Religion vs. Fulfillment of Scripture - John 19:31-37

Based on John 19:31-37 (New King James Version)

“Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, ‘Not one of His bones shall be broken.’ And again another Scripture says, ‘They shall look on Him whom they pierced.’”

People many times confuse the things of the Lord in the sense of how to follow Him. Unfortunately, the majority of people follow more a religion than having a relationship with the Lord. Some may ask, “What is the difference?” And to answer that, we need to dig deeper (per se) and go beyond the surface of things and get to the depths of a person: the intention of the heart. The heart or the center of a human being is what reveals everything.

If we see today’s passage, we see one of the many examples of the Jew’s religiousness. For starters, religion (as is practiced or as created by man) serves the Lord no purpose. Religion can be defined in general as follows: Group of beliefs or dogmas regarding a divinity, involving feelings of veneration and fear towards it; moral norms for the conduct of a person or society; the practice of rituals principally involving prayer and sacrifice to render service. A relationship with God has nothing to do with beliefs, or dogmas, or moral norms, or anything like this. This is what the Pharisees practiced. They were more concerned with fulfilling certain things in the Scriptures, but only within what was convenient for them, and for their glory, so that people could admire and revere them. But their hearts were very far away from the Lord. In this passage, we see that they were more focused on the Preparation Day and the Sabbath than what truly mattered. What good was keeping the Sabbath, the Preparation Day, the sacrifices, the stoning of sinners, and other things they felt that were important if they wound up persecuting and even killing God? They were so blinded by their pride and religiousness that they felt envy towards the Living God, and they planned and executed the Messiah! That is why religion doesn’t work. Religion within itself is garbage and is only a tool that Satan uses to guide man down a path of deviation and self-righteousness.

What does God truly desire? God is not necessarily interested in how many times you go to church, or how much you tithe or offer, or how much you help people, or how much knowledge you have of the Scriptures, or how moral you are, etc. What God is interested in is that you surrender your heart to Him, and that the intention of your heart be to love Him above all things. As it is written: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is  one! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:4-5. God is interested in the intention of your heart, for it is written: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:9-10. It is also written: “For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.” 1 Corinthians 4:4-5. If you don’t love the Lord, and that this love is the reason for why you do things, nothing that you do will have any kind of value. Unfortunately, many good people (per se) will wind up in hell, despite their good works.

In the end, and because of that love, of that complete surrender to Him, to please and obey Him, is that then you look to fulfill His Word. You have to come to fulfill God’s Word in your life. If a person does not live the Word of God, then they do not have life in Him. This is what James tries to explain, as it is written: “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” James 2:26. When we believe in the Lord and we love Him, we will look to obey and follow His Word, because the Word of God will be fulfilled, as It says: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” Matthew 24:35.

This is something many people don’t understand either. There are many that misinterpret this passage: “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11, thinking that if a person is exposed to the Word of God, that their heart will surely be touched, and that in the end, they will come to salvation in God. It would be good if it were like that, but it is not so. Exposing a person to God’s Word is the best you can do because that increases the probabilities of a person’s conversion, but it does not necessarily mean that the Word of God will dominate a person’s life, in the sense that they will be saved. The Word of God is always revealed as a two-edged sword, or that it cuts both ways. Make no mistake: the Word of God is fulfilled completely, and in every dimension possible; it is fulfilled literally (there is a heaven and a hell, and God did physically divide the Red Sea before His people, as examples), and it will also be fulfilled spiritually (in the things that go beyond what our human eyes can see). The issue is that the Word of God is fulfilled for blessing or for cursing of a person. That is the reality of the Word. How can I say this? Judas Iscariot is not in heaven, but rather, in hell, despite the three years he heard all of the messages from the mouth of God Himself, and the wonders and miracles he saw. Annas and Caiaphas also were exposed to the Word of God, and I am very sure that they are burning in these very moments; and will be for all eternity. So then, exposing a person to God’s Word does not guarantee that something will happen, because again, everything depends on the intention of the heart, on what a person decides to do with God’s Truth.

So then, and as always, we should take inventory of our lives when we are challenged by the Word. Do you love the Lord with all of your heart and that is the only reason you do the things you do? Do you look to fulfill the Word of God in your life, by trying to please the Lord in the things that really matter to Him? Lord bless! John

It Is Finished - John 19:28-30

Based on John 19:28-30 (New King James Version)

“After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, ‘I thirst!’ Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”

There are times that we think that the more words we use to express a thought, the more meaning we think things have. In the same manner, many people think that if they use difficult or eloquent words to say something, that whatever it is they are saying becomes even that more special. But, in the end, what matters most about words is the “Who” says them, and the “What” they were doing. The most significant words of the Lord’s ministry were these very short phrases, like the ones we read today: “I thirst” and “It is finished”.

The first phrase we will see is: “I thirst”. What does this mean? Well, the first thing, and what should be quite obvious, is that the Lord was completely human also. Even though He was (and is) God, He took on our form with all of its weaknesses, frailties, and needs. Shortly after the Lord was preached in many places, a heresy began surging that involved saying that Jesus was only a spirit, and that He was not manifested in the flesh. It is believed that one of the main reasons for John writing this gospel was in response to heresies like these. The truth is that Jesus lived and suffered everything with our same form. He lived through the sacrifice for our sins with all of our human condition. He felt the scorn and the lashes. He felt the extreme pain and exhaustion when carrying the weight of the wood on which He would be hung. He felt the crown of thorns on His head. He experienced the pain of being nailed to the cross. He felt the pain of hanging for all the time He did while His lungs were being destroyed because of the torture of the crucifixion. And moments before breathing His last breath, He said these few words: “I thirst”, because He was in fact thirsty. He could not go much longer. And of course, the worse thing you can give someone that is thirsty is vinegar. And when this happened, the prophecy written in Psalm 69:21 was fulfilled, which says: “They also gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.” When He experienced the entire horror of the cross and its process (because it was meant to be a death with a long process), as God and as a human being, there was nothing left unfulfilled. The Lord suffered it all, to pay for all of our sins.

And this takes us to the second phrase: “It is finished”. As it was said before, there was nothing left undone nor to be suffered through. The Lord fulfilled the entire sacrifice so that nothing would be left incomplete. He fulfilled the sacrifice perfectly. Every word was fulfilled. Every prophecy was realized. Nothing that was supposed to be done was left undone. And of course, the only one that could have done this was God, because a human being is not capable of controlling things in such a manner. There is no human that could have fulfilled things that began showing themselves since the fall of man, hundreds of years before He was born into this earth, like the sacrifice that God Himself did for Adam and Eve to cover their sin, their evil, and their shame, by killing an innocent victim so that they could have skins to cover themselves. That was the beginning of everything the Son of God would come to fulfill, that the Holy One, the Perfect One, the Lamb of God would come to pour out His blood and die for all of the guilty sinners which we all are.

The following prophecy describes everything the Messiah would suffer for us: “Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgressions of My people He was stricken. And they made His grave with the wicked—but with the rich at His death, because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth. Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.” Isaiah 53. This passage is what shows the culmination of the “It is finished” in the life of the Lord.

And finally, the reason for why the Lord suffered all of this was simply because of love. There was no other reason. As we all know very well: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. So then, today, by seeing these very simple words, but with these extremely significant actions, the following question must be asked (because a challenge should always be made when the Word of God is shared): “How will you correspond to the “I thirst” and “It is finished” that God fulfilled for you, so that you could have the forgiveness of sins and eternal life?” Lord bless! John

Test of Love - John 19:25-27

Based on John 19:25-27 (New King James Version)

“Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother!’ And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.”

I will give you a warning, before starting, that this message may not be liked by many people, and because of two simple reasons. The first reason is because although the world talks a lot about love, people don’t really understand what love is. And the second reason is because many follow the Lord for some sort of interest, but not because of the love they should have for Him, for the type of love of which the Bible talks about. The majority of people that either say that they follow the Lord or love the Lord is because they want something from Him, nothing more, and they can only follow Him while things go the way they want them to go. My sincerest desire is for this to be understood, even though it is something extremely difficult, because in the end, this is what following the Lord is all about. There is no other greater reason.

For starters, today’s passage is one of the most significant passages of the Bible, with regards to human response towards God. Despite all of the great miracles and wonders that the Lord did, despite the thousands He fed, and taught, and healed and freed, this handful of people were the only ones at the foot of the cross, during the most difficult moment of His sacrifice. The only one of His disciples that the Bible teaches that was at the foot of the cross was John, the disciple whom He loved. John and these women, these very few people were the most faithful to the Lord. They were with the Lord in His most crucial moments, during the time when even His Father had to separate from Him, when all our sin was put on Him, and finally, when He breathed His last breath. They were with Him when not even the Father was able to.

And, what do we predominantly see in this disciple? The Lord asks John to do something very important, to take care of Mary, His earthly mother. Why was the Lord able to do this? Because He knew that the only person whom He could entrust so special and important task was John. Why? Because He knew that John loved Him, because He had seen it, because He knew that John’s love for Him would make Him faithful. It wasn’t because he was the most apt, or the smartest one, or because he had the best financial position; nothing of that entered into His decision. John’s love for Him was what gave Him that ease.

The most important element we can see through this passage is love. Everything in the Lord centers around love. This women and John did not follow the Lord out of selfishness, nor because He did whatever they wanted, nor out of commitment, or anything else. They followed only because of love, and we can see the faithfulness of their love until the end. What did they see at this precise moment? A great King on the cross? A rich man? A powerful man? A man with good appearance? At that moment, the King of the Universe allowed Himself to be reduced to a beaten, flogged, barely naked man, that was crowned with thorns and nailed to a cross, where they could see some of His bones on some parts of His body wherever the blood stopped to flow over. They saw Jesus, the Person they loved, and that they needed to be with Him when no one else wanted to, when they saw everything without hope. Love for God is everything. The Bible teaches us that it must be the first fruit that needs to be in us, to show that the Holy Spirit truly lives in us. For it is written: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23. The Word also shows us that love goes beyond even doing incredible things, as it is also written: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-3. So then, neither miracles, nor knowledge, nor spiritual gifts, not even faith necessarily determines our love for God. The love of which God talks about goes much beyond that. After being resurrected, the Lord asked Peter only one thing: “He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?...’” John 21:17a. This is what God is mostly interest in.

The Lord also taught us that He must be first in our love. For it is written: “Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, ‘If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple.’” Luke 14:25-27. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to hate your family for no reason, but rather, that when there needs to be a decision made, if you have to choose between a loved one and God, that the decision needs to be made for God. And if you choose for the Lord, that you need to bear that decision daily, because yes, following the Lord is the harder road. Following the Lord implies leaving aside your will, your desires, and your other loves for Him.

I will share something personal here. I lost my father not too long ago. He died because of cancer. During his sickness, I felt that God was testing me. When I saw things turning for the worse, I felt like if God was testing me to see if I loved Him, if I would continue loving Him despite the unanswered prayers and seeing what seemed to be inevitable. I remember that when I asked the doctor (it was an evening that I was working until late in my office; completely alone) to tell me how much time he thought my father had left; he told me, “John, I think he has about six months left.” At that moment, I felt a great pain, but at the same time, this thought would come back: “Will you continue loving the Lord?” Finally, my father went to be with the Lord, and a short moment after his passing, when I was alone, it was no longer a thought, but rather, this direct question came from the Lord Himself: “John, do you love me?” Feeling a very deep pain, I was able to answer: “Yes Lord, I still love you”.

A person can say that they love the Lord very easily when everything seems fine. But, the moment will come when God will allow for some very difficult things to happen in your life, things that are unrelated to the errors that you may have committed, because when we commit mistakes, we are only dealing with the consequences (these are not tests), God will also ask you: “Do you love me?” So then, you should think about this, to make sure that you are following the Lord how you should: “Do you love the Lord, no matter what happens, even when things go totally opposite to what you want? Will you be like John and these blessed women at the foot of the cross? Lord bless! John

God on the Cross - John 19:17-24

Based on John 19:17-24 (King James Version)

“And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, ‘Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, ‘I am the King of the Jews.’ ’ ’ Pilate answered, ‘What I have written, I have written.’ Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. They said therefore among themselves, ‘Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be,’ that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says: ‘They divided My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.’ Therefore the soldiers did these things.”

Do we understand well the sacrifice the Lord did for us? I believe we all understand in general what happened (although there are many that profess to be believe in Christ, but they don’t believe this in its entirety), but many need to understand the depth of what really happened. To understand what the Lord did for us is like a person crossing the Pacific Ocean on a great ship, that they see only as far as their eyes can see the extent of the water’s surface and its waves, but they don’t have a clue of the depth they are crossing nor everything that the great sea contains while traveling comfortably on that ship, without any effort, ignoring the reality they are traveling on.

For starters (and we have seen this before), we must always try to understand as clearly as possible the “Who” of the event. Jesus was a man, but He was (and is) God. The God of the universe allowed Himself to be nailed on that cross. And here is where not only gentiles have issues, but also, the majority of the Jews also, that Jesus was the same Jehovah (or Lord) of the Old Testament. He was the One that was at the creation as part of the Trinity, where Genesis relates a plural God, or in other words, a God that is comprised of more than one being. The God that Genesis 1 and 2 talks about is the Trinity. The Apostle John starts precisely with this concept, explaining the deity of Jesus, as it is written: “In the beginning was the Word, 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. Historically speaking, John is precisely believed to have written his gospel with the purpose to clearly establish to the later-formed churches, to leave completely determined that Jesus is God, as he tried to counteract a movement that started during that time where they were putting in question that very fact. So then, this same Jesus was the One that was involved in the creation of everything, including the creation of man, when God said, “let us make”. This same Jesus was the One that was with Abraham, with Jacob, with Moses, with David, with Elijah, and with all others. This same Jesus is the reason why we can exist today, because God is the One that makes possible the existence of everything through His presence. The Apostle Paul explained it like this: “For by Him [speaking of the Lord] 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. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.” Colossians 1:16-17. So then, even though it may be repetitive, it is ultra-necessary to understand the “Who” of the situation.

The other aspect that we need to understand in particular so that a person can genuinely come to salvation or to be born again like the Bible explains involves repentance, which is what the sacrifice of the cross is all about. To be able to understand this concept, we need to go back to the origins of the sacrifices, what God Himself would use to demonstrate what would happen after with the Lord. When a person would bring the innocent victim (an animal without blemish, as the law dictated) to be sacrificed as the atonement or covering of sin before God, the priest would take the victim, position and tie it to the altar, but the person for whom the sacrifice was being done for needed to put their hand on the head of the victim while the priest sacrificed it as a sign that the innocent was dying to cover (because before Christ, there was no forgiveness of sins, nor washing of sins. It was a temporary cover for the responsibility of sin) their sin before God. By putting their hand on the head of the victim, they were acknowledging before God the responsibility for their death.

And this is what is crucial for each of us to understand. There are many that might say, “If I would have been present, I would not have been in agreement with the death of the Lord.” But, the reality is that, if you don’t take responsibility for the Lord’s death on the cross, you have no salvation. You need to assume complete responsibility for the death of the Innocent on the cross, because He took your place to pay for your sins. Just as the sacrifice in the law, you need to put your hand on Christ’s head to take responsibility for His death before God so that all of your sins could be more than just covered, but rather, washed and forgiven. And this is what happens through repentance and conversion, that when you come before God with a humble and contrite heart, acknowledging everything you have done wrong, and clinging on to the Lord’s sacrifice on the cross, where He poured out His blood and gave up His life, so that you could have forgiveness, then the miracle can happen. Without that, there is no conversion. Without that, there is no eternal life or salvation. That is why that what is foolishness to many is the all of the gospel that we preach, the gospel of a crucified Christ. Just as the Apostle Paul said: “For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks  foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:22-24. In its exactness, the passage that we are looking at today practically relates the all of our salvation: that God, while being God, took the form of man and the Sacred Victim so that we could have complete remission of sins.

So, it is completely necessary to understand just “Who” precisely was the One on the cross, and what happened at the cross so that there could be salvation. Without this acknowledgement and complete faith in this great act, you will never experience God’s forgiveness, nor God Himself. Without that, you turn what is most precious in the universe into one more sad and poor religion, into something lifeless and without hope. So then, do you understand that God died for you on the cross, and accept complete responsibility for what happened, so you can have the life that the Lord desires so much for you to have through Him? Lord bless! John

Who Are You Friends With? - John 19:1-16

Based on John 19:1-16 (King James Version)

“So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said, ‘Hail, King of the Jews!’ And they struck Him with their hands. Pilate then went out again, and said to them, ‘Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.’ Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, ‘Behold the Man!’ Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, ‘Crucify Him, crucify Him!’ Pilate said to them, ‘You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.’ The Jews answered him, ‘We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.’ Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, ‘Where are You from?’ But Jesus gave him no answer. Then Pilate said to Him, ‘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 unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.’ From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, ‘If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.’ When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, ‘Behold your King!’ But they cried out, ‘Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!’ Pilate said to them, ‘Shall I crucify your King?’ The chief priests answered, ‘We have no king but Caesar!’ Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. Then they took Jesus and led Him away.”

If we focus well enough, we can see through this passage that the Word shows us through Pilate quite clearly that our priorities and relationships are what dictate what we do, that truly show where our heart is. We see that Pilate’s priorities had nothing to do with doing justice, for starters. If he supposedly saw nothing wrong with Jesus, was it then just to have Him scourged? Was it right to let the soldiers put a crown of thorns on him, and to let them beat and mistreat Him even more? Was it right to allow for Him to be mocked? Was it right for him to finally give in and have a completely innocent man be crucified? Of course not. We know that all of this had to happen, but Pilate happily fulfilled his part, because what was dictating Pilates actions was his desire to be Caesar’s friend, and to please the masses, so his governorship would have no problems.

Now then, let’s take the glasses (per se) that we used to look at Pilate’s life and let’s see ourselves now through them. Who are we really friends with? What is it that moves us? Does God and His Word move us? Are we moved more by our desire to be accepted by others? Does money or power move us? Does our own desires and wishes move us, instead of the will of God? In the end, the way we live our lives is what shows what we have inside of our hearts. And if God does not have first place in our lives, nor is it Him that dictates what we do, then we, quite frankly, have an idolatry problem because everything that is put before God is idolatry, and it doesn’t necessarily mean that there have to be statutes or images, or anything like that. This is what the Word teaches us: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.” Exodus 20:2-6.

If it is the world that in some way dictates what we do, then we not only have the problem with idolatry, but also, we constitute ourselves God’s enemy, for it is written: “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4:4. In addition, the Word teaches us about the issue with priorities and how we should treat our families, for It says: “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.” Matthew 10:37-38.

Why is God so jealous? Easy! Because He is righteous. If the Lord asked for loyalty and love in the Old Testament for being created and having freed Israel from the power of Egypt, how much more do you think He deserves because of giving Himself through His Only Begotten Son? For the Word teaches us that the three are one, and so, every abuse, mistreating, and evil that was done to the Lord Jesus was also done to the Father and the Holy Spirit. That was the price for our salvation, that the Trinity voluntarily submited Itself to everything that happened, without having to, because of love. God experimented everything He did to rescue a fallen and evil creation (because our sins make us precisely that, whether we commit one or many, just by falling in one, that makes us guilty of all of them). So then, is it right to put someone or something ahead of God? Absolutely not.

The Word teaches us that there is only one way we can show that we are God’s friend, as it is written: “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.” John 15:13-15. And finally, the Word teaches us that it is not a question of just saying things, but rather, of doing things, of doing what truly pleases the Lord, as it is written: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7:21-23.

So, does your life and everything you do with it demonstrate that you are God’s friend or something else? Is God first, or are there things or people that come before God in your life? Lord bless! John

Be Careful What You Wish For - John 18:28-40

Based on John 18:28-40 (King James Version)

“Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. Pilate then went out to them and said, ‘What accusation do you bring against this Man?’ They answered and said to him, ‘If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you.’ Then Pilate said to them, ‘You take Him and judge Him according to your law.’ Therefore the Jews said to him, ‘It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,’ that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die. Then Pilate entered the Praetorium again, called Jesus, and said to Him, ‘Are You the King of the Jews?’ Jesus answered him, ‘Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?’ Pilate answered, ‘Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered You to me. What have You done?’ Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.’ Pilate therefore said to Him, ‘Are You a king then?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.’ Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, ‘I find no fault in Him at all. But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?’ Then they all cried again, saying, ‘Not this Man, but Barabbas!’ Now Barabbas was a robber.”

Have you ever heard the saying, “Be careful what you wish for because you might just get it?” There may be many of you that may want that to be true. But in reality, is it a good thing to get what we want? Let’s see through this passage the different characters and if it is true that we do get what we want.

The first one we see is Caiaphas. Caiaphas not only envied the Lord because of the miracles He performed and because the people marveled with His teachings, but through that envy and anger, he was the one that also planned the death of Jesus (although we are all responsible for the death of the Lord, if we desire for His sacrifice to wash away our sins). Caiaphas did not want to lose his importance, his fame, the admiration of the people, and well, maybe even other things that he would get as a result of his position. Nonetheless, Caiaphas got what he wanted: to take the Lord out of his way and remain as the spiritual leader of the Jewish people. And what did he gain? Well, he kept his position with the fame that brings, and everything he wanted on this earth. But I ask myself, where is Caiaphas now? It is very possible that he is in a place where he never imagined he would be, in hell’s eternal flames.

The second one we see is Pilate. Even though he tried not to condemn the Lord to death, he didn’t do what he could have done. He represented Rome’s authority. The Jews could not command him, nor did they exercise any authority over him. But, the real issue Pilate was trying to avoid was the danger of a revolt. He was trying to maintain the peace of the province he governed. He didn’t want any big problems. And despite him washing his hands of the blood of the Lord, God was not really going to let that pass. He carried the guilt of the Lord’s death because freeing him was within his grasp. So then, what did Pilate gain? Yes, things calmed down. He was able to please the Jewish leaders. And he maybe even scored some points with the people by freeing Barabbas. But, where is he now? He may quite possibly be keeping Caiaphas company, regretting deeply his cowardly action.

And what about the people that shouted to have Barabbas freed, and Barabbas himself? Did they gain anything by having Barabbas freed? Was Barabbas able to do anything for them? History does not tell us that they were able to free themselves from the Romans, neither through Barabbas, nor through anyone else in that era. They didn’t gain anything. And even more so, if there was no kind of repentance for their actions, after the way they betrayed the Lord (because I am quite sure that many of them saw the Lord’s miracles, and that many of them received good things from Jesus, and maybe even experienced miracles in their own lives, done by the Messiah Himself); I am very certain that they are not doing so well right now either. Nothing good came out of getting what they wanted, because they received exactly what they desired; nothing more, nothing less.

The Bible teaches us that if we ask, if we seek, or if we knock, sooner or later, we will receive, for it is written: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8. It also teaches us that we will give an account for everything we say, for it is also written: “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”  Matthew 12:35-37. And finally, the Bible teaches us that the Lord searches even deeper than the words we say, for it is written: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.” Jeremiah 17:9-10.

So then, if all of this is true (which of course it is because it’s the Word of God, and it is fulfilled in every kind of way), we have to try to understand what we truly desire, within our hearts; and we have to think and meditate on where our desires will take us. We have seen clearly that if we only desire what is earthly, we will only gain earthly things, and if we desire what is spiritual, then we will sow spiritual things, but everything has its own set of natural consequences. I’m not going to lie to you. If we desire what is spiritual, it is more than possible that we will have much difficulty here on earth, because what is spiritual is cultivated in a different way, as we see in the Lord’s example. The Lord went through great horror, and unjustly, because He paid for wrongs He didn’t commit. Nonetheless, even though He was the Eternal God, by going through and doing everything He did, He sowed even more incredible things where He attained greater glories and was also able to give the gift of eternal life to all mankind. But, if He wouldn’t have died for us, none of those possibilities would exist today. So then, what do you mostly desire within the depths of your heart? Because you may get exactly what you desire; nothing more, and nothing less. Lord bless! John

John’s Love for Jesus - John 18:15-27

Based on John 18:15-27 (King James Version)

“And Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in. Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, ‘You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?’ He said, ‘I am not.’ Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself. The high priest then asked Jesus about His disciples and His doctrine. Jesus answered him, ‘I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing. Why do you ask Me? Ask those who have heard Me what I said to them. Indeed they know what I said.’ And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, ‘Do You answer the high priest like that?’ Jesus answered him, ‘If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?’ Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Now Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. Therefore they said to him, ‘You are not also one of His disciples, are you?’ He denied it and said, ‘I am not!’ One of the servants of the high priest, a relative of him whose ear Peter cut off, said, ‘Did I not see you in the garden with Him?’ Peter then denied again; and immediately a rooster crowed.”

When reading this passage, the majority of people focus on Peter, and what happened with Peter (which we will see also). But, I feel that it is necessary to focus more on John, because many don’t do it, and possibly because this is the most important aspect not just of this passage, but also, the prime example that we need to have for our faith. So, for starters, let’s identify John so we can see him clearly. John is mentioned in different ways in the gospel he writes. In this passage in particular, we see him as the disciple that was known to the high priest. In other passages, we see him as the “disciple whom He loved” and in other ways as well. John alludes to himself in the book. When we understand where John was in the whole story, then a clearer picture is being revealed that can show John’s actions better.

If we follow the thread that joins all of the events where John was, we can see that John never really abandoned the Lord after His arrest. John saw and heard practically everything. That’s why we not only have the accounts of what happened with the Lord through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, but also, because of John’s eyewitness accounts. He must have been the one that told the others everything that happened and that was said. For it is written: “This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.” John 21:24.

Why is this important? John was faithful, even in the Lord’s worst moments. He never abandoned the Lord. He always tried to be with Him. We see that he was the only disciple of the Lord that was there until the very end (speaking of the crucifixion, because that was certainly not the end for the Lord, and glory to God for that). This is what we read: “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother!’ And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.” John 19:25-27. So then, not only was John faithful until the Lord’s death, but even far after, because he even took care of Mary, the Lord’s carnal mother, until she went to God’s presence. John was truly unique. What was it that made John so different to the others? What made him unique in his way of being? One thing, and the most important of all: John loved the Lord. The relationship that John had with the Lord was unique; incomparable. John followed the Lord because he believed in Him, because he had acknowledged Him as the Messiah, but even more important than all of that; John followed the Lord simply because he loved Him.

Peter was not so, even though he would learn this in time. When the Lord restored Peter, we need to see the detail of what the Lord said to him, for it is written: “So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Feed My lambs.’ He said to him again a second time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’ He said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.’ He said to him, ‘Tend My sheep.’ He said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’ And he said to Him, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed My sheep. Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.’ This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’” John 21:15-19. The Lord didn’t ask Peter, “Do you understand now Peter why I didn’t need for you to defend me?”, or “Did you see Peter that I was able to triumph over death?” The Lord didn’t say anything like that. The Lord was concerned with was just one thing: “Peter, do you love me?” How amazing that the only thing that mattered to the greatest and most powerful Being of the universe, the Creator of the Heavens and the Earth, was if Peter loved Him! And this is what the Lord looks for in all of us. It’s what has always interested Him the most. For it is written: “‘And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.” Mark 12:30.

Why is love so important to God? Because He is a God of justice, and it is only fair that we look to love Him as He deserves to be loved, for it is also written: “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 4:9-10. Without Christ, there can be no existence, or life in this world! Without Christ, there can be no salvation or eternal life! Without His sacrifice on the cross, and the shedding of the Lamb’s blood, there can be no forgiveness for sins! We owe Him absolutely everything! And God did everything for love; and for nothing more, and nothing less. So then, have you been able to understand the magnitude of God’s love for you? Is it enough for you, or do you want something else? Do you try to love Him in the same manner, like John loved Him? Lord bless! John

The Power to Surrender - John 18:1-14

Based on John 18:1-14 (King James Version)

“When Jesus had spoken these words, He went out with His disciples over the Brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which He and His disciples entered. And Judas, who betrayed Him, also knew the place; for Jesus often met there with His disciples. Then Judas, having received a detachment of troops, and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, came there with lanterns, torches, and weapons. Jesus therefore, knowing all things that would come upon Him, went forward and said to them, ‘Whom are you seeking?’ They answered Him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’ Jesus said to them, ‘I am He.’ And Judas, who betrayed Him, also stood with them. Now when He said to them, ‘I am He,’ they drew back and fell to the ground. Then He asked them again, ‘Whom are you seeking?’ And they said, ‘Jesus of Nazareth.’ Jesus answered, ‘I have told you that I am He. Therefore, if you seek Me, let these go their way,’ that the saying might be fulfilled which He spoke, ‘Of those whom You gave Me I have lost none.’ Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus. So Jesus said to Peter, ‘Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?’ Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him. And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year. Now it was Caiaphas who advised the Jews that it was expedient that one man should die for the people.”

This might possibly be one of the most difficult passages to understand, not in the academic sense, but rather, of being able to truly understand exactly just what happened and how it was able to happen. To be able to at least start understanding this, it is essential to understand exactly who Jesus was (and is), and this is what limits almost every person that does not come to have a true relationship with God (which are the majority of people, whether you believe it or not); the issue that Jesus is God.

People say very easily the name of Jesus (which is what the Bible teaches us to call Him), but Jesus is not only the Messiah, but He is also God; the same as the other two Beings of the Holy Trinity. We see this quite clearly in the Scriptures through His other name: the Lamb, for it is written: “Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.’ Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!’ And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: ‘Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!’ Then the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.” Revelation 5:8:14. So, undoubtedly, Jesus is God.

In the Old Testament, we see this same Jesus as Jehovah or Lord. And if He was Jehovah and the Lord, then He was also the one that Moses knew when God presented Himself through the burning bush, as it was left written: “And God said to Moses, ‘I AM WHO I AM.’ And He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’’” Exodus 3:14. Jesus is the I AM. And here is where we see the link that shows who exactly Jesus was here on earth. At the very moment He just mentioned His name, as the I AM, those that came to arrest Him felt only but a very small demonstration of His power, by drawing back and falling to the ground. I say that it was quite a small demonstration, and with a lot of mercy, because they should have been consumed, leaving only ashes. But, this happened so that it could be seen clearly just who Jesus was, and to give a very small glimpse of what was happening which was a true miracle, possibly the greatest miracle apart from the resurrection. Although, if you really know the Lord, you understand that for us it’s a miracle, but for Him, it was something quite simple, because what happened was simply just a revelation of a His nature. In the same manner, it was no big thing for Him to say His Name, and that the mentioning of His Name would make these weak men fall like dry sticks in the wind. What we see as great and miraculous was only manifestations of Who He was (and is).

But, this is what I truly see as something incredible, something that cannot be measured neither thought of with our poor and limited mind: How can such a powerful God let Himself be taken and even killed by beings that are so small and limited? I can’t come to understand it, and again, not because I cannot understand academically what it means, but rather, the mechanics (per se), or the act of letting them do everything they did while He being who He was. To put it into some sort of perspective (if it were possible), it would be like an elephant surrendering to the tyranny of an ant, or a handful of dirt submitting a high mountain, or a drop of water dominating the direction of the world’s oceans. Do you understand the point I’m trying to explain? Even though He took on our form (which is a great mystery), Jesus is God, and as such, His power was unlimited. He didn’t need the help of armies, or weapons, or angels, and even far less, Peter’s help to free Himself. He could have just said one word and the whole world would have been consumed beneath His feet, and of course, make His enemies disappear. This is what eludes, intrigues, and even disturbs me. This is what He Himself said: “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one 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. This command I have received from My Father.” John 10:17-18. God simply surrendered, and to very insignificant beings, because we are less than nothing. That’s why pride before God is illogical.

So then, what happens within a human being that makes it difficult to believe Jesus is God? Something very simply, but very illogical and without any foundation: they penalize a God that is so great in power and love for having humbled Himself for us. God humbled Himself so much that they see Him as someone inferior to them, and that cannot be forgiven here, and far less, in eternity. So, if you have been able to understand at least something of what happened, you can’t treat Jesus as an equal. There should only exist an incredible sense of humbleness and love for Him. One word of advice for those with some sort of understanding: Do not mistake His great love and mercy for weakness and lack of power. Therefore, if He surrendered in this manner for you, what do you think would be the fairest thing to do for Him? Lord bless! John

The Lord’s Prayer, Part 3: Jesus’ Manifestation to His Apostles - John 17:24-26

Based on John 17:24-26 (King James Version)

“Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

In this passage, we continue seeing the great importance of the Lord’s Apostles. They were key people for God because the Lord was going to manifest Himself through them, just as it happened. Without them, we wouldn’t have what we have today. In the end, why were they so important? What was the thing that defined the great power of faith these men had (because their faith was unique)?

The first aspect of the Apostles’ importance was that they simply experienced everything the Lord did; they were eyewitnesses to the three incredible years (day and night, because they lived with the Messiah) of the Lord’s ministry here on earth, and they also lived through the culmination of the great power of God through the death, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord, which is what established God’s grace for all mankind, for those that preceded the Lord (speaking in earthly terms), for the Apostles and disciples, and for those of us that follow after them, because of their testimony. This is what we read regarding the Apostles’ testimony: “This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.” Acts 2:32. “And killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.” Acts 3:15. “Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” Acts 5:31-32. “The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all—that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.” Acts 10:36-42.

The Apostles were the most unique witnesses that God used to spread His Gospel of Peace to the whole world, everything started with them, and that’s why absolutely no one can take on the name Apostle after them, because even though they were men that were similar to us, their faith was unique, and the function they fulfilled in the kingdom of God was also truly unique. The Gospel was preached through them to the entire world through great signs, wonders, and power from the Highest. Through them and by their testimony was that the Holy Spirit inspired what we know today as the New Testament that we have in the Holy Bible, from Matthew’s gospel through the Revelation; the beginning of God’s grace to the end of everything that we know, and eternity.

And finally, what was it that made the work of these men so special and definitive? The very last part of the Lord’s prayer is what did this, as it was written: “…that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” Their main motivation, the reason why they did everything they did was for love, and no other reason. And ladies and gentlemen, just as the Word of God explains, we cannot do absolutely anything of significance before the eyes of the Lord without love. Because the Lord taught us this very thing: “Jesus answered him, ‘The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31. The Apostles acted only upon the love they had for the Lord. This was the great motivation God the Father, the Lord, and finally, the Holy Spirit used which made possible to work so mightily through their lives. Many centuries have passed, and for the glory of God, the work of these men still lives brilliantly through which we see that the Lord’s prayer was clearly answered.

What should all of this mean for us? That God can do great things through imperfect people, but when there is true love for Him and for our neighbor, when there is an immovable faith that is lived daily. Just as the Apostle Paul said: “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1. The Bible teaches us this regarding love (which is what many people define erroneously only as a special feeling or sentiment): “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-8. So then, the love that was in the Apostles’ hearts had nothing to do with what is taught today. But this same love can and should be cultivated in each one of our hearts, because this is God’s perfect will.

In the end, everything is about the Lord, even His prayer, for it is written: “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” 1 Timothy 2:5-6. So, have you been able to understand and fulfill the Lord’s prayer in your life, following the steps of these great men that preceded us, that they even surrendered their lives for God’s Truth, so that we could have what we have today? Lord bless! John

The Lord's Prayer, Part 2: Those After the Apostles

Based on John 17:20-23 (King James Version)

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”

In this passage, we see the part of the Lord’s prayer that goes directly to us, to those of us that have come to faith in Christ after the Apostles (this does not apply to those that continue being unconverted, because the Holy Spirit is the link that unites us). What we see here is something quite simple, but at the same time complex because there are a lot of misunderstandings. So then, to be able to understand this concept, we need to clarify the misunderstandings. And as always, we can never hold opinions as truth, nor take a Bible passage as doctrine without seeing its compliment in different parts of the Scriptures, because the Bible compliments itself within itself (there are no controversies in the Holy Scriptures).

Love is the most important thing that needs to be present so that there can be true unity. You can’t do anything without love. The Word teaches us the following: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.” 1 John 4:7-12. And the Word goes even deeper in that, if we hate our brother, we then have a serious a problem with God, for it is written: “Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” 1 John 3:15.

Now then, does loving our brother or sister in Christ mean that we have to do whatever they want? Absolutely not, and here is where we get to our first misunderstanding, the issue of understanding what love means (because the majority of people don’t know). The Bible teaches us that the following is love: “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. For there to be true love, then it must be based on Biblical principles. Because in the end, God is love, so God teaches us what is love; and it’s not whatever we want it to be. Therefore, if there isn’t a complete understanding of the Scriptures, the full counsel of God, then a person is simply not equipped (per se) to love, because they will be led by their opinion, by whatever they feel. To be able to at least give some direction (because it takes time to search the Scriptures), we would really need to understand the passage we just read, which goes completely against what our society teaches as love. Our society teaches that we need to let people be as they wish, and yes, that is true. Each person has the ability of free will. But also, that does not mean that we need to support what is evil, because we just saw that love cannot rejoice in iniquity, but rather, rejoices in the “Truth”. So, is it love for two people of the same sex to have a relationship? Of course not, because it goes against what the Scriptures teach. Do we need to attack them? Of course not. They will give an account for what they do, if they don’t look for the Lord. But at the same time, we cannot support nor say that it is good, and least of all, say that it is love.

Now then, is love then giving in to everything a person desires to do? Absolutely not and under no circumstances. If something is good according to the Word of God, then by all means. But, if what they desire is wrong or evil, then, of course not, because God Himself does not do that with us. God does not give us everything we want, but rather, what we need, and here is where we disagree with much of what society teaches as well. God is not in the business of spoiling. The devil is who promotes that, and that’s why everything he offers is so attractive, because he offers to do whatever you want. What’s wrong with doing everything we feel like doing? Simple. Sin is still living within our members, despite us having come to Christ. So, how can we just let loose something that produces death (because that is what sin produces)? Therefore, fulfilling whims and aiding selfishness (because love: “does not seek its own”) is not the will of God.

The Bible also teaches us this: “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:7-10. So, the unity among the people of God consists in doing “good”, and not in something else. And “good” can only be things that are in agreement with what the Bible teaches. So then, good does not necessarily consist of fulfilling whims, spoiling, accepting abuse, supporting evil, fostering disorder, succumbing to deceit, etc. In summary, good neither consists in, nor can support, and least of all, promote under any circumstances sin. That’s why good cannot be something subjective, or based on personal opinion, but rather, it must be founded objectively on the Word of God.

Therefore, both good and love are things that can only be learned (because we are not born knowing them) by what the Holy Spirit teaches (because it cannot be learned intellectually) through the Word of God. The way we can assure our unity, just as the Lord prayed for, which shows the work of God in Jesus Christ, is through this simple concept: “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12.

So then, are you procuring to promote unity among the people of God through the love and good that the Lord teaches? Lord bless! John

The Lord’s Prayer, Part 1: His Apostles - John 17:1-19

Based on John 17:1-19 (King James Version)

“Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: ‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. I have manifested Your name to the men whom You have given Me out of the world. They were Yours, You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your word. Now they have known that all things which You have given Me are from You. For I have given to them the words which You have given Me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came forth from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.’”

We will see the Lord’s prayer in three parts, because in some way, we can understand that it does have three parts. The first part consists of how He prayed directly for His Apostles, not necessarily for us that came after them. It doesn’t mean that since it was not directly aimed at us that we then need to ignore it, but we must understand what we need to for many reasons, and like everything that is written in the Word, for: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17.

To start, the Lord’s Apostles were truly unique, and if there ever were chosen or predestined people, it would be them, even though they always did have the ability to choose what to do with their lives. Nonetheless, they had a great affinity for the Lord. They knew how to recognize Who was the Being that invited them to walk with Him. They had such sensitivity that they reacted and reacted immediately when the Lord called them. And of course, when the fullness of the Holy Spirit came to their lives, they were unstoppable. And the Apostle Paul also is included in this, because even though they tried to fill the void Iscariot left, the Apostle Paul took the twelfth spot, through which the Lord was going to use him greatly so that we the gentiles could come to have the opportunity to listen to the Gospel of Salvation. The true Apostles of the Lord were prepared by God and chosen directly by the Lord on the earth, including Paul, as He went to have an encounter with him on the way to Damascus. Biblically speaking, there have been no more Apostles than those spoken of in the Bible, because the calling culminates with the twelve. With all respect to those that have taken that title after them; sincerely, it does not belong to them. They might be something else, but not Apostles. It’s related to the meaning behind the twelve tribes of Israel, and all of the other things related to the number twelve in the Bible.

We see through this passage the personal care that the Lord Himself had with His Apostles, watching over them, living with them, teaching them daily about the kingdom, showing them all of the signs and wonders He did, allowing them to experience the Only Begotten Son of God intimately. They experienced the glorification of the Son here on earth. They received the power that the Lord gave them directly. God finally did give them to His Son. They had the privilege of being kept by the Lord. So then, and through this prayer, we see the great meaning that these special people had, and the aspect of a predetermined election made by the Father which does not apply to us.

But, and despite how special the Apostles were, and everything God did through them, never, ever should we lose sight of the actions of the Son of God, and that we need to focus on Him only. Like Paul rightly said, giving us a clear direction: “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1. He also said: “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.” Ephesians 5:1. We also saw the direction that His earthly mother, Mary, gave: “His mother said to the servants, ‘Whatever He says to you, do it.’ [speaking of the Lord]” John 2:5. And foremost, as God Himself said it from the heavens in the following story: “Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, ‘Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!’ And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid.” Matthew 17:4-6. So then, just as it was for the Apostles and His earthly mother Mary, our complete focus should be the Lord, and no one else, because this is the reality the Scriptures teach us: “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5. These are only but a few reasons for why the Lord needs to be our focus, our direction, practically, our everything. We need to be disciples or followers of Jesus, not just believing in Him. We need to eat of His flesh and drink of His blood, eating His Word and respecting His sacrifice, making ourselves one with Him; without any doubts or reservations, just as those great people before us did, seeing the example they left for us.

Now then, how does this passage apply to us? Except for not being chosen by God beforehand and that we did not live during the time the Lord lived on the earth carnally (except for Paul, because Paul was the last Apostle chosen by the Lord, but without seeing Him carnally in His earthly ministry), everything else applies, but now that we have the most intimate part of the Lord: the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. Everything the Lord did for His Apostles, He also does for us, but through the Holy Spirit and with the completed work of the Scriptures. And in all reality, this is what makes the Apostles so special, because we have much more than what they had, because the Scriptures were not completed and sealed until after the Apostle John, the one that “saw” the end, just as the Lord said. Today, we have the complete revelation from God to man at our fingertips; the Holy Bible.

So then, what are you doing with the much God has given us? Lord bless! John

Speaking with the Truth - John 16:25-33

Based on John 16:25-33 (King James Version)

“‘These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God. I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.’ His disciples said to Him, ‘See, now You are speaking plainly, and using no figure of speech! Now we are sure that You know all things, and have no need that anyone should question You. By this we believe that You came forth from God.’ Jesus answered them, ‘Do you now believe? Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.’”

Blaise Pascal once said: “In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't.” Maybe it is not clearly visible that this passage is mostly about the truth, but we will try to explain it so that we not only understand this, but also, so we can get to a deeper place within ourselves and with God. The Lord always speaks to us with the truth, and the truth is not always pleasant. The truth can be many times difficult, uncomfortable, frustrating, and even painful. It doesn’t necessarily happen that way because of the truth within itself, but rather, we always need to keep our primary enemy in mind: the sin that still dwells within our being. Sin is what makes the truth so difficult.

This is the first truth that we all need to keep very present. Satan is not our primary enemy (but be extremely careful with him). You might say, “How can that be?” We are going to dig even deeper so we can understand the issue. Our primary enemy is the sin that is still within us, and Satan only tries to manipulate and stir up that evil that is in us. That’s why we can understand that the Lord never sinned, because even though He was a man with our own flesh, by virtue that His Father is truly God, He did not have within His members the lusts of the flesh. That’s why no matter how much Satan tried to tempt Him; time, after time, after time (tirelessly), he was never able to get anywhere, because in the end, the Lord had His divinity as the substance that composed His flesh. That’s why it is not necessarily our flesh that makes us fall, and sin, and to look for our own self-destruction, but rather, the sin that dwells within our flesh. And that is what is at odds with God, and of course, at odds with the Truth of God. The Apostle Paul tried to explain this in the following manner: “For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.” Romans 7:14-25. This is what explains what happens within us. That’s why when Satan tried to tempt the Lord, nothing would happen, even in the hardest and most difficult moments. But when Satan tempts us, that is another story, and that is what makes the Truth for us feel like it is so hard, and difficult, and painful.

Now then, whether the Lord used a figurative language or spoke clearly to them (as His disciples said in this passage), the Lord never lied to them. He always told them things just as they were. And what was difficult with His declarations was that when they would experience just a glimmer of tranquility, the Lord would reveal something hard and difficult, like what He declared here, that they were going to be scattered, that they were going to abandon Him, and that they were going to endure tribulation in this world. These truths must have not felt very pleasing at the moment. But rather, quite the contrary, because it was very clear that the disciples were hoping for their problems here to be resolved, because they were hoping for the Messiah to establish His reign here on earth. The practical reason (per se) for why they abandoned the Lord in His worst moment was not necessarily because they didn’t appreciate Him, but rather, because they found themselves somewhere completely unknown, somewhere entirely opposite to what they hoped for, no matter how much He had warned them. The unknown and uncertainty was what made them flee, because this went completely against their desires, because it went against the sin that still dwelt within them. And we should not be astonished at this, because I am very sure that each one of us would have fled as well if we were present with Him. We just think differently now because we have complete knowledge over the issue. But even knowing what we know now, we still don’t do what we are supposed to, even in situations that are far less complex than what the disciples faced during the moment of His arrest. We get confused and frustrated with things that are far simpler. So, by our own selves, we are far less than those great men and women that followed the Lord, despite their moment of weakness and frailty.

So then, where does what Pascal said come into play? The Truth and Faith go hand-in-hand. Faith is what makes possible the search for Truth, the desire to want to believe that there is something more than the lies that surround us, the subtleties of deceit, and the superficiality of vanity. Faith is what helps us triumph over the sin that still dwells within us, because you want to follow more what your soul is longing for, something greater than this temporal and superficial world. And this is the mystery behind what Pascal said and what we are trying to explain today: that our faith depends on how much we want to believe, and how much we desire the truth. Faith is what takes us beyond the fear of being scattered, of going through trials, and suffering persecution, even enduring enmity with our loved ones, and suffering tribulation. Because faith is what tells us to: “Keep moving forward because there is something far superior waiting for you that is more worthwhile than what you are going through now, or that you will endure in the near future”. This is the truth that the Lord told us: “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32.

And so, we should ask ourselves, especially after some self-examination: “Do I have enough faith in the Lord to be able to desire His Truth, no matter the cost, or what may happen? Do I truly desire for the Truth to set me free? Lord bless! John

This World Will Not Last Forever - John 16:16-24

Based on John 16:16-24 (King James Version)

“‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.’ Then some of His disciples said among themselves, ‘What is this that He says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” They said therefore, ‘What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is saying.’ Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, ‘Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’? Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”

I remember when I was a boy in school that there were certain days when we would finish our work early and not have much to do. So, the only option I had was to wait until the bell would ring so I could leave, because we were not allowed to leave early. I remember putting my head down on the desk where I would sit, and I would fix my eyes on the clock on the wall. The problem that I had was that the more I looked at the clock with the hope that time would pass by faster, it seemed like time would stretch and almost stand still. I felt like the hands on the clock that would show the hours, minutes, and seconds were going slower and slower. The day seemed like it would never end. It felt a bit like torture. Do you feel your life is like that sometimes, especially when you are going through a tough moment, and that not only time seems to be going by slower, but also, like everything is getting worse? Have you ever felt like you are walking slowly down a dark tunnel that seems like it’s getting darker and darker, and that there is no end in sight, and that you cannot even see a glimmer of hope at a far distance?

This life can be very difficult for many of us, in one way or another. The Lord never told us that everything would be great here, and that we would be happy and vibrant, and that we would be able to fulfill all of our dreams and desires while here. This was never written in the Bible, as we were able to read today, just a short moment ago. On the contrary, the Lord warned us that we would have sadness and even affliction, and not only that, but also, that we would have to go through trials and tribulations. I know that does not sound pleasant, but at the same time, it is necessary to understand what is happening, and that you are not the only one that is going through it. You are not alone in this. The truth is that this will be difficult, but not because the Lord necessarily desires that, but because of the sin that dwells in this place and even within our lives. That’s why the Lord hates sin, because it ruins everything. So then, if you want to blame something for the pain and sadness, put blame where it should go; on sin.

But, here comes better things, the ones that we always need to bear in mind and in our heart, especially when we are going through tough times, because this life only lasts but a moment when you compare it to eternity. When we surrender our lives to the Lord, and we abide in His faith, there are great and wonderful promises that are waiting for those that love the Lord, as it is written: “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.’ Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’ And He said to me, ‘It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.’” Revelation 21:1-7. This is the joy that should keep all Christian looking forward, looking towards the goal.

So then, for those of you that are not doing so well right now, remember that we have a living and eternal hope in the Lord. The disciple of the Lord always has the joy of the hope that all of this will pass someday, and that not only better days are coming, but rather, an indescribable eternity with everything that only the Lord can offer. At the same time, for those of you that may not be going through difficult times, remember also that everything here is passing, just like our lives. As it is written: “because, ‘All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.’” 1 Peter 1:24. So then, whether we are doing well, or doing so-so, or not doing so well, the clock of our lives is running quite fast. The time of the end of our flesh will come to pass for each of us. This is an unavoidable reality. That’s why the Word gives us this counsel: “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, ‘I have no pleasure in them’: While the sun and the light, the moon and the stars, are not darkened, and the clouds do not return after the rain; in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men bow down; when the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look through the windows grow dim; when the doors are shut in the streets, and the sound of grinding is low; when one rises up at the sound of a bird, and all the daughters of music are brought low. Also they are afraid of height, and of terrors in the way; when the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper is a burden, and desire fails. For man goes to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets. Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the well. Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it. ‘Vanity of vanities,’ says the Preacher, ‘All is vanity.’… …Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:1-8, 13-14.

So then, what are you doing with your life while here on earth? Lord bless! John

The Work of the Holy Spirit - John 16:4b-15

Based on John 16:4b-15 (King James Version)

“And these things I did not say to you at the beginning, because I was with you. But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.”

When the Holy Spirit is spoken of, many start to think about the spiritual gifts. But, when we see the Word, the gifts are just the tip of the iceberg (per se). The work of the Holy Spirit is something much more significant and profound than the manifestation of the gifts. To start, we need to clarify that the Holy Spirit is a Person, that He is part of the Trinity of God. There are certain sects that teach that the Holy Spirit is like an engine, or something like that, which is rather insulting and even blasphemous. Therefore, the Holy Spirit as a Person and Identity is the most sacred being of God, the soul of God. And without the Holy Spirit, neither God the Father nor the Son could do what they do. Each Identity of the Trinity is perfectly divine, joined together in perfect unity, and interdependent to each other. There is only one God, and that God is three Persons, as it is written: “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.” I John 5:7.

Now then, and to start somewhere (because it is difficult to isolate everything the Holy Spirit does, especially since there is such a perfect unity in the Trinity), the Holy Spirit was involved with absolutely everything the Lord Jesus did on the Earth. The only moment where God [plural] separated for an instant was when the Lord took on all of our sins upon Himself on the cross, as He Himself declared it: “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?’” Matthew 27:46. So then, our evil and sin was what separated a God that had always been together. God suffered even that for us (that’s why whoever takes lightly the immense sacrifice of God truly deserves where they will end up, if they don’t repent. God’s salvation through Jesus Christ is only by grace, but the price that God paid for us can never be measured or weighed; it’s incalculable). The Holy Spirit was involved with the conception in Mary. He was involved with the growth of the Lord. He was involved with the all of the miracles, signs, and wonders the Lord did, including when the Lord casted out demons. He was involved with all of the Lord’s ministering and teaching. The Holy Spirit did everything together with the Lord. That’s why when a person refuses to believe in the works of the Only Begotten Son of God not only do they blaspheme against the Son, but also against the Father and the Holy Spirit. And as a consequence, there can be no salvation for that person, either because of their unbelief, or because of their blasphemy. For it is also written: “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36. So then, because of the perfect unity of the Trinity, and by not believing or accepting the Lord, a person is denying everything such as the work of the Father and the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it’s either all or nothing, but absolutely no one can justify themselves before God by thinking that they can believe in God and not in the Son. Accepting Jesus as Lord is the key for everything because through that faith is that everything else comes, especially the Holy Spirit.

Now then, when a person accepts Jesus as the Lord of their life, by surrendering their heart, the Holy Spirit comes to in live inside their life. At that moment, the miracle where the Holy Spirit manifests Himself by being “within” us occurs. As it was said in another occasion, the Holy Spirit first is “with” us, by helping us feel the conviction of sin and showing us that we need a Savior, going much beyond what our conscience can work in us; the Holy Spirit is “within” our life; and the Holy Spirit comes “upon” us when He prepares us for God’s service and ministering (and He doesn’t necessarily manifest Himself through the gift of tongues. He distributes the gifts as He desires; no one can impose on Him nor can it be assumed). But, exploring even more the importance of the Holy Spirit regarding being “within” our lives, what is incredibly necessary and crucial of that is that He teaches us the things of God. It doesn’t depend on our intellect. The only thing that we need is to have the intellectual understanding of the words we read, but the Holy Spirit takes care of the rest. That’s why even a child can come to understand, assimilate, and even apply the things of God in their life, because it is the Holy Spirit that teaches them directly, by exposing themselves to the Word of God. I say this by experience because I had the privilege and grace from God to come to the Lord when I was only seven years old. I was completely conscious of what I was doing. I started to read and study the Bible at that time (because I felt it necessary), and I was not a scholar, or a prodigy, nor a university student. I was only a very simple and common boy, but the Holy Spirit taught me everything that I read. And there was such an impact made in my life that His teaching remains until today, more than thirty-seven years later. No human being can learn anything of the divine things of the Lord without the Holy Spirit inside their lives. It’s impossible!

And continuing, the Holy Spirit is the one that changes the life of a person, as a consequence of learning God’s Word, if they let him work (because nothing is forced). We also need to be careful with the fact that the Holy Spirit can be grieved with the sin that still remains in our lives. As it is written: “And do not grieve [or quench] the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30. So then, if the Holy Spirit can be quenched, then He can also be extinguished inside of our heart if there is too much disobedience and rebellion in us. Everything is possible unfortunately. But, if we remain in the Lord, and let the work of the Holy Spirit continue in our lives, one of the most precious things that only God can do will occur; the transformation of a life, by converting us into something completely different then what we started as. The Holy Spirit of God is the only one that can transform a life completely, day-by-day, step-by-step. The more you submit to Him, the faster the changes occur.

So then, have you truly experienced the work of the Holy Spirit in your life? Lord bless! John

The Testing of Our Faith and Love - John 16:1-4a

Based on John 16:1-4a (King James Version)

“These things I have spoken to you, that you should not be made to stumble. They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. But these things I have told you, that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you of them.”

Today’s message is not an easy one, and it goes against various false doctrines that have been shared. The Bible teaches that we will have problems, and very big problems because of our faith in the Lord. Whoever says contrary either does not understand many of the written passages or they are telling you something that you want to listen to so they can sheer you, like the sheep you are. But the Word is very clear on this issue.

Why do we have to go through these tough moments, sooner or later? This is not necessarily what the Lord desires, because the Lord desires our well-being. The issue is that the true culprit of the problem is sin. And let’s be even more clear; the sin that is within each of us is what causes the problem. The only difference between us is that there are those that allow themselves to be guided by the Spirit of God and those that let themselves be led by the evil that dwells within them. What do you follow? This is the heart of the matter.

This is what the Word teaches us: “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.” John 15:19-21. “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” Matthew 10:34-39.

In the last times, the times we are already living in, there shall be such persecution like never before. For it is also written: “Then He said to them, ‘Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony.’” Luke 21:10-13. So then, following the Lord will be difficult, realistically speaking, because it goes against everything we humanly desire. No one likes to suffer, but that is what the sin on this earth produces, and the problems that we have among people. And the price that sin will cause to be paid by many will even involve death. If we see the limited information we have, Lifeway tells us that approximately 215 million Christians live through persecution today. Analysts say that 1 out of every 12 Christians live in places where their faith is either illegal, prohibited, or punished. In a report on 2018, it is estimated that 3,066 Christians were killed, 1,252 were kidnapped, 1,020 were raped or sexually harassed, and 793 churches were attacked. The world was horrified by the attack in New Zealand some days ago, which is understandable because no one has the right to take another person’s life. But who talks about the thousands of Christians that died in 2018 alone? Where was the press in all of that? And even more alarming, where was the universal church in all of that? Many called for a prayer chain for the people that were affected by the recent attack in New Zealand, but who asks for prayer and support for our own family in Christ? The Lord told us the Truth, that there would be a price for following Him, and that it would a very high cost.

So then, how do you continue moving forward in a world that sooner or later will persecute us (including our carnal family), and that will even kill many of us for our faith in Jesus? The only thing that surpasses all the limits is love. And when there is love, there is no fear (it’s as simple as that). For it is written: “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:18-19. This is the key question every Christian should ask themselves: “Do you believe in such a way in the Lord and in what He has done for you that it takes you to love Him as much as He loves you? When everything is good and fine, you will always have people around you. But, when things get tough, when things are not sweet, when there is no prosperity or healings or miracles, who remains? While Jesus did miracles, signs, and fed many, the multitudes followed Him, and they wouldn’t even let Him rest. But, when He was sold to His enemies, who remained with Him? I am very sure that many who He helped and even healed were in the crowd of people that cried out: “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” Even His own disciples abandoned Him. And when He was on the cross paying for the sin of all humanity (where He paid for my sins), there were only but five people at the foot of the cross. The thousands were nowhere to be found.

This is the true meaning of love: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.” 1 Corinthians 13:1-8. Nothing can be withstood if you don’t love the Lord. If you look for Him for convenience, to just get what you want, or even as a duty, sooner or later, you will abandon the faith. But, if you love the Lord as much as He loves you, even death will not separate you from Him. Think about this: No one has ever done nor will do for you what the Lord has done. So then, do you have enough faith and love for the Lord so you can follow Him even in the worst of circumstances? Lord bless! John

The Comforter, the Holy Spirit - John 15:26-27

Based on John 15:26-27 (King James Version)

“But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: and ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning.”

Today, we are going to deal with something quite complex, something that cannot be explained completely on one-page print. We will talk a little bit about the Holy Spirit. To start, the Comforter or the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity of God, because the Bible teaches us very clearly that God consists of three persons, as it is written: “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” 1 John 5:7 (we need to be careful with various Bible versions because the majority of the more modern ones omit this truth from the original text; this is my personal problem with the different versions). Now, the Holy Spirit is not, under any circumstance, inferior to the Father or the Son. On the contrary, if we have a soul (the center of a human being), the Holy Spirit would be the Spirit or Soul of the Trinity, so then, He is what is most sacred within the Trinity. That’s why we need to be very careful and have much respect for the Holy Spirit and His work. He cannot be taken lightly, or more over, He must be seen with a lot of wisdom and knowledge.

To continue this brief look, we will see the great warning that the Lord Himself gave us on how the not to treat the Holy Spirit, for it is written: “Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. And all the multitudes were amazed and said, ‘Could this be the Son of David?’ Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, ‘This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.’ But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: ‘Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad. Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.’” Matthew 12:22-32. The most important work of the Holy Spirit is to show conclusively and undoubtedly that Jesus is God and Lord (not just as the Savior). When the Pharisees called the work of the Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ demonic, their hardness of heart and rebellion took them to do something unpardonable. Now then, the punishment that comes with the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is almost obvious and by consequence. If a person refuses to believe in Jesus as God and Lord, how can they come to be saved? It is impossible. And by virtue of refusing to believe, the person themselves is deciding to stay in their fallen and irredeemable state. No one can obtain eternal life without the Lord. But also, we need to be careful to call things that seem strange (per se) to us as things that don’t come from God because they could be part of the work of the Holy Spirit. This is a great warning for all of us: If you don’t know extremely well the Scriptures and the things that belong to the Lord, then do not even insinuate anything that could be from God as something evil or disrespect it somehow; don’t make fun. We need to respect the things of God, even though they may seem strange to us.

Now then, how does the Holy Spirit manifest Himself in the life of a person? There are three ways: by being with us, by coming to live inside of us, and by coming upon us. When the Holy Spirit is with us, it’s the time that He draws close to bring conviction of sin, so that there can be total repentance and conversion from our sins, at the moment when a person comes to receive the Lord in their life. It is not your conscience that helps you see so clearly all of your sins, but rather, it is the Holy Spirit that does that. He is the One that brings upon a person that incredible sense of responsibility, of pain, and of acknowledging everything a person has done wrong before coming to know the Lord. The second way that the Holy Spirit comes is when He comes to live inside your heart when you repent and convert from all of your sins, and you make Jesus the Lord of your life, when you are born again in the Spirit. That’s where a person’s transformation begins. And the reason why He needs to be inside of your life (not just to save you), is so that He can start teaching you God’s will. As it is written: “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 14:26. And one of the essentials of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer is when He reminds us of all the Word (after we have studied it, of course, because knowledge does not come magically), when He helps us triumph over the devil’s temptations. The only way that you can face and triumph over the devil’s temptations is through the Word of God; and nothing more. And the third way in which the Holy Spirit manifests Himself is by being upon us. This happens when a person is ready to serve the Lord, to be a witness of the Lord, taking the Gospel to every creature. No one can serve the Lord without this anointing (That’s why it is so important to study the Word, so that the moment comes sooner. No one can afford to stagnate). Some call this the Baptism or the Anointing of the Holy Spirit and others call it the Fulness of the Holy Spirit. They mean the same thing. And the Bible teaches us that this can happen with or without the laying on of hands. For it is written: “Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.’” Acts 8:17-19. “While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, ‘can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?’ And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.” Acts 10:44-48. As a note, speaking in tongues is not an absolute sign of someone having received the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The Bible teaches us that the Holy Spirit bestows gifts as He desires, and that we need to look for the best gifts (see 1 Corinthians 12).

So then, have you experienced the Holy Spirit of God in His fulness in your life? Lord bless! John

Responsible for the Truth - John 15:22-25

Based on John 15:22-25 (New King James Version)

“If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.”

Having knowledge about God can be something very good, or something that can bring problems, depending on what is done with that knowledge. The knowledge of God always implies a response, a decision; it’s not something that can be taken lightly, or more clearly, irresponsibly. And what makes the decision that is taken so crucial and important is because of the Being that is involved: God.

Many people can talk about or tell you things, and those things they say may have some importance depending on who it is. For example, a stranger on the street might give you some advice, but I don’t think you will take it seriously for many reasons; because it’s coming from a stranger, because you don’t trust that what they are saying is reliable, or that they might have a good base, and also, because they do not have any kind of authority over your life. The opinion of a stranger can have very little impact in your life. But, if your boss talks to you, the one that signs your check, that is a different story. You need to pay attention, even though you may not even like them. At the very least, you need to at least feign attention. The same happens with an authority, because it could bring about problems, if you don’t pay attention. Because if a police officer tells you to stop the vehicle, you should stop, or else, you are going to have many of his friends that will “help” you stop the vehicle; the easy way or the hard way. So then, based on something as simple as this, knowledge implies responsibility, depending on “who” it involves.

Now then, many justify their lack of faith or conviction in the Lord because they feel they need more proof on who He is. What is amazing is that they demand more proof or knowledge about Someone that really does not have more to prove (if they just pay a little bit of attention), especially considering other things they do believe in that are much more doubtful and uncertain, and that they even put their lives on these things. For example, a person gets on a plane without any problems, with not even the smallest doubt. They believe everything will be just fine. How do they know? Do they understand the science that makes a plane fly? Do they know the people that made the plane? Did they review the maintenance and repair log before boarding the plane? Do they know if the people in charge of flying the plane are in their right minds or healthy enough to do their work? There are so many things that can go wrong, but there isn’t a single question, not a single doubt, and they expose their life and the lives of those they love to fly at 30,000 feet (more than 9,000 meters) above the surface of the earth in this thing they know nothing about.

Let’s see other things like illegal drug use. According to Statista, the number of people in the United States that have used illegal drugs in their lifetimes since 2017 is estimated to be more than 238 million people, this includes the use of marijuana, cocaine, crack, heroin, LSD, Ecstasy, and methamphetamines. And I ask myself, out of all of those millions of people, those folks that tried them, or are still using them regularly, “Do they think about where the stuff comes from that they are so confidently putting into their bodies? Do they know the health standards that were used by the drug producers to make these? Do they know exactly what they are putting into their bodies? How can you trust something that you get from a guy (a stranger) that is standing on a corner somewhere? They don’t doubt something like that, but they dare to doubt God? They put something into their bodies that they have no idea what it is or where it came from, nor what it’s going to do to them, and even more so, knowing that it is something illegal or wrong, but they demand more proof just to give God an opportunity? Where is the logic? Where is the great intellectual evolution of our society? And of course, there are many other things people expose themselves to without the slightest doubt, but yet, it’s hard for them to believe in God. The great scientists prefer to think that they come from a cosmic explosion and from the evolution of monkeys than to have at least some sort of dignity that a Supreme Being made everything, including man. Are you understanding the point?

And together with all of this, the great majority of people believe in the illusion that they have complete control over their lives, that they know what they are doing. I say it is an illusion because no human being knows what will happen to them in the next five minutes, least of all, be able to control everything that happens around them. It’s impossible! Let’s prove it! Do we have control over the planet, over its rotation, its gravity, or over its nature? Can we control an earthquake? Can we stop a tsunami? When was the last time they stopped a tornado? The victims (including the rich) that were in the twin towers in New York on 9/11, were they able to stop their deaths (and I say this with much pain), that the only escape that many had left to avoid the flames was to jump off the buildings? Can man trust their illusion of control and take tomorrow for granted? For it is written: “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.” James 4:13-14.

Now then, the knowledge of God carries great responsibility, for it is written: “For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools.” Romans 1:20-22. So, it should not be taken lightly, but rather, it must be taken quite seriously. For the Word of God also teaches this: “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36.

When God speaks, you need to listen and listen well, and make the decision that the situation merits, or else, nothing good is waiting for those that refuse to believe in Christ. God is love, and that is why He gives a free-will opportunity. But if that opportunity is rejected, what else is left? But when a Being like that calls you, it’s in your best interest not just to listen, but to follow Him closely. Think about Who it’s about and your uncertain reality! Do you understand the responsibility that comes with the knowledge of the Truth of God? Lord bless! John

We Are Just Passing By - John 15:17-21

Based on John 15:17-21 (New King James Version)

“These things I command you, that you love one another. If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me.”

I don’t know if everyone that has decided to follow Christ understands what that implies. Through observation, it seems like a lot of what is taught in Scripture is either not understood, or not followed; one of the two problems exist. I am referring to the lifestyle, that when we have decided to follow the Lord, we should not be striving for things here, at least not like we used to before we knew His Truth. When we come to the Lord, we start forming part of another kingdom (God’s kingdom), and our goals should become other goals, the ones that really don’t have much to do with what’s here. For it is written: “Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.’” John 18:36.

The reality that occurs when we come to the Lord and we surrender our lives to Him (if we have really done that) is that we really don’t belong to this world anymore. We should not have the same carnal goals we had before. We should not strive for what is corruptible, for vanities, for what is here today and gone tomorrow. Our daily struggle should be for what is eternal, starting with our spiritual walk, and for doing the things that please the Lord. The problem emerges when a person tries to use God to resolve things here, and nothing else, with their eyes set only on earthly things. There are many people that only look to resolve earthly things and attain vanities. And well, when we focus only on pleasing the Lord, we will naturally have enmity with the world by the simple fact that we are going to be people with different goals, with different lifestyles, that should frankly force to stand out (not because we rub it in, per se) the superficial and vain way the world tries to live. In other words, our lifestyle should reflect everything that is contrary to the world. And the lifestyle that the Word teaches will only attract those that are tired of the world, those that have already perceived the lies of the world and Satan’s deceit.

We will show some examples, to try to demonstrate that the Lord’s Gospel is something that is applicable universally, that it does not depend on the economic system that certain countries have. A doctrine of prosperity is preached in many places, that if you follow God faithfully, that He will prosper you and make you rich, depending on your faith. That is false and for many reasons. First of all, if you follow God, it shouldn’t be because you want for Him to make you rich. With just that simple fact, you are trying to use God, nothing more, and that is a problem. When a person tries to use God, they become like the ones that would follow the Lord for the fish and loaves of bread. Do you like being used by people? I don’t think so. And well, God doesn’t like it either. The second problem is that the Word teaches us that we cannot love God and riches. And the Word also teaches us that the root of all evil is love of money. The third problem is when a person is only focused on having more, not thinking about their neighbor, only on themselves. And selfishness is completely contrary to everything the Scriptures teach (and that is the greatest difference with the world, because we should be living for the Lord and for our neighbor, not for ourselves). And here comes the fourth problem: How can someone think that God will give them for vanities and luxuries while others that are more faithful to the Lord may be living poorly with hunger, or living on the street? For starters, the Son of Man did not have a place to lay His head down. So then, can something be taught as truth if the Lord Himself did not have it here while on earth? And even more so, if the Lord is our example, how can we then justify a lifestyle that goes completely against the way He lived on earth? Are you understanding the problem?

This is the advice that the Word keeps giving us: “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore, put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.” Colossians 3:1-14.

So, here comes what is applicable to everyday life that agrees with God’s sound doctrine. We are just passing by this world, we are not from here anymore. We all need to work and work hard. We should pay our bills and debts because that is what the Lord commands, paying what we owe (not to get into more debt unnecessarily). And if strive, we should not strive for vanities, but rather, to supply what we need, and to spread the Gospel, and to help others in need (our neighbor); not because of irresponsibility, because they were trying to be rich, but because of misfortune, starting with the family of the faith. There are many people that are in need for reasons that go beyond their control.

So then, are you living your life here like if you were staying permanently, or are you living like if you were just passing by, ready to leave with the Lord at any moment? Lord bless! John

Are We Chosen by God?

Based on John 15:16 (New King James Version)

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” 

Today’s passage tends to cause confusion among those that do not know well the context of the Scriptures. The following issue has existed for a long time: “Are we chosen by God, or, do we choose to follow Him?” And to be able to understand this, we need to be careful with the Scriptures and be able to understand very well our position (because this is what produces in part the departure). The greatest care we need to have with the Scriptures is that we cannot take one verse here and another verse over there and create something that goes completely against everything else is that is written (to start).

The first clarification is that the Holy Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, does not have any contradictions, and whoever believes there are contradictions is because they are missing something, or simply, they are not understanding what they are reading. The reason why the Word of God is inerrant is because it is more than words printed on some pages, it is the essence of God. God is the Word. So then, basically, finding contradictions in the Word is like finding contradictions in God (and I know that many believe this, but that happens because of limitations, or simply because of disbelief, and there is nothing that can be done for that). So, for something to be taken as a sound teaching from the Word, it needs to agree with absolutely everything else that is written (that’s why we need to be very careful with additions, changes, etc. with the Word of God). Together with this clarification, this is what shows us the importance of studying the Bible. The Bible needs to be studied, and of course, with the illumination that only the Holy Spirit can give (this happens when we convert to the Lord). There are many that spiritualize things (per se) and think that we are going to know God’s things instantaneously, and it doesn’t work like that. Instant knowledge will only occur when we arrive before the presence of God; not before. While you are here, it is your responsibility (a word that is being wiped out from our vocabulary) to search the Scriptures, and to let yourself be taught by the Holy Spirit while you do it.

Now then, what is the misunderstanding? We the gentiles are not more than the Jews, to start, and especially before the eyes of God. If chosen people exist, it would be them. And even though they are God’s chosen people, they always had the power to choose to not follow God, and to not follow what is established. For it is written: “For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.” Deuteronomy 30:11-20. The Bible continues teaching the following: “Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell [speaking of the Jews], severity; but toward you [speaking of us, the gentiles], goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?” Romans 11:22-24. So then, everyone that is reading this today is not chosen (per se).

So, who was the Lord talking to? Easy, the Apostles. The other big problem is that the Scriptures are interpreted carelessly, and the obvious is missed. There were moments that the Lord spoke to His Apostles directly. We see this when the Lord prayed for His disciples, “and” also for us, as it is written: “I do not pray for these [His disciples] alone, but also for those [us] who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” John 17:20-21. The Lord literally chose His twelve disciples, so then, they were chosen. But, that also didn’t mean that they didn’t have the power to either follow or not follow the Lord (Remember Iscariot?). And if there was a chosen being, it was John the Baptist. This is what the Word says: “And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.’ As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.’ ‘Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.’” Matthew 11:2-11. And even John the Baptist could have derailed towards the end, because of lack of faith, or else, why send people to ask if it was Him, if he had declared Him as the Christ personally?

God calls everyone to Himself, but it is our decision to follow or not. And also, it is our decision to remain in Him or not. Everything is our choice! God does not force anyone, because love can never be forced. So, have you obeyed His call to follow the Him? Lord bless! John

Obedience is Love in Action - John 15:9-15

Based on John 15:9-15 (New King James Version)

“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.” 

Obeying God is something peculiar (because it has deeper, yet more elemental implications than we think), but essential, because that’s how we can attain salvation and all of the rewards God desires to give us. To start, the first requirement for obeying God is faith. Without faith, nothing of great value can be attained, especially the things of God. But, in order to have the desire to look for God, you must first believe that He exists and that He is who He is. For it is written: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6. And well, it’s logical, because how can you follow something or someone if you don’t believe in that thing or person? (Although there are many people that follow things they don’t even understand, and this is something of concern).

Now then, we also need to understand a very important principle, something that eludes many people because of their lack of faith or level of disbelief (and here is where the issue of obedience gets more interesting). Accepting Jesus as Lord and God is not necessarily a favor a person is doing, but rather, it’s an obedience. In other words, when a person comes to believe in the Lord as such, they are really accepting a universal and irrefutable fact. For it is written: “Through Him [Jesus Christ] we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name.” Romans 1:5. What eludes people is that whether they believe it or not, Jesus is God and their disbelief does not change that reality. He continues being God and will be forever independent of whether or not they want to believe it. It’s simply a fact they are acknowledging. Otherwise, if the Lord is not accepted as such, then they are denying an immovable reality, and the one that comes out losing is not God, but the person, because without obedience to the faith, then there is no eternal salvation. Whether they want to believe it or not, the only way to eternal salvation is Jesus.

Now that we have established this point, then comes the next step: continuing to obey God, or more over, going further after coming to faith in Him (because surrendering our life to Him is only the beginning). This is also something that eludes many people, including those that profess being believers. When we acknowledge Jesus as Lord, it implies that you are turning into His servant (because that is the relationship between Lord and servant). So then, if we understand this logic, we can also understand that the usefulness of the servant is determined by their obedience. In other words, if a servant does not serve his Lord, then what good is he/she for? The position of servant has a function and purpose. But if it is not fulfilled, then it is eliminated. Let’s put this in a perspective that is more relevant to our present society. If you have a job (whether as an employee or self-employed), no one is going to pay you for doing nothing, right? And well, if they are paying you for doing nothing, sooner or later, they are going to catch on and you are going to surely get fired (or sacked). So then, we can understand the importance of obedience even in everyday things.

But now, we will get into something deeper (and here is where God differs with everything else). Obedience to God requires (per se) not only faith (because everything starts with that), but also, love. Faith takes you to not just believe in who God is, but also, it takes you to believe everything He has done for us, and that should produce love within us, because no one will do for you what God has done. If you are a person that understands the depth of what was done, and you have some sort of sense of gratitude, you will return the great love God had and has for you. So, while we continue learning (through His Word), love continues to grow, and that love should start fostering obedience in us. In other words, this should be sentiment that should exist within us: I obey God because I love Him and because I want to please Him. So then, obeying or keeping His commandments is no longer a function, but rather, a voluntary following out of love, and there is where the greatest intimacy a human being can ever have with the Almighty is made possible, of not only being His servant, but also, becoming a friend of God. This was the relationship the Father of Faith (of our faith) Abraham was able to have with the Lord, of being called a friend of God.

And finally, here we will see the logic behind keeping the Lord’s things (because God is the most logical being in all of the universe). When we obey God, we are doing those things that are good for us and for those that surround us. If we obey the Lord, we are the ones that come out winning; it’s for our own good. The Lord desires only what is good for us, and nothing more, even though it may not seem like that sometimes. The Lord is always looking out for what’s best for us, even within our greatest pains. It’s hard to understand this, but we don’t have the capacity to see things as God sees them. We have a very limited and selfish view (if we are sincere). God sees the whole picture, our own and others. And not only that, He also has both the vision and knowledge of the future.

So then, have you come to obedience to the faith in Jesus? And if you have obeyed for salvation, are you obeying out of love, by keeping His commandments for your own good and for the good of others? Lord bless! John