The PERFECT Husband -- The Ultimate BELOVED

Is there such a man as the perfect husband? One who loves his wife as his own body... nourishing and cherishing her, forsaking all others -- father, mother, (yes, children, too)... even his own self -- holding fast to his wife as his most precious gift from GOD above?

The perfect husband will not beat his wife (or children, nor kick the dog) when his Superbowl team doesn't win the championship game nor will he blame his wife that he lost the considerable amount of money he wagered. Rather, the perfect husband will be full of compassion and is gentle--he will not shout or raise his voice in public. He will not crush those who are weak or quench the smallest hope.

Who is this husband who is completely secure in his identity as a man created in the image of GOD -- Almighty Creator of all things seen and unseen -- that he need not be jealous or boastful or proud or rude. He does not demand his own way. He is not irritable, and he keeps no record of when he has been wronged. He is not puffed up with worldly pleasures, sporty cars, a mansion-of-a-house abode or a top-rung-of-the-ladder-of-success job.

Rather he recognizes his need for GOD, he mourns over his sins, he is gentle and lowly, he hungers and thirsts for justice, he is merciful, pure in heart and a peacemaker.

Who is the perfect husband but he who is godly -- who loves GOD and His Word, and seeks to do His will in all things? He takes seriously the GOD-given responsibility of being head of his house, providing not just material comfort, but spiritual leadership so that his wife and children may grow into the knowledge of the LORD.

The perfect husband is non-existent on earth, for all mankind is fallible -- weak in their various imperfections. All of mankind has turned aside; they have together become unprofitable; there is none who does good, no, not one.

But there are imperfect husbands being perfected -- being made whole and complete, progressively being regenerated to live the Beatitude attitudes. These husbands are the saints of GOD -- those He has separated from the influence of the world and freed from the prince of the power of the air. They are servants of GOD -- serving others before themselves. These imperfect husbands who are being made perfect serve their families as they rule over them with utmost tenderheartedness and agape love.

These husbands are the most zealous of men for they are passionately after GOD's own heart, the tallest of men because they spend much time on their knees in prayerful supplications, the meekest of men because they have surrendered their rights to their rights to the lordship of CHRIST JESUS. These being-perfected imperfect husbands are the ones fully committed to being conformed into the image of CHRIST, their Lord of lords and King of kings.

And yet -- there is a perfect Husband for all humankind. He was first Husband to Israel, and now He is Husband to all who believe and trust in His Name. He is infinitely mighty to save the lost from sure destruction. He is abounding in mercy and forgiveness, patient and kind, slow to anger, faithful and in all ways always true, for He is the embodiment of Truth. He does not lie for He cannot lie -- He always keeps all His promises. He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." His bride will never ever be abandoned.

This perfect Husband is mine to call my very own -- and yet paradoxically, He is also the perfect Husband to all who are His very own... those hopelessly lost, hungry and thirsty, sick and tired, desperate and needy, stained and muddied, humbled and broken -- those who have come to the end of their ropes, their self-sufficiency, their useless faith in their good works as satisfactory appeasement for their sins against a thrice holy GOD.

My Husband has justified me, fully and thoroughly. It is finished! In His righteous robe, i can stand unflinching before the Judge. He empowers me towards holiness by His gift of the Comforter -- the indwelling Holy SPIRIT of the Triune GOD. He Himself will perfectly make me perfect when i meet Him face to face. (Or rather, face to feet -- for i will fall on my face and kiss His beloved feet with utmost reverence and blessed joy!)

The perfect Husband is my LORD JESUS, my Savior, my GOD. In CHRIST, i submit all. i surrender all that i have, all that i am -- to Him, for Him -- all are His to will for His pleasure and good purpose.

How could this wife not submit her all to such a perfect Husband?

For you see... i've broken the laws of GOD. i deserve GOD's punishment, for He hates sin. The way of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD. He hates everyone who loves violence. He will not allow one single sin to go unpunished -- He is a just and righteous, and most holy GOD.

Just as in any court of law, a murderer, rapist, or even one who has but exceeded the speed limit must be judged and made to pay the penalty for having broken the law. i must pay the fine for my sins... the fine of death and eternal condemnation.

But my Husband, Who loves me even more than His own life, stood in my stead and received all the penalties i deserved for all my transgressions. He paid in full all my debts -- even my death sentence. He died for me so that i may truly live!

So now, one day at a time, alive indeed by grace through His death on the cross, and walking daily in the Reality of the surety of Heaven with the perfect Husband -- i live for JESUS... yet not i, but CHRIST Who lives in me.

May all repentant sinners be espoused to the perfect Husband -- CHRIST JESUS!

What CHILD Is This?

What Child is this --  the Infinite who became finite?  the Invisible made visible?  the Supernatural made manifest in the natural?

GOD the Son -- Creator; Son of Man -- Savior of sinners. What Child is this --  whom Isaiah prophesied as Wonderful Counselor, Mighty GOD, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace?   to whom the virgin Mary sang lullabies of praise? who was filled with the Holy SPIRIT of GOD? 

Immanuel -- GOD with us; Son of David -- King of the Jews. What Child is this --  from everlasting to everlasting, is with GOD?   who is the preeminent, unique, eternal Living Word?   whose heavenly benediction is "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased"? 

JESUS, the CHRIST; the Lamb of GOD who takes away the sin of the world. What Child is this --  who is the very image of the invisible holy GOD?  who is the only Mediator between holy GOD and wretched man?  who is the sinner's Advocate and holy Judge? 

Yeshua... Jisu... JesuCristo; the holy, holy, holy Lord GOD of hosts.What Child is this --  indescribably more precious than any treasure?  infinitely more valuable than life itself?  utterly more praiseworthy, deserving all honor and worship? 

The Pearl of great price, the Bread of life; the Great I AM.
What Child is this --   commissioned from above to die for your sins and mine?   crucified on a tree, rejected and abandoned?   slaughtered as the sacrificial Lamb, hated without a cause? 

The Messiah, Redeemer, Savior; the Holy One of Israel. What Child is this --  who forgives fornicators and adulterers?  who gives sight to the blind and sound to the deaf mute?  who satisfies the hungry and quenches the thirsty? 

Jehovah YAHWEH; the Good Shepherd and Author of our faith. This CHILD is the Reason for the season. This holy, holy, holy CHILD is the Resurrection and the Life. This CHILD is mankind's only hope to Paradise. 

The Child JESUS is the fulfillment of the Gospel of GOD -- "that CHRIST died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures." (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

And The WORD IS GOD.

IN the beginning GOD created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1)

IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with GOD, and the Word was GOD. (John 1:1)

He was in the beginning with GOD. (John 1:2)

All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (John 1:3)

In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. (John 1:4)

And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. (John 1:5)

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

No one has ever seen GOD. But His only Son, who is Himself GOD, is near to the Father's heart; He has told us about Him. (John 1:18)

CHRIST is the One through whom GOD created everything in heaven and earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can't see--kings, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities. Everything has been created through Him and for Him. (Colossians 1:16)

He existed before everything else began, and He holds all creation together. (Colossians 1:17)

For GOD in all His fullness was pleased to live in CHRIST, and by Him GOD reconciled everything to Himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of His blood on the cross. This includes you who were once so far away from GOD. You were His enemies, separated from Him by your evil thoughts and actions,

...yet now He has brought you back as His friends. He has done this through His death on the cross in His own human body. As a result, He has brought you into the very presence of GOD, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before Him without a single fault. (Colossians 1:19-22)

The One who existed from the beginning is the One we have heard and seen. We saw Him with our own eyes and touched Him with our own hands. He is JESUS CHRIST, the Word of life. (1 John 1:1)

This One who is life from GOD was shown to us, and we have seen Him. And now we testify and announce to you that He is the One who is eternal life. He was with the Father, and then He was shown to us. (1 John 1:2)

The heavens tell of the glory of GOD. The skies display His marvelous craftsmanship. (Psalm 19:1)

Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make Him known. (Psalm 19:2)

They speak without a sound or a word; their voice is silent in the skies;

yet their message has gone out to all the earth, and their words to all the world. (Psalm 19:3-4a)

Reverence for the LORD is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the LORD are true; each one is fair. (Psalm 19:9)

For i am not ashamed of this Good News about CHRIST. It is the power of GOD at work, saving everyone who believes--Jews first and also Gentiles. (Romans 1:16)

This Good News tells us how GOD makes us right in His sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, "It is through faith that a righteous person has life."

But GOD shows His anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who push the truth away from themselves. For the truth about GOD is known to them instinctively. GOD has put this knowledge in their hearts.

From the time the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky and all that GOD made. They can clearly see His invisible qualities--His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse whatsoever for not knowing GOD.

Yes, they knew GOD, but they wouldn't worship him as GOD or even give Him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what GOD was like. The result was that their minds became dark and confused.

Claiming to be wise, they became utter fools instead.

And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living GOD, they worshiped idols... Instead of believing what they knew was the truth about GOD, they deliberately chose to believe lies. So they worshiped the things GOD made but not the Creator Himself, who is to be praised forever. Amen. (Romans 1:17-25)

When a pair of Jehovah Witnesses come a-knocking on my door and we debate over JESUS' deity, knowing that their New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures has blinded them in how they perceive CHRIST's preeminence -- for the NWT translates John 1:1, "and the Word was a god" -- i find it a challenge not to be rude by flatly saying that their founder (Charles Taze Russell) had arrogantly changed what has been accepted for centuries by the CHRISTian fathers as GOD's inerrant, infallible Word: CHRIST JESUS is GOD.

The "altar calls" -- invitations -- of today are not Biblical. Nowhere in the Bible was any sinner "invited" with the methodologies used today. JESUS commanded, Repent and believe in the Gospel... follow Me.

It grieves me when i hear formulaic invitations to receive our most precious JESUS as Savior, without first proclaiming the full Gospel truth -- not just about His atoning sacrifice on the cross and resurrection, but how He received the full unabated wrath of the Father as propitiation (appeasement) for all of mankind's sin. All the sinner has to do is repeat a sample prayer -- no exhortation to repent (to turn from his sin and turn to GOD), no mention of the grossness of his sin against a most holy GOD -- that everyone else has to close their eyes so that the sinner can just raise his/her hand without being seen -- without being embarrassed...

JESUS died an excruciating bloody death on the cross and was abandoned by the Father, and we have the audacity to "invite" the sinner ever so gently so as not to embarrass him? GOD has commanded that we repent and believe in the Gospel. (Mark 1:15) He is Creator. He is Sovereign. He controls our very breath... and yet we hem and haw at obeying His Word -- His Son.

JESUS is LORD over all Creation -- of every created creature, whether or not that created being acknowledges Him as LORD, whether or not he accepts GOD's gift: JESUS' finished work of redemption. CHRIST is LORD... He is GOD.

Everyone wants to go to heaven, to paradise... but not everyone wants JESUS to be the Way to get there. Everyone wants to go to heaven to live in bliss forever, but many do not want GOD there... for He is holy, holy, holy -- and in Him is no darkness at all. And without holiness, no one can see GOD. (Isaiah 6:3, 1 John 1:5, Hebrews 12:14)

After seeing the few amazing photos of GOD's creation (courtesy of the Hubble telescope) -- how can one remain the unbelieving fool? How can man kowtow to an earthly king or president -- yet remain unmoved by the exhibited glories of GOD? How can one not reverence the One who created the all that we see and the all that we can't see?

How can one get a glimpse of JESUS and not see the face of GOD? How can one remain untouched by the Truth? How can one not fall in love with the Person of CHRIST?

JESUS is LOVE manifest. He died for you. He paid in full your sin-debts. When you know CHRIST, you know the Father. When you know CHRIST, you are illumined by the Holy SPIRIT. When you humbly acknowledge JESUS as Adonai -- your LORD and Master -- GOD Himself will raise you from the valley of dry bones and quicken your spirit to live forever. (Ezekiel 37)

JESUS is the Way to eternal peace with the Father... not Buddha... not Muhammad. For it was JESUS to whom the Father declared, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!" (Matthew 17:5)

Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. (Psalm 2:12)

We Are NOT Invited --

We are commanded.

CHRIST JESUS preached the Gospel of the Kingdom of GOD -- Repent, and believe in the gospel. (Mark 1:15)

John the Baptist cried out in the wilderness -- Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand! (Matthew 3:2)

Paul the Apostle exhorted -- ...repent, turn to GOD, and do works befitting repentance. (Acts 26:20)

Peter the Apostle declared -- Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of JESUS CHRIST for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy SPIRIT.( (Acts 2:38)

The One True GOD is holy. Exalt the LORD our GOD, and worship at His holy hill; for the LORD our GOD is holy. (Psalm 99:9)

GOD hates sin.

The LORD tests the righteous, but the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates. (Psalm 11:5) These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies,

and one who sows discord among brethren. (Proverbs 6:16-19)

...bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, malice... (Ephesians 4:31) ...adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries... (Galatians 5:19-21)

...evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies... (Matthew 15:19)

unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; whisperers, backbiters, haters of GOD, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful... (Romans 1:29-31) ...debased mind... vile passions (Romans 1:26-27)

Because GOD is good -- because He is a holy and righteous GOD -- He must judge and punish sin. The wrath of GOD is what each sinner has in store for all eternity.

The Good News -- Sinless GOD the Son drank the bitter cup of GOD the Father's wrath that was meant for you and me... for all sinners. JESUS was the Lamb sacrificed on the Cross at Calvary and took upon Himself the full, unabated deluge of the wrath of GOD for all of mankind's sins -- past, present and future.

All of us have broken the Ten Commandments of GOD. All of us have done those sins that GOD hates. We deserve the punishment from GOD, the Creator who is infinitely holy and just.

The Good News -- Blameless Son of GOD took our punishment and died in our stead -- the scourging, the crown of thorns, the nails hammered in His hands and feet, the abandonment of the Father -- the unabated wrath of GOD.


All of humankind are born with sin-nature. There is no one good -- NOT ONE (Psalm 53:3). All have sinned. All have broken the first and foremost commandment -- love the LORD your GOD with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. (Matthew 22:37) All have done evil in the sight of a holy GOD.

The Good News -- CHRIST accomplished the atoning work He and the Father have ordained before the foundation of the world. It is finished! (John 19:30)

GOD is holy Judge... He must punish evil, sinful man -- you and me... all sinners. No one escapes His judgment. No one escapes His righteous wrath.

GOD is also perfect love... He provided the Substitute -- CHRIST JESUS. He paid in full all our sin-debts.

Now JESUS commands a response. He doesn't invite you to receive Him -- He commands us to repent -- to turn from our sins... to turn to Him. Repent, and believe in the gospel!

Charles Haddon Spurgeon (excerpt from Faith and Repentance Inseparable in italics) remarked "that the gospel which CHRIST preached was, very plainly, a command... though He condescended to reason, to persuade, to invite, and to beseech, still His gospel had in it all the dignity and force of a command; and if we would preach it in these days as CHRIST did, we must proclaim it as a command from GOD, attended with a divine sanction, and not to be neglected save at the infinite peril of the soul.

Repent is as much a command of GOD as You shall not steal. Believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST has as fully a divine authority as You shall love the LORD your GOD with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength. Think not, O men, that the gospel is a thing left to your option to choose it or not! Dream not, O sinners, that you may despise the Word from heaven and incur no guilt! Think not that you may neglect it and no ill consequences shall follow! It is just this neglect and despising of yours which shall fill up the measure of your iniquity. It is this concerning which we cry aloud, How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation! GOD commands you to repent.

It is one of the saddest proofs of man's utter depravity that he will not obey this command, but that he will despise CHRIST, and so make his doom worse than the doom of Sodom and Gomorrah.

"Repentance is to leave

the sins we loved before,
And show that we in earnest grieve, by doing so no more."

To repent does mean a change of mind; but then it is a thorough change of the understanding and all that is in the mind, so that it includes an illumination, an illumination of the Holy SPIRIT; and I think it includes a discovery of iniquity and a hatred of it, without which there can hardly be a genuine repentance. We must not, I think, undervalue repentance. It is a blessed grace of GOD the Holy SPIRIT, and it is absolutely necessary unto salvation.

...a repentance which makes me weep and abhor my past life because of the love of CHRIST which has pardoned it, is the right repentance.

...the repentance which makes us avoid present sin because of the love of GOD who died for us, this also is saving repentance.

...when I avoid it and seek to lead a holy life because CHRIST loved me and gave Himself up for me, and because I am not my own, but am bought with a price, this is the work of the SPIRIT of GOD.

The repentance which is here commanded is the result of faith; it is born at the same time with faith—they are twins... It is a great mystery... the fact being that they come into the soul together.

Believe the gospel. Faith means trust in CHRIST.

No faith can be genuine but such as is perfectly consistent with repentance for past sin... no faith is true but that which is linked with a hearty and sincere repentance on account of past sin.

Why, dear friends, do you expect to be saved while you are in your sins? Are you to be allowed to love your iniquities, and yet go to heaven? What, you think to have poison in your veins, and yet be healthy? What, man, keep the thief in doors, and yet be acquitted of dishonesty? Be stained, and yet be thought spotless? Harbour the disease and yet be in health? Ridiculous! Absurd! The demand for a change of heart is absolutely necessary; it is but a reasonable service.

This is a command which demands immediate obedience.

"Today," the gospel always cries, for if it tolerated sin a single day, it were an unholy gospel. If the gospel told men to repent of sin tomorrow, it would give them an allowance to continue in it today, and that would indeed be to pander to men's lusts. But the gospel makes a clean sweep of sin, and demands of man that he should throw down the weapons of his rebellion now.

Sinner, it is your time. This is the only time you can call your own. Tomorrow! Is there such a thing? In what calendar is it written save in the almanack of the fool?...on the great white throne the Judge shall sit, there will be not a man, or woman, or child, able to make excuse and say, "I did not hear the gospel; I did not know what I must do to be saved!" You have heard it: Repent, and believe the gospel. That is, trust CHRIST; believe that He is able and willing to save you." (Words of C. H. Spurgeon -- updated English and emphasis mine.)

The Gospel of CHRIST JESUS is not an invitation -- it is a command from GOD that demands a response today.

WHAT Will You Do About JESUS?

We are ALL born to die -- it's guaranteed FACT. It's not an IF, but a WHEN.

JESUS came down from the Heavenlies -- born to die as sin-bearing GOD-Man. It's historical FACT that He existed and died on the Cross. Whether or not we believe that HE is GOD Who died for our sins will decide our personal Destiny -- for EVERY soul is resurrected to EVERlasting Life: to Hell or to Heaven. (John 5:28-29)

When we are asked, "Do you know JESUS CHRIST?" -- do we REALLY know the FACTs about Him?

JESUS alone FULFILLED 365 messianic prophecies.

JESUS alone performed countless MIRACLES -- SUPERnatural acts only GOD can do -- for the whole three years of His earthly ministry. (John 21:25)

JESUS appeared in bodily form to His disciples and to over 500 others after He rose from the tomb. (1 Corinthians 15:6)

If a court of law were to judge JESUS' veracity, His credentials as noted above would far exceed the needed evidence to validate His claim -- HE IS GOD Incarnate... The Great I AM... Sovereign LORD!

From His own mouth, JESUS said:

"No one has ascended to Heaven but He who came down from Heaven, that is, the SON of Man who is in Heaven." (John 3:13)

The (Samaritan) woman said to Him, "I know that Messiah is coming" (who is called CHRIST). "When He comes, He will tell us all things." "I who speak to you AM He." (John 4:25-26)

"My Father has been working until now, and I have been working." Therefore the Jews (the religious leaders) sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that GOD was His Father, making Himself equal with GOD. (John 5:17-18)

"For as The FATHER raises the dead and gives life to them, even so The SON gives life to whom He will." (John 5:21)

"But I have a greater witness than John's (the Baptist); for the works which The FATHER has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that The FATHER has sent Me. (John 5:36)

"You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have ETERNAL Life; and these are they which testify of Me." (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Ruth, 1-2 Samuel, 2 Kings, 1 Chronicles, Job, Psalms 2, 22, 23, 24, 27, 30, 31, 34, 35, 38, 40, 41, 45, 49, 55, 68, 69, 72, 78, 89, 90, 91, 97, 100, 102, 109, 110, 112, 118, 132, 138, 147, Proverbs 8, Song of Solomon, Isaiah 2, 25:8, 26, 28:16, 29, 32, 33, 35, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 48, 49, 50, 52, 53, 55, 59, 60-63, 65, 66, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Hosea, Joel, Micah, Haggai, Amos, Habakkuk, Zechariah, Malachi.)

"Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up." (John 2:19) Speaking of His BODY as a temple, JESUS prophesied His own Death and Resurrection.

"He who has seen ME has seen The FATHER..." (John 14:9)

"No one comes to The FATHER except THROUGH ME." (John 14:6)

"I AM the Bread of Life." (John 6:35, 41, 48, 51)
"I AM the Light of the world." (John 8:12)
"I AM the Door of the sheep." (John 10:7, 9)
"I AM the Good Shepherd." (John 10:11, 14)
"I AM the Resurrection and the Life." (John 11:25)
"I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life." (John 14:6)
"I AM the True Vine." (John 15:1, 5)

After JESUS' Resurrection -- He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be UNbelieving, but believing." And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My LORD and my GOD!" "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. BLESSED are those who have NOT seen and YET have BELIEVED." (John 20:27-29)

In the Gospel according to John, it is written: And there are also many other things that JESUS did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen. (John 21:25)

JESUS' ministry lasted three years -- He FULFILLED over 300 Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah and performed countless miracles of healing (the blind, sick, lame, demon-possessed); feeding thousands; forgiving many; raising the dead.

Although John documented only seven miracles to represent the countless many that he saw JESUS perform, these seven SUPERNATURAL SIGNS give infallible proof of the Deity of JESUS as GOD the SON and Messiah. John MacArthur, explains John's written account of these seven particular miracles of JESUS that point to His deity (John MacArthur's Study Bible, p 1579):


"Turns water into wine -- JESUS is the Source of life. (John 2:1-12)
Heals a nobleman's son -- JESUS is Master over distance. (John 4:46-54)
Heals a lame man at the pool of Bethesda -- JESUS is Master over time. (John 5:1-17)
Feeds 5,000 -- JESUS is the Bread of life. (John 6:1-14)
Walks on water, stills a storm -- JESUS is Master over nature. (John 6:15-21)
Heals a man blind from birth -- JESUS is the Light of the world. (John 9:1-41)
Raises Lazarus from the dead -- JESUS has POWER over Death. (John 11:17-45)"

ONLY JESUS has DEFEATED Death -- His Resurrection is a FACT. ONLY JESUS has FULFILLED the prophecies of the coming Messiah. ONLY JESUS has claimed and proven that HE IS -- The Great I AM.

Those who praise Him as the greatest Teacher who ever lived, or as a Prophet sent from GOD, or as a Holy One are on the side of ERROR, for that would make JESUS a liar... the greatest liar who ever lived. And the apostles, the martyred disciples, the church -- ALL liars... OR lunatics.

JESUS claimed to be GOD. Is He a liar, lunatic or LORD?

The verdict came in 2,000 years ago -- the OVERWHELMING Evidence of FULFILLED prophecies and countless MIRACLES attest to it. JESUS IS The Holy One. HE IS The Messiah. CHRIST JESUS IS GOD -- SON of GOD.

But JESUS is not the one on trial -- WE are. When we are presented with the Gospel of Peace, the TRUTH about CHRIST JESUS, we must respond. Our very ETERNAL lives depend on our response.

WHAT will you DO about JESUS?

DEATH of self -- COUNT the COST

All things i can do through CHRIST Who strengthens me.

(Philippians 4:13)

FACTS:

The persecution of Christians is religious persecution that CHRISTians sometimes undergo as a consequence of professing their faith, both historically and in the current era. In the two thousand years of the CHRISTian faith, about 70 million believers have been killed for their faith, of whom 45.5 million or 65% were in the twentieth century according to "The New Persecuted" ("I Nuovi Perseguitati"). 200 million CHRISTians are persecuted in the world, especially in Arabia and parts of Asia. (You will be hated by all nations for My name's sake...many will be offended. Matthew 24:9-10a)

Christian Solidarity International. Global reports indicate that over 150,000 CHRISTians were martyred last year, chiefly outside of the United States.

More CHRISTians are in prison or under detention in China than in any other country. House churches (unregistered churches), which make up approximately 90 percent of China’s CHRISTians, endure unimaginable persecution. But they stand by their commitment to preach the gospel, no matter the cost. In Tibet, most of the persecution against CHRISTians comes from militant Tibetan Buddhists.

North Korea is the worst perpetrator of persecution against CHRISTians in the world. CHRISTians must practice their faith in deep secrecy and are in constant danger, but many continue to stand strong under relentless persecution. The government considers CHRISTians to be a stability threat, and they are hunted all over the country. Being a CHRISTian carries a more severe punishment than espionage.

The largest number of CHRISTian worshipers in North Korea exists in concentration camps. In addition, one out of four CHRISTian prisoners are sent to political prison camps where prisoners almost never leave. Experts estimate that of the 200,000 people incarcerated in political prison camps, at least 40,000 are CHRISTians.

Many North Korean CHRISTians have fled to China, where there are an estimated 200,000 to 300,000 North Koreans. The Chinese government offers a bounty for North Korean refugees equal to one year’s salary. When refugees are caught, they are returned to North Korea, where they face torture, imprisonment and often death. This year the UN’s Human Rights Council passed a resolution expressing concern at “ongoing grave, widespread and systematic human rights violations” in North Korea.

Despite this horrific oppression, some CHRISTians have returned to North Korea to share the Gospel. As many as 100,000 are thought to worship secretly. In 2009, the authorities are said to have stepped up their surveillance of CHRISTians, and house searches are said to be more rigorous than in the past. Across North Korea, CHRISTians continue to pray privately for evangelism and unity.

Saudi Arabia is the second most repressive nation in the world for CHRISTians. Converts from Islam to CHRISTianity are rare in this nation. Barriers to spreading the Gospel are intense. Leaving Islam is punishable by death. Anyone who does mission work or converts a Muslim faces jail, expulsion, lashing, torture or execution. Public non-Muslim worship, even for foreign CHRISTians, is prohibited. CHRISTians are regularly imprisoned or deported, and CHRISTian churches are banned.

In Sudan, thirty years of persecution has not stopped the growth of the Sudanese church. Most expatriate missionaries have left, but national leaders remain committed to evangelism. Life continues to be difficult as the country struggles for stability, but pastors are begging for Bibles and CHRISTian training items rather than material aid. Today the great needs in southern Sudan are to build up the faith of new CHRISTians, to help young and old recover from traumatic experiences and to provide a strong CHRISTian foundation for believers.

TESTIMONIES:
When teenager Cassie Bernall left home for another day of classes at Columbine High School, she had no idea that she wouldn’t be coming home. Later that day, when an armed schoolmate asked if she believed in GOD, this recently redeemed girl said, “Yes”. That one word, a testament and defense of her faith in the face of grave danger, was the last word that Cassie spoke before being shot to death.

The young brown-eyed girl looked up at her mother. What would she decide? Earlier that morning, the young girl's mother, their pastor, and twenty-six others in her North Korean village of GokSan were bound and taken before a screaming crowd of Communists. One of the guards ordered Pastor Kim and the other CHRISTians, "Deny CHRIST, or you will die." The words chilled her. How could they ask her to deny JESUS? She knew in her heart He was real. They all quietly refused.

Then the Communist guard shouted directly at the adult CHRISTians, "Deny CHRIST, or we will hang your children." The young girl looked up at her mother. She gripped her and knowing how much her mom loved her. Her mother then leaned down. With confidence and peace she whispered, "Today, my love, I will see you in heaven."

All of the children were hanged.

The remaining believers were then brought out onto the pavement and forced to lie down in front of a huge steamroller. The Communists gave them one last chance. "Deny this JESUS or you will be crushed." The CHRISTians had already given up their children; there was no turning back. As the driver started the heavy piece of equipment, the singing from the villagers started softly...

"More love, O CHRIST to Thee, more love to Thee."

The man who was born blind whom JESUS healed was cast out -- unsynagogued -- by the Pharisees (the rulers of traditional Jewish laws). Because the man who was given sight by JESUS believed and worshipped Him as LORD, he was reviled by the Pharisees and no longer permitted to worship in the synagogue or have any part in that society's traditional lifestyle. (John 9, John MacArthur sermon)

Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented... (Hebrews 11:35-37)

Foxe's Book of Martyrs documents the persecution of CHRISTians from the time of the Apostles up to 1819. Many were crucified...many were burned at the stake.

Richard Wurmbrand, the youngest of four boys in a Jewish family, was imprisoned and tortured for 14 years for preaching the Gospel of JESUS CHRIST. Today, The Voice of Martyrs, which he founded in 1967, continues to make people (especially those of the Western countries) aware of the continued persecution of CHRISTians worldwide.

The point of this post is found in Luke 14:28 -- "...don't begin until you count the cost."

GOD the Son fully knew the cost He would pay to be propitiation for our sins. He, through Whom all things were made, Who was in the beginning with GOD the Father, Who is Light and Truth manifest, became lowly flesh, yet remained sinless and perfect. (John 1:1-3)

CHRIST JESUS paid for ALL our sin-debts. He was scourged that we may be healed. He wore the crown of thorns that we may also be glorified with Him in Heaven. He shed His blood so that we may be covered in His righteousness. He experienced the Father's indescribable wrath against sin poured out onto Him so that we may have peace with our Creator. JESUS died a horrific crucifixion that we may live eternally with Him.


CHRIST gave ALL that we may be made new creatures, born again, adopted into the family of the One True Living GOD.

Isn't it reasonable then that we also give our ALL as CHRIST JESUS gave His ALL? All over the world, then and now, followers of CHRIST have been persecuted for their faith in JESUS as the CHRIST, as Savior of the world and the only path to peace with GOD.

Yet, better to count the cost than to start and not finish. (Luke 14:28-32)

JESUS said, "If you want to be My follower you must love Me more than your own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters--yes, more than your own life. Otherwise, you cannot be My disciple. And you cannot be My disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow Me... no one can become My disciple without giving up everything for Me." (Luke 14:26, 27, 33)

Count the cost -- before you commit to JESUS as the Pearl of great price, selling everything you have so you may have the Most Precious One (Matthew 13:46); before you acknowledge that He is your Good Shepherd and that you are mere nearsighted sheep (John 10); before you accept Him as your Passover Lamb so that the Angel of Death -- the Destroyer -- may pass over your sinful soul (Exodus 12:13, 23).

Count the cost -- deny your self...even to the death -- for CHRIST alone is worthy of your all.