews clearly understood this!!!
Now, listen again to Christ’s words to the Pharisees in John’s Gospel: “If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins” (John 8:24). Do you understand now? Jesus was saying (and I am paraphrasing): “If you don’t believe that I am THE Prophet who is to come into the world — with God’s Words (or message) in my mouth! — that you must heed, then you will die in your sins, because you won’t repent and obey me!” Friend, hear me; the Pharisees KNEW this is what Jesus meant when he spoke those words to them! And OHHHH how they HATED His Words! They HATED His teachings! And yet, all he taught was love! He taught 'obedience to the 10 Love Commandments' was the path to eternal life. But the prideful Pharisees willfully and continually disobeyed them! Therefore, Jesus said to them, “You will die in your sins, if you don’t believe I am he (the one you should obey)!” And so will you and I, if we do not obey THE Christ: “And being made perfect, he (Jesus) became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that OBEY him” (Hebrews 5:9). Yes, Jesus' words to the Pharisees in John's Gospel are in perfect agreement to the answer he gave to that all important question of “Teacher, what must I DO to obtain eternal life?” … to which he answered, “KEEP the (10 Love) Commandments!” (Matthew 19:17).
Read "Art Thou THAT Prophet? (part 1)" HERE.
Peaceful Sabbath,
Gabriel
Approximately 867 Weeks (Sabbaths) Remaining Till Christ's Return!
Every human being who has ever lived on planet Earth (from Adam & Eve till now) was "created in God's image" for they were/are ALL "spirit beings", but unfortunately the majority of them have willfully chosen to think, speak, and do loveless deeds (sin) during their brief time here, meaning they "walked the broad path that leads to destruction in the Lake of fire in the end" where there will be "weeping and gnashing of teeth". This blog will not be used to promulgate "doctrines of demons" of which Satan has concocted a plethora of in these last days to deceive the simple
ReplyDeleteAmen brother Gabriel! What a dangerous and deadly thing to believe in! God has made sure to make it crystal clear in the Bible that Hell is real and the final destination (although it breaks His heart to see them perish) for unrepented sinners who willingly disobey his 10 holy love commandments. This is undeniably biblical! How could this guy not see this? Either he has not read the bible or Satan has blinded him as he chose to cling to his wicked and deadly doctrines. All I can say is that we must pray for the lost, so the Lord who gives all wisdom may open his eyes and heart along with countless others who are deceived.
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