Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of Christ
“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us” John 1:14 ASV
Jesus is the Living Word, the Bread of Life, the Way, the Truth and the Life. In the Old Testament everyone lived under the Law and the curse of the Law so there were blessings and curses, there was God’s Mercy towards us AND His judgement but God so loved the world that He sent His own Son to save us so that today, we who believe in Christ are no longer under the curse of the Law. We are the righteousness of God in Christ. Amen.
Our Heavenly Father tells us in the New Testament, more than once, “this is my beloved Son, hear Him” so what Jesus says to us in the Bible is where we need to start. Jesus came to save us and also to teach us so that we would know God’s love for us and that we would see the Creator of the universe as our loving Father who knows and loves each one of us. Jesus spoke differently to the scripture quoting Pharisees and Sadducees than He did to sinners. We are all sinners and we are all saved by Christ and all who believe in Him are Christians but some Christians are kind of like the Pharisees and get lost in religious doctrine and miss the heart of Jesus. Who Jesus is speaking to, the context of the conversation and the culture of the time help us understand His Heart of love for us.
For example, when Mary asked Jesus to help with the wine at a wedding, Jesus addressed his mother as “woman” which kind of comes across today as disrespectful but at that time it would not have been. Jesus was sent first to the lost sheep of the House of Israel, not to the Gentiles (the rest of us), which is why Jesus didn’t immediately respond to the woman who wants to have her daughter healed when she calls out to Him “Son of David” which is a term used only by the Israelites. Jesus knows she is not so He does not respond until she says “Lord, please help me.” Even then His response seems kind of mean if you don’t know the background of the times. The Gentiles were referred to as “dogs” so when Jesus responds that it is not okay to take the children’s bread and give it to the puppies He has done two things for her, He has softened the harshness by saying puppy and also given the woman the answer on how she should ask Him so He can give her the healing she wants for her daughter ahead of time. When the woman responds that even the puppies eat the crumbs from the master’s table Jesus tells her that her faith is great and that her daughter is healed.
What loving kindness and compassion! Jesus gives us His peace, His joy, His perfect love. That is our Savior, the law was given, Grace and Truth CAME. When someone quotes a Bible verse to you and it doesn’t feel right pray about it and ask our Heavenly Father for guidance and revelation in the knowledge of our loving savior, Christ Jesus.
We are all one in Christ Jesus
“For you [who are born-again have been reborn from above – spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified and] are all children of God [set apart for His purpose with full rights and privileges] through faith in Christ Jesus. For all of you who were baptized into Christ [into a spiritual union with the Christ, the Anointed] have clothed yourselves with Christ [that is, you have taken on His characteristics and values]. There is [now no distinction in regard to salvation] neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you [who believe] are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 26-28
Jesus was INCLUSIVE not exclusive
In the New Testament Jesus says “I did not come to judge and condemn the world [that is, to initiate the final judgment of the world], but to save the world” and “I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]. I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His [own] life for the sheep.” Jesus says He desires mercy and that He is the Door and that ANYONE who enters through Him (believes in Him) will be saved.
I AM
I AM the Way, the Truth and the Life. I AM the light of the world. I AM the bread of life. I AM the true vine. I AM your deliverer. I AM the resurrection and the life. I AM the Alpha and the Omega (the beginning and the end).
He is Faithful
He will never leave you or forsake you. For all the promises of God in Him are “Yes” and in Him “Amen” to the glory of God through us.
His Grace is Greater
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”